CAFA Cup IV: High Noon at Mega Mountain - RP/Results Thread

by **Ko-oren** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 2:31 am

CAFA 4: Ko-oren!
thank you to Starblaydia for making the logo.

Welcome to Ko-oren for the fourth edition of the CAFA Cup! It's everybody's favourite format, let's see who can join the boat, the blue (and orange), and the bull!

Rosters Thread • Host Bid • CAFA 3

TEAMS

Ko-oren
Flavovespia
Audioslavia
The Karodin Tetrarchy
Aleirave
Krytenia
Iskandervale
Savigliane
Legalese
Ochre Islands
Huayramarca
Cobrio
Starblaydia
Mertagne
Pyazhnaya
Yesopalitha
Chromatika
Estorvipa and Estorpiva
Evermark
Aut-Ves-Nat
Osarius
StrayaRoos
Cocoabo Forest
SLDRPL
Cheboa
Gortolekua
The 189
Euran Oceanian Territories
Cardenao
Montesina

Round 1:

Ko-oren vs Montesina
Flavovespia vs Cardenao
Audioslavia vs Euran Oceanian Territories
The Karodin Tetrarchy vs The 189
Aleirave vs Gortolekua
Krytenia vs Cheboa
Iskandervale vs SLDRPL
Savigliane vs Cocoabo Forest
Legalese vs StrayaRoos
Ochre Islands vs Osarius
Huayramarca vs Aut-Ves-Nat
Cobrio vs Evermark
Starblaydia vs Estorvipa and Estorpiva
Mertagne vs Chromatika
Pyazhnaya vs Yesopalitha

SCHEDULE

Cutoff between 22:00 and 23:00 CEST (20:00-21:00 UTC). Preferably a little early in the window: treat 22:00 as the cutoff time.

15-Jul: MD1
17-Jul: MD2
19-Jul: MD3
21-Jul: MD4
23-Jul: MD5

25-Jul: QF (and consolation bracket QF)
27-Jul: SF (and consolation bracket SF)
29-Jul: Final, 3PPO (and consolation bracket F and 3PPO)

ROLEPLAYING INFORMATION

RPs with a word count between 300 and 400 will receive a small bonus.

Code: Select all: [box][b]If my opponent RPs our match first, I give them permission to:[/b] Godmod scoring events: Y/N RP Injuries to my players: Y/N Godmod injuries to my players: Y/N Hand out yellow cards to my players: Y/N Hand out red cards to my players: Y/N Godmod other events: Y/N I prefer you pick these goalscorers for my side: [/box]

by **Ko-oren** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 2:32 am

General information
Ko-oren is an island nation in Anaia's west with a little over 27 million inhabitants. You'll find that public transport covers pretty much everywhere where you need to go, and it's affordable. ... extra?

Money
The Korona has been getting stronger and stronger as Ko-oren's economy keeps developing. One NSD gives you about 110 KOR these days. Public transport is very cheap (the Willowbourne metro takes just 1.1 NSD (or 121 KOR) for a journey), groceries (especially luxury goods not native to Ko-oren) are a little on the expensive side - for a Ko-orenite. Wages, pensions, and costs are rising quickly due to our growing economy - which started growing before the Anaian move but since then growth at least hasn't slowed down. Government policy makes sure that inflation doesn't get out of hand, while protecting workers' rights and the environment are huge priorities. Tourism is a huge sector of the Ko-orenite economy, so there will be enough hotels and things to do for everyone.

Laws
We'll just say it: alcohol is banned in Ko-oren. And so are other drugs. For the rest, we're fairly chill. Except when it comes to littering. Do not litter.

Climate & Weather
See here for information on the region you're playing in. The country has varying climates and weather types: the northeast is still a bit chilly this time of year, while the southeast has a subtropical, humid heat going on. The centre of the main island is fairly dry, while the south coast ranges from windy/rainy (Mawryshire) to friendly and balanced (Springlands, Surbourneshire) to very, very arid (Finisterre). The bay has generally nice weather all the time, with southern Cote Austral known nationally as where the best weather is all the time, with Aminey and the KCT being 'just nice' and Intermare often being just on the cold side of acceptable.

The landscape varies at least as much as the climate: the northeastern steppe, the eastern rainforests, Finisterre's desert, Amandine's and the Springlands' wetlands, the river valleys of central Ko-oren, the mountain ranges in the west and northeast, the grasslands of Intermare, Mayara, and Mawryshire...

Languages
Many languages are spoken in Ko-oren. The national one is Gehrennan, the main ones are English, Dutch, French, and Japanese. That's not all: there's also Mawr (a Gaelic language), Finisterran (a Romance language), and Tarrashall, Altioran, and Aviansolan (related to Gehrennan).

Politics
We're a meritocratic nation, so almost all important positions are appointed - we're going through a phase of re-appointment, so don't mind the news going a little crazy.
The meritocratic government is checked by a democratically elected parliament - and we're also going through elections, so don't mind the news going a little crazy over that as well.

Football
Football was the first sport to break through in Ko-oren, but not exactly the one we got our early international successes with. That said, the league is the longest running professional league in the country, with its 12 clubs and very, very recent IFCF success. From the 50s until the mid-80s, the national team flew under the radar, often invited to the show but rarely stealing the spotlight, until losing (and later winning) a World Cup final. There has been some regional success, first in the AOCAF (1 trophy) and now in the CAFA (1 final lost).

You'll probably know about the rabid approach to defending: we'll have you know we're not all like that. The national team, and clubs like Straudum VV have made it its entire identity. Sure, Schemerdrecht SVV, Cirelbourne United, and Bruncester United AFC are also somewhat defensive, but our biggest names in club football, Maethoru SC and Aminey CS, barely count as defensive teams. Katashi-Kanatsu and Advance Alara are very attacking. Branvon CD, Miradela GD, and the rest are all fairly middling in their style as well.

Stadiums
With 30 teams, we have 15 games going on per round. The top game will always be played in stadium 1, the second one in stadium 2, etc, all the way down to match 15 in stadium 15.

1 Stade sur la Baie (70000) in Aminey, Aminey. Team: Aminey CS, Aminey Caspians, Aminey Buffaloes, Aminey Owls (Football, Gridiron, Rugby league, Rugby league)
2 Surbourneshire Square (65000) in Greencaster, Surbourneshire. Team: Greencaster Godspeed, Greencaster Galaxy (Gridiron, Rugby union)
3 Willowbowl (55000) in Willowbourne, Corridor. Team: Willowbourne Saints, Willowbourne Foxes (Gridiron, Rugby union)
4 Orange Bowl (54000) in Schemerdrecht, Intermare. Team: Schemerdrecht SVV, Schemerdrecht Admirals (Football, Gridiron)
5 Rikalathen Arena (44000) in Maethoru, KCT. Team: Maethoru SC, Mayara Wanderers-Vulpecula (Football, Rugby union)
6 Suzumebachi Stadium (32700) in Katashi, Katashi. Team: Katashi-Kanatsu, Katashi Hawks, Katashi Wasps (Football, Rugby league, Rugby league)
7 Estádio Fortaleza (29000) in Santa Teresa, Finisterre. Team: Miradela GD, Santa Teresa Sabres (Football, Rugby league)
8 Hertfield (33000) in Mawrystwyth, Mawryshire. Team: Mawryshire Centaurs, Mawrystwyth Phoenix (Gridiron, Rugby union)
9 The Palace (34000) in Eaglebury, West Strand Riding. Team: Eaglebury Emperors, Eaglebury Aquila (Gridiron, Rugby union)
10 Estádio Marítimo (28000) in Santa Teresa, Finisterre. Team: Branvon CD (Football)
11 Het Planetarium (46000) in Sterrenwolde, Intermare. Team: Sterrenwolde Dragonflies (Gridiron)
12 Northern Arena (32000) in Aevanna, Aerellen. Team: Aerellen Explosions (Gridiron)
13 Stade Amandine (30000) in Étouille, Cote Austral. Team: Tanques AOE, Étouille Vultures (Football, Rugby league)
14 Armskirk Municipal Ground (26000) in Maynard, Leeshire. Team: Maynard AFC, Maynard Andromeda (Football, Rugby union)
15 Spider Stadium (27100) in Alara, Alara. Team: Advance Alara, Alara Spiders (Football, Rugby league)

