AOCAF 67: Eternal Chaos (Everything Thread)

[Gyatso-kai]

REFERENCE:

08 AUGUST 2022.3

 
Encryption: 1024-bit RSA 256-bit AES
The Desert Emirate of Jabar Akhdal
The White Winter Queendom of Græntfjall
The Nations of the Region of Atlantian Oceania
To: Any and All Parties Involved in the Jabar Akhdal – Græntfjall Issue
Subject: For Clarification

In light of the recent statements made by Crown Prince Siddeeqi Ghaazi el-Masri, I feel that it is necessary to address the elephant moose in the room and discuss these statements immediately.

First and foremost, allow me to unequivocally state that the Avatarian Republics of Gyatso-kai vehemently oppose the use of terrorism to achieve any goal; be it political, ideological, or personal, there is no place in the civilized world for such actions to be justified. To unjustly attack and murder innocent civilians in a public area is deplorable at best.

To think that the actions of the nations of the Region of Atlantian Oceania are in support of any state-sponsored terrorism as taken b the Desert Emirate of Jabal Akhdar is absurd. No nation would actively support such actions, and the simple fact that Crown Prince el-Masri believes so speaks volumes to the simple fact that a leadership change may be needed in the Desert Emirate.

While I cannot speak for any other nation involved in the AORDO Task Force that has been assembled and deployed, I can speak for the Avatarian Republics when I say this:

We are not defending Jabal Akhdar. We are defending Atlantian Oceania.

In response to the bombing in Háttmark - which saw the needless loss of hundreds of lives and countless thousands irrevocably changed in a blink of an eye – the White Winter Queendom of Græntfjall deployed forces and troops from their home in Rushmore into the so-called ‘international waters’ of Atlantian Oceania to prepare for an engagement with Jabal Akhdar. This is a violation of interregional laws and could be seen by many as a breech of sovereignty of Atlantian Oceania, to which myself agrees.

We are a region of prosperity and a region of pease, but most importantly, we are a region of honor. By joining the Atlantian Oceania Regional Defence Organisation, we made a promise to come to any fellow Atlantian Oceania nation’s defence, and to ensure that our region remains free. Gyatso-kai is a nation whose history is fraught with war and destruction; from the Warring Nations period in which the multitude of independent city-states vied for the construction of the Home Nations to the Great War which, for over one hundred years, waged and saw imperialism attempt to take over sovereignty of the Four Nations, and was ended by my predecessor Roku, our nation has seen its fair share of war. We will not allow a foreign entity to bring war to our doorstep, let alone one that threatens a regional neighbor.

Today, I am making the following pleas to the parties involved:

We implore Prime Minister Kaija Michaelsdóttir and The Thing to remove all military and potential contracted assets from any territory within the confines of the Atlantian Oceania region, to ensure a peaceful existence between our two regions, and the countless nations between them.

We implore Crown Prince Siddeeqi Ghaazi el-Masri to denounce the actions of his cousin, Prince Hakim el-Masri, and the el-Masri Network throughout the multi-verse. In this day and age, there is no place for such organisations to be allowed free travel and even more free means to spread their propaganda.

We implore Prince Hakim el-Masri to turn himself in to any AORDO task force members who will see the safe transport of him to the respective nation of the team, where he must stand trial for the accusations handed down by the White Winter Queendom. A just trial, one where Prince Hakim el-Masri is presumed innocent before he is proven guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt to all present on the jury.

We implore the nations of the Region of Atlantian Oceania to practice patience and temperance during these trying times. While we may be standing on the edge of defence, there may be no need to cross that line without first attempting to find more peaceful and readily-acceptable means of ensuring the proper outcome.

As it stands, the Third Carrier Group of the Fifth Fleet of the Republic Navy sits off the coast of Jabal Akhdar, awaiting the time when it must bring to bear its strength in defence of the Atlantian Oceania region. I can only hope that it will all be a waste of yuans, and a training exercise in the end of it all.

[Squornshelan Remnant States]

90 minutes had proven insufficient.

Both defenses remained steadfast, both goal nets inviolate.

By half time in extra time, the toll of over 100 minutes of football had left the Confederate attacks sluggish and poorly coordinated, with Groothuis's only change to that point having been to send Ness on for a laboring Fridtjofs to begin extra time. With a few moments to address her side before the final fifteen minutes, the Omerican decided to cast the dice. Wingers Maksimov and Bondarov made way for Aaltonen and Stern, and Volam came off for Koshelev.

The fresh legs she was gambling on were young players, but not entirely untested. Stern and Koshelev had each drawn the eye of top competitors in their respective leagues with their play, while Aaltonen hoped to do the same in the coming season. With a clear mission of avoiding the penalty shootout, the three substitutes set about assaulting the Sarzonian bulwark immediately.

Clearly, Groothuis had taken advantage of the break not only to make substitutions, but wholesale tactical adjustments. The attack shifted to a much more fluid and freeform style, exchanging positions with each other, taking as much advantage as they could from throwing for relatively fresh pairs of legs against the weary defense. King, who had shadowed first Fridtjofs, and then Ness, was frequently forced to exchange marking assignments with Benignati. Sticking with the Confederate striker would have frequently pulled him far out of defensive shape, opening dangerous spaces in the center of the field.

Brady Reynolds and his side appeared unprepared for the heretofore defensive-minded Black-and-Reds to shift to such an aggressive posture. Against much fresher players forcing constant movement, their man-marking tactics began to break down, and Sandt had to be sharp to keep the score level as Koshelev got the first clear cut chance at 110 minutes, but left his shot too near the Stars' keeper.

A groan went up from the Confederate supporters biting their nails at the stadium and at home as Sandt smothered the shot, but they wouldn't have long to wait for something to cheer about. Hennepin scuffed his control of Sandt's long throw, and Arikansky took the ball away, feeding it forward to Stern before the defensive line could re-form. Stern broke in around the end and lofted a cross in. The whole stadium held it's breath in rapt attention as Ness and King leaped together, and the ball sailed over both their heads. As the fans started to sigh in mingled relief and dismay, the ball landed on the foot of the one person who hadn't been mesmerized. Springing off Aaltonen's left instep, the ball caught Sandt utterly flat-footed and gently swished into the back of the net.

Up next for the Black-and-Reds: the Jungle Eels (or something like that), of Vilita and Tutoring*. There certainly is no rest in the AOCAF Cup, where your reward for overcoming a legendary nation with a World Cup title to their name might just be to face two at once.

OOC: *autocorrect too funny to fix

[Farfadillis]

Semifinal, Vanorian half

Banija 1–1 Kimi-Suomi (1–1 AET) (4–3 pen.)

[Vilita and Turori]

Eel-Cat Things Survive Roller Coaster Attack against Cordia

Den Mytologiska Maneter, Fröndt, Farfadillis :: After a diacritic filled romping over the Sultanate of Oontaz, the Vilita and Turori Eel Cat Things advanced on to the AOCAF 67 Quarter Finals where they would face a nation making their first ever regional Quarter Final appearance: The Cordian Isles. Cordia posted an upset victory over Hapilopper in the Round of 16 to make their first ever last 8 appearance in the AOCAF and both teams would have to travel for the meet up at Den Mytologiska Maneter in Fröndt. With host nation Farfadillis having already been knocked out by the Sarzonia Stars in the Round of 16 - a Round which saw all 8 group stage winners progress, the hearts of the locals were up for grabs in the Quarter Finals. Due to long established rivalries, many locals were cheering against the Eel-Cat Things as well as Sarzonia in the other Farfagraphic fixture with much support being thrown behind Cordia and the Squornshelan Remanant States - two nations both with aspirations of a first ever AOCAF Title.

There were some concerns on the Vilita and Turori side that their squad was simply not deep enough to go all the way through to the final - with much of their younger talent as well as top goalscorer Clarana Refiami over in Electrum to contest the Olympic Summer Games with the Vilitan Union. Still, there were a number of World Cup veterans in the Vilita and Turori roster as well as some modern stars including the Tlikara siblings who had made a big name for themselves during World Cup 91 Qualifying.

Of course, with the Vilita and Turori roster including a number of Turori National Team starters such as goalkeeper Derizi Amatopa, there would be much angst and motivation from the Cordian side as Turori and the Cordian Isles recently met during the World Cup 91 Qualification where the Turori Eels defeated Cordia handily - a critical step toward their ultimate appearance and defeat in the World Cup 91 Final. While Cordia would be the underdogs coming in, they hadn't previously let that label stop them from claiming impressive victories thus far during AOCAF 67 with a group stage victory over host nation Farfadillis followed by their Round of 16 triumph over Hapilopper - another World Cup 91 Finals participant.

The match itself was a thrilling affair for the neutral and a nerve-wracking roller coaster of twists and turns for all the partisan fans in attendance. It looked like Cordia was done and dusted when the Eel-Cat Things netted twice in the opening twenty minutes of play, first through Baker Park based midfielder Naraiza Ruaplal then ten minutes later it was Loala Inkabu doubling the lead for the Eel-Cat Things. Cordia would not go down without a fight, however, and had taken control in the latter portion of the first half of play getting goals from Hannah Andersen and Sebastian Voll to knot the match back up at the break.

Cordia remained in charge to open the second half and took their first lead of the game after a corner kick near the hour mark. Vilita and Turori netminder Derizi Amatopa had made the initial save but the ball only was cleared as far as Cordia's right back Vladimir Demov who blasted home a powerful shot to put Vilita and Turori in the hole.

As often happens in sport, however, Cordia responded to their new-found lead by changing tactics and trying to defend what they had earned. It opened the door for Vilita and Turori to attack more aggressively and ultimately unify around the Tlikara Siblings who pushed Cordia to the brink with Treasvo ultimately scoring twice past Jutland Cannons netminder Kristin Bergstrin to restore the Eel-Cat Things lead. Cordia had already used their substitutions and was unable to bring fresh attacking legs in for the final five minute push, enabling Vilita and Turori to handily withstand the pressure in an overly offensive match that had even the locals in Farfadillis applauding at the full time whistle. While the dream run has ended for the Cordian Isles, the job is not done for Vilita and Turori who will now square off against the Squornshelan Remnant States for a spot in the AOCAF 67 Final.

 Vilita and Turori 4 - 3 The Cordian Isles	
	Vilita and Turori Goals:	:: 7' Naraiza Ruaplal:: 18' Loala Inkabu:: 70' Treasvo Tlikara:: 81' Treasvo Tlikara           
	Stats :: Vilita and Turori 	:: Possession: 53%:: Shots: 9:: Corners: 15 :: The Cordian Isles :: Possession: 47%:: Shots: 11:: Corners: 14
	Vilita and Turori Lineup :: 	Derizi Amatopa, Inteali Koranjo (Treasvo Tlikara 66'), Narri Sebapilo, Kamarela Dzzara, Khrusan Mlianko (Kinabo Telioa 45'), Naraiza Ruaplal (Kunaro Tlikara 74'), Trezisi Rokopolis, Limu Katarakhna, Riku Kasslin, Tyoasi Klipark, Loala Inkabu

Turoki Coliseum, Turoki City, Turoki Island, Vilita :: The Vilita and Turori Ice Cat Things got off to a hot start in their quest for redemption in AOHC X. After seven consecutive completed editions of the Atlantian Oceania (Ice) Hockey Championships, the Vilita and Turori Ice Cat Things failed to finish in a podium position during the most recent edition of the competition, AOHC VIX in the Busoga Islands which was won in stunning fashion by debutant side Efnakia. Having missed out was clear motivation for the Ice Cat Things to fight back in this edition but will have the extra boost at competing on Home Ice for the first time since AOHC V.

A Look at the major venues for AOHC V:

Approximately 60% of what follows is original content to this post

Turoki Coliseum
Turoki City, Vilita
Capacity: 26,170
Home Team: Turoki Islanders
AOHC X Venues: Group 1, Knockout Rounds

The Turoki Coliseum is nestled outside Turoki City and accessible via Turoki City transportation hubs. As one of the oldest stadiums in the Vilitan Hockey League, the venue historically had narrow passageways causing congestion in the concourse during intermissions but this problem was solved with a multi-level system, an 'express' walkway of sorts installed around the concourse to clearly delineate the walking portions from the Food, Souvenir and Facilities queues.

