Quidditch World Cup 10

[Darmen]

Quidditch through the Ages: MXCIII Edition
2040 Darmeni Quidditch League

---

The second season of the Darmeni Quidditch League saw Pisces, who had dominated the league in the wins column but came up four points short the previous season, win their first championship. Meanwhile, the champions of the previous season, Aquarius, slid far down the standings, finishing in 10th.

It was a real team effort for Pisces, as the team's three main chasers: Jackman (36), Carter (47) and Clein (39), as well as their seeker Pettifogger (70), combined for 192 of their 203 total points. That was 37 points more than the second placed team, Virgo and 30 points more than bottom feeders Capricorn and Libra could muster combined. The scoring prowess of the Pisces squad marked a significant uptick in offensive production among the top teams. The team's 28-6 victory over Capricorn and subsequent 24-5 victory over Libra were incredibly impressive, even if those two particular opponents ended up at the bottom of the standings.

Young beater Fillin Blue inflicted quite a few blue bruises on his opponents and on a number of occasions had DQL medical staff fillin' out paperwork for some rather nasty injuries. Together with his fellow beater Ilia Bakalov, Blue was a key part of Taurus' fine defense, but unfortunately for him and his club, its offense that matters in the DQL, and Taurus would have to settle for fourth.

Saturday, August 4, 2040
Sagittarius  3–9  Aries
Taurus      12–9  Aquarius
Ophiuchus   12–18 Virgo
Capricorn    7–9  Leo
Gemini       9–7  Libra
Cancer      19–3  Scorpio

Saturday, August 11, 2040
Libra     2–16 Cancer
Leo       4–14 Gemini
Virgo     3–10 Capricorn
Aquarius 12–10 Ophiuchus
Aries     9–11 Taurus
Pisces   19–7  Sagittarius

Saturday, August 18, 2040
Taurus     9–14 Pisces
Ophiuchus 12–20 Aries
Capricorn 10–5  Aquarius
Gemini    10–14 Virgo
Cancer     9–11 Leo
Scorpio    9–7  Libra

Saturday, August 25, 2040
Leo         13–3 Scorpio
Virgo       12–7 Cancer
Aquarius     7–9 Gemini
Aries       17–3 Capricorn
Pisces      17–4 Ophiuchus
Sagittarius  3–6 Taurus

Saturday, September 1, 2040
Ophiuchus  8–10 Sagittarius
Capricorn  6–28 Pisces
Gemini     8–12 Aries
Cancer     9–13 Aquarius
Scorpio   13–20 Virgo
Libra     11–7  Leo

Saturday, September 8, 2040
Virgo       13–6 Libra
Aquarius     8–9 Scorpio
Aries       10–9 Cancer
Pisces       9–7 Gemini
Sagittarius 10–5 Capricorn
Taurus      15–2 Ophiuchus

Saturday, September 15, 2040
Capricorn  4–9  Taurus
Gemini     9–8  Sagittarius
Cancer    11–10 Pisces
Scorpio   11–9  Aries
Libra      9–10 Aquarius
Leo        5–18 Virgo

Saturday, September 22, 2040
Aquarius     9–18 Leo
Aries       18–2  Libra
Pisces      17–6  Scorpio
Sagittarius  9–11 Cancer
Taurus      13–14 Gemini
Ophiuchus    8–7  Capricorn

Saturday, September 29, 2040
Gemini  18–4  Ophiuchus
Cancer   6–28 Taurus
Scorpio 14–6  Sagittarius
Libra    5–24 Pisces
Leo      8–15 Aries
Virgo   15–3  Aquarius

Saturday, October 6, 2040
Aries        7–12 Virgo
Pisces      19–4  Leo
Sagittarius  8–16 Libra
Taurus      10–12 Scorpio
Ophiuchus   16–6  Cancer
Capricorn    5–7  Gemini

Saturday, October 13, 2040
Cancer   9–10 Capricorn
Scorpio  9–9  Ophiuchus
Libra    2–9  Taurus
Leo      7–9  Sagittarius
Virgo    8–13 Pisces
Aquarius 8–11 Aries

Saturday, October 20, 2040
Pisces      14–9  Aquarius
Sagittarius 11–20 Virgo
Taurus       9–5  Leo
Ophiuchus    9–7  Libra
Capricorn   14–18 Scorpio
Gemini      11–14 Cancer

Wednesday, October 31, 2040
Scorpio   9–17 Gemini
Libra     9–9  Capricorn
Leo      17–16 Ophiuchus
Virgo    13–7  Taurus
Aquarius 10–9  Sagittarius
Aries     8–19 Pisces

Darmeni Quidditch League     Pld    W   D   L    PF   PA
 1 Pisces                     12   11   0   1   203   84   Champions
 2 Virgo                      12   10   0   2   166  104
 3 Aries                      12    8   0   4   145  106
 4 Taurus                     12    8   0   4   138   93
 5 Gemini                     12    8   0   4   133  106
 6 Cancer                     12    5   0   7   126  135
 7 Scorpio                    12    6   1   5   116  149
 8 Ophiuchus                  12    3   1   8   110  156
 9 Leo                        12    5   0   7   108  139
10 Aquarius                   12    4   0   8   103  135
11 Sagittarius                12    3   0   9    93  134
12 Capricorn                  12    3   1   8    90  132
13 Libra                      12    2   1   9    83  141

[Kriegiersien]

Kriegiersien with a great start into the World Cup. The Mechanists from Amenri with their fancy hoverbikes were no match for the secretly lightning and disrupting pulse throwing wizards of the Kriegiersien team.

The chasers Sansa Kirfenia, Bill Shazam and fanservice Lockheart Brad (who mainly looked good on his broom and didn't score) already had gotten a clear advantage before Sam Mandrake catched the snitch again.
The ego boost in the team and nation is now gigantic.


The match against the tribesmen from Banija is now already considered as the fight for place one in the group.

[Valdiviola]

VOLATORI OFF TO A FLYER
LA VIOLA COME GOOD AGAINST DEFENDING CHAMPS
SARZONIA 30 - 150* VALDIVIOLA

It doesn't get much more 'World Cup' than opening against the defending champions, but that was the task dished out to Valdiviola when the Group Stage draw was made before the tournament in Taeshan. Speaking before the game, coach Azzardo was his usual self, joking with reporters and generally talking-up his team - a tactic that opposite number Chris Entwistle didn't seem keen to copy. In his pre-match press interview Entwistle used the words "weight" and "expectation" more times than anybody thought logically plausible, a clear sign that the Sarzonia team may have been struggling to cope with the weight of expectation heaped upon a defending champion.

Entwistle's fears were allayed early on however as the experienced Chaser trio of Jansen, Reynolds and Rakers took possession of the Quaffle and began with a threatening move that forced La Viola captain Lorenzo Nobile into an early save at his right-hand hoop. Loretto and Febbraio looked to get straight back at the Sarzonian defence and despite some jittery movements by veteran Keeper Edwin Nash, Sarzonia managed to keep the scoresheet clean during the opening exchanges.

The defending champions were the first to open their account with a cool finish from Rakers after having gotten clear of Orlando Strazza thanks to a strong Bludger from stocky SaQuon Douglas with the bat. Nobile probably would have felt he should have done better for Sarzonia's second however, which beat him at his near post despite goalscorer Reynolds being forced into a tight angle by Erasmo Burrasca.

Sarzonia took a 30-0 lead shortly after an astonishing miss at the other end from Lola Febbraio, which she would later blame on being distracted by the shimmering hair of Beater Aurelia Fiore, sporting a shiny, silver "do" on this occasion. Nash was beaten by all accounts and despite being jostled by Reynolds, Febbraio will be angry not to have gotten on the scoring charts in this game.

Valdiviola fans in the stadium would have been worried at this point with their Chasers seemingly unable to trouble the opposition hoops and with Douglas and partner Elynn Davis making defending difficult at their own end. Debutant Seeker Tommaso Barozzi would have expected to be sat listening to this game on the radio this time last year until he was thrust into the limelight by the disappearance of La Viola legend Evangelina Falco who tallied 12 Snitch catches at World Cup level. Barozzi, a teammate of Isabella Loretto back in 'Violan domestic Quidditch, was considered nothing more than an up-and-comer until the spot on the roster became available at which point his form sky-rocketed and he took his team to an unlikely League title victory. Now he was facing World Cup winner Tommy Entwistle, and it seemed catching the Snitch was his teams only viable option for beating this most accomplished of opposition.

And so it was that Barozzi would slip away from Entwistle unnoticed to dart past the bulky frame of Sarzonia Beater Douglas and snatch victory for Valdiviola with a tricky Snitch grab right in the centre of proceedings. Debuts don't come much better than that. Nobody would say the victory was thoroughly deserved but Barozzi's catch will no doubt go down in Valdiviolan folk-law history and be used endlessly in 'Violan quizzes across the nation for years to come. Coach Azzardo will just be relieved that his statements before the game will be assessed as astute rather than hot air as he looks ahead to the remaining Group Stage games against debutants Kohnhead and Havynwilde. He may have his work cut out to blow away the cobwebs from some of his players who weren't quick out the blocks this time around, but it looks like the hunger remains as this squad look to erase the pain of past knockout defeats and go for the trophy in Taeshan.

