World Cup 81: Roleplay Thread

[Beepee]

Beepee squeaks past Petrovskia

Petrovskia 0–1 Beepee

Scorer:
Patterson (pen '56)

Beepee played comfortably enough to slink past Petrovskia 1-0, with Chris Patterson firing hone a spot kick after Carlo Bannan after a poor timed tackle within the box.

Following on from being outplayed and outclassed by Turori in the match day 5, Beepee faced the relative unknown entity of Petrovskia. With almost now scouting of the team, the Beepeean squad entered the match with the hope of sticking to their usual formation and players.

Max Christian appeared to be fully fit following the nasty cut received in the Ndaku match and was running freely throughout the match.

Beepee outpaced and outlasted their lower ranked opponents and their patience was rewarded with a penalty in the fifty-sixth minute which was easily slot t ed down the middle of the goal by Patterson. The goal is Patterson's second of the qualifying campaign and both goals have come from penalties.

Without facing a significant threat front the Petrovskian attack, the Beepee defence had little to do in what was a relatively comfortable win.

The win lifts Beepee to fourth in the table, above Petrovskia. Beepee go onto face unranked side Guadalajara.

The Beepeean fans have also chosen their Beepeean player of the match for Match Days 4 and 5, with Sam Veera and Francois Shep winning the respective awards.

[Kelssek]

Kirk tapped on his keyboard, stopping the footage.

"Watch the space in the midfield. We need to recognize when those through balls are going to come. They're going to draw our backline deep and exploit the space that leaves behind. Watch."

The video resumed.

"And you see the centre-back," Kirk avoided naming names in these sessions, "yes, is tracking the striker. Fine. But then he needs to get some help from the midfield and his defensive partner. We need to recognize the situation, ask for help, and give help."

The players squirmed uncomfortably as the video continued. On the screen, two Super-Llamaland players sprint into the area just outside the 18-yard box, exchange passes, and place a through ball between the two centre backs, leaving the striker to pounce and fire the ball past a flailing Kai Poirier and into the goal.

It had been a long video session and Kirk could sense the players getting restless, so he decided to save the last two clips for another day and end off with a brief exposition on overcoming structural determinism.

"I know what some of you are thinking. This was a better team, these players are in better leagues, they're better than us, how can we match them? Well, I'll make it simple. We face material and structural obstacles, that's no doubt. We are finite beings and face biological imperatives. Some of these guys are also better-paid. And yet we were leading them 3-2 for almost a whole hour. We put three goals past them and we let the match get away from us."

"What happened in the last 10 minutes? Don't tell me we got tired. They were just as tired as you were. We started moaning about time-wasting but did you think maybe they really were cramping up a lot because their conditioning let them down? What happened, then, we lost belief. We started thinking that these guys are ranked higher than us, they're better than us, and we forgot that it's what happens on the pitch that matters. And when that happened, we became complicit in our own domination. We allowed them to define our identity and internalized our subjugation. And thus began our performative deterioration."

"No more footdragging. No more braconnage. Everyday resistance! Say it with me!"

"Everyday resistance," the team mumbled.

"Come on."

"EVERYDAY RESISTANCE!"

"You will do better. Now let's sing The Internationale and break for lunch."

[South Covello]

Who Wants To Be President of South Covello

Paul Carey: "Hello, I'm Paul Carey, and you're watching MaxTV, the coolest network on television. And this is WHO WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH COVELLO?!

"Over the course of the next few weeks, you will be hearing from the best and brightest candidates who want to be President of South Covello. You may even watch a few debates with these smart, bright candidates. This is not one of those debates. Instead, we'll be treating you to five of the other candidates seeking this esteemed office. See the rest before you see the rest! Now, let's meet those candidates. First off, Moses The Pant Ferret!

Moses The Pant Ferret: *is wearing a ferret costume like he always does, and waves wildly as he runs onto the stage and somersaults his way to the first podium.*

Paul Carey: Derek Lough!

Derek Lough: *walks up on stage and offers a joint to Carey, who politely declines it, then forces it into his hand.*

Paul Carey: *tosses the joint into the rubbish bin, then introduces the next candidate* Paul Heimlich, aka Clowney The Clown!

Clowney The Clown: *runs onto stage in a clown costume and throws pies in the faces of the other two candidates, who wipe off the pie*

Paul Carey: Smiley McToothface!

Smiley McToothface: *runs onto stage and hands toothbrushes and toothpaste to the other candidates and to Carey*

Paul Carey: Last but certainly not least, Rodent Supremi!

Rodent Supremi: *Walks onto the stage wearing a wizard costume and a giant boot on his head, jumps up and down a few times, and takes his place at his podium*

Paul Carey: OK, now it's time for opening statements. Each candidate will have two minutes, and if you run out of time, Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie here will.... Well, why don't you show them, Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie?

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: Please stop, I'm bored! Please stop, I'm bored! Please stop -

Paul Carey: That's enough. You're how old, Little Swittle Miss Sweetie Pie?

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: Six and a half!

Paul Carey: All right, le'ts get started. We'll start with you, Mr. Pant Ferret.

Moses The Pant Ferret: Hi, everybody! I'm Moses The Pant Ferret, and I'm a real ferret! If elected President, I will give every South Covellan two free ferrets, a boy ferret and a girl ferret! And soon, South Covello will be swamped by ferrets! Because ferrets are awesome! Not only that, I will give all ferrets free healthcare! And I'll change the flag to a picture of a ferret with a birthday hat! And I'll change the national anthem to the Ferret National Anthem, which I'll sing now! We are we are ferrets! *clap* Ferrets! *clap* We are we are -

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: Please stop, I'm bored! Please stop, I'm bored! Please stop, I'm bored!

Paul Carey: That's enough, little girl. Next up, Derek Lough!

Derek Lough: *casually lights up a joint and starts to speak* Do you like smoking the green funzo? Well I do! And so should y'all! And if I'm elected, y'all will smoke at least three joints a day, and y'all will enjoy it, or y'all will go to jail! Ain't that groovy, folks? And what would life be like if it weren't groovy, man? Well that's a very sad thought! Even you can smoke the green gonzo, little six year old? Won't that be fun? *takes a puff of the joint and continues* Whoah, man? Groovy, won't it be, once I'm President of this country? Whoah, whoah man, all you got to do is vote, then you'll get stoned and -

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: *gagging on the marijuana smoke Lough has just blown in her face* Please stop, I'm -

Derek Lough: Get High, Vote Lough, Man!

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: Please Stop, I'm Bored! Please Stop -

Paul Carey: Thank you, Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie. Next up, Clowney The Clown!

Clowney The Clown: John Green was a clown, and who better to replace a clown, then another clown? Could you excuse me for a second? *walks over to Derek Lough and sprays him with seltzer, extinguishing the joint in the process. Audience cheers him.* So yeah, I'm a clown! *honks nose* And I'll throw a pie in John Green's face every day until he dies as punishment for his bad, evil clownery! But I'm a good clown, yes I've been a real good clown! So vote for me, Clowney The Clown! I'll be on the ballot as Paul Heimlich since those nincompoops won't let me use my clown name!

Paul Carey: Next, Smiley McToothFace

Smiley McToothFace: Yes, that is my real name! The evil Gregists banned toothbrushing, and that was by far the worst law they had. I'll change that! I'll give free toothbrushes and toothpaste to all South Covellans and make them all brush their teeth 23 times a day! And if they don't, I'll send the Toothbrushing Police out to pursue them and make them brush their teeth! And if they still don't, the Toothbrushing Police will brush their teeth for them! And if they still won't - well, they really can't stop the Toothbrushing Police at that point, can they? You will brush your teeth 23 times a day, and you will like it! Because shiny teeth make for a shiny people! Brush your -

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: Please stop, I'm bored! Please stop, I'm bored. Please stop -

Paul Carey: And finally, Rodent Supremi.

Rodent Supremi: Well I'm with Mister Pant Ferret here in handing out animals rather than toothbrushes, but it shouldn't be ferrets. That's silly. What animal does every little child dream of owning? It's not a ferret, it's a pony. Why even you dream of owning a pony, Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie, I'm sure of it. And if you vote me for President, you too can have a pony! You too will have a pony, even if you don't want it! But everyone wants a pony and that's why I'm giving every citizen a pony! Pony Pony Pony! That's why I'm wearing a boot on my head! To show how much I love ponies!

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: Please Stop, I'm Bored! Please Stop, I'm Bored!

Rodent Supremi: But don't you want a pony, little girl?

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: Please stop, I'm bored! Please stop, I'm bored!

Rodent Supremi: Nobody's bored when they have a pony!

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: Please Stop, I'm Bored! Please Stop -

Paul Carey: All right, we need to move on to the question round. I will ask each candidate a question, and they will have one minute to answer. It will be a different question for each candidate in this round. But don't worry, I'll give you all the same question later. Candidates, are you ready? Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie, are you ready? All right, here we go. We'll start with Moses The Pant Ferret again. Mister Pant Ferret, how do you expect to be taken seriously when you go around exclusively in a ferret costume? None of the voters have even seen your face.

Moses The Pant Ferret: It's not the face that's important, it's the message! And my message is ferrets are awesome! That's why I brought some here tonight to show their love for the other candidates! *releases 12 ferrets on stage, which run around and nibble at the other candidates for the remainder of the debate. Clowney The Clown tries to spray them with seltzer to get them to go away, but they seem to like that and it just attracts more ferrets to him.* Anyway, my message is of ferret-tasticness and ferret love, and ferret awesomeness and -

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: Please stop, I'm bored! Please stop, I'm bored!

Paul Carey: All right, next up is Derek Lough, who is apparently smoking another joint. Clowney, can you extinguish the dankweed for us before we continue?

Clowney The Clown: *Walks up to Lough and sprays his face with seltzer, extinguishing the joint.*

Paul Carey: OK, here we go. Mr. Lough, your question is this - would people whose jobs involve driving or working around heavy machinery or some other profession where they could be impaired by marijuana nevertheless be required to smoke it throughout the day?

Derek Lough: Yo, man, don't be so negative, dude? Of course they would, because everyone knows weed makes you better at things. And it makes your job more fun too, man! *lights up another joint, which Clowney promptly extinguishes with seltzer.* Yo clown, don't be so negative narly! So yeah, like they'd totally have to smoke weed, maybe even more weed since their jobs are so gnarly, man! Get High, Vote Lough, dude, peace out! *lights up another joint*

Paul Carey: Clowney?

Clowney The Clown: *sprays Lough's face with seltzer, extinguishing the joint again.*

Paul Carey: And Clowney, you're up next, actually. You said John Green was a clown, but of course John Green's Presidency ended in catastrophic failure. Why should we believe you'll be any different?

Clowney The Clown: Because I'm a funny clown! I can do this? *throws pie in Supremi's face. Supremi's face then remains covered in pie stuff for the remainder of the debate despite the fact that he has a towel he could use to wipe it off.* I can do this, too! *honks his nose* And this! *jumps up and down and does somersaults, then throws his clown hat up in the air, relasing 20 birds, which fly around the debate hall and mingle with the ferrets on stage* I'm a good clown, Johnny Boy was a bad clown! Now let's all -

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: Please stop, I'm bored! Please stop -

Clowney The Clown: Nobody's bored when there's clowns around! *sprays seltzer in Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie's face*

Paul Carey: Maybe so, but we need to move on. Smiley McToothFace, this next one is for you. Would disabled people or others who are unable to brush their own teeth for whatever reason, such as babies, face legal penalties for failing to do so?

Smiley McToothFace: No, the Toothbrushing Police are an educational and dental institution, not one of punishment. They'll show everyone how to brush their teeth if they're able, even babies, and if they're not, they'll step up and brush their teeth for them. Because that's what Toothbrushing Police do. They serve the people and their teeth! *proceeds to brush teeth on stage*

Paul Carey: All right, finally, it's Rodent Supremi's turn. Mr. Supremi, do you have any other policies, or just a free pony for all?

Rodent Supremi: Free pony is my only policy, and it's the only one we need! And since you gave me such an easy question, I will spend the remainder of this minute riding my blow-up pink and purple pony around the stage. *Proceeds to pull out a pink and purple inflatable pony from under his podium and do exactly that for the remaining time he has.*

Paul Carey: Next, we move on to final round of questioning, where I ask all of you the same question. Here it is - If you weren't here tonight, debating and running for President, where would you be and what would you be doing? Mister Pant Ferret, you go first.

Moses The Pant Ferret: I'd be at home, playing with my 573 fur babies! But now I can bring ferrets with me to show more love of ferrets! *Releases 32 more ferrets who run around the stage, playing with the other ferrets and the birds and the inflatable pony* Run, my fur babies, spread your love, spread your love, spread your fun and show the world how awesome ferrets are and how fantastic they can be! Fly the Flag of Ferrets! *takes a flag from under his podium and unfurls it to reveal his proposed flag, with a ferret in a birthday hat, then waves it through the air for the rest of the debate*

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: Please stop, I'm bored! Please stop, I'm bored!

