Baptism of Water I - Everything Thread

by **Equestrian States** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:59 pm

BAPTISM OF WATER I
EQUESTRIAN STATES

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Baptism of Water, hosted by the Equestrian States. Please feel free to begin posting your RPs and rosters here in this thread. Please direct any OOC discussion to the WPIC Discussion Thread.

Teams have been drawn into 2 groups of 4 and will play each team in their group once, with all games taking place in the Equestrian States.

Group Stage

Group A
Equestrian States
Northwest Kalactin
Qasden
Newmanistan

Group B
Bjornoya Islands
Azadeshia
Dunnes
Kita-Hinode

Scorination

Games will be scorinated between 10:00 and 11:30 PM EST (03:00-04:30 UTC) each day unless otherwise noted. Participants should assume the cutoff will be at the earlier end of that window regardless of the previous day's cutoff time. Should the time frame or schedule need to be changed, I will try to give no less than one day’s warning before this.

Tournament Schedule

Pre-Group Stage
Friday, November 10 - Thread Posted; Group Draw Posted; Group Stage Match-Ups Finalized

Group Stage
The group stage will consist of each team playing the others in their group once. All games will be held in the Equestrian States.

Wednesday, November 15: Match Day 1 - 1v4, 2v3
Thursday, November 16: Match Day 2 - 4v3, 1v2
Friday, November 17: Match Day 3 - 2v4, 3v1

Playoff Stage
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout rounds. The winner of Group A will play the runner-up from Group B and the winner of Group B will play the runner-up from Group A. The winners of the semifinal games will advance to the Baptism of Water Final while the losers will meet in the 3rd place match.

Saturday, November 18: Semifinals - A1vB2, B1vA2
Sunday, November 19: Final/3PPO - W1vW2, L1vL2

Useful Links

WPIC Discussion Thread
Signup Thread
Host Bid
Water Polo on Wikipedia

by **Equestrian States** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 6:03 pm

LONELY MULTIVERSE
The Approx Guide to the Equestrian States

Introduction

The Pony Principality of Equestrian States is a diverse country inhabited by several dozen sapient species, each contributing to the nation's proud culture of tolerance and giving the Equestrian States a reputation of compassion and kindness. Tradition and innovation have combined well in this North Pony Lands nation, rapidly bringing it into the modern world after centuries of self-imposed isolation from the rest of the multiverse. This Lonely Multiverse travel guide is designed to be the ultimate companion for any tourist (regardless of their species) visiting the Equestrian States, and is loaded with every tip and bit of advice one needs to have an safe and enjoyable stay.

History

Originally colonized by sapient equines (commonly referred to as ponies) from Magical Equestria over 2000 years ago, the Equestrian States was first established as a largely-autonomous overseas territory of its motherland. As a colony, the Equestrian States was fairly prosperous, developing a matriarchal society similar to that of Magical Equestria and other prominent Pony Lands nations. Several decades after the first ponies set hoof on the islands now part of the Equestrian States, however, the rise of a mysterious and chaotic entity known as Discord led to the government of the growing colony to adopt strict isolationist policies to avoid attracting the attention of Discord.

Several centuries later, the anarchic reign of Discord in the Pony Lands came to an end, though the Equestrian States remained firmly entrenched in its isolationist policies. Having formally declared its independence from Magical Equestria during the rule of Discord, the Equestrian States was reluctant to turn away from the policies which had allowed it to escape the turmoil faced by the rest of the region. Yet another cataclysmic event, just over a millennia ago, saw the known world embroiled in conflict with itself and the fledgling former colony sunk deeper into isolation for the next several centuries.

However, about 200 years ago, the long-standing policies separating the Equestrian States from the rest of the region gradually began to erode with the rapid growth of international maritime trade. Though it would take until just 50 years ago for the remaining isolationist policies to be overturned or made obsolete, foreigners began to take note of the Equestrian States and its northern location in the Pony Lands. What finally drove the ponies of the Equestrian States to abandon isolationism entirely was commerce, with the nation's location being perfect as a refueling and stopping point for ships traveling from outside the Pony Lands.

Active membership in the Coalition of Ponyist States (a military, economic, and political alliance famed for its quick, efficient, and merciless dealings with nations actively persecuting sapient equines and other non-humans) gave the Equestrian States reason to become heavily involved in international politics and trade. Within a decade, the Equestrians entered the modern era, utilizing magic in creative ways to avoid industrial pollution wherever possible and speed the nation's development.

Today, the Equestrian States is an advanced country that has successfully merged tradition, magic, and technology. With an economy dominated by tourism, agriculture, and the mining of precious minerals, the Equestrians have found their niche in the international community. Thanks to its location in the Pony Lands, the Equestrian States has become a travel hub for many visiting the region from around the world, and the nation is easily among the more prosperous and safe for foreigners to visit.

Geography & Climate

The Equestrian States is best described as an island nation. However, most Equestrians live on the largest island, which is referred to by locals as the mainland, due to its size and role as a population and commercial center for the country.

The mainland is mostly flat grassland and plains, though forests and hilly areas exist and are generally scattered throughout the island. Running north to south are the Harmony Mountains, named for Mt. Harmony near the capital city of Canterlot. The mountain range divides the mainland into eastern and western geographic regions, and was once home to dozens of active volcanoes. However, no eruption has occurred in the Harmony Mountains in over 800 years, and the range is believed to be inactive. The ancient volcanic activity on the mainland (and on many of the Equestrian States' smaller islands, as well) resulted in mineral deposits from which Equestrian miners have extracted gold, silver, and other valuable materials for export.

