World Cup of Hockey 42: Life, the Universe & Everything

[Nova Anglicana]

Lion's Roar

A SportsWorld Weblog

WCoH 42: Ground roundup, Lions need a win on the final day
by Omega Lion



Just come through, Lions!.

With the end of the World Cup of Hockey 42 group stage, I've decided to look back on my predictions from the beginning of the group to see how I did. Plus, the Lions' chances going into the final matchday!

No luck needed
Gyatso-Kai (4)
Mercedini (6)
Abanhfleft (10)

This tier was basically guaranteed playoffs, and look at that, the top three teams did make the playoffs! Of course, Mercedini finished first and Gyatso-Kai and Abanhfleft are tied for second, but the point stands. Technically, all three of these teams are within reach of the Lions, being either three or one points ahead of them, but Gyatso-Kai and Abanhfleft play unranked teams, and Mercedini is unlikely to ruin a brilliant group stage by stumbling against middling Gergary. This lot are playing for the best seed they can get.


Need a bit of luck
Fluvannia (16)

I put Fluvannia in the "bit of luck" category because I thought they might face challenges from teams like Anthor, Gergary, or Nova Anglicana for the fourth spot. The Bears actually suffered a bit of bad luck, as they lost to United States of Devonta on MD3 and lost to Le Choix on MD11 in overtime. On the other hand, they did hand Mercedini their only regulation defeat. They just weren't able to get over the hump against Gyatso-Kai and Abanhfleft, which combined with their losses to Devonta and Le Choix, mean they find themselves two points behind the Lions for the final playoff spot. So was I wrong? Did they need a lot of luck or did they just not get lucky? No, I'm right, it's the results who are wrong. Reality just didn't co-operate with me. On the final day, they still need a bit of luck. Behind the Lions, they need a win against Suimede in regulation and for the Lions to lose, overtime or otherwise, or if they win in overtime, they need a Lions regulation loss. It's not that unlikely, but they still need to get lucky.

Need a lot of luck
United States of Devonta (20)
Anthor (24)
Gergary (27)
Nova Anglicana (35)
Suimede (UR)
Le Choix (UR)

This one was my fudge group, where I basically lumped anyone I thought had a shot in a barrel and made a case for them. In retrospect, I was wrong about some of these. For example, Devonta didn't need a lot of luck, they just needed a little extra luck. I underestimated the 20th ranked team, who is currently tied with Fluvannia on 22 points. They too, experienced a shock loss to Le Choix, or otherwise they might have found themselves in playoff position come the final matchday. I similarly missed on Anthor; I thought they would be an outside competitor, but they really stunk. They've lost eight of their eleven matches and looked bad doing it.

And I'll say it, I think I missed on Nova Anglicana. I thought they would need a lot of luck to make it to the playoffs, but as is, if they can defeat Le Choix, they're in. It wasn't luck that they began 6-0-0, as they only allowed four goals and sported a +11 differential at that point. They beat who they should have beaten in Grey County, Suimede, and Salzcovia, and looked like the better team against Anthor, Gergary, and Devonta. I thought they'd be lucky to make it to 6-0-0, then would need an upset over one of the top four to make it through, but even then it wasn't a sure thing. Instead, the Lions have gone 4-0-0 against unranked teams, looked indubitably better than the mid-ranked squads, and got their upset, defeating Abanhfleft 3-2. I think I should have put them in the bit of luck category, as that's more or less all they need tonight in order to advance to the playoffs.

I was right about Gergary, Le Choix, and Suimede, though. They needed a lot of luck, and although they played well, they just didn't have enough in the tank. They each have five wins, and are currently around even on goal differential, which is a good showing. Their middling record should set them up for more success next time around.

Better luck next time
Grey County (UR)
Salzcovia (UR)
Islands of Ventro (UR)

I don't think I was wrong here. Grey County and Salzcovia have a combined three points between them, while Islands of Ventro exceeded expectations, picking up three wins and scoring more than three goals per game, but they were never really in contention either.

Final Matchday Notes

The Lions picked up the big win they needed last night, knocking off 10th ranked Abanhfleft to get themselves to eight wins and 24 points, two points ahead of Fluvannia and on the brink of the playoffs. Sammy Jensen was once again in the thick of it, scoring at 4:42 with just the quickest snap shot you'll ever see. Just like that, the Lions were up 1-0. But Emmanuel Macalipay struck back at 12:05, taking advantage of Brett McQueen being screened by Lance Valencia. At the end of one period, it was all tied at one goal apiece. In the second period, Shayne Dimaculangan, the Fleftic right wing, was able to deflect a pass and ended up with a breakaway. He didn't miss, and at 6:39, the top-10 team was in the lead and it looked like they might send Nova Anglicana to their fourth loss against higher ranked teams and fourth in five games. But Philippe Laurent, the Labrador Caribou defenseman, hit a heavy slap shot that whizzed past the veteran Jeremy Gonzalez and tied the score with time winding down in the second, at 19:11. Just like that, the momentum shifted and the air was let out of the Abanhfleft balloon. It would take another unlikely goalscorer, the fourth line's Brandon Scanlon, to lift the Lions to victory, however. His wrister off of a pass from his club teammate Quinn Baird at 8:38 sealed the win for the Lions and meant they would have something to play for on the final day.

But now for Le Choix, the pesky underdog who have already knocked off Devonta and Fluvannia. They'd like nothing better than to end on a win, even if they are eliminated. Mathias Adnet, the stellar netminder, and Cécile Lamar and Régine Tailler, the top two defensive players, will be key for the closed-off theocracy. They are a big reason why Le Choix has only allowed twenty goals in eleven matches, the same as the Lions. They have only scored twenty-one, a good bit fewer than the Lions' thirty. La Lumière will likely look to turtle up as they attempt to play spoiler in this crucial final game. They defeated Fluvannia by holding the formidable Bears attack (which has scored 54 goals to date, the most in the tournament) to just a single goal and getting a score in overtime. They're making their debut, but they've proven to be far more dangerous than the average team coming in for the first time. I'd still bet on a Lions win, but Le Choix won't make it easy, nor should any be surprised if the Lions are blinded by the Light.

More from Lion's Roar
Celebrating the Campionato win
Sweep of Q&S puts Lions into WBC playoffs
Le Choix live gamethread (all day!)

(OOC: Logo at top shamelessly cribbed from Pride of Detroit, Detroit Lions blog. The opinions expressed above are the opinions of the writer and not necessarily indicative of the opinions of Nova Anglicans or the user behind Nova Anglicana.)

[Kelssek]

SPORT > HOCKEY
Violent opposition erupts to domestic hockey reforms

Anticipation building over an international crunch match for Kelssek has been overshadowed by domestic controversy, allegations of corruption, class warfare, and inter-sport tensions following the release of plans for a change in the Kelssek Hockey League’s format.

The most controversial part of the proposal is the adoption of a “Swiss system” for the regular season. Named after a mythical land of chocolate, sentient watches, and underground bunkers built from fascist gold, the format pairs teams with a different opponent each round based on previous results, purportedly of relatively even strength. As it would reduce the number of matches played each season and creates the possibility that bigger clubs will then have few or no matches against smaller clubs, intense criticism has already erupted from teams concerned it will destroy their revenue and permanently entrench a “class hierarchy”, in the words of Watermeet HC president.

Qualification for the Desjardins Cup tournament will be automatic for six regional winners, but ten more spots will depend on a complex assessment of each team’s “power ranking” which will determine wild cards. Up to two teams will also qualify based on “historical pedigree” accounting for up to 20 years of previous league peformance.

It is unclear how anyone was able to stifle their laughter when the press release stated this would be a “fair, far simpler and more intuitive system than the current regionally-divided procedure”. Former Kelssek captain Neville Keanes sardonically noted this seems like a way to get the Kirkenes Rangers into the Desjardins Cup for the first time in 11 years, but the apparently tongue-in-cheek remark by the Kirkenes Dragons legend has inspired so much anti-Rangers rage (on Honkr, at least) that Keanes had to release a statement seeking to calm tensions.

Another area of controversy has been the involvement of Moonbeam Infantino, a Football Kelssek director with uncertain responsibilities. Infantino was been spotted hobnobbing with Kelssek Hockey Association executives and at numerous luxury hotels in Græntfjall at the start of the World Cup of Hockey, raising questions about what this guy who barely knows anything about the sport he’s supposed to be helping run is having so much influence on entirely different sport he knows even less about.

As soccer is largely regarded as a sport for hipster middle-class cosmopolitan elites, many hockey fans have been especially vocal about how globalist scum are ruining everything for the workers of the world. Police protection was brought in following “credible” threats to firebomb Football Kelssek’s offices in the name of the people.

It all amounts to a massive distraction for Kelssek’s players, too, who are now confronted with turmoil around their day jobs ahead of a final group stage match with advancement to the knockout rounds on the line.

[Ko-oren]

Alea iacta est. The die has been cast. The card has been drawn. And if we're to believe Ailise, the last round will only bring us 'the Devil', as that's the bye round for the Dragonflies. The team has done what it can to coast through that without too much trouble, including beating Valanora early in the group stage and adding a 2-0 win over Sarzonia in the most recently completed game.

As was foretold by Ailise himself after the group stage was about halfway done, Iba Dwa was like the Sun card - positive energy. Ailise analysed the meaning from the Ko-orenite point of view, but he probably went the wrong way around after all. Iba Dwa was the only team to beat us so far, and that's the only reason we can still end up in second place as the Calcuttas were almost flawless themselves throughout the group stage. He did call the next game, predicting a low scoring affair versus Valanora. The game ended 1-0 in our favour, well done. As said, for the final day, he drew the Devil - which probably means that Ko-oren, after all is said and done, will finish the group stage with a single loss and in second place anyway.

Apart from the perfect Siovanija and Teusland (one game to go), there are just three teams with 10 wins out of 11 or 12 games, and that's the duo atop the Group of Wands, and the team leading the Group of Swords: Cassadaigua. Two more teams can join the 10+ win crowd: Kriegiersien and HUElavia, sitting in second and third place behind the current two-time WCOH champions - and that means that while we can finish second despite losing just a single game, either one of those two teams can finish third despite winning ten out of twelve. Kriegiersien faces Waisnor, and HUElavia plays BomehiaIV, so it's definitely on the table.

This World Cup of Hockey, given the large sample size of group games, is the perfect format for low ranked teams to leave a good first impression. Kriegiersien, on the cusp of winning ten games, are doing so in their first attempt - congratulations! The other unranked teams couldn't push for the knockouts, but several still ended up in sixth place or better - a great start. Then there's the teams that are experienced, and have shown some fantastic ice hockey in the past, but just couldn't get it done despite the marathon format. Savojarna, third ranked, and a familiar face for anyone who watches knockout WCOH, are still not sure of their final 16 ticket, they still have to keep TJUN-ia behind them. Kelssek and Fluvannia, ranked 17th and 16th respectively, are in the dark as well. That said, they're 17th and 16th among the teams that signed up - two teams above them on the overall rankings didn't sign up: Vilita and Turori, and Equestria. We'll miss them going into the final 16, but that's how these things sometimes go. We'll be waiting for the Round of 16 matchups - the Dragonflies will probably be the third best group winner, or the best runner-up, which means we'd face one of the better fourth placed teams (likely to be Nova Anglicana, or possibly Quebec and Shingoryeo - and what a treat that would be!) or the worst among the third placed teams, which right now would put us against Græntfjall themselves. Either way, it looks to be an eventful second round game. The team won't be underestimating them as ice hockey is a game where everyone can beat everyone, and the Dragonflies certainly have looked shaky en route to the finals, and seeing as the hosts, or one of our bigger rivals, could just be drawn against us. That said, the Green and Blue will be trying to replicate WCOH 41 magic that saw us make the final for the first time.

For the neutral fans, I'd say they're just hoping Siovanija and Teusland won't add another cup to their trophy case.