Paul Carey: OK, next we go to Derek Lough, who is smoking yet another joint. Clowney, please take care of this!

Clowney The Clown: *Walks over to Lough and attempts to spray him with seltzer, but nothing happens.* I'm all out!

Paul Carey: Try the pie!

Clowney The Clown: *throws a pie in Lough's face, which extnguishes the joint.*

Paul Carey: Mr. Lough, go ahead.

Derek Lough: Well, like dude, this is like totally obvious. I'd be at home, with a bowl of reefer, and like 37 bongs and 23 joints and I'd smoke the night away with my buds and my bud and it would be like gnarly, man. But like man, if you want me to be President, you're going to have to like, vote for me, man. So let's smoke another joint to, like, victory man, this is my last one, so clown here better not do nothing. *lights up joint and is promptly pied by Clowney, who gets a standing ovation.*

Paul Carey: OK, we'll move to Clowney next.

Clowney The Clown: Well, *honks nose*, I'd probably be doing this at a party! *pies Carey in the face* Because I'm the funniest clown in all South Covello! I am hysterical! I am funny! Woohoo! *pies Lough again, then pies Moses, McToothFace, and several of the ferrets with their own miniature pies, who seem to enjoy whatever is in these pies as they are licking it off the floor.* Pie, seltzer, smash! Now would you like a baloon animal, little girl? *Makes a balloon dog for Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie and hands it to her, distracting her from the fact that he has gone over on time.* And I do birthday parties, by the way! And even weddings! Would you like me to pie the bride? Well just hire Clowney! It doesn't matter if it's your wedding or not, I crash weddings too! With Clowney The Clown, it's always a blast!

Paul Carey: Hey, no fair distracting our timer. Anyway, we'll move on to Ms. McToothFace.

Smiley McToothFace: I'd be at home, brushing my teeth! And brushing everyone else teeth too! I think I'll do that now! *tries to brush Clowney's teeth but Clowney throws a pie in her face* You meanie! I'm done!

Paul Carey: And finally, Rodent Supremi.

Rodent Supremi: I'd be handing out ponies at the local pony show. Do I actually have the money to hand out these ponies personally? Can our country afford it? Or am I just a candidate who will promise you everything your little heart desires, as long as all your little heart desires is a pony, then fail to deliver? But really, how does that make me different from any other candidate running? But you'll really get your pony if I'm elected. I promise.

Little Wittle Miss Sweetie Pie: Please stop, I'm bored!

Paul Carey: And now, it's time for closing statements. Each candidate will have 90 seconds. Mister Pant Ferret, we'll start with you.

Moses The Pant Ferret: *continues waving flag, which he has throughout the last question while everyone spoke, then begins singing the Ferret National Anthem* Fuzzy you're a little fur sitting in your fur fur, you've got fur on your face, it's no disgrace, nobody's gonna put us back into our place, singing We are we are ferrets! *clap* Ferrets! *clap* We are we are ferrets! *clap! Ferrets! *clap* We are we are ferrets! *clap* Ferrets! *clap* And there's a lot more to our future national anthem, just vote me, Moses The Pant Ferret! I'm a good little ferret!

Paul Carey: Now, we move to Derek Lough, who is indeed out of weed for now.

Derek Lough: Aww man, I'm out of weed. But wouldn't it be awesome if we were all, like, made of weed? Then we could smoke ourselves. That would be so awesome, man. But yeah, you're gonna need to smoke three joints a day, and smoke out, man! Vote High, Get Lough, or something like that. Peace, dude! *stumbles off the stage in search of more weed.*

Paul Carey: Clowney The Clown?

Clowney The Clown: Well, Moses, would you like a balloon ferret?

Moses The Pant Ferret: Yes, I would love a balloon ferret, thank you so much.

Clowney The Clown: *makes Moses a balloon ferret, then walks over to Rodent Supremi.* Would you like a balloon pony, Rodent? *makes Rodent a balloon pony before he even responds.*

Rodent Supremi: But I already have an inflatable pony. *pulls out pink and purple pony again, then proceeds to bop Clowney on the head with it. Clowney then jumps up and smashes a pie on top of the boot on Rodent's head.*

Paul Carey: OK, that's enough. Clowney, you're done. We'll go to Ms. McToothFace next.

Smiely McToothface: Oh, Rodent, your teeth need to be brushed. *Attempts to brush Supremi's teeth, then walks over to Pant Ferret and tries to brush the "teeth" on his ferret costume.

Moses The Pant Ferret: *releases 23 more ferrets, who chase Smiley back to her podium.*

Smiley McToothFace: *attempts to brush the ferrets' teeth with miniature toothbrushes.*

One of the Ferrets: *bites Smiley's finger.*

Smiley McToothFace: Ouchie youzers! I'm running away to find more teeth! *runs off stage crying*

Paul Carey: And last, we'll conclude this debate with Rodent Supremi, who is now covered in two pies which he refuses to wipe off.

Rodent Supremi: Well, folks, you can vote for some serious candidate, or you can vote for me, the guy who promises you a pony. Now, would you rather have a pony, or would you rather have something serious like healthcare? Because none of the candidates you'll see will keep any of their promises, because we're all politicians and none of us are honest. So you can vote for the young, rising star, the old lady, the doctor, or the guy who makes you laugh and promises you a free pony. It's up to you. But everyone loves ponies! *rides pink and purple pony around the stage as Clowney pies him, Lough returns with a bong and proceeds to smoke it, Moses releases more ferrets into the audience, and Smiley returns and attempts in vain to brush everyone's teeth, then chases down Carey with a giant 12-foot toothbrush.*

Paul Carey: Well, that's it. Good night, everyone!

[Polkopia]

Avontis FC is a club which plays in the Polkopian Premier League. At the end of the last season, the Night Owls finished in 5th place and continue to play in the top flight of Polkopian football for the upcoming season. The team currently plays in the city of Vlakska, and their home ground is the Stadion Avontiskansavoy, which seats up to 32,358 spectators.

History:

Avontis FC was officially established in 1962, although previous clubs have been present in the city of Vlakska. The first of such clubs was FC Askan Vlaska, which was established in 1938 and renamed to Dinamo Vlaska in 1950. Dinamo Vlaska was disbanded in 1956 after a food shortage plunged much of rural Polkopia into poverty and starvation. The club was disbanded in order to allocate funds to help restructure the agricultural sector of much of rural Polkopia, including cities such as Vlakska, which was home to several of Polkopia's largest grain farms. When the crises began to subside, in 1958, talks amongst members of the Polkopian FA commenced in order to establish Avontis FC in Vlakska, however these plans were never officially carried out until 1962.

Throughout it's relatively short-lived history as a club, Avontis FC never challenged some of the more prominent clubs in Polkopia, especially in the club's early years, where lack of fan attendance mixed with the club's inability to generate much revenue. Due to this, the club was unable to sign much of Polkopia's rising youth talent of the late 1960's, and much of these young athletes in turn, chose to play in some of Polkopia's more notable clubs.

This lack of funding seemed to be a constant case for Avontis FC's inability to attract footballers to the club. Moreover, the city of Vlakska remained an agricultural center of Polkopia throughout the 1970's and 1980's, so many businessmen of the time never took an interest in investing money into the club. There were brief periods where Avontis FC was suggested to be relocated to some of Polkopia's larger cities, particularly in Valinkova, where fan attendance would be higher, but many felt as if though it would be a waste of time and effort to move the club across the country, and instead, the Polkopian FA chose to allow the club to remain in Vlakska.

During the 1990's, the Polkopian government began a series of projects that would see rural cities such as Vlakska undergo massive industrialization projects. In a short span of five years, new apartment complexes were built, industries were relocated to the area, and people living in urban centers such as Peeto and Valinkova were displaced to cities such as Vlakska in order to spur economic growth in these cities. Luckily for the city of Vlakska, this program brought about huge success for certain cities, and Vlakska's population grew tremendoudly in the years following the mass relocation of people. From this, fan attendance soared, and Avontis FC's Gorchebskiy Stadion often sold out on home games.

In 2001, Stadion Avontiskansavoy was constructed in order to seat more of the ever-growing fanbase. Between the years 2002 and 2005, Avontis FC recorded the highest attendance rate during home games, despite the club's inability to secure a title. This increased revenue did allow for the club to establish several youth academies domestically as well as internationally and became the first Polkopian club to sign a foreign athlete in 2006.

In 2015, the club was disbanded, along with the other Polkopian clubs, due to a large-scale corruption scandal across the entirety of the PFA. The club was reestablished the following year and Avontis FC participated in the 2017-18 Polkopian Premier League, finishing 5th out of 16 teams, making the 2017-18 season it's best finish to date.

Squad:

##       POS.        NAME.                                                   
#0       GK       Zdravko Marshupotsev 
#1       GK       Marko Tirasco
#2       GK       Martin Vonshchev
#28      DEF      Ilya Kontal
#18      DEF      Luca Kohut
#9       DEF      Nikita Radkov
#19      DEF      Fedir Alberto
#13      DEF      Nicusor Nikolov
#55      DEF      Adam Zorić 
#25      MID      Blaž Stefanov
#21      MID      Slavko Kontakt 
#8       MID      Aleksandr Tirapin
#16      MID      Nikolai Franić
#15      MID      Alexei Filipov
#42      MID      Marko Genkov
#10      FWD      Miško Daskalov
#11      FWD      Tsvetan Shvets 
#6       FWD      Toma Stanev
#17      FWD      Vilim Damyanov

[The Macabees]

LOLITA, CH. 7

"You know, I had work today," said Bernie, as he stepped into the car.

Henrrek was inside. There was a holster with a handgun on his waist. The big man said, "Don't worry, you'll have plenty of work to do today."

He snorted. "Real work, I had real work. Like work I get paid for."

"Your payment today comes in the form of being alive," answered Henrrek, smiling. His teeth were sharp and angular, like knives. "Besides, you're here and I didn't hear you complain about work yesterday. So what? Are you gonna bitch the whole time because if so I can just tell Lakén that his boy doesn't have his back."

"No, no, no," said Bernie. "Let's just do whatever we gotta do. I already took the day off anyway."

They drove through Fedala, tall buildings rising to either side of them until they entered a dark tunnel that slopped underground. The road was seemingly perpetual, being lost beyond the 'horizon.' But here the horizon was deeper and deeper into the earth, as the highway led them further into the subterranean world of the imperial capital. Most lives were intertwined with both the surface and the subsurface, even for the wealthy and upper middle class who lived on the surface. There were nightclubs, bars, and other popular joints below. Tourists traveled below ground, too. But all knew that the deeper one went, the less the rule of law extended.

"Where the hell are we going?" asked Bernie, finally.

Henrrek turned to him. "To see Lolita."

"Oh okay," he said in response. Then he realized what the big man had said. "Wait, what? Lolita? How do you know where she lives?"

"The internet," replied Henrrek. "Have you ever heard of it?"

"Very funny." Bernie turned to look out the window.

At regular intervals, the highway branched off into off-ramps and on-ramps that took vehicles to the different subterranean neighborhoods of the megalopolis. These were built like giant boroughs, with entire chunks of earth removed to make room for small towns of tall, jampacked apartment buildings. Almost one hundred million people lived in them, so clustered was their existence.

There were other things here, and they got more 'interesting' the farther down one went. Criminals and mafiosos thrived in the depths, where they extorted the poor and made money from their casinos, brothels, and drug houses. Security services were funded by the businessmen and, of course, it was the businessmen who formed the mafias. The people were their subjects. At some point, justice stopped and the law of thugs prospered. Much to Bernie's great concern, it was to these parts that they finally arrived. The illuminated sign hanging over the off-ramp read 'ALKOBEN.'

A Guffingfordi mafia ruled here, although it was said that their legitimacy had been severely undermined by a violent incident at their headquarters. The emperor's own city guard was sent down to suppress the fighting. This was no good place for anybody to be, much less a soft man like Bernie.

"Living here, no wonder she's desperate enough to blackmail Lakén for money," he said, after some time. Some of the façades were in poor condition. Bright paint that was coming off in patches tried to hide the decrepit construction, but did a poor job of it. The conditions of the interior must have been worse. The subterranean neighborhoods were gentrifying they said, but not down here, not this deep.

Henrrek looked at him, his face plain and without emotion. He said, "Desperate times call for desperate measures, remember that."

The vehicle came to a stop, but the doors did not open. Henrrek was looking outside. He pointed, and said, "You see that building over there? With the yellow door frame. Yeah, that one. That's Lolita's block. I've looked at the CCTV footage, but there's not much coverage in these parts. So we'll have to observe her the old fashion way."

"The old-fashioned way?" asked Bernie.

The big man pulled out a protein bar and handed it to him. "A stakeout," he said. "Eat that wisely, it's the only thing I brought for you."

Bernie looked at the tiny bar in his hand, already out of its wrapper and partially melted. It was the opposite of appetizing. He wrinkled his nose. "We'll pick something up later," he said.

The big man only laughed.

