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GS SuperSports+ events [closed-ish]

PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2021 10:23 am
by Graintfjall
This thread serves three functions.

First, it will be the omnibus domestic newswire for all my puppets. My original domestic newswire was hastily made and reorganizing it will be a pain. Furthemore, I have quite a few puppets. And if I created a domestic thread for each one it would quickly become overwhelming spam. While a dedicated domestic thread isn’t needed, I prefer it for the convenience of organization and quick review. Therefore, I’ve created this thread, in which I will post the domestic results of all of my puppets, as well as any other relevant material. This thread is reserved for the posting of domestic results by me or my puppets. Please note that by posting with my puppets I am not necessarily implying any IC relationship between those nations.

Second, it serves as a repository for any small international tournaments I run. These tournaments will be things that are not worth having their own thread. Some may be run between my various puppets, some may be somewhat open to other contributors. These events will not normally have any RP bonus, may use test versions of scorinators, may be stacked full of my own entries, and may otherwise not conform to normal NS Sports standards. Or they may never even run in the first place. No apology is made for any of this. Please only post to such events if explicitly invited and otherwise send inquiries via TG to Graintfjall (regardless of which puppet nation is running said event).

Third, it is the roleplay arm of GS SuperSports+. GTV is the major television company in Græntfjall, SBC in Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland, and SuperSport in The Hannasean Federation, and the three have combined to launch an ambitious enhanced sports coverage service through GS SuperSports+, offering a variety of subscription options to suit fans of just about every sport. Notably, GS SuperSports+ is aiming for a multiversal presence and as such offers packages even in sports that are unpopular or unknown in one, two, or all three nations. Note that for nations are that are not my puppets, being carried by GS SuperSports+ is purely an IC gloss, so if you wish your national league or other event to be carried by GS SuperSports+, please do not post here but instead send a TG to Graintfjall.

By sport

PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2021 10:24 am
by Graintfjall
Football
Tennis: Jabal Akhdar City Open

Volleyball: Græntfjall Women’s Volleyball League

By host nation

PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2021 10:24 am
by Hannasea

PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2021 10:24 am
by Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland
-reserved-

PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2021 11:06 am
by Graintfjall
Image

Government A-lists international football amid rights shake-up

Minutes after Græntfjaller, Schutzenphalian and Hannasean officials announced a huge sports media deal that will see GTV, SBC, and SuperSports combine their broadcasting power into one blockbuster service, the Græntfjaller government swiftly moved to place international football on the reserved ‘A-list’ of sporting events which must retain free-to-air coverage. Along with other major sporting events such as the Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics, and Southeastern Regional Ten-Dimensional Mornington Crescent Championships (Women’s Over 65 Bracket), all international football played by Græntfjaller teams, including the Copa Rushmori in Eura, the next World Cup and Cup of Harmony, and the forthcoming Under-18 World Cup, will be broadcast free-to-air on GTV. The move should reassure those concerned about the increasing dominance of subscription cable in the sports television market.

The Græntfjaller-Schutzenphalian-Hannasean merger will form a new conglomerate, “GS SuperSports+”, amalgamating rights acquired by GTV, SBC and SuperSports. The headline of the deal is an eye-watering sum paid to acquire the rights for The Fußball Show with Jessika Jünkindietrünk, making the Schutzenphalian-born journalist who has made her home in Græntfjall in recent years the highest paid television personality in the country. From Hannasea, familiar faces such as Ashlee Hollis and Sabrina Jordan will also continue their roles, now broadcasting to a captive audience of a quarter of a billion people – and with aggressive aims to expand further. “This value represents good value for money while ensuring anyone can have access to the sport they want when they want,” said Culture Minister Þyri Dagbjartsdóttir. “But it was important we also retain ‘A-list’ rights for international football.”

Details of the deal had leaked in recent weeks, leading to intense criticism from the Left-slate opposition, who have charged the government with being too close to those involved. (Dagbjartsdóttir herself is a former senior editor with GTV’s news service.) But the preservation of A-list rights for international football will blunt some of the attack that too much of the sports television market is disappearing behind expensive paywalls. There were criticisms in Græntfjall as the recent International Basketball Championship was available only on the GTV Sports+ package to viewers in the Queendom, meaning those who didn’t subscribe missed the Super Wolves’ run to 5th place. The IBC is not on the A-list and is likely to be one of the major jewels in the crown of GS SuperSports+ going forward, as interest in basketball booms in both Græntfjall and Hannasea.

Assorted foreign domestic leagues have also signed deals with the new channel, which is boasting ‘wall to wall football’ despite losing out on international coverage. Jabal Akhdar, Mlima Kijani, and Montaña Verde are among those whose hitherto little-heralded domestic leagues will now receive a major signal boost. But GS SuperSports+ clearly harbors bigger ambitions, as evidenced by its offering packages in numerous sports not popular in its home countries, such as signing a deal to broadcast the Uncertain Cricket Championship. Former Culture Minister and current Progressive Liberals leader Kaija Michaelsdóttir cautiously welcomed the announcement. Well known for her love of sport, Michaelsdóttir admitted “her cheque was already in the mail” to sign up, while emphasizing that in the Thing she would be carefully scrutinizing the specifics for value to “taxpayer, customer, and stakeholders”.

The channel will begin broadcasting at midnight tonight (GST), a time that means Græntfjallers tuning in will have to wait several hours for any action from the mainland, instead being treated to the Jabal Akhdar City Open tennis tournament and highlights of the Beach Soccer Blast in sunny Mont Vert. The first major event to be broadcast from Græntfjall itself will be the National Alpine Skiing Championships, sure to be a major draw as one of the main sporting and social events in the national calendar and with renewed interest following disappointing returns in the discipline at the recent Winter Olympics, while the channel’s first major coup will be a live broadcast of the draw for the forthcoming Campianato Esportiva, the Hannasean government having declined to reserve international football rights given the unpopularity of ‘hateball’ in the Federation.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2021 7:51 am
by Golgothastan
The Babbage Trophy

Gobbledigookball is the Golgothastani version of three-sided football (it involves significantly less philosophy and significantly more hooliganism, but otherwise the rules are the same). The game has proved popular because it allows for 50% more crowd violence. The Babbage Trophy, named in memoriam for The Babbage Islands, the nation that provided Golgothastan with the technical infrastructure to play three-sided football, is awarded to the champions on the seventh day of the tournament (the fifth and sixth days being set aside for recovery from brutal turnip vodka-induced hangovers).

Scores refer to goals conceded.

Veröld ný óg óð GC: 6
Ágætis byrjun GC: 4
Fyrsta GC: 2

Takk GC: 4
Straumnes GC: 4
Rembihnútur GC: 4

Yfirborð GC: 2
Hafsól GC: 3
Inní mér syngur vitleysingur GC: 7

Veröld ný óg óð GC: 4
Takk GC: 6
Yfirborð GC: 2

Ágætis byrjun GC: 5
Straumnes GC: 4
Hafsól GC: 3

Fyrsta GC: 3
Rembihnútur GC: 3
Inní mér syngur vitleysingur GC: 6

Veröld ný óg óð GC: 8
Straumnes GC: 3
Inní mér syngur vitleysingur GC: 1

Ágætis byrjun GC: 4
Rembihnútur GC: 6
Yfirborð GC: 2

Fyrsta GC: 1
Takk GC: 3
Hafsól GC: 8

Veröld ný óg óð GC: 6
Rembihnútur GC: 3
Hafsól GC: 3

Ágætis byrjun GC: 3
Takk GC: 3
Inní mér syngur vitleysingur GC: 6

Fyrsta GC: 5
Straumnes GC: 2
Yfirborð GC: 5


                                   GP   CF   FT   EF   CS   ES   CT   TT   AS   GC   Pts
Yfirborð GC 4 3 1 11 23
Fyrsta GC 4 2 1 1 11 21
Straumnes GC 4 1 2 1 13 17
Hafsól GC 4 1 1 1 1 17 17
Ágætis byrjun GC 4 1 2 1 16 14
Rembihnútur GC 4 2 1 1 16 14
Takk GC 4 1 1 1 1 16 13
Inní mér syngur vitleysingur GC 4 1 1 2 20 8
Veröld ný óg óð GC 4 1 3 24 7


Note: irregularities in the standings were brought to the attention of the authorities by a Sajnurian auditor, whose service is thanked by everyone except Inní mér syngur vitleysingur GC, who lost 2 points. They didn't complain as having the auditor inspect their financial records would have been far, far worse.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:44 pm
by Graintfjall
Græntfjall Women’s Volleyball League

                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD   Pts 
1 Ostholm 18 14 4 49 22 +27 42
2 Kuodorf 18 14 4 48 24 +24 42
3 Notschach 18 13 5 45 31 +14 39
4 Akurgarten 18 10 8 38 32 +6 30
5 Gerstungal 18 10 8 37 38 −1 30
6 Wimhavn 18 9 9 38 34 +4 27
7 Væggerfried 18 8 10 34 38 −4 24
8 Lohrreith 18 6 12 23 40 −17 18

9 Laafjörður 18 4 14 28 46 −18 12
10 Ilsburg 18 2 16 16 51 −35 6


Playoffs

Ostholm 3−0 Lohrreith
Kuodorf 3−2 Væggerfried
Notschach 3−2 Wimhavn
Akurgarten 3−2 Gerstungal

Semi-finals

Ostholm 3−0 Akurgarten
Kuodorf 3−1 Notschach

Finals

Ostholm 3−1 Kuodorf

PostPosted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 4:19 am
by Mont Vert
Beach Soccer Blast

Græntfjall accepted an invitation to the tournament, but the plodding stodginess of a bunch of BFGs lumbering around under scorching tropical heat was never likely to prove a success. Former NT striker Love Nilsson, infamous for his inability to score, found an exciting new format of the game to not score in. Montaña Verde were unsurpising champions once again, with Paúl Barrueco earning MVP honors. More surprising was the relatively strong showing by the Hannaseans, who seem to hate football a little less when played on pristine sandy beaches under glorious sunshine. Demi Andrews scored 12 goals across the tournament to win the Golden Sandal.

MD1

The Hannasean Federation 8–9 Montaña Verde
Græntfjall 1–3 Mont Vert

MD2

Montaña Verde 5–2 Mont Vert
The Hannasean Federation 5–4 Græntfjall

MD3

Græntfjall 1–5 Montaña Verde
Mont Vert 6–11 The Hannasean Federation

                              Pld   W  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Montaña Verde 3 3 0 19 11 +8 9
2 The Hannasean Federation 3 2 1 24 19 +5 6
3 Mont Vert 3 1 2 11 17 −6 3
4 Græntfjall 3 0 3 6 13 −7 0


Mont Vert will consider applications for the next edition of the Beach Soccer Blast, as the Græntfjallers, who spent the whole time complaining about the heat and trying to re-colonize the islands, were no fun.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 22, 2021 4:20 am
by Jabal Akhdar
Jabal Akhdar City Open

Attracted by prizes in excess of 1 million rials, a variety of nationalities braved the heat of Jabal Akhdar to play on the fast hard court surfaces, although in the end Schutzenphalian men and Quodite women dominated the competition, winning both titles respectively.

Men’s Singles
Steve Roberts (HAN)               7   7
Kylychbek Egemberdiev (KKA) 5 6

Uxi Finngeirsson (GRÆ) 7 6
Nathan Macdonald (HAN) 6 4

Morgan Kolgrímsson (GRÆ) 3 6 6
Lorenz Albert (SWR) 6 3 2

Hakam el-Bahri (EJA) 4 6 6
Bekzhan Ruslanev (KKA) 6 1 4

John Ward (QOD) 3 6
Freymundur Rútsson (QOD) 6 7

Blake Robbinson (HAN) 4 1
Christoph Laar (SWR) 6 6

Sture Andberg (QOD) 3 6 3
Kurt Persson (QOD) 6 4 6

Edward Gillespie (QOD) 3 2
Mats Bergren (QOD) 6 6

Jorge Sánchez Alvarado (MVE) 2 3
Jules Jones (HAN) 6 6

Rayko Gerstner (SWR) 0 1
Jörn Heine (SWR) 6 6

Willi Danneberg (SWR) 7 4 3
Oliver McLean (QOD) 5 6 6

Felix von Graschütt (SWR) 2 1
Leo Marshall (QOD) 6 6

Ollie Noble (QOD) 7 6
Michel Gaumont (QOD) 5 2

Thibaud Allais (QOD) 6 3 2
Emilio Meusburger (SWR) 4 6 6

Liam Burke (HAN) 2 6 3
Auðbergur Sigurlaugsson (GRÆ) 6 2 6

Jack Fry (HAN) 6 6
Toby Scott (HAN) 3 1

Steve Roberts (HAN)               6   6
Uxi Finngeirsson (GRÆ) 3 4

Morgan Kolgrímsson (GRÆ) 4 1
Hakam el-Bahri (EJA) 6 6

Freymundur Rútsson (QOD) 2 2
Christoph Laar (SWR) 6 6

Kurt Persson (QOD) 6 6
Mats Bergren (QOD) 3 4

Jules Jones (HAN) 6 1 7
Jörn Heine (SWR) 2 6 5

Oliver McLean (QOD) 7 1 6
Leo Marshall (QOD) 5 6 3

Ollie Noble (QOD) 1 6 4
Emilio Meusburger (SWR) 6 1 6

Auðbergur Sigurlaugsson (GRÆ) 3 4
Jack Fry (HAN) 6 6

Steve Roberts (HAN)          6   6
Morgan Kolgrímsson (GRÆ) 3 2

Christoph Laar (SWR) 6 6 6
Kurt Persson (QOD) 7 1 4

Jules Jones (HAN) 6 4 6
Oliver McLean (QOD) 3 6 0

Emilio Meusburger (SWR) 6 1 3
Jack Fry (HAN) 4 6 6

Steve Roberts (HAN)      4   6
Christoph Laar (SWR) 6 7

Jules Jones (HAN) 6 3
Jack Fry (HAN) 7 6

Final

Christoph Laar (SWR)     6   6
Jack Fry (HAN) 4 4


Women’s Singles
Nazenin Khan (KKA)                    4   4
Natalie Pichler (QOD) 6 6

Kaminaga Hanae (QOD) 1 2
Amanda Albertsdóttir (GRÆ) 6 6

Isabella Maier (SWR) 1 3
Samantha Patel (HAN) 6 6

Lara Steiner (SWR) 4 6 6
Aurora Frazer (HAN) 6 4 3

Jana Schlager (SWR) 6 4 6
Mila Flacher (SWR) 2 6 4

Keira Lynes (HAN) 3 6 6
Angeline Blanc (QOD) 6 4 3

Elizabet Cecilsdóttir (MLK) 5 0
Adélie Abadie (QOD) 7 6

Zoey Manninger (SWR) 5 6 6
Maddison Pearson (HAN) 7 4 3

Zaituna Tarkani (KKA) 2 6 8
Kristin Brugmann (SWR) 6 4 10

Annika Wallin (QOD) 4 2
Lily Arneth (SWR) 6 6

Pia Wimmer (SWR) 7 4 6
Elisabeth Hermann (SWR) 5 6 8

Debora Lo Castro (QOD) 6 6
Georgina Cunningham (QOD) 3 4

Du Hanying (QOD)                      2   6   4
Natalie Pichler (QOD) 6 3 6

Amanda Albertsdóttir (GRÆ) 6 4 6
Samantha Patel (HAN) 4 6 3

Eugénie Leavitt (QOD) 3 3
Lara Steiner (SWR) 6 6

Jana Schlager (SWR) 6 6
Keira Lynes (HAN) 1 2

Adélie Abadie (QOD) 6 2 6
Zoey Manninger (SWR) 3 6 4

Kristin Brugmann (SWR) 4 6 4
Isabella Fernandino Navarro (MVE) 6 1 6

Lily Arneth (SWR) 2 3
Elisabeth Hermann (SWR) 6 6

Debora Lo Castro (QOD) 7 6
Bella Kennedy (HAN) 5 0

Natalie Pichler (QOD)                 7   6
Amanda Albertsdóttir (GRÆ) 6 3

Lara Steiner (SWR) 4 6 6
Jana Schlager (SWR) 6 2 8

Adélie Abadie (QOD) 7 6 6
Isabella Fernandino Navarro (MVE) 5 7 2

Elisabeth Hermann (SWR) 6 4
Debora Lo Castro (QOD) 7 6

Natalie Pichler (QOD)      6   6
Jana Schlager (SWR) 4 3

Adélie Abadie (QOD) 1 4
Debora Lo Castro (QOD) 6 6

Final

Natalie Pichler (QOD)      6   6
Debora Lo Castro (QOD) 2 3


Men’s Doubles
Angelo Einhorn/Christian von Arnburg (SWR)            6   5   2
Sigursteinn Björgmundsson/Hugo Benjamínsson (MLK) 4 7 6

Alex Whitford/Aaron Black (HAN) 2 6 3
Marvin Schwarz/Marcel Rottmayr (SWR) 6 4 6

Lucas Waltz/Noel Galishoff (SWR) 7 5 6
David Alfredsson/Dagur Iivosson (GRÆ) 6 7 4

Husan Hilolov/Farzad Gouzardov (KKA) 3 7 6
Reinhart Freymundsson/Pálmar Bilsson (GRÆ) 6 6 8

Hersten Westermarck/Adam Reinhardt (QOD) 5 6 6
Niklas Vogl/Jonathan Cella (SWR) 7 1 4

Marcel Poullain/Nakanishi Senichi (QOD) 6 6 6
Charles Daniel/Jude Price (HAN) 3 7 3

Jonathan Eaton/Nicholas Ryan (HAN) 4 3
Hanno Diederich/Michael Escherich (SWR) 6 6

Kilian Hausle/Mathias Nalder (SWR) 4 7 0
Ryan Terrell/Seb Evison (HAN) 6 6 6

Sigursteinn Björgmundsson/Hugo Benjamínsson (MLK)     3   5
Marvin Schwarz/Marcel Rottmayr (SWR) 6 7

Lucas Waltz/Noel Galishoff (SWR) 6 6
Reinhart Freymundsson/Pálmar Bilsson (GRÆ) 1 3

Hersten Westermarck/Adam Reinhardt (QOD) 3 6 5
Marcel Poullain/Nakanishi Senichi (QOD) 6 4 7

Hanno Diederich/Michael Escherich (SWR) 2 6 10
Ryan Terrell/Seb Evison (HAN) 6 4 8

Marvin Schwarz/Marcel Rottmayr (SWR)        1   6   6
Lucas Waltz/Noel Galishoff (SWR) 6 3 4

Marcel Poullain/Nakanishi Senichi (QOD) 5 3
Hanno Diederich/Michael Escherich (SWR) 7 6

Final

Marvin Schwarz/Marcel Rottmayr (SWR)        4   3
Hanno Diederich/Michael Escherich (SWR) 6 6


Women’s Doubles
Grace Bradley/Dolorès Trudeau (QOD)                                   7   4   6
Scarlett Lewis/Elsa Moore (HAN) 6 6 4

Emelie Lang/Katharina Rottmayr (SWR) 6 6
Luna Abellán Gutiérrez/Alexa Carballo Velázquez (MVE) 2 4

Harmonie Fouquet/Lola Lucroy (QOD) 5 1
Claire Richards/Eloise Horne (HAN) 7 6

Sabira Malikova/Akkenje Iskanderova (KKA) 6 6
Christiane Windischmann/Sofie Radnitz (SWR) 3 2

Brita Gaustad/Maya Lee (QOD) 3 6 6
Hannah Lichtwark/Rosa Lindner (SWR) 6 3 3

Sofia Öberg/Inger Hamar (QOD) 2 6
Leah Murray/Emma Cooper (HAN) 6 7

Florentina Steyer/Kiara Hahnel (SWR) 7 1 2
Geirlöð Finnlaugsdóttir/Folda Annarsdóttir (MLK) 5 6 6

Lisbeth Justine West Gatchalian/Elsa Lauryn Quingco Eusebio (BER) 4 4
Angelina Amstutz/Rosalie Fuchs (SWR) 6 6

Grace Bradley/Dolorès Trudeau (QOD)                  3   6   3
Emelie Lang/Katharina Rottmayr (SWR) 6 4 6

Claire Richards/Eloise Horne (HAN) 7 7
Sabira Malikova/Akkenje Iskanderova (KKA) 6 5

Brita Gaustad/Maya Lee (QOD) 6 4 6
Leah Murray/Emma Cooper (HAN) 4 6 4

Geirlöð Finnlaugsdóttir/Folda Annarsdóttir (MLK) 1 5
Angelina Amstutz/Rosalie Fuchs (SWR) 6 7

Emelie Lang/Katharina Rottmayr (SWR)     2   7   6
Claire Richards/Eloise Horne (HAN) 6 6 2

Brita Gaustad/Maya Lee (QOD) 6 6 6
Angelina Amstutz/Rosalie Fuchs (SWR) 2 7 3

Final

Emelie Lang/Katharina Rottmayr (SWR)     4   5
Brita Gaustad/Maya Lee (QOD) 6 7


The next event on the GS SuperTour is the Neubach Open (grass) in Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland. You can submit an entry or two if you like. There's no RP bonus and no promises about regularity of scorination, but you're welcome to use any results as RP backstory fodder for Olympic delegations or other tournaments.

PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 2021 8:22 am
by Gruenberg
Gruenberger Premier League: Supplementary Auction


The Gruenberger T20 cricket league is conducting a supplementary auction to add players. Those interested should fill out the form below and return by TG or DM to Gruenberg/Graintfjall by 05/05/21 1700 UTC; please do not post in this thread.

This failed last time; what guarantees do I have this time?

None. I make no promises beyond I will try to be better. Enter at your own risk, or, don't.

I don't want to transfer my players

This isn't a transfer situation. The GPL is a franchise T20 league that conducts all its games in a narrow ~month-ish block that, thanks to the magic of fluid time, does not overlap with any other domestic leagues. Therefore your players can play for GPL franchises and stay with their home/current clubs.

That will mean a clash with the Champions League

That will helpfully be avoided by the GPL not submitting teams to the Champions League.

How does it work?

Assign your player a role (batsman, bowler, all-rounder, wicket-keeper). Additional details such as preferred batting position or bowling style are helpful.
Assign your player a grade A-E. A is a top international player, one of the leading players on your international T20 team or similar. B might be a good player on the national team, C a fringe national team selection, D a step below, E a scrub. Try to be honest/fair in your assessment.

How many players can I submit?

Up to 4 players per nation and up to 8 players per user (spread across however many nations). No guarantees any players will be signed; absolute guarantee anyone posting in this thread will not have their players signed.

Code: Select all
Player name:
Role:
Grade:
Any other pertinent information:

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2021 3:26 pm
by Quintessence of Dust
[img]Amazing_logo_version_5.tiff[/img]

Heartstone Hockey League
Season Review

More rules experimentation and changes, more player movement including the high-profile trade of Gerwig Teschner from the Dareb Architects to the champion Highmark Romantics’ already strong team bringing charges of financial unfair play (but which turned out to be an act of monumental bathos) – and in the end the league still came down to the traditional Scandi-Finn rivalry between the Greschmeier Forks and Kynythin Motors. Neck and neck for most of the season, the Forks lost 2–0 to the Joeport Teapots on the penultimate matchday of the season, leaving them mathematically capable of beating their hated rivals to the title only if they overcame the goal difference. Which stood at 53 points. An 8–1 thrashing of the Veringia Liquids took out some frustrations, but Motors won anyway, clinching with a 1–0 win over the surprisingly resurgent West Island Negative-strand RNA viruses, who impressed in their debut season in the league.

In fact, both newly promoted teams stayed up, with the Rom Kafur Dentists making a late surge having spent much of the season camped out in the relegation zone, and the Liquids fading (or should that be evaporating?) badly. It was difficult to explain the capitulation of the Toonmar Brackets, who had last season challenged for an HHL place, although Falko Wasser belatedly looked robbed of last season’s MVP: he went down early with a severe shoulder injury this time around, and without his talents Brackets looked utterly bereft of scoring options. The Teapots had cause to reflect on a slightly disappointing season, despite fielding the reigning MVP and the best goaltender in the league, and where several games off the pace of the Northern clubs for the entire season.

                                   Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Motors 72 48 9 15 269 140 +129 105
2 Forks 72 49 5 18 224 142 +82 103
3 Teapots 72 44 8 20 217 129 +88 96
4 Architects 72 44 6 22 228 162 +66 94

5 Romantics 72 36 12 24 196 151 +45 84
6 Negative-strand RNA viruses 72 28 11 33 176 204 −28 67
7 Cuboids 72 25 4 43 128 168 −40 54
8 Dentists 72 19 9 44 130 220 −90 47
9 Liquids 72 15 12 45 111 202 −91 42
10 Brackets 72 11 6 55 88 249 −161 28


Player awards:

Top scorer: Kasper Pedersen (Teapots) – 38
Most points: Roope Ruotsalainen (Motors) – 82
Most assists: Alex Merrill (Architects) – 57
Sebestyen Szöllôsi Award for Person Who Hits the Puck Better Than All the Other Players Hit It: Roope Ruotsalainen (Motors)
Rez Szöllôsi Award for Best Young Player: Isaak Rothenstein (Dentists)
Best goaltender: Kaarlo Laaksanen (Motors)
Best defenceman: Xiao Chun (Romantics)
Best two-way player: Lukas Lindahl (Forks)
Mikki Järvinen Memorial Trophy for Most Brutally Excessive Check: Mikael Paavola (Motors)
Megatronix Trophy for Goal Of The Year: Falko Wasser (Brackets)

PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2021 4:03 pm
by Graintfjall
Græntfjall Hockey League

What looks set to be the last season of the GHL in its present form, with talks of moves to a franchise model following the success of the Græntfjaller Basketball Championship riding high. Græntfjall has struggled in international hockey, and the optimism of hosting the World Cup faded as another round of smashing HHL defeats set in. The domestic game needs a shake-up, with consolidation along franchise lines allowing for more investment delinked from the traditional MSK model.

Græntfjall Hockey League   Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Laafjörður 44 33 11 212 135 +77 66
2 Kangasdorf 44 30 14 252 139 +113 60
3 Ilsburg 44 30 14 180 142 +38 60
4 Akurgarten 44 28 16 239 174 +65 56
5 Harmersgrunn 44 26 18 215 174 +41 52
6 Hinteram 44 24 20 182 177 +5 48

7 Folte 44 20 24 168 189 −21 40
8 Mühlrich 44 19 25 186 211 −25 38
9 Mokofen 44 15 29 130 205 −75 30
10 Zevogur 44 14 30 164 212 −48 28

11 Haderhavn 44 13 31 129 217 −88 26
12 Untersiersvík 44 12 32 111 193 −82 24


Relegation Play-Offs (best of 3)

Haderhavn 4–2 Untersiersvík

Play-Offs (best of 3)

Folte 2–1 Zevogur
Mokofen 2–0 Mühlrich

Quarter-Finals (best of 7)

Laafjörður 4–1 Mokofen
Kangasdorf 4–1 Folte
Hinteram 4–2 Ilsburg
Harmersgrunn 4–1 Akurgarten

In one of the biggest shocks of recent years, Harmersgrunn smashed strong favorites Akurgarten with two games to spare. Enraged Akurgarten fans responded by breaking into a nearby seafood canning plant and stealing squid and octopi, which they pelted at the Harmersgrunn visitors bus.

Semi-Finals (best of 7)

Laafjörður 4–0 Harmersgrunn
Akurgarten 3–4 Hinteram

3PPO (best of 3)

Hinteram 2–1 Harmersgrunn

Harmersgrunn's fairytale run came to an end on a heartbreaking 7–6 shootout loss in the third game.

Finals (best of 7)

Laafjörður 4–3 Kangasdorf

Laafjörður defended their title in fine style, although it took a 7th game OT decider to get there. The series MVP unusually came from the losing time, and more unusually from a foreign communist country: Kitaran winger Sten Thorkelson, just 21 years old, scored 20 goals in the course of the series including consecutive 5-goal efforts in 11-6 and 9-1 routs.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 10:08 am
by Graintfjall
OOC: Yes, this plays hell with fluid time. And none of the military slang is even close to accurate. Just… shhh.

Prologue

High above the jungles of Montaña Verde, a lone condor coasted on the thermals blowing in from the Verdean Ocean. It was a majestic creature: 10 foot wingspan of dark plumage, fringed with long, silvery fingerlike flight feathers; puffy white collar like a judge; and a killing beak of savage beauty. A flash of movement below drew the attention of its keen eyes and without a single flap of its wings, simply a lean against the currents it was surfing, it tumbled into a dive. Only to pull up at the sight, not of prey, but of humans. Ragged little band, clad in little more than rags and toting aloft a red banner. Two of them lugging large, heavy metal tubes. They were heading up the hilltop at a slow pace, pausing every moments to argue and exchange carrying duties. Bored, the condor flicked its wingtips and curled away, onwards for prey. Behind it, the humans marched on determinedly. Much further away, invisible even to the condor’s hunter’s gaze, something else was flying through the sky.



Jason Þórhallursson could hardly claim that having to watch the Super Cup from home was a break from tradition. This was only the second year the New Græntfjaller Super Cup was even being held. It pitted his old club, Gunzlach, in the shadow of whose stadium he had literally grown up, with their most hated rivals, last season’s league champions, Steinaux, the dreaded Sausages from across the Odinsfluss river on the other side of North Háttmark. He’d watched last year’s match – a brilliant high-scoring thriller won by Gunzlach – from a packed pub in Banija, where he plied his trade (at the time for Busembe Timberwolves; after much griping about a poor sophomore season, he’d negotiated a $15mn krónor transfer to Herzegovina City) surrounded by cheering Græntfjallers as well as Banijans converted to the cause, for the night at least.

This one he was watching from Háttmark. But not, as had been planned, as a guest of honor in the Grand National Arena as Gunzlach fought, on home soil this time, to defend their pre-season trophy. Instead, he was sitting on the floor of his apartment, lit only by the blue flicker of the television screen, cradling a glass of wodka in the lap of his sweatpants. The VIP seat he’d been gifted as the club’s most beloved product, even if he no longer played for them, had no doubt been given away. The camera panned over the box of dignitaries and he saw some oily executive from Vínland Mótorvirkar exchanging pleasantries with a woman whom he did not need the caption that appeared on screen to identify: ‘Kaija Michaelsdóttir, Foreign Minister’. He poured his wodka down the grimace set across his features.



According to the name on her tag, the young woman piloting the G-O64 FuryFox ‘Aurora’, was called ‘Lt. Þorbergsdóttir’. It was a fairly common name; she probably wasn’t even the only ‘Lt. Þorbergsdóttir’ in the Græntfjaller Navy. She, was, however, most certainly the only ‘Princess Jessika’. Third in line to the Græntfjaller throne behind her older sister, Crown Princess Kassandra, and Kassandra’s son, Aaron, Jessika had always been insistent that her military career was not for show. She did not wish to get stuck on ceremonial duties, cutting ribbons or trotting about on horseback while the man and women she’d trained with fought, bled and died overseas for the defense of the realm, the promotion of democracy and liberty, and the profits of oil guzzling corporations. Not, necessarily, in that order.

Yet for all her demands for ‘real’ service, she had come to accept that the life of a serving military officer was one replete with tedium. She was stationed with the Second Fleet off the coast of Montaña Verde. A country all Græntfjaller military assets had been withdrawn from (at least officially, but what’s a paramilitary death squad or three between friends?). She was flying an ‘electronic warfare reconnaissance flight’, a fancy term for buzzing the rainforest in the hopes of spotting a PAL camp purported to be a transshipment hub for illegal weapons. There were all sorts of gory rumors circulating among the intelligence officers, which just went to prove that ‘military intelligence’ was a contradiction in terms. As if some scruffy little rebels had got their hands on MANPADS; probably just some rusty rifles an overexcited informant had misidentified in the hopes of a few pesos.

Aurora One to Hróðvitnir, negative visual. There’s nothing down there,” she sighed into her comms link.

Hróðvitnir to Aurora One, one more pass over the valley, then return.”

“Roger Hróðvitnir, Aurora One out.”

She closed the comms channel and made to sweep the valley once more. Suddenly, excitement! It was tacos in the officers’ mess today, she remembered.



“You can’t blame them.” Seated next to Jason, Amanda Guttisdóttir was speaking through a mouthful of popcorn. She was a strict neutral, having never played for either the Gunners or the Sausages; she was just here to support her beleaguered friend before she flew back to Eura to resume her career with Holdenberg City. “They did you a favor, really. If you’d turned up, they’d probably have lynched you.” Her interpretation of a ‘support’ role seemed to involve a lot of very blunt home truths, Jason had noticed, though he couldn’t say he thought she was actually wrong. He was perhaps the most hated man in Græntfjall right now, after testing positive for drugs – and not even performance enhancing substances, just some club drugs he’d stupidly taken on a night out with… one of his ladyfriends – just before Græntfjall played in a WCC tournament on home soil for the first time, co-hosting the Cup of Harmony with Krytenia. They’d duly been smashed 4–0 by Barunia. On twii.tur, he’d seen video clips of people burning literal effigies.

“For abandoning me for one mistake? I gave everything to that club…”

“Until someone paid you millions to fuck off.”

“Look who’s talking.”

She shrugged and shovelled another handful of popcorn into her mouth. (Don’t worry, Holdenberg conditioning coaches, it was low-fat, unsalted, and had the look, taste, and nutritional value of packing peanuts.)



On the hilltop, sweat was pouring off Juan Alvarado Barrueco’s forehead; his shirt was soaked through enough to make his skinny physique all the more apparent beneath the thin rags. María Alejandra Cadaval Arboleda smiled at the young man – little more than a boy. “Take some water,” she encouraged. She knew they all held out from drinking from the canteens for as long as possible, competing to impress her. She wished they’d know that collapsing from dehydration wasn’t the way to her heart. Reluctantly, the boy swished a meagre mouthful of rainwater into his mouth from the dented canteen at his hip.

Suddenly, a bass rumble of thunder cracked across the valley. Or was it thunder? Alert ears perked up, eyes scanned the horizon. Santino Muñoz Villa clapped his hands; Juan dropped his canteen. The water leaked slowly out in the verdant moss underfoot as he concentrated on his task. Which, as it involved loading a shoulder-mounted surface-to-air missile launcher with its deadly load, was an understandable bit of prioritization. María Alejandra silently scooped up the canteen and screwed the top shut, then moved next to Juan. “Calm,” she whispered. “Slow. The missile is fast enough for both of us.”

He gave her a helpless little puppy dog look, but another round of encouragement from Santino, cracking orders out amid volleys of shocking profanity, seemed to concentrate his mind rather better than did María Alejandra’s softly spoken words. He hauled the weapon up and nearly overbalanced; she had visions of his little ragdoll body bouncing down the hill. Fortunately, he didn’t fall, wincing as the heavy metal dug into his slender shoulder. He looked like he should be studying for math class, not aiming heavy weaponry. Perhaps, if the capitalists had not burned down his school and garrotted his teacher for the great crime of having a picture of President Santángel in the classroom, he still would be leafing through a textbook. María Alejandra’s countenance darkened. Juan was a sweet boy, but there was too much at stake at here to burn time on wasted sympathies.

Vicente Andrade Guillén was toting the other launcher, and emitted a chatter of excitement. From the opposite end of the valley, emerging from a bank of clouds pouring down like spilled milk from the mountains, a black figure. Getting louder, getting bigger, getting closer. Juan was shaking like a leaf; if he weren’t so dehydrated, he probably would have pissed himself. While Santino and Vicente aimed their weapon, María Alejandra moved in behind Juan, her fingers gently touching his flanks. She could feel his ribs, like the ridges on a güiro. She felt him stand a little straighter, too. A little stiller. She did not speak – she did not say anything. She did not need to. There was only one thing to do now.



“One little mistake…”

Kind of bigger than little, though. It’s not ‘whoops I scored an own goal’, ‘whoops I got a red card’. It’s ‘whoops I got caught taking illegal drugs’.”

“They’re talking about decriminalizing them now.”

Amanda frowned. She hadn’t seen that announcement in the papers. Nor had she ever noticed Jason take much interest in politics. When she’d come over she’d asked him about what he thought about the decision to pull troops out of Montaña Verde and all he’d said was he thought Dolfo was a great signing for Gunzlach. The lanky Verdean goalkeeper was warming up on the pitch now, all arms and legs. He was an imposing physical specimen to see guarding a goal, to be sure, though she thought he was a bit young. If it were her, she’d test him early with a long-range strike, and be sure to watch for him drifting off his lines. There was a vulnerability there…



Aurora One to Hróðvitnir! Aurora One to Hróðvitnir! Mayday, mayday!

So many alarms and sirens were going off, bathing the cockpit in a hellish red light. The ‘left engine failure’ indicator was so shrill and shrieking, Jessika thought it must have been installed inside her eyeballs. The controls were jumping in her hands like she was trying to keep tight the reins of a bucking steed. Thick smoke billowed across her vision and there was an ominous howling keen that told her some part of the cockpit had been ripped open.

Hróðvitnir to Aurora One, condition report!”

Aurora One to Hróðvitnir. Left engine is gone. I think there’s damage to the fuselage.” Her eyes settled on a strip of blinking lights. The top light blinked – off. Then the next. “Leaking fuel.”

Hróðvitnir to Aurora One, can you make it back on one engine?”

Aurora One to Hróðvitnir. Affirmative. Over.”

Her back of the envelope math told her she’d be struggling for fuel by the time she was out over the ocean, but just getting there was the priority; she could worry about ditching over the ocean once she was actually over the ocean. She decided to cut speed and head to a lower altitude to conserve fuel. It was a good plan.



