World Cuppet 3 RP, Scores & Squads

by **Urszag-Csatoria** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:48 am

Greetings, citizens. All Hail Csar Laszlo XVII! Here is the latest bulletin of news information for the peoples of the great Unified Csardom of Urszag-Csatoria form the Administration News Service, approved by the Tanácsadók.

** ** ** ** **

The Central Urszcsar Currency Service proudly announced results for the first half of the year, and Urszcsar citizens nationwide rejoiced at the news that the wild inflation has been pegged, and is increasing at a slower rate than ever before. Top Tanácsadók analysts are optimistic that the economy will return to levels competitive with the rest of the Rushmore in the near future. Furthermore, exports are set to earn more for the workers of the state industries thanks to more favourable exchange rates with the Euran Pound.

** ** ** ** **

The next generation of political leaders were sworn in at the Socialist Workers' Party of Urszag-Csatoria at the weekend, as the 52nd annual 'Lil Socialist' meeting took place in Fennsíkváros. New recruits are up up 4% on this time last year, and the future is bright for the future of the Unified Csardom! All Hail!

** ** ** ** **

There was further disturbances in Hortobágy last night, with the streets ringing to the sound of vengeance brought down by the 12th Division of the Great Hussars. Wearing the great emblem of Szent Ferenc, they swept all before away, with the Peoples' Army providing able assistance and security to the poor loyal citizens of the area. The rebels were crushed mercilessly. Let their demise be a lesson to all that the iron fist of Csar Laszlo XVII comes crashing down on any that seek to disrupt the Unified Csardom.

** ** ** ** **

The national football team go from strength to strength in the World Cup, with a crushing 6-1 victory over Neo Starblaydia in the name of Csar Laszlo XVII. Goalkeeper Ivan Pálffi provided the rock in the defence, thwarting wave after wave of Neo Starblaydi attacks, and cutting the infidels off from their best form of defence. As a result, the brave attackers of the team were able to provide a devastating display of Urszcsar superiority. Two goals each for captain Lipot Csalfa and Karcsi Stipanovi struck straight to the heart of the Neo Starblaydi opposition, before Géza Spinčić and András Ávéd finished the devastating performance in the second half. Urszcsar football will now surely be feared on the global stage, and the Hussars go forth into the rest of the competition confident in the might of their attack. All Hail!

** ** ** ** **

by **Israeli Apartheid Client-State** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:09 pm

OOC: Apologies for the late rosters. I've been sick for a few months, which is why I have so much time to enter NS Sports competitions in the first place, but also means I don't always have it in me to post a roster and RP. OTOH, sometimes, like now, I don't feel stable enough to get up and do stuff, but I do feel focused enough to make a kit and roster.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events Y
RP injuries to my players Y
Godmod injuries to my players - only with realistic technology/weather of today's Earth
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out red cards to my players Y (encouraged)
Godmod other events Y

Manager: Eli Guttman
Formation: Wing Box 3-4-3 (forwards in a triangle pointing to the right; midfield is a "box" of 2 attackers and 2 defenders; defenders in a triangle pointing to forward-left)
Style: +5

Starters (caps):
10 GK Dudu Aouate (64)
09 FB Tal Ben Haim (67) Goals: 1
08 FB Maya Barki (25) Goals: 1
07 LWB Shelly Israel (33) Goals: 5
06 DM Sivan Fahima (30) Goals: 4
05 DM Meital Dayan (29) Goals: 4
04 AM Sarit Shinar (29) Goals: 19
03 AM Yossi Benayoun (88) Goals: 24
02 RW Ben Sahar (27) Goals: 6
01 SS Shirly Ohana (24) Goals: 8
00 CF Vered Cohen (20) Goals: 6

Substitutes (caps):
11 GK Iris Avraham (14)
21 GK Hanit Schwartz (13)
12 DF Michal Ravitz (21) Goals: 1
13 DF Naomi Belekhsan (20)
14 DF Tal Sofer (19) Goals: 1
22 DF Danielle Sofer (18) Goals: 2
23 DF Yuval Spungin (16)
15 MF Karin Sendel (23) Goals: 1
16 MF Adi Stein (20) Goals: 1
17 MF Moran Lavi (18) Goals: 2
18 MF Tal Shino (17) Goals: 6
24 MF Lior Refaelov (17) Goals: 3
19 FW Itay Schechter (13) Goals: 4
20 FW Tomer Hemed (7) Goals: 2

by **Inis na Dun** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:11 pm

Hail to the Dear Csar and the Mighty Cutoff.

Apologies for the delay, had started working towards a normal cutoff when I received a phone call regarding a job and which required immediate attention. I will aim to get the cutoff back to around the previous times tomorrow. If I don't do that then expect it at a similar time to this.

Group A
Hvammstang 1–2 Sixteen Bits
The Holy Forden Church 1–2 Rubrumistan
Terrabis 0–1 Everywhere

. Group A                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Sixteen Bits                        3   3  0  0    6   2  +4    9
2 Everywhere                          3   2  1  0    6   1  +5    7
3 The Holy Forden Church              3   1  1  1    5   3  +2    4
4 Hvammstang                          3   1  0  2    6   8  −2    3
5 Rubrumistan                         3   1  0  2    4   8  −4    3
6 Terrabis                            3   0  0  3    1   6  −5    0

Group B
Ibex 0–0 Cape Cork County
High Heels 0–1 Slovekistan
Aquillan 2–1 Hannah

. Group B                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Slovekistan                         3   2  1  0    8   1  +7    7
2 Aquillan                            3   2  1  0    4   1  +3    7
3 Ibex                                3   1  2  0    5   1  +4    5
4 High Heels                          3   0  2  1    0   1  −1    2
5 Hannah                              3   0  1  2    1   6  −5    1
6 Cape Cork County                    3   0  1  2    0   8  −8    1

Group C
Free University 0–2 Fevelo
Misrantis 6–0 The Unbidden Horde
Zebrabwe 1–2 Uke Islands

. Group C                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Misrantis                           3   3  0  0   15   2 +13    9
2 Fevelo                              3   2  1  0    7   2  +5    7
3 Uke Islands                         3   1  1  1    5   8  −3    4
4 The Unbidden Horde                  3   1  0  2    3   9  −6    3
5 Zebrabwe                            3   0  1  2    4   8  −4    1
6 Free University                     3   0  1  2    2   7  −5    1

Group D
Cusco 0–4 Uizasd and the Crexz Islands
Zenega 1–2 Victorwick
Duckota 1–0 New Cotdelapoms

. Group D                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Victorwick                          3   2  1  0    6   3  +3    7
2 Uizasd and the Crexz Islands        3   2  0  1    7   4  +3    6
3 Zenega                              3   1  1  1    3   3   0    4
4 Duckota                             3   1  1  1    2   2   0    4
5 Cusco                               3   1  1  1    3   6  −3    4
6 New Cotdelapoms                     3   0  0  3    2   5  −3    0

Group E
Happy Happy Joy Joy 0–3 Sameba
The Ursine Northlands 1–0 Perfidious Revolution
Bouncy Druids 0–1 Rigerata

. Group E                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Rigerata                            3   3  0  0    3   0  +3    9
2 Bouncy Druids                       3   2  0  1    5   1  +4    6
3 Sameba                              3   1  1  1    5   6  −1    4
4 The Ursine Northlands               3   1  0  2    1   2  −1    3
5 Perfidious Revolution               3   0  2  1    2   3  −1    2
6 Happy Happy Joy Joy                 3   0  1  2    0   4  −4    1

Group F
New Sirain 2–1 Prince Bartholomew Island
Shihn'Dohm 1–10 Israeli Apartheid Client-State
Fuglamark 2–1 Urbus Tractus

Group F                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Fuglamark                           3   2  1  0    7   2  +5    7
2 New Sirain                          3   1  2  0    3   2  +1    5
3 Prince Bartholomew Island           3   1  1  1    5   5   0    4
4 Israeli Apartheid Client-State      3   1  1  1   12   4  +8    4
5 Shihn'Dohm                          3   1  0  2    2  14 −12    3
6 Urbus Tractus                       3   0  1  2    2   4  −2    1

Group G
Neo Starblaydia 3–3 Inis na Dún
Mishuland 1–0 Urszag-Csatoria
Santazuela 4–1 Tropaia