Knockout info

by **Ochre Islands** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 7:38 am

The Prime Minister was brushing her teeth before bed when she caught sight of herself in the mirror. She was an old woman. It was an irrefutable fact. She'd arrived in the Ochres when they were first settled 22 years ago in her mid forties and yet here she was, in her late sixties, still in charge, still making things tick over nicely. She'd overseen the creation of the nation, the first tentative steps of diplomacy, then been critical to the formation of AORTA, one of Anaia's new regional agreements to help make tourism easier. It had, naturally, significant upsides for the Ochre Islands that none of the other states present missed, but none could criticise a beautiful nation looking to make the most of the tourist Florin.

She spat the remains of the toothpaste out of her mouth, rinsed the sink out and carefully turned around, leaving the bathroom and entering the hallway. It wasn't that Lucy minded being old, or slowing down a little bit physically, she still had all of her life's memories and lessons as well as plenty of lessons learned. The islands had slowly began forming some of their own ways and customs, especially those which had filled with arrivals from the same part of the old country, and even more especially those areas of the Ochres which had been settled in more cut-off regions such as steep valleys or up in the hills. Though the borough and island capitals appeared on the official map, there were still places that would only ever be noticed by the most interest map readers on individual maps of each island, or by tourists passing through via either car or walking on one of the many free-paths that criss-crossed the nation, meeting ferry routes (both large and small) where they need to. And yet it was elections that her mind kept coming back to .She had meant to hold elections by now but there wasn't any particular popular will for them. The Ochre Islanders, mostly still born in the old country at this point, were so used to not having a say in who the Head of State was that this situation was perfectly normal to them.

She laid her head down on the pillow, without fear for the future, though as she fell asleep, she had the sense something was waiting for her within the haze of sleep.

by **Audioslavia** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 8:07 am

Golden Bulls ready for Casaran CAFA

The Casaran system has its detractors. Some people like published fixtures, some like consistent rankings, there are those who value fairness above all else. The Casaran system likes to shrug nonchalantly at all of them and suggest that each of those things were never that important in the first place. Any counter-arguments generally hit fresh air. Not because the Casaran system is untouchable (it is very touchable) but because between occasional airings it generally gets put back in the closet for another five cycles before someone even dares mention the 'C' word again. No, not Krytenia.

Audioslavians of a certain vintage, however (read: dead), have fond memories of the Casaran system.

Making their regional tournament debut the dawn of Cycle 59, a newly relocated Audioslavian national team re-emerged onto the international football scene with a point to prove, yet with only a handful of ne'erdowells to do the proving of it.

Audioslavia: AOCAF 34 roster

#  Pos Name                  Age    Club                 Born
1   GK Henry Charlestone     34     Silica City          Silexhera
2   RB Jurk Jaffacake        16     Unaffiliated         Errikesh
3   LB Gaetano Quagliarella  24     Cedrus Soundgardia   Starblaydia
4   CB 'Ted'                 32     Los Riosa Prison     Taeshan
5   CB Delain Colgan         20     Riailia Village      Vilita
6   CB Andre-Luis Particle   19     Unaffiliated         Cafundeu
7   RW Calaexa Jeroen        20     Riailia Village      Turori
8   CM Torsten Ibsen         19     F.K. Ørken Okser     Audioslavia
9   CF Marc Vauvenargues     20     Silica City          Silexhera
10  AM Weverton Spradic      18     Unaffiliated         Cafundeu  
11  LW Mantzio Janssens      18     Sporting Iturributa  Astograth
12  GK Mo McAdam             35     Cedrus Soundgardia   Starblaydia
13  LB Ruven Del Toro        25     Silica City          Silexhera
14  LW Jussi Makkinnen       22     Cedrus Soundgardia   Starblaydia
15  CB Murray Quealie        30     AFC Thistled Ridge   Audioslavia
16  CB Cassio Di Rossiverdi  19     Cedrus Soundgardia   Starblaydia
17  CF Claudio Monza         24     Cedrus Soundgardia   Starblaydia
18  CM Daniel Cleverly       33     1830 Cathair         Audioslavia
19  CF Xavi-Luis Pantera     22     Silica City          Silexhera
20  CM Mauro Calvino         21     Cerdus Soundgardia   Starblaydia  
21  CM Vava Cezathazacera    18     DDM Dunas Secas      Audioslavia
22  CB Dave Pegg             34     1830 Cathair         Audioslavia

With a side cobbled together from various grandfather-ruled professional footballers and the core of the squad coming from Starblaydi second-division also-rans Cedrus Soundgardia, flecked with 'talent' from Audioslavia's domestic league (check out substitute centre-half Murray Quealie of a team now known as Burdoc Ridge, and 34 year-old Dave Pegg of a famous yet struggling then-amateur team you may have heard of), manager Kelly Sporadic (formerly a player for Silxhera's national team) and son Weverton (who'd go on to play for Athens Town in Civil Citizenry) embarked upon a veritable suicide mission in the thirty-fourth AOCAF Cup. Five games against what they figured would be increasingly weak oppoition. A quest to find their level.

And then they beat Cafundeu in the opening game. Cafundeu the reigning champions. Cafundeu the number one ranked side in the region. And everything, everwhere, became very silly indeed.

A matchday two loss to Andossa se Mitrin Vega came before a credible draw against possible CAFA Cup opponents Osarius, a 3-0 shellacking of 95X and a decisive one-nothing win over Dorian and Sonya. After the dust had settled - and it does take rather a long time for Casaran dust to do that - this was the table:

The four teams that had failed to beat the Bulls all missed out on automatic qualification for the last eight, with the exception of a Cafundeu side that needed deep tie-breakers to reach the knockouts. Indeed, they might not have made it were it not for a strong Burchadinger trying, and failing, the Casaran Gambit.

The Casaran Gambit, like most gambits, is unsound. It involves purposely losing one's opening match and then riding four victories against weaker opposition into the latter stages. It fundamentally does not work for a variety of mathematical reasons, but the key to the gambit's longevity is the fact that it's difficult to prove that to someone without boring them with mathematics. Either way, it rather involves the team losing their opening fixture - in this case, Burchadinger would lose 5-4 to Ipeland - going on to win all of their remaining games. This, they failed to do. Despite crushing Valanora 4-2 and defeating rivals Cafundeu, the side lost another 5-4 barnstormer, this time to Nellietopia, to bow out on Strength of Victory. Put simply: What wins they *did* get ended up being worth less than the wins Nellietopia and Cafundeu put together.*

You may be sitting there and thinking 'surely... surely Burchadinger *tried* to beat Ipeland? What with the game involving a whole nine goals? And surely it should be Cafundeu that we accuse of attempting the Casaran Gambit, what with losing 1-0 to.... well... to an unranked group of chancers whose best player had spent all his life in Cafundeu yet at the time wasn't deemed good enough to even be registered at a club there?' To you I say 'shut up it was a hard-earned well-deserved victory and also shut up'.

Either way, the Bulls would put together one-nothing victories over Andossa se Mitrin Vega and Vilita & Turori to qualify for the honour of losing to Pacitalia in the final game.