The Turoki Coliseum is famous for having the best sightlines in the VHL, with no obstructions and quality view angles available from every seat in the house. The spacious, empty lots surrounding the arena provide the perfect canvas for any associated vendors, displays or event - related activities that need to be set up at the venue. Transportation options include regular shuttles from all major downtown Turoki transportation hubs.

Toys '4' All Arena
Lopinka, Vilita
Capacity: 21,400
Home Team: Lopinka Lynx
AOHC X Venues: Group 1, Knockout Rounds

Located in the heart of Vilita's Colonial Capital, the Toys '4' All Arena is nicknamed the "Toy Box' for its rectangular external appearance and sponsorship agreement. Home to the Lopinka Lynx, winners of the 12th Vilitan Hockey Championship.

Lirai Asku Castle
Yeaddin, Vilita
AOHC X Venues: Group 2, Knockout Rounds

This historical aged castle was converted into a sporting arena by the Yeaddin Owls who promised to pay for maintenance on the Castle Exterior while building their stadium against the vacant inner walls of the structure. While much of the stadium and its surroundings are considered historical, there are modern amenities available as well as required to support major international sport including public transportation, vending and temperature control on an as-required basis. While the stadium is home to the Yeaddin Owls of the Vilitan League, it has previously served as a temporary ice rink for the Gold Medal match of the XIV Winter Olympic Games and will reprise the role for AOHC X to maximize the possibility for in-person fan attendance.

3WD Iceplex
Alikki-Corra, Vilita
Home Team: Alikki-Corra Aye-Ayes
AOHC X Venues: Group 3, Knockout Rounds

Based in the Vilitan Capital of Alikki-Corra, the Iceplex is a multi-sheet facility that includes training rinks and open skate areas for the citizens of the capital. While not the largest or most modern venue in Vilita it is the only dedicated Ice Rink in the Vilitan capital city.

Vilaye Energy Drink Arena
Vilisorma, Vilita
Capacity: 21,263
Home Team: Vilisorma Yutzies
AOHC X Venues: Group 3, Knockout Rounds

The Vilaye Energy Drink Arena is a state of the art Ice Hockey venue in Vilisorma, Vilita. Located just off the campus of the Vilisorma Beverage Company, the arena is branded with the logos of one of VilBev's most popular products, Vilaye Energy Drink. The Arena is the home of the Vilisorma Yutzies of the Vilitan Hockey League and has been a host site of the Atlantian Oceania Hockey Championships. The Venue also hosted the 22nd Hockey Champions League Final which was contested between the home-town Yutzies and the Alikki-Corra Aye Ayes with the Yutzies earning their second HCL Title.

Additional Venues for Group and Play-In Round use only:

Eelandii Iceplex
Eelandii, Turori
Home Team: Eelandii Explorers
AOHC X Venues: Group 1, Group Stage Playoffs

Foggy Place
Morata Valley, Vilita
Home Team: Morata Valley Fog
AOHC X Venues: Group 2, Group Stage Playoffs

Yeaddin Ice Centre
Yeaddin, Vilita
Home Team: Yeaddin HC
AOHC X Venues: Group 2, Group Stage Playoffs

Lonngeylin Live! Arena
Lonngeylin, Vilita
Home Team: Lonngeylin Storm Surge
AOHC X Venues: Group 3, Group Stage Playoffs

[Valanora]

Semifinals

Vilita & Turori 4–1 Squornshelan Remnant States

3PPo
Kimi-Suomi v Squornshelan Remnant States

Final
Banija v Vilita & Turori @ The Battleground, Raynor City

[AOlympics]

With 21 Entrants there will be 3 Groups of 7. The Top 2 in each Group (6 Total) will advance directly to the quarter finals. 3rd and 4th place finishers will playoff ( 6v3, 4v5 > 1vL, 2vH) on a single MD for the final two Quarter Final Slots). Cutoffs will follow the AOCAF Cutoffs.

Matchday 4:

Group 1:
Vilita & Turori [1] Delaclava [2]     
Banija [3] Efnakia [5]     
Demot [4] Arendalle [3]     
Group 2:
Busoga Islands [4] Verceola [2]     
Qasden [2] Valanora [3]     
Hapilopper [0] Squornshelan Remnant States [1]     
Group 3:
Gyatso-kai [2] Baker Park [3]     
Pluvia and the Saxean Isles [4] Wreckeria [1]     
The Cordian Isles [5] Oontaz Dert Li Ng [3]     

[pre]Matchday 5:

Group 1:
Quebec and Shingoryeo [4] Delaclava [5]    F-OT
Efnakia [2] Arendalle [1]     
Vilita & Turori [2] Banija [1]    F-OT
Group 2:
Milchama [4] Verceola [1]     
Valanora [2] Squornshelan Remnant States [3]    F-OT
Busoga Islands [2] Qasden [1]    F-SO
Group 3:
Canadian Dominion [4] Baker Park [5]    F-OT
Wreckeria [1] Oontaz Dert Li Ng [3]     
Gyatso-kai [3] Pluvia and the Saxean Isles [1]

---Group 1----                  GP  W  L OTL F-A  PTS 
[1] Efnakia                      4  4  0  0 12-5   8
[2] Delaclava                    4  4  0  0 12-8   8
:3: Vilita & Turori              5  3  2  0 12-10  6
:4: Demot                        4  2  2  0  9-9   4
 5- Banija                       5  1  3  1 12-15  3
 6- Arendalle                    4  1  3  0  9-13  2
 7- Quebec and Shingoryeo        4  0  3  1 10-16  1

-

---Group 2----                  GP  W  L OTL F-A  PTS  
[1] Milchama                     4  4  0  0 14-5   8
[2] Busoga Islands               5  3  1  1 13-10  7
:3: Squornshelan Remnant States  4  3  0  1  8-6   7
:4: Valanora                     4  2  1  1  8-9   5
 5- Verceola                     4  2  2  0 10-13  4
 6- Qasden                       5  1  3  1  8-13  3
 7- Hapilopper                   4  0  3  1  5-10  1

-

---Group 3----                  GP  W  L OTL F-A  PTS  
[1] The Cordian Isles            4  4  0  0 13-7   8
[2] Gyatso-kai                   5  3  1  1 15-11  7
:3: Pluvia and the Saxean Isles  5  3  2  0 14-12  6
:4: Baker Park                   4  3  1  0 13-11  6
 5- Oontaz Dert Li Ng            4  2  2  0 12-12  4
 6- Canadian Dominion            4  0  2  2  9-14  2
 7- Wreckeria                    4  0  4  0  5-14  0 E

-

---

Day 2:
M 400m Freestyle

Heat #1
1 Demot                          3:46.80 Q
2 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    3:47.27 Q
3 Banija                         3:47.89 Q
4 Squornshelan Remnant States    3:48.69 q
5 Mlima Kijani                   3:49.12
6 Wreckeria                      3:54.95
7 Quebec and Shingoryeo          3:58.45
8 Vilita and Turori              4:01.32

  Heat #2
1 Busoga Islands                 3:45.93 Q
2 Baker Park                     3:46.87 Q
3 Hapilopper                     3:47.55 Q
4 Tropicorp                      3:48.73 q
5 Qasden                         3:49.81
6 Misrantis                      3:50.32
7 Milchama                       3:50.91
8 Valanora                       3:54.33

FINAL
1 Banija                         3:41.72 :AOR: ● GOLD
2 Busoga Islands                 3:42.84 ● SILVER
3 Baker Park                     3:42.88 ● BRONZE
4 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    3:43.04
5 Squornshelan Remnant States    3:43.22
6 Demot                          3:43.60
7 Hapilopper                     3:48.29
8 Tropicorp                      3:48.92

W 400m Freestyle

Heat #1
1 Mlima Kijani                   4:06.43 Q
2 Quebec and Shingoryeo          4:09.65 Q
3 Wreckeria                      4:11.50 Q
4 Squornshelan Remnant States    4:12.12 q
5 Vilita and Turori              4:12.58 q
6 Banija                         4:13.64
7 Demot                          4:17.50
8 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    4:20.15

  Heat #2
1 Busoga Islands                 4:06.12 Q
2 Qasden                         4:08.95 Q
3 Milchama                       4:13.50 Q
4 Valanora                       4:14.78
5 Baker Park                     4:15.05
6 Hapilopper                     4:18.33
7 Tropicorp                      4:18.86
8 Misrantis                      4:25.65

FINAL
1 Busoga Islands                 4:02.64 :AOR: ● GOLD
2 Wreckeria                      4:03.04 ● SILVER
3 Vilita and Turori              4:03.35 ● BRONZE
4 Quebec and Shingoryeo          4:03.49
5 Squornshelan Remnant States    4:03.53
6 Mlima Kijani                   4:04.72
7 Milchama                       4:04.76
8 Qasden                         4:07.17

M 200m Individual Medley

Heat #1
1 Mlima Kijani                   1:58.83 Q
2 Demot                          1:59.29 Q
3 Wreckeria                      1:59.41 Q
4 Squornshelan Remnant States    1:59.91 q
5 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    2:00.68
6 Quebec and Shingoryeo          2:00.70
7 Banija                         2:00.80
8 Vilita and Turori              2:00.99

  Heat #2
1 Hapilopper                     1:59.48 Q
2 Busoga Islands                 1:59.59 Q
  Baker Park                     1:59.59 Q
4 Misrantis                      1:59.72 q
5 Valanora                       1:59.98
6 Qasden                         2:00.44
7 Milchama                       2:00.79
8 Tropicorp                      2:00.88

FINAL
1 Busoga Islands                 1:53.42 :AOR: ● GOLD
2 Baker Park                     1:55.53 ● SILVER
3 Hapilopper                     1:57.19 ● BRONZE
4 Mlima Kijani                   1:57.93
5 Squornshelan Remnant States    1:58.46
6 Wreckeria                      1:59.04
7 Misrantis                      1:59.30
8 Demot                          1:59.34

W 200m Individual Medley

Heat #1
1 Squornshelan Remnant States    2:10.10 Q
2 Demot                          2:10.55 Q
3 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    2:10.72 Q
4 Mlima Kijani                   2:10.98 q
5 Banija                         2:11.18
6 Quebec and Shingoryeo          2:11.48
7 Vilita and Turori              2:11.58
8 Wreckeria                      2:11.90

  Heat #2
1 Busoga Islands                 2:10.17 Q
2 Baker Park                     2:10.22 Q
3 Valanora                       2:10.25 Q
4 Tropicorp                      2:10.92 q
5 Qasden                         2:11.23
6 Hapilopper                     2:11.36
7 Misrantis                      2:12.69
8 Milchama                       2:13.98

FINAL
1 Valanora                       2:10.12 ● GOLD
2 Mlima Kijani                   2:11.37 ● SILVER
3 Baker Park                     2:11.62 ● BRONZE
4 Busoga Islands                 2:11.82
5 Tropicorp                      2:12.34
6 Squornshelan Remnant States    2:12.61
7 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    2:13.05
8 Demot                          2:13.22

-      G  S  B  T  :: SwimAO Standings
[BUS] 3  2  -  5  ::  [13 Pts.] 
[BNJ] 1  1  -  2  ::  [5 Pts.] 
[CBP] -  1  3  4  ::  [5 Pts.] 
[VAL] 2  -  -  2  ::  [6 Pts.] 
[V&T] 1  -  1  2  ::  [4 Pts.] 
[MIL] 1  -  -  1  ::  [3 Pts.] 
[WRE] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.] 
[MLK] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.] 
[PSI] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.] 
[DEM] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.] 
[QAD] -  -  2  2  ::  [2 Pts.] 
[HAP] -  -  1  1  ::  [1 Pts.] 
[QUE] -  -  1  1  ::  [1 Pts.] 
[MSR] -  -  -  0  ::  [0 Pts.] 
[SRS] -  -  -  0  ::  [0 Pts.] 
[TRP] -  -  -  0  ::  [0 Pts.]

