Quidditch World Cup 9 Everything Thread

[Free Republics]

Quidditch World Cup 9
Logo created by Velestria

The Magical Legislature of the Federation of Free Republics (MALFFR) welcomes you to the 9th edition of the Quidditch World Cup. 26 nations will compete in 4 groups of 5 and a group of 6, playing a single round-robin schedule in the Free Republics for 16 spots in the knockout rounds. This is the place to post your roster and RPs and is also the place where I will be posting results. Purely OOC Posts should be posted in the Discussion Thread. You may however include OOC notes in your rosters and RPs.

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Schedule

Note: These dates are subject to change.

May 8th - Matchday One: 6v1, 5v2, 4v3
May 10th - Matchday Two: 2v1, 3v5, 4v6
May 12th - Matchday Three: 1v3, 2v6, 5v4
May 14th - Matchday Four: 4v1, 3v2, 6v5
May 16th - Matchday Five: 1v5, 2v4, 6v3
May 19th - Round of 16
May 21st - Quarterfinals
May 23rd - Semifinals
May 25th - Final & Third Place Match

Cutoff Time: 10-12 AM North American Eastern Daylight Time

Group Draw

Group A

Free Republics
Endem
Rakivland
Abanhfleft
The Valley Vuus
Amenria

Group B

Sarzonia
Starblaydia
Bisim
Pius Desurongcrandis
The Sherpa Empire

Group C

Taeshan
Velestria
Darmen
Banija
Zwangzug

Group D

Mughals Royal
Anthor
Greater Vakolicci Haven
Kita-Hinode
Sajnur

Group E

Ko-oren
Nilrahrarfan
Kriegiersien
Equestrian States
Shapoer

*No pots were used for this draw.

Format and Tiebreakers

There are 4 groups of 5 and a group of 6. The top 3 teams from each group plus the best 4th place team (excluding matches against the last place team in Group A) will qualify for the Round of 16. The Round of 16 will be seeded based upon group stage performance.

This Quidditch World Cup will use the point system used for the "RL" Quidditch World Cup: 2 points for a win plus bonus points for big wins (1 for a win by more than 50, 3 for a win by more than 100 and 5 for a win by more than 150). The 4 hour time limits will not be utilized in keeping with the tradition of the NS Quidditch World Cup (and because the scorinator only supports the rules that everybody's more familiar with where matches only end once the snitch is caught). ICly, this provides incentive for seekers to attempt to catch the snitch when down by more than 150. A draw will be worth 1 point.

Should there be a draw in the knockout rounds, the match will be replayed immediately, without a break of any kind ICly, and both scores will be posted for the match.

Tiebreakers will be as follows: H2H points, H2H wins, H2H point difference, overall wins, overall point difference, Random.org (ICly drawing of lots)

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Useful Links
MALFFR Quiddinator 2.0 (Source)
Discussion Thread
Host Bid
Guide to Sports RP
Wikipedia's article on quidditch

[Free Republics]

Free Republics National Information

History of the Free Republics

After the founding of the nomaj Federation of Free Republics in 1767, the magical communities of the various Republics remained independent for nearly a century as they did not deem a political union necessary. While each magical community maintained its own laws and generally lived separately from the nomaj community, they gradually grew closer together as nomaj-born witches and wizards pushed for a Magical Union of the Federation of Free Republics (MUFFR). However, those efforts would prove unsuccessful for several decades as the older pure-blood magical families remained skeptical of the idea of a Union.

The first major step toward unification of the magical community in the FFR came after the Samstown Burnings. In Samstown in the 1790s, local nomaj religious leaders sought and gained political power by demonizing the magical community, portraying them as "agents of Satan" who were torturing women and children in evil rituals. Many local wizards were amused as the local nomaj arrested and burned numerous nomaj women on false charges of being witches but it ceased to be funny once an actual witch, Merlina Gotch, was burned at the stake. Gotch was the wife of the local President of Magic Ambrose Gotch who was furious. Soon, all-out war broke out between the magical and nomaj communities in Nessex and the nomaj Federation sent its military to Nessex to aid the local nomaj in suppressing the insurrection which only escalated tensions.

The other magical communities in the FFR, fearing a repeat, held a conference at the Academy of the Magical Arts, the ancient school of magic where most witches and wizards had been educated since time immemorial. At the conference, a nomaj-born witch named Amy Musgrove, whose niece would later go on to be elected a nomaj consul, proposed a secrecy agreement as a means to protect the safety of the magical community. After weeks of debate, as war waged on in Nessex, all of the magical communities of the Free Republics except that of Nessex agreed to impose a statute of secrecy and to obliviate the existence of the magical community from the memories of all nomaj.