Two notable exceptions to the mainland's grassy majority are the Everfree Forest and Southern Desert. The Everfree Forest is more of a jungle than a temperate forest, and is widely considered the most dangerous region in the Equestrian States due to its large numbers of wild carnivorous species, some of which would be considered "mythical" by foreigners. Within the Everfree Forest is the city of Everfree, located along the banks of the Stampede River and home to the largest population of non-equines in the nation. A number of more typical temperate forests surround the Everfree Forest itself.

The Southern Desert is (as one might expect) a dry region located in a small pocket of flat land surrounded by the Harmony Mountains near the southern coast. The only major population center in the Southern Desert is the small city of Appleoosa, located in what could be considered by some as a cooler oasis.

But where things begin to get weird for the average tourist is the Equestrian States' weather. Due to the magical nature of many of its inhabitants, the Equestrians are fully capable of creating, manipulating, and otherwise controlling the clouds and weather. This gives them the ability to determine where and when in rains, snows, hails, or any other . The Equestrian government is very actively involved in coordinating the pegasai of the country to generate and control weather patterns favorable to the Equestrian States inhabitants (and its many farmers, in particular). As such, the odds of an Equestrian weatherpony giving an incorrect forecast are almost nonexistent, unless you happen to be in the Everfree Forest (the only region of the Equestrian States where the weather is practically impossible to control due to a prevalence of wild magic).

Travel

Travelling to the Equestrian States is generally easy, as most methods of interregional travel are available to visitors from outside the Pony Lands. Most international flights to the Equestrian States arrive at Canterlot's Harmony International Airport, but other regularly-used airports such as Manehattan's Royal International and Stalliongrad's Friendship Heights International are easy to find flights to. However, it should be noted that pilots flying to and from the Equestrian States internationally must receive additional certification due to the nature of the Equestrian States and much of the Pony Lands. Because of this additional requirement for pilots, some airlines do charge extra to cover the training fees.

Another common way of reaching the States is via sea. Manehattan's seaport is among the most active in the North Pony Lands, and isn't located far from the heart of the Equestrian States' largest city.

Once in the Equestrian States, there are many other options for travel. Rental cars, taxis, and busses are easy to find in the larger cities such as Manehattan, Stalliongrad, and Everfree, though one might notice that most vehicles are electric-powered. But while cars and busses are regularly used in some cities, there are also several in which their use is limited to emergency services (most notably in Ponyville and Canterlot's Old City district) or is totally banned (as is the case in Cloudsdale).

However, the limited use of automobiles is balanced out by the proliferation of trains for travel between and within cities. Some of the more prominent and historical lines (such as the Ponyville-Canterlot Express) still use steam-powered engines or high-speed trains designed to mimic the classical appearance of an Equestrian train. Subways are also a common feature in Equestrian cities, spreading underground to connect many places of interest for foreign tourists. Cloudsdale is the only city where cars, buses, and trains/subways are unavailable.

But in the end, the most common method of travel in the Equestrian States is one's own two feet (or whatever you have to walk on). Few Equestrians drive or use public transportation unless they have to, preferring to take in the clean air on their way from place-to-place.

Culture & Society

Religion

Any analysis of Equestrian culture and society must begin with its majority religion and guiding philosophy: Harmonism. A dualistic religion, it revolves around the physical sun and moon deities, Celestia and Luna, as well as the six principles known as the Elements of Harmony. The religion's origins are near-impossible to determination, though it is widely believed to begun shortly after ponykind first encountered Celestia and Luna over two millennia ago. Unlike other religions, Harmonism lacks a written scripture or centralized multiversal organization to create such writings, occasionally resulting in disagreements between Harmonists from different regions. For the sake of brevity, we will only be exploring the most common spiritual and secular beliefs held by those from the Equestrian States.

As stated earlier, the central beliefs of Harmonism include the worship of the Regal Sisters (Celestia and Luna) and adherence to the Elements of Harmony. Celestia and Luna are the two Princess rulers of distant Magical Equestria, though Luna has (in recent years) begun to spend considerable time aiding the C'tan in preserving peace throughout the Pony Lands. Immortal and, according to spiritual Harmonists, capable of moving celestial bodies through magic, the two Regal Sisters are worshiped (or at least respected) by ponies throughout the multiverse as living goddesses. Some have recently begun to question the actual power of the Sisters, though it is widely accepted among ponykind that they are the two most powerful magical beings in existence.

The six Elements of Harmony are Honesty, Laughter, Kindness, Generosity, Loyalty, and Magic. These Elements exist both as philosophical concepts as well as physical objects capable of great power that contain the purest magical essence of the aforementioned virtues. The philosophical aspects of the Elements are more central to Harmonist faith as a set of morals to guide one throughout life. They are, for the most part, fairly self-explanatory, except for Magic. The sixth element has been connected not only to the ability of equine Harmonists to use magical spells, but also to the drive for new knowledge or understanding. It also has been connected to the power of friendship, and is mentioned in the most common Harmonist saying: "Friendship is Magic".

However, Harmonism has expanded from its spiritual roots (particularly as more non-equines are exposed to harmonist teachings) to become a secular philosophy as well. Secular Harmonists generally try to follow the virtues of Harmonism, though they generally do not believe that the Regal Sisters are physical goddesses. The expansion of Secular Harmonism has also led to the traditional virtues being adopted and woven into other religions as well, such as Christianity. Excluding the overwhelmingly Spiritual Harmonist equine population of the Equestrian States, the most common religion is Harmonist Christianity, which is especially popular among the human inhabitants of the nation.