---

Play-In Matchups:

The Cordian Isles 63–92 Quebec and Shingoryeo
Cocoabo Park Center, Cocoabo Enrichment Through Sport Zone, Cocoabo Park

Mlima Kijani 58–90 Tropicorp
Caribou Arena, Istria, Moravica, Banija

Misrantis 78–80 Wreckeria
Eelandii Multiple Purpose Arena, Eelandii, Turori

Efnakia 83–83 Jabal Akhdar (87–89 OT)
Tropicorp Civic Center, Tropicoast, Tropicorp

Oontaz Dert Li Ng 82–82 St. Kanye (106–101 OT)
Gorilla's Lair in Askatasuna, Aksum, Banija

---

Round of 16:

1. Pluvia and the Saxean Isles v. 16. Quebec and Shingoryeo
Obaobai Open Courts, Obaobai, Turoki Island, Vilita

8. Equestria v. 9. Milchama
Celestial Gardens, Canterlot, Equestria

4. Delaclava v. 13. Jabal Akhdar
Cocoabo Park Center, Cocoabo Enrichment Through Sport Zone, Cocoabo Park

5. Baker Park v. 12. Sultanate of Oontaz
Tropicorp Civic Center, Tropicoast, Tropicorp

3. Valanora v. 14. Wreckeria
Eelandii Multiple Purpose Arena, Eelandii, Turori

6. Hapilopper v. 11. Demot
Joseph Wilson Arena, Hoima, Ankole, Banija

2. Banija v. 15. Tropicorp
Caribou Arena, Istria, Moravica, Banija

7. Sarzonia v. 10. Alanis Star
Gorilla's Lair in Askatasuna, Aksum, Banija

---

Split into two competitions: Magical & Non-Magical. Each competition will have a winner that will then compete for the Quidditch Championship

Round of 12:
A: Vilita & Turori 70-200s Busoga Islands
B: Gyatso-kai 400s-210 Milchama

C: St. Kanye 250s-70 Qasden
D: Wreckeria 170-340s Canadian Dominion

Quarter Finals:
Magical Semi Finals:
Quebec and Shingoryeo v. Busoga Islands
Banija v. Gyatso-kai

Non-Magical Semi Finals:
Verceola v. Saint Kanye
Squornshelan Remnant States v. Canadian Dominion

---

[Saint Kanye]

The Yeezie hoopsters played hard, played well and of course played clean, but that wasn't enough for them to advance further in the AOBC playoffs as they would fall to the Oontaznik squad after extra time, 106-101. Despite being down 68-51 at the end of the third quarter, the Surge rallied, even forcing overtime on a Marlon Martinez corner three with 4.3 seconds remaining in the fourth. However, he and co-captain Jean Brady would both foul out during the overtime period, having contributed 17 and 20 points, respectively, crippling the chances of a team that had the momentum swinging in their favor during the endgame and were trading blows with their desert-dwelling rivals. Clearly disappointed, Martinez, Brady and the rest of the white-clad Surge squad shook hands with their opponents as the final buzzer sounded, wishing them luck as well against a tough Delaclava side who held the fourth seed and a bye, thanks to their perfect 3-0 group stage record and +50 point differential.

---

Over at the AOWL, the Glorious Free Republic's national quidditch team (also called the Surge) were able to survive the Round of Twelve with a 250-70 beatdown of the team from Qasden. Qasden actually took the early 20-nil lead, with two of their chasers punching the quaffle in within the first 45 minutes of play, only for the purple-clad Yeezies to go on a 60 to nothing run with three goals from Heather Houser and one each from Juliana Medina, Paige Krelman, and an especially acrobatic one by Peter Grimes Jr. in which he had to fly upside down to avoid a bludger that ultimately flew between his legs and narrowly missed his family jewels. From there, the Surge remained in the driver seat, and though Qasden would cut the lead to thirty, 100-70, after almost three hours of play, seeker Jen Holland would once again prove the heroine as she snatched the little golden snitch right from under her counterpart's nose, bringing an end to the match at the 4:27:56 mark.

Waiting for the Surge in the non-magical semifinals is a Verceolan squad who swept their group stage matchups, thus making the previous edition's runners up an underdog in this battle. "I don't really mind being labeled as such," keeper Toby Tanaka said in an interview. "If our own fans continue to support us, and we continue to bring our A-game every game, we have a good chance to defy the odds, however stacked against us they may be." The winner here would be facing the winner of the clash between the Squornshelan Remnant States and Canadian Dominion, and the winner of that game would claim the non-magical title, earning the right to face the ultimate winner of the magical side of the competition in order to determine an ultimate champion (a move, some Yeezie supporters said, was done in order to satisfy the demands of the Atlantian Oceanian wizard community, who were shut out of last edition's finale, especially the Banijan chief wizard which some referred to as "a salty old man".

[Arendalle]

At least we won one game…

In a tournament, often times your success was determined by which teams you drew in the group you were placed. For some teams, the path out of qualifying would be easy; take a team like Gyatso-kai, currently ranked second in the multi-verse, placed into a group with no team ranked over twenty-fifth, it was just a matter of the Ice Bisons playing their best and they would more than likely come out on top.

Though for the Ísörn of Arendalle, that was far from the case…

In their first tournament, Arendalle had drawn quite an unlucky group. The opening match of the tournament came against the Ice Cat-Eel Things of Vilitia & Turori, ranked thirty-fifth in the world. The second match came against the Ice Elephants from perennial-World-Cup-threat Banija, and in what shocked many in the Arendallic community, managed to come out on top by a lone goal; scored late in the third by the captain himself, Hrafn Geir’sonr. That victory inspired the team, boosted morale quite a bit, and Head Coach Steinunn Bridun’dotr had instituted the first tradition of the national team.

A horn, carved with the victor’s name and goal time, filled with mead given to the scorer of the winning goal.

Of course, the next two matches crushed that rising morale. Despite their best efforts, The Ísörn fell by lone goals to both Demot and Efnakia. Included in that lost, was the three-goal comeback from a 3-nil deficit in the third period by Hrafn and Sonja Birta’barnr, whose time in the Avatarian Hockey League definitely was paying off; scoring so far four of the Ísörn’s nine goals. Steinunn, who had sat on the Imperial Íþróttaráð that had came up with the idea for the Arendalle-Avatarian Player Exchange program, and she had a direct say in the selection of players for the program. As such, Steinunn had chosen a few of the AAPE players for her own debut on the AOHC.

There were still two matches left, though the hope of advancing had been all but wiped as the Ísörn sat second-to-last, and six points behind the second-place team in the group, who they were going to face tomorrow. Delaclava, seventeenth in the multi-verse, had a strong hold on second; barring losing out the rest of the group stage – which seemed unlikely since they had yet to lose a game so far – as well as Vilita & Turori needing to lose both of their games, it would likely be the penultimate game for Arendalle. Of course, the Ísörn would also need to defeat the great Quebecois Ice Knights on the final matchday of the tournament. Fortunately for Arendalle, the Ice Knights had been struggling this tournament, having lost all four of their games so far, including a particularly heart-breaking overtime lost to Delaclava.

Will we be able to topple not one, but two giants of the hockey-verse on our final matchdays?

By the gods, I hope so…

[Banija]

Wanda Kouyaté, the Banijan goalkeeper, as the referee whistles for the end of extra time

Yet another penalty kick shootout in the AOCAFs. Where had she seen this before, right?

She grabbed her water bottle and started jogging back to the sideline. The team had been quite fortunate on the day, if she were frank. Pam Scott was insanely pissed off. She had told her players of the threat that Kimi-Suomi could cause them, and exactly how good Kimi-Suomi had been playing. It was the freaking semifinals- far too late for any team worth their salt to be intimidated by the jersey, and as a matter of fact, they were not. They had a defensive base formation, yes, with five at the back, but the wingbacks were certainly marauding.

It was one of those wingbacks on a counter-attack that had created the game's first goal, the opening goal, and had put the Kadongo Kamu truly on upset alert. A 32nd minute interception by Heidi Itälä suddenly had the upstarts breaking forward in numbers, and the Banijans attempting, rather unconvincingly, to get back in transition defense. They were racing forward in numbers greater than we could get back, and it was a moment where we were going to pay the price. A great ball from Itälä to Anne Hintz, who made a fantastic switch across the pitch to Hannu Koivu. At that point, Tairu Conateh was basically left in no man's land- Koivu coming at him at the ball, an overlapping Kimi Airo, and no other defenders to help him. Airo got the ball in a wide open position, and had slide it past Wanda for the opening goal of the game, and his own fourth of the tournament.

Pam Scott had lit a fire under this team at halftime, and it was enough to do whatever it took to find that equalizer- which came in the 55th minute. Before things really got nerve-wracking. The goal wasn't anything spectacular- a mad scramble in the box leading to a sliding Sarafina Ikpeazu poking the ball into the net to equalize the match. Both teams had a chance to win it before this moment. In the 72nd minute, Wesoloski-Okafor was taken down inside the box, leading to a penalty kick. He stepped up to take his own penalty, but Kimi-Suomi GK Kauko Loukamaa was the equal to it, diving correctly and powerfully pushing it away for a brilliant save. And then, just moments ago, Kimi-Suomi had a chance to win.

Kimi Airo had played a volley forward to Valtteri Nordström, who had gotten behind the defensive line. The attacker struck first time out of the air, hitting the ball at seemingly 100 miles per hour. All Wanda Kouyaté could do was try to position herself and throw her hands up, having no chance at that kind of shot. But while Nordström had that golden opportunity to bury the Banijans and turn this shocking AOCAF run from 'incredible' to 'utterly historic', he hit the far post, and the ball rolled out harmlessly for a goal kick.

Just 40 seconds later, the referee blew for full time. "You got lucky on that one." Said the Banijan goalkeeper coach to Wanda Kouyaté. In a lighter moment he may have been grinning- but while there was excitement on the other bench, there was nothing but anxiety and desire on this bench. When you're on the wrong side of a Cinderella story... It's the last place you want to be.

"Yeah- I'm not gonna lie, I thought 11 was gonna end the game." Wanda Kouyaté replied. She sat down, and one of the backup goalkeepers started stretching out Wanda's legs. "But we've got a chance. We've gotta take it. Someone grab me the penalty list." One of the trainers ran back with another water bottle. This was commonplace in international football these days- teams studying penalties, telling us what direction people will shoot, who they think will shoot when. Who can get rattled. The notes were scribbled all over this second water bottle.

"Look, here's the list." The Goalkeeper coach said. "You know that quite a few of them like to go to the keeper's left. And this is a team that hasn't faced this kind of pressure before... Some smack talk is absolutely encouraged."

"Yeah, let me read this." Wanda Kouyaté grabbed the water bottle, and started to study the list. She barely heard as Pam Scott was giving her players instructions, and telling them the penalty kicker. Then, she walked up as she was finishing imploring her players, as Demba Kinteh walked out to the center circle for the coin toss.

"Guys- this is our time. This is our freaking year. A regional title is right within our grasp. We aren't going to let it slip away from us this time. BANIJA ON 3! ONE! TWO! THREE!" The country name was boomed. Kinteh had lost the coin toss. Penalties would take place in the Kimi-Suomi end of the stadium, and Banija would shoot second. So she went out for the first shot.

The first shots from both sides were excellent- Kimi Airo placed it upper 90, as Wanda Kouyaté went the wrong way, while Orji Uzoma, who had come off the bench, also buried his penalty. 1-1. Next up? Valtteri Nordström, who had just missed a chance to win it. "Hey Valtteri!" Wanda Kouyaté yelled. Obviously, the striker ignored her, as he should. Was just focusing on placing the ball. But who doesn't like a little shithousery? "Hey- Remember you just missed? No pressure my boy, you don't wanna miss again!" She started dancing in front of the goal, while she continued. "You WISH you were half as good as-" She stopped as he stepped up to take the shot. He opened his body, so she dove right and felt the loud THUMP of the ball against her hands- the most satisfying sound and feeling.