Amanda hadn’t been sure Jason even wanted Gunzlach to win, so bitter was he about their treatment of him. His howl of delight when a full-stretch Dolfo blocked Hrærekur Jvarsson’s stinging penalty shot soon disabused her of that notion, though. She wasn’t even supporting Gunzlach herself, but his enthusiasm was infective, grabbing her and spinning her in a whirlwind of cheap popcorn. That Hrærekur was their national teammate – their former captain, no less – mattered not a jot in this moment. He was a Steinaux man, and they were, apparently, all in for Gunzlach, and nothing else registered.

He’d kicked over his wodka and hurried to the freezer to fetch a refill as Steinaux took the corner and Dolfo soared out to pluck the ball from the air. The young Verdean unleashed a huge throw up towards Momoko Wakabayashi, whose gorgeous first touch allowed the fast-break to develop quicker than Hjörleifur Reynarsson and Jasmine Gardener could hurry back. The Gunners had been under the hammer in the first half, but since the young Savigliane forward Rinaldi had come on, there’d been a real increase in intensity. Wakabayashi found Rinaldi with a long pass. Jaida Bissette surging up the left flank took over. From defending the penalty Liam Hughes’s clumsy foul had given away, Gunzlach were now pouring shirts into the Steinaux box. The cross… Tommy Diaz leaping high…



Juan held his breath so long María Alejandra was about to check he hadn’t passed out, knees locked. Then a bony finger squeezed the trigger. She was sent sprawling to the mossy hilltop and he nearly dropped the heavy weapon on her. The rocket soared away.



It had been a good plan. Drop speed, drop altitude, just head back for the Fleet. And it was a good plan for almost four more seconds before Juan’s SAM slammed into the right wing of the jet.

“Noooooooooooooooooooooo!”



“Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssss!”

The header crashed into the net even as Diaz tumbled to the ground. Jason and Amanda were literally jumping for joy. On the screen, Wakabayashi slid on her knees towards Diaz. Crowd shots of Gunners fans in dark red. Sobbing white-clad Sausages brought jeers. In the box, Kaija embracing the businessman VIP. Jason, who’d been holding Amanda in a crushing hug, dropped her unceremoniously.



There were no cheers or celebrations. They’d seen the plane go down in a ball of fire. But that didn’t mean the mission was complete. Now they had to head down and find the wreck. Recover what they could. And if the pilot was still alive…

Santino drew a huge knife from his belt. Four deep grooves were carved into the hilt. He pointed it flat, catching the early evening sun, down towards a plume of dark smoke puncturing the rainforest canopy.



“I’m just saying, right now your name is mud.”

The game had, in truth, petered out slightly disappointingly. Not that Jason and Amanda cared. They greeted the full-time whistle with applause, then rushed out onto the balcony to whoop into the night air as the Gunzlach sky exploded with fireworks and rifle bursts, with cheers and songs, with an entire neighborhood celebrating – not the meaningless trophy. But just putting one past their rivals.

“It’ll blow over. I just need to get back in the team, score a few goals. Do some charity stuff, too, maybe, you know, eat a little shit.”

“Honestly? I’m not sure.” Right on cue, some revellers on the next balcony recognized him, and in response to his wave, yelled out: “Fuck you!” Boos echoed down the street.

A cowed Jason retreated back into his apartment, rubbing his neck. A man used to being loved by everyone (Steinaux fans excepted, though even they made an exception when he was in blue-and-white) was having a hard time adjusted to being hated by everyone (Steinaux fans gleefully to the fore, but Gunzlach fans not far behind).

“You don’t think there’s anything I can do?”

“Like what?” asked Amanda sceptically. “It’d have to be pretty big. What are you going to do?” She chuckled, and added a sarcastic joke: “Rescue a princess or something?”



“Assess the crash site but do not engage any hostiles. Rules of engagement apply. Any questions about the mission, Lieutenant?”

“Just one, Captain.” Lieutenant Ásbergur Sveinbjörnsson hesitated, glancing around the flight deck. “Is… is someone going to explain what the fuck any of this has to do with club football?”

Captain Talía Rósmundsdóttir smirked as she flipped down her aviator sunglasses and stepped back to allow the cockpit hood to descend over Lt. Sveinbjörnsson.

“Strap in, son…”

New Græntfjall Super Cup


Gunzlach 1–0 Steinaux
Gunzlach defended their pre-season super cup trophy through Tommy Diaz, whose 60th minute header won the day after his compatriot, Liam Hughes, had moments earlier given up a penalty. New Verdean signing Dolfo, who saved the penalty, was named man of the match.

Week 1

Maigburg 0–0 Altendalur
Steinaux 1–0 Folte
GT Molding 5–0 Estdal
Fliserboding 2–0 Gunzlach
Hagejoki 3–2 Hofvinger
Korsbach 1–0 Mokofen

GT Molding laid down an early marker in the first game at their shiny new stadium, crushing Estdal. Alicia Gainsbourg got her Golden Boot hunt up and running with an early goal, her compatriot Michael Arciniega netted a brace, and the BFGs got in on the action with goals for both Fredrik Thorleifsson and Mathias Kristersson. Hagejoki, meanwhile, celebrated their return to top flight football by winning the match of the week. Substitute Axel Vidarsson headed home the winner after Sophie Asvardssdóttir and Kristo Jostsson scored in the first half; Lyngar Rögnvaldursson and Clotho Sulaka scored for the Northern Wolves, who also had five players booked. The biggest upset was the Locusts beating the Gunners, the latter fresh from their Super Cup heroics. Maybe the step down to routine league football in a stadium smelling of old cabbages was too much for them, as they looked far below title contender strength. Sara Aðalsteinnsdóttir and Mũthũngũ Watene netted the goals for Fliserboding. Steinaux, meanwhile, recovered with a fairly routine win (the goal from the slightly less routine Paan Kleveir, the only non-human player in the league). Mokofen lost their first ever GPL game, away at the Sabres, courtesy a crushing header from Tiog midfielder Noruose Nerauro. Maigburg tried to shrug off the racism issues of last season and the loss of their best players; holding Altendalur to a goalless draw was an impressive upset, but failed to answer where the goals will come from with Eiríka gone.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 10:57 am
by Graintfjall
Welcome to a new football season in Græntfjall. Sort of. There will be football, league derbies, cup ties, match recaps, titles. There will also be a story about a mission to rescue Princess Jessika from the communist militia who shot down her plane over the rainforest nation of Montaña Verde. Goal stats, too. The season has already been scorinated using a half-assed complicated weighting of coefficient ratings. But how will the rescue turn out? That’s where you get the chance to play.

You will be controlling Jason Þórhallursson, disgraced Græntfjaller striker who received a ban after testing positive for drugs. Seeking to rehabilitate his reputation, which the incident has considerably tarnished, he will, through circumstances that will become clear as we go on, set out to personally rescue the princess, defeat the evil reds – and make it back home in time to watch Gunzlach win the title. Or at least, that’s what will happen if you make the right choices (and have a bit of luck). But if you go astray, or if the dice don’t fall on your side? Then Jason will receive a message telling him YOUR SEASON IS OVER. (Of course, there’d be nothing to stop you going back to the beginning and trying again, or just cheating and skipping straight to the end. But you wouldn’t do that… right?)

I mentioned dice, and you will need some to play. Or at least one, standard six-sided die (“d6”). If you want, you can use actual physical dice. If you’d rather use an online die, you can generate dice rolls through a Google search, or use random.org or rollthedice.online; many other dice rollers are available. You’ll be cued to roll them with an instruction like “Take a Mental test 4d6”, which means you take your Mental score (more on which later) and roll the die four times, add up the dice rolls, and subtract them from your Mental score. If you still have points left (or reach exactly 0), you pass the test; if you fall below 0 points left, you fail. Fights work slightly differently: if you have to fight someone with a Physical score of 15, and you have a score of 18, you take turns rolling the die for each person, starting with your opponent, and subtracting the points from each Physical score. Whomever reaches 0 first loses the fight.

What’s this about scores? You start with Physical, Mental, and Personality scores. Physical scores are about your strength, fitness, and ability to fight. Mental scores are about your ability to solve puzzles, use stealth and dexterity skills, and make good decisions. Personality scores are about your ability to charm people, convince them to help you, and make them believe you. Don’t worry, Jason Þórhallursson doesn’t start out as some ‘Level 1’ scrub. He’s a professional athlete, adept at dealing with the media, and noted as something of a charmer (arguably that’s what got him into this pickle in the first place!) so you start out with 10 points in each category. You have also had some downtime (on account of your drugs ban). You can have used that time doing boxing training with your friend Kalle Bjørnsson, gaining Physical points; or, playing chess with the sage captain Emeli Vilbertsdóttir, gaining Mental points; or, having the national team’s designated new troublemaker in your stead, Sara Kristoffersdóttir, take you out to some clubs, gaining Personality points. In all, you’ve had 15 points’ worth of time to yourself, but you can choose how to distribute these points at the start, whether by adding 5 to each category, dumping all 15 in one category, or something in between. Now, add up your scores: you should have 45 points in total. If not, you’ve already cheated gone wrong!

As well as these general skills, you’ve been able to pick up a more specialist skill during the downtime:
  • maybe Natasja Hólmarsdóttir has taken you bow-hunting and wolf-tracking, giving you the hunter skill?
  • or maybe you’ve been fiddling around with old cars with gearhead Christian Einvarðursson, giving you the mechanic skill?
  • perhaps instead you’ve been using the stock market trading app that got Kalle in trouble last year, earning a bit of cash on the side and the trader skill?
  • or maybe you’ve not been doing anything so improving, and just drinking yourself silly, earning the drinker skill?
Pick ONE special skill and note it down. You should now have 45 points and a special skill. And, with that, be ready to begin your adventure…

Weeks 2–8

Altendalur 1–0 Mokofen
Hofvinger 5–1 Korsbach
Gunzlach 4–1 Hagejoki
Estdal 1–1 Fliserboding
Folte 5–1 GT Molding
Maigburg 1–1 Steinaux

The South Háttmark teams took a beating – or three beatings, actually – this week. The Sabres went down 5–1 to the Northern Wolves, who shook off their Week 1 cobwebs behind Nathaniel Auvergne. He scored the opening 2 goals; Marcel Úlftýrsson, Chiyo Murayami and Hæming Tronsson joined in the fun before 90 minutes were up, with Unnbjörg Paulsdóttir summoning the lone response. Not that the Gold Shrews could take in their rivals’ ignominy, as they suffered the exact same fate at the Striders’ hands (or legs?). Limbs. Stefan Jokulsson and Jason Cefalo got things up and running with early goals, but there was enough time for Simon McCabe to slot the season’s first hat-trick. Mathias Kristersson’s consolation header was his second in as many games. The Harlequins rounded off the pathetic sequence, claiming moral victory by only losing 4–1 to the Gunners. Tommy Diaz, Hanna Takáts (twice, though the 2nd was retroactively reawarded as a Seb Marnheim own goal) and Paolo Rinaldi got on the scoresheet; so did Valentin Ottisson, but it wasn’t enough. Estdal needed a late Rato Guðmannsson penalty to save a home draw to Fliserboding, who had led for most of the game thanks to Sara Aðalsteinnsdóttir’s early strike. Skíði Erlingsson scored a belter against Steinaux; Petter (no relation), on an emotional return after missing all of last season through injury, grabbed back the equalizer with a diving header in injury time. That just left the Chessmen to take three comfortable points off Mokofen through Koji Nishimoto.

Steinaux 2–0 Altendalur
GT Molding 2–1 Maigburg
Fliserboding 0–0 Folte
Hagejoki 0–0 Estdal
Korsbach 0–2 Gunzlach
Mokofen 3–3 Hofvinger

In past seasons a goalless draw between Hagejoki and Estdal would have been unthinkable, but both defenses have significantly improved now. A goalless draw involving Folte is less of a surprise, given their defensive system and prowess, but they would have been disappointed not to score against Fliserboding, with Simon McCabe unusually wasteful in front of goal. Steinaux won the first really big match of the season with an assured victory over Altendalur; goals from Çè Quîrîjá and Hrærekur Jvarsson complemented an impressive defensive display. Defensive midfielder Tommy Diaz is, rather bizarrely, Gunzlach’s top scorer despite all their big name offensive talent; he scored another here, as the Gunners outshot the Sabres, Delphi Barbarouses adding the second. It’s a similar story at GT Molding, where center back Mathias Kristersson is leading Alicia Gainsbourg in the goal charts. At least she scored against Maigburg, too, to seal the win after Rayyan Noor Zaman’s equalizer. The game of the week proved to be lowly Mokofen battling the incomprehensibly inconsistent Hofvinger to a draw. Ben Vilbertsson, Zarles Biktorika, and finally Trysha Sturden, fought back from 0–3 down to frustrate the Northern Wolves, who must have thought the game was in the bag when Lyngar Rögnvaldursson added to goals from Dai Qiu and Clotho Sulaka.

Altendalur 1–0 Hofvinger
Gunzlach 3–0 Mokofen
Estdal 0–3 Korsbach
Folte 1–0 Hagejoki
Maigburg 0–0 Fliserboding
Steinaux 0–0 GT Molding

Every season, one of the promoted clubs shows why they were in the lower leagues: this season, Mokofen are the designated whipping boys (and girls – Gabríella Hárlaugsdóttir, the first regular female goalkeeper in the GPL, punched one into her own net). Also scoring were Delphi Barbarouses and Khajag Albani as the Gunners made it look pretty easy. Mokofen don’t have the worst defensive record, though: that belongs to Estdal, who coughed up three to the Sabres to help right their struggling season. Noruose Nerauro and Unnbjörg Paulsdóttir both doubled their season tallies, and the redoubtable Air Latte got her first of the season. Bang bang! Maigburg continued to struggle for goals, but then so did Fliserboding. The week’s biggest clash ended in a tame goalless draw as Steinaux’s offensive firepower and Molding’s impressive defense cancelled each other out. Elsewhere, Pedro Roâ, and Altendalur’s, shared traditions of starting the season extremely cold came to an end with a big win over the schizophrenic Hofvinger, who played like champions for 85 minutes before letting in a soft goal. Stefan Jokulsson punched in a classic center back header from a Tom Burton free-kick to give the Striders a win at the Harlequins: at third, could this be the year Folte make the IFCF?

GT Molding 0–2 Altendalur
Fliserboding 0–1 Steinaux
Hagejoki 1–0 Maigburg
Korsbach 1–0 Folte
Mokofen 2–0 Estdal
Hofvinger 2–0 Gunzlach

GT Molding don’t seem to be enjoying their new stadium much. Never mind, Hans Larsson and Eva Pistor enjoyed it plenty for the visiting Chessmen. Zarles Biktorika and Ben Vilbertson handed Mokofen their first ever GPL win, and sent the hapless Estdal bottom. Hofvinger’s 2–0 win over Gunzlach confirmed their results are literally bananas right now; Hæming Tronsson and Mæja Allansdóttir scored as the Northern Wolves knocked the Gunners off top spot. They were replaced, of course, by who else but Steinaux, the only remaining unbeaten team. Paan Kleveir confirmed his super-sub status with a late winner against the Locusts. Maigburg look relegation bound on the strength of their limp showing at the Harlequins, who benefited from a Conz Vöggursson header that may have been offside. Nothing questionable in Air Latte’s banger against Folte, though, an early contender for goal of the season, hit from 34, 35 yards out!

Altendalur 0–0 Gunzlach
Estdal 0–1 Hofvinger
Folte 0–0 Mokofen
Maigburg 2–2 Korsbach
Steinaux 1–1 Hagejoki
GT Molding 0–0 Fliserboding

The number of goalless draws this season is privately said to be worrying KG officials. Fully half the games went scoreless this week. They varied from cagey stalemates (Altendalur v Gunzlach) to shootouts where the killing blow just wouldn’t land (GT Molding v Fliserboding) to funereal slogs (Folte v Mokofen). Until Clotho Sulaka nodded in an injury time winner for the Northern Wolves, we were heading for a fourth. There were goals at the GIA, as Bjarki Floriansson’s goal cancelled out Çè Quîrîjá’s great strike. The closest to a goalfest this dreary week was a 2–2 draw as Maigburg, of all teams, finally find their scoring touch, courtesy Arendt Árisson and Kelvin Lisco; but Korsbach’s strong form also continued, with Air Latte bagging her third of the season, what a dangerous woman she is from set pieces, and Margaux Torkildsdóttir adding a second late on. On current pace, the Sabres will make the IFCF – and their rivals, the Gold Shrews, won’t.

Fliserboding 1–0 Altendalur
Hagejoki 1–1 GT Molding
Korsbach 0–3 Steinaux
Mokofen 2–3 Maigburg
Hofvinger 5–1 Folte
Gunzlach 4–0 Estdal

Literally what is Hofvinger’s season right now? Folte have arguably the best defense in the country, or did before the Northern Wolves ripped it to shreds. Hæming Tronsson and Clotho Sulaka set up the early lead; Lyngar Rögnvaldursson then thrashed in a hat-trick. Folte only got on the scoresheet at all through a Patrik Thörnqvist own goal, as the GPL’s experiments with playing it out from the back continue to mostly end in disaster. Mokofen and Maigburg have both been enjoyably bad so it’s understandable their game would end up being a shoot-out. Heko Blijdenstein, Rayyan Noor Zaman and Kelvin Lisco mean three foreigners scored all the goals for a team currently under investigation for the xenophobia of its fans; if it’s any consolation, Mokofen’s goals came from foreigners, too, a Trysha Sturden free-kick and a Jan Meyer header. Gunzlach put 4 past Estdal, who are crumbling; Momoko Wakabayashi broke an unusual early season drought, Tommy Diaz continued an equally unusual goal rush, and Paolo Rinaldi and Delphi Barbarouses continued the theme of foreign goal scorers. Not so Steinaux: it was all homegrown talent on show as Petter Erlingsson, Hrærekur Jvarsson and Hjörleifur Reynarsson helped them sour Korsbach’s good early form. Mateus Kujan scored for GT Molding but Valentin Ottisson’s late strike kept the Gold Shrews in the bottom half of the table. Thiago Montilla’s win dragged the Locusts into IFCF contention, continuing their incredible improvement over; Altendalur continue to struggle dreadfully for goals with Tyler Prentice gone.

Altendalur 1–2 Estdal
Folte 1–5 Gunzlach
Maigburg 0–2 Hofvinger
Steinaux 7–0 Mokofen
GT Molding 1–4 Korsbach
Fliserboding 0–0 Hagejoki

Some of the yawning gaps between top and bottom began to expose themselves this week. Steinaux nearly doubled their season’s goal tally in one bound, with two goals each for Li Jing and Hjörleifur Reynarsson, and one apiece for each of Paan Kleveir, Petter Erlingsson and Çè Quîrîjá. Gunzlach, through Momoko Wakabayashi, Liam Hughes, Hanna Takáts, Jaida Bissette and An Seung-Mi nearly matched them, and did so against more impressive opposition, Folte, once in the IFCF zone, now near the relegation zone. Stefan Jokulsson headed in the lone response. The biggest match of the week was the South Háttmark derby. Dominated by the Gold Shrews in recent years, here they were dominated by the Sabres as their awful home record in their new stadium continued: Melina Nicosdóttir, Margaux Torkildsdóttir (twice) and Tao Beiliang scored, with Fredrik Thorleifsson’s header strictly a consolation effort. The Ducks surprised the Chessmen at the Florus Stadion: Eva Pistor had a good goal ruled out for off-side and scored a bad one off a cheap deflection; but Luis Terregrossa gave Estdal their 1st win of the season (not to mention their 2nd and 3rd goals, coming in the 8th match; it wasn’t enough to lift them off bottom place). Lyngar Rögnvaldursson extended his lead in the Gold Boot race for the Northern Wolves and Dai Qiu sealed the win. In a much busier week of goals, only the Locusts and Harlequins match stayed silent.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 02, 2021 5:31 pm
by Graintfjall
Ágætis Byrjun

Jason Þórhallursson had been a professional footballer since signing his first youth contract, then not even a teenager. Football had been all he had done, all his life. The prolonged down time he now faced as a result of his ban left him at something of a loose end. There were only so many times he could get his bell rung by Kalle in the gym or have Emeli break out in hysterical laughter at his inept chess play. Day to day, what was he expected to do?
  • Go to 1.

He checked his machine again: his agent updating him on the various sponsors who’d dropped him; a gloating prank call from some guy he’d played youth football with for five minutes; and a message from Kaija Michaelsdóttir. Who, despite becoming Foreign Minister of the White Winter Queendom, had taken time out of her doubtless busy day to ask to see him. There were also a couple of messages inviting him, not to play, but to watch football. Álfar Ásvaldursson, before he headed back to Siovanija & Teusland, wanted to catch up over a beer and watch the Gunzlach–Korsbach game at a local bar. Ásvarður Bergmundursson, who’d formerly played for Steinaux, wanted to watch their game against Altendalur, on his new home TV system. Jason considered his options. Gunzlach was where his heart lay … but the Sausages–Chessmen clash would probably be a better game?
  • Gunners for life! Go to 5.
  • A good game matters more than old loyalties. Go to 9.

Aren’t footballers meant to have silky footwork? Jason’s attempt to rise from the couch succeeded in somehow punting over the glass coffee table, upending all of the snacks and drinks across the floor. Somehow, Ásvarður still hadn’t woken up, but even Jason couldn’t skip out now. Cleaning all this mess up would be a boring chore. Almost as boring a chore as watching the rest of this cursed game. He found some rubber gloves in the kitchen, and began wiping around his soundly snoring friend.
  • After picking the last bits of prawn dip out of the carpet go to 3.

The shrill blast of the final whistle didn’t rouse Ásvarður from his slumbers, but the blast of advertisements did. He celebrated Steinaux’s fine victory with a sleepy yawn. Jason chuckled, and decided it was now definitely time to make tracks. Unfortunately the game below had petered out. But it was a pleasant, warm evening. After offering to help Ásvarður clean up and sharing one final drink together, the two wished each other good fortune in the wars to come, and headed their separate ways: Ásvarður for bed. Jason, for Kaija’s place – so really, also for bed.

Hjörleifur was relaxing in his outdoor pool when the car pulled up. Jason had never seen a man so large wearing inflatable safety wings. Cautiously, and in obvious great fear of the terrifying depths beneath, Hjörleifur paddled up to the side of the pool.

“Jason, what are you doing here?”

“Oh, you know, just checking in on some old friends before I head off for a bit. Going away for a few days, get my head together, you know how it is?”

Hjörleifur looked very alarmed. “What happened to your head?”

“No, it’s an expression – no, nevermind. I just mean: I’m going somewhere I can chill a bit.”

“Ah, going somewhere cold,” said Hjörleifur, nodding thoughtfully.

Jason rolled his eyes. Hjörleifur was a nice lad, but a bit dim. Still, as a center back, he was a veritable brick shithouse. The garden was littered with workout equipment. While Hjörleifur practiced his doggy paddle, Jason walked over and inspected one particularly interesting item.

It was a huge club, stubbed with old nails and bits of metal. It was pretty heavy.

“My granddad’s kraken-whacker,” explained Hjörleifur, when he noticed his friend eyeing it up. “I swing it around for weights training.”

“He used to whack krakens with it?”

“I think mostly rats, actually.”

“Do you think I could… take it with me?” Kaija had said Jason couldn’t take a weapon, but he didn’t see how she – or anyone else – was going to stop him if he was lugging around a kraken-whacker.

Hjörleifur nodded. “Just bring it back.”

Jason grinned, and then noticed Hjörleifur wasn’t grinning, but rather scowling, to show what would happen if he didn’t bring it back. They were still scraping bits of that poor fucker Hjörleifur had shitcanned in the Cup of Harmony game up off the turf. Jason’s grin sank, and he nodded fervently. “Yes. Of course I will.”

“OK. Bye! Aaaaaagh!” Hjörleifur had tried to wave, and, losing the support of one of his inflatable wings, immediately begun sinking. The pool was about four feet deep and he was about nineteen feet tall, or so it sometimes seemed, but he hadn’t quite put together that he could just stand up.

“Bye, Leifi…” sighed Jason.

Add the kraken-whacker to your bag. It is so heavy that it counts as 2 items. However, it confers a bonus of 5 to your Physical score in a fight.
  • Jason reached into the pool and hauled Hjörleifur up to the shallows. He then retreated to the car. On to the airstrip at 26. Your adventure begins!

Álfar greeted Jason at the bar with a crushing hug that might have snapped him in two had he not been acclimated to Kalle’s equally ursine attentions. After a few pleasantries about how he was stitched up, everyone’s behind you really, the usual, they headed inside to grab some beers and watch the game. Except that the bar wasn’t showing football: it was showing the ice hockey. Exciting stuff, and certainly very skilful – but not the Gunzlach game Jason had been promised. Not for the first time, he was reminded that you didn’t have to be a center back to be a lumpen ‘BFG’: Álfar, who hadn’t seemed to notice the giant neon hockey logo outside the bar, certainly qualified. The only sign of any football at all came from an alleyway outside the bar, whence shouts of “foul!” and “play on!” drifted in over the hockey commentary. Jason peeled the label off his beer bottle and eyed the exit sign.
  • Álfar meant well. It’d be rude to abandon him now. Jason decided to stay and order another round of beers, reminiscing with his old friend. Besides, he wasn’t meant to play football, not even a street game. Go to 20.
  • He’d been invited to watch football and they were talking about icing penalties! It was ridiculous. He wasn’t going to stay in a hockey bar and waste the entire evening. But Álfar would be offended if he just bailed to go kick a ball around with some street kids, so this was going to take a bit of charming. Take a Personality test 3d6. If you pass, go to 14; if you fail, go to 10.

OK. Probably a sensible decision. Unfortunately it means there’s not much more story to tell, though! Enjoy serving out the rest of the ban watching TV and catching up on some reading, I guess?

YOUR SEASON IS OVER!
  • Go back and try again?

Jason stepped over the flattened photographer and picked up the camera. The viewfinder showed what he’d been snapping pictures of: the opera singer who lived next door to Kaija, engaged in a shouting match with her husband. So he wasn’t here to spy on you, or Kaija, at all! If he weren’t a paparazzo, Jason would feel really guilty right now.
  • Drop the camera and skulk back to Kaija’s. Go to 22.

Jason had turned up expecting, frankly, a booty call. Instead they had spent the night poring over maps of the Verdean rainforest and running through a primer on recent geopolitics in the region. He tried to back out, asking for a few more days to consider things, but Kaija was insistent that if they were going to do this, it had to be now: every day they waited was another that Princess Jessika was going to have to survive for herself, lost and possibly injured in the rainforest. (Jason was now 99% sure no pilchards were involved, incidentally. Though he’d decided to keep his eyes peeled, just in case.)

“You can’t say you’re working for the Græntfjaller government, or the Foreign Ministry. If you’re captured…”

“Yeah, I wanted to actually circle back and touch on that.”

“…you can’t mention me, or the Prime Minister, or the Queen. You can’t take any identifying documents, or carry anything Græntfjaller at all. Give me your wallet.”

Mutely, he handed it over, and was issued in exchange a bundle of Verdean pesos. Make a note of 1000 pesos. The pesos do not count towards your item limit.

“I’m going to charter a plane, to leave tomorrow morning. They’ll drop you near her last reported location. From there: it’ll be down to you.”

“OK, but tomorrow morning? I’ll need to get a car. Can I have my wallet back?”

“No, you can’t.”

So the night wasn’t to be a total bust…
  • In the interests of staying PG-13, let’s skip quickly on to breakfast at 13.

Ásvarður wasn’t lying: his TV was the size of his apartment wall. His hospitality couldn’t be faulted either, greeting Jason at the door with a beer and welcoming him in; tempting aromas wafted from the kitchen. After a brief bit of catching up – the two had never been close, exactly, but had spent enough time together on the same or rival teams, and often trained together with the national squad, where Ásvarður was considered a ‘like-for-like’ replacement for Jason (who privately considered that assessment a mortal insult, but was polite enough not to say so out loud, at least until the snacks were served) – they settled down onto the couch to watch what turned out to be… an utter drudge of a game. Steinaux were 2–0 up inside half an hour and then shut up shop, not that Altendalur even attempted to get the ball out of their own half. It was a snoozefest. Literally, as the quiet snores from the other end of the couch alerted Jason. He didn’t want to be rude, but he had little desire to sit there for another half an hour watching the Steinaux center backs pass the ball to one another. And what’s more, a more exciting game of football was afoot. Out in the street below Ásvarður’s apartment, he could hear laughter, the thump of a ball against a wall, cries of “tackle her!” and “goooaaal!”. Having barely laced up his boots in weeks, he was itching to play. He looked at Ásvarður again, now soundly sleeping.
  • Bit rude to duck out. And Jason isn’t meant to play any football at all during his ban, not even a street game. He decided to wait it out patiently, pulling up a game on his phone to bide the time. Go to 3.
  • There was no way he was sitting here while his host couldn’t even be bothered to stay awake. He decided to try to slip out and join in the game on the street. Take a Mental test 3d6. If you pass, go to 14; if you fail, go to 2.

Álfar wasn’t having any of it. His face darkened into a scowl; when a BFG’s features so transfigured, it was a pretty scary sight. By way of apology and to avoid having bits of himself twisted off Jason hastily ordered up some more drinks, tried his hardest to take an interest in the hockey, and even sat through a round of Álfar painfully crooning at the karaoke bar.
  • After a long, long night, go to 20.

Jason blinked awake. Harsh, glaring lights seared his brain. He tried to sit up, and felt an almighty twinge of pain. When he looked down, he saw his leg, swathed in bandages and supported by several scary looking orthopedic instruments. Two white clad figures were examining something on a lightboard. He squinted at the black film they were studying. An x-ray of a – leg? Except, legs didn’t come in two parts…

The tabloids would be full of it, of course. Jason had set out to clear his name, and ended up drunkenly breaking his leg in the process. He sank back into the pillows, cursing himself as a cosmic idiot. The worst thing was, he’d never even made it to Kaija’s, and probably would now never find out what she’d wanted to talk to him about. Hopefully it wasn’t anything important…

YOUR SEASON IS OVER!
  • Go back and try again?

The roar of alarm has porch lights flicking on, curtains twitching open, and one very agitated photographer taking off at breakneck speed. Or, in his case, break-camera speed, as he loses grip and it shatters on the sidewalk. Jason chuckled at a little justice served, glad he hadn’t wasted time trying to throw a punch at the guy, and even had a whistle in his step as he made his way on to Kaija’s house.

… the next morning, Jason had a long shower, during which he tried to convince the shampoo bottles he wasn’t completely crazy for doing this. 12 hours ago he had been moping about a drugs ban, but it was only 4 Herzegovina games he had to miss and then he’d be back. Now, he was about to parachute into a foreign rainforest full of people who wanted to “capture” him (he really wished they’d discussed that in greater depth, come to think of it) in search of a woman he’d never met who might possibly be dead already. And somehow he felt sure that even if he made it back alive, there’d be people muttering that he couldn’t do it on a rainy night in Altendalur…

The shampoo bottles remained silent.

“I am so fucked,” he sighed.

But when he came down from the shower to find Kaija making eggs, the hopeful look in her face told him he couldn’t possibly let her down now. With a heavy sigh, he scratched at his stubbly chin. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

While he wolfed down the last solid breakfast he might eat for a few days, Kaija laid out the rather crude supplies she’d managed to amass for him. Some nondescript green and brown clothes, that her fiancé had been planning to donate to charity. A pack of 5 emergency flares, from her uncle’s fishing boat. 2 days’ worth of food supplies, mostly stuff from her kitchen hastily packaged up in greaseproof paper. And 5 Mk II Military-Grade rubber chickens. She began stuffing them into an old backpack; it was big enough to hold about 5 items.

The clothes, backpack, chickens, and pesos do not count towards the item limit; the flares and food each count as one item. You can pick up further items to a maximum of 5; once you’re at the limit, you’ll need to discard something before you can pick up any new items. Make a note of all the items.

“You can’t tell anyone what you’re doing, but if there’s anyone you want to let know you might be going away for a few days, now’s your chance…”

Jason considered. He didn’t want to worry his young daughter, who wouldn’t understand anyway. But was there anyone else?
  • “Karoline Vernerisdóttir has been really supportive. Can we stop by hers on the way to the airstrip?” Go to 16.
  • “Jade Miansdóttir and I go way back. She’s pretty outdoorsy; I’ll see if she has any last minute tips.” Go to 18.
  • “Hjörleifur Reynarsson might play for Steinaux but he’s one of my oldest friends. Better see him before I go. Just in case. Go to 4.

Success! Somehow, Jason had managed to extricate himself from the boring evening, and found himself out on the street, watching some kids kick a ball around the street. It was on street corner games like this that he’d grown up, and he felt a surge of nostalgia. He felt something else, too: his phone buzzing. A text from Kaija.
  • That spotty kid has the ball and is headed for goal. Get stuck in there lad! Take a Physical test 4d6. If you pass, go to 17; if you fail, go to 11.
  • Jason watched the kids play for a minute two, smiling wistfully. Happy old memories. But they were in the past. Time to make some new ones. He turned on his heel and headed off, walking through the streets towards Kaija’s place. Go to 24.

Jason poked his head through the bush and was not wholly surprised to find a paparazzi photographer skulking about, looking for a camera part that had fallen out of his bag.
  • Don’t give him anything to take pictures of. Hurry on to Kaija’s. Go to 22.
  • Parazzi ruined your life! Get one back by yelling out and alerting the whole neighorhood he’s here. Go to 12.
  • Call that revenge? Roll up your sleeves and slug the cheeky git. Engage in a fight; his Physical score is just 8.. If you win, go to 7; if you somehow lose, go to 11.

Karoline was working in her garden when the car pulled up. When she recognized Jason, she waved a handful of carrots at him. For a few minutes the two made the idle, awkward small talk of once-close friends who’d grown apart but were too fond of each other to admit it, until Stephanie called to Karoline that their soup for lunch was ready. Jason hadn’t worked up the nerve to tell her what was going on.

“You look like crap, you know,” she told him. “Fresh food. I’m telling you, since I went vegan, it’s added five years to my playing career.”

Jason, who’d seen her play, had his doubts, but kept quietly silent.

“Here!” She thrust a box of fresh vegetables from her garden into his arms. Carrots, radishes, onions, even some lettuce – standard fare in other countries, but in the rough, barren soil of Græntfjall, growing these showed real dedication.

“Thanks, but I’m actually going on a plane, soon, so I can’t take them,” he said. “But…”

“What?”

“I could use that!”

Jason had spied a long-bladed knife, lying besides a fence covered in creeping ivy. She’d obviously been hacking the stuff back, but it kept regrowing.

Karoline raised an eyebrow, though she did bring him the knife all the same. “You’re going on a plane, and you want to take a knife? Jason, are you OK?”

He hesitated, as he hefted it back from hand to hand. “Sure, sure. Just, I have some vines I might need to cut down, too.”

“In your garden?”

“Something like that…”

Add the knife to your bag. It counts as an item. You can use it for hacking down vines in the jungle. And in a fight, it confers a bonus of 3 to your Physical score.
  • Jason thanked Karoline, said said his goodbyes, and headed back to the car. On to the airstrip at 26. Your adventure begins!

Jason intercepted the shot and brought the ball down. A quick step-over, flicking a pass to a girl wearing glasses, who was so surprised she just passed it straight back. Nutmeg the fat kid, dribble between the two twins – and blast the ball inside the left ‘goalpost’, a crumpled traffic cone. Goal!

Jason turned and celebrated, arms aloft. A group of nonplussed kids stared back at him. The greatest striker in his country’s history had just… scored against some literal children. Feeling slightly abashed, he retrieved the ball and kicked it back into play, and hurried on down the street, hoping no one had seen him embarrass himself like that. Time to put away childish things. He double-checked Kaija’s address, and set off at a brisk stride.

Jade came to the door all sweaty. It was obvious Jason had interrupted her doing yoga. So much for outdoorsy. Yet once in her apartment, she immediately warmed to him once he said he was going on a “trip” to “somewhere that’s a bit of a jungle”.

“Wilderness retreat?”

“Something like that…”

“Good, good, get all that poison out of your system.”

He rolled his eyes. One little pill and suddenly everyone has an opinion.

“Where exactly are you going?”

“Oh… just… you know. I’ll see where the wind takes me.”

She frowned skeptically. “Hold on. I have something that might help.”

Jason waited for her return. He looked around her kitchen. Health foods, vegan cookbooks, juicers. It was like a medieval torture dungeon, only scarier. He shuddered, and wondered what kind of unholy nutri-grain bar she’d return with, when she strode back into the kitchen lugging a rifle.

“Jesus Fucking Christ!”

“No, Jade Erin Miansdóttir,” she deadpanned. “This is an old piece of junk, but you don’t sound like you’ve exactly planned this out. Never know when you might get into a scrape. Did Natasja and I ever tell you about the time we were cornered by a horse-sized duck?”

“She told me it was a duck-sized horse.”

“Well, anyway… pow, right between the eyes. You know how to shoot, right?”

“I’ve scored 50 goals for my country,” he chuckled. She did not chuckle, and began showing him how to clear the chamber.

If you take the rifle, it goes in your bag and counts as one item. It gives you a bonus of 5 to your Physical score in a fight, but you only have 5 bullets! They do not count as separate items, but once you’ve used all 5, the rifle will be useless.

