World Cup LXV (65) RP Thread

by **Farfadillis** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 4:03 pm

- Well... this might just have been a deja-vu of the match against Wight. Well, at least I hope it is. - Mordáz said to Rossizzo.

- I don't know, Gonzalo, all I know is we can't afford to lose like that again. It's not good for our chances, and it's not good for our minds. I'm pretty sure half the team will play horribly for months if they lose all their games by three goals.

- Well, that's right. But I think we might need to find the gadgets to fix in the machinery, if you get what I mean.

- The thing is, I don't believe anyone's at fault. The Federation was simply better than all of our players, maybe excluding just Dandalleion, Mêndêlöíndçêl and Lisdiren, who seem to be the ones who save us when we are in bad times. I believe the only difference is that we don't have Tuzzio anymore among those players who always play well. I think I'll have to talk to him. I mean, he's been playing ok lately, but not like he should.

- I agree. But surely, a 5-2 defeat has got to have someone at fault.

- No, not really, they just were better. Sure, you could blame Mêrí and Karkka for missing a goal each, but then again they helped out a lot in the defense anyways. I think their style canceled us well. They were pretty fast and could get past Faró by outnumbering us in their counterattacks. The midfield was somewhat of a fight, with them winning just a bit. However, their win probably lies on their ability to skip the midfield and attack right away, which is a problem we've always had to face. It's like the downside to our attacking formation, counterattacks destroy us, and we need to be in very good form to outscore the opposition.

- I would've said Wii-Tzaara was at fault because of that horrible pass of his, but I guess he's ok after the goal he scored.

- Yeah, that too. Well, I've got to talk to Tuzzio, I'll see you later and tell you what I got out of the conversation.

- Good luck. - Mordáz said, hoping that something would be fixed with a simple conversation.

He knocked the door. The knock was met with a very silent and to a point depressing "who's there". Tuzzio had always been the kind of guy to sound energetic, despite what life had done to him. Even though that bedroom was Dandalleion's, as well as Mêrí's, he just knew it was Tuzzio. Mêrí and Dandalleion were that kind of players who are impossible to corrupt, they sound serious whenever they are not joking. Tuzzio, on the other hand, is the guy who sounds happy but you just know he must be hiding something. However, he wasn't really hiding anything, each and every teammate knew what he had been going through since he was 16.

- Me, Rossizzo.

Much to Rossizzo's surprise, this was met with a rather disrespectful response.

- What do you want? - it was now evident Tuzzio wasn't in a good mood, as he had never been disrespectful to him.

- I want to talk to you, Tuzzio.

Tuzzio opened the door and let him in, his eyes seemed like crystals. As soon as Rossizzo got in, he closed the door rather violently. Rossizzo sat on Mêrí's bed and started the conversation.

- Look, Tuzzio. You've been playing a lot worse than what you used to, and I'm now genuinely worried.

- Why are you so worried, you've got like four more players who can save you besides me. Friekder, Sê, Ikkon, Yurpá, Erfaon. Why me?

- You've always been among what I call our "fantastic four", ok? You, Friekder, Erfaon and Yurpá. However, as of late they've only been three. Back at World Cup 63, whenever we weren't playing well, like against Kiryu-shi, the four of you would save us from a terrible fate. However, you've now left them alone, and the effects are easy to see. Do you understand the frustration Friekder must be undergoing now that he doesn't have you as partner to turn the tables around? Or Yurpá, who now doesn't have you as a sure-fire way of passing the ball and generating danger. Or maybe Lisdiren, that has to stop a lot of goals constantly but has to face the crude reality of the entire team not scoring as much as it used to.

- I believe you're exaggerating, we've been scoring the same, if not more.

- But against what teams? New Lowerlands? Timfen? Whenever it matters, we get destroyed like yesterday. We even lost to Colland, Sicoutimont, an average team, should've qualified over us, mainly because you weren't really there in the second match. When we lost to Wight some years ago in the opening match e at least played well. Polar Islandstates tore us apart. Now don't dare tell me we don't need you. Just tell me what's going on.

- Fine... - Tuzzio said, as he sat next to him. - I'm guessing you know what has happened to me since I was 16?

- Yes, the Dandillis thing. I sometimes forget you're not really Farf.

- That doesn't really matter, I've always felt the same for this country and its shirt as any other player. The thing is, have you heard about what happened just a few weeks after I left Dandillis?

- Yes, the no-returners thing. It's one of the things that stopped me from calling up a few Dandish players for a trial.

- Well, basically, I've been taken away from my family by a very irrational decision. And I haven't seen them for more than five years now. I've always tried to endure it, and Dandalleion and Mêndêlöíndçêl always helped me do it, they've been through a lot as well, though you might not know. And, well, all those years have been a lot, I just think I won't be able to endure it anymore. To make matters worse, I sometimes feel it's all because of this sport, which I somehow both love and hate. It's made me happier than anything else, but at the same time very sad. I just decided to continue my career because there was no way back. Back at the time, I would've gone back to Dandillis no matter the price.

- I see... - Rossizzo stopped to think for a bit.

- Well, now that I've told you the problem, how do you intend to solve it? Football got me to Farfadillis, but how do I get to Dandillis, even if only for a few days?

- I've got an idea.

- What is it?

- Look, I know someone. He's a diplomat. I might get him into some trouble, but at the cost of getting to know you, and even do you a favour, he'll do it.

- Do what? And who's this someone?

- Get you into Dandillis, though only once. This someone is called Fer Grecco.

- WHAT?

- What happens?

- I don't think he'll help me.

- Why?

- I happen to know him...

- Have you fought with him or something?

- He's my uncle... and the first one to be against me leaving Farfadillis.

- So what? If anything, he's your uncle, he'll obviously help you.

- Not really, he was always the kind of guy who would do anything to make you learn your lesson. He was against me leaving, he'll just tell me to stick to my decision and mind my business or something. I know him.

- Hmm... Still worth a shot, I believe. If anything, I can just pay him money and not reveal your identity.

- I can pay for you. - said Tuzzio, visibly happy.

- There's no need. - Rossizzo said. - Just be happy and stop worrying. Sooner or later, you'll see your family, just try to play well, play as you used to, just try to play.

- I'll try my best.

- I'm glad... and well, I've got to leave. See you this afternoon.

- Goodbye.

Rossizzo got up and left the room, he had to tell Mordáz about the conversation, after all.

- So... what's gonna happen? The match against Ko-oren is in two days. - Mordáz said

- I think he's going to become his former self, gradually maybe.

- Good, what was the exact problem?

- Well, didn't you already know anyways?

- Oh, that, right.

- Anyways, we've got to plan the match against Ko-oren, who are more defensive than Polar Islandstates, but far more accessible.

- I believe our line-up right now is the best one possible for that match.

- I'm glad we think the same...

23rd of September
English Edition

Bring the heat

I mean, please bring the heat. Those cold-blooded Terns just tore us apart. Five-two, and it could've been worse. The team found itself against someone superior, but we tend to start badly and finish well anyways, so we can still trust our players, even after this disastrous performance. The Federation was filled with better players, and their style destroyed ours, with fast counterattacks and enough efficiency to make it embarrassing, even though they weren't exactly efficient.

The first twenty minutes were a very brutal torture, as the Polarians had almost as many chances as minutes, getting eleven shots on goal. Out of all of them, three went in, with Saarinen scoring a beautiful header after a corner in which the Farves outnumbered the Polarians. Just three minutes after that goal, Villeneuve scored a long shot which went directly to the upper-right corner of the goal, and that completely destroyed us. Just nine minutes into the game and the Polarians were winning by two. The third goal came in the twentieth minute after van Sorensen sent a long pass to Illich-Svitych in a fantastic counterattack. Illich-Svitych then dribbled Lisdiren and scored the third goal of the match, proving we've still got a long way to go to be at the top of the world. After that, we somehow managed to make things a bit less embarrassing. It may have been because they were merciful or something. It's actually very likely. However, they scored another goal in the forty-fourth minute, after a cross by Kungas-Vaga. There were a series of rebounds in the box and, in the middle of it, Cornelius managed to heel it out of the gigantic mess and give it to Oyen-Spekke, who was waiting outside of the box. Oyen-Spekke shot, with the ball heading towards the center. However. it hit Mî's head mid-air and changed direction, leaving Lisdiren out of the equation and going in. The goal was the final nail in the team's coffin. The referee, obviously saddened, blew the whistle as soon as he could, in the forty-fifth minute.

After half time, however, the team seemed to get back on track, as Dandalleion quickly managed to score a consolation goal in the fourth minute. Tuzzio got the ball outside the box and Karkka a through pass. Karkka got into the box thanks to it and managed to dribble a Polarian defender. He then shot to the goal as strongly as he could. The shot was met by the hands of the Polarian goalkeeper, but he couldn't keep the ball and instead gave a rebound. Dandalleion, who was running towards the box at the time, came in running and shot without stopping, giving every Farf in the world some consolation. However, the Polarians would be mean again, as Kolehmainen, who had replaced Saarinen, chipped the ball over Lisdiren when he faced them after a brilliant pass by Zeljeznicar, who had replaced van Sorensen, after Wii-Tzaara accidentally passed him the ball. The goal was only the cherry of the cake, as the game had finished already a long time ago. After that goal, the game was rather balanced, with the Polarians still playing better than us, but not that much. We'd be the ones with the last word, however, with a goal by Wii-Tzaara in the eighty-eighth minute. Tuzzio crossed the ball, Dandalleion then headed it. The ball then bounced off the crossbar and fell in Wii-Tzaara's head, who then headed it in almost accidentally. The game would finish with that scoreline, five-two.

All in all, this game is like a red alarm, if we play like this against Ko-oren, we are almost officially dead, while a tie is something we could negotiate as long as we beat The Sylvanaes Queendom. Let's all hope this doesn't become a trend.

by **Vilita** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 4:17 pm

OOC: Sargossa got their RP up rightly while I was still messing around with formatting, so I've gone back and re-written the majority of mine to match. If there is anything that I have left out, please TG me and I will fix.

Jungle Cats Out-Duel Corsairs

Stein-los, Pasarga :: The Vilita Jungle Cats have opened the World Cup 65 Finals in unfamiliar fashion - with a victory.

It was a beautiful day in Stein-los as the Vilita Jungle Cats and Sargossa Corsairs stepped onto the pitch to begin their respective World Cup 65 qualifying campaigns. The referee, Happy Scamperer of the Paradystopi Lymryk Isles, led the teams out of the tunnel, followed by the captains, Miiara Makose of Vilita and Alejandro Echeverría of Sargossa.

Prior to kickoff, Vilitan head coach Calaesa Mitaroka shook hands with Sargossa's Iarlaith Mag Aonghusa. The two exchanged a small bit of conversation, with Mitaroka' quipping about the state of affairs in Sorthern Northland, the former homeland of Iarlaith Mag Aonghusa who led the Sortherners to back-to-back World Cup titles during World Cup 55 and World Cup 56.

Mitaroka, himself, was quite nervous, knowing that being favored to advance from the World Cup Group Stage was certainly no guarantee of success. The Jungle Cats had faltered under Mitaroka's leadership during the previous two World Cup's, despite nearing perfection during the qualification stage for both competitions. Anything less than a Quarter-Final appearance would certainly mean the end of Mitaroka's time in charge, and he knew it.

That made it all the more unexpected when Mitaroka uncharacteristically punched the sky when Kristofer Kilpter opened the scoring 18 minutes in to give Vilita the lead, with the Vilitan sideline expecting that this was the goal that would give them the three points they needed for a comfortable start to group A competition.

The lead did not last long, however, as Sargossa's Federico Ferreyra equalized just over 5 minutes later. It was instant deflation for Mitaroka, who could see his job being terminated before his eyes. After failing to win a single match during World Cup 64, it seemed the trend was continuing. Thankfully, the inclusion of Lita Adjei in the squad despite a lack of production during the qualifiers would prove to be an expert decision on the part of Mitaroka. Adjei would immediately respond to put the Jungle Cats back on top by a 2-1 scoreline.

Sargossa came roaring back from there and the Rushmori Champs appeared set to take a 3-2 lead into the half after goals from Mariano Estrada and Sebastián Canteros.

Just before the half, however, Lita Adjei struck again, stealing in on a weak back pass from Mauro Fernandez that rolled slowly in the grass as Corsairs goalkeeper Ezequiel Medrán hesitated, ensure whether to sprawl for the ball and risk a penalty, or, retreat and protect the net.

Adjei easily poached the ball under the indecisive Medrán to ensure the scores were level after 45 minutes.

The match was extremely free-flowing up to that point, with the only stoppages coming during the onslaught of goals and corner kicks being delivered by both sides, a total of 12 in the first half. Otherwise, Lymryki official Scamperer seemed quite hesitant to stop the play, even when a few questionable challenges came in from both sides of the ball.

While the scoreline was tightened, the result never truly seemed a certainty at any point during the second half, until the Jungle Cats broke through and changed the game 15 minutes from time.

Making his first appearance in the World Cup Finals, Rotropii put in a strong performance and contributed to Jomur Hulyer's 75th minute goal by providing the long-ball the Hulyer transitioned smartly into a quick shot from distance. Already out of position, Ezequiel Medrán was caught further off-guard when Hulyer's rocket bounced off the backside of Leandro Gonzales and made a 45-degree bee-line for the opposite corner of the net.

Wheeling off in delight, Hulyer's dedication to the National Team was certainly seeming to pay off at this moment as the Jungle Cats appeared to have broken the snide that had followed them around during the previous two World Cup Finals.

With the game already in their hands, the Jungle Cats never really looked like giving it up, with Nycflala Kater proving as good as ever stopping the Corsairs multiple times and allowing Vilita to counter with the play continuing to flow non-stop from the outset.

It was Hulyer once again who set up the final goal, a monumental and historic one for the youngster Nili Ylimaiina who was the surprise introduction in the 80th minute when Kristofer Kilpter left the pitch. It was Hulyer who intercepted another weak pass in the Sargossa midfield before spotting the unmarked forward on the halfway line and placing a lawn-trimmer over the top in just the right spot between the goalkeeper and the center circle to allow the pacey Ylimaiina the chance to out run the defense and stab the ball under the on-rushing Ezequiel Medrán to complete the scoring for the Jungle Cats.

As Happy Scamperer put the whistle to his mouth to indicate full time, a visible sigh of relief came over the Vilitan bench. They had won over 30 international matches since the last time they won one of them in the World Cup Finals, but now, the Jungle Cats were back. Perhaps, more importantly, they had just taken down their biggest threat in Group A, and had two more matches to secure the points they needed to return to the knockout rounds for the first time since World Cup 62.

	Sargossa
:: Goalscorers :: :: 18' Kristofer Kilpter :: 26' Lita Adjei :: 40' Lita Adjei :: 75' Jomur Hulyer :: 85' Nili Ylimaiina	:: Goalscorers :: :: 25' Federico Ferreyra :: 29' Mariano Estrada :: 35' Sebastián Canteros :: ::
:: Best Player: Endur Rotropii :: Worst Player: Kiroki Mitaroka :: Shots on Target: 8 :: Corner Kicks: 11	:: Best Player: Rodrigo Defederico :: Worst Player: Mariano Estrada :: Shots on Target: 6 :: Corner Kicks: 6

-------------------------------------------
:: MATCH RATINGS ::
-------------------------------------------
GK:: Nycflala Kater - [4]
D.:: Miiara Makose - [9]
D.:: Kadi Molali - [7]
D.:: Endur Rotropii - [7]
ML:: Jomur Hulyer - [7]
MC:: Riksa Valjariia - [7]
MC:: Steffyn Siazzu - [7]
MC:: Kiroki Mitaroka - [6]
MR:: Relmar Winauat - [7]
FC:: Lita Adjei - [7]
FC:: Kristofer Kilpter - [7]
Vilitan Subs Bench:
FC:: Nili Ylimaiina - [6]
FC:: Xcnaio Bansoa - [DNP]
M:: Viliaka Morasita - [DNP]
M:: Manolis Kontalroma - [DNP]
U:: Ricata Amakra - [DNP]
D:: Sipaao Vereaoao - [DNP]
GK:: Jaqe Planst - [DNP]

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Nycflala Kater, [D.] Miiara Makose, [D.] Kadi Molali, [D.] Endur Rotropii, [ML] Jomur Hulyer, [MC] Riksa Valjariia, [MC] Steffyn Siazzu, [MC] Kiroki Mitaroka, [MR] Relmar Winauat, [FC] Lita Adjei, [FC] Kristofer Kilpter
BENCH::
[FC] Xcnaio Bansoa, [FC] Nili Ylimaiina, [M] Viliaka Morasita, [M] Manolis Kontalroma, [U] Ricata Amakra, [D] Sipaao Vereaoao, [GK] Jaqe Planst

Vilita Substitutions::
:: 80' Kristofer Kilpter >> Nili Ylimaiina

by **New Montreal States** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 4:46 pm

Edgar Augustus de la Ware and V. Lionel Norton-Bradthwaite, former Chap Olympians, are seated in the television lounge of the Drones Club, accompanied by the club's butler/steward/master bartender, McPherson.