"SAVE MOTHER-F$*#(2!!!!!!" She yelled, while beating her chest. The Kimi-Suomi fans behind her were stressed, naturally- but that wasn't her problem. "LET'S GO!" This time, she yelled it while facing the crowd, pointing directly at some kid in a Kimi-Suomi jersey in the very front row. Next up for Banija was Gereh Kama, who shot the ball and buried it into the bottom corner. 2-1 to Banija after 2 shots each. Wanda was beaten by a calm Panenka, straight down the middle- but no matter, still advantage to Banija, right? Kausu Dione, one of our all-time leading goalscorers, stepping up to shoot. And his penalty? Skied. "Oh mother fucking shit." She grumbled to herself. Dione simply turned around, with his head down, for one of the loneliest walks in the sport- back to the halfway line, after missing your shot in a penalty shootout.

Suddenly, it was 2-2 after 3 shots each, and Kimi-Suomi had the momentum. They hit their fourth shot, where Wanda had guessed the correct direction but it was simply too good of a shot. And for Banija, Wesoloski-Okafor went fourth, as he buried his penalty, partially making up for his missed penalty during regular time. And now, sudden death. Fifth for Kimi-Suomi? Anne Hintz. "Hey Anne!" Wanda Kouyaté yelled. The midfielder, naturally, ignored her. "Hey Annie! Tomorrow, Tomorrow- I'll love you tomorrow!" Anne Hintz briefly glanced up at Wanda Kouyaté like she was crazy, just throwing words together. Kouyaté continued. "ANnie I know you're scared shitless! The weight of a country on your shoulders.. You ain't ready for it! You can't handle it! It's a freaking penalty- my grandma could score from 12 yards! But you're gonna f#*@ it up, I know it!" Hintz looked nervous, the talk clearly getting to her.

Hintz was hesitant going forward, and the penalty was far from decisive- going to the keeper's left, but only about halfway between the center of the goal and the post, at a perfect save height- at not a great speed. All in all, the dictionary definition of a poorly taken penalty. Kouyaté was all over it, punching it away with ferocity. "HELL YEAH! I TOLD YOU!" Kouyaté got up and pumped her chest again, facing the Kimi-Suomi fans and imploring them to get loud- although obviously they wouldn't. "HEY- ENJOY THIS!" She yelled at the Kimi-Suomi fans behind her. "Y"ALL HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT IN THIS TOURNEY- DEMBA'S ENDING THIS RIGHT HERE- I PROMISE!"

And her prediction was proven correct. How many times had Demba Kinteh won a penalty shootout for his team? And the defender, always confident from the spot, stepped up with no nerves whatsoever. Just drive through the penalty. Keeper guessed correctly, but it was too high, too much pace, too perfectly placed- perfectly in the top right corner. And that was the win for Banija. "HELL YEAH BABY!" Wanda Kouyaté yelled, as Demba Kinteh ran up to her to celebrate. The fans on that end of the pitch were silent, since their team lost, while the other end was going crazy. After a small celebration, they jogged across the pitch to celebrate with their own fans.

As she was jogging, a reporter caught up with her briefly to ask her a question. "Wanda, what did you think of that shootout? Think you'll be ready for Sunday against V&T?"

"Look, I do not fear penalty shootouts. It's a battle of wills, of fortitude- and we got through. We celebrate now, and tomorrow, back to work- we'll be ready for whoever wins the other semifinal." Of course, Banija will take on Vilita & Turori at the Battleground in Raynor City, for the chance to win a regional championship.

[Jabal Akhdar]

While in its public facing statements, the Information Ministry continued to obfuscate as to any possibility of a Græntfjaller penetration of Akhdari territory, behind the closed doors of the Internal Security Headquarters, an opulent white marble construction in Jabal Akhdar City, Jawaad el-Mitri was well aware that the Græntfjaller threat was very present and very real. A HAMSTERS team had been inserted by a stealth amphibious raid and were busy making mayhem; another night of blackouts and disruption to cellphone and internet coverage thanks to their sabotage was sowing discord among the populace, and worse, at the palace, where whispers of the Crown Prince’s disquiet with the situation were growing in volume. Colonel el-Mitri had cut himself shaving that morning, and the small nick on his neck kept blossoming up with a spot of red blood. But he was sure the blades of the Shurib would leave a rather bigger mark if the Crown Prince’s displeasure grew further. He wiped sweat from his brow and reviewed the updated intelligence report.

“They’ve definitely taken the facility. What are they doing with it?” he asked.

First Captain Tayyib Baqqir stood up straight, addressing a spot half a foot above the Colonel’s head. “Colonel sir, we believe they are using it as a numbers station, broadcasting either to the Græntfjaller fleet or to other saboteurs in the country…”

The Colonel looked up sharply.

“…I mean, if there were any more saboteurs in the country, which there aren’t, then perhaps they would be broadcasting to them.”

It was humiliating enough that the HAMSTERS had managed to capture a communications relay, doubly so that they were now using it to signal no doubt valuable intelligence. Colonel el-Mitri, and one of the First Captain’s staff produced a small radio device, flicking it on. A burst of static issued forth. After a minute, Colonel el-Mitri waved his hand in exasperation, but the First Captain pleaded for patience. Another minute, and then came a voice, clear, and speaking in Common (neither in Akdhari nor Græntfjaller).

One… zero… nine… three…

On the strange pattern went for several iterations, before it cut out and the heavy static took over again. The Colonel had jotted down the numbers in the margin of his notes alongside a doodle of himself being beheaded by a Shurib guard. He tapped the numbers with his pencil, then resumed filling in the blood spray from his neck, figuring it a more useful use of his effort: he was no cryptographer.

“Have we analyzed it? What are they saying? Broadcasting our missile positions?”

“We don’t know yet, Colonel sir,” snapped the young Captain. “But we have our TOP minds on it.”

---

At Radio Command Post 43, Lieutenant Irfaan Sohail reviewed the decryption. “You’re sure this is right?”

Technical Corporal al-Noor nodded, wringing his hands together nervously. “I’m sure it’s right, sir, we ran the most advanced decryption software and compared it to every pattern in the database.”

“Then we have to get this to AORDO headquarters on AO Island.”

“Sir, I volunteer!” said Second Sergeant Javid el-Naqri, his hand immediately shooting into the air.

“Sergeant, this is a dangerous mission. There’s a Græntfjaller fleet between us and
AO Island. And there are HAMSTERS between us and the capital doing untold damage to our infrastructure, and they’re sure to be on the lookout for any messengers bringing vital intelligence to the capital. Are you sure?”

The Sergeant stood a little straighter. “Sir, it would be an honor!”

Technical Corporal al-Noor copied out a precise transcription of the decoded message, and Sergeant el-Naqri folded it up and put it in his breast pocket, fastening it tightly. He swapped out his regimental uniform for civilian attire so he could travel lighter, and swung a rifle across his back. Outside, he found a motorbike waiting for him: it would be less conspicuous than a car and more manoeuvrable should he need to swing off the road to avoid any HAMSTERS. The Lieutenant wished him look, lighting a cigarette and watching the small figure disappear through its haze into the bleak, dark horizon.

“Do you think he’ll make it through, Lieutenant?” the Technical Corporal asked gingerly.

Lieutenant Sohail didn’t answer, just sucking silently on his cigarette, but when he cast its ashes aside and stubbed the embers under his boot, he turned away so the NCO wouldn’t see the tears glittering in his eyes.

---

Several days later, guards at AORDO Headquarters on AO Island reported that a figure had made landfall in an improvised kayak and was making his way up to the beachhead. A patrol quickly assessed that this wasn’t some Græntfjaller berserker, but rather an Akhdari, bringing intelligence direct from the Emirate.

Closer inspection revealed Second Sergeant el-Naqri was severely injured. He had evidently encountered the HAMSTERS and somehow escaped with his life – but at significant cost. The poor man could barely walk as he staggered up to the gates and was quickly admitted, but waved off offers of medical assistance and instead demanded to be taken straight to signals intelligence. Blood-stained fingers fumbled to unfasten his pocket as he was shakily installed on a seat. He could barely sit upright, and just managed to get the piece of paper out. With his expiring breath, he croaked and slumped forward on the table.

It had cost him everything, but the brave soldier had delivered the vital piece of intelligence, a decryption of the most terrible and intimate secrets of the invaders. Perhaps the key to solving this whole regional conflagaration.

The decoded message read: “Did you know that The Archregimancy was in World Cup 1? Wow!”

[Misrantis]

MISRANTIS OLYMPIC ROSTER

Delegation led by The Esteemed and Famous Rahman Omer Hilali

Basketball

Staff
Manager: Desire Asker
Assistant: Ari Halabi

Starters
PF: Darwishi Ganim
C: Kasto Koury
SG: Thabit Wasem
PG: Bassel Abadi
SG: Madu Dagher

Reserves
C: Myrrh Said
PG: Tania Shamoon
SG: Ameera Ganem
PG: Norhan Cham
PF: Anan Samaha
PF: Fatya Zogby
SG: Adham Totah

[Vilita and Turori]

Sanamun Surprise as Eel-Cat Things set up Final Battle vs. Banija

La Fantás, Ferdullaele, Farfadillis :: The Stadium on Fire was burning in anticipation of a massive Semi-Final clash between two of the longest named nations remaining in the AOCAF competition. One, a unified entry from two previously distinct entrants in the AOCAF competition, and the other, the remnant states of a larger entity. Perhaps together, they would make two full parts but they would come in as equals with a fifty-fifty shot of advancing to the AOCAF Final. While Vilita and Turori were certainly the more accomplished of the two sides in regional competition, the Eel-Cat Things had made the AOCAF Final just once in the previous fifteen editions of the competition. In contrast, the Squornshelan Remant States were in the final just two cycles earlier when they were defeated by Valanora at the AOCAF LXV final which was held in Vilita and Turori and Baker Park.

The whole semi-final of AOCAF LXVII was setting up as a David versus Goliath matchup. While there could be some statistical debate as to which team was acting in the role of David and which as Goliath at the Stadium on Fire, there was absolutely no doubt in Valanora as former AOCAF and World Cup Champions Banija were overwhelming favorites against a stunning upstart Kimi-Suomi side who were breaking down barriers with every additional knockout round victory they achieved. One thing was certain, the AOCAF LXVII final would set up a first-ever Final matchup for the Atlantian Oceania regional title.

After having sat out the entire tournament thus far, the Eel-Cat Things made a surprising switch at goalkeeper bringing in the veteran Jungle Strike FC netminder Vernasa Sanamun in place of Turori National Team netminder Derizi Amatopa. While it was not disclosed if Amatopa picked up an injury to dictate their exclusion from the Semi-Final matchup, it was the youngster Ukamai Talingri on the bench for the Eel-Cat Things against the Squornshelan Remanant States with Amatopa no where to be found.

If there were any doubts about the readiness of Sanamun and regarding which of the two sides was going to play the role of David and which of Goliath in the matchup, there were some indications less than ten minutes into the match when the Black and Reds opened the scoring much to the delight of a large section of the crowd at La Fantás. It was set up by Tropicorp FC's Thorgnyr Bondarov who came flying down the left hand side and delivered a stunning cross to Caitrin Ness who had nearly the whole goal to shoot at, being denied only by the outstretched leg of Vilita and Turori defender Planio'o Nrujsa. The impact of Nrujsa's heroics were short lived, however, as Sanamun was indecisive on the resulting corner kick, coming halfway out to meet the ball before retreating. It was the perfect opening for Aaro Musta who headed into the back of the net to give the Squornshelan Remnant States a 1-0 lead.

The Eel-Cat Things would fight back after the early set back, taking control of the midfield over the next 15-20 minutes then finally breaking through in the 27th minute when Tyoasi Klipark was left unmarked at the back post and tapped in a shot-turned pass from Enzoril Alabonni as Black and Reds net-minder Shreya Krusan was left in open arms wondering where the break down was in the Remnant defense. While Krusan may have been looking ahead at the defense on the equalizing goal, there was no one to look at other than the mirror five minutes later when Trezisi Rokopolis scored from long range to give the Eel-Cat Things their first lead of the night.

Vilita and Turori would take their 2-1 lead into the half-time break where they would make one change, taking out early hero turned irrelevant highlight extraordinaire Planio'o Nrujsa and introducing veteran defensive midfielder Karisto Monafog.