“Now. I also have a great nutrient bar that’ll be helpful. Do you have any filter papers? For when you need to start drinking your own urine?”
  • Jason decided to skip the culinary lessons and hurried back to the car. On to the airstrip at 26. Your adventure begins!

The two aides were heading towards a car parked at the end of the street. Jason quickened his pace, trying to catch up with them before they got inside. Snatches of conversation were all he could pick up: something about a pilchard getting lost in a rainforest?
  • Not greatly further enlightened, head back to Kaija’s. Go to 22.
  • Accost them before they get in the car! Find out what’s going on at 23.
  • There’s a rustling in the bushes nearby. Go and investigate at 15.

The evening was a bit of a bust in the end. Jason wasn’t even sure who won the hockey game – though he gathered from some distant cheer that Gunzlach had, at least, triumphed. The street game had long wrapped up by the time he and Álfar left the bar. This unusually hot summer meant even though it was late night, it was still warm, and after thanking Álfar, wishing him the best with Marlesee, and bidding farewell, Jason decided to walk, rather than call up a car. After all, it wasn’t far to Kaija’s place.

“You!? But you’re not an intelligence agent or a soldier…

“…which is, come to think of it, actually kind of perfect.” Kaija gave Jason a thoughtful look. He’d been joking, probably, but she seemed to be genuinely considering the offer. “Plausible deniability. If you get captured, we can just say you weren’t working for us, just a private citizen off on some crazy quest…”

“Captured?”

“You speak Verdean, don’t you?”

“Gunzlach used to have youth training trips, there, yeah, I picked up some of the lingo. But, sorry, could we circle back, you said something about a possibility of getting captured?”

“You’re definitely a good physical fit for a mission.”

“Captured, as in, they’ll put me up in a comfy hotel and fetch me a cup of tea, or captured as in…?”

“And we both have to admit, a little positive PR wouldn’t be the worst thing for you right now.”

“Sure, unless, I get captured, which, I think you may have mentioned was…”

But the offer had been made. And no amount of stammering and wheedling could get him out of it now. Before night was at an end, plans had been formed. Promises made. And … something involving rubber chickens!?
  • To find out about the chickens, go to 25.
  • If you already know how to use the chickens (somehow), go to 8.

The door of the house opened to reveal Kaija Michaelsdóttir. The stress was practically radiating off her in waves. She paced the kitchen as Jason poured them both wodkas. There was obviously something on her mind. Attempts at small talk faltered and, Official Secrets Act be damned, it all started to pour out. How Princess Jessika had been shot down over Montaña Verde. How a Navy jet had located the wreckage of the plane but no sign of her. How she’d managed to send a short comms message, putting her location a few miles away. Jason, not entirely unreasonably, asked why they didn’t just send in a team to get her out. Kaija cursed Zóphonías Juliusson’s name. The Prime Minister had ordered a full withdrawal from Montaña Verde: he was not about to send forces back in.

Besides, there was something called Defense Directive 1. Jason, more used to studying the X’s and O’s of training ground moves, needed to concentrate to wrap his brain around it. Apparently, the Directive had been signed in exchange for allowing Jessika to see active duty. There was concern she’d be targeted for capture or buttbuttination, putting those she served with at risk. In order to prevent a hostage scenario begetting a constitutional crisis, the Queendom had officially disavowed taking any extraordinary measures to protect her. It basically meant that, as far as the Defense Department was concerned, there was no ‘Princess Jessika’; just a ‘Lt. Þorbergsdóttir’. And they weren’t interested in trying to rescue some junior officer pilot.

Not that the public would take the same view when this all got out, of course. The Royal Family had a popularity eclipsing any politician. Kaija’s party had won about 30% of the vote in the recent election, and she had an approval rating as Foreign Minister of nearly 60%. The Queen’s approval rating had never dropped below 80%. A young Princess shot down in the line duty would probably break the poll. And so would the government that abandoned her – at the other end. It seemed an impossible situation.

“So what are you going to do?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “If we can’t send a search-and-rescue team in, maybe we can find some agent who’d go in alone. They’d have to be really brave, though. Or, really stupid.”
  • “Wow, yeah, that sucks. Anyway…” That shit sounds crazy. Best not to get involved. Go to 6.
  • “Really stupid, you say? I’m your man.” Put down the drink, stand up straight, and offer to go. Go to 21.

Jason emerged from the gloom, surprising Auðlín and Kimberley. The two had been deep in a political debate, and weren’t expecting a tall blonde man to burst out of the shadows asking them about pilchards.

“We don’t have any money,” said Auðlín, author of the Progressive Liberals’ welfare manifesto Towards A Healing Society. “Get lost, you bum!”

“Wait, isn’t that… Are you Jason Þórhallursson?”

Jason shrugged. Kimberley rolled her eyes. “Ugh, we know all about you,” she said sourly, and held his gaze; as Jason looked back at her unflinching eyes, he realized she really did know all about him. He averted his gaze, instead choosing to stare at the editor and reminding him that overuse of italics is hackery.

“Do you think he’s on drugs again?” whispered Auðlín.

“Can you please leave our boss alone? You’ve done enough damage already.”

They weren’t going to give any useful information up. Jason turned on his heel and trudged away.
  • Head straight back to Kaija’s. Go to 22.
  • That rustling is getting louder. Go to 15.

Jason arrived at Kaija’s place. He’d been expecting her to be alone, but he heard a chatter of voices from the driveway, and hurriedly leaped into some rubbery bushes to hide. Maybe her fiancé had come back unexpectedly? Two figures appeared from the gloom: no, neither of them were Guðjón. One, a slightly built young man, the other a woman whose heels were clipping the ground like the hooves of a trotting horse. They were bickering.

“This is the biggest disaster this government – this country – could possibly face, and they’re setting her up to take the fall for it. Her head is going to be on a fucking pike outside the Höll and right quick.”

“It’s only a problem if anyone finds out, and even then it’s not her fault. And she’s not the one blocking them from sending in an extraction team.”

“You’re being so naïve, Kimberley! They’ll pin the blame on her, mark my words…”

The dark mutterings receded into the night as they walked on. Jason glanced at the house, which lay quiet and dark. Perhaps Kaija was alone after all, and it was just two of her aides come to see her about something. Something that sounded pretty important. Biggest disaster? Blame her? Heads on pikes? Jason knew that Kaija did important work, way above his pay grade. He knew these two aides were probably discussing some Top Secret military shit that even Herzegovina couldn’t pay him enough to get involved in. But, however … complicated their relationship, he cared for her. And it sounded like she was in trouble.
  • Which meant the thing to do was to hurry inside and speak to her. He decided to head straight in. Go to 22.
  • But he’d be in a better position to speak to her if he knew what was going on. He decided to follow the two arguing aides and see if he could glean any more details. Go to 19.

Kaija handed Jason a rubber chicken.

“It’s a prototype,” she explained. “But the GIB have had good results with field tests. Basically, it’s a rubber chicken, that you sacrifice to Margaret. If you’re in a tight jam, it’ll help you out.”

Jason turned the rubber chicken over in his hands, and began to realize just how badly he’d messed up by volunteering…
  • Go to 8.

How to use the rubber chickens

Margaret is NS Sport’s resident mysterious goddess of fortuna. As everyone knows, sacrificing rubber chickens to her guarantees* good results. As part of the story, you may choose to sacrifice (discard) a rubber chicken. Doing so automatically wins any fight or test you are in, including one you’ve already started (unless you’ve already failed!). The effects of the chicken wear off quickly. After winning a fight using a chicken, you will have to use your normal Physical score for the next fight, unless otherwise stated (or unless you use another chicken). Occasionally you may be able to trade the chickens or use them in other ways. Your chickens do not count towards your object tally.

Weeks 9 – 15


Hagejoki 0–0 Altendalur
Korsbach 0–1 Fliserboding
Mokofen 1–6 GT Molding
Hofvinger 1–0 Steinaux
Gunzlach 1–1 Maigburg
Estdal 5–0 Folte

Weak doge strong doge meme idea: GT Molding’s home/road record. They battered Mokofen: Alicia Gainsbourg and Michael Arciniega each scored a goal from open play and a penalty; Dögg Ymirsdóttir and Mateus Kujan completed the rout. Poor Trysha Sturden’s early goal was rather forgotten in the rush. Estdal picked up where they left off last week, as did Folte’s defense, ‘off’ being the operative word in the latter case. Please delete all previous references to the Striders being one of the strongest defensive teams in the league: no team that allows Rato Guðmannsson to walk in a hat-trick can claim that title. Young foreign players Luca Czernin and Osaki Tokimune also got on the scoresheet, adding to the humiliation. Thiago Montilla claimed a late winner over the Sabres (the Dubious Goals Committee wavered, but held it up as his goal; they were not so generous to Mæja Allansdóttir, chalking off her strike as an own goal as Hofvinger, who might actually be legit this season, picked up a huge win over Steinaux to go top of the league). Gunzlach failed to take advantage of Steinaux’s slip, allowing Ichiro Takenaka to claim a late equalizer after Liam Hughes’s forehead continued its prolific form. Altendalur slid into the bottom half of the table after failing to beat Hagejoki, their goal scoring troubles continuing as Pedro Roâ’s touch has deserted him (his missed penalty currently still in orbit as we speak).

Altendalur 2–1 Folte
Maigburg 3–1 Estdal
Steinaux 1–0 Gunzlach
GT Molding 1–0 Hofvinger
Fliserboding 1–1 Mokofen
Hagejoki 0–1 Korsbach

Kirk Ogilvie and Ichiro Takenaka, twice, scored to put an end to Estdal’s run of form (that had lasted all of two games, but by the standards of the early season…); across the league, center backs are outscoring center forwards, and Luca Czernin continued the theme for the Ducks. That said, center forward Pedro Roâ finally found the net for the Chessmen, and liked it so much he did it twice; and center forward Simon McCabe responded for the Striders, but decided one was plenty, generously missing a penalty that would have equalized. A mark of Steinaux’s all-round quality is that five of their players are tied for their lead in goal scoring, Hrærekur Jvarsson joining the list with a fine goal that will live long in the memory of the country’s biggest derby. His goal and Alicia Gainsbourg’s screamer combined to knock Hofvinger off top spot. Jasmijn Spiderlair became the first Kamdyr player ever to score in the GPL and helped the Sabres keep up their challenge for IFCF spots. Fliserboding are in the hunt, too, but dropped valuable points to Mokofen as Zarles Biktorika cancelled out Thiago Montilla.

Korsbach 2–1 Altendalur
Mokofen 3–1 Hagejoki
Hofvinger 1–2 Fliserboding
Gunzlach 2–0 GT Molding
Estdal 1–0 Steinaux
Folte 3–0 Maigburg

The absolute shock of the season unfolded as Estdal claimed an early goal through a Luis Terregrossa penalty and clung on for dear life to beat Steinaux. Liam Hughes and Momoko Wakabayashi helped the Gunners capitalize on their rivals’ misfortune, though it wasn’t enough to go top. With Korsbach and Fliserboding both winning again, GT Molding are in real danger of missing the IFCF placings: Korsbach benefited from poor officiating in their favor as Jasmijn Spiderlair was awarded, and smashed in, a dubious free-kick, though there was no doubt about Margaux Torkildsdóttir’s second half header to regain the lead following Eva Pistor’s leveller; the refereeing was poor, too, in Hofvinger, where Mæja Allansdóttir scored one but had another ruled out (wrongly) through off-side, while Jean Baudelaire scored twice for the Locusts but should not really have been on the pitch for either, inexplicably only booked for an early horror challenge that ended the season of Northern Wolves’ defensive lynchpin Marcel Úlftýrsson. Trysha Sturden, Ben Vilbertsson, and Björnólfur Hagalínsson led Mokofen to a comebackwin over Hagejoki after Valentin Ottisson had headed in an early corner. Folte took out the frustrations of their poor play to date against Maigburg, courtesy a Simon McCabe hat-trick.

Altendalur 1–0 Maigburg
Folte 1–1 Steinaux
Estdal 1–1 GT Molding
Gunzlach 4–0 Fliserboding
Hofvinger 3–0 Hagejoki
Mokofen 1–1 Korsbach

Liam Hughes’s is suspected of taking Forehead Enhancing Substances, co-leading the goal charts for Gunzlach with Hanna Takáts and Momoko Wakabayashi; all three scored, Hanna twice, against Fliserboding to finally send the Gunners top thanks to Folte, through Stefan Jokulsson, drawing Steinaux, whose Li Jing knocked in a goal of the season contender from a free-kick. There were two other 1–1 draws: Osaki Tokimune helped Estdal pull off an improbable draw against GT Molding; Mathias Kristersson and may walk at the end of the season if the Gold Shrews’ miss out on IFCF places as they look set to. In their place may go the Sabres, who managed an away draw to keep their 4th place spot chuntering along, with Melina Nicosdóttir and Rakel Kaspersdóttir cancelling each other out. The Altendalur–Maigburg game was close until Jake Pole’s own goal settled it; the game between the Northern Wolves and Harlequins was never close, Lyngar Rögnvaldursson scoring within five minutes, Mæja Allansdóttir within ten, and Nathaniel Auvergne ensuring the second half would be a snoozefest.

Mokofen 1–1 Altendalur
Korsbach 1–2 Hofvinger
Hagejoki 0–2 Gunzlach
Fliserboding 0–1 Estdal
GT Molding 3–0 Folte
Steinaux 2–0 Maigburg

Trysha Sturden looks to have been a good signing for Mokofen, helping them draw Altendalur after Hans Larsson scored from a corner. Luis Terregrossa is not a new signing but continues to prove his worth week-in, scoring a key goal for Estdal, who’ve recovered magnificently over the last few games. Young prospect Grímúlfur Gunnþórsson, stepping up for Hofvinger after Marcel Úlftýrsson’s injury, gave them the injury time winner after Nathaniel Auvergne and Tao Beiliang had scored in regulation. An Seung-Mi and Momoko Wakabayashi kept Gunzlach’s grip on the top secure and Hagejoki’s place in the relegation zone equally secure. GT Molding finally crawled into the IFCF placings and Alicia Gainsbourg into the Gold Boot spot with three goals against Folte. Jasmine Gardener and Li Jing have been loyal servants to the Sausages, and helped them keep the title race interesting, beating Maigburg 2–0 at home.

Altendalur 1–2 Steinaux
Maigburg 0–1 GT Molding
Folte 2–0 Fliserboding
Estdal 1–0 Hagejoki
Gunzlach 3–1 Korsbach
Hofvinger 3–3 Mokofen

Hagejoki slipped to the bottom of the table, with Rato Guðmannsson continuing Estdal’s renaissance. GT Molding, now finally competing for the IFCF, needed a late goal from veteran Karoline Vernerisdóttir, now coming off the bench, to keep their record in tact. The Striders claimed a valuable win through Simon McCabe and Varga Neury. Gunzlach continue to lead the league. Delphi Barbarouses, Momoko Wakabayashi, and Hanna Takáts scored, as did Tao Beilang, in vain, for the Sabres, who suffered their first setback in a while and fell below their rivals GT Molding for the first time. Mæja Allansdóttir, Nathaniel Auvergne and Dai Qiu thought they’d done for the Northern Wolves against Mokofen; they hadn’t, as Ben Vilbertsson proved, three times in a row. The biggest game of the week came in Altendalur as Petter Erlingsson stepped up as captain to lead the Sausages back from the brink following Eva Pistor’s early goal.

Hofvinger 2–0 Altendalur
Mokofen 1–1 Gunzlach
Korsbach 2–1 Estdal
Hagejoki 4–3 Folte
Fliserboding 0–1 Maigburg
GT Molding 1–5 Steinaux

The Sausages marched back to the top as they thrashed the Gold Shrews. Karoline Vernerisdóttir wore the captain’s armband, scored the opening goal, and then watched her team get massacred at a home stadium that seems to have been built on some sort of haunted graveyard for all the ill luck it’s causing its inhabitants. Çè Quîrîjá, Paan Kleveir and Petter Erlingsson all scored, and Li Jing bagged a double. They were helped by the Gunners slipping up away at Mokofen. After Zarles Biktorika scored, Gunzlach needed Paolo Rinaldi to come off the bench and score an equalizer to avoid dropping all 3 points. The contrasting fortunes of Hofvinger (who beat Altendalur, with goals from Lyngar Rögnvaldursson and Nathaniel Auvergne) and Folte (who, despite a Nadya Asinow own goal, and goals from Jason Cefalo and Simon McCabe, were unable to beat Hagejoki, as Bjarki Floriansson, Ben Gjursson, Asinow, facing the right way this time again, and then Floriansson all scored) summed up the changes sweeping the league this season. Korsbach, too, are a new team, remaining in the IFCF places thanks to goals from Tao Beilang and Svan Viktorsson against Estdal, although Osaki Tokimune scored a great ‘bicycle kick’ goal to give the Ducks something to cheer. Jake Pole picked a fine time to score his first goal of the season, giving the Cat-Bears the win away at Fliserboding.

* Not guaranteed.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 8:00 am
by Graintfjall
A Ghost Is Born

At the airstrip, a small plane – not a military jet, just some private rental two-seater, the kind of plane whose mangled wreckage tended to crop up in newspaper photographs a little too often for Jason’s comfort – was waiting. Flying it was, somewhat surprisingly… Guðjón. Kaija’s fiancé!

“Hey, Jason! Great to meet you!”

“Umm…”

“I heard you’d agreed to help Kaija out with an important mission!”

“Umm…”

“Thank you so much. I’d like to shake your hand.”

“Umm…”

So this was it. The important mission was all a ruse. Guðjón was going to fly him out over the ocean. No one would ever find his body. Jason seized up even as he was prodded towards the plane.

“This is the locator,” said Kaija, showing him a small device. All the locator to your bag; it does not count as an item. “It shows her RFID tag’s location: you can use it to find her once you’re there.” She looked up at him and smiled, then offered a kiss – a very chaste kiss, on the cheek. “Good luck!”

“Umm…”
  • One incredibly awkward plane ride later… Go to 62.

The awesome magic power of Margaret flowed through Jason. With a roar of anger, he charged towards the oncoming guerrilla patrol as it rounded the corner.

Image

Not one of them even had time to cock a weapon before he was upon them, sending bodies flying with each swing of his supercharged fists. Panting, he surveyed the damage. Every last guerrilla had been dispatched. As for Jason? The damage was limited to a smudge of mud on his shirt. Chuckling, he raised his eyes aloft and said a prayer to Maggie, then strode on, whistling.
    Free of danger (for now) go on to 107.

There’s not much in the crate at first glance: a folded-up raincloak, some blankets, some ammo casings. Jason was about to give up when he caught a glint of something at the bottom. He dug around and found himself holding onto the handle of a fairly hefty machete. But as he tried to pick it up, it snagged. It was obviously caught on something.
  • It’s not worth risking making a noise and waking the guard. If you have already retrieved a weapon, or else if you decide to let go of the machete, proceed to 59.
  • If the guard does wake up, wouldn’t it be better to have a weapon? If you haven’t picked one up yet and want to try to take this instead, proceed to 40.

A guard was eating a bowl of soup. It didn’t look like much better than the food they’d served in the prison tent. At least his mouth was full, which meant he couldn’t call out to raise the alarm. He jumped up, spilling his soup across his lap, and lunged to attack Jason. Fight him: his Physical score is 15.
  • If you win, leave the tent and continue; if you lose, go to 63.

It’s a standard tent. A couple of sleeping mats, a few cooking utensils, some clothes drying on a line.
  • Leave the tent and continue.

Jason toe-poked aside the pillow and smiled. Apparently the commitment to Marxist austerity wasn’t totally universal: this soldier had a little stash of money! You can add the 300 pesos to your bag.
  • Leave the tent and continue.

Jason peeked into the shack. It was obvious, just from the camp layout, that this one belonged to the Subcomandante, but there was no sign of her. Instead, she’d left a guard, a burly guy with muscles on muscles, and a huge pistol strapped to his hip. Less threateningly – he was fast asleep! Enjoying the use of what seemed to be the only proper bed in the whole camp. Jason peered around. This was where his rubber chickens had been taken. He needed them back! Being the main shack, this one had a little more in the way of furnishing, which was going to make looking for the chickens even harder.
  • Look for them in the crate at 28.
  • Look for them under the bed at 73.
  • Look for them among the things on the writing desk at 88.

Jason dived for the bushes which were, as it turned out, home to a very lively colony of ants. Immediately assailed by formic acid stings, he yowled and had to stagger back, straight into the path of the troop of guerrillas. At least ten rifles bristled at him.
  • Against these odds, the only hope is a fervent prayer to Margaret. And a timely chicken sacrifice. Take out a rubber chicken to appease the goddess and go to 27 to see the results.
  • For some reason, you decide to disdain Maggie’s mighty powers and fight them by hand. All ten of them. See how that works out for you at 102.

Jason thought this tent was some kind of storehouse for tools. Hammers, pliers, files. Some crocodile clips connected to a battery. A cut-throat razor. Handcuffs.

Then he realized what this tent was really for. Choking back bile, he hurried out.
  • Leave the tent and continue, lest you end up here!

Climbing a tree seemed like a good way of staying safe from anyone patrolling the forest for intruders. Jason curled up in the canopy and drifted into fitful sleep. Strange dreams percolated his mind. Snakes slithering between his legs, snakes slithering across his face, snakes coiling around his neck. Why so many snakes? He awoke with a start and stared straight into the eyes of…

A HUGE GREEN FIERCE SNAKE!
  • Overbalancing in panic as he tried to swat the serpent away from him, Jason felt himself starting to slip. Take a Physical Test 4d6. If you pass, the snake goes flying out of the tree, and Jason stays aloft. Go to 98. If you fail, it’s the snake that stays in the tree – and Jason that goes flying. Land at 42.

Jason groggily came awake. He seemed to be inside some sort of tent, but it was dark. He could dimly make out his bag: it was lying open, and he could clearly see his weapon and chickens had been taken. You no longer have access to these items!

A thudding pain at the back of his head told him he was probably growing a bruise the size of an egg there, but his hands were too tightly bound behind his back to touch it. This was bad. What had Kaija said about being captured?

He heard a smattering of Verdean outside the tent, picking out the word “subcomandante”. One of the flaps opened.

“Well, foreign spy.” The voice was speaking in Commonspeak [English]! “What do you have to say for yourself?”
  • Meet your captor at 46.

A thin figure was lying on a sleeping mat. It was a young man, drenched in sweat; he looked profoundly ill. His skin was practically gray.

He looked up and cried weakly.
  • Kick his ass before he raises the alarm! Fight him at 38.
  • Try to slip past him. Take a Mental test 4d6. If you pass, leave the tent and continue; if you fail, go to 76.

He’s in a really bad way. His Physical score is just 8! (That’s “8, a really low score”; not 8 factorial. Which would be a somewhat higher score.) There’s no way you can lose, right?
  • Fight him. If you win, leave the tent and continue; if you lose, go to 63.

Oops! In his excitement at getting his weapon back, Jason had let the table collapse. The rifles began clattering to the floor. He squeezed his eyes shot, expecting one of them to fire off a stray and kill him. Once the noise abated, he winked an eye open: none of them had been loaded, fortunately.
  • Leave the tent and continue, but the noise means the alarm is raised!

The machete was really jammed in. Take a Mental test 4d6.
  • If you pass, retrieve the machete at 74; if you fail, find out what happens at 65.

Really brave. Jason decked the guy nearest to him, brought the second to his knees with a swift kick, and turned to throw another punch at the third… Really brave. And really stupid. Even as he laid low another attacker, he was still vastly outnumbered, and could do nothing once a rifle butt was swung into the back of his skull. Pole-axed, he tumbled, this time unable to appreciate the comfy softness of the forest floor.
  • Wake up at 36.

Fortunately, Jason didn’t plummet out of the tree and break his neck: there were lots of branches to slow his fall. These helpful little friends slashed his face, ripped his clothes, and one of them nearly went up his bum (and not in a good way). Thanks! He landed with a thud, his bag completing the humiliation by smashing down into his groin. Cut to pieces and with a fat lip, he was a far sight from the dashing figure he normally cut in promotions advertising hairspray or deodorant. If he even found the princess, she’d probably consider him a monster!
  • The forest floor will have to do. Find a comfy bit of ground and curl up back asleep at 94.

“Hola!”

The man turns and offers the drink, instead, to another man. Who, being a shirt, drying on the back of a chair, also refuses the offer. The man doesn’t seem to notice anything amiss, and is too drunk to cause any trouble. Jason slips out, relieved.
  • Leave the tent and continue.

“Narcos?” He spat. “They poison our rivers and our children. Filthy scum!” The lie earned Jason a couple more kicks, which were starting to hurt, but had at least avoided giving up anything that might betray the princess. The man started smiling, which Jason swiftly realized was not a good sign. “Tomorrow, we will show you what we do to narcos.” The darkness after he left the tent gave Jason ample opportunity to start imagining what that fate might be.

Jason was at least a foot taller than any one of them, but recognized he was outnumbered. Given the scarred knife being waved around by their ugly little leader, he decided to hold up his hands in the universal symbol of surrender. The guy circling behind him, rifle threateningly poised, lowered his weapon. No sense taking a beating when they were clearly going to take him either way. Kaija had mentioned something about being captured, now he thought of it…

The men – and women, he noticed – searched him, took his bag, and then bound his hands with some rope. Rifles jabbed him at him, propelling him on as they led him through the jungle. His legs ached, he stumbled and tripped, but they kept pushing him. Their Verdean was thickly accented and rapidly spoken, but he made out a few curse words. Mostly directed at him, seemingly.

They crested a hill and he was driven down into a clearing where a camp had been laid out. Driven stakes surrounded a mixture of pitched tents and crude shacks. A red and black flag he didn’t recognize fluttered tattily from a flagpole emerging from the largest central structure, a tent-shack hybrid made of ratty green sheets and rusted corrugated metal sheets. The leader of the group snatched the chickens out of his bag and headed off towards this central tent; another man grabbed Jason’s weapon and took it away towards another tent.

Jason found himself being dragged to the opposite corner of the camp and a small, dank looking tent with a partial roof made out of heavily rotted wood. There, he was shoved down to the ground and thrown a couple of kicks, while his bag was dumped in the corner. You no longer have access to any of your items, your weapon, or your chickens!

He was left in darkness for a while, until he heard a smattering of Verdean outside the tent, picking out the word “subcomandante”. One of the flaps opened.

“Well, foreign spy.” The voice was speaking in Commonspeak [English]! “What do you have to say for yourself?”
  • Meet your captor at 46.

The interrogator, it turned out, was a very short, very stout, and almost indescribably ugly man of indeterminate age, dressed in faded military fatigues. He kicked Jason.

“Eh? Eh? Foreign spy. Why do you come here?”

Jason remained defiantly silent, even as the little man aimed another kick at him.

“Where do you come from?”

“He is a Græntfjaller. You see the hair? Like snow?”

A female voice attracted Jason’s attention. He turned his head. A slim, attractive woman had ducked in through another tentflap. The little man kept kicking.

“I think I’d rather talk to her,” chuckled Jason.

The woman ignored his comment, speaking over him to the man. “If he doesn’t answer your questions, start with his fingernails.” She glanced down at Jason dismissively. “Then move on to his teeth.”

“Yes, Subcomandante.”

Jason gulped and reconsidered whom he’d rather deal with. The woman left and the little man, whose kicks had left him sweating through his olive-green top and red as a tomato, sagged back.

“Why are you here?” he asked again.
  • Princess Jessika is missing in a strange foreign rainforest. You need all the help you can get. At this stage, it’d be better to be honest. “I’m looking for Jessika, Princess of Græntfjall. Her plane was shot down somewhere over the rainforest.” Go to 51.
  • It doesn’t really seem like these people are going to help! Why give up the mission so readily? Jason hastily concocted a lie, patching together his vague knowledge of narcotraficantes. “I’m looking for the Gálvez cartel. I’m meant to make a deal with them.Jessika, Princess of Græntfjall. Her plane was shot down somewhere over the rainforest.” Go to 44.
  • There’s no point saying anything. Stay silent, and go to 70.

A HUGE GREEN FIERCE SNAKE!

Oh, no, wait. It’s just a rope. You can take it with you if you like. Add it to your bag; it counts as one item..
  • Leave the tent and continue.

Jason managed to find the tracks of some sort of small forest pig. They were leading down through the muddy banks of a small creek. As he splashed along, looking for signs of life, he failed to notice a cluster of shadows moving through the treeline behind him.

He found the pig, rooting through what was, surprisingly, a plastic bag full of food scraps. Human food scraps. Which meant –

Jason jerked his head up, alert for signs of anyone moving around him. But given they weren’t moving around him, but were already directly behind him, and given they brought down their rifle butt on his head, very hard, he failed to notice them. He put his head back down, and laid down to take a nice snooze in the creek.
  • Wake up at 36.

It’s a standard tent. A couple of sleeping mats, a few cooking utensils, some clothes drying on a line.
  • Leave the tent and continue.

It’s a standard tent. A couple of sleeping mats, a few cooking utensils, some clothes drying on a line. There’s something poking out from under one of the pillows on a sleeping mat.
  • Might be something useful? Check it out at 31.
  • Might be a total waste of time? Leave the tent and continue.

“A princess flying a plane? A likely story.” He grunted, made to throw another kick – and stopped. “Alright Græntfjaller. Wait here. We will see if what you say is true. But if you are lying to us…” He drew a short, dirty finger with a horribly chewed nail at its tip across his unshaven throat. The sinister gesture did not need translation. He ducked out under the tentflap, leaving Jason in the dark to contemplate his fate.

Somehow, Jason worked out the ripcord mechanism. He did not work out the “not get smashed in the face by a million branches” part, though, and was pretty well shaken up by the time he hit the ground with a heavy thud. Fortunately, the sodden rainforest floor was damp enough to absorb most of the blow. Winded, but unhurt, he unclipped the parachute, checked his bag was intact – some of the sandwiches Kaija had packed were a bit smooshed, but everything else was OK – and finally checked the locator. A steady red light was showing now, indicating that Princess Jessika – or, at least, her RFID tag – was a few miles to the north.

Having checked over his supplies, Jason realized how hungry he was. He had a few days’ worth of food left. Check your items: if one of them isn’t food supplies, something has gone wrong! But he needed to preserve his provisions, too, in case this mission took longer than expected. Besides, he was deep in a rainforest literally crawling with life. Birds flitted through the air, dark mammals skulked through the undergrowth, simians and lizards scuttled along vines. Maybe he could hunt something and conserve his supplies?
  • Better be safe than sorry. Eat some of the supplies. Go to 79.
  • This is meant to be an adventure! Try hunting for something to eat. Take a Mental test 4d6. If you pass or if you chose the hunter skill, go to 78; if you fail, go to 48.

The man bowed respectfully at the gravity of the mission. “You good luck.”

“Thanks, mate.”
  • Cheered by the convivial exchange, go on to 107.

It’s a standard tent. A couple of sleeping mats, a few cooking utensils, some clothes drying on a line.
  • Leave the tent and continue.

It’s a standard tent. A couple of sleeping mats, a few cooking utensils, some clothes drying on a line.
  • There’s a battered tea chest in one corner. Open it and take a look inside at 47.
  • There’s no time for rooting through old boxes. Leave the tent and continue.

Jason managed to wiggle a hand into the bag before the young man worked out what was going on. Wrapping his hand around one of the rubber chickens, he snapped it open, unleashing the raw magic power of the goddess Margaret.

Image

Wow, these chickens were powerful! In less than a minute, twelve armed attackers had been strewn around the clearing; Jason was unharmed! Cross off one of the chickens from your items. He recovered his bag and inspected the carnage. Though he was safe, the downside was Margaret’s power was so strong, all his attackers were beaten insensate and their weapons broken to the point of uselessness. He couldn’t interrogate them to find out if they’d found Jessika, nor pick up one of their guns. He could, at least, sleep easy, knowing that anyone unwise enough to disturb his slumbers would meet a similar fate. When morning came, he woke up, but his assailants were still out cold.

Jason walked for a couple of hours before he began to grow aware of a deep, low, rumbling noise. Thunder, and a storm about to break? The growl of a jaguar, stalking him? Chanting from a temple hidden deep in the jungle? Or – his stomach! Slashing his way through the undergrowth was taxing work and he hadn’t eaten since the previous night. He was starving. He paused by a creek to drink some water, and tucked into his provisions. Subtract 1 days’ worth from your supplies. If you’re out of provisions altogether now, you’ll have to find alternative sources of food.

Refreshed, he set off again. He was gaining on the little red dot on the indicator, which encouraged him. And the forest seemed less oppressive now, too. Lighter, airier. Almost like it was getting thinner?

Jason lurched into bright sunlight. After the dappled depths of the rainforest, the sudden brightness was overwhelming; it took him a few minutes to adjust, by which time he noticed that he was standing on the precipice of an immense clearing. Ahead of him, miles and miles stretched away, denuded of trees, whose only remnants were smouldering stumps. He’d seen documentaries about the loss of rainforest before. People always used stats like “a football pitch every day”. Or was it hour. Or minute? But it wasn’t until he actually saw the scale of the devastation that it shook him. He audibly gasped.

Disturbingly, the red indicator light was pointing on past the clearing. He found a rutted path to follow, which soon turned into a flat, road. Never would he have thought the feeling of tarmac beneath his feet would be a relief, but the change from the boggy rainforest floor that sucked greedily, sapping energy from his every step, was so welcome he found himself laughing. The peal attracted the attention of a man up ahead, who emerged from the treeline. Jason tensed.

The man glanced at him, then turned back. Jason realized, belatedly, the guy was peeing. Under the circumstances, it was hardly the worst act of environmental sacrilege he’d witnessed that day.

The man’s relaxed attitude to him was confusing at first, but he figured that seeing foreigners around logging sites was probably a lot more common. Kaija had mentioned something about lots of foreign companies being the ones who were stripping the rainforest, even Græntfjallers. Maybe he wouldn’t be so out of place.

Up ahead, the man finished peeing and stepped back into the road, walking at a much more leisurely pace than Jason. They were headed in the same direction.
  • Maybe he has some helpful information? Go up and join him at 91 (Just maybe don’t shake his hand?).
  • Kaija warned you the loggers protect their camps with violence if needed. If this guy works here, he may be dangerous. Steer well clear. Carry on at 87.

Jason tried to slip his hand in the bag, but just ended up grabbing a handful of the boot of the young man standing on it. Whose other boot came swinging through, fast, hard, and directly into Jason’s temple.

He crumpled to the ground seeing, first stars, then black.
  • Wake up at 36.

The noise of rooting around in the crate hadn’t woken the guard. The search for the chickens continues!
  • Look for them under the bed at 73.
  • Look for them among the things on the writing desk at 88.

It’s a standard tent. A couple of sleeping mats, a few cooking utensils, some clothes drying on a line. There was something bundled up in the corner.
  • There might be something valuable hidden under there? See what it is at 90.
  • Rooting around through a pile of old laundry won’t help. Leave the tent and continue.

The medical tent. It’s not exactly a fully kitted-out field hospital: just a few rickety beds and a couple of first aid boxes. Jason looked through one of the first aid boxes: sticking plasters and some pills whose label he couldn’t translate. Nothing of any real use to him.
  • Leave the tent and continue.

Other than the fairly banal choice of conversation topic – Guðjón was apparently enraged at the latest changes to the handbook of accounting practices – the flight was fairly smooth. Guðjón explained that Kaija had asked him to fly the plane as he had a private pilot’s license and she couldn’t trust anyone in the Foreign Ministry not to leak news of the mission. Jason wasn’t exactly sure where Montaña Verde was – he’d glanced at a Rushmori atlas, but it just said it was on page ‘404’, and he couldn’t find a 404. For a long time they buzzed quietly over a seemingly endless ocean. He glanced down occasionally to check for krakens, but all he saw were waves, dolphins, the odd mermaid, nothing really special. Eventually, a speck of green appeared on the horizon. He checked the locator device: the little red LED was glowing, but faintly, meaning the device was still active, but too far away to be useful yet.

“The parachute is under the seat,” said Guðjón. “I’m afraid I can’t set you down, I wouldn’t have enough fuel to get back.”

Jason checked: wow, there actually was a parachute, and a functioning one at that – as far as his untrained eye could tell. Beneath them, green rainforest was flashing by. The red light was getting stronger. Guðjón tipped the controls down.

“Good luck! I can’t thank you enough for this.”

Jason agreed.

“OK, we’re nearing the drop zone. Open your door, and when you’re ready… well, gravity should do the rest!”

The door opened, the wind whistling loud around them and drowning out the rest of what Guðjón was saying. “OH BY THE WAY, ONE REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST REMEMBER…”

But he was gone. As he tumbled through the air, Jason reconsidered whether he should have worked out how to use the parachute before jumping…
  • Land (heavily) at 52.

Jason came to. His head was pounding, and when he tried to move, he found that his hands and feet were now tied, very tight. There was a gag across his mouth that tasted of sweat and fear. He looked up, and saw the young boy who had freed him, wearing a dark scowl and aiming a rifle at him. He didn’t think he was going to be getting his bonds loosed again, somehow.

YOUR SEASON IS OVER!
  • Go back and try again?

This bigger tent is home to an arms cache. The rifles aren’t much use, though, as the ammunition is in a lockbox, but that doesn’t matter: Jason spies, on the table, the weapon his friend in Háttmark gave him! Unfortunately, it’s just a rickety folding table and the moment he picks it up, the table collapses. It tumbles towards the stacked rifles! Take a Physical Test 4d6 to try to stop it.
  • If you pass, catch the table in time at 71.
  • If you fail, let the table slip from your grasp and crash into the rifles, which start toppling to the ground one by one. Go to 39.