"McPherson, I said I wanted my ale at room temperature, and this is at least 55 degrees."

"Yes, sir."

"Unacceptable, I say."

"Yes. sir."

"Next thing I know, you lot in the kitchen will be serving us pollock and claiming it's sea bass...OH I SAY!"

"Pardon, sir?"

"Not you, McPherson. LADS! THE PALADINS ARE ON THE TELLY!"

"Don't tell me you've gone all bourgeois in your dotage, Eddie old chum."

"They're playing Apox! The nation that oh-so-narrowly bested us all those years ago during the Chap Olympiad!"

"Eddie old boy, how ungentlemanly of you, to dredge up trivialities from the past."

"Quite so, Lionel. Guilty as charged, what. But I do confess to a spot of boredom this afternoon, and I rather fancy that cheering for the Paladins might be a bit of catharsis, eh, wot?"

"You mean, we could vicariously overcome our failures through the success of supremely gifted men we've never met, after we've spent ninety minutes cheering him on and thereby feeling like we possess a totally unearned stake in his triumph?"

"That's about right, yes."

"Brilliant! I was going to feed the butlers bowls of spiderwebs again, but this seems like a much better idea."

**********************************************

Ten minutes into the match

"Well, this is surprisingly civilized."

"Almost as if the players are seeking to emulate us chaps in their attitudes toward sport."

"I was expecting a scene of barely controlled violence on the pitch, while the drunken stumblebums in the stands indicated their approval by copious vomiting cheap beer and fortified wine all over the place, but this is almost appropriate to a gentleman of leisure."

"Indeed! Those seven men in the back keep dispossessing the Red Dragons, passing the ball forward for Nguyen, Powell Hughes and Quagliata to charge forward into the fray, and then the Apoxians simply give them a well-mannered shove and reclaim the ball for their own."

"I say! That Nguyen fellow has managed to avoid the shove, and is pushing onward towards the net! But he missed! And now - the ball is just being handed back to the Apox goaltender, and everyone is heading back down the pitch towards the other end."

"Indeed! Quite couth of them."

"Couth?"

"Well, if one's ill manners are considered to be uncouth, then surely one's good manners must then be considered to be couth?"

"I don't believe it works like that, Eddie."

"Well it ought to."

"I agree with you, old bean, but what's to be done? The language has gone to the dogs since they let the middle class start editing the dictionaries."

**********************************************

Thirty-three minutes into the match

"I've been meaning to ask this for a while now, Eddie. Why is that man on the Paladins' sidelines wearing an orange-blue robe and chanting mantras at his defense?"

"i don't know, Lionel. McPherson, do you know why he's wearing those gaudy things?"

"I believe that's the interim manager. He's a neo-Karelan."

"Are those the crazy chaps who go about testing your personality to get rid of the spirits of goals scored millions and millions of years ago?"

"Those are Karentologists, sir. They wear naval uniforms for some reason. No, the manager is a hippie, not a cultist. He's trying to bring back some kind of ancient Rejistanian football-based philosophy."

**********************************************

At the kickoff of the second half

"McPherson, what's the manager doing down there? It looks like he's waving about a bundle of grass clippings."

"He's burning sage, sir."

"Sage? What they flavor sausages with?

"And many other things as well, sir."

"Why would they burn it, then?"

"Hippies are rather fond of it, I'm told. They do so to attract good fortune or drive off bad luck, depending."

"Does it smell good at all, McPherson?"

"I'm afraid not, sir. I have smelt it before, and it smells rather like someone lighting a spice rack on fire."

"Ah. Fortune favors the anosmatics, then?"

"You might say that, sir."

**********************************************

In the 65th minute of the match

"Oh I say! That Lavaillère fellow certainly asserted himself there, and he seems to have taken advantage of that! And it's that Pacitalian chap!"

"He seems to have missed, sir."

"But that Nguyen fellow scored! I say! What an exhilarating moment!"

"Perhaps it's just the gin speaking there, Lionel."

"No, no, I definitely felt something tug at the old emotions there, Eddie. Some faint stirrings of patriotism, even."

"You've either had too much to drink or not enough, old chap."

"And only one of those problems is immediately solvable. McPherson, another one, same as the last one, if you please."

**********************************************

After the final whistle

"Is that time?"

"Yes, sir."

"Firm handshakes all around, then! How gentlemanly."

"I say, Lionel, do you feel any better about our defeat all those years ago?"

"Eh?"

"Apox narrowly edging us out in that competition to see who could best uphold the best traditions of chaphood?"

"Oh that!"

"Right!"

"Well done for them, I guess! I can certainly say that this is nothing that couldn't be solved by another round of gin and tonics."

"Absolutely not!"

by **Equestrian States** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 5:31 pm

Coach's Notes: #10 The Archregimancy vs. #28 Equestrian States

- We've got a few more minutes til the prematch ceremonies and everything's looking good. Footage shows monks weaker in air. We ought to exploit that whenever we can.

- Monks up to some weird stuff on the field. Praying? Fine. Eating grass...what? Odd. Not sure if these humans have found out about how nice grass tastes, or if they're going to extreme lengths to mock us...

- Thank Celestia we didn't have to play these guys at home. Their "national anthem" like thing is a bit too long for my taste and apparently it was abbreviated. Wouldn't wanna sit through the full thing.

- Match started. Not much to say. Not seeing many balls go airborne, though.

- Starting to get some pressure on High Soarin. The guy's been rusty for the last few months. Must be Twilight Striker's off days. Resting too much, not enough hard work. Needs practice.

- Goal early for the monks. Could use some work defending set pieces. Nasty curve on the shot too. High Soarin never had a chance.

- Oh come on everypony! Really!? You gave them that one! Two minutes after you give up an opener, you're not supposed to fall back and defend! Not unless you're facing a 1-1-8 or something else stupid aggressive. Things not looking good, to say the least.

- Okay, better. We're doing well keeping them off the ball right now, but possession is still lopsided overall. Need to press them harder.

- Quick ~~hoof~~ footwork from the monks. Keeping it on the ground unless they have a man open. Shift to man coverage?

- Half. Score could be worse. Possession improving for us. Winning 99% of balls in air. Try to fire on goal from a distance. Look for a header or force a corner. Need to make things happen now!

- Attacking as planned. Momentum is friendly right now.

- Counterattack on for monks. Ball skipping over grass. For all their oddities, the monks can play.

- Low curving pass into box. High Soarin having trouble again.

- Hat trick. Twilight looks ticked off as Tartarus. Could swear her mane started smoking there.

- Team in overwhelm mode now. Need goals and we need them now.

- Five minutes left. This thing is over. Still attacking, but we won't get a point tonight.

- Two shots off each post in less than a minute. This is painful.

- One minute of added time? Surprised we got that much.

- Whistle. That's a win for them on one monk's foot alone, basically. Score a bit uglier than the actual match. Solid effort by us. Just didn't get what we needed when we needed it. Plenty of things to work on too.

- Twilight looking angrily at High Soarin = change in goal? Not sure if Gentle Breeze is ready for this sort of thing yet...

OOC: A bit burned out on my standard approach right now, and I've got a nice set of CoH RPs to grade. So here's something new from me.

by **Turori** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 6:37 pm

Eels Steal a Point from the Hosts
Turori [2] - [2] Saugeais

The Turori Eels rolled into Montbenoit riding a wave of positive results - just two defeats in their last 20 matches - looking to upset the odds and advance from Group E of the World Cup Finals and add another mark on the long-list of Turori National Team entries to make it to the Knockout Stage of the World Cup Finals.

The Eels would have it all to do on the first matchday, expecting some 68,000+ home fans to be rooting distinctly against the visitors from the Island Emirate.

Coach Ematora Saenu ensured that his side would arrive early to Montbenoit to get accustomed to the atmosphere, timezone and even the local food so as not to encounter any unwelcome surprises on matchday.

Forty-eight hours before the match, the players got a 'night out on the town' to ease their spirits and just to have a night of fun.

Different groups of players went off in different directions and did different things. The goalkeepers, Hooizo Nuakoi, Mumau Atla-Siioai and Ronji Miiastara were hanging out at a strangely-shaped metallic structure that offered a sea of onlookers the opportunity to take pictures of themselves at somewhat distorted perspectives. There was also a center-portion of the structure that provided some stiff necks for those looking at multiple reflections of themselves from below.

Yoains Konoaafeo, Moia Fliporta, Balariita Muzmaara, Rutaj Ranaso and Tiika Diirotora all went down to ride on a Ferris Wheel. They rode it over and over, trying to rock the wheel as they went around. Afterwards they went inside to eat. They sat down at a fast food joint, well, most of them did. Fliporta just couldn't stop staring at the odd-looking mural that was painted on the ceiling.

It appeared to be the city of Montbenoit... but from the perspective of... a fish.

How odd, Fliporta thought, what would give someone the idea to paint such an odd thing on a ceiling?

The next day, as they players convened from training, Moia Fliporta went on to tell each and every player about the painting of the city of Montebenoit from the fishes point of view.

In fact, most players didn't care one iota and tried to ignore the Kiiarana City Defender. However, Noia-isinao Wioauoi and Matlya Eelador seemed quite intrigued by the painting, and vowed to accompany Fliporta back to the fast food joint with the painting later that day so they could witness it themselves.

...

Midway through their match against hosts Saugeais, coach Ematora Saenu was really regretting having let the players explore the town before the business of actually playing the matches they came here to play was done. Sure, the Eels weren't expected to do anything great, the lowest seed in their group afterall, but He was hoping they could put up a better performance than this.

Lioniaa Tana was lucky to escape with only a yellow card after taking down Alphonse Richelieu midway through the first half and the home side had already amassed a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from François Bourgogne and Casimir Archambault.

Saenu wasn't exactly sure what to say at half time. In fact, he was kind of distracted, he kept thinking about that stupid painting that Fliporta was going around yapping about the day before.

Then he got it. Eels. They were the Eels - they were the fishes. They were the ones with the whole of Montbenoit looking down at them. It was time for the Eels to rise up and get perspective.

Did the Turori National Team want to spend their entire time in Montbenoit as the little Eels, the little fishes from which the perspective was drawn on this mural? Being looked down upon as an inferior team by the other nations, fans and media in attendance in Saugeais' capital?

No, they certainly didn't. The Eels responded immediately to Saenu's actual-event inspired half time pep talk and equalized within moments of the restart with Jukia Diijelhma setting up Liinai Zakazaka for a crisp volley as the tables began to turn. The Eels appeared the better side for long stretches of the second half, after being completely underwhelmed during the opening 45 minutes.

The Eels equalized just over 15 minutes from time after a Raso Tareak shot was mishandled by goalkeeper Vincent James and rolled into the back of the net. The crowd was in shock, the boos rained down and even the Turorian sideline was a little confused at how to react to such an unpredictable equalizer.

Continuing to apply the pressure, Turorian fans will certainly talk for ages about the 84th minute winner that never counted. Liinai Zakazaka put the ball into the back of the net but it was called back for offisde. It was the last good chance of the match for either side, and for the Eels, while they may feel aggreved at not winning the match in the second half, it was certainly a point gained on paper, and not so much 2 points conceded as it may seem from the perspective of the home side.

Fortunately for the Eels, they got the toughest match out of the way, at least from a fanbase perspective. Their remaining two opposition, both neighbors from Atlantian Oceania, will prove to be more equal opponents from a perspecitve of hostile, or, less hostile chants from the crowd.

The Eels will be looking to come away with a victory against Kiryu-Shi in order to have a chance at advancing to the knockout round against Wight on Matchday 3.
Turori Goalscorers::
46' Liinai Zakazaka
74' Raso Tareak

Saugeais Goalscorers::
10' François Bourgogne
27' Casimir Archambault

Turori

Best Player: Lioniaa Tana
Worst Player: Liinai Zakazaka
Shots on Target: 6
Corner Kicks: 7

Saugeais

Best Player: François Bourgogne
Worst Player: Alphonse Richelieu
Shots on Target: 7
Corner Kicks: 5

Turori Eels Lineup ::
[GK] Hooizo Nuakoi, [D] Diauro Dlaminii, [D] Lioniaa Tana, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [UT] Restiaa Mumamba, [ML] Raso Tareak, [MC] Cediici Tzatzos, [MC] Rutaj Ranaso, [MR] Etamara Kulkkiia, [FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [FC] Jukkia Diijelhma
BENCH::
[FC] Enluta Makakio, [FC] Loala Kigoouao, [M] Vrotaoa Lorasoiba, [M] Tiika Diirotora, [UT] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Balariita Muzmaara, [GK] Ronji Miiastara

Turori Substitutions::
(80) - Jukkia Diijelhma >>> Enluta Makakio

by **Saugeais** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 7:07 pm

Giving you your daily dose of stupid, it's time for the second day for group matches for A-D!

Scores

by **Audioslavia** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 7:08 pm

Overly-Defensive, Negative Tactics in Bulls' Opener

Ah, 'Defending Champions'. Such a sweet phrase, but one that can be turned around quickly and easily by one's detractors. Rejistania had had to put up with the same problem.

Audioslavia's riches-to-rags-to-riches story has gained the national team a few fans on their journey from fledgling lightweights in World Cup 59 to world and AO champions in the sixty-fourth cycle, but few could argue against the assertation that, were it not for the narrative, Audioslavia would have few neutrals behind them.

The football our nation plays is, it has to be said, boring. Effective? Usually. The reason we're world champions in the first place? Almost definitely. Interesting to watch? Not a bit of it. The Rejistanians - the original purveyors of defence-for-defence's-sake negative football - at least played their defensive football from their collective heart, like a gospel choir preaching the word of Karela to the masses. Audioslavia's defensive prediliction seems, on the other hand, to be more of an protestant ordeal - players lining up in their positions on the weekend simply because they know nothing else.

Starblaydia were the Rawrcrush Champions, Sylvanaes the Unfathomable, Valanora the Eternal Champions andd Aguazul were the Irrepressible champs. Audioslavia? We're the Defending Champions.

Although one can't glean too much from just one match, Audioslavia's performance against Licentian Isles showed little of the counterplay the team are famous for. The Bull were off the pace, lacked cohesion and, for large periods of the game, looked on the verge of a bit upset.

Up next are Mytannion and Eura - two teams firmly embedded in the world's top twenty-five and, although the Bulls will go into each game as favourites, they can't expect to be allowed to get away with the mistakes they made in that first game.

IBSD, G'NB

by **Pasarga** » Sun Jul 14, 2013 7:44 pm

So who is going to be brokenhearted after this round of results?

MD2

by **The Archregimancy** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 10:11 am

OOC - I've taken a couple of IC liberties with a couple of nations here; if anyone objects, TG me, and I'll edit accordingly.

Monastic
Quarterly
The Magazine for Monks

Desert Training
The Monastic Training Regime That Swept Ordinary Reality!

By Fr. Euphemius the Erudite

In retrospect, it was likely the Archregimancy's extraordinary World Cup group stage 5-3 victory over Starblaydia that really launched the desert training fad in Ordinary Reality. 3-1 down at half-time, and apparently over-run by the 6th best team in the multiverse, Fr. Basil was quick to attribute his team's four unanswered second-half goals to - in addition to 'God's infinite and unknowable mercy' - the team's "superior fitness and stamina brought about by weeks of training in the merciless, unremitting heat of the desert".

It was in Starblaydia itself where the fad first took firm root, as Starblaydi citizens from all species started to set aside 2-3 weeks a year to engage in desert training.

