World Cup 69 RP Thread

by **The Archregimancy** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 10:27 pm

The following leaflet arrives at the offices of every participating WC69 national association:

AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ORDINARY REALITY:

WE ARE THE S.I.T.H.

We would like to announce to the heretical and heathen nations of Ordinary Reality that the Monastic Football Association has changed its name.

From this point on, you are not to refer to us as the 'MFA' but shall instead refer to us as the Society for the Indoctrination of Terrible Heretics, or S.I.T.H.

No longer can we stand idly by while the Holy Synod of the Archregimancy, the Office of the Archregimand, and even the Patriarch of the Holy Empire engage in the sin of FALSE ECUMENICISM.

Too long have we allowed ourselves to be pushed towards participation in a World Cup that forces us to engage with heretics, heathens, heterodox, atheists, and even freemasons on an equal footing, instead of condemning them for their false pride and bizarre beliefs.

From this point on, the S.I.T.H. stands prepared to fight for what we believe in, for ORTHODOXY OR DEATH.

We seek to sweep aside the corruption of the Old Monastic Republic, and establish a new government where Orthodoxy and order shall reign supreme, side by side, under the benevolent guidance of the S.I.T.H.

We shall not rest until the Holy Synod and the Office of the Archregimand hand over control of the Monastic Republic to our representatives. We shall protest - non-lethally, but proactively and forcefully - at every remaining home qualifier so as to cast out or indoctrinate visiting heretics..

We scoff at the rumours that the Synod is forming an office for the Jurisdictional Elimination of Damnable Ingrates; these J.E.D.I cannot stop us - the S.I.T.H. shall soon reign supreme.

Remember, we are the S.I.T.H.

And we find your lack of faith disturbing.

by **Red Blackiland** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 11:01 pm

Red Blackiland vs. Torisakia

Other match for Red Blackiland in World Cup Qualifiers , and after the 'Streets of Fire' event was made by RB fans the players are confident and excited for this important match in Red Glorious Stadium.
The team came from a 3-0 victory,against Jasminia Islands in the 'Baptism of Fire derby' in Blackberry,was the most good actuation of Red Blackiland team until here in the Group 9.
Peter Valbuena,the RB's coach says that the match is very hard,the Torisakia team is much experienced than the Red Blackilandians,and more experienced players compared to much new RB team having a middle age alike Germans.

The Torisakia team come to the match with 5-2-2-1 formation,equilibrate the defense and attack level,is a fast team with the purpose of counter-attacks,have a much 'populated' midfielder and good defensive system with a leader in the attack,what is Kelso and two more skillfull players on the attack what is Lucas van Zandvoort and Tommy Bastiaansen.
Torisakia like to use fast side midfielders to defend (here the defensive midfielders protect the defense when the side midfielders attacking) and attack,is a equilibrated and good formation.

Red Blackiland maintain your formation with Felipinho and Carmona the main heads of the attack sector and the defensive midfielders helping the defenders in the 'contension zone',with fast side midfielders working as wingers that make so much crosses and make much triangulations with the central midfielder Carmona,the head of the production of attacks in the team.

Torisakia fans receive the team in the Freedom Blackberry Airport

The Torisakians that reached in Blackberry to see your team play against Red Blackiland from the away section of Red Glorious Stadium,make a warm reception to the reach of Torisakian Players in Blackberry City today,the players gave autographs to the fans and waved to the crowd.The players see this celebrated with a good vision point that excited and pass energy to the players before the match kick-off.
Calculated near 900 fans in this event with much posters of Akame from Akame Ga kill! series and support messages to the players.

Red Blackilandians in the Dark Lions training

In this stadium that is localized near Red Glorious Stadium,called 'Patronaux Sports Complex' that is a complex of growing sports in the country with a medium-size stadium that is used for RB's players to training before the matches with more itensity when Red Blackiland play in the country,or Blackberry.
Calculated 20,000 fans attended in the training,with much chants and support messages in banners,the screams were higher to Felipinho and Carmona.The players left the tactical and collective training to give autographs to the fans,talk with them and wave to the crowd.After this,the Patronaux Sports Complex gates opened and the crowd need exit the stadium to left the players in privacity and calm to follow the work.Call the fans and the crowd,it has been one of R.B.A.F strategies to the Red Blackiland team in recent competitions,due to the strong bond between these two.

A Little Conversation about the current moment of RB's football/soccer

Announcer : ''We will talk about the Red Blackiland current moment in football/soccer,are here Peter Valbuena,the Red Blackiland's coach and our commentators Maurício BoaVentura and Stevie Bohnar. ''
Steve Bohnar : ''I think we can begin talk about the National Football Program,what consists this? ''
Peter Valbuena : '' Easy acess for the crowd to stadiums and training is the first,money spending of the government is second that is converted in football schools to form players (tactically and technically) and coaches,each state or citie have a Football School,in which a group of workers that work in these schools have the responsability for the 'keep an eye on' these areas,found talent players and give all money and social assistance to take these players to this Football Schools to form all the tactical and technical conditions.In third,the construction of a Main Center of these football schools that is the Blackberry Soccer Complex,consists in a stadium of the profissional team trainings and preparations for the matches and training stadiums for the Junior players,have a team of workers to watch these players and making a one part of the integration between Junior categories and the profissional team.In fourth,a eletronic system that allow the tecnical comitee coordinate the structure of the Junior categories and your players and decide if these players will be taked to the profissional or no and other things.We new 4 more new players discovered in Port Tudor and Cruce Estrella as result of the project. ''
Steve Bohnar : ''Isn't much for a very new nation in NSSports? ''
Peter Valbuena : ''No.Red Blackiland and your citizens want to strive to be good in all of we can and the football is one of these things.The country have a big history and is old,reached the time to the country turn into a big nation in Sports''
Maurício BoaVentura : ''What's the time for the all can be ready? ''
Peter Valbuena : ''We don't have a certain date,but i think in a few years will begin to give a very good results to us.''
Maurício BoaVentura : ''What's still missing yet? ''
Peter Valbuena : ''Reveal players to other countries,make the integration between not only the Junior and profissional categories,but for the clubs too,establish the Red Blackiland leagues , is a project for the future''
Maurício BoaVentura : ''Is the actual results a reality for the team? ''
Peter Valbuena : ''Yes,because the new and first worldwide experience and the inexperience too,is all much new for us,we need take these results and extract all good of this''
Steve Bohnar : ''What's the most big characteristic of the team ''
Peter Valbuena : ''The crowd and the fans,follow the team where it is''
Steve Bohnar : ''What's the main player of the team? ''
Peter Valbuena : ''All players are important but the most talked,we have two,Felipinho and Carmona,but Carmona with more classic #10 style and Felipinho with most dribbling skills''
Steve Bohnar : ''Talk about the last victory and the next match against Torisakia ''
Peter Valbuena : ''The last victory,in the 'BoF derby' was very good to us,we have a good goal difference in the group,our defense was making more errors in the begin but could auto-correcting and evolve with little time period,we don't receive much goals,only 10 and scored 5 goals,is a very good balance for us.Was a game when Red Blackiland attacked more and take advantage from the chances that had.About next match,Torisakia is a very good and much more experienced than us,have fast and skillful players,much markation in midfielder,the team like 'populate' the middle of the field and exit fast to attack in counter-attacks but the tutorial is the same for this match. ''
Announcer : ''Send a message from all Red Blackiland fans ''
Peter Valbuena : ''Attend in Red Glorious Stadium today to support Red Blackiland many times as necessary,being out of the country or no,stay with us.''!

See yoou soon!

by **Felix** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 11:15 pm

Previously

Sabrefell, Nephara

The tires screeched when it hit that pavement as the plane landed in Sabrefell Airport in Sabrefell, Nephara. It finally stopped in front of another limo echoing the trip made to Brenecia. Hopefully the echoing would continue to the point where another nation in Esportiva would be allied to Tamara's cause for a free Felix. She got out of the plane and quickly got in the limo along with her aides, guards and extra personnel. The limo didn't directly lead to the presidential palace in the capitol instead it lead them to a hotel where she would take a break from multiversal politics. The Felixian delegation took 5 rooms. Three in the 6th floor where the room in the middle would be Tamara's and another two in the 5th and 7th floors, each directly above and below the suite Tamara had. It was all good for Tamara, she was one hundred percent protected from anyone trying to kill her.

Tamara entered the suite and laid down on the bed exhausted. She already flown a day's worth of travel in a week. She got the hotel phone and called her only child, Alexandra who was in the Northern Sunrise Islands. The speaker did that ring and eventually was picked up, "Hello?" asked Alexandra and Tamara quickly smiled, "It's me Tamara." Alexandra yelled in happiness, "Muuuuuuum!" Its been days since the two talked and it was great for both Van Der Ven's. While they talked it got closer to the time for Tamara to bring some bad news, "Hey, so do you remember your father?" Alexandra's tone went from a cheery one to a sad one, "Yeah?" Tamara nodded, "Well... It seems like your father is alive." Alexandra was confused and Tamara could tell that she was by the tone of her voice, "But I thought he was dead..." Tamara responded, "I did too... That's why I am really confused on what's going on. Apparently he's been doing covert..." for the next few hours the two would talk about this and wonder if they would see him.

The Next Day

Tamara woke up and yawned. She soon began her regular morning routine, brushing the teeth, showering, getting clothes, etc. After a half an hour of prepping she got out and opened the door and went down to the hotel's dining room where she would have her scrambled eggs and turkey bacon. She ate it all with a coffee and when she was done Tamara got out her phone and called the chief aide to get everyone set. Little she knew someone was watching her drink her coffee, it was an agent, but not of the FIA kind, it was special type of agent from a mysterious organization. The man in black walked away as Tamara began to look around her surroundings thinking that someone was watching her. 40 minutes later the crew got set and they began to head for the limos. There they would go to the presidential residence and meet the head of state in Nephara, Rook Barker.

Now the relations between Felix and Nephara before the whole Corvidae mess has been, well, nonexistant. The only memorable time they met was in football. Once in Felix's disastrous World Cup campaign and when the new leader of Felix, Lazzaro Passerini passed the trophy to Nephara (known as New Sideburn at the time) after the Nepharim team was victorious over the Sunrisean team. Other than that these two nations haven't really had diplomatic relations. Heck despite Nephara objecting the Corvidae backed regime they didn't touch them. But now that the Free Felix had a political face the Nepharim government, despite their previous policy of not participating in wars the Margrave of Nephara, invited Tamara Van Der Ven to this historic meeting. Should things go Tamara's way she could have another powerful regional power on her side (she also had Quebec on her side).

Rook Barker greeted the president and shook Tamara's hand and like her Brenecian counterpart Barker had a charismatic look/feel. Already things between Barker and Van Der Ven were hitting off a great sign. "Right. Let's get down to business. So, you need Nepharim support in your fight for freedom?" Tamara nodded, "Yes, we do." Rook asked Tamara to sit down and asked her if she wanted some refreshments and Tamara respectfully declined Rook nodded and continued, "Public opinion's with you, and feeling aggressive. Our military might be untested, but we've the guns and the manpower to give anyone a proper fight, and those fascist bastards will be first to find that out." Inside Tamara was already celebrating but outside she kept her cool as Rook continued to go on, "You have our full support."

With that, it was now obvious that Felix had another ally in the war against the Corvidae. Tamara soon left the presidential residence with a huge grin, two out two? That's amazing. She and the aides were celebrating in the limo as they got another major diplomatic victory. When they got back to the hotel she decided to call General Förstner and inform him on the great news, "Hello Gilbert!" Förstner quickly replied, "Tamara? Is that you?" Tamara replied, "Yes, yes it is. I got great news on the diplomatic front." "What is it?" "We got another ally in our cause. We'll be receiving even greater aid than the other guys." at this point General Förstner was ecstatic, "Really? That's great! We can build off what has been going on here!" Tamara then asked, "What's going on there?" "We've been training, both us generals and soldiers and these Quebecois have been doing a massive good job."

"That's very good!" replied Tamara, "Glad to hear those things are going well in the war front. Any news regarding Limbaugh?" General Förstner didn't reply for a few seconds but then said, "Well... We've heard that she is conducting sabotage operations with her army and apparently it is working well. Much needed medical supplies are being delayed which causing the 1st army, which apparently suffered heavy losses according to our Kaji survivors, to get back to level footing. Giving us more time to prepare ourselves. If everything goes right I think we might resume full fledged fighting by Spring and then we can march our way back to the "Old Country" and send these Corvidae scum packing." Tamara laughed, "That's great news, glad Kate is doing well on that front. I'll be heading off to another country and hopefully I can convince that they can support Felix. If they don't that's alright I still got more nations to cover in my check list." General Förstner at this point knew the conversation was nearing it's end and said goodbye and Tamara responded with a goodbye of her own. The two hanged up and in Higuera General Förstner made the announcement bringing cheers to the soldiers.

Somewhere in Felix

Cloaked men dressed in all black met in a secret bunker in a undisclosed location. The men recited a ritual (similar to a RL Masonic one) and began their meeting the first man got up and began to talk, "I am glad all of you could be here in this improvised temple. I would usually meet in a regular temple but it seems our places of planning have been compromised by the Corvidae backed government. Anyways we shall continue our meeting. So Brother Van Der Ven, I heard you have killed a important Nationalist official." The man got up and took his hood off, "I actually killed two Chief Brother Jacobsen." a few laughs were heard before Van Der Ven continued, "The first man I killed was a major player in the propaganda war the government has been waging. This will certainly be a blow to the government." the men silently applauded and he once again continued, "I also killed a important trainer for the Felixian Army. He was one of the leading theorists in soldier training and hand to hand combat. Like the propaganda chief, he too was a major player for the government." the men applauded again and Brother Van Der Ven sat down and put his hood back on.

Chief Brother Jacobsen smiled, "Good, good. I have another mission for you Brother Van Der Ven. This one will be the hardest of them all. But before I tell you the details I would like to announce that the message you sent to the Free Felixians was successfully delivered and Brother Thomas has seen your wife in Nephara. Probably going to try and gather support for the government-in-exile." Brother Van Der Ven smiled, "Sounds like my wife." Jacobsen continued, "Alright, so the mission. I need you to kill Carlton Thurstan." Van Der Ven replied, "May I ask why?" Jacobsen nodded, "You may. It is because we have received news he might want to kill Lazzaro." Van Der Ven and the other brothers were confused and one of them spoke up, "Wait, we want Lazzaro alive?" Jacobsen nodded, "We do. Compared to Carlton, Lazzaro looks like pacifist Felixian. Carlton is a mad man and when Lazzaro gets killed Carlton will quickly dominate the political landscape. He will be ten times more terrible than Lazzaro will ever be and it will be nearly impossible to stop him and free Felix." Van Der Ven and the others nodded and VdV said, "It will be done." Jacobsen nodded and continued the meeting.