This time out, Strength of Victory is little more than a rumoured extra tiebreaker after the various traditional Head to Heads and Goal Differentials, meaning the Casaran Gambit may indeed be seen as a viable option for those for whom 'maths and statistics' is just a lesser known Dizzee Rascal white-label.

For Audioslavia in CAFA Cup 4, there's a slight sense of deja-vu on matchday one. The side's most recent competitive outing saw the Bulls crowned Cup of Harmony champions against Eura, and its their Anaian colony EOT that await the Audioslavians. The Expats famously dumped the Bulls out of a prior regional tournament in a 4-3 barnstormer, but its been the Bulls who have come out better in more recent matchups, going an all-time 3-1-1 against Skorji Oslograd's former employers. Can the Bulls overcome EOT again? Will RJ Styrn decide instead to go for the dreaded Casaran Gambit? Either way, few are looking past Audioslavia as favourites for the tournament itself, and there will be an added bit of pressure on the shoulders of those men, and woman, emerging from the tunnel at the weekend.

Euran Oceania Territories, for their part, are rumoured to be stepping out in Kirola kits for the fixture, complete with a brand spanking new crest which Audioslavians of a certain vintage (again: dead) may find familiar

*There was actually a weird system of playoffs that separated the teams first, but we're ignoring that because it's less fun

by **Iskandervale** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 9:08 pm

Iskandervale was a tourist paradise, once. The kind of place that far-flung Nepharan pirates saw some sun and some poorly-armed locals, and decided should be theirs, and a couple of centuries later, that had just sort of remained the status quo. Iskandervale was given its independence quite quickly, the marchers almost quite embarrassed by their brush with empire, and a bit of cash flowed into the coffers to keep it running. Mostly, though, it was where you went to catch some rays.
Well, in some senses...
Its reputation took a hit when Sameban warships casually sailed into the cove and murdered everyone within cannon range. The token militia on the island surrendered near-instantly, and ultimately, it became a footnote in the Endemian War.
It did not become a footnote for the people living in a sun-dappled warzone, especially when a power plant exploded. Nephara had always been pretty open to nuclear power, and appropriately-maintained plants worked great, when battleships didn't smash a broadside through them.

After that, it had taken a while for anyone to really... pay attention. Not even most Nepharim seemed to notice or care when Iskandervale withdrew from all alliances with its former motherland; if anything, they were thankful. Iskandervale's decision to fold into Anaia was rumoured to be the catalyst between the infamous one-day ban of Nepharan travellers into Sarzonia.
Then things started to get... odd...
Election day came and went, without an election. In its place, the disoriented and exhausted locals simply kept the existing person in charge, uncontested. And then the next election went, too, without so much as a mention. Eventually, someone came to check on the Prime Minister and found that he had died some time ago, but it didn't matter too much. People didn't need a Prime Minister. They had a greater cause. They had the Glory, as they would repeat in their faint, dreamy voices to any who asked. Everything paled in comparison to the Glory.
It was only when a university research team came by to check on the odd locals that they discovered the true meaning of the Glory. They noticed that their local guide's skin was glowing, and that the geiger counter someone had stowed in a backpack for a rainy day was starting to tick.
It's probably fine. It's only Iskandervale.
But for how much longer?

by **Evermark** » Mon Jul 11, 2022 9:25 pm

"... Seekers made the decision to return to the CAFA and earn great glory for their people, and for their unique way of seeing the game..."

"... would face an immediate challenge. Upon mention of the word 'Casaran' there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. 'A crime against the result!' cried 'Aniseed' Connell, as 'Fixed-wing' Caspar suggested simply returning from whence they came..."

"... heads smashed together by 'Perilous' Sapphire, who does not suffer fools gladly. 'The greater insult,' she said, 'would be to forfeit. We must honour the ways of these people, no matter how far they have fallen from grace'..."

"... undoubted trepidation at a first match against Cobrio, who last time annihilated the Seekers 3-0. It appears plausible that Sapphire may utilise the cunning use of five midfielders in her 4-4-2 once again. Yet this time she will have players more used to it, and perhaps more able to control the game..."

"... refereeing union paid a visit. After last CAFA's eccentricities, they were 'eager' to communicate the need to avoid further misunderstandings. Sapphire was 'eager' to communicate their need to leave the camp alive before they said something they'd regret..."

"... ultimately returning to the tournament emboldened by their experiences. There is less trepidation, more arrogance, yet they wear it well. There is an undoubted certainty within the ranks that they know this game better than any they'll come across, even if there are some suspected iconoclasts within the ranks. They are more wont to see their opponents with pity, now, than fear..."

"... much excitement as to the ability of Leif 'Nine Fingers', now in the Licentian second tier, and the terrifying heretic 'Sparkling' Ingrid. There may even be some attacking punch in the side now. Yet it is clear to all that their brutal, uncompromising defence is the main thing that will bring trepidation to their opponents..."

"... not long before the arrival of Cobrio. 'This time,' pledges Sapphire, 'it will be different. I owe them thanks for all the defeat taught me.' Such an admission shows why her thoughts are considered dangerous by her own people, and yet, why she is the most capable woman for her job."

Selected excerpts from...
Alaves, J., Graant, M. & Roberts, O. L. (WC91.5.) Rites to riches: the Evermarker journey to conventional sport. Panarii Institute Report, 27(4), 11-39.

by **Mertagne** » Tue Jul 12, 2022 6:54 am

The 4th edition of the CAFA Cup is upon us, and Mertagne are looking to ride the wave of positivity that has come from their 4th place finish at the 83rd Cup of Harmony. Suffering an expected defeat against a Dagan side that outclassed them at the Cop Limy last year, Mertagne head to Ko-oren with a renewed sense of purpose, and a belief that they are deserving of yet another chance in the upper echelons of one of the multiverse's most prestigious football tournaments.

Ko-oren's footballing authority have elected to utilise a Casaran format for the tournament this time around, which has drawn equal parts ire and admiration from the international community. Rumours of a rival Mertagnian bid for the tournament, employing a group stage, that was in the works but pulled last minute, are not entirely unfounded, as it was revealed that many of the nation's national stadiums were in dire need of refurbishment to bring them back up to WCC standards in the wake of Mertagne's Cup of Harmony. This tournament marks the first time in history the Mertagnian side have participated in a Casaran football tournament, and the opportunity for the Green Goblins to to play against the best teams in the region, should they perform equally well, is one that Mertagnian fans are hoping won't be missed.

Mertagne face off against Chromatika in their first matchup, who are undergoing somewhat of an identity crisis in WCC competition, having failed to qualify for the World Cup on the past two occasions, previously being mainstays to the tournament's final stages since World Cup 75. While a Cup of Harmony win stemmed the KPB bleed in its 82nd edition, their performance in the latest edition, a Quarter-Final berth, was sure to not be enough for this hungry team that faced the same hurdle of Cassadaigua that the Mertagnian side did a few rounds afterward.

The CAFA, notoriously the graveyard of sporting giants, due to a number of upsets in the previous three editions, will be a difficult tournament for every team, especially so due to this Cup's Casaran nature. Mertagne, previously looking to cause upsets of the calibre only previously experienced by a boat, will now be looking to punch above their weight class as a solid mid-rate team, albeit the type you'd avoid in a fantasy tournament as their price point just about outweighs their expected ability.

