IBC37 - Everything Thread [Fin]

by **Hannasea** » Mon Feb 06, 2023 2:05 pm

       Melody Courts, Nexitros Stratuss
          HANNASEA 100 – 56 UNITED ADAIKES
     (22–14, 29–11, 30–21, 19–10)
 Pts: Coleman 20   Pts: ??? 15
Rbds: Griffin 11   Rbds: ??? 5
  Asts: Gordon 7   Asts: ??? 6

Team update: Stung by the opening loss, the Sardines quickly looked to get back up to speed with a blowout win over the slightly unfortunate United Adaikes, who bore the brunt of a team looking to shake off the frustrations of the previous game. Ra’eed Coleman (20pts/5asts) and Tom Powell (16pts) led the scoring as the team hit 12-of-30 three-pointers in a firestorm of scoring that saw the Sardines put up 100 points. All five starters reached double figures as the team shot 52.7% from the floor, with Justin Griffin (15pts/11rbds) pulling down a double-double. The defense kept United Adaikes to under 44% shooting on the night. Afterwards coach Markus Volgelstein praised Coleman for running the pick-and-roll well in the absence of starting point guard Késhaun Cunningham. "He took his chance to lace them up and played a really good game for us." Hosts Valentine Z smashed Trolleborg, leaving just three teams on a 2-0 record, including giants (in every sense) Drawkland. The Sardines next play experienced IBC sides HUElavia and Southwest Eastnorth, and Coleman can expect to compete for time on the floor with fit-again Cunningham.

Injury update: Cunningham is fit to play again. Nate Connell is out indefinitely with an ankle injury.

News update: Emily Moore, a Liberal MAE for Kent, has introduced legislation to the Assembly of Esportiva intended to provide for "fair working time practices". The bill would legislate for an Esportiva-wide 40 hour workweek. The bill has immediately met with criticism from fellow Hannasean MAEs. Daniel Tyler of the Conservative Party criticised the bill as "overstepping the mark". "The Assembly was never intended to legislate on these kinds of domestic matters." Kimberley Talley of the SuccDem Party however, while noting that the bill lacked an absolute cap on the total workweek, and that the SuccDems would lobby for the inclusion of such a cap. The bill permits nations to make limited exceptions, with the Esportivan Court of Justice expected to rule on specific cases. Already, Hannasean fisherfolk are making petitions to the government to provide allowances for the extensive nightwork involved in off-shore fishing.

by **Trolleborg** » Mon Feb 06, 2023 2:24 pm

Greetings, compatriots!
It’s TTV from Valentine Z. Here our team continue to go by its hard and uphill road. We all rejoiced when our team miraculously snatched victory from the one of the undoubted favorites of the tournament, the mighty team of Hannasea, in the last seconds, and showed a game quality that looked balanced and thoughtful. Unfortunately, it turned out that only in one game.

Already the second opponent has calculate and understood everything and use everything it has at his disposal, while having advantage in the whole range of areas from being far more experienced to the position of the home team. And our team looked very weak, the difference in class between two teams was about two divisions, if we measure it by our own league. Looked like something broke in the game of the national team, maybe too much effort was spent on preparing and winning in the first game, maybe the jet lag and difference in the climatic conditions had its effects, but, in essence, only the head coach of the team looked like he had not lost the meaning of existence by the end of the game. He kept trying to change the course of the match, gave commands, voiced instructions and hints, shuffled the lineup, but did not achieve anything. Players looked completely lost, and no shouting, instructions, substitutions, rearrangements, no pleas and wholeheart support from the crowd of fans could not change anything. And it all started quite well, by the middle of the first quarter score was 15:15, but then the hosts' lead only grew, by the break it was –30 points, and then it got worse and worse, because players was too predictable and slow in attack and non-aggressive and again slow in defense. In the second half of the game, hardly anyone of our players interfered with a full two thirds of the opponents' long-range shots, which they used to their advantage, and therefore the score kept growing and growing. Still inspires some hope the fact that our basketball players also scored decent sixty points, by way this is even more than in the first match.

Our basketball players have not known such defeats for several years, but this is not the time to lament and shed tears, the next match is just around the corner.

by **Graintfjall** » Mon Feb 06, 2023 3:46 pm

Selection of articles from Græntfjaller news media.

Schrödinger's cat helps Cardenao defeat Super Wolves

definitely

~~three-pointers~~

Following diplomatic reception, down to business on trade talks

Also in the news:

Air strikes on el-Masri Network in Mlima Kijani to be “limited, proportional”
Prime Minister meets with Energy Minister ahead of climate summit
Chemical spill following train derailment not hazardous to humans, responders report
Agriculture subsidies capped as budgets tighten in response to soaring deficits
21st Century Science & Technology Bill continues slow progress through committee stage

by **Chromatika** » Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:31 pm

Penguins Lose More than Game against Islerum ahead of Crucial Clashes

The Chromatika Penguins lost more than just the game against Islerum as the Unranked side scored eight points in the last two minutes to the Penguins' two; no, more important than that, the face of the Penguins, the now face of Chromatik basketball - Lia Xiu - ended up on the floor of the court in the Third Quarter with a high ankle sprain that will sideline her for the next three matches.

Until that point, Lia Xiu had scored thirty-two points, the most in the team; she would still finish leading the team in scoring, as Kristie Shaddon-Ysenov could only manage nineteen points and twelve assists.

To miss one of their biggest stars ahead of titanic clashes against Græntfjall and Nova Anglicana? A tragedy.

Can Jordan Merkoff step up?

by **Diarcesia** » Mon Feb 06, 2023 8:08 pm

...During the talks, Diarcesian and Græntfjaller delegations presented their trade priorities and discussed how the two nations can benefit from a mutual trade agreement. The talks were held in good faith, and both parties are hoping to come to an agreement that will be beneficial for both sides. There is still much work ahead before any deal can be finalized, but it is clear that the Monarchy Diarcesian and Græntfjall are eager to strengthen their ties through increased economic activity.

In recent years, head of the Hypurgeum Emporic's (economic ministry) liaison Zeno Irving closed several important bilateral agreements with nations like the Rebirth Union. Various analysts hailed these moves as extremely important strategic victories for Diarcesia and its government - where not too long ago was apparently caught in the backfoot on events like the New Randomnican Crisis or the alleged internal tensions within the International Humanitarian Coalition. It is worth noting that the Monarchy consciously chose to stay away from military alliances and insists on a certain level of independence and discretion on the international organizations it is a part of. Geopolitical observers also note that more often than not, its decisions are made with an understanding and expectation of reciprocity between any second party in the negotiating table.

Mister Irving, billed as an expert with bilateral deals involving Diarcesia, emerged from the initial round of talks with Græntfjaller Deputy Foreign Minister Elísdóttir with an optimistic outlook for the future of Diarcesian-Græntfjaller cooperation. "Diarcesia is steadfast in respecting our commitments with our peers. One of our first milestones that I'm happy to announce is our reciprocal recognition of Most Favored Nation status towards one another. This will rejuvenate and energize both of our economies, creating jobs and helping orient us to a more secure future. For us, this is an important first step to a new status quo of a long term relationship that will make both of our nations prosper."

It is not only the government that is busy. Diarcesian companies and private investors are gathered in Ikuyo to strike deals of their own, particularly in the IT, financial, maritime, and railroad industries.

by **Cardenao** » Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:00 pm

Jessy Courtois was pacing incessantly in his home office. In one hand, a cup of coffee, in the other a cigarette with just the smallest amount of marijuana sprinkled on it. Jessy pushed a button on the phone machine in front of him, muting himself while he puffed on the cig and washed it down with coffee before letting out a big sigh. This shit was stressful. From the other end of the line came a seemingly non-stop declaration of numbers and figures and profit margins and silly questions like “How can you even be sure this will work at all, and that you’re not ripping me off?”

Jessy hit the un-mute button.

“Benoit my brother you know me better than that. All this figure and number talk is great, but put that aside and look at the underlying thought process here,” Jessy said as he started pacing again. The crux of the issue was almost here, and he would have to choose his words very carefully. The man he was speaking with was Benoit LeBlanc, one of the wealthiest people in Cardenao and essential to Jessy’s plan to create a professional basketball league. Money was going to be needed, a lot of it. Teams had to be established with coaches and players and backroom staff, cities would have to won over so stadiums could be constructed, promotional materials, billboard advertisements, getting television stations to actually carry the games, all of this took money to happen, and fortunately the LeBlanc family had more money than God.

“Sports. This is all about sports. I know you’re into sports, I watched your son Montral play the other day in the Under-18 World Cup, I and the rest of Cardenao. You know how much we love to watch games whether it’s football, rugby, or now basketball. Shit’s just fun Benoit, and for all the poor, poor bastards in our country, it’s one of only a few positive outlets they have. Cardenaoan’s fundamentally love sports and you have an opportunity to set up a whole new sporting avenue, a pro basketball league. You look at how popular the MegaPower League has gotten in football over the last six years and then look me in the eyes and tell me you can’t see a basketball league doing that well. Tell me, tell me now Benoit!”

“Jessy…Jessy it’s nothing like that. Look, I like you. I’ve always liked you, remember our time at LeBois Santura university? We’re still those young friends, just a little older in spirit now. I am definitely interested in this, you don’t have to pull out the car salesman tactics on me, I’m gaming with you. My biggest thing is I don’t want to be committing right now, sign a check, and be the only one on the hook if this all goes south, you know?"

“I get it, well let me lay out my thought process and who I’ve already talked to, would that be helpful?”

“Please do Jessy.”

“Alright, so clearly I have spoken to you about funding this project to some capacity, which opens the door to you being one of the initial team owners once this gets off the ground. Aside from you, there are several other Cardenaoans who I have met with or will be meeting with to help finance all of this. I’ve already spoken with Mihaly, who has given me his blessing and gave me assurance that the government will back the project at the right moment.”

“I didn’t realize you had spoken to Mihaly, that certainly changes things!”

“I wasn’t expecting it but he summoned me to the Palace of Tears to discuss the matter, he has ears everywhere these days. The meeting went well like I said, and I really do believe the backing he’ll provide will be significant. I also have a meeting with Tabea McAlister scheduled, she’s the Head of International Relations with Tikariot Sports+ so we would have international broadcasting and exposure. A small side-project I have is to get Tabea, Mihaly, and myself together in the same room to sketch out what a Cardenao Sports Network might look like.”

“Interesting. Would it be accurate to say that this basketball league is just a part of a larger project you have in mind?”

“100%.”

“Now that’s what I like to hear! You know, I might be able to put you into contact with a money man. Josiah Akombo, he’s a friend of mine from Banija, our sons are best mates that sorta thing. He’s got the chequebook and he’s in tech too, so he might know some broadcasting avenues for you.”

“I appreciate that Benoit, I’ll be sure to reach out to Josiah. I have to ask, can we count on your support?”

Jessy immediately muted himself and let out a lengthy “fffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuck” and taking a swig of coffee. The line was quiet for several moments but he didn’t mind, he was comfortable in the silence because it meant Benoit had muted himself to look at the numbers. However, after a minute and a half had passed, he had to say something.

“Well Benoit, are we playing ball on the same team?”

“We sure as shit are, let’s do this.”

by **Valanora** » Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:42 pm

When one thinks of the Empire, you usually either immediately think of either the elves who founded the Empire or the humans who have now become the most populous species within the Empire following the Calling roughly three decades prior. Given the level of success that the elves had in crafting their empire and the legacy that it holds in multiple avenues, particularly within the sporting domain, it is quite easy to understand why the former are usually the first thought of species when mentioning the Eternal Empire in passing. That humans have now taken up the mantle of being that most populous and in some ways the most important species in the Empire then easily lends itself as to why some now would think of them. Heck, if you are Starblaydi, you might even think of the relatively remote dwarven settlements that mostly keep to themselves outside some merchants and ambassadors to the surface world in the various cities and locations of note for their trading enterprise, given that native Starblaydi dwarves worked with Vanorian dwarves and elves to create the Space Elevator in Mar Sara once upon a time.

