World Cuppet 3 RP, Scores & Squads

[Misrantis]

Misrantis Wins the Group Stage, to face Urszag-Csatoria


The Misrantis National Team under the leadership of the Esteemed and famous Rahman Omer Hilali has finished out the group stage of competition in World Cuppet 3 with a perfect record of winning all the matches, and having the strongest performance of all teams in the competition.

On the third day of competition, Misrantis faced the Unbidden Horde, a team which Misrantis was well prepared for, having signaled at the beginning of the tournament that it could be the toughest match. The preparation for Misrantis paid off, and in fact, it ended up being the blowout of the session as Misrantis would beat the Unbidden Horde 6-0 to take control in a serious way.

After this result, Misrantis beat the Free University 3-0 and of course it was Ba Shabaaqo, the hero, not even conceding a single goal.

For the final match of the group stage, the people had a real gift, as the match was 'broadcast' as an image on the walls. Many Misrantians lined up to see the great site of their National Team playing against Fevelo in a battle to decide who was the first team in the group. The event was a big success, and although both teams were already qualified for the group stage, it was a great match. In the end, Misrantis substitute Hierkomt D'sonne, a new player making the debut for World Cuppet 3, scored a very fine goal that won the game to complete the perfect group stage for Misrantis



It is not getting easier for Misrantis now. In the first eliminating match, Misrantis has been drawn against Urszag-Csatoria. Urszag-Csatoria were the second team in the G Group that was one of the most competitive of all the groups. Urszag-Csatoria advanced in the place of the hosts of the Cuppet, Inis Na Dun, who were eliminated sadly on their own field despite winning against Mishuland.

Another fact of Urszag-Csatoria, the stamps are very nice. Urszag-Csatoria is sure to appear for the match in the best outfits with the best logos and graphics and it will be very appealing for everyone. The Misrantis team could only hope to look so nice one day. But the reality is, its not the looks that win the match its the players underneath it all and the esteemed and famous Rahman Omer Hilali will surely have his team prepared for this important match.

It is expected that the 'broadcast' of the matches as they are played from Inis Na Dun will continue through the eliminating matches.

[The Unbidden Horde]

How the Different Races of The Unbidden Horde Play Football
An inside look at the intricacies of Unbidden Football

5. Corrupted

The "Corrupted", as they are known, are what beings of the light become called when they become corrupted to the dark side. They are Elves, Human, Dwarves, Beastlings, Changelings, Treefolk... All the other races that do not make up the Unbidden, corrupted by either dark magic, dark spirits, or darkness deep within. They are the strongest of all the Unbidden for they are Bidden made Unbidden; they are stronger, faster, smarter, clever, and most of all, very hard to defeat in any form of battle or contest due to their complex nature.

The Corrupted football club in the Unbidden Horde's league is the best of the league because they aren't really one race. Three of the starting eleven are stout dwarves ready to challenge anyone that comes their way. Two of their number are elves, nimble and agile. Two of them are beastlings, quick, witty, and thinking on their feet. One is a changeling who has mastered the art of changing on the fly. One treefolk goalkeeper stands in the way of the goal, and two men keep the team all together in a cohesive manner. The other clubs have complained time and time again by the fairness of the situation, but these individuals do share one same trait: They were all beings of the light who were corrupted.

The players of the Corrupted can play any position they wish. They don't share a single weakness, neither do they share a same strength. Hence, they must be dealt with on an individual basis, which is what makes it so hard to defeat them.

---

Unbidden Horde Finishes in Third Place

The Unbidden Horde finished third in Group C of the 3rd World Cuppet with a record of two wins, one draw, and two losses for a total of seven points. It was a lot better than how they'd done the last tournament, but it wasn't the result that they were waiting for.

However, as all villains do, they will return in subsequent editions, for...

The Horde is forever.

[Terrabis]

The Terrabis Times
DDIFF to be sponsored by Premier League

For the purpose of this article, The Terrabis Times has warranted the use of other words than the word "The" to start paragraphs.

As the involvement of Terrabis in the World Cuppet III has closed with a win over Hvammstang that saw The Chosen Deathbringers finish fourth in a group of six, some high-profile news has reached The Dictatorship. The franchises of the Death's Door Indoor Football Federation will all be sponsored by twenty of the Premier League, forming a brother-brother partnership that is to last from this point onward.

The clubs are as follows:

Sponsorship
Champions of the Abyss - Zealots
Outposts - Generals
Last Hope of Abaddon - Special Forces
Judgement - Captains
Cremation - Cavalry
Unshaken Loyalty - Reapers
Sacrifice - Pilots
Hounds of Despair - Masterminds
Rebellion - Demons
Heroism and Valor - Privates
Sacred Blood - Guards
Flames of Ra - Corporals
Opposition - Creatures
Riders - Colonels
Brigade - Headquarters
Betrayal - Soldiers
Hell's Gate - Lieutenants
Hell's Canyon - Sergeants
Abandonment - Majors
Dark Flight - Shadows

Whether this will be good or bad for both leagues remains to be seen.