The schedule book has been torn up, obviously, so every Anaian nation in the tournament is a possible option for Mertagne to face. When interviewed, Ázëwyn Fëanáro was asked who she would most and least like to face, and was also politely asked not to mention Starblaydia or Krytenia, as these were obvious answers for the Starblaydi elf who manages the Mertagnian national team. Giving the answer some genuine thought, she rather diplomatically suggested that she'd be worried if Mertagne revisited an iconic rival in its history, in the form of an Anaiak whose football style couldn't be more different than our own right now - Audioslavia. The Auren team, spearheaded by the one-point perspective of Helios Roy, has reached a maturity in the post-football game, and wields the rapier-like point of Kontrapuntzeka with peerless skill, which runs counter to the media-proscribed pre-football crudely but powerfully employed by the current Mertagnian team. Fëanáro also responded to the "pre-football" allegations, claiming that "Of course by modern standards what [the national team] is doing is 'pre-football' - [Fëanáro] perfected the game before Rami Niblick picked up his first pen."

In response to who Fëanáro believed Mertagne most wanted to play, the Euran Oceania Territories (EOT) was a surprising mention. While many have pondered how the national team from the Old Country would stack up to a souped-up Mertagnian side, an international match-up between the two sides has yet to be realised in the modern era. If the Green Goblins are lucky enough to come up against Wolcjeck Gruber's side, pride will be on the line for both nations, in a game that many of the international scene would describe as "a plucky kid sparring against their parent". Mertagnians, of course, are loathe to the comparison that the EOT is the parent state of Mertagne, as several decades of history apart do enough to separate us from our southern brothers, but it would be foolish to deny that there is an appetite within the FMF to get one over on the EOFF.

All in all, the fourth CAFA is slated to be the most exciting one yet - and the uniqueness of the Casaran tournament is sure to have players and fans alike on the edge of their seat until the very last matchday.

by **Flavovespia** » Wed Jul 13, 2022 1:25 pm

Flavovespia’s inaugural appearance at the World Cup may have predictably ended in an exit in the group stages, but there were plenty of positives to take away from the whole experience. From the remarkable qualifying run to take the team to the tournament, to a win in their first ever match, there were good memories. Even the defeat to Nephara, which ended the tournament for Flavovespia, was still a valiant effort, and the fans were out in full force to greet the players as they arrived home.

A turning point had seemingly been reached for Flavovespia. Global interest was higher in their players now, none more so than Jonathan Bagshaw, the rising star who already seemed to be one of the squad’s key players at 21. AC Izotz Zubia also saw that potential, and for a fee of 11.5m NSD (£115m in Flavovespian money), more than double anything ever paid for a Flavovespian, Bagshaw was moving on to bigger leagues. Making waves in international and club tournaments within Anaia has seen Flavovespia, and the Flavovespian Super League become a highly raned nation in the relevant regional standings, but now that comes with expectations on the national team to deliver.

To do that, Flavovespia must battle through the Casaran group stage to win a berth in the final 8, with 30 teams vying for those spots. There are no predefined groups here, teams who are winning will gradually pair up against each other, and same for struggling teams. However the limited number of spots in the top bracket means even a single loss could prove costly. The only known opponent so far is debutants Cardenao for Flavovespia in the opening game. The team will hope to defy the ranks to cause an upset in Surbourneshire Square in Greencaster. Whilst they struggled in the Cup of Harmony 83, their debut World Cup Qualifying campaign last cycle was a strong showing. Cardenao will look to Dylan Mathers to provide expert leadership on the pitch and in the back line, whilst Juanma Saez up front is dangerous if he can play off the shoulder in the centre of the park.

by **Ko-oren** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 2:09 am

So this is how it begins! The first football tournament to take place on Ko-orenite soil. The organisation behind the biggest sport of the archipelago somehow never managed to persuade the international community before. Things are moving quickly: a few years ago we were part of football periphery, but two World Cup finals (including a win) later, we're seeing Ko-orenite clubs becoming a force in the IFCF - with Straudum VV conquering 'our' first club trophy - and now the CAFA is coming home. We're still not sure exactly what we did differently in our approach - the recent success is a surprise but otherwise everything feels like we've been doing things like we always have, and that the only change is that we're getting lucky sometimes. Leading up to World Cup 89, many still said that the team was weaker than most of the NTs we trotted out in the late 60s and parts of the 70s. And yet... the late 80s and early 90s gave us something we've not experienced before: success.

The 15 stadiums of the group stage are located all over Ko-oren. Teams will have to move frequently and over large distances due to how the tournament is set up, so the railways have people working around the clock to figure out logistics. Visiting teams have been asked to use their special train cars, with business class-like space for each seat as well as plenty of cargo options. Top-notch security will take care of the logistics at the station, so that teams don't get crowded by fans. Meanwhile, fans can try to spot all 30 specially decorated train cars, as Ko-oren Railways has worked with designers and artists from all participating nations to put a representative design on their nation's train.

Ko-oren will start out in the Stade sur la Baie - the big one - in Aminey. If we win, we will continue to play in big stadiums - losses will push you into smaller ones or stadiums of clubs that have fallen into the second tier - or worse. While the KFA made sure to select stadiums across the entire country so everyone can watch, you can also view the stadium list as a tier list: the higher, the better. Nothing wrong with Alara's Spider Stadium (it's even used in the Top League!) but it's smaller, further away, and - according to many fans that have been in its away section - not as nice. There were a few weird choices: the Estádio Marítimo - down in 10th - is probably first by a margin in terms of fan experience. That said, the regular occupants, Branvon CD, can't have its smoke and fire effects on the stands (unless the hardcore Branvon show up for matches here anyway). The Surbourneshire Square and the Willowbowl (in 2 and 3) won't be as familiar to football fans - but they're absolute rugby union and gridiron temples, hosting semifinals and finals in the World Bowl and RUWC. And to clear up something about #4: The Orange Bowl isn't orange. Nobody's quite sure where that name came from. The Northern Arena (Aevanna) and the Hertfield (Mawrystwyth) are furthest apart.

by **Yesopalitha** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:13 am

"What, pray tell, is the leader of the Mummies, the leader of the Wights, and the leader of the Ghosts doing in front of The Chosen of Zaiden's chambers?" asked the Chosen's Herald, a skeleton whose name history had forgotten, a being that took their job extremely seriously, looking as stubborn and forlorn as ever as they looked at the unwelcome guests.

"Herald, we have found proof that there is outside influence trying to take over the minds of the Unbidden once again, something that has been overlooked by the Magisters, the Clerics, and even The Chosen's own scouts. May we come in and reveal our findings?" The most eloquent of them, Sh'ka'zeem, the Twilight Whisperer and the leader of the Ghosts, stated.

The Herald's eyes dilated - they had no eyebrows, which made it very difficult to read them otherwise - as they countered, "And why is it that this hasn't been provided previously?"

Basra, The Hallowed One, spoke up. "We have reason to believe that communications are being watched. We know that anything within two hundred feet of The Chosen is jumbled by her aura and her protection. We needed to make sure that what we are going to say to The Chosen will be kept secret."

Only three times in The Herald's history of being the herald of Nirdasil, The Chosen of Zaiden and the Dark Crusader of Yesopalitha, had they allowed people to come in to speak without an appointment. Once, it had been during the Blood-Red Moon Riots of Bahair. The second time had been when the island had mysteriously uprooted and moved to Anaia. This would be the third time - and The Herald was not happy about it.

"I haven't lost myself and my name - the core of my being - to the annals of history to be made a fool of," they stated solemnly, "If this does not have the level of gravitas that you are making it sound like it will have, I will have your heads - no - I will have your souls. Is that clear? The Chosen isn't to be disturbed except in earth-shattering events, and this better be one."

Gr'shula, the Orc Mummy, chuckled gravely.

"Oh, we wish this wasn't the case, Herald," her voice droned out, "But alas, we must do what we must."