Language

Traditionally, ponies have spoken in their native Equestrian tongue which is common throughout the Pony Lands. However, since the emergence of the Equestrian States into the international community, laws have been passed requiring citizens to be capable of speaking multiple languages. The most common non-Equestrian language is easily English, which is spoken by approximately two-thirds of the population. It should be noted that some English words have been altered by Equestrians to better fit the equine majority, as the use of "everypony", "anypony", "hoofball", and other such words are modifications of the more standard English words. Mastery of many different languages is especially common among Unicorns, and as they are generally the ones more involved in business, are easy enough to find for foreign visitors. Numerous translating services exist throughout the Equestrian States, and airport bookstores generally contain a plethora of multilingual dictionaries for purchase.

Food

As one might expect from a nation dominated by a species of herbivores, many traditional Equestrian dishes are vegetarian in nature. The proliferation of such food is also furthered by the general lack of agriculture for the purpose of raising up animals for the slaughter. To hurt another living creature is, to many Equestrians, simply unthinkable. However, the Equestrian States is not only inhabited by equines, but also by griffons, dragons, and humans (among others). Restaurants do exist to cater to these non-equine species, and do serve a wide variety of meats imported from outside of the region. That being said, it would be unwise to be seen in public eating a hamburger made from beef or any other meat product as many Equestrians are disgusted by such foods. This can make finding food difficult in smaller cities and in the nicer areas of the larger ones. A general tip would be: if your waiter looks like a herbivore, don't ask them for a cheeseburger or steak. Equestrian cafes are fairly creative with what they can do with non-meat products, and the bread and pastries are oftentimes better than what you might find in other nations.

Drink in the Equestrian States also differs significantly from other nations around the multiverse, as the most common alcoholic beverage is hard cider, which can be found at virtually every bar, pub, and restaurant. Ponies generally refrain from drinking too heavily, but other non-human sapients such as griffons are known to consume vast quantities of alcohol in a single sitting. We advise our human readers to graciously decline any drinking challenges offered, as one is unlikely to win, and drunk griffons can be notoriously temperamental. Beer is a distant second to cider, in terms of both popularity and availability, though bars and eateries which cater to human tourists will often keep domestic Equestrian brands in stock.

Inter-Species Relations

As the Equestrian States is home to a wide range of species, it is practically impossible for any visitor to the country to avoid seeing a member of another species, regardless of where they might be. Unicorns could pull this off in certain neighborhoods of Canterlot, and Earth Ponies could do the same in isolated rural areas, though foreigners will often stumble across other species upon entry into the Equestrian States as customs officials are perhaps the most diverse Equestrian demographic.

Relations between the three major pony races have not always been smooth, and some tensions still exist today despite the educational system's teaching of acceptance and tolerance. However, inter-species violence is very rare within the Equestrian States, as is violence in general, with the possible exceptions coming from dragons, griffons, and other more naturally-aggressive species. Angering a dragon is about as dumb as it sounds, and is not advised unless one has a death wish.

Visitors to the Equestrian States are also advised to avoid appearing speciesist to locals, as Equestrian society could be described as having a herd mentality, where an attack against or insult towards one person might be considered an attack on all those around that person. Thus, some words to avoid using in the Equestrian States are: horse, mule, foal, or donkey. Calling a pony any of those terms is likely to result in a backlash towards the offending individual, as they are considered to be offensive unless one is actually speaking to a sapient horse or donkey, which are both easy to tell apart from ponies through their size and general lack of bright-colored fur or manes.

Host Cities for the Baptism of Water

Canterlot

Canterlot is the capital city of the Equestrian States and one of its oldest. Located on the steep slopes of Mt. Harmony and the surrounding lands, Canterlot has evolved over time into a burgeoning metropolis that reflects the qualities the nation that houses its government in the city. The capital’s traditional sophisticated architecture has been almost seamlessly blended with the more modern styles to make it perhaps the most visually-appealing cities in the Equestrian States.

Founded by the first wave of equine settlers that came to what is now the Equestrian States from Magical Equestria over a millennium ago, Canterlot was originally named New Canterlot as inspired by the capital of the settlers’ origin. However, when the then-colony was cut off from its mother country, the memories of the old Canterlot began to fade and the name was shortened to simply Canterlot. Contact with Magical Equestria after the Equestrian States emerged from isolation in the northernmost parts of the Pony Lands resulted in the existence of two Canterlots and the Equestrian Parliament briefly considered renaming the city again out of respect for its older cousin, but then decided against it.

By far, the best place to visit in Canterlot is Harmony Castle. One of the oldest structures in the Equestrian States, the castle was constructed by unicorn builders as part of the original colonization effort. Currently home to the royal family of the Equestrian States, Harmony Castle also houses Parliament’s formal meeting chambers and is a regular stop on most tourists’ stays in Canterlot. The castle is open to tours most days of the week, tickets for which should be acquired no less than one week prior to the tour date on the Castle’s official webpage.

The Venue: Royal Aquatics Center (cap. 5,825)
Given that the Baptism of Water is a rather small competition and that the tournament isn't expected to draw too much media attention within the Equestrian States, the Equestrian Water Polo Association has decided to hold the entire tournament at the nation's main aquatics center in Canterlot. The venue isn't likely to win any awards for extravagance, being a fairly plain arena, but it's reasonably modern and like virtually all Equestrian sports venues, it's built around a comfortable fan experience.

by **Azadeshia** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 6:56 pm

Azadeshi Water Polo Union(AWPU)

Manager: Kahoda Thacker
Coach: Akshey Pandey

Players
1.Jeet Ashtikar #49 / Position: Point / Age: 21

2.Chanda Parachure #25 / Position: Left Flat / Age: 19

3.Rura Parachure #6 / Position: Right Flat / Age: 24

4.Sharya Thakur #99 / Position: Left Wing / Age: 21 (Cap)

5.Om Nayar #14 / Position: Right Wing / Age: 18

6.Daya Vaikar #63 / Position: Centre / Age: 22

7.Pranav Havaldar #70 / Position: Goalkeeper / Age: 25

Extra Players

1.Viswarupa Gazdar #37 / Position: Goalkeeper / Age: 23
2.Panini Nan #11 / Position: Point / Age: 18
3.Veer Patel #95 / Position: Flat / Age: 19
4.Keshav Kamal #51 / Position: Wing / Age: 20
5.Kusika Raj #31 / Position: Centre / Age: 20

This team is sponsored by Parminder's Indian Sweets
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=426790&p=32754446#p32754446

Daily Azadeshi Times (DAT)

Water Polo: First Time
This is first ever international water polo championship for Azadeshia.The team reached Canterlot the capital of Equestrian States and is currently practicing.

