World Cup 78 - Roleplay Thread

[Spaam]

Dr. Quexipha Fenfir, president of the Spaamanian Football Association, knocked on the gilded doors and waited to be invited in. As always, when His Royal Highness, King Thalaamsus, Ruler of the Disunited Kingdom of Spaam, invites you to meet with him, you do so promptly. And this was what Fenfir had done this morning, which luckily had not taken very long thanks to the tunnel that connected the building in which the S.F.A was housed and the Royal Palace. Why such a tunnel had even been built in the first place was unclear to her, but Fenfir had appreciated it with her meetings with the late Queen Oruzaadov, and now with King Thalaamsus.

The door in front of her opened, and a servant ushered her inside, before leaving the room and closing the door behind him. The regent was sitting at a desk in the royal office, the same desk that his aunt had been murdered at three years ago. The middle-aged man was calm as he sat back in his opulent chair, fingers clasped on his lap, and kept his eyes on the president.

"Congratulations are in order, Doctor Fenfir," stated King Thalaamsus. "The project has been a success so far."

"Yes, Your Majesty," replied Fenfir, obsequiously, "but it has only been with your patronage that we have been able to progress so far."

"Flattery gets you nowhere, Doctor," retorted the king. "This is your success, own it."

"Of course, Your Grace," said Fenfir, bowing her head.

"This victory over Gregoryisgodistan is our biggest win in almost two centuries." King Thalaamsus almost seemed to smile. Almost. "When his player Guy Who Cleans Up Behind The Elephant at the Circus et cetera scored that first goal, Lord Gregory got quite unbearable as we were watching the match. However, after we came back to win he was very unhappy and it was quite hard to not show my pleasure in the royal box, as it might have caused an incident. No doubt there will be some executions today."

"I am afraid you may be correct, Your Sereneness," agreed the woman.

"What happens in other lands is not of our concern, however," said the man dismissively. "Spaam has won every game since the start of the program, thanks to Urk."

"Did Merlara Sehelin not score a goal too, Your Infallibleness?" Fenfir asked.

"Yes, yes, of course. She has done her kingdom proud," King Thalaamsus replied with annoyance. "Yet she cannot give us the glory that we are destined. No, this program will give us our victories." He leant forward and looked pointedly at his vassal. "Now, how is our next subject coming along? If this is what can be achieved with one, surely we shall be more successful with more?"

"Yes, Your Most Wise," answered the doctor. "Our next patient will be ready for our next qualifying match against Quakmybush, but not for our friendly against Starblaydia, unfortunately."

"That is a disappointment, Doctor," said the king without much emotion. "We have a long history against Starblaydia and to showcase our great weapons would have been a boon. I would assume that these things cannot be rushed, however. Quakmybush is a worthy enough opponent."

"Indeed, Your Resplendence," acquiesced Fenfir, bowing her head.

"Very well, you must have much work to do. You may leave." The regent picked up the paper in front of him, and the doctor took that as her cue to exit the room.

As she went to turn the doorknob on the elegantly carved door, they opened in front of her and a servant ushered her out. Quickly, she hurried back to the secret door to the tunnel.

---

Later, Dr. Fenfir was standing next to her head of research, Dr. Hilnas Shaalar, in a lab inside the Spaamanian Football Association building. Behind a glass window, a man was running on a treadmill, with wires and tubes connected between himself and a number of machines around him. The man was running at an almost robotic pace, each step seemingly perfectly timed.

"So this is Subject SL," stated Fenfir in a pleased tone. "He seems to be coming along very nicely."

"Yes, Doctor," agreed Shaalar. "We still have much testing, training and mental conditioning, but we running to schedule, and he shall be ready for our next qualifying match."

Fenfir nodded. "Excellent. We have a lot to live up to now thanks to Urk's success. Now that we have shown we can beat any team, Hilnas, we shall be expected to continue winning."

Shaalar turned from the window and looked worriedly at his boss. "You know we can't guarantee that, Doctor. Even the best teams in history were never infallible. And we only have one, soon two, super players on our team. We have been... lucky."

"I am aware." The president sighed and turned to face Shaalar. "Every victory we gain is only granted to us by Margaret. But at least we have a better chance with these... these."

"Of course." Shaalar turned back to the window and was silent for a minute, as if he was wondering how to deliver some bad news.

Fenfir seemed to pick up on her underling's mood. "You have something to say, Hilnas?"

"They don't speak. None of them do." The researcher paused then went on. "These aren't like the other clones. They're fast, strong, and have abilities that only the best in the world can match, because they used to be the best in the world. But they don't communicate. There's something... missing."

"What are you trying to tell me?" asked the president.

"They're perfect, but they're not. Every test, every scan, everything points to them being perfect. Exactly what we planned." He shook his head sadly. "But silence."

"As long as Subject SL performs, then it doesn't matter, does it?" queried Fenfir.

"I suppose not," granted Shaalar. "He has a name, you know, Doctor."

"Yes, yes, I'm aware," exclaimed Fenfir. She turned and started to leave the lab. "Just make sure Syku Lyku is ready."

[Buyan]

”It’s not the end of the world…”

If only someone would’ve come up to him, patted him on the back and said those few words. By now, he did not even mind if it had been uttered nearly in jest or simply because that other one felt ‘he had to say it’. As heartfelt or uninterested as that line had been spoken did not matter, if only it had been aloud.

Pawlo hid his head in his large gloves and leaned back as the worn-out bench of the dressing room seemed to collapse underneath his weight. He felt as abandoned as a fellow emptying the second bowl of nuts all by himself at a reception table despite having played a powerful eighty minutes in the arena where the fans admired him.

Unfortunately, a band of grey-bearded bobo’s in sepia-tinged times decided that football should run across an hour and a half and it was during the last portion of that time that Loynn did what no one had expected anymore after that majestic free kick of Miro Stepaniak and the powerful header from Algiris Micaukis – they not only made the nets tremble but also drew level. The first one had been a majestic moment of Sean Carlsson who picked up possession near the half-line, charged forwards and astonished all with a powerful kick from twenty yards out. Excellent job, nothing wrong with that.

It was the second one that would haunt Pawlo throughout the night. Being a goal in the clear and holding the upper hand, the back five played a little rondo with the attacking duo of the blue-and-white. Ace Waterson, who had gone through ninety minutes of that stuff clearly was fed up and positioned himself, hands in the sides, somewhere near the middle but George Waters chased like a hare. Maybe it was a hope in his mind that a continuous rush could convince Day for a starting spot or just getting rid of all that contained energy from being side-lined all game – fact is that he ran and ran enough to enforce Raestad to invite Marciak to the rondo.

For some reason, he decided to go for bravado – the option usually used by the numbest of minds. Pawlo did not belong to that category, at all, but still chose for a sidestep and a dribble of the exhausted forward who ended his 100-yard dash with a fierce tackle. A nice swirl of the foot later, Waters crawled on the floor like a tipped-over turtle and Marciak harvested applause. Whilst the hands were going together, the clock being ran down, he lifted a fist in rejoice just as he booted it upfield, anticipating the three final whistles.

And kicked it straight to Waterson. The Barnyt striker didn’t even need to move his hands from his hips.

---

”Daddy? Daddy, isn’t that…”
”Shh! Leave him alone!”
”But it is…”
”A good idea to leave him be.”

If only the clothing manufacturer would have made its hoodies larger, than Marciak could have hidden some more but as the words reverberated through the nearly empty airplane hall, the footsteps walking away of father and son hurt more than he would like to admit.

The amateur-psychologist would blame it to the sentiment that he had let the nation down. The mere fact that he had been a local hero after holding on to anything swung his way by Boring Paradise – an unstoppable penalty from Samuel Wong aside – just three days ago did little to salvage that. He was the one to blame on this account and no one else.

Sound explanation, moderate wording but quality reasoning.

But Marciak had gone through a gross of mishaps in his career – as contradictory as it sounds, you don’t make it to a decade between the sticks of Crisisbless without doing so. Boo’ing, threats, insults whilst walking along the street. Biting feelings of remorse, both inspired by ignoring teammates and painful awareness of one’s own limits. He had seen the full deal and adjusted himself. But there was something that stung about a father and a boy, walking away together after what looked like a fun holiday, asking to leave the national misfit of the day alone as if he were a beggar on a street corner whose perfume annoyed all shoppers. A beggar, in this case, who was getting another red-eye flight to return to his vast yet empty apartment. A beggar who was simply begging for someone whom he could share the wisdom to leave famous people alone during tough times with.

Because Pawlo knew all about being alone.

Buyan depressing storylines TM is still around.

[Starblaydia]

Part One: Takeaway
Part Two: Duchess
Part Three: Fidget
Part Four: Torque
Part Five: Omen

Pretending to be Korra Starblayde was not all that difficult. As the official next in line to being undisputed leader of Starblaydia, she could be as private as she liked, go where she pleased and talk with who she wanted. The real difficulty had been deleting, editing and disproving any image of her original form as Viannor on the internet, in school textbooks and archives. No-one was alive today who remembered her face, but documentary evidence was out there, nonetheless. It had taken a lot of money, a lot of hired technical expertise and a lot of patience to find amd destroy or modify everything on her.

No internet search for Lady Viannor would bring up her true face. No news archive, research library or newspaper microfilm would reveal her identity. Up and down the land with break-ins, unexplained fires and secret hacks, her teams had finally made her anonymous, right before she made herself the most famous young woman in the country. This approach was only going to work once, and she only had one shot at it. Last time, she'd used a false flag revolutionary outfit, 'Break the Chain', to cause trouble that she then cracked down on with nationwide controls on the populace. That had worked, mostly, until a war against almost the entirety of Atlantian Oceania had gone against her, as Tiberius Starblayde returned to claim his Praetorship.

Now she had to get rid of Tiberius' youngest child, like she had gotten rid of the two elder siblings previously. Planting explosives on Curzon Starblayde's plane had been easy enough, turning his airliner into a blazing fiery coffin over Lake Bekk. Lexi had been much more fun, as Viannor had used her mental powers to beat down the woman's spirit, forcing her inexorably into depression and eventual suicide. Now her long game, made possible by her immortality as a Vampire, would come to fruition. Earn Julius' trust, earn the love and the trust of the people, this time, then remove him and rule, reasonably enough, with far smaller steps in claiming the ultimate power. A fascist-style dictatorship had come too quickly for the people of Starblaydia last time and, though they had grudgingly accepted it, Starblaydia had never truly been totally under her thumb.

This time she'd take her time, having learned her lessons; this time it would be hers forever.

Viannor strode through the corridors of the Praetoran Palace. More and more of the staff were being replaced by people under her influence by the week. From guards to servants to communications officers, she was gradually putting her pieces into place for as little disruption as possible when the time came. As she ascended the final set of stairs to the roof, the armed guard opened the last door for her, clicking her heels to attention as Viannor passed.

"Your Grace," the solider said, staring straight ahead. She may have been the descendant of one of Viannor's agents, back when her KERES operatives had filled the role of Secret Police during her reign and the aftermath. She could have been one of those many teenagers that her team had radicalised online, taking her to their secret bases in the rolling countryside outside Widdrington for paramilitary training and eventual insertion into the Starblaydi armed forces. Her agents were everywhere, and this gave her a great sense of satisfaction. She wasn't strong enough to take the country back by force, but this was a much better way.

As Viannor stepped out onto the roof of the palace, with the door shutting smartly and quietly behind her, she looked up at the night sky. It was a pity, really, that during the day she had to be well indoors and away from the light of the sun, lest it magically and spontaneously burn her from the inside. She'd done experiments on herself over the years - it wasn't heat sources, or light temperature, UV light, infra-red light, or any other substance except sunlight. Same with silver, it appeared that those were inherently imbued with the power to hurt her, a result of the curse placed on the original vampires of Assington, from who she was descended via a Vampire from The Golden Simatar named Stephen Malone. It was all pretty ludicrous when you thought about it.

Not quite as ludicrous as the enormous airship that floated near-silently in the night sky above the Praetoran Palace. Viannor had got used to living in one as she had been hiding out in Montepool for nearly half a century. After she'd revealed herself to Julius, the purchase of a state-of-the-art airship for her personal use was one of the many benefits. It even flew the three golden stars on a carmine red field that represented the Duchy of Sideria. It hung in the air with barely a sound, just the hum of enclosed rotor blades turning lazily against the breeze to keep the twin-envelope craft motionless in the air. In between the two massive elliptical balloons that even the most casual observer could identify as an airship was the superstructure, a series of decks below which the bridge hung at the nose of the craft. She'd even learned to pilot one herself.

Usually a basket-type lift would be lowered from the centre section to pull her up, but there was always an emergency ladder hanging down in addition to the anchor cable. Viannor narrowed her eyes and tried to guess the distance: she figured it would be about a hundred feet to the outdoor door where the soft nylon ladder was hanging from. You never now if you can make it unless you try.

Crouching, her arms low, she concentrated her mental powers, focusing the telekinetic powers that were a blessing of this vampire curse. With a cry she threw her arms up into the air and jumped as high as she could, forcing herself upwards at an astonishing rate. It wasn't quite flying, not yet, as gravity was starting to win over her momentum. The door was still coming towards her quickly, but getting slower by the moment; she wasn't sure if she'd make it. She tried to propel herself higher, the strain on her face showing as she willed herself upwards. She couldn't do it any longer, the strength wasn't there and she felt like passing out. Reaching as far as she could, fingers clawing at the air like she was able to grab onto the air like a rope. Higher, but slower, and higher until...

"Gah!" Viannor cried out as the fingertips of her right hand grasped the lip of the door frame, fingernails scraping painfully on the carbon fibre exterior. Her left hand shot out, getting a firmer grip, allowing her to hang in the air, holding on for dear life. She wasn't sure that if she dropped back down, she'd have any strength left to slow her descent, landing with a dull wet thud on the roof of the palace for her loyal guard to find.

Viannor kicked out with her legs, trying to find the ladder with her toes. She found it, lost it, found it again and manged to get one foot steady. Letting go of the door frame with one hand to grab the ladder, she let her weight go back to her legs, leaning forward and resting on the ladder like a toddler on her mother's shoulder. Three long breaths to recover her composure and Viannor climbed the few remaining rungs of the ladder to her airship.

It was quieter up here, both in terms of the noise generated from the day to day goings on of traffic, people talking, phones ringing, but also from the mental traffic of the palace. Viannor couldn't entirely read the average mind, yet, save for a specific few people she attuned herself to, which took a great deal of effort and strength. Otherwise it was a near-constant undertone of random thoughts, words and feelings that assaulted her. It also required concentration, and thus energy, to keep those out of her mind. Unfortunately for her, everything that required energy required blood. She was a Vampire after all.