. Group G                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Urszag-Csatoria                     3   2  0  1    7   2  +5    6
2 Inis na Dún                         3   1  1  1    5   5   0    4
3 Santazuela                          3   1  1  1    5   3  +2    4
4 Mishuland                           3   1  1  1    2   3  −1    4
5 Neo Starblaydia                     3   1  1  1    6   9  −3    4
6 Tropaia                             3   1  0  2    4   7  −3    3

Group H
Silexhera 0–1 Külmsaar and Terra Scotia
Jagoza 2–1 Hsien-Ko
Tagawachi 1–1 Xurvah

Group H                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Jagoza                              3   2  0  1    4   3  +1    6
2 Hsien-Ko                            3   2  0  1    5   2  +3    6
3 Xurvah                              3   1  2  0    3   2  +1    5
4 Tagawachi                           3   1  1  1    5   3  +2    4
5 Külmsaar and Terra Scotia           3   1  0  2    2   6  −4    3
6 Silexhera                           3   0  1  2    0   3  −3    1

by **Free University** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:43 pm

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers Y
Godmod scoring events Y
RP injuries to my players N
Godmod injuries to my players N
Hand out yellow cards to my players Y
Hand out red cards to my players Y
Godmod other events Y

Manager: Tatjana Valentin (manager from SOSTS)
Formation: 4-5-1 Style: -3

Lineup, domestic team:
10 GK Vedrana Hanley, Literature
09 LB Rochus Lucifer, Astronomy
08 CB Ernestine Taggart, Authority Studies
07 CB Caitria Konrad, Film Studies
06 RWB Carla Joan, Critical Theory
05 DM Coab Macy, Applied Physics
04 LM Jadyn Gundisalvus, Econometrics
03 CM Sibona Kaliso, Ecology
02 RM Paul Ivanović, Veterinary Medicine
01 AM Alyssia Hemming, Systems Science
00 LW Pippa Finlay, Ontology

by **Bouncy Druids** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:47 pm

Druids off to good start in the cuppet

The Cuppet so far has been a high scoring affair in a few matches with at least a 5 goal+ winning margin for the first two matchdasy. The Druids, containing such famous players as University College's winger Stefan Pallensen and his brother and non-league footballer, Stefan Pallensen, along with the two playable druids, the 'head' #1093 and second in command, #1104.

The Ursine Northlands 0–1 Bouncy Druids
A domineering performance by the Bears of The Ursine Northlands was unfortunately proved unfruitful, thanks to the top goalkeeping work of head druid, #1093, and a lucky break by Vantian midfielder Hafliði Brynjarsson, who replaced Jordan Griffiths, out with a stubbed toe.

The Ursine Northlands had a very large percentage of the possession, controlling the ball for 85% of the game, while most of the Druids possesssion was accounted for by goal kicks and the one lucky break which lead to a goal. The Urisine Northlands had many chances but did not take them, the closest coming in the 55th minute, where Karra Northside spooned a shot over the bar from just 2 yards out, but a worthy contender came from the same striker, who managed to skew a ball wide in front of an open goal. The lucky break came in the 84th minute, #1093 booting straight up field and poor defending by the ursines, lead Brynjarsson to latch on to the ball, and simply chip over the goalkeeper

Sameba 0–4 Bouncy Druids
An absolutely glorious victory for the Druids, as, in contrast to the last game, they dominated right to the very end, putting four past the Sameban goalkeeper, who was underperforming badly, probably tired afer their 2-2 draw against Perifidious Revolution. Andrew Jones scored a fantastic hattrick and Druid #1104 snatched the final goal deep in stoppage time

The deadlock was broken after just 4 minutes, Andrew Johnson scoring a powerful penalty after a mistake from an unnamed Sameban player, to start a fantastic match for Bouncy Druids. Johnson then added a second goal, another powerful strike from the edge of the area, which flew into the bottom left corner. He completed his hattrick after heading in from a Pallensen cross. The match died down a bit for a while, but then Druid #1104, when no-one in the box was looking, snatched the ball out of a scramble rounded two defenders and topped it off with a stylish chip over the unnamed 'keeper

by **Tagawachi** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:27 pm

The Demonic Order Sound Off On Their 1-1 Draw Against Xurvah
One sentence apiece.

Fire - Started slow, ended with a flurry...

Water - Their defense was like a hurricane, stopping all shots but one.

Air - The one that was given up was a shot of pure fate, non-deterred by the wind.

Earth - Faith prevailed at the end, as the tying goal was scored, but no more could be achieved.

Light - Two matches remain, and if we wish to advance, a victory is essential, or hope will be lost.

Dark - Fourth place with two matches to go, the games that remain are of paramount importance.

Life - The next match will determine whether we have any life left in us at all.

Death - Or perhaps we will go home like we did on the tournament before.

Entropy - It is hard to determine our fate, but soon, all will be revealed.

Time - Apparently this wasn't our day, but when will it really be our day, I wonder?

Aether - Nothing is certain, except for one thing: Everything will be certain given enough time and circumstance, like the fluttering of the wind.

Gravity - To the true essence of ourselves we go, with the hopes that it will lead us to victory next.

In the History of the Elemental League

The Period of Chaos - Cycles XIV-XL

During this period of history in Elemental League, there was a sense of pandemonium with war going through the lands. The battles being waged among the Bidden and the Unbidden affected the Tagawachi immensely at this time, for the Tagawachi hadn't found a safe place to hide from both sides that wanted their support. So, it wasn't known if a key player would even be alive by the next season. This made the concept of dynasties harder to achieve.

During this time, there were a few remarkable runs, such as Life's two-peat in XVIII and XIX, Air taking three in XXVI, XXVII, and XXVIII, Gravity winning in XXXI and XXXII despite losing two key players due to the war between the seasons, Water winning it again in XXXIV and XXXV, and then Death bringing in a cold, defensive, fast-counterattack style for XXXIX and XL.

By the end of the XL cycle, the war between the Bidden and Unbidden had ground to a halt, and the Demons could start planning for the long term once more.

by **The Unbidden Horde** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:36 pm

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

3. Wraiths

The most famous Wraith of Unbidden Football, a Midfielder by the name of Silvara, once stated, "To be a Wraith and play football is to become what you are not supposed to be. We are supposed to glide along and not even touch the ground. The fact that we would use our feet, at all, to do anything, is a sacrilegious thing to other Wraiths. Hence, football-playing Wraiths form close bonds with one another, and stick together."

As expressed by this statement, Wraiths playing football aren't really welcomed by other Wraiths in their culture. In a hierarchical society where rank and prestige is everything, just how far a Wraith can glide off the ground, and how long it can stay up, is one of the main ways of determining just how strong a Wraith really is. Hence, football-playing Wraiths are looked down upon since they willingly, yes, willingly put their feet on the ground to hit the ball and help out their team.

Due to this, football playing Wraiths are very resourceful and humble. They are used to being ridiculed, and will not return any insults they receive, and will instead let the results speak for themselves on the field. Since becoming a footballer is a life-altering situation for a Wraith, Wraiths that do become part of a football team are very good at what they do, for it means that they decided that they were good enough to continue something that is looked down by the populace.

On the pitch, Wraith are cerebral, calculating, shrewd. They will pick apart the opponent's weaknesses the moment that they are visible, and aim to take advantage of any openings that they observe.

The best way to beat a Wraith on the pitch is to be physical with them. They don't have much muscle or bone, so they will budge. However, if you get too close, at times they will literally glide right through you and keep going.

Wraiths usually prefer winger positions where they can look at at least half the pitch, or they prefer to be managers themselves.

Next up: 4. Skeletons

by **Terrabis** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 4:52 pm

The Terrabis Times
Deathbringers to 0-3 Start

The Holy Forden Church 3-0 Terrabis
Sixteen Bits 2-1 Terrabis
Terrabis 0-1 Everywhere

The Chosen Deathbringers of Terrabis have not gotten out to the best start in the third edition of the World Cuppet, dropping their first three matches, and giving up any chance they had of advancing to the knockout stages of this cup.

The religious stalwarts of The Holy Forden Church absolutely dominated the first match against The Chosen as Cardinal Dessens and Cardinal Prince, along with Bishop Rowand did the honors of scoring the goals against Aysel Babar, who looked like a deer in the headlights of an incoming car. It was a brutal beat-down as The Chosen were left wandering just exactly what they had gotten themselves into.

The Chosen had a better game against perennial semifinalists Sixteen Bits, scoring the first goal. Ogtay scored off a header from a deep cross off of Dunman's right foot as The Chosen scored their first goal. Alas, it wasn't to last. Venn Diagram scored early in the second half, and with the clock winding down, it was Tim Berners Lee who buried a free kick to hand The Chosen a narrow loss. It was their best game of the tournament so far, though.