Yet for any true student of the Empire, you know that there are a few more sentient species inside of the borders of the Empire that can catch your eye, as well as some that are not sentient who still draw the curiosity. The nomadic tribes of the Dark Templara are among the former, a group of psychic and magically gifted people who prefer to wander than build large permanent settlements. They do still have villages and even some small cities inside the Empire these days, but the majority of the people still stick to at least a semi nomadic lifestyle in the central and northern parts of the Arrosia continent. There are a few distinct features about these people, that they do not have mouths means that they do no speak in the normal way that other species are used to but telepathically in the minds of those that they are conversing with at the time. It also means that they do not eat and gain nutrients, rather they have a chemical process within their bodies that creates their nutrition through the absorption of light. Those are just a few things that make the Templara a very interesting species.

Talking about interesting species that are native to Arrosia or the Empire, one can not overlook the dragons. The various dragonflights that reside in the Empire are somewhat rare but they are fairly numerous in the Empire when compared to other locations that are known to be hotbeds for dragon activities. Dragons are such an invigorating species to get deep into discussions about as they straddle the line between sentient and non-sentient species even within their own species, as there are various dragonflights that do no speak or have culture or do any of the activities that are normally associated with a sentient species. They are also a reclusive species who tend to stick to their liars and not venture forth besides the need for exercise and or for hunting for sustenance depending upon the various subspecies of the species. There is so much we do not know about dragons because of how reclusive they are and what little we do know usually comes from dragonkin, which is a whole other well to dive down with their own very reclusive nature as well.

There are dozens more various flora and fauna within the Empire that biologists can spend their entire lives in just a small corner of the Empire and barely even get through it in a lifetime, assuming usual human lifecycles. It is a reason why the Empire is one of the more sought after places for researchers to be able to spend time at, given that they do get the appropriate government clearance so that they are not potentially upsetting the delicate balance in the ecosystem that has gave birth to such a diverse life force within these lands.

by **Pemecutan** » Tue Feb 07, 2023 1:16 am

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Saniscara Kliwon Wuku Krulut, the day is known as a celebration for gamelan, a traditional orchestra ensemble of Pemecutan. Although in modern times, it is also associated with the day of love or Pemecutan's Valentine's day. The reason is because music can express love. As simple as that. But anyway, the day today is not just about gamelan day or Pemecutan's Valentine's day. The attention is fixed to Tegeh Kori Palace as the meeting between representative of Rajya Sabha, the government and Pemecutan College Student Executive Boards who initiate the protests, is begin. At 9 am sharp, two sedan cars arrive in front of Bale Patemon Hall. It is a multi-purpose building located at the outer courtyard of the palace. From the first sedan, 2 young men comes out. The tall one is the leader. His name is Wayan Agus Kusumajati. On his side is a young man wearing a slim borderless glass named Made Dwipa Handayana. While 3 students comes out from the second sedan. A hunky young man named Putu Gede Diatmika who's coming out from the passenger side. And 2 young women comes out from the back seat. Ni Luh Ayu Sekarini with her ponytail hair. And Komang Ayu Dewi Widiyanti who has a long wavy hair. They are greeted by a hostess before being escorted to the meeting room.

Bale Patemon Hall is a new addition to the Tegeh Kori Palace complex. In the ancient time, the outer courtyard was a grand park. There was a hall too but it was use as a resting place for the palace guards. The second hall was use for art performance. These 2 halls were demolished during the warring period of the area. Then following the restoration of the palace complex and it's changing purpose as the office of Rajya Sabha, Bale Patemon Hall is established as a meeting hall and for any other purposes. The member of Rajya Sabha themselves have their offices located in the inner courtyard, named Wantilan Agung Hall. The private section of the palace complex which was use as the king's private residence is remain untouched.

The hostess opened the door to the said meeting room. It is quite spacious for a 10-persons meeting. The painting of King Tegeh Kori XII, the last king of Tegeh Kori Kingdom is hanging on the wall. Tegeh Kori Kingdom was one of the most powerful kingdom in Pemecutan history. The 5 college students are taken to their seat. The other parties already placed on their seat. From Rajya Sabha side, there are Ratu Dalem Penglingsir himself and his aid, King of Satria, Cokorda Raka Satria. From the government side present Minister of Internal Affairs, Sang Ayu Puji Satyawati; Patih Agung, Jero Agung Bongkasa and deputy minister, Dewa Putu Gunawan. Pemecutan government is quite unique. Retaining their ancient birocracy, the Head of Government is lead by 2 factions, noble and commoner. The noble one is called Patih Agung while the commoner Head of Government is called Patih Madya. In the ancient times, both have equal power and responsibility which most of it are advisory towards the monarch. Today, Patih Madya have more responsibility with Patih Agung is function as the Deputy Prime Minister. He is only in charge if Patih Madya are incapacity to do it. Just like today, as Patih Madya is on another meeting in Toluiwa, Patih Agung is here to replace him.

"Thank you for everyone. Your presence here are very much appreciated. As this meeting is held as a vessel to accommodate our younger generation's aspiration," greeted Ratu Dalem Penglingsir as the opener.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. May I?" interrupt Mrs. Minister. Ratu Dalem Penglingsir nodded, giving his permission. "I have to be honest. This is a very bold statement. From the street protest and this document that we have read," she said as she pointed out the document. "Do you know realize what you've demanded?" she end it with a question.

"Yes," Kusumajati answered in a firm tone. He slightly nod his head towards the Ratu Dalem as a sign of respect. "Is it too hard for it to be done?" he ask in return.

"It will need a lot of change for sure. Constitutionally. And the majority of the parliament have to agree. Both houses," Satyawati explain.

"Referring to what's have happened, we don't want any similar things happening again in the future. We also demand the ending of associating the whole country as Pemecutan. As Pemecutan is only one of the constituent state of the larger authority. And yet, all of us got the bad name because of the action of this Pemecutanian king," cut Handayana which shocked his friends. They are surprise as Handayana is the silent one. He is also the one who doubt the action in the first place that they have to convince him over and over again.

"That's a strong statement you got there young man!" exclaim Cokorda Raka Satria who is clearly suppressed his anger. Ratu Dalem Penglingsir look at him as a warning. Cokorda Raka Satria bow down, understanding his sharp tone.

"I do understand your concern. But as Mrs. Minister say it needs a lot of changes," says Patih Agung calmly. "I'm not saying that it is impossible but it will take a lot of times," he added quickly. "Convincing the parliament members to change the constitution is already a hard task. Then another referendum. Then another election if everything is passed. This is the long process that we, us together will see."

The five college students look at each other and getting involved in a small conversation amongst them.

"Here's to be consider," Ratu Dalem Penglingsir say his words. "My position here is only temporary. Next Friday my time is up. The official Ratu Hawir Bhuja will assume his office. So why don't we postpone these talks and resume it after the Ratu Hawir Bhuja taken his position. I'm afraid if we continue this conversation, it can be altered or drop after the official appointment," he explain thoroughly.

All eyes are now looking at these 5 young students. They once again involved in a small talks amongst themselves.
"We are agree that Your Highness plan to psotpone the talks and resume it after the Ratu Hawir Bhuja take office is the right choice," answer Kusumajati.

Satyawati, Cokorda Raka Satria and the deputy minister put a bright smile. While there's a worry face lingers on Patih Agung himself.

"Then so be it. And we ask the College Student Executive Boards to stop the protests again. As everything will be taken seriously by the government. Both executive and legislative. Representative of them both are present. And I do hope and everyone's in this room will remember to bring back this conversation after the appointment ceremony. Or else, I myself will take action," say Ratu Dalem Penglingsir.

Everyone in the room nodded. As the meeting is closed, everyone is leaving the room. Outside of Bale Patemon, the hostess took position as the spokesperson facing the reporters who wants to know the result of the meeting. While in Handayana's mind, he is questioning does the decision to postpone the talks was the right choice. He doubt their agreement earlier and having a second thought. But it seems it's already too late. He can only hope that one will remember to bring this conversation again. Until then, he and his friend will have to wait.

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Tue Feb 07, 2023 2:01 am

OOC: Spoiled section was posted in the WBC thread, while the current section is posted for the IBC thread. As the spoiled section provides lead-up to the current section, it is recommended to read the entirety of it anyway.

The combined piece will be posted at the TWGS megathread.

Dr. Heo and the Portal of Madness

PART 22 - Oceansize

In the last day that had passed since the Battle in Perce Harbour, Hannah Moran was asleep.

Her eyes were frozen upon seeing the gaze of the Sea Monster, whose eyes held little to no interest at her anyway, and filled with tears from the regrets and the what-if's of her teenage days that had drizzled out of her eyes during that full day's sleep. Her breaths were light and movements constrained, with the nineteen-year-old's frame confined to the comforts of the guest room bed at Isabel Jurado's flat in Quartier Calanien, Joongyeong.

Her mind was still awake and aware, however, and the longer her eyes stayed closed, the less aware she was becoming over the current situation. As with the famous saying in Wight that when something that's supposed to be significant and life-ending is about to happen...time stops becoming time, Hannah knew that she was in middle of an important situation that she, unfortunately, was unable to find her way back into consciousness.

So the monster's defeated, but there is more to come. Is there a barrier eroding between the worlds we live in, and we are on run, thought Hannah, as she thought about it on the evening. Her eyes were still closed, almost as if a bandage had been put on them, and the sensations felt in her fingertips perhaps too sharp to contrast with the numbness of her own vision. Like that, her minutes would turn into hours, and eventually, a full day would come to pass, even though it's likelier that Hannah felt it more like twenty-four years than twenty-four hours.

Lying on physical comfort, but constant mental disturbance, he felt somewhat helpless and hopeless. Knowing that the streets of the Quartier Calanien, those that she had come to the capitol's bright lights in search of the 'Midnight in Joongyeong', were just outside the flat, she knew she wanted to get out. But she also knew that she couldn't, for the circumstances involving her and the company would require her to keep quiet and any attempt in voluntary disclosure had meant death for those part of the ancient, Koreano-indigenous magical community in Quebec and Shingoryeo. So she was stuck in a bizarre, non-awakening state of body, without sight but with all the senses. For someone whose abilities had quietly saved many lives, and whose abilities had also brought curiosities in her life that would allow her to venture further into the mountains, deeper into the water and higher over the sky, Hannah felt powerless over it.

At that moment Hannah missed her siblings and parents, who were either out in Songak or at their ranch in Jolbo (shortened term for Jolbonopolis) as the country musicians of commonfolk, rural heritage would. There was a lot of bond that her and her three siblings - two younger sisters and a six-year-old brother - had built over time, and during her time as a student in St. Croix, and also as an early-stage apprentice under her professor, Isabel Jurado, a lot of seemed to be drifting away.

Am I making a mistake? thought she, as the noon would turn into an afternoon. Sirens were heard outside as a car crash was followed by that of the ambulances and the news vehicles, with all the sounds of witnesses muttering nearby. She could hear all the sounds of the people, some maybe her age and even of acquaintance, chatting, and visualise the sound of music into a tool.

It would be that ability to visualise and materialise music that would allow her to escape the bind, as she would sharpen the notes. First putting the crochets of her choice, Hannah would then link that with a lyric of her choice, before putting additional accidentals (sharps, flats, and doubles) to accentuate their sharpness. Then slowly she would sing the notes, which, upon their playing, would leave the grill of the musical sheet, and make their way to her bandaged face. One after another, the musical notes would function on their own, slowly removing the bandage while acting as scissors, robotic hands and gloves to make sure that the procedure would go well.