They waited there for what felt like hours. At some point, Henrrek had stopped talking. Bernie would try to start a conversation but the big man said nothing. His stomach was growling and a headache was forming. At least there was water in the car. The apartment building's door opened frequently, but it was never Lolita who walked in or out. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Lolita came out from inside. She was wearing a long coat that covered her body almost entirely. An autonomous vehicle drove up to her and she stepped inside, after which it left.

"Work, probably," said Bernie. "I wonder what she does."

"Prostitute," said Henrrek. "Works at the casino. Popular girl, from what I hear."

Bernie looked at him. "She's a hooker?"

"That's right," answered the big man.

"Damn. "I can't believe I hooked up with a hooker." He was silent for a second, then, "Hey, at least I got it for free."

Henrrek laughed. Laughed! Then replied, "You have good luck in women, it seems."

"Very funny." Bernie smiled. It was the first time he and this guy had connected about anything. "What do you do, anyway?" he asked. "Do you just help famous people deal with difficult people?"

"Something like that," said Henrrek. The big man's face then turned hard as stone again, back as usual, but this time he pulled out a handgun from under his seat. The big man handed it to Bernie, who grabbed it only after looking at it strangely for a minute. "Take it," said Henrrek, "you'll need it for tonight."

"Tonight?" he asked. "What's happening tonight?"

"Tonight we kill Lolita," replied the big man.

[Santa Rafa]

San Lorenzo, or “El Tercer Ciudad” as they call themselves as if third place is something to be proud of, is so far from Santa Rafita both politically and geographically that any exercise of authority there by the Plaza Nacional is basically a joke. That doesn’t stop the stuffed shirts from trying, but those of us in the know typically figure out what they’re after, call the locals, and try to get something on the 5 o’clock news. Then we get back to burning cocaine fields and scheduling drone surveillance of the guerillas in the bush, where shit actually matters.

La Oficina de Investigaciones Especiales, OIE, is strictly speaking a branch of the Rafano Air Force, which basically means that our director reports to the Jefe to submit the annual budget. Our rank-and-file are also recruited from RAF regulars, typically air police but sometimes the odd grounded pilot or tactical air controller. Our mission, however, is almost entirely separate from the fighter and bomber wings, focusing on intel collection and counterespionage against the rebels in the interior.

All this means that getting a call from the San Lorenzo field office of the OIE is an unusually irritating way to start a Monday. That place mostly exists as a concession to those on Plaza Nacional who think all of Santa Rafa looks like the capital, and a place to stick troublemakers, the politically unreliable, and promising agents on the fast track needing leadership experience.

Agente Especial Paula Iglesias is the one of the latter category, which is realistically the only reason I accepted her call. Though we were in the same cohort of conscripted air policemen, she’d stayed in uniform longer than I and was several years junior as a result. Still, our relationship was as strong as could be expected across two hundred kilometers of bristling jungle.

“Que tal, Paula?” English is my first language, Da made sure of that, but I learned early on to only speak it at home. Still don’t know a lick of Rafano, though, probably because I’m not a terrorist.

“Morning, Sylvia,” came Paula’s voice through the scratchy connection. Even the cell phones don’t work well in San Lorenzo. “Are you in your office?”

“Yes, why?” Usually that question means somebody wants to come by and have a thirty minute in-person conversation instead of a thirty-second phone call.

“You might want to close the door.” I sighed inwardly, but complied. Junior agents have a way of making everything dramatic, like every airline pilot with whiskey in his carry-on is their big break.

“It’s closed, Paula. What’s up?” Out of sight, I returned to my chair, leaned back, and put my bare feet on my desk, leaving my incredibly uncomfortable pumps on the floor. Most people guess my height at about 165cm, but I’m actually about 160 and just very good at walking in heels. Left to my own devices, I’d go around looking like I just stumbled out of hot yoga, but this job has a dress code that is no less strict for being unwritten.

“I’ve got a lead on a drug ring centered around the Tercer Ciudad Ultras.”

I stared at the ceiling, trying to recollect whatever I could about the criminal element in San Lorenzo. Like most of the Oficina, my focus was almost entirely in the hinterland to the south and west of Santa Rafita, trying to keep a lid on the brewing rebellion there. San Lorenzo was disgruntled, sure, but they’d been disgruntled under the Virrey and the junta, too. Anything happening there was a sideshow, but I had to trust Paula had a reason for calling.

“Ok. What are they moving?”

I trained my people to give me the five W’s up front: who, what, where, when, and why in that order. Had I trained Paula myself, her first sentence would have been:

“A syndicate including influential members of the Tercer Ciudad Ultras and possibly several players made a connect in Farfadillis during the Baptism of Fire that is allowing them to buy sufficient weight in club drugs to monopolize the tourist market in San Lorenzo in order to fund other activities.”

The news was hardly news, at least to anyone who really understood the current situation in Santa Rafa. The junta was far more effective than the Virrey at stemming the flow of contraband from beyond Santa Rafa’s borders, partly by reducing demand through draconian punishments for users, and partly by reducing supply through increased tariffs on basically everything. People on the street paid more for their shoes and socks, but drugs were even more expensive and hard to come by.

That went out the window with the election of the federal government. Along with standing up the long-defunct Rafano national football team, the federales opened up the import market even wider than the Virrey had, meaning more opportunities for smugglers to move their goods. Prices for illicit drugs plummeted, then stabilized, which was a mixed blessing for law enforcement. On the one hand, more drugs found their way to the streets, while on the other, the rebels found their hold of the domestic market contested, and their profits diminished significantly.

I got off the phone with Paula, replaced my pumps, and made my way to the corner office. Jorge Rivera is my boss, the Special Agent in Charge of the South Capital field office, though in practice my work takes me all over the city. Jorge signs my paperwork, and in truth, he’s the guy I go to in situations like this that are bigger than just me.

Jorge was on the phone when I propped my hip against his door jam, but hung up promptly with a rushed “I’ll talk to you later” when he saw the look on my face. I’ve never been good at hiding my feelings. He rounded the corner of his desk to face me head on before he spoke.

“Talk to me, Goose,” he said. “You’ve got that look.”

Jorge always says I have “that look”. He knows how much it irritates me.

“I need a car and a hotel in San Lorenzo.”

His brow furrowed. My contempt for the third city was well-known, but really I was just vocalizing what everyone else thought. I had led with that information on purpose, to give Jorge an idea I was serious.

Before he could ask, “what the hell for?”, I went on. “Paula Iglesias has something, but I don’t know exactly what. The Tercer Ciudad Ultras apparently have a plug in Farfadillis for club drugs—pills and powder, that kind of thing.”

I watched Jorge’s face as he puzzled through that information. Our primary focus was the rebels in the jungle, who until about two years ago had made so much money on the drug trade that they were better equipped than our conventional forces. Our finance nerds had managed to isolate the methods by which they offshored their profits, limiting their supply of hard currency and putting a squeeze on them that had finally turned the tide of the war.

Now the Ultras were entering the drug business, with customers who dealt almost exclusively in hard currency. The foreign cash the tourists paid for their nights of fun would go a lot further than Rafano money, and if the rebels got in bed with the Ultras, we could be back to square one. Cracking down on the drug trade in San Lorenzo would mean scaring off tourists, and the locals would never cooperate.

But the Ultras and the rebels hadn’t gotten in bed before now, and for good reason; San Lorenzo people hated the interior as much as we did, and as much as they hated us. The situation was complicated, and about to become moreso, but there was no way to predict what was going to change. He needed someone in San Lorenzo with an understanding of the broader strategic situation; he needed me.

“Take Royce with you.” 

[Jeruselem]

Jeruselem, Princess Cassie and the major of Jeruselem after Jeruselem lost to Mriin 4-1 at home

Cassie: This is Princess Cassie for Naked News Jeruselem. We're at Dazza Dallas Stadium. I'm with new Major of Jeruselem, Ismail ... err ... your name is too long
Ismail: I know, we'll just stick to my first name for this interview.
Cassie: Anyway, Jeruselem lost to Mriin 4-1. Half the team got the flu from our previous game.
Ismail: I heard it wasn't very nice.
Cassie: Believe me, it wasn't a nice one either.
Ismail: They are never nice

Cassie: We pretty much had to cancel training for a week. I guess we didn't really recover from the cold today either.
Ismail: Definitely not a game we'd like to repeat
Cassie: Yes, we weren't at full capacity today. Some of our players were still at home today, our reserves didn't quite make up for that today.
Ismail: Being an older person, you don't recover as quick as young you used to.
Cassie: Let's move on, I don't want talk about the game. The Group 11 table stands as this after the results today. Jeruselem lost to Mriin 4-1 at home, not Mirin as the spellchecker insists. Abanhfleft beat Sultanate of Oontaz 4-1 at home. Darkmania beat Lycrabon 4-2 in Lycrabon. Dreamplanet had a 6-2 home win against Neo-Romanum at home. Crystalline Caverns beat Mareibat 1-0 at home. A bit of goal fest other than one game today.
Ismail: So we weren't the only at the end of beating today.

Cassie: Abanhfleft 15 points, lead. Mriin 2nd on 13 points after beating us. Darkmania 3rd in 12th and us on 12 points in 4th. Dreamplanet on 10 points in 5th. Crystalline Caverns on 9 points in 6th. Mareibat and Sultanate of Oontaz on 6 points in 7th and 8th. Neo-Romanum on 4 points in 9th and Lycrabon are last on 1 point. Well they have a point.
Ismail: I hope we can recover from this
Cassie: We have an away game, which we don't do so well. We need a win now. More like a few ... but we'll see what happens.
Ismail: Of course, Jeruselem city support our national team
Cassie: We do have a problem where we don't really score enough, and our defense can be problematic like today.
Ismail: It's been pretty solid for the first four games.

Cassie: We're not performing to our full capabilities we know that.
Ismail: That can be frustating, not performing to your full abilities.
Cassie: So, what's your plans for our beautiful city?
Ismail: We have spend money upgrading things. Some of the public infrastructure is degrading rapidly and it's noticable
Cassie: Some of our roads are looking a bit ... dodgy
Ismail: Not only that, part of city need new water infrastructure. We're fighting a losing battle with that. Old cities have this problem.

Cassie: But this requires money, we don't want to see higher taxes on the people.
Ismail: I know but we need to fix these things. Every day our people are fixing broken pipes all over the city.
Cassie: And repairing less than useable roads.
Ismail: I know, I use the same roads as you and everyone else.
Cassie: Hey, you know much the tires are on my car. I don't want to be getting new tires every few trips.
Ismail: Yes, it's not the best feeling.

Cassie: Are we getting more trees? It's not like Jeruselem has forests of the stuff.
Ismail: I have a plan for that but it will take time. Trees don't grow quickly.
Cassie: So what's the main struggle with the budget?
Ismail: The power costs are rising more than we'd like. Dealing with private power companies isn't as easy as you'd think. You don't have much competition.
Cassie: What about reducing our carbon emissions?
Ismail: We're putting solar where we can. We have enough sunshine for the next ... 3 billion years.

Cassie: I hear you gave yourself a pay cut?
Ismail: Yes, I get paid to much for what I do.
Cassie: Unheard of really on this day and age.
Ismail: This is a public position, not a corporation. We are here to serve not exploit.
Cassie: You can say that again.
Ismail: If I wanted to make money, I'd work for a bank.

[Darmen]

Tor Tong Lee slid his right hand up his forehead and through his jet black hair, stopping at the top of his head to scratch his scalp. With his left hand be pinched the top of his nose before running his thumb and index finger across his eyebrows. It had been a long week and Lee was exhausted.

What had started with his good friend and former teammate Gene Turko giving him a pamphlet, had escalated into a full blown battle in the Executive Cabinet and beyond between competing political interests. The Echani Path to Prosperity had been joined by an offer of investment from Eura. The left was calling for the acceptance of the aid and investment so that the proposed public works program could go ahead. Meanwhile the liberals were using the debate to push for Darmeni membership in the Common Rushmori Community. Lee didn't like any of it, but some sort of compromise needed to be reached if Lee had any hope of appeasing both sides. Through it all, he also had to keep Darmen's best interests in mind.

Across the desk, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Donald O'Donahaue glanced through the papers he held in his hand. "I think we've got a good balance here, Lee. We get what we need, the Echanis and Eurans get what they want, and if we play the press right, we can take the credit for the accomplishment come election time."

Lee sighed, before inquiring, "The next elections aren't for another three and a half years, Donald. Are you seriously thinking of trying to win votes already?"

"Only because I know our opponents are thinking the same thing," answered O'Donahaue, smiling. "Shall I take this statement public?"

"Yes, just check with the Vice President first. I'd rather not have an enraged coalition partner to deal with, he's annoying enough as it is."