Om Nayar right wing said "I see my country lose in every championship.This used to make me cry, but today is the day to make my country proud.Only thing we did after reaching Canterlot is practice".

by **Dunnes** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 7:44 pm

DUNNES WATER POLO FEDERATION
MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM

TEAM INFO

The Dunians are led by star attacker Duncan Mactavish. The Olympian is the all time Dunian leading scorer, and is looking to wreck havoc on the opposing teams at the first BOW. Other star players to look out for include Koa Forée and Kyle Buchee, the young attacker, and the experienced goalie. Dunnes will apply their traditional high pressure defense, looking to provoke their opponents into mistakes and scoring opportunities.

SCHEDULE

Matchday 1: Azadeshia v. Dunnes
Matchday 2: Kita-Hinode v. Dunnes
Matchday 3: Dunnes v. Bjornoya Islands

ROSTER

#01 Lewis Beall/Attacker/Alta Water
Age: 27 Caps: 30 Goals: 54
#00 Kyle Buchee/GK/Alta Water
Age: 24 Caps: 30 Goals: 1
#02 Frank Chartlan/Defender/Jef WC
Age: 26 Caps: 15 Goals: 5
#15 Sam Copman/Defender/West End WPC
Age: 27 Caps: 19 Goals: 7
#03 Adem Everehearot/Attacker/AC Valencia
Age: 23 Caps: 10 Goals: 11
#04 Gerrald Feingolden/Defender/Freeport AC
Age: 26 Caps: 34 Goals: 5
#05 Nathan Feingolden/GK/Freeport AC
Age: 29 Caps: 38 Goals: 0
#16 Evan Foller/Utility (L)/Mirola WP
Age: 21 Caps: 7 Goals: 4
#21 Koa Forée/Attacker (L)/Dodgetown AC
Age: 18 Caps: 4 Goals: 8
#07 Brandon Garveis/Utility/Dodgetown AC
Age: 20 Caps: 13 Goals: 10
#10 Gerry Hoiser/Utility/Mirola WP
Age: 30 Caps: 40 Goals: 44
#06 John Lewis/Attacker (L)/Alta Water
Age: 24 Caps: 10 Goals: 19
#11 Duncan Mactavish/Attacker/Mirola WP
Age: 21 Caps: 20 Goals: 59
#17 Jack Nickels/Defender/Stevenson Polo
Age: 24 Caps: 20 Goals: 10
#12 Brendan Nielsen/Defender/Mirola WP
Age: 27 Caps: 10 Goals: 2
#14 Alex Peak/Defender/Stevenson Polo
Age: 20 Caps: 4 Goals: 1
#09 Silvan Vlosick/Attacker/Capitols WP
Age: 22 Caps: 19 Goals: 29
#19 Steve Wilson/Utility/Capitols WP
Age: 19 Caps: 5 Goals: 3
#08 Skye Zakrei/GK/Freeport AC
Age: 24 Caps: 4 Goals: 0

Starters in Bold

STAFF

Head Coach: Patrick O'Connor
Asst. Coach: Matt Camp
Asst. Coach: John Smith
Manager: Rico Motevedi
Manager: Carter Lewin
Physio: Sean Crest

PREDICTED STARTING FORMATION
Forée-Mactavish-Everehearot
Neilsen-Garveis
Feingolden, G.
Buchee

by **Equestrian States** » Fri Nov 10, 2017 7:56 pm

The Pony Principality of Equestrian States
National Water Polo Team - Baptism of Water I

All-Time Stats
Ranking: UR (0.00 pts.)
Record: 4-0-1 (4-0-1 at BoW I)
Nickname: The Seaponies
Achievements: Baptism of Water I (Runner-Up)

Group A

Equestrian States
[NMN] Newmanistan
[NWK] Northwest Kalactin
[QAS] Qasden

Tournament Schedule

Group Play - Group A
MD1: Equestrian States 11–7 Newmanistan at Royal Aquatics Center (cap. 5,825) in Canterlot, Equestrian States (Win)
MD2: Equestrian States 8–4 Northwest Kalactin at Royal Aquatics Center (cap. 5,825) in Canterlot, Equestrian States (Win)
MD3: Qasden 5–13 Equestrian States at Royal Aquatics Center (cap. 5,825) in Canterlot, Equestrian States (Win)

Playoff Stage
Semifinals: Equestrian States 16–6 Kita-Hinode at Royal Aquatics Center (cap. 5,825) in Canterlot, Equestrian States (Win)
Final: Equestrian States 8-9 Newmanistan at Royal Aquatics Center (cap. 5,825) in Canterlot, Equestrian States (Loss)

Roster

Starters
GK - #1 - Sea Spray (Seapony - Male) - 26
LB - #3 - Aria Blaze (Siren - Female) - 22
CB - #2 - Silver Stream (Seapony - Male) - 25
RB - #4 - Aqua (Seapony - Female) - 23
LW - #7 - Angelika Michel (Human - Female) - 19
RW - #6 - Spencer McNeill (Human - Male) - 22
FW - #5 - Coralita (Seapony - Female) - 21