The other magical communities swept into action to end the war in Nessex which was now beginning to go badly for the nomaj side. Musgrove herself was chosen to go before the nomaj consuls and get their support for a plan to end the war and permanently separate the magical community from the nomaj community. Remarkably, the consuls agreed after a couple days of negotiations and ordered the troops out of Nessex. Aurors from around the Free Republics soon descended upon Nessex to stop the war, obliviate the nomaj and impose the secrecy edict upon them. They proved successful and Ambrose Gotch resigned his position of President of Magic to become an infamous dark wizard.

Over the next 2 decades, Gotch launched a reign of terror across the Free Republics, seeking to exterminate religious members of the nomaj community to avenge the death of his wife. He acquired many followers and eventually decided that nomaj-born witches and wizards must have "stolen" their magical ability from squibs. Therefore, he also decided that they needed to be exterminated. Dark Lord Gotch, as he styled himself, was only defeated after the creation of the Magical Union, a political union of local magical communities. Musgrove led the effort and was elected as the first Chair of the Magical Commission.

After Gotch was defeated in a legendary duel with Musgrove that saw her defeat him by bouncing an Avada Kedavra back at him, the Magical Union of the Free Republics remained in place for a few decades until Nejax voted to exit the union. The union worked with local magical leaders in Nejax to facility this exit but the local leaders proved unable to agree to an exit deal and unwilling to leave the union without a deal. Eventually, in 1861, the Magical Union held a convention to discuss revisions to its constitutional documents. A new generation of witches and wizards, frustrated by the drastically different laws across the MUFFR, pushed for a Magical Legislature of the Federation of Free Republics (MALFFR). After 5 months, they eventually got an agreement which was ratified everywhere by 1864.

The new MALFFR was the single magical government of the Free Republics and was led by a Magical Consul who was elected by the Legislature. Each Republic was awarded a single legislator with the right to recall their legislator and elect a new one whenever they saw fit. Unless recalled, the legislator, who did not necessarily have to be alive, would serve indefinitely. Since its founding, MALFFR has maintained strong secrecy and has generally kept practitioners of the dark arts under control.

However, at the present time, the Free Republics faces the most serious threat from the dark side since Dark Lord Gotch. A nomaj-born witch named Berangaria Asselin has been leading an insurrection against MALFFR and the statute of secrecy. Asselin believes that the magical community should rule the nomaj community, for their own good. To that end, she has recruited many witches and wizards from across Lunia and has already launched multiple attacks on the MALFFR headquarters in Republica. It is also believed that she has many followers at the Academy of the Magical Arts, including some professors at the academy.

Transportation

Due to the secrecy statutes, traveling by broom or other methods that may be conspicuous is prohibited. Portkeys will be provided for travel to, from and between Quidditch World Cup venues and a Floo Network will also be provided. In addition, apparition will work except in the Magical Academy. To apparate to the Academy, you will need to first apparate to the nearby village of Hogs Creek where apparition is allowed and then travel on foot to the Academy.

Lodging

Tents may be set up in a designated area of the Redwood Forest near the Quidditch World Cup stadium. Additionally, the Room of Necessity at the Academy will provide sufficient lodging for all visitors.

Weather

Magic will be utilized to control the weather inside the venues and ensure that all matches take place under clear skies with mild temperatures.

Language

The magical community in the Free Republics speaks English though MALFFR has resources to support and assist visitors who have limited understanding of the language.

Currency

Bullion is used as the sole currency of the magical community in the Free Republics. Nomaj currencies and any currency that is not gold or silver will not be accepted as legal tender in the magical portion of the FFR. Standardized coins are minted by the MALFFR Mint in Republica but non-standard or foreign gold and silver coins will be accepted with their value determined by their weight. All merchants have scales to weigh coins and a goblin on their staff to identify counterfeit coins so we strongly advise that visitors refrain from attempting to pay with counterfeit currency.

Stadiums

Redwood Forest Stadium

The Redwood Forest Stadium has an expanded seating capacity for the World Cup of over 270,000 with the potential to expand it further to accommodate all fans who wish to attend matches. Located deep in the Redwood Forest in the Malifornia Charter Society, it is protected from nomaj intruders by heavy enchantments that will confound any nomaj who stumbles into the vicinity of the stadium or the nearby campground. Their memories will be erased by security and they will be safely returned to a nomaj area. Due to Malifornia's nomaj government, which is currently controlled by the Salvation Circle, a front group for the radical Christian "True Church of Iesus Christus" (commonly called the "Church of Saintland"), MALFFR strongly advises that visitors refrain from traveling into nomaj areas of Malifornia for any reason.