[Savojarna]

SavojarSports.sj - inside reports from all Savojarna
Savojarna play “double octofinal” in final group game against TJUN-ia

By Lasse Mikaelsson

The drive of the start could not quite be matched throughout the tournament as the Northlights have lost to some of their groupmates, to some quite resoundingly. A late 3-2 loss to Cassadaigua was close and not a big issue whatsoever, but the 1-4 to Xanneria stung as it was preventable, had there not been a few specific mistakes. The 3-6 to Reçueçn put the Northlights into some sort of a predicament, which now means that after a bye day, they will be placed 4th and face 5th-placed TJUN-ia. The two are two points apart, with one place in the knockouts still at stake. A win for the Savojars, or a draw after sixty, would see them through, placing the light advantage in Savojarna’s hands as their competitors need to win.

The team is perfectly aware of the delicate situation they find themselves in, coach Fridtjof Ragnarsson assured us. “We know that Savojarna cannot accept defeat at this stage. We have entered this tournament with ambition and the red star on our chest means something to all of us. We’ve so far played alright, not always lucky, and sometimes a bit complacent. But I can assure you that nobody will be any of these things tomorrow. I’ll vouch for it with my honour as the Northlights’ coach”. He has lauded some of his players, including Tuukka Gränqvist, for some solid performances and hinted that Gränqvist might get the nod over the somewhat disappointing Roman Arjonenko. He also clarified that Nick Hoyman, despite some questionable games in the tournament, will start against TJUN-ia.

Captain Jon Asgeirsson, the oldest member of the squad and one of three ESK Storevik players on the first line, also seconded the words of his coach. “Look, for us up North, hockey has always been a question of honour. ESK is in my heart, just as much as Savojarna. If you ask Gulby or Anders they will say the same. Every single time that I tie my skates I am playing for my personal honour as a man and a warrior, and it’s no question that I will leave my bones out there for the Northlights tomorrow. If I didn’t do so, the day I don’t leave my heart on the rink anymore, I’m gonna call it quits”. In his interview, Evgeni Vetrayev went even further. The cousin of right winger Sergei Vetrayev, himself defending on the third line of the team alongside Victor Troels, even promised that shall the team lose in the group stage, he would end his career right then and there.

That might have endeared Vetrayev to fans, but they would have preferred to hear that statement from someone else: The SIHF’s Chairman Alexander Ludvigsson, who has taken significant blame and criticism over the poor results of the team in some recent tournaments. Most notably, Ludvigsson has taken blame over organisational issues in the SHS, which have been made responsible for chaos in preparing the match. The SIHF has not responded to questions from our site.

[Valanora]

While it might not be the same intensity as to when the Icy Elephants and the Calcuttas were contending with one another for the WCoH titles, the penultimate game in the group stage had a lot riding on it for both teams. The Calcuttas had to win the game to keep their drive alive for winning the group title while Elejamie needed a victory in order to stay within a chance of making the playoffs on the last day if results went their way. With so much on the line, the Calcuttas knew that they were going to get quite a fight from their old rivals and not your traditional fifth in the world against thirty-second in the world affair. Then again, this is the same Elejamie team who for near on five cycles were one of the biggest and best teams in all of the hockey world, whose might and mettle were only tested by the ruthless efficiency and precision of the Eternal Empire's Calcuttas squads, the Icy Elephants are far from your normal sub thirty ranked teams and they had plenty of pride to play for on top of their continued survival in this tournament.

The Calcuttas pressed from the opening faceoff, intent on wearing their opponents down and able to roll out a full four line set against their esteemed opposition. Zelda Hellström had already seen this tournament that her relatively young team had the energy and stamina to go at a high tempo for an entire game even off the back of close affairs, much less coming off the heels of a rather routine win where they were able to give more shifts to the third and fourth lines, keeping the top two lines all the more fresh for the tilt against the Icy Elephants. The dump and pursuit style of the Elejamie team was a smart one to try and play against the more finesse Vanorian team but the speedy and smart blue liners were able to win those battles in the corners more often than not and clear out the danger. Neither side got any clear scoring opportunities in the first period, with the closest either came to scoring was a Laila Gill slot from the slot that hit the crossbar and bounced to the boards. As the Calcuttas expected, they were not going to be given space and had to earn it against Elejamie even when they were trying to counterpress against their opposition.

Cerin Meloten opened up the scoring in the second period, three minutes into the second with a tipped shot from the point that went over the shoulder of Noel Norberg and just below the crossbar. It was a sign of the former world class skill that Elejamie had at their disposal and was looking to climb back into, with the top line center being one of those players who could show flashes of that elite level from time to time. Yet it was going to be tit for tat and elite skill being matched with elite skill as Eva Strömberg was the recipient of some good puck movement with sustained possession in the Elejamie end, sending a one timer past Ricardo Bejarano with six and a half minutes left in the second period, bringing the sides level once more. The Calcuttas got a late power play with two and some change to go and they thought that they had taken a lead with thirty-two seconds left in the middle frame, but an official review rules that Maja Zahl had kicked the puck into the net rather than had pushed it in with her stick, disallowing the goal and keeping the teams at a goal a piece in the second intermission.

In the third period, the effect of the high tempo and pressing from the Calcuttas started to show on the Icy Elephants as they were starting to lose the fifty-fifty battles and were a step behind a few of those battles as well. The goal would come as the Icy Elephants were trying to establish a prolonged attack in the Calcuttas' end but a poorly weighted pass from Bill Harrison to the blue line was poke checked into the center of the rink by the quick stickwork of center Nicolai Thunes and the young legs of Svante Nyman were churning, the winger gathering the loose puck and entering into the Elejamie zone. Deking to the left to get Bejarano to commit, the winger lifted the puck over the stickside of the goalie and into the back of the net with nine minutes and twenty seconds left. It was a thin lead but one that the Calcuttas fought tooth and nail to defend in those last nine minutes, even when Elejamie brought on an extra attacker with two minutes to go. Yet hold on to the victory they did and looking at the scoreboard they saw that Ko-oren had managed to beat Sarzonia. They knew the scenario then, a regulation win in their last game was needed to win the group while they had just ended their old rivals hopes of making the knockouts with that decisive goal.

[Mercedini]

World Cup of Hockey XLII
Group Of Pentacles: Race To The Top
@ Westfjall Arena - Laafjörður, Graintfjall

World Cup Of Hockey: Touching The Skyline

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FINAL

WCOH | MD12

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SUIMEDE 1
MERCEDINI 6

(1-1) (0-1) (0-4)

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Laafjörður, Graintfjall

Good evening everyone, welcome to Mercedini Sports Daily, where we are rounding up and rounding out what has been a loooong group stage for everyone involved. We are only a couple of games away from the end, with Dini going from despair to euphoria as the result after result put points in the Mercedinian column. It certainly hasn't been a smooth run for the World #6, especially at the beginning, but it seems as if the stars are aligning for the Kingfishers as they beat their main rivals to first close the gap, then edge ahead in the race for the top four. Wins over Gyatso-Kai, Nova Anglicana, Abanhfleft and others have offered up plenty of scalps for the second seeds to claim, and now they have assured qualification, meaning their sights can now be set on a higher seeding for the knockouts.

With the top seeds facing off against the fourth seeds of another group. Now is the perfect chance to carry through their momentum onto a team which only just scraped through to the final sixteen. Now all of their main rivals have been challenged, the only nations that Mercedini are yet to face are the ones either already eliminated, or those who have their destinies hanging in the balance. So, let's have a look at how Dini got on in their penultimate group game.

After they faced stiffer opposition on consecutive days, it was a relief for Selignsky to rest some of his key players and give the second and third linesman a run out onto the ice. While the Kingfishers still needed to decide their seeding in the group, the rest day was likely necessary to ensure the team's first choice players were available for the knockout rounds, where the tournament gets serious. Following a slow start, the Kingfishers would sweep aside minnows Suimede with a comprehensive performance and a final margin of six goals to one. One from Kozhikina in the first period and one from Mario Supsai in the second period was met with a reply from Suimede which kept the game close . The score stood at 2-1 as the third period began, with Selignsky deciding to put on the big guns to see the game out. Pirelli and Sepchuk one the second line defence were joined by Vranida, Kelodon and Santo for the third period, and they went to work on the Suimede goal. Four goals in ten third-period minutes simply dismantled the Suimede dream of picking up a result. Split equally between Kelodon and Santo, and assisted by Vranida in three of the four goals, it showed that there was a major divide between the star players of the team and those who were developing. While developing younger players is a good thing, it raised worries about squad depth, and whether the quality went deep enough to last the length of the tournament like this.

Despite this, the three musketeers were immediately swapped for their third line counterparts. The score stood at 6-1, and there was very little chance that the third liners could mess it up that badly from then on. While no further goals were netted by the younger members of the squad, they kept the game safe and denied any further goals being conceded. 6-1 was the final score, a solid result which not only put point on the board, but also rested key players and gave vital experience to those who desperately seek it.

Over to the group, and Jesus, Mary and Joseph we're winning the group! In a complete turnaround to the fortunes for the Kingfishers, Mercedini are now defending their top spot from teams below them thanks to some rather crazy antics going on during match day twelve. As we have seen, Mercedini won their match against Suimede by six goals to one, planting three points and a hefty positive goal differential in their column. However, props need to go to Nova Anglicana, as not only do they make their case for qualifying even stronger, but they beat Abanhfleft who drop from first to third in the process.

They drop to third because Gyatso-Kai, who have had a resurgence of their own, beat Le Choix by five goals to one, eliminating the plucky minnows from contention with a game to spare. They group's first and third seeds sit two points behind with inferior goal differences and with Dini holding the head-to-head tiebreaker against both teams. So it's likely that the blue-and-black only need a point to secure the top spot. Further down, Nova Anglicana lift themselves into the fourth and final qualifying spot with their aforementioned win, with only Fluvannia left to stop them. Devonta sit in fifth, but cannot qualify as they have no more games to collect points from, Fluvannia must win to advance.

   Group of Pentacles             Pld    W  OTW  OTL    L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
 1 Mercedini                       11    8    1    1    1   44   19  +25   27
 2 Gyatso-Kai                      11    8    0    1    2   45   28  +17   25
 3 Abanhfleft                      11    8    0    1    2   40   21  +19   25
 4 Nova Anglicana                  11    8    0    0    3   30   20  +10   24
 5 United States of Devonta        12    6    1    2    3   32   30   +2   22
 6 Fluvannia                       11    7    0    1    3   54   34  +20   22
 7 Gergary                         11    5    2    0    4   22   22    0   19
 8 Le Choix                        11    5    1    1    4   21   20   +1   18
 9 Suimede                         11    4    1    0    6   29   30   –1   14
10 Islands of Ventro               11    3    0    1    7   36   49  –13   10
11 Anthor                          11    1    2    0    8   18   38  –20    7
12 Salzcovia                       11    0    1    0   10   16   44  –28    2
13 Grey County                     11    0    0    1   10   15   47  –32    1

Next up for Mercedini is the already eliminated Gregary, who sit in seventh and out of contention, even if it has been a fairly decent tournament for the middling nation. Gregary will be hoping to sign off with a god result against Mercedini, but the Kingfishers are aiming for points to secure their first seeding into the knockout rounds, so it's not to say that the match is for nothing. While a shock defeat won't be fatal to the hopes of the second seeds, Selignsky and co. will likely want to keep their momentum for their Round of 16 bout, whoever that may be. They have passed the finish line for the knockout, but there is a still a race to be run as we round out the group stage tomorrow in Laafjordur. As always, we will bring you all of the pre and post-match reaction to this game, plus what that means for the team as the final days approach.

[Kriegiersien]

“The day Kriegiersien ice hockey died.
Olympics, Kelssek. Both the men’s and women’s team lose against Nurkama in the Play-Off round. From loved medal winners to be beaten by a mediocre team. The day when Kriegiersien ice hockey died.”

Ruben Herman turned off the TV.

“Hey, I wanted to see that documentary”, screamed his roommate Patrik Parrrrker, lying on his bed.
“That is just some bullshit. Nobody died. We are still alive, right?”
“But I wanted to see how you guys failed at the Olympics.”

Ruben stared angrily at him.
“It was just bad luck.”

“After my experience you can form luck.”
“Aha! Like the luck that someone drowned, so that you got his place?”
“Yeah, speaking of funerals…”
“His ship probably sunk by pirates. What a coincidence.”
“That was, as much as I heard, thousands of miles away from my isles. My clan surely had no part in this.”
“Sure, trust a pirate.”