Player Ratings: Nobile 6/10, Burrasca 5/10, Fiore 5/10, Febbraio 3/10, Loretto 4/10, Strazza 5/10, Barozzi 9/10

[Ko-oren]

Zagehl stared out over the snowy peaks. His gaze was not fixed to any one thing out there, looking at the the clouds above, the valleys beneath, the endless snow falling, the flakes so numerous that they made it hard to focus. Burrowing deeper into his coat, his shift was almost over. He could already feel the warm campfire over in Rozodhin. Any moment now, one of his colleagues could chime the bell to let him know it was time to head back home, away from the grey, biting cold.

Rozodhin is one of the many worlds that make up the Everlasting Branches - and the only one Zagehl had ever visited. Although, that's not quite right. There is one main branch, a stem, connecting all worlds along the Everlasting Branches. Getting from one world to another was an easy process, after centuries, if not millennia, of efforts by the Guilds of Messengers, Protectors, Maintainers, Archivists, and many others. The Guilds, strong institutions spanning worlds, branches, and peoples, are as strong as they've ever been - through efforts from people such as Zagehl.

Ding~ "Zagehl! Thahlo! That's it, time to head back, get some warmth in us," the voice of Ohjagen, Rozodhin's Head Protector, rang out through the snowy winds. It carried remarkably far - the flurry had been strong all during Zagehl's shift, drowning out all sounds, all colour, and every other sensation other than biting cold, since Zagehl went out to his post that morning. "Coming! Wait for me," Zagehl responded. From Thahlo's and Ohjagen's reactions, he knew his voice wasn't as powerful as Ohjagen's just now; both were already huddled around the Book, from which the workers of next shift emerged. "Godspeed, Hereguhl and Dharihsa. Nothing out of the ordinary on our shift. We have had reports that a Messenger is on its way from Teredahl, but no sign of him yet. Remember to look out for his torch, and make sure to verify everything before you let him in."

Hereguhl and Dharihsa nodded. Zagehl, Thahlo, and Ohjagen put their hands on the Book's cover, and in the next second, all three were transported from the world of the stem, over one of the Everlasting Branches, to the central square of Rozodhin's capital. Zagehl opened his eyes - he had developed the habit of closing his eyes during the journey, for no reason - and saw the quaint marketplace. The sun setting over the verdant hills in the distance. But most importantly, he regained the feeling in his fingers, the bone-chilling cold now behind him, as he was welcomed by the gentle warmth of the campfire in the middle of the square. The world regained its colour: the grey snow, the grey clouds, they grey shack, they were all now out of view. His new surroundings were brown wood, an orange-to-blue sky, red decorations on the buildings, and many more.

"Hey, Zagehl! Welcome back!"

"Zagehl, Thahlo, thank you for your efforts," Ohjagen said, in a somewhat official manner. "Warm yourselves up, and get some rest. I've scheduled you for a shift tomorrow as well."

"Yeah, thanks," Zagehl responded, as he already made his way home, walking down the street, past the wooden buildings, towards a multi-story wooden dwelling that housed the Guild of Protectors as well as all of its workers' families.

The Guild of Protectors certainly wasn't the largest guild, or the richest, but they had a duty that required them to be close to the Book back out to the Stem, hence their location close to the central square. The space allocated to each worker and their family wasn't as large as, say, someone in the Guild of Archivists, but it certainly beat out the cramped cottages for the members of the Guild of Miners - the only other Guild Zagehl had seen that was shabbier than his.

---

The Guild of Protectors is tasked with protecting all linking Books from a World to the Stem, as well as the Books located in the Stem linking to a World. Every World has its own Guild of Protectors, whose workers make sure that nobody gets unauthorised access to a Book - which either sets up the World for an unwanted guest, or worse, the destruction of the Book, meaning the link between the Stem and World is lost. In the best case scenario, that link can be re-established. In the worst case scenario, that link is lost forever and while the World keeps on existing at the end of an Everlasting Branch, it cannot be visited by anyone in the Stem or in another World.

OOC: Whoa, after 9,5 years, an attempt at actual novel-like creative writing? I think I've left a lot of things unclear, so if that makes the story really inaccessible, please let me know. I'd love to build this world through stories as well as a short info-dump blurb at the end.

[Starcom Racing]

STARCOM NATIONAL QUIDDICTH ROSTER

CHASER
#1 Ron Bruce
#2 Jessica Smith
#3 Liroy Hope

Beater
#5 Josh Jefferson
#6 Paul Dobbie

Keeper
#7 Clint

Seeker
#8 Alex Perkins

RESERVES
#9 Trevor Brundy
#10 Levi Lollard
#11 Mitch Kimber
#12 Benny Bertuga
#13 Olivia French

[Jeckland]

JECKLAND QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP 10 ROSTER

The wizarding community in Jeckland is a small, eccentric bunch. Unknown to Muggles, this is the first time a national Quidditch team has been formed, so who knows what's going to happen.

Starters

Chaser: Conusca Pam
Chaser: Phisen Bho''os
Chaser: Pillove Wongless
Keeper: Zhonijtsib Ha
Beater: Votudi Ksuzun
Beater: Atii Fuga
Seeker: Jiwagah Drachurch


Reserves
Chaser: Retheeck Buong
Chaser: Bivaught Arbarg
Chaser: Shrossegg Mefin
Keeper: Hellong Azat
Beater: Hackaffash Kuowuo
Beater: Ut Wuda
Seeker: Guchkhun Qaajibbah

RP permissions: Godmodding is not only allowed, but actively encouraged.

[Jeckland]

“Hello, and welcome to Quidditch News Now. I’m your host, Larry Lipkisser!”

“And I’m Bartholomew Fucknuckle”

“We’re here live from Taeshan where the 10th Quidditch World Cup is going on, which for the first time features a team from Jeckland.”

“Oh yes, and the mighty Spuds will surely crush all their opposition on the way to victory!”

“Well, except Sylestone, who we lost 710-520 to in a marathon game.”

“Yeah, but that was a fluke.”

“We were losing comfortably the whole game. Were it not for their Beaters both focusing on trying to dismount Drachurch when he was after the Snitch, we would have lost by more!”

“But then Drachurch could have caught the snitch and we would have won!”

“Except for the fact he missed it five minutes into the game. Useless prick.”

“True. Hey, have you ever tried doing Lumos with your wand up your arse?”

“What?”

“You know Lumos, right? Have you ever stuck your wand up your arse and said Lumos?”

“No! What the - what? No! Have you?”

“Of course not, but a friend tells me it feels kinda good.”

“Bartholomew, you need a girlfriend. In fact - you know what, no. No woman should have to deal with you. Thank you for watching, and goodnight.”

“But I wasn’t finished tal-”

“GOODNIGHT!”

[Sarzonia]

There's a first time for everything.

That was the thought running through the head of a glum Chris Entwistle as the Sarzonian national Quidditch team slumped off the pitch as opening match losers.

They were expected to be comically bad in Delaclava with a team of office-working Muggles that had never even seen a Quidditch match, let alone ever tried flying a broom. The idea that they would be even slightly competitive against teams that had actual magic communities was laughable.

And yet, the Stars won their four group stage matches and scarcely broke a sweat in so doing. A team of Muggles suddenly found themselves facing the host nation, and a country that some wags might describe as being absurdly close as neighbours and friends in the semifinals. They would make further history by playing in the first-ever draw, forcing a replay which the Phoenixes easily won.

They also got off to a strong start in the third edition of the Quidditch World Cup en route to a second straight third place finish. The Stars were absent for five consecutive editions, but then came back to win the title in the most recent one.

Now? Entwistle's task was to make sure his Stars were ready for the next match. They dropped their group stage finale to then-defending champions The Sherpa Empire, and they would yet again play another draw, but those events propelled the Stars to a championship.

"We played a team that was a lot looser than we were," Entwistle admitted. "That's on me. We were ready, but we played like it was a chore. Valdiviola played the match like a team that was having fun. That's something we need to get back to."

[Zwangzug]

Source, don't know how there aren't more Harry Potter parodies of this one.

I've looked behind hoops
I've looked in the grasses
I try to find the wings
Amid the Chasers' passes

They call me the Seeker
I've been searching low and high
I'm gonna get what I'm after
But till then we fly

I asked Cho Chang
I asked Viktor Krum
I asked Draco Malfoy
But the answers never come

People tend to cheer me
All across the land
As I come up with the Snitch
They want to shake my hand

Focusing on wingbeats
Investigating gold
I'm a Seeker
I score hundreds of points

I learned how to raise my broom in feinting
Yeah and look at my tail, you'll see each bristle
I'm happy when we win and when we lose I cry
I fly no-handed but I don't know how or why

I'm looking at my rivals
They're looking at me
The Snitch eludes us like some distant fantasy

[A m e n r i a]

Though the Mechanists lost their first match, their determination did not falter. Cracking open a cold Leninade ® together, they had a toast as they waited for the results of yesterday's match.

The sugar and spicy-citrus flavour should be enough to recharge the men and women fighting for the empire im the quidditch pitch. After all, war is best served cold!

"I admit this isn't a very good start, but despite our loss, morale still remains high. I'm certain we can do better in the following matches, we trained well and have good gear, after all. Not to mention a great-tasting selection of soft drinks available to us." Valeriya said to the camera.