At this point Brother Van Der Ven wasn't paying attention he knew he needed to focus on his next mission. If he failed the fate of 76 million Felixians would be changed for the worse. It was Carlton Thurstan's reputation that scared him the most really, he was the man in charge of the plan to bomb that airplane out of the sky. The Hidden's agents were close to intercepting the FIA's but were too late and couldn't do anything to change the fated out come. But now they had a second chance, a chance to avenge the losses of the many and weaken the Nationalist government. The question was now if he could do it. Unknowing Felixians were counting on it.

To be continued...

(OOC: Note, I was not inspired by Saint's Brotherhood thing instead I was inspired by the Freemasons IRL. If it does seem like I did copy him somehow please TG me and I'll rectify those problems.)

by **Blouman Empire** » Thu Jul 31, 2014 11:16 pm

THE EMPIRE TIMES

Stadium Bloumany Opens

Two years late and 15 million Herzogs over budget the FFB’s new stadium was finally opened today amid much fanfare and honoured dignitaries. Stadium Bloumany was established to be the premier football stadium in the Blouman Empire and will now be the home ground of all Blouman international teams and will be the venue for all international games and premier FFB matches such as the Blouman League of Champions final.

The stadium was first proposed by the FFB shortly after moving into their newly built headquarters at Aintree, Promdrania as a total of The stadium took six years from inception to completion and boasts a capacity of 95,000 with world class facilities for both spectators and players. It is also the first stadium in the Empire to have its own dedicated train line and station with stops also at nearby Aintree and Polsoun. FFB Chairman Baron George Parlen and Emperor Henry unveiled a plaque commemorating the opening of the stadium. Baron Parlen spoke to the crowd citing that Stadium Bloumany “heralds a new chapter in Blouman football, that strengthens not only the game but the Empire on the international stage”. After the opening of the stadium Baron Parlen took the Emperor, the Empress, Prince Hans of Promdrania and other honoured quests on a tour of the stadium. Blouman international manager Henry Emergaton who was present for the opening along with the entire international team spoke highly of the new stadium “I am glad that we now have a dedicated home that has training and game facilities unmatched throughout the Empire, I’m excited about our first game”. Principal architect James Simons made special reference to seat placement “There are no seats with obstructed view and the fans are seated so close to the action those at the front will feel like they are playing”. The proximity of fans to the game was a must by the FFB after economic modelling showed that home teams that have home fans close to the ground have a higher win rate than teams who fans are further from the field. The FFB hopes that this will give the Blouman Eagles an extra edge over their opponents.

The stadium has not be without criticism though with some football commentators questioning the need for a dedicated stadium that will barely be used when other stadiums throughout the Empire are already in place with the same world class quality. There have also been questions to the cost raised most notably from BFA chairman Count Thomas of Helmut who has continued his demands for an investigation on the budget blowout. Local residents have continued their protests citing that the landscape of Aintree and its surrounds have been ruined along with the worry over the ability for the town to handle the increase in population when it is expected to almost quadruple from the current population of 30,000 people.

The first game to be hosted at the stadium will be next week when the Empire faces The Jasminia Islands for the start of the second half of qualifying.

Stadium Bloumany Quick Facts

[*]The stadium can seat 95,000 people and including employees the total number of people within the grounds on game day will exceed 100,000
[*]There are 400 spaces for wheelchairs and 250 press seats
[*]If placed end to end the seats would stretch over 50km
[*]There are 170 executive suites for sponsors and corporate clinets
[*]The Imperial Box has its own bar and private elevator
[*]There are 40 bars, 10 restaurants, 60 kitchens and a further 650 food and service points.
[*]The total cost of the stadium was 645 million herzogs (15 million over budget)
[*]At its peak 4,000 construction workers were on site
[*]Over 70 trains an hour are expected to arrive and depart over the four platforms
[*]There are 2,800 toilets
[*]The size of the field is 105 by 69m

by **Yttribia** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:29 am

There comes a point in every person's life where one is faced with an extremely difficult decision. For Óskar Gil da Abbracciabeni Jo, known to the privates as General Jo, his tough decision in life came forty-six years ago, when he was seventeen. Lying about his age to fight for the Unitarian Forces, those who wanted to keep Yttribia united, he enlisted with the Unitarian Forces. His friends, some having known Jo for his entire life, did not. They, believing in their own independent paradise, one in which that the distinct history of each and every region is far too important to devalue, and merge together to become a sole nation. These six regions decided that it would be extremely tough to work as six separate armed forces, so they united as The Liberation, one giant force dedicated to the liberation of the formerly independent nations that once took up what is now Yttribia.

He fought with the knowledge that his friends were to be no longer trusted, for they believed in an ideology he could never support. Since he was a child, he was taught by his father that "a United Yttribia was one worth keeping." And Jo felt that his father was absolutely right, no doubt about it. Before he was sent out to fight to keep a united Yttribia, his father came close to him, and embraced his son. "Look, I want you to fight for our country. I want you to fight for your old man, who would join you, but can't. Do you understand, Óskar?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Jo looked up to his father and smiled. "I will come home, extremely tired, torn to pieces, shredded, in shambles, but I will have fought, and I will come home." Jo's father patted him on the back, as he went away from home to go fight for the country he wanted to keep together. After all, he did promise this to his dad.

(OOC: Extremely sorry for this short RP, I was no where near a computer until recently.)

by **Alasdair I Frosticus** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 1:28 am

RP cut-off

IMPORTANT: The Saturday RP cut-off may be up to 5-6 hours late due to a RL commitment (more accurately, a RL commitment for my wife, but one where my participation will be expected).

Given the specific RP cut-off time can't be predicted, to avoid disappointment and/or misunderstandings I recommend that you post post-MD 8 RPs under the assumption that the RP cut-off would be at the normal time.

The Sunday RP cut-off will be at the normal time.

I apologise in advance for any inconvenience.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scores

"I say chaps, how about another drinking song?"

"Don't mind if we do, old chap!"

Chef, un p'tit verre on a soif
Chef, un p'tit verre on a soif
Une petite bière, on a soif
On a soif !
On a soif !

Quand j'étais à la Légion étrangère
Je traversais tous les jours le désert
Le sable chaud, le soleil quelle misère
J'aurais donné ma vie pour boire une bière
Y avait pas de vent, y avait pas d'courants d'air
De soif, ma langue pendait jusque par terre
Quand on avait l'cafard fallait le faire
On chantait la chanson des légionnaires

Chef, un p'tit verre on a soif
Chef, un p'tit verre on a soif
Une petite bière, on a soif
On a soif !
On a soif !

Un jour j'suis tombé en panne de super
Y avait plus d'essence dans mon dromadaire
Soudain devant moi j'ai vu un Berbère
C'était Ali…Baba la bonne affaire
Il m'a dit j'ai des montres en toc pas chères
Des babouches, des cravates, de l'huile solaire
Un collier en plastique pour ta moukère
Y avait de tout, de tout sauf de la bière

Chef, un p'tit verre on a soif
Chef, un p'tit verre on a soif
Une petite bière, on a soif
On a soif !
On a soif !

Après avoir marché pendant six mois
Le gosier sec, je vous jure c'est pas la joie
J'étais à la recherche de l'autoroute
Qui allait droit, tout droit sur Knokke-le-Zoute
Un chauffeur de camion passant par-là
M'a embarqué avec tout mon barda
En route on s'est arrêtés plusieurs fois
Pour boire un verre, les routiers sont sympas

Chef, un p'tit verre on a soif
Chef, un p'tit verre on a soif
Une petite bière, on a soif
On a soif !
On a soif !

by **The United Kingdoms of Zackalantis** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 4:13 am

The zach team had claimed victory after a very long time. And as tgey walked back to their dressing room they looked above them and saw this banner,

They stared at it as they walked past it and were filled with anticipation to represent their nation in the world cup. Contrary to the idea that celebration and cheer would ensue in the dressing room, it was silent, except for the noise of bags being zipped open and clothes being stuffed into those bags which bore the pictures of numerous crowns.
They had they're eyes set on one thing and one thing only, the spot in the cup for chaps. Which even though at this point seemed slim, were definitely not impossible.

meanwhile in the capital
The letter from the Archregimancy actually the S.I.T.H alao arrived at the Football Authority for Zackalantis (FAZ). The President read it, and took the letter with him into a conference which was rather rather boring, he used it to doodle various things from ice cream cones, to aliens abducting monks and when he finally filled the entire page with silly doodles, he folded it into a paper plane and threw it out of his office window but instead of flying it dove straight down into a poison ivy bush. ‘Meh' was all he said, and got back to work.

by **Darvale** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 4:41 am

SIX MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL TEAM FOUND DEAD
Early analysis suggests strangulation, according to police
Article by Ramon Goldstein | Sports Category | Posted 1/8/2014 at 11:43 am

Fairbanks, DARVALE - And after what was arguably the best start to an international tournament Darvale had ever had, the pride of the national team has been considerably shaken, after the still unexplained deaths of 6 members - all of which to be female - of the national team. Cassandra Summers, Victoria Speares, Amy Lopez, Lisa Barnes, Louise Turner, and Lena Parker - the victims of what appears to be a series of killings that all took place in the space of 5 hours in the eyes of the police - were the only six female members of the national team, sparking rumors that this may have been an act of sexism.

Authorities have been reluctant to reveal whatever details they have about the murders, although we do know that The Fairbanks Municipal Police Department, The Special Intelligence Service, and The National Bureau of Crime Investigation are now all officially involved in the investigation of the incident. We also know that, at a first glance, all victims appeared to have dies of strangulation, with coils of rope containing glove fingerprints found in the surrounding areas of the crime scenes. All six victims were killed at their residences, all located in the Darvalian capital city of Fairbanks.

The absence of these six key members of the Darvalian national team will be sorely missed - as the wingers of the team entirely comprised of Lopez, Turner, and Barnes. Summers was also a key defender, and Lena Parker was frequently seen as a substitute for Philip Downing or Darrell Burns. Earlier today, The Darvalian Football Association released a statement that announced the official replacements of the six players.

Tony Powell (21 Years Old | Fairbanks Royals FC) - At 21 years of age, Tony Powell was the starting striker of the national Under-21 team during the Di Bradini Cup 31 (Under-21 World Cup 52). Powell scored four of the eight goals Darvale scored during the tournament - an impressive feature that was a major cause of his selection to replace Lena Parker. Powell currently plays as a starting striker in Fairbanks Royals FC, the runners-up of The Darvalian First League III, and he was a reserve on the national team before his recent promotion.
Aaron Hurst (21 Years Old | Athletic Astaria) - Aaron Hurst was another member of the Under-21 team for the Di Bradini Cup 31, and scored 3 goals during the tournament. Hurst will be replacing Louise Turner, the former substitute right winger. Hurst lost the position of starting right winger to David Wainwright, who only won the position because he had a little bit more experience than Hurst. Hurst plays as a substitute winger in Athletic Astaria, who finished fourth in The Darvalian First League III.
Patrick O'Neil (20 Years Old | Athletic Astaria) - Patrick O'Neil was another member of the national Under-21 team in the Di Bradini Cup 31, and scored a single goal in the tournament. O'Neil will be replacing the former national left winger, Lisa Barnes, the most popular decision of the six emergency players The Darvalian Football Association needed to bring in. O'Neil currently plays as a substitute left winger in Athletic Astaria, who, as mentioned above, finished fourth in The Darvalian First League III.
Carl Moore (20 Years Old | Oxeport FC) - Carl Moore is the final member of the Darvalian Di Bradini Cup 31 Under-21 roster to be added to the national Starting 11. Moore played as a starting central-back for Darvale in the Di Bradini Cup 31, and was selected to replace Cassandra Summers, a former starting central-back on the national team. Moore currently plays as a substitute central-back for Oxeport FC, who finished third in The Darvalian First League III.
David Wainwright (24 Years Old | Fairbanks Royals FC) - David Wainwright is one of the only two non-Under-21 Darvalian players to replace the six former female players of the Darvalian national team. Wainwright, the starting right winger of Fairbanks Royals FC, who, as mentioned above, finished second in The Darvalian First League III, is particularly fast and specializes in runs, a major cause of his emergency selection for the national team.
Pietro Cortez (23 Years Old | Dayton FC) - Pietro Cortez is the other non-Under-21 Darvalian player chosen to replace the six former female players of the Darvalian national team. Cortez, a 23 year old, is a starting central-back and the captain of Dayton FC, who finished fifth in The Darvalian First League III. Cortez will be replacing Victoria Speares, the former substitute central-back of the national side.

The new 4-2-3-1 formation of the Darvalian team

After these changes, the national side will now be playing in a less common
4-2-3-1 formation, with Philip Downing, a former striker, will be joining Patrick
O'Neil and David Wainwright to make a rather offensive midfield, leaving
Darrell Burns to be the only striker of the team.

Burns will now have to heavily rely on Downing, O'Neil, and Wainwright to provide
passes to him, although Cedric Pearson and Steven Bennett may occasionally move
up a few meters up the pitch, so the two central midfielders of the team would be
auxiliary or secondary pass providers for Burns.

Considering the amount of work Burns will have on his shoulders, it is highly expected that Tony Powell, the Under-21 star, will be frequently seen replacing him, as Lena Parker did before her death. Carl Moore will also be serving as not only a central-back, but as a sweeper - meaning that it will be his duty to clear balls from offensive attacks coming from opponents.

Darvalian Head Coach Dennis Carter also mentioned that the team's formation would be subject to frequent transitions to a 4-2-4 formation, meaning that Burns would be joined by Wainwright, O'Neil, and Downing in the attack, whilst the defense and the central-midfield would remain the same.

The small city of Púrtpritov in the summer

Also, home matches will now be transferred from The Capital Citadel in Fairbanks (Darvale's national stadium), to The EpiCenter Stadium, located in the small mountain city of Púrtpritov, in the mountainous state of Vinrovter. This change is because of several terrorist threats directed to the national team that threatened to bomb the stadium. Speculation has arisen that some of these threats were directed at the female members of the national team, causing their deaths, although The Fairbanks Daily cannot independently verify these sources.

Travel to Púrtpritov will be much more difficult than travel to Fairbanks, as Vinrovter is a very remote region in Darvale. However, Púrtpritov does have an airport - The Púrtpritov-Gech-Yos Domestic Airport, which only has flights to the major cities of Fairbanks, Astaria, and Corin.

Vinrovter is also the largest state of Darvale - covering 1/4 of the kingdom. Because of this, Vinrovter has its own language, considered a dialect everywhere else in Darvale - Traditional Vinrotverian. English is considered a second language in the state, although many locals are bilingual, fluent in both English and Traditional Vinrotverian. Púrtpritov is also the second largest city in Vinrovter, (just behind the city of Ogrevian), but it only has a population of 15,000 people.

by **Jeruselem** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 5:58 am

In Azrea, after Jeruselem beat the local team 1-0. Princess Amy with a large bandage around the foot and Lena Perry/Dallas

Lena: Princess, you alright. I heard a spider bit you. It has to be bad if you can't turn up to play.
Amy: Well I thought it was spider but I was wrong about that
Lena: Oh, what was it?
Amy: Well, I'm here and that's what counts. I'm still feeling the affect of those bloody drugs.
Lena: Yeah but what got you?
Amy: Would you believe it was a snake?