Now she didn't need to assault people in the street, dine on the life blood of rats, cats and other vermin, nor hospitals for their blood banks. She had it brought directly to her, warm and flowing, taking just enough at a time to not drain her oh-so-willing volunteers. Being tasted by the Duchess was becoming quite the honour in the ranks of her staff, under pain of death, or worse, to keep it secret.

Not everyone needed threatening with death or torture. Most did it for power, and the ability to be next to the one with the power. Some did it for money, and as long as they never had a better way of getting money and a subsequent attack of conscience, they could be counted on most of the time. Some did it because they genuinely believed, others because they wanted to be first in line to taste the vampire's kiss or, more strangely yet, become one themselves. Her thralls, subjects, operatives, employees, agents and mercenaries committed coercion, extortion, blackmail, bribery, torture and murder all in the name of advancing Viannor's aims.

Viannor sat in her large, comfy office chair and tapped a few buttons on her keyboard. No clacking of keys to annoy her, just the light taps of fingers on the touch sensitive surface, dimly lit by a teal glow to action the three huge screens in front of her.

The first thing she did was order the reopening of the Starblaydi World Assembly office, technically entering the country back in to the WA, just like every good, law-abiding country should. The fact that the resolutions only applied to the pot of land upon which the WA Office stood, however, was hidden deep within the mechanics of Starblaydi law, and there'd be no discovery of that for decades, at worst. Second, she checked on the progress of the nuclear, biological and chemical weapons her private army had seized under the auspices of confiscating it on behalf of government. In reality, it would go to make dirty bombs, suspicious nuclear material, homemade nerve agents and toxic pollutants. If she wanted nuclear weapons she'd just use Starblaydia's own supply, but in order to sow chaos, fear and obedience later on down the line, she needed the more unconventional methods.

Suddenly Viannor felt a wave of joy emanating from far below her. It was particularly strong, as it was coming from, among others, Julius himself.

"Oh, the bloody football," she said to herself, "what is it now?"

She knew that sneaking out during one of Julius' football-hosting parties would lead to an argument. Quite why he expected of her to watch every kick of the stupid game, she didn't know, but he seemed to have a blind spot for her hatred of it. She tapped a couple of buttons and brought up a feed of the game on one of her screens.

"...it's a lovely third goal. Three goals for Starblaydia with just two minutes left to play, and Joshua Bentley has his second. He's not scored in two matches, but the number nine is off to the races again with a brace here at the Karafa Sey National Stadium, either side of a Hanar Nauglamír strike. Three-nil to Starblaydia to leap back up the crazy table that is Group Tw-"

She closed the window. That was enough to commit to memory to pretend like she'd been watching all along. There were only a few more orders that she needed to send out, a few more pieces to move into position. It would take weeks, maybe even months, but she'd soon be prepared to strike. What was one more day when she'd waited over a century already?

[Savojarna]

Kjefla, 27. February 1909

For days and days, the workers of the Franzen Copper Company, the biggest corporation in Ejana's copper mining business, had been striking. They had seized control over the mines, a move that earned them battles with the police, but they had beaten back the men by barricading the roads, arming themselves and defending their newfound freedom. The FCC had ground to a halt, and thanks to the power of the unions up here no leverage could force negotiations, as had happened earlier in the year in Jarnstad and Thorsborg. The FCC knew that at this point, there were two ways: concessions or brute force.

Kjefla's head of police Jon Einarsson spoke with the head of the FCC Mining Department, Palsson. On the phone from Storevik was the big boss himself, Carl Franzen. He was furiously shouting at Palsson, demanding the resolvement of the strike. For hours and hours, so it felt, he had explained to him that there was nothing he could do, the CKMU and the Socialists were paying the wages by now, and the miners only wanted to negotiate with Franzen himself. The old man shook his had in rage. There was no way he would be negotiating with Communists! He changed his tirade up for once, now directing it at Einarsson. The young head of police was helpless against the powerful industrial. No, he didn't know why the police couldn't get through, there were barricades. No, the navy couldn't help, they were striking as well. No, they had not called the army for help either, as he was not authorised. Eventually, Einarsson snapped. He shouted back that the Director shall call Rolfrsson, and that he could not to things up here, and smacked the telephone down.

It was a matter of minutes, seventeen minutes to be exact, until the response of the all-powerful Director Franzen came. Palsson had stormed out of the room by then, and when the phone rang again, Einarsson's hand was shaking when he picked it up. On the other end of the line was Rolfrsson, the police director of Ejana, shouting louder than the police head ever heard his boss shout.
"Franzen told me about the mess you created up there, and you better clean that up right now or we'll both be gone in a second if he complains to Sjoedrhavn! And you bet I won't care about you if it means saving myself, so get those mines working RIGHT NOW! Or is the police in Kjefla not able to break through a simple barricade?", he shouted.
Einarsson almost dropped the phone and answered: "I will immediately order an attack and authorise all means required. We have reason to believe they are armed, requesting backup from Storevik!".

About thirty minutes later, the police force arrived at the mines in Kjefla. The barricades were still there as the police arrived and demanded the road to be cleared immediately. The answer was the same as before: A wild shouting, until a man arrived on the barricades to shout that he would only speak to Franzen or the Minister, and the miners throwing rocks at the horses. Last time, the police retreated to continue negotiations, this time they meant business. The police commander, a tall man called Traustason, turned his horse around and rode back down the road before attempting to jump over the barricade. The miners ducked under the hooves of his horse and threw further rocks, while other policemen followed and ran through the blocking miners. A wild looking worker swang his pickaxe as he attacked Traustason, who drew his revolver and shot at the man.

The shot served as a starting signal for what was to come, a series of shots from both sides, flying sticks, pickaxes and other makeshift weapons. When the backups from Storevik arrived, the battle had still not been fully decided, as the miners kept retreating to their quarters and into the mines. As the police brutally beat back the rebellion and forced to push back the strike, the miners may have took up work two days later again. But nothing would be able to kill the seed of revolution planted in the workers of Savojarna after the brutal massacre in Kjefla...

[Gregoryisgodistan]

From the Desk of Lord Almighty Gregory

To: Robert Nicholls, Consul, Free Republics
Level: Highly Classified

Dear Consul Nicholls,

The terms of your offer are acceptable, as is your method of transporting the slaves away from the islands. However, we will need a cover story to explain how we suddenly acquired more nuclear weapons, and why we accepted such a ridiculous lowball offer as the one you are alleging we accepted. Accepting only $1.5 million for 75,000 slaves, or at least claiming to have done so, would be a sign of weakness on our part. So we need a cover story, one we mutually agree upon, that will avoid making either of us look bad.

Specifically, I propose we make a long-time mutual enemy, San Jose Guayabal, a patsy in this. We will claim that agents of their government hijacked a Greglord Air flight between Lord Almighty Gregory International Airport and Republica, flew it to the slave islands, and threatened to blow up the plane if we did not give them all the slaves still remaining on the island so that they could be executed. We will also claim that simultaneously, the Guayabalense military invaded and occupied the slave islands, even though none of this is true.

We will then claim that our militaries conducted a joint operation against the Guayabalense terrorists, and that you provided us with weapons to stop them and save the Republican citizens aboard the flight. We will also agree to allow the slaves to fight for their freedom, ands San Jose Guayabal is a far greater enemy than Taxachusetts ever was. We will then claim to have killed the terrorists in a joint military operation, which explains where the weapons went, only there will never be an operation because we will receive the weapons peacefully.

We will then claim that since the slaves provided immaculate assistance in fighting the Guayabalense government terrorists, we will be freeing them immediately.

At that point, it would not even become necessary to publicly state that you provided us with $1.5 million unless you need to explain how it went missing from the treasury, but you can just claim it was the cost of the military operation that never happened if you want.

It goes without saying that we must be completely consistent on our cover stories to avoid anyone from finding out. This will also allow us to impose additional sanctions on San Jose Guayabal, such as installing land mines and nuclear missile sites all along the border, as well as building a giant wall and threatening invasion if they do not pay for it.

As your nation as a history of conflict with San Jose Guayabal, this will be an ideal country to take the fall. Of course, the Guayabalense will just deny it, but our people won't believe them and given the recent unrest there, your people will likely construe it as the government covering their own ass.

Please let me know at your earliest convenience if this is a reasonable cover story.

If so, we can proceed as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Lord Almighty Gregory

[Tumbra]

THE MONITOR

Team changes "not off the table if we make it", Stoff says after 2-0 win at Löptsegl
- Statement opens up possibility that current team might not all make it to Finals if Tumbra makes it
- Blue Lions now top of table with 4 wins and 1 draw from 5 games ahead of crucial game against Abanhfleft
- Who will stay and who will go? Who will enter?

LöPTSEGL - Robin Stoff today opened up the possibility that some players in the National Team might be dropped in favour of newer stars if the Blue Lions make it to the World Cup 78 final, due to be held in Cosumar and Bonesea. The move came after a 0-2 win at Löptsegl's national stadium, where John Krajewski scored once in the first half and Henry Butler in the other.

The match itself was a relatively uneventful affair, with Tumbra playing their usual football to land their fourth win in five games to keep their unbeaten streak ahead of a crucial match against second-seed Abanhfleft at the Wembley National Stadium in Goldlion.

"This next match...will test the mettle of our lads. A 2-2 draw at San Jose Guayabal was probably the best result to hope for then, and we have to secure a win here, given that they've got a game in hand and we don't. I think the results so far give reason for a spirited battle ahead of the match...the boys are in high spirits."
- Robin Stoff

But the more surprising announcement was after the match, where in response to a recent article in the Tribune that called for female representation in football, Stoff openly admitted he had been "thinking about it" for a long time and had been "planning to include women in the team, not just for representation's sake, but because they can play football as well as the guys".

Females have never been included in the national team since its inception, and have only been in the junior national squad once - the Di Bradini Cup 34. A move of this sort would be unprecedented.

But, he added, the move would have to be "run past the TFA."

The announcement might have given hope to the society as a whole, but what will it do in the dressing room? Will captain Brendan Brooks be able to keep order,
knowing that some of their comrades might be replaced?

Kel-Assuk 2-3 Tumbra
S. Khalej 19', J. Krajewski 29', J. Krajewski 29', I. Azellay 79', O. Ganson 84'

Tumbra 2-1 Hirvania
J. Krajewski 8', J. Roknovich 88', J. Krajewski 90' + 3'

San Jose Guayabal 2-2 Tumbra
H. Butler 37', K. Santos 49', K. Santos 57', P. Jones 88'

Tumbra 1-0 Nellietopia
J. Krajewski 4'

Löptsegl 0–2 Tumbra
J. Krajewski 16', H. Butler 74'

[Valanora]

The High Priestess flowed in through the foyer as if she was floating rather than taking steps, with two high ranking clergy members flanking either side of her. She was adorned in the cyan blue cloth that designated high ranking members of the clergy, with ornate gold and emerald jewelry adding a sense of regalia to her appearance. In one hand she carried the white oak staff that had been passed from each High Priest or Priestess to the next since the founding of Elunism over twenty thousand years prior, a magic imbued into it that prevented it from withering or cracking from use, as well as the emerald focusing crystal that sat at its head that allowed for the channeling of energy and the casting of high level spells. There were three priestesses and one priest among her contingent and they were dressed in similar garb, though their jewelry in silver and gold, as emeralds were reserved for the High Priestess alone and those that she had deemed worthy of the precious gems.

The serving staff had been awaiting the arrival of the dignitary and quickly escorted her and her contingent to the meeting room where Tobias was waiting for her, having made the request for her to visit the mansion over a week before. He had chosen to dress casually, wearing a royal blue tunic with leather bracers that had rubies crafted into them, far more decorative than meant for actual combat. The fall had been warmer than many had anticipated and the heavy clothing of formal dress would have made Tobias quite uncomfortable, nor did he expect the clergy to mind given their own light robes and tunics. Grabbing a chilled bottle of wine, he poured each of them a glass and offered them to take a seat, while the serving staff brought in fresh fruit and rolls should the contingent find need of food during their meeting with Tobias. Taking his seat at the head of the table, with the High Priestess on his left hand side, he gave her a cordial smile and offered a small toast to her and their health.

"I am pleased that you were able to make it on such short notice Your Holiness, I know the trip from Char Sara to Raynor City is not the most enjoyable in this unseasonable weather we are currently experiencing." Tobias would know, having made the journey himself quite often the last few months, though the heat during the summer had been expected, not so much this late in the fall and harvest season.

"The gravity of the situation dictated that I make haste, regardless of the condition of the travel. Being one of Her champions, I would assume that you would have known that, so if we can drop the formalities and get straight to the subject at hand, it would be best for all of our sakes." The harsh tone had not been unexpected but the words still stung the younger of the elves. He was used to treating with dignitaries and leaders who were so used to excessive formalities that casual conversation seemed almost unnatural at this point. "As you wish, we are all concerned about the lack of communication from Elune and though I do not think it possible, your own servants believe it possible that I might be able to summon of Her champions to my side."

"We have been over this twice before Tobias, it is not a matter of opinion, it is fact. During the Shadow War you did summon Jas Hatire to this realm and he acted as your and her instrument here, delivering us from the invaders until the task had been completed. You have seen Elune's work first hand, you have seen her, and you have been given her blessing, yet still you doubt yourself and what you are capable of. Sooner or later, you are going to have to accept what it is you are able to do and what you are tasked to do. Tobias, you could be among the best of us, the best of her champions, but you have to learn to let go of your physical being and all the limitations that your mind has."

How easy was it for her to say, the High Priestess had no idea who she was or if she even had a family that missed her, having been taken into the clergy before even the age of five. For a thousand years they had taught this woman about the tasks that would be expected of her, trained her to use magic that only the most powerful of elves could have even believed to be possible much less attempt to do. For a thousand years she had been groomed to be one thing and one thing only, the High Priestess, and then her time came and she had taken to the task like a fish took to water. However she lacked the same sort of emotional connections that those who had family and loved ones did, and for that, despite all her power, Tobias thought she was the poorer of the two.

"You are unique, most champions are chosen upon their death, and yet you have been made one while still living in the mortal plane. You are better for it, if perhaps weaker in terms of your current power and that which you have the potential of having once you do ascend past the material realm." Her tone softened then, for they both knew that his power could double or even triple once her had "died" but that thought was quite the somber one. "Be that as it may, you can call upon the clergy until then to assist you in these endeavors, I only wish you had more belief in yourself." Inwardly she wondered if that had been the true reason that Tobias had abdicated and allowed his wife, a non Vanorian, to rule in his stead, though now the twins could by rights ascend to the throne. Somehow she doubted though that Tobias would wish to have either of the siblings grow jealous of the other.