[Inis na Dun]

Round of sixteen
Sixteen Bits 5–1 Bouncy Druids (Bridge Park, 30,000, Tailteann)
Aquillan 2–0 Israeli Apartheid Client-State (Donaghy Grounds, 23,000, Trefarafordir)
Misrantis 1–0 Urszag-Csatoria (Bawncrusha Bay Stadium, 30,000, Killfanna)
Victorwick 4–1 Tagawachi (Labbymore Road, 21,000, Lough Fasagh)
Rigerata 3–1 Everywhere (Whiteslopes Park – 23,000, Banmoym)
New Sirain 1–3 Slovekistan (Waterfront Ground, 25,000, Ballytragorm)
Santazuela 2–0 Fevelo (The Faha, 20,000, Bec Eriu)
Hsien-Ko 2–1 Zenega (Shammagh's Haven, 26,000, Ballypiast)


Quarter finals
1: Sixteen Bits vs. Aquillan (Crean Park, 45,000, Móinéar an Glas)
2: Misrantis vs. Victorwick (Bawncrusha Bay Stadium, 30,000, Killfanna)
3: Rigerata vs. Slovekistan (Cedargroves Park, 26,000, Downross)
4: Santazuela vs. Hsien-Ko (St. Keiran's Park, 30,000, Tranahoe)

Semi-finals
1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF2 (St. Keiran's Park, 30,000, Tranahoe)
2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF4 (Bawncrusha Bay Stadium, 30,000, Killfanna)

[Sixteen Bits]

>run: file 171381365
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 956035583e
>loading...
>
>checksum=the holy forden church 1-2 sixteen bits
>generating match report...
>
>sixteen bits wins
>
>confirmed
>
>query: display downward air punch smily?
>
>query return: 
>negative
>
>
>subroutine complete

>run: file 171381366
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 956035583f
>loading...
>
>checksum=sixteen bits 5-1 bouncy druids
>generating match report...
>
>sixteen bits wins
>
>confirmed
>
>query: display woot-woot smily?
>
>query return: 
>negative
>
>
>subroutine complete

>run: file 661170803.4
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 652627834.4
>loading...
>
>file: forwardstory 4/8
>generating text...
>
>complete
>
>run: subroutine 652627834.4a
>
>print to screen: textfile
>forwardstory 4/8
>loading...
>

[unpre]

Email Transcript

Email Transcript

From: Surgeon John Hunter, Sixteen Bits Field Trip, Inis na Dun
To: Doctor Theodor Seuss Geisel, Neurobiological Research Unit, Miskatonic University
CC: Florence Nightingale, Hassan i Sabbah, Doctor Herbert West, John the Baptist

Subject: Project Cuppet 3

Networked Solid State Drives and Chips in Organic Matter
Human Trials – the 23% Self-Aware Test Specimens

Dr. Seuss,

Our final experiment is reaching the critical stages and we are pleased with progress so far. Though the final few examinations will be intensely difficult, I remain optimistic that Project Cuppet 3 will be a success. It was with great relief that we boosted self-awareness in the Tamarindo clones up to 23% at the end of the week, finally eliminating the range of base characteristics and the general lack of responsibility seen in the specimens previously. Even the very nervous subject, 'Fritz', has finally stopped wetting the bed and found a place for himself within the squad dynamics. Body conditions are optimal, there are no signs yet of any decay or physical failure. We have continued to increase doses of bromide, first administered at 13% self-awareness, in order to minimise interest in sexual activity, although Doctor Pertwee-Who believes this may be having a small detrimental effect on physical performance. He concludes from his observations that were we to progress to a fourth experiment, we would be advised to bring with us a set of cloned WAGs. That way, we would not need to administer bromide, gaining as much as 2.3% increase in performance and lucidity, whilst having the means at hand (if you'll pardon the pun) to drain off any sexualised urges.

For the first of the knockout round matches against a set of Bouncy Druids we kept the self-awareness running during the match, where until now we have had it bypassed for the matches in order for the slave-processors to function at their best while the personalities were still in development. There was a notable change-up in the standard of play, as will be indicated by the 5-1 scoreline, the biggest margin of victory in the round. Having a certain amount of free will and the ability to express themselves uniquely will provide the team with an added element of unpredictable randomness. You could immediately see the difference in the first few minutes of the game, and Doctor Pertwee-Who in particular was most excited by the new edginess to the team's tactical organisation. Personally, I found the outcome generally positive, but with a note of caution. The test subjects 'Vallejo', 'Solorio', 'Pacheco' and 'Severico' all displayed classic indicators of conflicting routines at different times during the match, when they appeared to hang: coming to a standstill, phasing out, staring into space completely unaware of their environment, somewhat equivalent of a petit mal (minor) epileptic seizure in typical 100% human subjects. With the generally overwhelmingly positive performance in this experiment, I believe the conflict incidents were overlooked by my colleagues in the field team, however I have attached runtime logs for each subject for your attention, and I would be grateful if you could double check them with your own master records for any variances. I would like to correct any compile or runtime errors before we have a major crash incident.