Reserves
GK - #13 - Hosannah (Seapony - Female) - 20
DF - #11 - Verdandi (Mermaid - Female) - 20
DF - #12 - Haven Bay (Seapony - Male) - 24
DF - #9 - Martino Leccese (Human - Male) - 26
FW - #10 - Tiana Arbore (Human - Female) - 18
FW - #8 - Sea Foam (Seapony - Male) - 23

Staff
Head Coach -

Haile (Seapony - Female) - 35
Assistant Coach -

Alberico Ferreira (Human - Male) - 37

RP Permissions
My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my goalscorers: Yes
Godmod scoring events: Yes
RP injuries to my players: Yes - Only that the player was injured and how they were injured, I will determine actual severity
Godmod injuries to my players: Yes - Same restrictions as above apply
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Yes
Hand out red cards to my players: Yes - Limited to one per match
Godmod other events: No - Send me a TG if you have something in mind
Other Notes: TG me if you have any questions regarding my RPs, requests for more information on the Equestrian States, or requests for exemptions from my RP restrictions.

by **Newmanistan** » Sat Nov 11, 2017 4:49 pm

BAPTISM OF WATER 1
Official Newmanistan Roster

Presenting the official roster of the Newmanistanian Water Polo Team for Baptism of Water 1. What? The official Water Polo team? We have one? Well, we did it in the Olympics way back when, but that was about it. The sport isn’t contested at any serious level in Newmanistan. Sure, aquatic clubs have competitions, but there was never an official team. There still isn’t.

So, who are these people?

They aren’t Water Polo players at all. No, they are just a bunch of Rockets fans who were still celebrating the World Baseball Classic 41 championship in the Equestrian States and did not want to rush home. They were about to go home when they heard about the competition and the need for a last minute urgent replacement for another nation. “Why not?” They thought. They submitted an official entry form, and got approval from Emperor Michael V to reference themselves as our national team for the tournament.

Once approval was attained, they headed to a local aquatic facility to get an idea of who might be best at what position. This is what they come up with after a two hour training session.

Starters:
Goalie- Chris Rossi, 30 (#1)
LB- Paul Haeberlin, 25 (#3)
CB- Kyle Carmello, 27 (#4)
RB- Thomas Parker, 29 (#2)
LW- Brian Merritt, 26 (#9)
RW- Zack Stiller, 26 (#7)
FW- John Duggan, 28 (#8)

Reserves:
Goalie- Shawn Brown, 21 (#00)
Defense- Adam Fergusen, 28 (#5)
Defense- Katie Fergusen, 27 (#55)
Forward- Gordon Truman, 31 (#6)
Forward- Megan Kinsella, 20 (#11)
Whatever Necessary- Scott Brouwer, 23 (#14)

Coach (Because he can’t swim)- Matthew DiPesquale, 27
Assistant Coach (Because he also can’t swim and drinks too much)- Jack Billington, 34

RP Permissions- Do whatever you want, just no killing or injuring anyone for more then the current game.

by **Kita-Hinode** » Tue Nov 14, 2017 4:29 am

KITA-HINODE
"The Killer Zora"
The Hinodejin Water Polo National Team - Baptism of Water I

The Hinodejin Water Polo national team was created in an effort to introduce the sport of Water Polo to the nation's masses, as the sport has long been a favourite past-time of the small but rabid Zora populace that formed villages and few cities under the water.

The Zora are fish-like people. They are generally covered in silver scales, which give them a pale blue sheen from a distance, and have dark blue spots on their extremities. Where humans sometimes have long hair, average Zoras have rear-hanging caudal extensions of their heads shaped like the tails of dolphins, perhaps as a cephalic form of dorsal fin. Their integration into the Empire was under the term of the first Queen, Satomi, and because of this, they're usually very respected.

Pos.	Name			Age	Team
GK	Olin Minasaku		23	Zora Seadragons
RB	Tapem Toroki		25	Zora Seadragons
CB	Avos Michinaru		27	Zora Seadragons
LB	Eros Michizaki		20	Zora Tide
RW	Tire Minamikage		21	Amelia Surfers
LW	Taler Saitonami		24	Harriot Royals
FW	Kipon Minamishima	22	Zora Tide
GK	Ites Koriminna		23	Monck Blues
RB	Joje Tsugeru		20	Amelia Surfers
CB	Peve Kirasaki		22	Harriot Royals
LB	Majen Kyokitaki		19	Harriot Royals
RW	Jiles Michinami		19	Zoraki Seadragons
LW	Otim Minamiki		19	Cowling Tridents
HC	Zojir Miinokai		51	Zora Royal Club

RP PERMISSIONS
Don't kill any of the players or injure them. I'm fine with the rest.

by **Bjornoya Islands** » Wed Nov 15, 2017 6:41 pm

Team Bjørnøya

2017 BoW Roster

GK #1 Zorin Mikhailovich
RB #4 Roy Markussen
CB #7 Kåre Melberg
LB #8 Yngvar Melberg
RW #6 Emskikh Andreevich
LW #3 Aslak Valla
FW #5 Bernt Istre

by **Qasden** » Wed Nov 15, 2017 7:20 pm

GK
1- Bryce Wilkops;23
2- Cherri LaRime;26
LW
3- Walqer Poliss;30
4- Lyman Routskool;25
LF
5- Davis Mathewmorr;24
6- Laki Ile;21
RW
7- Drew Locks;28
8- Sherman Jaiken;32
RF
9- Belle Volsten;27
10- Jak Luiwu;29
HS
11- Brons Armer;24
12- Iya Tomison;33
P
13- Forgy Alaway;28
14- Jatt Bresk;22