"That is why you are here, is it not? To help me attempt this summoning so that we might get some information as to what is going on with Elune and why her voice has been silent for nearly two years now?"

"Yes it is." The High Priestess nodded to the priest sat beside her and the man produced a silver ring. "This is a ring that belonged to the Hatire family, we believe it can be used in the interim as focusing tool for you to attempt the summoning of Jas Hatire instead of the innate magical call you made those many years ago. If any of her champions in the Gray Havens know what might be happening to our Goddess, it would be her most trusted. Now, focus your energy into the ring and picture the hero before you, sitting at this table and then make it so."

[Pasarga]

Torgos Tribune ~ Not Quite Up To Par

To say that the Wanderers are struggling in the first half of the qualifiers is to state the obvious while massively understating just how poor the Wanderers have been to begin the Qualifying campaign. Entering into the Qualifiers, the Wanderers were ranked fiftenth in the world and considered by nearly everyone to be a near lock to qualify from the group, as the group lacked any real challengers to the Wanderers outside of Red Blackiland and Drawkland, despite a few interesting teams among the group. However through the first five matches of the campaign, the side sits with just seven out of a possible fifteen points and two losses without having played the second seed in the group yet, a record that several unranked and sub 100 sides across the qualifying groups are able to better. It is in fact losing at home to the unranked Cassadaigua that was the most damning of the results, as the Stade de Torgos has been something of a fortress for the Wanderers, where the side had not lost for sixteen matches before that encounter with Cassadaigua.

It was that defeat that really shook the Wanderers to the core as they then went to Drawkland and were defeated there, much in the same fashion as which they had been defeated by Cassadaigua, where the team had completely dominated possession and the game but had been made to pay on the few chances that they had afforded the opposition. It was all more turbulent back home though, as the side was clearly suffering in the morale department after suffering back to back defeats in Qualifiers for the first time in what seems as if it had been a lifetime, having to hold off the unheralded Kaidō in Torgos by a final scoreline of three to two. While it was not the most impressive of victories, it could have been the sort of result that allowed the side to breathe and refocus on the task at hand heading into the next match against the Republic of Kaboomlandia, a near must win scenario for the side with Red Blackiland looming. Instead of picking up some momentum in preparation for the giant encounter looming on the horizon, the Wanderers were struck once more by a side that had been bossed out of the game finding a way to convert their only two attacks into goals.

Eight points adrift of first, five back off of a second, and a match with Red Blackiland now on the docket, the Wanderers are a side who are in turmoil and on the wrong side of the qualifying chase at the halfway point approaches with great haste, as the match with the second seeds is in their home ground and with the way they have ruthlessly picked apart everyone who they have come across thus far, it is not a promising scenario. Perhaps thankfully the Wanderers have a match in Torgos against Greater Vakolicci Haven before they make the travel to Red Blackiland. Haven sits at ranked nearly 200 and in theory it should be a quite comfortable match for the side to pick up some points and boost morale before their titanic clash, though the match against Cassadaigua and Kaidō has proven that home matches against these low ranked sides are anything but a given three points. It is a truly bleak outlook for the side who came into the Qualifiers with such high belief and thinking that this could be the cycle that sees them reemerge as title contenders, now they will be lucky to even be in the qualifying hunt in the second half of the Qualifiers.

Where has it all gone wrong and what can the staff do to try and right the ship before it is too late for the side and all chances at progressing through the group and into Cosumar-Bonesea have gone by the wayside? When these results come when the side is bossing the match and dominating the fixture, it is hard to say that players are performing badly as even the match stats say that the Wanderers should have won those three fixtures where they have dropped the points. However something is clearly not working for the side as the inevitably concede on the chances they do have to try and defend, which is perplexing given the strength of the backline. It may just be a matter of belief and that trying to play a possession game right now can not work with the side believing that they can't do it for the entire ninety minutes, with a switch back to a more counter-attacking setup which the team will be comfortably with a potential solution, especially on the road. Something has to change now or the Wanderers will be out of qualifying contention before you can even blink, a disgrace for a side with such high hopes and expectations coming into the cycle.

[Alasdair I Frosticus]

OOC - The Mammoth Compendium of World Cup Lies lives up to its name; you're free to believe it IC'ly, but please don't believe a word of these RPs OOC'ly. They're a compendium of lies.

THE MAMMOTH COMPENDIUM OF WORLD CUP LIES
World Cup 78 Qualification

Matchday 5 – Olastor's Touching Tribute

The Basileus of the Holy Empire is, of course, the single most adored national ruler in the entire multiverse. While his modest bejewelled platinum and gold-domed icon-encrusted palace seems modest by Imperial standards, and His Majesty is renowned for the simplicity of his gold-threaded purple robes; many have commented on the lack of ostentation in his Imperial Crown, an image of which we show here for the benefit of those who've forgotten what it looks like:

Is it any wonder, then, that every nation in the multiverse contains at least one twice life-sized golden statue of His Munificence designed to face the sun or other local primary source of light. These statues have often become the subject of religious veneration on the party of simpler mundy nations, such as Eastfield Lodge; this makes His Benevolence uncomfortable, good Orthodox Christian that he is, but his wise policy of non-interference in Ordinary Reality means these cults have largely been left undisturbed.

'But what does this have to do with World Cup 78?' we hear our loyal readers ask...

Well, it's a little-known fact that Matchday 5 opponents Olastor are actually named after the Basileus, in a touching tribute to their true feelings towards our extraordinary monarch. It's true that they've misspelled His Majesty's name, but 'Olastor' is clearly supposed to be a close phonetic rendering of our ruler's name in the local primitive pidgin.

Imperial anthropologists have been undertaking fieldwork in Olastor for the last 500 years (subjective) in an attempt to better understand why the local mundies would have named their entire nation after a distant and remote figure who resides outside of Ordinary Reality, and has likely never set foot in their benighted nation. Despite the large number of doctoral dissertations and academic journal papers that claim to offer an explanation of this extraordinary phenomenon, the truth of the matter remains a mystery.

In any case, it's understandable that the Olastor national football team was utterly defenceless against the Holy Empire last night. Forced to play a team whose ruler they've named themselves after, Olastor collapsed into a self-conscious writhing agony of metaphysical dread, though Tzimisces and Di Bradini were charitable enough after the match to note that they home team had put in a 'good effort', and that the 156-0 scoreline 'wasn't an accurate reflection of the match'.

Elsewhere, the news that Eshan's national football team doesn't actually exist seems to have somehow leaked into Ordinary Reality, perhaps via an unusually tasteful and cultured mundy reading this very publication. This seems to be causing some level of consternation in some corners of Ordinary Reality. Us? We're really not that bothered. Should those mundy civilisations participating in the current World Cup utterly collapse in the wake of this terrifying news, then it'll make winning the Holy Empire's 5th World Cup all the easier. So long as the leak wasn't our fault, our consciences can rest easy over the forthcoming apocalyptic slaughter of the uncountable innocent.

[Mercedini]

Newsdesk: 28/06/17
@ Zoloroni Sports City Stadium - Zoloroni, Mercedini

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Zoloroni Sports City Stadium for tonight's edition of Newsdesk where big match between Mercedini and Nephara has just finished, you can see the fans coming out of the stadium as we speak with quietly content faces. We will give you the fill round-up of that match including the ramifications of that match with everything else that has been going on in the group. So with the top two teams in the group going up against each other and with both faltering early on in the campaign, it was an imperative for both teams to claim the win in order to further their progression towards the World Cup

World Cup Qualification: More Ds Than A Gay Bar

---

FINAL SCORE

WCQ | MD5

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MERCEDINI 0
NEPHARA 0

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Zoloroni, Mercedini

Pot One Nephara and Pot Two Mercedini played out a bore-draw in the Sports City Stadium which put another dent in the qualification chances of both nations. It signals the fourth draw in five matches for Mercedini, meaning they remain unbeaten in the group after five matches but have dropped a total of eight points against teams far and wide when it comes to ability and experience, which may be of concern to fans and the management. It was possibly the first time Mercedini felt satisfied with their draw, taking a point at home from the team ranked significantly higher than them, the draw takes Mercedini into fourth place with only Darmen, St. Saratoga and Tveidalen still to play before their bye and the break for the end of the first half of qualifying. Three wins from those final three games would do nicely for the Golden Eagles, meaning they would end up with four wins and four draws from the opening half of qualifying, something that will boost morale and confidence going into the reverse fixtures.

It was a tight affair in the first half, with the Sports City Stadium filled to near capacity thanks to the stature of their opponents and the match being held in the evening, meaning more people were available to make the trip as opposed to the early afternoon matches of previous match days. Nephara were quick out of the blocks, eager to settle any early nerves by bagging an early goal at the expense of the home team, they had a reasonably experienced and technically gifted starting eleven with Stavanger and Amokachi the two danger players at the head of a 4-4-2 formation, pretty much identical to Mercedini's formation with Billic and Chillotov up top spearheading the attack. The formations of both teams and the similar nature of how they aligned on the pitch may have lead to the stalemate which resulted during the game. With each player being matched man for man, it meant hardly anyone on the pitch got time to express themselves and get a meaningful period of possession together. Possession was mainly fought in the midfield as the numbers were even (4v4, compared to 2v4 at the other ends of the pitch). The fans got behind their players which stoked the fire within the Mercedinians to push forward and set up some changes of their own. Chillotov and Billic, the new and the old, were combining well up top but were sadly limited to half chances and pot-shots outside the box to trouble the goalkeeper, it was only when the two wingers combined that dangerous chances raised their head. Crasic and Billic who have had a tremendous partnership for themselves and the team combined with a cross in from the near side met with a thumping header from the Myrmidon man, but it cleared the bar, not troubling Fletcher in the Nepharan goal. The team ranked 9th in the world did have chances of their own and possibly had the biggest chance of the game as Amokachi was fed through by Tarashaj down the wing, an early cross was sent in to Stavanger, but the diagonal pass was just too quick and Stavanger's stretch didn't make any connection with the ball, if he did then it surely would have been in the net, a golden chance went begging when, in this match, they were hard to come by. With those chances gone, it was a relief when the referee blew his whistle for the end of the first half. The teams went in with the match goalless, a moment of magic was needed to break the deadlock.

When the teams came out for the second half, it was Nephara who came out looking to kill this game off early and to secure the win without breaking much sweat. Mercedini had played one game more then Nephara which meant a more crowded schedule was for Nephara in the immediate future, but that did mean Mercedini have played every match day thus far, which must have weighed on the mind of the Mercedinian management given the emphasis on energy levels which would come towards the end of the match. A goalless would suit Mercedini more than Nephara despite that being the fourth match in five they'd have dropped points, that was because Nephara is the only team ranked higher than Mercedini (and ranked a stratospheric 9th at that). Much like the first half, both teams were pretty level when it came to possession and chances, Nephara being the more experienced which meant they were able to turn defence into attack and put their knowhow into effect when coming forward. Mercedini arguably had the upper hand in the match with Billic and Chillotov having a slew of chances before Nephara went up the other end of the field to clinch what could have been a vital penalty. With about twenty minutes untuil the end of the game, a tired Noah Park scythed down Naeher inside the box which gave the referee no choice other than to give the penalty. The Sports City Stadium went quiet as both sets of fans waited in anticipation for Amokachi to put down the ball and take the penalty. One slight disagreement later and Amokachi was poised and ready to take a make or break penalty in the match. Hosset stood tall against the Nepharan striker who was beginning to make a name for herself in her home nation, and the two stared each other down. She gave stuttered run towards the ball and stoked the ball her left, the goalkeepers right. In what could have been described as a carbon copy of the previous penalty against Yuezhou's Chen, Hosset dived and parried the ball safely away from the net before Park, the original fouler, cleared the ball away for a potential counter-attack which was ultimately fizzled out by the Nepharan defense. Two penalties saved in two matches gave the young goalkeeper and firmly put him on the map for future international call ups and potentially a big transfer abroad, that's what I've been hearing in the grapevine. Neither team for force another breakthrough and the stalemate was concluded when the referee blew his whistle for the end of the match. A rather drab affair which was lit up by moments of magic from both teams, although the visitors would feel that missed penalty could cost them in the long run. It finished Mercedini 0, Nephara 0.

   Group 12                             Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Darmen                                 4    3   1   0     9    1   +8    10
 2 Starblaydia                            5    3   1   1    10    4   +6    10
 3 Sargossa                               4    2   2   0     5    3   +2     8
 4 Mercedini                              5    1   4   0     8    6   +2     7
 5 Tveidalen                              5    2   0   3     5    8   −3     6
 6 Nephara                                4    1   2   1     7    4   +3     5
 7 Yuezhou                                5    1   1   3     2    9   −7     4
 8 St. Saratoga                           4    1   0   3     3    8   −5     3
 9 Makongo                                4    0   1   3     5   11   −6     1

With that 0-0 draw, both Nephara and Mercedini lay down in the lower portions of the table, with Mercedini holding steady in fourth with their one win and four draws! They play table toppers Darmen, surprise packages Tveidalen and St. Saratoga who are the blandest team out of the three. There will be plenty of chances for Mercedini to bridge that gap with those three matches plus all of the reverse fixtures still at their disposal. We bid you goodnight from Zoloroni, where the fans may seem pleased to take a point from a top ten nation but four draws out of five may leave them down on where they want to be.

[Apox]

Carried on from here

The golden glow began to fade once again and vague shapes became recognizable. He was pleased at first to notice that the sand and sky were no longer purple here, and there were buildings all around him. They looked familiar but something about them was wrong. They were distorted, kind of as if he was looking at them through water which was being gently stirred.

There were people around but it they were all facing away from him or simply to far away to see if they'd seen him. It all seemed relatively normal after the previous experience but he still wasn't sure if he was having some bizarre hallucination or whatever. Best go and see if one of these people knew what was happening, because he was still bloody confused.

He started towards what looked like an old "Wild West" style saloon where a couple of the people here were talking to each other. The first thin he noticed was that walking was significantly harder than it normally was when he wasn't hallucinating/back home, almost as if he was walking through invisible treacle. He was about two metres away from them when a sharp pain emanated from his shoulder.

"Ouch!" He turned to see what had hit him but couldn't see anything sticking out of his shoulder, nor on the ground around him.