In some extreme cases, Starblaydis actually voluntarily moved to desert climates year round. In one of the most famous cases, newlywed Kasia Di Bradini (a distant relative by marriage of iconic Starblaydi footballer and Dreamed Realm celebrity Simeone Di Bradini) shocked her extended family by accepting a teaching post in the hottest and driest location in all of Atlantian Oceania, taking her brand-new graphic designer husband with her, just for the health benefits. "I don't particularly care for Orthodoxy" said Ms Di Bradini at the time "but there's no arguing with the Archregimancy squad's fitness. That Fr. Artemius may not be entirely hygienic, but he was unstoppable in the second half."

It was when the fad reached Polar Islandstates, though, that Ordinary Reality trend-setters and hipsters really started to take notice across the multiverse; if desert training could become fashionable in one of the coldest active sporting nations amongst the mundies, where couldn't it reach? Before the 65th edition was even over, national team manager Morten Rasmussen was forced to issue a denial that he was already planning on taking his team to the searing deserts of Phoenigetuzstha prior to the next World Cup, but the artificial desert dune environment permanently heated to 42 degrees Celsius subsequently built at the Mall of the Islandstates nonetheless became a major tourist attraction for visitors to Franz Josef City.

But perhaps the greatest shock of all was when a statement was issued in the name of Comrade Faisal bin Rashid al Nuami, Chairman of the Revolutionary Politburo of World Cup 2 champions Al Quds, stating that the nation would not come out of hiding and return to full participation in either the multiverse generally or the World Cup specifically just because 'running around in the desert had suddenly become fashionable' with several leading nations in the World Cup.

By then it was clear that barely an Ordinary Reality nation (except perhaps Valanora, where the elves were often reluctant to participate in 'passing fancies of short-lived humans') didn't have at least one 'desert training school' somewhere, even if the only known example in Bostopia was the Emperor Boston's enclosed personal sandbox with six hairdryers blowing through the air vents.

by **United Gordonopia** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:10 pm

The Beautiful Game: A History of Football in Gordonopia
By Dr. Frank Donaugh, Imperial University

Chapter XIII - War Changes Everything

Throughout the final decades of the 20th century, football slowly surpassed running in many areas, including television viewership, though it should be noted that to this day major road running events draw millions, if not tens of millions, to their routes, and there are more individuals who identify as runners than who actually play football. Organized football in Gordonopia grew with the GFA at the helm, and at the turn of the millenia Gordonopia finally began to look outward.

Traditionally, the nation has been extremely inward looking, remaining relatively isolated for most of its history and even today participating in a very small number of organized international events. So, when the GFF announced that it would form a National Team to attempt to qualify for the 49th World Cup, and compete in the accompanying Baptism of Fire 36, a major shift seemed underway. At that time, there were only a handful of internationals competing in the GFA, all of them from neighboring Dienstadi countries that were not known for their international football prowess.

After a knockout round finish in the BoF and last-placed finish in the World Cup, there were some hesitant to continue, though the GFF insisted that the nation simply needed time to build a national infrastructure, aided by the fact that the GFA would begin sending representatives to UICA competitions. Though it would likely take several cycles, Gordonopia could eventually climb the ranks.

All of that changed with New München. On a small island off the coast of Northern Gordonopia, home to little besides a handful of key military intelligence and detention facilities, the war alternately known as the War of Restoration and the Second Gordonopian Civil War, had its beginning. Field Marshall William Raleigh VII, commander of the Inner Colonial Defense Force and head of the deposed House of Raleigh, Gordonopia's last royal house, took control of the island and in doing so crippled the Republican government's intelligence gathering capacity.

Over the next few months, the remainder of the inner colonies either joined Raleigh's cause or were occupied by his growing forces. As the Colonies had always been the first line of defense for Gordonopia, it took time to mobilize forces on the Mainland, and by the time the Republic was prepared to fight back, Raleigh's Monarchist supporters had already established a beachhead in the North.

What would follow turned out to be the bloodiest war in Gordonopian history, fought across the length of the continent and devastating vast swaths of land, both urban and rural. It was a total war, and sport was not spared. Though running managed to persist through the war in a greatly reduced fashion, football took a significantly greater hit to its playership and fan ranks. Countless teams saw most or all of their rosters head off to war for either side, while many playing areas were destroyed in the fighting. While the grounds of running's holiest site, the Aurelleon, managed to survive unscathed, no football stadiums had such a high place in the collective Gordonopian soul.

After several years of fighting and roughly a hundred million lives lost, the Republic finally fell. The coming peace, though, did not bring about the immediate return of sport. Though the amateur competitions for both running and football were quickly revitalized, providing an escape from the grueling rebuilding process, it was not until 2012 that top level competition resumed, though the new league, the Gordonopia Premier League, was a whole new animal.

Perhaps it was because the nation had been tempered by fire, or perhaps it was simply because a generation had faced things unimaginable by their parents, the new football started on a level unimaginable before the war. Within ten years, Gordonopia would rise from an unranked returnee to a two-time World Cup qualifier and semi-finalist, while the GPL would ascend to become the world's second-best league. It was a long, uphill road, filled with switchbacks and speed bumps, but Gordonopian football was finally nearing the summit.

by **Mangolana** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 4:45 pm

Mangolana Gazzette

Mangolana looking to de-claw kitties

Following the Mangolana National teams draw, which not only earned Mangolana their first point of World Cup 65, but also their first goal against the defending Copa Rushmori Champions Sargossa, Mangolana is looking to de-claw the overconfident Kitties of Vilita. Vilita, who by their people are known as the "Jungle Cats", have already clinched their spot in the Round of 16 following their 5-3 win over Sargossa and thier 7-5 thriller against host Pasarga appear to be unstoppable, but that could also work against them according to Mangolana manager Arch McTash. "Yes they have dominated their opponents on the offensive end, but their defense has been horrible so far. They will most likely feel unbeatable and unstoppable but if we can contain their offense and play our game, look for us to possibly earn an upset win and have a chance at advancing should we be blessed with that opportunity." This match, which many believe will result in a Mangolana loss to the much higher ranked Vilita, could also be Mangolana manager Arch McTash's last game in charge of the national team as he as already signed on to manage Altomare in the top Felix Soccer league. It is also expected that future Mangolana manager Martín Tejera will be watching to see how the team preforms and begin his evaluation of the Mangolana players.

Another helpful advantage that Mangolana could have in the match is Captain JD Fuller. Fuller has played the last 11 seasons of domestic football for Makosile in the Vilitian Stellar Division has learned the form of Vilitian soccer and has played alongside and against most of the players on Vilita's national team. With this knowledge of how most of their players play, you know the info has been shared and used during Mangolana's video reports of the Vilitian National team. JD Fuller is also good friends with most of the opposition, but those friendships will be broken for at least one night as Mangolana will try to avoid early elimination from the World Cup. For this top happen however, much will be needed from the group for Mangolana to qualify for the Round of 16. Mangolana must defeat Vilita and Sargossa must defeat host Pasarga. Also along with this, Mangolana must defeat Vilita by more goals than Sargossa defeats Pasarga by. Most of this is not possible, but their is hope, and hope is all we need.

Another helpful advantage that Mangolana could have in the match is Captain JD Fuller. Fuller has played the last 11 seasons of domestic football for Makosile in the Vilitian Stellar Division has learned the form of Vilitian soccer and has played alongside and against most of the players on Vilita's national team. With this knowledge of how most of their players play, you know the info has been shared and used during Mangolana's video reports of the Vilitian National team. JD Fuller is also good friends with most of the opposition, but those friendships will be broken for at least one night as Mangolana will try to avoid early elimination from the World Cup. For this top happen however, much will be needed from the group for Mangolana to qualify for the Round of 16. Mangolana must defeat Vilita and Sargossa must defeat host Pasarga. Also along with this, Mangolana must defeat Vilita by more goals than Sargossa defeats Pasarga by. Most of this is not possible, but their is hope, and hope is all we need. Another helpful advantage that Mangolana could have in the match is Captain JD Fuller. Fuller has played the last 11 seasons of domestic football for Makosile in the Vilitian Stellar Division has learned the form of Vilitian soccer and has played alongside and against most of the players on Vilita's national team. With this knowledge of how most of their players play, you know the info has been shared and used during Mangolana's video reports of the Vilitian National team. JD Fuller is also good friends with most of the opposition, but those friendships will be broken for at least one night as Mangolana will try to avoid early elimination from the World Cup. For this top happen however, much will be needed from the group for Mangolana to qualify for the Round of 16. Mangolana must defeat Vilita and Sargossa must defeat host Pasarga. Also along with this, Mangolana must defeat Vilita by more goals than Sargossa defeats Pasarga by. Most of this is not possible, but their is hope, and hope is all we need.

by **Legalese** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 6:28 pm

What’s next?
With hope of a surprise Round of Sixteen appearance slim, questions about the Federation’s future remain

Legalese City, Legalese

For those interested in the soccer future of our nation, their eyes were mostly glued to the television set, as the Legalese National Team
fought to a scoreless draw with favored-opponent Gyatso-kai. For a select few, however, the eyes were focused elsewhere.

“I didn’t expect to be one of those,” said Robert Percival, Executive Director of the Federation of Assocation Football in Legalese.
“Especially not during a road game, let alone the World Cup. If I didn’t travel, I was watching with the other crazies.”

This reporter can attest, having last seen Mr. Percival among the crowd at Heroes, a bar near Capitol Station in Legalese City. Heroes is
known for their downstairs level, generally focused on a sporting event of any type, the most common choice indicated by the downstairs’
nickname: The Soccer Cellar. It is known across the city as the prime location for national team’s supporters’ groups, a trend started eight
years ago when The Bar - the supporters’ group, not the location - started holding court at Heroes. As the group faded out of existence, the
spot remained.

Oddly, Mr. Percival has claimed to have spent no time there at all this year; his last appearance was during qualifying for a viewing of the
match in Zwangzug. Too busy, he said with a smile and a shrug.

“Oh, it’s great, and I miss the gang there,” Percival said. “But we have so much to prepare for here.”

A quick look around his office makes it clear: planning charts, proposed schedules, team logos, and other assorted miscellania that goes
along with launching a full-time professional league, a first for Legalese in modern times. As the Federation's Executive Director, Mr. Percival
is currently spearheading the effort.

“It has been a big undertaking, but one that’s worth it,” said Percival. “It’s how we grow the game next, by giving our best players a
chance to make a living off of it, while also providing the fans something that the market clearly exists for: live games.”

The new league, under the umbrella of the Federation-organized Legalese National Championship, will consist of three leagues to start out.
The twenty-four mainland clubs will play in two leagues of twelve, under the names M-League East and M-League West. The Island clubs will form
under the banner of the K-League (the “K” is for the Karin Islands), and will play a slightly different schedule: a total of twenty-one games, divided
into a single-round-robin to make up the first eleven games, followed by a split between the upper and lower halves, each playing a double-round-robin
hexagonal to close out the season.

Percival warned that the details were still being worked out, but appeared excited. “It’s a unique format that they have [in the Islands]”, he said.
“It adds to the different flavors we hope to bring to the table.”

In addition to the three leagues, a cup competition, dubbed The Federation Cup, will also open, using the thirty-six sides drawn in with a series of
semipro and amatuer sides, creating an open-entry knockout cup with the potential for the beer-league side to go far, and potentially play in the
final at National Stadium. Furthermore, winning or placing second in any of the four competitions will advance a team to the National Championship,
a playoff-elimination system that will take eight sides on a set of home-and-home matches, concluding with the first Championship decided at
The Park of the Phoenix in Tiberia.

“It’s an interesting system, rewarding teams for sustained success, but still forcing teams to meet on a neutral site to decide the title,” Percival
enthused. “I’m very much looking forward to it.”

The end result is expected to culminate in a full-fledged first-division next year, in the form of the National League. Percival said that club owners
decided to delay the top division’s debut for a season, in favor of a system “that gave everyone a chance to earn their place in the inaugural season”,
though he had a different theory.

“They all really want to win the first Golden Shield so badly, that they couldn’t agree which twelve got the first crack at it,” he confided. “It’s much
easier if you let the first eight participants in the National Championship earn spots, and then only have to pick four, though that won’t be a fun meeting.”

Positioning Politics aside, the Federation’s Executive Director spent a considerable amount of time talking about his favorite topic, the use of the league
to grow the game locally. He took special pride in the fact that all but one player from the National Team starting eleven, as well as the entire bench, are
signed to play in the inaugural season.”

“The aim of this league is to give them more opportunities to play, and to give the next generation a proving ground. I feel that we’ve laid the
groundwork here.”

And what about the ban on import players, requiring all players to be either citizens, or naturally-born residents working towards citizenship?

Percival hesitated. “It’s a rule to help us get off the ground floor. Let’s let our sides build up some history and some support first, and then we’ll join in
the international transfer market.”

He also noted the reason that one NT starter, Xavier Boyle, would be unavailable: Malavoaio, his club side in the V-League’s Declasse Division, retained the
rights they acquired from Bob’s Towing the year before.

“Xavier has a great opportunity over there,” Percival said. “We hope he continues to represent Legalese well, and we look forward to eventually sharing more
players in both directions with our neighbors.”

by **Vilita** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 7:07 pm

Vilita Took Roller-Coaster Ride into Finals

Four Clean Sheets Round out the Campaign

If nothing else, it was an exciting but stressful qualifying campaign all around for the Vilita Jungle Cats. There were the close matches... the not so close matches and then, the ones like the home defeat against Shadowbourne at the National View Stadium that head coach Calaesa Mitaroka would certainly like to have back.

After being held 2-2 by Kalumba, the Jungle Cats had put themselves into somewhat of a precarious situation with Kinitaria, Mashiki and Kalumba all sitting within 2 points looking to capitalize on any further slip up by Mitaroka's squad.

Traveling to Torisakia, what should have been an easy 3 points came somewhat more difficultly for Vilita. Luckily, Xcnaio Bansoa's goal was enough to win on the day.

From there the Jungle Cats returned home to face Lahoa in what would be their final home fixture of the first half of the campaign before a three match road trip that would end up making the difference in their final placement.

Barely escaping Lunar Park with the 3 points after a narrow 3-2 victory, the Jungle Cats set off on their road trip, starting it off with a morale boosting 4-0 demolition of Arkolon. While it wouldn't end up the biggest margin of victory of the campaign, it certainly was at the time and even had the rare pleasure of a goal from Baiiub Jual-Knakok, the Makosile defender's second of all time at the International level.

Due to the lopsided fashion of the result against Arkolon, many felt facing the groups bottom side, Kizzyboi, would be a walk in the park for the Jungle Cats. Not so much. Kristofer Kilpter saved the Jungle Cats with his 13th minute goal but, otherwise, it was a less than stellar display leading up to perhaps the two most important matches of the campaign for Vilita, against Kinitaria and Mashiki.

Thankfully, goals from Rexii Tzikas, Relmar Winaut, Erocka Lorei, Sirkii Moliaudo and Endur Rotropii propelled Mitaroka's side back atop Group 19 and seemingly into smooth sailing.

The deflation came with a draw against Slembana and the stunning home defeat to Shadowbourne. The disappointing results allowed Kinitaria to draw level atop the table and set up a 4-match show down for the spot in the World Cup 65 Finals.

Although level, and with goal differential close, Calaesa Mitaroka knew all his side had to do was win the final four matches, and they would be in Pasarga and Saugeais, holding the tie breaker over Kinitaria by virtue of Erocka Lorei's 75th minute nail-in-the-coffin effort at the Central Stadium in Mi'ato.

The Jungle Cats had no desire to lose any of those games. Making amends for a draw earlier in the campaign, Viji-mara Lawaai scored a brace and Erocka Lorei added a third while Nycflala Kater kept a clean sheet in Kalumba. Returning home, it was Atacir Tivalan in net against Torisakia. Another clean sheet, another couple of goals - Relmar Winaut and Rexii Tzikas providing them, and the Jungle Cats were just two matches away. Unfortunately, Kinitaria was keeping pace, and keeping the pressure on.

It almost came undone in Lahoa, another tense match and another single-goal victory thanks to Vilita's most capped player, Jomur Hulyer. It set up a final matchday where it was win and advance for Vilita and the opposition was Arkolon, the very team that the Jungle Cats had defeated 4-0 on Matchday 9.