The Squornshelan Remnant States came onto the field fired up and ready to press for a second half equalizer, but were perhaps a victim of their own motivation. While the Black and Reds quickly pressed forward they abandoned their defensive posture with the goal feeling so close and allowed a quickfire counter attack from Loala Inkabu. The Eura-based striker found themselves one on one with the goalkeeper. Inkabu took a heavy touch and the ball came in towards the goalkeeper Krusan who spotted the opportunity and rushed out. In a controversial moment, the hand of the Black and Reds net-minder appeared to contact the ball with the finger tips just moments before taking down the legs of the Vilita and Turori Attacker who fumbled over to the ground. Play was immediately stopped and Krusan was dismissed much to the dismay of the pro-Remnant States crowd in attendance at the Stadium on Fire.

While tradition in Vilita and Turori is for the player fouled to take the ball whenever a penalty kick is awarded, there was a sign of respect from Inkabu who - after just taking a heavy fall after the contact from Krusan, decided to defer the spot kick to Inteali Koranjo - the player who had played the perfectly timed up-field deliver to set the Bastion striker free on the counter attack. Koranjo stepped up and made no mistake, calmly sending backup goalkeeper Jovon Walat the wrong way to double the Vilita and Turori advantage.

With little time to prepare for the big stage, Walat was shaky on their first touch from open play just minutes later, striking a goal kick out of touch for a Vilita and Turori throw in. From the throw, Koranjo was involved once again finding Cuoabaza Orani'aoa who turned quickly then crossed into the area where Enzoril Alabonni was waiting to re-direct the ball into the back of the net.

With their first AOCAF Final appearance in over ten cycles seemingly in the bag, the Vilita and Turori coaching staff decided to slow the game down as much as they could. While the Black and Reds pressed forward as much as possible despite being a player down, Vilita and Turori would strategically employee their substitutions whenever the Squornshelan Remnant States had seemed to pick up a spot of momentum. First, it was the long extended departure of Kamarela Dzzara from the opposite side of the pitch while the Squornshelan Remanant States prepared for a corner kick - Kinabo Telio taking just as long to rejoin the crowd in the area - so long in fact that the referee eventually urged play to continue on before Telioa made it all the way into the box. Then, ten minutes later it was one of the popular Tlikara siblings making an appearance late in the match, coming on to a muted applause while Limu Katarakhna exited the pitch.

Ultimately reality began to sink in for the players of the Squornshealn Remnant States as they clocked ticked down on their hope of avenging their runner-up finish in AOCAF LXV. Instead, the Black and Reds would have the simpler travel schedule, staying in Farfadillis and headed to the Third Place Playoff while Vilita and Turori packed their bags and headed off to Valanora to contest the AOCAF LXVII Final.

 Vilita and Turori 4 - 1 Squornshelan Remnant States	
	Vilita and Turori Goals:	:: 27' Tyoasi Klipark:: 32' Trezisi Rokopolis:: 52' Inteali Koranjo:: 56' Enzoril Alabonni           
	Stats :: Vilita and Turori 	:: Possession: 55%:: Shots: 10:: Corners: 8 :: Squornshelan Remnant States :: Possession: 45%:: Shots: 7:: Corners: 5
	Vilita and Turori Lineup :: 	Vernasa Sanamun, Planio’o Nrujsa (Karisto Monafog 45'), Kamarela Dzzara (Kinabo Telioa 68'), Inteali Koranjo, Sami Samii’i, Cuoabaza Orani’aoa, Trezisi Rokopolis, Limu Katarakhna (Kunaro Tlikara 78'), Enzoril Alabonni, Loala Inkabu, Tyoasi Klipark

The Battleground, Raynor City, Valanora :: While conflict brewed on the outskirts of the Vilitan Cove, Tropicorp scientists worked to develop walls of sand to protect themselves from the unknown terrors that waited on the other side of the Great Calanian Desert - the everyday citizen was looking for something more positive in their news feed and for those within both Banija and the Vilitan Cove, their Footsport teams were delivering just that.

While Vilita and Turori would enter the AOCAF LXVII Final with more all-time regional titles than their Banijan opponents, it is the Kadongo Kamu who had tasted triumph most recently having won the AOCAF LXIV title in the Equestrian States just three cycles earlier. Vilita and Turori's last triumph had also come in the Equestrian States but ten cycles earlier.

One unexpected story line shaping out in the build up to the AOCAF Final was the potential title matchup to be decided between long-time Jungle Strike FC Co-Number One goalkeepers Wanda Kouyaté and Vernasa Sanamun. Wanda Kouyaté is the only Banijan player who can already claim a championship at all major levels of internationstatal competition from Junior Level all the way through to the World Cup Final. With those credentials, it is only natural that Kouyaté has developed into a 1-A type net-minder for Jungle Strike FC. Sanamun has struggled to match the international form of their Banijan counterpart, but has remained loyal to the Venom and a worthy 1-B shot stopper throughout as the duo have claimed multiple domestic titles and silverware in their net-sharing routine. It will be a rare opportunity in the career of both goalkeepers to be on the field at the same time for 90 minutes head to head - and an equally rare occasion where, when the full time whistle is blown, only one of the two long-time teammates will be lifting the championship trophy.

[Farfadillis]

Third place play off

Kimi-Suomi 1–3 Squornshelan Remnant States

[Valanora]

Final

Banija 3–3(4–3 AET) Vilita & Turori

[Gyatso-kai]

╠THE WEDGE AND WHEEL╣
Gyatso-kai at the AOlympics

Written by KOSAI Torsonn

This edition of The Wedge and Wheel is brought to you by GameCuts, the official hair stylist for the Gyatso-kai AOlympic Delegation! With online check-in, StyleNotes taken for every haircut, our talented and highly trained stylists will have you feeling as fresh as a newly shorn llama when you leave the shop!

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---

:: AOHC: Ice Hockey

After last tournament’s frankly embarrassing ending – the Ice Bisons losing in the Finals 6-3 to relative newcomer (and currently undefeated) Efnakia – and the previous editions fourth-place finish, many had wanted the Ice Bisons to come into the Summer Olympics and the Eleventh Edition of the Atlantian Oceania Hockey Championships with a renewed vigor, bolstered by the team’s back-to-back victory in the World Cup of Hockey.

Instead… we have been given a less than stellar performance.

The Ice Bisons currently sit second in Group C, one point behind The Cordian Isles and one point ahead of Pluvia & The Saxen Isles. Coming into our last matchday of play, the Ice Bisons will seek to dethrone The North Stars from the Top Position of the Group and hope to see them lose one more game against Pluvia. Unless the Ice Bisons capitulate and lose the final matchday, advancement is all but guaranteed; should Pluvia tie us in points, we will get the go-ahead thanks to the 3-1 victory in Matchday 5. However, should we fall from second place (L vs Cordian Isles, Pluvia W vs Cordian Isles), Gyatso-kai will move into a sudden death playoff with the other third and fourth place teams for the final two quarterfinal positions.

[I]Basically… we need to win, win, win… no matter what…

---

:: AOWL :: QUADBALL

In the surprise of the tournament, The Flying Bisons continue to outperform the other national teams in terms of success.

In the Group Stage, Gyatso-kai managed to come out in second behind the only team that defeated them; Quebec & Shingoryeo, who managed to catch the snitch when trailing by ten points in the first hour of the game, creating one of the fastest games in recent memory. The Flying Bisons would go onto their first ever-advancment from the Group Stage, coming up against Milchama in the Round of Twelve for the Magical Group. Despite falling behind in the opening hours of the match, Gyatso-kai would make a strong push in the fourth hour before Iviin Ram'ser would catch her first snitch to end the game 400s-210 to advance to the quarterfinals.

To get the opportunity to play for the national team, as well as be the seeker who caught [the snitch] that would send us to the quarterfinals is simply fantastic! Our team has worked so hard, and I’m just glad I was in play. [Head Coach Master Ba Jinyang] was set to pull me as I hit my second hour of consecutive play… just glad I didn’t start and got the sub in for Atil [Saiyan]

Iviin Ram'ser #7, Age 21, Chaser for the National Quadball Team

Next up for the Flying Bisons, are the White Lions of Banija; a team that came out on top of Group Two in the Magical Division, with a similar record to the Avatarian team which placed second. For the Flyng Bisons, it was a 3-0-1 record with a 540-340 point differential, for the combined point differential being +200: While for the White Lions, it was a 3-0-1 record with a 520-340 point differential, for the combined +180. Such similar records from two different teams going up against each other in the Quarterfinals of the Magical Division means we will likely see some incredible quadball between two of the best teams in the multi-verse right now.

I can only hope the Flying Bisons can stay in the ‘best of the multi-verse’ moniker for a little longer…

---

Copyright 2022.3 Avatarian Sports Programming Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.aspn.com.gk/articles/aolympics/00327228
© 2022 Avatarian Sports Programming Network

[AOlympics]

With 21 Entrants there will be 3 Groups of 7. The Top 2 in each Group (6 Total) will advance directly to the quarter finals. 3rd and 4th place finishers will playoff ( 6v3, 4v5 > 1vL, 2vH) on a single MD for the final two Quarter Final Slots). Cutoffs will follow the AOCAF Cutoffs.

Matchday 6:

Group 1:
Efnakia [3] Quebec and Shingoryeo [1]     
Arendalle [3] Delaclava [2]     
Demot [1] Vilita & Turori [2]     

Group 2:
Valanora [4] Milchama [3]     
Squornshelan Remnant States [4] Verceola [0]     
Hapilopper [4] Busoga Islands [2]     

Group 3:
Wreckeria [0] Canadian Dominion [3]     
Oontaz Dert Li Ng [1] Baker Park [3]     
The Cordian Isles [0] Gyatso-kai [1]

Matchday 7:

Group 1:
Quebec and Shingoryeo [3] Arendalle [2]    F-OT
Delaclava [4] Efnakia [3]     
Banija [2] Demot [6]     

Group 2:
Milchama [1] Squornshelan Remnant States [3]     
Verceola [0] Valanora [4]     
Qasden [3] Hapilopper [4]    F-SO

Group 3:
Canadian Dominion [4] Oontaz Dert Li Ng [1]     
Baker Park [5] Wreckeria [1]     
Pluvia and the Saxean Isles [2] The Cordian Isles [3]    F-SO

---Group 1----                  GP  W  L OTL F-A  PTS 
[1] Efnakia                      6  5  1  0 18-10 10
[2] Delaclava                    6  5  1  0 18-14 10
:3: Vilita & Turori              6  4  2  0 14-11  8
:4: Demot                        6  3  3  0 16-13  6
 5- Arendalle                    6  2  3  1 14-18  5
 6- Banija                       6  1  4  1 14-21  3
 7- Quebec and Shingoryeo        6  1  4  1 14-21  3

-

---Group 2----                  GP  W  L OTL F-A  PTS  
[1] Squornshelan Remnant States  6  5  0  1 15-7  11
[2] Valanora                     6  4  1  1 16-12  9
:3: Milchama                     6  4  2  0 18-12  8
:4: Busoga Islands               6  3  2  1 15-14  7
 5- Hapilopper                   6  2  3  1 13-15  5
 6- Qasden                       6  1  3  2 11-17  4
 7- Verceola                     6  2  4  0 10-21  4

-

---Group 3----                  GP  W  L OTL F-A  PTS  
[1] Baker Park                   6  5  1  0 21-13 10
[2] The Cordian Isles            6  5  1  0 16-10 10
:3: Gyatso-kai                   6  4  1  1 16-11  9
:4: Pluvia and the Saxean Isles  6  3  2  1 16-15  7
 5- Canadian Dominion            6  2  2  2 16-15  6
 6- Oontaz Dert Li Ng            6  2  4  0 14-19  4
 7- Wreckeria                    6  0  6  0  6-22  0

-

Play in Round Matchups: (Match A-D Cutoff in 42-48 Hours)