"Watch out for that ball! Are you blind?" He turned back towards the two people in front of him and nearly fell over in horror. On closer inspection, it was a middle aged woman, short with brown hair who had spoken to him, while a taller man stood next to her. That was not the worrying part. What was more worrying was that neither of them had eyes, rather just skin where their eyes should have been.

"Deaf as well by the looks of it dear. Come on, lets head back in," said the man, taking the woman by the arm as they headed back inside.
"Stupid creature."

The door swung shut behind them. All alone and eerily quiet, he approached the shutter of the window and peered over it. Inside were perhaps ten, fifteen more people, all the same. Completely normal looking, except for the terrifying lack of eyes. Fuck, what was he going to do.

He had to get answers though. Mind made up, he steeled himself and pushed open the shutter.

To be continued...

VIL 2-0 APX Falcon 22', Tzufarei 71'
VIL: Milake -- Tadalek, Baracelv, Rotropii, Januaa -- Eskiiy (c), Lianksa (Riazen 70'), Falcon (Yahaya 84'), Magagula -- Ylimaiina (Chamya 76'), Tzufarei
APX: Anaximander -- Richardson, Raynerson, Jekyll, Fowey (Mills 80') -- Mormentor (Llangolan 76') -- Townsend, Palmisano J. (c), Vladimirescu -- Gandhi A., Palmisano L.

Top seeds and reigning World Champions simply had too much for an Apoxian team still trying to find its legs back in international competition. Right from the start of the game Apox were under the cosh, Tzufarei testing Anaximander in the third minute, before a shot just wide of the uprights by Tripate Falcon in the eigth. Every time Apox looked like they might be working their way back into the attack, a fresh wave of Vilitan dominance broke and the Jungle Cats were swarming the defence. Eventually the inevitable breakthrough happened, Purapal Eskiiy passing the ball around Imhotep Jekyll who fell over stretching for the pass to Tripate Falcon who rounded Anaximander to poke it home, just beyond Helios Richardson who was rushing back to defend it. However, after the goal, Apox got their best sniff at goal, Lucan Palmisano slipping Rotropii his marker to receive an excellent through ball from brother James, only to scuff his shot which was easily collected by Zelkki Milake in goal. The second half saw stern Apoxian defending until a change in formation to a 4-3-3 with Kiliko Riazon coming on was too much to handle again for Apox, Wizzard Mormentor once again causing Riazon to slip through and pass to Tzufarei who had little trouble in finishing off the move and sealing the win, especially as soon after Vilita reverted back to 4-4-2 to see out the game, win comfortably confirmed. Unfortunately, James Fowey had to come off in the eightieth minute after suffering a nasty looking ankle injury which could see him out for most of the remaining qualifers, which will be a serious blow to Apox's (admittedly very slender) qualifying hopes.

[Kalumba]

The Great Attractions of Kalumba

Published by the Tourist Bureau of Kalumba

Number Six
Kahali National Stadium Complex


At this time of year it is likely many visitors to Kalumba are here to watch their team take on "The Kudus" and will be visiting Kahali National Stadium anyway, but even then it is worth taking the time to visit the rest of the facility during your trip or even before the match. And if you aren't a football fan there is plenty else to see.

The stadium complex is unique in Afrosia in the fact no stadium is multi-purpose, thus there is no running track impeding fans access to the match in the football stadium, the cricket square isn't ruined by a scrum churning up the finely tuned wicket and the tennis courts are not sullied by javelins and shot puts.

Not only can a tourist see a wide variety of architecture, combining classical western architecture with Afrosian styles, but can also obviously watch whichever sports are being played on the day. When matches and training sessions are not in progress it is possible to book use of the facilities to play all sorts of sports, with five a side particularly popular. Obviously the entire complex is filled with all sorts of eateries allowing you to sample whatever food takes your fancy.

Being a modern construction the whole complex is well serviced by both trains and buses, as well as coaches and taxis or even hire car. Parking is plentiful, with a capacity for 22,000 vehicles and secure with a team of on site security officials. And being just ten miles from the centre of Kahali the complex is close to your hotel and a must see on your visit to the jewel of Southern Afrosia.

Don't Delay, Visit Kalumba Today!

[Brenecia]

Brenecia 1-1 Tobiasia
(4-2-3-1 / 4-1-4-1) 1 - Woodgate; 2 - Szukala (Carrack 75'), 5 - Scrivener (c), 6 - Szubanski, 19 - Quill; 4 - Gryphon (c), 8 - Skorupska; 15 - Hamilton, 11 - Balliol (Ruffan 80'), 10 - Macbeth; 17 - Charnwood (9 - Rankin 67')
Goal: Balliol 28'

Mathis Woodgate's memory was little short of photographic.
Normally, this was a good thing. But it meant that while other players' mistakes were often glossed over by their minds, just becoming a blur in which they're vaguely aware of having made the wrong decision, Woodgate knew every single agonising step along the way.
The match had gone fine to that point. Fox Charnwood had been handed a debut and run gamely at the opposing defence for 90 minutes, the quick-footed Niko Szubanski had laid his claim to a place in the defence with a solid performance, Caitriona Hamilton had been spirited if limited attacking down the right. Actual chances were short on the ground, with Tobiasia holding most of the possession and keeping tight at the back, but Balliol conjured something out of somewhere in the first half to put the Patriots up.
Brenecia sat back from there, absorbed the pressure and tried to hit a few times on the break, and Charnwood should probably have scored at least once. Rankin came on, but found herself marked down by at least one man at all times, but... at the end of the day, Brenecia held all the cards. As traditional, in the 80th minute, Bardsley called time on the game, brought on Ruffan for Balliol and the team settled into a purely defensive rhythm, Rankin sitting more or less alone up front.
So far, so formula.
Not that Woodgate - or a few of the others, for that matter - especially liked clinging to a one-goal lead. The fans got impatient, on edge. Brenecia was too flaky for this strategy, as much as anything. To choke on a lead would be so... so Brenecia.
But they had a world-class holding midfielder, a good defence, and a great goalkeeper. All disciplined. They were just starting to trust this new thing, and then a frustrated Rosa Uzeke tried her luck from twenty-five yards out.
It's not that it was a brilliant shot. It was decent. Low and fast, but not into a corner. Woodgate should've had that. He did have it.
It was the next couple of seconds that replayed over and over in his mind in treacherously photographic detail.
His dive was a bit slow. No disaster. Time was on his side. He stretched out his right arm - had it covered, no worries - and brought in his left hand to help snaffle the ball. Between arm and hand he would have the ball well within his control, and Philips was too far out to latch onto a slight rebound in any case.
What ended up happening was the ball took an unexpected bounce just before it smacked off his right bicep with unexpected force and jolted it off-balance, with his left hand coming in to gather the ball at the same time... and ending up slapping it underneath his arm and, slowly, horribly, into the net.
He lay there, his face in the cool, dewy grass, for quite a while. He was vaguely aware of Szubanski vaulting over him to go retrieve the ball.
And then someone - Brun Carrack, as it happened - pulled him to his feet and wordlessly slapped him on the back. They still had six minutes to pull back ahead, after all. Couldn't let one mistake trap you during the game - there was no time to dwell. He ruffled his hair back and cracked his knuckles.
No, the dwelling, the sitting on the hotel bed wordlessly staring out the window with a gin and tonic in a limp hand, wishing for all the world that you were someone, anyone else? And over and over again, just wishing that tiny, treacherous bounce had been anticipated? The dive had been better? Hell, that Charnwood had converted his chances back in the first half? That... anything had turned out differently along the way? That could be saved for after.

[Qasden]

Wednesday•16:37•Private Charter Bus•George's Fairway, Qasden—

Zachary Sedsten sat there with his phone on his ear. Hours, they have been driving, he sat as an experiment to increase funds for future travels. Alongside him were Zachary Sols, the NT Manager, Rosie Fraiser, a specialist in Athletic Logistics and manager-in-training, and Timothy Yevis, the old coot they hired to drive. On the phone, PM Häther.

Settle down, Minister. A country doesn't want a dictator.
Oh quit your philosophy, Sedsten! We have drawn games we should've won and lost games we should've drawn. If the offense doesn't get their act together, my fantasy team in the Royal league is caput!
No one bloody cares about your fantasy WC team. You already won the Royal Spawk League.
I care about them! I'm second to last of 12 teams, just above Lady Rossaline, which a prime minister should not be!
Well what are you gonna do about it? I'm on the bus with Sols, if you want to speak with him.
Please.

The FA president hands the smartphone to the manager.

It's Rees. He wants to speak with you.
Alrighty.

Sols picks up the phone and puts it up to his ear.

Yellow.
Zachary, please tell me the Vans are gonna win this one.
That is essentially up to Marlene, Rees.

Häther was displeased by the answer.

What do you mean exactly, Sols?
I'm saying we don't know what to expect from the Goluta team yet.
They're in the 200's, just tell the team to have fun and not screw up.
Minister, Kecrazia and New Danican are 3rd in their respective groups. It's bad luck to underestimate your opponent, you know?
Oh good, so vanilla teams are better than us!
That's because the giants keep drawing with each other. That's why we're not too far behind Brenecia.
I thought Sedsten said this was a mild group?
It is, Rees. Like I said, underestimating is the epitome to one's implosion. We defeated Port Christopher and Poggers easily. EEC and Yesopalitha were formidable new opponents and Brenecia's the group giant. Besides, Sedsten was hammered when he told us our opponents.

Meanwhile elsewhere on the bus.

So, is Rees upset again?
Yeah, something about his fantasy team or something like that.
He really does need to take a chill pill. Or overdose. The results could vary, really.
Rosie!
I'm joking, sorta. He does seem perpetually angry though.
Agreed. Hey Tim, how many more minutes until we reach Elder?
About 30 more minutes, I believe. I could be wrong, it could be 30—

The bus drives by a sign signaling their entrance into Elder.

—Seconds...
Well, 2 more hours 'til Taxson. Hey President, what all do you exactly recall from the draw?
A 100-something year old guy trying to hit on me, Mallow barging in, and drunkards, lots and lots of drunkards.
Sounds like your kind of night.

Sols ends the call with Häther and hands back Sedsten's phone.

I suppose I should contact Merrit soon. Rosie, do you have any ideas for our strats against Goluta?
Maybe. Just bear with me here...

[Coldfield]

1:50 a.m.| Orangefish City

"So Moonlight is part of the Organization? And Vinte de Setembro's recent accomplishments has to do with such group? And what was in that building?" Dean Murray was thinking of everything he heard from the mouths of the Black Pigeons members. Murray, as a player of Clube Paulista, had lost the premiership to Vinte de Setembro on the last rounds after a series of weird losses against small clubs where few errors from the referees where crucial. Murray was indignant and he became angry, seeking justice at all costs. Murray plays for a team that has a long history of suspected fraud and result manipulation but now it seems that now the game had turned.

The gang cars had led him to a plaza in the middle of the Mills residential neighborhood, where the elite of the Orangefish elite resided. All the vehicles were stationed in the vicinity of that square, and right in the center of it, around the Marsh fountain - a monument in honor of the national and foreign merchants - the criminals gathered. A fifth known figure was with them. Dean parked his silver sedan in front of a residence with an apparent security system, but no private guards; He turned off the engine but did not lock the doors, preparing for a future emergency. Murray, dressed in black, sneaks up from the dimly lit square, hiding in the shadows and walking foot to foot until he reaches a shrub just a few yards from the fountain. From closer, he recognizes Louis Palmer, attacking coach of the Coldfieldian national team.

"Holy shit!" Thought aloud Murray

"What are we going to do now?"
"Why do I always have to think? Ball is in your court, you let them detonate the building and destroy my registries!"
"Let's think a bit. It will not be difficult to confront them, they were stupid enough to destroy their own building just to erase the records."
"Stupid and bold, by the way, who the hell was the genius that hid our documents in an enemy headquarters?
"It was Tonetto. He worked as an engineer on Moonlight Project and obtained the records."

"What records?" Thought Murray, completely lost.

Suddenly a car parked across the square. It was David's red SUV.

"And here comes David butterfingers."

Green approaches the class gathered at the fountain, still wearing his mask. He greets everyone with his head and gaze but is ignored by Palmer.

"According to one of my contacts in the police, Tonetto's records were lost in the detonation. As they failed to open the basement door the ORG members decided to detonate it, but they ended up bringing down the whole site."
"Is something left?"
"No, maybe some of the papers have resisted, but it's going to take a long time before they've been able to dig through the ruin and get underground."
"Aw fuck."
"I knew you wanted to talk to me, I'd like to know what it is about."

Green shivered at that moment. Now he knew he had been reckless half an hour earlier when he decided to go and talk to the "cheese," Louis Palmer.

"Do you know of the relegation of the Salvadores da Bahia caused by the interference of Vinte de Setembro?"
"Of course I know!"
"Well, maybe it's the time to destroy that club."
"WHAT?"
"I mean, would not it be okay to buy players like Bezerra and Mesa and then take down the team's plane?"
"It's fucking crazy!"
"You want to build a football empire, don't you? To meet that goal, we'd better leave Salvadores alone, destroy Setembro, and buy Clube Paulista. It's so easy, you know? Bahia is a team with less crowd and has only regional fame when Clube Paulista has infinitely more fans spread throughout the country (and the world)! I do not understand why you chose Salvadores!"
"Market Strategy: Building fame with smaller clubs gives more income than with clubs that are already famous."
"If we buy Clube Paulista we can compete with the Organization and launder money more easily."

Dean Murray, who kept his cool until now, was immediately angry with Green. Murray liked Clube Paulista. He did not want to leave the team where he felt at home, even though he was far from Coldfield and living in a completely foreign country in the eyes of an ordinary Coldfieldian. Louis Palmer thought briefly. He nodded and said:

"Maybe you're right, G."

David Green was surprised by his reaction. He hoped the "cheese" would be irritated. Quite the opposite. He agreed with his thought and was even educated.

"So..."
"Then your plan will come into effect. I'll see what we're gonna do with Salvadores, maybe we'll first buy Clube Paulista, then transfer one or two of Salvadores main players to our new team and finally sell the 'Bahians'."

"Congratulations Green, your motherfucker. You got the hang of it." Murray thought as he silently took photographs of the assembled group. A pity that the guns were not apparent in these photos.

"I think that's it for now, we have nothing more to say to you."
"Thank you, boss."

Green retreats hastily; Palmer waits until Green gets in the car and starts the engine to talk again.

"About Tonetto, I think we should ..."

Something sharp touched Murray in the neck and with his instinct the agent pulled his pistol from the waist, only to discover that it was simply a rose bush that had moved with the dawn's wind. However, the intense agitation and prolonged rustling caused by the agent's instinct drew attention of those present.