The third match pitted The Chosen against the team of Everywhere. Though The Chosen held up on defense for most of the game, Goliath of Gath, the gigantic striker, managed to scare half the defense away with a deafening roar and then sneak the ball past Babar for the only goal.

The manager of The Chosen, Abi Cari, stated, "I am not really certain why we are not performing up to standard. Maybe it is that our group is just really tough. Or maybe we are not as good as we thought we were. In any case, I apologize to The One and The People on how the results have turned out. We will seek to prevail in the last two matches to at least finish at a respectable note."

The Indoor team not doing so well either at a record of 2-3, suggesting that it may take a year or two before The Chosen become respectable, competent members of the sporting community.

The Chosen will keep plugging away their hours in practice until then...

by **Sixteen Bits** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:50 pm

>run: file 171381361 
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 956035583.3
>loading...
>
>checksum=sixteen bits 2-1
>generating match report...
>
>sixteen bits wins
>
>confirmed
>
>query: display shit-eater smily?
>
>query return: 
>negative
>
>
>subroutine complete

>run: file 661170803-2 
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 652627834.2
>loading...
>
>file: forwardstory 2/8
>generating text...
>
>complete
>
>run: subroutine 652627834.1a
>
>print to screen: textfile
>forwardstory 2/8
>loading...
>

[unpre]

Miskatonic University wrote:
Email Transcript

Email Transcript

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

Subject: Project Cuppet 3

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

Dr. Seuss,

The incremental increase in personality continues apace, and the results remain positive. The Tamarindo clones are now up to ten percent self-awareness and bed-wetting is completely eradicated, apart from one notable exception, with the midfielder we have dubbed 'Fritz' showing something of a nervous disposition and generally being a bit of a wet blanket – if you'll pardon the pun. The slightest thing will upset him, and the other specimens are catching on and teasing him mercilessly. There is a certain level of disorderliness growing amongst the lads as their individualities take shape, although they are still doing remarkably well on the field of play where enmities or personality clashes are comfortably put aside – largely because we are still turning their self-awareness off for matches. We have agreed as a field team that we will have the specimens upto the critical target 23 percent by the knockout phase, should we reach it, and then we will allow the players that 23 percent autonomy in the subsequent games.

We have given most of the clones pet names now, something that I didn't really approve of when Doctor Pertwee-Who started referring to 'Angelino' and 'Ticiano' and Segismundo', but it has caught on amongst the scientific field team and in truth is an easier way to quickly identify a clone rather than trying to remember their unique identification number or scanning the bar codes on the back of their heads. I recognise that it breaks a professional and objective barrier, but you know Doctor Pertwee-Who: his enthusiasm is quite infectious!

Body conditions remain good in all subjects and we remain confident that as we are dealing with live matter instead of reanimated matter from the first two Cuppets, we have enough shelf-life in the specimens to see us through to the final stage. 'Oquendo', 'Arduino' and 'Amaranto' have all picked up minor injuries during matches, and cried like babies in physio after the games, but The Thousand Year Penance of Doctor Josef Mengele is proving to be a remarkable masseuse and all signs indicate that self-repair systems within the clones are working at better than human standard. There is no sign of decay nor of the mossy growths that sprouted from the Vergenski specimens last time.

All in all, a clean bill of health. We anticipate increasing self-awareness to 17 percent today, and expect to face a number problems with the group, from hormonal disruptions to skin eruptions, severe mood swings and a temporary decline in language skills. How 'Fritz' is going to cope with puberty and adolescence in one day remains a concern and we will have to watch the miserable thing very closely. As you might expect, Doctor Pertwee-Who remains full of enthusiasm, but I fear we may soon have to call on the dubious counselling skills of the devil Moloch, and something tells me it will not be pretty. I find him lacking any sense of patience, empathy or even interest in the test specimens.

Yours,

Surgeon Hunter.
Project Cuppet 3 Field Team.

[/unpre]

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

by **Free University** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:38 am

by **Zenega** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:54 am

Egobudike's Kantine
Hastière, Bunami Province

Zenega 1-2 Victorwick

When the men of Hastière came down from the quarry in Chigozie's pick-up truck, they passed some of the boys from the village playing football in the dusty Parque, and a call went up from them to young Zweli Zuma in the pick-up, who was still a boy really, of sixteen years by most reckonings, and not a bad little footballer. His younger brother Joseph was one of the children kicking the ball about, and like Zweli he was a player ahead of his twelve or so years, so that often the men of the village let him join in their games, and he could hold his own. Chigozie slowed his pick-up down so that some of the men could call out to their sons, and Zweli leapt out, wanting to join in the fun. “Zweli, don't you want to come watch the game with us working men?” called out Castro, but the young man waved him away dismissively, and went to join in the game. As the truck pulled up outside Egobudike's Kantine, they saw a Bunami Province ranger's car parked outside, and they laughed that big fat Ego's worse fear had come true, that with the Zen Liberation Society suddenly become active in the area, there would be an equal and opposite reaction from the authorities. The Katinero's place was a palace of stolen goods, black and grey market imports, and an illegal decoder on his satellite TV system. Egobudike was going to be in a foul temper.

As they alighted the pick-up, Olisango got his pack together and began to head home to his beloved and terrible Dorothée, but the other working men challenged him. “Oli, Oli,” laughed Asanda, “where are you going? The football is on! We won last night, and the curse of Ego's TV is lifted!”

Olisango hesitated. “I am afraid of that television,” he said, “I feel it does not like me.”

The men laughed. Castro – Olisango's brother - and Xarles went into the Kantine to order beers. Clement chided superstitious Olisango. “It is a television, Oli. There is no spirit in there, just moving pictures. And there is no curse. We won yesterday – and you missed it. What are you going to do – miss the whole thing? Come on, don't be a goat.” Finally, with a nervous glance into the kantine, Olisango agreed to join the men for the football on the television.

Egobudike was drunk. Or rather, he was pretending to be drunk. Egobudike never really got drunk, because he never trusted anyone with his kantine enough to let his hair down. But if it suited his purpose, he could pretend to be drunk. The working men of Hastière were never fooled by it, but outsiders, like the cop from the provincial Ranger's Office, usually were. The Ranger – it was Stanton Mavimbela, who grew up in Sibaya, a neighbouring village – was clearly taken in by Egobudike and was also drunk. Most of the men of Hastière knew Stanton – or Ranger Mavimbela, as he preferred to be addressed when on official Province duty – and greeted him with slaps on the back and an informal manner which would've annoyed him if he had been sober. He was only young for a Ranger and the men of the province did not take him very seriously. Egobudike was plying Stanton with Zenegalese brewed Hyéne Beer – awful stuff – and keeping the contraband Wightbeer out of plain sight. But by the time the workers got in from the quarry, Stanton was so drunk that he didn't notice when Ego slipped the men a full compliment of the good stuff, with a wink and a nod. Stanton was complaining about the Zen Liberation Society, who by their damned politickings had dragged him away from his desk and out into the wilds looking for clues of dangerous insurrection – like new paintings on walls of houses or signs turned the wrong way at junctions of the province's dusty roads. The Liberation Society, said Stanton, were like ghosts, and who had ever heard of catching a ghost? Impossible!

The men turned on the television and tuned in to the World Cuppet coverage on one of the illegal channels. There was a good deal of banter on the matter of Olisango and his peculiar belief that the television in Egobudike's Kantine was haunted, and he was the brunt of many jokes. A great cheer went up when Zenega took the lead, thanks to Babacar Sylla's rifled shot from the edge of the penalty area, and a second cheer when a rifled shot from one of the boys in the parque overshot its mark and flew into the kantine, bashing drunk Ranger Mavimbela on the back of the head and knocking him to the floor, where he passed out stone cold unconscious. Egobudike cursed the damn children, and when it turned out to be Junior, Asanda's boy, he immediately barred Asanda from the kantine until further notice, despite great protestation from all. Asanda went off to the parque to play football with the boys while Xarles and Castro dragged the prone Stanton under a table where he wouldn't be in the way. While they were busy at this most of them failed to notice that Victorwick had equalised, and were disappointed when they got back to their seats to find this was so. And worse was to come. Zenega seemed to have a collapse in confidence, and dropped deep, and soon found their backs to the wall, defending for their lives. In the kantine, Olisango said, “I do not like the look of this!” and sure enough, within a couple minutes of him saying it, the Balafons fell behind.