Lena: A snake? Really?
Amy: Yes, well I was at the hotel pool and I must have disturbed the resident snake!
Lena: Hotels aren't supposed to have snakes near the pool.
Amy: I guess it likes eating all the rats there
Lena: Was it really dangerous?
Amy: It was ... mildly toxic but not a mankiller

Lena: I guess our game was a bit disrupted with you missing
Amy: Yes, I watched the game in the hospital. Not our best
Lena: We all thought you were, well dying
Amy: Not me, I'm tougher than that
Lena: The good news is Nova Anglicana drew with Vietnam 0-0 and Nexxus Drako beat NMS 3-2
Amy: Nexxus Drako beat NMS? Really. I guess our win wasn't too bad considering we putting distance between us and them

Lena: You don't look very well
Amy: Yes, well ... I'm not feeling the best. Hospitals aren't nice places, full of sick people
Lena: Jeru FC won too!
Amy: Bad news?
Lena: The top 2 won their games so nothing changes except they gained ground towards 3rd placed New North Aqmuland
Amy: Fantastic but I fear 3rd maybe the best they can do there

Lena: The bear girls are unbeaten
Amy: They are a great team, they beat us too. No saying they don't deserve their success
Lena: You look a bit wonky
Amy: Just the painkillers. It's like someone stuck a needle in my leg.
Lena: You're unlucky, it could have been any of us!
Amy: Actually, the coach is allergic to snake venom, it would have killed her.

Lena: Really?
Amy: She found out when one bit her in her garden when she was a kid
Lena: OMG !!!
Amy: Yes, well she's still here but she's not one to go near snakes.
Lena: You better take care of yourself, we need you
Amy: Don't you worry, I maybe have missed this game but I'm sure really for the next one

Lena: Don't go near the swimming pool, we don't want repeat of yesterday
Amy: I'll make sure the hotel knows all about this
Lena: You'd better take it easy
Amy: I'm not worried. But I bet Mum and my daughter are stressing out at home.
Lena: Yes, they would be.
Amy: For some reason, I can't call home from here it's weird

Lena: What's the stick for?
Amy: Snakes ...
Lena: Why is that bandage so big?
Amy: It actually bit twice. Like I needed a double dose.
Lena: OMG !!!
Amy: Actually, they said I should really be dead.

by **West Angola** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:18 am

Part Nine: Endgame Maneuvers
As soon as Blevit spoke, he felt a tug in his gut as the world dissolved around him. For a few brief seconds, it seemed as though he were flying through an endless yellow cyclone, then everything reformed around him and he found himself standing on the street in front of a nondescript three-story brick building. He heard Q’s voice in his mind, “Knock on the door, they’ll ask you to give your name, say ‘I have none, for the new wave of tyranny has carried it away.’ That will identify you as an Old Guard reactionary, one of the three groups that meets there, and they’ll let you in.” Blevit nodded and stepped up to the door, then rapped sharply three times on the wood. The door cracked open, and a voice from inside asked softly, “Name?”

“I have none, for the new wave of tyranny has carried it away.” There was a brief pause, and a figure appeared in the crack, eyes scanning Blevit’s figure. John knew he’d probably be recognized, but that wouldn’t be a problem given relations between himself and the Namibe government in recent years. The figure in the crack disappeared, and then the door opened wide, “Welcome, brother, and enter.”

Blevit was ushered through spare hallways into a back room, where a thin carpet covered a concrete floor, and an old wooden table with five chairs provided the only furniture. The doorman directed Blevit to sit, telling him, “The Tirad will be very eager to meet with you, I’m sure. If you’ll wait here but a moment they’ll be with you shortly.”

It was a bit longer than a moment, verging on ten minutes, which gave Blevit the time to take in his surroundings. While the only furniture was the table and chairs, as he’d noted earlier, several pictures and framed copies of important-looking documents adorned the walls. Blevit recognized some of the photos as pictures of the torched Gregon corporate headquarters in Luanda in 1974. During the 1960’s, Gregon, which had begun as a gold-mining company but by then produced most of the automobiles and airplanes for the West Angola, had attempted to break into the train manufacturing industry to offset the decline of automobile popularity in the nation. This attempt brought them into direct competition with Ainsworth, who had previously controlled a virtual monopoly on the industry. With superior capital reserves from its gold-mining days, Gregon sank millions into driving Ainsworth out of Benguela and Lubango, long seen as the key manufacturing areas of the country. Ainsworth was unable to match Gregon in the bidding wars over their factories, and was forced to sell them off one by one throughout 1967 and ’68. Forced out of its power base, Ainsworth spiraled into insolvency and was finally liquidated in 1971.

Gregon now controlled the railway industry, manufacturing the rails, trains, and cars out of the facilities in Benguela and Lubango. Unfortunately, as before, the corruption and waste that pervaded West Angola’s major corporations took its toll, as the factories proved more expensive than originally projected by a substantial amount, and Gregon’s board voted to close them for good and sell off their assets in 1973. The sudden loss of over half a million jobs in Benguela and Lubango had a catastrophic effect on the economies of those cities, and the evaporation of the major railroad supply source caused many of the infant rail and construction companies to fail in the later parts of 1973 and early 1974. For the first time since the 1930’s, West Angola’s economy crashed, and angry ex-workers knew just who to blame. The Gregon Riots lasted five days and resulted in the torching of their corporate headquarters and several of their facilities around the country. As a manufacturer, Gregon was effectively finished, and almost ceased to exist as a functioning company, as their stock dropped 80% and five board members committed suicide. It had taken nearly forty years for the company to recover, and it had taken massive breakthroughs in climate engineering to bring them back.

The Gregon Riots were credited by the Communist Party as their founding moment, so Blevit guessed the pictures were theirs. Looking around at the others, he recognized other key events in West Angola’s history, and the framed documents were no different. While he could not read much of the text from his seat, Blevit could make out some of the titles, which included the WACP’s 1976 Declaration of the Economic Rights of Man, as well as the 1952 Bantu Manifesto, issued at the beginning of their genocidal campaign against white settlers in the Malanje region. Ironically, hanging right next to the Marxist declaration was a document Blevit had to assume came from the building’s Old Guard occupants, the first page of William Terrel’s Treatise on Corporate Liberty and Growth.

Blevit marveled at how strong the opposition to the current government had to be to bring together three groups of such diverse groups, but he thought he at least partially understood as he read the title of the document that hung above all the rest: Second Constitution of the Parliamentary Monarchy of West Angola. The short-lived Second Constitution had represented the high water mark of Parliamentary power in the country, and the Old Guard championed it as the pinnacle of West Angola’s history. The Communists reluctantly supported it as the best of a bad lot because it reduced the power of the Monarch (the one) in favor of the Parliament (the many), and the radical wing of the Bantu Tribe had long considered Parliament an ally against the Monarch, so anything that expanded its power was acceptable to them.

Blevit’s private history remunerations were interrupted by the arrival of his hosts. While he had only barely kept up on events in West Angola over the past decade since Cabinda had seceded, Blevit recognized Scott Harrison, a vocal pro-business member of the Old Guard who had argued that invading Cabinda was “too unprofitable to be considered.” The second man he did not recognize, but he could only assume that the third was Aren, the leader of a powerful faction of Bantu guerillas that was ostensibly based in Malanje, although clearly this was not always the case. Rising to greet his allies of necessity, Blevit extended his hand, “I believe you know who I am, and while I don’t know you as well, I believe our goals are the same.”

Harrison spoke for the group, “Our goals are indeed likely the same, Mr. Blevit, but I must say, I am at a complete loss as to why you have come to us at all, or even as to how you came to be in Namibe at all.”

“I was captured, the public doesn’t know yet. It’s actually one of several important things the public doesn’t know, which is what brings me here. I have information that will advance your cause by years, Luke Parrish and Kevin Garrett are covering up something so monumental it will shatter the public trust in the government and rally the people to your cause.”

Looks of surprise and barely-concealed glee were exchanged among the trio before Harrison turned back to Blevit, “And what do you want in return for this information?”

“When you have succeeded, and the government is yours again, you will recognize and guarantee Cabinda’s independence, leaving the nation in peace to go its own way. No invasions, no foreign policy oversight, no assassinations of our leaders by your intelligence forces. I offer you the highest power in West Angola, and all I ask in return is freedom for my people.”

The hushed consultation was brief, as Blevit expected it to be, and Harrison was all smiles, “We agree, conditionally. What is this information?”

Blevit smiled, “The Queen is dead, Parrish and Garrett have her sealed in her private room while they attempt to secure control over Cabinda in her name. If you release the news that the government is covering up the Queen’s death, and that Parrish and Garrett are running the country illegally, the public trust will collapse and your takeover will simply be a matter of proclaiming yourself the alternative.”

“You have proof?”

“I can get it. Being an underground network I assume you have a button camera around here somewhere?” Aren quickly retrieved one and handed it to Blevit. The camera was small and would be easily concealed, which would allow Blevit to take covert photographs of Anna’s corpse and smuggle them back to the Triad with no one else in the room aware of his having done so, “I’ll get your pictures. Slipping out of the Palace will not be a problem, I have powerful friends, even more powerful than Garrett and Parrish, and I will return to you tomorrow night with all the proof you will need.”

Outside, in a small alleyway behind the building, a flash of light went unnoticed by the rats and spiders that frequented the area, and a man flared into existence in the deserted side street. Confused at his surroundings, his last memory being in the Palace fighting his nemesis for the power that was rightfully his, the man was still more confused to find a letter in his hand that he did not remember picking up. Tearing open the envelope, he read the contents:

I know you must be confused and disoriented to find yourself here, but all should be made clear through this letter. I have brought you forward in time from the moment of your death for reasons that are mine alone, and in doing so have given you a chance to succeed where you failed thirty years ago. Inside the brick building to your left is a group that will support you as their best hope to take power. While they have differing goals, they are easily manipulated and you should have no trouble using them both before and after you gain back the Throne. The enclosed information will give you some brief background in the events which have transpired since your death, as well as a key piece of information currently known only by the group you will soon lead. Knock on the door and tell them your name, they will not refuse entry to one such as you. I sincerely wish you the best of luck, and remind you that I will be always watching.

-Q

King August II smiled, then laughed aloud into the darkness. However his return had come about, it was good to be back…

by **Timbermunich** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:45 am

After a nights stay on the shores of Quellwassermunich the two Greats arrive in Vegetalista, which their arrival surprised many villagers as no one expected them to be coming. A few villagers even scrambled about trying to find gifts for the two as they entered. They thanked them, told them it was unnecessary, and asked if Nat was in his home. Those villagers offering the gifts said yes and then led the two directly to Nat’s home. Once their they thanked the two Greats for coming and said they would have the village prepare a midday meal for them and then left in a hurry.

Nat, a tall slender man, heard the commotion outside his home and came to the door well before Great Battle and Great One-Arm Willy had a chance to knock. He opened the door and greeted the two, grabbing Great Battles hand first in a firm handshake where he set his other hand overtop his and Battles clasped hands. He repeated this greeting with Great One-Arm Willy and then invited the two into his home. For a village elder Nat lived in a rather small home which was located near the eastern side of the village. He and his wife did have a larger home that was more centrally located but once his children moved out and started their own families he felt it was more fitting to build a new smaller home. Plus he wanted to be closer to the vegetal fields rather than in the middle of the village. It was a very nice home despite the size and the two Greats enjoyed visiting Nat and his wife when they were near the village.

Great Battle got right down to business, not even waiting for Nat to offer his customary tea that he has offered the two every time they visit. He explained in as much detail as he could while getting to the point of their visit. He told of their entry into the Heart of the Grove, to which Nat was extremely surprised as he too was well aware of the stories and how no one ever came out of that place. Great Battle went on to explain the feelings that he and Great One-Arm Willy had while within the Heart of the Grove and how those feelings increased the closer they came to the center. Great One-Arm Willy took over the conversation and told Nat of the TimberHeart, which he spared no detail on their experience with it. From being able to hear each others thoughts down to the radiating power that grew from the earth below the stone and moved upward through the tree and out its branches and leaves. They also told of how they felt after leaving the Heart of the Grove and then went into the details of their plan, not only for the TimberHeart but for the actual Heart of the Grove too.

Hearing all this information Nat was a bit overwhelmed and wasn’t sure how to respond to the two Greats. He took a couple moments, visibly thinking over all the information in his head before he spoke. The first thoughts he had were more centered on the possibilities of these two men being able to enter the Heart of the Grove and come out with no ill effects, at least none he could notice at the moment. Then his thoughts started to shift and focus on what would become of TimberOak Grove if it was moved closer to the Heart of the Grove, would people be tempted to try and enter that area? Would they dare risk their own lives just to see if they could do what these two Greats had done? It seemed he thought of more questions than answers and finally he responded to Great Battle and Great One-Arm Willy. He told them that he was unsure of what he had heard, not the fact that they had actually done and saw these things but just comprehending all of this was a monumental task in itself. He told the two that right now he was thinking of more questions than anything. Nat knew that the two men had the best intentions for Timbermunich, especially since they had done such a wonderful job in facilitating the whole Vegetal Region clearing, set up the Cold Deck, and guided Timbermunich this far in it’s short history. He didn’t want the two to think he was against their plan but he did want them to know he wanted to know more. Nat went on to discus with them a few of the concerns and questions he had initially thought of and then requested a day to think things through. He also told the two that he wanted to celebrate their find as well as make some kind of announcement to the rest of the village. Great Battle and Great One-Arm Willy understood Nat’s concerns, answered a few of his questions, and certainly would allow him as much time as he wanted to reflect on the plan. They also welcomed his enthusiasm to hold a celebration and that they would be honored by it as well.

So the three of them left Nat’s quaint home and went to the village center, where like TimberOak Grove they had a signal gong but this one was in the shape and had an image of vegetables on it depicting the many efforts and uses of this region. They rang the gong with Great Battle’s ax and waited for the villagers and workers to return to the center of the village. Nat explained to everyone that Great Battle and Great One-Arm Willy had some exciting news that they wanted to share with everyone. He then allowed the two Greats to explain their find and plan. After the two were done Nat told the villagers that a celebration was to be held tonight in honor of this situation and everyone set out to get everything ready. Nat, Great Battle, and Great One-Arm Willy returned to Nat’s home and spent the rest of the afternoon catching up with each other and their respective regions, the did not talk more of the plan nor of the TimberHeart as they would leave that until after the celebration.

Later that evening the villagers of Vegetalista held a fantastic feast and celebration honoring the two Greats efforts thus far.