Green = Starting 7
Style: +2

by **Equestrian States** » Wed Nov 15, 2017 8:01 pm

BAPTISM OF WATER I
Match Day 1 Results

Group A

Equestrian States 11–7 Newmanistan
Northwest Kalactin 8–10 Qasden

  Group A               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Equestrian States       1   1  0  0   11   7  +4    3
2 Qasden                  1   1  0  0   10   8  +2    3
3 Northwest Kalactin      1   0  0  1    8  10  −2    0
4 Newmanistan             1   0  0  1    7  11  −4    0

Group B

Bjornoya Islands 4–9 Kita-Hinode
Azadeshia 6–8 Dunnes

  Group B               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Kita-Hinode             1   1  0  0    9   4  +5    3
2 Dunnes                  1   1  0  0    8   6  +2    3
3 Azadeshia               1   0  0  1    6   8  −2    0
4 Bjornoya Islands        1   0  0  1    4   9  −5    0

by **Dunnes** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 7:52 am

Announcer 1: And we're back now on Sportsnet, and we're gonna get some highlights out from Canterlot and the Baptism of Water.

Announcer 2: Dunnes taking on Azadeshia in the opening day of Group B action.

And Dunnes got off to a quick start, with a quick goal from Koa Forée in the opening minutes. He had a impressive start to the tournament with another goal and assist in this one.

But Azadeshia would strike back, with Thakur putting one past Buchee right before the half to bring the score to two all at the half. But what about Duncan Mactavish.

He began the second half with a vengeance, and on the opening possession, he gets his first goal of the tournament by slicing the ball right over Havaldar's head. Wowweeee. And he didn't stop there. The sea to air missile of a man would add two more in the second half including this beauty of a team goal, with Everehearot laying right to Mactavish who slammed it in.

But then Dunnes' needed a stop with the score at seven to six with a few minutes remaining. And more trouble for Dunnes with Gerrald Feingolden sent to the penalty area for a tugging foul. Azadeshia then set up the office and tried to lay in a shot via Ashtikar but Buchee with the leaping save just got a hand on it to knock it out.

Announcer 1: And that would be the end of the chances for Azadeshia, as Dunnes would take this one eight to six, to put them second in the group on goal differential behind their next opponents, Kita-Hinode.

Announcer 2: Mactavish and Buchee the stars of that one, Macatavish with the second half hat trick and trio of assists to go along as well. Buchee adding a handful of saves to his totals as well.

Announcer 1: And we'll go to are Water Polo analysts for discussion now, joining me are James Nelson, coach of Mirola WP, and long time national team member Lewis Axveda....

by **Equestrian States** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 8:00 pm

BAPTISM OF WATER I
Match Day 2 Results

Group A

Newmanistan 6–6 Qasden
Equestrian States 8–4 Northwest Kalactin

  Group A               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Equestrian States       2   2  0  0   19  11  +8    6   Q
2 Qasden                  2   1  1  0   16  14  +2    4
3 Newmanistan             2   0  1  1   13  17  −4    1
4 Northwest Kalactin      2   0  0  2   12  18  −6    0   E

Group B

Kita-Hinode 7–9 Dunnes
Bjornoya Islands 10–6 Azadeshia

  Group B               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Dunnes                  2   2  0  0   17  13  +4    6
2 Kita-Hinode             2   1  0  1   16  13  +3    3
3 Bjornoya Islands        2   1  0  1   14  15  −1    3
4 Azadeshia               2   0  0  2   12  18  −6    0

by **Newmanistan** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 8:47 pm

Sources overheard a quick conversation between players Thomas Parker and Brian Merritt.

Parker: Guess it was a good idea to not order pizza that day before the game, we were a little better.

Merritt: Yeah, we didn't lose.

Parker: Surprising, I know. But it would nice to win, too.

Merritt: As for the pizza, I told you, we have to cut down on the fatty foods and drinking if we are going to have success in this.

Parker: We're not embarrassing ourselves though, that's a plus.

Merritt: Do you think anyone in Newmanistan is paying attention to this? Wouldn't it be cool if Courtney Duvall was watching us and cheering for us?

Parker: It would be cool, but she is not. She doesn't know we exist.

Merritt: Hey, ya never know. Hopefully her leg gets better. I mean you look at what she did against the Tigers (Super-Llamaland), that should be motivating for us.

Parker: It is. We just don't have the talent. She did have it.

Merritt: Ah well, maybe we can sneak in the playoffs. Still have a shot.

by **West Phoenicia** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 5:24 am

Head coach Paul Heavenwood of the West Phoenician Mermen Water Polo team attended the Baptism of Water competition to eye the future teams of the International Water Polo Championships.

Paul Heavenwood was seen laughing as he was accompanied by a number of his players and their wives.
When asked what he found amusing he cited "He was confident that the Mermen would continue to dominate as there was no strong competition that could take on the might of West Phoenicia.

by **Equestrian States** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 7:24 pm

Equestrian States Advances in Water Polo Warm-up Tournament
by News Flash

CANTERLOT - As residents of the Cantervale neighborhood will have realized by now from the slight influx in foreign tourists, the Equestrian States is currently hosting a small warm-up tournament for the upcoming Water Polo International Championships (which the Equestrian Water Polo Association also hopes to bring to Southwest Atlantian Oceania). Dubbed the "Baptism of Water" by the sport's international governing body, the tournament is exclusively for nations new to the international water polo scene, such as the Equestrian States.

In their first two matches, the Equestrian States national team, nicknamed the Seaponies, have soundly defeated teams from Newmanistan and Northwest Kalactin without much difficulty, punching their ticket to the semifinals. Led by the prolific scoring of 21 year-old Coralita, the Seaponies will face a team hailing from our fellow Southwestern AO nation of Qasden in their final group stage game before advancing to play a team from the tournament's other group, from which it is uncertain who will advance.