A: Vilita & Turori v. Demot
B: Pluvia and the Saxean Isles v. Busoga Islands

C: Gyatso-kai v. Winner B
D: Milchama v. Winner A

Quarter Final Matchups: Bye Day - Cutoff Est. 08/15

1. Squornshelan Remnant States v. Winner D
4. The Cordian Isles v. 5. Delaclava

3. Efnakia v. 6. Valanora
2. Baker Park v. Winner C

---

Day 2:
M 50m Freestyle

Heat #1
1 Banija                         21.30 Q AOR*
2 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    21.64 Q
3 Squornshelan Remnant States    21.73 Q
4 Wreckeria                      21.86 q
5 Mlima Kijani                   21.95
6 Quebec and Shingoryeo          22.04
7 Vilita and Turori              22.05
8 Demot                          22.12

  Heat #2
1 Tropicorp                      21.80 Q
2 Milchama                       21.81 Q
3 Busoga Islands                 21.82 Q
4 Qasden                         21.84 q
5 Valanora                       22.05
6 Baker Park                     22.14
7 Misrantis                      22.15
— Hapilopper                       DSQ

FINAL
1 Qasden                         21.55 ● GOLD
2 Milchama                       21.57 ● SILVER
3 Squornshelan Remnant States    21.64 ● BRONZE
4 Busoga Islands                 21.65
5 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    21.66
  Banija                         21.66
7 Tropicorp                      21.69
  Wreckeria                      21.69

W 50m Freestyle

Heat #1
1 Squornshelan Remnant States    24.54 Q
2 Hapilopper                     24.64 Q
3 Baker Park                     24.71 Q
4 Tropicorp                      24.90
5 Valanora                       24.91
6 Demot                          24.99
7 Quebec and Shingoryeo          25.16
— Milchama                         DSQ

  Heat #2
1 Banija                         24.45 Q
2 Vilita and Turori              24.46 Q
3 Wreckeria                      24.50 Q
4 Misrantis                      24.57 q
5 Qasden                         24.64 q
6 Busoga Islands                 24.77
7 Mlima Kijani                   24.83
  Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    24.83

FINAL
1 Banija                         24.14 ● GOLD
2 Baker Park                     24.22 ● SILVER
3 Misrantis                      24.29 ● BRONZE
4 Qasden                         24.33
5 Squornshelan Remnant States    24.43
6 Wreckeria                      24.51
7 Hapilopper                     24.65
8 Vilita and Turori              24.72

M 100m Breaststroke

Heat #1
1 Banija                         1:00.15 Q
2 Milchama                       1:00.30 Q
3 Valanora                       1:00.39 Q
4 Squornshelan Remnant States    1:00.43 q
5 Busoga Islands                 1:00.45 q
6 Misrantis                      1:00.70
7 Demot                          1:00.71
8 Qasden                         1:00.81

  Heat #2
1 Wreckeria                      1:00.44 Q
2 Baker Park                     1:00.50 Q
3 Hapilopper                     1:00.56 Q
4 Vilita and Turori              1:00.59
5 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    1:00.66
  Quebec and Shingoryeo          1:00.66
7 Tropicorp                      1:00.72
8 Mlima Kijani                   1:00.77

FINAL
1 Milchama                         59.12 ● GOLD
  Banija                           59.12 ● GOLD
3 Busoga Islands                   59.17 ● BRONZE
4 Baker Park                       59.26
5 Valanora                         59.35
6 Squornshelan Remnant States    1:00.01
7 Wreckeria                      1:00.19
8 Hapilopper                     1:00.21

W 100m Breaststroke

Heat #1
1 Busoga Islands                 1:07.90 Q
2 Tropicorp                      1:08.00 Q
3 Vilita and Turori              1:08.11 Q
4 Quebec and Shingoryeo          1:08.12 q
5 Demot                          1:08.15
6 Hapilopper                     1:08.22
7 Baker Park                     1:08.52
8 Misrantis                      1:09.12

  Heat #2
1 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    1:07.65 Q
2 Squornshelan Remnant States    1:08.03 Q
3 Milchama                       1:08.06 Q
4 Valanora                       1:08.13 q
5 Qasden                         1:08.16 
6 Banija                         1:08.90
7 Wreckeria                      1:09.21
8 Mlima Kijani                   1:09.22

FINAL
1 Busoga Islands                 1:06.28 ● GOLD
2 Tropicorp                      1:06.32 ● SILVER
3 Squornshelan Remnant States    1:06.87 ● BRONZE
4 Vilita and Turori              1:07.47
5 Milchama                       1:07.51
6 Quebec and Shingoryeo          1:07.80
7 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    1:07.83
8 Valanora                       1:08.03

-     G  S  B  T  :: SwimAO Standings
[BUS] 4  2  1  7  ::  [17 Pts.]
[BNJ] 3  1  -  4  ::  [11 Pts.]
[VAL] 3  -  -  3  ::  [9 Pts.]
[CBP] -  2  3  5  ::  [7 Pts.]
[MIL] 1  1  -  2  ::  [5 Pts.]
[QAD] 1  -  2  3  ::  [5 Pts.]
[V&T] 1  -  1  2  ::  [4 Pts.]
[DEM] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.]
[MLK] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.]
[PSI] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.]
[TRP] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.]
[WRE] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.]
[SRS] -  -  2  2  ::  [2 Pts.]
[HAP] -  -  1  1  ::  [1 Pts.]
[MSR] -  -  1  1  ::  [1 Pts.]
[QUE] -  -  1  1  ::  [1 Pts.]

---

---

Round of 16:

Pluvia and the Saxean Isles 74–74 Quebec and Shingoryeo (91–82 OT)
Obaobai Open Courts, Obaobai, Turoki Island, Vilita

Equestria 112–83 Milchama
Celestial Gardens, Canterlot, Equestria

Delaclava 76–76 Jabal Akhdar (93–92 OT)
Cocoabo Park Center, Cocoabo Enrichment Through Sport Zone, Cocoabo Park

Baker Park 97–67 Oontaz Dert Li Ng
Tropicorp Civic Center, Tropicoast, Tropicorp

Valanora 81–62 Wreckeria
Eelandii Multiple Purpose Arena, Eelandii, Turori

Hapilopper 75–67 Demot
Joseph Wilson Arena, Hoima, Ankole, Banija

Banija 92–63 The Cordian Isles
Caribou Arena, Istria, Moravica, Banija

Sarzonia 73–72 Alanis Star
Gorilla's Lair in Askatasuna, Aksum, Banija

Quarter Final Matchups:

Pluvia and the Saxean Isles v. Equestria
Obaobai Open Courts, Obaobai, Turoki Island, Vilita

Delaclava v. Baker Park
Cocoabo Park Center, Cocoabo Enrichment Through Sport Zone, Cocoabo Park

Valanora v. Hapilopper
Eelandii Multiple Purpose Arena, Eelandii, Turori

Banija v. Sarzonia
Caribou Arena, Istria, Moravica, Banija

---

Split into two competitions: Magical & Non-Magical. Each competition will have a winner that will then compete for the Quidditch Championship

Quarter Finals:
Magical Semi Finals: (Eagle's Club, Eelandii, Turori)

Quebec and Shingoryeo 220s-70 Busoga Islands

Banija 140-320s Gyatso-kai


Non-Magical Semi Finals: (Tropicoast Beach, Tropicoast, Tropicorp)

Verceola 10-200s St. Kanye

Squornshelan Remnant States 390s-230 Canadian Dominion


Semi Finals:
Magical Final: (Eagle's Club, Eelandii, Turori)

Quebec and Shingoryeo v. Gyatso-kai

Non-Magical Final: (Tropicoast Beach, Tropicoast, Tropicorp)

Saint Kanye v. Squornshelan Remnant States


Note: Third Place Playoff Matches will also be held on the Magical and Non Magical Halves:
Magical 3PPO: Busoga Islands v. Banija
Non-Magical 3PPO: Verceola v. Canadian Dominion

---

[Milchama]

"We just lost in basketball"

"To who?"

"Equestria"

"Yeah that makes sense, it feels hard to beat horses in basketball, they stand up on hindlegs and that's the game"

"Oh yeah good point"

"I mean in soccer you can work with positioning and skill to beat them, though damn are the Ponies good but it feels hard in basketball"

"What else has been going on?"

"We lost in quadball to somebody"

"What's that?"

"Don't worry about it"

"Cool"

"Wait is it the AOlympics?"

"Yeah"

"How come we haven't been talking about it"

"Zero motivation"

"Oh that makes sense"

"So how are we doing?"

"About as well as can be expected when we have a country focused on baseball and war"

"Oh yeah what's going on with war"

"Best I can tell the HAMSTERS are here and that's bad"

"Ok and what else"

"Milchama is taking a more active role in the region and that's good"

"That is, glad to see us flex our muscles"

"Have we been able to do anything?"

"Well we've pledged some special forces units to help Jabal Akhdar but beyond that not much and we're monitoring with our intelligence as usual"

"Nice"

"Anything else you know?"

"Just what I see from reading the papers, nothing major, so I'm hoping that's all it is"

"Cool"

"Yep"

[Squornshelan Remnant States]

AOCAF
What's to say about the AOCAF quarterfinal?

The team folded. Got out to an early lead, got cocky, and were completely picked apart by a superior side. Allowed as many goals in a single match as they had in the rest of the tournament combined. 3rd place, blown out by Vilita. A red card issued to Shreya Krusan that was questionable at best didn't help things, but the tide was swinging well before that moment came, and Groothuis to her credit rejected the opportunity to use that as an excuse. There was some speculation how the team would respond in the third place match, especially with their first choice goalkeeper suspended. Groothuis made a few tweaks to the lineup, Walat in net obviously, and Fridtjofs back up front in place of Ness, where he'd square off against his Kyethas teammates Talvela and Airo. As it turned out, Kyethas supporters watching from home in Tikariot likely had the most fun of anyone, as Fridtjofs netted a pair in the first half, and Airo responded early in the second to keep things close. The match was finally put beyond doubt with just a handful of minutes left by Jagdish, of all people, heading a Stern corner kick back against the grain and past Loukamaa. It's not the dream result that many had hoped for, but looking back on the tournament and the storied teams that take place each edition, it's a strong finish, and one that Confederate players and supporters both can be proud of.

AOHC
While the footballing Black-and-Reds have reached the end of their journey, and not in the final triumph that was hoped for, their iceborne counterparts are still in with a chance, and on a run of excellent form. After losing in overtime to Qasden in the second match of the preliminary round, they've gone on a four-game winning streak. They needed overtime to overcome Valanora, and a shootout in the opener against the Busoga Islanders, but finished up the prelims with dominant wins over Milchama and Verceola to finish with the best record of any team and a bye through to the quarterfinals. The undisputed highlight has been the play of Mikaela Corcain, with 7 of the team's 15 goals in 6 games, and 3 assists. This team stands poised to make a deep run through the tournament, but if they're to live up to that potential, Corcrain and the rest of the top line will have to stay hot, and push through opposing teams' efforts to clog up the ice and deny them their crisp passing and shooting lanes on the rush.

AOWL
In the non-wizarding wizarding league, we have a rematch of the grand final of last edition. The gyrocycle-riding, Santraginus-based Squornshelan team have met up once again with the striker unit-equipped squad from St. Kanye to battle for all the marbles, or whatever it is wizards use for currency. Well, maybe not quite all of them. On the other side of the bracket, more traditional teams from Gyatso-kai and Quebec and Shingoryeo will battle for supremacy on magical broomsticks. Notably absent are the notably outspoken Mukegara of Banija, who were eliminated in the semifinals. So much for the nobility and primacy of traditionalist quadball. Ok, all trash talk aside, it has to be said that this stunt with dividing the bracket into magical and non-magical teams and then pitting the two winners against each other is in quite poor taste. It's a format guaranteed, one might even argue it was specifically designed to stir up rivalry and resentment between magical and non-magical communities in Atlantian Oceania. Always be suspicious dear reader, when you see cultural division and dissension. Look for who stands to profit from the acrimony. In this case, none other than our gracious hosts in Tropicorp, who of course now hold the distribution rights to Squornshelan gyrocycles, and will surely reap the benefits should those machines feature in this gong show of a grand final. If I were Yeezie, I'd be keeping a close eye on the officiating of this semifinal, that's all I'm saying.