One village has been informed of the detailed plan while two others still wait to find out. It has not yet been accepted by the Elder of Vegetalista, but they have celebrated and are thinking it over. What will come next and will Nat agree that this is a sound plan? How long with the two Greats be in Vegetalista? Hopefully we find out soon…

Hardwood’s Matches
MD1: vs Sargossa (0-1)
MD2: @ Yids (3-2)
MD3: vs United Comm. of Ayrshire (2-0)
MD4: @ Electrum (2-3)
MD5: vs Lymantatia (1-1)
MD6: @ Mangolana (0-4)
MD7: vs Farfadillis (1-0)
Day of Rest
MD8: @ Sargossa (2-3)
MD9: vs Yids
MD10: @ United Comm. of Ayrshire
MD11: vs Electrum
MD12: @ Lymantatia
MD13: vs Mangolana
MD14: @ Farfadillis
Win | Draw | Loss

 Group 2 Table  
  - Team			Pts 
1 – Farfadillis			21
2 – Sargossa	 		18
3 – Lymantatia			17
4 – Electrum			12
5 – Timbermunich	  	10
6 – Mangolana			 8
7 – Yids			 6
8 – United Comm. of Ayrshire     1
Eliminated|Advanced

  Match 8 
Yids Lineup		   | Timbermunich Lineup 
GK: Robert Richardson	   |GK  Great Hatchet Hank	01
CB: John Hughes		   |RB  Great Norman		04
CB: James Barnes	   |CB  Great Battle		05*
RB: Richard Davis	   |CB  Great Battle Axe	03
LB: William Lopez	   |LB  Great Tomahawk Tommy	06
CDM: Robert Murphy	   |RM  Great Dead-Eye Darrin	07
CM: David Richardson 	   |LM  Great Dirty Doug	08
CM: Richard Garcia	   |RW  Great Dagger Dan	09
CAM: Richard Walker	   |CM  Great Wicked Warren	10
ST: William Thompson	   |CF  Great One-Arm Willy	21
ST: Richard Watson	   |LW  Great Kyle Slater	17 
*pulled from BOF roster – didn’t find a new one for WC or since previous game

by **Gregoryisgodistan** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:52 am

Gregoryisgodistan Prepares to Face Saintland Again

Following a 1-0 victory over Alexanderburn to maintain their second place position, Gregoryisgodistan's Foot Slaves will head to the Free Republics to take on Saintland in a "road" match after the Sanctii refused to allow the team into the country. Although the game will be played on Republican soil, only members of the Church of Saintland were allowed to purchase tickets, so it will doubtlessly have a home-crowd like atmosphere for the team led by Prince Andreas. It is a crucial game for Gregoryisgodistan, and not just because they are facing their archrival. Gregoryisgodistan currently sits in second place in Group 9, but only two points ahead of Olastor. A loss could drop them out of position to make the playoffs if Olastor can beat The Kytler Peninsulae. Olastor has already surprised many people with their performance this World Cup, something not many people expected. West Angola, who many people expected to come in first or second, sits in fourth place with 13 points. A Gregoryisgodistan loss would put them right back in contention should they manage to knock off West Carpathia. And you have to think West Angola would be favored there. They are clearly the better team and have performed much better this tournament.

In spite of the strong rivalry between the two nations, this tournament is the first time Gregoryisgodistan has faced Saintland in soccer. This game marks the first time Gregoryisgodistan will face the team recognized by the Sanctii Federation, as the match in Gregoryisgodistan was played against Feministvs Sanctvsterra members after the regular team refused to show up. Gregoryisgodistan lost that match 2-0. It would be utterly embarrassing for Saintland if their own team failed to knock off Gregoryisgodistan after Feministvs Sanctvsterra managed to, so the Foot Slaves will be looking extra hard to humiliate their opponent with a victory.

Although Saintland is on Gregoryisgodistan's Enemy List, Lord Almighty Gregory has personally guaranteed the safety of the opposing players and coaches during the match, saying there will be no deliberate attempts to injure or kill them. After all, the Enemy List does exempt athletes participating in sporting events from the decree. That being said, there is no doubt the game will be roughly played on both sides, and there will certainly be a lot of fouls and cards given out. This could be one of the most violent games of the tournament in that respect. Certainly the Foot Slaves will be playing a lot rougher than they ordinarily would, even if they're not trying to kill the opponent. It is a rivalry game against Gregoryisgodistan's archenemy. And of course, the Sanctii will return the favor.

One thing is for sure - this will be a match for the ages. Gregoryisgodistan had been hoping to humiliate the Sanctii heathens twice, but then Feministvs Sanctvsterra showed up for the first game. The activist women won that match, but it was no big deal because they weren't heathen misogynist pigs like the rest of the country. But now they were facing the heathen misogynist pigs. And they needed to win.

by **HopNation** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 7:51 am

HopNation Hops
National Fußball Team News
Game Eight
World Cup 69 – the Cup for Chaps

Group 1
Plc Nation	Pts  +/-
1   NSI		19    +8
2   Mizuyuki	18    +10
3   Thatius	17    +6
4   HopNation	11    +4
5   Jeckland	11    +1
6   Evraim	7     -1
7   Jecatria	6     -13
8   Tryienne	2     -15

Matches
MD1:  vs NSI
MD2:  @ Evraim
MD3:  vs Jeckland
MD4:  @ Jecatria
MD5:  vs Mizuyuki
MD6:  @ Thatius
MD7:  vs Tryienne
Break (30^th + 31^st)
MD8:  @ NSI
MD9:  vs Evraim
MD10: @ Jeckland
MD11: vs Jecatria
MD12: @ Mizuyuki
MD13: vs Thatius
MD14: @ Tryienne
Win | Draw | Loss

What we’ve got here is a failure to prepare. Well not really as we traveled to the, now, first place teams venue. So did you really expect us to win? I was hoping for another tie against NSI, but knew it would be a monumental task for us to do so on their field. I would say it was a good game and we held them close for most of it, but as the game wore on you could tell which team was the better side. The Vaporeons controlled almost all of the final fifteen minutes of the game and is where their two goals were scored as well. With that I’d say it was a win for us despite the score line. I’d also like to point out that we had an excellent following of supporters show up for this game. They were loud and proud despite being outnumbered by a considerable margin, I mean we only had 5,000 out of the possible 80,130 seats and yet we could often be heard over the home crowd chants.

As for the game play, it was relatively uneventful until the final minutes but lets see what I remember. During the first half we had a couple good chances that seemed to silence the home crowd for a moment or two. One in particular was a speedy counter attack that found Droimpol screaming forward with the ball. He cruyffed past one player, CAFÉ I think, moving forward after the cut. He then beat ABUDA with speed and little effort. As he made it past him he found Schytaing splitting through REDWING and O’HAILE so he sent a perfect pass right into his path. Schytaing took one touch toward goal and ripped a shot past SIOUX, but luck would not be on his side in this moment as the ball nailed the far post and bounced right to SIOUX as he was turning to see where the ball went after the shot. We had a couple other shots that would be close but The Vaporeons keeper did well to knock them all away. During the second half there was much in terms of impressive play as both teams just felt comfortable holding possession when they had the ball, that was until the final minutes. Then NSI took over and showed why they will most likely advance to the Proper.

Goal Scorers
HopNation
NONE

Northern Sunrise Islands

ALCOUIN from RUBY 84’

RUBY 87’

Well, we’ve still got some life left but we need to make sure we are playing the rest of these games to the best of our abilities. Especially now that another team has pulled equal to us on the tables. It does however look like the top three in our group are starting to pull away a bit and it will likely be a heated battle between them to find the group winner and that’s despite the upset of Mizuyuki by Jeckland.

That’s all for me today, until next time Brew On! Brew Well Hoptonians!

by **Paradystopia** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 8:31 am

Denouement

Parte, th'Sevenethes
Parte, th'Siksth, Parte, th'Shuduv-probbablie-gon-beefore-th'Siksth
Parte, th'Fyvthe
Parte, th'Foorth
Parte, th'Thirdde, Parte, th'Thirdde-nd-abyt, Parte, th'Thirdde-nd-abytmoor, Parte, th'Not-quyt-th'foorth-yet
Parte, th'Seckond
Parte, th'Fyrst

Fyffydghoerracks[sic] Flawntes Fyn Forme. Foor Fo'Fantastick Feelyne Foskar

"Do we 'avt' include '[sic]'?"
"Unless we want t' spell that bloody cat's name wi'a 'P' and lose th'alliteration, which ain't happenin', yes, yes we bloody do."
"Why?"
"Tha wanst't' talk t' cat's solicitor?"
"Oh ... I see."
"Wi'all marketting work thev' got planned, we ain't allowed t' mispell 'iz name wi'out makin' clear that we'ev mispelt it."
"Well, 'sgood advertising int'it? Four goals against Katta Larga, I mean. He wa' unstoppable."
"'til 40 minutes in when 'e chose t' claw that Katta Largyan myddulfeldre's leg. Bang. Straight red card for that sort of shyte."
"Yeah, No other decision but off there."
"Can't believe he was pleading innocent with the ref. Who else ont'bloody field is gonna leave obvious scratchmarks down someone's calf?"
"Ant'blood was on 'iz paws."
"Ant'fact everyone saw 'im do it."
"Oh, ant'ind'interview before t' match 'e sez 'e's feelin' like raggin' sum poor bugger t'day."

Fyffydghoerracks[sic] Flawntes Fyn Forme. Foor Fo'Fantastick Feelyne Foskar
Paradystopia 4 - 0 Katta Larga
F.Pfyffydghoerracks 5', 19', 23', 27'

"Lookin' good that. Not so chuffed wit' text I's got t' put wi'it tho."
"Guest journalist crap again?"
"Aye."
"Anyone notable?"
"Well, I ain't 'erd o'them before. Sum modern poet apparently' ..."
"Where do they find these buggers ... ?"
"Not th'smallest scrap orra clue mate."
"Owt else interestin' int' paper t'day anyway."
"Same as normal mate. Although 'pparently t'number o' Communadi asylum seekers iz onna serious decline f' once. In fact, a lotta 'em seem t'be either soddin' off back t'Commune or movin' t'western Paradystopi border."
"Up Twelveportes way?"
"Aye. Sorta. Bit beyond too."
"Wha's beyond?"
"I did 'ear rumours that there's a Communadi science base or summat similar out there. Off the radar, y'know?"
"Bullcrap, horsemuck and pigshyte. Everyone's so bloody paranoid 'bout t' bloody Commune. Tha' dunt seriously believe it du'yer?"
"Tha ne'er knows wi'Commune ..."
" ... pfft ... "

Fyffydghoerracks[sic] Flawntes Fyn Forme. Foor Fo'Fantastick Feelyne Foskar
Paradystopia 4 - 0 Katta Larga
F.Pfyffydghoerracks 5', 19', 23', 27'

Ympromptue vpon a vycktorie fo' Cattes that bee Blakke
by Fel. Fawthstus Brymlie-Baykre MA(ons)

Weyaley!
Katta Larga, Weyaley!
Lyk a snael, shryveled yn th'morwenynge sonne
Thyne spirit y'sapped, 'til 'twas but abscent; gonne
Doth thy wyshe that thou hadst wonne?
For goeles we scowred cownteyd foor
Of wych non cud be answered fore
Wych we decklere to be forme moest poore
Weyalay Katta Larga
Thee sucketh
Lolle

Weyaley!
Katta Larga, Weyaley!
Kanst thow escayp a fol ynto spyralynge downeward sloep?
As fo' bettre luck neckst tym ye muste shourelie hoep
Or yn theese qualifikayshunnes shourelie not wyl ye coep.
Owre Blakke Cattes owevre doth laffe at thyne plyghte
Such iz thyne rewarde fo' plaayng soe shyte
Nothynge left unsed, tym to cawl yt a nyghte
Weyaley Katta Larga
Thee sucketh
Lolle

"An' that guy's a Paradystopi fellowe?*"
"Aye. Dunt seem t' take much t' get a fellowship nowadays."
"The poem's terrible an' I know terrible. I took t'missus t' see that 'visionary' musical that's doin' th'rounds recently."
"Wazzat then?"
"Gregoryisgodistani Public Executions on ice."
"Sounds ... terrible."
"Man ... These slaves, citizens, whatever get forced t'sing at gunpoint and depending upont' reaction o' audience, they either get shot int' head or not. Whyt' show's dun on ice, I 'aven't the foggiest. It's a bloody snuff film wi' strangely catchy tunes."
"Odd."
"Odd indeed. Especially that bit went' guy's singin' whilst been disembowelled. I sez singing', more like screamin' blue murder f' mercy actually."
"Didn't need t' know that mate ..."
"Thort it'd be culturally enlightening y'know."
"Wazzit?"
"Not very."
"I'v always imagined t'Commune t'be a bit like Gregoryisgodistan."
"Seriously man. Next thee'll be tellin' uz that there's sum bloody great Communadi conspiracy hapnin' this very moment an' we'll all blissfully ignorant orrit."

*A Fellowe, signified with the precursor Fel., is a Paradystopi honour specifically for artistic and philosophical disciplines. Other such honours include a Knyght (Kny.) for sporting achievements (previously for combat, but adapted for pacifist times), a Seyncte (Sey.) for humanitarian devotions and a Mastre (Mst.) for academic works.

Denouement

Parte, awlzoe th'Sevenethes
Parte, th'Siksth, Parte, th'Shuduv-probbablie-gon-beefore-th'Siksth
Parte, th'Fyvthe
Parte, th'Foorth
Parte, th'Thirdde, Parte, th'Thirdde-nd-abyt, Parte, th'Thirdde-nd-abytmoor, Parte, th'Not-quyt-th'foorth-yet
Parte, th'Seckond
Parte, th'Fyrst

"... and even I'm amazed how blissfully ignorant the general Paradystopi populace are."

Psi's aide gave his well-rehearsed pallid smile. Stood with the Glorious Leader's dark grey suit hung casually across his arm, he'd witnessed the entire slow ballet of Psi preparing himself for the meeting of nations. The cumbersome way in which the razor was labouriously drawn across angular jaw, the anguished spitting of bloody saliva and foamy toothpaste into the vast granite basin and the jerking of gaunt shoulders at each jarring, retchy cough. A dying man, warring with his own body, was a sorry demise for the once all-powerful Psi. Yanking the final folds of tie into a reasonable knot, he took his jacket from the silent helper.

The guests were here and the big surprise was primed, ready for it's big reveal.

Perierat.

The secret weapon.

For the Glory of the Com...
For the Glory of the Consanguinity?

Ha.

by **Patistan** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 8:32 am

Patistan National News:We Bring it to you first ~~Or second~~

"Ahh forget about the start and forget about the frigging headlines for a second,i am Alezay Junaid with a emergency report,i am currently in Tachi on the main road---"

Bystander: Isnt it time for Patistan sports right now?

Alezay: Dude do you see what is going on around us

Bystander: Meh,its nothing. They are just a couple of people with a flu who like biting other people i can take car--ahhhh its got my arm,OH NO ITS BITING ME NOW, SAVE ME PLEASE.

Alezay: Come on Tauhid lets get the hell out of here

*Tauhid the cameraman and Alezay start running*

Alezay:The people can not see my face cause we are running they will hear me, right?

*Tauhid Nods*

Alezay: Good,people of Patistan,a virus has spread and everyone who has caught it will bite you and eat you. Stay in your homes do not get out. The word "Zombies" is now in full use for these things. Please stay in your homes. Have guns with you at all times. The city of Tachi is overrun with these Zombies and they will at all cost eat you. Please stay inside

Random Hobo on the street: I knew this day would come,i told you all but you laughed at me hahahahahahahha

Alezay: The fudge.