Eventually, she's freed of it, and was able to open her eyes. The first thing she was the pastel blue colour of the roof, and how bright the room was. Sun still shines over it, even on the gloomiest of the times we may have to face, thought Hannah, as she quickly wiped off the dried tears from her face with her right hand. Then she would slowly look to the left and the right, and was made aware of a single presence sitting on a chair next to the bed, watching her for several hours now.

Joon-Gweon was waiting for her all this time. With his face grim and mouth motionless, due to self-attempts to remain silent by holding back his emotions, it was all but clear that many questions were up in the air.

'You are Hannah right?' A deeper, somewhat familiar sound escaped out of Joon-Gweon's mouth, as the bitterness of each word inadvertently added to the space. 'I know...I shouldn't have..I couldn't have....oh what the hell am I talking about here.' Joon-Gweon couldn't bear to continue, the experience of the earlier battle, and the microdoses of realisations he's had to make, still ringing inside his head.

Then they became quiet, as the two stared at each other through side-eye motion. It was clear that he was anxious, as anxious as she was, over the whole situation, and wasn't exactly feeling comfortable telling her what was inside his mind. And as neither of them had the ability to read one another's mind, and with Hannah feeling somewhat curled up over the whole twenty-four hour recovery from it, neither had the courage to break ice.

So they just looked back at each other over and over again, this time with their eyes softly greeting, as they were unsure on how to pick up where they had left off. This wasn't to suggest that they had not tried inside their minds, as their minds were filled with familiar greetings of Hello's, nice to meet you's, and how are you finding this lovely afternoon's. But none of those could have explained the special sense of connection that had sparked between the two yesterday, in front of the legendary Leon Pyeon painting My Old Hometown.

Eventually it was Hannah who broke the ice after a couple of failed deliberations. 'I heard that you are also heading to St. Croix,' Hannah said, remembering from earlier than Isabel was supposed to visit a prospective student based in East Coast. She, knowing the difficult nature of accepting students with extraordinary backgrounds and willigness to deal with someone as high-character as her professor, had assumed Joon-Gweon's one of said candidates. 'What college?'

'Balliol, under the Seonggyoongwan University College.' answered Joon-Gweon, without flinching. 'Have yet to make my mind up on what to read, most likely history or PPE. Not that it would matter when I leave the country one day.'

'I see, so you are one of those who wish to escape within escapades offered by the university? Maybe with hopes that your cricket career will find your way out.'

'Not really, I'm waiting to hear back if the Navy ROTC's possible, for that also ensures my way out.' Joon-Gweon accidentally slipped those words out of his mouth, and continued to speak. 'I don't know you, so please pardon me, but what I would think is that it's probably easier for you to set up base here in Joongyeong, where the Clevenger-Moran name would get you places.' He then gave a light stop, perhaps aware that he was going to regret saying too much, but by then it was too late to take them back. 'I do not have that privilege, or the right to be happy here, for I have grown up exiled in Bel-Havre, that of which may affect us even if you feel otherwise.'

She was unamused.

'No, I don't care about that.' Hannah said, her light blonde hair moving on a breeze, as her gaze changed from empathy to that of embarrassment. 'And I won't say I'm happy or feel complacent about staying here...in Joongyeong either. Don't get me wrong, I'm often embarrassed of my hometown, the Jolbo (shortened term for Jolbonopolis) and have come all the way here to study in pursuit of changing the country for the better.' Using little-remaining energy of hers, she made sure to look concerned over Joon-Gweon, who she could figure out at the spot.

Then she asked him: 'What do you think I read?'

'Politics and Environment Studies?' Joon-Gweon asked.

'Yeah, much to the disappointment of the Professor Heo on outside,' she chuckled, to which Joon-Gweon only answered back with a grin. 'He's known mum and dad for years, usually because they all get involved on the PJLQ (author's note: PJLQ is centre-left party known for its strengths among urban middle class and rural agrarian class, as opposed to NPD, left-wing party known for its urban labour class support).' She then added, 'He does know people, including the Prime Minister and the Queen.'

'I see,' Joon-Gweon said, his voice slower than usual. 'Maybe I would be able to file petition to the Queen for a privilege.'

'For what?' Hannah asked.

He once again made that mistake of 'That's something that I..wish...I could tell you more, but not right now.' he drew his mouth back. 'I don't know if the plea's possible, and if one granted to a St. Croix student and cricketeer could do its full effort. but most importantly, I don't want you hurt if the guilt is to be judged on the grounds of association.'

'Alright then,' Hannah said. Few more seconds would pass, as the two would just stare at each other, before breaking the tensions again. 'We've met in dream before right? I know you wanted to ask that when we were in Perce.'

'Yes, we have,' Joon-Gweon answered, his eyes slightly losing focus as they struggle to balance the flickers inside his mind. 'I saw you drown before, both back when you were little and then just a year ago. We were just off the shores of Perce, in one of hundreds of those island and-'

'So we have.' she said. 'Maybe not in the way we would have expected, but you know, we're bound to meet at some point after all those dream-encounters.' Her eyes, too, were losing gaze. She had clearly recalled the times when the observer, who seemed lost, was watching her take on the tasks, sometimes solo, other times with Isabel and/or others.

There was a sense of optimism that she, too, would find out who it was, and that sense permeated as they bumped paths in Perce. 'I want to change the world, and the way we view this world.' she continued to speak. 'From the tiniest of creatures to the most encompassing of ecosystems...I knew I wanted to make a change for the future's finite. That's how I came to St. Croix, where I met Isabel.'

'And what did she say?' he asked.

'She told me that there is no shame in being able to traverse the two worlds - the one of the living and the one past the living.' Hannah explained. 'And that it's a rare gift to be able to access the other world, one that comes with having a magical ability, and that my troubles and experiences could be honed to make the world a better place, especially with the way I was..rationalising the water and watery fluids..and was armed with a toolbox of musical notes.'

'So not a direct supervisor, definitely not with what you are reading, but a mentor. To propel the cause.'

'Yes, someone who would understand me.' Hannah said. 'I don't know you, but if Isabel's bringing you here, there's got to be a reason behind it all. The reason to search for your purpose, perhaps happiness, and against all odds...'

'To mend and rebuild the boundaries between the two worlds, all over Quebec and Shingoryeo, and to serve the people.'

by **Juvencus** » Tue Feb 07, 2023 5:49 am

Unique Creatures of Juvencus

Welcome to Juvencus, a country with all sorts of different biomes, ranging from mediterranean grasslands, to arid desert, to the tropical rainforests and savannahs as well as tall mountainous terrain sprinkled in the way. With this variety of biomes, it is only natural that a big variety of animals has survived and developed within said biomes. While there's animals such as the sirex juvencus(the blue-steely wasp), lions, even little dragons, unicorns and non-destructive gargoyles, an animal that is most special and important in Juvencus is the llama.

The Juven llama has two subspecies which ironically enough are split among a west/east line much like the country itself. Common traits of the llamas are their wool and high-quality milk but that is also where the main differences lie. It is thought to have come to Juvencus around 2 million years ago, while domestication only came around 10-15,000 years ago.

Western Juven llama: This is the biggest species of llama, owing to the fact it lives on the colder western side of the country and up in the mountains of the crescent mountain range, where it is cold. It can reach sizes of up to 1.8-1.9m, making it bigger not just by its eastern counterpart but by most llamas multiversally. As a result of its living enviroment it has also developed a thicker wool by its eastern counterpart.

What also seperates this llama from other llamas is its high speed and ability to carry up top 60% of its bodyweight for miles on end without exhaustion, owing to its perfect nutrition of grass grown in the Juven soil areas.

Its place in Western Juven society is one of respect and veneration, as llamas were considered a holy animal in antiquity, owing to the fact they were considered Juva's offspring and a gift for the humans to cherish. As such, it was mostly used for its milk and wool but its meat was never eaten, not even during the famine.

Eastern Juven llama: The smallest pieces of llama in Juvencus, native to the desert of the east as well as its highlands where the weather is a bit milder. The wool is softer but also much thinner than of its western counter-part, owing to the fact that this species of llama lives in much warmer regions and in much lower altitudes on average.

For this llama, it mostly has endurance and strength, even higher than the one of its western counterpart, it can in fact carry 80% of its body-weight for as long as it can remain awake. Its nutrition is similar but owing to the aridity of the east it is not as potent as the west.

Its place in Eastern Juven society is one of respect and high utilisation. The fact it had high high endurance and strength meant it got significant usage during times of migration, transportation of goods and in fact in war for the afforementioned. It also is used for its milk and wool. However, during the one famine the nation had experienced, some of the llamas were used for their meat, which was the only instance ever in history. However, this was met at a huge criticism by many parties involved and it is still getting criticised today.

by **Sky Reavers** » Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:00 am

Two lost matches later...

-"Well, dudes, we just lost two matches in a row. Not the best beginnig, that's for sure! Gotta be some period of bad luck, it'll pass and we'll win the third one."-Oven Green looked into his glass of beer. He thinks, that a fly has fallen into it. Yes, it did. As if it wanted to prove his theory.

-"The first match went well, we went neck to neck with Srednjaci theam. Until right at the last second, they actually threw that three-pointer and won. That was purely a misfortune. It happens even more often in battles."-Xan knew alot about battles, after all, before going to the championship, he has participated in gladiator arena fights with different opponents, where non-lethal weapons were used.

-"And what about the second one? Us against Quasden? As far as I remember, that was a real defeat, bot a narrow one. We, a bunch of loco pendejos had some hellish hangover that day... Maybe, it's not wise to drink all night before the game... But no, that's the Sky Reaver way! Yeah, it's not only a blessing, but it's also a curse, we all bear since the revolution. But we still gonna drink and smoke weed, no matter what! No surrender!"-Paul Tejada thought about philosophy.

-"Perhaps, gods want to tell us something. Or perhaps, they decided to humble us. Or maybe, were just as hangover after that feast as we were during the second game? I don't know! Let's just the next time we enter the playground, test some different tactic."-Cassandra squeezed her pagan necklace and looked at her celtic style tattoos. Then she closed her eyes and quietly asked gods for guidance and endurance.

-"Either way, we gonna pull this off! After all, it's just a good ol' basketball! It really can't be harder than playin' a weird sport on a weird flyin' thingy! Or can? After all, we are Sky Reavers, not Basketballfield Reavers. But even if we lose and get kicked out of this, it's still an adventure, cuz we saw some people and interesting things in interesting countries. Alright, let's just focus on the victory, shall we? Third time is a charm! All stories got that rule of three, dudes!"-Liam Navarro still retained his uplift spirit, just like the team, who toasted with "Ad Victoriam" and started to condition themsleves for the next match, that is about to come.

by **Valentine Z** » Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:17 am

Part 2 – We do a little bit of Trolling… okay, no, we don’t do that here.

Hello to you, my friends, it's Gwen Tracer Allison Oxton yet again, and I hope you all have been well with the first Match Day! What a thrill, ain't it? With us on the sidelines and watching the match from afar, it definitely is a very beautiful sight to see all of these intense matches, the scores, the triple pointers, and just about everything that happens along the way. I also got word and feedback that most of the visiting players and teams enjoyed the huge and ample facilities that we have here, perhaps only off put by the change in gravity that happens when you step onto these places. To recap for that bit, the gravity in Mars is relatively weaker than that of Earth, but just to make it fair for the games, we have to push the gravity on these courts back to 1g, or at least somewhere around these numbers. Current measurements and systems show that it's at 0.994g, so it's within acceptable levels of deviation.