They lay there in silence, until Patrik spoke again.

“How do funerals look in the mainlands? In the early days we would set a ship on fire if the person was important. Others got a raft.”

“By law people have to be burned after their organs were taken away. Don’t you have to do that?”

“Ah, so that is why the government comes with knives into your house after someone died. I thought that was a raid.”

“Well, it kinda is.”

“Of course many people are just buried in the sand. But that are mostly not relatives. Only sometimes. And sometimes they are not even dead at that point.”

It was silent again for a while, both starring at the ceiling.

“Whom do we bury tomorrow under the ice?”
“Waisnor.”

[Siovanija and Teusland]

RBC Teusland

History - The Empire

Burial Grounds of the Kaisers

In the history of the Teus Empire, 41 men and women wore the Crown as Kaiser or Kaiserin of the Teus. Upon their death, and the passage on to the next person in line to the throne, they each received massive funerals in the capital of Stelburg (in most cases - see following) and were buried in a place as requested by them. The Kaisers and Kaiserins are buried in several different places across the nation - let us explore each one.

Sankt Georg’s Crypt, Stelburg

By far the most popular burial site, Sankt Georg’s Crypt is also the most famous. It was the site of burial for the imperial family for generations, as well as the site of burial for Popes of the Teus Catholic Church. Located in the basement of Sankt Georg’s Cathedral in downtown Stelburg, it is the most famous cemetery in the nation. It is open to the public, however, many times it is closed for restoration purposes, as the oldest graves here date back to the year 1229.

The most famous Kaisers to be buried here are Wilhelm I the Great, the man who founded the Teus Empire in 1253. He was the first Kaiser to be actually buried within the Crypt. Following him, generations of Kaisers were entombed here, including Ludwig II the Great. In the year 1417, to celebrate the conquest of Siovanija, Johannes of Fruhtal, who was the Duke of Stelburg and father of Wilhelm I was re-buried here.

Other Kaisers buried here include Franz Josef I the Pious, as well as all three Kaiserins - Adelheid I and II as well as Elisabeth I. Kaiser Heinrich III was also buried here, the final Kaiser of the Teus Empire, after his abdication in 1895. When he died 39 years later, the Teus Catholic Church permitted his burial here, a controversial decision at the time. His funeral was heavily politicized by the government of Teus ultranationalist President Marwin Laufer, and the events surrounding this remain controversial to this day.

All in all, Sankt Georg’s Crypt might be the most famous cemetery in the country.

Heroes of Marzig Cemetery, Marzig

Only one Kaiser is buried here, but he is one of the best-regarded in the history of the Empire. The Battle of Marzig in 1414 was a turning point for the Teus Empire, as well as a moment which seemed to change the spirit of the Teus people, turning them from an inward-thinking nation into one ready to face the world.

Every boy and girl in Siovanija & Teusland learns the history of this battle - outnumbered at a field south of Marzig, the army commanded by Kaiser Ferdinand I the Great turned on their opposing number and scored a massive victory. From this battle, the Teus Empire received her flag (the black-white-gold banner of Ferdinand’s army), her motto (‘God protect Teusland’) and her spirit.

In the immediate aftermath, the soldiers who had died in the battle were buried alongside the River Drai. When Ferdinand died in 1432, he requested aides to ‘bury me with my men,’ however, it was thought that the man widely regarded as the greatest Kaiser in history deserved a spot in Sankt Georg’s Cathedral.

In the 1800s, however, a renewed Teus nationalism began to focus on the River Drai, and the Battle of Marzig as a sign of its destiny within Teusland. The Marzig Memorial was built at the spot of the burial ground, with its grand statue of Ferdinand as well as several of his soldiers in various poses. At this time, the cemetery, which had until then been kept by the local St. Gustaf’s Church in Marzig, was acquired by the imperial government, renamed the Heroes of Marzig Cemetery and Kaiser Ferdinand’s final wishes were carried out - he was reburied here in 1871.

Today, the memorial is a peaceful reminder of that history, and you can go for a walk along the river and find yourself near the humble grave of one of Teusland’s greatest Kaisers.

Litzenau/Litovic National Memorial

The town of Litovic (Litzenau) in southeastern Siovanija was home to a major battle in the Twenty-Nine Years’ War, between the Teus Army and forces loyal to the Duchy of Trkev and Siovanijan pagan allies. Kaiser Friedrich I was commanding the Teus Army at the battle, but he had fallen ill with disease a few months before on the harsh conditions of the battlefield.

Friedrich I was a hot-headed leader who often failed to consider all sides of the situation - historians say that had he remained in Stelburg instead of continuing to campaign, he would likely have survived. What that would mean for the future of the Teus Empire, however, is uncertain - his early death meant his brother Ludwig II ascended the throne, and Ludwig II ended the Twenty-Nine Years’ War and became known as Ludwig the Great.

On the 6th day of the battle, Friedrich became too ill to give direction to his armies, and doctors were sent from Stelburg. Before they could reach the camp, however, Friedrich was dead. In the aftermath of the battle, his soldiers buried him alongside their dead as a sign of respect. He is one of 2 Kaisers, alongside Ferdinand the Great, to be buried in Siovanija. After the Siovanijan Revolution, there were fears of potential vandalism at the grave, however, out of respect, the Siovanijan government saw to it that all cemetery sites from the various wars of history retained a guard close by.

So, of the 41 leaders of the Teus Empire, 39 of them are buried in Stelburg, 1 in Marzig, and 1 in the small town of Litovic. Perhaps, if the question should ever come up in a trivia game, you will now be able to tell people just what the relevance of Sankt Georg’s Crypt, the Heroes of Marzig Cemetery, and the Litovic/Litzenau National Memorial is to the history of Teusland.

[Fluvannia]

DIVISION STREET JOURNAL

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

1 Mark

DOWN TO THE WIRE

Laafjörður, Græntfjall -- As the "Life" stage -- round-robin -- of the 42 World Cup of Hockey arrives at its conclusion, the Fluvannia national team finds itself in familiar territory: on the outside looking in. Unlike last time, however, they are still in contention on the last day of play, though they need a little help. A recap of their outing thus far:

FLV 4, Gergary 1
A fine start for any team, the Bears opened the tournament with a safe victory over an opponent that is lower in the rankings than they are, but not so much as to be overlooked. Gergary is a seasoned team on the international stage, so these three points were never assured.

FLV 8, Anthor 2
If any game probably gave viewers (and perhaps players) inflated expectations, it was probably this one. A solid rout of Anthor -- a team ranked ahead of Gergary -- definitely showed that the Bears meant business this time out. David Chekovish, he of the deadly aim, potted three of those eight for the team's first hat trick of the tournament.

United States of Devonta 4, FLV 3
Unfortunately, the team couldn't keep winning forever, though the fact that their first opponent ranked above them only managed to get by on a single-goal margin was nothing to be concerned about. These things happen, and the team still played a fine game. There are nights like that, where you play a very well-executed, respectable game, and still head home with a loss.

FLV 4, Mercedini 3
The Kingfishers of Mercedini, simply put, are one of the best teams in the tournament. After Gyatso-Kai, they are the second-best team in this Group of Pentacles. (It appears that the Græntfjaller deck of cards is more akin to tarot; neither the traditional/coastal-style or modern/highland-style decks prevalent in Fluvannia use these as a suit.) As of press time, they have only lost one game in regulation, and it was this one. Despite a three-goal night, this is roundly acclaimed as Teukka Salama's best performance in net this tournament -- perhaps of all his international starts. The Kingfishers are no slouches when it comes to offense, and despite the fact that their team plays an unusual strategy of very long shifts, to which the Bears were forced to adapt some and were obviously ill-conditioned for, they put up a significant advantages in shots on goal, but the Victorious Vinn stood tall in goal for the win.

Gyatso-Kai 5, FLV 2
Unfotunately, a rest day between the two grim reapers of this Life stage was insufficient for the Bears to recuperate from their forced long shifts against Mercedini. G-K netminder Pianhuo Shu actually did not finish with the save percentage one would expect from this one; the smothering Bisons defense prevented the Bears from spending too much time in the attacking zone, let alone able to get shots off. Quite a few of those shots were blocked anyway, preventing Shu from racking up saves.

FLV 6, Nova Anglicana 5
In what many fans (as well as recent junior-team graduates Caleb Gill and Teimo Peräjärvi) saw as a bit of payback after elimination from the most recent WJHC, the Bears got the better of Nova Anglicana's senior side in a high-scoring affair. While Fluvannia's six goals came from five different players, 60% of NA's goals were produced by left wing Glen Gray for a hat trick.

FLV 10, Islands of Ventro 4
With all due respect to Ventro -- they managed four themselves -- this was a rout, plain and simple. The Bears' defense was lacking, but whatever the forwards had for breakfast that morning should be a staple going forward.

Abanhfleft 6, FLV 3
The final game against the group's heaviest hitters resulted in a disappointing but unsurprising defeat. After their explosion against Ventro, many viewers had a bit of false hope going in to this match. Salama was pulled after the fourth goal, the first such occurrence all tournament (and hopefully the last).

Le Choix 2, FLV 1 (OT)
While the Bears managed to steal a point here, this is not the result they should have garnered against a newer team, and it could not have come at a more inopportune time. The offense was almost completely silent all night, and head coach Wayne Cassidy went so far as to call a few veteran players out by name in his postgame presser.

FLV 10, Grey County 2
We're not complaining about a second 10-goal night for the Bears -- which likely puts them as the highest scorers across the Life stage -- but it is a bit concerning that the offense reserves all its scoring for some teams and has nothing left in the tank against others. Chekovich had his second hat trick of the tournament though, so we're not complaining too loudly.

FLV vs. Suimede
This is it. Win and you're in -- as long as Nova Anglicana loses. We can imagine that the two rookies on the team would love nothing more than an opportunity to pay back elimination with elimination. Their opponent tonight is one they should be able to defeat. On the other hand, the same could be said for NA. We can only hope that the veterans on the team are not denied yet another of a rapidly dwindling number of opportunities to advance.

[Graintfjall]

MD13 cutoff

The ‘Life’ phase of the tournament is over, and we now move on to the ‘Universe’ phase. The remaining sixteen teams will now travel to the northwest Græntfjall, where an entirely new city is being built. Segulmagnaðirborg will house the new GANAX Cosmodrome. Still under development, the aim is to build one of the largest spaceports in the region, for commercial, scientific, and military spaceflight applications. Arenas for sports including ice hockey are built into the vast structure for the entertainment of the small army of engineers, scientists, construction workers, and managers being deployed on the project. Over the coming days of the Universe phase, these teams will playoff for a spot in the WCoH final. To those teams leaving us at this stage we say goodbye, hope you have enjoyed your time, and wish you…

So long and thanks for all the fish.