Orange: translated from Russian

[Delaclava]

Leo Wilson was a ball of nerves before the match against Liverpudlian Revolution. He was a natural talent at the Seeker position, and he'd always been used to being the best on his team, best at his school, even the best at any wizarding high school. But now being drafted to represent his entire country, to go against all the other nations in the World Cup? That was a big stretch, and as the match drew closer, Leo grew more and more overwhelmed until he found himself puking over the toilet in the locker room.

He cleaned himself off and walked out just as Millie Price, the team captain, was giving her final words of encouragement to the team, and soon they were all filing out of the room. Numbly, Leo followed and mounted his broom to fly over the pitch, the game about to start.

The referee tossed up the Quaffle and blew the whistle to start the game. Leo lifted up and began to circle over the pitch, looking anywhere for a glint of gold. He noticed a member of the opposing team doing about the same, and took note of whom he'd be going head to head against. Leo circled the pitch at an easy pitch, observing the game but looking anywhere for the Snitch, and occasionally dodging a Bludger hit at him to keep him on his guard.

Suddenly, he heard a clang and a splinter. He looked down at the Liverpudlian end to see the broken pieces of a Quaffle drifting towards the ground. What had happened was Tristan Davis had taken a shot that had beaten the Keeper yet hit the post of the right hoop, and for whatever reason, the wooden ball had not survived contact with the metal.

The referee shot back down to the ground, quickly placed a Repairing Spell on the Quaffle, and tossed it back into play. But just moments later, the Quaffle could not even stay intact when Davis passed the ball to Paul Kirui. The ball exploded in Kirui's hands and the same pieces fell all the way to the earth once again.

Leo looked on with amusement as they attempted this process a few more times. Finally, the referee blew her whistle and motioned for all 14 players to convene in the middle of the pitch. She was clearly bemused, but told the teams: "We can't continue with this Quaffle, and the rules say we can't use substitute equipment. Quaffle play is over. The score is 0-0. Whichever team catches the Snitch wins."

Leo had only been relaxed for a few moments before his heart leapt into his throat again. Great, he thought. It's actually down to me whether we win or lose.

Unlike Leo and his opposing Seeker, the other players seemed quite amused by this. The Phoenixes laughed and retreated back to their end together. The burly Beater, Roy Crouser, clapped Leo on the shoulder and chortled, "Have fun, kid."

A bit more reassuringly, the other Beater, Brenda Ball, approached him with this: "We still have the Bludgers in play. Don't worry, we'll take care of you. Just focus. You got this."

Leo nodded, gave his broom a little kick and began to circle the pitch once more. The Chasers and Keepers looked on with mild interest, while the Beaters took turns either hitting the Bludgers at the Seekers, the opposing Beaters, or even the resting Quaffle players to keep them awake.

However, Leo and the Irish Seeker had been circling the pitch for fifteen minutes, and the Snitch had yet to reappear in the field of play. Leo realised that if the Quaffle was somehow cursed, maybe there was something wrong with the Snitch too. Leo motioned to the other Seeker. "Oy!" he called out, as they met once again at midfield.

"The Snitch hasn't been back the whole game."

The Irishman shrugged. "What do you reckon we do?"

"Start looking, I guess?" Leo replied. "It could be anywhere."

The other Seeker nodded. "Right then...good luck out there."

"Yeah, you too." Leo slowly flew in a serpentine fashion, departing the Atlantea Quidditch Grounds, keeping a wide angle of view in case the Snitch came back to the pitch. He was wary that the other Seeker might camp out, but he seemed to be doing the same thing.

Circling above the Coliseum, everything was just a bit too shiny - the reflection of the water, windows from nearby buildings - and Leo didn't know exactly how he'd be able to pick out the small golden glint of a Snitch. It was risky, but he was going to have to circle lower and stick to grassier, more shadowy areas. Passers-by seemed confused and perhaps a bit alarmed, but most seemed to understand what was happening.

But Leo's decision paid off quickly, as soon he saw the Snitch flapping near a park bench. Almost too easy, he thought, and he accelerated towards it. The Snitch flew up and out, but Leo was fast gaining ground.

That is, until he noticed the Irish seeker approach from ahead on his right and pull up alongside him. Evidently he'd either been patrolling the same area or just gotten lucky to join up, but they both had a chance at this Snitch now. They drew closer, both with their hands outstretched, but they both noticed they were about to run headlong into a statue and split off - Leo to the left, the Irishman to the right. They turned around and looked up, but somehow the Snitch had disappeared from view.

They both frantically looked around, but after a matter of seconds gave up. The Irish Seeker looked at Leo with a slight smile. "Close one, huh?"

Leo was about to answer when he looked into the Seeker's eye and felt a jolt. There was just something about those eyes, that smile, which made him feel a very unfamiliar way. Leo gulped and said, "Uh, yeah."

They diverged to search again, and Leo shook his head. What was that? he wondered. Never mind, focus. He began traveling down a river, getting a good long-range view of the Coliseum and the grounds before turning around, making larger and larger circles, trying to get a view of the Snitch. Off in the distance, he could see his teammates waving at him, giving him thumbs up and cheering him on. He laughed and kept on looking. He circled higher and higher, giving himself angles where he thought he could notice the contrast.

Off in the distance down by the river, he thought he saw something. Could it be? He began floating further along the river, and it became clear. That was the Snitch!

But there was a zip beneath him, and the Irish seeker flew by. He had the inside edge on this, and Leo had to catch up fast. Fortunately, he had the better broomstick, and soon they were neck and neck again. Leo was getting close - he could taste victory...

He suddenly bucked, as they had gotten so low that Leo's foot his a rock off the riverbank. He fell off his broom and bounced along the soft, muddy grass. He looked towards the Snitch in despair, but it appeared that the Irish seeker had been set off course by this little bump and he had given up on the Snitch also, instead doubling back to help up his fallen opponent.

The Irishman knelt down. "You okay?" he asked softly.

Leo looked up and nodded, but felt that same jolt again. The Irishman extended his hand to help him up, and as Leo grabbed it, he felt this immense warmth course through his body, like he was safer than he had ever been. He did not understand this feeling, but he didn't want it to go away.

Leo stood full up, and they looked at each other a bit longer this time. Finally Leo grunted, brushed himself off, and said, "Let's keep going, I guess?"

"Yeah," the opponent replied.

They both kicked off again. They'd ended up in a woodsy area and began to slowly head back towards the Coliseum. They were looking separately but kind of keeping an eye on each other as they went. After a few minutes, the Irishman looked back at Leo:

"Should we look together?"

Trying to act indifferent, Leo shrugged. "Yeah, might as well. It's been a close race the whole time, might as well both have a shot."

They circled over the trees, the river, the city and the buildings, looking for the Snitch, all the while talking to each other and getting to know each other. Leo was particularly enjoying himself, and while his main goal was the Snitch, in some way that was now subconscious as he fully enjoyed the company of this once-stranger.

Darkness eventually fell, and they had been searching for hours. The Irish seeker suggested, "Maybe let's take a break for a second?"

"Sure," Leo replied.

They landed in the woods and just sat for a minute, both young men catching their breath. The Irishman stood up and held out his hand again, and Leo took it to get up. They walked side by side, continuing to talk, the search for the Snitch seeming to be secondary at this point.

Eventually, Leo got the urge to say something. He stopped in his tracks, and his companion stopped too.

"Listen," Leo said nervously. "Regardless of what happens today, whoever catches the Snitch..." He paused to gather himself.

"I just want you to know, I've had the most magical day today."

The Irishman smiled. "Yeah, it's been fun for me too. My favorite Quidditch match ever."

"Yeah," Leo replied, feeling that warm tingle fill him once again. Almost instinctively, they both leaned in for an embraced and they passionately kissed, two opponents becoming one pair, united by an epic journey that had exceeded the stakes of the game they were playing.

They broke away and looked longingly into each other's eyes. Suddenly, there was a flapping to the side of their faces. Someone - no, something - had come to join them. It was the Snitch.

They looked at each other, shocked, then picked up their brooms and kicked off in pursuit of the Snitch. It was nervy times, trying to dodge trees in the dark, yet the Snitch seemed to reflect just enough light that they could see.

It was close. One of them was going to catch it this time. They both reached out to grab the Snitch, and their hands brushed—

—and Leo filled hot with passion and excitement. He could not believe it - this was true love. The jolt of electricity was so strong that his hand momentarily backed off from the Snitch—

—Leo looked at his partner, but the Irishman was not looking back, he was still on course, looking right ahead at the Snitch, he was going to get it—

—the Irish seeker caught the Snitch and crowed with jubilation. Leo touched down in disbelief. All that he had been through today, what he had felt for this boy - it was all gone in the blink of an eye. It was like it had never been there. Leo was broken.

He looked at the Irishman, who stared back. Almost with an indifferent yet apologetic shrug, he kicked off to head back to the stadium to show his prize to the team.

Leo followed, his head dull from what had happened, only vaguely aware that he was headed back to the Atlantea Coliseum. The Liverpudlian Revolution of Ireland team noticed that their Seeker held the Snitch and roared with delight, crowding around their man to celebrate. Leo rejoined his team empty-handed, yet they still gathered around him, applauding his heroic efforts.

Captain Millie Price was the first to reach him, and Leo began to sob on her shoulder. They all embraced him, consoling him for what they thought was merely a Quidditch defeat. They had no idea what Leo had lost - and Leo didn't know how to ever express what had happened in those woods.