When the game finished and Zenega were beaten, Olisango paled, and made a magic sign of protection from the television, and vowed not to come back until the Cuppet was finished or the TV exorcised. The men nodded gravely. Perhaps he was right after all.

by **Free University** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:55 am

MD1 Free University 2–2 Uke Islands
29' goal Uke Islands
48' goal FRU: CB 08 Ernestine Taggart. Assist: AM 01 Alyssia Hemming.
48' goal FRU: AM 01 Alyssia Hemming. Assist: DM 05 Coab Macy.
67' goal Uke Islands
75' yellow card: CB Ernestine Taggart

MD2 The Unbidden Horde 3–0 Free University
21' goal LCM 17 Hammer Punch
29' goal RF 9 Reborn
90' goal LF 71 Glider

MD3 Free University 0–2 Fevelo
45' goal Fevelo
53' goal Fevelo

Scholars Stats:
Goals - Taggart 1, Hemming 1
Assists - Hemming 1, Macy 1
Yellows - Taggart 1

Up next: (current ranking in group)
#1 Misrantis (3-0-0, 15 GF - 2 GA)
#5 Zebrabwe (0-1-2, tied with Free University; 4 GF - 8 GA)

by **Inis na Dun** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:13 pm

Group A
Sixteen Bits 4–0 Everywhere
Rubrumistan 2–2 Terrabis
Hvammstang 1–5 The Holy Forden Church

. Group A                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Sixteen Bits                        4   4  0  0   10   2  +8   12 Q
2 The Holy Forden Church              4   2  1  1   10   4  +6    7
3 Everywhere                          4   2  1  1    6   5  +1    7
4 Rubrumistan                         4   1  1  2    6  10  −4    4
5 Hvammstang                          4   1  0  3    7  13  −6    3 E
6 Terrabis                            4   0  1  3    3   8  −5    1 E

Group B
Cape Cork County 0–1 Hannah
Slovekistan 1–2 Aquillan
Ibex 3–0 High Heels

. Group B                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Aquillan                            4   3  1  0    6   2  +4   10 Q
2 Ibex                                4   2  2  0    8   1  +7    8
3 Slovekistan                         4   2  1  1    9   3  +6    7
4 Hannah                              4   1  1  2    2   6  −4    4 E
5 High Heels                          4   0  2  2    0   4  −4    2 E
6 Cape Cork County                    4   0  1  3    0   9  −9    1 E

Group C
Fevelo 3–1 Uke Islands
The Unbidden Horde 4–3 Zebrabwe
Free University 0–3 Misrantis

. Group C                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Misrantis                           4   4  0  0   18   2 +16   12 Q
2 Fevelo                              4   3  1  0   10   3  +7   10 Q
3 The Unbidden Horde                  4   2  0  2    7  12  −5    6
4 Uke Islands                         4   1  1  2    6  11  −5    4
5 Zebrabwe                            4   0  1  3    7  12  −5    1
6 Free University                     4   0  1  3    2  10  −8    1

Group D
Uizasd and the Crexz Islands 5–2 New Cotdelapoms
Victorwick 3–3 Duckota
Cusco 1–6 Zenega

. Group D                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Uizasd and the Crexz Islands        4   3  0  1   12   6  +6    9
2 Victorwick                          4   2  2  0    9   6  +3    8
3 Zenega                              4   2  1  1    9   4  +5    7
4 Duckota                             4   1  2  1    5   5   0    5
5 Cusco                               4   1  1  2    4  12  −8    4 E
6 New Cotdelapoms                     4   0  0  4    4  10  −6    0 E

Group E
Sameba 0–1 Rigerata
Perfidious Revolution 0–2 Bouncy Druids
Happy Happy Joy Joy 0–2 The Ursine Northlands

. Group E                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Rigerata                            4   4  0  0    4   0  +4   12 Q
2 Bouncy Druids                       4   3  0  1    7   1  +6    9 Q
3 The Ursine Northlands               4   2  0  2    3   2  +1    6
4 Sameba                              4   1  1  2    5   7  −2    4
5 Perfidious Revolution              c4   0  2  2    2   5  −3    2
6 Happy Happy Joy Joy                 4   0  1  3    0   6  −6    1

Bouncy Druids qualified due to beating The Ursine Northlands 1-0 on matchday one. Therefore even if Bouncy Druids lose the final match and The Ursine Northlands win they cannot be overhauled.

Group F
Prince Bartholomew Island 0–0 Urbis Tractus
Israeli Apartheid Client-State 2–0 Fuglamark
New Sirain 3–1 Shihn'Dohm

. Group F                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 New Sirain                          4   2  2  0    6   3  +3    8
2 Israeli Apartheid Client-State      4   2  1  1   14   4 +10    7
3 Fuglamark                           4   2  1  1    7   4  +3    7
4 Prince Bartholomew Island           4   1  2  1    5   5   0    5
5 Shihn'Dohm                          4   1  0  3    3  17 −14    3 E
6 Urbis Tractus                       4   0  2  2    2   4  −2    2 E

Group G
Inis na Dún 2–2 Tropaia
Urszag-Csatoria 3–6 Santazuela
Neo Starblaydia 3–0 Mishuland

. Group G                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Santazuela                          4   2  1  1   11   6  +5    7
2 Neo Starblaydia                     4   2  1  1    9   9   0    7
3 Urszag-Csatoria                     4   2  0  2   10   8  +2    6
4 Inis na Dún                         4   1  2  1    7   7   0    5
5 Tropaia                             4   1  1  2    6   9  −3    4 
6 Mishuland                           4   1  1  2    2   6  −4    4 E

Group H
Külmsaar and Terra Scotia 0–2 Xurvah
Hsien-Ko 2–3 Tagawachi
Silexhera 2–2 Jagoza

. Group H                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Xurvah                              4   2  2  0    5   2  +3    8
2 Jagoza                              4   2  1  1    6   5  +1    7
3 Tagawachi                           4   2  1  1    8   5  +3    7
4 Hsien-Ko                            4   2  0  2    7   5  +2    6
5 Külmsaar and Terra Scotia           4   1  0  3    2   8  −6    3 E
6 Silexhera                           4   0  2  2    2   5  −3    2 E

by **Terrabis** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:49 pm

The Terrabis Times
Deathbringers Manage First Point, Draw Against Rubrumistan, 2-2

The good news? The Chosen Deathbringers finally scored their first point in the World Cuppet. The bad news? It wasn't a win. Instead, they drew against the nation of Rubrimistan, 2-2.

The Rubrumistani players seemed like they had the game in the bag at halftime, having scored two goals off of Aysel Babar, one of them being a header off a corner kick, another a curving strike close up. It seemed that The Chosen would suffer their fourth straight defeat and continue the embarrassing play that they had been a part of as of late.

The end result, however, was not what one was led to expect. The Chosen played their most brilliant football thus far, as Abi Cari's halftime adjustments worked out. Sencer Tabib and Raykom Ogtay started to move deeper and deeper into Rubrumistani territory, and Ismet Muzaffer was the one who had the honor of scoring the first goal, a twenty-yard sinker that beat the keeper.

The initial goal set the Rubrumistani players on alert, and they started to be more physical on defense. This ultimately caused the opportunity of The Chosen to score their second goal, as Ogtay was tackled inside the penalty box. He sent the ball caroming into the goal to tie the game.

The game concluded with no more fireworks as the two teams traded chances but didn't end up scoring any more goals.

The Chosen will have one last try to secure a win over Hvammstang, the fifth place team in the group. Then, they will return to Terrabis and determine just what they need to work on in order to become a better team.

by **Tagawachi** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 3:13 pm

The Demonic Order Sound Off On Their 3-2 Win Over Hsein-Ko
One sentence apiece.

Fire - Burned through their defense like it didn't exist in the first half!

Water - Put up a wall of solid defense to survive in the second half.

Air - The wind blows through all the teams as one more match looms that will decide the fate of four.

Earth - The ones that are grounded the most will ultimately prevail.

Light - As we face the lowest ranked foe, chances are we'll prevail.

Dark - Silexhera has nary a victory, meaning we can't slip up and give'em one when we need the win so desperately ourselves.

Life - Wither up or bloom?

Death - Who will be sent home?

Entropy - So hard to tell!

Time - Finish in top two, tick, tock, tick, tock.

Aether - In which dimension will we end up, winners or losers?