"I'll check." Whispered one of the criminals

"WHAT THE HELL!"

The criminal found a distracted Murray scratching himself agitatedly, and upon seeing his pistol the black pigeon immediately took his firearm; But Murray is a fast athlete and shoot the bad guy before he could react. Reactions were instantaneous; All the BPs pulled their weapons and started shooting at the bush where Murray were hidding. Palmer took advantage of the situation and ran to his car, fleeing the scene.

Dean Murray killed the first criminal with a single shot in the neck; Immediately upon killing the Pigeon, Murray rolled to the side of the bush, ripping his clothes on the thorns of the rosebush but managed to get safe and sound to the back of the fountain unseen.

"STOP! DOESN'T WASTE YOUR BULLETS! Now go and check the surrounding; find the pig!"

The criminals divided their tasks; One would take care of the right flank, the other of the left, and the last - who had given the orders - would rearguard in the middle. Instead of searching the surroudings, the two went straight to the bush where the intruder supposed died.

"What the..."
"THERE'S NOBODY..."

The second criminal was interrupted by five shots coming from behind the fountain. Lethal shots. He fell silent to the ground.

"THERE HE IS!" Shouted the survivor, who crouched and opened fire at the fountain, hiding in the rosebush, one of the biggest in Coldfield.

Murray had remained quiet during all the action and ran to behind of a tree - he was miraculously free of any serious injuries. Dean waited for the gunfire to end, and as soon it ended his turn begun; Dean Murray shooted at the rosebush Murray heard a deep scream. "What a horrible death," he thought with a hint of sadism. His ears were partially deaf, which meant that the scream was particularly loud. A hellish headache also begun-the agent had not felt such effects in a long time. His last firefight on duty had been more than a year ago.

"Surrender and your life will be spared!" Murray shouted at the last remaining criminal.

"NEVER!" The thug shouted back. He threw his unloaded pistol away and ran to the tree where Murray was reloading his self-defense instrument. Murray did not hear the footsteps of the Black Pigeon member and was surprised with a fist on his chin. He fell on the floor screaming in pain; His gun, still unloaded, was thrown away.

"TAKE, TAKE THIS!" The criminal, mad and blinded by rage, had begun to kick the fallen agent (who was in a fetal position lying defenceless on the floor) in the belly and arms that protected his face. Even almost surrendered, Murray able to defeat the criminal . The agent shifted his position and climbed up on the thug, beginning to punch several times on his face until his hand was numb. At this point the BP was no longer awake but survived.

Gasping, sweaty, ripped, and badly hurt, Murray dropped the thug on the floor and picked up his pistol. He reloaded it, phoned the police, and left the neighborhood, going to his car as if nothing had happened.

[Ceni]

The Orion Hotel: Chapter One (Peter)

Peter Spero groggily pulled himself out of bed at five in the morning, resisting the impulse to just let it go and fall back into a dazed state. He willed his body to walk toward the shower, turned the faucet to its coldest setting, and just stood there as the water rained down on him. As usual, his cold shower quickly put an end to any further notions of rest for the morning; as usual, he saw his hand reaching for the faucet, almost daring him to turn it off or to the hot, soothing side, but Peter saw temptation and snapped out of his daze. He went to business in the frigid water, which must have been imported straight from Antarctica, before slowly buttoning up his crisp white shirt, his hands performing the rote task almost as if they were machines, quickly and efficiently. He donned his suit, tugged on his tie, and tied his shoes. He was ready for another day as the manager of the Orion Hotel Cenial, the flagship hotel of a chain of luxury hotels based out of Ceni and Electrum.

The responsibility was enormous. Forty-seven stories, one thousand, four hundred and thirteen guest rooms and suites, eight conference rooms and ballrooms, four restaurants (including the rooftop pool and bar). One wealthy guest could spoil his day, with their attitudes and expectations; enough of them could ruin his career. That's why Peter ran a tight ship at the Orion; nothing could slip past him. He took an unusually active role in the day to day operations of the hotel, yet he knew he couldn't do everything by himself. After all, the hotel did have over fourteen hundred rooms, and many more guests on the premises than that. As a result, meetings with his various heads of operations took up a lot of his time; they could go more in deoth with the various operations of the hotel, from maintenance to houskeeping, all the way down to food and personnel. The hotel had to take care of a lot of mundane things behind the scenes; with all this entitlement walking around the Orion, guests expected the hotel to hand them things on a silver platter. In short, it was Peter's job to make sure that the guests had everything on a golden platter with a silver goblet in the side; he had to make sure his guests' needs and expectations were met, and then go above those. It was a luxury establishment, and it was the flagship hotel of a brand. The Orion had to maintain its reputation, after all.

First came the daily inspection of the property. Peter was charged with checking that everything was in working order for the coming day, and he spent at least an hour in the mornings doing a visual checkup of the hotel and its various floors. Then came the number-crunching; Peter always checked in with the assistant managers about the bookings and occupancy of the hotel. It was full, as always. Most of the guests were businessmen coming into Cenial for whatever reason, but Peter liked to be on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary, both in terms of statistics and in terms of guests. He noticed that the D'angelo family was stayimg in room 1071; they had baby twins. "Get some milk warmed up and sent to the family," he told the assistant manager. "We don't want any problems up there with two babies crying." Bookings were full, as usual; the Orion was a popular hotel. This particular weekend was a World Cup qualifying match at home, against Miloscia, so some of the Miloscian fans had of course decided to check in to the Orion before the big match.

Peter also looked at the plans for the ballrooms for the day; a local high school, one of the stereotypical preppier schools, was renting out one of the ballrooms for a congratulatory banquet for a couple of hours, while there was a college presentation in another ballroom, and a conference on green technology with several Echani and Cenian firms was taking place in a third conference room. Peter dispatched the event manager to make sure all three rooms would be set up to the guests' specifications before checking in with the head chefs of the three restaurants in the hotel to make sure that everything was going alright. The bartender at Eleutherium, the modern nightclub on the second floor, Rush Carlstein, explained that he was starting to run out of his quality Mabaya Maharania rum from distant Racao; Peter duly promised Rush that he would add it to the day's procurement run. Speaking of procurement, Peter checked the hotel's supply inventory and made the requisite orders... After all of this was said and done, it was just about time for guests to start heading downstairs for breakfast. Peter knew it was going to be a long day, as usual, but he enjoyed his job. He wouldn't give it up for the world.

[Kel Assuk]

The Road to the World Cup
Chapter 1: An Even Steven Start

Eric was hot wearing his suit on the pitch in Kel Assuk. He didn't know why he did it in Kel Assuk with its hot desert winds and its hot desert air, with the sun beating down on him. Even the shade in the Tin Hinan Stadium didn't offer him much relief; the temperature was much too hot, and black famously absorbs light and heat. So much for a cool ninety minutes plus on the pitch; he'd probably need a new suit at the rate this one was getting soiled with stinky sweat and grease. For a moment, Eric considered getting a tagelmust, a bright indigo-colored turban that the locals wore to provide sun protection and keep the sand out of their eyes, and the traditional Amalen loose robe, but he worried that might offend the Amalen (Amalen men don the tagelmust after formally entering the tradition of adulthood) and would make him look awkward. Then again, it would make him cooler and keep the sun - and sand - out of his eyes. He didn't imagine that his players were much better off than him, though; their home kits were predominantly black (after all, one of the colors of the Kel Assuk flag), and they didn't have the option of changing clothes on the pitch. They couldn't wear the traditional loose Amalen robes - they would be tripping over themselves in no time! Plus they had to run around the pitch for ninety minutes - which meant they would be sweating out buckets. If Eric could sell each bucket of sweat for a dollar, he'd be rich. Good thing the team had pedialyte for rehydration; otherwise, they'd be dropping dead from dehydration and exhaustion.

They didn't seem to be doing all that badly for it, though. Just the other day, they had upset #100 Hirvania in this stadium, perhaps due to the Hirvanian team's inability to adjust to the hot and dry conditions here in Kel Assuk. In their game against the Tumbran team, they had managed to score two goals before falling. In their home matches, they were even steven: one win, one loss; four goals scored, four goals conceded. In their away matches, they had done about the same: one win, one loss. Two goals scored, two goals conceded. One clean sheet, one clean sheet for the other side. Even steven. Not that bad for a new team. The normal players impressed Eric: M'Hidi in the defensive midfield, Ait Ahmed in the midfield, Khalej in the attacking mid, the team's two young strikers. They weren't perfect, of course, but they performed at expectations, they gave their all, they did their best, which was the most Eric could ask for. The rest of the team... well, they did that too... sime of the time, and even when they were doing their best, some of them simply weren't that good. Kel Assuk had obviously not spent much time in football, and that showed in the quality of the players they had. Eric thought that the good players just about evened out the bad players; again - an even steven start.

Eric was of course glad that the team had gotten where they did. He distinctly remembered the fact that they had started from absolutely nothing at all, and always kept that in mind by tempering his expectations for them. If it was a team back in Schottia, he would have been a lot harder on them. They lived football, they breathed football, they played football since the age of five or six back there; so did the foreign players. It meant that he could be a lot harsher on them in training, a lot harsher in criticizing them for their mistakes. Here, in Kel Assuk, he had to start from square one. Football was a pastime, a hobby; sometimes it wasn't even that. Sometimes people here treated it as a distraction, or, even worse, an irrelevancy. Most of his team had day jobs, and they only played football on the side. As a result, he had to be a lot easier with his team; he had to train them how to play football. He had to make the great leap from being bad to being okay to being good; the job of taking the Kel Assuk team from good to great would probably belong to another person. He was fine at the steps from okay to good, but everybody knew that the steps from good to great were long, tedious, and involved the changing of the most minute things. Eric had put a lot of effort into this team, and it was too late for them to pull out now; he was invested in them, invested in their future.

Given all of this, Eric was quite pleased at their even steven start. He was also pleased at the fact that he had developed diamonds in the rough, his young players; under another manager in a couple of years, he could imagine what they would become: beast players, leading Kel Assuk on that road to qualification and that road to the World Cup. For now, though, he had to focus on the present, not the future. He had to take everything one match at a time. With that in mind, and seeing their lack of football experience, he was quite pleased that they had managed two wins on the footballing stage, one against a team higher ranked than them. Plus, their only two losses so far had come from two of the group's top three seeds, including the #3 team in the world; the fact that they weren't totally crushed by San Jose Guayabal counted as progress in Eric's book. With those matches out of the way, the team had a bit of an easier schedule in the next couple of games; Eric could use those as confidence builders, to build momentum heading into the next game. The team would need those confidence builders; it's quite easy to become demoralized in the environment of the World Cup, and Eric resolved to himself that he would not become demoralized. If he lost faith in the team, the team would lose faith in themselves, and that was definitely something that he didn't want to happen.

[Free Republics]

To: Lord Almighty Gregory
Classificiation: Highly Classified

Dear Lord Almighty Gregory,

I read your recent proposal with interest and I would be willing to move forward with such an operation except for one little issue. My nation does not officially possess nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, if I were to openly provide you with nuclear weapons that would expose the falsehood of this claim, which is essential to our diplomatic efforts to discourage the pursuit of nuclear weapons by other nations. It is, fortunately, possible to write off a certain Dumpy man's past claims to the contrary as false due to the obvious questions about his sanity during the time when he led my nation. Sadly, I cannot openly provide you with nuclear weapons to stop a terror attack and continue to maintain the official position of my government that we do not possess nuclear weapons.

I would be willing, however, to cooperate in producing a second cover story involving your nation acquiring the nuclear weapons in Sudernius, which is an anarchist "nation" located within Lunia (OOC: Ignore the fact that it is probably CTEd at this moment.). Sudernius is infamous for its lawlessness and its markets where you can purchase just about anything. Many nations in Lunia have had their eye on Sudernius for a long time since it is a stateless land where numerous private corporations compete in the production of law and order. Unfortunately, we've been unable to justify any military action there, as the Sudernians are clearly no threat to any of their neighbors and the nation is not, in any sense, a humanitarian crisis.

You probably won't be surprised to learn that Nicholls Enterprises secretly owns many businesses in Sudernius or that we have our eye on making our security firm into a local monopolist of law and order in the area. If you could travel to Sudernius, I would easily be able to provide the nuclear weapons to you there while pretending that you had purchased them from a front group owned by Nicholls Enterprises. Then, when you claim to have purchased nuclear weapons in Sudernius, we will be able to justify taking military action to suppress the WMD trade. Of course, we'd actually just make my corporation into the new government of Sudernius and begin levying taxes that would only make Nicholls Enterprises even more profitable.

Your proposed operation to stop a fake terrorist attack should also go forward, as it would give me a valid excuse to provide your nation with military foreign aid and provide a cover story that the opposition press would be unable to deny without being painted as conspiracy theorists. This would also be beneficial for my business interests, as Guayabalense imports have been taking market share away from some of our products of late. If I had an excuse to block those goods from Republican markets, Nicholls Enterprises would stand to make quite a bit of profit.

I think it would be especially helpful if we were to actually film the events that allegedly took place on the island, so I could send a film crew and some trained actors to produce believable video footage of the "battle" on the island which could easily be touched up with slick CGI effects to look exactly like real battle footage before being broadcast on the news in both of our nations. It would also help to have an actual flight, with an online listing, that could easily be overbooked enough to allow all of the real passengers to be kicked off the flight and replaced with our agents. Its important that we make this look as real as possible if we're going to make people believe its real and disregard the probable Guayabalense claim that the entire thing is a hoax.

Sincerely,

Consul Robert Nicholls

[Union of Socialist Alpine Republics]

1st legislative elections of the Alpine confederation

Ibrahimovicstadt, Republic of Black Forest - (NAP) A couple of months after the 1st chancellor elections, which elected Ariyana Ibrahimovic as the chancellor of the Union of Socialist Alpine Republics, it's time for legislative elections, which were held yesterday. Following the chancellor elections, Ariyana Ibrahimovic announced that Keith Fletcher will be her president. Chancellor Ariyana Ibrahimovic is the head of state while President Keith Fletcher is the head of government. A total of 360 deputies and ministers seats at the Federal Assembly of the USAR, located at the Capitol in Ibrahimovicstadt. First let's take a look at the 5 parties in the Alpine Union (listed in alphabetical order):

Democratic-Republican Party (DRP)
Leader: Don Brady (runner up in chancellor elections)
Founded: 1823 in Oglethorpe, Southern Democratic States
Ideology: Center. Traditionally a right wing party in the SDS, the Democratic-Republican Party has moved to center since the creation of the USAR.