After nervously waiting out the first 45 minutes with no score, Erocka Lorei broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, effectively punching the Jungle Cats ticket to the Finals. They weren't done from there, however. Kristofer Kilpter, Erocka Lorei, Jian Lejsrma and Viliaka Morasita all found the back of the net over the next 20 minutes as the Jungle Cats ran out 5-0 victors and were sent on their way to Pasarga and Saugeais by a standing ovation from the home supporters at the Tivali Ring Stadium.

	Torisakia
:: Goalscorers :: :: 57' Xcnaio Bansoa	:: Goalscorers :: :: None

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Atacir Tivalan, [D.] Ritopa Simafela, [D.] Endur Rotropii, [D.] Kadi Molali, [DM] Danie Izmao, [ML] Cristoh Nrubari, [MC] Riksa Valjariia, [MC] Resaie Kentiak, [MR] Jian Lejsrma, [FC] Xcnaio Bansoa, [FC] Viji-mara Lawaai
BENCH::
[FC] Sirkii Moliaudo, [FC] Lita Adjei, [M] Jomur Hulyer, [M] Viliaka Morasita, [U] Tujamu Treola, [D] Tyaoino Munviola, [GK] Aranora Jaded

Vilita Substitutions::
(45) - Kadi Molali >>> Jomur Hulyer
(69) - Xcnaio Bansoa >>> Sirkii Moliaudo
(70) - Ritopa Simafela >>> Viliaka Morasita

	Lahoa
:: Goalscorers :: :: 48' Jomur Hulyer :: 63' Kristofer Kilpter :: 70' Viji-mara Lawaai	:: Goalscorers :: :: 28' Lahoan Midfielder (No Roster) :: 31' Lahoan Defender (No Roster) ::

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Aranora Jaded, [D.] Miiara Makose, [D.] Endur Rotropii, [D.] Baiiub Jual-Knakok, [DM] Tujamu Treola, [ML] Manolis Kontalroma, [MC] Steffyn Siazzu, [MC] Aniara Jiurjai, [MR] Cristoh Nrubari, [FC] Viji-mara Lawaai, [FC] Kristofer Kilpter
BENCH::
[FC] Xcnaio Bansoa, [FC] Sirkii Moliaudo, [M] Jomur Hulyer, [M] Rexii Tzikas, [U] Relmar Winauat, [D] Eda Shindhi, [GK] Nycflala Kater

Vilita Substitutions::
(23) - Manolis Kontalroma >>> Jomur Hulyer
(45) - Miiara Makose >>> Relmar Winauat
(65) - Cristoh Nrubari >>> Sirkii Moliaudo

	Arkolon
:: Goalscorers :: :: 41' Baiiub Jual-Knakok :: 45' Viji-mara Lawaai :: 64' Erocka Lorei :: 70' Manolis Kontalroma	:: Goalscorers :: :: :: :: ::

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Aranora Jaded, [D.] Baiiub Jual-Knakok, [D.] Endur Rotropii, [D.] Kadi Molali, [DM] Tujamu Treola, [ML] Jian Lejsrma, [MC] Jomur Hulyer, [MC] Manolis Kontalroma, [MR] Riksa Valjariia, [FC] Viji-mara Lawaai, [FC] Erocka Lorei
BENCH::
[FC] Kristofer Kilpter, [FC] Sirkii Moliaudo, [M] Rexii Tzikas, [M] Aniara Jiurjai, [U] Relmar Winauat, [D] Eda Shindhi, [GK] Nycflala Kater

Vilita Substitutions::
(45) - Endur Rotropii >>> Relmar Winauat

	Kizzyboi
:: Goalscorers :: :: 13' Kristofer Kilpter	:: Goalscorers :: ::

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Jungrii Canopii, [D.] Miiara Makose, [D.] Tyaoino Munviola, [D.] Ritopa Simafela, [DM] Retiso Buran, [ML] Cristoh Nrubari, [MC] Rexii Tzikas, [MC] Aniara Jiurjai, [MR] Riksa Valjariia, [FC] Kristofer Kilpter, [FC] Viji-mara Lawaai
BENCH::
[FC] Erocka Lorei, [FC] Sirkii Moliaudo, [M] Steffyn Siazzu, [M] Resaie Kentiak, [U] Relmar Winauat, [D] Niubo Deneli, [GK] Aranora Jaded

Vilita Substitutions::
(45) - Cristoh Nrubari >>> Steffyn Siazzu
(45) - Kristofer Kilpter >>> Erocka Lorei
(69) - Jungrii Canopii >>> Sirkii Moliaudo

	Kinitaria
:: Goalscorers :: :: 19' Rexii Tzikas :: 27' Endur Rotropii :: 75' Erocka Lorei	:: Goalscorers :: :: 41' Sergiu Vacarestič :: ::

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Aranora Jaded, [D.] Miiara Makose, [D.] Endur Rotropii, [D.] Tyaoino Munviola, [DM] Retiso Buran, [ML] Rexii Tzikas, [MC] Cristoh Nrubari, [MC] Jian Lejsrma, [MR] Manolis Kontalroma, [FC] Viji-mara Lawaai, [FC] Erocka Lorei
BENCH::
[FC] Xcnaio Bansoa, [FC] Lita Adjei, [M] Steffyn Siazzu, [M] Riksa Valjariia, [U] Resaie Kentiak, [D] Baiiub Jual-Knakok, [GK] Atacir Tivalan

Vilita Substitutions::
(61) - Manolis Kontalroma >>> Steffyn Siazzu
(66) - Rexii Tzikas >>> Riksa Valjariia
(72) - Miiara Makose >>> Lita Adjei

	Mashiki
:: Goalscorers :: :: 9' Rexii Tzikas :: 61' Relmar Winauat :: 79' Sirkii Moliaudo	:: Goalscorers :: :: :: ::

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Atacir Tivalan, [D.] Miiara Makose, [D.] Kadi Molali, [D.] Eda Shindhi, [ML] Manolis Kontalroma, [MC] Rexii Tzikas, [MC] Viliaka Morasita, [MC] Aniara Jiurjai, [MR] Relmar Winauat, [FC] Viji-mara Lawaai, [FC] Xcnaio Bansoa
BENCH::
[FC] Kristofer Kilpter, [FC] Sirkii Moliaudo, [M] Resaie Kentiak, [M] Riksa Valjariia, [U] Tujamu Treola, [D] Tyaoino Munviola, [GK] Nycflala Kater

Vilita Substitutions::
(20) - Eda Shindhi >>> Riksa Valjariia
(36) - Rexii Tzikas >>> Sirkii Moliaudo
(45) - Aniara Jiurjai >>> Resaie Kentiak

	Shadowbourne
:: Goalscorers ::	:: Goalscorers :: :: 86' Andrew Wirahadi

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Aranora Jaded, [D.] Endur Rotropii, [D.] Baiiub Jual-Knakok, [D.] Tyaoino Munviola, [D.] Kadi Molali, [ML] Rexii Tzikas, [MC] Relmar Winauat, [MC] Steffyn Siazzu, [MR] Riksa Valjariia, [FC] Viji-mara Lawaai, [FC] Kristofer Kilpter
BENCH::
[FC] Erocka Lorei, [FC] Lita Adjei, [M] Resaie Kentiak, [M] Manolis Kontalroma, [U] Jomur Hulyer, [D] Miiara Makose, [GK] Jaqe Planst

Vilita Substitutions::
(45) - Endur Rotropii >>> Miiara Makose
(60) - Steffyn Siazzu >>> Manolis Kontalroma

	Kalumba
:: Goalscorers :: :: 7' Viji-mara Lawaai :: 32' Viji-mara Lawaai :: 69' Erocka Lorei	:: Goalscorers :: :: :: ::

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Nycflala Kater, [D.] Miiara Makose, [D.] Endur Rotropii, [D.] Kadi Molali, [DM] Tujamu Treola, [ML] Rexii Tzikas, [MC] Viliaka Morasita, [MC] Manolis Kontalroma, [MR] Relmar Winauat, [FC] Viji-mara Lawaai, [FC] Erocka Lorei
BENCH::
[FC] Xcnaio Bansoa, [FC] Sirkii Moliaudo, [M] Riksa Valjariia, [M] Jomur Hulyer, [U] Resaie Kentiak, [D] Baiiub Jual-Knakok, [GK] Atacir Tivalan

Vilita Substitutions::
(45) - Tujamu Treola >>> Riksa Valjariia
(68) - Rexii Tzikas >>> Jomur Hulyer
(74) - Viji-mara Lawaai >>> Sirkii Moliaudo

	Torisakia
:: Goalscorers :: :: 29' Relmar Winauat :: 63' Rexii Tzikas	:: Goalscorers :: :: ::

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Atacir Tivalan, [D.] Miiara Makose, [D.] Baiiub Jual-Knakok, [D.] Kadi Molali, [DM] Danie Izmao, [ML] Rexii Tzikas, [MC] Relmar Winauat, [MC] Riksa Valjariia, [MR] Steffyn Siazzu, [FC] Kristofer Kilpter, [FC] Viji-mara Lawaai
BENCH::
[FC] Lita Adjei, [FC] Erocka Lorei, [M] Manolis Kontalroma, [M] Cristoh Nrubari, [U] Aniara Jiurjai, [D] Ricata Amakra, [GK] Nycflala Kater

Vilita Substitutions::
(45) - Relmar Winauat >>> Manolis Kontalroma
(45) - Kadi Molali >>> Cristoh Nrubari
(66) - Danie Izmao >>> Erocka Lorei

	Lahoa
:: Goalscorers :: :: 71' Jomur Hulyer	:: Goalscorers :: ::

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Atacir Tivalan, [D.] Miiara Makose, [D.] Kadi Molali, [D.] Baiiub Jual-Knakok, [DM] Tujamu Treola, [ML] Viliaka Morasita, [MC] Cristoh Nrubari, [MC] Aniara Jiurjai, [MR] Rexii Tzikas, [FC] Kristofer Kilpter, [FC] Viji-mara Lawaai
BENCH::
[FC] Erocka Lorei, [FC] Lita Adjei, [M] Jomur Hulyer, [M] Steffyn Siazzu, [U] Relmar Winauat, [D] Eda Shindhi, [GK] Nycflala Kater

Vilita Substitutions::
(26) - Viji-mara Lawaai >>> Erocka Lorei
(45) - Tujamu Treola >>> Steffyn Siazzu
(71) - Kristofer Kilpter >>> Jomur Hulyer

	Arkolon
:: Goalscorers :: :: 53' Erocka Lorei :: 63' Kristofer Kilpter :: 64' Erocka Lorei :: 67' Jian Lejsrma :: 76' Viliaka Morasita	:: Goalscorers :: :: :: :: :: ::

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Jaqe Planst, [D.] Tyaoino Munviola, [D.] Baiiub Jual-Knakok, [D.] Ritopa Simafela, [ML] Resaie Kentiak, [MC] Relmar Winauat, [MC] Cristoh Nrubari, [MC] Rexii Tzikas, [MR] Steffyn Siazzu, [FC] Kristofer Kilpter, [FC] Erocka Lorei
BENCH::
[FC] Viji-mara Lawaai, [FC] Sirkii Moliaudo, [M] Jian Lejsrma, [M] Manolis Kontalroma, [U] Viliaka Morasita, [D] Endur Rotropii, [GK] Jawz Tiiaupila

Vilita Substitutions::
(31) - Baiiub Jual-Knakok >>> Jian Lejsrma
(45) - Tyaoino Munviola >>> Viliaka Morasita
(64) - Cristoh Nrubari >>> Endur Rotropii

by **Audioslavia** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 7:18 pm

'Al' was huge, in the only way a man of five-foot four could be huge. Fat, round, partially hidden behind a pair of ray-bans, and with the general air of someone who could pay for your assassination, by diamond-tipped missile, launched by a fleet of state-of-the-art fighter jets, from the moon, and still have money left to add several storeys to most of his homes.

The Weelderig Hotel was so low on Al's list of priorities that it was a wonder he turned up at all. Yet, nevertheless, there he was, same time every Tuesday morning, seven o'clock on the dot. there to pick up the takings for the week and spend thirty minutes fiddling with the till. There was no question in his staff's mind that he was fuzzling the figures, laundering money, but none of staff dared be the one to ask.

That was, of course, until Jon Mozo rolled up to work six hours early one day, in time to greet Al has he came through the front door.

If Al was surprised to see Jon then he didn't show it. He even got Jon's name right, despite having never actually spoken to him before.
"Hi, Jon, in early?" asked Al, on his way to the cash register.
"Aye, wanted to do some cleaning" said Jon. A blatant lie. "And to speak to you, actually". The truth.
"Oh?" said Al, raising an eyebrow and glancing towards his barman.
"Swans" said Jon, trying to hold Al's gaze, failing after the fifth second. Al let a wry smile wriggle out of the corner of his mouth.
"That was you then, was it?"

Txo and Jon's plan (Txo's plan, really, Jon had merely agreed to it) had been to get Al's attention not by a three-minute pitch of their plan, but to bring Al round to their idea by means of subterfuge. Al was much too important to read his own mail, so Txo, an expert lockpick, was able to deliver a series of letters to him that he was sure Al would read. Leaving postcards about Al's many bedrooms, cars and frequented hotel rooms that gave information on the benefits of an illegal alcohol trade, written in ink that dissolved into illegiblilty after just a few hours. All the cards showed pictures of swans. The final card showed a piccture of a large hollow ice-sculpture of a swan, filled with what looked to be some sort of liquor.
"Not just me" said Jon. "The operation is a big one. Your 'mailman' was Txo, a man you'd probably like to meet...". Jon was desperately trying to hide his accent, trying to speak to Al on the big man's level.
"And why would I be interested in losing a hand, and for alcohol, no less?" asked Al, "it can't have escaped your attention that I'm muslim. We have rules about alcohol"
"You sell pork" said Jon, a prepared refutation. Al nodded his head to the side, looking over to the middle distance, idly filing twenty-quid notes with his left hand.
"Pork isn't illegal"
"It probably will be, soon" said Jon, another prepared statement, and one that was possibly quite true. There was no secret that the Kjeligstedi government was influenced by those who would have full Shariah law on the island.
"What's in it for me?" asked Al, closing the till.
"Money" said Jon. "We can add some surreptitious booze-dispensary systems to the bar, reroute the alternative cash-flow straight to your bank, filtered through a few accounts to as not to cause suspicion, and minus our cut, of course" said Jon, robotically, as if he was reading from a set of notes. Jon hoped that he'd pronounced correctly the words he hadn't really understood, and wouldn't have been able to define if pressed.
"I have money" said Al, waving a pile of bills at Jon.
"You can have more" said Jon, "and you wouldn't lose a hand. We have... volunteers... for that"
"Volunteers"
Jon scrunched his eyes closed and tried to remember another of his prepared statements.
"We've volunteers to admit guilt, guys we're paying handsomely to be our fall-guys. We're currently in the process of getting them a measure of infamy, or rather, their fingerprints. We're leaving their fingerprints at the scenes of a few crimes. They haven't offended before so there's no reason the cops would suspect them, or know where to find them. Every barrell of booze we get will have their prints all over it. The rest of us wear gloves. If the cops bust us, we feign ignorance over our drinks' alcohol content and give them the names of our volunteers. Once the fingerprints are matched the cops will be so excited over their success that they won't think to implicate us. They won't need to. They'll have the biggest scalp of their year. Bonuses all round"
"Interesting" said Al, who took a moment to go deep into thought.
"Who is committing these crimes, then" said Al, curious. "The ones you are leaving the volunteers' prints at?"
"Txo" said Jon.
"You're right" said Al, "I *would* like to meet him"

---

Kelly's Heroes Stun 'Slavia
Bulls on the Brink of Embarassing First-Round Exit.

The silver-tongued Israel Klimt has managed to talk his way out of enough problems over the years, usually for just about long enough for the Bulls to bring home a major trophy and for the world's media to forget the apparent minor flaws on his managerial style and his team's play. The team was good, the manager was getting the best out of them, got them into top form on the eve of tournaments and, in those glorious summers of '66, '68 and '70, brought two World Cups and an AOCAF to Audioslavian shores. There were setbacks, of course - who can forget those sickening losses to rivals Krytenia and The Inevitable Syndicate - but without a major loss of form, Klimt's reputation seemed safe. The same perhaps cannot be said now. Klimt's expert knowledge of how to handle the media appears to have deserted him as quickly and sharply as form has deserted his players.