Held Here: Groups C-E & all knockout round matches

Quidditch Pitch @ Academy of the Magical Arts

The Academy of the Magical Arts is an ancient school of magic located in an uncharted portion of Nejax near the magical village of Hogs Creek. The quidditch pitch, which usually is large enough to seat the student body and faculty of the Academy has been temporarily extended to ensure that all visitors for the World Cup may have a place to sit. Traveling into nomaj areas of Nejax is generally safe though the secrecy laws still must be adhered to in order to protect the magical community in other parts of the Free Republics.

Held Here: Groups A & B

NOTE: RESERVED POSTS BY ANYBODY WHO IS NOT THE HOST WILL BE AWARDED A NEGATIVE BONUS.

[Kriegiersien]

Kriegiersien Quidditch representatives from the Dogwarts School of Strangeness and Sorcery

Keeper
Armin Skinner (also the principal of the school) (replaced by Shao, disguised as him)

Beater

Lenard Graytwig (Kraven)
Ernst Snowpear (Adhan)
Bartholomew Cups*
Macon Hemlock*

Chaser

Ash Strix (Imoen)
Brynn Grace*
Otis Elderberry *
Ashton Night (Skull Dodgery)
Bartholomew Cups*
Odie Conebush (Tim)

Seeker

Eli Candlelight (Anora).

* some players apparently couldn't attend on a short term, but there is a medical delegate with the team now:
Rink.

The Dogwarts School of Strangeness and Sorcery of Kriegiersien is a new founded school of „Muggles“ who want to learn and practice magic in Kriegiersien. They also like to play Quidditch, using brooms or sticks between their legs.
Hearing of the World Cup, they happily seized the opportunity to send a team, representing their nation, school and philosophy.



RP: Rules? Magic knows no rules. Or maybe it does? So we use the rule of cool.

[Taeshan]

Returning for the 9th tournament are the Purple Knights of Taeshan. Only three returning starters with Williams, Owlet and Alvarez. Albert Hancock is the backup seeker and will likely get a match there as Williams is getting old.

Starting Roster

Player 	Number 	Position 	Team
Dakota Lyle 	1 	Keeper 	Bayern Bludgers
Everett McCleary	2 	Beater 	Taeshan City Thundersnouts
Benjamin Alvarez 	3 	Beater 	Gieron Golden Flashes
Ollivander Williams 	4 	Seeker 	X Island Infantry
Samantha Van Dyke 	5 	Chaser 	Hannah Harpies
Albert Hancock 	6 	Chaser 	Docktown Dark Marks
Richard Owlet 	7 	Chaser 	Fallmont Fireballs

And the four subs in case of injury

Backups 			
Kaitlyn Exeter 8 Keeper Norton Nimbus Quakes
Shanonah Wilder 9 Beater Beaverhead Bombers
Jeremiah Calldwell 10 Chaser Purple Perils
Jack Milton 11 Chaser Knights QC
Maxwell Chance 12 Seeker (3rd)

Ok a little history then for future reference

Quidditch World Cup 1 - 4th (3-4)
Quidditch World Cup 2 - 5th Tied (5-1)
Quidditch World Cup 3- 5th Tied (5-1)
Quidditch World Cup 4 - DNA (2-3)
Quidditch World Cup 5 - 4th (5-3)
Quidditch World Cup 6 2nd (9-2)
Quidditch World Cup 7 DNA (1-4)
Quidditch World Cup 8 DNA (3-3)

[Ko-oren]

"Dear magical community of Ko-oren,

it is our pleasure - and duty - to inform you that the 9th Quidditch World Cup is open for entries as of right now. You, as a registered magical community, which may or may not be hidden from the greater public, are eligible to enter this event. Please let us know. You may reply by return of Owl.

Was signed,

The Magical Legislature of the Federation of Free Republics"

"Well, question one: what are the Free Republics, question two: how did they find out we exist and the biggest question of all: how the hell did they get that owl in our World?"

"And a question for the immediate future, how do we get this owl back on its way?"

"This is something for the Guild of Legislators, I'd say."