The handle of the machete was entwined with a bandolier. When Jason tried to pull it free, ammunition started pouring out, rattling loudly on the bottom of the crate. The guard awoke with a grunt of outrage, took one look at the shadowy figure looming near the bed, and leapt up. He didn’t bother firing his gun: he just swung a fist, hard, while Jason’s hands were still stuck in the crate. Unable to protect his head, the fight was over before it had begun.

Two young guards were sitting on the floor of the tent playing cards. Neither was particularly big or strong and they weren’t armed with anything more dangerous than a Queen of Hearts, but there were two of them. They attack Jason together; each has a Physical score of 10, giving them a combined score of 20.
  • If you win, leave the tent and continue; if you lose, go to 63.

A hugely muscled guard was washing his shirt in a basin. He reared up at Jason’s arrival and lunged for him! There’s no time to leave: fight! His Physical score is 20.
  • If you win, leave the tent and continue; if you lose, go to 63.

He stretched out his back, washed his face in the stream, and checked his bag. Everything seemed to be in order. The signal on the locator was strong and, encouragingly, seemed to have moved a bit overnight. But not far: if he set off at a good walking pace, he might be able to catch up within the day. He shouldered his load, snapped off a branch to use as a walking stick, and set off through the rainforest..

The two men passed the bottle back and forth, until Jason found himself holding it out into empty space. Looking down, he saw that the drinker had collapsed on the floor, and was now snoring soundly. He will stay asleep even if you should return to the tent. Jason polished off a quick victory swig, then set down the bottle.
  • Leave the tent and continue.

The man kept kicking. Jason bore every strike with grim determination. He was not about to fly halfway around the world and parachute into a jungle, only to start coughing up his secrets because of some angry little dwarf! The man gave up in frustration; he was soaked through with sweat and looked like he was about to keel over. Fuming, he exited the tent, leaving Jason to wonder whether getting a man who had questionable intentions with respect to his fingernails so angry was really such a wise decision.

That was close! Jason caught the table just in time. He was on his knees, not in the most dignified position, but he’d at least avoided making a noise. And he’d recovered his weapon! Add it back to your items, regaining any points it confers. If you’ve also found your rubber chickens, you can now head for the camp exit; if not, keep looking for those chickens!
  • Leave the tent and continue.

Jason’s quick reflexes saved him. Or had they? Yes, he had a handful of rubber chickens, but he still had an enraged guard built like a heavyweight boxer bearing down on him, swinging an enormous gun. You must fight the guard, who has a Physical score of 30.
  • If you win the fight (or use a chicken to summon Margaret’s powers), you leave the tent and continue. However, his shouts mean the alarm is raised!
  • If you lose the fight, go to 63.

Jason bent down and looked under the bed. An old shoe was all he turned up. Why would the chickens be under there? He had just enough time to consider his stupidity as he kneeled up – and looked straight into the open eyes of a very angry, and very awake, guard.

He jolted upright, and immediately reached out for the table. Jason looked: the chickens were on the table! A much more sensible place to store them, he now realized. The two men lunged for the magical chickens at the same time. Take a Mental test 4d6.
  • If you pass, grab the chickens first at 72.
  • If you fail, watch in horror as the guard reaches them first at 104.

Jason managed to extricate the machete. You can add it to your pack; it counts as 1 item. The machete gives you a bonus of 3 to your Physical score in a fight.

Jason was left alone for a while. A young guard poked his head through the flap, and came in bearing a bowl of some sort of soup. It looked watery and the few bits of meat floating in it were all gristle, but Jason hadn’t eaten in hours and was starving. The boy set down the soup and made to leave, but Jason spoke up in somewhat broken Verdean.

“I can’t eat with hands ti- ty- in ropes. Can you make loose?”

He smiled hopefully. The boy’s eyes widened. “Jason of Thorhall!”

Apparently, his footballing fame extended even to Marxist rebel bases deep in the jungle. The starstruck boy hurried to untie his hands. He was a teenager, at most, and Jason felt a pang of sympathy for whatever circumstances had led him to end up in a camp like this. He picked up the bowl and began drinking the soup, while the boy sat across from him, staring. Having finished, he searched around for something to say that might delay his hands being tied back up.

“Primitivo? Osito? Thiago?”

He listed all the Verdean players he’d heard of. There weren’t many. The boy nodded enthusiastically. It was a clearly a dream come true to have a football star sitting across from him in this camp, talking about his favorite players! The boy dug around in his pockets and produced a rather stained cigarette card with Osito’s likeness on it. He brought it close to Jason to show him.

The amazing thing was, despite how hard he was staring at Jason – he somehow failed to see the punch coming.

Jason picked himself up and shook his hand. His knuckles ached: he wasn’t going to get far like that. He needed to recover his weapon. And his chickens. At least his bag was in the tent. He stepped over the boy’s unconscious body and reclaimed it. You have all your items back except for your weapon and rubber chickens. You may not leave the camp until you have found them again. He checked the tracker: it wasn’t broken. That was good. It was still showing a slow movement. That was good, too, hopefully.

He ducked out of the tent flap, peered around, and set off in search of his missing things…
  • Navigate using the numbers on the map. When you are ready to leave the camp go to 101.

Jason tried to lift the tentflap and duck back out, but the movement disturbed the pile of cooking utensils on the floor. The jangle of pots aroused the man’s interest. “Juan?” he called out feebly, before asking ‘Juan’ in Verdean whether he had brought medicine. Jason hesitated, searched his memory of grade school vocab lessons, and tried to affect a passable accent.
  • Take a Personality test 3d6. If you pass, your convincing linguistic display has him assured that Juan is fetching medicine. He lets you leave the tent and continue. If you fail, he immediately rumbles you, and hauls his fragile body, hacking and coughing, up from the bed to confront you. Fight him at 38.

The rainforest at night was a strange place. Eerie screeches echoed through the canopy. Creepy creatures slithered and scuttled about. Even the trees seemed to be speaking, groaning and moaning in the weird winds that constantly changed directions. Jason considered making camp for the night, rather than trekking on.
  • The mossy undergrowth was quite soft. Make an impromptu camp at 94.
  • Soft, but not very safe. Jason decided he’d be much better hidden if he climbed up in a tree. Go to 35.
  • If the forest at night was a scary place for him, it was probably no easier on Princess Jessika. Press on! Go to 100.

All those hours in the woods with Natasja hadn’t been entirely wasted. Jason, who’d grown up in a city, had become enough of a woodsman to read the tracks of some sort of small forest pig. His attempts at building a trap were less successful, and eventually he stumbled across one – literally. As the outraged pig snorted on the ground, he quickly…

…for the sake of our vegan friends, let’s gloss over what happened next, and cut to Jason picking the meat off some bones roasted over a small fire. It wasn’t exactly haute cuisine, but it was filling enough and had the added value of allowing him to preserve his provisions. He buried the bones, not out of sentimentality but to avoid attracting predators, then found a small creek to wash off his hands which were, oh are the vegans still here? they were… muddy, spattered in lots and lots of mud

By the time he’d cleaned up, night was falling. It really had been a long plane ride.

Jason found a fallen tree to sit on, and spread out the provisions in his lap. Some sandwiches, cold meats and cheese; some rather squashed grain bars; a bruised apple; an orange juice carton. A steak and lobster dinner, it was not, but he wolfed it down hungrily all the same, eating a whole day’s worth of supplies in one greedy meal.

Note down that you have only 1 day’s worth left now.

The water in a small creek nearby was running clear and shockingly cold. He splashed his face and drank a few cupped handfuls. By the time he’d packed everything up again, night was falling. It really had been a long plane ride.

Not the most dignified way to avoid capture, lying face down in a muddy creek. But then Jason was rapidly discovering the quest to rescue a princess wasn’t quite as glamorous as he might have hoped when he’d first signed up. Eventually, the voices of the patrol subsided into the distance. He picked himself and brushed off what he strongly suspected was a vivid streak of capybara scat.

Jason had lost time in the camp, and the little red indicator light was still on the move. He set off into the rainforest on the double. Around him buzzed the now-familiar calls of birds, scuttlings of animals, drip-drop of rain on the canopy… and voices, speaking in Verdean?
  • Getting captured the first time was bad enough; Jason suspected they wouldn’t be so easy to escape the second time. He tried to hide, diving into the bushes. Take a Mental test 3d6. If you pass, go to 80; if you fail, go to 33.
  • After fighting so hard to get your chickens back, are you really going to skulk around in the undergrowth? Sacrifice a chicken to Margaret and charge into the fight at 27!

It’s a standard tent. A couple of sleeping mats, a few cooking utensils, some clothes drying on a line.
  • Something bright is glinting in the corner! Could it be valuable? Go find out at 84!
  • What are you, a magpie? Leave the tent and continue.

Somehow, Jason managed to claw his way out from under the tarpaulin and wood planks, leaving the drunkard howling in rage behind him. You are so drunk that you lose 3 points for each of your Physical and Mental scores. You will not regain the points until you leave the camp.
  • Move on. You may not return to this tent, and the alarm is raised!

Jason bent over to inspect his find. What was he expecting, buried treasure? It was a gum wrapper! The moment he stood up, he realized his eventful night’s sleep had ricked his back, and bending over like that had aggravated it. Lose 2 points from your Physical score.
  • Leave the tent (and the gum wrapper) and continue.

The man’s face darkened and he swore rapidly in a language Jason didn’t understand. Or at least he assumed it was swearing, didn’t really sound like well wishes. Nope, that’s a middle finger, no need for translation!
  • Hurry off down your fork of the road and away from this stranger you’ve just pissed off! Go to 107.

The liquor is strong. It barely tastes like liquor at all, in fact, more like paint thinner! One swig and Jason’s head is already spinning. Easy to see why the man is so drunk. He takes a hefty draft – and then offers a second drink to his new drinking buddy.
  • Take another drink at 96.
  • One sip is more than enough. Decline another drink before you end up getting so drunk you can’t escape! Go to 43.

Jason continued walking along the road. When he drew level with the man they exchanged nods and guttural, wordless grunts of acknowledgement. Nothing more. He hurried on, leaving the man in his wake.

There was a folding table set up as a writing desk; there were a few papers and magazines scattered, some pens and pencils, and… the chickens! Jason grabbed up the rubber chickens gratefully. Behind him, the guard slumbered on regardless. You have all your chickens back and may now sacrifice them when needed to help you in a fight. If you have found your weapon, you can now head for the camp exit (unless you want to look around further for some reason!); if not, keep up the search.
  • Leave the tent and continue.

Declining his offer has upset the man, who started ranting and raving. And when he yelled out that the “blonde man” should have had a drink, the jig is up. Maybe one drink wouldn’t have hurt?
  • Leave the tent and continue, but the alarm is raised!

Underneath a couple of old blankets, there’s a jacket. Not just any jacket: a bulletproof vest! You can put this on and add 5 to your Physical score; it counts as 1 item, though, even if not carried in your bag.
  • Leave the tent and continue.

Jason drew up alongside the man, who greeted him with a nod. “Hola.”

The man grinned, and Jason knew right away his accent had betrayed him. He couldn’t even say hello and sound convincingly Verdean. The man cycled through a few languages: Schutzenphalian, Planinan, Vihreän… Græntfjaller! Jason was so relieved to hear it, he answered straight away. But he didn’t know this man, who was, now he looked closer, wearing a gun on his belt. He regretted his decision, even as the man answered in somewhat broken Græntfjaller: “Ah, of coursing!”

With no chance of feigning incomprehension, he resigned himself to chatting. The man seemed very willing to just assume Jason was a mercenary of some sort based on his vaguely military fatigues. He felt a pang of national shame: apparently Græntfjallers here had a reputation. Everyone just seemed to accept that a bunch of them were running around the country with guns. Not that he was in a great place to take a moral stand on this issue. At least he wasn’t recognized: a couple days’ beard growth plus the accumulated muck of the grime put paid to any chance of that.

The road was forking: the identifier was in the direction of the right fork, but the man was bearing left. Jason jerked his head to indicate he was parting ways with him, but the man held him up at the fork with a hand on his shoulder. (His right hand; Jason made a mental note to change his shirt when he got the chance.)

“Me headings to camp. Where you goings?”

Jason considered his answer.
  • This guy seemed capable and friendly. Why not be straight with him? “I’m searching for Princess Jessika. Her plane came down somewhere over there. I have to bring her back to Græntfjall.” Go to 53.
  • That seems a little too much information to share. Dissimulate a little; it’s not like he’ll be there to call you on the lie. “I’m heading back to my base. It’s at…” Quick, think of a Verdean city! “…it’s near Santa Margarita.” Go to 97.
  • Why would he need to know where you’re going unless he’s a spy? “None of your fucking business, mate!” Go to 85.

“Hola!”

Jason was greeted by a very drunk man. Unshaven and unsteady on his feet, he didn’t exactly look to be a hardened guerrilla cadre. He was swilling from a bottle of some sort of clear alcohol. The fumes wafting over smelled like death.

Ready to dive for cover, Jason instead found himself being offered a drink. The man was clearly too drunk to understand what was going on. He thrust the bottle insistently at his new drinking partner.
  • Take the drink, lest he get upset and start making more noise. Throw back a mouthful of the swill at 86.
  • This isn’t exactly the time to be sampling the local cocktail menu. Get out of here before he notices at 89.

It’s a standard tent. A couple of sleeping mats, a few cooking utensils, some clothes drying on a line.
  • Leave the tent and continue.

Looks like a comfy spot. Comfy, but not tremendously sensible. Jason had been sleeping soundly when he was awakened by a sharp kick. Looking up, he was able to make out perhaps a dozen figures looking down at him. Several were toting weapons. His knowledge of Verdean wasn’t exactly as strong as he’d led Kaija to believe, mostly limited to phrases like “pass the ball!”, “tackle him!” and “quick, my husband is home, hide in the closet!”; he couldn’t make out what they were jabbering. But they didn’t seem especially friendly.
  • Be sensible. Immediately surrender! Go to 45.
  • Be brave. Fight back! Go to 41.
  • Be smart. Facing insurmountable odds, this is clearly the time to sacrifice a rubber chicken. But the bag is currently trapped under the foot of a young man wielding a rifle. Take a Mental test 5d6. If you pass, go to 56; if you fail, go to 58.

The bottle slipped from Jason’s grasp and shattered. The man drunkenly lurched at him; Jason’s equally drunken attempt to hit back succeeded only in punching a sheet of corrugated metal. Which it turned out performed some vital structural purpose, as the tent-shack structure immediately collapsed around them! Take a Physical test 3d6.
  • If you pass, wiggle free of the wreckage at 83.
  • If you fail, remain stuck under the wreckage at 105.

Jason drank deep. The inside of the tent was starting to spin. He had to lean on a chair to steady himself as the alcohol burned down his throat.
  • Take a Mental test 3d6. If you pass or if you chose the drinker skill, go to 69. If you fail, go to 95.

The man’s eyebrows raised. “Santa Margarita! Longing way! Hold…”

Jason tensed as the man reached for his hip. Going for his gun, Jason’s obvious lie having exposed him? …no. The man produced, instead, a chocolate bar!

It was a kind gesture, even if a chocolate bar alone was hardly going to be enough to keep Jason going. He waved goodbye and walked off munching the treat. He felt so buoyed by the kindness of this stranger! Gain 2 points in your Personality score.
  • The chocolate bar doesn’t last long. Throw away the wrapper and press on to 107.

Having dispensed with the largest serpent, Jason kicked a couple of smaller ones away, then hauled himself higher into the branches of the tree. It proved a safer berth, and he slept through the night soundly – the snakes making it back to his dreams, but no further.

This time he was woken not by savage fangs, but the first light of morning sun filtering through the canopy. His back was stiff, but he’d got a good few hours sleep in. If he’d noticed the heavy footprints in the ground beneath the tree as he swung himself down, he might have had even more cause to be thankful for his choice of resting place…

It’s a standard tent. A couple of sleeping mats, a few cooking utensils, some clothes drying on a line.
  • Leave the tent and continue.

What a valiant hero you are! And what a complete idiot! Stumbling through a dark foreign rainforest really wasn’t a particularly good idea. Between the vines slashing at his face and ants nibbling at his ankles, Jason was soon much the worse for wear. Subtract 2 points from your Physical score; you will not regain them until you’ve slept.
  • Exhausted, slump to the forest floor to get a little shut-eye. Go to 94.
  • Drag your beleaguered body up the nearest tree in the hopes of finding safety. Go to 35.

Was the alarm raised while Jason was getting free of the camp?
  • If yes, go to 81.
  • If no, go to 107.

The fight is nasty, brutish, and short. Jason fought pretty valiantly, getting a couple of good blows in, but sheer weight of numbers meant that for every one of those, there were five laid on him. Including a rifle, brought savagely down on his head.
  • Fade to black at 62.

It’s a standard tent. A couple of sleeping mats, a few cooking utensils, some clothes drying on a line.
  • Leave the tent and continue.

The guard had the advantage of a headstart. He reached the nearest chicken and squeezed its head off. As the immortal power of Margaret filled him, he hit Jason with an uppercut of such power that the footballer crashed through the roof of the tent and landed in a broken pile on the campground outside.
  • Wake up at 63.

Jason couldn’t untangle himself from the tarpaulin, and the drunkard kept swinging a loose wood plank at his head. As the two grappled on the camp floor, the sounds alerted other guards, who came up running. Jason turned his head just in time to see the rifle swinging towards his jaw – CRACK!

Below is a map of the camp. Each tent has a corresponding number. Once free of captivity, you may move vertically or horizontally, and enter or exit any tent from any angle. Guards are marked in red. If you move into the same square as a guard, you must fight them. Each guard has a Physical score of 15. If the alarm is raised, then every time you move into a square next to a guard, you must fight them too. Defeated guards, including those in tents, remain knocked out and you do not have to fight them twice. Once you have recovered your chickens, weapon, and anything else you might need, you may leave by either of the gates at 101. Once you have recovered your chickens, you may sacrifice one to Margaret: its effects last for a count of 12, where each square you move reduces the countdown by 1 and each fight you encounter by 2. If at any time you lose a fight, go to 63.
  • You begin in tent 75.


Image


Græntfjaller Cup


Putzendorf 1–3 Korsbach
Vildkappel 0–2 Altendalur
Nordmarksdorf 0–3 Gründorf
Hagejoki 0–0 Notschach (replay: Notschach 1–1 Hagejoki (1–1 AET) (4–5 pen.))
Fliserboding 2–1 Laitwinkl
Schwakirchen 0–5 Hofvinger
Estdal 0–1 Hinteram
Lohrreith 1–3 Mokofen
Lammedal 4–4 Þingsnitz (replay: Þingsnitz 0–0 Lammedal (0–0 AET) (4–3 pen.))
GT Molding 1–0 Diepoldsburg
Gerstungtal 1–2 Gunzlach
Harmersgrunn 1–3 Væggerfried
Gstockmäki 0–1 Järvendorf
Folte 4–0 Ostholm
Tuldam 0–1 Steinaux
Griesberg 0–2 Maigburg

Folte 8–1 Gründorf
Hinteram 4–4 Hofvinger (replay: Hofvinger 1–0 Hinteram)
Korsbach 0–3 Mokofen
Maigburg 1–0 Fliserboding
Gunzlach 5–2 Altendalur
Þingsnitz 1–0 GT Molding
Væggerfried 0–0 Järvendorf (replay: Järvendorf 2–0 Væggerfried)
Steinaux 5–0 Hagejoki

PostPosted: Sat Jul 03, 2021 9:14 pm
by Graintfjall
Fistful of Maybes

The road beat on beneath Jason’s feet. Less and less did his surroundings resemble a rainforest; for the first time, he could actually make out the horizon, and a distant bank of mountains, snow-capped and awesome. Where was he?

From behind, a low rumble. He turned and saw a truck approaching. There was no time to dive into the bushes and hide this time, and anyway, the bushes now were getting sparse. Not so much verdant swathes of lush green, as tough knee-high gorse. He stood to one side and the truck swept past him. Loaded in the back were a dozen workers, glumly clutching tools. Not one of them even glanced his way.

At the next fork in the road, there was an actual roadsign. ‘Obliquyó’ was apparently ‘4,5’ up ahead. The indicator light was pointing in that direction, too. The sun was beating high now and his mouth was dry, but there were no more fresh creeks, just some boggy marshlands stinking of detritus. He needed to find water, and shelter, and soon. Obliquyó it was.

A couple hours later when he tramped in, Obliquyó turned out not to be so much a village as a full-fledged town. Chickens ran through the streets, elderly women pegged out laundry on the balconies of three-storey apartment blocks. There was a town square of sorts, roughly cobbled, with a small collection of wagons, hawkers yelling out prices as housewives looked through the vegetables they were selling. A boy kicked a football into Jason’s path and froze.

Jason tiredly nudged it back; his boots felt like they were filled with lead weights. He would do his mission no good if he collapsed on the street. “Hotel?” he croaked. “Posada? Taverna?”

The boy smiled, and pointed down the street. Jason cracked a smile back; cracked literally, he could feel the skin of his dry lips tearing. He needed water. And food. And rest. Visions of ice cold beers and lavish suppers and feather beds and Kaija feeding him grapes swam behind his eyes as he followed the boy’s directions down the street. Merry cheers and clinks of glasses welcomed him as he drew up outside a building bearing a rickety ‘Hotel’ sign. He lurched in through the door and almost collapsed onto the nearest bench.

The common room was half full. Some foreign men in military-ish uniform like his, who nodded at him then continued their conversation; a couple of groups of locals, some of them drinking, some playing darts, some reading newspapers. No one took much notice of him, except a pretty young waitress who hurried over with a jug of water and a glass. Jason didn’t even bother with the glass, pouring the fresh, sweet, life giving water down his throat in one.
  • Go to 119 to order some food.

Jason awoke in the motel room: he could tell by the neon green glow bathing the room from outside. A group of men were surrounding him in bed, speaking in… Græntfjaller!

“Yes, his arm’s broken. Couple of ribs, too. Don’t know. Muttering something strange about a princess.”

The men were Græntfjallers, soldiers by the look of it. They’d found Jason outside – no, no sign of any car. Nor a bag full of rubber chickens. With a dry mouth, Jason feebly croaked out his story from the beginning, explaining everything to them. Jessika, the mission, the locator tag… The men listened intently, and quickly agreed to help him out. While he laid up here recovering, they’d be the ones to set off in search of Princess Jessika!

The little deer was agile, but its top speed was easily within Jason’s range. When it broke from the cover of the forest into a clearing, the chase leaned heavily in his favor, and he brought it down easily. It didn’t make for more than a few mouthfuls as a meal, but with the addition of some edible shrubs he found in the forest, he could boil up a healthy enough stew. And it tasted all the sweeter for coming from his own hand. Once he’d finished his delicious meal, he tamped down the fire and covered the embers in damp soil. Having seen the impact of deforestation first hand here, he had no desire to add a forest fire to the region’s woes. Thoroughly satisfied, he made his way back to the car.

The packed dining room of the motel restaurant brought welcome aromas of food. Drawn by his nose, Jason wasn’t paying attention, when he walked smack into a brick wall. A brick wall that spoke!

“Sorry, mate.” A huge hand helped him up from the floor.

“That’s OK, nothing broken,” he replied instinctively, before realizing the brick wall was speaking Græntfjaller! And so was he!

He looked up into the astonished face of a tall, strong Græntfjaller man who was wearing, half a world away, a ‘9. Þórhallursson’ vintage Gunzlach shirt!

Before he could protest, he was being dragged to a table around which Græntfjallers, each as big and strong as this young lad, and all wearing civilian clothes like football and basketball shirts, were gathered. Fortunately, they seemed to be Gunzlach fans, and even more fortunately, seemed more inclined to take his side than some of the fans back home had been. One went to fetch him a meal while another poured him a glass of wine from the shared carafe.

“Jason Þórhallursson as I live and breathe! What are you doing in this shithole?” they asked, clapping him on the back.

He looked around the assembled group. They were friendly young lads. But despite the football shirts, the chatty attitude, the booze… every one of them was far more solidly built than the average tourist. Several of them seemed to have the same tattoo on their biceps. And were those dog-tags around their necks?
  • This is your chance to enlist some help! Plead your case, tell them everything, and soon you’ll all be on your way together to rescue the Princess! Go to 167.
  • You’ve just met these men. Keep your cards close to your chest for now. Go to 124.

The banditos dislodged the boulders and drove off in the car. They were long out of sight before Jason realized he’d forgotten to retrieve his bag: the chickens were gone too! Along with everything else but the shirt on his back. An hour later a logging truck pulled up; the workers removed the tree from the road, and agreed to give Jason a ride back into town. But the mechanic wasn’t impressed with his sob story: “no refunds!” seemed to be a pretty universal language. The landlord of the hotel was similarly inhospitable.

Brakes squealed, engine groaned – and Jason screamed, as the car ploughed into the tree trunk. It flipped (the car, not the tree trunk, which came off much the better of the two) and crashed off the road, smashing into a pile of boulders. Through the shattered glass and the blood trickling into his eyes, Jason could just make out some figures toting tools, running up to help. Or maybe they were weapons…

He’d been walking an hour when he heard the first engine noise. Sure enough, a logging truck was rumbling up the mountain. It showed no sign of slowing when he waved, so he stepped into the road to force it to a stop. It was driven by an angry Verdean man, who shouted at him. He understood one word in three, but as those words were “fuck” and “off”, he got the general picture that hitch-hikers weren’t welcome. The driver honked his horn and pressed down on the accelerator.
  • Walk on, accepting your lot in life like a penitent monk. Go to 165.
  • As the truck rolls by, try to jump on the back. Take a Mental test 4d6. If you pass, celebrate at 129; if you fail, hit the dirt at 165.

Jason looked over the two models. The convertible was missing a roof and the leather on the seats was torn up, but the chassis looked robust. The other car had much more rust, and was missing rather more essentials: wing mirrors, seatbelts, windows. He flipped the hood. The engine was cobbled together from parts; the convertible’s looked nearly new.

The mechanic considered Jason’s situation, and led him to the back of the lot. There was a red and white car there. Red and white, because quite clearly the front half of a red car had been welded onto the back half of a white car. The car looked like it was held together with sticking tape.

“200 pesos!” offered the mechanic.
  • It’s this junker or a long walk to nowhere. Pay up and go to 172.
  • You don’t even have enough money for this lemon. Go to 137.

The jaguar tried to follow Jason up the tree. He snapped off a branch and used it as a fencing sword, poking back the big cat’s attempts. Eventually, the enraged beast gave up. It stalked back towards his car. There was a growl, and then a hiss. Jason felt deflated – and so, one after one, did his tires!

Jason made his choice.
  • “I’ll take the 750 peso car.” Go to 154.
  • “I’ll take the 600 peso car.” Go to 171.
  • “I don’t have enough for either.” Go to 115.

The evening trade had died down and the waitress was no longer busy, instead sitting at a corner table leafing through some sort of fashion magazine. Jason sidled over and tried to recall a few Verdean chat-up lines.
  • If you fell out of a tree in the forest, go straight to 120.
  • Otherwise, take a Personality test 3d6. If you pass, go to 170; if you fail, to go 120.

There was no menu, but the waitress rattled through a list of options. Between her thick regional accent and Jason’s exhaustion he understood about one word in ten. They were serving… some sort of stew. And… there was fish… and… something with potatoes? Jason blinked tiredly, and made a movement of his hand across his stomach: ‘hungry!’ She nodded, and rattled off some more words. This time, he definitely understood there was some chicken. He thought back to the birds he’d seen in the streets, small stringy things, not much meat on them. His mouth was still watering.
  • Order the stew. Go to 151.
  • Order the fish. Go to 144.
  • Order the chicken. Go to 157.

Jason had a pretty strong batting average in Græntfjall, but everyone struggled on the road. The waitress gave him the polite smile she would any other customer, but nothing more.
  • The darts players may not be so discerning about the company they keep. Join the game at 123.
  • The foreigners don’t look fussy about appearances. Join them for a drink at 134.
  • It’s not your night, son. So maybe best just get some rest? Go to 161.

Jason grovellingly handed back every last peso he’d won. This seemed to satisfy the men, but it certainly soured him on the pretty young waitress, who’d hitherto been making eyes at him. Disgusted by the pathetic lack of machismo, she stalked off.
  • No more darts for you tonight. Join the table of foreigners at 134.
  • No more anything for you tonight. Ask for a bed at 161.

The car span and Jason nearly threw his shoulder out, but somehow he managed to keep all four wheels on the ground and avoid slamming into the tree. The car ended up wedged between two boulders by the roadside. And the moment he climbed out to try to push them free, men started streaming down from the mountains around him. Men with weapons, waving and shouting. Banditos! Their leader, wearing an old military uniform, boldly strode up with a very straightforward offer that even Jason’s limited Verdean understood: “Your money or your life!”
  • Turn over all your money and hope they stick to their end of the bargain! Go to 140.
  • You haven’t come this far to be robbed by common thieves. Fight back! Go to 162.

Verdean darts seems to operate a little differently to Græntfjaller darts!

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The men take turns throwing at the dartboard. Each man gets three darts, and the score of all three is added together. Whomever has the highest score wins. The minimum stake for each round is 50 pesos. If the scores are tied, the pot rolls over to the next round.

You may play as many men as you like, and stop at any time, though having joined the game you must play at least one round, you must complete a round once you’ve started it, and you must stop if you run out of pesos and cannot meet the minimum stake. Roll a 3d6 for your dice and then a 3d6 for your opponent’s. If you got drunk in the guerrilla camp in the rainforest, you must roll again any time you roll a 6 and instead take the lower score (unless you roll another 6). If you win more than 500 pesos, go to 168. If you run out of money, go to 137.
  • Otherwise, when you’re ready to stop playing, you can join the table of foreigners at 134.
  • Or you can try to chat up the waitress at 118.
  • Or else just ask for a bed for the night at 161.

Jason claimed he was here on a charitable cause, doing a celebrity appearance in support of rainforest deforestation activism, that sort of thing. He’d be heading back to Græntfjall soon, was just touring some of the local sights. The men seemed satisfied and they didn’t press him for details, instead choosing to ask him about his career highlights (namely, listing Playgrænt models and asking him which of them he’d slept with).

The men had hired out a couple of rooms and, when the dining room started closing up, invited him back to stay with them. It’d save on the cost of renting a room for himself, at least, even if he had to put up with a couple more hours’ drinking and story-telling. So much for a good night’s sleep!

Eventually he drifted off to the sound of Gunzlach fan songs...

Jason dropped the unconscious thief to the ground and wiped the sweat from his brow. At least he’d won the fight – but what he been thinking, passing up a motel to sleep in an open field? It was time to cut his losses and head into town for the night. Hopefully the motel would still have a room available. He packed up his things and left the thief behind him in a ditch.

A wolf versus a jaguar! Could be a closely matched fight? Margaret had other ideas.

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Fuelled by the unstoppable magic of Maggie begat by his sacrifice of a rubber chicken, Jason met the jaguar mid-leap, grabbing its tail and whirling it about his head like a cowboy would a lasso rope. He let go, regretting only that there were no officiators present to attest to him breaking the national hammer throw record. With a jaguar! Wherever the big cat ended up landing, it certainly wouldn’t be coming back bothering him again.

Jason saw through the patter pretty easily. The man was trying to push the cheaper model onto him, and keep the more expensive model, which they could probably sell for vintage parts. A genuinely good car didn’t need selling so forcibly.

The mechanics were driving a hard bargain. 200 pesos. Jason wondered whether he could haggle more out of them.

To haggle, take a Mental test 3d6. If you pass, add 50 pesos to the price you receive. Once you have failed, the price is set and you must accept the offer, unless you have the trader skill, in which case you can ignore the first failure and keep haggling.
  • Once you’ve sold the car, add the pesos to your wallet and go to 175.

It wasn’t the most comfortable of rides, jostled about between timber logs, but once the truck got going it went at a fair speed. Jason would never had made it to the town on foot before collapsing of exhaustion. A sign by the roadside indicated they were approaching a town called Ñacuras; when Jason felt the truck slow, he jumped out, receiving an earful from the driver. He waved sarcastically, and completed the last stretch of road on foot.

The road took Jason up into the mountains. There were fewer commercial vehicles here: mostly just logging and mining trucks, wide loads that forced him to stay glued to the outside edge of the road. Concentrating on navigating the twisting paths was tiring him out, and once the sun began to go down once more, his stubborn determination gave way to tiredness. He made a mental effort to keep driving until the red dot stopped moving: but when it did, he’d pulled over, made a tent out of spare clothes, and curled up to sleep in a patch of wild meadow by the roadside, all within five minutes.

He woke suddenly. The moon was shrouded in cloud, lending the night an extra depth of blackness. Through the intense murk, he couldn’t see much, but he could hear scratching and the noises of an animal. He didn’t think they had wolves in Montaña Verde.
  • Try to see what’s going on. Light a flare from your item pack (assuming you still have one). Go to 164.
  • Lighting a flare will just draw attention. Try to peer through the gloom and see what’s out there. Go to 135.
  • Maybe it was just a really big guinea pig? Go back to sleep. Go to 131.

Something bounced on the roof of the car! Jason woke again with a start. Whatever was walking about on there was big enough to rock the suspension, or what there was of it, side to side. A low growl cut like a dagger made of ice, all the way to his spine. Shivering, he sat up.
  • If he had any flares left, now was the time to light one. Go to 164.
  • If not, he’d just have to hope he could see whatever was out there. Before it saw him! Go to 135.

Jason tried to explain in his best Verdean that he’d just been on a lucky streak. Take a Personality test 3d6 to see whether your words convince them.
  • If you pass, quickly collect your winnings and hurry on to ask for a bed for the night before they change their mind. Go to 161.
  • If you fail, a fight breaks out. Go to 138.

The men woke early, and Jason with them. Despite jokes about which one of them was the millionaire, they insisted on covering his room and board, saying it was their honor to pay for their footballing hero. Jason felt oddly touched: he’d grown used to being hated and abused back home, but these young men still seemed to have some faith in him. What fine upstanding citizens they were! He dreaded the inevitable request for a selfie, but strangely they seemed as reluctant as he was to have any photographic evidence of their being in the country as he was. Weird! With hearty handshakes, they parted ways after breakfast coffee, and he set off on the open road. The red dot on the indicator still wasn’t moving: maybe he could catch up if he made good progress today.

The men are a mixture of Schutzenphalians, Planinans, and Vihreäns; thankfully, no Græntfjallers. They asked Jason about his travels and he fobbed them off with a story about working security for a logging company, and heading north on a work errand. They bought him a drink and chatted amiably for a little while. One of them remarked how much guerrilla activity there’d been since the Græntfjallers had started pulling out. Another warned of banditos on the road ahead. Jason shared a drink, but too much of the talk was in languages he couldn’t follow, so soon he begged his leave.
  • Try the universal language with the waitress at 118.
  • Join in the darts (unless the game is over) at 123.
  • Or just head for bed. Ask for a room at 161.

The car rocked again as a shadow slipped from it. Jason concentrated hard on its outline. A snarl, two golden eyes gleaming – a jaguar! A huge male, with powerful haunches. Its mouth opened, revealing razor sharp fangs. He was pretty sure they were solitary creatures, at least. But dealing with just one jaguar was a scary proposition.
  • He’d made camp near a tree, so its branches would provide some shelter from rain. Climb the tree to safety at 116.
  • The only thing a wild animal understood was violence. Sacrifice a chicken to Margaret and deal with the situation directly at 126.

The landlord seemed to have a hard time believing a rich foreigner couldn’t pay his bill. He clearly thought Jason was lying. Workers for the village were filing in for their breakfast; few weapons among them but plenty of hefty farm equipment, the business end of which could do some damager to any weasely Græntfjallers trying to run out on a bill. Time to turn on the charm. Take a Personality test 3d6.
  • If you pass, go to 174.
  • If you fail, go to 143.

Out of money. Out of luck. And out of time. Perhaps someone else will rescue the Princess; but it certainly won’t be you.

YOUR SEASON IS OVER!
  • Go back and try again?

The men are very small and rather drunk. There are three of them, though, and they attack as one. They have a combined Physical score of 25.
  • If you win, go to 155.
  • If you lose, go to 148.

Jason checked the tracker. The red light had dimmed, meaning (probably) that Princess Jessika had moved a long way. He felt a pang of guilt for having spent so long resting up instead of hurrying after her. He needed to make up time, and as he passed by a small mechanics’ workshop, he noticed used cars for sale.

By the standards of a sports-car driving millionaire, these models were beat up junk. He was pretty sure they were beat up junk by anyone’s standards, actually. But having a car would certainly cut down on his travel time. And so far as he could see, the rainforest was behind him and it was open road ahead.

He looked around the lot, examining the various models, until a mechanic sauntered over, cleaning his hands off on a greasy rag.

“This one is 750 pesos,” the mechanic said in Verdean. He was standing next to a red convertible. The top was down – no, the top had been sheered straight off. The paintwork was badly scratched, too. “A little pricey, maybe. If you want a bargain, that one is 600,” he pointed to the car Jason was looking at. “Just 600 pesos. Real bargain. A total steal!” This one was a boxier model, but looked roadworthy.
  • You chose the trader skill. Go to 127.
  • You chose the mechanic skill. Go to 114.
  • You chose neither skill. Go to 117.

Handing over the money didn’t seem to satisfy the banditos. And now they’d seen how easy it was to push him around, their demands continued. “And the car! Give us the keys!”
  • You’re surrounded and outnumbered. Why risk your neck over a used car? Go to 111.
  • The whole point of getting a car was to reach Jessika more quickly. It’s time to take a stand and fight these bullies. Go to 162.