*Alezay and Tauhid are still running*

Alezay: Hey theirs Khalid from Patistan Sports,ill go with him and look for shelter,wait a minute hes coming towards us. He has red frosting oh his face,OH NO that isNT FROSTING THATS BLOOD,RUNNNNNNN

*Transmission breaks*

..........................................................................................................................................................

by **Saintland** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 8:50 am

To: Society for the Indoctrination of Terrible Heretics, S.I.T.H.
From: Patriarch Nicolaus V of St. Petrus, True Church of Iesus Christus
Subject: An Invitation to the Council of St. Petrus
Encryption: Very High

My Esteemed Brethren in Christus,

I am writing to you to invite you to the upcoming Council of St. Petrus. The intent of the Council will be to end Schism in Christendom and unite against our common enemies, the heathens and atheists who refuse to recognize that Iesus Christus is God. For too long, God's Church has been divided by Schism and Heresy. It is time for Unity.

You may be wondering why I would invite you to the Council, rather than the Patriarch of the Holy Empire, especially given the rumors of my moderation. I assure you that I am fully committed to all of the teachings of our Lord and Savior. While the current King of Saintland may harbor some secular humanist sympathies, I most certainly do not and am merely feigning moderation so that I may rise within the clergy in a nation where the leadership of the Church is appointed by the King. Do not mistake my emphasis on charity to improve the image of Christendom and on reconciliation to restore our Unity and Power for a lack of commitment to all of the Commandments of God.

At present, what you call Ordinary Reality is overrun with Godless heathens who hate God's Commandments. They persecute those who believe in the Truth for calling on them to stop sinning against God. My desire is to, with God's Help, turn the tables against the Heathens and Atheists and persuade them to accept Iesus Christus as their Lord and Savior, by persuasion if possible, by the sword if necessary. From your recent letter, it seems that you share this desire. But, if we are to eradicate Heresy, false Gods and Godlessness, all of which are evil tricks of that conniving snake Satanas, we must first end the Schism between us.

I hope that you will accept my offer,

- Nicolaus V, Patriarch of St. Petrus

To: Archbishop Ignatius XI, Vauganian Catholic Church
From: Patriarch Nicolaus V of St. Petrus, True Church of Iesus Christus
Subject: An Invitation to the Ecumenical Council of St. Petrus
Encryption: Very High

My Esteemed Brother in Christus,

I am writing to invite you to the Ecumenical Council of St. Petrus. The Ecumenical Council of St. Petrus is intended to heal the Schisms in our Faith and restore a united Christendom. In these times, as Godlessness spreads throughout the multiverse, we need that more than ever.

I congratulate you on your recent rise to temporal power in Vaugania. It is good to see Vaugania in the hands of the clergy and I pray that all nations will, someday soon, have a Godly government. The ancient divisions within our Faith hinder efforts to establish Godly government by undermining our authority and raising doubt among the masses of the multiverse. I hope that you will join me in St. Petrus to come to an agreement to unite the Church. Just as there is only one God, so there should be only one United Church of God. Division and doctrinal disputes merely bring our common Faith into disrepute and lead the Lost into the clutches of that evil snake Satanas, so we must rise above them and put them behind us.

I hope that you will join me in St. Petrus,

- Nicolaus V, Patriarch of St. Petrus

To: Sister Maria Polus, St. Hermione's Convent, Acedonia
From: Patriarch Nicolaus V of St. Petrus, True Church of Iesus Christus
Subject: An Apology
Encryption: Very High

Sister in Christus,

I am writing to you to apologize for the recent events that led to your termination as Headmistress and High Inquisitor for Progress High School. While I hold you in the highest esteem as an educator and recognize that you are correct about Church doctrine, I was unfortunately not able to defend you once the King decided to remove you from your position. For that, I sincerely apologize.

Now, let me explain why I was unable to defend you. As you may have noticed, I have put forward a public persona as a moderate, a compromiser, a sell-out. I can assure you that this is just a ruse, but if I had come to your defense in your time of need, I would have blown my cover, compromising something much more important.

I wish to congratulate you on obtaining your new position at St. Hermione's and grant my blessing for your Sister Polus's Thoughts video series. However, I ask that you be a little more careful what you say on camera. Remember that your words will be heard by unbelievers as well as believers. It is not in our interest to say things that result in negative consequences for our efforts to spread the True Faith.

I wish to also inform you that something monumental will be going down soon, if things go according to plan, something that nobody will see coming. When it happens, it will change the face of our multiverse, forever. I am not speaking of the Ecumenical Council of St. Petrus, but I assure you that, like the Council, this event will pave the way for the events that have been prophesied to come to pass.

I assure you that you remain in good standing with the True Church, even though the King may not be a fan of you. I advise you, however, to be careful what you say in public, for I may be left with no choice but to excommunicate you, if you jeopardize my plan to bring about God's Will. Please do not force me to do anything that I would rather not do.

Your Patriarch,

- Nicolaus V

Alessandro Seius left his feet once it was clear that West Angola's Christian Davis was about to shoot. The Sanctii keeper had to determine, in a split second, where the shot would be placed and maneuver his body accordingly. Given the sheer difficulty of playing goalkeeper in a 1v1 situation, it is a surprise that there are not more goals in soccer. However, on this occasion, Seius had managed to guess right, the result of hours of film study. The Sanctii keeper leaped to the corner of the net and made a spectacular catch, one that would have made any highlight reel on the gridiron, to rob West Angola of the equalizer. As he came to his feet, the Sanctii keeper knew that all he had to do now, to preserve a hard-fought 4 goals to 3 victory, was to clear the ball out of his own end. One routine clearance later, the referee blew his whistle and Saintland had an 8-0-0 start to World Cup 69 qualifying.

Gregoryisgodistan loomed next. A nation whose athletes had committed so many crimes during the 23rd World Cup of Hockey that King Petrus XX saw fit to permanently ban them from entering Saintland for any reason. A nation infamous for executing its own citizens for saying the word coconut. Were it not for the insistence of King Petrus XX, the Saintland National Team would have withdrawn from this World Cup altogether rather than face Gregoryisgodistan.

Things had calmed down somewhat in the Free Republics, but Gem of the Oceans Stadium in Republica was still a notoriously unsafe place. Fortunately, King Petrus had been able to convince the Republican military to put pressure on the stadium's private owners to bar spectators from carrying firearms into the Saintland-Gregoryisgodistan match. A contingent from the Republican military, however, would be there to prevent more assassination attempts from taking place in that notorious stadium. However, even with all of the safety precautions, King Petrus XX was still taking no chances. It would be a cold day in Infernus before he would tempt fate by attending a match at that venue. Before the Saintland National Team entered the plane to travel to the Free Republics, the King spoke to them:

King Petrus XX - Tomorrow, you face Gregoryisgodistan in the Free Republics. I have no doubt that they will play rather dirty against you and try to distract you, to bring you down to their level. I want to warn you against this. You are currently up 6 points in the table over them, 8 over Olastor. If you defeat them, you will have a lead of at least 8 points with just 5 matches to go, 4 of them against the bottom half of your group. A victory tomorrow will put you on a path toward not only winning this group, but automatically qualifying. It will also put the Gregoryisgodistani in a difficult position where they would have to contend with Olastor and West Angola, just to finish second in the group and make it to the playoffs. By all means, return the favor, but be smart about it. Don't get yourselves red-carded and put yourselves at a disadvantage against West Carpathia. These blasphemers simply are not worth it. Beat them, get out of Republica in one piece and take care of business in the remainder of Qualifying. Don't put your dislike for any opponent above your common goal to return to the World Cup. That is simply more important than beating up some fools who worship a man as if he were God.

The King hoped that he had gotten through to them, as they headed to the Free Republics. The last thing they needed was to jeopardize their chances of avoiding the playoffs and qualifying straight through to the World Cup with a misstep here...

by **Schottia** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 9:12 am

Dissatisfied

Part Six

'So how do we go about tracking down your father?' Gary asked Abigail as they walked along the snowy path back into town. The snow fall was now picking up. It had crossed his mind that maybe they should have taken the boat. But she never offered and he never asked. He had never seen the boat move come to think of it. On the other hand it had never been in the same place any two times he had visited her so it must spring into life at some point.

'I have no idea.' She replied. 'I don't even know if he is alive.' She was wearing a long blue military style coat, over a red miniskirt and think grey woollen tights. All of this topped off with a red hand knitted bobble hat and dark green wellington boots. Somehow she pulled it off. Gary had the hood of his all weather jacked up and the drawstring pulled tight. It was an attempt at going incognito, he was still technically skipping training. However he looked mildly ridiculous with his beard and round-framed glasses protruding from the small hole.

'Do you not even know his name?' Gary asked realising that the quest might be just as hopeless even knowing whom the clock belonged to. 'I mean whether your mother likes him or not doesn't mean she can stop from finding out about him.'

'Well I guess his second name is Smith.' She replied adjusting her gloves with her teeth. 'My name is Heeney-Smith and my mum's is just Heeney. So that’s a start huh?' Abigail smiled nervously.

'It's a start; however it's unfortunately as vague as the information in the letter.' Gary thrust his hands into his pockets, it was getting even colder now. 'Are you sure your mum won't want to talk about him?'

'Definitely. She changes the subject whenever I bring it up. She threw the clock out remember.' Abigail said despairingly.

'Okay well all we have to go on are the names.' Gary nodded in the direction of a path, which took them back into the town centre. 'And if we can find either a Kerr Smith or a Margaret Smith then we are laughing.' They gently changed direction down the path Gary had indicated.

'Where is the best place to look?' Abigial asked, her pace quickening with excitement. 'The registrars office? They have records dating back the Cornellian occupation.'

'We could, but I have my iPad in my jacket pocket. If we can find a cafe to sit down then we can maybe run a few searches. It might prove worthwhile seeing as we can perhaps access their database online.' The came across a small independent coffee house near the park. Its staff were the kind of people who only eat organic food, and carried yoga mats under their arms.

The snow was now lying nicely and as the layer of white grew, so did Gary's excitement. That was another thing that made him and Karen a poor match. Whenever they were watching the news and it forecast snow she would give a groan and at the same time Gary's heart would leap. She was probably back from the gym by now, checking to see what he had done since she left. Well Ha! The joke was on her. He was out and he hadn't done the dishes or moved the clock from the floor. She better not thow the clock out. No she wouldn't do that, surely not.

He pushed the door of the cafe open, which tickled the wind chime serving as a bell. He held the door open for Abigail, who after kicking the snow out of the treads in her boots, followed him in. They were instantly met by a strong warm smell of freshly ground coffee. A man with a beard and receding hairline worked away quickly at the coffee machine, twisting knobs, pulling leavers, and spinning cups. He told them to take a seat through the back and he would be there in a minute. By through the back, he meant a room with no chairs, only cousins covering the floor, and small tables, some had been bigger tables with the legs cut off. The room was largely populated by art students, or at the very least, people who wanted to be art students. Gary and Abigail settled on a spot in the corner near some Hostillian drape, which had been strategically placed to cover a fuse box. In here Gary felt he could take his jacket off, his beard becoming the perfect disguise in this setting. The back room had a nice steady heat and the feeling was slowly coming back into his fingers.

'Alright.' Said Gary in a long draw out manner that said he meant business. 'Lets try www .schotgov.sch.' He quickly typed the address using the tablet devise. They both waited for the page to load before leaning in to see the results. 'Okay, here we are Schot-reg, that’s what we are looking for.' Gary filled in the details he needed to access the service. While he did that the coffees arrived. Coffee number four. Fuck. His heart was probably going to kindle its own nuclear fire and set the room in orbit around him. He was already on edge. He was going to have to be careful he didn't do something stupid.

'Ah, hell! It just keeps saying you're not authorised to use this service.' Gary put the iPad down and lifted his coffee to his lips. Jesus it was strong. 'Do you want to use the computer for anything?' He asked gesturing over to Abigail.

'Na I don't really use the internet.' She said in a way that may have just as well added, "And I don't care one bit." Gary admired this so much. He wished that he could cut all that stuff loose too, but he was in too deep. 'Wow, the coffee is really good. How did you find out about this place? Do you bring Karen here?' If only. Karen of course didn't drink coffee. She would say it was a pesticide. Poison. He could say she was poison. No, he shouldn't say that.

'Nah, it's not really her scene.' He answered playing things down. 'She is more of a jog and a juice person.'

'I have never been jogging in my life.' Replied Abigail. She was amazing. 'Karen sounds cool though, I would love to meet her.' Yeah like that is going to happen. He could almost imagine that. Karen didn't get on well with other girls. He could remember one time, only a few months back when she had nearly had her eyes scratched out fighting after a friendly match. She seemed to have a way of getting peoples backs up.

'Yeah sure.' He lied. 'Maybe you can come round for dinner one night and work on the clock after.' That never, ever, ever, can be aloud to happen. Even if he needs to nail the door shut.
After their lack of success on the internet Gary conceded that Abigail might have been right. They may need to go to the town hall and book and appointment.

'Well I can call ahead, maybe we can make appointments for the same day...Ah!' He coiled double as Abigail stuffed a cold wet snowball into his face. He took off his glasses to see better. She was giggling and running backwards away from him. Oh my god, she wanted to play. He couldn't have a snowball fight. He was too uptight for that. But the pressure was on him. In for a penny Gary! He scooped up as much snow as he could in both hands and gave chase, with his best war cry. He was surprised how quickly he caught up with her. Then again he was a professional sportsman. She slipped falling to the ground. Gary thrust the snow down the neck off her jacket as she screamed struggling to escape. 'Take that!' He snatched at more snow rubbing it in her face. 'And that!' Oh no she was coughing. He had taken it too far. Curse those coffees. He helped her too her feet, a bind panic setting in. However when she got back up she was laughing loudly; her hat lost in the fall, her red hair was plastered to her face with snow. She was smiling at him in a way that Karen never had. Look at this. Having fun with teenage rock musician like it's the most natural thing in the world. God, if he had anything like a backbone he would kiss her. But Karen? Maybe if he told her that he had kissed another girl it would make her jealous and she would spend more time with him, become clingy. No, she would chuck him out. Slap him hard and throw him out on the street.

'Corsie!' Shit, a voice from over his shoulder. 'Is that you pal?' Trying to identify the voice. He turned round; it was Paul Coine and Jim Danner, two of his Port Sebastian teammates. Of all the luck in Christendom! They where walking over.

'Gaza. Did you hear training was cancelled too?' Asked Coine.

'Yes. Yes that's right, I got a phone call from, eh, Joey. Joey Bia.' He hoped this would be enough to put them off the trail.

'Ah cool, we're just on our way to the pub for a cheeky one or two.' Said Danner, with a glint in his eye that looked every bit cheeky. 'Whey's your bird pal?' He said pointing to Abigail. 'Are you no going to introduce us?'

'Oh we're not together.' He answered as quickly as he could. 'Abigail is just a friend of mine. Abigail this is Paul and Jim.'