Group of Wands
Kelssek 1–4 Sarzonia
Pius Desurongcrandis 1–2 Sannyamathland
Elejamie 4–0 Pluvie
North Alezia 2–4 Valanora
Poafmersia 1–0 Iba Dwa
Delaclava 2–3 Equestria

   Group of Wands                 Pld    W  OTW  OTL    L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
 1 Valanora                        12   11    0    0    1   45   18  +27   33
 2 Ko-oren                         12   10    1    0    1   27    8  +19   32
 3 Sarzonia                        12    9    0    0    3   47   21  +26   27
 4 Kelssek                         12    7    1    0    4   32   29   +3   23
 5 Delaclava                       12    6    1    1    4   28   19   +9   21
 6 Elejamie                        12    6    1    0    5   31   27   +4   20
 7 Equestria                       12    6    0    0    6   33   32   +1   18
 8 Poafmersia                      12    5    0    0    7   30   28   +2   15
 9 Sannyamathland                  12    4    0    2    6   26   39  –13   14
10 Pius Desurongcrandis            12    4    0    1    7   32   42  –10   13
11 Iba Dwa                         12    3    0    1    8   21   44  –23   10
12 North Alezia                    12    2    1    0    9   29   38   –9    8
13 Pluvie                          12    0    0    0   12   16   52  –36    0

Group of Pentacles
Salzcovia 1–4 Anthor
Mercedini 2–0 Gergary
Fluvannia 2–1 Suimede
Gyatso-Kai 3–4 Grey County
Nova Anglicana 3–3 Le Choix (2–3 SO)
Islands of Ventro 2–5 Abanhfleft

   Group of Pentacles             Pld    W  OTW  OTL    L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
 1 Mercedini                       12    9    1    1    1   46   19  +27   30
 2 Abanhfleft                      12    9    0    1    2   45   23  +22   28
 3 Gyatso-Kai                      12    8    0    1    3   48   32  +16   25
 4 Fluvannia                       12    8    0    1    3   56   35  +21   25
 5 Nova Anglicana                  12    8    0    1    3   33   24   +9   25
 6 United States of Devonta        12    6    1    2    3   32   30   +2   22
 7 Le Choix                        12    5    2    1    4   25   23   +1   20
 8 Gergary                         12    5    2    0    5   22   24   –2   19
 9 Suimede                         12    4    1    0    7   30   32   –2   14
10 Anthor                          12    2    2    0    8   22   39  –17   10
11 Islands of Ventro               12    3    0    1    8   38   54  –16   10
12 Grey County                     12    1    0    1   10   19   50  –31    4
13 Salzcovia                       12    0    1    0   11   17   48  –31    2

The tiebreaker for fourth place:

                        Pld    W   D   L 
1 Gyatso-Kai              2    2   0   0
2 Fluvannia               2    1   0   1
3 Nova Anglicana          2    0   0   2

Group of Cups
Kriegiersien 3–1 Waisnor
Flekkefjord 1–3 Siovanija & Teusland
Quebec & Shingoryeo 4–4 Banija (4–5 OT)
HUElavia 2–2 BohemiaIV (3–4 SO)
Omerica 0–3 St. Saratoga
Ranoria 1–2 New Waldensia

   Group of Cups                  Pld    W  OTW  OTL    L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
 1 Siovanija & Teusland            12   12    0    0    0   48   22  +26   36
 2 Kriegiersien                    12   10    0    1    1   42   15  +27   31
 3 HUElavia                        12    9    0    1    2   40   17  +23   28
 4 Quebec & Shingoryeo             12    8    1    1    2   47   33  +14   27
 5 Banija                          12    7    1    0    4   36   17  +19   23
 6 Waisnor                         12    6    0    0    6   30   31   –1   18
 7 Flekkefjord                     12    5    1    0    6   30   37   –7   17
 8 New Waldensia                   12    3    2    0    7   33   41   –8   13
 9 St. Saratoga                    12    4    0    0    8   28   37   –9   12
10 Ranoria                         12    3    1    0    8   25   28   –3   11
11 Srednjaci                       12    2    1    2    7   32   46  –14   10
12 BohemiaIV                       12    0    2    2    8   17   47  –30    6
13 Omerica                         12    0    0    2   10   13   51  –38    2

Group of Swords
Cassadaigua 3–3 Taeshan (4–3 OT)
Xanneria 2–4 Kohnhead
Lǜ Shān 1–0 Mapletish
Reçueçn 1–3 The Grandest Empire
People’s Republic of Xabia 0–4 Græntfjall [OOC: scorinated by The Plough Islands]
Savojarna 2–4 TJUN-ia

   Group of Swords                Pld    W  OTW  OTL    L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
 1 Cassadaigua                     12   10    1    0    1   53   16  +37   32
 2 Græntfjall                      12    8    1    1    2   32   17  +15   27
 3 Reçueçn                         12    8    0    2    2   50   31  +19   26
 4 TJUN-ia                         12    8    0    0    4   52   42  +10   24
 5 Savojarna                       12    6    2    0    4   35   27   +8   22
 6 Chromatika                      12    6    0    1    5   29   29    0   19
 7 Taeshan                         12    5    1    2    4   34   31   +3   19
 8 Lǜ Shān                         12    6    0    1    5   32   30   +2   19
 9 Mapletish                       12    4    3    0    5   13    9   +4   18
10 Kohnhead                        12    4    0    0    8   33   47  –14   12
11 Xanneria                        12    2    1    1    8   15   36  –21    9
12 The Grandest Empire             12    2    0    0   10   15   39  –24    6
13 People’s Republic of Xabia      12    0    0    1   11   16   55  –39    1

Playoff Seedings:

                                  Pld    W  OTW  OTL    L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
 1 Siovanija & Teusland            12   12    0    0    0   48   22  +26   36
 1 Valanora                        12   11    0    0    1   45   18  +27   33
 1 Cassadaigua                     12   10    1    0    1   53   16  +37   32
 1 Mercedini                       12    9    1    1    1   46   19  +27   30

 2 Ko-oren                         12   10    1    0    1   27    8  +19   32
 2 Kriegiersien                    12   10    0    1    1   42   15  +27   31
 2 Abanhfleft                      12    9    0    1    2   45   23  +22   28
 2 Græntfjall                      12    8    1    1    2   32   17  +15   27

 3 HUElavia                        12    9    0    1    2   40   17  +23   28
 3 Sarzonia                        12    9    0    0    3   47   21  +26   27
 3 Reçueçn                         12    8    0    2    2   50   31  +19   26
 3 Gyatso-Kai                      12    8    0    1    3   48   32  +16   25

 4 Quebec & Shingoryeo             12    8    1    1    2   47   33  +14   27
 4 Fluvannia                       12    8    0    1    3   56   35  +21   25
 4 TJUN-ia                         12    8    0    0    4   52   42  +10   24
 4 Kelssek                         12    7    1    0    4   32   29   +3   23

(1) Siovanija & Teusland v Kelssek (16)
(2) Valanora v TJUN-ia (15)
(3) Cassadaigua v Fluvannia (14)
(4) Mercedini v Quebec & Shingoryeo (13)
(5) Ko-oren v Gyatso-Kai (12)
(6) Kriegiersien v Reçueçn (11)
(7) Abanhfleft v Sarzonia (10)
(8) Græntfjall v HUElavia (9)

Having just completed a gruelling 13 day group stage everyone is entitled to an off day. The first round of playoffs will be played on 9 April with a cutoff @ 2300 UTC.

If there are any errors in the groups or seedings please bring them to my attention prior to the playoff scorination beginning.

[HUElavia]

HUElavia Dominate and Secure Knockouts Once More!

HUElavia 5–3 New Waldensia

St. Saratoga 1–2 HUElavia

HUElavia 2–2 (3-4 SO) BohemiaIV

In the Final 3 Group Stage games, HUElavia needed to reach 27 points to guarantee qualification to the Round-of-16. Despite using all three goalies, each one starting a whole game, the team held out and took 2 victories and 1 Overtime Loss. The first game saw the likes of Bourgeois and Kim snatching two goals each, while Schmidt took one goal. The second game saw a see-saw match, with Ovetchkin getting one goal, and in the final seconds of the match, a goal by Gachev to secure HUElavia's place in the Knockouts. In the third and final group stage match, a goal by Ilchenko and Tokarev were enough to keep HUElavia in, but saves by REDACTED on Dominguez-Garcia and Brousseau was enough to hand HUElavia a loss in a shootout.

With the results, HUElavia finished in 3rd Place in the Group of Cups with 28 Points, behind Reigning Champions Siovanija & Teusland, who had a perfect 36 points, and Surprise Package Kriegiersien, who had 31 Points to their name. Behind HUElavia in the advance was 4th Placed Quebec & Shingoryeo, who had 27 Points. The surprise elimination of this group was Banija, who finished in 5th Place with 23 Points. With the teams advancing, there was a shuffling of teams based on Positions and points earned in that place. As the best 3rd Place Team with 28 Points, HUElavia were given the #9 Seed, and their Round-of-16 Opponent is: #8 and Host Nation, Graentfjall. 8 Years Later, Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos will play against the host of a tournament, which marks the 3rd time in 5 appearances that HUElavia meets the hosts at some point in the World Cup of Hockey. The team continues to train hard and diligently, taking a long session in the morning involving team practice and individual practice, and then in the afternoon, studying film and taking notes. The fans are still enjoying their time in Graentfjall and many are buying tickets to see the match, but it will be an intimidating place against the hosts. A spot for the Quarter-Finals is in play, and it is expected to be an Evens match, with the favor going to either team. Here's to a great match between the Hosts and a rising force in Ice Hockey!

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

[Sarzonia]

You wouldn't know that last night's Life Phase finale was the first-ever senior level match for Brett Tanguay, Jr. with the Sarzonian national ice hockey team by the confident, aggressive way he played in his team's 4-1 defeat of Kelssek.

He scored two goals, assisted on an Alyssa Hannigan third period marker, and was a force on the team's forechecking against Kelssek. He fired a shot that Kelssek goaltender Bradley Donovan barely nudged aside, only for centre Nate Barnes to poke in the fifth rebound.

However, before the team bus pulled into the parking lot, everyone on the team knew Tanguay was nervous.

"I, uh, threw up in the back of the bus," Tanguay admitted.

"Yeah, and I had to clean it up," third string goalie Owen Franks interjected. Paper towels and air freshener don't count!"

Regardless, the Stars (9-0-0-3, 27 points) wrapped up third place in the Group of Wands and qualified for the Universe Phase, where they will be joined by world No. 2 Ko-oren, No. 5 Valanora and Kelssek, as No. 11 Equestria finished a disappointing group stage with a 3-2 regulation victory over Delaclava to eliminate the Phoenixes.

"We're saddened to not see our best friends and biggest rivals joining us," said Sylvan Turcotte, who was a healthy scratch against Kelssek. "We also wished that Banija would be there, too, but we'll take what we can get."

That means another match against one of the best hockey teams in the multiverse in the opening round, No. 10 Abanhfleft. The Fleftics finished second in the Group of Pentacles with a mark of 9-0-1-2, good for 28 points, two behind Mercedini. Abanhfleft defeated The Islands of Ventro 5-2 while Mercedes knocked off Gregary 2-0 in their finale to wrap up the group title.

The matchup between Abanhfleft and Sarzonia will be the 7-10 matchup, one that manager Paul Bremerton believes his team is ready for.

"We played a brutal schedule in what I consider the group of death," he said. Two matches against top five teams? C'mon! If that doesn't make us battle-tested, I don't know what does.

Goalie Jacob Parsons agreed with that assessment, but left wing Cameron Granato warned of another possibility.

"We just got through playing 12 matches, with many of them in the second half being against the toughest teams in the multiverse," he said. "We're either going to be battle-tested or battle-weary."

[Gyatso-kai]

┤ A LOOK INTO GYATSO-KAI ├
A Multi-Part Series

Written by Akaan BEROYA

”Many nations in the Multi-Verse struggle with how to keep Religion and Science in balance; often times those who are religious will refute science, just as those who are scientific will often seek to discredit religion. However, we must understand the difference between the two. Science is HOW the Universe works, and Religion is the WHY. They are not mutually-exclusive. ”

Zhou Tu, Professor of Religion, Ba Sing Se Royal University

There is never a more heated topic than that of religion. In fact, in some social circles, it is almost a tantamount rule to never discuss religion in ‘polite company’. Some nations even have it imbedded in their founding documents that ‘Religion has no place in Government’ and actively seek to keep a nation as secular as possible, despite the extremist who want to see an “ancient text” guide modern life, as well as actively oppress anyone who is not of the majority…

But that’s enough about evangelical Christianity… We’re here to talk about Gyatso-kai…

As much as Gyatso-kai prides itself as the “Avatarian Republics” and as a Supranational Theocratic Federal Republic (try saying that five times fast), there are still a great variety of religions practiced within the Republics.