The room was a hub of activity.
  • Join in the game of darts at 123.
  • Join the table of foreigners at 134.
  • Chat up the waitress at 118.
  • You’re beat. Just ask for a bed at 161.

Jason sacrificed a rubber chicken before the eyes of the disbelieving banditos and felt the incredible power of Margaret surging through his veins.

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Before the first bandito could raise his gun, Jason’s fist had struck him a blow that sent him tumbling backwards and taking out the two men behind him. Knives flashed, clubs swung, rifles fired – and Jason just swam past them like time itself was an inconvenience to him. With pummelling blows he laid low every single bandito, leaving them splayed around the road or dangling from the trees. Maggie’s awesome gifts even allowed Jason to kick aside the boulders blocking his cars like they were pebbles, and clear the tree trunk from the road as though it were little heavier than a matchstick!
  • Recover your pesos from the unconscious bandito leader, get the car back on the road, and head off to 145.

“Thief, huh?” shouted the angry landlord in Verdean. “You eat our food and won’t pay your bill!” Ignoring Jason’s attempts to appease him with a sob story, he ranted and swore, while villagers taking his side closed in with pitchforks, literal pitchforks.

Fish, this far inland? He hoped it was freshwater, at least. Actually, he wasn’t sure what the fish he ended up being served was: flat, with sweet white meat, served with some rough bread and a spicy sauce. It was delicious! He inhaled his meal in a couple of gulps and ended up ordering seconds. He practically licked the bowl clean. Meanwhile, the room had grown busier, filled with a steady hum of conversation. He sat back, picking tiny bones from his teeth, and surveyed his fellow guests.

The little red dot was still moving. Jason drove all day (with, thankfully, no more trouble from banditos) but he was barely getting closer. Princess Jessika must have been driving in a car, too. Or being taken in one. The roads were growing wider, sturdier, and busier; routine civilian traffic was starting to mingle among the military and industrial vehicles.

He wanted to keep going on, but his eyes were growing tired. The little red dot had stopped, hopefully for good, or at least for the night. Lone buildings by the roadside were growing more regular, and what had at first looked like a little mountain village was fast becoming a busy little town. There was even a chain motel, advertising vacancies with a neon green sign he could see from a mile away!
  • Head to the motel and take a room for the night. Go to 110.
  • Save some pesos, and steer clear of being recognized. Pull up alongside the road and sleep outside the outskirts of the town. Go to 169.
  • It might be safer to sleep in the car. Go to 166.

Another long day behind the wheel wore on. Thankfully, the road continued to skirt the mountains, rather than rising up into the high valleys. The red dot was moving again, and Jason realized it was probably not going to be today that he caught up with it. He was starting to lose track of how long he’d even been in the country. He refused to lose hope that Princess Jessika was still alive, but he knew every day he took made his chances of getting to her in time that much slimmer. His supplies were running fairly low. The road curved up through a forest, rich with game: he could see rabbits and wild pigs running alongside the roadside. With little idea of when the next town would be, he decided to gamble on hunting for a change, to try to preserve what few provisions he had left. (Kaija had not exactly packed for a long term mission!) He pulled over as the road climbed up into the mountains once more, parking at a foothill and setting out into the forest in search of something he could eat. Soon he was on the trail of a small deer. It was a tricky little thing, constantly changing direction, and he struggled to keep a bead on it as the undergrowth grew denser. Take a Mental test 4d6.
  • If you pass, or if you chose the hunter skill, go to 109.
  • If you fail, go to 153.

The story of the rescue of the Princess would be one of daring and courage – and one which you’ll no longer be involved in.

YOUR SEASON IS OVER!
  • Go back and try again?

Jason woke up in an unfamiliar room, with a splitting headache. When he moved he felt a sharp lance of pain from… everywhere. Bruised, battered, and cut, he was bandaged up. Just sitting upright took an agonizing ten minutes. The wallet on the table looked worryingly flat. Sure enough, when he checked the contents, all his money was gone. His pack was missing, too, and with it his chickens, weapons, and the indicator for Princess Jessika’s location. The darts players hadn’t just reclaimed their stakes: they’d robbed him blind! He put his head in his hands and immediately regretted it: the movement caused a sharp spike of pain. Drawing up his torn shirt, he saw that he’d been stabbed in the stomach. The wound wasn’t deep, but it was incredibly painful and would need to be cleaned out. There was no way he could go on.
  • Face the consequences at 137.

What an eventful night! Somehow Jason managed to catch a few winks of sleep and then get back on the road. The morning brought encouraging news: the indicator showed he was definitely getting closer now. As the road swept through the mountain passes, past logging trucks and the occasional car, he made out a road sign for a town called Ñacuras. It seemed to be the exact direction and distance to the red light! Princess Jessika must have made it to the town. He put his foot down and swerved past a slow-moving mining vehicle ahead of him, which let out a dull parp of outrage. He reached Ñacuras a couple of hours later. It was a genuine town, not just a little village. As he cruised through the streets, one eye on the indicator light, his other eye caught sight of a garage, with some used cars for sale in the lot. Maybe they’d buy this car back? If he’d reached the town where Jessika was, the pesos he could get for it in trade might be more valuable than the car.

When Jason climbed down from the tree in the morning, he found the car wrecked. The jaguar had, in its fury at being denied a kill, burst all four tires. It managed to get the hood open, and performed a certain unmentionable act upon the engine. The car was unusable! Jason had got away with his life, but at what cost? He retrieved the (thankfully unbroken) indicator from the dashboard, cleaned out his effects, and sadly hit the road. There was nothing to do but walk to the nearest town, or at least, until he could hitch a ride.

It was a vegetable stew. Indeterminate green-grey chunks floated in the thin liquid. The waitress passed by with steaming plates piled high with chicken and pork for other tables, while Jason picked at the watery concoction he’d ordered. It wasn’t much better than what they served in guerrilla camps. At least the bread that came with it was tasty. He slightly regretted his choice, but when he sat back with a warm belly full of food, he realized he was in no place to be a gourmet critique. The room was busier now, humming with conversation, and he took stock of his surroundings.

Turns out, having a Big Fucking Græntfjaller on hand makes pretty light work of some routine tasks. Jason split so much firewood the inn would be well stocked for a week, and proved a dab hand at washing up too. He even made up the beds in the guest rooms, though he couldn’t find any little mints to leave on the pillows. After a couple of hours, the landlord judged him to have worked off his debt and then some. “You’re alright, tall man,” he said in Verdean, pressing 200 pesos into Jason’s hand. “Pay me back next time you come this way.”
  • Jason fervently promised he would do so next time he was in this town. Keep a straight face and hurry on to 139 before the landlord changes his mind.

The tiny deer was adorable. Jason hesitated before the kill: could he really do it? And in that moment of hesitation, the deer’s rather un-tiny, very much un-adorable father emerged. The huge, antlered beast charged at him with a snort of rage; it was all he could do to avoid being gored. He dashed headlong through the forest, crushing out to safety on the road as a passing truck swept around, scaring off the stag. That was close! When he checked his things, he realized he’d dropped something – but there was no way he was going back for round two. Choose one object (other than your wallet or chickens) to lose. He gathered up a few grubby little plants that looked like wild strawberries and made do with a humble repast of berries and leaves. Yum?

Hand over 750 pesos.

The car was a real beaut. He could see why the mechanic had been reluctant to let it go! It practically purred out of the lot under him. There was no roof, but it was a pleasure to feel the wind in his hair.

When you take a Mental test in this car, roll 3d6.

Jason laid low the first two quickly; the third he sent spinning through the air, landing with a heavy crash on the table where the foreign men were sitting. Their drinks went flying. They rose angrily – they were much bigger than the Verdeans, and armed with guns, not knives – so he quickly offered to buy a round of drinks for them, and ended up spending all 500 pesos he’d won! They weren’t exactly in the mood to sit and chat with him now, either.
  • You could try to talk to the waitress instead at 118.
  • Or maybe you’ve got into enough trouble already. Ask for a bed at 161.

Hours later, Jason awoke in the dark of night. Memories came back: men with rifles. Taking his money, his bag with the rubber chickens in, his weapon, even the shoes off his feet. He looked down: one of his bare feet was pointing the wrong way. He wasn’t sure whether his leg had broken in the accident, or during the subsequent beating from the banditos. His head sank to the damp ground and he closed his eyes.

The chicken may have been on the smaller side, but the meat itself was well cooked and the sauce pleasantly piquant. It came with some sort of potato mash and a thin gravy, and Jason wolfed down the lot in about two minutes. Impressed with his attitude, the waitress brought over another helping, waving off his polite attempt to decline: she could obviously see the hunger in his eyes. After eating his fill, slower at the second time of asking, he felt warm and contented. The room had grown warmer, too, because more people had arrived, packing bodies around tables and raising both the ambient temperatures and noise levels. He picked the last of the bones clean and glanced around the room.

Jason set the indicator on the dashboard and followed the road in its direction as best he could. The red light was no longer moving. Wherever Princess Jessika was, he hoped she was safe. At least he was making good time in the car: he realized proceeding on foot would have been hopeless.

After a couple of hours on the road, passing few cars except logging trucks and the odd Army truck, Jason pulled over and looked for something to eat. Subtract 1 days’ worth of provisions if you have any left; if not, gnaw on some dried up candies left in the glove compartment!

He climbed back into the car, and set off again: the road ahead was leading up into the mountains.
  • Proceed on to 159.

Steep rocky hillsides banked up each side of the road, which was getting narrower and windier. Jason rounded a bend – and slammed on the brakes with a wrench of the steering wheel! A felled tree trunk had fallen across the road. Fallen – or been placed there? Take a Mental test based on the car you’re driving.
  • If you pass, go to 122.
  • If you fail, go to 112.

Cock-crows woke Jason bright and early. He felt refreshed and recharged after a good sleep. Recover any points you have lost up to this point. A bowl of shockingly cold water, fresh from the mountains, had been laid out for him; he didn’t shave, as the stubble was disguising face, but he was relieved to wash off the accumulated gunk from his rainforest travails, and change into the spare set of clothes Kaija had packed for him. He checked over his belongings and headed down to the main room, where breakfast was being served. A steaming hot cup of coffee! It was like drinking liquid gold. (Actually that probably tastes awful. I dunno, ask Viserys Targaryen for his sommelier’s recommendations. Spoilers!!! For a book released 25 years ago. The next one will be coming out any day now, right?)

Ahem. Anyway. Jason ate some pancakes served with melted chocolate and almonds, and had a second cup of coffee. Breakfast, plus the room for the night and last night’s meal, all told came to 200 pesos.
  • Pay up and continue your journey at 139.
  • You don’t have enough money left! Go to 136.

The landlord showed Jason to a room. The bed was too short, the mattress was just straw, the blanket was thin, the pillow seemed like it was stuffed with rocks. And it was all absolute heaven!
  • After the soundest night’s sleep of your life, wake up at 160.

Jason reached into the car and pulled out his bag containing the rubber chickens and his weapon. Around him, the group of banditos swelled as even more, wielding weapons, appeared along the side of the road.
  • Wade into battle against the banditos swinging your weapon! Go to 163.
  • Given the overwhelming odds, this seems like a time to ask for Margaret’s help. Go to 142.

Jason fought really valiantly. He took down four banditos. Which meant there still twice that number left to jump in and start beating him insensate.

The flare burned red in his hand, bathing the meadow and road in an eerie light, and picking out an immense jaguar, who recoiled from the glare with a snarl. It was a huge, savage wild cat! Tail swishing, eyes glaring, and needle sharp claws curling. In one movement the powerful creature bounded off the car and towards Jason!
  • The branches of the tree he’d camped under would be too high for the jaguar to reach. Climb up while trying to remember whether jaguars can also climb trees. Go to 116.
  • He wouldn’t need to hide in a tree if he just got rid of the jaguar. A hand-to-paw fight was out of the question… unless he invoked the holy power of Margaret? Go to 126.
  • The cat hadn’t seemed to like the flare much. If you have more than one flare left, you can light another to scare it off. Go to 173.

It may have been the high mountains, but the sun was unbearably hot. Truck after truck ignored Jason’s waves until he was too weak to bother. He was about to give up hope and curl up in a ditch when a small minibus appeared. It tooted its horn and slowed. He was vaguely astonished to see a set of black wimples through the windows. It was full of nuns! If his Verdean was right, the sign on the side of the bus said ‘The Unruly Sisterhood of Santa Margarita’.

He couldn’t follow everything the nuns were saying, but he gathered they were on their way to the town of Ñacuras to take part in some kind of Mass of absolution. Absolution? Yes, the nuns explained, for they had been very, very naughty nuns. Jason tried to follow the explanation but his Verdean wasn’t good enough, and he was so tired. They helped him into the bus and he fell fast asleep. The Unruly Sisterhood proved true to their word, though. As the bus pulled up at the entrance to Ñacuras, they woke him, offered him a drink of water, and left him by the roadside, thoroughly confused by what had just transpired.

Sleeping in the car was fairly uncomfortable, but it was probably the safest option. Jason dozed through the night undisturbed by two encounters: a would-be thief who scuttled up and was about to jimmy the door when he noticed someone sleeping inside and took off at a sprint; and later, a group of young men walking past the car, chattering away. In Græntfjaller!

Next morning, blissfully aware of the potential pitfalls and opportunities he’d missed out on, Jason awoke with a stiff back and a powerful thirst. He supped some water from the creek by the road, then checked the indicator. The red light was still stationary: if he made good progress, he could gain ground on her today. With no time to waste, he climbed back in the car and set off.

Jason explained the situation, from Princess Jessika getting shot down, to him getting drafted in to help, to parachuting in, guerrillas, the rainforest, banditos…

The men listened to his story in earnest, and immediately volunteered for the mission. Telling them was a smart decision. Instead of one untrained football player, a crack squad of special forces would now be out looking for the Princess.

But, it did mean that Jason’s services were no longer exactly required. What, he was going to follow them in his second-hand car? Pitch in with his friend’s ancient weapon while they were toting carbines and sniper rifles? No, no sense him getting in trouble: he should stay here and rest up, and they’d complete the mission without him.

The dart buried in the center of the dartboard. Jason dusted down his hands in satisfaction and reached for the pile of money that was his.

“Not so fast, cheat!” slurred one of the men, in Verdean. He was drunk and struggling to stand upright; no wonder he’d lost at darts.

“Yeah, give us back our money, cheat!” One of the other players was circling behind you.

A third had been sharpening his dart with a switchblade. Earlier he’d been telling bawdy jokes and showing a picture of his children; now he just looked like an angry man with a knife.
  • Defuse the situation by quickly giving them back their money at 121.
  • Try to reason with them at 132.
  • No one calls you a cheat (other than the Græntfjaller doping authorities, of course). Fight to defend your honor at 138.

Jason made a pillow out of some of the spare clothes, and tried to get off to sleep under the stars. The cool night air was pleasant, but noises close by kept disturbing. One in particular, a low metallic scrape that almost sounded like…

Someone trying to steal his car!

He leapt up from bed to find a skinny young man wiggled a wire back and forth in the lock. It was too dark for Jason to locate his bag and sacrifice a chicken: this fight would have to be by hand! The thief has a Physical score of 18.
  • If you win, go to 125.
  • If you lose, go to 108.

The waitress laughed and played with her hair as Jason talked to her. Despite the mud and scratches and twigs and everything else he’d picked up in the forest, he smooth talked his way into a canoodle in the stairwell. He wasn’t even entirely sure what he’d said! (He had in fact, in fact, promised never to leave her. So, yeah, about that…) But no further than the stairwell, as a flurry of new customers forced her to leave. “Promise me you’ll wait for me?” she said, and Jason happily agreed. It was the last time he ever spoke to her.
  • Congrats, Romeo. But all that has pretty well used up the last of your energy. Head on up to a room for the night at 161.

Hand over 600 pesos.

The car’s a bit of a shitheap. The engine banged and smoked, and five minutes out of the lot something dropped out of the bottom of it. Jason grimaced and kept his hands tight on the steering wheel, lest that fall off too.

When you take a Mental test in this car, roll 4d6.

Hand over 200 pesos.

The car needed a push start to get going; it was barely off the lot before it had broken down again. The second attempt was a bit more successful, although the push-off resulted in a wing mirror falling off. And then a door. Chugging along down the road, the engine barfing noxious smoke every two minutes, Jason prayed to Margaret the wheels wouldn’t be the next to start falling off.

When you take a Mental test in this car, roll 5d6.

Whether it was the heat, the light, the flame, there was just something about the flare that the jaguar didn’t like. Every time it approached, Jason waved the flare and scared it back. He kept going all night until his very last flare was burning down in his hand, but by that point the exhausted jaguar had slunk off, in search of some easier and less incendiary prey. Cross the flares off your item list.

Jason told the landlord a moving story about being shorted on his wages by an evil mining baron. He’d taken the job to buy medicine for his sick wife and sick daughter and sick second cousin twice removed’s hairdresser’s uncle’s golf partner and…

“OK OK OK!” said the landlord in Verdean, sighing. “You can cover your bill by doing some chores.”
  • Sounds like a plan. Go to 152.
  • What are you, a maid? You’re on an important mission; you’re not going to wait around running kitchen-boy errands! Haughtily refuse at 143.


Græntfjall Cup

Folte 2–0 Hinteram
Mokofen 3–0 Järvendorf
Þingsnitz 2–0 Maigburg
Gunzlach 1–1 Steinaux (replay: Steinaux 1–3 Gunzlach)

Mokofen 2–2 Þingsnitz (2–3 AET)
Folte 2–4 Gunzlach

Þingsnitz 1–2 Gunzlach

Gunzlach continued their boringly predictable dominance of the Cup; once they beat Steinaux in a replay, the result looked unavoidable. They also beat Altendalur on the way, meaning no one could claim they took a soft route to meet Division 1 Þingsnitz in the final, who fought bravely but succumbed to a Momoko Wakabayashi double.

PostPosted: Sun Jul 04, 2021 12:02 pm
by Graintfjall
Where Mermaids Drown

Jason explored the town of Ñacuras on foot, holding the indicator like it was a phone. The signal was very strong and he was getting very close, to a point where the location shifted every time he turned the corner of a block.

It was clearly a town built on the timber and mining industries. Trucks rumbled along to processing depots and workshops. There were plenty of foreigners around, which meant he could be relatively inconspicuous. But there was also a strong military presence. Soldiers wielding rifles glared suspiciously at every passing stranger, and Jason hurried on with his head down.

The indicator red light felt like it was burning a hole in his hand, he was so close now. He turned down a wide street, and his heart leapt. He knew where Princess Jessika was. The building stood midway down the street, between a bar and a general store. It wasn’t a large building, just four stories high, but it stood out because of the huge red, glowing cross sign. It was a hospital.

According to the nurse, Jessika had asked about the bus. It made sense: she would have no car, presumably. It made more sense when he left the hospital (passing back past the receptionist, who was still shouting at, though belatedly he realized she’d been trying to help him): the bus stop was right outside the hospital doors! He checked the times against the clock outside. There would be another one within the hour. He used the time to dig through the rest of Jessika’s things, finding little of any real hope. The mud and stains on the clothes suggested she’d taken a similar route to his. There was a crumpled 10 peso note in one pocket, which for some reason she hadn’t taken. Other than that, nothing identifying whatsoever: which, he supposed, was exactly why she’d felt comfortable leaving them.

The bus pulled up in a cloud of smoke. A couple of old women, a young student clutching a handful of books, and two miners, blackened from their day’s work, joined him in the queue. He thrust the 10 peso note at the driver to cover the fare and double-checked the route, asking: “Narazapá?” The old women giggled at his pronunciation and the bus driver snootily corrected it. He still wasn’t quite sure he had it down pat by the time he took his seat at the back.

Based on the timetable, the journey was a couple of hours. He felt tired and wanted to nap, but forced himself to keep his eyes open on the bumpy journey through rutted roads wrecked by mining vehicles, past open pits belching smoke and vast swathes of once-rainforest now lying in dark ruin. He didn’t see Jessika, or anything of any real use, on the way, and when they pulled up at the stop, he regretted not having used the time to sleep.

The bus disgorged its passengers in Narazapá, which turned out to be another mining town much like Ñacuras. Directly in front of the stop was an inn. It seemed the focal point of the local trade, with a steady stream of customers entering and exiting. Jason figured that if he was to start looking for her anywhere, here would do. He imagined her leaving the bus: if she really had a broken leg, wouldn’t she hobble to the nearest place she could rest?
  • Head inside and find out at 222.

Jason’s efforts were greatly hindered by the language barrier, and he obviously said something profoundly wrong.

“Girl on crutches, huh? What, you chasing her so you can break the other leg?” She spat on the floor angrily, clearly having misunderstood the nature of the relationship.

He wasn’t going to get anything useful out of her, and hurried on bashfully.
  • Choose a table to sit at, or, if you’re ready to leave, go to 216.

The young men’s mood dropped off a cliff. No longer sloshing their wine around in good humor. One of the big men clapped Jason on the shoulder, laughing.

“Good man!” he said. His Verdean was the first Jason had clearly understood; not a trace of the regional accent. Perhaps they came straight from Santa Margarita. “Come join us, leave these commie pricks.”

The commie pricks did not look like good company any more, but neither did the big men. Jason hurriedly swallowed a gristly chunk of almost-meat and rose.

“No, I have to go,” he muttered in broken Verdean. As he pushed past them, he heard one of the young men.

“Who you calling ‘commie prick’?”

Sounds of a fight were breaking out by the time he reached the corridor.
  • Probably best you didn’t get involved in that, although it didn’t give you much in the way of intelligence. Move on to 216.

They squeezed in behind the barrels. Hunkering down tight, they were well hidden; Jessika was shaking like a leaf, and Jason had to wrap his arms around her to stop her cast rattling against the concrete floor. Footsteps sounded as the soldiers searched the cellar; flashlight beams swept the walls but failed to penetrate the dense pile of barrels. He could understand well the clear, crisp Verdean of the soldiers, who must have come from the north as their accent was quite different.

“There’s nothing here. Let’s go.”

He relaxed very slightly.

“Hold on.”

He unrelaxed very unslightly.

“What’s over here?” Footsteps coming towards them…

“Ugh, a rat!” There was a gunshot, echoing so loud it hurt Jason’s ears. The rat had either been killed or scared off; the soldiers seemed satisfied. The footsteps receded; a few minutes later, he heard the broken remnants of Joaquin’s door closing behind them.

It had been tense, but they’d survived. Now they just had the minor detail of escaping from a town crawling with soldiers…
  • Once the coast is clear, make your escape at 223.
  • You still have a tough road ahead. Maybe there’s something that will be helpful down here in the cellar? Take a look around at 202.

Jason carried Jessika up the stairs. As they reached the first floor, he heard the door splinter: the soldiers had grown weary of Joaquin’s lethargy and forced the issue. They had mere seconds. He hurried blindly down the corridor to the stairs up to the second level and took them three at a time (much to the consternation of Jessika, and specifically her head, bouncing like a yo-yo).

The attic was dank and cobwebbed; things scuttled about in the dark recesses. There wasn’t much in the way of bulky furniture to hide behind. And there definitely wasn’t another way out! Was this really such a good place to hide?

Jason dragged Jessika into the furthest corner and pulled a damp cardboard box in front of them. Anyone who came up here would spot them within three seconds, but they were at least covered from the line of sight to the attic entrance. They stayed hunkered down while footsteps marched up and down the corridor below. At one point a flashlight beam appeared as a soldier mounted the stairs to the attic. Jason could just about make out his mutters, in Verdean, about this “dusty shithole” and his “new uniform”. After a few seconds, the flashlight faded. The soldier had abandoned his search!

They stayed there until the footsteps receded from the first floor, and then they heard the distant boom of Joaquin’s front door, or what was left of it, closing. They’d evaded discovery.

“Your Highness,” murmured Jason. He grinned: he could practically hear her roll her eyes in the dark. “I think the easy part is over…”
  • Time to escape. Go down to 223.

Jesus’s bar was showing a game from the Verdean Campeanato Nacional. Jesus himself was behind the bar, living and dying by every kick of the ball. Jason decided he could try to use their mutual passion to his advantage. He glanced at the screen. Olimpia La Limana had the ball. A cross flew into the box. Osito jumped towards it and… headed the ball miles over the bar! Jesus groaned and slumped his forehead to the bar.
  • “Why do they keep picking that big lump, Osito?” Go to 208.
  • “He’ll score the next one, Osito’s some player!” Go to 210.

“I’m beer for husiness,” Jason explained. “I mean, I’m busy for hereness.” He’d drunk next to half a cask of beer on his own: he was a big man, but lean, and hadn’t eaten much over the last few days. The beer was getting to him.

Fortunately, it was getting to the soldiers too. Two of them were trying to remember the words to an old Verdean love ballad and competing to see who could sing it most out of tune. The third was rocking, asleep on his feet. Jason reached out and poked him in the chest with his middle finger. The man collapsed.

“Oh no, Miguel’s fallen over!”

“Wait, I thought you were Miguel?” asked his friend.

“Oh…” Miguel clearly didn’t want to make a liar of himself. So he fell over too. His friend was not long in joining him.

Over the snores in the cellar, Jason heard no more footsteps overhead. He waited a few minutes, then shouldered aside the cask and hauled the barrel open. He was met with the glowering face of a very angry, but very safe, Princess Jessika.

“I can’t believe you did that! I can’t believe you shut me in there! I can’t believe…” The snores caught her attention. “I can’t believe it worked!”

Jason helped her out of the barrel. “Come go. We have to on.”

She looked at him quizzically, leaned in, and reeled back at the brewery smell he was exuding. “You’re drunk!” she hissed.

“No, my name’s Miguel.” Jason frowned. “Or is it?”

Jessika rolled her eyes. “Come on. We have to get out of here!”

You are drunk and lose 5 points from each of your Physical, Mental and Personality scores until you recuperate.
  • Go to…oof, the numbers are all blurry…walk unsteadily to 223.

It had been a long day. A long week. A long mission. The time for subtlety was over. Jason elbowed his way through the crowd in the busy bar and leaned on the counter. When Javier came over to serve him, he asked him. “I’m looking for a woman. So high. Light hair. Crutches. Maybe goes by Juanita. I heard she was looking for work here.” Javier shook his head. “Sorry friend, can’t help you.”
  • Go back to 185.

The serving girl in the corridor wasn’t exactly Jason’s type. She was… he could just tell she had a great personality.

But when he thought about Jessika’s plight, he wondered if it made more sense to talk to a girl who was probably about her age (the moustache made it a bit difficult to tell) than some dirty old man. Holding his plate and beer, he paused in the corridor alongside her, where she was stacking dishes into a dumb waiter. She gave him a look that suggested she feared for her chastity in his presence; he wished she knew just how very safe she was.

“Don’t worry,” he said in Verdean, smiling. “I just wanted to ask something. About a girl who came through here. On crutches.” Take a Personality test 4d6.
  • If you pass, go to 221.
  • If you fail, go to 177.

Jason looked over the various bars.
  • Javier’s bar had a green sign. Go to 183.
  • Jesus’s bar had a white sign. Go to 181.
  • Joaquin’s bar had a blue sign. Go to 220.
  • Juan’s bar had a red sign. Go to 203.

The men eating in this room were all strongly built and looked to be wearing military garb. He gave them a nod of acknowledgement, and settled down to pick at his meal, stabbing his steak with a fork to stop it scuttling off the plate.

The men continued chatting among themselves, but they didn’t make much effort to keep their voices down. One of them made a ssshhhing side, jerking his head towards Jason.

“He can’t understand us, he’s a foreigner,” grunted his friend in Verdean. Jason was delighted to realize he actually could, though! These men’s accents were much clearer. Perhaps they came from Santa Margarita, rather than this region? He kept quiet of course.

“Just another Big Fucking Græntfjaller come to take our gold and our timber and our women. Isn’t that right, Big Fucking Græntfjaller?” the third man sneered.

Jason blinked owlishly at them, then smiled broadly and mimed for the salt shaker. All three laughed at him, though they did slide the salt over. Satisfied by his acting, they continued talking.

“That’ll change when we get our hands on her. We’ll kick them all out, then, every last one. If they want their precious Princess back in one piece.”

Jason had to concentrate very hard on his meal to avoid betraying any emotions. Unfortunately, it was not a meal he enjoyed staring hard at from such close range.

“They know where she is?”

“No, but Javier is keeping his ear to the ground.”

“Javier? That guy serves piss and calls it wine.”

“Yes, but he’s a reliable informant. When he hears something, we’ll be the first to know about it,” boasted his friend.
  • An interesting revelation. Finish the meal before they smell a rat (or rather, another rat, other than the one that seems to comprise large parts of said meal) and hurry off to 216.

A group of Verdeans were sitting around the table. Jason pulled up a stool at the end and tucked into his meal. However unappetising it looked, it didn’t taste too bad, although it was powerfully bland.

The Verdeans were talking about football. He recognized a few names, and when one of them mentioned Osito and started acting out a goal he’d scored, using his fingers to represent his legs, Jason couldn’t help but chuckle. The men turned to him.

“Osito. Tall,” he said in Verdean, through a mouthful of what he was starting to believe was boiled rat. “I played against him.”

Skeptical eyes gave him a withering death stare. “No really. It was…” Careful, he reminded himself. The men clearly didn’t recognize him. “It was just youth football. I wasn’t good like him,” he added, modestly.

Now the men believed him. Unfortunately, this led to an hour of questions about Osito (a man he had really only met in passing). What kind of socks did he wear? What kind of onions did he like? What did his hair smell like? What was his favorite dinosaur? What kind of onions did he like? (One of the Verdeans was very insistent about finding this out.) Jason didn’t get all that much useful out of the exchange, though he did catch something about how the only bigger fan of Osito than these men was a guy called Jesus (no relation, Jason assumed) who ran a bar in town.
  • Finish up your meal and eventually get yourself free before they ask more questions about onions. Go to 216.

Jason was jolted awake in the back of the van. Correction, prison van: when he tried to move, his hands jerked against the chains cuffing him to the railing. Through the small window in the back door he could just about see Narazapá, and with it any chance of finding Jessika, dwindling into the distance.

Arrested, charged with violent behavior, and thrown into a jail cell to rot. Maybe someone would eventually believe his story about who he really was, but by then any chance of his rescuing Jessika would be long gone.

YOUR SEASON IS OVER!
  • Go back and try again?

Jessika felt something big and hard digging into her back. So big! So hard!

“Why Mr Þórhallursson, are you forgetting yourself?” she giggled sleepily.

“No, I’m really not.” His answer came cold and drenched in fear, and when Jessika turned her head, she saw that what was poking into her back was the muzzle of a rifle, being wielded by a Verdean soldier. Two more soldiers were at the door to the room; three more were surrounding Jason, who sat up, a revolver being held at his temple by a man in officer’s insignia. If she hadn’t been so scared, she would have been amazed so many men could fit in this tiny room. They were packed in like pilchards in a can.

“Good morning, Your Majesty,” said the officer in sarcastic Verdean. She doubted any of them spoke Græntfjaller.

“Jason…”

“This is my fault,” he murmured, his voice tight as the barrel of the gun bored into his head. “If you get a chance to escape, go, run, leave me. Don’t look back.”
  • Ugh, why must men be so dramatic? Surrender immediately to ensure you’re both unharmed. Go to 213.
  • You know what else is dramatic? Kicking ass! And men certainly don’t have a monopoly on that. Take a deep breath, and try to reach for your Emergency Rubber Chicken at 215.

The door swung open, and Jason surveyed the scene. An empty bed, spattered with blood. Medical equipment strewn about. A couple of medics tending to a third medic, who was bleeding from the mouth.

“Your Princess is in another castle.”

The voice came from behind him. Jason turned to find a small Verdean man in a white doctor’s gown. But the man was speaking Græntfjaller!

“What?”

“Your Princess. She was here, but she was taken. Many men with guns came. They knew all about her, they were ready. They forced us to remove the ID tag, and then they took her.”

Jason asked the man questions, but he had few answers. Men with guns. They’d taken her away. He didn’t know who, or where, or why. Jason approached the bed, and picked up the small, black ID chip. The identifier’s red light was blinking rapidly now, climaxing in the excitement at reuniting with its target. Not that it was of any use. The identifier was worthless.

Worthless was also how Jason felt. He’d betrayed his mission. And because of his big mouth, now Princess Jessika had been captured by guerrillas, or narcos, or soldiers, or someone else… and whoever they were knew exactly who she was and how valuable she would be. The mission was a total failure. All he could do now was find a way to limp back home in ignominy.

YOUR SEASON IS OVER!
  • Go back and try again?

Very patriotic. Probably not exceptionally wise, though…?

Jason had achieved a rare moment of national unity. Santángelists and Contra-Santángelists came together as one, to beat his ass.

“Foreign devil!” roared the man behind him, while one of students hurled a beaker at him and yelled, “Colonial oppressor!”
  • All combined, the men have a total Physical score of 50. If you try to fight them unassisted, it will be very hard. If you lose, go to 188. If you somehow win, go to 192.
  • This seems like the time to sacrifice a chicken to Margaret and invoke her dread influence. Proceed straight to 192.

The last body flopped to the ground. Jason wrung his hand and surveyed the damage. 7–0! 8, if you counted the table.

“Get out!” The landlord had materialized behind Jason, fuming. He seemed somewhat less impressed by the scene than Jason was. He was wielding a shotgun: magical chickens or no, there wasn’t much arguing to be done.
  • Whatever. The food sucks anyway and you probably weren’t going to gather much useful information. Push past him on your way out to 216.

Clearly, carrying Jessika up the stairs was not an option. But the cellar had a chute, down which barrels could be rolled, and she slid down it easily. (The landing sounded less easy; Jason chose to remember to forget hearing a Princess of the Realm calling the barrels she’d crashed into “big bollocking bastards”.) He took one last look back at the door as the first splinter of light burst through it – tired of waiting for Joaquin, the soldiers had started smashing it open – and dived in himself. He had no complaints about smashing into barrels as he instead rocketed past them and splatted on the hard concrete floor.

Shaking off stars, he looked around. The cellar contained lots of barrels. Which, really, wasn’t a great surprise. The soldiers had burst in upstairs. When one of them yelled to check the cellar, his blood ran cold.

“We have to hide!” Jessika hissed.

“Where?”

He looked around.

“…barrels?”

There were two options. There was a pile of barrels in the corner they could both hide behind. But there’d be nothing to stop the soldiers walking around and discovering them. As he examined the pile, his knee struck a huge wine tun. It boomed: it sounded empty. He looked at it, and then at Jessika.

“No,” she said firmly. “No!”
  • Fair enough. Both hide behind the pile of barrels at 179.
  • It’s more important to hide her than yourself. Put Jessika into the big barrel (over her objections!) at 200 and wait to be found.

The young men cheered Jason’s role as the decider. One of the big men took a pace towards him. Jason rose from behind the table. The men were big – but not as big as him. And just like all bullies, they backed down in the face of a fight with someone bigger, skulking away. One of them spat on the floor; another muttered, “Commie bastard.”

Noted commie bastard and millionaire international footballer Jason Þórhallursson sat down, accepted the bonhomie of his new drinking buddies, who poured him wine. He didn’t need to ask what the toast would be.

“Viva Santángel!”

He drank, and winced. The wine made the food taste positively palatable!

“I know, friend, I know,” consoled one of the students in Verdean. His accent was hard to understand, but Jason listened carefully and tried to follow. “In town, there is a place, Juan’s. You should go there. His wine is much better. Real beautiful stuff, sweet as life itself.”

Jason asked the young man to repeat the last phrase. Perhaps it was Verdean idiom. Despite the darkness of the mission awaiting him, he found the words oddly touching. He raised his beaker of wine and called a toast, this time a sincere one: “To the sweetness of life itself.”
  • Maybe the information about Juan would be useful if you were reviewing the local wines. In terms of locating Jessika, it doesn’t seem to be much help. Better be on your way before the students get you too drunk. Go to 216.

The landlord greedily counted every last bill before coughing up a word. Which he then did, literally, coughing up phlegm as he leaned in to whisper in Jason’s ear.

“Javier works for the government. Jesus for the narcos. Juan, he works for the reds.” He slid his tongue across black stubs that were once teeth. “I told your pretty little ladyfriend, and I tell you the same, the only inn keeper you can trust is Joaquin.” He started cackling. “He’s too lazy to work for anyone!”
  • If you can trust it, that’s useful information. Thank him, and be on your way at 216.

What about the man you met walking on the road past the deforested area. Did you tell him the truth about your mission?

The ground floor of the tavern was packed with heavy drinking miners, boozing away their earnings or gambling them on games of card or dice. It was difficult to imagine a Græntfjaller Princess here. Jason thought about the blood stained clothes. She had endured worse, he decided, and followed through on his hunch.

The bartender was a short, fat Verdean with a widow’s peak, bad teeth, and a nose like a squashed plum. He didn’t seem remotely surprised that a tall foreigner should be approaching his bar, and began pouring a beer before Jason could decline. He reluctantly accepted, telling himself he was gathering intelligence for the mission and not just slaking his powerful thirst.

“I’m looking for a woman,” he said to the bartender as he fumbled around for pesos, speaking in his best Verdean, even though the man clearly cogged him as a foreigner the second he walked in.