'Hey, nice to meet you.' Removing a wet glove to shake hands with the footballers. Probably most 17 year olds dream, but Abigail was oblivious. 'So how do you guys know Gary?'

'We're team mates darling.' Answered Coine, he obviously didn't meet many people who didn't know him and he was a little thrown of by it.

'Ah, awsome! What sport do you guys play?' No! She was going to discover the truth. Anything but the truth. That bitterest of pills.

'Do you no follow the football hen?' Asked Danner. 'Hus yer mate no told you what he does?' They were both laughing loudly, enjoying watching him squirm. God, they could see right through him.

'I play a bit of football.' He said modestly. 'Pays the bills. Got to keep the wolves away from the doors as they say.' How true in life it was that, pride doth cometh before a fall. But Abigail cut them down with one simple stroke.

'Oh you guys are like, professionals?' She laughed. 'I've never watched football in my life.'

The footballers, losing interest in the conversation, continued en-rout to the pub.

'Woh! Gary I didn't know you had that in you.' Oh no now they have to talk about football. Drudge up all the conversations about the players he has met. All the countries he had visited. Could he not just have one nice normal pretty friend. Did he not deserve that. That was not a lot to ask for, many terrible people had way more.

'You know, like I said, it pays the bills. That's how I look at ...'

'No, I mean the snowball fight. You got me good there.' She bent down to pick up her hat, shacking the snow from it as best she could. 'I couldn't care less about football.'

'Really! Eh, I mean, sure. If your not a fan, I will never bring it up in your company ever again.' Marry me now Abigail! He could say than? Terrible Idea.

'You can talk about it if you like, to be honest I just don't know a thing about it.' Replied Abigail. 'The only problem we have now is that I have half a liter of melt water running down my back and soaking into my underwear so we may need to reschedule our town-hall trip.' Gary mouthed an awkward apology. 'I have band practice tonight and by the time I go home and get changed we won't have time to get back.'

'Sure no problem.' Said Gary. 'I'll walk you back to your boat.'

And all the way think about holding your hand; you lovely, crazy, tattooed, ginger girl.

by **Bears Armed** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 9:54 am

Crisis of Infinite Mirth: Chapter minus-3, & counting.
[continued…]

As we saw earlier, eight years ago as Bears Armed reckons time objectively although evidently less time has elapsed subjectively for the locals…

The world known to some Ursine super-heroes as ‘Urrth-3’ is all but destroyed now, and so too is all the rest of the entire universe that its inhabitants call home. Only in a few scattered areas have the waves of extra-dimensional ‘Doesn’t-matter’ not yet swept everything that previously existed there into non-existence…
One such “safe” area is the Urrthian city of Metroboris, in their version of the nation of Amberrica, where those super-powered villains the ‘Krime Konsortium of America’ have reluctantly joined forces with heroic scientist Frex Furorr — who had been one of their few significant opponents on that world, in the days before the doesn’t-matter and the ‘Shadow-Demon’ hordes that serve the Anti-Mocker (the immortal master of the entire ‘Doesn’t-Matter Universe’…) struck — to keep the onslaught at bay. But the experimental fusion reactor that Furorr has been using to power a force-shield protecting the city is rapidly running out of fuel, and no viable alternatives for that role exists….
As the shield begins to fade the Shadow-demons seek to slip through weak points in its remaining coverage and, although many of them are destroyed in the attempt several groups do get through. The surviving members of the Krime Konsortium charge into action against those attackers, hoping that they will be able to hold for long enough to let Furorr find another way of saving them all (“and then it will be back to business as usual”…), but their strength is not enough. The incredible speed of The Swoosh is insufficient to save him from slaughter, and when StarPowered seeks to flee the scene of his old ally’s death he too is hauled down out of the sky and torn to pieces.
Superior-SheBear braces herself to hold a wall in place blocking the Shadow-demons’ easiest path to Furorr’s laboratory, but now the last remnants of the force-shield have finally sputtered down into nothing and the waves of Doesn’t-matter sweep across the city: Wall and super-villainess alike are swept into oblivion, as her husband Ultra-Bear’s warning to her to flee comes too late.
“What can we do now, old colleague?” the Aresian Avengurr asks him despairingly.
“What I have always done,” UltraBear replies, showing the spirit that could have let him become a great hero if only he had chosen that path instead of villainy. “We fight on, until the end!”… and, after briefly turning his head to smile bravely at the few other defenders left, he launches himself into the air and actually takes the offensive against the Shadow-Demons! For a few moments his Kraptonite-powered* might even lets him seem victorious, but that was only a local victory… and the next swarm of demons to attack are “surfing” on the front of another Doesn’t-matter wave — and a greater wave than any of its predecessors, at that — before whose force both SuperBear and Avengurr are helpless. Onwards that wave advances, wiping away the outer layers of the fortifications that Furorr had originally raised to protect his laboratories against the Krime Konsortium instead.

Within that stronghold’s heart Frex Furorr is not working on another layer of defences. He is intelligent enough to have already realised that this would be hopeless, and has turned to renewed work on an experimental vehicle — an older project that he had set aside when the current Crisis arose — instead. His wife, their reality’s version of journalist Florise Fane, enters the chamber carrying a shawl-wrapped bundle.
“Is this the end, then?" she asks him sadly.
“I fear that it is,” replies Frex. “Had there been more time I might, at least, have built an inter-dimensional craft capable of carrying many of our people away from the peril… but, with the situation being as it is, we have only this this prototype, and that has room for only one passenger… one small ipassenger.” He gently takes the bundle form her arms, and straps it firmly into place within the vessel’s ‘payload’ area which he then closes securely. He lifts the cover that had protected the clearly-labelled ‘Launch’ controls from accidental activation, turns a dial to the desired setting and presses a green button. The vehicle begins to shimmer, as if fading out of existence in a different way to all of the objects that the Doesn’t-matter had destroyed.
“Affrex…” moans Florise, reaching blindly in the vessel’s direction.
“My D-craft will take him safely to one of the other Urrths of which we already know, and the heroes there will take care of him” Frex reassures Florise, taking her in his arms. “We will die, but our cub will live!
“My dear, in the last few years you have made this old scientist happier than I had ever dreamed before would be possible.”
They cling to each other, sharing a final kiss as vehicle vanishes, and then the Doesn’t-matter surges through the room and the last material vestiges of Urrth-3 — indeed, the very last material vestiges of its entire universe — cease to exist.

OOC

I’m adapting quite closely from DC’s ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’, which I’d already cited (several World Cups ago) as the main inspiration for this entire storyline, in this post. The destruction of ‘Urrth-3’ and the ‘Krime Konsortium of Amberrica’ here matches that of DC’s ‘Earth-3’ and ‘Crime Syndicate of America’ there, the heroic scientist Frex Furorr has his counterpart in Earth3’s heroic version of Lex Luthor, Urrth-3’s Florise Fane is [of course] a counterpart to Earth-3’s version of Lois Lane (with the Luthor/Lane marriage on Earth-3 actually canonical according to DC’s pre-Crisis continuity), and so on… and the final scene, as the experimental craft carries that couple’s child to [hoped-for] safety on another world matches not only a scene from CoIE but also — as that scene in CoIE itself did too, of course — the “classic” story about the baby-who-would-become-Superman’s parents sending him to safety just before their world was destroyed…

* Yes, UltraBear — unlike SuperBear — was actually strengthened rather than weakened by exposure to Kraptonite (i.e. fragments of the destroyed planet Krapton): The equivalent situation applied in the case of DC’s Ultraman & Kryptonite.

by **McKleigh** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 10:27 am

Schedule and results for McKleigh#103
W 5-0 Jul 22 vs. Francilie#358
W 5-3 Jul 23 vs. Atanatos#131
D 0-0 Jul 24 @ Neu Engollon#43
W 2-0 Jul 25 vs. Camerania#309
L 2-3 Jul 26 @ Equestrian States#28
W 3-2 Jul 27 vs. Falcus#75
W 1-0 Jul 28 @ Laiyenda#236
W 4-0 Aug 1 @ Francilie#358
Aug 2 @ Atanatos#131
Aug 3 vs. Neu Engollon#43
Aug 4 @ Camerania#309
Aug 5 vs. Equestrian States#28
Aug 6 @ Falcus#75
Aug 7 vs. Laiyenda#236

McKleigh is once again in a small side spotlight of the cup as it becomes one of the first to teams to hand another team an eliminating loss. With a 4-0 away victory over Francilie they mathmaticly no longer have any hope of advancing. This also keeps McKleigh very much in the hunt to advance, and very possibly even win the group. As we mentioned before Neu Engollon and Equestrian States travel to McKleigh for their second meetings and both matches saw the Gingers match up very well on the road. We anticipate McKleigh to defeat both teams this next go around.

McKleigh gave Sam Bernard his first minutes of the cup as he came in at the half for Kwiglagliopisa with McKleigh up 3-0 after McNeil goals at '27 and '43 and O'Tour scoring off a corner at '36. Knight also had a goal late seeing the net at '84. O'Ryan and McKleigh also saw the field coming in at '70 for McNeil and McIntyre to give the veterans some rest.

Donovan McNeil, pictured above, has realy had an impact this cup. Something a team always wants from a captian. Donovan now leads the nation all time in caps with 63, tied with team mate Taran McIntyre. McNeil also leads McKleigh all time in goals with 16, 7 coming in this cup, in only 8 matches! Although one must remember 5 of his 7 goals have been scored against Francilie it is still quite an accomplishment. McNeil we speculate is playing his best ball we have ever seen him play as he knows it will be his last cup as a player. McNeil, age 38, has entered into a contract with Urbanista of the league in Apox to play a backup player role for one season to learn the team philosophy and also get some knowledge and experiance from somewhere other than WASP, the McKleighvian league. He will then become a full fledged assistant coach for the Urbanista squad and many anticipate he will be a strong contender to manage the national team in WC70. Urbanista was happy to offer the contract and even will allow him to honor his culture and herritage by allowing him to keep his lovely ginger locks of hair and his flowing ginger beard. We anticipate that he is far from done making McKleighvian history before he leaves us. Mr. McNeil we salute you, and wish you and your team the best of luck going forward.

by **Free Republics** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 10:31 am

News Magazine

Candidates Hesitant to Challenge Izmailov
by: Alexander Ehrlichmann

The surprising rise of Senator Samuel Izmailov (NatGre-Yoriac) continues. Although Senator Izmailov remains in the hospital, no other serious candidate has filed to run for Consul, as of this writing. Surprisingly, this year's Consul election seems to be drawing an extreme paucity of candidates, which is rather surprising considering that the next Consul will be guaranteed a record 4 years as Sole Consul, before the next election will be held.

Today, Younes Danielsson, founder of the Responsible Progress Party and widely considered Senator Izmailov's most credible potential rival, announced that he would not run for Consul. Mr. Danielsson stated that, "While I appreciate all of the support I have received, I have decided to spend the next few years with my family rather than run for Consul. I hope everybody who has stood by me will understand, but my heart just isn't in it right now and I would be doing you a disservice by running." These words were totally unexpected and caught everybody, including myself, by surprise.

Mr. Danielsson is not the only major candidate to pass up running for Consul. As of this writing, there is not a single credible candidate for the Moderate, Liberal, Conservative or Radical nominations. The Responsible Progress Party, of course, is also without a credible candidate at present. As of this writing, the only candidates from non-fringe parties other than Izmailov are Aloisio Longo of the Communist Party FFR, Reino Kulseth of the Holy Party and several candidates vying for the Progressive and Christian nominations, respectively. None of them are seriously expected to challenge Mr. Izmailov and, should he face that field, most prognosticators would expect him to win easily in the first round, becoming the first Consul to be elected on the first ballot.

The scarcity of credible candidates lends credence to the rumors about an electoral pact involving all of the major parties. According to these rumors, Senator Izmailov is currently negotiating with the leaders of the other parties, from his Republica hospital bed, to form a single party for the sake of national unity in these dark times. However, this remains merely an unsubstantiated rumor and should not be assumed to be correct, unless and until there is substantial evidence that it is correct.

Senator Izmailov's condition is reportedly improving at present. His doctors say that he is recovering and, assuming all continues to go well, he will be ready to return to his Senatorial duties and campaigning within a matter of days. According to reports from anonymous sources, the holdup at the moment is apparently some other condition that the Senator has, which had previously gone unnoticed. Whether this is true or not, News Magazine wishes the Senator a speedy recovery.

Alexander Ehrlichmann is a political campaign correspondent for News Magazine. As long as he can remember, Alexander has been fascinated by the news. As a boy, he insisted that his parents subscribe to News Magazine because he wanted to know what was happening in the world. In high school, Alexander started his own school newspaper, independent of his high school, which reported on serious issues that the school's approved newspaper would not touch. Attending the University of Amoltopia, Baseton campus, Alexander majored in journalism and graduated at the top of his class. He was hired by News Magazine straight out of college a few years ago to report on the news in his home Republic of Amolotopia. After impressing the editor, he was assigned to cover the Consul election campaign that resulted in the election of Venicio Piazza as Consul. Now, he is News Magazine's lead correspondent in Republica, when there is no election campaign to cover.

After a 3 goals to nil victory in New South Aqmuland on a day when the entire rest of the group drew one another, the Republican National Team was now just a point back of both of the Esportivans. The #8 team in the KPB rankings was finally beginning to look like it on the current road trip. However, before they would visit Nejax to face SJG, they had an upcoming visit to Hutt River to take care of first.

After all of the recent adversity, the Republican National Team was finally focused and they were now headed into the hard part of their schedule. 3 of their next 4 opponents were Hutt River, SJG and Sarian. While they were undeniably the favorites in each of those matches, especially the home matches against the Esportivans, they had been the favorites in SJG and they had also been the favorites in Republica. Being the favorite did not seem to be worth much of anything, particularly when you end up third in the group at mid-qual.

The 3 goals to nil road victory against a team that they had only beaten 3 goals to 2 in the Free Republics was a statement. The Republican National Team took the lead on an early goal by Kyle Bolton, took a 2 goals to nil advantage on a Koby Theodore goal shortly after halftime and sealed the victory with a 79th minute goal by Faredin Pozenel. It was simply a totally different and much more dominant performance than their first victory against this team. Coming on a matchday when Czarch, Ekoz and Miley World managed to pull off draws against their 3 primary rivals in the group, this was an especially critical and confidence-building victory for the Republican National Team.

In a way, they were glad that they had not returned home, except to pick up the assassin to deliver her to Saintland, since they had begun their current road trip. It came at a perfect time for them and, so far, had allowed them to reconnect as a team. Traveling the world to nations such as Ekoz, New South Aqmuland and Hutt River seemed nice to them. Since they weren't exactly hated in those countries, they were able to concentrate on defeating their opponents rather than their hatred of them.