Technicalities aside, oh wow what matches, like I said! Amazing plays from all of the teams, and we certainly enjoyed watching them too. Which is also why – and please don’t get mad at me and us for saying this – but you can get a full recording of the matches! This is going to sound like a sales pitch, but I would like to reassure you that it is simply to cover the basic costs of electricity and other essential bits here and there, and unlike other worlds that you may have come across, we are not going to shake you off for money! Enter the Visor Corp, a multimedia and entertainment company that enjoys more independence and freedom compared to the companies and places in the primary and secondary industries. I am very aware of the sheer irony that we are not fond against monopolies and yet, here we are with a giant corporation that is an umbrella for the rest of the entertainment and channels. Maybe it is like “Ours are different” trope but again, let’s get back to it. The company offers only one package, for a low price of 2 Valentian Credits per month, which equates to around 7 NSD. Yes, there is no other packages, no other nonsense, cancel anytime, and the first month is free! What does this simple package contain? Everything! Literally thousands and thousands of channels (on top of the free news websites and select channels), VOD for movies and shows with no hidden costs, and… yeah that is basically that. All those benefits for 7 NSD a month and hey, the first month is free! All you need is your billable phone number or email, and that’s it, Valentian Laws require that the companies only send invoices and cost receipts through SMS or email or any other medium that you prefer; the spams are no-no, and advertisements are only when you have opted-in for it (which are opted-out by default). So where am I going with this? I am saying that you can use our lovely service to catch the many, many matches that we have here in Valentine Z. For our multiversal visitors, you can even get the whole match package for small sum of 4 NSD, including the future matches that are yet to be (it’s kind of like pre-ordering). Yep, that’s the end of the sales pitch from me, Gwen Tracer Allison Oxton! I hope you all will have a fun one nonetheless, and good luck, yeah?

The five Valentians all stood around the basketball court, going through the short interviews and the reporters that were all trying to get a quick scoop of the match of the day. Against Trolleborg’s National Team, Gwen’s Angels scored and played tremendously well with a points difference of 57, surpassing their expectations by a large mile. “It was certainly a heartpounding match for sure,” Awenasa Panola Samantha Markus Cervantes started talking to the reporter, wiping off beads of sweat from her forehead with a towel as she then paid attention to the camera and gave a heartfelt smile, “I mean, it was our first match and on top of that, it’s been a while since we have played against the international teams, what with this being a yearly event for us. Of course, all those times practicing helped, and I would like to thank Marley, Ada, Rossa, and Yuri for all of the team efforts – we all did great, and none of this would not have happened had it not for the teamwork.” Awenasa then proceeded to talk about the match in a bit more detail, about how they were scoring the 3-pointers a bit more frequently, but also thanking the Trolleborg team for their effort, along with the tenacity of the plays. “We just hope that it will get better for us for the next matches and hey, wishing everyone the best of luck for this season! First match, wooo!” she then gave a thumbs-up.

Fast forward to later part of the day, Awenasa invited a few more news reporters from around the multiverse, along with Head Diplomat Charlene, to talk about the new job that she has landed herself to. “I have always been a fan of animals, like of all kinds. Except for mosquitoes, because everyone in Valentine Z hates mosquitoes!” she said with a chuckle and then continued on, “Anyway, so for the rest of you guys at home, I thought I would like to bring you to this animal shelter, for those animals that we are treating and healing them, along with, well, those that the Valentians unfortunately cannot adopt as full-time pets, but as part-time helpers. It’s still the thought that counts, you know what I mean? So, one of our unique animals, perhaps native to Valentine Z, would be the large Maine Coons! You might be asking to yourself “But Awenasa! These are maine coons, you can find them everywhere else too!” Well, not these, haha! These big boys and girls can grow up to 2 meters in length, and yes, they do eat quite a fair lot!” With the cameras still on her, Awenasa then opened up the nicely-lined and comfortable holding pen of one of the Valentian Maine Coons and petted his head, the cat purring and asking for a belly rub in turn. “Awww who’s a good big boy? You are, haha!” she then turned around to talk to the press again, “His name is Tiger, which I think you can tell why we give him that name, hehe. He’s 2.10 meters big, approximately 133 kilograms heavy, and his health is all green and perfect! The large size definitely does not hinder him in any way!” The large cat then looked at the news reporters, let out a meow and a yawn, and then finally stood besides Awenasa, whose height of 625 cm was perfect as human and cat; in her court height, of course, Tiger is going to be a perfect cat to ride on.

“So, there you have it! Thank you all for coming, and yeah, I definitely love this job outside of IBC, haha! Don’t get me wrong, I got off my previous job in good terms, I just thought I would love to be near the animals a little bit more and hey, that’s what being a vet is great at! In the meantime, please do feel free to pet these great and huge cats, along with the other animals we have around this animal sanctuary. And remember: No flash photography, please!”

The five Gwen’s Angels players then had a dinner together, talking about the strategies and plans for the next two matches – the ones in particular against United Adaikes, and then HUElavia. Familiar names as Gwen established, but if they played the cards right, and if they played it like they did against Trolleborg, then it should be more or less under control. “The ones against Drawkland and Hannasea,” Ada remarked with the other four all ears on her, “I am not sure about that, but for the time being, I guess we will leave it as it is for now. Sorry if that wasn’t very clear,” she smiled a little sheepishly, eating her last spoonful of mashed potatoes, “We will try our best for upcoming matches, then we can think about how to play against them when the time comes.” Everyone agreed in unison, all finishing their dinner and then having a bit of chat here and there with the rest of the Angels. “No injuries to talk about too, that’s at least reassuring,” Head Medic Clarke mused with Gwen, the two of them having a conversation of their own. For the main five, however, it would be time to sleep early, then they can play better for the matches.

by **PotatoFarmers** » Tue Feb 07, 2023 8:25 am

Cutoff!

Here's this MD's prompt, this time round from our AI generator:

Power. Try talking about power in any context of your choice. How do various societal factors, such as race, gender, and social class impact access to power and the distribution of resources?

Group A

Table as at MD3

 # Group A                   Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
 1 Quebec and Shingoryeo       3    3   0   270  211  +59
 2 TJUN-ia                     3    3   0   207  190  +17
 3 Raspotochje                 3    2   1   229  190  +39
 4 Katterimunk                 3    2   1   220  242  −22
 5 Indusse                     3    1   2   272  235  +37
 6 Lisander                    2    1   1   149  174  −25
 7 Ko-oren                     2    1   1   153  150   +3
 8 Mytanija                    3    1   2   202  213  −11
 9 Gatchingerrak Union         3    1   2   229  266  −37
10 Aristian Republic           2    0   2   132  161  −29
11 Benjium                     3    0   3   186  217  −31

Matchday 3
Benjium 66–75 Ko-oren
Mytanija 65–61 Raspotochje
Indusse 64–68 TJUN-ia
Katterimunk 57–93 Quebec and Shingoryeo
Aristian Republic 56–83 Gatchingerrak Union

Matchday 4
Quebec and Shingoryeo 100–66 Aristian Republic
TJUN-ia 79–70 Katterimunk
Raspotochje 61–77 Indusse
Ko-oren 74–61 Mytanija
Lisander 76–78 Benjium

 # Group A                   Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
 1 Quebec and Shingoryeo       4    4   0   370  277  +93
 2 TJUN-ia                     4    4   0   286  260  +26
 3 Indusse                     4    2   2   349  296  +53
 4 Raspotochje                 4    2   2   290  267  +23
 5 Ko-oren                     3    2   1   227  211  +16
 6 Katterimunk                 4    2   2   290  321  −31
 7 Benjium                     4    1   3   264  293  −29
 8 Mytanija                    4    1   3   263  287  −24
 9 Lisander                    3    1   2   225  252  −27
10 Gatchingerrak Union         3    1   2   229  266  −37
11 Aristian Republic           3    0   3   198  261  −63

Group B

Table as at MD3

 # Group B               Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
 1 Pemecutan               3    3   0   264  198  +66
 2 Valanora                3    3   0   268  207  +61
 3 Banija                  3    3   0   244  210  +34
 4 Abanhfleft              2    1   1   179  151  +28
 5 Tjorl                   2    1   1   167  143  +24
 6 Cassadaigua             3    1   2   215  261  −46
 7 Atheara                 2    1   1   153  162   −9
 8 Eire Agus Albion        3    1   2   208  249  −41
 9 Poafmersia              3    1   2   219  221   −2
10 StrayaRoos              3    0   3   205  258  −53
11 Melbergia               3    0   3   214  276  −62

Matchday 3
Valanora 71–71 Abanhfleft (83–80 OT)
Poafmersia 69–80 Eire Agus Albion (Scored by Tumbra)
Cassadaigua 80–80 StrayaRoos (87–84 OT)
Melbergia 67–89 Pemecutan
Tjorl 64–76 Banija

Matchday 4
Pemecutan 71–76 Tjorl
StrayaRoos 90–72 Melbergia
Eire Agus Albion 60–64 Cassadaigua
Abanhfleft 61–79 Poafmersia (Scored by Tumbra)
Atheara 57–76 Valanora

 # Group B               Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
 1 Valanora                4    4   0   344  264  +80
 2 Pemecutan               4    3   1   335  274  +61
 3 Banija                  3    3   0   244  210  +34
 4 Tjorl                   3    2   1   243  214  +29
 5 Poafmersia              4    2   2   298  282  +16
 6 Cassadaigua             4    2   2   279  321  −42
 7 Abanhfleft              3    1   2   240  230  +10
 8 StrayaRoos              4    1   3   295  330  −35
 9 Atheara                 3    1   2   210  238  −28
10 Eire Agus Albion        4    1   3   268  313  −45
11 Melbergia               4    0   4   286  366  −80

Group C

Table as at MD3

 # Group C                   Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
 1 Drawkland                   3    3   0   281  193  +88
 2 Gran Saguaro                3    3   0   264  215  +49
 3 Valentine Z                 2    2   0   205  145  +60
 4 Hannasea                    3    2   1   247  188  +59
 5 Juvencus                    3    2   1   223  206  +17
 6 Dod Rava                    3    2   1   237  252  −15
 7 Trolleborg                  2    1   1   136  192  −56
 8 Geektopia                   2    0   2   137  162  −25
 9 Southwest Eastnorth         3    0   3   205  248  −43
10 HUElavia                    3    0   3   209  259  −50
11 United Adaikes              3    0   3   196  280  −84

Matchday 3
United Adaikes 79–82 Valentine Z
HUElavia 62–78 Hannasea
Southwest Eastnorth 67–85 Drawkland
Gran Saguaro 94–69 Dod Rava
Geektopia 57–79 Juvencus

Matchday 4
Dod Rava 76–61 Geektopia
Drawkland 93–72 Gran Saguaro
Hannasea 86–62 Southwest Eastnorth
Valentine Z 88–58 HUElavia
Trolleborg 79–66 United Adaikes

 # Group C                   Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
 1 Drawkland                   4    4   0   374  265 +109
 2 Gran Saguaro                4    3   1   336  308  +28
 3 Valentine Z                 3    3   0   293  203  +90
 4 Hannasea                    4    3   1   333  250  +83
 5 Dod Rava                    4    3   1   313  313    0
 6 Juvencus                    3    2   1   223  206  +17
 7 Trolleborg                  3    2   1   215  258  −43
 8 Geektopia                   3    0   3   198  238  −40
 9 Southwest Eastnorth         4    0   4   267  334  −67
10 HUElavia                    4    0   4   267  347  −80
11 United Adaikes              4    0   4   262  359  −97

Group D

Table as at MD3

 # Group D                   Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
 1 Nova Anglicana              3    3   0   262  210  +52
 2 Cardenao                    3    2   1   218  202  +16
 3 Græntfjall                  3    2   1   237  203  +34
 4 Qasden                      3    2   1   244  233  +11
 5 Srednjaci                   2    2   0   153  148   +5
 6 Magnecia                    2    1   1   173  154  +19
 7 Chromatika                  3    1   2   243  249   −6
 8 Islerum                     3    1   2   211  250  −39
 9 Diarcesia                   3    1   2   206  258  −52
10 Macbon                      2    0   2   145  149   −4
11 Sky Reavers                 3    0   3   217  253  −36