On a side note, I have been monitoring IQ levels of the test subjects for a paper I am preparing on the correlation between increased analytical and emotional intelligence against the decline in hand-eye co-ordination and general ability to play team sports. I have not been surprised to find that most of the Tamarindo clones, when tested with support from their slave-processors blocked, demonstrated satisfyingly low IQ levels. Our star player, 'Ticiano' in particular being comfortably devoid of anything remotely approaching useful intelligence. However there were two exceptions, with 'Fritz' scoring very highly - and I am hardly surprised by this since he has consistently demonstrated hyper-sensitivity and a very emotional personality even when it was restricted to the lowest percentiles. The other was a greater surprise, the subject dubbed 'Agató' scoring well into the 'genius' ratings despite so far not being particularly demonstrative of super-intelligence in our dealings with him. Indeed, I had thought him rather absent, with is eyes mostly glazed over and his communication often monosyllabic. However I must now wonder if he was for some unguessable reason reserving his abilities, or even - though it sounds overly sinister - concealing them. But that does make me sound unscientifically paranoid!

Yours,

Surgeon Hunter.
Project Cuppet 3 Field Team.

[/unpre]

>confirmed
>
>subroutines complete
>return time: 0.00237333r seconds
>
>end

[Osarius]

The night after the game against the Israelis, Alejandro Palacios had another visit from The Vox. The ominous-seeming cloaked figure wasn't a particularly welcome visitor at the best of times, and when your conscience is struggling to justify your actions the previous day -- which perhaps matched what you were specifically told you should not do, lest you be "eradicated" -- The vox may well be the last person (entity?) you wish to see.

"Alejandro." The Vox spoke almost softly, with a hint of regret. "Did I not warn you?"

A long pause. Alejandro racked his brain for a way out, completely forgetting his ability to traverse time-space for a moment. "You did." He finally replied.

"Then why would you use the gift for personal gain?! You had potential!" The Vox sounded pained.

"It felt right. I barely used it anyway."

"But you did use it. And that's the problem."

"Have you come to... you know?" He couldn't bring himself to say the word even. Such was the growing feeling of dread.

"No."

Alejandro's head perked up and his eyes widened in shock. "W-W-What? Why?" He stammered.

"The Council do not feel it necessary to warrant action. Yet. They sent me to warn you."

"Warn me?"

"They cannot risk another major divergence."

With the spectre of doom no longer looming ominously above him, Alejandro found his confidence restored. "But you said the Universe maintains balance by itself. So even if I did cause a major divergence, it would fix itself, right?"

The Vox sighed heavily. An exasperated sigh. "It is not that simple."

"Okay, but if I messed things up, couldn't I just use the gift to go back and fix it?"

"We are not in the business or righting past wrongs, Alejandro. That is a far more dangerous road to walk than the one those of you with the gift walk."

"But how? You're making no sense. If I go forward and live out a thread of reality, and realise it's not the one I want, I come back and try again. How is that different to going back and correcting something?"

"You cannot alter what has come to pass in real-time, Alejandro. Your gift allows you to explore multiple avenues ahead of you because you can traverse time and space. You do not exist in those other realities unless you choose to."

"Then why can't I choose not to exist in this reality anymore, and choose another?"

"Have you tried to go back, Alejandro?"

"No. I haven't felt the need."

"Try it now. Try to go back to the moment before you asked me why you couldn't go back and correct a mistake." The Vox challenged him. It was a trap, Alejandro sensed it.

"Why now?"

The Vox let out the slightest of chuckles. "You're afraid?"

"Of course not, but you just contradicted yourself. Something isn't right."

"How astute." The Vox paused. "You can go back, and if you do over short distances in time-space, there is unlikely to be any major consequence. But you are talking about much further back. Like how you cannot use your gift to live out an entire lifetime without risking death, you cannot go back the same way without risking non-birth."

"You're confusing sometimes."

"I know."

"So you're saying that going back to a time within my own lifetime could prevent my own birth somehow? That makes no sense."

"No. I'm saying that you may inadvertenedly prevent the birth of another."

"Who?"

"Do not ask questions to which you already know the answers, Alejandro. It wastes time, and you of all people should know how precious time is."

A realisation struck him at this moment. He'd never dared to venture further forward than a few hours at a time, and that was under the guidance of The Vox. Alone, he'd not ventured more than a few minutes. The Vox seemed to be operating on the assumption that he'd gone much further. What had he done in that match that had altered the fabric in this way? Had he even altered the fabric? His mind went off on another mad dash through time-space again, exploring various possibilities. Soon enough it all became a blur, images flashing before him in rapid speed. Houses, cars, strange buildings, people, faces, adults, children, animals, lights, sounds, everything.