---

From the Office of the President of the Republic

Declaration of Intentions

With regards to Foreign Investment offers from Eshan and Eura

It is the intention of the government of the Republic of Darmen to pursue the following policies and objectives:

1. The Department of Infrastructure is to execute several projects to update necessary and vital infrastructure, namely:
   
   1. Renovation and modernization of the Tyger River Dam,
   2. Renovation and modernization of the Tyne River Dam,
   3. The dredging of the Port of Rogerton from a depth of 22 meters to a depth of 27 meters,
   4. The construction of five bridges in the southern portion of Darmen,
   5. The replacement of 16,100km of highway in the southern portion of Darmen.
2. To achieve these objectives, the Republic of Darmen shall:
   
   1. The Republic of Darmen shall accept the offer received from the Republic of Eshan to join the Path to Prosperity program,
   2. The Republic of Darmen shall accept the offer received from the United Federation of Eura for economic investment.
3. Via the Path to Prosperity, Darmen has requested:
   
   1. $4.6 billion for the renovation of the Tyger and Tyne River Dams,
   2. $150 million for the dredging of the Port of Rogerton,
   3. That all funds be given in the form of zero-interest loans with a ten year repayment period (from the date of reception).
4. Via Eura, Darmen has requested:
   
   1. $150 million for the construction of the five bridges,
   2. $14 billion for the replacement of highways,
   3. That all funds be given in the form of zero-interest loans with a ten year repayment period (from the date of reception).
5. In return, Darmen shall:
   
   1. Provide the labor for all projects by employing 16,000 workers for a period of three years (Eshan and Eura may appoint any technical personnel as they see fit to do so),
   2. Assume complete responsibility for any and all cost overruns,
   3. All imported goods originating from Eshan or arriving via Echani merchant vessels to the Port of Rogerton following the completion of the dredging project shall be subject to a 50% discount of any tariffs such goods would otherwise be subject to, for a period of thirty years,
   4. All Echani and Euran corporations operating in Darmen who employ at least 50% native Darmenis (excluding those employed outside Darmen) shall receive a 5% rebate on all corporate taxes paid by that corporation for a period of five years,
   5. The Republic of Darmen shall make separate public statements, one each for Eshan and Eura, affirming Darmen's political support for each nation,
   6. The Republic of Darmen shall reexamine its current policy of "wait and see" with regards to membership in the Common Rushmori Community.
6. The Republic of Eshan and the United Federation of Eura are free to accept the terms as currently stated or to negotiate different terms.

Declared: Thursday, November 7, 2041

Signed: Tor Tong Lee, President of the Republic

[Main Nation Ministry]

Kahe Island: The Amusement Park

Shell drew his supressed MP7, as his parachute landed at the beach near the amusement park. Walking away from shore, he could see the dock where a ferry is supposed to deliver tourists from the resort to Triton Park. The sight of several dinghy similar to the ones that patrol Kahe Island were a sign that hostiles were nearby. Possibly armed. Several ticket booths with turnstiles were at the entrance of the park, where a decorated garden of coastal flowers were visible. Hopping over the turnstiles, he saw a merry-go-round in front of him, where riders could ride on several colorful snakefish or seahorses. A spinning teacups ride was nearby, meaning Shell was currently in the "kids" section of the park. Reaching towards the rides which were more thrilling, Shell passed by a pirate ship ride that looked like it can do as many flips as it wants. Then, Shell sees a sight that made him aim his gun.

On the ground near the ferris wheel, there was some sort of sensor-activated mine. It didn't seem like an actual explosive, but was still something that could classified as an alarm. Shell slowly walked by it, as he can see a whole minefield of the devices. Was it a minefield? Then, he noticed the sight of a FKF soldier, walking towards a section of the park called "Sea Creature Spectacular", as shown by a colorful sign. Several soldiers were near at a circular medium-sized arena where several seats were positioned to face a fountain pool. Strange, why were they attracted to a place like this? It didn't matter, Shell aimed his gun and took some shots at several of them. It wasn't until the second one dropped was when the group of FKF soldiers realized that they were being attacked. Several attempted to fire back to kill Shell, however Shell managed to take care of them, expect one who went down a stairwell leading into an opening in the ground near the fountain. Shell ran over to try to see where he was going. All he saw from the top of the stairs was a door with the visible words, "Control Room".

Suddenly, the ground started to rumble, as if an earthquake has occurred. A line was visible on the fountain, until it started to open up to reveal a large chasm where a metallic beast, looking like a kaiju beast rose up as tall as 3/4 of the ferris wheel. Several fire jets emerged from the beast's nose. Looking the beast directly in the eyes, Shell can see a FKF soldier, using the eye windows to see where their target is. Dismanting from it's pedestal, the beast walked with each footstep a shockwave to crush the schoolboy. Shell took off running, as the beast gave chase. Heading around the minefield, Shell was using his watch as an attempt to communicate with mission control. Not having the time to message them by morse code, they tried to call them through their watch. "Mission Control, come on! I said, Mission Control!" Shell screamed, as the beast stomped on the mines, revealing them to be flash mines.

"Shell? Do you have more intel?" a mission control operative said on the other end of the line. "I'm being chased by one of the attractions from Triton Park! I need you to send in an airstrike or something!" Shell said, trying to run as fast as he can. "Want me to send the attack helicopter? It's equipped with missile-" "Just send anything that can blow it up!" Shell screamed, where the mission control operative calmly said, they will send a fighter jet in several minutes. Well, this was fantastic. Now, he needed to hide somewhere while the jet was coming. But where? Shell was nearby the entrance to the roller coaster, which gave him an idea. He entered the queue to the roller coaster, where he immediately crossed the boarding station and used the metal stairs near the uphill track. The beast stomped on the loading station, like flattening a tin can. As Shell ran up the stairs, he reached the end of the stairs where the track led to the first drop. It seemed like Shell was trapped and cornered by the beast. Was all hope lost already?

Several lone aircrafts were in the skies, moving towards the direction of Triton Park, as fast as an eagle. They were several fighter jets ready to assist Shell. One of them fired a missile at the beast, where while it did damage, it needed some more to stop the beast. Shell used this opportunity to run back down the stairs to head towards the entrance. The beast was being in the middle of being distracted by the jets flying them like bees. The problem was how was he going to get to the resort? Wait, the dinghy boats! Shell went back outside of the park to see if he can start up one of them, where it was still able to work. All Shell needed to do was pull on the lever controlling the motor and he went moving on the water, as the dinghy moved in a direction around from Triton Park.

As Shell drove away from Triton Park, he heard a loud thump behind him and saw a large amount of smoke behind him. They took the machine down. At least, that was one objective cleared. Now, all he needed to do was get to the resort to make sure no hotel staff were there. Shell already saw it in the distance, as a large wave-shaped hotel looking modern and gorgeous. It was practically his next stop.

[Kita-Hinode]

YOUTH FOOTBALL
Who's Seong Mi-Na, the nation's number one prospect?

KOHEI, NEKORI - Days have been noticeably busier at the Seong household. The family's original bread and butter, the Seong Dojo has since taken a back seat thanks to the owner's daughter, one Seong Mi-Na, an offensive midfielder that has been one of the consistent stars of the All-Hinodejin Youth Football League, defending the local high school side, Kohei Cherry Villa HS. Usually, the girl had a fairly easy schedule, wake up early, have breakfast, go to school, attend classes, train, go back home, study and then sleep.

But things have, as I've written before, being noticeably busier lately. The girl was evaluated as the top prospect for University teams this season, the second national top prospect in all of the Hinodejin Empire's history, following former Mashu Elite HS' Ikki Tokei from last season. Albeit fairly proud of her accomplishments, the girl is fairly humble regarding the results. "I'm happy, of course, but I don't see myself as a player as good as Tokei." Albeit not as talented as the current Mido-Hinode captain, Seong Mi-Na did accomplish some big things for her team, albeit a lack of silverware is clearly noticeable if one takes the time to inspect her results.

"Personally, I think the main reason she won the poll was her teammate skills..." noted former teammate and current captain Jin Ha, "Mi-Na embodies the values of sportsmanship, a love for the sport and ultimately, a great friend." None of her former teammates had any complaints about the girl, who was born at Kohei eighteen years ago and she herself will gladly tell anyone that asks over the fun times she had as a Cherry. "I will always remember the day they convinced me to play for the Cherries. They said they needed a midfielder... and that's it. I started playing."

Offers are plentiful, but she's still in a bit of a pickle. "I got a bunch of offers from universities of all sorts but I'm still not sure on what I should be looking for." According to herself, her biggest priority would be going to an institution near her hometown, which, in theory, should benefit Nishikoku but, as she says, "everything is on the table". Media outlets will be looking forward to finding out which school she decides to join, a decision that should come soon. Other notables on the early national board are Miishima Polytechnical utility player Mii Sadaharu (that could be on the way to Mishima Poly, a second division team), the Kim brothers Dong-Hwang and Jae-Hoon and Osarian keeper Shinji Teruzuki.

[Mytanija]

Part 1
Part 2

LAERTIADES

by Dorde Arsic

PART II: ODYSSEY
EPISODE 4, CALYPSO

Mr. Benjamin Vucina ate with relish the inner organs of beasts and fowls. He ate offal because it was cheap and cheap was good because all-in-all Mr. Benjamin Vucina was a little bit of a bean-counter.

He would have a braised ox-cheek pie on a Monday and sample lamb or pigs’ kidney with mashed potato on a Tuesday. Wednesdays he’d consume a 1 kilogram ox tongue, creating a sauce gribiche, whose punchy acidity would pair well with the cold cuts of tongue for a lovely sandwich. Thursdays were interesting because there was ordinarily a mixture of things available but most often he would use a beef heart and combine it with a home-made slaw, it was one of his favourites. Fridays it was a case of more bread, baked pyrizhky with chicken hearts and liver. Weekends it could vary even more so than a Thursday, but in the afternoon before his regular weekend stroll he would make a plate of pickled pork tongue with poached egg and watercress or braised lamb hearts stuffed with an almond tapenade.

Oh yes, Mr. Benjamin Vucina did enjoy eating the inner organs of beasts and fowls.

He was readying the stove and he wondered what she would want for breakfast. The coals were reddening slowly and he knew that if he went now he would just about have time to purchase a kidney. He had kidneys on his mind and he did feel peckish.

The cat meowed its way into the room, knocking itself gently off a chair leg with its tail proudly high in the air like a ship’s mast. Mr. Vucina buttered a slice of bread, two, placed them on a plate and then a third. Enough. She didn’t like her plate to be too full. He had filled the kettle with water in anticipation of a cup of coffee, a morning espresso to wake him up, he placed it on the stove and waited.

The cat eagerly jumped up on the table, stiffly walking across its wooden surface, bobbing its head in an attempt to get the attention of Mr. Vucina. He smiled to himself, good cat, stroking its head as it purred by way of response. What could it eat? Mr. Vucina looked around the room to no avail. He had not been to the butchers as yet and he didn’t have any remainders to offer the feline. Its lithe black form stalked across the table, demanding contact and Mr. Vucina offered it.

Mr. Vucina thought back to the breakfast. He would have to go to the butchers. But which one? It was a Tuesday, so that meant kidneys. Oh joy, thought Mr. Vucina eagerly. But where to go for the meat? Someone had told him that this week it would not be a good one for lamb kidney from the Charmunnry fellow, what was his name again, oh yes, Finnegan. Not a good day for lamb kidney from Finnegan’s, much better a pork kidney from Seidel’s. Whilst the kettle is boiling.

The cat yearned for his attention, but up he stepped nonetheless, on quietly creaky feet he edged out of the room. He pulled his old coat off the hook and placed it over his shoulders, pulling it around him for warmth and quick doing up the buttons. He looked up the stairs, half wondering whether he should ask what she wanted for breakfast. She might like something a little unusual, there could be no harm in asking.

“I’m going down the street for a few minutes.” He said, with the words echoing up the steps for a millisecond, he added: “Would you like anything for breakfast?”

“Mhmmmm.” Came the muffled response from the top of the stairs. No, she did not want anything. Mr. Vucina knew that she didn’t want much from him generally anymore, anyway. He knew for certain something was going on, he just wasn’t sure what, as yet. It was unclear. She was definitely sleeping with another man. He just did not know who.

As he heard the bread springs squeak and a softer sigh come from upstairs, he placed his cap upon his head and pulled his coat into shape around his chin. He’d have to hurry up. He had to get back as the kettle boiled. To Mr. Seidel’s for some pork kidney, maybe he’d treat himself to some sausages or some polony. He would see what he could find, anyway. He opened the door and the bright light waded through the room slowly as the noise from the bustle of the street crept faintly into his ears, even pleasantly in fact.

The sounds of the city comforted Mr. Vucina, the sound of the horse-drawn cart’s wheels over the misshapen cobbles; the shouts of the young newspaper delivery lads as they called to one another, teasing about who could finish their round first; the cries of women from window to window, laughing to one another as they drew in their washing lines, hung between the terraced houses roofs. He had visited the countryside once, it had been a nice break away from it all but when he returned to the city, the familiarity of it all enveloped him and his sense of comfort returned. Oh yes, Mr. Vucina was very much so a man of the city.