With a reluctant bow, The Herald allowed the three to enter, hoping it had been the right move.

by **Space Laser Dinosaur Robot Pirate Land** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:28 am

Lena played with her friends at the playground.

“— Two, one! Ready or not, here I come!”

Lena loved hide and seek with her friends. She met Val and Evan in her preschool. That was three years ago. Now they was in real school. It was different. She liked it. Val and Evan liked it too. Lena liked go to real school with Val and Evan.

Val and Evan were good hiders, too. They never hided in the same place twice. But Lena was a good seeker. She found Val fast. It’s cuz Val hided in the slide and another kid wanted to slide. They sayed Val move so Lena founded Val.

Evan was hard tho. Lena didn’t know where Evan was. He was very good at hiding. Then Lena sawed Evan. Evan was behind the bush. Evan talked but not to Lena. Evan said: “Yeah I guess.” Lena ran up to Evan to say gotcha.

Then she saw it. She saw him.

“Hey, there. Do you want a popsicle, too?” A stranger talked to him.

At that moment, something happened. She doubled over, gasping, feeling as if all the air had been sucked out of her lungs. And yet she was taller, she clutched her purse, she stared the man dead in the eye, she reached out and grabbed her son. Her son? Her purse? What was happening? Who was she?

Suddenly, the blood in her veins ran ice cold. She realized that strange moment hadn’t lasted even a second. The man was still looking at her. “Evan, honey, get behind mommy.”

“Hey, no, it’s not like—”

“Get away from my son. Now.” She had never spoken like this before, she had never felt this before, she had never been this before. She didn’t know who she was speaking to, she didn’t know what was going on, she didn’t even know who she was. But she had never been as sure about anything in her life. Something was wrong.

That man’s skin wasn’t supposed to glow.

by **Chromatika** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:36 am

The mood was solemn. No - it was downright dismal. From the top to the bottom, everyone knew that this was a squad that had been thrown together in order to help the transition of power.

There was no illusion - Lisa Amos was going to complete this tournament and get out of here, while the people who were going to be playing had almost no chance making it to the next roster. All but a few, like Ami Coulibaly, Cayden Munro, and Daniltsin Vasilievich. Though there was a bit of positive momentum based on the fact that they were getting to represent Chromatika for the first time, the truth of the matter was hanging over the squad like an angry cloud.

As the team's physio and the team's social media coordinator, Zoe "Z" Benne and Shelby Arling had their hands full. Z had already called her wife, Erika Morningstar, for pointers; Shelby was going through all the methods that she had learned in university. How did you motivate a bunch of players who would likely never get the chance to play at this level again?

The answer, it turned out, was pride. One day, after practice in Ko-oren, Shelby took the stage to speak to them.

"I understand," she started, "That this is hardly the best time to get to represent your country for the first time. You probably wish that there were more opportunities, a brighter window in your future, the ability to know that what you do will have a positive impact in your future. I cannot go against the truth of the matter that the current prospects of both Chromatika and your careers isn't the best."

Some nods went around the circle.

"However, the fact remains that, for whatever reason, you've been chosen to represent Chromatika, and it's up to you to show what that means to you. Play for your country that's fallen on hard times in football. Play for the honor of being an Anomaly, even if it's for one tournament. Can you do that for me, for Chromatika? People can tell - not just by the results, but by the body language, by how hard we try - and perhaps it's time that we remind the country what sports can do for them."

A murmur of assents were echoed.

"Think on what I've said. Make it your own."

"We make our own destiny."

by **Osarius** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 8:54 am

Odell sat alone at his desk, and looked at the CAFA Cup schedule. The name of the Firebirds' first match opposition stood out. "Huh." He rested his chin on one hand, the possibilities racing through his mind. "Better to be sure," he said, to nobody in particular.

He sat upright in his chair, straight-backed, and sighed. Then he closed his eyes, and began taking slow, rhythmic breaths. The pounding drumbeat of his heartbeat gradually morphed from the cadence of a marching army to something closer to what one might hear leading a funeral procession. Fitting, considering who he was about to contact. He maintained the breathing pattern a little longer, and then stopped completely. From the outside, he may have appeared to be sleeping upright, but to Odell's eye, he was hurtling through space-time, until he found his destination and opened his eyes with a gasp.

Back in his office, Odell was sat quietly, sleeping upright at his desk. But in truth, he stood before a baobab tree in an open plain, under a dark sky full of tiny, glittering stars. The light around him an eerie silver-purple, coming from what could be described as a shimmering scar across the heavens. That was different. He smiled faintly, as an eagle swooped overhead.

"Uncle," he nodded his head respectfully, as the bird descended. Once it was roughly five feet from the ground, it suddenly morphed into a middle-aged man with calf-length dreadlocks, wearing a traditional one-piece Cobre garb, all in white. The hem and cuffs were decorated with a brightly coloured pattern.

"Little panther," the man said. His broad smile reached his dark eyes, which twinkled happily amid the wrinkles. "You miss me?"

"That's my line," Odell grinned. "Is this another of your lessons, Uncle Amari?"

Uncle Amari cocked an eyebrow. "Lesson?"

"The CAFA Cup," Odell clarified. "I know there's a connection between us and the O-"

"Nothing to do with us, na." Uncle Amari cut him off. "Sometime cloud float weh cloud go float. Sometime things dey be weh dey go be."

Odell deflated a little, but did his best not to show it. "Oh." He said. "I just needed to be sure."

Amari chuckled softly. "This one, not the story you dey go tell, little panther."

"Then which one?"

"You will know." Uncle Amari said. "Now go."

Uncle Amari made a dismissive gesture with his right hand, and Odell felt a slight tug in his gut, pulling him backwards. Closing his eyes briefly in discomfort, he reopened them and saw only his desk.

by **Starblaydia** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 10:58 am

Outside it had said ‘Live Football shown here’, but inside it didn’t look all that promising. There were big screens, sure, but they were only big-ish and weren’t hooked up to the overly-large speakers on every wall that were set to whatever generic rock from 20 years ago was pulling in the nostalgic late-thirties crowd and the ironic early-twenties crowd.

“Yo, gimme a Kotzner,” he said, once he got to the bar. The ice-cold bottle was soon produced from the fridge behind, opened, and he waved his hand over the point-of-sale machine and got the requisite beep. No high-fiving it here, you never know what other people in a bar have been touching beforehand.

The screen said ’Coming up next: Starblaydia versus Estorvipa and Estorpiva’, but looking around there were no latest orchid-pattern replica shirts, no vintage shirts that were just v-neck white tees with a badge sewn on by their girlfriend, or more likely mother. There were no groups of guys standing around in that specific way that sports fans do, all the groups of young men here were paying more attention to the groups of young women. It was a busy bar, but it was not a busy sports bar. What was going on in this country, when the opening matchday of a regional tournament had absolutely no fans making an evening of it in the streets of Jhanna?

He sipped his beer, wondering whether this was truly the representation of working class hopes and dreams, or if that’s just what the corporate suits were selling him the lifestyle of. As the teams came out of the tunnel, he put his beer down on the bar and was about to clap for the boys and girls in purple. Then, finally, it started.

“Good evening everybody, we are The Screwdrivers of Eastern Vdara. Are you ready to rock?”

What in the name of great Tiberius’s ghost was going on?

by **Huayramarca** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 11:57 am

To the tune of

It’s that time of the year, Huayramarca! I want to see everybody ready for the CAFA party! Let us shake it!

Let us put the music and dance all the night! This pick cannot go wrong this time, let the Huayramarcan rhythm mark the tempo at CAFA.