[Saint Kanye]

The Yeezie quidditch team didn't mind that they were entering the AOWL Non-Magical Semifinals (or the overall quarterfinals) as underdogs, they just aimed to give it their all against a Verceola squad that went three for three during the group stages. Well, it took all of fourteen seconds for the Verceolans to strike first, to the astonishment of not only St. Kanye's keeper Toby Tanaka but the rest of the squad as well. But they didn't lose hope, as their own offense came alive after that, not to mention their defense. Five straight goals and a snitch catch later, in just under an hour and a half, and the Yeezies would be moving on to the Non-Magical Finals (the overall semifinals) by a score of two hundred to ten. Raphael Tremblay and Heather Houser had two goals apiece, with Juliana Medina providing the remaining one. "That win boosted our morale and our confidence heading to the next match," Medina said. "It really helps because we're faced with a great task - to prove that we're one of, if not the best quidditch team in Atlantian Oceania." So who are the ones stepping between our boys and girls in purple and lime and their path to the AOWL trophy? That would be Squornshelans, who disposed of the Canadian Dominion in a shootout, 390 to 230. The flying bikers again? Yes, the flying bikers. Again.

The first ever meeting between the players in the gyrocycles and those in the striker units saw the former prevail, 170-20, and grab the title in the previous edition of the AOWL. The second came during the recently concluded group stages of this edition, wherein St. Kanye were able to get back at the Squornshelans with a 260-120 result; fans of both sides saw this as a sign of a budding rivalry. As such the upcoming part three of the saga between them has already gained a lot of attention in the press and online; tickets for the clash at Tropicoast Beach have already sold out, while pay per view subscription numbers in St. Kanye are through the roof. "Either way, all I can say is that this is going to be good, and as such we shall be very much prepared for it and whatever may come after," spoke Yeezie assistant coach Josh Moritz.

Over at the magical side, Quebec and Shingoryeo prevailed over the Busoga Islands 220-70 to earn one of the two Magical Finals seats, with the other going to Gyatso-kai after they took down Banija 320-140. "Both of those [Q&S and Gyatso-kai] are really good teams, so even if we survive the Squornshelans, we're still in for a tough time," Coach Moritz said.

[Gyatso-kai]

╠THE WEDGE AND WHEEL╣
Gyatso-kai at the AOlympics

Written by KOSAI Torsonn

As the competitons continue into the later stages, ASPN continues to cover the teams as they advance with the latest addition of The Wedge & Wheel!

---

:: AOHC: Ice Hockey

After watching Gyatso-kai and the Cordian Isles duke it out for first place, with the Ice Bisons coming out on top with a lone goal on the sixth matchday, many felt that the Avatarian team could manage to secure a bye into the Round of Sixteen in the Twelfth Edition of the Atlantian Oceania Hockey Championships. Unfortunately for the Ice Bisons, the group would see itself flipped all around, as Baker Park would win out their tournament facing two unranked opponents who were at the bottom of our Group, after which tying the North Stars and getting first place thanks to their better goal differential; 21-13 for +12 vs Cordian Isles’ 16-10 for +6.

Which, for the Ice Bisons – reigning World Cup Champions and ranked second in the multi-verse – meant a fall from second in the group to a solid third, and put their chances of getting to the finals of the AOHC on even thinner ice. In the first round of the Play-In, Gyatso-kai must wait for the game between The Pluvian Isles vs Busoga Islands, with the Ice Bisons facing off against the winner of the second round.

The suspense is always so miserable…

---

:: AOWL :: QUADBALL

The Flying Bisons, playing in their second AOWL appearance, continue to surprise all who are watching. In the game against the White Lions of Banija, the Flying Bisons took an early lead in the first hour of the match, taking command of the play and keeping overwhelming pressure on the White Lions, going up 85-25 at the first hour mark. In the second hour, with a successful substitution of chasers, the White Lions caught up, reaching the second hour mark at 140-100. As the first starters of Gyatso-kai returned from their various substitutions, Seeker Iviin Ram'ser – who has racked up almost eleven hours of playtime this tournament – managed to catch sight of the snitch in the upper levels of the arena, and immediately began the hunt.

Her speed is blinding… and in just five minutes past the second half, Gyatso-kai managed to score the snitch and move on…

Next for the Flying Bisons comes the Semi-Finals of the Magical Division, where the team will face off against our most respected rival in Ice Hockey, Quebec and Shingoryeo, in what will likely be the best match of the tournament to date for the Avatarian Quadball Team.

---

Copyright 2022.3 Avatarian Sports Programming Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.aspn.com.gk/articles/aolympics/00381788
© 2022 Avatarian Sports Programming Network

[Vilita and Turori]

Eel-Cat Things Bested by Banija, Shift Focus to the Ice

The Battleground, Raynor City, Valanora :: Contesting their first AOCAF Final in 10 cycles, the magical run for the Vilita and Turori Eel-Cat Things finally came to an end as they would lose the final of the Atlantian Oceania Regional Championship by a 4-3 scoreline after extra time in Raynor City. While there was undoubtedly disappointment in the Vilita and Turori locker room after the match, the fans are sure to be bolstered by the return of their team to the Regional Championship match and finishing inside the medal place for the first time in recent history.

While there would be no AOCAF Trophy to be lifted for Vilita and Turori, they were still in the hunt for the prestigious Atlantian Oceania Hockey Championships despite a topsy-turvy group stage showing. Home to the reigning Hockey Champions League winners the Lopinka Lynx, Vilitan Ice Hockey has been building back up to its peak and much was expected from the Ice-Cat Things particulalry with the 10th AOHC competition being hosted in Vilita and Turori for the first time since AOHC V. There were some stumbles along the way -including defeats to Delaclava and Efnakia, but Vilita and Turori still coasted into the knockout rounds. While they did not secure a first-round bye, they were still in with a chance to life the trophy on home ice. While the team had already been eliminated in the Atlantian Oceania Wizarding League and withdrew from the AOBC in order to focus on competition at the Olympic Games, the Vilita and Turori swimming delegation were bolstered by the return of many of their top swimmers from Prescott and Twin Cities where the swimming competitions of the XVI Olympic Summer Games had already concluded. After three days of competition Vilita and Turori Swimmers had picked up two medals, a Gold and a Bronze.

[AOlympics]

Play in Round Matchups:

Match A: Vilita & Turori .. 2 - 0 .. Demot

Match B: Pluvia and the Saxean Isles .. 1 - 2 .. Busoga Islands (2OT)

Winners A & B Advance to Match C & D Below:

Match C: Gyatso-kai .. 2 - 1 .. Busoga Islands

Match D: Milchama .. 2 - 3 .. Vilita & Turori (OT)

Quarter Final Matchups: ~40-48 Hours

1. Squornshelan Remnant States v. D. Vilita & Turori
Turoki Coliseum, Turoki City, Vilita

4. The Cordian Isles v. 5. Delaclava
Toys '4' All Arena, Lopinka, Vilita

3. Efnakia v. 6. Valanora
3WD Iceplex, Alikki-Corra, Vilita

2. Baker Park v. C. Gyatso-Kai
Vilaye Energy Drink Arena, Vilisorma, Vilita

---

Day 2:
M 100m Butterfly

Heat #1
1 Baker Park                      50.80 Q
2 Busoga Islands                  50.87 Q
3 Valanora                        51.48 Q
4 Milchama                        51.91
5 Banija                          52.02
6 Wreckeria                       52.05
7 Mlima Kijani                    52.50
8 Squornshelan Remnant States     52.64

  Heat #2
1 Quebec and Shingoryeo           51.29 Q
2 Misrantis                       51.36 Q
3 Vilita and Turori               51.55 Q
4 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles     51.60 q
5 Demot                           51.70 q
6 Tropicorp                       51.76
7 Hapilopper                      52.13
8 Qasden                          52.15

FINAL
1 Busoga Islands                   50.76 =AOR ● GOLD
2 Baker Park                       51.07 ● SILVER
3 Vilita and Turori                51.33 ● BRONZE
4 Demot                            51.47
5 Valanora                         51.53
6 Quebec and Shingoryeo            51.55
7 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles      51.64
8 Misrantis                        51.75

W 100m Butterfly

Heat #1
1 Banija                           57.13 Q
2 Busoga Islands                   57.31 Q
3 Valanora                         58.28 Q
4 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles      58.58 q
5 Wreckeria                        58.60 q
  Qasden                           58.60 q
7 Mlima Kijani                     58.67
8 Milchama                         58.73

  Heat #2
1 Vilita and Turori                57.56 Q
2 Baker Park                       57.78 Q
3 Hapilopper                       58.19 Q
4 Demot                            58.69
5 Squornshelan Remnant States      58.71
6 Tropicorp                        58.77
7 Misrantis                        59.06
8 Quebec and Shingoryeo            59.27

FINAL
1 Valanora                         57.20 ● GOLD
2 Banija                           57.99 ● SILVER
3 Qasden                           58.03 ● BRONZE
4 Baker Park                       58.05
5 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles      58.09
  Hapilopper                       58.09
7 Valanora                         58.29
8 Busoga Islands                   58.52
9 Wreckeria                        58.60

M 1500m Freestyle

Heat #1
1 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    14:56.79 Q
2 Misrantis                      15:09.61 Q
3 Busoga Islands                 15:11.02 Q
4 Tropicorp                      15:22.77 q
5 Hapilopper                     15:25.93
6 Qasden                         15:27.95
7 Banija                         15:28.55
8 Quebec and Shingoryeo          15:43.13

  Heat #2
1 Baker Park                     14:45.44 Q
2 Milchama                       15:02.28 Q
3 Squornshelan Remnant States    15:04.94 Q
4 Valanora                       15:18.04 q
5 Vilita and Turori              15:27.42
6 Mlima Kijani                   15:31.21
7 Demot                          15:33.16
8 Wreckeria                      16:06.07

FINAL
1 Milchama                       15:08.09 ● GOLD
2 Squornshelan Remnant States    15:12.84 ● SILVER
3 Misrantis                      15:12.87 ● BRONZE
4 Valanora                       15:14.90
5 Baker Park                     15:19.96
6 Tropicorp                      15:29.85
7 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    15:38.67
8 Busoga Islands                 15:38.69

W 800m Freestyle

Heat #1
1 Tropicorp                      8:30.43 Q
2 Squornshelan Remnant States    8:31.85 Q
3 Milchama                       8:33.33 Q
4 Pluvia and the Saxean Isles    8:38.91
5 Hapilopper                     8:40.64
6 Quebec and Shingoryeo          8:41.39
7 Demot                          8:41.57
8 Misrantis                      8:50.23

  Heat #2
1 Busoga Islands                 8:30.74 Q
2 Qasden                         8:31.71 Q
3 Mlima Kijani                   8:37.03 Q
4 Banija                         8:38.63 q
5 Vilita and Turori              8:38.83 q
6 Baker Park                     8:44.60
7 Valanora                       8:47.91
8 Wreckeria                      8:51.23

FINAL
1 Vilita and Turori              8:19.35 ● GOLD
2 Milchama                       8:20.95 ● SILVER
3 Busoga Islands                 8:21.90 ● BRONZE
4 Mlima Kijani                   8:23.66
5 Banija                         8:24.59
6 Qasden                         8:26.35
7 Squornshelan Remnant States    8:30.14
8 Tropicorp                      8:31.34

-     G  S  B  T  :: SwimAO Standings
[BUS] 5  2  2  9  ::  [21 Pts.]
[BNJ] 3  2  -  5  ::  [13 Pts.]
[VAL] 4  -  -  4  ::  [12 Pts.]
[MIL] 2  2  -  4  ::  [10 Pts.]
[CBP] -  3  3  6  ::  [9 Pts.]
[V&T] 2  -  2  4  ::  [8 Pts.]
[QAD] 1  -  3  4  ::  [6 Pts.]
[SRS] -  1  2  3  ::  [4 Pts.]
[DEM] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.]
[MLK] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.]
[PSI] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.]
[MSR] -  -  2  2  ::  [2 Pts.]
[TRP] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.]
[WRE] -  1  -  1  ::  [2 Pts.]
[QUE] -  -  1  1  ::  [1 Pts.]
[HAP] -  -  1  1  ::  [1 Pts.]