Labour Party (LAB)
Leader: Julian Truchon (lost in the 1st turn of the chancellor elections with only 8%)
Founded: 1906 in Twyford, Britannia
Ideology: Left

Social Democratic Union (SDU)
Leader: Ariyana Ibrahimovic (elected in the 1st chancellor of the USAR with 51,09% in the 2nd turn)
Leader: Keith Fletcher (Appointed president of the USAR by Ariyana Ibrahimovic)
Founded: 1981 in Zagrad, Hrvatska i Prekodunavlje. Disbanded in 1992 after Hrvatska i Prekodunavlje was invaded by the Great Mongolian Empire. Re-founded in 2017 after the liberation of Hrvatska i Prekodunavlje by the allied forces (Prusy Krolewskie, Southern Democratic States and Great Caledonia and North Hybernia).
Ideology: Left

Socialist Party (SP)
Leader: Jean-Pierre Trezeguet (lost in the 1st turn of the chancellor elections with only 6,5%)
Founded: 1911 in Beaumont-Pied-de-Boeuf, Aquitaine-Languedoc
Ideology: Far left

United Workers Party (UWP)
Leader: Grzegorz Stalinski (lost in the first turn of the chancellor elections with 23%)
Founded: 2018 in Puck, Prusy Krolewskie by Włodzimierz Krzynówek the current president of the Republic of Prussia East.
Ideology: Left

Here's the results by republics:

Republic of Alsace-Mecklenburg (formerly the western part of Prusy Krolewskie. Alsace-Mecklenburg consisted of 3 voivodeships: Alsace, East Mecklenburg and West Mecklenburg)
Total Population: 804 252
Seats: 8

Result

Party Seat
SDU    3
DRP    2
UWP    2
SP     1
LAB    0

Republic of Amalfi Coast (formerly the Protectorate of Costiera Amalfitana. Before Costiera Amalfitana joined the USAR, it was ruled by its two Co-Princes: The Prince of Prusy Krolewskie and the Bishop of Ullastrell, located in Catalonia)
Total population: 280 266
Seats: 3

Result

Party Seat
SDU    2
UWP    1
DRP    0
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Aquitaine (formerly Aquitaine-Languedoc)
Total population: 528 874
Seats: 5

Result

Party Seat
SP     3
SDU    1
UWP    1
DRP    0
LAB    0

Republic of Bangweulu Wetlands (Bangweulu Wetlands, located south of the main continent, is inhabited by semi primitive black people. The government led by Sultan Ndamukong the first (and his 10 wives) was recently overturned by General Bismack Mutombo. Bangweulu Wetlands joined the USAR under Mutombo's leadership.)
Total population: 2 052 255
Seats: 20

Result

Party Seat
DRP   12
SDU    4
UWP    4
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Basque Country (The republic of Basque Country was part of Castilla y Catalunya)
Total population: 75 868
Seats: 1

Result

Party Seat
SDU    1
DRP    0
LAB    0
SP     0
UWP    0

Republic of Black Forest (Schwarzwald) (The newly build underground capital city of the Alpine Union, Ibrahimovicstadt, is located in the Black Forest under the Alps mountain range)
Total population: 43 474
Seats: 1

Result

Party Seat
SDU    1
DRP    0
LAB    0
SP     0
UWP    0

Republic of Bohemia and Silesia (Bohemia and Silesia was known by it's czech name, Cech a Slezska, before joining the union.
Total Population: 150 554
Seats: 2

Result

Party Seat
SDU    1
UWP    1
DRP    0
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Bothnia (Bothnia used to be known as the Kingdom of Botten - Botten is the swedish word for Bothnia - and joined the USAR under Emilia Sundin's leadership after King Gustav XI abdicated)
Total population: 255 994
Seats: 3

Result

Party Seat
SDU    2
UWP    1
DRP    0
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Britannia (Britannia was part of Great Caledonia and North Hybernia before it joined the Alpine Union)
Total population: 1 004 029
Seats: 10

Result

Party Seat
DRP    5
SDU    4
LAB    1
UWP    0
SP     0

Republic of Caledonia (Caledonia was part of Great Caledonia and North Hybernia before it joined the USAR)
Total population: 1 187 069
Seats: 12

Result

Party Seat
SDU    7
DRP    5
LAB    0
UWP    0
SP     0

Republic of Cambria (Cambria was also part of Great Caledonia and North Hybernia)
Total population: 95 930
Seats: 1

Result

Party Seat
DRP    1
LAB    0
SDU    0
SP     0
UWP    0

Republic of Carniola (Carniola was part of Hrvatska i Prekodunavlje before it joined the Alpine Union)
Total population: 885 806
Seats: 9

Result

Party Seat
SDU    7
UWP    2
DRP    0
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Castilla (Castilla was part of Castilla y Catalunya before it joined the USAR)
Total population: 335 244
Seats: 3

Result

Party Seat
SDU    2
UWP    1
DRP    0
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Catalonia (Catalonia was part of Castilla y Catalunya before it joined the Alpine Union)
Total population: 266 724
Seats: 3

Result

Party Seat
DRP    1
SDU    1
UWP    1
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Chattahoochee (Chattahoochee was part of the Southern Democratic States)
Total population: 7 089 065
Seats: 71

Result

Party Seat
DRP   47
SDU   13
UWP   11
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Dalmatia and Istria (Dalmatia and Istria were part of Hrvatska i Prekodunavlje)
Total population: 1 916 421
Seats: 19

Result

Party Seat
SDU   16
UWP    3
DRP    0
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of the Guianas (The Guianas - East, Central, South and West Guiana - were part of the Southern Virgin Islands)
Total Population: 23 183
Seat: 1

Result

Party Seat
UWP    1
DRP    0
LAB    0
SDU    0
SP     0

Republic of Herzegovina (Herzegovina was part of Hrvatska i Prekodunavlje)
Total population: 593 339
Seats: 6

Result

Party Seat
SDU    6
DRP    0
LAB    0
SP     0
UWP    0

Republic of Hollandia (Hollandia was part of Great Caledonia and North Hybernia)
Total population: 272 569
Seats: 3

Result

Party Seat
DRP    1
SDU    1
UWP    1
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Hybernia (Hybernia, which consists of the whole island of Hybernia and not just "North Hybernia", was part of Great Caledonia and North Hybernia)
Total population: 213 042
Seats: 2

Result

Party Seat
DRP    1
SDU    1
UWP    0
LAB    0
SP     0
UWP    0

Republic of Isla Lubang (Isla Lubang, a small island located in the ocean east of Great Mongolian Empire, was an oversea territory of Prusy Krolewskie)
Total population: 50 762
Seats: 1

Result

Party Seat
UWP    1
DRP    0
LAB    0
SDU    0
SP     0

Republic of Okanogan (Okanogan was part of the Southern Democratic States)
Total population: 677 057
Seats: 7

Result

Party Seat
DRP    6
SDU    1
LAB    0
SP     0
UWP    0

Republic of Portugal (Portugal was part of Castilla y Catalunya)
Total population: 130 158
Seats: 2

Result

Party Seat
SDU    1
UWP    1
DRP    0
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Prussia East (Prussia east was the eastern part of Prusy Krolewskie. It consisted of 6 voivodeships: Malborskie, Mazurskie, Miedzyzdrojskie, Pomorskie, Warminskie and Zachodniopomorskie)
Total population: 4 878 443
Seats: 49

Result

Party Seat
UWP   44
SDU    4
DRP    1
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Saguenay (Saguenay was part of the Southern Democratic States. It consists of the Saguenay valley (largely French speaking) and Chappaquiddick Island (almost exclusively English speaking))
Total population: 2 109 382
Seats: 21

Result

Party Seat
DRP   13
SDU    5
UWP    2
LAB    1
SP     0

Republic of Samsø (Samso is a small island located north of Prusy Krolewskie and south of Botten and Pays den Haut. Talking about Pays den Haut, they haven't been invited to join the union)
Total population: 389 729
Seats: 4

Result

Party Seat
UWP    3
SDU    1
DRP    0
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Sonoma (Sonoma was part of the Southern Democratic States. It's largely Spanish speaking)
Total population: 3 617 809
Seats: 36

Result

Party Seat
DRP   21
SDU    8
UWP    7
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of the Southern Virgin Islands (The Southern Virgin Islands consists of 7 islands, which only 4 are inhabited: Dog Island, Cat Island, Ginger Island and Rum Cay Island)
Total population: 32 006
Seats: 1

Result

Party Seat
DRP    1
LAB    0
SDU    0
SP     0
UWP    0

Republic of Transdanubia (Transdanubia was part of Hrvatska i Prekodunavlje)
Total population: 830 414
Seats: 8

Result

Party Seat
SDU    5
UWP    3
DRP    0
LAB    0
SP     0

Republic of Wabash (Wabash was part of the Southern Democratic States)
Total population: 4 812 558
Seats: 48

Result

Party Seat
DRP   35
SDU    7
UWP    6
LAB    0
SP     0

Nationwide result

And now here's the result of the 1st legislative elections in the Union of Socialist Alpine Republics! The majority is 181.

Party Seat
DRP  152
SDU  105
UWP   97
SP     4
LAB    2

A minority Democratic-Republican (DRP) government is leading the Union of Socialist Alpine Republics with the Chancellor and the President being from the Social Democratic Union (SDU)! Reactions from Don Brady, leader of the DRP, and Keith Fletcher, leader of the SDU, will follow tomorrow.

[Turori]

Citizens Fight Back
Goalkeeper Doubles-Down, Shows up Striker in Yttribia Demolition

For a more complete backstory regarding Cocoabo Forest please visit the Historical Record on the Atlantian Oceania Forum

Cocoabo Park Arena, Cocoabo Forest :: Just when it looked like the Cocoabo Squad had smooth sailing and a clear path to be the Turori National Team's sole representation in post World Cup 77 Qualifying Action the Citizen Squad rebounded in a massive way to their opening matchday draw with Elgenstad.

The Citizen Squad came out guns-a-blazin against Yttribia with Inlite Makakio opening up the scoring just 6 minutes into the match after a cross from Aiden Varess. The Eels continued to control the majority of the play and doubled their advantage through Jungle Strike FC Super-Star striker Meldi'ita Mungwaii. Mungwaii was still celebrating with the fans when Kigaoua Oalalka launched a 30 yard screamer that caught the still-despondent Yttribia netminder off guard.

Then the Citizen Squad got cute. When Oalalka was substituted off at half time and Kentu Umaka'a was set to come on, goalkeeper Mitimi Obalialo got a bit out of line. The Cednia Beach AFC netminder got on the case of his former teammate Enluta Makakio who was partnering Mungwaii in attack on the day.

Obalialo called out Makakio for not doing his part - while the Citizen Squad was reliant on sibling Inlite to open the scoring and get production from other sources. As the disagreement rose into an argument and then a full-on tussle, things devolved in the locker room and Makakio started calling out his service. As one of the 'premier aerial threats in the game' Enluta insisted that better service would result in more goals from his part.

But Obalialo came to the defense of his squad and claimed that if he was up playing Makakios position, he would be scoring goals.

The gauntlet was layed down. This was not the situation that the Citizen Squads coach, former player Klaillal Tuirma was looking for particularly with his team needing a boost and up by three goals. So he relented and tried to find a compromise that would suit both parties.

"Enluta, keep your feet moving and look for the cross, and score some damn goals. Mitimi put up or shut up. If we score another goal, you have permission to join the attack on corner kicks. If you score fine. If you don't, you don't get to say anything about the attack ever again and you can pound sand on your end of the field, got it?"

Sure, the situation was calmed for now, but the tensions would rise quickly once the match resumed.

The fourth goal that Obalialo needed to get permission on the attack came almost immediately with Obalialo's own defensive captain Tarek Edgeli converting on a corner kick just two minutes into the second half. The green light was out.

On the first attempt, the delivery from Umaka'a did leave much to be desired, ultimately going over all attackers and out to the other side for a throw in with Obalialo returning to his net.

It would be over 10 minutes until the next Turori corner kick, but Mitimi Obalialo attacked again and this time, Umaka'a was right on the money as the towering Cednia Beach netminder rose highest and headed an inch-perfect delivery down to the corner of the net. Obalialo very in appropriately celebrated in Enluta Makakio's face and the younger Makakio got a talking to from the referee after shoving their netminder to the floor.

With the Eel's now leading by five, Tuirma introduced inexperienced midfielder Daliora Toru'u into the mix. Playing on the big stage, Toru'u struggled to find form and a mis-judged back pass let the purple imposters through and Vili McNamera ended Obalialo's shutout with the stroke of a leg. Perhaps some vindication for Enluta Makakio. There was even more for Makakio to be internally smiling about when Yttribia converted a second time just five minutes later to make the score 5-2 in favor of Turori

Whatever vindication there was for Makakio, however, instantly ended in the 77th minute when the experienced striker's number was posted as Turori's third and final substitution, being replaced by Matlya Eelador.

With Obalialo nestled deep in his net, Eelador delivered a free kick that deflected off the wall right into the line-of-fire of Tarek Edgeli and the team captain fired away converting his second goal of the game restoring the Eels four goal advantage.

Citizen Team Schedule:
[D] MD1 @ Elgenstad
[W] MD3 @ Yttribia
MD6 @ Nova Anglicana
MD8 @ Ceni
MD11 @ Miloscia
MD14 @ Astograth
MD16 @ Tomikoson
MD18 @ Joaquin States

Cocoabo Team Schedule:
[W] MD2 v. Miloscia (Cocoabo Park Arena, Cocoabo Forest)
[D] MD5 v. Astograth (Cocoabo Park Arena, Cocoabo Forest)
MD7 v. Tomikoson (Eels Park, Eelandii)
MD9 v. Joaquin States (Cocoabo Park Arena, Cocoabo Forest)
MD10 v. Elgenstad (Cocoabo Park Arena, Cocoabo Forest)
MD12 v. Yttribia (Eels Park, Eelandii)
MD15 v. Nova Anglicana (Eels Park, Eelandii)
MD17 v. Ceni (Eels Park, Eelandii)

So, given the permission they had received from the coach at half time, Mitimi Obalialo began sprinting up the pitch when Turori earned a corner kick 90 seconds later. From the sideline, Klaillal Tuirma was screaming for Obalialo to return to the net. The assumed agreement was that Obalialo would be given a chance to score a goal. Since Obalialo already did score a goal, it was assumed that they would remain in the net.

But no ne told Mitimi Obalialo and it was yet another inch-perfect delivery from Kentu Umaka'a. There was no one on the pitch taller than Obalialo and the leap was timed well, this time delivering the ball across the face of goal and talling their second goal of the match.