「 AVATARISM 」

As defined in Article Two, Section Four of the Constitution of the Avatarian Republics of Gyatso-kai, Avatarism is the State Religion of Gyatso-kai. As such, it garnishes official government support from Republic City in many ways:

• Promoting Growth: Most temples in Gyatso-kai are built with government funding, and receive annual stipends as long as they meet a set number of requirements.
• Community Services: Most temples in Gyatso-kai function as ‘community centres’, providing food and shelter to disenfranchised people as well as those struggling. On top of that, most also provide various other services to the communities that are built around them – job placement services, access to medical services, community outreach for children, etc.
• Taxes: Members of a local temple pay income tax of 1.0% - 3.0% (depending on the temple) for each temple. Avatarian tax officials collect the ‘membership tax’ and give it to the church. Also, all burials within the Four Nations are handled by the church, granting each temple a somewhat-monopoly on burial services in the Avatarian Republics, with obvious exceptions being within the Ponyist Realms and the Mandalorian Clans. Also, temples are allowed to avoid the 8% tax whenever they sell real estate. This privilege is not solely for Avatarism, but rather is extended to any religious/ideological organization that is registered with the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

As it is by far the most common religion – nearly 80% of the population actively practices it – Avatarism has a strong hold on society in Gyatso-kai. Technically a polytheistic religion that revolves around a multitude of spirits, gods, and other supernatural entities believed to inhabit all things. This link between the spirits and the natural world has led to many considering Avatarism to be ‘animistic’ and ‘pantheistic’. The spirits are worshiped in a variety of locations outside of the standard temple which are found in almost every town in Gyatso-kai; from household shrines, to family shrines housed on estates by the most affluent in society, to even massive complexes that serve as both shrines and tourist spots. Temples often are composed of public worshipping areas (拝殿, bàidiàn) that are often in front of the actual shrine to the local deity or spirit (神殿, shéndiàn). Most larger temples have grounds that surround them, though city-based temples are often just a small shrine and a slightly-larger baidian, or similarly constructed space for public worship.

Given the vastness of the Avatarian Republics, there is no set way that Avatarism is practiced. Also, unlike many world religion, there is no universal text that defines daily observances, practices, or even holidays for that matter. The only thing that all practioners of Avatarism have in common is the belief that the Avatar is the spirit of the earth born into human form, and that upon their death, they shall be reincarnated into another person in a set cycle of the elements – Water, Earth, Fire, Air.

「 MANDO’A SPIRITUALITY 」

The next most common religion in Gyatso-kai, after Avatarism and atheism/agnosticism is the native religion of the Mandalorian Clans, commonly referred to as “Manda” in Mando’a. Much like Avatarism, there is a polytheistic system of beliefs, though for most Mandalorians there are two gods primarily spoken about:

• Kad Ha'rangir is the God of Destruction, who represents change and the opportunity to grow and evolve through struggle.
• Arasuum is the God of Stagnation, who represented the status quo, consistenct, and idle consumption.

It is believed that these two gods are diametrically opposed to one another and forever engaged in combat in the eternal battle of Kry’yc Akaan. In order to give strength to Kad Ha’rangir, Manda followers believe that they must engage in combat – metaphorical or actual – in the name of Kad Ha’rangir so that through their feats, he is inspired to continue to fight Arasuum.

Followers of Manda also tend to abide by the Six Tenets of Mandalorian Culture, as do most members of the Mandalorian Clans. The Resol’nare as they are known, are a set of beliefs that guide life for a Mandalorian, and are six essential things all Mandalorians must do in order to join with the Army of the Afterlife (Mand’akkan’ade), where after death they will live for all time as protectors of their family and descendents, both in the physical plane as well as in the spiritual, from the armies of Arasuum. These six tenets were:

• Education / Ba’jur: To teach future generations about Mandalorian culture.
• Armor / Beskar’gam: Wearing and maintaining a traditional set of Mandalorian armor. In places where armor is frowned upon, most Mandalorians will wear the chest diamond (Kar’ta Beskar) around their neck on a chord, usually made of leather.
• Self-Defence / Ara’nov: Protecting oneself.
• Tribe / Aliit: The family unit, often times called a “clan” or “House” depending upon the size. To be a supportive parent, grandparent, sibling, or other relative to those who you were bonded with through family, either born or chosen.
• Language / Mando’a: The native language of the Mandalorian people. Being able to speak fluently, to read and write Mando’a is an essential part of the culture.
• Leader / Mand’alor: To answer the “Call of the Mand’alor”, to undertake any task given to you by the duly-appointed leader of the Mandalorian Clans.

To be Mandalorian and to not follow the Resol’nare was often seen as a fate worse than dying without glory. Doing so is to be considered dar’manda – or “without Manda” – and meant that in death, one would not be granted entry into the Mand’akaan’ade and would be doomed for all eternity to battle on the side of Arasuum, growing old and lazy as time wore on, until you became a motionless being known as an Orjor’choruk; the Orjor’choruk littered the landscape of the afterlife, crying out and begging for release from the pain of being dar’manda, and it was considered a gift to slay an Orjor’choruk whenever you came across one in the afterlife.

「 CHRISTIANITY 」

By far the least common religion in Gyatso-kai, there are currently 12,400 people registered as ‘Christians’ in Gyatso-kai as of the last census. Of these 12,400 people, almost all of them reside in the Earth Kingdom State of Yesucheng, which is a bit of a Christian stronghold. The state is closed off from the surrounding areas similar to the walls of Ba Sing Se, located to the far north of Yesucheng. Inscribed on the walls in both Basic and Avatarian are the Ten Commandments, a set of principles the Christian God, known simply as “God”, set forth before the prophet Moses on Mount Sinai. These ten laws, though they are contained in the Old Testament – and believed by many to have been actually written by the “Hand of God” – are meant to serve as the basis of moral law for Christians.

Christianity is viewed with somewhat of a negative light in Gyatso-kai, due to its more “indoctrinated” tendencies and how many of the faith use their texts to systematically oppress people within the walls of Yesucheng. For example, given the autonomy provided to Yesucheng as an Earth Kingdom state, healthcare for women, as well as transgendered people, is severely limited; hormonal treatments are barred within the walls of the state, and basic women’s healthcare centers around creating ‘healthy mothers’ and often times overlooks women who have not bore children. Abortion, seen as a universal right to women throughout Gyatso-kai, is strictly banned within Yesucheng, which leads to many women in the State to travel abroad as soon as they find out they are pregnant; however, due to medical privacy laws, if a woman finds out she is pregnant at a doctor or medical office, the State of Yesucheng bars them from leaving Yesucheng unless they are accompanied by their father or husband. Also, same-sex marriage is only illegal in Yesucheng, as opposed to being the legal norm throughout Gyatso-kai; despite years of protests known as the ‘Stone Pillar Protests” in 1970, in which Avatar Roku put a stop to just months before his death, leading to a freeze on the discussion of the legalization of same-sex marriage until Avatar Aang – just twenty-one-years-old and only three years into his role as Avatar- would sign Executive Decree 18229 making same-sex marriage legally the same as different-sex marriage, and codifying LGBTQ+ rights into Avatarian law. However, given the autonomy given to the Home Nations, key regions were allowed to bar the performance of same-sex marriage in their borders, however they could not deny rights to anyone married outside of their borders. Currently, Yesucheng is the only province-level division that still does not perform same-sex marriages.

Not a religion many wish to see spread.

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Religion plays a key role in Avatarian life, and not just in regards to how our government functions (more on that in a separate entry). Of course, even for those who do not practice a registered religion, the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the Avatarian Republics of Gyatso-kai guarantees the rights of every Avatarian citizen and resident to freely practice any and all religions of the multi-verse within the Home Nations without fear of government punishment or censorship. For years, there has even been talk of moving away from Article Two, Section Four and having Gyatso-kai no longer place Avatarism as the State Religion, however, the talk never seems to gain momentum in the Senate or the Council.

Perhaps one day it will… maybe with the next Avatar…

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© 2021 Avatarian Sports Programming Network

[Kriegiersien]

In the locker room before the match.

“Now we are in the play-off round. You played liked 5 years ago, like at the Olympics. After the last Olympics they said it is over. They said you are too old and that the Top players are missing. But you showed them. And thanks to Patrik we have new blood in the team that makes us now even stronger.
We face Reçueçn. They are better ranked, but if you play as till now, we will beat them. Smash them. Show them that the cup is better than the sword. You are better, we can win this. We can win everything. The Multiverse is out there. Take it. We can do what no Kriegiersien could do before. Conquer the crown. Become world champion in hockey. This is the first of four steps. Make it!”

Patrik stood up.
“We will take the fish!”

Everyone repeated the battlecry.



On the way out Guy Rose prodded Jesse Hunter.

“He didn’t even mention Tristan. One match with a black ribbon and after that we forgot him.”
“New times, man. New player. New battlecry. We have to conquer the multiverse now. The old Kriegiersien dream.”
“All that bollocks about conquering the Multiverse. This is just a game. A game for the World Cup title in hockey.”
“Look man, winning this is the closest everyone of us will ever come to conquer the Universe”, said Jesse grinning.

Guy harrumphed.

[TJUN-ia]

After another 6-0 win against an unranked team, Ølson Rasmussen's Ice Jaguars were about to enter the game of their lives here at Eisstadion Háttmark in Haderhavn, Graintfjall. The coach's execution may not happen at all whatever happened here tonight, as the IHT are sensing a change in the air when it comes to public perception, but it was Rasmussen that got us to this point right here. Despite that 14-2 loss, despite losing tightly to the hosts and to the Tricksters and despite the air of impending doom this team was surrounded in a week or so ago, this team and their coach kept on fighting and now, here in Haderhavn, they will play for their fate in WCoH42. For the 2nd tournament in a row, the final game was against the King of Swords in Savojarna itself, but instead of it being a rubber game, these two had to fight for the final spot in the playoffs of this long and tight tournament. With the points laid out as it was, the maths was simple for this one: if TJUN-ia were to advance from death, they had to win in regulation. OT would be a literal death blow in this regard.

And so, once again, Ice Jags and Savojars battled it out on the ice, and both Rasmussen and Fridtjof Ragnarsson knew just how big this one was. The first period would see the tight play many expected from this "Playoff-In-All-But-Name" as both teams went for any advantage they could get. Our opponents certainly knew what they were doing and they would score the first goal, Johan Bryzhnev the one who got past Jakob Vaduz in the end, but TJUN-ia would bounce straight back with a goal of their own, "Mr Goal Machine" Julian Visipils himself the one who would keep the hopes of many back in the North Pacific alive - just. The 2nd would be a repeat of the first, with Savojarna continuing the pressure it placed upon our D-Line in a brutal fashion. That would lead to another Savojar goal, Denis Elegin both intercepting and scoring, but TJUN-ia refused to die and Vasil Cherysezsky would find a way past Niklas Hoyman in the end, meaning we entered the 3rd at 2-2 and with everything still on the line.

The tactics of the game would change in the 3rd as both teams recognised what the draw meant for the Playoffs as a whole, with TJUN-ia gunning for a game-leading goal while Savojarna were trying to hold them off and, at least, keep the scores as they were. You could cut the tension with a knife at this point and both fanbases were getting really nervous really fucking quickly. That tension (which was even felt by the neutrals) would be broken with 2 mins to go as the Jags took the unexpected lead, Viktor Orban taking advantage of an intercepted puck (thanks to Li Chei) to the roar of one side of this arena and the anguish of the other. This would then produce chaos as now, it was Savojarna who was looking for a goal in desperation. That would lead to the final minute, where Savojarna got the goalie out to try and make something of a 6v5, but David Stewart was smarter than that and, when he finally found the puck, he would shot it straight into the opposing net to seal this one for good.

Somehow, someway, TJUN-ia was going to the knockouts of the 42nd World Cup of Hockey. The King of Swords had been slain by 9 of its own and, through determination and grit unseen in TJUN-ian sports, Ølson Rasmussen had engineered a miracle. We may fall to the Queen of Wands in Valanora in a few days time but to TJUN-ia, that doesn't matter at all. TJUN-ian Hockey is alive after all and this curse is finally gone.

GO JAGS!