---

The magical community of Ko-oren might be a little strange to those that are used to typical magic settings, especially those involving Quidditch. Ko-oren has no magic academy, that is, not one involving wands and spells and owls and potions and the like. Instead, the magical community associated with this country is the Art, long thought lost ("The most striking thing about the nation is the art of Writing, writing Worlds into existance."), but surprisingly still very much alive. To those in the know. Among the general public, knowledge of this is non-existant. Only some ministers are told about it, without fear that they will spread this knowledge among the electorate. No-one will believe it, after all.

Well hidden away from public view, the community itself has put many, many rules and procedures in place for keeping their communities, Art, books, and so on, hidden.

---

One meeting of the Guild of Legislators later...

United Worlds of Ko-oren - Team for the 9th Quidditch World Cup

Number	Name	Position	Guild	Community
1	Tahdi Thukahtingen	Seeker	Guild of Messengers	Teredahl
2	Thoël Jinondhen	Chaser	Guild of Explorers	Shanigun
3	Ki'ini Dahlakith (f)	Chaser	Guild of Mechanics	Razentahn
4	Isokoh Kisihidh	Chaser	Guild of Masons	Behdigehl
5	Zagehl Sipohlinthen	Beater	Guild of Protectors	Rozodhin
6	Huros Dharohtingun	Beater	Guild of Carpenters	Teredahl
7	Pinahgu of Pehsenthen	Keeper	Guild of Healers	Pehsenthen
(8)	Nioni Tehthaudin (f)	Seeker	Guild of Extractors	Lurthesingun
(9)	Dalugul Nihrudinil	Chaser	Guild of Messengers	Maulahngan
(10)	Raura Araudhin (f)	Chaser	Guild of Miners	Pehsenthen
(11)	Menegos Egahtidahl	Beater	Guild of Protectors	Teredahl
(12)	Bajo Bithidohl	Beater	Guild of Stockers	Pehsenthen
(13)	Jogen Rahgeloh	Keeper	Guild of Healers	Bahdorahth

National colours: blue, green, yellow (trim)
Team colours: purple, grey, black (trim), white (trim)

In odd-numbered seasons, teams are arranged by Guild (profession). In even-numbered seasons, teams are arranged by Community (their World of origin). Both have been listed, as last season players played for their Community, and the upcoming season will be based on Guild.

[The Sherpa Empire]

Roster:

Keeper: Changjun Ihawa
Seeker: Prince Wangdi
Chasers: Tshering of Fuzhou (team captain), Jiuzhen Dai, Pasang Nair
Beaters: Tashi of Jalalabad, Namgyal Sherpa

RP permissions:

Don't godmod my characters doing anything that is completely unlike them. Don't kill or cripple them unless you fix it in the same post. Otherwise, do whatever you want.

Magic in the Sherpa Empire:

Magic exists openly in the Sherpa Empire, but only a minority of the population has any supernatural powers, and only a select few are powerful enough to do anything flashy like zipping around on flying brooms. Sherpa magicians traveling abroad usually will NOT hop on the secrecy bandwagon in nations where magic is secret.

The Empire's magic is not the same as the wizardry in the Harry Potter series. People do not use wands or potions or Potterverse incantations. Flying brooms aren't part of Sherpa culture, but they're considered a relatively simple talisman, and Tshering of Fuzhou knows how to make them. (If anyone wants to ICly have one of your characters ask Tshering to make a broom for them, he would usually say yes to people who ask nicely.)

Talking to animals is relatively common among the Sherpa Empire's magically-gifted, but using birds to deliver letters is unusual. If people do use birds to carry messages, they usually use pigeons or swallows rather than owls.

There are 5 kinds of magic in the Empire: divine power, demonic power, Tao, blood magic, and talismans. The players on the national quidditch team all use a combination of blood magic and talismans.

Some people are born with spiritual powers, which are passed down through families. The power is literally in their blood, and can be transfered to other people via transfusions. Blood magic is the easiest kind of magic to use, the most difficult to suppress, and it can produce dramatic effects -- but because people have to draw power from their own body, it is physically demanding to use. Casting powerful spells that draw too much magical current can cause nerve damage, bleeding, stroke, burns, etc. to the person casting the spell. Some people that have especially powerful blood magic suffer long-term health effects even if they never use their powers.

In order to minimize these side-effects, people can use talismans to store magical power for later use. Drawing power from the talisman means they do not have to draw as much directly from their body.

Team History:

The Sherpa national quidditch team are the defending world champions, but the Empire does not have a long tradition of quidditch and there is no domestic quidditch league.