Ian Mamani shakes it, dribbles all night long like a dancer. To the rhythm of house, he controls the game, passing the ball to the right, to the left and making you slowly fall into the hands of Huayramarcan house! Rock your body as Orlando Mina does it while recovering the ball, prompting a Huayramarcan attack.

“Give me more house, please, set me free” is the feeling of the ball, that is what Bryan Tello loves, getting lost in house music while kicking the ball from mid-range, giving freedom to the ball, and sending it to kiss the net… There is no way to go wrong!

Formula is simple, you will try to dance home too, but there is no way you do it like us, we love this, and we will do our best for fun! May your boat also shake to the rhythm of house while getting rocked by the sea waves! as strong as the strides and convictions of Abraham Mendoza and Gabriel Sayritupac while attacking through the wing.

Our defence also can into dancing, they might not be the most technical guys out there, but they can too! The boat crew also loves the rhythm of house, they move as fluid as the sea waves, but remember that we keep the tempo, so your party will be over before you reach our goal. Upbeat when we recover, it is time to dance all night long, moving swift and beautifully to the compass of music. That is what we love to do, rhythm is in our veins and we dance delightfully.

by **Gortolekua** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 12:39 pm

previously.

When the Ranger Program on Adelaide Island was first developed by the earliest iterations of the modern day Government, there was some hope of actually improving the lives of the nation’s youth.

But then Gortolekua’s eccentric and psychopathic string of dictators had to ruin it, like they always do.

Human experimentation, electroshock “therapy” to political dissidents, forced amputation to smugglers—only to ones the Government didn’t support, mind you—were commonplace on the island during the nation’s isolationist days. But all that was supposed to change with a Prime Minister who wanted to promote a friendlier and open Gortolekua.

Perry Salonen, the man who managed to convince enough of the country that isolation wasn’t the way to go, promised reform, and he brought it.

There were signs of the once-feared Government being trusted, little by little, by the average Gortoleki. We can travel beyond our borders and won’t get executed for it? People kept asking that question and were met with a resounding “Yes!” for the first time. Other sports can be played, and were played, beyond the traditional national sports of football, baseball and curling; it was the sign of leadership reconciling with a connected world that kept knocking on Gortolekua’s door.

Everyone was reveling in the immediate aftermath of a participating Gortolekua. But there were situations that needed to change—including on Adelaide Island.

Salonen recognized that there needed to be progress implemented on the secretive isle so the world and then some wouldn’t come after Gortolekua’s actions against its citizens. He remembers some of the projects worked on, but what he remembered fondly, of his time as a Ranger, was Project QZ.

For years, Ranger class after Ranger class was unsuccessful in implementing what QZ asked for: creating a unique and rapid form of travel to benefit Gortolekua’s elite and, eventually, all of Gortolekua. It’s what Salonen worked on when he was a Ranger, and it’s what he directed resources to when he became Prime Minister.

It was right before the most recent Ranger class that a breakthrough happened in QZ. Four new recruits were tasked in performing QZ’s first classified mission. The four didn’t know what it was for, but they did their task. Just one problem, though.

The wrong building got targeted.

And just like those before, and potentially those after, Salonen joined his fellow Prime Ministers in beginning a government cover-up.

Same shit as always.

by **Ko-oren** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 1:22 pm

MD1 RESULTS

Ko-oren 1–0 Montesina
Flavovespia 6–3 Cardenao
Audioslavia 2–0 Euran Oceanian Territories
The Karodin Tetrarchy 4–3 The 189
Aleirave 3–3 Gortolekua
Krytenia 3–1 Cheboa
Iskandervale 3–0 Space Laser Dinosaur Robot Pirate Land
Savigliane 1–0 Cocoabo Forest
Legalese 3–1 StrayaRoos
Ochre Islands 3–3 Osarius
Huayramarca 3–0 Aut-Ves-Nat
Cobrio 0–2 Evermark
Starblaydia 1–2 Estorvipa and Estorpiva
Mertagne 4–5 Chromatika
Pyazhnaya 2–3 Yesopalitha

*                                         G W L D PF PA PD SoS SoV Pts
 1                           Iskandervale 1 1 0 0  3  0  +3   0   0   3
 2                            Flavovespia 1 1 0 0  6  3  +3   0   0   3
 3                            Huayramarca 1 1 0 0  3  0  +3   0   0   3
 4                               Legalese 1 1 0 0  3  1  +2   0   0   3
 5                            Audioslavia 1 1 0 0  2  0  +2   0   0   3
 6                               Krytenia 1 1 0 0  3  1  +2   0   0   3
 7                               Evermark 1 1 0 0  2  0  +2   0   0   3
 8                            Yesopalitha 1 1 0 0  3  2  +1   0   0   3
 9                                Ko-oren 1 1 0 0  1  0  +1   0   0   3
10                  The Karodin Tetrarchy 1 1 0 0  4  3  +1   0   0   3
11                             Savigliane 1 1 0 0  1  0  +1   0   0   3
12                             Chromatika 1 1 0 0  5  4  +1   0   0   3
13                Estorvipa and Estorpiva 1 1 0 0  2  1  +1   0   0   3
14                                Osarius 1 0 0 1  3  3  +0   1   1   1
15                             Gortolekua 1 0 0 1  3  3  +0   1   1   1
16                          Ochre Islands 1 0 0 1  3  3  +0   1   1   1
17                               Aleirave 1 0 0 1  3  3  +0   1   1   1
18                               Mertagne 1 0 1 0  4  5  -1   3   0   0
19                            Starblaydia 1 0 1 0  1  2  -1   3   0   0
20                         Cocoabo Forest 1 0 1 0  0  1  -1   3   0   0
21                              Pyazhnaya 1 0 1 0  2  3  -1   3   0   0
22                              Montesina 1 0 1 0  0  1  -1   3   0   0
23                                The 189 1 0 1 0  3  4  -1   3   0   0
24                             StrayaRoos 1 0 1 0  1  3  -2   3   0   0
25             Euran Oceanian Territories 1 0 1 0  0  2  -2   3   0   0
26                                 Cobrio 1 0 1 0  0  2  -2   3   0   0
27                                 Cheboa 1 0 1 0  1  3  -2   3   0   0
28 Space Laser Dinosaur Robot Pirate Land 1 0 1 0  0  3  -3   3   0   0
29                            Aut-Ves-Nat 1 0 1 0  0  3  -3   3   0   0
30                               Cardenao 1 0 1 0  3  6  -3   3   0   0

MD2 Schedule:

Iskandervale v. Chromatika
Flavovespia v. Savigliane
Huayramarca v. The Karodin Tetrarchy
Legalese v. Ko-oren
Audioslavia v. Yesopalitha
Krytenia v. Evermark
Estorvipa and Estorpiva v. Osarius
Gortolekua v. Ochre Islands
Aleirave v. Mertagne
Starblaydia v. Cardenao
Cocoabo Forest v. Aut-Ves-Nat
Pyazhnaya v. Space Laser Dinosaur Robot Pirate Land
Montesina v. Cheboa
The 189 v. Cobrio
StrayaRoos v. Euran Oceanian Territories