Leo was a magical person, a wizard, an expert in spells, charms, and potions. But he was now experiencing the pain of losing the greatest magic he had ever possessed.

[Taeshan]

Roses are Red,
Delaclava writes some weird stuff,
Was it true love,
Or was it just a bluff?

Group A:

Delaclava 320–390 Taeshan
Sajnur 160–30 The liverpudian revolution of ireland

Group A:
                                        G W D L   PF   PA   PD Points
1                               Taeshan 2 2 0 0 1090 1000  +90 6 
2                                Sajnur 2 1 0 1  840  730 +110 3 
3 The liverpudian revolution of ireland 2 1 0 1  180  160  +20 3 
4                             Delaclava 2 0 0 2  320  540 -220 0

All teams can still advance as 1 plays 3, and 2 plays 4

Group B:

Kriegiersien 360–240 Banija
Khazajamal 600–350 Amenria

Group B:
               G W D L  PF  PA   PD Points
1 Kriegiersien 2 2 0 0 670 310 +360 6 
2       Banija 2 1 0 1 400 380  +20 3 
3   Khazajamal 2 1 0 1 620 510 +110 3 
4      Amenria 2 0 0 2 420 910 -490 0

Ditto

Group C:

Equestria 270–110 HUElavia
Peoples Republic of Joyea 160–260 Razenthurea

Group C:
                            G W D L  PF  PA   PD Points
1               Razenthurea 2 2 0 0 760 460 +300 6 
2 Peoples Republic of Joyea 2 1 0 1 670 590  +80 3 
3                 Equestria 2 1 0 1 570 610  -40 3 
4                  HUElavia 2 0 0 2 440 780 -340 0 

Razenthurea has head to head with 2 and 3. 2 and 3 have head to head with HUElavia

Group D:

Darmen 110–290 Starblaydia
Abahnfleft 120–280 Otakuverse

Group D:
              G W D L  PF  PA   PD Points
1  Abahnfleft 2 1 0 1 360 460 -100 3 
2 Starblaydia 2 1 0 1 470 350 +120 3 
3      Darmen 2 1 0 1 270 320  -50 3 
4  Otakuverse 2 1 0 1 310 280  +30 3

Group E:

Valdiviola 60–240 Havynwilde
Kohnhead 170–20 Sarzonia

Group E:
             G W D L  PF  PA   PD Points
1 Havynwilde 2 2 0 0 530 140 +390 6 
2 Valdiviola 2 1 0 1 210 270  -60 3 
3   Kohnhead 2 1 0 1 250 310  -60 3 
4   Sarzonia 2 0 0 2  50 320 -270 0

Sarzonia can not win head to head, Havynwilde can not lose head to head

Group F:

Jeckland 100–250 Hinode
Salkin Rock 190–110 Sylestone

Group F:
              G W D L  PF  PA   PD Points
1 Salkin Rock 2 2 0 0 360 120 +240 6 
2   Sylestone 2 1 0 1 820 710 +110 3 
3      Hinode 2 1 0 1 260 270  -10 3 
4    Jeckland 2 0 0 2 620 960 -340 0 

Salkin Rock has won head 2 head with 2 and 3. Jeckland has lost head 2 head with 2 and 3

Group G:

Ko-oren 450–280 Gyatso-kai
Western Fardelshufflestein 330–130 Starcom Racing

Group G:
                             G W D L  PF  PA   PD Points
1                    Ko-oren 2 2 0 0 720 410 +310 6 
2 Western Fardelshufflestein 2 2 0 0 530 220 +310 6 
3                 Gyatso-kai 2 0 0 2 370 650 -280 0 
4             Starcom Racing 2 0 0 2 260 600 -340 0

Group H:

Quebec 590–360 Zwangzug
Jantor 120–310 The Jovannic

Group H:
               G W D L   PF  PA   PD Points
1       Quebec 2 2 0 0 1040 700 +340 6 
2 The Jovannic 2 1 0 1  650 570  +80 3 
3     Zwangzug 2 1 0 1  560 600  -40 3 
4       Jantor 2 0 0 2  130 510 -380 0 

Quebec can not lose head 2 head. Jantor can not win it.

[Sajnur]

Sajnur Quidditch Team

Roster

Keeper: Elaiokh (F)
Chaser: Aravinda (M)
Chaser: Sjovan, Duke of Mt Raulisa (F)
Chaser: Isabel Amaqiel (F)
Beater: Sadurun (F)
Beater: Omar Jahel (M)
Seeker: Sirsje, Marquess of Tavilea Valley (F)

Henry Rovanpera (Keeper, M)
Toruuqtaaluq (Chaser, F)
Sivu (Chaser, M)
Mikhail Jr (Beater, M)
Samah (Seeker, F)

Manager: Taudrun Kalima (F)

RP Rules: No deaths. This being quidditch, be as stupid as you like. Any non-fatal injuries can probably be fixed in a day anyway.

Magic in Sajnur is neither explicitly canon nor explicitly non-canon until further notice.

Sajnur's Magical Community

Sajnur is home to three magical communities, one in the mountainous Kalavar province, one in the plains of the Western province, and one in the deserts and savannah of Mersuq province. The Kalavar community has interacted with the Sajnuran state and its predecessors for millenia and is comfortable with non magical Sajnurans knowing of their existence and even the occasional tourist, and the Western Sajnuran community is similarly open to interaction with non-magical people with a centuries long history of such, but the Mersuq community has only recently been absorbed into Sajnur and while it is also not opposed to outside knowledge of their existence, travel into magical communities in Mersuq is restricted to those of magical ethnicity and their families, and Sajnuran government officials. Witches and wizards are referred to in the Dorava language as Nerar.

Magic in Sajnur is more similar to Skullduggery Pleasant than it is to Harry Potter, although this isn't a hard and fast rule. Wandless magic is frequent, with wands used more to amplify and/or store power, and as such are not required most of the time, although wanded magic is often more powerful and with a certain quickness that barehand magic doesn't have. Manipulation of the four elements is a common aspect of Sajnuran magic, with fire and water displays a common tool of many a Nerar. Of course, many practitioners do prefer spell based magic to element based magic, and unlike in Skullduggery Pleasant, earth magic is not exclusively a last resort, although it is very draining nonetheless. Another common feature of magic is simple telekinesis, with the most powerful Nerar capable of lifting cars barehand, or regional jets wanded.

Kalavar province is home to approximately 67,000 Nerar in its high mountains, the closest being about 300km from the provincial capital of Tesje. Most will speak Dorava to communicate with outsiders, but the magical communities also have their own languages, invariably spoken by no one outside those communities. The magical communities are nowadays somewhat of a tourist attraction for anyone who is willing to make the arduous journey into the isolated mountains and valleys. None of the communities are connected to Sajnur's main road network and are only accessible by aircraft or on foot. Despite this, and the fact that Kalavar magic tourism is very expensive, several thousand people visit the Nerar of Kalavar each year, providing useful additional income to a largely rural region that is reliant on agriculture. It was from Kalavar that the sport of quidditch was introduced to the rest of Sajnur, with the mountains and valleys being quite amenable to flying broom sports and the highest Nerar town being more than 5000m above sea level. Given that most Sajnurans cannot fly without machinery, quidditch among non-Nerar is often played on go karts or, for the more daring, in small open top aircraft. It is widely speculated that the Greens MP for the constituency that contains most of Kalavar's Nerar is herself Nerari.

Western Sajnur is home to 79,000 Nerar, with 53,000 in the town of Abarga on the far west coast. Unlike the small Kalavar Nerar towns, Abarga is connected to Foaspra, the provincial capital, by a long road along the Western Sajnur coast. Also unlike Kalavar, Western Sajnur is largely flat, and the magical ball sport that developed here was characterstic of the flat terrain, there being no snitch, more players on the field, and more tackling. Abarga is a port town, too, and much of what gets in and out of the northern half of Western Sajnur comes through Abarga. Of course, the Sajnuran government has made sure that visitors to the port are largely oblivious to the magic present in the town through a combination of regulations on the use of magic and enough technology that the port can run comfortably with limited use of magic. Tourism to Abarga is at a smaller scale compared to the Kalavar towns, but is still present. The Western Nerar generally speak Dorava, Tauqatan, and/or Sjemjori.

Mersuq is home to approximately 32,000 Nerar. The Mersuq Nerar do not speak Dorava, instead speaking their local languages along with Tarsawi, the lingua franca, and they call themselves the Laqima. Like most of the desert communities outside of the capital of Talkho or the interior town of Kidhra, the Laqima communities are nomadic, but they have the advantage of using their magic to find optimal places to support themselves and their livestock. As they are in the desert, they are inaccesible by any means other than four wheel drive or camel, and these must be launched from Kidhra with several days of supplies. Even Kidhra itself is not connected to the road network as the roads do not extend more than 100km from the Mersuq coast, so the four wheel drives must either be rented out or flown from Talkho. The Laqima are hostile to outsiders, partly out of the fear shared by many magic communities of being found out, but mainly as a legacy of the persecution they faced by the governments which controlled Mersuq before the Millenium Wars and Sajnur's takeover of Asulia, persecution which increased to life threatening levels in the months before the invasion of the Mersuq region. Indeed, it is speculated by many that Sajnur only pushed south into the region because of the existence of the Laqima and Sajnur's desire to control knowledge of magical comminuties in the regions surrounding the country. The Laqima were introduced to quidditch only after the takeover of Mersuq by the Kalavar Nerar, and no indigenous ballsport existed prior thanks to the harsh desert climate. Tourism to Laqima communities is non-existent.