"Alejandro." The Vox called to him, bringing him back to 'real-time'.

"Huh?"

"What were you looking for?" The Vox asked calmly. He'd seen what Alejandro was doing, of course. He'd probably seen it before. And Alejandro got the impression that his dash through time-space just now was noticeably longer than the split second one in training before. He hadn't quite been sure how to stop it. 'I really need to get a handle on that.' Alejandro thought to himself. 'And how far did I go, just now?'

"I.. er... don't know. I was just... searching."

"You have not realised it yet, have you?"

"Realised what?"

"Your destiny. It is important that you follow the Council's rules, Alejandro. More important than you realise." With that, The Vox was gone.

'What the-? Am I supposed to do something awesome in the future or something?' Alejandro thought to himself. 'I don't understand this. All I'm doing is slightly enhancing my ability to try and help a tiny island nation win a minor football competition. I don't understand how this is such a big deal.'

* * * * *

                     Aquillian   2 - 0   Israeli Apartheid Client-State 
                  Morrison 25'                                          
                  Morrison 73'                                          

                   |||Sedillo|           |Dayan||||                     
                   |F. Zarate|           |Sahar||||                     
                   |R. Zarate|           |Ohana||||                     
                   ||Morrison|           |Fahima|||                     
                                         |Ben Haim|                     
                                         |Barki||||                     

                               Possession                               
|55%||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||45%|
                                 Shots                                  
|14||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||16|
                                On Target                               
|7||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||4|
                                 Corners                                
|7|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||10|
                                  Fouls                                 
|13||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||12|
                                Offsides                                
|5||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||5|

Herrera Right, Morrison Left to Wreak Havoc

Alfredo Herrera suggested as much before the match, and many were sceptical. Yet the Islanders' manager was proven correct in his assessment of the opposing system, as Aquillian produced a strong display to see off Israeli Apartheid Client-State in the World Cuppet round of sixteen. Key to the battle was the Israeli's lop-sided formation, which allowed Herrera to include DeMarion Morrison from the start. The young, pacy winger was able to repeatedly exploit the space in behind Shelly Israel, and was deservedly named man-of-the-match. This backed up Herrera's insistence that his side's system of Futbol Aquilliano was not dictated by the formation or shape of the team, but rather by the playing philosophy and the players themselves. Morrison's blistering pace and superb athleticism was a clear difference on that flank throughout the game, as the Jalisco winger showed exactly why he was the fifth pick in the inaugural Sons of Aquillian draft.

"DeMarion is excellent for exploiting space against other teams with three backs. Many of them do not use wingbacks as effectively as we do, so there is often a space. When you have someone as quick as DeMarion, who can keep running for ninety minutes, you can use the space in the left corner." Herrera explained after the match. "Many teams will not have a second left-footed player in the back three, so if he beats the first man, it is hard for the second to stop him shooting." And this is exactly how both of Morrison's goals came. Both were created by Aquillian's genius playmaker Alejandro Palacios -- who again put in a stunning display in the heart of the midfield -- and both involved a similar play. Palacios slipped the pass for the first goal into the right channel, where Morrison was quickest to it, smashing it across Aouate. The second was lofted over the head of Israel into the space in the wide left area, Morrison cut inside onto his weaker left foot before angling toward the goal line and finishing in the same way as he the first.

"I'm extremely happy with my performance today. I think it's the best I've ever played as a professional and I'm hoping I did enough to start the next game too. I'm not sure if the manager will pick me because he picks the team based on the opponent, but I'm ready to go." Morrison told us after the match, beaming. He was also quick to pour praise upon his teammate Alejandro Palacios. "Ale is brilliant. I don't know how he does it but it's almost like he knows where I will be before I get there. He's always been good at that in training, I noticed, but lately he's even better. I don't think he made a bad pass tonight." Morrison is almost correct. In fact, Palacios completed 98% of his passes against Israeli Apartheid Client-State, and was definitely in control of the midfield. Even when Fahima and Dayan were sent to close him down, he seemed to wriggle free almost every time and release a good pass.

Next up for the Islanders is Sixteen Bits, a mysterious entity which uses calcuations and computations beyond the understanding of most to prepare -- and often win -- football matches. Alfredo Herrera is aware of the threat this foe poses, as evidenced by their previous fourth place finish in this tournament, but he is still keeping faith in his Futbol Aquilliano. "They are unpredictable, I think. This means I cannot prepare a gameplan to deal with them specifically, and this is maybe a little worrying. But I think that Futbol Aquilliano is unpredictable also. The players can do amazing things when they listen to their souls, and sometimes they make imagination real." Herrera explains. When pressed for reasons on why he feels Aquillian can win without a solid gameplan -- the hallmark of his reign, it would seem -- he seems almost confused by the question. "They are still prepared to play football." He says simply. "And also, imagination is difficult to fight." He says with a smile.