He skipped down past a couple of young kids playing onto the bright side of the street and noticed the warmth of the sun for the first time. He would be hot in his black suit, but it was a funeral and tradition dictated. He wasn’t going to be the one to look out of place that was for sure. He’d have to be careful not to get the suit dirty, in fact. It would be most disrespectful, they wouldn’t like it whatsoever if they noticed. All about keeping up appearances, indeed it was.

Mr. Vucina approached Bugaric’s. He knew he should probably say something about the funeral to the old man, but it would be the same hackneyed conversation he had repeated umpteen times. Stevan Dedalic was there, the drunkard who sang occasionally and Mr. Vucina could overhear the conversation. He would have expected nothing less from Dedalic.

“Ah but you see they reckon the armies of Valladares will crush the Darmeni forces, have a field day I heard. Prevna himself told me.”

“Ah sure but Prevna is a joker, Dedalic.” Old Man Bugaric replied dismissively, “You need to stop drinking son, you’ll believe anything you’re told.” The old man was right too, Stevan Dedalic was probably too believing for his own good. Mr. Vucina remembered a time he had been duped into giving a shyster a fair amount of money after being told he was going to be arrested for his drunken antics. It was all rubbish, of course, but Dedalic had bought it. He had looked glum in the pub for weeks afterward.

He approached Mr. Seidel’s shop and noticed the shapely figure of the woman behind the counter, very pleasing to see on such a morning. He snapped his eyes away as she laid her gaze upon him, looking at the selection of meats and focusing on the job at hand. He had a kettle to get back for, of course. Sausages of every variety, the polonies he so often enjoyed, where were the kidneys again? He would ask for them, maybe she would give him a good deal, she seemed to have a kind face. Here’s hoping.

“Here Miss,” He said, attracting the attention of the lady. “Some of those, please.” He pointed.

“This enough Sir?” She asked, holding out the sausages. Perfect, he nodded. She cut them apart at the point he indicated and placed them in a paper bag. “Anything else for you today Sir?”

“Whereabouts are the kidneys, Miss?” Mr. Vucina enquired.

“Oh, just over here.” She replied. “Come.” She beckoned, smiling. He followed her to another area and there they were, excellent. “Is this enough?” She asked.

“Perfect again Miss.” Mr. Vucina smiled.

“They make excellent eating, Sir.” She said. “That’ll be 5 Coruns, thank you.” She held out her hand as Mr. Vucina scrambled into his coat pocket. A fair deal, he thought to himself. He was sure he had had better, though, when Mr. Seidel had been working there himself. He wondered where he was. He gave her the correct change and her eyes glinted as each coin was placed into her grasp.

“Thanks, see you later.” Mr. Vucina said, ogling her one last time.

“Have a nice day Sir.” She responded, immediately moving onto the next customer and busying herself with his request.

***

He had hurried home and as he reached the door he found the daily bottle of milk left by Dmitry Peruvec. The cat would enjoy that, if it was still around, he thought. He may even give it a few morsels of his breakfast, if he was feeling especially kind. He entered through the door, quickly dispatched his coat onto its hook and began preparing his morning meal. The kettle had boiled, whistling aggressively and he carefully removed it from the heat and placed it down on the table. The cat hurriedly jumped down, the heat being a little too much for its sensitivities.

“Ah yes,” Mr. Vucina started, “I did get something for you, puss.” He brandished the milk. The cat meowed loudly. He had always said that cats were more intelligent than people believed. They knew what they wanted and they got it. They knew what humans meant better than humans understood them, too. He poured the milk into a saucer and the cat greedily lapped it up.

The food was readied and Mr. Vucina greedily tucked in, consuming the pork kidney along with a couple of sausages and potato. A hearty breakfast for what he believed would be a long day. He sat back comfortably full and rested his hands on his bloated abdomen, satisfied. The cat had curled up on a chair, similarly well-fed and feeling lazy. Mr. Vucina couldn’t particularly afford to be lazy, it was a busy day indeed. The funeral was a burden on his mind, but that was not all that needed to be done.

He would start the day with a loosening of the bowels, he thought. Standing slowly and trotting towards the backdoor and the outhouse. He would have to be careful when sitting down, it wasn’t the cleanest area and he had to keep his suit spotless. It wouldn’t do to attend the funeral dirty, not at all. He propped the door open and carefully sat down.

He mused on who it was that she could be sleeping with. He had a few ideas, but he could not be certain. Perhaps it was her agent, the unscrupulous bastard was undoubtedly stringing her along, he hadn’t gotten her into a new show for almost a year! There always had been something smarmy about him, something that had not sat right with Mr. Vucina. Well, if it was him then she would find out eventually that it was a poor decision. Sure, he hadn’t always been the best, but he had supported her and he provided her with a roof over her head. They had had good times too.

There was movement from the upstairs window from next door. Mr. Vucina attempted to catch a glimpse of what was going on, but something was shining in his eyes, preventing him from affixing his view on whatever it was. Disappointing, he always liked to catch a nice view in the morning. Although he did wager that the man next door would kick him halfway down the street if he caught him looking. The shining stopped and Mr. Vucina was disappointed.

Nothing.

Well, whatever. He cleaned himself and girded up his trousers and then braces and all, buttoned himself up. He’d have to be on time for the funeral, couldn’t be late, that was for certain.

The bells tolled across the city. Time to go.

[East Belzaria]

The away travelling has gotten to East Belzaria. Jet Lag was a main reason for East Belzaria's 2-0 defeat to Lochario. "We simply ran out of gas" Said David Madridson. East Belzaria returns to home action against the Equestrian States, who is their biggest competition in their group. The Equestrian states have won 6 from 6. But they face East Belzaria away, and East Belzaria's home support will be at it's strongest. Projections show that 98% of the population will be tuned in to watch this key clash against one of the world's heavyweights.

[Indusse]

Indusse 1-0 Semarland
Aaryan 86'

Indusse 6-3 Tobria
Bechun 2', 4', 76'
Baskar 67', 76'
Aaryan 89'

Indusse is showing its might defeating experienced team. Farfadillis and aaggrey Finn are too at the too but we will defeat the. Happiness swam across us we were delighted to have experienced the most happiest time in our world up history. But, It didnt last too ling not forever. We lost to the toppers farfadillis. don't worry we will be back we will show our might. Let's go!!

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

© Sporting Times Daily 2020
Baker Park rolls along, eyes homecoming
by Mindy Cartwright, National Soccer Writer

As they continue to focus on the task before them, the Commonwealth National Team have not fallen into the trap of taking anything for granted that teams in their situation might well do. Their 1-0 victory over Taeshan at Atlantea Coliseum was a workman-like performance; the discipline and resilience defensively which smothered the Knights attack is just the type of match that sides looking to make it through the World Cup qualifying need to show.

Ahead of their next away match against co-leaders Darmen, the BP side will face off against Kwesiland looking to extend their record winning & unbeaten streaks. The match at the Salisbury Stadium will mark the first time the national team will play a match at the venue, which becomes the 22nd stadium to host a home international.

Additionally, the FAC have announced the sites for the first two home matches in the second half of qualifying. Freeport Isles will be the first opponent for the match that will take place at Rogers Stadium in Endborough and Innovian Indusse will be the visitor when MacIlwaine Stadium in St Warren will host their first home national team fixture.
__________________________________________________________________________________

(meanwhile, away from the playing fields...)

Following the regular Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Rebecca Schoenlein stayed behind with a few other ministers to discuss a couple of non-agenda topics she wanted to get information about. With her were Thomas Dixon, Foreign Minister; Hannah Delaney, Secretary of State; and Chris McGee, Chief of Security.

The Prime Minister began the discussion. "Let's go over a few things that have come up. First of all, we have a report that Mattias Mutebi's deputy, Hatubu Danso has sought and been given asylum in Geisenfried. While this isn't necessarily an issue, it does create a perception problem."

Dixon chimed in. "The Banijans didn't really make a big fuss about him running for the border, I don't know if they just don't have anything to charge him with or just don't think he's a big enough fish."

"Have a chat with the Busogan FM and see what they think about Danso. And Hannah, you seemed to get on OK with the Equestrian Foreign Minister, maybe call him up for a friendly hello and see if they have something they might want to do. It might be a big to-do about nothing, but we can at least be seen to be proactive."

McGee was next to bring up a topic. "We've been getting some good intel from our contacts in South Covello about their situation. You'll recall that the President there, John Green, has made a lot of noises about declaring war on anyone and everyone, for reasons he only seemed to understand. Well he was deposed and now the country is embarking on a new campaign for President. It seems Green was the outlier and everyone else in the legislature and the government are pretty sensible. But I think it's worth keeping an eye on from a distance."

Schoenlein wondered aloud. "Do you propose any additional assets, or just maintain the status quo?"

"Oh no, there isn't a threat. It might be an avenue for engagement on trade or economic opportunities, but I don't think it's front burner stuff."

The PM moved on to her next issue. "Speaking of economics, and speaking of countries we play soccer against, Darmen is the rope in a bit of a tug-o-war at the present. They have been seeking aid and investment for their infrastructure and they are seemingly trying to play it down the middle. They have an offer from Eshan, and also from Eura for assistance and they are also on the fence about their own regional economic bloc. It's definitely not our sphere of influence, but I'd like to at least have a get to know you talk with their government, so we can at least gauge the interest in some sort of trade relationship with them. Tom, could you send a feeler out to their people? Since we have the national team headed there, we could always send someone along for a meet & greet. It can be as low level as they are comfortable with."

She closed her binder. "That's all I have. Anyone else want to bring something up?" The rest of them shook their heads. "OK, thanks."

[Qusmo]

Cralt-Nirlo Fox held the envelope in their hand. T.V. City, Qasden, it read on the return label. It was rather plain, but there was no mistaking who sent this message, or what it would be about.

But Cralt-Nirlo had no idea what it said. To whom it may concern:

They had sent an application to that very address upon learning that Qasden’s national team had a vacancy at the position of national team manager. My name is Cralt-Nirlo Fox, & I would be honoured to serve as the next manager of the national football team of Qasden.

To Cralt-Nirlo’s delight, they were selected for an interview in Qasden - away from the prying eyes of their present employer in Filindostan, of course, as well as the scrutiny of the domestic media of their home country of Qusmo. I have experience as the manager of KF Estraj, a club team in my home nation of Qusmo, & as the assistant manager of the Filindostani national team.

In the end, word did leak. Qasden’s football association whittled the list of candidates down to only two: Cralt-Nirlo & Rafael Barrios of Sargossa. Barrios not only had prior experience with a national team, but they had led their nation to a World Cup. At KF Estraj, I was doubted throughout my tenure; at forty-three, I was Pug Qusmyra’s second-youngest manager, & I had a squad that left something lacking to work with.

Cralt-Nirlo had enjoyed success before, & they certainly had experience as the person in charge of a club. They knew the ins & outs of the role & the pressure that would be placed on them; still, unlike Barrios, despite progress, they could point to no trophies, no tangible success. However, in the inaugural season of Qusma top flight domestic football, I guided Estraj to a seventh place finish, when they were predicted to finish thirteenth.

Cralt-Nirlo felt that they might be building a bit of a reputation as a manager who always had one foot out the door, searching for their next opportunity. They left Estraj after a single season, & they were interviewing for a new role after being on the Filindostani staff for only one cycle. Estraj did not provide any opportunities for advancement, as they remain unwilling to invest further in a roster I can take further; thus, I decided to seek employment elsewhere.

Cralt-Nirlo also knew that, despite their experience as a manager & in a national team setup, they had not led a national team before. If they had wanted to, they could have led their own country. But they spurned their homeland, looking instead for greener pastures. I was offered a job as Qusmo’s national team manager, but I declined, because I did not believe that Qusmo had what it took to compete on the international stage.

Cralt-Nirlo emphasized to the selection committee, however, that that did not mean that they were wholly inexperienced with national team matters. They knew that a national team was unique. & they were familiar with many of its intricacies with the experience they did have. Instead, I assumed a role as assistant manager of the national team of Filindostan.

Cralt-Nirlo knew that Barrios had the edge on them in terms of results & experience. Throughout the entire application process, however, they kept stressing that they were capable of getting good results, too - & that they had done so before. Serving under Twilight Striker of the Equestrian States, I have certainly learned a lot during my tenure, & I’m proud of the results we have achieved.

Qasden was gearing up for a new World Cup Qualifying campaign. It is a veritable meat grinder, forcing a team to play eighteen matches in ten nations, travelling across the multiverse to do so. It was important that Qasden’s next manager would know how to deal with these challenging conditions; thankfully, Cralt-Nirlo already had. Despite being seventh of ten in Group Fourteen when I arrived, ten matches into World Cup 80 qualification, scoring only four goals & conceding seven, we finished one place short of a playoff berth, scoring twelve times & conceding only five times in the last eight matches of qualification, with six wins, one draw, & only one loss.