---

SCHEDULE (Group of Swords)
MD1: BYE
MD2: vs Graintfjall (22, 8 of Swords) - Eisstadion Háttmark, Haderhavn L 4-5 (T-10th)
MD3: vs The Grandest Empire (UR, 4 of Swords) - Grand National Arena, Gunzlach W 3-2 (T-8th)
MD4: vs Mapletish (UR, 5 of Swords) - SuperBangMunchVöllur, Zevogur W 1-0 (T-5th)
MD5: vs Kohnhead (26, 7 of Swords)- Elínmundur Heiðreksson Halle, Steinaux W 8-5 (T-4th)
MD6: vs Taeshan (14, 10 of Swords) - Hofvinger Community Arena L 4-6 (T-6th)
MD7: vs Chromatika (29, 6 of Swords) - Hagejoki Play Park W 4-3 (6th)
MD8: vs Cassadaigua (8, Queen of Swords) - Hagejoki Play Park L 2-14 (T-6th)
MD9: vs Xanneria (UR, 3 of Swords) - Hofvinger Community Arena W 6-0 (6th)
MD10: vs Lu Shan (UR, Ace of Swords) - Elínmundur Heiðreksson Halle, Steinaux W 6-0 (5th)
MD11: vs Recuecn (12, Trickster of Swords) - SuperBangMunchVöllur, Zevogur L 4-5 (5th)
MD12: vs Peoples Republic of Xabia (UR, 4 of Swords) - Grand National Arena, Gunzlach W 6-0 (5th)
MD13: vs Savojarna (3, King of Swords) - Eisstadion Háttmark, Haderhavn W 4-2 (4th/W8-L4/+10GD)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Ro16 vs Valanora (5, Queen of Wands)

[Ko-oren]

With the inputs of the ministers in mind, and according to the opinions of the various parliamentary parties, the ministry of Regional and Local Affairs has made a version 1.0 of what could become Ko-oren's new subdivisions. All advice involved was based on language, culture, and land use. The borders were not drawn with economic consequences in mind, which means that sometimes, agglomerations with a high degree of economic integration - be it commuting, the shipping of goods, or production chains - might be broken up. This was obviously not to the liking of the ministries of Trade and Industry, or Employment and Economy, but choices had to be made.

Map (large image!)

The ministries of Education, Infrastructure and Transportation, Regional and Local Affairs, and Domestic Affairs clearly had a lot to say in the drafting of the borders. This is visible in areas like Yoshima, that have been broken up to allow the regions of Alara and Etena to focus on standard Japanese, while Selesi and Leleia can promote Aviansolan Ko-orenite more. Yoshima Dongbu is a Korean and Chinese-speaking region (various dialects and languages of the latter, in fact). Katashi was given a separate subdivision for infrastructure purposes, as the dense metropolis has very different needs compared to the almost empty rest of Leleia.

However, economic reasons have been considered in the southwest, putting the Domains together as Ko-oren's breadbasket (and coincidentally is a historic region!), as well as grouping the Springlands (a term coined specifically for these borders) as they rely on tourism and livestock. Surbourneshire is then were the urban areas of Greencaster and its surrounding commuter towns start. Leeshire is a more urban region intersected by empty plains, reflecting its location at the foot of the mountains.

In some cases, municipalities and cities were given a choice. The Frontier wanted Sterrenwolde to join, but the city opted to remain with Intermare to keep its ties with the Dutch-speaking community alive, rather than make the Frontier a 50% Dutch and 50% northeastern area.

Perhaps the strangest choice is to carve the highly urbanised Corridor out of what was originally Gehrenna. Gehrenna, the current province, is a large subdivision encompassing mountains in the far west, urban areas in the centre, and forests and wetlands in the east. These have now all been given their own place - hence the urban Corridor, the wild Amandine, and then what remains of Gehrenna: towns and crossroads between Leeshire, Cote Austral, Aminey, and coastal Surbourneshire.

Lastly, some cities were given their own separate entities: the KCT, or Ko-orenite Capital Territory, includes the four capital cities of Gehrenna, Mayara, Maethoru, and Senoren. Aminey and Katashi are on their own as well, as mentioned. Lastly, special consideration was given to the northern suburbs of the city of Greencaster: STG, standing for Sydberg, Thornwich, and Guildwood. This could have been a city council decision, but the suburbs rather wanted their own entire subdivision so they could make policy regardless of the larger Greencastrian economical area. STG is comprised of upper class neighbourhoods like Thornwich and Guildwood, as well as the culturally distant Sydberg area. On top of that, both rivers that supply Greencaster from further inland (both rivers originating in Leeshire) flow through STG as well - in return for their 'independence' from the city, they will manage the rivers' flow so Greencaster can focus on its harbour exclusively.

Some regions have seen its GDP per capita plummet: yDremdun wanted independence but doesn't have much going for it. Desierto split off from Finisterre despite most of the region's income being generated by Finisterran cities. The Frontier is now removed from the blossoming tech sector in Sudaefjoll as well as the successful Intermare cities of Sterrenwolde and Schemerdrecht. April has one of the smallest populations, not being part of KCT or Intermare. Gehrenna's finances are also unclear as the cities tended to pay for maintenance elsewhere in the province - that money might have to come from the various border provinces that make heavy use of the new Gehrenna's infrastructure.

Relatively untouched are Intermare (losing several municipalities to the Frontier), West Strand Riding, Mawryshire (which only sees yDremdun leave), and Nordoren (the nomadic TER, or Territory, now on its own). Aerellen splits in two to give the densely populated Azuren its own space while Aerellen can focus on its environment.

The only other subdivisions that haven't been discussed so far have both split off from Surbourneshire: Burnet Island, which sees a long-held wish for independence answered, and Gemwright, a region that has long wanted to fend for itself economically, and hopes to make a more liberal set of policies work.

Over the coming months, the current subdivisions may submit their opinions on the reorganisation.

[Fluvannia]

Windmotor Jackrabbit

Tony and Corinne Richards pulled into the Hurst Avenue parking garage in downtown Scottsville and began ascending through the structure, looking for a spot. Tony's Windmotor Jackrabbit was approaching
its 16th birthday, and was beginning to show it; the high idle speed from a leaking vacuum tube made a terrific din, echoing off the concrete floor and ceiling of the garage enough that he rolled his window
back up in an attempt to muffle the noise somewhat. It didn't work. After finding a spot and noting the level they were on, the two began making their way to the elevator in the corner of the level.
Scottsville was home to Windmotor's headquarters, which meant he had to make a note of exactly where he parked -- he was in close proximity to four other Jackrabbits, two of which were also white. The
little round orange and white ball atop his antenna from the EEGO station near his house was distinctive though, so picking his out wouldn't prove too much of a challenge.

It was Wednesday, which meant it was time for hockey. Fluvannia was fighting for the right to advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup of Hockey for the first time, having come up extremely and
painfully short their first three attempts. They were on the outside looking in, but a win tonight coupled with a loss by Nova Anglicana would send the Bears through to what would automatically be their
best WCoH performance yet. As a result, the local Fluvannia Hockey League team, the Scottsville Pistons, were sponsoring a viewing party at Niijima Park downtown. It was an ideal location; the giant screen
in the amphitheater in the park was perfect for a huge gathering for a sporting event. Besides, it wasn't like the Pistons were up to much; the FHL was paused to allow Fluvannia's best to play for the
national team, and with only three games left in the regular season, the eighth-place Pistons were almost certain to be eliminated from the playoffs anyway. It was nice to be able to wear a hockey jersey in
the city without getting some glares and trash talk, though. Usually, a Chargers jersey -- Tony being from the Charlottesville area -- was asking for at least one rude gesture in Scottsville, but in this case he
had traded the national blue and white as opposed to Chargers orange, navy, and cream. His wife wasn't exactly a hockey fan, though as a Rochester native she would still comment on the Tigers on
occasion.

The park was packed. It didn't help that the get-together had been announced ahead of time to include the junior national team as VIPs -- or at least what was left over from WJHC 16 after Teimo Peräjärvi
and Caleb Gill had moved to the senior team for the World Cup. Peräjärvi and Gill had gotten to exact a little payback on behalf of their peers, beating Nova Anglicana head-head when their junior team had
eliminated the Cubs from the most recent WJHC. Making the playoffs tonight would represent the interest accrued on that payment, as doing so would eliminate Nova Anglicana. The two were the only
teams in their 13-team group whose fates were yet undetermined.

The game against Suimede started off well enough. Alberto Barrett and Julio Hamilton combined for a 2-on-1 goal a few minutes in, and Teukka Salama stood tall in net to keep the score 1-0 after the first. Due to the slight difference in times, the game between Nova Anglicana and Le Choix was already close to the beginning of the second period, though a large groan went up from the crowd when they saw that the Nova Anglicans were leading by that same score. For the second intermission, the mood in the park was more anxious. Suimede had managed a power play goal, and the game was effectively a 20-minute sprint to the final siren. The intermission did nothing to brighten the attendees' evenings, as a cut-in feed from the other game showed a 2-0 NA lead -- which was promptly reduced to a single goal deficit when one of the Chosen players managed a breakaway right before the main event returned to the air.

---

The third period started tentatively. Tony had watched enough hockey in his 29 years to know a guarded, probing approach when he saw one. This wasn't the Bears' preferred style of play, but it also wasn't like they had much of a choice. The next goal could be the decider, and they needed a win. Luckily, the Ice Jaguars were a more offensively-minded team, and when their defense presented an inevitable opening, the Fluvannians pounced on it. They managed an impressive 2:37 of time in the offensive zone, changing out one at a time and completely exhausting the Suimeder defenders, who to their credit did a fantastic job keeping things going that long. It all came to a head when Mark Bradley got the puck. Always good with control of the puck, he was able to deke around the defensemen and put the puck past a sprawling Jage Ozellgage to retake the lead.
Someone on the other side of the city would be forgiven for wondering what on earth that noise was. It sounded like a very strong but distant wind, or perhaps a slow-moving train. In actuality, it was every voicebox in Niijima Park exploding in unison. There were barely five minutes left in regulation, so if Salama and the skaters in front of him could simply prevent any further scoring, they would be upholding their end of the necessary conditions for advancement. A roar only slightly less intense went up when a picture-in-picture feed showed up in the top corner of the screen. It was the other game, and Le Choix had managed to come back to tie it at three. The Ice Jaguars pulled Ozellgage for the extra attacker with 1:24 to go, but despite the fact that the Bears were largely hemmed in their zone for the rest of regulation, any shot that made it past the defense was met by the brick wall currently dressed as Teukka Salama. Ten seconds left. Nine. The countdown went up from the crowd. Eight. Seven. Six -- the countdown became increasingly less decipherable as people began to go wild -- three, two, one!

Whatever sound you thought you heard previously when the tie was broken would be put to shame. "Eruption" would barely do it justice. The dust would quickly settle, however -- the PIP feed was promoted to full screen, as the NA-LC was in to overtime. Only a five-minute period, it was almost halfway over, and neither team appeared willing to give an inch. No inches given by the final horn, the game down to a shootout. It was a good thing the Bears had won in regulation; if they had won in overtime, Nova Anglicana would now be guaranteed to finish at least one point ahead. Each team failed to convert on their first three tries before sticking their fourth; Nova Anglicana was unable to score on their fifth and final try, so it was basically all down to this. Two teams' fates rested on the stick of someone who played for neither, and when they came down the ice, all that mattered was that the puck was in the back of the net.

The Fluvannia junior ice hockey team celebrates the first advancement of the senior team to the knockout round of the World Cup of Hockey,
joined by hundreds of fans at Niijima Park in Scottsville.

[Valanora]

Another win for the Calcuttas during the group stage and as they had expected to do, they leapfrog Ko-oren into first of the group as the group wraps up, enabling themselves to in theory get a far easier path to the Final in doing so. Ko-oren will feel a bit hard done by you would think, being the only team that was able to best the Calcuttas during the group stage, using their (in)famously well defensive brand of the game to keep the Calcuttas off the scoresheet while grabbing a solitary goal themselves to grab that victory, but unlike in some recent years the Calcuttas were able to bounce back from their defeat and keep the wins rolling. While not all of the wins were of the prettiest or cleanest of games, the point remains that they were able to dig down deep inside themselves and able to find victories in games that they might have found ways to lose or be forced into overtime in the last few years. Now that they are in the knockout rounds, they can look to get the program truly back on track to being a world title challenger, rather than continuously falling short of their lofty standards.

The motivation for the Calcuttas is high enough already, looking to properly represent the six stars that adorn their crest, and getting back to their championship standards after a few years of languishing in mediocrity. However it becomes even more intense when it has been a nation that is one of their neighbors that has risen through the ranks to be the current dominant power and the only team that did not suffer a loss in the group stage on top of having the crown of the WCoH, Siovanija & Teusland. Our subregional neighbors have seen a massive growth over the last few years in the international game and their place at the summit is quite rightfully earned, but that that will not mean that we will not be gunning for them and looking to knock them off their perch. While we respect their ability and the hard work that it takes to get into that position, the competition is tough at the top and we have a legacy of being among the best in the history of the sport to hold onto and any friendly goodwill goes out the window when it comes to championships.