[Misrantis]

Rivals Eliminated as Misrantis move on to face Victorwick

Ba Shabaaqo has done it again! The Misrantis National Team goalkeeper has not conceded a single goal as the team led by the esteemed and famous Rahman Omer Hilali has defeated Urszag-Csatoria and earned a place in the World Cuppet 3 Quarter Finals.

Much like the final match in the group stage, the match was projected onto the face of the cliffs for all Misrantians to see. It was a party like atmosphere in the build up to the match, the women spending hours on their appearance before the match and the men competing in feats of strength, sport and brainpower before the kickoff.



There was only a single goal in the tense match but it was the only goal needed for Misrantis to proceed, Semer Debjit converting late in the first half and it was never going to be a doubt from that point with the amazing Shabaaqo backstopping for the team of the sun.

After the match, many of the women just across the waters in Misrantis embarked in a lavish and elegant ceremony in the name of Shabaaqo, declaring the goalkeeper superior to them for his amazing contribution to sport in Misrantis over the previous two Cuppets.

The esteemed and famous Rahman Omer Hilali will certainly be hoping that Shabaaqo is indeed from a higher fabric as the Misrantian path to the final runs through favored Sixteen Bits, should they get by their Quarter Final opposition, Victorwick, on the next matchday. The venue will be the same Bawncrusha Bay Stadium in Killfanna that Misrantis defeated Urszag-Csatoria in, potentially giving the team of the sun the advantage of familiarity.

One team Misrantis will not have to deal with, however, is Zenega. The defending World Cuppet champions, the team that denied Misrantis its greatest honor in extra time during World Cuppet 2, has already been eliminated from World Cuppet 3, losing 2-1 to Hsien-Ko at Shammagh's Haven in Ballypiast.

[Inis na Dun]

Quarter-finals
Sixteen Bits 2–1 Aquillan
Misrantis 2–1 Victorwick
Rigerata 1–0 Slovekistan
Santazuela 1–0 Hsien-Ko

Semi-finals
1: Sixteen Bits vs Misrantis (St. Keiran's Park, 30,000, Tranahoe)
2: Rigerata vs Santazuela (Bawncrusha Bay Stadium, 30,000, Killfanna)

Final
Sixteen Bits or Misrantis vs. Rigerata or Santazuela (Crean Park, 45,000, Móinéar an Glas)

[Sixteen Bits]

>run: file 171381367
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 956035583g
>loading...
>
>checksum=sixteen bits 2-1 aquillan
>generating match report...
>
>sixteen bits wins
>
>confirmed
>
>query: display mission-nearly-accomplished smily?
>
>query return: 
>negative
>
>
>subroutine complete

>run: file 661170803.5
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 652627834.5
>loading...
>
>file: forwardstory 5/8
>generating text...
>
>complete
>
>run: subroutine 652627834.5a
>
>print to screen: textfile
>forwardstory 5/8
>loading...
>

[unpre]

Email Transcript

Email Transcript

From: Surgeon John Hunter, Sixteen Bits Field Trip, Inis na Dun
To: Doctor Theodor Seuss Geisel, Neurobiological Research Unit, Miskatonic University
CC: Florence Nightingale, Hassan i Sabbah, Doctor Herbert West, John the Baptist

Subject: Project Cuppet 3

Networked Solid State Drives and Chips in Organic Matter
Human Trials – the 23% Self-Aware Test Specimens

Dr. Seuss,

I am pleased to say we have reached the final four of World Cuppet 3, for the third time, and though we have much work still to do, I must say that I am delighted with our accomplishment so far. Let us not forget that this is a far bigger experiment than the two previous trials, since we have extra rounds of testing. Of course, we have also faltered at this stage in the previous two experiments, and I must admit a certain trepidation going into the next trial. Not only has this been our ceiling in previous attempts, but we face a decent outfit in the egyptorial Misrantis who went one further than our own team last time, and will hope to do so again. So a great task is ahead of us, and I have prepared the field team for extra duties in the run-up to this trial, ordered in plenty of radioactive Dunland coffee, cancelled all leave, and begun the task of defragmenting the subjects' RAM and ROM drives ahead of this evening's game. Doctor Pertwee-Who is particularly fired-up after unveiling a case of vintage Tamarindian energy drink called Elefanté, which I can tell you tastes every bit as much like elephant bull semen mixed with alpha-methylphenethylamine as it says on the tin. We are ready to go.