[Kriegiersien]

Coach Baldur Gates moved some flying wooden figures that looked like the players on a simulated playing field in front of the team.

“A Bludger Quaffle combi and attack pattern 4-2-1 when the sun is here, that’s what I want to see. Good, we won, well done team. For the next match we will rotate, the reserve players will get their chance. Vanya, Zacharia and Lisa will score. Amanda and Kevin will beat them up. Pamela you will guard the goal. On to the Training ground, we will prepare the match against Khzajamal, the rest can rest.”

Everyone clapped and left the room to the right, to go to the hotel or the left to the training ground. Only Jimmy Murphy was stopped.
“Jimmy, you can rest, too. Sam will play.”
“Coach, he is in the medical room. He collided with the seeker from Banija when catching the snitch.”
“And catching the snitch he did. This is the vital point of the game and we can’t risk this position. He will be fine, our doctors can do wonders. Virtually.”
“But I am good, too. I am the fastest on the broom.”
“Yes, but the experience and results of Sam are irresistible.”
“We won the Blueberry and Winter Sea Cup together, coach. I got 83.35 of the snitches in the final games.”
In his mind the coach looked back to this great success they had together with their home wizard school for a moment, smiling, before his face darkened.
“Those were times. But it is decided.”
“Why?”
Jimmy looked at the floor.
“It is because I dated your daughter.”
“Nonsense. I am a professional. You are really good. I know. And if Sam ever totally and unpreventable drops out you will get your chance. But not now. And hands of my daughter!”
The last words were hissed.
“We are just having some…”
“Don’t mention her again. She is save in her tower now at home and you will not bother her.”
“You imprisoned her in a tower?”
“Nonsense. She is in her tower trying to fabricate ivory. She somehow thinks that can be done like wine out of water or gold out of a donkey. Whatever, you will not disturb her.”
Jimmy tried to avoid the finger poked at him.

“Why did you take me with you anyway, if you are so angry at me?”
“Yeah. I would not just nominate you for the squad because the headmaster, the committee, my wife and daughter demanded it, even though I thought there were other options. No, no, it is ok, you are good. And here I can have an eye on you.”
He made a fitting gesture, turned around and left to the training grounds.

Jimmy began to sweep the floor with the angry shaking magic broom.
Why did that happen to him?

He picked up a newspaper from the floor and looked at the animated pictures of the last match and the brutal crashes and clashes of the seekers in pursuit of the snitch. Kriegiersien against Banija. Delaclava liverpudian.
Love really had no place in this tournament.

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Team Western Fardelshufflestein

Albrecht Brandt
Albrecht swerved to the side as a Bludger hurtled toward where his head had been. Tucked under his right arm was the Quaffle, which was why the opposing Beaters were yeeting Buldgers at him, while he steered the broom with his left. His robe fluttered behind him in a blue of deep blue, and his wavy fawn-colored hair was a matted, sweaty mess.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted two Starcom Chasers. Of course they were attempting to trap him and cut off any potential maneuvers to the left or right; that's what they'd been doing every time the Quaffle was in his possession. Neither of them flinched when another Bludger (or perhaps the same Bludger, who really knew at this point) nearly smashed into Albrecht's left shoulder. He was barely able to dodge it without the Chaser to his right--the one with HOPE printed on his uniform--knocking into him.

He was so close to the goalposts. Every few seconds, the Bludgers attempted to knock him off his broom, and now all three Starcom Chasers were on him. One grabbed his right arm in an attempt to loosen his grip on the Quaffle, but he was close, so close--

"GET THEE TO A NUNNERY, YOU RAGHEADED MUSHRUMP!" Directly above him, Cameron Windhoffer was distracting the Chaser named BRUCE. She caught Albrecht's eye and flashed him a mischievous grin, then shouted, "YOU PIGEON-LIVERED KNAVE! COME AT ME!"

Albrecht could taste victory now. He launched upward, perfectly vertical, his broom spiraling as he shot higher and higher above the stadium. The wind roared in his ears, buffeted his hair and robe, while the two chasers not dealing with Windhoffer tailed him. He climbed towared the clouds, heart hammering in his chest.

And began plummeting to the ground.

Albrecht tumbled down like a stone through water, utterly still, his features gathered in a mask of concentration. He hung from his broom, his left hand the only thing preventing certain death, his stomach in his throat. The terrified shouts of the crowd seemed like a distant thing, a noise that belonged in another world, as the goalposts became closer and closer.

"FRIEDA!" he roared, praying his other fellow Chaser was near enough to execute this. It was something the team had practiced countless times, but had only attempted twice during a match.

As his cramping fingers begged to release their grip on the broom, Albrecht lobbed the Quaffle at Frieda. He then summoned every ounce of strength and seized the broom with his now free right arm and directed the thing to shoot laterally toward the opposing goalpost. With a grunt, he gently brought the broom closer to the ground, then wrapped his legs around it.

No sooner had he righted himself than did the two Chasers he'd temporarily shaken return. But this was all part of the plan. Albrecht smiled wickedly, adrenaline pumping, as Frieda and Cameron circled the Starcom Keeper. Just a few more seconds, old sport, and we will score on you. Again.

Albrecht zoomed toward Cameron, who presently held the Quaffle and was struggling to shake Bruce. Cameron silently passed him the Quaffle, unbeknownst to Bruce, but continued to fly singlehandedly as though she was still in possession. The left goalpost was directly to Albrecht's right, and he tossed the Quaffle through without a second thought.

Screams erupted from the stands. Albrecht zipped away from the goalposts ere Starcom realized their error, for Cameron had pretended to throw something at the middle goalpost to divert their Keeper's attention. From the other end of the stadium, Frieda performed a backflip on her broom, then began pursuing the current holder of the Quaffle: Jessica Smith.

Josef Blunt
Ticklebrains. Blunt growled as he knocked a Bludger away from Windhoffer, who was in the process of taunting an opposing Chaser. Team Starcom had fallen into the trap, the same way Blunt's league had when they played the only other professional Qudditch team in Western Fardelshufflestein, the New Hamletberg Hawks.

Blunt was, truly, a fitting name for him. Six feet tall and stocky, Blunt was outfitted with a bulbous nose and round, fleshy ears, with a square jaw and gaping mouth that was set in a perpetual sneer. His piggish blue-gray eyes darted back and forth under long, bushy eyebrows, and his dark brown hair was shaved to reveal a slightly misshapen skull. As a Beater, he was powerful, vicious, and deadly.

Nobody on Team Western Fardelshufflestein had ever killed anyone, but Blunt had certainly come the closest. Given, it was an accident, but Wolfgang Fletcher had spent six months in the hospital as a result and now had a permanent limp in his right leg.

Blunt swatted another Bludger toward the Chaser on Brandt's left, the girl named Smith. However, opposing Beater Dobbie sent it spiraling toward Windhoffer. Blunt raced after the Bludger, knocking it toward Hope this time, then blocked Dobbie from hitting it again.

Hope dodged Blunt's attack, and the other Beater, Jefferson, hit the second Bludger directly at Brandt. Brandt simply shifted to the right, unharmed, allowing Blunt to hit this Bludger at Smith again.

It was then that Brandt began flying up.

Blunt shifted his focus to Bruce, who was still on Windhoffer's tail. He located the nearest Bludger and smacked it in Bruce's direction. Bruce didn't notice the Bludger until it was too late; it knocked him off his broom, and he slammed into the ground. Fortunately, he'd been very low, so he appeared unhurt. But Blunt had done his job.

Something buzzed in his left ear. Without turning around, Blunt knew what it was: the Snitch. He reached for it, only for the stupid thing to dart just out of his grasp, and he reprimanded himself. He couldn't alert the opposing Seeker, he couldn't--Blast it all.

Perkins had spotted the Snitch.

Wilhelmina Smythe
Perkins noticed the Snitch before she did.

It was hovering right by Blunt, that oaf, and he was feebly attempting to capture it. Didn't he know better than to--well. Do exactly that.

She dove after Perkins, operating only on instinct, praying that Blunt at least had the sense to hit a Bludger at the other Seeker. He didn't, mainly because he was too busy shouting at Jefferson, a Beater on the Starcom team. Whatever. Her focus was on the Snitch, not the idiot she'd known since kindergarten.

They chased the Snitch around the field, carving invisible coils round the Chasers not involved in Albrecht's stunt (that psycho) and the referees. At one point, just as Albrecht began his mad descent, the Snitch was right by the announcers. Wilhelmina made a grab for it, only for the damned thing to whizz into the crowd right as her fingers brushed a delicate wing.

This mad chase continued for what felt like an eternity and a millisecond simultaneously. She and Perkins were neck and neck their focus unwavering, not even when cheers erupted from the stands. Each of them had only one goal in mind. Victory.

Wilhelmina shot across the field, not even two meters above the grass, her eyes tracking the Snitch's every move. Perkins was jostling her, desperate to throw her off course, but she was forged from steel. Nothing could tear her from her path, nothing could shake her resolve....

It was at precisely that moment that a Bludger slammed into Wilhelmina's ribs.