Matchday 3
Qasden 74–72 Macbon
Diarcesia 81–72 Sky Reavers
Cardenao 70–80 Nova Anglicana
Chromatika 70–82 Græntfjall
Magnecia 92–63 Islerum

Matchday 4
Græntfjall 86–60 Magnecia
Nova Anglicana 73–57 Chromatika
Sky Reavers 65–84 Cardenao
Macbon 93–74 Diarcesia
Srednjaci 83–87 Qasden

 # Group D                   Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
 1 Nova Anglicana              4    4   0   335  267  +68
 2 Cardenao                    4    3   1   302  267  +35
 3 Græntfjall                  4    3   1   323  263  +60
 4 Qasden                      4    3   1   331  316  +15
 5 Srednjaci                   3    2   1   236  235   +1
 6 Magnecia                    3    1   2   233  240   −7
 7 Chromatika                  4    1   3   300  322  −22
 8 Islerum                     3    1   2   211  250  −39
 9 Macbon                      3    1   2   238  223  +15
10 Diarcesia                   4    1   3   280  351  −71
11 Sky Reavers                 4    0   4   282  337  −55

by **Cassadaigua** » Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:04 pm

Finally, a win or two,
by Caitlyn Dufresne, Concord Heights Times

Sometimes, you have to take baby steps. No one is going to pretend that the Fillies played a great game against StrayaRoos, but the result is a much needed win for our basketball, coming 87-84 in overtime. Once again, we were outplayed on the boards, but not as terribly as we were against Banija or Pemecutan. The second chance buckets allowed our opponents (who's names were not revealed to the general public) to keep close throughout the contest. It was a back and forth affair, with the Fillies leading 37-35 at halftime, and holding a 77-73 lead with two minutes remaining. Unfortunately, we struggled at the free throw line, something that we absolutely need to get corrected right away, and it put us in a situation where we were down 80-78 on the last possession and needed to a Rachel Valentino jumper to send the game into the extra session. Overtime was not a thing of beauty to watch as a neutral, I'm sure, but we took home the win. "It's nice to get this program back into the win column," coach Kristen Baynes said after the game, "we went 0-5 in the group stage in our first IBC back last time. We know we are capable of doing better, we have proven that we can compete in the collegiate ranks against the best in the world, and have done that in this tournament as well. But when you keep losing, it can bring you down. This was not a pretty win, but I think right we are just going to be happy with the fact that we have finally won another game in this tournament."

Against Eire Agus Albion, the Fillies won again, 64-60. This was also not a pretty win, with the pink and black not shooting well at all. Fortunately, their opponents may have been a little too high from their surprise win over the hosts in their previous game, and they also shot poorly. So, fans had to sit around and watch missed bucket after missed bucket. Cassadaigua only trailed twice in this game: 2-0 and 18-17, and at one point in the second half had a 47-35 lead. A 10-0 run by Albion closed to within two, but Team Cassadaigua settled in from that point. At 2-2, we're not going to start looking at the group table and thinking about where we might stand to make the playoffs. Because we're not going to make the playoffs. The more important thing is that these two games were vital for us to actually win if we wanted to start to boost our prestige and rank level to where it needs to be in future tournaments. Abanhfleft and Atheara are our next opponents. Baynes says the team is going to work on the things that they can control the most, and that is a substandard free throw percentage for the tournament.

by **Ko-oren** » Wed Feb 08, 2023 8:26 am

Part 3

After the presentation, Zeina looked around the venue, trying to find other nations within the Constellation that had the same position on issues. Being a member of the Constellation wasn't a positive on every single thing - but it was a net positive. The Ko-orenites roped in nations that were in the middle of economic downturn, while Ko-oren itself was doing very well in the early Anaian days. And they weren't looking for resource-rich nations to exploit, or for impressionable states ready to sell their political futures.

In fact, it was hard to say exactly what the Ko-orenites were looking for instead. They were big on growing sustainable economies, on spreading a working and egalitarian meritocracy, and having those places become examples for other nations in that region. Those values are broad and the goals are not very well defined. And looking around that venue, Zeina couldn't really say that the Arhoreni or Taloreni were anywhere close to the position that Irithoren was in. Maybe Synephoren was the only state in a similar position, but with completely different geographies. Zakhoren could have been similar, but they pulled out of the conference at the last moment. Again, with Ko-orenites, when they say something is completely voluntary, it probably isn't. Zakhoren might be in trouble.

"Hello Zeina, great presentation, haven't spoken to you in a while."

"Hey, Elektra, thanks! Looking forward to hearing yours next."

"In all honesty, the main points will be the same as yours. Respect our hosts. The economic help is good, but the building blocks towards a stable political future might be worth even more in the long run."

While Synephoren and Irithoren were alike in some ways - small populations in large regions with enormous neighbours, relying on coastal economic activity - Elektra's path to leading the Atlantian Oceanian archipelago wasn't the same as Zeina's. When Zeina grew up, Irithoren was still quite conservative on gender roles, and hadn't chosen a woman to lead the Assembly of Irithoren in its history. Even female Assembly members were hard to find, but some municipalities did want to be represented by women. In most cases, it was if she was the mayor or a business leader, but in even more cases, it was if she was the wife of a mayor or a business leader. Under Ko-orenite guidance, those restrictions were eased, somehow, as they were rooted in Irithoreni customs so much. For Zeina, it wasn't easy, but the path presented itself and through hard work she managed.

Elektra, on the other hand, comes from a recently forged nation made up of four separate island groups, the largest of which is Alysidanesia. Since the birth of the nation, that region supplied the country leader, though with plenty of obstacles to prevent Alysidanesia from dominating the other three. In fact, Elektra Managea was put in place in order to reconcile the four regions' goals.

"I mean... it's still difficult coming from an Alysidanesian background. I'm still met with some suspicion when visiting the others. We're not at the point yet where decisions are seen as choices and positives for the entire country. I had wanted to take Miron along, to show we're here for all of Synephoren, but there were pressing local issues."

"I hope to hear from reconciliation down the line, Elektra. I really do."

"How is Irithoren?"

"We're in a great spot. Still looking to make ourselves heard on a bigger stage, I was just preaching to the choir so far. We're slow to develop our economy right now, but we're also afraid to become too economically dependent on nearby countries, especially if they want to offshore cheap manufacturing into Irithoren. Sure, it would be great for the short term, but we're in a good enough position where we don't have to become a company's colony."

by **Trolleborg** » Wed Feb 08, 2023 10:17 am

Greetings, compatriots!
It's TTV from International Basketball Championship. Our team play here games of group stage.
The opponents had a hard time at the beginning of the tournament, having suffered 3 defeats in a row, but it should be noted that they had the hardest schedule: first Drawkland, then Hannasea, annoyed by the failure in the first round, and after that the hosts, inspired by success. And United Adaikes, naturally, were hopeful, faced with an opponent of approximately the same rank, climbing from the bottom of the standings by virtue of victory. On our side, it was not clear how things would turn out for our team, whether their sporting luck would lead them up or down the table, how much the players were able to cope with the nightmarish last game and what lessons they could learn. Our team did not participate in the third round, so the fans were pretty nervous, wondering how much the domestic basketball masters would be able to overcome the consequences of the previous game.

Fortunately, it turned out that at least this time they came out from after a terrible defeat, collected and looked like in the battle with Hannasea - concentrated and attentive. This, however, was not enough to achieve a quiet victory in a duel with opponents of approximately equal class, although, nevertheless, the majority of spectators had no doubts about what the outcome would be. Opponents, it should be noted, thoroughly and intensively tried to change situations, and our lads rarely managed to break away even by 8-10 points. Nevertheless, in the last quarter, apparently, some slack, caused by three defeats in a row, affect opponents, and a few minutes before the end, the lead of our players grew to 16 points, the opponents only managed to just reduce it.

After three rounds of group stage our team sit at the seventh place, but has a match in reserve. It is noteworthy that our group have four teams in the table that lost every single game, which is more than in all other groups combined, and only two that managed to win all their matches, as well as a team that won three times and lost once, but having a zero balance of points. Returning to our team, so far the playoff chances do not look illusory, but to remain real, it will take a lot of work in the coming days. Let's hope that the team will be able to properly prepare to the trials ahead.

by **TJUN-ia** » Wed Feb 08, 2023 2:08 pm

After we just about beat Mytanija by 3 points, the Hoops-Jaguars of TJUN-ia were 2-0 as we entered the first double-header edition of this IBC, as two games would be played back to back across the tournament over 2 days. Doing the best you can across the IBC grind is critical for success in a sport where less than a second is all it takes for fates to change forever but Bao Zhou was hopeful that his team had the tools it needed to navigate these times as smoothly as possible no matter the consequences or the drama. Let's see then what when down in that regard...

We started on Day 1 at Katerine Hall to take on a #27 Indusse side that certainly was stronger than their 1-1 record would suggest and we all knew it. We expected this game to be tight and in the end, it turned out to be like that, with Indusse certainly putting up a fight against us in a fun game here in Poafmersia. This game had Indusse happy to chase the game most of the time but in the end, the pace we put up was just too much for our Indian friends to handle, with great points-scoring from Peter Klivert and Matvei Dzhanayev helping us to the 68-64 win in the end, sending us to 2nd in the overall table.

Then it was over to Wolves Arena for our date with the 2nd debutants in this group - 2-1 Katterimunk. Winning 2 out of your first 3 games at this level is certainly something that Katterimunk will take to heart during their basketball development but today was simply not their day...and that's OK. 70 points on any other day might've been enough for the debutants to win this game but this was not one of those days and we were simply too strong for these guys to handle. Edmund Williamson was simply a beast, Fanis Papaloukas did what was required and in the end, we won by 9 points - 79-70. Simple as that and now, we're 4-0.

The 2nd of our double-headers features 2 teams in the Top 50 in the form of the #46 Aristian Republic (0-3) and the #41 Gatchingerrak Union (1-2) and while both teams may occupy the bottom 2 in the standings right now, don't be surprised if we see them both try and fight for an upset that could jump-start their seasons in an instant. GO BATTIN' JAGS!

SCHEDULE (Group A, all games in Poafmersia)
MD1: vs Benjium (UR) - Wolves Arena W 70-60
MD2: vs Mytanija (13) - Katerine Hall W 69-66 (4th)
MD3: vs Indusse (27) - Katerine Hall W 68-64 (2nd)
MD4: vs Katterimunk (UR) - Wolves Arena W 79-70 (2nd)
MD5: vs Aristian Republic (46) - Wolves Arena
MD6: vs Gatchingerrak Union (41) - Katerine Hall
MD7: vs Quebec and Shingoryeo (4) - Katerine Hall
MD8: BYE
MD9: vs Rastopochje (55) - Katerine Hall
MD10: vs Ko-oren (15) - Katerine Hall
MD11: vs Lisander (31) - Wolves Arena

by **Hannasea** » Wed Feb 08, 2023 6:15 pm

  Melody Courts, Nexitros Stratuss
HUELAVIA 62 – 78 HANNASEA
(20–22, 16–18, 16–22, 10–16)
Pts: ??? x2 13   Pts: Kaplan 15
 Rbds: ??? x2 4   Rbds: Griffin 7
    Asts: ??? x2 3   Asts: Cunningham 6


             Melody Courts, Nexitros Stratuss
                      HANNASEA 86 – 62 SOUTHWEST EASTNORTH
           (20–16, 27–17, 23–12, 16–17)
         Pts: Powell 26   Pts: ??? 13
       Rbds: Hopkins 12   Rbds: ??? 9
Asts: Powell, Collins 5   Asts: ??? 6

Team update: A couple of welcomes have mostly put the train back on the track. While the Sardines were favoured in both of their games, HUElavia and Southwest Eastnorth are both experienced IBC teams and could have presented traps for Hannasea. Késhaun Cunningham was back against HUElavia, and though he only played 20 minutes before being permanently taken out, contributed 6 assists, while with Tom Powell’s shot still struggling (he had 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting), Jean-Luc Kaplan stepped up with 15 points and 6 rebounds, while Nathaniel Rubin had 13 points and 5 rebounds off the bench. Some pretty awful three-point shooting saw the team scrape barely .200 from distance, but a good performance in the paint from Justin Griffin (9pts/7rbds/3blks) helped anchor a solid defensive showing to keep the scoring under control. Against Southwest Eastnorth, Powell’s stroke finally managed to land as he raked 26 points, with 9 rebounds and 5 assists, while Parker Collins contributed 18 points and 5 assists of his own as Cunningham sat out the night. Olympic hero Blake Hopkins had a 12–12 double–double, and the team shot literally double their previous night’s effort from three. Coach Markus Volgelstein dismissed press whispers that “Martian gravity” was affecting the team’s shot: “We just haven’t started all that hot with our shooting, but these guys are coming off a tournament [the Esportivan Basketball Championship] without much rest and I’m not worried”. He also praised the defensive effort shown to date, and said that Hopkins and Griffin competing for center minutes was “very healthy” for the team.