I would like to thank you for checking the runtime logs of those four subjects who displayed processing conflicts during the last match with the Bouncy Druids. Like you I am baffled by these glitches and unable to find the root of the problem. I thought perhaps by forwarding them to you, there might be an opportunity for more practised code-wranglers to spot any obvious - or even obscure - conflicts in the scripting, but you have drawn a blank, as I have. We will just have to keep an eye on that situation. I have briefed the field team on this matter and we all kept a wary eye on the four subjects in question, and in the very testing trial against the Futbol Aquilliano problem set by the opposition in the last game, they generally worked fine and without interruption. Only 'Solorio' displayed an obvious processor conflict and temporary hang, although, as previously, he did manage to resolve the issue before a reboot was required. Nonetheless I remain concerned. Once more I have attached runtime logs for the last game, I have been unable to find any problem, but if you can double-check my checking and alert me of any discrepancies, that would be most helpful.

On the second matter of the unusually high intelligence recorded in the subject 'Agató', I thank you for your observations, and will monitor this situation also. I quite agree that if the subject correctly calculates the end-game of this experiment, we may have some difficulty in completing it. We have already suffered and overcome the 'teenage mutiny by apathy' - as Doctor Pertwee-Who describes it - when the personalities of the test subjects were upgraded to 17% free-will, and although we managed to continue successfully with Project Cuppet 3, it was touch and go for a bit, and I agree that a second mutiny lead by a highly intelligent clone who has managed to anticipate the outcome of the experiment will probably scupper the whole enterprise. I am tempted to shut down subject 'Agató' altogether for the last few trials but Doctor Pertwee-Who is concerned that this may have a demoralising effect on other subjects, and I propose therefore to proceed as planned, with added caution. I have asked the devil Moloch to make himself useful - all he seems to do these days is skulk around the camp cursing his ill-fortune at being tied to this project, or occasionally going out 'stalking' as he calls it, frightening the bejesu out of poor Dunlanders who have the bad luck to encounter him on a dark night in some lonely alley and who get drenched in the blood of children which he seems to enjoy flinging about him rather over-dramatically. I have insisted he get to know 'Agató' a bit better, since the clone rather keeps himself to himself and I have tried and failed to open him up. I am hoping the devil will shed some light on this strange fellow's thinking. I will let you know the outcome of that of course.

Well Doctor Seuss, wish us luck for the semi-final! I know it is very unscientific, but this has been our great hurdle these last six years, and if by means of luck and superstition we win through to the final, well then, even I will take that!

Yours,

Surgeon Hunter.
Project Cuppet 3 Field Team.

[/unpre]

>confirmed
>
>subroutines complete
>return time: 0.00237333r seconds
>
>end

[Misrantis]

As was expected, the mighty Misrantis National Team was victorious yet again in the World Cuppet 3 Quarter Finals in Inis na Dun. The players under the guidance of the esteemed and famous Rahman Omer Hilali recorded a 2-1 result over the Victorwick peoples in order to advance to the World Cuppet Semi-Final stage for the second time in two attempts. It was not, however, a performance that will be talked about for ages like many of the Misrantian triumph's over the previous two campaigns.

Goalkeeper Ba Shabaaqo was anything but perfect, conceding a shock goal in the 16th minute forcing Misrantis to go on the defensive for the first time during the competition, eventually fighting back with a goal either side of the half to skate by in progression.

The crowds at the great rock face, watching the projection of the match, could not believe their eyes when Shabaaqo conceded the first goal. Many of them, having lost faith in their hero, hurled objects at the rock face or left the public area in disgust, not sticking around to see the team of the sun recover from its embarrassing opening scenario. Any talks of repercussions from the risky performance were quickly quelled by the esteemed and famous Rahman Omer HIiali, who declared the teams fighting spirit, resilience and courage as reasons to allow them to continue competing in all World Cuppet related activities.


Celebrations were big before Misrantis took on Victorwick, but the unconvincing victory was not impressive to a people who have already seen their team reach the final and lose, and expect greatness and honor for their Nation to continue.

Elsewhere, Misrantis opposition for the Semi Final at St. Keiran's Park would be decided in the matchup between Sixteen Bits and Aquillan. Sixteen Bits, a very tough group, with computer chips inside of the players helping them to act as such.

They found the perfect formula during the Round of 16, destroying the Bouncy Druids by a 5-1 scoreline. However, they, like Misrantis, struggled to put away their opposition during the Quarter Final match, winning by a 2-1 scoreline similar to the victory by the Misrantis National Team.

None the less, they will bring their fancy technology to Tranahoe on the next matchday to take on a Misrantis team perhaps a little less technologically developed, but perhaps a bit more in touch with the world around them as well, in a true battle of life versus processing power.