Things had started off so well. Eura had, as expected, retained more of the possession, but of the ten or so chances created in the first twenty minutes only the two Audioslavia attempts could be dubbed serious goalscoring opportunities, and it was the second that brought the opening goal of the game - Karsten Eiger, there again, chesting the ball down at the far post and sweeping the ball into the roof of the net.

Even after Eura equalised through Gareth Blackthorn - a side-footed finish into the corner after a cute drag-back-and-turn earned him a yard of space - there was no real sense of dread among the Audioslavian faithful who, despite the evidence being presented to them at the time, still maintained that their boys had the quality advantage over the Eurans. It was only when Sam Needle beat an unusually indecisive Imaslavii to a McCroft through-ball, sliding and slotting it under the keeper's lethargic attempt at a block on the edge of the area - the ball rolling into an empty net with Imaslavii punching the ground in despair - that the fans in claret and green began to grow duly anxious, and Lee Sharp's finish seven minutes later - a clinical effort from ten yards after the sort of swift, flighty counter-attack the Bulls themselves used to be masters of - caused that anger to boil over in an array of different fashions. Some fans left immediately, as if deeply offended that Eura would dare to score on the counter, while others chose to whistle, boo, or generally lambast their own team with orders to 'get a f****g move on', and the like. A rousing chorus of 'We want our money back" echoed throughout the stadium as the Bulls spent an extended period chasing shadows, accompanied also by the chime of a myriad of Oles from the jubilant travelling Rushmoris. Only a freak Audioslavian goal stopped the frivolities. Win Van Wildernis had been largely subdued by the strong work ethic of Gareth Blackthorn, but the Apox-based player's one and only occasion with time and space on the ball would result in a goal via an effort that ricocheted heavily off of Lyle Heath's shoulder and ballooned wildly into the top corner with a disgusted Belgrave utterly wrong-footed.

Those Audioslavians still left in the stadium tried to roar on their team, but aside from an Eiger effort from distance that failed to trouble anyone, the side were utterly unable to assert their usual superiority in stamina. With the clock ticking over to ninety minutes, the Eurans even had the perfect chance to make it four: A penalty, conceded by none other than an Audioslavian who played for top Euran outfit Directus, and would who had been under fire in the last few weeks of the Euran season for supposedly playing well within himself, as if already thinking ahead to the World Cup. Rijsbergen hasn't looked like the 'rest', and subsequent loss of form, has done him good so far in the tournament, and his mis-timed challenge on Lee Sharp as the forward raced past him, into the area, forced the referee's hand in sending the right-back from the field, perhaps ending his tournament entirely.

If anything, Sam Needle's cringe-worthy skew of a shot - one that ct along the grass, passing the line about eight yards from goal, not even deserving of a fake dive from Imaslavii - added more insult to injury for the Bulls - more so than Rijsbergen's sending off - as it showed just how ordinary this Eura team had been so far in the tournament (international odds on a Euran World Cup victory rose from 16-1 to 25-1 after the opening defeat to Mytannion, but at time of writing have yet to drift down beyond 22-1 even after defeating the World Champions).

Blackthorn is the first Euran to hear the referee's whistle -
the sound that signaled Audioslavia's near-elimination from the tournament

Audioslavia's failure to impress thus far is almost unexplainable, but not as unexplainable as Klimt's actions after the game. A generous offer of the hand from Kelly Sporadic - friendly acquaintaince of the Audioslavia manager, and a former Bulls boss himself - was ignored by an obviously angry Klimt, provoking a short war of words between some of the minor members of the two nations' coaching staff.

Klimt made his post-match interview short and sour. "Fluke" was the first word used, followed by a diatribe over the referee's decision to send Rijsbergen from the field for his challenge, despite the full-back denying Sharp a goalscoring opportunity and his already being on a yellow card. When pressed on whether the dismissal changed the course of the game, Klimt was inexplicably adamant that, despite occuring in injury time, it had. "Even so near the end of the game, I felt with eleven men we would have stood a good chance of nicking the draw at the death."

Sporadic was, in stark contrast to his last meeting with the Audioslavian media, in a chipper mood, concentrating mainly on his own side's bravery, work ethic and ability to out-play and out-think the world champions at almost every turn. Sporadic did have a parting shot for his Audioslavian equivalent, however, and it is a quote that, should Audioslavia fail to reach the second round, may well haunt Klimt and his countrymen for some time to come.

"Audioslavians have always stuck to formulas that they've 'proven' to be winning, but so few men in claret and green have ever sought to improve or adapt. That Audioslavian style of play - one I created myself, I might add - was useful for taking points from larger teams, back in the day, and was developed into the sort of system that, with some quality players, took Audioslavia to the summit of world football. From there, Klimt should have made every effort to improve. Adapt. Investigate. Change. The world was learning how to cope with those awkward, defensive, cautious Bulls, and the fact that my current 'and' most recent teams have played Audioslavia off the park in the last two games is testament to that. Adapt or die, that should be Audioslavia's motto."

"Will Israel adapt?" asked one journalist.

"No"

"Will Israel be sacked?" asked another.

"You'll have to ask him that".

Israel, in an attempt to salvage at least some pride from the situation, refused to comment.

Audioslavia have to pick themselves up and push themselves against Mytannion in five days time, and nothing short of a win will do. Even then, Euran victory over the group's bottom seeds Licentian Isles - overcome last night by group winners Mytannion - would dump the Bulls out of the first round of a World Cup for the first time since... World Cup 28.

IBSD, G'NB

by **Vilita** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:38 pm

'Kamikaze' Style Returns in Group A

Stein-los, Pasarga :: After an opening matchday victory over the Sargossa Corsairs, the Vilita Jungle Cats had the luxury of feeling somewhat at home in Stein-los as they face Pasarga, the hosts and only true home side in Group A, without having to undergo a change of scenery.

It was another fine day weather wise in Stein-los, organizers in Pasarga could certainly not have asked for anything more. The hosts were looking for the upset victory that could propel them into an unexpected knockout round appearance while the Vilitan's knew that victory could clinch their own Knockout Round berth, a stage in competition that the Jungle Cats had not reached since World Cup 62.

Calaesa Mitaroka presented a largely unchanged side for the second matchday of the World Cup Group stage with only Yves Gadois being introduced to the starting eleven in the place of midfielder Relmar Winauat. Winauat was left out of the squad entirely, presumably after picking up some kind of injury during training in the build up to the match. With the introduction of Gadois, Mitaroka had tweaked from the 3-5-2 to a more attacking 3-4-3 formation - if it was possible to be any more attacking than the five-goal performance the Jungle Cats had put up against the Corsairs on mathchday 1.

Any such doubts were quickly swept under the rug once the match began.

Riksa Valjariia and Kiroki Mitaroka both scored in the opening quarter-of an hour to put the Jungle Cats in front and quiet the home fans early. At that point, it seemed like a fairly uneventful match - both sides getting the odd chance here and there but neither looking to have the impetus or motivation to really change the shape of the game.

A mis-timed challenge on Erôss Ivett in the 35th minute resulted in a foul just outside the area on the right hand side and saw Vilita's captain Miiara Makose yellow carded and a free kick awarded to the hosts. After a massive infusion of sound and energy from the supporters, who one could sense were reaching deep for the last iota of hope and desire that their side could turn things around on the free kick, Dagrún Sigurjónsdóttir stepped up to take it.

Sigurjónsdóttir delivered an inch-perfect cross that was met by Þórdís Gunnarsdóttir and lasered into the back of the net to narrow the scoreline to 2-1, much to the pleasure of the thousands of local fans.

It was from this point that the flood gates erupted, and only the half time break could slow down the goalscoring at Kilmonarch. Riksa Valjariia restored the two goal advantage for the Jungle Cats in the 39th minute only to have Løver Storås immediately respond to keep Pasarga within one at the break.

The 15 minutes that followed were perfectly timed to allow the fans a chance to relieve themselves without missing any of the action - critically timed in fact because without that time, they would have missed at least a pair of goals.

Þórdís Gunnarsdóttir had barely gotten back off her sliding knees after sending the stadium into raptures with her equalizer less than 2 minutes into the second half when the Jungle Cats marched down the field from the kick off and re-took the lead through a 25-yard rocket from Lita Adjei. It was clear that neither goalkeeper was going to win the player-of-the-match award as Josef ?Dvorák looked perplexed at how he had allowed Adjei's shot to curl around him and tuck in just under the crossbar.

None the-less, at 4-3 down, Pasarga needed to attack. Unfortunately for the home supporters, as the Wanderers attack, they left gaps in defense that the more-experienced Jungle Cats were quick to take advantage of. Vilita were pressuring ?Dvorák repeatedly earning a trio of succesive corner kicks. The relentless pressure eventually resulted in a goal as Vilitan captain Miiara Makose extended the Jungle Cats advantage to 5-3, ironically, with his 53rd minute header.

Makose was taken out of the game, presumably to preserve the captain from any further bookings having already received a yellow card earlier in the match, to be replaced by the far-less experienced Ricata Amakra. After starting the second half in their more familiar 3-5-2 look, the Jungle Cats switched back to the 3-4-3 look that they started the match with for the final half an hour.

Vilita netted their 6th goal of the night in the 71st minute through Steffyn Siazzu and some of the local fans decided it was a good time to head out of the stadium to beat the rush with the Jungle Cats having doubled the prolifierity of their Rushmori rivals.

Those who left earlier would miss a special moment for Þórdís Gunnarsdóttir, the Tanrisal youngster completing the hattrick ten minutes from time before being substituted to a sea of applause from the Wanderers faithful.

Gunnarsdóttir's replacement, the local Stein-los Turkish player Benoît Lepage, didn't waste much time getting onto the scoresheet, finding the back of the net with his first touch of the ball and just like that the hosts had drawn to within one goal of their favored opponents setting up a grand stand finish in a match that could only be described at that point as 'Totally 'n Utterly' Insane with both sides seeming to employ the Kamikaze style of All-Out-Attacking football designed to delight the crowds by putting the ball in the back of the net at the expense of a proper level of defensive support in front of the goalkeeper.

The dream for the home side ended just minutes before the final whistle as the ever-threatening Kristofer Kilpter finally put the game out of reach, icing the victory for Vilita and punching the Jungle Cats ticket to the Round of 16 despite still having one match to play against Mangolana.

While most would look at the 7-5 and 5-3 scorelines that the Jungle Cats were involved in at Stein-los on the opening matchdays of the World Cup 65 Group Stage with some shock and bewilderment, being *involved* in such non-traditional scorelines was certainly nothing unfamiliar to Vilitan fans. The only thing unique about the high-scoring results for the Jungle Cats was being on the winning end of them.

Of course, Vilita were famously involved in the losing-end of the highest-scoring match in World Cup history, a 7-8 defeat against Bedistan during the World Cup 21 finals that would forever change the course of World Cup history.

Bedistan, of course, would go on to win World Cup 21, the first of their 4 World Cup titles over the next 8 editions, defeating Total n Utter Insanity who would never again get the chance to win the World's premier event, sulking into obscurity from that point.

For the Jungle Cats, the disappointing 7-8 defeat ended their defense of World Cup 20 and they have never since made it back to the World Cup Final, 45 editions later, and counting. If Calaesa Mitaroka intends to change that in Pasarga and Saugeais, he will certainly have to figure out how to plug the leaks in the defense before the knockout round begins. Until then, Vilita will have another high-scoring record to shoot for on Matchday 3 against Mangolana. 5 goals - a somewhat high amount typically, but something that would seem just a normal day at the pitch for the current crop of Jungle Cats, is all that Vilita need against the Cup's lowest ranked side to break the all-time record for goals-scored over the 3-match World Cup group stage. It will likely be the only thing worth shooting for in Torgos where the atmosphere is likely to be severely quashed in comparison to what the Jungle Cats were used to in the smaller and rowdier Kilmonarch over the first two matchdays.

	Pasarga
:: Goalscorers :: :: 10' Riksa Valjariia :: 16' Kiroki Mitaroka :: 39' Riksa Valjariia :: 47' Lita Adjei :: 53' Miiara Makose :: 71' Steffyn Siazzu :: 89' Kristofer Kilpter	:: Goalscorers :: :: 36' Þórdís Gunnarsdóttir :: 41' Løver Storås :: 47' Þórdís Gunnarsdóttir :: 80' Þórdís Gunnarsdóttir :: 82' Benoît Lepage :: ::
:: Best Player: Riksa Valjariia :: Worst Player: Nycflala Kater :: Shots on Target: 10 :: Corner Kicks: 18	:: Best Player: Þórdís Gunnarsdóttir :: Worst Player: Josef ?Dvorák :: Shots on Target: 6 :: Corner Kicks: 9

-------------------------------------------
:: MATCH RATINGS ::
-------------------------------------------
GK:: Nycflala Kater - [4]
D.:: Miiara Makose - [7]
D.:: Kadi Molali - [5]
D.:: Endur Rotropii - [6]
ML:: Jomur Hulyer - [7]
MC:: Riksa Valjariia - [7]
MC:: Kiroki Mitaroka - [6]
MR:: Steffyn Siazzu - [4]
FC:: Yves Gadois - [4]
FC:: Lita Adjei - [8]
FC:: Kristofer Kilpter - [8]
Vilitan Subs Bench:
M:: Manolis Kontalroma - [6]
U:: Erocka Lorei - [5]
D:: Ricata Amakra - [6]
FC:: Nili Ylimaiina - [DNP]
FC:: Xcnaio Bansoa - [DNP]
M:: Viliaka Morasita - [DNP]
GK:: Atacir Tivalan - [DNP]

Vilita Jungle Cats ::
[GK] Nycflala Kater, [D.] Miiara Makose, [D.] Kadi Molali, [D.] Endur Rotropii, [ML] Jomur Hulyer, [MC] Riksa Valjariia, [MC] Kiroki Mitaroka, [MR] Steffyn Siazzu, [FC] Yves Gadois, [FC] Lita Adjei, [FC] Kristofer Kilpter
BENCH::
[FC] Nili Ylimaiina, [FC] Xcnaio Bansoa, [M] Manolis Kontalroma, [M] Viliaka Morasita, [U] Erocka Lorei, [D] Ricata Amakra, [GK] Atacir Tivalan

Vilita Substitutions::
(45) - Yves Gadois >>> Manolis Kontalroma
(61) - Kadi Molali >>> Erocka Lorei
(64) - Miiara Makose >>> Ricata Amakra

by **Starblaydia** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 3:07 am

"Equestrian States, wot are they like?" Central defender Isiah Charleston asked, having not even picked up the scouting report on Starblaydia's next opponents, never mind watching the required video of their previous matches.

"They're a pony nation," replied the full-back, Gendo Roshanak, who had.

"Pony?" Charleston replied, shocked, "that's a bit unfair, innit? They're a top-thirty nation, I thought?"

"Yep, twenty-eighth," Roshanak confirmed.

"So how can they be pony?" Charleston persisted.

"Because they just, well," Roshanak was trying to find a way of putting it that didn't include 'Great Tiberius' ghost', or 'you blithering idiot', "they just are. Diverse population, and a lot of them are pony."

"That's a bit racist, innit?" Charleston frowned.

"What?"

"You can't just say that a whole bunch of a nation's population are pony," Charleston explained, obviously taxing his fairly meagre intellect, "because that's, erm, like, not fair. Now, I might not like Dwarves, for instance-"

"Aye," interrupted Brazadar Khurnos, "whatever, laddie."

"I do, I do! Keep yer hair on!" Charleston protested. "It was an example, like. If I don't like Dwarves - and some of my best friends are Dwarves, before you get all on my gregory about it - I still can't say that all Dwarves are beardy little bastards who like their mithril more than they do contributin' to society, like. Because it's not true. Stereoscopic, innit."

"Stereotypical," Roshanak corrected.

"That too!" Charleston was totally on his soapbox, now. "So, just because you, Gendo, are too closed-minded to fink that another nation is not full of crap, but might actually be full of wonderful things of, of," he was really stretching his command of the English vocabulary now, "of wonder, it doesn't mean that you can go spouting off your racialist dogbert to the world. I'm disappointed in you, but you're my friend and teammate so I'll try and help you realise your mistake. Now, I'm off down the nearest nuclear sub for a ship at sail, because we only need a draw to go through."