“Aren’t we all, brother, aren’t we all. This isn’t that kind of place. Though if you’re looking, I can recommend…”

Jason held up his hand. “A specific woman. She came in a day or two ago…” He looked around. The din of the miners was drowning out everything he was saying. But at least there was less chance of being overheard. He leaned over. “She has lightish hair,” he gambled, pointing to his own. Jessika wasn’t blonde, but compared to Verdean women it would stand out. Unless she’d dyed it.

The bartender laughed. “I know the very one you mean. Pretty little thing. Was looking for work.”

Jason frowned. Didn’t sound like her.

“I told her there’s only one kind of work for women in mining towns,” continued the bartender, chuckling at his own vivacious wit. He seemed to be regaling himself as much as he was Jason. “She didn’t like the sound of that too much. I told her what else did she expect to do, being on crutches. At least this way, she could work on her back.”

The disgusting little man giggled away to himself, while around Jason time seemed to slow and the ambient noise drop away. She was on crutches. He took a deep, long sip of his beer, not taking his gaze off the bartender for a second.

“Did she say anything else?”

“I don’t recall.” The bartender grinned. “Seems I might recall if you were to hang about a bit and spend a little more than the price of a beer…”
  • A meal would be good; it’s been a while since you ate. And maybe he has more information about her. It costs 50 pesos: if you have the money, order some food and go to 199.
  • If you don’t have 50 pesos, or else you just don’t want to waste time on what’s probably a bullshit scam, you’ll have to press on into Narazapá, looking for Jessika by yourself. Go to 216.

Jason opened the door. Juanita Reyes turned out to be an extremely corpulent man having a large boil drained from his groin into a bag, rapidly filling with an off-yellow pus with a similar consistency to the custard pudding congealing on his bedside table. Jason wondered whether this was the kind of hospital that did eyeball removal surgeries, and if so, whether he could schedule himself in immediately for a double.

“J-,” he said, before correcting to the Verdean pronunciation. “Juanita?”

The nurse impassively emptying the man of how much pus could one groin produce? barely looked up. She shook her head.

“We discharged her,” she said. “Doctors wanted to keep her but she wanted to go.”

For once, Jason just about understood everything that had been said to him in Verdean. He wished he hadn’t. If she’d discharged herself, there was a good chance he’d never find her.

“Go?”

The nurse shrugged. “I don’t know, but she asked about the bus to Narazapá.” The nurse looked up, perhaps realizing she should not be giving out this kind of information to strange men. Jason smiled, trying to look as unstrange as possible, which given he was a foot taller than the average Verdean, blonde, and covered in dust from the road, he wasn’t very successful at.

“I was at work,” said Jason, unconvincingly, as he strained every inch of his Verdean vocabulary. The nurse seemed satisfied.

“She didn’t take her things. Can you? Saves us getting rid of them.”

“Sure, sure, I can,” he said. “Thank you.” The nurse nodded to a table in the corner, turned back to her work, which was apparently much more engaging.

Her ‘things’ turned out to be her clothes, mostly. They were what Jason guessed pilots might wear under a flight suit; he smiled when he looked at the jacket, which she’d torn the sleeves – and thus, the identifying insignia – off. His smile faded when he looked at the trousers, and how much blood was on them. And it disappeared altogether when a small black tag bounced out of the bag. The identifier light was going haywire. Yes, he’d found her ID tag. And as it was no longer connected to her, the identifier was useless. There wasn’t much else of use in here. He thanked the nurse and trudged out, reconsidering his options. He realized he had only one option: if he couldn’t follow her identifier tag, he’d have to follow the only lead he had.
  • Jessika is on her way to Narazapá (hopefully). So you should head there too. Go to 176.

Jason handed over the money and chose the mixed grill platter; if he was going to pay, he may as well get fed, he decided. ‘Mixed grill’ in Verdean evidently translated to ‘three greasy nuggets of unidentifiable meat and a sausage which may have once been in the same postal code as a pig’. One pathetic leaf of lettuce really completed the artisinal touch.

“I told the girl the easiest way to find work is waiting tables. There are plenty of inns in town, they’re always putting on girls. Lots of turnover. I don’t think your little lady will last a week.”

“Inns.” As leads go, it wasn’t exactly specific.

He spat on the floor, aiming at a rat that had scuttled over his feet. “I offered her work here but for some reason she – Oi! You! Clean up that vomit! – didn’t want to work here.”

Jason hadn’t learned much that was really valuable, but as he had a plate of ‘food’, he might as well eat whatever parts of it were digestible.
  • Choose a table to sit at, or, if you’re really not willing to touch the food, go to 216.

“No. No! No!!!”

The third ‘no’ was pretty muffled as Jason slid the heavy lid back on top of the barrel, covering up Jessika inside. He then grabbed a small, hand-portable beer cask and set it down on top. The soldiers were just coming down into the cellar as he twisted the tap and poured himself a tankard.

“Hands up!” Their accents were crisp Verdean, definitely soldiers from the north. He could actually understand them clearly, compared to the local regional dialect he’d struggled with. He raised one hand – and with the other, brought the tankard to his mouth and supped.

“Morning. What’s the commotion?” he asked in his level best Verdean. He had a foam moustache from the beer, which was quite gassy but very palatable.

The soldiers ignored the question: two of them searched the cellar while the third kept his rifle trained on him. Thankfully, no booms of protest emanated from the barrel. Jason kept drinking, and went to pour himself another. He paused. “Want one?”

“Bit early in the morning?” said one.

But his friend was already reaching for a tankard for himself! Soon all three soldiers were gathered around the barrel, helping themselves to a tankard.

“I was in town on business,” Jason said. “I stayed the night here at the inn. This is breakfast.”

The soldiers seemed to believe him. Or at least, they wanted to keep drinking rather than have to take him in for questioning. The cask soon emptied and one of them knocked it aside. The barrel lid seemed dangerously exposed, so Jason hoisted up another on top quickly. The soldiers were certainly drinking their fill, but he was having to keep pace with them. And the beer was starting to have an effect.

“Why did you say you were here again?” asked one of the soldiers, slightly slurred.
  • Take a Personality test 4d6. If you pass, or if you chose the drinker skill, go to 201.
  • If you fail, go to 182.

“I’m here for business,” said Jason.

“You’re lying!” snarled the soldier. Then he grinned dopily. “You’re here as an advisor, aren’t you? An alligator advisor. Don’t worry. We’ll keep your secret. Shhhhhhh…”

“Shhhhhhhhhhh,” agreed the second soldier.

“Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz,” chimed in the third. His friends, in short order, seemed to agree.

They’d drunk themselves silly! Jason made sure they were sound asleep – one was sucking his thumb – and that he could hear no more footsteps overhead. Then he hauled the cask off and opened the lid.

Princess Jessika sprang up at him angrily. “How dare you!?”

“We have no time for that. We have to get going,” he said. “Before these three Sleeping Beauties wake up.”

He helped her out of the barrel, and they gathered their things up. She headed for the exit to the cellar, then turned around when he wasn’t following. He was finishing off the cask.

“One for the road…?”
  • You’ve drunk enough! Go to safety and sober up at 223.

While Jessika gathered up their scant possessions into two bags, Jason had a quick search of the cellar. There wasn’t much of use down here, unless he fancied lugging along a crate of beer (he did, actually, but felt his charge might have certain reservations). He was about ready to give up and leave when he spied a toolbox atop a dusty wine rack. On closer inspection, the toolbox was rusted through and useless. But there were a handful of tools inside. Jason reached in to retrieve them… and felt the wine rack unbalance!
  • Take a Mental test 4d6. If you pass or if you chose the mechanic skill, you successfully retrieve the tools. Add them to your pack if you want; they count as 1 item. Then, no more dicking around: get out of here at 223.
  • If you fail… CRASH! Go to 204.

Juan’s bar was busy. Lots of young people. Well, young men. Drinking, talking, laughing. Dancing. Kissing…

Jason realized this wasn’t the type of bar to hire someone like Jessika. Not that there was anything wrong with that, of course! Respect! Pride! Love is love!
  • Go back to 185.

The wine rack collapsed in a shower of shattering glass. A loud shower. The soldiers had left the bar but they weren’t out of earshot. Within seconds they were running back in and jumping down into the cellar, weapons drawn. There was no choice but to surrender: the last thing Jason saw before they cinched the hood over his head was one of them slapping a pair of handcuffs on Jessika.

Maybe there’ll still be a rescue – another mission, sent in to rescue the original mission. Or maybe they’ll need a rescue mission sent in after them. It could be a good story. But your fingers are a little too clumsy to write it.

YOUR SEASON IS OVER!
  • Go back and try again?

They gathered together their effects and made their way to the base of the stairs. They were steep and rickety. Behind them, Joaquin was groaning and fumbling slowly through the ring of keys on his belt as the soldiers beat on the door and demanded he open. The first key turned in the first latch…

“There’s no time,” said Jason, who reached down and hoisted Jessika. Those imagining that moment in the story where the hero lifts the Princess as though she weighs little more than a cloud of spun sugar would be disappointed to see him grunt, sweat, mutter “oh fuck me”, and generally find her a lot more awkward to carry than he anticipated. He tried throwing her over his shoulder, like a ham. So yeah, not exactly a fairy tale moment…

Jessika wasn’t heavy, having spent a week starving in the jungle, but she was awkward, with that cast on. Take a Mental test 4d6.
  • If you pass, carry her up the stairs to 180.
  • If you fail, you’ll have to take the cellar route. Descend to 193.

Jessika activated the rubber chicken with murmured words of prayer to Maggie.

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Jason had never actually witnessed someone else using a rubber chicken before. It was an awesome sight. Jessika seemed to crackle with energy as she sent soldiers flying, left and right. Guns were no obstacle. A spinning kick dispatched the officer. A spinning kick with her broken leg, Margaret (only temporarily, unfortunately) making it feel twice as strong as when it was whole! When the carnage was over, she’d barely broken a sweat.
  • Continue the rescue mission at 223, though it’s no longer clear who’s rescuing who!

Some young were sitting at the table. They didn’t really look like miners: they were young and skinny; a couple wore glasses. As Jason set his meal down he glanced at their hands: clean fingernails. They were talking excitedly in rapid, nearly incomprehensible Verdean. He guessed they were students. They didn’t pay him much attention as he sat and picked at his unappealing meal.

They weren’t eating, but they were certainly drinking. They’d ordered big carafes of wine and were slopping it as much on the floor and each other as pouring it down their throats from earthenware beakers. This was clearly a celebration.

“Viva Santángel!” they roared, and downed another round.

Their loud toasts attracted the attention of some men from the next room. Large, heavy set – though they didn’t look like miners, either. Security, or even military, maybe. They did not look overly enthused at the toast.

The students stared at the new arrivals, and lifted their beakers hopefully. “Viva Santángel?”

“Viva Aguayo,” thundered the leader of the big men. His two friends repeated the chant behind him.

“Viva Santángel!”

“Viva Aguayo!”

“Viva Santángel!”

“Viva Aguayo!”

This back and forth rally over Jason’s head continued without an obvious winner. There was an obvious loser, though, when one of the students turned to him, and dragged him into an exchange he would dearly have loved to avoid. He could feel the eyes of the new arrivals boring into his back. Cautiously, he wrapped his hand around his mug of beer, and raised it.
  • “Viva Santángel!” Go to 194.
  • “Viva Aguayo!” Go to 178.
  • “Viva Júlíana!” Go to 191.

Jesus jerked his head up from the bar and gave Jason a frosty glare. “Maybe you want to drink in another bar, friend.” Jason hurriedly beat an exit, noting – belatedly – two things. All the women in the bar were very heavy set, round women. Didn’t seem that Jessika was exactly Jesus’s ‘type’. And second, the framed photograph of Osito on the wall – with Jesus hugging him! Oops!
  • Go back to 185.

Jason entered through the hospital door. This wasn’t resourced like a major Græntfjaller hospital would be, but it was a step above a first aid tent in a guerrilla camp. Not a massive step above, to judge by the rickety old equipment in the corridors. A young woman sat behind a reception desk, taking little notice of Jason when he entered. She was chatting on the phone to someone, and when he approached the desk he had plenty of time to scan the whiteboard behind her.

It listed what he assumed were patients and their ailments. While his Verdean wasn’t good in general, medical terms came up more frequently in his line of work. He certainly knew pierna rota. He’d pierna’d his own rota training in Montaña Verde years ago; or was it rota’d his pierna? Either way, said injury stood out amidst a list of fairly mild maladies. As did the fact that in this mining town with its heavily male workforce, it was the only injury assigned to a woman. Juanita Reyes Sánchez. He smiled softly. Jeez, original, much?

He felt a strange sensation: hope. Until now, he realized, he’d basically thought this was all going to end in one long wild goose chase. (Which, in Rushmore, was considered a particularly bad outcome.) But he’d really found her. Probably. He had no actual evidence this woman was her – other than the steady red glow of the indicator, now concealed deep in his pocket – but he felt it. The receptionist had finished her phone call and looked up.

“Juanita Reyes?” he asked hopefully.

She glanced at the board behind her and rattled off a rapid string of Verdean that made him hastily adjust his confidence in medical jargon. She reached for the phone.

“No, no,” Jason said hastily, in Verdean. He knew “no”, at least. He tried for something more ambitious. “I will go up.”

The receptionist rattled off more words, not one in ten of which Jason followed, but he did catch a number, which was repeated on the whiteboard. He guessed it had to be her room. Waving off the receptionist as she tried to object, he made for Room 212.
  • Head on up to 212.

Jesus grinned. He didn’t have a lot of teeth, but he showed all of them in his enthusiasm. “Yes he is! Best player on the planet!” He grabbed Jason’s hand and shook it lustily, and even offered him a free drink. Jason demurred.

“No no, it’s fine. Just tell me. Have you seen a girl around, with crutches, maybe she was…”

“Yes! I remember her! She’s working over at Joaquin’s now!”
  • Thank him and hurry on over to 220.

Jason squirmed free of the officer restraining him. The man gave a snarl and tried to bring the butt of his pistol across his head; he dodged that blow too. Then he remembered: he was a footballer, known for his powerful header. He drove his forehead forward, directly into the officer’s…

“Nuts!” shouted a passing street vendor passing by Joaquin’s bar, quite unaware that inside, Princess Jessika had used the timely distraction created by Jason to grab hold of her emergency rubber chicken.
  • Invoke Margaret’s wrath at 206.

Jason hurried up the stairs. The hospital wasn’t particularly busy, and thankfully there weren’t too many off-duty staff roaming the corridors either. All was quiet on the second floor. He walked down the corridor, found the right number, and put his hand on the door to open it…

Hold on. Were you captured by guerrillas at the start of your adventure and taken to their jungle camp?

The sensible decision doesn’t always make for the most exciting story. Wouldn’t a daring escape, the two of you against the world, have made for a more gripping yarn than the complex diplomatic negotiations that will now ensue as the Foreign Ministry haggles for your release?

YOUR SEASON IS OVER!
  • Go back and try again?

Jason tried to squirm away from the man holding him at gunpoint. The officer smirked, and pistol-whipped his gun across his head. Jason collapsed to the ground, clutching at his bloody temple. You lose 3 points from your Physical score.

But, in a twist of fate, the blow actually did distract the other guards, who turned their gaze onto Jason, ignoring the woman they were meant to be watching. Jessika’s hand darted into her bag and closed around the rubber chicken.
  • Summon Margaret’s power at 206.

Jason watched as Jessika reached out tentatively for the rubber chicken head poking out of her bag. Though he had cold steel at his temple, he had to admire her daring. Unfortunately, he could see she was never going to make it: the soldiers were watching her and would reach out to restrain her before she could reach it. He had to do something to distract them.

Take a Mental test 4d6, with a gun pressed to your head…
  • If you pass, go to 211.
  • If you fail, go to 214.

Jason left the inn and made his way into town. Narazapá was no metropolis, but the roads were heavy with traffic. Mining and logging trucks were in abundance. The town square was impressive, with a monument to the Revolution (which Revolution? Jason’s knowledge of Verdean history was pretty fuzzy) and a town hall bearing an elegant facade. On each corner of the square was a bar, each named after their owner, each seemingly doing a steady trade. Jason stood at the center of the square and tried to decide where to begin his search for Jessika.

The room was empty. Jason sat down and forced down as much of the meal as he could stomach, though he drew the line at the wood shavings in the sausage. Glumly, he realized how difficult it was ever going to be to find Jessika.

The landlord appeared at the door. He looked about shiftily, then sidled in. Jason tensed.

“Listen, foreigner.” Despite that, he spoke in Verdean. “I didn’t want to say downstairs. Walls have ears, you know?”

So did the ‘lamb chop’, Jason wanted to reply. Wisely, he kept silent.

“You should be careful looking for your lady. Not everyone who runs an inn is as friendly as me. Or, they’re friendly with the wrong people. Know what I’m saying, haha?” He clapped Jason, who had little to no idea what he was saying, on the shoulder.
  • Hints and imprecations are getting you nowhere. Just flat out bribe the guy. Offer him 150 pesos (if you have them). Go to 195.
  • This guy really isn’t helping. Maybe it’s better to just leave before the landlord brings dessert. Go to 216.

Jason woke suddenly; Jessika was frantically shaking his shoulder. “Soldiers! The whole town is crawling with them!” she hissed. “Overnight a whole battalion must have come down. They’re searching buildings…”

Right on cue, there was a loud hammering on the door to the bar. They probably had a few minutes – Joaquin was not exactly an early riser, and would be slow to open the door – but no more. And this room was too small to offer anywhere to hide. Jason didn’t know the layout of the bar.

“Is there a cellar? What about a second floor?” She nodded yes to both, but gestured at her leg. The stairs were right out, that’s why Joaquin gave her a ground floor room in the first place!
  • Head for the cellar, it’s the only choice. Go to 193.
  • She might not be able to climb the stairs but you can carry her. Quick, grab her and throw her over your shoulder before she can protest! Go to 205.

When you were interrogated, did you tell them what your mission was?

Jason regretted choosing this bar to investigate. Dingy lighting. Sticky floor. Maudlin country music on the jukebox. An angry yell, a customer complaining about slow service. Because… the girl hobbling towards him with his meal was wearing a cast on her leg!

Jason had maybe squeezed Jessika’s hand at some formal event once, but he only really knew her from magazine pictures or newsreel footage. She looked a little thinner than he remembered in pictures. The clothes were shabby, but he was hardly expecting to see her in an evening gown or dress blues. All the same, the light hair poking out from under a headscarf, the freckles: it was unquestionably her. She managed to serve the man, who grudgingly pulled his food towards him and shooed her away, and began the slow hobble back to the bar. When she saw the tall blonde man staring at her, she stood up stock still and froze.

Jason fumbled for something to say. He came up with the friendliest words he could think of. Low, in Græntfjaller, he spoke:

“Hello, I’m not from the government, and I’m here to help.”

Jessika broke into a smile. Fortunately, the bar was pretty empty, and he was able to find a table away from anyone else. She brought over a beer and spent a few minutes talking with him. In low tones, he told her as much as he could: he’d been sent to find her; he’d been looking for her and tracked her to the hospital; he’d made his way here. She explained in turn that she’d broken her leg in the crash, evaded capture by the rebels who’d shot her down, and made her way north through a mixture of begging, borrowing and stealing. She was trying to conceal her identity, and had decided to work until she could earn enough pesos for a bus ride to a safer region of the country, where she could contact home for help. She was so grateful to encounter a friendly face she burst into tears and hugged him.

Feeling profoundly awkward, he patted her shoulder. “There there… Your Highness.”

She laughed through sniffles. “You can call me Jessika. So,” she blew her nose on his sleeve. “What’s the exit plan?”

She had a good point. Should probably have thought of one of those…

“Where are you staying?”

“He let me out a room for the week.” She nodded at Joaquin, who was snoring behind the bar, drool dribbling down his chin.

Jason waited until the bar emptied, then slipped to the back with Jessika. The room she was being rented was little more than a storage closet, and the ‘bed’ a couple of empty grain sacks thrown down on the floor. In the corner was her bag. Jessika has earned 200 pesos (the patrons at the bar are a bit stingy!) and she also has managed to save her ERC (Emergency Rubber Chicken); you may add these resources to your own.

They agreed to rest up, there was nothing that could be done before morning anyway; at first light, they’d head off to find transport. Somewhat awkwardly, they settled down to sleep.
  • Did you visit Javier’s bar before finding Jessika in Joaquin’s bar? If yes, wake up at 189.
  • If not, wake up at 218.

The serving girl tittered, much taken by Jason’s attentions. One of her eyes fluttered. (The other, staring off at an angle, remained dead and unmoving.) She bit her lip coquettishly with her only remaining tooth and even flashed Jason a bit of leg, a sight he would not soon forget. The jungle he’d parachuted into had been less densely forested.

“I didn’t speak to her, but I did hear a bit of gossip. That Joaquin had hired a new bar girl. Skinny little thing, no meat on her bones. I bet you like a real woman, don’t you? One with curves?”

Jason wasn’t sure if she was talking about her hips or her spine, both of which had fairly pronounced curves, but he thanked the girl nonetheless and coughed up a 10 peso tip.

If you’re out of pesos, you’ll have to pay with a kiss… yugghhh! The experience has left you scarred and deformed. Lose 2 Personality points.
  • Choose a table to sit at, or, if you’re ready to leave, go to 216.

Below is a map of the inn’s second floor. You may take your meal in any of the four corner rooms; go to the corresponding number. You may walk through a room without interacting with anyone in it: only go to the number of the room where you decide to sit and eat. You may interact with the serving girl in the entry corridor at any time. To begin, order your meal at 197. When you are ready to leave, go to 216.

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Lower Leagues

   Division 1            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Mühlrich 30 21 6 3 48 21 +27 69
2 Þingsnitz 30 16 5 9 38 24 +14 53

3 Kyrkdorf 30 16 5 9 35 22 +13 53
4 Hinteram 30 14 8 8 29 23 +6 50
5 Kuodorf 30 14 6 10 43 36 +7 48
6 Kirchmegen 30 13 8 9 32 31 +1 47
7 Gründorf 30 14 4 12 48 37 +11 46
8 Lammedal 30 13 7 10 49 39 +10 46
9 Hintersfjörður 30 14 3 13 35 38 −3 45
10 Reschensreppur 30 11 7 12 37 37 0 40
11 Oost-Hartburg 30 12 4 14 26 27 −1 40
12 Kochhavn 30 10 6 14 38 55 −17 36
13 Diepoldsburg 30 7 8 15 20 32 −12 29
14 Tuldam 30 6 8 16 8 25 −17 26
15 Lengschach 30 6 7 17 20 35 −15 25
16 Esna 30 6 2 22 15 39 −24 20

   Division 2A           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Järvendorf 26 16 5 5 24 11 +13 53
2 Schwakirchen 26 14 7 5 34 17 +17 49
3 Gerstungtal 26 15 1 10 28 17 +11 46
4 Schudvík 26 13 6 7 35 23 +12 45
5 Voleln 26 13 6 7 27 17 +10 45
6 Paschvík 26 13 5 8 26 15 +11 44
7 Tromskowitz 26 13 4 9 23 19 +4 43
8 Notschach 26 12 4 10 33 23 +10 40
9 Lehberg 26 10 8 8 36 34 +2 38
10 Ostholm 26 10 4 12 28 31 −3 34
11 Vildkappel 26 6 8 12 23 31 −8 26
12 Harmersgrunn 26 5 3 18 18 37 −19 18
13 Lohrreith 26 4 4 18 24 54 −30 16
14 Haafberg 26 3 5 18 20 50 −30 14

   Division 2B           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Ilsburg 22 13 7 2 24 9 +15 46
2 Edlidolz 22 14 4 4 22 9 +13 46
3 Putzendorf 22 10 7 5 22 11 +11 37
4 Nordmarksdorf 22 11 3 8 30 17 +13 36
5 Gstockmäki 22 10 4 8 13 12 +1 34
6 Kangasdorf 22 9 6 7 38 29 +9 33
7 Frederiksfahrn 22 9 3 10 17 21 −4 30
8 Laitwinkl 22 8 5 9 21 23 −2 29
9 Aigsvinger 22 8 1 13 14 23 −9 25
10 Væggerfried 22 6 4 12 20 35 −15 22
11 Goesberg 22 6 3 13 11 24 −13 21
12 Haderhavn 22 3 3 16 11 30 −19 12

PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2021 3:53 am
by Graintfjall
Jason and Jessika had escaped the bar. But they were still thousands of miles from home, in a town groaning at the seams with soldiers, rebels and narcotraficantes on the lookout for them, with few supplies and no clear way of getting home. Want to find out how they escape? You’ll have to continue in Part 2, which will take place during the Copa Rushmori! Until then… console your disappointment with some football results.


Weeks 16–21


Altendalur 4–0 GT Molding
Steinaux 1–0 Fliserboding
Maigburg 2–2 Hagejoki
Folte 0–3 Korsbach
Estdal 0–4 Mokofen
Gunzlach 1–0 Hofvinger

We haven’t talked much about the Chessmen this season, because they haven’t been very good and it’s rude to point and stare. The idea was they cut some older players, but it’s not clear who the new young talent coming through are meant to be. Emeli Vilbertsdóttir, Eva Pistor and Hans Larsson scored a goal apiece but all are relatively established players by now. Maybe Kæja Finnvarðsdóttir, former national U-18 captain, who came off the bench to score her maiden GPL goal and complete the humiliation of GT Molding. Big Hjörleifur Reynarsson rescued the Sausages as they struggled to get their offense going against the Locusts following a (minor) injury to midfield talisman Li Jing. He should be back next week: on the face of this display, he needs to be. Maigburg, who have struggled for goals, fell back on the time honored combination of big center half header (Kirk Ogilvie) and flukey center forward toe poke (Ichiro Takenaka); Hagejoki could be justly aggrieved that two much better goals from Ben Gjursson and Sophie Asvardsdóttir netted them just one point. Jasmijn Spiderlair continues to grow in confidence for the Sabres, joining Air Latte and Tao Beiliang in hammering Folte who, shockingly, are now bottom of the table. Mokofen also pulled off a mild upset by putting four past Estdal, who’ve been inconsistent. Ben Vilbertsson claimed a pair and Björnólfur Hagalínsson and Rakel Kaspersdóttir also got their names in lights, or at least, on the scoreboard. Hofvinger really needed a win at Gunzlach to keep their challenge for the title alive. They did not get a win, for which thank Arinbjörg Björnsdóttir.

Gunzlach 1–0 Altendalur
Hofvinger 3–0 Estdal
Mokofen 1–4 Folte
Korsbach 1–0 Maigburg
Hagejoki 1–0 Steinaux
Fliserboding 2–2 GT Molding

Folte bounced back, and out of the relegation zone, with a big win at Mokofen. Simon McCabe scored twice, Jason Cefalo once, and Varga Neury once at each end. Hofvinger are the only team who can interrupt the North Háttmark circlejerk at the top, and kept their challenge warm with a win over Estdal. Nathaniel Auvergne, Clotho Sulaka and Anne Davidsdóttir all scored in a procession against the weak Ducks’ defense. Unfortunately for the Northern Wolves, said circlejerkers both… you know what, let’s discontinue this particular turn of phrase. They both won. Hanna Takáts was on song for the Gunners; not to be out diacriticed, Çè Quîrîjá did the business for the Sausages. And Korsbach now look ever more assured of their first ever IFCF place, opening up a six point gap over rivals GT Molding with a Margaux Torkildsdóttir header to give them the win over Maigburg, while the Gold Shrews could manage just a draw at Fliserboding. Reliable team leaders Alicia Gainsbourg and Mathias Kristersson scored, but Sara Aðalsteinnsdóttir clawed one back and then Fredrik Thorleifsson headed into his own net.

Altendalur 1–0 Fliserboding
GT Molding 1–1 Hagejoki
Steinaux 7–1 Korsbach
Maigburg 1–2 Mokofen
Folte 2–1 Hofvinger
Estdal 1–1 Gunzlach

Steinaux leapt into first place, but it’s important to stress this is a really freak result and it’s unlikely to be repeated. A team scoring 7 times to pip their rivals to 1st place is a once in a blue moon event that will probably never, ever happen, ever again. 7 different players scored: young reserve Eldgrim Arhippasson got his name among the rarified company of Petter Erlingsson, Li Jing, Çè Quîrîjá, Hjörleifur Reynarsson, Paan Kleveir and Hrærekur Jvarsson. And it really was only 7 names, because Kleveir also hoofed in an own-goal trying to clear a corner. The result was an upsetting setback for Korsbach, but at least GT Molding dropped yet more points, held to a cagey draw by Hagejoki. Alicia Gainsbourg scored, then saw her defense give away the lead she’d won by gifting Axel Vidarsson an open goal. He couldn’t miss. The same could not be said of Pedro Roâ, who missed chance after chance before Eva Pistor showed him how it was done and buried the winner at Fliserboding. Maigburg went bottom despite a fantastic long range goal from Rayyan Noor Zaman, who deserves a lot better landing spot than a club whose Ultras actively root against him. Mokofen’s equalizer came from Finn Otharsson, and winner from Gunnjóna Wolfgangsdóttir. Folte beating Hofvinger would not have been an upset in prior seasons, but here it was seismic and probably ended the Northern Wolves’ chances of catching the title contenders. Tom Burton and Gabriella Gentile secured the win; Lyngar Rögnvaldursson, after a quiet few games, got his name back among the goalscorers with a consolation effort. Gunzlach chose the wrong moment to fluff their lines at Estdal. Grímólfur Viktorsson scored a fine goal, but Luis Terregrossa’s workmanlike effort proved just as valid in the scorebooks.

Estdal 2–0 Altendalur
Gunzlach 4–2 Folte
Hofvinger 0–2 Maigburg
Mokofen 3–3 Steinaux
Korsbach 1–3 GT Molding
Hagejoki 0–0 Fliserboding

A week of exciting scorelines. Gunzlach reclaimed the lead in the table through a combination of beating Folte and Steinaux dropping 2 points to Mokofen. For Gunzlach, Momoko Wakabayashi scored early, then let Paolo Rinaldi and Jaida Bissette chip in before coming back to finish things off with her second. She’s way down in the Gold Boot charts, though: they’re led by Simon McCabe, who added a brace here. Steinaux have too many good players spreading the goals around for any one to challenge for the Gold Boot. Hjörleifur Reynarsson, Paan Kleveir and Hrærekur Jvarsson each claimed a goal apiece at Mokofen, but so did Ben Vilbertsson, Trysha Sturden and Zarles Biktorika. At the other end of the table, Estdal escaped relegation danger (for now) with a vital win; Rato Guðmannsson’s two goals also bumped Altendalur down out of the IFCF placings. That benefited GT Molding, who won the South Háttmark derby match. Alicia Gainsbourg is keeping the Gold Boot race interesting, and Karoline Vernerisdóttir and Mateus Kujan also scored. Jasmijn Spiderlair scored her 4th and best goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough. Hagejoki and Fliserboding both really needed a win, so, sucks to be them. A big upset was Kelvin Lisco and Jake Pole handing a home defeat to Hofvinger that basically settles the Champions’ League places as being between Gunzlach and Steinaux. But in what order?

Altendalur 4–0 Hagejoki
Fliserboding 1–3 Korsbach
GT Molding 0–0 Mokofen
Steinaux 1–0 Hofvinger
Maigburg 2–2 Gunzlach
Folte 3–3 Estdal

If I were bothering to post tables, you’d see how incredibly tight things are now. Oh… alright.

   Premier League        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Steinaux 20 12 5 3 39 12 +27 41
2 Gunzlach 20 12 5 3 40 15 +25 41
3 Hofvinger 20 10 2 8 36 22 +14 32
4 Korsbach 20 10 2 8 29 33 −4 32
5 Altendalur 20 8 4 8 20 16 +4 28
6 GT Molding 20 7 7 6 29 30 −1 28
7 Estdal 20 6 5 9 20 34 −14 23
8 Folte 20 6 4 10 29 40 −11 22
9 Mokofen 20 4 9 7 28 40 −12 21
10 Fliserboding 20 4 8 8 11 19 −8 20
11 Hagejoki 20 4 8 8 16 29 −13 20
12 Maigburg 20 4 7 9 19 26 −7 19

See? It’s tight between Steinaux and Gunzlach in the title race. Steinaux regained the edge with Çè Quîrîjá handing them a vital win over Hofvinger. By contrast, goals from Hanna Takáts and Paolo Rinaldi weren’t enough for the Gunners at the VG Arena, with Jake Pole and Arendt Árisson scoring for the Cat-Bears. It’s tight between Hofvinger and Korsbach in the battle for 3rd: the Sabres stole a march by thrashing Fliserboding. Margaux Torkildsdóttir and Air Latte secured the win after a Sara Aðalsteinnsdóttir own goal; Jean Baudelaire’s consolation effort was in vain. It’s tight between Altendalur and GT Molding, scrapping for the final IFCF spot. The Chessmen moved en passant with a demolition of Hagejoki that made their fans wonder why they didn’t always play like this. Maja Klængursdóttir, Kæja Finnvarðsdóttir, Pedro Roâ and Eva Pistor all joined in on the action. GT Molding couldn’t match their scoring, or score at all, at Mokofen. And it’s tight across the entire bottom half of the table, with just 4 points separating the lot. Neither Estdal nor Folte could really be comfortable dropping points, but they bot did, to each other, in an entertaining scrap. Simon McCabe and Jason Cefalo scored for the home side, and Luis Terregrossa gifted them an own goal, but Rato Guðmannsson struck back, followed by Else Sofussdóttir and, to the delight of the visitors, Diego Buglia.

Folte 0–1 Altendalur
Estdal 3–4 Maigburg
Gunzlach 1–0 Steinaux
Hofvinger 0–0 GT Molding
Mokofen 0–1 Fliserboding
Korsbach 1–2 Hagejoki

   Premier League        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Gunzlach 21 13 5 3 41 15 +26 44
2 Steinaux 21 12 5 4 39 13 +26 41
3 Hofvinger 21 10 3 8 36 22 +14 33
4 Korsbach 21 10 2 9 30 35 −5 32
5 Altendalur 21 9 4 8 21 16 +5 31
6 GT Molding 21 7 8 6 29 30 −1 29
7 Fliserboding 21 5 8 8 12 19 −7 23
8 Hagejoki 21 5 8 8 18 30 −12 23
9 Estdal 21 6 5 10 23 38 −15 23
10 Maigburg 21 5 7 9 23 29 −6 22
11 Folte 21 6 4 11 29 41 −12 22
12 Mokofen 21 4 9 8 28 41 −13 21

The North Háttmark derby was a cracker, decided with an 82nd minute goal from Momoko Wakabayashi. Team mates mobbed her on the pitch; off it, the Gunzlach faithful started printing championship banners. It was a thrilling near-end to the season, although in terms of impact on the table, it was more of a moving day for the bottom half. Folte’s defeat at the hands of Pedro Roâ and Altendalur sent them crashing back down into the relegation zone; Mokofen were sent spinning to the bottom by Fliserboding’s Mũthũngũ Watene. All three games were decided 1–0, showing what a knife-edge this season has been. On the other hand, Maigburg jumped out of the relegation zone thanks to a high-scoring shootout at Estdal. The Ducks scored through Luca Czernin and Osaki Tokimune, and Skíði Erlingsson donated one in his own net; but the Cat-Bears kept scoring too: Ichiro Takenaka, Jake Pole, an own goal of their own off Diego Buglia – and then, so fittingly, the goal that may keep them in the GPL, a spectacular blast by Rayyan Noor Zaman. The other big fight is for the 5th IFCF place and the attendant money and opportunities. Korsbach could have made their position more secure but instead blew an early lead as Melina Nicosdóttir’s goal was wasted; Sophie Asvardsdóttir got the equalizer and assisted on the winner, crossing to Ben Gjursson to head home. The Sabres at least saw their rivals draw the Northern Wolves, goalless, which kept things very interesting.

PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2021 8:57 pm
by Graintfjall
If you’re looking for good omens for Jason Þórhallursson’s quest… maybe look somewhere else. If this is counted as literary foreshadowing, then I’d start investing in kraken repellent. But let’s leave the story here, because at this stage the football is actually more interesting.

Week 22 + Awards

Altendalur 1–4 Korsbach
Hagejoki 2–1 Mokofen
Fliserboding 0–1 Hofvinger
GT Molding 1–0 Gunzlach
Steinaux 7–0 Estdal
Maigburg 2–0 Folte

In another great end of season robbery, Steinaux stole the title. Again. And did so at the expense of Gunzlach. Again.

The Sausages’ 7–0 battering of Estdal was just piling on: 1–0 would have been enough. They couldn’t know that, of course [all matches are played simultaneously on the last day] so understandably once they started scoring, they didn’t stop. It was a greatest hits parade: Hrærekur Jvarsson opened the scoring and celebrated with a passion that some said reflected this being his last game in a Steinaux shirt; then Hjörleifur Reynarsson, fast becoming as much of a club legend as Jvarsson. Jasmine Gardener, one of the first foreigners to ever sign for the club, and Çè Quîrîjá, one of the best. Li Jing, the talismanic midfield general; Paan Kleveir, the satyr forward. Fittingly, the last goal was by Vanessa Marvinsdóttir, the face of the new generation of Sausages. Only Petter Erlingsson missed out. As he lifted the trophy, it was plain to see how little he cared.

Gunzlach’s demise was their own doing, really. The scrum that formed on top Momoko Wakabayashi after her goal that, they thought, won them the season title, had injured her. So she missed the final game, in which they went scoreless – one goal would have been enough, but they couldn’t manage that. Instead it was one goal that cost them everything. Michael Arciniega, who had a disappointing season overall given his past high standards, chose the right moment to shine (for the Gold Shrews; for the Gunners it was the worst possible time).