Cralt-Nirlo had been in an international tournament, too. &, really, that was the goal: to get through qualification in order to arrive at the tournament. If the qualification process is unique for being a test of attrition, the World Cup & the Cup of Harmony were unique for being a sprint for success. We then advanced to the Cup of Harmony, where we won our group & advanced to the quarterfinals.

But Cralt-Nirlo risked leaving all of that behind. Filindostan had provided them with fantastic opportunities, & the coaching staff was superb. Being a senior manager was tremendously instructive for Cralt-Nirlo, but getting to study under the tutelage of someone else gave them wisdom they would otherwise never be able to have. At Filindostan, not only did I continue to demonstrate a superb record of quality, but I also learned a lot about how to manage a national team under the tutelage of Twilight Striker, who imparted wisdom they gained from their time as the manager of their homeland from World Cup Cycles Fifty-Eight through Sixty-Nine & of Filindostan.

Cralt-Nirlo knew this. Cralt-Nirlo knew that once Qasden’s final list of two candidates had been leaked, there would be no turning back. Cralt-Nirlo would have to choose either to deny everything & forsake the opportunity to lead the Vans or walk away from the home in Filindostan they had come to know. However, with experience leading a team as a manager, with experience in a national team programme, & with demonstrated success both at the domestic & international levels, I think I am capable of more than being a manager in Qusmo or an assistant manager in Filindostan.

To be entirely frank, Cralt-Nirlo had never been wholly satisfied with their post. They won the Manager of the Year award in Pug Qusmyra, & they left their post at Estraj thinking that a new job would materialize easily. Ultimately, they were locked out of a job until midway through qualifiers, when they applied for the vacancies in Banija & Filindostan. Both rejected Cralt-Nirlo. Now, Cralt-Nirlo was looking for something more. I think that Qasden’s national team is just the opportunity I am looking for, & I am sure it is a post in which I can excel.

Cralt-Nirlo wanted to go to a place with a winning tradition. They wanted to go to a place with a rich tradition. They wanted to go to a place that already had success at a high level & were prepared to return to it again. One need only look at its track record to see the source of my confidence.

Cralt-Nirlo had first gotten their start in Rushmore, & they now called Esportiva home. Both regions were near & dear to them, & they felt that both were wonderful places to live & to work. However, there was something about the pull of a region like Atlantian Oceania that intrigued them. Before its recent failure at AOCAF Cup LVI, Qasden had advanced to the knockout rounds in each of the previous three AOCAF Cups, including playing in the AOCAF Cup Fifty-Five semifinals.

Cralt-Nirlo did not want any team in the region, however. They wanted a place whose name was known not just on its island but well beyond its shores. They wanted a place where the entire multiverse would come to know their name. Qasden’s long & proud history on the international stage extends beyond Atlantian Oceania, too; from its very first World Cup Committee-sanctioned tournament, Baptism of Fire Sixty-Three, the Vans advanced to the semifinals, losing in that stage to the eventual champions.

Most importantly, Cralt-Nirlo hungered for trophies. Of course, they had led Estraj to a much better place than they would likely otherwise landed at. They had led Filindostan to the tip of qualifying for a World Cup. However, they did not lead Estraj to qualification for international competition. They did not succeed in bringing Filindostan back up the table enough to travel to Starblaydia or the Equestrian States. & that little difference was all that mattered. Qasden has advanced to the knockout rounds in every Cup of Harmony it has participated in, including consecutive championships over Barunia & Nephara in the sixty-ninth & seventieth editions, respectively.

Though they were busy with Filindostan in the Cup of Harmony, their employer was not the only team they paid attention to. Cralt-Nirlo did want to know how their home country would do. So, while they were working for Filindostan, they always made sure to keep tabs on how Qusmo was doing in the same tournament. It did even better in the next cycle, qualifying to World Cup Seventy-Nine, & seemed to be on the path to qualify for World Cup Eighty; however, after a playoff loss to Baker Park, Qasden played again in the Cup of Harmony, including against my home country of Qusmo in the group stage, before being eliminated in the quarterfinals by eventual champion Mercedini.

One thing that stuck out to Cralt-Nirlo was Qasden’s precarious position: it had just sacked a successful national team manager after a devastating playoff loss & a national outcry, & a somewhat lacklustre performance in the ensuing Cup of Harmony ensured that their interim replacement would remain merely an interim replacement. Lately, the performance of the national team has not been up to the standards that many Qads have come to expect.

Other managers may have seen that situation develop & steered clear away. Over the span of a single cycle, the football association sacked two national team managers, giving them no leash or room for error. How could there be any job security in a place like that? Who would want to be in a position like that? Cralt-Nirlo, however, saw it as a challenge. However, I believe that the right manager can right the ship & get Qasden back on track, to the place it was before the playoff collapse & Drucati’s tenure.

Qasden’s football association saw something in Cralt-Nirlo that they liked. It was a spark of something special, they dared to guess. & so, despite what everyone else in Qasden believed, they were still in the running for that position. Was not Barrios more qualified? Was not Barrios more experienced? Was not Barrios more successful? Was not Barrios clearly the better choice to lead Qasden’s national team? Still, despite it all, Cralt-Nirlo steadfastly continued to believe in themself. I believe that I am that manager.

Cralt-Nirlo believed that they could earn the position. Cralt-Nirlo believed that they would earn the position. & Cralt-Nirlo believed that they would be successful in the position. The football association challenged them to prove it. They would get the opportunity to manage Qasden in a single match on a trial basis, as a test of their style, their strategy, & their skill in managing Qasden’s national team. I have always believed in the teams I manage, & that confidence has manifested itself in an aggressive playing style. I find that teams can throw their opponents off balance with a strong, committed attack, & I think that would be all the more true with the likes of Onyx Foster & Ryan Xandreas available for selection.

Qasden had two friendlies scheduled before the qualifying campaign would begin. Cralt-Nirlo would take one, & so would Barrios. The first friendly would be against Freeport, a nation that had just emerged from a semifinalist performance at the massive Baptism of Fire held in Semarland & Farfadillis. However, the Baptism of Fire was one thing; Cralt-Nirlo wanted to face the toughest opponent they could. They wanted to face an opponent who had already announced themselves on the international arena. & they had other reasons for requesting the friendly opponent they did, too. Cralt-Nirlo Fox would manage Qasden’s national team in a match against Qusmo. After a recent string of disappointing & embarrassing results, it’s time for the Vans to get their confidence back; it’s time to stop being afraid & to start being bold.

Cralt-Nirlo battled hard against the defensively-minded Avarn-Oxolt Ban on the other side of the touchline, but in the end, Cralt-Nirlo secured the victory over their homeland, & over the team whose advances they had spurned. Still, though, Barrios won with an impressive display of attacking football of their own, & they had all the experience & credentials to their name. Barrios was still far & away the favourite to win the national team job. Cralt-Nirlo was being brought in, it assumed, to give the decision a veneer of difficulty. Cralt-Nirlo was being used merely as a way to bring out the best in Barrios, & they would be tossed aside once Qasden got what it really wanted. That was what the entirety of the nation thought. That is what they believed. Yet Cralt-Nirlo Fox stood against it all & kept hoping against all odds that they would defy their own personal history & finally land the position that they craved. & if you give me the honour of being Qasden’s next manager, I will personally make sure that the national team does just that - & returns to being a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.

Cralt-Nirlo returned to the moment at hand. Here, they held a letter in their hand. No, not a letter - the letter. It had to be. This was the letter. This was the letter that would tell them whether they had finally made it, & would finally get that golden opportunity that they had so long dreamed of. This was the casting decision for a starring role on the stage of the multiverse. This was the letter.

Cralt-Nirlo Fox,

We are pleased to offer you our congratulations -

Group 9
Savalen 0–1 Polkopia
Rakivland 8–0 Nuadh-Alba
Axuva 2–6 Valanora
Qusmo 0–0 Eastfield Lodge
New Gazi 2–0 Karulicja

   Group 9                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 New Gazi                          6    5   0   1    13    4   +9    15
 2 Qusmo                             6    4   1   1    12    3   +9    13
 3 Eastfield Lodge                   6    3   3   0    11    6   +5    12
 4 Polkopia                          6    3   1   2     8    7   +1    10
 5 Valanora                          6    3   1   2    18   11   +7    10
 6 Savalen                           6    3   0   3    10    8   +2     9
 7 Axuva                             6    2   0   4     8   19  −11     6
 8 Karulicja                         6    2   0   4    11   11    0     6
 9 Rakivland                         6    1   0   5    14   16   −2     3
10 Nuadh-Alba                        6    0   2   4     2   22  −20     2

QNT earns nervy draw against Eastfield Lodge
Qusmo 0–0 Eastfield Lodge
Mastad Qusma, Qanz, Qusmo (cap. 80 000)

---

GK  Xynat-Evela Cuf
CB  Cunix-Betva Tla
CB  Zenon-Gerol Kal
CB  Yelto-Alfan Ono
DM  Yamaj-Blonz Jok
77’ Yunal-Julad Waz
CM  Ilinx-Kepex Zev
AM  Ilinx-Vulav Ixi
67’ Ozolx-Mazur Guv
LM  Helek-Nenzi Ono
RM  Ilinx-Iblix Tla
SS  Paliv-Xilit Max
67’ Jralv-Nexev Pec
ST  Xilit-Zaxac Yol

[Oberour Ar Moro]

beep!

The card reader greeted Daric de l'Amie and opened the gate for him. It's well past midnight, and Daric steered his car from the dark outside into the dim underground parking. He found his assigned parking spot and pulled in. He turned off the car, and then leaned his head back.

2-3.

So close.

He pulled the key out of the ignition, and walked to the elevator. The Football Management Committee was paying for his apartment, which was nice, and had a somewhat decent view through one window. But he was not particularly interesting at looking at Regium's finest portions of apartment buildings. The apartment was dark and still. He walked quietly to the bedroom, slowly opening the door. Put down his bag, quietly changed, and slipped into bed.

He found someone warm there he didn't want to wake. But he did anyway. Or she was already awake. She reached behind her and pulled him closer to her.

"Honey, I'm so sorry." Tyceline de l'Amie whispered.

Daric sighed, then held his forehead against the back of Tyceline's head.

2-3.

"We had the sixth best team in the multiverse sweating."

"I know."

"More goals against Vilita than anyone else this qualification."

Tyceline squeezed Daric's arms.

"They went to the World Cup quarterfinals last time!"

"And the team was close to beating them."

Daric squeezed his wife and sighed, again.

"It's weird, you know? Five years ago I didn't even know that much about football. Two years ago I was interviewing for a back office job. Now I'm managing an international team. I figured we'd be horrible, and now I'm disappointed in losing to a great team. It's all weird."

Tyceline turned over and looked Daric in the eyes. "You are weird. But I'm so proud of you."

Daric leaned in and kissed her, and held her tight. Neither spoke. Then Daric whispered again. "We almost tied it up in the 83rd minute. We almost tied."

[Mriin]

Maal Memoirs
Sports
Caught 'em 'mirin

Yon Kegant
Jerusalem, Jeruselem

Alright, that might not be a totally fair summary of the match. I'm just tickled by the Jeruselemite media's obsession with misspelling Mriin; though it's fair to say the enigmatic Naked News is well-known for their... eclectic focuses. Not that any of you care, of course, since you're reading this instead of watching them. So let's swiftly move on to the match itself.

While the Reavers put on a clinical display of finishing on their way to a second consecutive four-goal game, it felt more like putting a wounded animal down than anything. A plague swept through the Jeruselemite starters and left a gimped B-side to contend with group eleven's top seeds, and that panned out exactly as you'd expect it to. While we'll always be happy to see three points on the board, it's a bit disheartening to see what should have been the second-hardest qualifying matchup flounder after the rather competitive affair in Abanhfleft. Solara was left unpressured for forty minutes she was on the pitch, with Arum Nuxon unable to confidently step up in his relatively fragile state (though he showed an admirable tenacity in trying to do... well, anything that had a chance of helping). A shift to Alexa Nem trying to cover her proved fruitless as well, the young back simply unable to match the Reaver's leading goalscorer in both pace and hoofwork. A handy brace to her name before the half was over, Don Mizzet saw it fit to give his star striker some extra rest in what was clearly a lower-intensity game.

Of course, it's not like any of the strikers warming the Mriinian bench are discount products--Jorm employed some of the guile he'd picked up in the A-League to set up a brilliant chance for Tali'raia, even if the selfless play wasn't a total necessity among a flagging back line. Three-aught with a half hour left to play was a dire spot for the hosts, and they wouldn't even get their chance at a consolation until after Reina wandered up and belted a shot off the crossbar--which banged straight down to catch Stellar Lumens off guard betwixt the sticks. The ball managed to bounce once right on the line then backspin in for a goal, much to the dismay the crowd that was already starting to thin out. That Denise Doge converted a penalty past a napping Mara because Uhlon had gotten bored and hacked down Tamara Tinkles for shits and giggles (he won't be playing our next match, coincidentally) didn't seem to phase the sickly atmosphere. It's probably best for all involved to leave this match to the sands of time.