Isiah Charleston triumphantly stomped off to the nearest of Saugeais' finest drinking establishments for a pint, proud of his ability to combat racism wherever he found it and ensure his place of honour in the 'Kick it out' campaigns that ran every time some strange race row began.

"That laddie there," Brazadar Khurnos said as he turned to Gendo Roshanak, "is gonnae get a real shock when he faces t'Equestrian States."

"Yep," Roshanak agreed, "I can't wait for when he sees the Dragon."

OOC: Yes, this is an entire RP based on the fact that 'Pony', in Cockney Rhyming Slang means, 'Crap' (via 'pony and trap') and the misunderstanding thereof. This slang is used in my old uber-British puppet Nova Britannicus, now a part of Starblaydia.

by **Turori** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 5:55 am

Eels Take Down The Kiri
Sondry Folk Stand Between Turori and Knockouts

The Turori Eels have ridden the momentum they built up during the second half of their Matchday 1 draw with hosts Saugeais and collected all three points at the Stade Amaechi Olsen in Montbenoit on Matchday 2 against Kiryu-shi.

Having the rare opportunity to un-pack their bags and settle in while on the road, the Eels are taking every advantage they can get in their bid to upset the table in Group E and advance to the knockout rounds for the first time since World Cup 35.

The Eels advanced from Group 4 during World Cup 65 despite a defeat against the Holy Empire, earning a second round matchup with the Elves Security Forces but were defeated handily 2-0 at the City Center in the Lowland Clans.

30 Cups later, the Turori National Team, the multiverse's most successful team to never advance beyond the Quarter Final stage of the World Cup seemed to be back on their game.

Incredibly, it was shutout number 15 for Ematora Saenu and the Turori Eel's during the World Cup 65 run, including 13 shutouts during the 18 match Qualifying campaign, a shutout in the opening playoff leg against the Sandwich Territories and then the 15th and first of the finals in Montbenoit against Kiryu-shi.

Unsurprisingly, it was the Turoki Tide's Hooizo Nuakoi in net for the Eels. Once considered to be one of the top goalkeepers in the world at the peak of the Turoki Tide's success - when they had just won the UICA Globe Cup, UICA Super Cup and a pair of Vilitan Stellar Division titiles - was back at it again showing international onlookers that the name Nuakoi should go down in history alongside the likes of Milauo Slietah as one of the best Turorian goalkeepers to ever play the game.

However, unlike Slietah, the mastermind of at least one Cup of Harmony victory - not to mention the only known hattrick scored by a goalkeeper during WCC sanctioned competition, Nuakoi has delivered exactly nothing noteworthy on the international stage for the Eels. And time, as they say, was not on Nuakoi's side.

Young prospects waiting in the wings like G.Q. Disterfred II at Inura Forests threatened to take over Nuakoi's stranglehold on the #1 goalkeeper position in the Island Emirate in the seasons to come and the chances for Nuakoi to add to the legacy of Turorian teams advancing to, and crashing out quietly from the World Cup Knockout Stage were diminishing.

Nevertheless, Jukkia Diijelhma's two goal performance in Montbenoit, the Eels new home away from home, put the Eels in perfect position to take the first step into the Knockout round of World Cup 65, ending their 30-Cup knockout drought.

The sondry folk of Wight will make the trip to Montbenoit needing a victory to have any hope of advancing and as the group's highest ranked team will certainly be favored against Turori. However, the Eel's can still advance, even in defeat, if they can keep the scoreline down. If Nuakoi can keep one more clean sheet, the Eels will advance, win or draw, to the Knockout Round and Ematora Saenu's job will most certainly be safe for the time being.

Until then, the sights and sounds of Montbenoit await the Eels, who had now made a ride on the Ferris Wheel a nightly team-building ritual, with team members forced to ride with a new partner each night for a reflecting - and sometimes harrowing, depending on who was sharing the bucket on any particular night, experienced inside the wheel.

Turori Goalscorers::
36' Jukkia Diijelhma
56' Jukkia Diijelhma

Kiryu-shi Goalscorers::
:: None

Turori

Best Player: Jukkia Diijelhma
Worst Player: Lioniaa Tana
Shots on Target: 4
Corner Kicks: 3

Kiryu-shi

Best Player: Andrea d'Coriaceus
Worst Player: Steve Hamm
Shots on Target: 2
Corner Kicks: 1

Turori Eels Lineup ::
[GK] Hooizo Nuakoi, [D] Diauro Dlaminii, [D] Lioniaa Tana, [D] Yoains Konoaafeo, [UT] Restiaa Mumamba, [ML] Raso Tareak, [MC] Cediici Tzatzos, [MC] Rutaj Ranaso, [MR] Etamara Kulkkiia, [FC] Liinai Zakazaka, [FC] Jukkia Diijelhma
BENCH::
[FC] Enluta Makakio, [FC] Loala Kigoouao, [M] Vrotaoa Lorasoiba, [M] Tiika Diirotora, [UT] Mumau Atla-Siioai, [D] Noa-isinao Wioauoi, [GK] Ronji Miiastara

Turori Substitutions::
(45) - Raso Tareak >>> Vrotaoa Lorasoiba

by **Saugeais** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 7:54 am

And now, live from the Bull's Head Pub in downtown Montbenoit, it's the Frank and Walter Show on WSSR, Saugeais's number one sports talk radio.

Frank: We are on the air, and thank you to that gentlemen at the bar giving us the finger. We appreciate it very much. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We're going to make you several promises for the next couple hours or thereabouts. We're going to do the best we can to keep you informed, entertained, and maybe have a laugh or two along the way. And this is radio's best combination of the divisive, outrageous, appalling, objectionable, offensive, and occasionally inhospitable. I'm Frank Harrison.

Walter: And I'm Walter Kovak. Shout-outs to our lone producer today, Christian Hill, to give us updates, and interns doing intern-y things back at the downtown studio. Stub Harnish will join us in a bit to weigh in on the World Cup as a whole, but most importantly right now, it's a dire time for the Saugeais Knights. Another draw caused once again by a second half goal after the defensive line made some key errors. Another lead that has dissipated thanks to poorly timed tackles, bad marking, poor clearances. Just overall bad.

Frank: At least this time you don't have to blame it all on Vincent James.

Walter: Well that's not the point here. The point is that Pieran undeniably has gotten it wrong. His choice to replace the aging, veteran players that had international experience and could gel easier with new faces that don't know the system, haven't played with the other national teamers, and haven't been tested on this high of a level before is ultimately going to be the downfall of this team. I said after the last match that the World Cup is the worst possible time to experiment with formations and personnel. You do that in friendlies, in minor tournaments, not the goddamn World Cup. This is a do or die situation. Pieran can't lose or draw against Kiryu-shi; he needs to win, or he needs to get shipped out.

Frank: Copa Rushmori result notwithstanding? I agree with you this next match is extremely important. A draw and they are out of the competition, since they'd still be behind Kiryu-shi and Turori. but to go so far as to fire the guy?

Walter: He's had enough opportunities during his tenure to string together credible results, but out of all the tournaments that he's managed since coming here, that lone third place finish in last year's Copa was the only highlight.

Frank: Nevermind that he's also the winningest manager in the national team's history, either.

Walter: That's another reason. Most wins of all time and what does he have to show for it? Iarlaith Mag Aonghusa was a tough act to follow, yes, but he was fired after three straight World Cup appearances, including a match in the quarter finals ON OUR HOME SOIL! If Pieran can't match that, he's out, plain and simple.

*sigh* We are now to be joined by our long time friend, editor of the Football Weekly magazine, a man that has an opinion on everything football, he is Stub Harnish. Welcome back to the show, Stub.

Stub: Great to be back, Walter. And let me tell you, I'm also in your camp about the back line being too inexperienced to make an impact on the international level. Powell Pieran had a near perfect setup coming off of the Copa last year. He decided to change it up citing "poor domestic and friendly performances," which I don't buy for one second. Laz Daniel and Carson Turnbull didn't even play in the friendly, but their domestic seasons weren't half bad. I'm thinking Pieran dropped them all due to age, and age alone.

Walter: When you lack experience on the pitch, you don't know what to do in important and pressure-packed situations. And that's exactly what happened to the back line, namely Didier Bernard. Though I will give him credit, he balanced that bad with the good earlier in the game. He headed in a lovely goal off a corner kick from Julien Leclerc in the 31st minute. Daley Hart almost certainly had to be teaching him where to spot those shots now, correct?

Stub: I think you are right, since Didier had a couple of those headers go right to the keeper during the Turori game. We have a writer at the publication calling the tandem of Hart and Bernard the "Twin Towers" due to their imposing height, with Bernard at 6'6" and Hart at 6'4" respectively, so they are immediately first choice when it comes to spot kick placement as well as wall formation. But Hart has come out publicly saying that he would help Didier with that part of his game, and it showed during the first half.

Walter: But again, like Turori, the second half saw those players start to fatigue and make mistakes. Hart and Bernard were gone by the 77th minute, so there were no "Twin Towers" to defend anything or anyone tall. In fact, I think outside of those two, only one other player is over 6 foot. So subbing them out, you already lose your advantage, and Wight used that to their gain.

Stub: Right. Piran MacKenzie took a free kick from about 22 yards out and to the left of center of the box. The wall was noticeably smaller without the two aforementioned players, and you're right, Piran took advantage. He launched a shot that barely skimmed above the heads of the jumping defenders, and had it curve towards the inside post. Vincent James, it looked to me, wasn't planning on it going in the net and stayed rooted to his spot near the middle right side of the net. He was as shocked as everyone in the stadium when it went in, and fully deserved the boos that rang out afterwards. He should've made an attempt at stopping that ball.

Frank: So now with Saugeais needing a win against Kiryu-shi to advance, do you think they can do it? And how do the rest of the groups look to end?

Stub: Well, I do have some reservations against Kiryu-shi. They defeated Wight, yet lost to Turori; both teams Saugeais drew against. If I were a computer simulation, I would predict a draw based on those results. I know it's not something the national team fans would like to hear, but that's what I'm going with. Saugeais will be knocked out without being defeated, even with the home field advantage.

Walter: Has that ever happened before?

Stub: Not to hosts, no, but the group's very own Kiryu-shi, in fact, was the most recent victim of having three draws and not advancing back in World Cup 62. The last time someone advanced to the second round having drawn all three of their group matches was Sarzonia in World Cup 51, but Saugeais would fit into the group Kiryu-shi is currently a part in, since a draw would still place them in third.

Walter: And what about the rest of the groups in this Cup?

Stub: In order of groups: Vilita and Pasarga, Polar Islandstates and I think Ko-oren will squeak past Sylvanaes Queendom, ASMV and Blouman Empire, Osarius and Valanora, Turori and Kiryu-shi, The Holy Empire and New Montreal States, Mytannion and while want to think Audioslavia will overcome, Eura have the better shot, and The Archregimancy and Starblaydia.

Walter: Thanks for coming on. Stub Harnish, ladies and gentlemen. We'll take a quick commercial break. We're Frank and Walter. Keep it here on WSSR, Saugeais' number one sports talk radio.

by **Blouman Empire** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 8:05 am

THE EMPIRE TIMES

New Appointments Made

The Football Federation of Bloumany today announced that Baron George Kelten and Jonathon Sineair will be appointed as Chairman and General Secretary respectively. The two roles were created in the aftermath of the special inquiry into the FFB that has plagued the organisation since it became apparent that there were serious systemic failures throughout the institution. The two roles have been separated to ensure that there is a clear separation between the board and the running of the FFB along with ensuring that the many aims and operations of the FFB are held responsible by a single person. Baron George Kelten has held a number of senior roles within business and is currently Managing Director of Heltson Steel and sits on the board of a number of other companies within Bloumany. In announcing his appointment current acting administrator of the FFB Sir John Hunter spoke highly of the experience Baron Kelten will bring to the the Board "Baron Kelten knows what it takes to be able to successfully direct a large organisation like the FFB his years of experience will help to lead the FFB to a new era I and the rest of the board look forward to working with him".

Jonathon Sineair is a former chairman of the Holchmain Football Association and also the former HFA representative on the FFB board, while he recently stepped down from his roles he has gladly taken the opportunity to take on the larger and more demanding role as General Secretary. During the announcement Sineair outlined his vision to change the FFB "We will be ensuring that we learn from the past, I will implement strict controls as well as ensuring that we have proper procedures and requirements in place and adhered too. I aim to make sure that everyone is working towards a common goal and that we strive to improve the status of football within the Empire". Sineair's first aim will be to recruit a team of senior managers to fill new and existing roles set up by the board as part of the review after 7 were forced to resign following the revelations outlined by the inquiry. With new recuriting procedures in place in an effort to stamp out the culture of nepotism this may take longer then expected. Regardless, many throughout the footalling community are happy with the decision of the board to appoint these two men. "They are the very best and I am sure that the upper echelons of Blouman football can only improve under their leadership" remarked current Jollipville Athletic manager David Groyes.

While the domestic front has been in turmoil even before the World Cup qualifiers began on the international front the Blouman Empire Eagles are continuing to prove their worth in Pasarga during the group stage of the World Cup as they recorded a second draw against United Gordonopia (match report pg 72). With only one match remaining the Eagles will need to win against Darmen if they are to have a chance in moving past the group stage. The win might not be enough as United Gordonopia and Andossa se Mitrin Vega may only need to draw against each other for both teams to progress, if this were to happen the Eagles will need to win by at least two goals which will also see them finish top of the group. Manager Sir Nathan Kolson spoke to the media regarding the final game "It isn't going to be easy we are still chasing our first win but so are Darmen who will no doubt not want to leave this tournament with 3 losses. It will be a tough game but I know we have the skill to be able to do it".

by **Alasdair I Frosticus** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:00 am

IT'S....

THE WORLD CUP SHOW!

With World Cup Hall of Fame Legends Basil and Theo!

"Hello all you groovy people out there! I'm Basil."

"And I'm Theo."

"And with us in the studio today are two very special chaps from the New Montreal States, Edgar Augustus de la Ware and V. Lionel Norton-Bradthwaite, whom many viewers will remember for their participation in the Chap Olympiad here in the Holy Empire. Good to have you with us, chaps."

"Pleasure to be here, chaps. I must say, it's come as a pleasant surprise to see the extent to which association football upholds the Corinthian values of gentlemanly sporting participation; Lionel and I were expecting something... much more vulgar."

"But those Apox chaps were quite accommodating, what."

"Tell me, chaps, have you ever seen the Holy Empire play?"

"No, Theo, old bean, but as hosts of the Chap Olympiad, I expect you to uphold even more of the spirit of this fine game."

"You've never seen the Holy Empire play, have you?"

"I fail to see why Edgar and I should be concerned, Basil, old chap."

"And you've never seen this particular Holy Empire squad?"

"I say, Theo... is there something you're not telling us?"

"Perhaps you should just watch the match...."

-----------------------------------------------------------------

10th minute

"...the one about the two nuns, the donkey, and the plate of spaghetti...."

"I'm glad you managed to get that one out of the way early, Basil, because John the Right Winger is showing an electrifying turn of pace on the right wing, he sends in the cross.... the head of Lethbridge-Stewart... GOAL!!!!! 1-0 to the Holy Empire, just 10 minutes in!"

"I say, Lionel and I were just wondering... this Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart... quite the chap from that name...."

"One of the finest in the Holy Empire squad."

"So, we were just wondering... that shoulder charge on the magnificently named Gaston St. John de la Ware.... was that entirely legal?"

"I assure you, Edgar - or my name isn't Basil Photius Procopius Constantine Leo-Romanus Phocaso-Comneno-Ducaso-Vatatzes-Palaeologo - that Lethbridge-Stewart would never dream of engaging in an illegal manoeuvre."

"I quite concur with my colleague; what you saw there was a legal shoulder charge from the squad's finest public school - in the Imperial sense - old boy, a gentleman who would much prefer it had hacking never been banned, but certainly isn't going to hold back from a masculine shoulder charge just because some girly-girl Paladins are weak of heart and mind."

"I'm sorry, Theo?"

"Man up, Edgar.... man up; that's what we're saying."

-----------------------------------------

22nd minute

"Foreman to take the free kick..."

"I'm sorry, Theo... but is that a woman?"

"Teenage girl, I believe, but yes."

"On the field of sporting play? Playing with men?"

"She takes a short run, undertakes a rapid advanced trigonometric calculation, folds time and space in the immediate vicinity of the Paladin wall, and Desrosiers is helpless! GOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!!! 2-0 to the Empire, and second round, here we come!"