Obalialo wheeled away in delight and this time ran towards the bench, staring at Makakio and rubbing the eyes in a faux-crying motion. Enluta Makakio got up and stormed off into the locker room as coach Klaillal Tuirma used a kicking motion to encourage his goalkeeper to get back in the net.

Perhaps it was a saving grace that Makakio left the bench as the insult would pile on moments later when Matlya Eelador - the very player who replaced Makakio on the pitch just 5 minutes earlier - got on the scoresheet and rounded out the scoring for the Eels.

---

Turori Eels Lineup v. Yttribia ::
[GK]Mitimi Obalialo, [D.]Tarek Edgeli, [D.]Mikki Mayelli, [D.]Yitizo Mpala'a, [D.] Inaosnaa Klanoa, [ML] Aiden Varess, [MC]Indelli Nura'amura, [MC] Inlite Makakio, [MR] Kigaoua Oalalka, [FC]Meldi'ita Mungwaii, [FC]Enluta Makakio
BENCH::
[FC]Matlya Eelador, [FC]Wiztsana Iretziia, [M]Kentu Umaka'a, [M]Etamara Kulkkiia, [U ]Daliora Toru'u, [D]Geafi Laina-Sola, [GK]Sharif Deniibo

---

Through 2 of 8 Rounds:

As it was, Mitimi Obalialo had added their name into Turorian Lore - perhaps for the wrong reasons to start, but cycle in the future few will remember the dust up with Enluta Makakio. But the record books will always remember Mitimi Obalialo: International Goal Scorer.

The Cednia Beach AFC netminder continued attacking, looking desperately to convert a third goal to match legendary Turorian netminder Milauo Slietah's all-time record - but it was not to be. In fact, in searching for their own third goal of the match, Obalialo's aggressive positioning allowed Yttribia to convert a third and final consolation goal of their own, full time finally coming with the Citizen Squad running out in an emphatic - and potential pyrrhic 8-3 victory.

The massive result couldn't come at a better time for the Citizen Squad who needed to send a message after their opening-dy faltering in Elgenstad. It would prove to be an even more important result when the Cocoabo Squad were held 1-1 by Astograth at the Cocoabo Park Arena just days later, evening up the season series at 4 points a piece with 6 games to play - The Citizen Squad holding the tiebreaker by a single goals differential.

However, the Citizens would face two difficult away days at Nova Anglicana and Ceni over their next two matches and their coach, Klaillal Tuirma, will have plenty of work to do to restore sanity inside his locker room and maintain focus for the first real tests of the qualification campaign.


For the Cocoabo, it is the first of two long-breaks in their schedule as they will not play again until Matchday 5 against the returning Astograth. Of Course, while the Cocoabo have taken an early 3-1 lead in the standings over their Citizen counterparts, there are some who have accused the Football Association of Turori (FAT) of rigging the contest, forcing the Citizen team to contest only road matches. Supporters of the system, however, suggest that the lack of travel being imposed on the Cocoabo during qualifying is actually more representative of the experience they will endure in post-qualifying competitions, as while neither the World Cup Finals nor the Cup of Harmony is likely to be held in Turori itself, They will be successive matches in a single nation without inter-region travel as is required on the Citizen team. Meanwhile, the Citizen team is already accustomed to regional travel both from previous campaigns with the National Team, and through domestic club competition with many players competing in the UICA competitions requiring multi-leg fixtures against teams from across the multiverse.

Of course, its still very early on, but if the two squads first matches are any indication of what is to come in World Cup 78 Qualification, then it seems like we'll be seeing a whole lot more Cocoabo from Turori.

Starting Lineup v. Astograth:
Pos :: Identification  : Home (Goals)
GK  :: ( Cocoabo #86 ) : Cocoabo Forest
DEF :: ( Cocoabo #58 ) : Cocoabo Forest
DEF :: ( Cocoabo #57 ) : Cocoabo Forest
DEF :: ( Cocoabo #53 ) : Cocoabo Forest
MID :: ( Cocoabo #61 ) : Cocoabo Forest 
MID :: ( Cocoabo #64 ) : Cocoabo Forest
MID :: ( Cocoabo #46 ) : Cocoabo Forest
MID :: ( Cocoabo #62 ) : Cocoabo Forest
AMC :: ( Cocoabo #72 ) : Cocoabo Forest
FOR :: ( Cocoabo #91 ) : Cocoabo Forest
FOR :: ( Cocoabo #99 ) : Cocoabo Forest (18' )

[Cassadaigua]

Brattleboro to honor the past,

With the upcoming game against Drawkland having been relocated to Brattleboro, the people at Brattleboro Stadium, in collaboration with the Cassadagan Association for Soccer Excellence are going to be having a special ceremony before the game to honor the legacy of the great Cassadagan soccer players who were a part of our dynasty. Cassadaigua is one of the few nations out there that will retire kit numbers in honor of certain players. For other nations, a certain number may be worn by a player for the sole intention of having a legacy surrounding the number, but in Cassadaigua, if a player achieved greatness in such a number, no one else will wear it. It’s been a long time now. What has happened to these players?

#1 was retired for Allison Salamida. As you could imagine with this number, she was a goalkeeper in the for our World Cup Champion team in both World Cup 50 and 51. But not only was she the backstop for our tremendous runs that year, she would also become a World Cup manager, but not for Cassadaigua, but for Jeru FC. It was a great honor for her to take control of that team. This is where she would finish out her career. After her career in Jeru FC was over, she returned home to Cassadaigua and lived a relatively low key life. She had three kids, who have played soccer at small levels, but never had the level of success of their mom.

#5 was retired for defender Michelle Fuller. She was one of the last ones to get her number retired as she played for our team before the World Cup years. Numbers began to get retired after the championships, and she was seen as important cog of prior teams that paid their dues to get where we are today. The Fuller family has remained very active within Cassadaigua, and all of Michelle’s children have played or coached soccer at some point in their career. 15-year old Makenzie, a granddaughter of Michelle, has really impressed people right now.

#7 was retired for Shannon Myers, a gritty physical midfielder, and a former captain. She made Cassadaigua tough to play against and showed people that we were not just a bunch of pretty faces. Her family faded out of the spotlight once her career was over, but Myers remained active in her hometown community of Victoriaville.

#10 was retired for Brittany Lawton, a player who came onto the scene after our World Cup championships. She was the captain for a few seasons, and she is a bit of figurative reminder, that we were more then just a two cup wonder, and continued to play at a high level as a powerhouse well after we won those Cups. Lawton took on several coaching positions, but the biggest one was when she was the manager of our own comeback team in World Cup 64. Her leadership made our return that year be successful by reasonable standards.

#11 was retired for Courtney Ferguson, the first ever captain in Cassadagan history for anything, doing so in our Baptism of Fire, and remaining so throughout her playing career. It was an incredible honor for her, and she is a name that all Cassadagan athletes know well. She would end up playing out her career in the nation of Nethertopia, and I believe managed there. (ooc: Nethertopia would have to correct me there).

#13 was retired for Meaghan Bateman, the captain of our World Cup 50 and 51 championship teams, and took on the manager job beginning in World Cup 53. There probably is not much more that I really need to say, because that’s quite an achievement, but Bateman would also even serve as the President of CASE for a while after her playing career was over, succeeding Stacie Kerrigan-Fraser, who by the way....

#14 was retired for Stacie Kerrigan-Fraser, which is a fairy tale in itself. At 16 in the DiBradini Cup (in our Baptism of Fire year), Stacie Kerrigan was our leading scorer and future star. In a playoff game against Secristan (who also was in our Baptism of Fire), she was to be defended by a physical stud named Eric Fraser. Our fanbases hated each other and wanted to see each of these teenagers make a fool of the other. Secristan wanted Fraser to seriously hurt Kerrigan. We wanted Kerrigan to make Fraser look like an entitled spoiled brat. They knew what their parents were telling them, but a funny thing happened out there on the pitch, being told how much they were supposed to hate each other. They fell in love! They got married, and for Kerrigan, she had an amazing career, but it did proceed our World Cups. She would become the President of CASE, and was during our Cups year. Like Ferguson, every Cassadagan athlete knows her story.

#15 is retired for defender Erica Lambert, the most physical player ever to represent our country. She would win two World Cups during her playing days, and did so wanting to stretch the boundaries of what the referees would allow on the pitch. She wanted to hit you hard, and walked a fine line between being physical and being dirty. Most will say she was not a dirty player, except maybe for right after they finished playing us. Once her playing career was done, Lambert took a couple local coaching gigs.

#17 is retired for forward Jessica Schanke, who was our leading scorer during the Cup years. That was done relatively quietly, as Jessica was a very low key player, and not like Stacie Kerrigan-Fraser, who was never afraid to speak her mind. Not surprisingly, once her playing career was done, Schanke was not seen in public all that much, but lived a very happy life in the Brattleboro area. None of her children have played sports at a high level.

#18, lastly, is retired for Taylor Connolly. She was midfielder who made her first appearance during World Cup 56, and was an important component of our still very good teams of that era. This is the last number that we have retired to this point.


A representative for the estate of each of these players will be on hand for the ceremony, and fans will be able to submit a ballot that answers the question of, “If we forgot one player, who would it be?” The ballot is meant to just be for curiosity and to stimulate discussions of the topic, and it is not likely that CASE will retire another number at this time.

[Drawkland]

IAROCAV
The immortal leader of Drawkland is one of the most famous figures of Sonnel. Indeed, Iarocav may be one of the most influential people to ever grace the multiverse, at least his corner of it. Leading Drawkland to its inception, through many wars, and to where it stands today, the nation would likely be lost to time without his efforts protecting it, through political, spiritual, and metaphysical strife.
Only decades away from his 5000th birthday, Iarocav's dreams are populated by him having faint visions of the future or reliving memories of his past. During the 78th World Cup, for whatever reason,
the First Drawkian begins to relive his childhood and ascent to the leadership of Drawkland, way back in the more ancient times. What follows is an account of these dreams.

It had already been weeks since he was officially confirmed as an officer in Sadeg's military forces. Now, Iarocav was a young buck at the age of 20, in control of Patrol 89, a group of 17 soldiers, 16 if you don't count Iarocav. The tensions within the patrol, and indeed, the entire unit, were quite high. The nearby kingdom of Hellenmack, famed for its fierce archers and use of fire, was sending more and more of its patrols and sets of troops nearby to Sadeg. Some reports even claimed they could see the red flag carried by a unit on the rim of the valley, within the horizon of the castle. Everyone expected war was imminent between the two cities, and despite their confidence in the tough and wily troopers of their own kingdom, many denizens of Sadeg feared, in some form, for their lives.

Being an officer and no longer in the technical servitude of Major Redonak, Iarocav was now free to do as he pleased around town. He received a decent living, being in the special officer's areas of the barracks, and garnering a wage many normal foot soldiers would beg for. Not that it was that much anyway, as he was still merely a Corporal. Besides the various drill exercises and routine patrol routes,
Patrol 89 didn't do much, and its duties mainly worked in the evening or early night. Thus, in the morning, after taking the run that he was used to and still enjoyed running, Iarocav would head down to the library. He enjoyed the company of Charlolad and Taykonna, and with really nothing else to do besides study over tactics he'd seen for years already, it was the best option.

He opened the door to the silent building. It seemed to let in a rush of air, and let a rush out when he closed it. Almost as if the place were breathing. The rows of ancient tomes and scrolls stretched before him, and he walked among them before going to the stairs in the back and walking up the flight to Taykonna's "office," which was really just a second floor, with more private bookcases and with a bigger desk. Charlolad sat on top of a squat shelf, reading at some sort of large yellowed parchment. Iarocav whistled at his entrance and Charlolad looked up. Her face, which had previously been locked in that "not paying attention to my facial expression because I'm reading" sort of face, melted instead into a smile. Iarocav grinned back.

"What's that you're poking through?" he asked jovially as he sat on the short shelf next to her.
"No actual text, this appears to be some sort of painting from much earlier times. Tay said it was recovered from the remains of a sort of exploration unit which perished in the wilderness several years before they were found."
"What is it describing here?"
"I believe it's a sort of city. See, in the center there's a massive castle. Those clearly are walls, do you think so?"
"Absolutely. I think the brick-like pattern gives that away."
"And look - 12 gatehouses. As if there's 12 divisions of the city."
"What sort of monolithic beast of a city must that be?"
"As if I know. I was trying to figure out what this little insert text says. It's in a foreign text, and Tay is too busy looking for something to translate it." Iarocav looked it over. It appeared to be very bold and thick text, as if saying something crucial. He looked around where the text was placed. It appeared to be at the edge of the castle, next to one of the outer walls. A small line protruded from the wall nearby. He followed the line, which led, curiously, to a single room in a row of several. There was a small piece of text, maybe just a word, where the line ended.
"What are these rooms? Do you know?" Iarocav asked, giving Charlolad a sidelong glance.
"I think those are bedrooms. Guest ones, perhaps, as the royal ones were on a different area," she said, pointing to a small stack of similar parchments.
"It was a whole floorplan?"
"I'm starting to think that these were spies of some sort who were attempting to find weak spots in the fortress, the ones who'd had these and died in the wilderness."
"How exciting. Well, I think that the text may refer to a secret passageway? Look at this line here. It's out of place. Maybe somewhere built in to the castle on purpose, or perhaps one made by these spies of yours to escape the castle once they had the information they were seeking undetected."
Charlolad looked over the picture again. She nodded a moment later. "I think you figured it out! It was an absolute pain in my mind trying to figure that."