Mriin - 4
Vol 16’, 35'
Tali'raia 59’
Kress 72’
Jeruselem - 1
Doge 87’

[Krenorus]

Hello? (Hello?) (Hello?)
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone at home?

KRENORUS V. PINK FLOYD F.C.

That was the music that came out of Richardson earphones, which he had plugged into his phone as he watched the opposing team. Strangely, the song that was playing was made by the group that the opposing team they were playing were named after, Pink Floyd. "Is that bloke, naked?" Ash Arrowson to Richardson as they looked at the one known as 'Gerald'. "Yeah, he is," Richardson responded. "Well, looks like he's like most Krenorussians then," Arrowson said to Richardson as he laughed. "We don't walk around naked," Richardson responded. "Except the Pakis' an' Shekel-Fellas," Arrowson said, in obvious slang terms for Muslims - Mohammedans and less frequently, Moslems, they were called in Krenorus - and Jews, who were referred to as 'Shekel-Fellows' or 'Shekel Fellas' since most Jews were bankers or in financial positions. All of a sudden, Richarson got the joke. He laughed as he slightly punched Arrowson on the arm and said, "Good one, friend". "Anyway mate, ya' need to be back at the locker. Coach's orders," Arrowson said as he walked off. Richardson checked his watch: The game was about to start. Soon, both teams would be walking out. Arrowson went to the locker room, where apparently, someone had brought a radio in. A classic rock song blasted from it,

You get a shiver in the dark,
It's raining in the park, but meantime:
South of the river, you stop and you hold everything.
A band is blowin' Dixie, double-four time.
You feel alright when you hear that music play.

Gerald Barbs watched on as he chatted with Ouilliamme De'Franco, the new coach for the team. De'Franco was an honest man who spoke with a classic French accent. "Yes, Monsieur Barbs," Arrowson heard him say. He sat down by Dexter Niles and slowly began to listen to the music.

You step inside, but you don't see too many faces.
Comin' in out of the rain to hear the jazz go down.
Competition in other places...
But the horns, they blowin' that sound.
Way on down south,
Way on down south, London-town

"What song is this?" Arrowson asked Niles, who was clearly happy with the music. "You don't know Dire Straits?" Niles asked back. Arrowson remained silent. "Anyway, Ash," Niles said, "it's Sultans of Swing. Let's listen for a while, huh?" Ash then nodded. The music started to come into his mind again.

Check out Guitar George, he knows all the chords.
But it's strictly rhythm; he doesn't want to make it cry or sing.
Yes, an old guitar is all he can afford,
When he gets up under the lights to play his thing.

And Harry doesn't mind if he doesn't make the scene.
He's got a daytime job, he's doing alright.
He can play the honky tonk like -

Arrowson's listening was interrupted by Coach De'Franco. He looked around, Richardson had already come and was sitting on one of the metal benches. MacMasters quickly went and turned off the music. "Friends," De'Franco said as he looked around, "now... we have had a string of victories in the past few games. Now, I'll say this. If we lose this match, there will still be hope. Play good, and don't be stressed," he said to claps. "Get a goal at least," Mister Barbs said while he leant his back against one of the walls. "Do good ya' buggas'," he said to laughter from the team.

Now, they were next to Pink Floyd F.C. as all of them prepared to walk out to the stadium. Ryan O'Brien, who was next to 'Gerald', slowly went out of line, to the left, away from Gerald. Probably a creepy paedophile bastard, he thought. Soon, both teams walked into the stadium. Many cheered while mothers covered their children's eyes. Some walked out at the sight of the naked Gerald. The teams lined up as the Krenorussian anthem played, Unum Par Manus, which translated to 'One Pair of Hands'. After that, Pink Floyd F.C. sang one of the songs made by the band by the same name.

In the twelfth minute of the game, Pink Floyd FC scored, this was followed another two times at 15 minutes and 30 minutes. After half-time, the Krenorussians made a comeback, with Lord Ryland van Gaak scoring the Equalizer. Unfortunetely, 'Gerald' would score after many team members avoided him to avoid touching him.

[Saint Emelie]

La Poste D'Émelie

World Cup Qualifying-What's Going On?

With news often slow to make it back to the island we call home, unless of course you are lucky enough to have a highly temperamental and sloth-slow internet connection, we've got you covered in bringing you updates from the ongoing set of World Cup qualifiers, in which Saint Émelie are participating for the first time.
The good news is that Les Insulaires have got off to a great start, with three wins in their first 4 matches and the only defeat being a spirited 3-2 loss to 14th-ranked Cosumar, the top seeds in the group. That leaves the team an excellent third place in group 2, enough to provisionally occupy a playoff place, albeit with 14 matches left to play. Here's a summary of the matches so far.

Saint Émelie 1-0 HUElavia

-Bastereud (78)

Saint Émelie got off to a flier on the sand in Le Goutiér with a brilliant, if sneaky win against the group's third seeds HUElavia. Florian Bastereud's late header was enough to take all three points in a fairly frustrating encounter for many of the watching spectators.
HUElavia had defended reasonably stoutly in unfamiliar conditions, but had struggled to test an equally resolute Saint Émelie defence, making for a lack of goal-mouth action.

Bastereud eventually scored with a downward header from Mathilde Laurent's corner kick, but there was some controversy as the HUElavians accused midfielder Simon Pelletiér of kicking sand into the face of their goalkeeper, leaving him unsighted for when the ball flashed past him.
With no replays to look at as the electricity had conked out due to too many people listening to the match on their radios, the referee was unable to give anything other than a Saint Émelean goal and Amélie Martín's side saw the match out comfortably.

Annolasia 2-4 Saint Émelie

-Karow (14)

-Katjanovic (19)

-Caseille (40)

-Trion (53)

-Akdağ (72)

-Proliné (85)

Les Insulaires took a second victory in as many games after a much more exciting match in Annolasia. Whilst the unranked hosts were very much the underdogs coming into the match, Saint Émelie would have to readjust to a grassy playing surface after their opener in Le Goutiér and the visitors looked rusty in the opening 15 minutes, going behind when 26 year old centre forward Ali Karow slipped his marker and looped a header over Hubért Joubert and into the top corner.

The goal prompted Amélie Martín's side into action and they found a quickfire equaliser when a surging counter attack ended in the ball being slipped through to Sara Katjanovic, the only player in the Saint Émelie squad based abroad, who showed her class with a crisp finish past Annolasia goalkeeper Emre Demirboğa.
Saint Émelie had kicked into gear now and although Dominic Trion missed a good chance when he cracked a half-volley over the bar from 12 yards out, they took the lead as winger Florence Caseille made a foray infield and unleashed a swinging effort into the top corner from just outside the box.
Saint Émelie had their noses ahead at the break, but knew they still had work to do to win the game. A strong start after the break was needed and they got one. Trion was again unlucky not to score when he curled a shot off the post and away for a goal kick, but he got his reward in more familiar fashion when he leapt highest to meet a cross from Mathilde Laurent, thumping a header into the bottom corner of the Annolasian net.

Burak Akdağ got one back with a glorious curling shot from range, but in the end Les Insulaires sealed the game with another counter-attacking goal, this time courtesy of substitute striker Marizanne Proliné as the 23 year-old wriggled clear of a tiring defence, rounded the goalkeeper and tapped home with just 5 minutes of normal time remaining.

Saint Émelie 2-3 Cosumar

-Katjanovic (25)
-Pelletiér (59)

In a remarkable turn of events, Saint Émelie tasted their first defeat of the cycle against the group's top seeds Cosumar. Despite the calibre of opponent, no-one had expected Les Insulaires to be outplayed on the sand at Le Goutiér and all seemed to be going well when the hosts led 1-0 thanks to another goal from Sara Katjanovic.
Despite an equaliser late in the first half from an unknown and uncared-about Cosumar forward, Saint Émelie retook the lead after the break when Simon Pelletiér latched onto a loose ball to flick home.
Cosumar grew into the tie however and found their range of passing for the final 20 minutes of play. Two late goals turned the tie around against a tiring Saint Émelie team and with only seconds left on the clock, the hosts were unable to do anything to get back into the game.

[Darkmania]

ÖRKENDREM PAPERS

"I have never seen them play that good"

Discustion article written by: I cannot think of an easter egg to place here.

Yesterday, Darkmania defeated Lycrabon 4-2. And as I wrote this after the final whistle of the match and see my countrymen playing as if they lose a match, they will be sent to the mines. I in my 59 3/4 years of human life has never seen them play that good. What happened?

The darkmanian national football team was showered with criticism after Independent Cup V (hosted in Free Republics) when they got draw and loss after loss, enduring the last place on the group. While they lost the Round of 16 match in BoF and this is the furthest we have reached in a football tournament, we as fans want to see Darkmania win the whole thing. It already happens in the WaterPolo tournament as we were last in the first time and we ended up winning that controversial world championship. Based of that, this is how i want my lads to do. Now excuse me, I have a match to added.

[Sargossa]

The ball came spinning through the air of that warm Maturín evening, its trajectory lost occasionally in the glare of the floodlights. It curled towards a penalty area packed with players jostling for position. Striker Iván Mayoral formed a prominent target. The two yellow clad defenders in close proximity couldn’t prevent the Alianza Jucaro forward taking flight. Powerful legs drove him upwards, the timing was perfection. Veins bulged as neck muscled twisted to meet the ball in flight. It connected with his forehead and its passage diverted wide of the rooted keeper and inexorably towards the far corner. In the stands fans started to rise from their seats, arms headed skyward and air filled lungs ready to celebrate this richly deserved equaliser. Only to see the effort flash agonisingly wide.

Those arms suddenly enveloped heads, unbelieving. The big striker covered his own face, wanting the ground to swallow him whole. On the touchline head coach Rodrigo Defederico turned slowly away, shaking his head. He offered the fans in the stand nearest him a shrug, as if to say ‘what more can we do?’. It was greeted with rueful smiles. They’d all seen days likes these, days when it just simply doesn’t happen.

That header had been Sargossa’s thirty first effort of the match. There would be a thirty second too, Rafael Bustamanté blazing over from twenty yards. The frustration lay in the fact that of those thirty-two efforts only eight troubled the visiting keeper. And those eight efforts found Sangtian goalkeeper Eron Dave Dagupion in fine fettle. His handling and reflexes were unsurpassed as time and again he frustrated the efforts of the players in darker blue. Increasingly desperate efforts thanks to the visitor’s lone shot on target in response, Anthon Stanley Aldaba sweeping in Emilio Famadico’s cutback midway through the half.

The Oberour referee put his whistle to his lips and ended this round of World Cup qualifying. Players and staff exchanged handshakes as they headed towards the Ciudad Deportiva’s tunnel. It was a second win of the campaign for Sangti. And a first defeat for Sargossa. The three point cushion that coach Defederico had described as ‘fragile’ had proven to be just that. Results elsewhere had seen Kita-Hinode draw level. And with a trip to Kita-Hinode up next Group 14 was starting to look a little like a field on the eve of battle.

[Savojarna]

SavojarSports.sj - inside reports from all Savojarna
Savojars prepare for decisive streak

Sjoedrhavn, VH - Finally, Savojarna managed to string together a couple of victories over Pink Floyd FC thanks to a late goal by joker Dominik Ryberg and against Torisakia after a hattrick by Krister Voynov. Thanks to the first two victories in a row in this campaign, which started with a disappointing number of draws only interrupted by a victory over rivals Krenorus, and some help of South Toronto, the Savojars move up the standings to third place before the crucial series of games against the rest of the group's top four. Most observers before the campaign expected this group to be dominated by the top four teams Chromatika, Savojarna, Nova Anglicana and South Toronto. Savojarna's team is in the slightly uncomfortable position of having to play them all in a row at the end of each half of the campaign.

Fans of the Northlights were mainly unsure whether they should be happy about having been unbeaten through the first six games or be disappointed with the three draws against much lower ranked teams, two of which only came about in the final minutes of the matches when Savojarna seemed to already have secured a victory. It seems indicative of a greater motivation problem that the only time that they were not losing concentration and fire towards the end of the match was the game against Krenorus, when the media hype and a packed up stadium made it near impossible to not play this match to the fullest. However, what are our chances after the first six games, and after the last double-round against Pink Floyd FC and Torisakia made the Savojars close the gap to the group leaders again?

Clearly Chromatika are in the much-expected top position of the group. The Chromatiks have not dropped a single point yet, putting them already six points ahead of us. This means that the only way for Savojarna to catch up to the group leaders and compete for direct qualification, barring an upset, is to beat Chromatika in the direct clash of the two only undefeated teams of the group. This clash will take place in the eighth round of the campaign, when the Nationalstadion Carl Gustaf Bjurman will host the world's number 8 in front of a hopefully fanatic crowd. Despite their so far impressive showing, the Chromatik side can be challenged as well, as proven by Nova Anglicana and Corindia, who both forced them to do some heavy work and lost by only one goal.