With the second best record in the group stage, the side did get the second seed and will be taking on the second to worst fourth placed team that qualified for the knockouts. With the sixth best offense and fifth best defense, the Calcuttas were elite without being the best at either side of the game, which stands to reason with the amount of goals that the side did concede against unranked team as well as the scintillating game against Sarzonia that had eleven goals between the two. The high powered offense stat is equally impressive when you consider that the team was kept off the scoresheet in one of their games, a true testament to the skills on offense that the team has and can unleash when in their peak performance. That balance is going to be quite key as the team will be able to adjust to their respective competition as they come up against them in the various rounds, becoming almost chameleon like in their approach, a wise way to approach the knockouts given the wide variety of teams that have made it out of the group stage.

It all begins with TJUN-ia for the Calcuttas, a team who has was high on goals scored but equally as likely to be scored on, allowing the most goals against for any team that has made it into the knockout stage while having the second most goals scored. It will be a game that looks to test the blue line of the Calcuttas and if they have recovered mentally from the game against Sarzonia where they had been torched a few too many times, as the goals given up against North Alezia and Pius Desurongcrandis afterwards showed that they had a bit of a mental shake up after that track meet of a game. With as leaky as TJUN-ia has been on the backend, it is clear that the top two or even three lines of the side will be able to play their game without too much hassle, but it is on the blue line that the difference will need to be had. If the team's blue liners can get over the mental hurdle that the Sarzonia game has given then, then this should be an easy win for the six time former champions, or else they will be brought into another one of those sweaty goal galore track meets that anyone can win.

[Siovanija and Teusland]

Hockey Today Magazine

Hockey History

The Heavyweight Champions of Hockey
Part VII - The Wild Wild Days

The early 1980s was a time of great change in the Ehrenliga. A number of high-skilled players were coming into the league, opening things up and creating incredibly high-scoring games. The game was moving from the brutal violence of the early 1970s towards the more Chernovets-style hockey of the late 70s, and those new players were opening things up.

Anatol Weisz is the obvious choice - the GOAT of the Ehrenliga, he came into the league as an incredibly hot prospect drafted by the Kaiserhaven Knights. More defencemen were coming up in the mold of the skilled, speedy Stanislav Slezak of the previous generation, too - such as Otto Kisch of the Stelburg Kaisers, who set a record for goals scored in a season by a defenceman. What this all meant was wide-open, free-flowing hockey enjoyed by fans and hated by some coaches who couldn’t stand their defence collapsing.

There was still a role to play, however, for enforcers in the Ehrenliga. How do you stop Anatol Weisz, the quickest, smartest player in the league? You take away his time on the puck, and his speed, through physical play. Tight checking. Anatol Weisz, at 5’11 and a bit underweight, especially compared to the big defenders of the league, couldn’t really defend himself - but if someone was on the ice with him, someone big to keep an element of fear in the game, you had something.

That was what Knights’ owner Peter Pozl was thinking when he acquired Elmo Stieler in a trade, openly stating such - describing him as a ‘bodyguard player’ for Weisz. The big defender was a legend by this point, adored by fans, and he instantly was called to fill his role - playing on the ice with Weisz almost every shift in the first few weeks of the season. Asked by the media how he felt about the title of ‘bodyguard’, he responded: “Well, playing with him might get me a few more points this season, so it’s fine by me.”

Stieler was still one of the big bodies of the league, and feared by many, making him the perfect candidate for such a role. His reign as the near-undisputed champion fighter of the Ehrenliga was relatively unchallenged. But at the same time, the Knights weren’t quite finding success in the postseason - a loss in the first round to the Stelburg Kaisers, and a one-sided loss in the Strauss Cup Final against Rudar Trkev. These teams had managed to shut the best player in the game down, even with a bodyguard. Something needed to change.

Anatol Weisz had been the first overall pick in the Knights’ draft in 1979, but they also managed to pick out some gems from the lower rounds as well. Marcel Elbraum, the winger, was a 40 goal scorer on Weisz’s wing, and Richard Ganz a capable centre of the second line. Most important, however, was Horst Weider.

Weider had blazed through the Teus junior league, setting records for points and goals by a defenceman. He was quick despite his size, and he could hit and fight too. It is clear in him the evolution of the game in Siovanija & Teusland - from fighters who couldn’t skate to skilled players who could fight. Some, however, felt that he would never make in the Ehrenliga due to his all-out offensive game from the back end, and that allowed him to slip to the Knights in the second round.

Other teams would soon regret that, as paired up with Elmo Stieler, Weider made an instant impact coming into the league in 1981. He was everything the Knights’ scouts had hoped for, and when he fought Olympia Borograd’s Dejan Moric early in the season, he quickly became a fan favourite. Despite the playoff struggles, the Knights felt that their time was coming.

Another team, however, was coming into prominence at this time. In Stelburg, Eisbaren Stelburg had hired journeyman minor leaguer Oskar Kirsche as their new head coach. Kirsche favoured a physical, hard-working game, and he built his team around this idea. In the press, they were compared often with the Seelowe Marlesee teams of the early 1970s. Supporters argued you could still win this way, detractors said the game had clearly passed Kirsche by.

Eisbaren were led by star centre Gunter Potthast, a 50-goal scorer, but Kirsche’s influence was clear all around him. On the back end, Heinz Kott was one of the roughest players in the league, and Bruno Oberhausen beside him made up a defence pairing only beaten in intimidation by Stieler-Weider. In the regular season, these two played, and a Kott-Stieler fight made headlines for being the first time in years Stieler had truly been challenged. Fans eagerly anticipated a playoff showdown.

It would come in the second round. Eisbaren Stelburg set out to grind down Anatol Weisz, while the bodyguards set out to defend him as much as possible. At the end of a long, brutal 6 game series, Weisz and the Knights came out on top. Weisz had 4 points in the game 6 win, the back breaker for Eisbaren, as they could not shut him down the entire series. The Knights would go on to take home the Strauss Cup for the first time in the team’s history.

Next season, Eisbaren Stelburg committed even more to their ‘lunch-pail style.’ Bringing in a few more depth players, they made a good run in the playoffs again and after defeating their crosstown rivals the Stelburg Kaisers reached the Strauss Cup Final to face the Knights. Kaiserhaven would have their number again, however, with the Knights winning the series in just 5 games. A fight between Bruno Oberhausen and Elmo Stieler made headlines after game 1, with Stieler taking the clear win, and Oskar Kirsche looking to re-think his team.

Rethink he would: in the offseason, Eisbaren traded Heinz Kott and a few prospects for star winger Dieter Grasshoff, another skilled player. Clearly, Kirsche felt it was necessary to change things up. But even then, however, Eisbaren still couldn’t get past Anatol Weisz and the Knights. The Knights had seemingly achieved the perfect balance of skill to physicality, and they would win 4 of the next 5 Strauss Cups, while Oskar Kirsche would be out of a job at Eisbaren. A few years later, he would finally take the Cup with Seelowe Marlesee, but with a team built much more like Kaiserhaven than Eisbaren.

Elmo Stieler, the man who had come to dominate two eras of physicality in the Ehrenliga, would retired following the 4th Cup win, and took his place in the National Hockey Hall of Fame. Unbeatable on his day in a fight, he was a fan-favourite everywhere he went, and even today, many years later, any enforcer is undoubtedly going to be compared to him. Horst Weider would take up the mantle somewhat, holding our unofficial heavyweight belt for a good amount of the late 1980s.

Things were, however, changing again. Perhaps that’s the real theme of our series - constant change. The Ehrenliga introduced new instigator rules at the end of the 1980s that practically killed the bodyguard role. Into the next era we go, then, to discover what comes next.

[Graintfjall]

IC info for Universe phase:

All games are being played at Segulmagnaðirborg. There are four arenas in the city, imaginatively named “Arenas 1 – 4”, and with eight games, that means each will double up. In IC terms, the 2nd seed v 3rd seed matches will be played in the afternoon and the 1st seed v 4th seed matches in the evening; in OOC terms, all will be scorinated at the same time.

Arena 1

Afternoon game: Ko-oren v Gyatso-Kai
Evening game: Mercedini v Quebec & Shingoryeo

Built on the site of the Propulsion Laboratory campus. People here are rather overfond of “it’s not exactly rocket science” jokes, but otherwise are a well-meaning and enthusiastic bunch of absolute nerds. In between the afternoon and evening games, there will be a launch of a kraken-monitoring satellite, to which all those with tickets will be permitted to attend.

Arena 2

Afternoon game: Kriegiersien v Reçueçn
Evening game: Cassadaigua v Fluvannia

Incorporated into the main campus of the Planetary & Geospatial Sciences Department of the University of Waltenberg. The main university lies far to the southeast but has opened a specialist postgraduate research facility here. Fans will mainly be UW students, who tend towards staunch conservative Catholicism and fanatical anti-communism. Between afternoon and evening games, fans will have a choice of diversions: an exciting new 3-D render of the telemetry from a recently returned deep space probe, or a four hour lecture on the evils of Marxism from the campus political officer.

Arena 3

Afternoon game: Abanhfleft v Sarzonia
Evening game: Valanora v TJUN-ia

Just outside the barracks of the Marine Force Protection Unit JF2 “Banshees”, this arena is naturally popular with the many military personnel seen around the area. Græntfjall is not a heavily militarized society in general, but the sensitive nature of many of the projects at the Cosmodrome mean extra security is on hand. In between afternoon and evening games there will be an opportunity to watch the well-drilled Life Guards Unit perform their ceremonial evening changing of the guard.

Arena 4

Afternoon game: Græntfjall v HUElavia
Evening game: Siovanija & Teusland v Kelssek

Set on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Blood, the final arena puts the “nautical” back in “aeronautical” (the second “A” in GANAX). It’s attached to the marine sciences division of GANAX, who conduct long-term deep sea operations here to ready astronauts for space. The demonstration between afternoon and evening games will be the return to dry dock of an anti-kraken search-and-destroy submarine, the GSS Naughty Liz .

[Mercedini]

World Cup of Hockey XLII
Group Of Pentacles: Happily Ever After
@ Westfjall Arena - Laafjörður, Graintfjall

World Cup Of Hockey: The Next Chapter

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FINAL

WCOH | MD13

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MERCEDINI 2
GREGARY 0

(1-0) (1-0) (0-0)

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Laafjörður, Graintfjall

Mercedini managed to end the group stage n style, by getting their hands on one of the more rare accolades in international hockey, a clean sheet! That's right, it may have been a rather drab affair, and they might have been little to play for, but Dini ended the group stage in fine form as they beat mid-table Gragary by two goals to nil. While Dini were already assured of a decent seeding in the knockout rounds, the top spot was at stake, where a win or any result in overtime would likely see them stay to earn themselves a supposed easier draw in the knockout rounds. That they did, and Dini will play the best fourth seed in the group due to the sheer closeness of the Group of Pentacles.

The match was pretty much a damp squib in many senses of the word. Not much to play for, a bit of a mismatch on paper, and a game which didn't really deliver much on paper either. Granted, it was another once of those games where Selignsky treated it as another rest game for his players, before the business end of the tournament begins. The second and third lines were out once again, and ocne again failed to make any major splash, but it was a match for the future, and Mercedini playing tactical to aid their chances of going further into the tournament. A double from Paulo Merlo was ultimately the difference between the two sides in Laafjordur, in front of a less than full stadium filled with Mercedinians and locals.

It will send the Kingfishers through as the top seed in through group, beating the likes of Abanhfleft, Gyatso-Kai and Fluvannia to the number one spot, but all mentioned nations will feature in the round of sixteen draw at some point, and against varying degrees of opposition. Mercedini, by virtue of their top seeding, will face Quebec & Shingoryeo in the Round of 16. They finished fourth in the Group of Cups, winning eight of their twelve matches.