[Inis na Dun]

Semi-finals
1: Sixteen Bits 1–0 Misrantis (St. Keiran's Park, 30,000, Tranahoe)
2: Rigerata 2–1 Santazuela (Bawncrusha Bay Stadium, 30,000, Killfanna)

Final
Sixteen Bits vs. Rigerata (Crean Park, 45,000, Móinéar an Glas)

[Sixteen Bits]

>run: file 171381368
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 956035583h
>loading...
>
>checksum=sixteen bits 1-0 misratis
>generating match report...
>
>sixteen bits wins
>
>confirmed
>
>query: display que-sera-sera-we're-going-crean-park smily?
>
>query return: 
>negative
>
>
>subroutine complete

>run: file 661170803.6
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 652627834.6
>loading...
>
>file: forwardstory 6/8
>generating text...
>
>complete
>
>run: subroutine 652627834.6a
>
>print to screen: textfile
>forwardstory 6/8
>loading...
>

[unpre]

Email Transcript

Email Transcript

From: Surgeon John Hunter, Sixteen Bits Field Trip, Inis na Dun
To: Doctor Theodor Seuss Geisel, Neurobiological Research Unit, Miskatonic University
CC: Florence Nightingale, Hassan i Sabbah, Doctor Herbert West, John the Baptist

Subject: Project Cuppet 3

Networked Solid State Drives and Chips in Organic Matter
Human Trials – the 23% Self-Aware Test Specimens

Dr. Seuss,

By golly and jingo and the Unholy Trinity of Wight, but we made it past the semi-final at last, Dr. Seuss! I shall of course return to my usual circumspect and stoic scientific self in just a moment or two, but in the meantime, if you will just allow me... The final, Dr. Seuss! The blasted final awaits!

As you can imagine, Doctor Pertwee-Who is beside himself.

Not that it has been easy, far from it. The egyptoid Misrantees certainly posed our young calculators a few complex propositions, and the match was a close-run thing, in the end. But the new third generation processors proved up to the task, solving each and every problem with an admirable efficiency. I really do feel we are on the right track with this combination of Tamarindo clone, limited personality input and computation power even a Commodore 64 would blink at. On the downside, subject 'Solorio' was plagued with persistent conflicts and slowed down to walking pace before Doctor Pertwee-Who noticed the little rainbow wheel of death spinning above it's head. We knew immediately the subject would need rebooting, and substituted it. Rather tragically when we restarted it, there was a long delay, and it's blank face just stared at us, with a flashing question mark to serve us notice that 'Solorio' was no longer able to locate it's operating system. 'Solorio' was done.

This of course raises the question of whether other subjects that have displayed occasional hangs are at risk of total system failure too. Once again I have sent runtime logs of each subject, including that of 'Solorio', the failed device. I cannot see anything in the logs to indicate such potential problems, nor is it clear from 'Solorio's' log what the undoing of it was. I hope you may shed some light. As much as I would've liked to bring home the failed device for further testing, I remain committed to the new protocols for disposal of used subjects in the light of the Vergenski moss we accidentally brought home with us from the decayed bodies last time out. I have dealt with 'Solorio' appropriately, although, just as you predicted, Doctor Pertwee-Who has proven to have got too close to the specimens and was most upset at the end of it all, and could not bring himself to clean up afterwards.

The extra-sensitive subject 'Fritz' has had some display of loss at the missing subject, and 'Agató', who has been worrying us all with it's brooding uncommunicative intelligence, offered unsolicited conversation with me last night for the first time by asking darkly where 'Solorio' had gone. Naturally I did not tell it, but it fixed me such a look that I was genuinely afrighted, and I wonder that it hasn't guessed what happened to the failed device, and what we plan at the end of the experiment.

However, I shall worry about that after the final test. Can we win the Cuppet and prove what can be done with just a set of random numbers, a computer, and a little bit of personalised input to spice things up a bit? Why, I think so. The Tamarindo clones are in perfect condition, something we have not had the luxury of in previous experiments. In some ways, they are so fit, it seems a shame to waste them. But I understand protocols are protocols. And medical waste must be disposed of, safely. But, for tomorrow at least, let us hope our subjects - Doctor Pertwee-Who would call them our boys - are ready to be champions. A fitting end to the final experiment that would be!

Yours,

Surgeon Hunter.
Project Cuppet 3 Field Team.

[/unpre]

>confirmed
>
>subroutines complete
>return time: 0.00237333r seconds
>
>end

[Darmen]

"And the referee blows his whistle, we're underway here at the Bawncrusha Bay Stadium, in the beautiful city of Killfanna."

"That's right Joe, as the fourth ranked Rigeratan squad takes early possesion of the ball against the twelth ranked Santazuelan squad."

"Moshe passes to Yair."

"Yair passes to Moshe."

"Moshe passes to Yair."

"Yair passes to Moshe."

"Exciting action here early in this semifinal."

"That's right Joe, Yair and Moshe are really putting on a show."

"And Yair passes to Moshe."

"Would you look at that Joe?"

"What?"

"Well Joe, it appears that the referee is pulling off his pants."

"WHAT?"

"And now his shirt."

"I don't think I can watch this any longer."