Of course all the attention focussed on these two games, which was a shame because there was big news elsewhere. Korsbach gained a maiden IFCF berth, and Altendalur missed out for the first time. Eva Pistor has been great for the Chessmen, but everyone else has severely disappointed. Including Auno Laurinsson, former Manager of the Year and much talked about as a Snow Wolves head coach, relieved of his duties. Maybe his assistant, Thorn Tristram, will be offered the job? Or begged to come back as a player? Altendalur’s efforts to clear out their old players hasn’t worked: because they didn’t find anyone to replace them. For the Sabres, meanwhile, this has been a magical season, with a richly deserved trip to the Challengers Cup at the end of it. Tao Beiliang scored twice, Margaux Torkildsdóttir and Air Latte once apiece, as the three players at the heart of the Sabers’ offense propelled them into glory. (If a 4th place finish in the 33rd ranked league in the world counts as such.)

Given their goal difference advantage, all Folte needed was a point. They didn’t get it. An astonishing fall from grace from the team routinely talked about as next year’s IFCF contenders. Their big name star, Simon McCabe, will surely leave, and so may their homegrown talent; at least Marius Qiang will stick around, with the board voting to give him a chance at winning back promotion. The Cat-Bears ended the Striders’ hopes of staying up with goals from Kirk Ogilvie and Arendt Árisson.

Mokofen staying up had looked a long shot all season despite some transfer window splurging. Their foreign players were good for them; Zarles Biktorika scored here, assisted by Trysha Sturden. It was just all the Græntfjallers that sucked ass. Sophie Asvardsdóttir and Axel Vidarsson got the goals that gave the Harlequins the win. And Hofvinger had their best season in years. Regular title challengers until they fell away. A scratchy win, Clotho Sulaka the only scorer, away at a stadium reeking of old cabbages may have been an unglamorous end to the season, but it suited their style of play to a tee. They are starting to make a case for a ‘Big 5’ again. A ‘Big 3’ remains a way off – and according to Steinaux fans, ‘Big 2’ would be stretching it.


   Premier League        Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Steinaux 22 13 5 4 46 13 +33 44 CL, CdC
2 Gunzlach 22 13 5 4 41 16 +25 44 CL

3 Hofvinger 22 11 3 8 37 22 +15 36 CC
4 Korsbach 22 11 2 9 34 36 −2 35 CC
5 GT Molding 22 8 8 6 30 30 0 32 CC

6 Altendalur 22 9 4 9 22 20 +2 31
7 Hagejoki 22 6 8 8 20 31 −11 26 VCI
8 Maigburg 22 6 7 9 25 29 −4 25
9 Fliserboding 22 5 8 9 12 20 −8 23
10 Estdal 22 6 5 11 23 45 −22 23
11 Folte 22 6 4 12 29 43 −14 22
12 Mokofen 22 4 9 9 29 43 −14 21


Statistical Awards

Gold Boot: Image Simon McCabe (Folte)
The first time a Gold Boot winner has been from a side that ended up being relegated. Alicia Gainsbourg and Momoko Wakabayashi finished as runners-up.
Gold Gloves: Image Marietta Briggs (Steinaux)
Fair Play Award: Steinaux
Hagejoki finished as runners-up and had fewer red cards; on this thin logic, they will attempt to be invited to the VCI.

Technical Awards

Manager of the Year: Image Rakel Alvinsdóttir (Korsbach)
Most Valuable Player: Image Nathaniel Auvergne (Hofvinger)
First foreign winner. Runners-up Momoko Wakabayashi and Eva Pistor were also foreigners.
Most Outstanding Player: Image Simon McCabe (Folte)
Young Player of the Year: Image Kæja Finnvarðsdóttir (Altendalur)
Defensive Player of the Year: Image Hjörleifur Reynarsson (Steinaux)
Foreign Player of the Year: Image Li Jing (Steinaux)
Team of the Year:
  • GK: Image Dolfo (Gunzlach)
  • DF: Image Karoline Vernerisdóttir (GT Molding), Image Hjörleifur Reynarsson (Steinaux), Image Liam Hughes (Gunzlach), Image Emeli Vilbertsdóttir (Altendalur)
  • MF: Image Tao Beiliang (Korsbach), Image Li Jing (Steinaux), Image Nathaniel Auvergne (Hofvinger), Image Sara Aðalsteinnsdóttir (Fliserboding)
  • FW: Image Simon McCabe (Folte), Image Momoko Wakabayashi (Gunzlach)

Fan Awards

People’s Player of the Year: Image Hjörleifur Reynarsson (Steinaux)
Rising Star Award: Image Dolfo (Gunzlach)
Favorite Foreign Player: Image Momoko Wakabayashi (Gunzlach)
People’s Team of the Year:
  • GK: Image Dolfo (Gunzlach)
  • DF: Image Mathias Kristersson (GT Molding), Image Hjörleifur Reynarsson (Steinaux), Image Liam Hughes (Gunzlach), Image Stefan Jokulsson (Folte)
  • MF: Image Hrærekur Jvarsson (Steinaux), Image Li Jing (Steinaux), Image Nathaniel Auvergne (Hofvinger), Image Sara Aðalsteinnsdóttir (Fliserboding)
  • FW: Image Çè Quîrîjá (Steinaux), Image Alicia Gainsbourg (GT Molding)
People’s Moment of the Year: Jasmijn Spiderlair becoming the first Kamdyr to play in the GPL.

Other Awards

Players’ Player of the Year: Image Hjörleifur Reynarsson (Steinaux)
Managers’ Manager of the Year: Image Rakel Alvinsdóttir (Korsbach)
Spirit of the Game Award: Image Emeli Vilbertsdóttir (Altendalur)
Goal of the season: Image Jasmijn Spiderlair (Korsbach)
Fantasy Player of the Season: Image Liam Hughes (Gunzlach)

PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 2:28 pm
by Quintessence of Dust
[img]Amazing_logo_version_6.pbm[/img]

Heartstone Hockey League
Season Review

When the Highmark Romantics welcomed the Pulona Diodes to the HHL with a 12–3 MD1 thrashing (including 6 goals and 2 assists for Gerwig Teschner), it seemed clear the Romantics were back after last season’s disappointment – and that the era of high-scoring was here to stay. That proved to be half-true: the goals were certainly there, but the Romantics, for large parts of the season, were not. They had to scrap the Grey Haven Herdspersons for a 1–0 win on the last day (Teschner’s more modest single goal haul all the more important) to ensure they kept hold of an HCL place over the Dareb Architects (Teschner’s old club).

The teams promoted last season had surprised by managing to stay up, but both endured brutal sophomore slumps. The Rom Kafur Dentists did not get a win until a quarter of the season was over, in their 18th game; the West Island Negative-strand RNA viruses violently bucked the league-wide goal-scoring frenzy and managed barely a goal a game out of their offence. The Diodes conceded almost 5 goals a game yet managed to stay relatively free of relegation trouble: they too, though, look to have a difficult fight to stay up next season. The Herdspersons performed far better.

As did Kynythin Motors. Last season was a squeaker; this time they took the lead after the 24th game and never relinquished it, wrapping up their title with 5 games to spare over the Greschmeier Forks, whose injury-plagued troubles still landed them the second spot, showing the Scandi-Finn clubs’ gulf over the rest of the league. The Joeport Teapots beat them on the final day of the season but already knew they couldn’t overtake them.

                                   Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Motors 72 51 6 15 292 167 +125 108
2 Forks 72 45 9 18 297 190 +107 99
3 Teapots 72 45 8 19 250 143 +107 98
4 Romantics 72 39 6 27 244 189 +55 84

5 Architects 72 35 12 25 299 216 +83 82
6 Cuboids 72 33 9 30 228 226 +2 75
7 Herdspersons 72 29 13 30 216 243 −27 71
8 Diodes 72 17 8 47 218 338 −120 42
9 Negative-strand RNA viruses 72 13 8 51 91 228 −137 34
10 Dentists 72 9 9 54 131 326 −195 27


Player awards:

Top scorer: Roope Ruotsalainen (Motors) – 43
Most points: Alex Merrill (Architects) – 105
Most assists: Alex Merrill (Architects) – 69
Sebestyen Szöllôsi Award for Person Who Hits the Puck Better Than All the Other Players Hit It: Alex Merrill (Architects)
Rez Szöllôsi Award for Best Young Player: Ulf Nyland (Forks)
Best goaltender: Lubomir Dobrev (Teapots)
Best defenceman: Sun Wu (Cuboids)
Best two-way player: Gerwig Teschner (Romantics)
Mikki Järvinen Memorial Trophy for Most Brutally Excessive Check: Motoki Tsutsumi (Architects)
Megatronix Trophy for Goal Of The Year: Terje Henningsen (Forks)

PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 3:30 pm
by Graintfjall
Pavolan Hockey League

As predicted, the GHL was shuttered and a new, franchise-based system introduced. Regional franchises inherited rights to key local players; the remainder entered through an auction followed by an entry draft. The new league proved popular with fans, smoothing over concerns about disruption to traditional community clubs. The GS SuperSports+ television deal proved a hit, too. Predictably enough, the Jomsvikings, the club based in Kangasdorf – who had dominated the old GHL – dominated the new season just the same. Less predictably, they struggled in the playoffs, being taken to overtime in the 7th game by the Ilsburg Skálds and then stomped in the finals by the Zevogur Álfar.

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Jomsvikings 60 39 9 12 140 79 +61 87
2 Wolfmasters 60 38 5 17 150 84 +66 81
3 Stormknights 60 35 10 15 201 121 +80 80
4 Skálds 60 35 9 16 116 70 +46 79

5 Papar 60 35 6 19 232 151 +81 76
6 Nykur 60 33 10 17 141 103 +38 76
7 Álfar 60 31 10 19 201 131 +70 72
8 Goðar 60 30 11 19 103 73 +30 71
9 Berserkers 60 32 6 22 150 103 +47 70
10 Seiðmenn 60 27 10 23 118 96 +22 64
11 Draugur 60 27 6 27 120 108 +12 60
12 Mylingar 60 21 7 32 97 117 −20 49

13 Varðir 60 16 7 37 95 164 −69 39
14 Vættir 60 11 5 44 75 143 −68 27
15 Dvergr 60 8 3 49 96 298 −202 19
16 Bergsrår 60 2 6 52 61 255 −194 10


Play-in round

Papar 4–3 Mylingar
Nykur 4–2 Draugur
Álfar 4–0 Seiðmenn
Goðar 4–1 Berserkers

Quarterfinals

Jomsvikings 4–1 Goðar
Wolfmasters 3–4 Álfar
Stormknights 4–0 Nykur
Skálds 4–2 Papar

Semifinals

Jomsvikings 4–3 Skálds
Álfar 4–1 Stormknights

3PPO

Skálds 0–3 Stormknights

Finals

Jomsvikings 2–4 Álfar

PostPosted: Sun Aug 08, 2021 3:36 pm
by Graintfjall
GS SuperSports+ Events Series

Why am I doing this?

One of the cool things about the Olympics is it features many sports that don’t get much of a look-in for the rest of the time. IRL, these sports all have busy calendars and many events, even if they don’t get a lot of coverage. In NSS, these sports tend not to have any tournaments at all outside the Olympics (and attempts at running them are often plagued by low turnout and low RP volume). Therefore, I am simply running these events as though they had happened in the IC years in between the last Olympic Games and this one. They have no official status and I am not claiming them to be Olympic qualifiers or test events, or World Championships.

How am I doing this?

The events are scorinated using (for most entries) Olympic signups. There is no RP bonus. However, for each event, I generated a random spread of small modifiers. This could be seen as simulating RP bonus OOCly, or ICly simulating random fluctuations of fortune. I also added in signups from my innumerable puppets to pad out the numbers (e.g. to get to a perfect 16 teams for an elimination bracket or fill each heat of a race with 8 entries). Finally, I did scorinate, but sometimes have decided to cut from posting, first rounds, in order to preserve a degree of realism about the uniformity of participants. Needless to say to any new player passing by, this is absolutely not the way you should host tournaments. As such, these results should be taken with a big pinch of salt.

What do we do with the results?

The aim is to provide some background color that you can incorporate into your Olympic RPing. Other than football and basketball, most Olympic sports don’t get much exposure the rest of the year: frequently your, and your opponents’, entries will simply be a list of randomly generated names with nothing more to them. Using these results, you can RP your characters having a little competitive history. Perhaps your player gets drawn against someone they already played in one of these tournaments? Maybe you can work out who is the "favorite" in your group? If you dislike the results, you can also of course completely ignore them!



Full list of participating nations (including some universality places for members of the Græntfjaller Commonwealth (i.e. my puppets, to fill out numbers and make more convenient sizes of groups or heats):

GS SuperSports+ member nations
GRÆ Græntfjall
HAN The Hannasean Federation
SWR Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland

Open entry list
ABL Aboveland
ABU ABEN Union
BRI Britonesia
KNI Nightom
RWH Estogium
BOL Bollonich
DAR Darmen
DCS Diarcesia
ETM Electrum
HOP Hopal
KGS Kriegiersien
LIS Lisander
MYT Mytanija
OST Ostankin
QUE Quebec and Shingoryeo
SOR San Ortelio
TKT Tikariot
TLI The Licentian Isles
TMB Tumbra

Græntfjaller Commonwealth invitational places
BEB Berdeng Bundok
EJA Jabal Akhdar
HYK Ha’Yarok
KKA Kkaputtstan
MLK Mlima Kijani
MNV Mont Vert
MVE Montaña Verde
ZEL Zelena Planina


The competitions will be scorinated as quickly as possible and as many results as possible posted before MD1 (11 August) with a priority to those events falling earliest in the Olympic schedule. Results should all assumed to be back-dated over the months or even years leading up to the Olympics, rather than occurring overlapping them!



GS SuperSports+ World Water Polo League

The World League was a two-stage tournament. Teams were drawn into two groups and played double round-robin, home and away, over several months. The top teams from each group qualified for the Super Group and Super Finals, a single round robin group stage followed by a knockout tournament taking place over the course of a week in the host country. The Men’s Super Final was hosted by the National Watersports Center in Háttmark, Græntfjall; the Women’s Super Final was hosted by the Vólkerhaus Aquadome in Uberwienerschnitzelstadt am Ruhntuhnkuhn, Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland.

Men’s tournament

  Red Group                                       Pld    W  OW  OL   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Bollonich 14 11 1 0 2 126 88 +38 35
2 Mytanija 14 10 0 1 3 136 107 +29 31
3 Græntfjall 14 9 1 0 4 122 95 +27 29
4 The Licentian Isles 14 9 1 0 4 125 108 +17 29

5 Diarcesia 14 5 2 0 7 112 125 −13 19
6 Ostankin 14 4 1 0 9 113 122 −9 14
7 Zelena Planina 14 1 0 3 10 87 135 −48 6
8 Quebec and Shingoryeo 14 1 0 2 11 94 135 −41 5


  Blue Group                                      Pld    W  OW  OL   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Britonesia 14 13 0 0 1 146 87 +59 39
2 Darmen 14 10 2 0 2 127 92 +35 34
3 Tikariot 14 8 0 1 5 112 99 +13 25
4 Hopal 14 7 0 2 9 110 110 0 23

5 Tumbra 14 6 1 0 7 103 110 −7 20
6 Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland 14 5 0 0 9 112 130 −18 15
7 The Hannasean Federation 14 4 0 0 10 98 130 −32 12
8 Electrum 14 0 0 0 14 82 132 −50 0


  Black Group               Pld   W  OW  OL   L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 The Licentian Isles 3 3 0 0 0 30 26 +4 9
2 Bollonich 3 2 0 0 1 28 22 +6 6
3 Darmen 3 1 0 0 2 23 24 −1 3
4 Tikariot 3 0 0 0 3 23 32 −9 0


  White Group               Pld   W  OW  OL   L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Græntfjall 3 2 0 0 1 25 18 +7 6
2 Hopal 3 2 0 0 1 24 27 −3 6
3 Mytanija 3 1 0 1 1 22 23 −1 5
4 Britonesia 3 0 1 0 2 18 21 −3 2


Quarterfinals

The Licentian Isles (TLI) 7–6 Britonesia (BRI)
Bollonich (BOL) 8–0 Mytanija (MYT)
Darmen (DAR) 9–8 Hopal (HOP)
Tikariot (TKT) 8–8 Græntfjall (GRÆ) (9–9 OT) (4–3 pen.)

Semifinals

The Licentian Isles (TLI) 11–8 Darmen (DAR)
Bollonich (BOL) 5–7 Tikariot (TKT)
Britonesia (BRI) 8–5 Hopal (HOP)
Mytanija (MYT) 7–11 Græntfjall (GRÆ)

7th place final

Mytanija (MYT) 10–8 Hopal (HOP)

5th place final

Britonesia (BRI) 8–8 Græntfjall (GRÆ) (10–9 OT)

3rd place final

Darmen (DAR) 9–13 Bollonich (BOL)

Final

The Licentian Isles (TLI) 12–5 Tikariot (TKT)


Final standings:

1. The Licentian Isles
2. Tikariot
3. Bollonich
4. Darmen
5. Britonesia
6. Græntfjall
7. Mytanija
8. Hopal

MVP: Clayton Waller (BOL)
Best goalkeeper: Leo Marcusson (GRÆ)
Finals MVP: Tom Jacobs (TLI)

Women’s tournament

  Red Group                                       Pld    W  OW  OL   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 The Licentian Isles 14 13 1 0 0 148 85 +63 41
2 Mytanija 14 8 0 2 4 112 102 +10 26
3 Tumbra 14 8 0 0 6 119 106 +13 24
4 Darmen 14 7 0 0 7 106 115 −9 21

5 Bollonich 14 5 2 1 6 110 110 0 20
6 Zelena Planina 14 6 0 1 7 109 117 −8 19
7 Kkaputtstan 14 3 2 0 9 105 128 −23 13
8 Quebec and Shingoryeo 14 1 0 1 12 89 135 −46 4


  Blue Group                                      Pld    W  OW  OL   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Britonesia 14 11 0 1 2 134 87 +47 34
2 Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland 14 9 2 1 2 122 105 +17 32
3 Electrum 14 5 4 1 4 123 117 +6 24
4 Hopal 14 7 0 1 6 108 105 +3 22

5 Græntfjall 14 6 0 0 8 111 117 −6 18
6 Diarcesia 14 5 0 2 7 103 113 −10 17
7 Tikariot 14 3 2 0 9 105 117 −12 13
8 Ostankin 14 2 0 2 10 94 139 −45 8


  Black Group                                    Pld   W  OW  OL   L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Tumbra 3 3 0 0 0 33 18 +15 9
2 Hopal 3 1 0 0 2 23 22 +1 3
3 Darmen 3 1 0 0 2 18 25 −7 3
4 Mytanija 3 1 0 0 2 20 29 −9 3


  White Group                                    Pld   W  OW  OL   L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Britonesia 3 3 0 0 0 32 19 +13 9
2 The Licentian Isles 3 2 0 0 1 39 18 +21 6
3 Electrum 3 1 0 0 2 20 38 −18 3
4 Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland 3 0 0 0 3 16 32 −16 0


Quarterfinals

Tumbra (TMB) 5–5 Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland (SWR) (8–6 OT)
Hopal (HOP) 8–8 Electrum (ETM) (8–11 OT)
Darmen (DAR) 8–13 The Licentian Isles (TLI)
Mytanija (MYT) 6–15 Britonesia (BRI)

Semifinals

Tumbra (TMB) 5–8 The Licentian Isles (TLI)
Electrum (ETM) 8–15 Britonesia (BRI)
Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland (SWR) 11–5 Darmen (DAR)
Hopal (HOP) 6–14 Mytanija (MYT)

7th place final

Hopal (HOP) 12–7 Darmen (DAR)

5th place final

Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland (SWR) 8–6 Mytanija (MYT)

3rd place final

Tumbra (TMB) 6–6 Electrum (ETM) (8–7 OT)

Final

The Licentian Isles (TLI) 7–7 Britonesia (BRI) (9–7 OT)


Final standings:

1. The Licentian Isles
2. Britonisea
3. Tumbra
4. Electrum
5. Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland
6. Mytanija
7. Hopal
8. Darmen

MVP: Hailey Gibb (TLI)
Best goalkeeper: Iseabail Malloch (TLI)
Finals MVP: Jessica Bowen (BRI)

PostPosted: Sun Aug 08, 2021 3:37 pm
by Graintfjall
GS SuperSports+ World Badminton Tour

A year-long world tour with top-level tournaments held every 1-2 months (as badminton is an indoor sport, seasons are irrelevant!). The results of these tournaments are posted from the Round of 16 on to preserve a degree of realism and avoid entering 40+ ghost entries. Realistically a lower level of tournaments probably also happened, but have not been scorinated here.

Schutzenphalian Open (Eisenzell, Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland)

Round of 16

Bjartmann Stefansson (GRÆ)                     21  21
Rafael Alexandro Pinagdamutan Montano (BEB) 18 19

Clay Manwaring (ETM) 12 21 18
Grigoriy Ralsin (OST) 21 13 21

Thomas Rogers (BOL) 21 21
Emmanuil Levin (OST) 11 18

Mike Hacktown (KGS) 22 21
Luke Ashton (TKT) 24 23

Alfred Steinbach (SWR) 21 8 13
Peter P Larry (BRI) 14 21 21

Oh Chan-Yeol (QUE) 18 9
Craig Robinson (TMB) 21 21

Stanley Parker (TLI) 21 21
Heo Choong-Moo (QUE) 16 18

Abdul Quddoos al-Dia (EJA) 14 21 17
Robin Harrison (TLI) 21 10 21

Quarterfinals

Bjartmann Stefansson (GRÆ)    21  21
Grigoriy Ralsin (OST) 15 12

Thomas Rogers (BOL) 19 21 21
Luke Ashton (TKT) 21 17 4

Peter P Larry (BRI) 21 21
Craig Robinson (TMB) 16 12

Stanley Parker (TLI) 16 21 9
Robin Harrison (TLI) 21 19 21

Semifinals

Bjartmann Stefansson (GRÆ)    21  21
Thomas Rogers (BOL) 14 17

Peter P Larry (BRI) 18 21 14
Robin Harrison (TLI) 21 17 21

Final

Bjartmann Stefansson (GRÆ)    15  21  16
Robin Harrison (TLI) 21 18 21

Round of 16

Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM)                               21  21
Ole Klopstock/Florentin Kühn (SWR) 13 9

Timothei Waters/Tallak Courtenay (DAR) 21 11 9
Lindon Wolfe/Kingsley Wolfe (ETM) 15 21 21

Peter P Larry/William Johnson (BRI) 16 19
Bahng Soo-Deok/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 21 21

Fedot Stahanov/Artur Stakanov (OST) 21 17 19
Kent Davidson/Luke Ashton (TKT) 11 21 21

Håvard Leonardsson/Elis Florinsson (GRÆ) 21 21
Stefan Grimm/Mike Grimm (KGS) 10 13

Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 21 21
Slade Elder/Richard Dietrich (DAR) 18 19

Aluino Derek Ebrahim Jabillo/Feo Jaheim Leyco Infanta (BEB) 13 21 13
Craig Robinson/Alan Ross (TMB) 21 16 21

Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 19 21
Frank Frankson/Frank Windturbine (KGS) 18 21 11

Quarterfinals

Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM)        19  21  26
Lindon Wolfe/Kingsley Wolfe (ETM) 21 15 24

Bahng Soo-Deok/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 21 21
Fedot Stahanov/Artur Stakanov (OST) 11 17

Håvard Leonardsson/Elis Florinsson (GRÆ) 21 13 13
Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 18 21 21

Craig Robinson/Alan Ross (TMB) 17 16
Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 21

Semifinals

Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM)     21  23  21
Bahng Soo-Deok/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 10 25 10

Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 21 21 21
Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 23 12 14

Final

Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM)     18  21  21
Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 21 18 12

Round of 16

Nindethana (ETM)                             19  21  21
Kamilla Loyola (DAR) 21 16 16

Marina Koikova (OST) 11 16
Sara Cooper (BOL) 21 21

Valerie Otharsdóttir (GRÆ) 20 18
Zula Izquierdo (RWH) 22 21

Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 14 21 14
Susanna Spiess (SWR) 21 19 21

Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 17 21 21
Jasmine Milagrosa Vianzon Gatmaitan (BEB) 21 12 6

Hannah Joo (QUE) 21 18 21
Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 12 21 12

Raven Munoz (ETM) 21 21
Lucinda Williams (TKT) 15 15

Isabelle Allan (TLI) 21 21
Ahlaam al-Salama (EJA) 12 13

Quarterfinals

Nindethana (ETM)            21  21
Sara Cooper (BOL) 11 15

Zula Izquierdo (RWH) 21 12 21
Susanna Spiess (SWR) 16 21 14

Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 14 21 19
Hannah Joo (QUE) 21 12 21

Raven Munoz (ETM) 17 16
Isabelle Allan (TLI) 21 21

Semifinals

Nindethana (ETM)        21  21
Zula Izquierdo (RWH) 15 12

Hannah Joo (QUE) 21 10 9
Isabelle Allan (TLI) 12 21 21

Final

Nindethana (ETM)        21  21
Isabelle Allan (TLI) 14 15

Round of 16

Mekai Bateman/Ina Kubicek (TKT)                                      17  21  21
Vanda Silje/Carlota Ainsworth (DAR) 21 18 15

Raven Munoz/Nindethana (ETM) 21 21
Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH) 14 17

Natasha Rybinski/Lucinda Williams (TKT) 16 20
Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 21 22

Helene Barkley-Milner/Nadine Choo (QUE) 16 21 24
Marie Sayers/Sheena Mitchell (TMB) 21 16 26

Raetha Deveau/Laila Phiona (BRI) 16 21 18
Jasmin Emiliosdóttir/Michelle Gottsveinnsdóttir (GRÆ) 21 19 21

Lisha Price/Sarah Peterson (BOL) 12 16
Sophie Dunn/Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 21 21

Kaela Destiney Sytengco Lagman/Karina Juana Taylor Guevarra (BEB) 21 21
Catherine Zoradottar/Maike Lamb (KGS) 15 13

Kim Ye-Rang/Noh Seung-Hye (QUE) 21 23
Gabriella McKay/Keira Lee (TLI) 19 21

Quarterfinals

Mekai Bateman/Ina Kubicek (TKT)                                      21  18  23
Raven Munoz/Nindethana (ETM) 14 21 21

Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 21 21
Marie Sayers/Sheena Mitchell (TMB) 14 18

Jasmin Emiliosdóttir/Michelle Gottsveinnsdóttir (GRÆ) 14 15
Sophie Dunn/Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 21 21

Kaela Destiney Sytengco Lagman/Karina Juana Taylor Guevarra (BEB) 16 20
Kim Ye-Rang/Noh Seung-Hye (QUE) 21 22

Semifinals

Mekai Bateman/Ina Kubicek (TKT)          22  21  18
Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 24 18 21

Sophie Dunn/Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 17 17
Kim Ye-Rang/Noh Seung-Hye (QUE) 21 21

Final

Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI)    21  21
Kim Ye-Rang/Noh Seung-Hye (QUE) 12 12

Round of 16

Grigoriy Ralsin/Marina Koikova (OST)                                   17  21
Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 21 23

Hrærekur Nicosson/Emma Villysdóttir (GRÆ) 17 7
Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 21 21

Jose Taylor/Karen Evans (BOL) 21 19 20
Jaylene Kesara Tansiongco Vilela/Jaime Timoteo Cangco Talavér (BEB) 12 21 22

Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 22 21
Kim Ye-Rang/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 20 9

Carmita Maela Baal Panlilio/Prince Asa Vianzon Magalona (BEB) 21 21
Craig Robinson/Sophie Dunn (TMB) 19 16

Kent Davidson/Natasha Rybinski (TKT) 7 10
Kingsley Wolfe/Tasha Robson (ETM) 21 21

Tallak Courtenay/Carlota Ainsworth (DAR) 22 12 13
Bianca Gerstenberg/Jonas Müller (SWR) 20 21 21

Valentin Goss/Enni Krantz (SWR) 9 21 16
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 21 18 21

Quarterfinals

Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE)                                    21  16  21
Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 19 21 15

Jaylene Kesara Tansiongco Vilela/Jaime Timoteo Cangco Talavér (BEB) 21 7 19
Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 18 21 21

Carmita Maela Baal Panlilio/Prince Asa Vianzon Magalona (BEB) 18 23 21
Kingsley Wolfe/Tasha Robson (ETM) 21 21 19

Bianca Gerstenberg/Jonas Müller (SWR) 15 11
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 21 21

Semifinals

Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE)                              21  21
Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 10 17

Carmita Maela Baal Panlilio/Prince Asa Vianzon Magalona (BEB) 14 18
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 21 21

Final

Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE)    21  21
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 11 14


Bundoki Masters (Tagbilaran, Berdeng Bundok)

Round of 16

Grigoriy Ralsin (OST)                  16  17
Tim Timey (KGS) 21 21

Oliverios Jaron Cawayan Pavia (BEB) 21 18 21
Kent Davidson (TKT) 17 21 11

Robin Harrison (TLI) 21 21
Craig Robinson (TMB) 19 19

Clay Manwaring (ETM) 21 21
Ollie Maldonado (ETM) 13 9

Arthur Chrisson (GRÆ) 21 20 21
Lawrence Lewis (BOL) 15 22 15

Timothei Waters (DAR) 18 17
Brajan Vasić (ZEL) 21 21

Ryan Baker (HAN) 14 14
Oh Chan-Yeol (QUE) 21 21

Michael Shoelps (RWH) 15 11
Thomas Rogers (BOL) 21 21

Quarterfinals

Tim Timey (KGS)                        21  21
Oliverios Jaron Cawayan Pavia (BEB) 6 12

Robin Harrison (TLI) 19 21 18
Clay Manwaring (ETM) 21 19 21

Arthur Chrisson (GRÆ) 21 21
Brajan Vasić (ZEL) 14 17

Oh Chan-Yeol (QUE) 21 17 14
Thomas Rogers (BOL) 16 21 21

Semifinals

Tim Timey (KGS)          21  21
Clay Manwaring (ETM) 15 17

Arthur Chrisson (GRÆ) 21 21
Thomas Rogers (BOL) 19 10

Final

Tim Timey (KGS)          17  21  21
Arthur Chrisson (GRÆ) 21 14 12

Round of 16

Bahng Soo-Deok/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE)                              13  21  16
Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 21 18 21

Fedot Stahanov/Artur Stakanov (OST) 21 18 16
Carl Jones/Mathews Miller (BOL) 19 21 21

Craig Robinson/Alan Ross (TMB) 21 21
Timothei Waters/Tallak Courtenay (DAR) 15 10

Stefan Grimm/Mike Grimm (KGS) 21 13 14
Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM) 15 21 21

Peter P Larry/William Johnson (BRI) 24 21
Aluino Derek Ebrahim Jabillo/Feo Jaheim Leyco Infanta (BEB) 22 14

Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 14 21
Zac Dickson/Harris Allan (TLI) 17 21 18

Grigoriy Ralsin/Emmanuel Levin (OST) 21 21
Ole Klopstock/Florentin Kühn (SWR) 15 10

Lindon Wolfe/Kingsley Wolfe (ETM) 8 21 19
Leo Samanic/Bahng Soo-Hyeok (QUE) 21 17 21

Quarterfinals

Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR)    21  21
Carl Jones/Mathews Miller (BOL) 18 13

Craig Robinson/Alan Ross (TMB) 21 16
Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM) 23 21

Peter P Larry/William Johnson (BRI) 17 21 10
Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 14 21

Grigoriy Ralsin/Emmanuel Levin (OST) 21 21 13
Leo Samanic/Bahng Soo-Hyeok (QUE) 23 11 21

Semifinals

Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR)     8  15
Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM) 21 21

Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 26
Leo Samanic/Bahng Soo-Hyeok (QUE) 12 24

Final

Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM)    21  16  21
Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 16 21 13

Round of 16

Nindethana (ETM)                            21  21
Marjaana Sulaimaansdóttir al-Farra (GRÆ) 12 16

Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 23 8 21
Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 21 21 7

Sara Cooper (BOL) 13 16
Darcie McLeod (TLI) 21 21

Kassidy Lizbeth Talaugon Sandoval (BEB) 21 22
Noni Nyawira (MLK) 17 20

Raven Munoz (ETM) 21 17 14
Susanna Spiess (SWR) 11 21 21

Sophie Dunn (TMB) 21 21
Raetha Deveau (BRI) 19 14

Hannah Joo (QUE) 21 21
Vanda Silje (DAR) 15 15

Isabelle Allan (TLI) 21 21
Ahlaam al-Salama (EJA) 16 15

Quarterfinals

Nindethana (ETM)                           25  18  21
Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 23 21 10

Darcie McLeod (TLI) 22 21
Kassidy Lizbeth Talaugon Sandoval (BEB) 20 19

Susanna Spiess (SWR) 15 21 19
Sophie Dunn (TMB) 21 18 21

Hannah Joo (QUE) 18 21 17
Isabelle Allan (TLI) 21 17 21

Semifinals

Nindethana (ETM)        21  21
Darcie McLeod (TLI) 15 9

Sophie Dunn (TMB) 18 22
Isabelle Allan (TLI) 21 24

Final

Nindethana (ETM)        15  21  18
Isabelle Allan (TLI) 21 13 21

Round of 16

Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH)                                      21  15  13
Kaela Destiney Sytengco Lagman/Karina Juana Taylor Guevarra (BEB) 16 21 21

Katherine Baker/Janice Hill (BOL) 18 15
Lisha Price/Sarah Peterson (BOL) 21 21

Celestia Ledyakhova/Marina Koikova (OST) 21 13 25
Kim Ye-Rang/Noh Seung-Hye (QUE) 19 21 23

Marie Sayers/Sheena Mitchell (TMB) 19 21 21
Tasha Robson/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 21 19 16

Gabriella McKay/Keira Lee (TLI) 21 17 21
Helene Barkley-Milner/Nadine Choo (QUE) 15 21 17

Jewel Ashton Camara Baylosis/Casandra Aliza Smith Manalo (BEB) 20 12
Emma Villysdóttir/Isabel Liamsdóttir (GRÆ) 22 21

Minna Bormann/Ester Kahl (SWR) 14 21 23
Sophie Dunn/Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 21 10 21

Natasha Rybinski/Lucinda Williams (TKT) 10 21 18
Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 21 15 21

Quarterfinals

Kaela Destiney Sytengco Lagman/Karina Juana Taylor Guevarra (BEB)    20  21  21
Lisha Price/Sarah Peterson (BOL) 22 15 18

Celestia Ledyakhova/Marina Koikova (OST) 21 21
Marie Sayers/Sheena Mitchell (TMB) 14 6

Gabriella McKay/Keira Lee (TLI) 21 21 21
Emma Villysdóttir/Isabel Liamsdóttir (GRÆ) 13 23 19

Minna Bormann/Ester Kahl (SWR) 24 13 23
Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 22 21 21

Semifinals

Kaela Destiney Sytengco Lagman/Karina Juana Taylor Guevarra (BEB)    21  23
Celestia Ledyakhova/Marina Koikova (OST) 18 21

Gabriella McKay/Keira Lee (TLI) 21 22
Minna Bormann/Ester Kahl (SWR) 15 20

Final

Kaela Destiney Sytengco Lagman/Karina Juana Taylor Guevarra (BEB)    21  21
Gabriella McKay/Keira Lee (TLI) 17 14

Round of 16

Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM)            15  21  19
Grigoriy Ralsin/Marina Koikova (OST) 21 18 21

Hrærekur Nicosson/Emma Villysdóttir (GRÆ) 21 18 13
Bianca Gerstenberg/Jonas Müller (SWR) 19 21 21

Jose Taylor/Karen Evans (BOL) 21 12 15
Emmanuel Levin/Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 15 21 21

Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI) 21 21
Valentin Goss/Enni Krantz (SWR) 17 13

Tallak Courtenay/Carlota Ainsworth (DAR) 18 21 18
Kent Davidson/Natasha Rybinski (TKT) 21 15 21

Craig Robinson/Sophie Dunn (TMB) 21 18 21
Jerry Russel/Patricia Evans (BOL) 18 21 11

Kim Ye-Rang/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 19 21 23
Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 21 14 21

Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 24 21
Luke Ashton/Lucinda Williams (TKT) 22 18

Quarterfinals

Grigoriy Ralsin/Marina Koikova (OST)        21  10  14
Bianca Gerstenberg/Jonas Müller (SWR) 16 21 21

Emmanuel Levin/Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 21 21 18
Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI) 15 23 21

Kent Davidson/Natasha Rybinski (TKT) 17 8
Craig Robinson/Sophie Dunn (TMB) 21 21

Kim Ye-Rang/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 21 16 16
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 13 21 21

Semifinals

Bianca Gerstenberg/Jonas Müller (SWR)     8  14
Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI) 21 21

Craig Robinson/Sophie Dunn (TMB) 17 11
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 21 21

Final

Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI)    21  18  16
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 14 21 21


Hannasean Masters (Pearl City, Hannasea)