Though group stage matches have yet to draw any large crowds to the Royal Aquatics Center, the EWPA hopes that the (thus far) successful run of the Seaponies will see crowd sizes continue to grow and build some excitement for the team ahead of the WPIC. Tickets for the game against Qasden and for the upcoming semifinals remain available online at the EWPA's website and at the Royal Aquatics Center's ticket office.

Disclosure Notice: This article was sponsored by the Equestrian Water Polo Association.

by **Equestrian States** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 8:03 pm

BAPTISM OF WATER I
Match Day 3 Results

Group A

Northwest Kalactin 8–16 Newmanistan
Qasden 5–13 Equestrian States

  Group A               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Equestrian States       3   3  0  0   32  16 +16    9   Q
2 Newmanistan             3   1  1  1   29  25  +4    4   Q
3 Qasden                  3   1  1  1   21  27  −6    4   E
4 Northwest Kalactin      3   0  0  3   20  34 −14    0   E
Newmanistan (+4) ahead of Qasden (−6) on goal difference

Group B

Azadeshia 4–6 Kita-Hinode
Dunnes 11–6 Bjornoya Islands

  Group B               Pld   W  D  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts
1 Dunnes                  3   3  0  0   28  19  +9    9   Q
2 Kita-Hinode             3   2  0  1   22  17  +5    6   Q
3 Bjornoya Islands        3   1  0  2   20  26  −6    3   E
4 Azadeshia               3   0  0  3   16  24  −8    0   E

Semifinal Matchups

Equestrian States vs. Kita-Hinode
at Royal Aquatics Center (cap. 5,825) in Canterlot

Dunnes vs. Newmanistan
at Royal Aquatics Center (cap. 5,825) in Canterlot

Host Note: Accidentally overwrote the MD3 scores when setting up the semifinal results.

by **Newmanistan** » Sat Nov 18, 2017 1:24 pm

Conversation overheard as Newmanistanian players Chris Rossi (the goalie) and Zack Stiller are in the hotel breakfast room, getting something to eat.

Stiller: Can you believe we’re still here, and now that we made the playoffs.

Rossi: It’s pretty amazing, maybe eventually something like The Rocket Report will send a reporter here.

Stiller: They would never send Brianne Henry for this.

Rossi: Who needs her, I’m talking about that smokin’ hot chick Taylor Larson, the one who used to be the intern and then did the alternative history section during the World Baseball Classic.

Stiller: If Taylor were here, I would be very, um, motivated, yeah, that’s it.

Rossi: If we make the finals maybe they do. What else is going on right now?

Stiller: The basketball thing. You know, since we are hosting it, they are going to send all of their main people there. Probably Taylor too, unfortunately.

Rossi: Why should basketball players get Taylor. Come on, we should have a chance for her to cover one of our games.

Stiller: There was not even a we before this, though. No one really knows about us, we were so last minute and we are not even an official team, we just were lucky to get approval from the Emperor, who was probably just being nice.

Rossi: But if we make it to the championship, we can win prestigious Baptism of Water. I mean come on, we won a Baptism of Fire once, now it can be a Baptism of Water. No one would ever be a versatile in how they are baptized as a champion.

Stiller: Yeah, I suppose. To be an actual champion would be cool. There’s probably a nice trophy and stuff.

Rossi: I had an idea, maybe if we won, we can trick Taylor into coming here thinking she has to cover a story about Equestrian States being in the baseball hall of fame now, but instead, she meets us.

Stiller: Then she would be really super pissed off.

Rossi: And she’s probably still hot when she is.

by **Dunnes** » Sat Nov 18, 2017 3:27 pm

“Jeez I’m sore,” Remarked Koa Forée, as the Dunnes National Water Polo team headed for the tunnels after an 11-6 victory over Bjornoya Islands.

“That was a long match, once we pulled away it just got kind boring.” said Brandon Garveis, one of the younger members of Team Dunnes, and roommate of Forée.

“Hey at least I got some playing time.” said Sam Copman, a tall broad shouldered fellow, who was happy to get into the pool for the first time in the tournament.

Up ahead, head coach Pat O’Connor was being attacked by the throng of press waiting outside the Dunian locker room.

“What did you think of the match” screamed one reporter, lancing out his microphone at the seasoned coach.

“I thought we did what we needed to do. We’ve advanced and we have some players some rest who needed it. I think we’re in a good position for the semis.”

“Coach, your opponents in the semifinals are Newmanistan, any thoughts or first impressions on their squad?”

“I’ll do a lot more looking into it after we get back to the hotel, but more importantly I’m confident in our team. I think we have a good shot at making the finals as long as we stick to our style.” remarked O’Connor.

“Coach O’Connor, will you look to change the lineup after playing some a lot of subs today?” pointed out a rather large reporter wearing a crimson shirt with stains.

O’Connor paused, and then said, “Nah, I think we’ll stick to the starters we had the first two matches, I think that’s are best team, but I’m not afraid to go into our subs. We’re a strong team with a lot of depth. Our depths an asset and I will be seeking to use it. Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got to go talk to our guys, thanks guys and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

by **Equestrian States** » Sat Nov 18, 2017 4:16 pm

Onward to the Semifinals!
by Lisa Lavender

CANTERLOT - With a dominant 13-5 victory over the Equestrian States' Atlantian Oceania neighbors from Qasden, the Seaponies sealed their spot in the semifinals of the Baptism of Water with a perfect 3-0-0 record. Joining the hosts in the semifinals are the teams from Newmanistan, Dunnes, and Kita-Hinode.