"I must say, chaps, Edgar and I aren't entirely sure this is wholly sporting..."

-----------------------------------------------

47th minute

"And Quagliata is through! It's one on one, man against Kaled!"

"He must score, Theo!"

"He rounds the Kaled, and.... but no! He falls to the ground as if paralysed! Octhar is looking very sheepish...."

"But I'm not sure the referee can prove anything there, Theo."

"The good news is that the paralysis should be temporary - assuming Octhar is to blame, that is."

"Well, the third eye's glowing a bit there, so I'm going to assume he is."

"I'm sorry, chaps, but are you insinuating that that... Homo reptilia, for lack of a better name, remotely knocked out the Paladin forward?"

"I couldn't possibly comment, Edgar."

"I'm not sure that's cricket, Theo."

"Given that it's football, Edgar, that rather goes without saying."

----------------------------------------------

52nd minute

"..this New Montreal States penalty."

"Yes, bit of a mistake there by the goalkeeper, Theo - vaporising the ball out of thin air to stop a scoring opportunity; a recurring problem, this, and one Tzimisces really has to eliminate if the Empire are going to progress far into this tournament."

"Nyguen - who else - steps up to the spot.... and straight past the goalkeeper - 2-1, and game on."

"Oh, I say! Well done, Fred old chap - splendid stuff!"

"Yes, let's show these cheating Imperial blighters a thing or two about how to play this game!"

-------------------------------------------

71st minute

"....gin and tonic round at the club."

"A delightful tale, Basil, old bean; why, it reminds me of when Parkinson - the family silver polisher - fell into the farm's cesspit, and afterwards her Ladyship declared that...."

"And I must stop you there, because Cmdr. Storix has just won a corner - and has only just been narrowly restrained from decapitating 'that human scum Potvin'."

"Hard to disagree with the yellow card there, Theo."

"Lionel and I must make our feelings known; this 'Commander Storix' is a most disagreeable fellow, and all too prone to violence."

"He'd no doubt thank you for the compliment; but the corner still stands, and Storix to take it himself. He sends it in... LETHBRIDGE-STEWART AGAIN! That's two for the brigadier past this overrated Karelan defence!"

"You're not going to defeat the Holy Empire keeping seven at the back when you've conceded a 2 goal lead just 22 minutes in, Theo."

"I'm sorry, chaps, but we must protest. That metal Humanoid Cyborg was clearly obstructing Desrosiers; our goalkeeper never stood a chance with that hunking great big slab of metal standing on his left foot."

"An accident, we're sure."

"An accident? After what we've seen here today, Edgar and I cannot remain silent, sirs. That was no accident, but rather deliberate obstruction."

"Well, complain to the referee."

"The referee, gentlemen - if indeed gentlemen you be - is clearly blind. And your team, sirs, has done your nation's reputation for upholding the finest values of what makes a chap a chap no good at all. Good day to you; fine though your gin and tonics might be, we cannot be a party to this dishonourable debacle any longer."

<guests storm out>

"Awkward...."

"I'll say."

"Still, we did try to warn them."

"Aye, Basil... we did; that we did....."

by **Mytannion** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:07 am

Part One.
Part Two.
Part Three.
Part Four.
Part Five.
Part Six.
Part Seven.
Part Eight.

My eyes opened slowly, it wasn’t because I was still tired or whatever, but because I knew where I was and I was content. I looked next to me and there was Alina, lying down next to me. We hadn’t done anything; I wasn’t bothered by that fact in the slightest really. Sure, I’d enjoy it more than anything, but it wasn’t important. I was with her and we were close and I felt as if the feelings I really held for her were finally being reciprocated. It would sound like the most bent thing to say ever, but I was finally happy and I felt as if I was safe from my feelings being hurt by her now.

That was one thing I’d always been afraid of, at times I’d still wondered as if she was still talking to me as part of her image. Using it to make her seem more mature than her peers, her aloofness was enough for that but I suppose this brought an extra dimension to that. But right now, I felt as if it didn’t matter and those worries were gone. I felt as if we were good together and we both had a mutual understanding of what we felt and where we were headed.

I looked at the clock on her bedside table: 11:21 AM. Not too bad considering it had been a mildly heavy night out, my head was pounding a little but I was glad I didn’t have much of a hangover. I hadn’t really ever suffered any massive hangovers throughout the time I had gone to parties and the like, but recently, with the gigs and the drugs that brought with it – I had began to suffer a little more – the comedown from the high seemed to trigger a hangover.

I got up and pulled by jeans on, I wasn’t going to do the same as what I had done to Lilia, I actually had feelings for Alina after all. I’d wait. Her parents were apparently away from home for a few days and after what had happened with me they had taken a while to trust her again – even though her step father obviously did beat her up, but that had seemingly stopped, which was good – now they did though and it allowed her to be home alone for the few days. A free house was a good thing and she had laughed at my suggestion to host a party in this time when we had spoken about it the night before – but the reality was that she actually could do so.

The downside would of course be her house potentially being trashed but I had promised to help with the clean-up operation but she had merely told me to try and persuade her whilst she was sober and I had agreed that I would. Though I had admitted it’d probably be to no avail when she was in a clearer frame of mind, so in other words not drunk. Which could be a challenge.

She mumbled something in her sleep and I sat for a few minutes just admiring her beauty even now, she was just so... graceful? I didn’t know if it was the correct word but it sort of described the way she looked, all angular cheekbones and pale skin. She was so good looking. I almost couldn’t believe my luck with how I’d somehow made her feel at least in a manner which was somewhat similar to my own feelings. It was something which I would never have believed to be possible after I had outed her step father as an absolute twat. But here we were, sleeping together, in a completely non-sexual way. But hey, a few months ago that would have been all I could have hoped for really.

I went downstairs and looked in the kitchen – remembering how the layouts of the homes were the same and smiling to myself like an absolute fool, reminiscing on the memories this brought back – there was barely any food in. It looked like we’d have to go to the ‘caff’ and Alina would finally have to sample its delights in all its greasy, full fat glory. It’d be a lot of fun poking fun at her for being a little bit of a food snob I supposed, she’d scowl and I’d grin and eventually it’d fall in to laughter at some point.

The phone rang, I pondered whether to pick it up and suddenly I heard a noise from upstairs, almost a crash and then footsteps pounding down the stairs. Alina had obviously jumped up – been forced awake by the shrill ringing of the telephone – and was racing to get downstairs to answer it. I didn’t really understand why, though if it were her parents I could understand them perhaps not wanting me in the house... But maybe if it was just a male voice instead, they wouldn’t be so bothered? I couldn’t be sure. But I wasn’t sure if I even really gave a shit.

I laughed to myself as I picked the receiver up and the voice on the other end of the line came into life. To my utter shock it wasn’t Alina’s parents or some relative or neighbour or whatever. It wasn’t even one of the stupid call centre companies advertising loft insulation or some other shite. Alina looked shock too when she came into the kitchen, but for different reasons to me. I wasn’t in any mood to laugh now.

“Mum..?” I asked.

“Svet. I know you’re at Alina’s don’t worry about that, look, you need to get down to the hospital as quickly as possible. There’s a situation with your father, he’s... Svet, your Dad’s– ” She broke off into sniffling, crying, as if she couldn’t bring herself to say what she was going to say and though in the back of my mind I knew what the ending of this sentence was – I didn’t want to believe it – I couldn’t bring myself to terms with it and until she uttered the words I wouldn’t, I’d fight against it with every single fibre of my being.

“Mum.. What?” Is all I could manage. Alina was stood next to me, eyes wide open, mouth hanging, shocked. I think she knew then what had happened and she didn’t seem to know how to act. She had almost frozen in time, it was as if time had stopped and I was the only one still breathing, moving. I became eerily conscious of my heartbeat, my pulse, as if my own mortality was now coming into question because I knew that my Dad’s had vanished itself. I still couldn’t believe it though, I wouldn’t let it be true, I couldn’t.

“Svet,” Mum said, her voice cracking through the tears, “Your father’s died.” She burst into full scale crying and I myself couldn’t cope. I couldn’t hold it back anymore. Tears rolled down my face and I felt empty, I let out a little scream for some reason I couldn’t fully explain and Alina instantly ran to me and hugged me. She was some comfort sure, but I couldn’t really feel it at the time. There was nothing inside me, just an empty pit and as the receiver slipped from my hand and I could hear mum’s cries going further away, all I could do was cry whilst Alina tried to silently comfort me.

I felt devastated, depressed, as if nothing was right in the world anymore. Tears punctuated each of the thoughts that tore through my mind and I couldn’t bring myself to believe it. I had been out pretty much partying whilst Pa had been slipping away. I had been so selfish, I had visited him only what...? Once, twice whilst he’d been in the Hospital?

My tears were no comfort to me now, nothing was. I couldn’t see myself going anywhere now, life felt as if it had no point. It was done, I was done. I couldn’t go on. I just did not know how.

(OOC: A shorter role-play today as something's come up, normal service should resume next time).

by **Valanora** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:46 am

"A little faith, that was all that was needed, and look what we have achieved, the victory some of you thought was impossible not five days before. See what happens when you just have a little bit of faith in yourselves and your teammates, the results that we can accomplish." It wasn't Hawk who was speaking to the side this time, the time for his thoughts had come and past, he would lead by example once more. Instead it was Soldarian, the soul of the team if Hawk was the heart of it. Born to one of the elite families of Valanora, a sort of nobility among the elves but not quite the same as humans would see it. Faeron saw many sides of Valanora due to his station, from the pious of the priesthood, to the higher echelons of the important families, and the common man due to his involvement in sport. There was little part of Vanorian culture that Faeron had not seen a part of and come to appreciate and understand.

"Don't go tooting your own horn, it was Hawk who gathered the squad back together for that first match. It was only after that speech of his that you started spouting your words of faith in one another, faith in yourself. How many times have you used those lines anyway? I swear, this is the tenth or so time." Espy said with a sly grin to the fellow midfielder. Like Hawk, Espy came from nothing to be a national icon, a folk hero of all types. If it were not for Hawk's own grand tale of raising up from just an average citizen to a hero, then it would likely be Espy that was the face of the Marauder side. As it stood, Espy was happy enough to play second fiddle when it came to that sort of attention and pressure, it allowed him to operate as naturally as he anyone on a national team could.

"Perhaps so, but if the words ring true, should they not be said time and time again? It is not as if the *entirety* of the squad has remained the same through the passing of the decades, there are a few fresh faces yet that have not heard the lesson." Faerron retorted with a bit of a glare towards the winger. He knew as well as any that they along with Hawk were the fabric of the squad, that the success of the side revolved around all three of them. And among the trio, it was Hawk that had to keep even he and Espy going at times. There truly was only one Laborious Hawk and how he kept himself striving for perfection day after day was a mystery to Faeron.

"Then speak it to them, not the entire squad." Espy let out a sigh, knowing that it was a fruitless exercise to try to argue the point with Faeron. There was enough truth in his words to merit their repeating to any and all that needed to hear the. "Better your words than the crazy notions that have been circling around the human lands of late. Extreme environment training, simply ridiculous if you ask me. No amount of environmental training will ever simulate the type of action you will see in a game."

"I agree, but there are some merits to the idea, if one were to need to adjust for a high altitude match or something of the sorts. Ultimately though, it will come down to the determination of who wants it more, who believes in themselves the most, that is what will have a person most prepared. Even a manager's tactics only matter a bit if the player's heart is not in it. That's why I speak my words Espy." It was now Faeron's time to smirk at his friend, placing his hand on the winger's shoulder. "Surely you understand that."

"Yeah I do. Luck has its play, as do any other number of forces. It sort of goes back what to Hawk was saying after the Gyatso-Kai match I suppose. The problem being, we all know Hawk is always going to be driven, to have that belief, us to a lesser extent. It's the rest of the squad, not all of them have seen or experienced things like we have. We three have been around for over twenty editions of this event... there is hardly a thing that can occur in this tournament that we would not be prepared for. I am worried Faeron, worried that Legalese might have that desire more than the others and surprise us."

"If such is the will of Elune, so be it. That said, we need only get a draw to secure out advancement, so if they do spring a surprise or two, or perhaps the rest of the squad finds themselves in a lackluster sort, we three should be able to see out the effort needed to get a point." It was not the greatest reassurance, especially given how even the defending champions of Audioslavia were struggling and the recent memory of the Gyatso-kai game on their minds. Still it was something that Faeron believed to be true, that the three of them were suffice to see out the result needed to secure the Marauders advancement.

"I will hope that is true. Given that we have a free day off tomorrow from training, perhaps we should organize a team activity to get everyones spirits up. Go see a movie or maybe go bowling, something to take their minds off the match and build up some rapport or chemistry, whatever you want to call it."

"That sounds like a brilliant idea Espy."

by **Pasarga** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:05 pm

Torgos Tribune ~ Final Stand

After a showcase of firepower that ultimately saw the Wanderers fall short in their arsenal supply, the squad now prepares for their final match with a bit of the air taken out of their sails. The match against Vilita was the match that was going to be a throwaway match, which it turned out to be. Yet the style in which the match was lost for the side has had the deflating sensation that Hernádez was no doubt hoping to avoid. The tactics that she employed to try to slow down the Jungle Cats instead completely backfired on the side, which saw the floodgates open to a regrettable seven goals. Dvořák had to be helped off the pitch after the match out of the sheer embarrassment that he felt at conceding that many goals in front of the home crowd.

The turn around is a quick one for the side, with just three days between the second and last match instead of the five afforded to them from the first to the second. Luckily the side does not have to travel from Stein-los for the next match, which is a small advantage that they will have over the traveling Corsairs, coming from Torgos. It provides them an extra day of training to try and regroup and reformulate the tactics they will need in the upcoming match. It's been the best and worst of times with tactics after having gotten them spot on for the match against Mangolana and then so utterly found out against Vilita.

There is a measure of hope to be had for the last match and the chances for advancing from the group though. With Vilita up against Mangolana, a presumed win for the Jungle Cats who seem to be on a record breaking goal scoring form, that leaves the match between the Corsairs and Wanderers as the match that will dictate who will be advancing from the group. However, Pasarga does have the upper hand in the engagement thanks to the surprise draw that Sargossa had in their match with Mangolana, the same side the Wanderers trounced three to nil.

Their is also a familiarity and affinity that the two sides have for one another, with each forming one half of the Liga de Fuego. Players from both sides are used to lining up against the other side on a week in, week out basis in their domestic duties. This is effectively a wash for both sides and could lead to some very stagnant play with each side knowing how to counter the other side. As such, one would ultimately see this fixture's result as coming out to be a draw or even slightly tipped in the Corsairs favor due to the rank advantage.

Yet it is now in this match that the fans of the side will need to show their true support for the side. It is easy enough to be a fan of the national team when they are doing well and performing admirably, but now when the chips are down and the side is going to need any sort of advantage it can find to overcome their foes is when the supporters will be tested. I have faith in the Pasargan public to be there, filling out Kilmonarch as if it were Stade de Torgos, shaking the neighborhood with the yells, cheers, and singing of their support. After all, thanks to that draw that the Mangolana side stole from Sargossa, it means that a single point from the match will be enough to see the Wanderers advancement. With the support of a nation behind them, surely the Wanderers can do at least that well if not better!

by **Polar Islandstates** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:09 pm

Here lies the lost RP, written and almost finished but not posted, pre-MD2. Hosts, I'm guessing this'll now count towards MD3 as an additional RP?

Well, that's one way to deal with a bad review. After certain members of their appeared to label our football style as boring, our players took little mercy against our opponents from Atlantic Oceania, and hammered Farfadillis by five goals to two. Whether the more critical previews were intended to rile Polarian readers, eager to see what other nations’ press were saying about us, or drive their own fans into a patriotic fervour is unknown. What is known however, is that someone in the Terns changing room took great pleasure in cherrypicking the worst of the bunch, a piece that viciously derided the amount of goals we’d scored in qualifying, and bring it to the attention of our players. What happened next was a brutal display of the finest attacking football the Terns could muster, hitting five goals in a single match for the first time this cycle.