by **Iskandervale** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:01 pm

"All that predates the Glory is without merit, decisions made without insight. The name 'Iskandervale' is a skin to shed, foisted on us by our wilfully blind ancestors and their deficient Nepharan conquerers. Let us be bold, friends, and imitate the action of the noble simurgh, plunging into the purifying flames to be reborn..."
Tasha Kamarandan shook her head, chuckling. "Whole country's gone mad," she remarked to her roommate, Clotho Sulaka - two veterans of Iskandervale campaigns, and both with the perspective of playing abroad.
"Yeah," said Sulaka. "Gone mad." But Sulaka was off the boil of late, Kamarandan thought. Playing with the same ferocity as ever, but her voice had taken on a concerning, dreamlike quality.
It was probably fine.
"Who is this guy, anyway?"
"Oh, the Grandmaster. His job's to intercede between the wishes of the dead Prime Minister and his flock, the Iskand-- sorry, Lexandri people."
"Lexandrija?" Kamarandan looked over her shoulder, raised an eyebrow.
"He wants to change the name. Back to a more accurate localisation of the ancestral name. Theory goes that the Nepharim mishead, didn't transliterate it right, or something." Sulaka shrugged diffidently. "It's popular. It'll probably happen."
"Whatever."
Sulaka peered across from the bed she was lounging on. "You really don't care, do you? This really is just about the football to you, isn't it?"
Kamarandan snorted as she made her way to the bathroom. "Please. You get born on Iskandervale, you spend your life trying to leave. At least, my generation has, the ones of it that have any sense."
"Still... it's your country."
"Yeah, unfortunately." She cracked her knuckles, filled a glass of water, and glanced back in Sulaka's approximate direction. "Even if it wasn't for this weird 'Glory' craze. I should be at World Cups, you know."
"Yeah, yeah..."
Kamarandan looked back to focus on--
The glass slipped from her hand and shattered.
It had happened gradually, crept in day-by-day, but only now, staring into a mirror, did she realise how obvious it now was.
Her eyes, once a deep, thoughtful blue, were now the most brilliant, searing chartreuse.

by **Evermark** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:14 pm

"... much trepidation, by Evermarker standards. The Cobre had beaten humility into them last time, yet much had changed in two years. Time had come for swagger to return to the Seekers' stride..."

"... difference was immediately apparent just by the first minutes. Though Cobrio flicked the ball around with much skill and verve, no longer did Evermark simply follow their drumbeat, allowing themselves to be pulled all around the pitch. They stuck rigidly to their formation, and so Cobrio found few opportunities to break through..."

"... at which point 'Perilous' Sapphire noticed the research team looking, and smirked, remarking, 'You think of us as primitive, and yet we have grand technologies of our own. Using a device known as a 'VCR', we were able to trap footage of our rivals in video...'"

"... when it came, the first goal was not a thing of beauty, few Evermarker goals are, and yet it was not without some aesthetic merit. Matthis won the ball from Makanza, flattening her with a knee-height sliding challenge that the referee missed, and the ball went long to Adelaide. Mokofeng could not get back in time to stop a sweeping diagonal cross, and Ziska 'Longshanks' stayed true to her name, at full stretch to drive home..."

"... a short spell of Cobre dominance, it was 'Merry' Cassalei's chance to earn her considerable corn. In the 51st minute, she was driven to her full stretch to deny a flying strike from Ademola, before springing up and getting across to deny Okonye the follow-up at close-range, the ball smacking her in her sizable midriff..."

"... Evermarker goal chalked off, to the surprise of nobody else but themselves. 'Silent' Matthis had won a header to drive home a goal from a corner, but only by nearly asphyxiating Okonye in a headlock. Remarkably, no fewer than four Evermarkers were booked for dissent..."

"... yet the points at least were secure in the 78th minute. The substitute, 'Spindle' Idina, set up fellow fresh face 'Sparkling' Ingrid to curl home a beautiful half-volley that left Yaya without a chance..."

"... was ultimately a hugely successful and significant win to earn, as it not only got the campaign to a strong start but banished some of the ghosts of two years prior. A storied name in the form of Krytenia will be next, and to my curious surprise, this name did seem to spark a memory. Perhaps it is indeed true that this is not the Evermarkers' first experience of the world game?"

by **Ko-oren** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 10:51 am

What you always hope for in a Casaran is the expectation that you'll run into your rivals. And the people that decided to use that format to bid will hope for that even more than the fans do. Basically: exciting fixtures = Casaran success. Boring fixtures = Casaran sucks. Matchday one is always a bad one for that, as the highest ranked team plays the lowest, the second-highest plays the second-lowest, etcetera. But as the group stage chugs along, we see better teams take on better teams and that's when the good stuff begins.

We did have one match that we'd classify as 'one to stay home for', and that was Mertagne versus Chromatika. Baseball fans will know the latter... or who are we kidding: everyone knows both these national teams. Nine goals between them in Maynard - it's been a while since Maynardians have seen good football, am I right (I'm so sorry about your double relegation) - now that's good stuff. Most of the other favourites have beaten the underdogs, with Aleirave and Gortolekua sharing points.

The Dragonflies defended their status with a 1-0 win, and it very much was a match in the tradition of 'it's only 1-0, but that's not the entire story'. Never underestimate the Dragonflies' ability to win 1-0, no matter the opponent. Unranked team in a World Cup qualifier? 1-0. The Holy Empire in the World Cup 89 final? 1-0.

Up next is Legalese. Part of the fun is that you can do a full preview for every single match - the professionals might not like the extra work that can't be done before the tournament kicks off though - so the Casaran is a true test of flexibility for players and coaches. From one amateur to another: we get to look forward to Legalese's extremely attacking team (of which there are plenty in Anaia and beyond, as far as we are concerned) that beat StrayaRoos 3-1. The stereotypes say that Legalese are basically Audioslavia but attacking. To be fair, we have no idea what player to look at specifically: they're as likely to score as they are to get a red. Most are fairly one-dimensional, but when each player knows exactly what everyone is good at, that's can still be a deadly combination.

by **Chromatika** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 11:15 am

In his first season as part of Tihon, Daniltsin Vasilievich had made sure that he mostly kept his head down and played on. With Roanna Murin beside him, a banger of a Left Midfielder in Emma Arthur, and a team that was getting together after replacing so many of their pieces, he did his part by scoring eight goals and assisting on twice as many, but he wasn't the primary reason why the team was in title contention for so long.

Now, in this CAFA squad made of longshots, he was finding his own. He had already scored two against Mertagne - only to have them answered - as this match was turning into a barnburner. The scoreboard read 3-3, and it was only two minutes into the second half. It wasn't that Pence Harringborn and Rhys le Besco were bad keepers, nor that the defenses were playing that badly; no, it was moments of brilliance from both batteries just making short work of any attempt to keep the ball away from the net.

He had already scored twice - the first on a runaway tap-in, the second off a rebound after Cherry Sonnel had tried to hit one - and Sandra Jordan had equalized right before the half after Mertagne had taken the lead. However, for some reason, he could just see the game in a different speed than usual.

Ami Coulibaly dispossessed a Mertagnian midfielder, and with one solid kick of the ball, it went all the way to Vasilievich. He took three steps to the left, juked around a defender, and fired the shot, midrange and to the upper right corner of the net. As soon as he hit it, he knew it was good - and sure enough, the ball dipped right below the upper crossbar, past le Besco's outstretched right hand.

Mertagne would answer - it was just one of those games - but when his final try at goal resulted in the rebound being buried for Cherry Sonnel's game-winner, Daniltsin Vasilievich smiled.

Perhaps this would be a tournament to remember, after all. He was promised five games at least, with the potential for more, and he was now determined to make every one of those games count.