She was thrown off her broom, falling nearly sideways until she crashed into the field with a crunch. Her right leg was twisted beneath her, and her left arm was bent at an odd angle. She was barely conscious of anything except the stabbing sensation in her leg, the fire in her chest, the fact that she couldn't breathe, she couldn't breathe--

A golden sphere was bobbing before her eyes. With her right arm, she reached for it, blackness and agony clouding her vision. Every cell in her body screamed with even the tiniest of movements. Yet her bruised fingers wrapped around the thing, the Snitch, and she felt a surge of victorious pride engulf her as she passed out.

[Zwangzug]

Modana--translated edition

Bita Sarhaddi was beaten to the Snitch by the Quebecois Seeker in Zwangzug's second match of this Quidditch World Cup. Zwangzug's Chasers managed to put up thirty-six goals in the protracted match; however, their counterparts scored forty-five off an exhausted Matthias Vanderwaal.

Mēfū Ōmhun's ascendance has begged questions about her training. Neither a Warzenhund alumnus nor an eastern alchemist, her apprenticeship may be the most similar to Bita Sarhaddi's, who studied under a pasagru in Namiri. However, Ōmhun says the similarities are misleading. "From what Bita says, it is very hard, very lonely. My mentor, Febwō, was almost like an older sister--she helped me control my magic, so that I could grow up not just alongside the other witches and wizards, but the no-Mags too. I went to a no-Mag school, and then in the evenings, studied some of the ancient texts to get a better sense of magic and what I wanted to do best, which is Transfiguration."

Could an exchange program bridge these two insular traditions? "I think my pasagru would be disappointed if I'd gone to any no-Mag school, let alone one all the way in the Picksall Islands," Sarhaddi laughs. "However, I think it might be more beneficial for younger students. To get a feel for how magicians live elsewhere in our country. Especially for the vinelings, I think the sparklings' parents might be too scared to let them leave."

"Warzenhund likes to think it has a monopoly on magical education here," said Timothy Frost-Hordal, a Beater for the Ridder Ravne and the national team. "And to some extent, I think if you want to have a really solid academic grounding in every field of magic, that's true. But not everyone is going into research, I mean, look at how many Quidditch teams this world supports, that's a bit absurd. Even accounting for passionate amateurs, you don't need to know the biography of Grok the Grimy to mend a cauldron, now do you? Anyway, each to their own."

"I dunno if I'd recommend someone who's not from around here becoming an apprentice with the Guild," Enzo Bartali, Frost-Hordal's counterpart from Giordano. "Not that you couldn't, I'm sure they'd let anyone in. It can just be a bit cliquey, some of those vinelings go on about who knows who or who poisoned whose grandmother centuries ago. It's a bit tiresome."

Zwangzug face The Red Emperors of The Jovannic in the final match of the group stage.

[Kohnhead]

Kohnhead start out 1-1

The team from Kohnhead had never faced competition so fierce. Chasers who could pass the quaffle full field easily. Beaters who sent bludgers at you faster than you could react with dead accuracy. The team took a beating in their first game against Havynwilde getting destroyed 290-80. Now they were down 140-80 when Alvin Cohler failed to catch the snitch and was in fact on the wrong side of the stadium when the snitch was caught by the opposing team.

After the first game Kohnhead made some changes to try and prevent another blowout from happening and faced Sarzonia. Now the game was tied at 20 when Cohler streaked ahead of Tommy Entwistle to capture the snitch before crashing into the ground at full speed. It was a miracle Cohler didn't die or suffer too bad of an injury. Just some mild broken bones that of course can be mended with magical spells.

Now a do or die game against Valdiviola to determine the second best team in Kohnhead's group behind Havynwilde. Will Cohler capture the snitch, and will captain Toolville lead the team to victory? I sure hope so

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Team Western Fardelshufflestein

PROSPERO

Page 4A

---

Brown Bears Win Second Match at Hefty Price
Translated from Fardelshufflesteinian

Western Fardelshufflestein's inaugural national Quidditch team, the Brown Bears, won their second match in the Quidditch World Cup against Team Starcom Racing. However, the 330-130 victory came with a steep cost; Seeker Wilhelmina Smythe was injured by a Bludger while capturing the Golden Snitch.

According to match officials, Starcom Racing Beater Paul Dobbie hit the Bludger to throw Smythe off course. "It was never my intention to hit her with the Bludger, let alone injure her that badly," Dobbie told PROSPERO. The referees, at the behest of Team Western Fardelshufflestein's coach, ruled the hit accidental.

Smythe was knocked from her broom when a Bludger slammed into her chest, fracturing ten of her ribs; she landed seven meters from her broom, which flew mere inches in the opposite direction. Bone fragments punctured her left lung, and she suffered a ruptured spleen, our source states. Smythe strained several ligaments in her right leg and sustained a hairline fracture to the fibula. The source also explained that Smythe had a compound fracture in her left arm and a dislocated right shoulder.

"I know it was an accident. After all, I saw the entire thing in high definition," Coach Johanna Mueller stated. "Besides, Smythe caught the Snitch. The match was finished. Why penalize a player when there really is no practical reason to do so?"

Team Western Fardelshufflestein's reserve Seeker, Leah Warner, will be playing in the next match and perhaps the remainder of Western Fardelshufflestein's time in the World Cup. Though Warner could not be reached for comment, her wife revealed to PROSPERO that Warner "had barely been bested by Smythe in the National Team tryouts for Seeker. She's not envious of Smythe; on the contrary, she admires her."

As the Quidditch team prepares for their final preliminary match against undefeated opponent Ko-oren, Western Fardelshufflesteinians cannot help but wonder: Is this the end of Team Western Fardelshufflestein's run in Quidditch World Cup 2020?

Or is it only the beginning?

---

Leah Warner is matched in skill with Wilhelmina Smythe. She only lost to Smythe by fraction of a point at tryouts.

[Ko-oren]

Making his way through the labyrinthine halls of the Guild of Protectors, Zagehl passed by a few of his coworkers. They all carried a smug expression of knowing something that Zagehl was still in the dark about, but Zagehl was too tired to notice after a full day in the blistering cold of Ko-oren's north. He was definitely thankful of Rozodhin's year-round friendly climate. Making the journey home after a day's work was always a treat.

Sure, Zagehl had thought of how it was to be in a different guild. For all the friends that he had who were in other guilds, though, he couldn't form a clear picture of what their daily lives were like. He had thought the Guild of Masons before, or the Guild of Messengers, but in the end he was always reminded of his work for the Protectors. It is what he knew best. It was the only thing he knew.

More colleagues were waiting for him as he got closer to the central hall of the Guild. The Guild Master was there, waiting for him, a hand outstretched, holding a letter. "It's Quidditch time again!" the Guild Master announced, loudly, to all that had gathered. "And Zagehl, you're selected again to make us proud!"

The room erupted in cheers. "I guess they liked what I did before," Zagehl said, "and I hoped they'd come back to me. I'll get my bat! Of Free Republican make, a dear souvenir from the last World Cup, of course. When is it?"

"Why, the team gathers in a few days. Lurthesingur has kindly offered to receive everyone. All arrangements are in order, you're free to go. Your travel from our Book to theirs is covered as well, and we're lucky it's not that far. Also, you're the only player from Rozodhin to be on the team, unfortunately. But we'll have more in the next one!"

[Taeshan]

Fly like a butterfly,
Sting like the crushing doubt I have in the 2020 election.

Cut-off

Group A:

Taeshan 430–490 The liverpudian revolution of ireland
Delaclava 220–120 Sajnur

Group A:
                                        G W D L   PF   PA   PD Points
1 The liverpudian revolution of ireland 3 2 0 1  670  590  +80 6 
2                               Taeshan 3 2 0 1 1520 1490  +30 6 
3                             Delaclava 3 1 0 2  540  660 -120 3 
4                                Sajnur 3 1 0 2  960  950  +10 3

H2H deciding Tiebreaker in Both

Group B:

Banija 220–50 Amenria
Kriegiersien 420–320 Khazajamal

Group B:
               G W D L   PF   PA   PD Points
1 Kriegiersien 3 3 0 0 1090  630 +460 9 
2       Banija 3 2 0 1  620  430 +190 6 
3   Khazajamal 3 1 0 2  940  930  +10 3 
4      Amenria 3 0 0 3  470 1130 -660 0

Group C:

HUElavia 330–530 Razenthurea
Equestria 300–220 Peoples Republic of Joyea

Group C:
                            G W D L   PF   PA   PD Points
1               Razenthurea 3 3 0 0 1290  790 +500 9 
2                 Equestria 3 2 0 1  870  830  +40 6 
3 Peoples Republic of Joyea 3 1 0 2  890  890   +0 3 
4                  HUElavia 3 0 0 3  770 1310 -540 0

Group D:

Starblaydia 350–140 Otakuverse
Darmen 150–330 Abahnfleft

Group D:
              G W D L  PF  PA   PD Points
1  Abahnfleft 3 2 0 1 690 610  +80 6 
2 Starblaydia 3 2 0 1 820 490 +330 6 
3      Darmen 3 1 0 2 420 650 -230 3 
4  Otakuverse 3 1 0 2 450 630 -180 3

H2H Tiebreaker

Group E:

Havynwilde 710–440 Sarzonia
Valdiviola 40–190 Kohnhead

Group E:
             G W D L   PF   PA   PD Points
1 Havynwilde 3 3 0 0 1240  580 +660 9 
2   Kohnhead 3 2 0 1  440  350  +90 6 
3 Valdiviola 3 1 0 2  250  460 -210 3 
4   Sarzonia 3 0 0 3  490 1030 -540 0

Group F:

Hinode 190–60 Sylestone
Jeckland 90–280 Salkin Rock

Group F:
              G W D L  PF   PA   PD Points
1 Salkin Rock 3 3 0 0 640  210 +430 9 
2      Hinode 3 2 0 1 450  330 +120 6 
3   Sylestone 3 1 0 2 880  900  -20 3 
4    Jeckland 3 0 0 3 710 1240 -530 0

Group G:

Gyatso-kai 420–300 Starcom Racing
Ko-oren 1590–1920 Western Fardelshufflestein

Group G:
                             G W D L   PF   PA   PD Points
1 Western Fardelshufflestein 3 3 0 0 2450 1810 +640 9 
2                    Ko-oren 3 2 0 1 2310 2330  -20 6 
3                 Gyatso-kai 3 1 0 2  790  950 -160 3 
4             Starcom Racing 3 0 0 3  560 1020 -460 0

Group H:

Zwangzug 210–100 The Jovannic
Quebec 460–500 Jantor

Group H:
               G W D L   PF   PA   PD Points
1       Quebec 3 2 0 1 1500 1200 +300 6 
2     Zwangzug 3 2 0 1  770  700  +70 6 
3 The Jovannic 3 1 0 2  750  780  -30 3 
4       Jantor 3 1 0 2  630  970 -340 3

H2H Tiebreaker

Which means your RoS matchups are

The liverpudian revolution of ireland vs Banija @ Atlantea Quidditch Grounds
Razenthurea vs Starblaydia @ The Haberdashery
Havynwilde vs Hinode @ Bayern in the Castle
Western Fardelshufflestein vs Zwangzug @ Silver Lake
Kriegiersien vs Taeshan @ Quake Arena
Abahnfleft vs Equestria @ Dragon's Nest
Salkin Rock vs Kohnhead @ Sleepy Hollow Quidditch Pitch
Quebec vs Ko-oren @ The Grounds

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Team Western Fardelshufflestein

PROSPERO

2/6/2020 Page 1A

---

Eighteen-Hour Showdown Results in Quidditch Triumph
Translated from Fardelshufflesteinian

Western Fardelsshufflesteinians celebrate third match victory, and advance to the Round of Sixteen, at Silver Lake Stadium in Taeshan

Team Western Fardelshufflestein went head-to-head with number one Group G nation, Team Ko-oren, in the longest Quidditch match ever played by Team Western Fardelshufflestein to date. Lasting 17 hours, 52 minutes, and 53.58 seconds, the match began at 8:00 local time and did not draw to a close until almost 2:00 the next morning. Due to the excruciating length of the game, reserves were rotated in every four hours, which resulted in every player seeing action multiple times. Only Seeker Leah Warner remained in action for the entire match (with the aid of a few charms), as there is currently no reserve Seeker.

The match started out ordinarily enough, with Team Western Fardelshufflestein scoring the first ten points and Team Ko-oren scoring four consequtive times. Two and a half hours in, however, it became apparent that the end was nowhere in sight. The two Seekers had hardly moved since the Quaffle entered the game, and the Snitch was nowhere to be seen. There were several close calls as the match progressed, with both Seekers getting within centimeters of it, but the Snitch largely remained out of sight.

The competition betwixt the Chasers was brutal. Often, a player on one side would score, only for the opposition to sink two goals in a row; Bludgers zoomed around the stadium, bruising athletes slumped over from exhaustion; Keeper Henry Jagermeister had to be physically pried off of his broom because his muscles were locked.

All members of Team Western Fardelshufflestein performed spectacularly, but by far the distinction of Most Valuable Player goes to Leah Warner. Warner, who made the national team as Reserve Seeker for the 2020 season, assumed the role of active player after Wilhelmina Smythe suffered a season-ending injury in the match against Starcom Racing Sunday. For the entirety of this record-shattering match, Warner battled the Ko-oren Seeker in getting the Snitch; after almost exactly eighteen hours, the last of which was spent in the temporary hotel complexes set up for the influx of Quidditch fans, Warner caught the elusive Golden Snitch just outside a wizarding hotel lobby.

With a staggering score of 1920 to Team Ko-oren's equally impressive 1590, Team Western Fardelshufflestein has secured a spot in the Round of Sixteen as undefeated champions.

---

Me: Alright, time to check the score to see how Team Western Fardel--
*Sees score*

[Ko-oren]

Team	Geheren	Western Fardelshufflestein
Score	1590	1920
Score from Quaffle	1590	1870
Saves by Keeper	43	57
Saves by Bludger	19	9
Fouls	51	42
Checks, Steals, Intercepts	39	61
Bludger Atts/Hits	252/55	218/48

Lead changes: 73
Time: 17:52:53

A Marathon Match between Geheren and Western Fardelshufflestein ended after just shy of 18 hours, with our opponents in blue victorious by a 330 point lead - including the snitch, caught by the Bears' Warner. The Chasers - five per selection - were in tow for the full match, scoring 346 times in nearly 1073 minutes, for about one goal scored every 3 minutes. The Western Fardelshufflestein Chasers won them the match, already clearly ahead even before the Snitch came into play, by not only outscoring us, but also reigning supreme in the air, successfully challenging 61 Geheren passes and possessions. Once our purple squad was within scoring range, Jagermeister and Mohamed were good at last-ditch saves, of which they had 57 to our 43.

Fatigue set in after about the sixth hour, marking the first substitutions. A chaser for a chaser on both sides, a substitution that was repeated after that about every hour and a half, allowing two out of five Chasers to rest for about three hours until their services were needed again. Scoring first sped up, with the Keepers tiring out substantially quicker than Chasers (before the Keepers were subbed out), then slowed down as all players involved in Quaffle play lost focus. As both teams did bring four Beaters each, the Bludgers controlled the match from the 13th hour onward, or so. The Beaters even contributed to defence by hitting the Quaffle out of trajectory a handful of times, as well as key hits on the Chaser when they were wounding up for a scoring throw.

The Seekers were quiet for most of the match, with the first Snitch appearance in the third hour, after which the winged orb was chased around for a few minutes, then two synchronised Bludger hits ended that. The Snitch went out of view for the next hour and a half or so. After a few more close interactions, the Snitch was finally chased off-ground and caught by a nearby hotel, both Seekers behind it, but Warner was the lucky one in the end.

The result, ironically, didn't matter as both teams were already assured of a knockout match. Hopefully the squad can get enough rest - all other matches lasted up until one fourth of this one. We're lucky to have the experience, but the biggest lesson learned is to select more than 13 players in case of another marathon event.

[Kita-Hinode]

Leun-Yeo applied some ice to her wrist. The World Cup had probably been the most exhausting event she ever been to on the sheer basis that the number of bumps she took just to catch the Golden Snitch. The bastard thing had eluded her in the first game but every other game after that, she was able to make sure people knew of her reputation. Catching the snitch against Jeckland was a bit trickier than the one against Sylestone: She actually hit the little object with her knee to prevent the Jeckish seeker from catching it while she was simply just too fast for Sylestonian efforts.

On the other hand, what the Hinodejin were lacking was scoring. The game against the bastards from Salkin Rock was an outlier but the Hinodejin's poor scoring performance in hindsight really hurt matters when they were squaring off against Jeckland and the game against Sylestone was also notorious for few goals. Now, they were off to face against Havynwilde. They didn't know who played for Havynwilde as they preferred not to give away names... even if they topped their group which was probably one of the most awkward realizations one would ever have but there we go.

Bloody Quidditch.

[Kriegiersien]

I have a dream




“Everett. Everett.”
The sweet voice came from a woman flying on a broom left to him.
“Hey?”, he said.
“Shanonah is a bitch. Don’t you think?”
Everett looked at Shanonah, who was flying with her back to him, talking with a blond, muscular man on a broom.
“Someone should teach her.”
Suddenly Shanonah looked around and laughed at him.
Rain began falling and a bludger flew into Everetts Hand.

“He is an idiot. Look how pathetic he tries to handle the bludger”, said the blond man near Shanon*.
Shanon looked at Everett, the bludger rolling and spinning on his wet head while he tried to get it with his hand.
“He will totally fail the team. Would be better if he was out.”

In the arena the team was scoring one point after another. The players from Kriegiersien were moving like in slow motion while the chasers from Taeshan were scoring until the scoreboard was literally on fire.

“They are no problem, but Everett will cost us one day”, the man whispered in Shanons ear.


“Look how she has nothing better to do then make out with the next guy”, hissed the woman near Everett.
Everett saw Shanonah kissing the man while a bludger hit Jeremiah straight next to them.

“Accidents happen.”

The woman near Everett changed into Shanonah and the man near Shanon into Everett.

“What happens if someone hits you?”
Shanonah slapped Everett and Everett Shanon.
Both retaliated.