Gravity - All will be decided tomorrow.

In the History of the Elemental League

Entropy - Most titles - 19

There are many reasons that Entropy is the most successful Elemental Demon of all time in the history of the Elemental League. Perhaps the reason is because he's a Manager. He has never taken the pitch himself in his life, preferring to watch from the sidelines and critique his players and their tactics.

Entropy has won in pretty much almost every decade except a few, and his spontaneity in coaching styles has made him one of the most dangerous sides in the game. Entropy has never finished outside the top six, and he is always breathing down the leading side's necks for the most part.

He may not win every title, but he will always be relevant, and be an integral part of every Championship run.

Thanks, Entropy, for keeping the competition as strong as it is!

by **The Unbidden Horde** » Wed Jul 18, 2012 3:26 pm

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

4. Skeletons

Fragile and weak, most skeletons do themselves a favor by not playing the sport of football, for it could harm them pretty badly if tackled hard to the ground. However, there are those who thrive off of danger and excitement, and for those skeletons who are adrenaline junkies, football is the perfect sport for them, flirting with danger every minute that they are on the pitch.

As the name, "skeleton", suggests, skeletons are those demons who don't have any flesh or blood be a part of their body. They are pretty much just bone and a few ligaments and such to keep them all together. Due to this, skeletons, while having a range of motion that most other living beings do not have, they are more fragile and have a higher danger of being broken.

They make up for what they don't have on their body with the amount of intelligence they possess. Over half of all skeletons possess photographic memory, while another fourth possess acute hearing, sight, taste, touch, or smell. They learn quick and learn well, and almost never forget anything, including some details that could be considered non-important but always end up to be important.

On the pitch, skeletons usually play the midfielder position for it has the least amount of contact. Strikers and defenders are those who end up on the ground more often, and skeletons traditionally avoid those positions.

Only about twenty or so skeletons play football, but their presence is highly noticeable for those teams that they play for will always be cerebral and well thought out.

Oh how much difference a few can make...

Next: Part 5: Corrupted

by **Zenega** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:00 am

Egobudike's Kantine
Hastière, Bunami Province

Cusco 1-6 Zenega

Rumour came to the men while they were still hard at work in the quarry that the Provincial Ranger Stanton Mavimbela, who had gotten very drunk the night before and passed out in Egobudike's Kantine, had been carried off in the night by bandits from the Zen Liberation Society. Chigozie who was the foreman of the Hastière gang overheard some of the managers talking about it. Apparently, rebels had come to Hastière after a tip-off that Stanton was patrolling the area, and after an heroic stand-off with much firing of guns, the Ranger, grievously wounded, was overwhelmed and snatched. Chigozie told Asanda, and during a break from the work Asanda gathered the men and told them the news. Nobody had heard any firing in the night. They had left the Ranger under a table, snoring, and his only injuries were a bump on the back of the head where he had been hit with a wayward football from the kids in the parque, and a black eye or two where he had been hit by the floor coming up to greet him after one Hyéne beer too many. Most likely that fat bastard Ego had been unable to rouse him, and had called one of his 'contacts' to have him taken away. The quarry gang were quite certain Stanton would turn up unharmed, and with a fabricated story of heroism to cover his loss of memory. Maybe even a promotion.

Later that day back in Hastière, Egobudike was in typically obstreperous mood. Although Olisango refused to go into the kantine because of the haunted television, the great fat kantinero barred him anyway for talking nonsense and generating a climate of fear and superstition that would damage his business. He also maintained his bar on Asanda, who's son Junior had kicked the ball which knocked over the drunk Ranger the night before. And he refused to speak about the disappearance of Stanton, principally because there was a guest in the bar. It was the Belgian settler, Welde Beauraing, a quiet and polite fellow who apparently worked for The Oroboros Co-operative, a foreign corporation who ran the quarries and most other heavy industries up there in Bunami Province. Despite his gentle manner and seemingly innocuous job, Egobudike had always harboured suspicions that Monsieur Beauraing was connected to the state secret service, Organisatie. It wasn't difficult then to draw a line into paranoia, what with Egobudike's clutch of 'contacts' who supplied him with goods various from the docks, and from trucks and trains raided in empty spaces between towns. It also meant that there was no Wightbeer on offer tonight since it was obtained from dubious supply lines, and everyone would have to put up with Hyéne Beer, the awful Zen-brewed brand, or join Negassi the Ape on the soft drinks,. Although even that was tacitly discouraged with Monsieur Beauraing around, considering where the last consignment of Tsepsi Cola came from.

Asanda brought his son Junior to the bar, together with Zweli Zuma and his younger brother Joseph, to issue and apology for the accident with the policeman, which Junior recited in a loud voice that flustered big fat Ego, what with Monsieur Beauraing in hearing distance. The kantinero hushed them up nervously and for want of a bit of peace and quiet told them they could all stay if only they would shut up about the day before. Then Joseph Zuma ordered two Tsepsi Colas for him and his friend Junior, and the fussing giant Egobudike told them only Hyéne Beer was on offer, so they had a pitcher each and were told that would be their lot. The working men of Hastière settled down to watch the game, hoping that Zenega would do better than they had so far, it being a poor return from the reigning champions of four points from nine. Secretly one or two of the more impressionable men wondered if Olisango was right about the curse on the television, but Babacar Sylla and Jesse Abosi, those wonderful Zenegalese strikers, grabbed a hattrick each as the Balafons demolished Cusco to remind everybody just who the champions of the Cuppet were, and to once more exorcise the demon within Egobudike's television and illegal satellite decoder.

by **Sixteen Bits** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:06 am

>run: file 171381361 
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 956035583.4
>loading...
>
>checksum=sixteen bits 4-0 everywhere
>generating match report...
>
>sixteen bits wins
>
>confirmed
>
>query: display qualification smily?
>
>query return: 
>negative
>
>
>subroutine complete

>run: file 661170803.3 
>loading...
>
>{bold}the calculation of sixteen bits
>world cuppet 03 computation
>
>confirmed
>
>run: subroutine 652627834.3
>loading...
>
>file: forwardstory 3/8
>generating text...
>
>complete
>
>run: subroutine 652627834.1c
>
>print to screen: textfile
>forwardstory 3/8
>loading...
>

[unpre]

Miskatonic University wrote:
Email Transcript

Email Transcript

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

Subject: Project Cuppet 3

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

Dr. Seuss,

Thank you for your thoughts on the pet names we have given for our test specimens. Just to clarify, the names we are using are drawn from Latinamerican culture inspired by the fact the clones are of Tamarindo DNA origin. You can rest assured that in all official reports we are using the previously designated alpha-numeric codes, and also that though we have broken a basic rule of objective science through this use of the familiar tense, we are all keeping a calculated emotional distance from the specimens and are quite ready to undertake the final task at the end of this tournament without flinching from our scientific duties. I admit Doctor Pertwee-Who has become more involved in the emotional aspects of watching football matches and is quite boisterous in his support of 'the team'; he may well need managing when the experiment comes to an end and we terminate the project according to agreed principles. Just to be clear, I do not anticipate any delay in termination of Project Cuppet 3 with appropriate disposal of all test materials.

Though you would not guess it from checking the scores, all hell broke loose yesterday when we increased self-awareness in the test specimens to 17%. We had anticipated some overly-dramatic side effects and were prepared with extra rations of skin creams, shampoos, soaps and other hygienic consumables, as well as thirty cans of black paint for the boys to decorate their holding pens, and the means to deal with a variety of bodily fluids both voluntarily and involuntarily discharged. What we did not anticipate was an entire hormone-based mutiny by inaction, as first one, then another, and then virtually all of them collapsed into a pitiful state of quite useless and ill-directed angst. It was practically viral in it's vector. Even Doctor Pertwee-Who was feeling the palpable (and pungent) air of miserable self-obsession. We tried persuading the devil Moloch to intervene with some of his dubious counselling skills, but to no avail. Though he has processed his fair share of hell-bound sinners and has seen every despicable act imaginable, he was close to tears with frustration at the sheer scale of the preposterous existential crisis. We feared that we would not be able to put out a team at all for the match against our fellow etherial embodiments of Everywhere.