Injury update: Cunningham remains day-to-day on limited minutes. Connell remains indefinitely with an ankle injury.

News update: Mandy Proudfoot, Secretary to the Council, is to address a meeting of the Group of Esportivan Realists on the topic of the Espo. While speaking to an international audience, domestic political interest will be high following her ascension to the head of government role. In contrast to her predecessor, Esmee Byrne, Proudfoot represents a more pro-Espo wing of the governing Conservative Party, and her speech to an Esposceptic audience could be anything from an attempt to reach out to the opposite wing of her party – or to take the fight to them with a more stridently pro-EU tone. Hannasea’s adoption of the Espo has been considered a policy success and an endorsement of the merits of the single currency, but concerns linger in Blopping about the impact of less developed economies joining the currency union. In particular, Proudfoot may push for strict fiscal rules to prevent a situation where members might have to bail out indebted countries.

Environmental update: The Greenfield Hills Forest Preserve has been expanded by a total of almost 96% of its original area, in order to preserve the rare Hannasean Beaver. Fewer than 100 colonies exist in the wild after the beaver was intensively hunted for its valuable pelts in the 19th century, but modern environmental protection has ensured a stable breeding base for future population expansion. Wildlife Patrol officer Millie Lowe reported that they had seen evidence of beaver activity in a much wider area and so would be expanding the protected range accordingly.

by **Cardenao** » Wed Feb 08, 2023 9:30 pm

Jessy’s Journey Part III

“No shame in the loss, boys, they’re the number one team in the world for a reason and you ran them all the way. Now you see the level we have to hit, now you understand the way you need to play, how you need to act as a team if we’re ever going to win some honor for Cardenao.”

Jessy Courtois looked around the locker room at the ten valiant men he had called up for the International Basketball Championship. The team was having a good start to the tournament, they’d won three of their first four matches, including a heroic 72-60 victory over Græntfjall while the only loss thus far was against Nova Anglicana, the best team in the multiverse. It was a solid foundation and, with only six games left to play, Jessy was hoping his team would use this result to bring a higher level of play to the court. He told the team to hit the showers and get rested up, the next qualifiers were against Macbon and Srednjaci, 49th and 41st in the world respectively, so it should be more straightforward than the match against Nova Anglicana but who knows what’ll happen when the tipoff happens! With the players laughing and reliving the events of the match, he said his goodbyes and left the stadium, getting into his Dilajo Automotive sports car and speeding off.

Dilajo Automotive was a new luxury/sports manufacturer that had popped into existence thanks to Mihaly’s visible hand, and Jessy had gotten one of the first vehicles due to his high social status, being the coach of the national basketball team and all that. Six years ago, shit even a year ago this would’ve been crazy, driving a sports car in Cardenao. For starters, there weren’t any sports cars being manufactured nor was there really a way to import one unless you were ludicrously wealthy, which nobody had been. Additionally, paved roads were a rarity in the country, especially ten+ years ago when basically the only paved road in Cardenao had been around the Palace of Tears. But not anymore. Jessy couldn’t help but have a smile on his face as he put the pedal to the metal and raced down one of the newly completed highways that were springing up across Cardenao.

The signs of poverty were still very much there, trash on the side of the road, a barely tamed jungle threatening to envelop the road, but this stretch of asphalt was irrefutable proof that the forces of change were alive and at work in Cardenao. Everything about Dilajo and these roads were 100% Cardenao constructed. The raw materials, the processing, the engineering, the manufacturing, the delivery, all the mainpower, all of it was Cardenaoan, and even Jessy could see what that meant for the country in theory. All sorts of new businesses and related hiring and jobs training was going on all throughout the country, it was a wonderful thing to be involved with and Jessy could feel a renewed sense of pride in his heart for Cardenao and saw that expressed in his fellow citizens. People seemed brighter, more cheery, more determined to be a part of something bigger than themselves. The image of the modern Cardenaoan being one who seeks personal pleasure and leisure above all else while contributing minimally to society was slowly starting to change for the better. The country was changing, and Jessy was determined to play his role in that.

He was heading to Alameda to catch a ferry to Bellflower in the Ochre Islands, where he would be flying all the way to Banija, to the Buganda Region where he was to meet with Benoit LeBlanc and the Banijan billionaire Josiah Akombo. The purpose of all this travel was to secure start-up funding for the professional basketball league Jessy was dreaming up. Speaking of dreams, he was getting tired and was relieved when his hotel came into view. Jessy was surprised to see an elevator, that was a pretty high tech piece of equipment, but he could only laugh when he saw the fancy toy was broken and out of service. Can’t have shit in Cardenao. His laughter turned to pain when he realized he had seven flights of stairs to climb, but he managed it and threw himself onto his bed, falling into a deep slumber.

And so the sun rose on Alameda and Jessy was ready for it! He got back in his Dilajo and sped towards the harbor where a ferry to Bellflower awaited him. He had to be sharp for this meeting, but he also knew that he could rely on his friend Benoit to help guide the conversation if things get tricky. Overall, he wasn’t looking for much. Just a fairly generous amount of capital that could help bring a basketball league into existence, or at least be a large part of that! He would certainly be making a big ask, but Jessy was confident in his ability to close this deal. Between this and being the first head coach for the national basketball team…if he could be successful in either of these he would be sure to write his name in Cardenaoan lore forever, but that would be no small feat.

The trek to the Buganda Region was uneventful though notable for how uncomfortable it was. The ferry was rusted in several places, with Jessy seeing at least two bolts get knocked out of place as the rough waves of the Iceethe Sea smashed against the boat. The plane wasn’t much better either, everyone was cramped up against each other in tiny aisles, which is annoying to the average person but doubly so when you’re a 6’6 former basketball player like Jessy Courtois was. After an indeterminate amount of time passed, finally he arrived and unfolded himself from the torturous airplane to freedom, only to be ushered into a small, though much more comfortable car and was whisked away to his final destination.

Kapto, Buganda. It was a poor town, largely plain and unassuming aside from the butte that jutted out in the center of the the civilization. At its top it lay, Jessy squinted his eyes, well he couldn’t quite tell. It seemed to be a community, perhaps the wealthiest of the town? He didn’t see any easy ways down from the geographical formation. Maybe monks of some sort? He vaguely recalled seeing something about religion in Banija but couldn’t quite bring the memory to full clarity. Ah well, that should be at the bottom of his mind considering what he was about to ask for.

Jessy Courtois didn’t have a specific dollar amount in mind as his chauffeured car came to a halt. He had been so absorbed in practicing what he wanted to say, reflecting on his talking points that he hadn’t even realized he’d been turned down a long driveway shaded with Musizi trees and brought up to a very, very large home made of stone that looked sufficiently impressive. There were three young lads playing football outside, Jessy furrowed his brow at the absence of a basketball hoop, but was brought back into the moment as his door was opened for him. He swung his legs out and stood up, looking at the welcoming committee that had come to join him.

Up first was Benoit LeBlanc who greeted his old friend warmly with the two embracing and briefly catching up. Then, Jessy was introduced to Josiah Akombo, the Banijan oil turned tech magnate and the man he would be trying to get a check from. There was a third person there, a dignified looking lady with black hair, blue eyes, and a sweet smile.

She introduced herself as Ruby LeCerci, Cardenao’s diplomat to Banija. She explained her son had been invited to some sort of safari all of their boys were going on, Jessy didn’t totally understand but that didn’t matter. He had an additional ‘mover and shaker’ here that he could pitch his professional basketball league idea to. He finished shaking hands and the four of them headed inside to talk business.

by **Banija** » Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:04 pm

Banijan billionaire Josiah Akombo, in Kapto, Buganda, with his Cardenao counterparts

"Hello to all of you." Josiah Akombo smiled. He had made his wealth by always seeking out his own opportunities. Leaving the family business to make cell phones- a gamble that had paid off handsomely, and took him from multi-millionaire status into billionaire status. He always liked having those kinds of opportunities. It was something about making connections, and keeping them, that would make the business world go round for a person like him.

Why were they in Kapto? Akombo had his connections- when he realized that this safari trip would include an important business meeting, he knew that he needed to go to a place with some anonymity. There was a common part of the spoils system in Banija(in rural Banija, anyways), where political leaders would hand out trips to Banija's famous 'no-go' safaris. What were those? They were areas of the country that were, basically, exclusively set aside for Banija's abundant wildlife- animals like lions, elephants, triceratops, etc... And humanity was basically permanently banned(outside of the occasional conservation employee).

But these were generally ran by the several states, and not the national government- and they were a favorite to give out by local Premiers as a political favor. It had long been the practice in Banija. Much criticized, yes- but nobody had been able to do anything about it, since Premiers didn't exactly fess up to doing so while they were in office. And with all the important people here- Jessy Courtois, Benoit LeBlanc, and even Cardenao's Ambassador to Banija, Ruby LeCerci, all here, he figured avoiding crowds was for the best. What journalists were popping around Kapto anyways?

All he had to do was call up Buganda's regional premier, Janoah Omolo. The center-right Premier would join on the actual tour- but he didn't need to be at this meeting. So he wasn't. Akombo had a house way out here, extremely private, that he'd use for meetings like this. It didn't hurt that the town was right on the outskirts of one of those "no-go safaris".

"Jessy! Benoit! Nice to see you again." He shook their hands, and invited them inside. He had staffers take their coats, as they were going to be served some high-class wine, and premier steaks. "Ruby- nice to meet you. I've seen you do great work here in this country, I know some of my associates say you're just a flowing wealth of information about your country, especially about doing business in your country. It's an honor." He told her.

Then, after introductions, Jessy Courtois stood up. "Josiah- you know why we're here." He paused, and then continued. "We want to pitch Cardenao domestic basketball to you. WE want you to invest in a domestic basketball league in our country. It's gonna be huge. It'll be explosive. We've got the Mihaly’s President's backing." MihalyThe President, of course, being President Mihaly Otamendi of Cardenao. "Here- we've even brought you some numbers." They gave him some graphs, and charts, and financial projections.

Josiah Akombo smiled. He'd always wanted to own a pro sports team, but being part…owner? Benefactor? Of an entire basketball league? Well that was different. The soccer clubs in Banija were, generally speaking, a really tough bye- they rarely went up for sale. They went on for sale all the time in Banijan domestic basketball, but it was well known how much of a disaster the domestic basketball scene was here in the Kingdom. So this proposal had intrigued him. He had his own people do market research on Cardenao, and on the sport, before the meeting, so he had been prepared.