Pamela Cox and Kevin Kelly woke up lying near to each other in their beds.
Louis Clark, sitting in a chair next to them, looked up from his newspaper.
“Did it work?”, he asked.
Pamela massaged her cheek.
“We will see. If the beaters of Taeshan take each others out tomorrow the inception and dreamology course with Professor Cobb was a success.”
“And if they are just confused, it is ok, too”, said Kevin.
“And if not?”
“Well, against the host? We are fecked”

“You dark wizards are weird wired”, said Louis while reading the last results in the news. "Have you seen Ko-oren against Western Fardelshufflestein? I hope we are faster."




*The changing name is taken over from the change in the description in the roster. Makes it more dreamy anyway

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

A ridiculously long post for a ridiculously long match!

Team Western Fardelshufflestein

The Match Against Ko-oren--The Highlights

The seven Quidditch players, six first stringers and one reserve, gathered round the whiteboard. It was a mess of hastily drawn symbols and shaky lines, this board, with crude arrows and the occasional word written in very small letters. Standing before it was the team's coach, Johanna Mueller, a stern woman of 57.

Leah tightened her grip around her broom, teeth clenched. She shouldn't be standing here, poised for action, not when she was the reserve. Wilhelmina was supposed to be in this spot. Wilhelmina, who was covered in casts and bandages practically from head to toe. Who could barely wish the team luck when they stopped by to visit her just after breakfast.

"This is, perhaps, the toughest opponent we have faced to date. Team Ko-oren has won both of their previous two matches, and they rely on strategic maneuvers as opposed to direct force. We must be prepared for subtlety as well as more upfront tactics; they will adjust their plays based on how you respond to their scoring attempts." Pausing her speech, Coach nodded at the kid, Henry.
"Jagermeister. Trust your instincts. Unless otherwise directed by Brandt, be prepared for any offensive front. DuPont, Blunt, confuse their Chasers as much as possible. We want to create so much distraction that they find it difficult to score. Brandt, refrain from pulling your stunt unless such a diversion is critical. And Warner." Leah flinched at the mention of her name. "Stay on their seeker at all times. When searching for the Snitch, always be aware of your opponent. Losing focus is what almost cost us the second match." At that, Blunt shifted uncomfortably. Leah caught his eye and gave him a reassuring smile, though she was absolutely terrified.

"Anything you want to add, Captain?"

Everyone's attention shifted from Mueller to Albrecht. As usual, Albrecht didn't seem to mind. "I do, actually." His steely gaze scanned the team. "I want us to play this match for each other. Not for ourselves, not for our country, but for us. For Wilhelmina."
Something that resembled emotion flickered across his face, almost too quickly for Leah to notice. "Don't think about everything that's happening in the world. Don't focus on your inner demons or regrets. We need to concentrate on now, this moment, this match. When we're on our brooms, nothing else matters."

Leah wished Albrecht's words could make her problems go away. But they didn't, and she was left feeling guilty that Wilhelmina was injured and she was here, on the verge of stealing the thunder.

"BROWN BEARS on 3! Ein, Zwei, Drei, BROWN BEARS!"

Timestamp 01:30:26

Mein Gott, they still haven't spotted the Snitch.

DuPont smacked a Bludger toward one of the purple-clad Chasers, one of his eyes trained on the Seekers overhead. They were circling slowly, methodically, half concentrated on each other and half surveying the stadium below. DuPont figured they would have at least caught a glimpse of the thing by now, but apparently today's Snitch was particularly elusive.

A roar shook the blue and red half of the stadium as Albrecht scored another goal. Snapping out of his thoughts, DuPont forced himself to concentrate on the task at hand, which was keeping the opposition from scoring.

He noticed an opposing Beater hit a Bludger toward Albrecht, who was pursuing the Quaffle alongside an adversary. Without thinking, he shot toward the Bludger and smacked it toward the purple Seeker, panting, his arm muscles straining. He didn't follow the course of the first Bludges, as he now had to prevent Albrecht from taking a Bludger to the head. That boy...he's going to get horribly injured someday. He's so reckless.

But this was not something to ponder in the midst of such a crucial match.

DuPont knocked a Bludger toward the enemy Chasers, praying for increased endurance.

Timestamp 04:13:11

He couldn't feel his legs. His arms, too, were numb, save for the pain that shot through them with every movement. How long had he been here...four hours? Five? Everything was blurring.

The Quaffle barreled toward the goal from somewhere off to his right. He dove toward it in what felt like slow motion. His fingers didn't even come close to touching the Quaffle, for his reaction was delayed, his movements sluggish.

The clapping from the stands could have been coming from kilometers away. Henry heard everything as though he was underwater, and his watering eyes were bloodshot, his neck cramping. He wasn't sure if he was truly awake, or if he'd slipped into a dream.

"Jagermeister!" Albrecht, the captain. Henry blinked, rubbed his eyes, tried to focus. "You're out. Mohamed is playing for the next few hours." Then, "You're doing well, kid. Take a break; you earned it."

An exhausted grin spread across Henry's face. "Thanks."

He dragged himself to the team's pit behind the goalposts and collapsed on the bench as Mohamed launched into the air.

Timestamp 09:21:57

"Albrect? ALBRECHT."

Albrecht jolted upright, wildly scanning his surroundings. He was...still on his broom. Playing Quidditch. As he had been all day.

It was late afternoon, and a storm was gathering in the Taeshan sky. Great. He'd been playing for the entire time; Cameron had been near collapse after four hours, and Frieda...well, she had just been replaced by Reserve Chaser Lucas Schaffer. Albrecht would have let Cameron sub for him, but the fatigue had still lingered in her eyes at the eight our mark.

Which meant he'd be stuck here until the timestamp hit twelve hours. Or until someone had the sense to catch the Snitch.

His performance was suffering, he knew, as he hadn't done any of his maneuvers in a couple of hours. He was starting to have trouble seeing straight. Worse, his stomach was racked with hunger pangs that were getting more intense with each passing second.

Oren Ludwig lugged the Quaffle at Albrecht. He caught it, barely, and made a mad dash for the goalposts. His mind was empty of everything except for the need to keep going, keep moving and stay on the broom while considerably less worn Chasers from Ko-oren pursued him. He was nearly there--he--

Feebly, pathetically, put another ten points on the board.

Someone, please get me out of here....

Timestamp 12:42:01

One Reserve Beater, Brianna had come to discover, was not enough.

After eight straight hours of yeeting Bludgers left and right, Brianna was finally granted leave. She had been substituted in for DuPont at the four hour mark, only for DuPont to return after another four hours to replace the practically unconscious Blunt.
Blunt had taken her place when the time hit 12 (!) hours, which meant she had four hours to eat and rest.

Beside her, the team captain was sprawled across the bench, deeply asleep. He'd been out there for over ten hours before Mueller had finally ordered him off the field and sent Cameron Windhoffer back in, at which point Albrecht had promptly fainted. Brianna figured he'd be out for awhile, and, if they were lucky, miss the end of the game.

What in the world was wrong with today's Snitch?

Timestamp 17:41:33

Leah wasn't sure how she was even awake. She'd lost track of the time around the second hour, and maybe that was it, maybe that was why she was still going. She knew the sun had set awhile ago, and that they must have passed the twelve hour mark, but she didn't know how she hadn't fallen from her broom.

Team Ko-oren, at least, had a Reserve Seeker. They'd been rotating every once in a while. Leah, of course, did not have that luxury, for the second runner-up in the tryouts was in the process of being contacted and--

She almost missed it. Had she blinked, she would have, and the Snitch would either have been noticed by Tahdi Thukahtingen or ignored completely.

But she didn't miss it. Despite the fact that she was practically glued to her broom and here eyes refused to remain open for more than a few seconds, Leah Warner caught sight of the Golden Snitch.

Wasting no time, she set off in hot pursuit of that little bastard. This was easily the longest math she had ever played in, and, yes, it was entirely the fault of the Snitch. Frustration and ambition fueled her as she chased the thing away from the stadium, for she would accept nothing but triumph. There was no way Thukahtingen would get to this bloody--gah, she was too tired for WORDS--thing.

The two Seekers tore through the inky night, heedless of the light drizzle left over from the earlier evening storm. They followed the Snitch into the tents and hotels that had been built for the massive influx of guests, darting past windows and through alleyways. Leah, for one, could barely remain on her broom, and the speed of flight seemed to be the only thing ensuring she didn't give in. Thukahtingen was in better condition than she, but not by much, and he seemed ready to pass out at any moment.

They were crashing into one another, their flight paths erratic, arms groping for a Snitch that hovered just out of reach. Neither relented, yet both yearned for the sweet release of forfeiture more than anything--but to do so would mean the efforts of the other players were all for nothing.

So they continued the chase, disturbing multiple Gyatso-kai and Starcom Racing fans who were off celebrating or sleeping. If one lost sight of it, the other successfully tracked its next move. It was as though they were two halves of a run-down but functional machine.

And then, out of nowhere, the Snitch faltered.

It jerked around, froze, then began falling toward the vacant sidewalk. Thukahtingen must have blinked, for it was Leah who snatched it right outside the lobby of the hotel her team was occupying.

Immediately, she tumbled off her broom. Thukahtingen was right above her, bobbing up and down on his broom, coated in sweat and utter exhaustion. He wore an expression of acceptance, yet there was pride, for this had probably been his longest match, as well. And she was cradling the Snitch, pressing it into her chest, panting, staring at the other Seeker with a loopy half smile.
Every inch of her ached, throbbed, screamed, and it hurt to be awake, to breathe. But this was the kind of pain she would pay countless schlubs for.