   Group of Pentacles             Pld    W  OTW  OTL    L   GF   GA   GD  Pts 
 1 Mercedini                       12    9    1    1    1   46   19  +27   30
 2 Abanhfleft                      12    9    0    1    2   45   23  +22   28
 3 Gyatso-Kai                      12    8    0    1    3   48   32  +16   25
 4 Fluvannia                       12    8    0    1    3   56   35  +21   25
 5 Nova Anglicana                  12    8    0    1    3   33   24   +9   25
 6 United States of Devonta        12    6    1    2    3   32   30   +2   22
 7 Le Choix                        12    5    2    1    4   25   23   +1   20
 8 Gergary                         12    5    2    0    5   22   24   –2   19
 9 Suimede                         12    4    1    0    7   30   32   –2   14
10 Anthor                          12    2    2    0    8   22   39  –17   10
11 Islands of Ventro               12    3    0    1    8   38   54  –16   10
12 Grey County                     12    1    0    1   10   19   50  –31    4
13 Salzcovia                       12    0    1    0   11   17   48  –31    2

In the knockouts, Mercedini will have the evening game against Quebec, with plenty of heavy hitters making it through to the next round of the tournament. If Dini win their bout, then they could face a rematch against Fluvannia, that's if they beat Cassadaigua in their knokcout fixture. There will be no Savojarna in the big shock of the edition so far, but Siovanija, Ko-oren and Valanora are all going strong, looking to pick up the 42nd edition's title.

(1) Siovanija & Teusland v Kelssek (16)
(2) Valanora v TJUN-ia (15)
(3) Cassadaigua v Fluvannia (14)
(4) Mercedini v Quebec & Shingoryeo (13)
(5) Ko-oren v Gyatso-Kai (12)
(6) Kriegiersien v Reçueçn (11)
(7) Abanhfleft v Sarzonia (10)
(8) Græntfjall v HUElavia (9)

As we know, it will be Quebec and Shingoryeo next. Dini have navigated the long and arduous group stage, now they must go through titan after titan to put their name on the cup for the first time. They have gotten to the finals once before, they have got to the final four on numerous occasions. However, history means nothing on night like these. We will give you coverage of the game in Graintfjall, plus what that means for the knockouts as the field beings to thin out significantly. Andiamo!

[Quebec and Shingoryeo]

Part 7.

> 11:05 A.M. TEAM BUS TO HAMEENVALTA SUPER ARENA

The hall of fame coach who was on the Hockey Quebec radar for past 40 years was Alexandre Browne-Hahm. Through his first decade with Kingston Knights, his hometown team where he played after a decade with Farrer University Redmen, both his and his father's alma mater, he was arguably the greatest goaltender in all of the Multiverse. At age 26, at his fourth year in the Quebec Hockey League, he may have reached the best year of his life when he won both the Prenneau Cup with Kingston Knights and the 26th World Cup of Hockey World Cup of Hockey with the national team he's now managing. 'A lot of these guys, they have seen what it means to be the best, but have not been the part of it yet, I'm afraid,' says Browne-Hahm, as he organises the goaltender practices. 'Those were the days when the Ice Knights had no trouble bringing three world-class goaltenders and you'd have to scramble for the starter position, and we haven't been there in ages.'

Coach Alexandre, when not coordinating practices, is usually busy taking a look at the Ice Knights' players and how they behave. Long famous for his coordination of team practices when younger (as opposed to letting the assistants or a defenceman coordinate it), a habit that continued very well into his decade as a Major junior coach and now with the Kingston Knights, he doesn't stop being attentive towards his players and their respective habits beyond the ice.

The quieter of the two assistants who hasn't had much to say this tournament is George Thorpe-Chun, the CSKA Quebec head coach now on his third year with the club, and he continues to write down notes. While Coach Browne's usually the one speaking out on the press, Thorpe-Chun usually keeps himself on the sidelines, planning defensive strategies for the upcoming matchups. Long familiar with the famous 1-2-1 trap defence associated with CSKA Quebec, he is still figuring out the ways to beat the Banijans, whom they have not beaten in some time. 'It is probable we'll probably have to come down to the wire tomorrow,' Thorpe-Chun says, while still working out the details regarding defensive pairings. None are really convincing enough, especially not with Henri-Michael Yi feeling off from the night before. 'I expect both teams to win tonight, and especially with how high the stakes are, we will have to play to our best.'

The team captain who was the first person to come back to the training camp was Eileen Pellan. Pellan, who opted out of last World Cup of Hockey, has struggled with a hamstring injury that limited her form, but was able to have a hot second half of most recent season to return to the national team.

Since the Knights' run to Prenneau Cup Finals game 7 4 years ago, Pellan's life had made several turns. Nowadays, it's more or less the matter of how long this veteran, with her reliability the key reason behind the second line placement, can continue with the pace expected of international hockey. Coach Browne doesn't have an answer, nor do either of the assistants, but they hope she will be back for them next cycle as well.

> 2:00 P.M. - GYM, HVARFHEIM HATTMARK

While most of the national team's out in the Holl, three members of the national team are still testing the mills at team hotel. Earlier in the day, after the practice at the arena, they were instructed to return to their hotels and continue conditioning themselves at the hotel gym, to see if they can manage to get themselves back in time for the match. Lots of unpented energy in sight.

Browne, Thorpe-Chun and Varelin want all three members of the team to improve their physical condition by the seven in the evening, ahead of the penultimate match of the group stage. While away in the Graintfjaller parliament, they are receiving consistent updates every fifteen minutes about gym and trainer's room updates for those three. The coaches are hearing good news about two of them- left wingers Gabrielle Clements and Michael McKenna- and expect both to be skating high-teens for playing minutes.

At the same time, the kid who is at the hot bath close to the end of the session is Benoit Starmer-Jodoin. Having pulled a couple of muscules from earlier, he's spent most of the afternoon stretching and getting his body relaxed to the condition in the trainer's room. After the end of the training session, he rests in the spa, not saying much. 'I'll be back on ice,' he says, without any certainty. 'I kinda have to, else it's gonna get trickier ahead of tomorrow's matchup.'

> 7:00 P.M. - QUEBEC AND SHINGORYEO VS. BOHEMIAIV HAMEENVALTA SUPER ARENA

Almost ninety percent of the sellout crowd were donning the Tricolour Taeguk in BohemiaIV. The Ice Knights are going to spread out the playing minutes, and with the good news for all three whom they were concerned, it was a good time for them to slowly get back into the condition. Hämeenvalta Super Arena isn't the finest of arenas for the Ice Knights to play, and both sides were feeling sloggish on team practice earlier in the day.

It's the closest to old school hockey for Browne-Hahm, who remembered his peewee, bantam and high school days with legendary Erskine Collegiate program coached by his father. His father, who long passed him when he was twenty-four, brought him to the rink every day, and they would skate for hours a the local rink. Browne-Hahm vividly remembered how unsafe those arenas were back in the 90s and first half of 00s, and agree that things can certainly improve with ice conditions here. 'Less than desirable,' Browne-Hahm says.

Still, it is in these challenging matches where the difference in team calibre shows the most, and the Ice Knights may have been the beneficiaries. By the end of the game, it's a solid, 5-1 win for the Ice Knights, and the goaltending, long considered the team's weakness, was solid once again.

> 10:00 P.M. BUS BACK TO HVRAFEIM HATTMARK

The team heads to the loading docks where the bus is parked. But the night's not over for any of those guys- they have made it back to the playoffs.

[Graintfjall]

Let’s think the unthinkable, let’s do the undoable. Let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all.

Ro16 cutoff

Afternoon matches
Ko-oren 0–2 Gyatso-Kai
Kriegiersien 3–2 Reçueçn
Abanhfleft 2–3 Sarzonia
Græntfjall 0–2 HUElavia [OOC: scorinated by Chromatika]

Evening matches
Mercedini 3–4 Quebec & Shingoryeo
Cassadaigua 6–1 Fluvannia
Valanora 5–2 TJUN-ia
Siovanija & Teusland 3–0 Kelssek

Quarterfinals:

(1) Siovanija & Teusland v HUElavia (9) @ Arena 4
(2) Valanora v Sarzonia (10) @ Arena 3
(3) Cassadaigua v Kriegiersien (6) @ Arena 2
(13) Quebec & Shingoryeo v Gyatso-Kai (12) @ Arena 1

[Gyatso-kai]

┤ A LOOK INTO GYATSO-KAI ├
A Multi-Part Series

Written by Akaan BEROYA

Water. Earth. Fire. Air

So are the Four Elements. The basis of our national identities when it comes to the Elemental Nations.

If you are not familiar with the Avatarian Republics, consider this a crash course in our, as we are classified, Supranational Theocratic Federal Republic.

Wow Akaan… that’s a lot of fancy words there. Would you mind breaking them down?

Of course. It is always a pleasure to educate people. After all, bajur – Education – is the first of the Six Tenets of the Resol’nare.

• Supranational – Having power or influence that transcends national boundaries
• Theocratic – Relating to or denoting a system of government in which ‘priest’ rule in the name of “God” or a god
• Federal – Having or relating to a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs
• Republic – A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which as an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Now, how do all of those come to describe the Avatarian Republics of Gyatso-kai?

Let us work backwards and it will all become clear.

The Republic represents the democratic processes that lead to the people of Gyatso-kai electing their representatives to send to Republic City to vote on laws and acts that will then be passed down through what are known as the seven cultural “Home Nations” that are then governed by the Federal state. These seven Home Nations are:

• The Confederation of Water Tribes
• The Unified Earth Kingdom
• The Fire Nation
• The Nomadic Air People
• The Mandalorian Clans
• The Ponyist Realms

Each of these seven Home Nations functions as an independent state within the Republics; each of Nations are essentially autonomous in regard to their internal organization, as well as having their own systems of government that differ between them – a confederation of tribal states in the Water Tribes, a collection of royal city-states all subservient to one High King in the Earth Kingdom, a constitutional monarchy in the Fire Nation, a council of elders for the Air People, s tribal chiefdom for the Mandalorians, and a democratically-elected assembly for the Ponyist Realms.. So long as laws passed do not contradict or oppose laws passed by the Republic government, each Nation can do as their system pleases; all of the Home Nations are democratic by nature, with elections happening throughout the year regarding everything from city officials to leaders of Republic parties and officials in both the Senate of the Republics as well as the Council of Nations; the two house of the Avatarian legislature.

And therein is the Supranational aspect of our nation’s classification; the member Home Nations elect politicians and appointees to serve in Republic City for the Legislature of the Avatarian Republics. The government of the Avatarian Republics is a bit convoluted at times, but thankfully, there is a DIAGRAM to help make heads or tails of it all.

I wont bore you with the details.

Now on to the Theocratic aspect, which is immediately obvious should you ever visit.

With Avatarism as the State Religion, and the Avatar acting as both the Head of State as well as the Head of the State Religion, Gyatso-kai classifies itself as a “theocratic” nation; using religious principles and authority figures to make policy for the country as a whole. While the Avatar is not the Head of Government – that role belonging to the Chancellor – the Chancellor is appointed by the Avatar themselves and often consults the Avatar in matters of state and policy. Avatars in the past often played a far-less significant role in government, allowing the Home Nations to act as independent countries (in practice, they were) and during the founding years of the Avatarian Republics, Avatar Roku served as both Head of State and Head of Government, and it wasn’t until his death in 1972 that saw then-Chancellor Chou Kyabgon become the Head of Government for Gyatso-kai, and with many of her reforms enacted during the Time of Mourning – an officially designated time period between the death of an Avatar and the discovery of their reincarnation – became law by the time Avatar Aang became eighteen and able to take on the role as Avatar.

Nowadays, the Avatar is seen as the spiritual leader of Gyatso-kai, and given Avatar Aang’s penchant for diplomacy, he takes a front seat in matters of multi-verse politics and federal affairs, often times standing center stage and speaking with Chancellor Li Meiqi’s full blessings. In the last ten years of Chancellor Li’s administration, there has yet to be a time the two Heads of Gyatso-kai ever butted.

But there is always a first time…

The system under which the Avatarian Republics operates is a bit unique in the world, in that it incorporates a multitude of aspects from various types of government into one, overarching and encompassing system that governs effectively some- 30-billion citizens.

Hard to imagine any other system being used by us…

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