He peppered the trio with questions that his own people had brought up. What was the talent base in Cardenao? Could the country support the amount of teams that they wanted? The answers that they gave him, all three of them, were satisfactory. He was smiling. He'd be an owner of this upstart league- but a league willing to take on the world. They were smart. They were passionate. The league would grow. The dollars? He had plenty of them. Wouldn't this be a great way to spend his billions?

He stood up, and they shook hands. Josiah Akombo would be a lead investor for this basketball league. His cell phone company had secured enough market position where they'd essentially be on autopilot- this would be his focus. His wife had already been on board, before the meeting- he'd tell her the details, but they were ready to rock. He'd probably need to grab some real estate in Cardenao. But no matter- he was excited for the possibilities ahead.

Banija lands massive upset with road win over the #6 team in the multiverse, Tjorl, at IBC 37 to improve to 3-0 at the tournament

KJORL, TJORL- The Banijans entered today's game as 6.5 point underdogs, which was deserved. "Tjorl was a team, before this tournament, that many thought could win a title." Said Amadou Secka, former NT star and current TV commentator. "Especially hosting half of the group stage on home soil- the opportunity was perfect for them to get off to a blitzing start, and using that confidence to build themselves towards title contention. They were a nation where the Quarterfinals was probably the base expectation, with a reasonable goal of the semifinals- and once you're in the final four, you've got as good of a shot as anybody to win it all, huh?"

But it was clear that the Banijans did not read the script- especially in the second half. We were down 42-37 at halftime, in a close, but yet, decently high-scoring contest. "Teams weren't necessarily scoring at will in the first half, but it was absolutely a close contest." Oscar Laboto, the head coach, told reporters. "The best part? The crowd was really into it, egging their team on, bellowing for their country. But in the second half, well- we made some adjustments, and shut everything down. We took basically their entire offense out. A 22 point second half for Tjorl- including the fact that we allowed just 8 points in the third quarter- was just an absolutely sensational second half effort from the Banijans, to turn this group on its head as we charge towards the knockout stages.

It was all about stopping Jakob Kaiser- Tjorl's international superstar. And he got his- scoring 27 points. But in the second half, he was shut down- scoring just 5 points, on 1/8 shooting from the field(although 2/2 from the charity stripe). "Forcing Kaiser to get those points inefficiently, as we basically tried to do, ensured that we could beat this team." Obviously, that point split implies a hot first half from the PG, and you would be right- the 22 point opening half made it look like the point guard was going to explode. He was ridiculous 7/8 from the field in the first half, including 4/4 from three point land(and 4/4 from the line- two of those free throws coming from and-1s).

What changed on defense? It was on the ball pressure. "Look, in the first half, we were too passive, and Kaiser killed us." Laboto told reporters. "He's that kind of player who can just do that to you. There's a reason he was on the team of the tournament last time- when he gets hot, nobody can stop him. But we made sure that we were going to switch the looks we gave him. We committed to helping to ensure that he would not have clear paths to the basket, and force him into a lot of kickouts." That's what they did. And with that, the quick length of the 1-3-1 ensured that the Banijans were able to get good contests, as Tjorl's bricks started building a house in the second half.

Philemon Abonyo switching to the top of the 1-3-1 zone probably did the most. Obasie Khoza is probably undersized to play elsewhere generally, but Tjorl's offense goes so much through their superstar, that his extra length just disrupted everything. Suddenly, Banija started running this thing like it was a track meet. "We'd force turnovers, long rebounds, and were just flying down the court." Laboto told reporters. The other thing Banija did, was go small. Tijan Mendy into the game for their 7 footer, as all 5 dudes on the floor could dribble off a rebound.

"A hell of a win- I've never had quite a feeling in my life." Said Banija's star point guard, Obasie Khoza, after silencing the crowd with their 12 point upset road win. "It's a huge win for us- show the world that we're relevant, once again, in this sport. This win won't matter if we can't build on it though- so that's the next step of progression." Banija's next game is a tough one against second place Pemecutan, that is quickly looking like one of the four best teams in this group. They sit at 3-1. And then, after that, their final game here in Kjorl will be against a struggling StrayaRoos side, who sit with just a lone victory after four contests.

by **Pemecutan** » Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:16 pm

Chapter 1 || Chapter 2

Chapter 3

The car that brought them to Bale Patemon Hall is now heading back to the hotel where these young people staying during their time in the capital. The young men and women are stay silent all the way to their hotel. Many things are running around their heads. Especially their decision to follow Ratu Dalem Penglingsir instruction. Arrived at the hotel, no one says any words. They head back to their room and took some rest. Feels like no energies are left in them.

"Are you asleep?" ask the glassed young men.
"Yes," a short answer come from the hunky one. The glass young men throw a pillow at him which makes him stand up to avoid it. They then both laughing.
"What's the matter?" ask Kusumajati.
Handayana shake his head. "I'm just thinking," he said calmly.
"What are you thinking about?" now it's Diatmika who's asking.
Handayana left out a big sigh. "Is this the right way? The decision we've make. Waiting until the next King is officially appointed?" he blurt out.
Kusumajati and Diatmika are looking at each other for a moment. They are thinking what's their friend have said.

"You know what?" Kusumajati speak a word. Both his friends are looking at him. "I'm also thinking a similar things. I felt like something is wrong. Like we've made a bad choice to accept the term," he explain.
"See!" Handayana exclaim which shock both his friends with his sudden shouts.
"But we have agree to it. We can't take it back," remind Diatmika.
The atmosphere suddenly become sour. The silent life again.
"Let just take some rest and we'll enjoy the city while we can. We'll get back to Kanginan tomorrow, right?" suggest Kusumajati.
Both his friends nod in unison. They decided to take a nap. But Handayana still can't sleep. He decided to walk around the hotel. Maybe trying their swimming pool. He needs some refreshment.

A man on his 50's is seen writing on his desk. He looks so focus on his writing. Suddenly a knock on the door distract him. His pen is hanging a few milimeters from the paper.

"Come in," he said and continue to write.

And aged man coming in. He wears a formal suit.
"Do you need something, My Lord?" ask the aged man.
The man on his desk put down his pen. He lift up his head and looking at the aged man in front of him.
"Can you arrange a meeting for me? It's important. I don't want to meet them before they're back to Kanginan," he says.
"Anything you need, My Lord," answer the aged man before he leave the room.
The man on his desk smile sweetly. He then continue to write as if nothing has happened.

A sound of splashing water can be heard from the swimming pool. It is located at the back of the hotel surrounded by a lush garden. It looks secluded from the rest of the hotel. The swimming pool is quite quiet. No one wants to swim at noon. Well, except Handayana. He has swim back and forth a couple of times. The pool is quite sizeable although not an Olympic size pool. But it can refresh him from his messy mind. It's probably his fourth swim to the other edge of the pool when a voice is heard calling for him. Handayana slow down his swim and move to the side where the voice is heard.

"Here you are! Everyone's waiting for you," say Widiyanti, one of his friend. She looks upset. Seems like she has wandering around the hotel searching for Handayana.
"What's the matter?" Handayana ask as he catch his breath.
"We got a dinner invitation. We have to prepare for it," she explain.
Handayana look at her with a questioning face. "Who's inviting us?" he ask again.
"Just get out already and let's back to our room," command Widiyanti with a high tone.
"Alright. Alright," Handayana grunts.

Widiyanti walks a head of him as he grab a towel and follow her to their hotel room. His mind begin to messing around. This invitation is odd, he thinks.

Handayana see through the window of the limousine that drive them to the meeting place. While in front of him, Kusumajati is staring at him like a hawk. Both of them are in argument before the pick up arrives. Handayana questioned Kusumajati decision to accept the invitation without knowing who's inviting them. While Kusumajati argue that they wouldn't know if they are not go there. Both are stubborn.

"Are you will keep on angry with each other?" ask Sekarini who seat next to Handayana. She observe them both from the time they get in the limousine. And no answer from both of them. Only a small movement but then they are back to their position.
"Oi, Jati! I think you can blink over in a while. You don't need to stare Yana like that. Are you want to preying on him?" tease Diatmika.
Kusumajati looks awkward. While the two women smile quietly. Handayana took a glance at Kusumajati. And the man he looking at is looking at somewhere else. He doesn't want their eyes lock.

And the awkward moment is saved as the car has arrive to its destination. The car door is open and they walk out to see an exclusive restaurant by the river.
"Please," the guard escorted them to the restaurant and direct them to a special room. A VIP room. They are all standing in front of the room as the guard knock on the door. A faint voice coming from inside and ask them to come in. The guard open the door wide before letting them 5 to enter the room.

"Welcome. I've been waiting for you all," say the man in his 50's.

Handayana and Kusumajati looking at each other for the first time from their drive here. Their question is answered. And the one who's inviting them is no other than the Patih Agung, Jero Agung Bongkasa.

by **Chromatika** » Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:30 pm

Three haikus to describe the mood in the Penguins' camp:

Without one Lia Xiu
The Penguins drop two more games
Top ranked opponents.

Kristie plays well, sure
But they lack a pure scorer
Team tires out late

Mired down the table
Six matches left to climb out
Can they pull it off?

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Thu Feb 09, 2023 1:30 am

Dr. Heo and the Portal of Madness

PART 24 - Control

It had been a full day since Dr. Heo, his friend Isabel Jurado, and a pair of teenagers had managed to arrive at Isabel's Quartier Calanien flat in Joongyeong. While their return to it was a fairly straightforward procedure, the hours of waiting while on a semi-confinement state in this flat was leaving Dr. Heo tired.

I need to get out there... thought he, as he was deliberating on the hallway that led to the door to the third floor hallway of the flat building.

Dr. Heo was someone who never shied away from meeting people and being out on the public. His energetic self, one that had made him a well-known name first as a national team fencer (sabre) and then professor of history and comparative literature, reflected well into his professions and he always liked being out there for his children and extended family members.

And yet so much had passed since the past sixteen years since the passing of his wife Maureen, someone who had giveth and taketh arguably everything on his post-undergraduate life. There once was a time when he, in an effort to busy himself in a mountain of work, would actively involve himself in ensuring that his son Myeong-Shin and daughter Myeong-Yoon would receive the best opportunities possible. And both children did respond well, answering his parents' sacrifice in their pursuit for greatness on baseball mounds and basketball courts. Now, with his children all in their thirties, preparing themselves for the next phases of their life beyond the spotlights, the hayloft of what he had strived for in life beyond the reaches of academia started to empty itself out.

Maybe, at the sixth decade of my life, I need to get out there and actually seek for my own happiness, thought he, as he looked at the door that stood between him and the hallway that would lead him to the staircase back to the street. He was thinking about running away from all this, not because he disliked magic or anything of those kinds, but because he was afraid. For all the trust he held in his faith of the Gwangmoo Order of Shingoryeoite Mahayana Buddhism (which held its own Taoistic elements), and all the appreciation he had held for those around him with said abilities, from Christine II (a former pupil of his) to her colleague Isabel, all of this had left him wonder about the what-if's and if he could bring back the missing element of happiness to it.

At the moment, he felt as helpless as he could be, and he wanted to at least take time away from it.

But that's not things were going to turn out to be, as the closer he had gotten up to the door the denser his footsteps were heard. Then, just as he turned around he was confronted with Isabel, who stood in front of him with crossed arms and facial expression that suggested her disappointment. He held back, stopped, and then opened his mouth.

'It's easier said than done, isn't it?' Isabel's icy voice brought Dr. Heo back to the seriousness of the situation, as Dr. Heo firmly blinked his eyes for a few second, before opening his eyes again.

'The usual art of confinement and to escape the temptation,' answered Dr. Heo, trying his best to ease the situation.