Rule Theriault was beginning to wonder if his tactics were a little less than successful. In the World Cup the year before, the team had performed at their best against Cassadaigua, Mytannion and Polar Islandstates, when they were focused solely on beating their opponent, not on how much they hated them or how angry they were at the Legalites for cheating them out of their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in a World Cup final on home soil. However, that didn't mean that he didn't have an insurance policy in place for his team's upcoming match in Nejax against San Jose Guayabal...

by **Star United States** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 10:44 am

Star United States

The World Cup 69 Qualifiers

☆★ Another Day★☆

Previous Editions: Roster of Star United States; Here We Come; First Glimpse; One Day Closer;Match Day One Preview;Day One Out and Over; World Cup Qualifiers - Day Two; Diasters Throughout;Fourth Time's A Charm; A Draw & A Problem; Two Ties & A Crisis; One Step Closer; Halfway Through

Another Day

Contents
Match Day 8 Review
What Happened? The Impossible Did
Match Day 9 Preview
The Light At The End of the Tunnel
Open Presidential Letter

Match Day 8 Review
Star Stadium, City of Star, Star United States – August 1, 2014

Estope gave Star United States a little visit, and as a gift left a third defeat for the Stars. The Starian team lost to the score of two to three against the visitors. However, it was not the most surprising result of the group.

World Cup Qualifier – August 1, 2014
Star United States 2 : 3 Estope
Star Stadium, City of Star, Star United States

One goal and two yellow cards came within the first forty-five minutes of the match, adding one the two extra minutes given at the end of the first half.

The first goal, despite the final result, came in favor of the Stars, the home team on the fourth minute. Until this minute the ball remain untouched by the visitors. Soarison, of Star United States, kicked the ball and passed it back to Stafford. They continuously passed the ball between each other giving the strikes time to reach their positions on the visitors’ side of the field. Around the second minute Horas, Soarison, and Stafford formed a triangle passing the ball and entered the rival’s side of the field. When they arrived at their previously planned position the ball struck out to Gasteiz. Gasteiz almost lost the ball to Sanford, the only defender of Estope, but, he did not. He passed the ball to Gonzalez, who quick passed it to Garrison, who was standing in the Goal Area. Garrison, with much ease, kicked the ball into the goal net. However, Pate, goalkeeper of Estope, showed an attempted to make a save, but failed only by a little. If his arm would’ve gone a little further, all of the Starian plans would’ve gone downhill.

The first yellow card came on the twenty-third minute, a card against Estope. The incident was just outside the Penalty box, many believed it should’ve been considered a penalty, but no. The referee whistled in favor of Star United States as soon as Sanford, only defender of Estope, got the ball from Garrison, of Star United States, but the same time tripped him. However, Sanford believed otherwise to what the referee thought. He, of course, discussed about it. Obviously, the referee didn’t want to hear it, and quickly pulled out a yellow card.

The second yellow card came on the thirtieth-ninth minute, but this time against Star United States. This incident happened in the Center Circle. Mid-fielder of Star United States, Barnna, attempted to get the ball from A. Stark of Estope, but in the attempt fell over A. Stark, and caused an injury. It is unknown if what happened was an accident or not. The Estopian team had to make a change due to the fact that A. Stark could no longer play. The vistors decided to put in Garity, the youngest player on the field with an age of sixteen years.

Due to the time lost, two extra minutes were added after the first forty-five regulation time. The first-half ended with Star United States in the lead to the score of one to zero. In the second-half the results greatly, as the visitors scored three goals, and the Starians one more and to the luck of the two teams, no yellow or red cards were given.

The first goal of the second half came in favor of Star United States on the sixtieth minute. Defender Andrews stole the ball when Garity, of Estope, kicked the ball to Brooks. Andrews quickly passed the ball to River, another defender of Star United State, who passed the ball to mid-fielder and captain Soarison. Soarison passed it to Stafford, and Stafford to Gastiez, who passed the ball to Garrison. Gonzalez received the ball from Garrison. Gonzalez kicked the ball into the goal from just outside the penalty box. The goalkeeper Pate, of Estope, failed to guess the right side where the ball was going to go into, and the ball slammed itself into the upper right corner of the goal net. However, the Starian team planned all these passes in order to confuse and exhaust the only defender the Estopian team provided: Sanford, and the Stars succeed.

The second goal of the second-half came in favor of Estope, as the nine forwards charged against the three Starian defenders, and great succeed over them, especially due to the difference in the number between them. They easily managed to get the goal, but had rather a difficult time managing to get the ball into it. Williams passed the ball to Wiltner who kicked it, but Spark, goalkeeper of Stare United States, saved it. The ball bounced back onto the field. Lawrence, forward of Estope, got to the ball before the defenders of Star United States. He launched it right into the goal net.

The third goal of the second-half also came in favor of Estope. The nine forwards of the visitors once again out-powered the defender of Stars. Andrews, of Star United States, kicked the ball off the field in despair, and it was corner kick in favor of Estope. Williams was standing in the penalty box when the ball was kicked. He jumped and head-butted the ball into the goal, and he tied the game to the score of two to two on minute seventy-two.

The fourth goal, and the last goal, came in favor for the rivals. Brooks, of Estope, was waiting for the ball near the penalty area, as the forwards were breaking through the three-man defense of Star United States. M. Stark passed the ball to Brooks as soon as they broke the defense of Star United States, and Brooks took the advantage of the distance between the ball between his feet and the Starian defenders. He kicked the ball and Spark, goalkeeper of Star United States, managed to guess where it was going to go, but failed to take it out. This goal was made on the eighty-ninth minute, and the luck of Star United States, the match ended promptly on the minute ninety.

What Happened? The Impossible Did

Putting aside the defeat of Star United States, these results were shockingly surprising.

Vunishia hosted Zwangzug, and tied against them. Zwangzug, being the second rank of the group tied against Vunishia, a team who hasn’t seen a rank yet! What happened? The impossible did as Vunishia held back the group leader from obtaining three more points. This result was shocking. Nobody would’ve thought that Zwangzug, group leader, would’ve tied against a team that finds themselves almost at the bottom of the group table.

The Blaatshcapen hosted New Wolfopolis, and won over them. The Blaatshcapen prevented New Wolfopolis from scoring any goals in their match, and the hosts won to the score of one to zero.New

Wolfpolis, before this match held fifth place in the group (now holds sixth), while The Blaatshcapen held and continues to hold the last place on the standings! What happened? The impossible happened as The Blaatshcapen soared over New Wolfopolis.

The highest ranked team of the group, Barunia, hosted a under-ranked team, Dawnhaven. However, ranks didn’t play in very much at this much, as Dawnhaven won to the score of zero to one. This match was the most shocking of all. What happened? The impossible did as a team who doesn’t have a rank won over the highest ranked team in Group 15.

Match Day 9 Preview
Tomorrow’s Matches
Star United States v. Vunishia
Estope v. Barunia
Dawnhaven v. The Blaatshcapen
New Wolfopolis v. Zwangzug

World Cup Qualifier
Star United States v. Vunishia
Estadio Estrella, City of Star, Star United States

Last time these two teams met Star United States dominated with a score of two to four over Vunishia. It is expected for Star United States to win this match and gain another three points. However Vunishia is pretty confident due today’s surprise when they tied to a higher ranked team. Star United States is seeking a victory after today’s defeat.

Possible Results
Below we examine three possible outcomes. Please note there are many more outcome than what is presented below.

Possible Outcome 1: Star United States, Barunia, Dawnhaven, and Zwangzug win.

(1) Zwangzug – 21 points; (2) Barunia – 19 points; (3) Dawhaven – 16 points; (4) Estope – 15 points; (5) Star United States – 14 points; (6) New Wolfopolis – 10 points; (7)Vunishia – 5 points; (8) The Blaatshcapen – 3 points.

Possible Outcome 2: Vunishia, Estope, The Blaatshcapen, and New Wolfopolis win.

(1 & 2) Zwangzug and Estope – 18 points; (3) Barunia – 16 points; (4) New Wolfopolis – 13 points; (5) Dawnhaven – 12 points; (6) Star United States – 11 points; (7) Vunishia – 8 points; (8) The Blaatschapen – 6 points.

Possible Outcome 3: Same Results as Match Day Two.

(1)Zwangzug – 21 points; (2) Barunia – 17 points; (3) Estope – 16 points; (4) Dawnhaven – 15 points; (5) Star United States – 14 points; (6) New Wolfopolis – 10 points; (7)Vunishia – 5 points; (8) The Blaatshcapen – 3 points.

The Light At The End of the Tunnel

Today in the morning the people of Star United States awake to a new hope, cutting the defeat of today out of the picture. At 6:00 am, Central Starix Time, President Chris Cross awoke the nation with a message:

“Good morning people of the Republic of Star United States. Today is a great day in Starian history. We have just received a great message from our teams in the tunnels and we have reached the light at the end of the tunnels. They have finally craved a way through and food will be getting to the bunkers in need in a few hours! Also, in the early hours of dawn we received five airplanes from the United Eastedge with food and many basic life needs. We are greatly in debut with them as they have shown much kind towards us.

As I already stated the bunkers will soon be received the food needed, and so will all the cities as soon at the National Food Bank processes through and ships the food received, which should be done before tomorrow.

The storm still continues over the costal cities, but has been getting lighter, not much, but something is something! Keep checking local weather channels for any updates.

Thank you, and have a great morning.”

Most of the country has calmed down from the storms and has started to reconstruction the damage throughout. Golden City, Riverside City, and SeaShore City, however, still remain in Code Red as it’s still raining, and the members of these communities are asked to stay in the bunkers until further noticed. According to radars the storm should be clearing up pretty soon, but it just needs seconds to get worst, or seconds to get better. As the president states, stay updated by checking local weather channels.

Open Presidential Letter

The Republic of
Star United States
Presidential Letter
To: President Cohen, of United Eastedge
From: President Chris Cross, of Star United States
Subject: Food Crisis

Mr. Cohen:

I am thankful for you country’s help, it’s really appreciated here in Star United States. I am glad to say back that all the food has arrived, and is currently being processed and shipped out to the cities and bunkers by the National Food Bank. Please send our thanks to the schools and jobs that helped out in the food collection.

I am sad to hear about the military conflict. I hope for the best. However, if our country is able to heal from the damages from this storm soon, I’m more than sure that we’ll like to help you all out.

Thank you and God bless,
President Chris
Presidential House, City of Star, Starix
The Republic of Star United States

by **Ceni** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 11:08 am

MID-QUALIFYING REVIEW
the first three matches and their meaning

In four matches against higher-seeded opponents (as well as three against lower-seeded ones), Ceni hoped to show the world that it could play association football. Unfortunately, in the last few World Cups, Ceni has had a dismal record, with only a few points in World Cups 67 and 68, with a seventh-place finish in each of the qualifying groups, failing to qualify each time. Because of this, few analysts predicted that Ceni would go this far, with one describing Ceni's chances as poor because "they [Ceni] can't have a run." After a slow start, falling 1-3 to Felix and 3-1 to Chiata, Ceni scored its first victory in World Cup 69 with a 2-1 defeat over Super-Llamaland, the group's second seed. It notched a 2-0 victory over Western European Republic, a 4-3 victory over Costa de Ouro, and a 3-0 victory against Subspace Embassy before drawing 2-2 away in Quakmybush. Felix and Chiata will be the ones to beat in the next round of qualifying, as well as a repeat against Super-Llamaland. A victory against Quakmybush at home will also be essential.

CENI VS FELIX

The Ceni-Felix game was a festival on the Felix side, with Felix controlling the ball for the majority of the match. A victory against Group 20's top seed at home would have kicked off Ceni's qualification with gusto, but it was not to be. The Felix team was steaming on ahead from the beginning. Ji Iseul Kwan controlled the midfield, sending a long pass straight down the field to a well-placed Mikel Araboa. The Cenian team tried to play catch-up, with a valiant effort by left defender Coben Jerfel kept the Felixian striker from scoring. The defense tried to do a power play, sending the ball down the pitch towards the midfield. Unfortunately for Ceni, Kwan intercepted the pass, and the Felixian team played with the ball in the midfield for around ten minutes. Ceni's midfielders' efforts only succeeded in making them tired, as the much more experienced Felixian midfielders merely danced around Ceni's team. Finally, the midfielders converted on their possession, passing the ball in several short sequences down the field towards Ceni's goal. After 25 minutes, Mikel Araboa drove the ball home. Heartened by this goal, the Felixian team kept attacking, driving down the pitch in two runs. In the midst of this, Liret Benol, a powerful Katte, scratched Araboa in the hamstring with her claws, earning her a yellow card and sending Araboa out of play. Eutimio Salazar was called in. After the incident, the Felixian team continued, and Salazar scored in both of their runs down the pitch. After three goals in ten minutes, Ceni tried to send the ball into the Felix side of the pitch. A run by Pablito Numede was stopped by the superior quality of the defenders, while Diego Ortiz's attempt was stopped by a save from the goalkeeper. The Cenian team tried once more, with Tomas Hernandez going in for the kill, but again, the attempt was stopped by a save from Kiki Nuremberg. Felix then tried to control the ball, with the defenders setting up long passes towards the midfield. The aggressive midfielders, led by Ji Iseul Kwan, tried to extend their scoring monopoly, but Gerardo de las Palmas, who saved a record eight shots from the Felixian midfielders, and the defenders were able to keep them away. Nodes Vargas then received a long pass from Graciano Lucas Lobo. Gabriel Jenaro, in his attempt to steal the ball from Vargas, accidentally kicked midfielder Davalei Evatee. She was substituted by Elceyai Valongo, while Jenaro was given a yellow card. Vargas passed it behind him to Tomas Hernandez, who set up Pablito Numede for a late-minute goal. The midfielders from Ceni took control and tried to extend another score, but the game was running out. They passed forward for one last scoring attempt, shot, but again, Kiki Nuremberg took the ball in her hands and sent it flying towards the center. Before the Felixian team could score any more goals, the whistle blew, and the game was over. 3-1 Felix.

STATS >>>

CHIATA VS CENI

Chiata was another opponent in the vein of Felix - a much higher rank. Yet beyond this, there was more consternation than the face - the three Chiatan players, Fill Rio, James Wampler, and Dwayne Rogerz, on the national team's roster were conflicted about playing with their friends and colleagues at their home stadium and also playing against their friends and colleagues. Coach Tenshar sat down with the players and attempted to consult with the players about their worries, but in the end, they couldn't do it. Tenshar decided to put the three Chiatans in reserve before the start of the game and have them watch on the sidelines. It was possible that there could be a no-win situation out of this matchup. Tenshar's gut feeling turned out to be right about the match. Chiata controlled the ball for most of the game. The first fifteen minutes were a game of catchup for Ceni's squad - the Chiatan team dominated the pitch, sending the ball right down the field to their attacking midfielders and strikers, who made shot after shot, hoping that one would finally go in. Although Gerardo de las Palmas and the defense team did an admirable job in attempting to get the ball away from the goal, after fifteen minutes, the defense cracked, and the Chiatan side, led by striker Sammy Swade, send a diving header into the goal. The Chiatan side continued its domination through the first half of the game. After Chiata's goal, the Cenian side mounted an abortive attempt to score, but after several missed shots, the Chiatan side regained possession and passed long to the other end of the field, where Logan Britt took control, swerved passed the defense, and scored into the top left corner. Five minutes later, the Chiatan side still had control of the ball and sent another ball into the goal, this time by the foot of striker Joe Ringer-Toso. Cenian coaches moved into attack mode, adding striker Pepe Luces Jr. to the mix and removing center defense Fernandes. They played it slow, passing short passes among the midfield and strikers as to deny Chiata a chance to get the ball. They inched closer to the goal, and in the 68th minute, Pablito Numede hit a pass past the defenders to superbly positioned Diego who nudged it in the goal. After this one goal, the Cenian side tried again for a goal, but they were stymied by Chiatan efforts. Meanwhile, when the Chiatan center gained control, Nodes Vargas got out of the game on a second yellow card, the first for a foul tackle on midfielder Ram WIllis, the second for a trip to midfielder Bill Rickers that the referee determined "unsportsmanlike." The Chiatan side tried to take advantage, but coach Tenshar returned the game to the starting lineup, putting all four defenders in play. This arrangement stopped the Chiatan side, and the defense sent the ball flying forward to the midfield, who tried to strike again. Antics in the midfield between the Cenian midfielders and Chiatan midfielders rounded out the game. The score was 3-1, Chiata, another humiliating loss in a poor start to the qualifiers.