In the end we had no choice but to further increase self-awareness to 20%, a dangerous doubling from the previous day, but there was nothing for it but to try. Let me tell you what a difference three little percentiles make at that key stage of development. There was still the barely concealed propensity for unprovoked hostility, leaning towards violence and disorder in some specimens, but the all-pervading lethargy of the seventeen percenters was gone, and we finally had some energy to work with. The payback of course is that bedwetting has become a temporary problem again as the test specimens experiment ill-advisedly with inebriation in various forms, usually ending with uncontrolled eating, fighting, vomiting, blacking out, and urinating whilst in various states of coma including but not limited to somnambulism. We are all agreed this is a far easier process to manage than the utter nihilism of their previous states, and we look forward to another dramatic improvement with the final hike to 23%, when general humanity will become the predominant aspect of their individual personalities, rather than the child-pig-donkey amalgam we presently work with.

I am pleased to say that despite all the troubles, we have successfully progressed to stage two of this the final Cuppet experiment, and remain cautiously optimistic that we can improve dramatically on previous experiments.

Yours,

Surgeon Hunter.
Project Cuppet 3 Field Team.

[/unpre]

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

by **Misrantis** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:41 am

Misrantis Qualified for the Next Round!

The Football Team of the Misrantian Empire will certainly be playing in the next round of World Cuppet 3 Competition.

With the details just making their way back to Misrantis, it is apparent that Misrantis is one of the biggest impressing teams of the tournament, scoring the most goals and securing a qualifying spot to the second stage of the competition before the first stage has completed.

Misrantis has scored 18 goals while conceding just two and look to be favored to advance in the competition, perhaps all the way to another final, especially with the local advantage being from just a stones catapult away.

Nobody is doing anything in Misrantis while World Cuppet 3 is going on. Everyone cares to find the first updates of each match, as soon as possible after the match concludes. The Camels are all tied up, the vessels are also tied. Misrantian don't want to be out of the audible range when the score comes in. Transportation is not required, everyone is staying where they are, congregating in the public areas only.

The first scores unfotunately took a delay before they arrived in the shores of Misrantis. But the process has been improved and scores are now coming in within hours of the final whistle.

Misrantis had a very productive opening two matchdays, where they scored 9 goals and conceded 2 to defeat Zebrabwe and the Uke Islands. The esteemed and Famous Rahman Omer Hilali has been praised for the teams performance in World Cuppet 2 and the legacy of this greatest of Misrantian sport hero's is only increasing with the teams stunning World Cuppet 3 performances thus far.

Some have even called on Hliali to take the Misrantian team to the Atlantian Oceania Championships, but Hilali did not want to discuss such nonsense things, knowing that a job was to be done in Inis Na Dun, and Misrantis were not about to distract themselves from the task at hand, the goal they have set, a goal of Revenge and Victory.

by **Zebrabwe** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 8:10 am

Rebel Rabble

~~war~~

As you all could tell by the break in circulation, Ibex shock troops took over Cliffside Avenue a few days prior; just where our printing press happened to be located for the last week. (We keep it mobile, of course, to try and throw spies off. We're pretty sure Ibex capturing it was blind luck.) We're back in print now thanks to the one regiment of air troops Zebrabwe has at its disposal--a collection of highly-trained pegasi with a dragon or two--had just enough of a gap between official missions to swoop in and take the press back. Obviously the dragon was the one who carried it over, and now we're back in business! Unfortunately it will be a while before Zebrabwen forces can take back Cliffside; as its name implies, it is located on a cliff, which means there are very narrow lanes for attack. The Ibex only managed to wrestle it from us due the element of surprise, as the Zebrabwen military had been expecting a counterattack on the HP Boulevard all the way on the other side of the city.

~~sports~~

It has not been a good run for the Zebrabwen national football team in the Cuppet. They are evidently having trouble co-ordinating the diverse team, with sloppy play dominating in the two losses they aquired over the last three matchdays. The brightest spot was a 2-2 tie with current second-placers Fevelo; obviously not going well when a draw is the best they can manage. Hopefully the Zebrabwen military will be able to take over the Hong Prong sports complex during the off-season so the team can actually get some training in before the next Cuppet.

by **Aquillian** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 9:59 am

Alejandro Palacios was in a hospital bed. He'd been there since Sergio Galindo had found him unconscious, slumped against the balcony door in his hotel room a few nights previous. The medical staff could find nothing wrong with him, but Alfredo Herrera had insisted on them running further tests to account for his growing fatigue. When he'd still been tired out for the next few days, despite the large amounts of sleep he'd been getting, Herrera requested more tests. Alejandro didn't think the manager likely to believe the truth; that he was traversing time-space.

'Why am I still so tired after this stuff? I still can't get rid of these stupid memories.' He thought to himself, before scrunching his eyes tightly shut in frustration and slamming himself backward onto the bed. Clutching his head, grabbing a fistful of hair, he growled and shouted out a hoarse "WHY?!"

"Because you have not learned yet." A familiar voice spoke. Alejandro sighed an exasperated sigh, recognizing it. Without opening his eyes, he replied.

"Why are you here?"

"To teach you." The Vox replied simply.

Alejandro opened his eyes. "Didn't I tell you to f-" he started, angrily.

"Yes. Yes you did." The Vox interrupted. "But I told you I would return when you were ready to listen and learn."

"But I don't want to listen to you!" Alejandro snapped.

"I never said willing, Alejandro. I said ready." The Vox said very matter-of-factly. "And you are ready."

"No I'm not." The reply cam swiftly, in the tone of a petulant child.

"Oh but you are. You've been experimenting with your gift the past couple of days, haven't you?"

Alejandro remained silent.

"This is why they think you're ill, your fatigue remains."

Still silent.

"And I can teach you how to avoid that. If you are willing to listen."

"And if I'm not?" Alejandro couldn't resist making the challenge.

"I will make you." The Vox replied softly. As he finished, his tall, cloaked form expanded, and a bright light emanated from him. Alejandro snapped his eyes shut tightly so as not to be blinded by the burning hot brightness. When he re-opened them, he was somewhere else, completely unfamiliar.

He was in an uncomfortable chair, in a dark, stone room with no discernible windows.

"What's going on?" He called out, to nobody in particular.

No response.

"Where am I? What did you do?" He called out again, with a greater urgency in his tone as the panic set in.

Still no response.

'It's just mindgames. He's toying with me.' Alejandro told himself, forcing his fear to recede. "Vox! You asshole! What have you done to me?" He called out.

"Nothing. This is all your doing."

"Bullshit!"

"This is the condition you keep your gift in. You do not care for it. You do not cherish it. Right now... you do not deserve it." The Vox told him, from the shadows.

"What do you mean? I don't lock things up in torture cells!"

"Maybe not intentionally. But you still refuse to embrace the truth and learn. You still stubbornly refuse to listen to me. Why? Would you rather live your live afraid of thinking ahead for fear of accidentally hindering yourself with the immense fatigue level?"

Alejandro had no answer for that. He sat silently for a moment, refusing to respond even if only to spite The Vox.

"Do you not want to learn? Do you not wish to have control over your gift?"

"Stupid question." He snapped back.

"Then why are you behaving stupidly?"

Again, Alejandro had no answer. Despite his age, and relative maturity in various areas of his life, he had a habit of behaving like a spoilt child at times. It was this attitude that alienated many of his teammates, and caused friction with coaches during his professional career. They all acknowledged his talent, and potential, yet none were too fond of working with him, due to his attitude.

"Allow me to teach you. I can do it in one night, by making use of your gift to allow you to live out various possibilities of the same night, then you can voluntarily choose to retain those memories, rest for a day to recover, and continue as usual." The Vox proposed an attractive arrangement.

Alejandro paused and thought for a moment. "What's the catch?" He finally spoke up.

The Vox laughed a low, rumbling laugh. "You are smarter than you look, Alejandro Palacios. The catch is that you will report to the Council."

"What Council?"

"The Council of Tailors. They serve as ... police of sorts. They ensure that people like you, with the gift, do not exploit their power, and that all goes according to the balanced plan of the Universe."

"So you want me to become a member of some kind of mystical police force?"

"I suppose that is one way to look at it, yes."

"Fuck that."

"Then suffer with the mental strain of your gift."

"You're not really presenting me with any real choice here, you asshole."

"Correct."

"Then why the charade? Why not just do whatever you have to do to stop me abusing the power, and leave me alone?!" Alejandro was getting frustrated again. The whole thing was still too 'out-there' and he couldn't allow himself to accept it.

"Because you have a naturally strong ability to manipulate time-space. We're not sure why, but you have immense potential. The Council believe that it would be a waste to take the gift from you, or eradicate you."

"Eradicate me?" That caught Alejandro's attention.