Nevertheless, Nova Anglicana lost, and perhaps more surprisingly also lost to South Toronto in the next match. This means that our opponents for the next round will come off two losses when they host Savojarna for a crucial group 19 matchup. Nova Anglicana were expected to be the Savojar main rival for the qualification spots, given their position in the Pot 3, and started very well too, with four wins out of four games against lower ranked sides. However, it seemed as if their home defeat to Chromatika disturbed the balance in this team and they suffered a humiliating 5-0 loss in South Toronto. Thus, Nova Anglicana, who are on the same amount of points as the Savojars, will be looking for revenge in their away game. The Northlights will have to play carefully, but may be capable of turning this motivation against Nova Anglicana by playing cleverly and waiting for counters, and by unsettling their opponent's already damaged confidence further with an early goal.

Finally, South Toronto will truly be put to the test by their upcoming games against Chromatika and Savojarna. They will travel to Chromatika off a high and willing to prove that their 5-0 was more than just a fluke, but the world's number 8 is a tough challenge for any team, and the difference on paper should be too high to beat the favourites. While football surely is not played on paper, and we may hope for an upset that would bring the top 4 in this group closer together, both we and the bookmakers don't trust the South Toronto team to pull that one off. Things look a bit different for the match against Savojarna though.

The Northlights will be the final opponent South Toronto face before the break, in Sjoedrhavn, and it will be a crucial game in this group. As only one point separates the teams currently ranked second and third, the winner will be in the pole position for the playoff games, as well as gaining some important psychologic advantage for the rematch in South Toronto, which may decide who gets to go to the playoffs. While the Savojars are clearly the favourites on paper, being both higher ranked and playing at home, South Toronto showed little regards for those things when blasting past Nova Anglicana, and with a game against low ranked Corindia (against whom Savojarna drew), they have some more chance to increase their confidence before the faceoff with the Northlights.

Looking behind the Top 4, we see that the expectations were confirmed and few challengers can truly arise. Krenorus are currently closest in fifth position, but are already three points behind Savojarna and Nova Anglicana without having played either the Anglicans or Chromatika. Behind, Pink Floyd FC and Shofercia have set some exclamation marks, but seem too inconsistent to be a challenge. Pink Floyd FC looked like they may do so against Savojarna but fell apart in the final minutes allowing for Jashkin and Ryberg to turn around the match, and Shofercia are punching below their expected weight with their 7th place, having lost to direct opponents such as Krenorus. Thus, despite having upset both South Toronto and Savojarna, they could not capitalise on these surprises and are already far off a surprise, being six points behind the second place.

[Geisenfried]

The crowd was gathering, all around him. Some of them clutched in their arms pictures of their hero, Mutebi, while others held pictures of the man of the hour, Hatabu Danso, or one of the two of them together. Across the way, he saw in line formation, all in armored gear marked "Polizei", the wary eyes of several dozen officers. Jakob felt a twinge of sympathy for them, knowing all too well what situation they were all in - having to maintain order of a unmanageable crowd without crossing any boundaries, but they - and the crowd - seemed to be capable of keeping their distance. Probably because right now this group of refugees was in support of the government's decision, rather than opposition. That particular rally was across town, and he knew that his counterparts in the riot gear's highest priority was to keep those rallies as far away apart as humanly possible. Several cities away, back in his home of Kapetägien, he knew his sister was likely at a rally like that herself, as he knew she'd never been a fan of the former Banijan Katikkiro.

And what of his own feelings? His parents had emigrated with his grandparents when they were just children - his parents had grown up in Geisenfried, were educated in Geisenfried, met each other in Geisenfried, were married in Geisenfried, got jobs in Geisenfried, held Geisen citizenship. Jakob was born in Geisenfried, he lived his life in Geisenfried, he'd served in the army in Geisenfried. Banija was part of his heritage, no doubt, but he was fully Geisen. The intrigues of Matthias Mutebi had no particular meaning to him, save some small contempt for his grudge for people like his grandparents. But he was a professional, and his duty was to keep the troublemakers from doing exactly that - and if he had to pretend to like Mutebi, and Danso to maintain a watchful eye for the ÖSG, so be it.

Still, living among the refugees - even as an undercover officer for the ÖSG, sneaking regular reports to his handlers and fellow agents like Bernhard - made him somewhat sympathetic to the plight of all those around him. It seemed a little absurd, looking at it from the face. Mutebi had come to power by appealing to those who had felt left behind those who had looked elsewhere from Banija for opportunity - and yet here they were, forced elsewhere by circumstance, but staying here because of the opportunity. But he understood better than most that the aftermath of the war had been hard on so many of these people and that they couldn't yet afford to pass the opportunity given just to return home. And that even if they couldn't reach home yet, just as he was a proud Geisen, they were proud Banijans, and wanted to express it in a way they had not been able to in some time. That's why they were here. He just hoped those feelings wouldn't cause them to come to blows, when they inevitably encountered those who felt strongly differently...

Geisenfried 2 - 0 Illahee
Thiessen (18'), Reichenbach (73')

[Nephara]

Nephara 2 - 0 Cosneolta
(4-2-3-1) 12 - Swoboda; 2 - Rafford (18 - Kielseng 81'), 5 - Konoval, 6 - Steelhenge, 19 - Close; 4 - Rowland, 8 - Klein (15 - Shone 67'); 7 - Fanaiyan, 21 - Gosforth (c), 11 - Strongbow; 9 - Hawke
Goals: Strongbow 47', Gosforth 59'

The captain's armband meant something. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
For Gosforth, it meant... relevance, as much as anything. Every day he strode out of the tunnel with that white armband wrapped around his bristling bicep, it was another day he could be sure of his value. And that value, he knew, was declining.
Sieglinde Lohengrin had been the latest. This was very clearly an important match against credible opposition. Lohengrin recently turned 31. She was slowing. Marcin Close had almost overnight seized her place. And Gosforth liked the lad - he was a tough, resilient professional, the kind of person who said little and listened to everything and nodded and quietly took it into account. There was a reason he'd broken through so early for the Dockers.
Tsattalios had gone, too, a couple errors on a high-profile stage lead to his departure. Szalai had retired before he could be phased out. Naeher was a distant memory, as was Stavanger. Things changed fast when you hit your 30s.
It was natural. You slowed, you stagnated. Gosforth recognised it in himself, the impulse to try and recapture the old days. That... just wasn't realistic. He wasn't the guy who bustled late into the box and powered home a header anymore. He wasn't the guy who tracked back and pressed relentlessly. He could try to be that guy, but he wouldn't be good at it, not anymore.
Better to focus on what he could do.

It had been a frustrating first half. Cosneolta boasted a couple of decent names up top - Bartosz was a known quantity, and Danil Kowalczyk had established himself as a fair Premiership striker and an excellent First Division one - but their plan was otherwise to hunker down and absorb pressure. And, fair play, it was basically working. Ozolinsh had made a couple of decent saves, but there hadn't been much forcing him into anything truly exceptional. Hawke had been squezzed out, and Jagoda was doing a heroic job of keeping Strongbow leashed.
Until - the cruelest thing of all - a rare Cosneoltan sojourn forward was cut off brutally. Kijek managed to sidestep Klein before being utterly cleaned out by Rowland, who got more of the ball. Some referees might have called that; few would in the Gauntlet. Steelhenge moved quickly and decisively to step forward and claim the ball, before sending it upfield. It bounced perilously between Laukkanen and Gosforth, but it was the burly Ma Alameome man who unsurprisingly muscled him away, got into a stronger position and, with the outside of his left boot, sent a devilish ball into the corridor of uncertainty. Was it Jagoda's to clear? Was it Maslanka's? Trick question - it was Rowena Strongbow's, the arc of her left boot smoothly rifling the ball into the top corner. Ozolinsh dived, but there was little he could do.
Cosneola had to attack, and, well, did. But Brandon was happy to sit on a 1-0 lead at home, just like against Eshan, just like against West Angola, even if the fans did want blood. But taking a defensive stance wasn't the same as handing over the momentum. You had to keep the opponent honest, and Hawke did just that, after being sent clear by a hefty clearance from Konoval. The ball bounced favourably and she got on the end of it, chesting it away from the flailing Laukkanen - who had a rock-solid game aside from being complicit in both goals - dashed past Takala and with the ball still moving fast and bouncing fast and threatening to outpace her she swung out a boot and... slammed it into the post.
Not to worry, though. Konrad Gosforth was already running at full pelt, even if it wasn't the full pelt of yesteryear, and when the ball came his way he didn't think twice, just chested it down and smashed it into the net.
He laughed. You had to laugh, didn't you? And a grateful Hawke came over to hug him, as did Klein and Fanaiyan from behind.
Maybe, just maybe, there was life in the old dog yet.

NEPHARIM NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 4
Goalkeepers: 1 - Apostolos Tsattalios (Falourr, EUR), 12 - Andreas Swoboda (1860 Azoth, CEN), 20 - Hesterine Mercator (Tihon, CMT)
Defenders: 2 - Anita Sanger (Creed United), 3 - Sieglinde Lohengrin (Crisisbless), 5 - Dieter Konoval (KT Moreazerua, AUD), 6 - Dragora Steelhenge (Cornellians, SCT), 18 - Eloise Kielseng (Sabrefell Athletic), 19 - Marcin Close (Brinemouth), 22 - Roxelana Thorn (Lammerton, SCT)
Midfielders: 4 - Monica Rowland (Bastion, EUR), 7 - Ishtar Fanaiyan (Eastweald, COS), 8 - Rusalka Klein (Crawford City FC, COS), 11 - Rowena Strongbow (Directus, EUR), 13 - Marica Kuepper (Southfell United), 14 - Chimera Moxham (Port Patrick United, SCT), 15 - Tawny Shone (Sabrefell Moths), 16 - Marisha Staunton (Crisisbless), 21 - Konrad Gosforth (Mâ Âlâmëómë, FFD, c), 23 - Servet Misidjan (AFC Treason)
Forwards: 9 - Estrella Hawke (Sabrefell Athletic), 10 - Nevaeh Cathar (Avenida Leal, FFD), 17 - Aristide Metzger (AFC Treason)

SCHEDULE
Nephara 1 - 0 Eshan @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)
Bongo Johnson 2 - 3 Nephara
Nephara 1 - 0 West Angola @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Nephara vs. Busoga Islands @ Eagle's Club (Brinemouth)
Cheergirls 2 - 4 Nephara
Nephara 2 - 0 Cosneolta @ The Gauntlet (Treason)
Ancharmunn vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Greater Libertania @ Godswatch (Crisisbless)
EOT vs. Nephara
Eshan vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Bongo Johnson @ The Iron Hill (Vermillion)
West Angola vs. Nephara
Busoga Islands vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Cheergirls @ Phoenix Rise (Corvistone)
Cosneolta vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. Ancharmunn @ Godswatch (Crisisbless)
Greater Libertania vs. Nephara
Nephara vs. EOT @ Farham Arena (Sabrefell)

[Barunia]

Visit Barunia
Sponsored by the Barunian Government Department of Tourism

Ch 5. Where to go

There is plenty to do in Barunia, which means if you are on a tight timeframe, seeing it all can be difficult. Where you should go will depend on what you want to get out of your journey.

If it’s history and culture that you are after, Porthaven is a natural place to start. The earliest English settlement in the country, Barunia’s capital is also host to national collections of art, literature, and museum pieces. Lighthouse Hill, overlooking the city, is a must for history buffs, with its historic lighthouse and war memorial. Travellers interested in military history may also find Newland a source of interest, with its connections to the civil war. No history tour of Barunia would also be complete without a trip to the North Islands. The territory’s capital, Northport-San Baptiste, is located not far from the oldest settlement on the island, dating from the 16th century. This was by Spaniards shipwrecked here, and the North Islands retains much Spanish culture, which may appeal to visitors.

If adventure is more your game, then Marion is the place for you. At the heart of the island are the peaks of Mount Marion, a dormant volcano that formed the island several million years ago. Hike up one of the many peaks, go abseiling down a crater, or venture through one of the vents deep into the earth. Then take a journey through the history of the island’s west coast, complete with stories of pirates and pitched naval battles. Alternatively, venture into the rugged forests of inland West Barunia. Hike around Woodvale, go canoeing on Lake Herschel or the Sheppard River, or try four wheel driving on tracks used as professional rally circuits. The strait between West Barunia and Marion is also a great place for water-based sports such as kite-sailing and parasailing.

Those seeking the country’s natural beauty will find much to love in West Barunia. Amongst the highlights must surely be the spectacular Secret Valley region, with its heavily wooded slopes shrouded in misty blankets. The walking tracks around Lake Herschel are also a great place to get surrounded by nature. If ocean views are more your thing, Barunia has those in abundance. Watch the dawn rise over the Bay of Haven from the capital, or head north to the amazing Baylands area of Tildos. Relax on one of the many beaches of the North Islands, or go snorkelling amongst the beautiful coral formations of the Coral Islands.

Whatever your dream trip, Barunia has an adventure for you. Check out the regional guides in the second part of this guide for a closer look at what each region has to offer. We hope to see you here soon!