STATS >>>

CENI VS SUPER-LLAMALAND

The team and the managers were sure Super-Llamaland was going to be in the same turf as their previous losses to Chiata and Felix. All were higher ranked teams, and Super-Llamaland was the second seed in the group, ranked 29th. They were right for the first thirty minutes of the game. Super-Llamaland controlled the ball for most of the period and it appeared that Ceni's defenders were slacking. Coben Jerfel, one of Ceni's best defenders, was injured by attacking midfielder Alex Ford, and he was put out of the game. Meanwhile, Ford was given a yellow card, and Super-Llamaland's run continued unabated, especially by substitute Marnnaud Ishnamai, who was not up to Jerfel's standards. Alex Cartwright took advantage of Ishnamai's relative incompetence and slid a pass right through the left flank, catching Ishnamai off guard. Kyle Sturgeon continued bypassing Ishnamai and sent the pass right back to Cartwright, who bounced it off, right into the goal. Ceni called a time out, needing new strategy to hopefully avoid a repeat of the Felix game's 3 goals and 10 minutes. Coach-Manager Tenshar decided to move more into midfield, now with 4 midfielders covering most of Ceni's side of the field, supporting 4 strikers, and in turn supported by 2 defenders. Defender Fernandes was replaced by midfielder Rensan. The strategy appeared not to work for a while. Cartwright almost headed another goal into the box after this change, but goalkeeper de las Palmas was able to keep it out of the goal box. After that, though, things started to change for the Cenian team. The Llamanean defense and midfield started to falter, while the Cenian midfield gained control of the ball. Coalescing into a diamond, the Cenian midfield gained control, rallying back and forth, getting the ball down the field towards the goal. The Super-Llamaland side grew weaker, as left back Justin Allen was sent off the field with a red card for a hard tackle. This gave Diego Ortiz an opportunity to dart past the weakened defense, pass the ball to Pablito Numede, ad receive the ball in a prime position to score off the right post. The game was now tied. Super-Llamaland fought hard to keep it that way, with their midfield desperately trying to recover the ball whenever it came into Ceni's possession. With their control-the-midfield strategy not working, they switched to a strategy heavy on defenders, adding their two backup defenders. The Cenian team kept attacking tenaciously, but the extra defenders kept their shots off the mark. The game was drawing to an end when Diego Ortiz gained a penalty kick for a hard tackle. It was a good shot, but the ball was driven off by the goalkeeper. However, Tomas Hernandez tapped the ball into the opposite side of the goal and sent the Cenian team into a frenzy - they had beaten a team with four and a half times their rank, 2-1.

STATS >>>

Overall, these matches provided insight into Felix, Chiata, and Super-Llamaland. The thrashing of Ceni in its first two matches propelled the coaches to try a new strategy for victory, and the defeat of Super-Llamaland pointed out the ways in which Ceni could defeat a higher-seeded opponent. These first matches helped to provide a platform for Ceni to build on its strengths and improve on its weaknesses.

by **Zenic** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 1:21 pm

A small smile crept onto Sanders face as he paced through office at the ZFAF headquarters.

Sanders had arrived to his office early in the morning the day after the last match to start some hardcore preparation for the match against the first place Ko-oren national team. The 2-0 win against Lleidia and a shock loss from Darvale against Semarland catapulted Zenic into lone possession of second place. Zenic had gotten a brace from Gavin Barnsley and the entire team helped maintain the clean sheet for Sagan. Now, they were going to have their rematch against Ko-oren but this time, they were playing in Zenic.

It had been a close affair in Ko-oren City at the National Stadium with the team barely losing 3-2 to the superior Ko-oren side. However, Sanders knew that team was a much different team than the one he was managing now: the team had finally come together and were operating at near perfect unity. Sure, the team made a mistake here or there but they were in second place for a reason. But not for long. If Sanders could get the team working together perfectly, they could easily get into first place in the group.

First, though, he had to find a way to beat Ko-oren.

by **Kernansquillec** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 1:40 pm

As Kernansquillec's jet left Buyan after a well fought 0-0 draw manager Rachael Sandheart and assistant Amelia Van der Pon were left deep in discussion.

Rachael: We need to changes things around, we are not doing well at all!

Amelia: A part from that win against Buyan at the start of qualifying and that friendly win against Sameba it's true that it hasn't been brilliant.

Rachael: Damn right! We haven't won in five games in a row now. True, two of those were friendlies, but still, I'm not happy!

Amelia: You've got to remember Rachael that out of the last three competitive games, we've lost against the third best team in the World...

Rachael: We got thumped you mean...

Amelia: True, but they are still the third best team in the World. No one expected us to cause them many problems.

Rachael: I know. We are on a steep learning curve, but still it's not the Audioslavia game that's been worrying me.

Amelia: What is then? Because the way I see it we've lost against the third best team in the World and against a team that is ranked higher than us. And don't forget we just held Buyan to a draw away from home!

Rachael: Yes, but Buyan didn't exactly have their best of games and they really should have won anyway. I'm mainly disappointed about two results: that defeat against Maklohi Vai at home and the fact that we conceded three against a poor Free Swiss States team.

Amelia: You're unhappy about a win?

Rachael: No of course not! But I'm certainly not happy about taking three goals against a team we should be doing a lot better against. And that Maklohi Vai games... they may be ranked higher than us, but at home we shouldn't be losing in such a pitiful manner.

Amelia: We are still in this.

Rachael: Just. But we won't be if we don't beat United Eastedge.

Amelia: Well we could be...

Rachael: No we won't! If we lose we won't be coming back. Make sure the team are all there for training tomorrow morning, I want a word.

Amelia: Sure.

Rachael: They need to know that this can't carry on. Defensively we switch off and collectively we're not in it 100%.

Meanwhile, three chaps met at the Kernansquillecan Football Association's headquarters in Kernansquillec City...

Angry chap: The team is under performing. Action must be taken!

Head chap: Calm down, there are still six games to play, we can come back from this.

Third chap: Still, after the first seven games we lost two games we should have won and drawn a game we should have won. If we had had those extra points we wouldn't be in such bad shape now.

Angry chap: We need a change in management. Sandheart isn't up to the job. These players have developed beyond her managerial capabilities and she isn't able to make them perform that extra mile we need to reach our potential!

Third chap: Maybe, but this qualifying may well be over but we might as well wait and see if she can perform a turnaround...

Angry chap: Dead and buried more like.

Head chap: Gentlemen! Please! Sandheart did a great job at the last World Cup Qualifying and so far this time, while it hasn't been as good, it is still a positive qualifying for a team of our stature. We want to push on higher yes, but this won't happen overnight. Sandheart is a good coach, but she can only push these players so far. They lack experience. If we improve the pool of players we have, Sandheart is the chap who will lead us to victory.

Angry chap: Long term maybe. But she isn't the best manager we could have and I stand by that. Give her the rest of qualifying if you want. But when we don't qualify I want a new coach in time for the Cup of Harmony.

Second chap: Agreed.

Head chap: Fine. We'll give her until the end of qualifying. Then, we'll have this discussion again.

BUYAN 0-0 KERNANSQUILLEC
(No scorers)

KERNANSQUILLEC 3-5 BEARS ARMED
(Lilac 25' 55' Käufer 61' /// Karra o Hara 2' 30' 32' Arrogh 42' SunDaughter 77')

KERNANSQUILLEC 0-1 SARGOSSA
(Bustos 70')

KERNANSQUILLEC 0-2 MAKLOHI VAII
(Makanopalani 66' Lanipoi 89')

AUDIOSLAVIA 4-0 KERNANSQUILLEC
(Uulver 13' 58' Styrn 25' Koskinen 31')

KERNANSQUILLEC 2-0 YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK GOROD
(Zorm 39' Noupen 51')

by **Sicoutimont** » Fri Aug 01, 2014 2:19 pm

The Lac-Drouin Times
Sports
Sicoutimont 2nd In Group 11 After 8 Qualifiers Matches

LAC-DROUIN -- Maybe it's the new formation, maybe it's the experiences of the Copa Rushmori, but whatever it is, Marc Denis' violet et bleu are doing something right. Second in Group 11, and in a dogfight with Turori over the spot, the team approach the back half of the mountain with a newfound optimism. ''After [World Cup] 67 and 68, we didn't really believe in our selves. We lost a lot of focus after reaching the final 32 in '66, but we are here now to get back to where we were then, and set proper course for the future,'' said assistant captain Neal Kent, while his captain Girard Giroux said ''I have to agree with Neal, and where we really got back on track was the Copa, that desire for more after losing in that way, and we're here to get back again.''

The team sit on a record of 6 wins, 2 draws and 0 losses, one of 18 teams to have achieved the feat after 8 matches in quals, and did it in exciting fashion: the 6-3 win over Kitsunia-Deesse on day 1 which saw a Gaspard Demaru hat-trick, the nervous 0-0 draw at home against Starblaydia, the late equalizer from Demaru to draw the game at 1-1 against Turori. 1 goal wins against lower-ranked opposition have also been in style for the fleur-de-lis, and edge-of-your seat football has been found whenever Les Royales take the pitch. ''We're not a team for the faint of heart, haha,'' said manager Marc Denis before this, the second encounter with Kitsunia-Deesse, this time at Stade St-Pierre. Once again, it was a nail-biter until the very end.

Sicoutimont were able to draw first blood in this match. Gaspard Demaru scored his 6th of qualifying early on, after some beautiful work by the home side to get the ball into the box. It was only the 11th minute when the Sicoutians took the lead, and although they would never trail in the game, they would not lead for very long stretches of time. Still, the game seemed like one you could write off in the Sicoutians favour after 15 minutes, with many chances by the side in purple, and not many from the side in white and green. The balance would change swiftly, though, after a great save from Sophie Plebonesqueteu. It is so often said that one great chance at the one end of the pitch will lead to a great chance at the other, and it rung true once again here. Although the Deesse did not score on this chance, East Franz keeper Alain Rivcoucher getting the better of the striker, they would knot up the match soon after on a corner. It was Louise Sioux who drilled in the corner, and it was Michel Petit who connected with the ball, sending it behind Rivcoucher before his defenders could even react, evening the match at 1-1.

It was, however, the Sicoutians who would take the lead into the half-time break. A set piece would be the catalyst for the goal, Girard Giroux from his sweet spot. He could have just said to his team-mates who lined up for the header to go back to centre field, because there was no way he was missing this one. 2 minutes into added time, Giroux drilled it past the keeper for his fourth goal of qualifiers. Half-time, 2-1 in favour of the home side.

Kitsunia-Deesse would equalize once again in the 58th minute, goal from Louise Sioux, that set up a nail-biting ending. Elsewhere, word came into the stadium that Turori had levelled Itanpavria 4-0, meaning Sicoutimont needed to win to stay level with Turori on points, then work on goal difference. It led to 32 minutes of end-to-end football, each side getting opportunities but no side being able to capitalize. Subbed on at the 60' mark was Martin Blais for Oscar de Orebale, followed by Leon Lafleur, another bright young talent from the Lac-Drouin St-Pierre U21's, earning his first international cap. It was in his debut appearance that he would also earn his first international goal. Sicoutian strikers could be all the rage this next transfer window, more on that in a bit, but for now, to the match. Lafleur came on at 65' for Girard Giroux, and got to work immediately.

Alex Gannot, who would not put his name under the 'Goals' tally, but had assisted the first one and got an assist on the winning goal too would remain on the full length of the match, and it was his beautiful cross in the 78th minute that made it to Lafleur's chest for the volley past the keeper into the goal. Sicoutimont held off for the final minutes, and delivered the three points, finding themselves second in the group on goal differential. Seeing Starblaydia draw 1-1 with Casagrande away from home was also a bonus, putting Sicoutimont and Turori 6 points ahead of the next position in the group. Kitsunia-Deesse are 8 points out, while Venalzio find themselves 10 back. Itanpavria need to make up 11 points to catch the leaders as of now, while Casagrande need 13. Alinghi Federal-Democratic Republic are eliminated 20 points back in a 0-0-8 campaign, scoring but 2 goals. Sicoutimont and Turori find themselves in pole position to make a shot at qualification from Group 11, and it may come down to their battle on matchday 11 to determine who will win the group.

After the international turmoil that saw the closure of the highly-regarded Mytanar and Astograth football leagues, many top Sicoutian players in those leagues returned home to Sicoutimont for a year. Will they leave again at the next transfer window? That's the big question. Alex Gannot returned to his boyhood favourite, SC Castle 1724 last season, but his skills could be a hot commodity on the transfer market for foreign clubs. A club wanting the 29 year old, though, would probably have to pay a solid amount of money, money SC Castle would be able to use to bring in talent to improve upon their 10th place finish last year. Georges Allonts, who took a break from the rigours of modern club football last year, could be a good signing too for any team on a free, although he is 35, his experience as a top-quality striker and captain is irreplaceable. Martin Blais and Fernard Girard, and midfield and left back respectively will also be available on frees, and can bring more talent to already-strong squads. But by far the best talent Sicoutimont has to offer at this window is Leon Lafleur. The striker for Lac-Drouin St-Pierre is far and away the best talent developed at home since Gaspard Demaru. (Yes, we know that's only 5 years.) It will be him and Demaru on the starting line for Sicoutimont for years to come, and at 20 and already with his first cap and goal, St-Pierre will be able to offload him. But why sell the young star? LDSP's striker depth is set for years to come, with Capobianco, Jonah MacGrough and Bruno Camilletti. In addition, the potential profits from Lafleur could buy more talent at mid and on the back end. Either way, it'll be a fun window to watch for Sicoutian talent, and to see what the teams will do as well.

The next match for the Sicoutians is against Starblaydia away. It will always be a tough game against the Starblaydi side, and the 0-0 draw earlier in the campaign says to that. But recall this, in WC66 qualifying, Sicoutimont were also in a struggle to qualify, but after beating Starblaydia, it was smooth sailing. The team will be hoping this happens again 3 cycles later. Come on you Royales!

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