Let's start with the Newmanistanis. As far as I can tell, the team from Newmanistan has no history in the sport outside of some appearances in the Olympics years ago. Given the lack of information on the squad from Newmanistani sources, one could be forgiven for thinking that this team didn't even exist a few weeks ago. They have done fairly well in the tournament though, bouncing back from a defeat in their opener with a draw against Qasden (that looks less impressive now after their demolition at the hooves of the Equestrians) followed by them crushing the team from Northwest Kalactin to secure a spot in the semifinals. Facing Newmanistan in the next round will be Dunnes, who boast a much more traditional water polo team than their semifinal opponents and one which saw plenty of success in the group stage, with a perfect 3-0-0 record in Group B.

Finally, there's the team from Kita-Hinode, the side which will face the Equestrian States' in the semifinals. While Equestrians would not recognize the name of the nation, they might just recognize the Hinodejin people as (supposedly) the descendants of the Sunrisians. The Hinodejin water polo team, meanwhile, has seen mixed results in the Baptism of Water, winning their first and third games of the group stage around a second day defeat at the hands of Dunnes. The Equestrian States will be favored to win this matchup, but they cannot afford to slack off any as the Hinodejins remain a talented side.

by **Kita-Hinode** » Sat Nov 18, 2017 7:44 pm

WATER POLO
The Killer Zora - Semi-Finalists
While not by any means a fantastic effort, the Zora squad representing the Hinodejin Empire has certainly gone through some modicum of competition as they reached the semi-finals against host Equestrian States. The team has had their sheer dose of complaints about the tournament itself, mainly of a lack of following by the Hinodejin populace as games featuring the team have been suffering from an epidemic of empty seats.

"It annoys me to the very deep of my blub." noted experienced head coach Zojir Miinokai, "The Hinodejin had one blubbing job: supporting this strong Zora outfit as we swam through our competition. It's clear the boys felt the lack of support and fell against Dunnes. To offer some solace, we at least qualified to the semis, but I'm not happy with this lack of blub- I mean, heart."

For those interested, the Hinodejin Empire side faces the hosts in a couple of hours at Canterlot. The Baptism of Water is a tournament for newcomer nations to the Water Polo scenery and the Sunrisians never sent a team to such a sport, hence why the Hinodejin are deemed debutants.

by **Equestrian States** » Sat Nov 18, 2017 7:59 pm

BAPTISM OF WATER I
Semifinal Results

Equestrian States 16–6 Kita-Hinode

Dunnes 7–8 Newmanistan

BAPTISM OF WATER I FINAL

Equestrian States vs. Newmanistan
at Royal Aquatics Center (cap. 5,825) in Canterlot

Third Place Playoff

Kita-Hinode vs. Dunnes
at Royal Aquatics Center (cap. 5,825) in Canterlot

Host Note: Congratulations to those advancing to the final and commiserations to those who will be battling for the bronze. Third-party scorination for the Kita-Hinode vs. Equestrian States game provided by Qasden.

by **Newmanistan** » Sun Nov 19, 2017 5:19 pm

Chris Rossi and Zack Stiller again get together in the hotel lobby during the breakfast.

Rossi: I can’t believe there was no bacon. How can there be no bacon, I didn’t want a sausage patty.

Stiller: It’s actually pretty good, though.

Rossi: I don’t give a damn how good it is, I want bacon.

Stiller: Dude, relax.

Rossi: I have had bacon the morning of all of our wins, and the draw. The game that we lost, I had to have the sausage patty. This is a bad omen on the day of our big game.

Stiller: Well, don’t have the sausage patty. Make a waffle, or something.

Rossi: Not the same thing.

Stiller: This being a goalie thing is really going to your head. They always say goalies are the most superstitious people of all.

Rossi: Well, if we lose, you know why.

Stiller: You know that Dunnes team are actual professional water polo players. I mean, they like have actual teams and a league. And we beat them.

Rossi: Maybe we should try to sign professional contracts in their league?

Stiller: Don’t get ahead of yourself.

Just then, an older man walks up to them...

Older man: Are you Chris Rossi and Zack Stiller?

Rossi: Yeah, we are.

Older man: First, my name is Gerry, and I am from the Centralia Dispatch. We heard that you guys are in the Baptism of Water final, and we want to get to know more about you. So, tell me, how long have you guys been playing water polo?

Stiller: A paper, from Centralia? Newmanistan?

Older man: Yeah, have you ever read us? Where are you guys from? We’d love to know about your professional careers?

Rossi (to Stiller): Not Taylor Larson, but at least its something.

Stiller (to Rossi): Yeah. (To Older man): My professional career? Well, I work for a marketing agency, and Chris is a manager of a gas station, we’re from Dover City.

Older man (laughs): I mean you’re professional water polo careers.

Stiller: There is no professional water polo career.

Rossi: We’re just a couple of average guys.

Older man: Sure, never mind then. I was hoping you’d take it a little more seriously. (He leaves)

Stiller: What a jerk.

Rossi: Yeah, Taylor would have been a nicer.

Stiller: Hey look, over there.

Rossi: What?

Stiller: The breakfast lady just put out bacon.

Rossi: Outta my way, boy!!!

by **Equestrian States** » Sun Nov 19, 2017 9:49 pm

BAPTISM OF WATER I
BAPTISM OF WATER I FINAL

Equestrian States 8–9 Newmanistan
at Royal Aquatics Center (cap. 5,825) in Canterlot

Third Place Playoff

Kita-Hinode 6–13 Dunnes
at Royal Aquatics Center (cap. 5,825) in Canterlot

Host Note: Third-party scorination for the Final provided by 95X. Congratulations to Newmanistan on winning the Baptism of Water and thank you to all who participated.

Baptism of Water I - Everything Thread

Baptism of Water I - Everything Thread

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