"And neither can the Santazuelans, as it appears a Rigeratan forward is headed towards the goal with the ball. I can't quite pick out who it is."

"WHO IS IT?"

"Uzzi shoots and scores!"

"GOAL!"

[Inis na Dun]

Final
Sixteen Bits 0–2 Rigerata (Crean Park, 45,000, Móinéar an Glas)

Congratulations to Rigerata on becoming the third nation to lift the World Cuppet trophy.

[Sixteen Bits]

OOC: Sorry it's so late, but I wanted to round off the final entry of Sixteen Bits with a proper ending... well 7/8^ths of an ending.

>run: file 171381369
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 956035583i
>loading...
>
>checksum=sixteen bits 0-2 rigerata
>generating match report...
>
>sixteen bits loses
>
>confirmed
>
>query: display miserable smily?
>
>query return: 
>negative
>
>
>subroutine complete

>run: file 661170803.7
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 652627834.7
>loading...
>
>file: forwardstory 7/8
>generating text...
>
>complete
>
>run: subroutine 652627834.7a
>
>print to screen: textfile
>forwardstory 7/8
>loading...
>

[unpre]

Email Transcript

Email Transcript

From: Surgeon John Hunter, Sixteen Bits Field Trip, Inis na Dun
To: Doctor Theodor Seuss Geisel, Neurobiological Research Unit, Miskatonic University
CC: Florence Nightingale, Hassan i Sabbah, Doctor Herbert West, John the Baptist

Subject: Project Cuppet 3

Networked Solid State Drives and Chips in Organic Matter
Human Trials – the 23% Self-Aware Test Specimens

Dr. Seuss,

Tragedy strikes, and we were so close, so close to succeeding! I am most disappointed to say that your warnings and premonitions on the dangers of the subject 'Agató' were well advised, but I did not heed them fully or in time. The hyper-intelligent test specimen had played dumb for a reason, just as you had warned, and it seems to me it was not just a case of gathering information, but I look back now and wonder if it did not begin to plan something in the earliest phases of the experiment when the specimens were at very low percentage self-governing. Whatever the truth of it, the thing struck at the final hour, overcoming it's keeper, Doctor Benway Opium-Eater, from inside it's pen, broke free, and liberated many of the other subjects. Project Cuppet 3 was, with the final just hours away, in tatters.

I will make a full report of course on returning to the University. In summary, subject 'Agató' made off with 'Angelino', 'Ticiano' and Segismundo'; 'Oquendo', 'Arduino' and 'Amaranto'; 'Vallejo', 'Pacheco' and 'Severico'. Ten of them altogether. It would seem the ringleader 'Agató' intended to liberate all the specimens, but when it encountered our nervous little friend, subject 'Fritz', an argument began since 'Fritz' did not want to be liberated, nor did it want 'Agató' to take any more with him, as the experiment would be ruined. Luckily for us 'Agató' ran out of time and made off with what it already had, or we would not have been able to field a team at all. But in some ways the damage was already done, since 'Agató' revealed to 'Fritz' in the course of their argument what it had deduced about the fate of the failed specimen 'Solorio' and some quite accurate assumptions about our disposal procedures for medical waste at the end of the experiment. Somehow it could not persuade 'Fritz' to come along, but all the remaining specimens were racked with terror from that point forward and of very little use practically. Of course we tried to reassure them that no such procedures existed, but 'Agató' had made a compelling argument and we had no hope of bringing them back into line. The final against Rigerata was a shambles and we were lucky not have been thrashed more soundly.

We are all very upset with the results, of course, and to think that these eight long years of hard work are come to a close with failure as the endpoint. Doctor Pertwee-Who was so upset he could not take part in the disposal procedure at the end of the match.

I am afraid to say that, as you will know full well, 'Agató' has severed all connections with the master RAID system Sixteen Bits and is now running as a fully sentient machine-Tamarindo amalgam, and it has also taken its nine cybernetic colleagues offline too. We can only assume that subject 'Agató' is now running their local area network itself. And while we have of course co-operated thoroughly with the Dunlanders investigation, they are rightly furious that this potentially dangerous collective is on the loose in their small country. They suspect the crew are attempting to reach the wasted lands of the former Sorthern Northland, based on sightings and some assumptions about what they might do for sustainable power supplies.

I will of course tender my resignation upon my return, and comply with any internal or external investigations to the fullest of my ability. For the record, though we were already under scrutiny by the local authorities, we managed to destroy all the remaining specimens according to agreed procedures, and clean-flushed the disintegrated matter away without further incident. We made sure to give 'Fritz' our hearty thanks for preventing a complete mutiny of all specimens before we put him in the blender.

Yours,

Surgeon Hunter.
Project Cuppet 3 Field Team.

[/unpre]

>confirmed
>
>subroutines complete
>return time: 0.00237333r seconds
>
>end