Coming tearing out of the blocks, the Terns immediately hit toes, with the fresh feet of Alexsandr van Sorensen immediately grabbing the match by the scruff of the neck and dictating play masterfully. More and more we are seeing the Joan Mayen captain dropping back during the course of play, and the first goal came about through just such a move, with his usual deputy in these situations Jean-Eric Villeneuve providing the overlap into van Sorensen’s position. Villeneuve’s subsequent pass lead to a wicked shot from Saarinen, who was only just denied by a flying save from Lisdiren. The resulting corner would see Saarinen satisfied however, and his leaping header powered the ball into the back of the net for a one-nil lead.

Barely three minutes later, van Sorensen and Villeneuve were up to the exact same trick, only with the Northbrook midfielder more inclined to shoot himself this time rather than palm it off to a striker. I’m not sure Lisdiren even saw it. The ball shot like a rocket into the top corner, stunning the Farves, and underlining our superiority.

The pre-match team talk from Rasmussen and Pekarik must have touched a nerve, with the Terns on the pitch still unwilling to rest on their laurels, and they inflicted yet more pain upon the opposition in the twentieth minute when they took possession of the ball during a Farfadillis attack and immediately launched a swift and punishing counter-attack. Looking for their outlet as usual, the ball found its way to Alexsandr van Sorensen who quickly sent a long ball flying perfectly into the long stride of Illich-Svitych. The Axel Heiburg attacker then took three touches, dribbled around the goalkeeper, and delicately chipped the ball into the open goalmouth.

After the initial shock of the first twenty minutes, Farfadillis began to take a proper foothold in the match, and they attempted to stop the onslaught with attacks of their own. Whether it was shellshock or simple lack of confidence however, they managed nothing more than testing Korzhanenko a couple of times from long distance, as the Terns’ defence held out in the fact of the Farves’ previously free-scoring attack baring all its teeth but finding nothing but bloodied gums.

Not that the Terns were done themselves, mind, and on the stroke of half time they extended their lead to four goals to nil, sending the Twitchers in the crowd into euphoria. A corner from the right was cleared back to the touchlines, allowing Kungas-Vaga a second crack it, and form the resulting pinball in the centre of the area, Oyen-Spekke was well placed on the edge of the box to levy a shot into the mixer, seeing it rebound before bouncing into the net. The referee blew the whistle for half-time, and none but the most optimistic fans would fail to concede that the three points were now out of the hands of Farfadillis.

The players were professionals however, and they caught the Terns a little by surprise after the re-start, with the always dangerous Dandalleion in the right place at the right time to follow-up on the spilled shot from Karkka after Korzhanenko could only parry it.

Should he have caught it? Possibly. The goalkeeper debate continues.

Rasmussen didn’t wait around to respond however. As the Farves sniffed around the midfield with higher expectations, he saved the legs of van Sorensen by replacing him with Zeljeznicar, put Kolehmainen on for the sharp-looking Saarinen, presumably also with the intention of saving the first choice striker’s legs for the next match, and replaced Cornelius with Ekman. The moves paid off immediately, as Zeljeznicar played Kolehmainen for the Surtsey striker to chip Lisdiren. Kolehmainen celebrated his first ever goal at the World Cup finals, and the Terns celebrated being able to quell any thoughts the opposition may have had of staging an unlikely come-back.

The opposition were able to save face a little just at the end of the match, with Wii-Tzaara scoring with a header in the eighty-eighth minute to make the scoreline look just a bit more respectable. It was far too late to mean anything however, and the Terns took the three points and set an important psychological mark in the sand to the other teams contending for the big prize.

“See, we can’t just defend, we can score goals too.”

They’ll need to do both in the next match as well, with second seeds The Sylvanaes Queendom being the opposition for what is effectively a shoot-out for the top spot in the group. Win, and we go into the game against Ko-oren in a much better position than if we lose. The resting of Saarinen and van Sorensen therefore becomes even more crucial, and Rasmussen may yet be praised for giving our talisman that extra time on the sidelines. We need him firing when we need him, not relying on him when he’s a spent force. Also a hot topic is another slight misdemeanour for Korzhanenko, with many speculating that Kirilaunen will be trusted against the elves as a result. We'll have to find out.

One thing’s for sure, scoring this many goals for the first time this cycle at such a late stage in the process, against one of the supposedly best thirty-two teams in the multiverse, is bound to put out a marker to the other sides. No longer just the team that ekes out the endless one-nil wins over minnows; the Terns are off the mark.

Per Tenebras ad Lucem.

Eff out.

xx

POST-SCRIPT
I was sad to hear the news of the passing of Mace Kinoz’gh, former manager of the Sea Dragons, the Andossa Se Mitrin Vega national side. One of international football's most recognisable figures, Mace was the culprit behind many a late night sing-along at tournaments the length and breadth of the multiverse, as well as also being the master and creator of the Tidal Surge defensive style that was much admired and respected in the Federation; a style that the Terns have since sought to emulate. His side knocked the Terns out of our own home World Cup back at Fifty-Nine on penalties in the second round, and his appearance at the Hall of Fame ceremony for Timo Skye will go down in infamy. Indeed, the golden sequin emblazoned abseil is still one of the nation's most popular and most frequently watched online video clips. With the recent passing of Morten Yarbin, Twitchers will know exactly what the Vegan fans are feeling, and we extend to them our sincerest condolences both from those of us here in Pasarga, and from those back home in the Federation. He will be missed.

** ** ** ** **

Prologue
The Concrete Museum
Accidents Will Happen
The Popular Peoples’ Front of Bjarnarey for the Bjarnese
Professor Know-Nothing
A Brief History Lesson

Boris, QC

**
From the case notes of Wolfgang Lillehammer, PI

Somehow, in those preliminary conversations at the police station, I managed to avoid saying anything too incriminating. Eventually I was taken into a room by Klimpt himself and interrogated by a police officer I’d never seen before, who put me in a place where the answers began to get a little easier.

Did I know who was behind it? No.

Did I know where the hostages were? No.

Did I know how much trouble I was in? No.

Wait…

Apparently they weren’t buying the innocence act, even though I actually was innocent. Putting me back into a cell in the depths of the dank building I knew rather better than I’d like to admit, I realised slowly that things could actually turn quite serious from here, and I realised I needed help. With Kolberg a member of the very police force that was currently holding me under suspicion I came to the unwelcome conclusion that my only chance of outside help lay with someone I really didn’t fancy calling. Still, I didn’t have much choice. Sucking it up, I called for the guard, and told him I was ready to make my phone call.

I slept soundly and deeply in the damp basement cells of the police station that night, despite the cold and the situation I found myself in, but no amount of sleep could have prepared me for the sight that would await me in the interview room that next morning.

“Boris, what in the name of Thor’s beard are you wearing?” I asked, astonished.

“…you said you needed someone to pretend to be your lawyer.” he responded slowly, and just a little bit hurt.

I looked him up and down. In my desperation the night before I had rung my next door neighbour, who was already up to his neck in this case let’s not forget, and convinced him that I needed him to come in and ‘represent’ me at the station. I’d provided him with what to say myself. When it came from a ‘lawyer’ it would carry much more weight with the police than if simply I had said it, as the previous six hours could accurately testify. Flatfoots tended to be simple like that. Boris had taken this idea and ran with it however, and had turned up in character. With an outfit. Only, Boris being Boris, he’d inevitably cocked up at some point along the train of thought, and he’d got something wrong. Today, that something wrong was confusing a simple solicitor with a barrister.

Stood in front of me was the roundest, fattest, grubbiest little sweaty man in a barrister’s outfit that I have ever seen, and I’d been in court in Audioslavia. In fact, from the dirty red robe right down to the damp-marked black waistcoat, he looked ridiculous. At least in his case the starchy looking wig that was actually genuinely covering something.

“Boris, you look like an idiot. If this what you think all lawyers are like then its small wonder why you spend so long trying to avoid being around them.” I said, chastising him in the waiting area and attempting to keep a straight face as his wig slid slowly over his eyes.

“Well, they give me the willies!” he replied.

“Looking like this, I’m not surprised!” I responded, “You look like someone tarred a clown and threw him through a costume drama!”

“Well, it was this or the crocodile suit, they’d only got two costumes left in stock.” he sniffed.

“Who’s they?!” I yelped incredulously.

“The costume shop!”

“Who said you even needed a costume?!”

“Well, you said I needed to look the part!” he shouted, a little annoyed by now that this act of his was not being thanked and praised for being the incredibly selfless and brave act that he clearly thought it was.

The thought briefly crossed my mind that he was wanting some kind of reward beyond my gratitude. Usually, Boris only did things if there was something in it for him. That could have been a problem were he to make a fuss about it, but he was hardly likely to in a police station. A policeman walked past me and gestured for me to follow him into an interview room. Reluctantly, I gestured rather more rudely for Boris to follow me. We trailed into the room, and a second policewoman closed the door behind us.

“Now,” began the first policeman, who was sitting down and holding a clutch of papers, “we’re prepared to concede the possibility that you’re not the main kingpin of the operation.”

“Oh?” I asked, surprised, “Why the chang-…”

“My client is not prepared to any questions of an incriminating nature until such time as his legal representation arrives!” interrupted Boris with a rather keen sense of importance in his voice.

“Boris, you are my legal representation!” I shouted, “or at least, you’re supposed to be. And anyway, it’s a bit late for outbursts like that. You’re meant to interrupt the police officers, not me.”

“Oh.” Sniffed Borris, rather hurt at having been cut off and made to look stupid. Which shouldn’t have been a new sensation for him, really, but there you go.

“You’re paying for this guy’s services?” asked the policewoman with disbelief.

“With my sanity, yes.” I sighed, “Anyway, you were saying something about dropping your interest in me?”

“I wouldn’t quite go that far, sunshine,” said the policeman, “you’re still of interest, don’t you worry. You and our erstwhile colleague Kolberg.”

“What then?”

“You’ve been demoted,” said the policewoman, handing me the top two sheets of paper from the pile in her colleague’s hands by way of explanation, “here: these two images were released whilst you’ve been in our custody.”

Two glossy images flopped down into my hands. One had been taken the night before, the second one only hours ago judging by the dates on the newspapers the hostages were holding. Two more images of the hostages, looking fed, healthy, and reasonably happy. But still in custody. And behind them, the same bedsheet on which was scrawled the same symbol for the same new protest group. The same chilling message of impending death and demands for evictions in Little Wight accompanied the released images. Everything was the same as before.

And yet, it wasn’t.

“Why are these images different?” I asked.

“We were hoping you’d be able to tell us that,” replied the policewoman.

“Can’t you see the shale peaks behind them?” asked Boris, pointing a grubby finger at the pages, “look, through those windows. Can’t you see them?”

“We’ve tried that,” said the policeman, “but they appear to be changing.”

“So? Big deal, we’re living in a floating city,” I pointed out, “the view outside the window changes every second.”

“No, I mean, we’re able to identify the silhouettes of each island in every picture just fine,” replied the policeman, “it’s not our perspectives of the islands that are changing, it’s the islands themselves.”

I thought for a second on the nature of Bjarnarey, with houses forever uprooting and unmooring themselves and then mooring elsewhere, often according to prices as they rise and fall.

“So, check the records for houses that have re-moored over the past few days?” I suggested.

“Done that already as well, I’m afraid,” said the policewoman, “but these images seem to show the islands out of the window going around in a circle. See? We go from Jodrell, to Langoya, to Hove, then back to Jodrell. There are no records of any house making a route like that over the past few days.”

“We’ve got Langoya to Jodrell and Jodrell to Hove,” continued the policeman, “but none that go there and back again.”

“So, a boat, then?” asked Boris.

“Nope, definitely a building,” said the policewoman, leaning back on her chair, “look at those walls. You ever seen a boat with walls and plumbing like that?”

My heart caught in my throat.

I had.

Not a boat as such, but a moving building. One that did circuits, constantly, and that had many unused rooms all around its awkward wooden mass as it forever travelled the canals of the city. The offices of the local newspaper; the Bjarnarey Floater.

“You know what,” I said slowly, “I think I just might be able to help you there.”

“Yeah? How?” challenged the policeman.

“Well,” I said slowly, mentally trying to drag the Floater’s daily circuit schedule out from the murky depths of my memory and out into the open, “what time is it?”

“Why does that matter?” asked the policewoman.

“Just, what time is it?” I pressed.

“It’s about half past three,” said the policeman checking his watch, “not long until the deadline. Why?”

“And am I still under arrest?” I asked.

“No, why?” asked the policewoman, looking at her colleague. Both were completely and utterly confused.

“In that case,” I said, standing up, “come on Boris. This interview is terminated!”

Rushing the last part of my sentence, I darted to the door of the interview room, dragged it open, and hit toes down the corridor. Skidding on the slippery floors, I turned corner after corner until I was at the front desk. Glancing behind me, I could see the comical figure of Boris hurtling down the corridors after me. The look on his face told me he didn’t really know what I was up to, but that he was following me anyway. He was committed, at least, but the cloak and his short stature were rather combing to give him the impression of a bowling ball in drag.

Two moving shadows in the corridor beyond hinted at the presence of the two police officers following up, but they were too slow, and to the eyes of many an intrigued onlooker in the waiting room, we dashed out of the door and onto the piers and quays of the cities before anyone could do anything. The physical act of the run externalised my internal dialogue, matching my mind's race towards the logical conclusion with a display of speed.

Sure enough, as we tilted headlong over a particularly rickety rope bridge, I glanced to my left down the Norscanal. I had been right with my timing. Right on clockwork, there it was: the lumbering mass of the Floater, sitting low in the water and chugging along slowly - instantly recognisable to all in the city. There were endless store rooms in that place that anyone could hide someone in. Even six people. Particularly if they had some inside help.

I glanced at Boris behind me, barely managing to keep up, and ushered him forwards. I raced along the jetty, aiming for a raised platform that had been used for docking larger ships in the past. I reached it just as the Floater steamed towards me.

I took a flying leap.

Halfway through the air, I realised that the picture had been a rather obvious thing to get wrong. With the clinical precision of the kidnappings, even delaying it to a second date and still getting it so bang on, they didn't strike me as the sort of amateur outfit to get something wrong so basic as including the pictures of the islands behind the in their press releases.

It was a bit late to thing about that however, in mid-air.

With a crash and a clatter, I hurtled through a rotten wooden window frame that had been boarded up and landed heavily on the floor in a crumpled heap. I lay there quietly, trying to get the breath back into my lungs as I heard the sound of Boris landing to the accompanying sounds of splintered wood on the deck above me. I rolled over, and sat up bolt upright when I realised where I was.

I couldn't believe my luck.

Six handcuffed people looked back at me with a mixture of curiosity and fear.

"Hello," said Magnus Ragnorak, "can we help you?"

The story will continue in Confrontation on the Floater

Here endeth the lost RP.

by **Andossa Se Mitrin Vega** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 1:31 pm

United Gordanopia. How much we have been awaiting this chance for revenge is not even able to be measured. Some of you may not remember why it is that we relish this chance for revenge. Others of you may simply not have paid any attention to a seemingly held no historical value. Therefore I will fill you in on just why we are looking to humiliate the Gordanopians in our third match.

World Cup 63 group stage saw the Sea Dragons drawn into Group E with Sargossa, Turori, and United Gordanopia. The squad was primed and ready to make a solid run at a championship while playing in neighboring Turori. At the very least it was expected that the Vegai would easily win the group and probably grace at least the quarterfinals with their presence. Everything was primed and ready for a Match Day 1 match with the Gordanopians…

What followed was one of the most humiliating losses in Sea Dragon history, not because we lost to a weaker side, but in the manner that we lost. A hat trick from Kel’tas and a goal from Tia’bel to boot would be enough to topple nearly any competitor. The Gordanopians should have been running away scared. But it was the unthinkable that happened. The upstart pups scored five goals of their own to take the victory – a victory they used to advance over the Sea Dragons. For a squad that prides itself on defensive effort, this was total humiliation.

And now is the time for us to exact our revenge. Tobias, Franz, Bates – those were the heroes that day. And while Franz and Bates are now gone from the squad, Tobias is the one we wanted to see anyway. His own hat trick during that fateful match has been stuck on the minds of Sea Dragon players and fans for eight long years. One thing is a certain fact for the Gordanopian star, he will get hit. And it will happen hard and often. Their own press wonders how long the goal scoring heart and soul of this side will last. We will do our best to insure that this match becomes his finale. We would love nothing more than to send him into retirement bruised and broken.

Watch out UG, here come the Sea Dragons

World Cup LXV (65) RP Thread

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