Just then, a cry was heard from the other corner of the room. "Aha!" was the noise, and the pair of youngsters looked up to see the hubbub. Taykonna, in all his relative elderly glory, shot up, and then paced to where they were sitting, a thick-looking tome toted in his arms.
"What's this now?" asked Iarocav, trying to read the front cover.
"This," proclaimed Taykonna, walking further to his desk and setting it down, "is exactly what I was looking for. A rulebook."
"Rulebook for what?" Charlolad asked.
"A rulebook for a tournament. I was reminded of this the other day at Iarocav's ceremony, when I saw the heir's secondary throne next to Sirvatal's and remembered he still lacks an heir. He's growing old,
you know. I don't think he has many years available to sire children left. Anyhow, I remember reading this many years ago, probably around the time you two were born. Look at this. It was written by some of the first kings and queens of Sadeg, way back when the entire kingdom was small enough to fit inside the castle walls."
"What does a tournament have to do with heirs?"
"Well, it was mandated that in the event of a direct heir not existing, and no queen to take the place of the king, that the kingdom would hold a tournament, a progressive championship of 64 entrants,
to decide who the new king of Sadeg would be. Our ancestors thought that that would be the most effective way to choose the strongest and most ingenious leader for the kingdom. One of the main rules makes it illegal to kill another entrant."
"What, is it a fighting tournament?" Iarocav asked.
"Indeed. Hand-to-hand combat, armored, various weapons each round."
"How intriguing!" Charlolad said. She looked over at Iarocav then, "Hmm, maybe you should enter if Sirvatal passes before having a child! I'm sure all your fighting and leading experience would give you an advantage against all the participants," she chuckled.
"Not a bad idea, if I say so myself," Iarocav laughed with her, and Taykonna gave a slight awkward grin, which was his version of laughing. Just then, the bell in the north tower of the castle rang out,
loud and clear. Iarocav popped his head up towards the window, and then looked back at the others.
"It appears my time is up. I have to lead the patrol on a post now. We're likely to take an expedition to Hellenmack beginning tomorrow, so don't worry when I don't come in."
"Oh, do be careful," Charlolad said with worry clearly in her voice."
"Once again, do not worry. We won't be leading a direct attack on the walls, just a sort of scout around the outer edges of the territory. We'll be unlucky to even see a soul on our patrol."
"In which case we'll speak with you in five day's time. Off along now," said Taykonna, and Iarocav obliged.

On his jog back to the barracks, Iarocav thought of the exchange. Charlolad seemed to be very keen to advise him to be careful. He'd overheard his mother's conversations with other mothers around the town. Many expected him and Charlolad to marry, at some point. He certainly wasn't against the notion, but he wasn't sure if Charlolad was willing to be with him. Arranged marriages, except in certain,
especially royal situations, weren't common in the world anymore. He was mentally attempting to find hints to see if she was indeed willing to marry with him. But that was something to think about later. It was time for the patrol to, well, patrol.

The next day came by too quick, it seemed. Iarocav had instructed the patrol to gather their things the night before, and a half hour before daybreak, after Iarocav had completed an abbreviated version of his morning run, Patrol 89 of Sadeg set out. By the time the sun was up they'd made it to the lip of the valley. They took a moment to look at the kingdom they called home. An impressive castle surrounded by a small sprawl of a medieval city around it. For some of the 16 soldiers, this is the furthest they'd ever been from home. Even Iarocav's brother, Aramorcav (his oldest brother, at 30 years of age), had only ever been halfway through the valley's wilderness in drills. They still had a long way to go to be within even horizon distance of Hellenmack.
"Reset and continue," Iarocav said in his young yet commanding voice. The patrol did as he said and they moved on.

It was a day and a half later when they finally made it to where they could see the fiery red colors of Hellenmack within comfortable seeing distance. They stood on a ridge overlooking the flat, almost swampy land where Hellenmack was built. There were huge fields of pitch surrounding the outer reaches of the castle and the town around it.
"It ... it's quite similar to Sadeg from this distance," said somebody within the patrol. Iarocav nodded at this. He just remembered something Redonak had said about enemies.
"They're indeed similar to us. They, too, have mothers and wives and children. They have a king they're loyal to. They're only different from us in who exactly that king is," Iarocav said quietly, "If Sirvatal tells us to fight them, then we shall, but before you brutalize them, remember that it could be you on the other end. Think of what your family would think of your remains, or what theirs would them of them."
A few members of the group rolled their eyes and scoffed to themselves, but some others sat there and reverently considered what their young leader had just said. Iarocav knew most of them would consider him a fool, or soft, or whatever else, but in his heart he believed what he said.

They waited until nightfall. Fueled by the pitch they extracted from the edges of the territory, the tops of the walls of the castle burned constantly, making a massive imposing beacon in the distance.
It wasn't just aesthetic, according to legend, the wall was lined with archers who would light their arrows before releasing them upon sieging enemies. Fortunately for Patrol 89, that wasn't their intention. The 17 men of Sadeg, in their silver armor which barely glinted in the light of the 14/16 moons which were currently lit in their cycles. They moved as quietly as they could, looking for someplace to better survey the scene. Out this far from the center of the kingdom, there were only a few farms hundreds of yards apart, but the patrol traveled between them with little trouble. Every farm they ducked behind, they gathered some more surveying information that was requested from them by the higher commanders.

There wasn't any incidents, which everyone was rather thankful for, and they traveled back to their home all in one piece, and with their scouting reports filled to perfection, and four days after they set out, they slept comfortably in their own barrack beds. And in the officer portion of the barracks, Iarocav drifted off to sleep, which only seemed to make him drift awake ...

---

Iarocav woke in his bed. He could feel his wife was still in bed with him, and he rolled over. She, too, was just waking up, and she opened her eyes to her husband across from her. She rubbed her eyes before asking, "So is it a memory series?"
"Seems like it. Nothing really exciting here, I think it was one of the in-between events. I guess it was the first time I was on a real mission in the force. And something about Charlolad. Oh! And the thing that helped me in Kayo."
"The archive hint or whatever?"
"Yes, that. Was that really that early? I guess so."
"Anyway, did you sleep restfully at least?"
"Absolutely, you?"
"Yes. After being at the match last night, I was in need of a good sleep. Glad I got one."
"Same here. The Madison hat trick was legendary. Made Matias Onco look like a complete scrub."
"Was that his name? Onco?"
"Yup. Dutch Semarland never stood a chance. We really needed that win."
"Also, scrub? Is that what the kids are saying now?"
"Ah, Meli, they've been saying it for decades at this point."
"Always on the lingo. Another reason I love you."
"Oh stop it, you. Are we packed for Cassadaigua?"
"I think so. How are we getting there?"
"Commercial flight, Air Terranea, first class. It'll land in Avon, and I think we're taking a yacht or something to Cassadaigua from there."
"Oh yes, I remember now. Let's get some coffee and then head down to Iarokannet in the airship."
"Sounds like a plan to me. Let's see how many Cassadaiguans roast the Elite Eleven while we're there."
"Hah! I'm guessing at least 7."

[Natanians and Nosts]

-At its mosr recent game for the World Cup Qualifiers,Natnians and Nosts lost to Ethane.
-The team scired two goals,but suffered three.
"Natanians and Nosts facedd Ethane and began losing,Dewayne Boivin scored the first goal of Ethane with only 10 minutes,but one minute later Natan Nínnio Gonçalo scored a goal from outside of the area and tied the game.Ethane proceeded to score another goal at the 25th minute with Joseph Owen after a long-range cross pass that took Natanians and Nosts in surprise,even that the team proceeded to answer fastly,but not enough to prevent the goal.
"Natanians and Nosts had 5 really good scoring chances at the beginning of the second period,but Ethane scored again at the 34th minute with Samuel Mitchell after receiving a ball from a corner.Gabriel Ápio Silva stole the ball from the midfield and ran with it untill he shot ,but the goalkeeper catched it.Logan North scored our second goal at the 43rd minute after receiving a ball that was stolen from a deffender.Natanians and Nosts had another chance with John Karl Foster,but the goalkeeper from Ethane was better."
-The next selection our country will face will be Apox,another country form Esportiva.
-The players are anxious for the match,because Apox was amongst the best teams in the World Cup,but they think they can beat them.
-After the bre...

[Oontaz Dert Li Ng]

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WORLD CUP 78 QUALIFIERS: OONTAZ VS ACRONIUS
By Abdulmecid Macasaysayan


Oontaz's Oren Ya'akovi in shock after conceding an own goal during the game against Acronius. (Courtesy of Crescent News Network Sports Channel/Oliver Hassanal)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, SAO PAULO DO SARANGANI, OONTAZ - An own goal from Oren Ya'akovi sealed another defeat for the Sultanate of Oontaz in front of stunned home fans at the Estadio Artemio Espinosa Villavicencio and puts the Lions of Sand and Sea in seventh spot of Group 13 of the World Cup 78 qualifiers.

For the majority of the game, Ya'akovi had been threatening to score for the Lions of Sand and Sea, with his most notable chances being two diving headers which both kissed the goalposts before rolling away to the advertising boards.

Other Oontaznik players such as Godzilla and Karimabdul Dimaintindihan also had chances to open the scoring for the Sultanate but either found only the crossbar, the side netting, or the hands of the opposing keeper.

Timothy San Marcelino should have been a goalscorer for the Lions of Sand and Sea when he turned in Dimaintindihan's free kick into the back post and the back of the net, but his goal was eventually chalked off by the linesman due to San Marcelino being offside. Further replays showed that San Marcelino was actually level with the last Acronian defender; therefore, the goal should have been allowed.

Oontaz manager Ador Macaspac: "It's another own goal that's brought us down. We really should try to stop conceding own goals and to stick the ball into the back of the proper net. And that goal from Timmy [San Marcelino] should count. He wasn't offside, plain and simple. The Sultanate is very unlucky at the moment. No more comments."

OONTAZ 0 - 1 ACRONIUS
             YA'AKOVI (68' og)

OONTAZ DERT LI NG
GK: 1 Ansarifarid
RB: 25 Opulencia
RCB: 3 Macaraig
LCB: 49 Campanilla
LB: 15 Portencio
DM: 5 San Marcelino (Macalacan - 74')
CM: 7 Abu Nayef
RW: 9 Ya'akovi █ (Zulfikar - 80')
CAM: 20 Dimaintindihan
LW: 75 Zulfiqli (Tza'eer - 50')
ST: 7 Godzilla

MATCH STATISTICS
Possession
Oontaz: 48%
Acronius: 52%
Shots
Oontaz: 8 (2 on target)
Acronius: 7 (3 on target)
Corners
Oontaz: 3
Acronius: 3
Fouls
Oontaz: 14
Acronius: 15

[Chromatika]

Jeckland 2-4 Chromatika
Lineup @ Jeckland: Ria; Morningstar - Stef - Ellen; Kelly - Montague - Sybill - Liam; Rien - Victoriane (C) - Antonio. Subs: Hellion -> Sybill ('62), Niro -> Rien ('72), Aart -> Stef ('80)
Goals vs. Jeckland: Rien '12 assisted by Liam; Antonio '22 assisted by Victoriane; Montague '34 assisted by Kelly; Niro '81 assisted by Liam. Player of the Match: Carrol Liam (2 assists)

Levi Ellery and Kyle Outlaw had kept the game close, that was for sure, as the scoreboard read 2-3 in the favor of Chromatika at halftime; that being said, the strength of having four midfielders - the centers playing a bit back, the sides playing a bit more toward the center in the middle of the pitch - was definitely starting to pay off. After scoring two goals in their first match, the Chromatiks had scored three, three, and now three again, and it seemed like things weren't going to stop anytime soon. Silian was sure of it.

"Hey Boss?" Trenn pulled him over after his halftime speech, "I don't think I can go the whole game today. The air here is affecting me a bit, and I think it might be best if you pull me out about halfway through. It might be allergies or something with the Jeckish air, but I think it might be best if you have Ki come in sometime."

Silian was a bit confused by this. Trenn wasn't the type to whine, nor was he the type to play it safe. If Trenn Rien was saying that he was having a problem, he was definitely having a problem. He saw that Ki was in conversation with Kaytlyn, most likely getting intel about the Jeckish squad. He motioned her to come over.

"Howzit, Trenn?" asked Ki. Though she had been Trenn's backup for many games, the two maintained an amicable friendship.

"Ah, Ki. I was just telling Boss here that you should sub for me sometime through. I don't think this Jeckish air is agreeing with me, or I'm coming down with something. You ready?" replied Trenn.

"Well... Bummer you aren't feeling that great. But yeah, I feel ready to go, it seems that defense doesn't really know how to handle speed, and I'm a bit faster than you, aren't I?" she joked.

Trenn nodded. It was true. He might have a bit more flare, but speed-wise, Ki was one of the best.

"All right," agreed Silian, "I'll put her in for you sometime through, before the seventy-fifth. Do your best, take care of yourself. Motion to me if you need to come out earlier."

"Gotcha, Boss," said Trenn, and then he started to fill Ki in on the things he'd learned going down the Jeckish left defense.

Not many teams, Silian thought, would you find starters and subs that were such friends.

Soon enough, Trenn came out in the seventy-second. Jeckland played a much more defensive second half. And it was Ki - with her blinding speed - that scored the goal that put the game away, as the Chromatiks secured the fourth win of the qualifying campaign.

Now, it was time to see how they'd fare against the Group's best. Equestrian States. The Free Republics. Damukuni. Of course, up first would be the Ponies, for sole control of first place in Group 3... And time to see how Jillian had healed, if she had been able to...

But if team chemistry remained like it had been so far? A little adversity wouldn't hurt, at all. They were more than ready for it.

Lineup vs. Equestrian States: Nier; Morningstar - Aart - Ellen; Kelly (C) - Montague - Hellion - Liam; Rien - Andisori - Antonio.

---

OPERATION NEW HOPE

Dossier 2
Name: Pierre DuPont
Previous Color: Dark Orange
Age: 28
Height: 6 ft 1 in
Weight: 200 lbs
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Red
Handedness: Right
Occupation: Chef and Owner of The Prestige, a Moroccan - French Restaurant in Chromatik City
Family: One brother, Marc; Parents retired, residence in Myana
Sexuality: Straight. Has a steady girlfriend, Jennifer Florence, a news reporter for the newly formed Chromatik Government.
Personality: ISTP. Pierre is an artist in the kitchen, preferring to keep to himself if possible, relying on his senses to come up with the best of every outcome that is possible. He catches things that happen with uncanny aptitude and precision, and is very detail-oriented.
Education: None. Learned to read and write, but that's about it. Knows a lot about cooking.
Project Involvement: Jennifer Florence convinced Pierre to sign up for the Project, saying that the Project would need someone that knew how to cook. He remains a little shy about it all, but has committed.
Recommendation: Though Lightning also knows about agriculture due to being a farmland-being laborer in her youth, it will be Pierre who could ultimately decide if people go hungry or not in this Project. He is rumored to have the skill to make anything taste fantastic. It is not possible to obtain any kind of result at all if people are going hungry; it will be important to keep him motivated and entertained.

A cook was not something that Colonel Erik Monett had expected to be among the Dossiers. Alina really had thought of everything, it seemed. That being said, it made a lot of sense to grab someone like Pierre DuPont for the project.

Erik had been to the Eyrodi Jungle before, and knew that there were a lot of exotic flora and fauna in there that one couldn't eat anywhere else. He made a mental note to send Jennifer Florence some literature on the wildlife in the area for her boyfriend to study.

The Project was starting to make more and more sense...