Round of 16

Thomas Rogers (BOL)       21  21
Grigoriy Ralsin (OST) 13 17

Stanley Parker (TLI) 21 21
Alfred Steinbach (SWR) 19 11

Lawrence Lewis (BOL) 16 19
Heo Choong-Moo (QUE) 21 21

Ollie Maldonado (ETM) 17 15
Timothei Waters (DAR) 21 21

Mike Hacktown (KGS) 10 18
Robin Harrison (TLI) 21 21

Slade Elder (DAR) 21 18 21
Luke Ashton (TKT) 12 21 17

Clay Manwaring (ETM) 18 21 21
Ryan Baker (HAN) 21 15 12

Oh Chan-Yeol (QUE) 21 21
Peter P Larry (BRI) 19 17

Quarterfinals

Thomas Rogers (BOL)      18  21  17
Stanley Parker (TLI) 21 15 21

Heo Choong-Moo (QUE) 21 17 21
Timothei Waters (DAR) 13 21 16

Robin Harrison (TLI) 21 21
Slade Elder (DAR) 17 16

Clay Manwaring (ETM) 21 21 12
Oh Chan-Yeol (QUE) 23 19 21

Semifinals

Thomas Rogers (BOL)     15  21  16
Heo Choong-Moo (QUE) 21 11 21

Robin Harrison (TLI) 18 21 21
Oh Chan-Yeol (QUE) 21 16 9

Final

Heo Choong-Moo (QUE)    21  10  13
Robin Harrison (TLI) 18 21 21

Round of 16

Aluino Derek Ebrahim Jabillo/Feo Jaheim Leyco Infanta (BEB)        21  20  21
Quince Thompson/Michael Shoelps (RWH) 17 22 17

Jesse Ramirez/George Murphy (BOL) 5 20
Grigoriy Ralsin/Emmanuel Levin (OST) 21 22

Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 21 21
Roman Eduardo Macaspac Bernal/Donte Dacio Kulubot Salinas (BEB) 14 19

Peter P Larry/William Johnson (BRI) 12 21 21
Martin Coleraine/Theo Donaldson (TMB) 21 15 13

Kent Davidson/Luke Ashton (TKT) 21 21
Timothei Waters/Tallak Courtenay (DAR) 19 14

Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM) 9 20
Frank Frankson/Frank Windturbine (KGS) 21 22

Bahng Soo-Deok/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 14 14
Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 21

Leo Samanic/Bahng Soo-Hyeok (QUE) 21 18 21
Ole Klopstock/Florentin Kühn (SWR) 15 21 11

Quarterfinals

Aluino Derek Ebrahim Jabillo/Feo Jaheim Leyco Infanta (BEB)    10  13
Grigoriy Ralsin/Emmanuel Levin (OST) 21 21

Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 21 19 21
Peter P Larry/William Johnson (BRI) 13 21 19

Kent Davidson/Luke Ashton (TKT) 18 21 23
Frank Frankson/Frank Windturbine (KGS) 21 14 21

Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 19 21
Leo Samanic/Bahng Soo-Hyeok (QUE) 17 21 18

Semifinals

Grigoriy Ralsin/Emmanuel Levin (OST)     19  21  16
Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 21 16 21

Kent Davidson/Luke Ashton (TKT) 11 16
Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 21

Final

Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR)    21  21
Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 19 10

Round of 16

Vanda Silje (DAR)                            16  21  21
Sara Cooper (BOL) 21 12 18

Lucinda Williams (TKT) 14 10
Kassidy Lizbeth Talaugon Sandoval (BEB) 21 21

Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 21 21
Hannah Joo (QUE) 14 14

Nindethana (ETM) 21 21
Marina Koikova (OST) 10 10

Darcie McLeod (TLI) 21 21
Valerie Otharsdóttir (GRÆ) 19 11

Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 21 21
Mina Augsberger (SWR) 14 14

Jasmine Milagrosa Vianzon Gatmaitan (BEB) 21 21
Maya Straus (HYK) 17 13

Raven Munoz (ETM) 19 14
Laura Long (BOL) 21 21

Quarterfinals

Vanda Silje (DAR)                            18  19
Kassidy Lizbeth Talaugon Sandoval (BEB) 21 21

Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 25 21
Nindethana (ETM) 23 16

Darcie McLeod (TLI) 10 23 21
Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 21 21 10

Jasmine Milagrosa Vianzon Gatmaitan (BEB) 22 21
Laura Long (BOL) 20 10

Semifinals

Kassidy Lizbeth Talaugon Sandoval (BEB)      21  21
Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 19 19

Darcie McLeod (TLI) 21 21
Jasmine Milagrosa Vianzon Gatmaitan (BEB) 12 13

Final

Kassidy Lizbeth Talaugon Sandoval (BEB)    11  24  11
Darcie McLeod (TLI) 21 22 21

Round of 16

Katherine Baker/Janice Hill (BOL)                                 21  16  12
Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH) 18 21 21

Natasha Rybinski/Lucinda Williams (TKT) 21 21
Kamilla Loyola/Kristy Vicario (DAR) 17 8

Helene Barkley-Milner/Nadine Choo (QUE) 21 21
Mekai Bateman/Ina Kubicek (TKT) 14 12

Minna Bormann/Ester Kahl (SWR) 18 13
Jewel Ashton Camara Baylosis/Casandra Aliza Smith Manalo (BEB) 21 21

Vanda Silje/Carlota Ainsworth (DAR) 21 15 21
Gabriella McKay/Keira Lee (TLI) 13 21 18

Bianca Gerstenberg/Enni Krantz (SWR) 21 21
Janna Jana/Jutta Lastman (KGS) 16 13

Raetha Deveau/Laila Phiona (BRI) 15 16
Marie Sayers/Sheena Mitchell (TMB) 21 21

Raven Munoz/Nindethana (ETM) 21 14 21
Celestia Ledyakhova/Marina Koikova (OST) 14 21 16

Quarterfinals

Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH)                                   21  21
Natasha Rybinski/Lucinda Williams (TKT) 18 15

Helene Barkley-Milner/Nadine Choo (QUE) 21 21
Jewel Ashton Camara Baylosis/Casandra Aliza Smith Manalo (BEB) 19 14

Vanda Silje/Carlota Ainsworth (DAR) 21 21 5
Bianca Gerstenberg/Enni Krantz (SWR) 13 23 21

Marie Sayers/Sheena Mitchell (TMB) 23 21
Raven Munoz/Nindethana (ETM) 21 16

Semifinals

Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH)            21  12  15
Helene Barkley-Milner/Nadine Choo (QUE) 18 21 21

Bianca Gerstenberg/Enni Krantz (SWR) 21 21
Marie Sayers/Sheena Mitchell (TMB) 19 17

Final

Helene Barkley-Milner/Nadine Choo (QUE)    21  21
Bianca Gerstenberg/Enni Krantz (SWR) 17 10

Round of 16

Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI)                                  18  21  24
Emmanuel Levin/Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 21 18 26

Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI) 21 21
Petra Muller/Carsten Muller (KGS) 12 15

Alan Ross/Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 14 21 19
Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 21 18 21

Kent Davidson/Natasha Rybinski (TKT) 13 14
Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 21 21

Bianca Gerstenberg/Jonas Müller (SWR) 19 19
Valentin Goss/Enni Krantz (SWR) 21 21

Kim Ye-Rang/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 21 21
Jose Taylor/Karen Evans (BOL) 14 14

Craig Robinson/Sophie Dunn (TMB) 12 21 16
Carmita Maela Baal Panlilio/Prince Asa Vianzon Magalona (BEB) 21 12 21

Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 21 15 21
Grigoriy Ralsin/Marina Koikova (OST) 17 21 19

Quarterfinals

Emmanuel Levin/Celestia Ledyakhova (OST)                         13  22
Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI) 21 24

Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 13 21 23
Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 21 16 21

Valentin Goss/Enni Krantz (SWR) 21 13 21
Kim Ye-Rang/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 14 21 19

Carmita Maela Baal Panlilio/Prince Asa Vianzon Magalona (BEB) 21 21
Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 18 19

Semifinals

Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI)                                19  21  21
Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 21 11 17

Valentin Goss/Enni Krantz (SWR) 21 21
Carmita Maela Baal Panlilio/Prince Asa Vianzon Magalona (BEB) 17 18

Final

Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI)    10  19
Valentin Goss/Enni Krantz (SWR) 21 21


Græntfjall Open (Háttmark, Græntfjall)

Round of 16

Robin Harrison (TLI)          21  21
Grigoriy Ralsin (OST) 17 14

Peter P Larry (BRI) 21 14 22
Luke Ashton (TKT) 17 21 20

Ollie Maldonado (ETM) 24 23
Heo Choong-Moo (QUE) 22 21

Emmanuil Levin (OST) 19 21 22
Clay Manwaring (ETM) 21 19 24

Mike Hacktown (KGS) 11 15
Arthur Chrisson (GRÆ) 21 21

Craig Robinson (TMB) 24 21
Alfred Steinbach (SWR) 22 14

Michael Shoelps (RWH) 14 22 20
Oh Chan-Yeol (QUE) 21 20 22

Stanley Parker (TLI) 14 14
Bjartmann Stefansson (GRÆ) 21 21

Quarterfinals

Robin Harrison (TLI)          19  21  24
Peter P Larry (BRI) 21 18 22

Ollie Maldonado (ETM) 21 16 21
Clay Manwaring (ETM) 11 21 13

Arthur Chrisson (GRÆ) 19 21 15
Craig Robinson (TMB) 21 18 21

Oh Chan-Yeol (QUE) 17 21 18
Bjartmann Stefansson (GRÆ) 21 14 21

Semifinals

Robin Harrison (TLI)          21  21
Ollie Maldonado (ETM) 18 17

Craig Robinson (TMB) 21 10 18
Bjartmann Stefansson (GRÆ) 17 21 21

Final

Robin Harrison (TLI)          21  21
Bjartmann Stefansson (GRÆ) 17 7

Round of 16

Grigoriy Ralsin/Emmanuel Levin (OST)      16   8
Bahng Soo-Deok/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 21 21

Kai Ciona/Conner Jereon (TKT) 21 21
Kent Davidson/Luke Ashton (TKT) 10 17

Leo Samanic/Bahng Soo-Hyeok (QUE) 21 21
Zac Dickson/Harris Allan (TLI) 19 17

Craig Robinson/Alan Ross (TMB) 21 21
Fedot Stahanov/Artur Stakanov (OST) 12 17

Jesse Ramirez/George Murphy (BOL) 21 22
Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM) 16 20

Timothei Waters/Tallak Courtenay (DAR) 21 21
Martin Coleraine/Theo Donaldson (TMB) 16 19

Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 23 11
Slade Elder/Richard Dietrich (DAR) 13 25 21

Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 22 21
Lindon Wolfe/Kingsley Wolfe (ETM) 20 15

Quarterfinals

Bahng Soo-Deok/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE)         18  21  18
Kai Ciona/Conner Jereon (TKT) 21 16 21

Leo Samanic/Bahng Soo-Hyeok (QUE) 21 21
Craig Robinson/Alan Ross (TMB) 17 14

Jesse Ramirez/George Murphy (BOL) 15 25
Timothei Waters/Tallak Courtenay (DAR) 21 27

Slade Elder/Richard Dietrich (DAR) 21 21 16
Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 23 13 21

Semifinals

Kai Ciona/Conner Jereon (TKT)             17  14
Leo Samanic/Bahng Soo-Hyeok (QUE) 21 21

Timothei Waters/Tallak Courtenay (DAR) 21 21
Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 18 14

Final

Leo Samanic/Bahng Soo-Hyeok (QUE)         19  18
Timothei Waters/Tallak Courtenay (DAR) 21 21

Round of 16

Vanda Silje (DAR)                            12  15
Darcie McLeod (TLI) 21 21

Nindethana (ETM) 11 13
Isabelle Allan (TLI) 21 21

Raetha Deveau (BRI) 20 21 21
Marina Koikova (OST) 22 13 17

Kamilla Loyola (DAR) 21 17 9
Jasmine Milagrosa Vianzon Gatmaitan (BEB) 15 21 21

Laura Long (BOL) 13 21 17
Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 21 19 21

Valerie Otharsdóttir (GRÆ) 24 11
Hannah Joo (QUE) 26 21

Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 16 21 21
Sara Cooper (BOL) 21 19 15

Isabela Arrabal Morterero (MVE) 8 11
Lucinda Williams (TKT) 21 21

Quarterfinals

Darcie McLeod (TLI)                          17  18
Isabelle Allan (TLI) 21 21

Raetha Deveau (BRI) 12 18
Jasmine Milagrosa Vianzon Gatmaitan (BEB) 21 21

Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 25 21
Hannah Joo (QUE) 23 13

Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 21 21
Lucinda Williams (TKT) 15 14

Semifinals

Isabelle Allan (TLI)                         21  21
Jasmine Milagrosa Vianzon Gatmaitan (BEB) 18 9

Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 17 19
Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 21 21

Final

Isabelle Allan (TLI)    21  21
Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 18 14

Round of 16

Raetha Deveau/Laila Phiona (BRI)                                     13  14
Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 21 21

Natasha Rybinski/Lucinda Williams (TKT) 12 21 21
Janna Jana/Jutta Lastman (KGS) 21 9 15

Tasha Robson/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 21 21
Marie Sayers/Sheena Mitchell (TMB) 14 13

Kaela Destiney Sytengco Lagman/Karina Juana Taylor Guevarra (BEB) 27 21 21
Bianca Gerstenberg/Enni Krantz (SWR) 29 10 16

Gabriella McKay/Keira Lee (TLI) 19 19
Jasmin Emiliosdóttir/Michelle Gottsveinnsdóttir (GRÆ) 21 21

Emma Villysdóttir/Isabel Liamsdóttir (GRÆ) 17 21 14
Helene Barkley-Milner/Nadine Choo (QUE) 21 18 21

Raven Munoz/Nindethana (ETM) 15 11
Kim Ye-Rang/Noh Seung-Hye (QUE) 21 21

Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH) 21 21
Mekai Bateman/Ina Kubicek (TKT) 19 15

Quarterfinals

Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI)                                21  16  21
Natasha Rybinski/Lucinda Williams (TKT) 18 21 10

Tasha Robson/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 22 21
Kaela Destiney Sytengco Lagman/Karina Juana Taylor Guevarra (BEB) 20 15

Jasmin Emiliosdóttir/Michelle Gottsveinnsdóttir (GRÆ) 21 7 26
Helene Barkley-Milner/Nadine Choo (QUE) 8 21 24

Kim Ye-Rang/Noh Seung-Hye (QUE) 21 18 21
Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH) 16 21 18

Semifinals

Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI)                    21  21
Tasha Robson/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 18 17

Jasmin Emiliosdóttir/Michelle Gottsveinnsdóttir (GRÆ) 18 17
Kim Ye-Rang/Noh Seung-Hye (QUE) 21 21

Final

Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI)    16  19
Kim Ye-Rang/Noh Seung-Hye (QUE) 21 21

Round of 16

Noah Florinsson/Michelle Gottsveinnsdóttir (GRÆ)                       17  21  19
Hrærekur Nicosson/Emma Villysdóttir (GRÆ) 21 17 21

Kingsley Wolfe/Tasha Robson (ETM) 21 15 21
Marcus Wastebin/Jutta Lastman (KGS) 19 21 15

Jerry Russel/Patricia Evans (BOL) 23 18 22
Emmanuel Levin/Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 21 21 20

Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 21 13 21
Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI) 17 21 19

Craig Robinson/Sophie Dunn (TMB) 21 11 21
Jose Taylor/Karen Evans (BOL) 15 21 18

Alan Ross/Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 12 28 13
Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 21 26 21

Richard Dietrich/Kristy Vicario (DAR) 8 21 12
Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 21 19 21

Jaylene Kesara Tansiongco Vilela/Jaime Timoteo Cangco Talavér (BEB) 21 21 13
Kim Ye-Rang/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 19 23 21

Quarterfinals

Hrærekur Nicosson/Emma Villysdóttir (GRÆ)    21  21
Kingsley Wolfe/Tasha Robson (ETM) 13 15

Jerry Russel/Patricia Evans (BOL) 10 15
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 21 21

Craig Robinson/Sophie Dunn (TMB) 11 21 6
Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 21 19 21

Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 21 9 21
Kim Ye-Rang/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 15 21 19

Semifinals

Hrærekur Nicosson/Emma Villysdóttir (GRÆ)    21  21
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 19 19

Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 21 21
Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 13 18

Final

Hrærekur Nicosson/Emma Villysdóttir (GRÆ)    13  21  21
Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 21 19 12


AOPIC Open (Jabal Akhdar City, Jabal Akhdar)

Round of 16

Peter P Larry (BRI)                            21  21
Emmanuil Levin (OST) 8 14

Mike Hacktown (KGS) 21 16 18
Timothei Waters (DAR) 17 21 21

Clay Manwaring (ETM) 21 21
Oh Chan-Yeol (QUE) 13 15

Lawrence Lewis (BOL) 21 21
Abdul Quddoos al-Dia (EJA) 13 11

Rafael Alexandro Pinagdamutan Montano (BEB) 16 6
Craig Robinson (TMB) 21 21

Robin Harrison (TLI) 21 21
Slade Elder (DAR) 15 11

Thomas Rogers (BOL) 21 16 13
Ollie Maldonado (ETM) 17 21 21

Barrak Jacobs (HYK) 16 12
Kent Davidson (TKT) 21 21

Quarterfinals

Peter P Larry (BRI)      21  17  21
Timothei Waters (DAR) 14 21 13

Clay Manwaring (ETM) 19 14
Lawrence Lewis (BOL) 21 21

Craig Robinson (TMB) 22 21 16
Robin Harrison (TLI) 24 13 21

Ollie Maldonado (ETM) 21 21
Kent Davidson (TKT) 17 11

Semifinals

Peter P Larry (BRI)      21  21
Lawrence Lewis (BOL) 18 12

Robin Harrison (TLI) 21 23
Ollie Maldonado (ETM) 14 21

Final

Peter P Larry (BRI)     21  11  14
Robin Harrison (TLI) 15 21 21

Round of 16

Error 404, results not found! Nothing sinister, just a stupid error on my part meant I advanced the winners before saving the results.

Quarterfinals

Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM)      21  21
Bahng Soo-Deok/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 14 16

Timothei Waters/Tallak Courtenay (DAR) 21 16 21
Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 18 21 19

Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 21
Grigoriy Ralsin/Emmanuel Levin (OST) 9 10

Peter P Larry/William Johnson (BRI) 11 20
Craig Robinson/Alan Ross (TMB) 21 22

Semifinals

Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM)      15  21  21
Timothei Waters/Tallak Courtenay (DAR) 21 16 14

Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 24
Craig Robinson/Alan Ross (TMB) 19 22

Final

Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM)    19  21  16
Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 16 21

Round of 16

Raetha Deveau (BRI)                 9  17
Nindethana (ETM) 21 21

Hannah Joo (QUE) 19 21 26
Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 21 11 24

Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 17 20
Zula Izquierdo (RWH) 21 22

Sophie Dunn (TMB) 21 16 12
Isabelle Allan (TLI) 15 21 21

Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 21 21
Darcie McLeod (TLI) 11 16

Laura Long (BOL) 18 17
Raven Munoz (ETM) 21 21

Petra Muller (KGS) 21 21
Susanna Spiess (SWR) 18 18

Isabela Arrabal Morterero (MVE) 18 15
Vanda Silje (DAR) 21 21

Quarterfinals

Nindethana (ETM)             21  21
Hannah Joo (QUE) 17 12

Zula Izquierdo (RWH) 21 21
Isabelle Allan (TLI) 17 18

Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 12 19
Raven Munoz (ETM) 21 21

Petra Muller (KGS) 18 21 21
Vanda Silje (DAR) 21 15 12

Semifinals

Nindethana (ETM)        21  21
Zula Izquierdo (RWH) 9 11

Raven Munoz (ETM) 15 21 15
Petra Muller (KGS) 21 19 21

Final

Nindethana (ETM)        18  21
Petra Muller (KGS) 21 23

Round of 16

Helene Barkley-Milner/Nadine Choo (QUE)                              12  14
Tasha Robson/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 21 21

Celestia Ledyakhova/Marina Koikova (OST) 21 11 21
Marie Sayers/Sheena Mitchell (TMB) 18 21 15

Jasmin Emiliosdóttir/Michelle Gottsveinnsdóttir (GRÆ) 12 21 21
Sophie Dunn/Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 21 19 13

Janna Jana/Jutta Lastman (KGS) 18 21 17
Raven Munoz/Nindethana (ETM) 21 18 21

Jewel Ashton Camara Baylosis/Casandra Aliza Smith Manalo (BEB) 21 13 17
Kim Ye-Rang/Noh Seung-Hye (QUE) 19 21 21

Emma Villysdóttir/Isabel Liamsdóttir (GRÆ) 15 21 14
Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 21 15 21

Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH) 21 20 21
Natasha Rybinski/Lucinda Williams (TKT) 13 22 19

Kaela Destiney Sytengco Lagman/Karina Juana Taylor Guevarra (BEB) 14 18
Gabriella McKay/Keira Lee (TLI) 21 21

Quarterfinals

Tasha Robson/Kay Keothavong (ETM)                        13  22
Celestia Ledyakhova/Marina Koikova (OST) 21 24

Jasmin Emiliosdóttir/Michelle Gottsveinnsdóttir (GRÆ) 19 21 9
Raven Munoz/Nindethana (ETM) 21 18 21

Kim Ye-Rang/Noh Seung-Hye (QUE) 12 14
Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 21 21

Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH) 21 21
Gabriella McKay/Keira Lee (TLI) 19 19

Semifinals

Celestia Ledyakhova/Marina Koikova (OST)    21  23
Raven Munoz/Nindethana (ETM) 17 21

Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 21 21
Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH) 16 10

Final

Celestia Ledyakhova/Marina Koikova (OST)     8  21  21
Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 21 19 18

Round of 16

Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM)                                21  21
Craig Robinson/Sophie Dunn (TMB) 9 5

Alan Ross/Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 21 18 21
Richard Dietrich/Kristy Vicario (DAR) 12 21 15

Grigoriy Ralsin/Marina Koikova (OST) 14 23 20
Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 21 21 22

Carmita Maela Baal Panlilio/Prince Asa Vianzon Magalona (BEB) 11 21 9
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 21 18 21

Hrærekur Nicosson/Emma Villysdóttir (GRÆ) 12 23
Emmanuel Levin/Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 21 25

Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 21 21
Jose Taylor/Karen Evans (BOL) 15 10

Jerry Russel/Patricia Evans (BOL) 17 21 21
Kingsley Wolfe/Tasha Robson (ETM) 21 18 18

Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI) 21 21
Kim Ye-Rang/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 17 17

Quarterfinals

Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM)           21  21
Alan Ross/Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 19 15

Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 24 22
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 22 20

Emmanuel Levin/Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 21 19 16
Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 11 21 21

Jerry Russel/Patricia Evans (BOL) 18 16
Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI) 21 21

Semifinals

Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM)      21  23  11
Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 17 25 21

Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 20 23 21
Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI) 22 21 18

Final

Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI)      21  22
Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 11 20


ÜBS Masters (Uberwienerschnitzelstadt am Ruhntuhnkuhn, Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland)

Round of 16

Grigoriy Ralsin (OST)                  15  11
Bjartmann Stefansson (GRÆ) 21 21

Msia Mĩchuki (MLK) 9 14
Oh Chan-Yeol (QUE) 21 21

Thomas Rogers (BOL) 21 21
Kent Davidson (TKT) 14 19

Ollie Maldonado (ETM) 21 13 21
Alan Ross (TMB) 16 21 15

Luke Ashton (TKT) 8 13
Tim Timey (KGS) 21 21

Ryan Baker (HAN) 18 13
Robin Harrison (TLI) 21 21

Peter P Larry (BRI) 18 21 21
Oliverios Jaron Cawayan Pavia (BEB) 21 14 15

Craig Robinson (TMB) 21 17 21
Clay Manwaring (ETM) 19 21 19

Quarterfinals

Bjartmann Stefansson (GRÆ)    20  14
Oh Chan-Yeol (QUE) 22 21

Thomas Rogers (BOL) 21 21
Ollie Maldonado (ETM) 16 15

Tim Timey (KGS) 12 21 21
Robin Harrison (TLI) 21 14 15

Peter P Larry (BRI) 21 17 29
Craig Robinson (TMB) 13 21 30

Semifinals

Oh Chan-Yeol (QUE)      14  16
Thomas Rogers (BOL) 21 21

Tim Timey (KGS) 21 21
Craig Robinson (TMB) 9 9

Final

Thomas Rogers (BOL)     11  22
Tim Timey (KGS) 21 24

Round of 16

Grigoriy Ralsin/Emmanuel Levin (OST)      14  11
Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR) 21 21

Kai Ciona/Conner Jereon (TKT) 19 11
Jesse Ramirez/George Murphy (BOL) 21 21

Martin Coleraine/Theo Donaldson (TMB) 13 19
Lindon Wolfe/Kingsley Wolfe (ETM) 21 21

Quince Thompson/Michael Shoelps (RWH) 18 5
Peter P Larry/William Johnson (BRI) 21 21

Zac Dickson/Harris Allan (TLI) 19 21 21
Ole Klopstock/Florentin Kühn (SWR) 21 18 11

Leo Samanic/Bahng Soo-Hyeok (QUE) 15 21 18
Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM) 21 17 21

Fedot Stahanov/Artur Stakanov (OST) 18 22 12
Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 21 20 21

Bahng Soo-Deok/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 21 21
Timothei Waters/Tallak Courtenay (DAR) 16 19

Quarterfinals

Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR)    21  21
Jesse Ramirez/George Murphy (BOL) 15 15

Lindon Wolfe/Kingsley Wolfe (ETM) 16 24 17
Peter P Larry/William Johnson (BRI) 21 22 21

Zac Dickson/Harris Allan (TLI) 15 21 15
Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM) 21 14 21

Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI) 18 21 16
Bahng Soo-Deok/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 21 19 21

Semifinals

Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR)    15  21  21
Peter P Larry/William Johnson (BRI) 21 16 16

Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM) 21 21
Bahng Soo-Deok/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 9 11

Final

Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR)    12  14
Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM) 21 21

Round of 16

Maya Straus (HYK)                           10  22   4
Isabelle Allan (TLI) 21 20 21

Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 13 21 21
Sara Cooper (BOL) 21 18 16

Isabela Arrabal Morterero (MVE) 20 24 15
Petra Muller (KGS) 22 22 21

Raven Munoz (ETM) 23 22 21
Hannah Joo (QUE) 21 24 15

Raetha Deveau (BRI) 21 21
Marjaana Sulaimaansdóttir al-Farra (GRÆ) 18 19

Natasha Rybinski (TKT) 21 11 19
Zula Izquierdo (RWH) 12 21 21

Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 17 21 21
Lucinda Williams (TKT) 21 15 10

Nindethana (ETM) 21 21
Sophie Dunn (TMB) 7 12

Quarterfinals

Isabelle Allan (TLI)         19   9
Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 21 21

Petra Muller (KGS) 21 10 12
Raven Munoz (ETM) 19 21 21

Raetha Deveau (BRI) 21 13
Zula Izquierdo (RWH) 23 21

Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 21 21
Nindethana (ETM) 19 17

Semifinals

Celestia Ledyakhova (OST)    17  21  20
Raven Munoz (ETM) 21 13 22

Zula Izquierdo (RWH) 19 21 21
Kim Ye-Rang (QUE) 21 17 16

Final

Raven Munoz (ETM)       21  21
Zula Izquierdo (RWH) 18 19

Round of 16

Celestia Ledyakhova/Marina Koikova (OST)                          21  23  16
Bianca Gerstenberg/Enni Krantz (SWR) 13 25 21

Minna Bormann/Ester Kahl (SWR) 21 21
Katherine Baker/Janice Hill (BOL) 12 14

Emma Villysdóttir/Isabel Liamsdóttir (GRÆ) 21 21
Vanda Silje/Carlota Ainsworth (DAR) 14 17

Raven Munoz/Nindethana (ETM) 21 21
Marie Sayers/Sheena Mitchell (TMB) 16 14

Natasha Rybinski/Lucinda Williams (TKT) 19 18
Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 21 21

Helene Barkley-Milner/Nadine Choo (QUE) 24 21
Jasmin Emiliosdóttir/Michelle Gottsveinnsdóttir (GRÆ) 22 7

Gabriella McKay/Keira Lee (TLI) 21 15 19
Jewel Ashton Camara Baylosis/Casandra Aliza Smith Manalo (BEB) 15 21 21

Tasha Robson/Kay Keothavong (ETM) 13 17
Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH) 21 21

Quarterfinals

Bianca Gerstenberg/Enni Krantz (SWR)                              21  18  21
Minna Bormann/Ester Kahl (SWR) 15 21 14

Emma Villysdóttir/Isabel Liamsdóttir (GRÆ) 19 21 27
Raven Munoz/Nindethana (ETM) 21 16 25

Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 21 21
Helene Barkley-Milner/Nadine Choo (QUE) 17 19

Jewel Ashton Camara Baylosis/Casandra Aliza Smith Manalo (BEB) 17 12
Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH) 21 21

Semifinals

Bianca Gerstenberg/Enni Krantz (SWR)          15  13
Emma Villysdóttir/Isabel Liamsdóttir (GRÆ) 21 21

Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 21 21
Zula Izquierdo/Mandy Tall (RWH) 19 18

Final

Emma Villysdóttir/Isabel Liamsdóttir (GRÆ)    21  18  17
Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI) 8 21 21

Round of 16

Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM)                                21  21
Craig Robinson/Sophie Dunn (TMB) 9 5

Alan Ross/Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 21 18 21
Richard Dietrich/Kristy Vicario (DAR) 12 21 15

Grigoriy Ralsin/Marina Koikova (OST) 14 23 20
Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 21 21 22

Carmita Maela Baal Panlilio/Prince Asa Vianzon Magalona (BEB) 11 21 9
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 21 18 21

Hrærekur Nicosson/Emma Villysdóttir (GRÆ) 12 23
Emmanuel Levin/Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 21 25

Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 21 21
Jose Taylor/Karen Evans (BOL) 15 10

Jerry Russel/Patricia Evans (BOL) 17 21 21
Kingsley Wolfe/Tasha Robson (ETM) 21 18 18

Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI) 21 21
Kim Ye-Rang/Shim Ye-Gang (QUE) 17 17

Quarterfinals

Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM)           21  21
Alan Ross/Kimberly Richmonds (TMB) 19 15

Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 24 22
Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI) 22 20

Emmanuel Levin/Celestia Ledyakhova (OST) 21 19 16
Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 11 21 21

Jerry Russel/Patricia Evans (BOL) 18 16
Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI) 21 21

Semifinals

Lindon Wolfe/Kay Keothavong (ETM)      21  23  11
Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI) 17 25 21

Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 20 23 21
Gareth Bates/Didi Summerton (KNI) 22 21 18

Final

Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI)      21  22
Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE) 11 20


Plans to hold a World Tour Finals were sadly scuppered by the 60,000 character limit.

ChampionsMen’s singlesMen’s doublesWomen’s singlesWomen’s doublesMixed doubles
Schutzenphalian OpenRobin Harrison (TLI)Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM)Nindethana (ETM)Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI)Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE)
Bundoki MastersTim Timey (KGS)Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM)Isabelle Allan (TLI)Kaela Destiney Sytengco Lagman/Karina Juana Taylor Guevarra (BEB)Darcie MacLeod/Emmy Jones (TLI)
Hannasean MastersRobin Harrison (TLI)Alfred Steinbach/Peter Bethmann (SWR)Darcie McLeod (TLI)Helene Barkley-Milner/Nadine Choo (QUE)Valentin Goss/Enni Krantz (SWR)
Græntfjall OpenRobin Harrison (TLI)Timothei Waters/Tallak Courtenay (DAR)Isabelle Allan (TLI)Kim Ye-Rang/Noh Seung-Hye (QUE)Hrærekur Nicosson/Emma Villysdóttir (GRÆ)
AOPIC OpenRobin Harrison (TLI)Robin Harrison/Joey Milne (TLI)Petra Muller (KGS)Celestia Ledyakhova/Marina Koikova (OST)Stanley Parker/Robin McCann (TLI)
ÜBS MastersTim Timey (KGS)Ollie Maldonado/Clay Manwaring (ETM)Raven Munoz (ETM)Isabelle Allan/Felicity Wallace (TLI)Bahng Soo-Hyeok/Chae Seung-Ah (QUE)

PostPosted: Sun Aug 08, 2021 7:03 pm
by Graintfjall
GS SuperSport+ Fleet Racing Series

The other sport I was going to scorinate today was sailing but, full disclosure, my plans for a full fleet racing series are on ice. This is because:

1. I had forgotten what an absolute arse ache scorinating sailing and collating/transcribing the results is.

2. The small fleet size is problematic: only about 10–12 boats per race and unless I swamp it with ghost entries (thereby defeating the point of the exercise in terms of providing RP color) penalties for OCS/BFD/DSQ are not meaningfully high enough. This would actually require running even longer series! Which, as mentioned, oh the arse and oh the aching.

A more brain-smartitudinated person than myself might have realized these before wasting your time soliciting sign-ups, but alas. So I’ll go ahead and post some results with apologies that they’re not full fleet race fields. Given the intention is to provide RP fodder anyway, perhaps it doesn’t matter.

Below is the list of winners from a series of fleet races:

Butterfly City Regatta, Hannasea

Calm conditions off the scenic Coral Coast. One of the most idyllic fleet racing set-ups.

Men’s one-person dinghy: Liam Coe (TMB)
Men’s two-person dinghy: John Olivier/Jacob Shirley (ETM)
Men’s heavyweight dinghy: Ian Thomas (ETM)
Men’s sailboard: Francois Le (ETM)
Men’s skiff: Sam Felixson/Lár Mímirsson (GRÆ)

Women’s one-person dinghy: Katarina Reineke (OST)
Women’s two-person dinghy: Josephine Perry/Luca Pope (ETM)
Women’s sailboard: Layla Lee (HOP)
Women’s skiff: Lily Lester/Kerry Robinson (TMB)

Mixed multihull: Fabian Jonker/Emelia Harrison (TLI)

Montvertanesque Fleet Week Regatta, Port au Princesse, Mont Vert

Despite the white sand and turquoise seas, deceptively tricky conditions with a blustery storm blowing in. Fortunately it changed course away from the luxury sailing resort towards the rickety shanty town. Phew!

Men’s one-person dinghy: Liam Coe (TMB)
Men’s two-person dinghy: Timothy Rose/Charlie Lucas (RWH)
Men’s heavyweight dinghy: Ellis Lynch (TLI)
Men’s sailboard: Wilmar Blau (RWH)
Men’s skiff: Jake Fisher/Adam Bartlett (TMB)

Women’s one-person dinghy: Helena Mason (TLI)
Women’s two-person dinghy: Mabel O'Brien/Jane Boston (TMB)
Women’s sailboard: Christine Kay (BOL)
Women’s skiff: Danielle Hancock/Ursula Bauer (ETM)

Mixed multihull: Rein Biermann/Carla Pitsum (BRI)

Lake Viljan Regatta, Græntfjall

A beautiful and uncharacteristically sunny Græntfjaller summer played host to a week of intense racing. The regatta was organized on Lake Viljan and sometimes seemed a subtle attempt at reminding those uppity Kitarans of Græntfjall’s claim of sovereignty. Other times it didn’t seem very subtle.

Men’s one-person dinghy: Mariano Townsend (DAR)
Men’s two-person dinghy: Retho Léosson/Noah Brynjólfursson (GRÆ)
Men’s heavyweight dinghy: Nico Geirröðursson (GRÆ)
Men’s sailboard: Owen Stern (TMB)
Men’s skiff: Grayson MacKenzie/Ruaraidh Barclay (TLI)

Women’s one-person dinghy: Mabel O'Brien (TMB)*
Women’s two-person dinghy: Josephine Perry/Luca Pope (ETM)
Women’s sailboard: Layla Lee (HOP)
Women’s skiff: Danielle Hancock/Ursula Bauer (ETM)

Mixed multihull: Liam Coe/Mabel O'Brien (TMB)*

Knittelhofen Regatta, Schutzenphalia and West Ruhntuhnkuhnland

Taking place on the Klosterberg lake in the high Rushmori Alps. Unfortunately, calm winds meant several races had to be postponed, leaving competitors with nothing to do but sit around enjoying the scenic mountain views, clear fresh air, home brewed beer, and speciality cheeses. Bummer.

Men’s one-person dinghy: Ludwig Suaer (RWH)
Men’s two-person dinghy: Vernon Durant/Lester Parkins (BOL)
Men’s heavyweight dinghy: Ellis Lynch (TLI)
Men’s sailboard: Lon Cook (BOL)
Men’s skiff: Konstantin Stahnke/Jakob Klengel (SWR)

Women’s one-person dinghy: Sofia Helgesdóttir (GRÆ)
Women’s two-person dinghy: Trudi Rennoll/Kyla Oakley (BOL)
Women’s sailboard: Narcissa Heuser (SWR)
Women’s skiff: Anne-Marie Schmid/Odilla Schafer (RWH)

Mixed multihull: Rein Biermann/Carla Pitsum (BRI)

Bay of Tastynips Regatta, Berdeng Bundok

Sweltering heat and raging humidity makes this one of fleet racing’s most difficult series, though the scenic views (don’t worry, the resort is on the other side of the island to the brutal sweatshops) do help make up for it.

Men’s one-person dinghy: Liam Coe (TMB) (note: Edward Franks (ETM) finished second here -- as he did in every other race in the entire season)
Men’s two-person dinghy: Timothy Rose/Charlie Lucas (RWH)
Men’s heavyweight dinghy: Ellis Lynch (TLI)
Men’s sailboard: Lon Cook (BOL)
Men’s skiff: Jake Fisher/Adam Bartlett (TMB)

Women’s one-person dinghy: Mabel O'Brien (TMB)*
Women’s two-person dinghy: Mabel O'Brien/Jane Boston (TMB)*
Women’s sailboard: Sylvia Roche (TMB)
Women’s skiff: Benjamina Dotchin/Yoana Tenute (TKT)

Mixed multihull: Jackson Shirley/Christine McGann (ETM)

* The idea of someone competing in two different sail races at the same meet is improbable, so perhaps these races were held at separate times of the year.