---

---

Quarter Final Matchups:

Pluvia and the Saxean Isles 80–79 Equestria
Obaobai Open Courts, Obaobai, Turoki Island, Vilita

Delaclava 77–76 Baker Park
Cocoabo Park Center, Cocoabo Enrichment Through Sport Zone, Cocoabo Park

Valanora 94–75 Hapilopper
Eelandii Multiple Purpose Arena, Eelandii, Turori

Banija 86–83 Sarzonia
Caribou Arena, Istria, Moravica, Banija



Semi Final Matchups:

Pluvia and the Saxean Isles v. Delaclava
Tivali Jungle Gym, Tivali, Vilita

Valanora v. Banija
Tropicorp Civic Centre, Tropicoast, Tropicorp

---

Split into two competitions: Magical & Non-Magical. Each competition will have a winner that will then compete for the Quidditch Championship

Semi Finals:
Magical Final: (Eagle's Club, Eelandii, Turori)

Quebec and Shingoryeo 170-370s Gyatso-kai

Magical 3PPO: Busoga Islands 40-320s Banija

Non-Magical Final: (Tropicoast Beach, Tropicoast, Tropicorp)

Saint Kanye 60-210s Squornshelan Remnant States

Non-Magical 3PPO: Verceola 260s-70 Canadian Dominion

---

Atlantian Oceania Wizarding League Gold Medal Final:

[M] Gyatso-kai v. [NM] Squornshelan Remnant States
Eagle's Club, Eelandii, Turori

Bronze Medal Game:

[M] Quebec and Shingoryeo v. [NM] Saint Kanye
Tropicoast Beach, Tropicoast, Tropicorp

[Gyatso-kai]

.:: AWAY Locker Room, Eagle's Club, Eelandii, Turori ::.
0945 hours local time, 14 August 2022.3

Another victory, another snitch in our hands.

As she walked into the AWAY Locker Room, Sato Sachie smiled, knowing full-well that every victory the Flying Bisons – The Gyatso-kai National Quadball Team’s affectionate nickname – earned here at the AOlympics Summer Games, meant she was one step closer to playing on a professional quadball team.

Just imagine… No more practices at the old Mofahuojian pitch. No more nights spent sleeping in a junyings outside of the Common Grounds. No more time spent travelling from her home in Norg Bral to Mofahuojian in the eastern Shenmai mountains. Just wake up every day and make history.

Sato walked across the locker room, the feeling of the flying still fresh in her legs, and placed down her feizhou in her stall; like so many of the team, hers was hand-carved by Master Lao Oli’sersk, and the elegant carbon-fiber body betrayed the innate magic contained within. The bristles on the back end were the same shade of black as the body, and seamlessly tied together in a piece that was equal-parts traditional as it was modern. Situated at the top of her locker was a shelf, and on it amongst other personal items, was her phone. Sato picked it up, and with a quick swipe, a very familiar name popped up in the notifications. She smiled and took her seat before unlocking the phone to read it.

Code: Select all

We need to talk soon about getting the QLG up & running. The iron is hot here.

Oh Li… You sure want this to happen.

Of course, Sato knew the infamous Guy Li from her time pandering to the National Sports Council after the ‘success’ of Quadball World Cup XI; ‘success’ in that the games aired on ASPN had garnished nearly 28% of all airtime during the tournament on the ASPN’s channel ASPN4, a channel reserved for less-than popular sports in the Avatarian Republics. Sure, Quadball was not on the level of hockey or football, but so far, it was beating out the embarrassment of the AOBC team and even the Republic Gridiron League in terms of viewership. Li was a promoter, and he knew that with the Quadball team going as far as the Gold Medal Game, it would only be a matter of time before the National Sports Council would finally seek out the resources to build up the Quadball League of Gyatso-kai.

Personally… I prefer ‘Professional Quadball League’, similar to Pro-Bending League. But maybe that’s why we need to go with something else. Li already said he doesn’t want to use ‘Avatarian’ in the name…

buzzbuzzbuzz

A call? thought Sato as she turned back to the phone. It was her mother – Sato Izumi – and Sachie was immediately worried. Her mother would have been watching the game live, and she saw for herself as quick Sato was to get into the locker room and knew full well that a post-game briefing was coming up after everyone got into the locker room and changed.

Sato slid her finger over the screen to answer the call, and tried her best to not sound worried.

”Yes mother?” the flattone way Sato always answered her mother’s phone calls was ever-so-endearing to the person on the other side of the phone, and Sato could hear her mother sigh before speaking.

Sachie, do you think you’ll be free tonight?

“I’m not sure, any particular reason?”

Your brother is going to vid-call us tonight from sea. You should be there.

Vid-call? Sato thought, looking to the door as her teammates began to walk in. Her brother Erik had been deployed for two weeks now, somewhere to the far south of where Sato was now in regards to the whole Jabal Akhdar affair; he was a fighter pilot with the ANS Kuruk, attached with Strike Fighter Squadron 120. She was closer to her brother here in Turori than her mother was back in Gyatso-kai, a fact she found amusing as she motioned to her teammates. They froze in place, but Sato waved them off so they could get ready and cleaned up.

”I’ll have to let you know, mother. Text me the time… I got to go.” A quick flip of the phone downwards hung up the call, and Sato was quick to slide the phone into her pocket.

” ‘Mother’? Mine would kill me if I ever called her that,” were the first words out of Cheng Roku as he sat down across from Sato. The second oldest member of the team, and by default, assistant captain, gave a quick joke to Sato to ease the tension as he adjusted his boots.

”Oh, we’ve been like that for years,” Sato smirked, and stood to walk over to the victor of the match. Iviin Ram’ser was the last to come in, obviously detained by media for an interview, and while she was Mandalorian and they were known for hiding their emotions well, Ram’ser looked beyond elated that she had caught her third snitch of the tournament. ”I believe congratulations are in order.”

“Oh, relax Cap,” Ram’ser smiled as she leaned into her seat, the snitch still in her hand. ”I still have one more to get my hands on. And I can already taste it.”

The rest of the room cheered along, and Sato could not help but hope Ram’ser was right. As she turned back to her stall, and took her seat, waiting for Master Ba Jinyang to return from his interview, she looked back to her phone and typed a quick message.

Code: Select all

You better come up with a better name or I’m not playing

Li will get the joke. He always appreciates my humor….

[Squornshelan Remnant States]

Aboard the SCS Vigilant, the mood was still fairly light.

Yes, the aircraft carrier and her escorts were on high alert, having sailed into a potential combat zone, but few among her crew expected a shooting war to break out. The rumor mill was quick moving, even aboard a vessel of Vigilant's size, and a number of undisclosed sources had it on good authority that this was nothing more than a glorified wave-the-flag mission. The Confederacy was a relatively recent arrival in Atlantian Oceania after all, and President Dosun was more concerned with being seen to pitch in to AORDO's operations than with the actual situation on the ground. Politicians were all the same after all. So yeah, a combat air patrol and early warning aircraft monitored the skies over the task force around the clock, but that was just keeping in good discipline. After all, the Græntfjaller's would be crazy to start a shooting war so far from home, and staring down the barrels of so many Oceanian guns and missile launchers. As for Jabal Akhdar, they'd fall in line, obviously. Maybe a little persuasion would be necessary, but a nation of their capabilities likewise wasn't going to play hardball with so much power projected just off their coast. Definitely not.

A number of junior officers were gathered in the mess, where the focus of conversation was quite far from military matters, or at least far from the immediate situation.

"As good as they are, and I'm not saying they aren't, or that they shouldn't be there, it still doesn't sit right with me that it's essentially all on the back of stolen military hardware."

Predictably, the topic had strayed to the national quadball team, a contentious topic throughout the Navy. The group conversing in the mess was, after all, disproportionately made up of young pilots, and the team's gyrocycles were derived from military aircraft, if not one in use by the Confederate Navy. One expecting universal dislike for the team on that point would be surprised though, unless familiar with the culture of the old Imperial Navy. After the Unification, a majority of the ships operated by the Confederacy and Imperium had been mothballed, and dozens of those had been scrapped since that time. Many Imperial ships, however, were incorporated into the Confederate Navy. Many, like Vigilant herself (formerly ISS Admiral Bezobrazov), were technologically superior, albeit much more expensive to operate. It had been unsatisfactory to Confederate Supreme Command, however, to simply accept such vessels into the fleet wholesale, crew and all. Instead, crews had been broken up, doled out piecemeal across the fleet to insure that every ship had a mixture of Westerners and Islanders, the Navy's preferred terms, to foster integration and comradery throughout the entire force. The unintended result is that citizens of Santraginus, home of the oldest and largest Imperial Navy base and disproportionately the home of Imperial Navy sailors, had been stationed in numbers on essentially every single ship. The national quadball team, of course, hails entirely from the harbor district of Santraginus, a rough and tumble neighborhood that has probably sent more sailors per capita to the Navy than any other twenty-odd square miles in the entire Confederacy.

One begins to see the source of contention.

"Stolen off the Imps you mean."

"Stolen is stolen, and I don't like the idea of some civilian running around with our tech. Besides, you were an 'Imp' yourself just ten years ago."

"I was fourteen years old, scrabbling in the gutter for my dinner with the rest of the street trash. Hell, Zhanna Beck used to buy me and my friends dinner, some Saturday nights."

"Don't get me started on the gangster, organized crime always does that kind of shit to distract from how much they're fucking everyone over."

"Well it's a damn sight more than anyone in government's ever done for me. At least she cared that much. Besides, Berta Koller is a fucking cinnamon roll and I will fight anyone who says otherwise."

"She's a what?"

Suffice it to say, the impending threat of armed conflict was not weighting particularly heavily on most minds.

[Banija]

Kausu Dione, Banijan striker, in the 112th minute

Dione's legs were absolutely killing him. It was his 35th birthday, and he had just played 112 minutes of some grueling, international football. But this is simply how things went. The game was level at 3, and the two teams were 8 minutes from a penalty shootout.

Dione thought a little bit about his own legacy with the national team. U18 world champion, U21 world champion. He wasn't on the World Cup 86 roster, of course, but when he eventually joined the national team, he started banging goals into the net like it was nobody's business. He won the country's first ever AOCAF, and now, he was playing in his second ever AOCAF final, just three cycles later. He was a starter and a leader on the worst team in modern Banijan history- the World Cup 89 Qualifying squad that did not qualify for the World Cup. But of course, he's had all sorts of highs too- those youth titles, a regional title.

Now, of course, he knew that he was coming up on the twilight of his international career. He had once been the player of the year in a country like Audioslavia, one of the toughest leagues in the multiverse. But imagine if he could go out, winning Banija their second regional titles in four tournaments? What a way that would be? But of course, you couldn't just go out and win these things. There was too much pride, too much competition, in Atlantian Oceania for that. Banija had a thunderous journey to get to this point- downing the hosts, Valanora, on home soil in extra time. Surviving a penalty kick shootout against Kimi-Suomi, the ultimate cinderellas.

And now, here they were. 112th minute. Level at 3. And as he made a run towards the box, he saw Sarafina Ikpeazu get fouled by a V&T right back. Yellow card shown. He walked up to her, as the arguing in front of the referee commenced, to help her get up off the ground. "Hey Sarafina, look at the back post." He whispered to her in Olusanke, so none of the V&T players around could hear him. "They aren't great about guarding the back post. You loft it over the top, I'll head it back across the face of goal- somebody will be there." She simply nodded.

And she did what he asked- on the free kick, she lofted the ball towards the back post. But the back post defender was pulled off his line, and suddenly, the goal was gaping. He was not going to miss an opportunity. With the V&T goalkeeper scrambling, he headed home towards the near post, and a diving Vernasa Sanamun simply could not reach the ball in time. "YESSSS!!!!" Dione bellowed as he sprinted towards the Banijan fan section, running in celebration and sliding on his knees to celebrate his finish.

4-3. Match-winning goal in extra time of the AOCAF Final. Doesn't get much better than that, does it?