"Yes. In extreme cases, The Council have been known to near-obliterate persons from existence. It is a last resort, used only on the most dangerous of minds."

"So I should be flattered you've considered it with me?" Alejandro grinned mischievously.

"You could say that. You could also consider it a warning. Death is no end, what The Council does when eradicating persons is."

"What do you mean 'Death is no end'? You mean there is an afterlife?"

"You can traverse time-space. Why don't you find out?"

"I don't know how."

"Then our arrangement is mutually beneficial, is it not?"

After a long pause, Alejandro relented. "Fine. Teach me. Just don't expect me to be a lapdog for this Council of yours."

The Vox laughed its low, rumbling laugh again. "Alejandro, The Council has no use for lapdogs. But no use for the opposite either. In all things, there must be balance. This is the Way of the Universe."

by **Ibex** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:05 am

It took a while before the Zebrabwens at the front of the boat noticed their companions out back. Even once they did, the nationalists decided to stay at their respective ends of the boats and an awkward silence prevailed. It seemed like the silence stretched for days... and then the storm came.

Well, it was more of a far-off thunderclap than a storm, but it scared Brick Hoof shitless either way. He came from Isllamabad, where rain in general was extremely rare, forget thunderstorms. As the sounds seemed to come from the general direction of "behind the boat," he promptly tried to get as far away from it as possible by running to the front of the boat. Tin Snip was rather surprised at the goat suddenly hugging him tightly and shivering like a foal during a... well, thunderstorm. He patted Brick's horn softly.

"Uh... everything will be alright, you don't have to be scared."

"BRICK!" Iron wasn't happy to see him cuddling up to the opposition. "Th' hell d'ya t’ink yer doin’?

“I- I was sc-scared by th’ lightnin’.”

Zameba, the Zebra beside Tin, facehoofed. “That wasn’t lightning; it was thunder that had you frightening.”

“Lightnin’, thunda’, I dun’t care. ‘Tis all scary.”

“I dun’t care how scared ya are! Ya can’t be consortin’ wit’ t’ese low-lifes!”

Zameba was taken aback. “Low-lifes, you call us? T’wasn’t us who started this fuss!”

Iron rounded and gave the Zebra a death glare. “Oh yes it was! Maybe not yerself, but it was ye damn separatist Zebras t’at screwed over th’ peace wit’in Ibex! We ‘ave enough trouble fightin’ off th’ Karditanis, and you striped bastards nee’ed t’ start e’en more fightin’ inside our own bor’ers!”

Now Tin shrugged off the still shivering Brick and poked a hoof into Iron’s chest. “Now don’t be giving us that crap. We are not disturbing the peace as you imperials call it; we’re trying to end the tyranny that endlessly oppresses all of the races of Ibex! If you ignorant arseholes haven’t noticed there are Ibexes who support Zebrabwe, as well as members of all of the races! We are sick and tired of being indoctrinated with all this religious crap. Shang Ler may be the emperor—which is something we have an issue with by itself, as one being should not be able to dictate the lives of others—but he is not the representative of any god, nor will he ever be. And the corruption! Oh Lord, the corruption. The Ibex government sells ad space in official Bibles. They put product advertisements into holy texts for the sake of profit. There is nothing more-”

The ranting unicorn was interrupted by a rough bump that threw everyone into a big pile in a corner of the boat. Brick was the first up, shivering harder than before. “Wh-what was t’at? Are we bein’ attacked by a monsta? IS IT NESSIE?”

Iron got up next and slapped Brick. “No, ya dolt. We just hit land.”

Zameba pulled Tin up hopped onto the shore (which glew a very faint green, just enough to see where to step in the dead of night). “Though our company may not be very nice, let us explore so this trip is worth the price.”

by **Inis na Dun** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:00 pm

Group A
The Holy Forden Church 1–2 Sixteen Bits
Terrabis 2–1 Hvammstang
Everywhere 2–1 Rubrumistan

. Group A                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Sixteen Bits                        5   5  0  0   12   3  +9   15 Q
2 Everywhere                          5   3  1  1    8   6  +2   10 Q
3 The Holy Forden Church              5   2  1  2   11   6  +5    7
4 Terrabis                            5   1  1  3    5   9  −4    4
5 Rubrumistan                         5   1  1  3    7  12  −5    4
6 Hvammstang                          5   1  0  4    8  15  −7    3

Group B
High Heels 1–3 Cape Cork County
Aquillan 2–0 Ibex
Hannah 1–1 Slovekistan

. Group B                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Aquillan                            5   4  1  0    8   2  +6   13 Q
2 Slovekistan                         5   2  2  1   10   4  +6    8 Q
3 Ibex                                5   2  2  1    8   3  +5    8
4 Hannah                              5   1  2  2    3   7  −4    5
5 Cape Cork County                    5   1  1  3    3  10  −7    4
6 High Heels                          5   0  2  3    1   7  −6    2

Group C
Misrantis 1–0 Fevelo
Zebrabwe 1–0 Free University
Uke Islands 1–1 The Unbidden Horde

Group C                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Misrantis                           5   5  0  0   19   2 +17   15 Q
2 Fevelo                              5   3  1  1   10   4  +6   10 Q
3 The Unbidden Horde                  5   2  1  2    8  13  −5    7
4 Uke Islands                         5   1  2  2    7  12  −5    5
5 Zebrabwe                            5   1  1  3    8  12  −4    4
6 Free University                     5   0  1  4    2  11  −9    1

Group D
Zenega 3–2 Uizasd and the Crexz Islands
Duckota 3–2 Cusco
New Cotdelapoms 1–3 Victorwick

. Group D                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Victorwick                          5   3  2  0   12   7  +5   11 Q
2 Zenega                              5   3  1  1   12   6  +6   10 Q
3 Uizasd and the Crexz Islands        5   3  0  2   14   9  +5    9
4 Duckota                             5   2  2  1    8   7  +1    8
5 Cusco                               5   1  1  3    6  15  −9    4
6 New Cotdelapoms                     5   0  0  5    5  13  −8    0

Group E
The Ursine Northlands 1–4 Sameba
Bouncy Druids 2–1 Happy Happy Joy Joy
Rigerata 2–1 Perfidious Revolution

. Group E                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Rigerata                            5   5  0  0    6   1  +5   15 Q
2 Bouncy Druids                       5   4  0  1    9   2  +7   12 Q
3 Sameba                              5   2  1  2    9   8  +1    7
4 The Ursine Northlands               5   2  0  3    4   6  −2    6
5 Perfidious Revolution               5   0  2  3    3   7  −4    2
6 Happy Happy Joy Joy                 5   0  1  4    1   8  −7    1

Group F
Shihn'Dohm 2–3 Prince Bartholomew Island
Fuglamark 0–2 New Sirain
Urbis Tractus 1–2 Israeli Apartheid Client-State

. Group F                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 New Sirain                          5   3  2  0    8   3  +5   11 Q
2 Israeli Apartheid Client-State      5   3  1  1   16   5 +11   10 Q
3 Prince Bartholomew Island           5   2  2  1    8   7  +1    8
4 Fuglamark                           5   2  1  2    7   6  +1    7
5 Shihn'Dohm                          5   1  0  4    5  20 −15    3
6 Urbis Tractus                       5   0  2  3    3   6  −3    2

Group G
Mishuland 0–3 Inis na Dún
Santazuela 1–0 Neo Starblaydia
Tropaia 0–3 Urszag-Csatoria

. Group G                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Santazuela                          5   3  1  1   12   6  +6   10 Q
2 Urszag-Csatoria                     5   3  0  2   13   8  +5    9 Q
3 Inis na Dún                         5   2  2  1   10   7  +3    8
4 Neo Starblaydia                     5   2  1  2    9  10  −1    7
5 Tropaia                             5   1  1  3    6  12  −6    4
6 Mishuland                           5   1  1  3    2   9  −7    4

Group H
Jagoza 1–2 Külmsaar and Terra Scotia
Tagawachi 0–0 Silexhera
Xurvah 0–2 Hsien-Ko

. Group H                           Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Hsien-Ko                            5   3  0  2    9   5  +4    9 Q
2 Tagawachi                           5   2  2  1    8   5  +3    8 Q
3 Xurvah                              5   2  2  1    5   4  +1    8
4 Jagoza                              5   2  1  2    7   7   0    7
5 Külmsaar and Terra Scotia           5   2  0  3    4   9  −5    6
6 Silexhera                           5   0  3  2    2   5  −3    3

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

Quarter finals
1: Winner Ro16-1 vs Winner Ro16-2 (Crean Park, 45,000, Móinéar an Glas)
2: Winner Ro16-3 vs Winner Ro16-4 (Bawncrusha Bay Stadium, 30,000, Killfanna)
3: Winner Ro16-5 vs Winner Ro16-6 (Cedargroves Park, 26,000, Downross)
4: Winner Ro16-7 vs Winner Ro16-8 (St. Keiran's Park, 30,000, Tranahoe)

by **Tagawachi** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:28 pm

The Demonic Daily

A 0-0 tie against a stubborn Slixhera foe gave the Elemental Demons of the Tagawachi eight points, same with Xurvah, but possessing superior goal difference. the Elemental Demons were the side chosen to continue the tournament in the next round, against Victorwick.