She gave a light smirk, apparently unconvinced at Dr. Heo's attempt in lying to her. 'I am not to be fooled, Dong-Soo my friend.' she said, before asking another question. 'I see that the children are not coming out of that room anytime soon.'

'Let them be,' Dr. Heo said, preferring not to think too much about what was going on in the guest room. Of course, he knew that Hannah and Joon-Gweon, having met each other for the first time, were just getting to know one another. But to what extent, and what possibilities he did not know, and thus the very first response he had was from a Tang-era poem by Bai Juyi:

'七月七日長生殿 (칠월칠일장생전)
夜半無人私語時 (야반무인사어시)
在天願作比翼鳥 (재천원작비익조)
在地願爲連理枝 (재지원위연리지)
天長地久有時盡 (천장지구유시진)
此恨綿綿無絶期 (차한선선무절기).'

That specific poem caught Isabel's attention, as she assessed the way Dr. Heo had spoken of them. While Isabel was by no means familiar to the Chinese alphabet, and held relatively limited command to read Shingoryeoite Korean by decoding the Hanja, she could easily notice in the way the words, without Dr. Heo's notice, were adding the fruit and peach pollens, peaches in particular, into the air.

Playing magic with his own tongue, without knowing it... Isabel thought. 'So you saw something in their eyes.'

'I would not know,' Dr. Heo shrugged, his circular glasses reflecting the light. 'A lot of it is news to me. Besides, would I want Hannah, a daughter of my good friends, to risk against all odds?'

Isabel gave a sigh. 'You, my friend, are seeing and creating things without noticing at all. But what you speak of isn't a lie, even if you think you are saying them because you remembered that poem out of memory and felt it convenient for spontaneity. That's the power of words you hold, and you should be made aware of that.'

Dr. Heo looked back at her. This time, he came to realise that his friend was giving a piece of advice, one that of a possible hope's way. 'Then let me out, and help me meet The Creator.'

'I like that idea, only except that there's just one problem,' said she. 'This flat may be my home, but it also works as a safehouse, in part because I have installed the safety features and whatnot to make sure that the barriers between the worlds would be further bolstered. Those measures were made because of the nature of this work, both in research and execution, and so you leaving into the streets, without a plan, would not be the best idea to do so.'

Dr. Heo smiled once again, this time coming up with an idea. 'If I'm the only one who cannot travel and alter dimension or a matter by direct force...then there's got to be a way for a mortal like me to do it, isn't it?' he said. 'I strongly doubt it's impossible for those without said abilities to do so, especially if there is something similar to a Portkey.'

'Well in that case...'

by **Nova Anglicana** » Thu Feb 09, 2023 5:11 am

Dueling Nova Anglican bills at heart of Brenecian foreign aid debate

Marian Bailey, Rutupiae Free Beacon

The nation of Brenecia, our Esportivan neighbor, continues to recover after years of economic decline, martial law, the death of their monarch, and general unrest in society. Concerned by the problems afflicting a member of the community, the Esportivan Union sent a delegation of Members of the Assembly of Esportiva (MAEs) to assess the situation on the ground in Brenecia, report back, and craft a policy response that would help Brenecia on the road to recovery. The MAE who wrote the bill to study Brenecia was Megan McKenzie, a Nova Anglican, and she and her fellow Nova Anglican, former PP leadership candidate Melody Savoy, are now at the centre of what to do about it.

McKenzie comes from the ruling Progressive Justice Party in Nova Anglicana, and is part of the Esportivans, Unite! group in the Assembly, a pro-EU and generally liberal and centrist conglomeration that also forms part of the pro-EU governing bloc along with the centre-left Esportivan Social Group and the centre-right Esportivan Civic Group. Savoy's People's Party participates in the Group of Esportivan Realists, a conservative bloc that views closer ties with the EU as something to be generally avoided and wishes for a more solely economic rather than wide-ranging arrangement with the supranational union. While McKenzie's party leader, Prime Minister Josephine Clark, has been full-throatedly pro-EU and eager to get involved in regional politics and assistance, the former PP leader Michael Ramsey viewed the EU as something to be attacked rather than supported. That has changed somewhat with the election of Arsène Deslauriers over Savoy as the new party leader, with Mssr. Deslauriers softening his rhetoric towards the EU, even if he has not made moves towards more fully embracing it.

What makes this interesting is that one would then expect McKenzie's bill on the subject to be much more generous and loaded with conditions that reflect the PJP's traditional concern for the poor and underserved communities while Savoy's would be a more guarded, limited effort, narrowly focused on economics. However, this is not the case. McKenzie introduced a bill that would offer up to 12.5% of Brenecian GDP in assistance over 5 years, through a mix of grants and loans, and contains relatively few conditions other than declaring that "the primary concerns of this aid should be infrastructure, social services, and economic development" and containing a line stating "the uses of this aid should be determined after a wide-ranging consultation with all sectors of Brenecian society." McKenzie offered the explanation that the bill needed to appeal to fiscal conservatives, both within and outside her group, and that the EU should respect the sovereignty of its members: "A bill that spends relatively less will garner broad appeal, and the success of the EU depends on an environment of mutual respect among its members; dictating terms to a member country will only strengthen Espo-sceptic forces."

Meanwhile, Savoy has put forth a bill that is quite generous, offering up to 20% of Brenecian GDP in assistance over 5 years, mostly through grants, though with a small admixture of loans in the bill as well. Savoy's bill also includes numerous conditions for Brenecia to fulfill, such as the percentage of aid to be spent on particular targets and "creating an open and transparent environment for foreign direct investment." Savoy has also made appeals to fiscal responsibility, saying, "We want to help a friend in need, but at the same time, we want to make sure we get proper bang for our espos, so it's reasonable to want to make sure it's spent responsibly." She also added that she expects the EU investment to be followed on by private capital as firms see Brenecia recovering and Brenecia makes changes to its regulatory environment to make itself an attractive destination for foreign companies. The northwestern nation should offer a robust labor market and relatively low cost of investment as it recovers.

One also wonders if there is an element of politics to this as well. The current prime minister, Esther Smetona, comes from the same group as Savoy, the GER. Might Savoy be inclined to be more generous with her political bedfellow, while McKenzie remains more skeptical? Although Smetona has rebranded her party as the National Civic Union, it was formerly known as the Conservative People's Party, and had a less than stellar reputation in its support for democracy. This might be holding McKenzie and EU! back a little. Smetona has definitely worked hard to present herself as a stable hand at the tiller and her party as a proper governing party coming out of the chaos of the last few years. The other thing to consider is the role of the monarchy in reconstruction. Queen Etain has pledged to be a more active monarch than her mother, Queen Mairin. What will she attempt to do with regards to these bills and the distribution of their funds?

One thing is for sure: Nova Anglicans are playing a larger role on the world stage than ever before. Where previously governments had tried to maintain neutrality or only provide humanitarian aid or sanctuary, Jo Clark's government is now actively trying to influence events. Melody Savoy (and presumably Arsène Deslauriers) are becoming more active as well. Only time will tell if this activity will be for good or if there will be unintended consequences for the nation and the region.

Nova Anglicana 80-70 Cardenao

Stats: 30-56 FG (53.6%) 11-22 3-Pt FG (50.0%), 9-11 FT (81.8%)

Key Players: Clement Villeneuve - 9-16/4-8/2-2 (24 pts) 3 rbds, 2 ast, Simon Moran - 7-14/3-6/1-1 (18 pts), 6 rbds, 3 ast, 2 stl, Eli Rose - 4-8/1-2/1-2 (10 pts), 4 rbds, 4 ast

Nova Anglicana 73-57 Chromatika

Stats: 29-66 FG (43.9%) 9-25 3-Pt FG (36.0%), 6-8 FT (75.0%)

Key Players: Greg Lindsey - 7-12/0-1/1-1 (15 pts), 10 rbds, 4 ast, 1 stl, Derek Bowman - 5-8/2-3/0-0 (12 pts) 4 rbds, 3 ast, 1 stl, Danny Cohen - 4-7/0-0/2-2 (10 pts), 9 rbds, 1 ast

by **Gran Saguaro** » Thu Feb 09, 2023 6:08 am

The Altiplano Pimería — last time we were here, our tour guide witnessed an audacious roadside robbery from safely on the top of a mountain; a tour bus full of big city tourists was pulled over by highwaymen in this dusty eastern frontier, where the rule of law is threadbare...in this adventure, we will also discover that smoking is ubiquitous in Gran Saguaro.

"¡Oye, Dayego!" Seven-odd bandits armed with guns milled around while thirty quietly-sobbing tourists stripped themselves of all valuables, lined up in a row facing towards their tour bus and away from the bandits. Their shoes, phones, wallets, and jewelry were thrown into a pile behind them — and a fat bandit wearing a hood with a balaclava over his face had found a massive gold watch in said pile. "Look at this fucking thing! It's the size of my face, man! You fall in water, this watch would drown you."

Dayego, a bandit, jumped off his truck. He was young and lithe, wearing a camo hunter's jacket (camo is typical desert bandit wear, similar to sagging pants in other criminal circles; even camo that has zero actual camouflaging ability in the desert, like greens and blues, is popular among bandit gangs and my even denote allegiances. More research has to be done.) and a green bandana which obscured his face. "Wey let me see that." Dayego slipped it onto his wrist — the top-heavy watch face rolled it over. "Man, it doesn't even fit! Shit's massive..." Dayego looked at the line of shaking tourists. "Which one's it from?"

The fat bandit pointed at a skinny older man. Dayego went over to him, crossing through the line of victims to get right in his face. "This yours, bolillo?" The man nodded. Dayego grabbed his arm and held it up. "What the fuck. He has pencils for arms Nando, look at this. What's this watch even for, man?" The man didn't respond or move — he just continued staring at Dayego. Dayego slipped the watch on his skinny quinquagenarian forcep, and it slid right to his elbow. Dayego and Nando, the other bandit, started laughing.

"Man, you really are a dumbass," Dayego said as he backed away with the watch. "Why the hell you takin' a fuckin' massive gold watch with you to Pime, man? You waiting to get robbed?"

The only non-bandit not in the row of victims was Edison, the bus driver, wearing only sandals, dirty shorts, and a tank top. He didn't carry a phone, a watch, a wallet, a pendant of a saint, not even shoes — because of situations like this, the Pimería-based bus drivers travel austerely. Edison sat on the steps of his bus, consuming the only possession on his person — a singular cigarette, because the bandits took the rest of the pack. It was down to a stub.

"Bus driver, man!" The gangsters wanted his help, they were trying to offload the bus's spare tire for resale. Dayego's pickup truck had been parked only a couple feet behind the back of the bus, but three highwaymen together could not get the heavy wheel into the truck's bed.

"What do you want, pendejo."

"Oye, don't get smart," said a bandit. "I'll pop you man, without a second thought. Then I'll sing about it, b! I'll make a ballad! I'll piss on your grave." He flashed his teeth at Edison, to intimidate him.

"Paquito, you fucking moron, grab your end of the tire. Bus driver, grab Paquito's side — we're gonna lift it into the bed, on three."

"Wey, I can't do that. I'm sixty-one. My lungs will give out."

"Bus driver, shut up. Grab. Lift."

"Nah brother, I'm a smoker. I'm overweight. The exertion could kill me."

The leader of the highwaymen dropped his end of the tire. "Are you fucking kidding?"

"Plus, that's a bad tire anyway, guys. My tour company cuts corners; we skimped out on replacing it. The rubber is worn very thin, if I'm being honest."

These were all individuals seasoned in the ways of desert bargaining.

"I'll give you your cigarettes back."

"What the hell is taking you so long?" asked Edison, grabbing his end of the tire. "Lift!"

IBC37 - Everything Thread [Fin]

DROP IT DOWN!: The 1st Double-Header!

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