Back home, Hecate Charing and Christina Applegate were watching. Roanna wouldn't be the team's #1 striker forever, and the more he proved his worth, the better it'd be for his future - his to lose.

by **Estorvipa and Estorpiva** » Sun Jul 17, 2022 1:51 am

From the diary of Marek Lemish

I am actually surprised that I am still being called up for the Federal Republic’s national team despite the fact that I haven’t contributed much to this team. I’ve scored a few goals, sure, and chipped in the occasional assist, but in the grand scheme of things I don’t think I’ve done enough to warrant getting called up to represent the nation again for the 4th CAFA Cup. Especially after Dinamo Durdenville, the team I’m playing for in the Federal Top League, bottled our chance at winning our first ever national title in the club’s history. This new format with the championship and relegation rounds really did a number on the team. Without those new rounds, the title would have been ours, no questions asked. But then we had to play ten more games, and it’s fair to say that the whole team collapsed soon afterwards. I won’t absolve myself of any blame for that; God knows that I played a part in both getting Dinamo to the top and then bringing them back down to the uncomfortable reality of the fact that we’re not yet ready to fight for the title. I scored 14 goals in the regular season, and no goals in the championship round. If that isn’t the sign of a bottling mentality then I don’t know what is.

But here I am, pulling on the yellow kit of the new Federal Republic once again, and once again they expect me to be the striker backing up Fabian Prasutagusic in terms of goal production. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, from my point of view. Fabian is simply a crazy goalscoring machine; build a good team around that guy and you’re guaranteed to have at least 25 goals per season. That’s what the FFFREE tried to do, but so far it’s been hit or miss. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I wonder how this particular CAFA Cup will work out for us this time around. It can’t be any worse than what happened to us in the World Cup and the Cup of Harmony, da?

 STARBLAYDIA 1 - 2 ESTORVIPA AND ESTORPIVA 
  MASON (9')       ROBERTA (37')
                   LEMISH (86')

by **Audioslavia** » Sun Jul 17, 2022 7:42 am

Starting two international games in a row for only the second time, if you count the Cup of Harmony final. More importantly, this time I'm playing up front. Like, up front up front.

Going an entire tournament without a striker was a decision that RJ had called 'brave' and everyone else had called 'the exact opposite', and I know she was reluctant to change things up coming into the CAFA Cup, at least until some of the lads pointed out that the other teams in this tournament, whoever we end up playing, would have had two years to prepare themselves for us. RJ had pointed out that, as far as those other teams were concerned, it was probably only one year, but the point had gotten through. 4-5-1. Me up front.

And so far it's been brilliant. 1-0 up after ten minutes, Cappadonna getting in a low thunderbolt from 18 yards out for the opener, Stelea relishing his role a few yards forwards, a bit more freedom, Corkhill now in the defensive midfield role sweeping up everyone's mistakes and chasing down anyone with the cheek to get near him. Florian's back in form and back at left-back and we're solid as hell on that side. Duran's not getting forward so much on the other but that only lets Letexier get forward whenever he wants, and here he goes on that right hand side.

He runs into a cul-de-sac and plays it back to Duran, who instantly pings it cross-field to Brandao on the left. His first touch is a shocker, but he gets after it, reaches it before Marvin Walsh and the City defender knows he's in trouble for not getting to it first. Brandao's first touch takes the ball towards the corner flag and takes a turning Walsh completely out of the game. Brandao should really take a touch and look up, but instead he hits a fierce ball into the box without even looking up. I'm nowhere near it, it's too close to the keeper, but Charlie Ross can only palm the ball out towards the opposite corner of the area. There's Letexier, shaping up to hit it, but at the last moment he flashes a ball directly at me, about shin height. No time to think. I stick out an awkward toe from my standing leg and, if anything, take all the speed off the ball as it hits my instep. I lose balance immediately and fall down like a sack of spuds, but looking up I can see the ball arc weirdly into the opposite corner. The keeper's off-balance, the ball drifts into the right side of the goal. Two nothing.

I mean they all count. Compared to the goal that won the Cup of Harmony, this is like an over-head rabona from the halfway line. There's no stretcher needed this time, not even a screaming, fist-pumping run towards the crowd. I take in the applause from the claret portion of the Willowbowl and make my way around the rest of the forward player, bumping fists and slapping backs. This is a proper team, this. We're going all the way.

by **Ochre Islands** » Sun Jul 17, 2022 9:42 am

Lucy drifted off and found herself on the other side of the darkness. Her eyes adjusted to the light that wasn't. Though asleep, she felt very much awake and alive wherever she'd ended up tonight. And there he was.

'Hello, Prime Minister' he said with a sneer. 'That's what you call yourself isn't it? First amongst equals or some nonsense like that.' She glared at him, looking him in the eye and not finding a soul buried deep within them. 'You won't find it, what you're searching for you know. It's not within the people you lead and it's not within you either. Yet you said you'd be different, didn't you? Said you'd be 'democratic', said you wouldn't be like what you have the gall to call 'the old place'. Yet you played the flute of freedom and my children deserted me and came following after you' he said with real anger, pacing a couple of steps before screaming 'you're no better than me! You think you knew exactly what my children wanted, what my children needed, and look, they've happily followed you like the puppets on strings they always were and always will be. Look at what's happened to my country since - torn into pieces by socialists' he almost spat that word out 'and people no better than warlords. Meanwhile you've been humiliated by Krytenia of all countries! You inhabit the same waters as the Plough Islands and have done nothing about them and their wayward attitudes except cosy up to them and invite them to - god help us - regional institutions! You know what I would have done by now. Yet nothing's different is it? People don't have a right to get rid of you as a response. Nobody's tried to. They accept you, Lucy, they accept you and they accept one person having absolute power. Give your silly ideas of democracy a rest and do what you know's for the best, Lucy. The puppets you control don't have minds of their own, they're as soulless and empty as a ship drifting out at sea in need of a good rudder. Point them in the right direction and they'll follow like lemmings off a cliff.'

Lucy had heard enough and turned to wake up.

'Come back when you can, Lucy. I'll be waiting' the Emperor told her, as he both faded back into the light of the dark.

by **Flavovespia** » Sun Jul 17, 2022 9:48 am

A game that for a long period seemed close, Flavovespia would punish Cardenao when they ran out of steam towards the final stages, to win by 6 goals to 3. A start that, despite the margin of victory, suggests Augusto Rinaldi could look for more, particularly from his defence.

The big early event of the day was a blow for Michael Cole just 15 minutes in, an awkward landing from an aerial challenge that took him out of the game entirely. The hope is he’ll be back at least for the latter stages of the Casaran, if needed. Things got worse in the 23rd minute, when Daniel Lansdell’s slip up allowed a goal for Acosta-Vargas. The upset was on, but not for long as first substitute Andrew Thomas scored from a narrow angle, and then his cross across the box was fired in by Jonathan Bagshaw. 2-1 it was at the break.

Flavovespia then didn’t get going at all initially in the second half. Acosta-Vargas would equalise with a good shot to beat Aarif Muhammad, and then only a few minutes later, a cross from the deep was deflected in by Stuart Cookson, giving Cardenao another lead. But again, the lead didn’t last long, 5 minutes later on the hour mark, the floated cross by Jonathan Bagshaw was headed in by Adrian Jones.

The final half hour was poised to be a tense contest, but it ended up anything but that. Some silky smooth dribbling saw Jonathan Bagshaw open up the room to score in the 69th minute. In the 75th minute, he then completed his hat-trick, running onto and finishing from an angled ball in by Kieron Player. Finally in injury time Bagshaw scored again, this time on the break as Cardenao fell victim to a risky attempt to get back into the game. After plenty of excitement and nerves in the first hour, Flavovespia and Jonathan Bagshaw in particular hit the accelerator and raced to a 3 goal win.

The Casaran means opponents and venue are only known after each game. Flavovespia have gotten somewhat lucky in not even needing to relocate for their second game, they play again in Greencaster. And their opponents, none other than Savigliane, the nation of Augusto Rinaldi. They won 1-0 vs Cocoabo Forest, and will be very keen for 2 wins from 2.

CAFA Cup IV: High Noon at Mega Mountain - RP/Results Thread

CAFA Cup IV: High Noon at Mega Mountain - RP/Results Thread

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