The final game of the group stage for the Elemental Demons was not an exciting one, as much of the game was played mid-field, and neither side was willing to budge and give up that one goal that would have made all the difference in the world.

For a side comprised completely of Elemental Demons, the most powerful Demons of the Tagawachi, such problems winning isn't taken lightly, but the Demons are also the most humble, none-arrogant bunch, and hence have just promised to do better the next game.

This tournament is turning out to be better than the last for the Tagawachi, for the last tournament, the Demons didn't even make it past the Group Stage. Perhaps, they can catch some luck, buoyed by some skill, and move on even further along in this tournament.

Just perhaps...

Of course, a tournament of football is not really anything when put next to all the intricacies of being the master of an element... Hence, the Demons will still try to keep a clear perspective on the whole matter.

Victorwick stand in the way of a quarterfinals berth.

by **Aquillian** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:17 am

Learning to control "the gift" had been far more exhausting than Alejandro had expected. Even after the long sleep, and finally getting the all-clear from the hospital staff, he still felt a little tired. He simply hid his fatigue in the hopes he could get back into the Islanders' starting lineup for the match against Ibex. 'I wonder if I can use this gift on the pitch' was the only thought echoing through his mind when he made it to training later that day. He had considered testing the ability on one of the nurses who'd attended to him in the hospital, but dismissed it as immoral, and unnecessary anyway. He was Alejandro Palacios, he didn't need tricks to get a date with a pretty girl, he told himself.

The Vox had explained that using the gift for personal gain was frowned upon, and could see him in serious trouble with The Council, but in typical Alejandro fashion, a counter had come swiftly. "But what if my personal gain also benefits others?" He had asked The Vox.

"Do not toy with the balance of the Universe, Alejandro." Was the simple response. But how was he to know whether the balance of the Universe was being upset? The Vox had attempted to explain this, but it made no sense to Alejandro. All he could surmise from what he'd been told was that if the balance ever did get upset, as it almost always was, the Universe would employ some equalising force. Like "karma" or whatever theological or philosophical principle you adhered to. If this were the case, then it didn't really matter what he used his gift for, because if he did something he wasn't supposed to, the Universe would right itself. At least this is how he justified his decision to use his gift during the match if the opportunity presented itself.

'It's not like I'll need to use it much anyway. Most of the time I can tell what's going to happen next, so I'll only use it when I can't be sure which option will lead to a goal.' He told himself. 'And it's not benefiting me if the nation achieves success. It benefits the nation. That's the greater good, right?' He debated with himself internally. Despite all his internal justifications, he was still afraid of what might happen if he strayed too far from "the fabric" -- as the Council called it -- and the balance of the Universe was swayed too much in one direction. The spectre of "eradication" loomed large. It sounded terrifying, an obliteration into non-existence? For someone like Alejandro, who had known only creation during his slightly-more-than-quarter-century, this concept of complete destruction was incomprehensible.

He decided to test the gift on the training pitch, playing out several scenarios from a free kick, before seeing exactly where Vito Gaitan would run, and when exactly he would be open. In "real-time" -- that is, the strand of reality within the fabric of time-space that he chose to live out completely -- he deftly chipped the ball toward that spot, calculating within a split second how hard he'd need to strike the ball to have it reach there, at the right time. Vito scored. It occurred to Alejandro afterward that perhaps he'd been using the gift all along. People often remarked on his ability to instinctively calculate the correct weighting and angle of a pass or shot in the shortest window of time, or decide on the best of several options in a heartbeat. They said it was the sign of a naturally gifted footballer. What if all that time, he'd been traversing time-space subconsciously, and selecting the options in real-time? What if all top tier footballers could do it? His mind was racing a mile a minute as the potential explanations and realities unfolded before him.

"Ale!" Jose Sedillo's voice snapped him back to reality. "Nice ball!"

Alejandro went to apologise for spacing out, before realising the net was still rippling.

'Woah...' He thought.

* * * * *

Statistical Analysis of Palacios' Performance
  vs. Ibex (World Cuppet 3 Group Stage)

||Match leader||
||||Palacios||||

                Minutes Played               
|17||||||
|90||Various|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
                 Passes Made                 
|49||||||||||||||||||||
|98||Sedillo|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
                  Completed                  
|100%||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|89%||Sedillo||||||||||||||||||||||||||
               Chances Created               
|5|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|2||Rael||||||||||
                   Tackles                   
|5|||||||||||||||
|13||Tremblay||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Palacios returns recharged

Despite playing only seventeen minutes against Ibex last night, Aquillian's Alejandro Palacios was on remarkable form, showing no sign at all of the mysterious illness and fatigue that has limited his involvement for the Islanders at the Cuppet thus far. With Aquillian leading through a Nathan Jackson curler, Palacios entered the fray late on, and the potency of the Islanders' attack increased exponentially.

With his first touch, Palacios created a one-on-one for Cervantes without even looking at the Pachuebla forward, or his run. The chance was well-blocked, but that was just the start. About a minute later, Palacios dropped deep and picked out a superb diagonal for Miguel Rael. Rael's cross-shot was turned wide by Jose Sedillo. In his seventeen minutes, Palacios completed every one of his forty-nine pass attempts, and created five chances. He also exhibited a sense of urgency in possession and off-the-ball that he doesn't usually. His swift movement, and first-time passes enabled him to maximise his effect on a high-tempo Aquillish front-line as they finished the game firmly in the ascendancy.

Alfredo Herrera was at a loss to explain the dramatic improvement in the playmaker's game. "I think maybe now he wants to play Futbol Aquilliano for real. Maybe the time he missed is annoying him, and he wants to make up for it. Maybe it is a twin brother, I do not know. But I hope this Alejandro continues to play this Futbol Aquilliano for us. He was excellent today." The Islanders' manager told us. Considering the rarity with which Herrera highlights individual performances, Palacios has much to be proud of, yet was coy in the post-match interviews.

"No, it was only a short time on the pitch. It does not really count. Sometimes everything goes right, and it is maybe lucky." Palacios said, laughing off suggestions that had he started, Aquillian may have won by a much more convincing scoreline. "I do not score the goals, either. Maybe you should be speaking with Nathan, he is the one scoring all the goals."

What is certain is that Alejandro Palacios will almost certainly be starting Aquillian's next match, against the Israeli Apartheid Client-State. If he can repeat even just last night's seventeen minutes of brilliance against them, Aquillian have a great shot at progressing to the quarter final stage of the World Cuppet again. However, their next opposition utilise a variant of the 3-4-3 system, which can be very effective against Aquillian's similar, 3-3-1-3 variant. Having never really faced an opponent who plays anything like their own Futbol Aquilliano system, the Islanders may have a tough time.

Alfredo Herrera remains confident that his charges can overcome this obstacle, however. "I do not have many worries. The formation is not what makes this style Aquilliano, so you are wrong if you are saying the Israeli team is playing similar to Futbol Aquilliano. It is not something you decide by the formation and numbers. It is about the mental things, and what is in the players hearts and souls. This is why I believe we can win."

World Cuppet 3 RP, Scores & Squads

IACS Roster for World Cuppet 3

Presenting the Free University Scholars

Post-MD3/Pre-MD4 TAG

Post-MD3/Pre-MD4 TUH

Post-MD3/Pre-MD4 TER

World Cuppet 3 MD-3

A long political RP.

World Cuppet 3 #2

Scholars score 2, give up 7 in 0-1-2 start

Post-MD4/Pre-MD5 TER

Post-MD4/Pre-MD5 TAG

Post-MD4/Pre-MD5 TUH

World Cuppet 3 #3

World Cuppet 3 MD4

Pre-Ro16

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