Tshering of Fuzhou was a nobleman's son who stumbled across quidditch while he was experimenting with teleportation and visiting different parts of the world. He thought it was interesting, so he put a team together to represent the Empire. Tshering was a teenager at the time, and in order to get government approval for the project, he had to recruit other players his own age. The Ministry of Culture said that adults with magical power should be using it to benefit society, not wasting their time and magic on the quidditch pitch.

However, the team was unexpectedly successful. In fact, they are the only team in any sport that has ever won an international tournament representing the Sherpa Empire. All of the players from that original team are now over 18, but because of their success and the high social status of some of the players, the Ministry of Culture is allowing them to return and defend their title. New players are still required to be under 18.

There are two new players:

Tashi of Jalalabad is a baron's son who has a lot in common with Tshering and looks up to him as a role model. They are from opposite ends of the Empire, but if you didn't know, you could mistake them for brothers.

Pasang Nair was born to a poor family, but he believes he is the illegitimate son of the Duke of Delhi. He is convinced that his magical abilities are proof of his noble ancestry, and he thinks if he shows what he can do, then maybe the Duke will acknowledge the connection. (Blood magic and noble status frequently go hand in hand, so it's not that silly to associate them.)

[Darmen]

Darmeni National Quidditch Team
presented by the
Department of Magical Games and Sports of the Darmeni Ministry of Magic

Pos    #  Name             Age Club
Seeker  1 Bonifaz McCabe   27  Leo
Beater 11 Murray Morley    31  Aquarius  Captain
Beater 42 Tore Wright      23  Caner
Chaser  8 Adam Evans       32  Capricorn
Chaser 21 Sherman Webb     32  Libra
Chaser  9 Stanislas Coulon 33  Scorpio
Keeper 13 Ivar Skovgaard   22  Gemini
------------------------------------------------
Chaser  6 Warren Butler    32  Virgo

RP Permissions: No killing, or other serious life altering events, otherwise, have fun!

[Free Republics]

Free Republics National Quidditch Team

Colors: Blue and White

Starters

Keeper: Elizabeth Dukes
Beater: Christiane Senneville
Beater: Nadine Thalberg
Chaser: Ginevra Trentini
Chaser: Teruko Honda
Chaser: Adele Rasch
Seeker: Lola Kulseth [C]

Bench

Keeper: Isolde Ponomaryova
Beater: May Forbes
Chaser: Sandra Soderstrom
Chaser: Madison Briggs
Seeker: Dorianne Windster

Notes

The magical community in the Free Republics is run by the Magical Legislature of the Federation of Free Republics (MALFFR), which maintains a near-absolute separation between magic and nomaj. In the Republican magical community, quidditch is primarily played by witches, as sport is considered to be a waste of time for wizards, who are expected to be focused on their studies. Thus, the national team is composed entirely of female players. The star of the team is the nomaj-born seeker Lola Kulseth, whose father was the infamous nomaj dictator Reino Kulseth.

RP Permissions

Do whatever you want but let me know if you injure any players and I'll decide the severity of the injuries. Don't kill my players without prior approval from me.

[Abanhfleft]

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ABANHFLEFT
National Quidditch team

Abanhfleft will play in the Quidditch World Cup for the third time ever. Yes, there are witches and wizards in Abanhfleft. No, you cannot ask where they are at the moment but the identities of some will be revealed in due time.

BASIC INFORMATION
Name of nation: Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft
Demonym: Fleftic
Official history: This will be Abanhfleft's first time playing in the Quidditch World Cup.
Team robes: Blue with orange and green trim
Style modifier (if applicable): +5. Abanhfleft's Quidditch style has always been about all-out attack and nothing else. It makes for lots of high-scoring games which the people always love.

STARTERS
Keeper: Bram Bentomado (30 y/o, male)
Chaser: Kaley Castañas (24 y/o, female)
Chaser: Harold Babamado (34 y/o, male)
Chaser: Greg Santos (27 y/o, male)
Beater: Ursula Santayana (23 y/o, female)
Beater: Cesar "Papito" Banaldo (44 y/o, male, captain)
Seeker: Yuri Polyakov (25 y/o, male)

RESERVES
Keeper: Osvaldo Guingona (38 y/o, male)
Chaser: Bettina Bastin (28 y/o, female)
Beater: Helga Ordoñez (27 y/o, female)
Seeker: Thorgan Helmond (26 y/o, male)

RP Permissions
Anything except killing is fair game.

[A m e n r i a]

After missing the last Quidditch World Cup, Amenria now has the chance to try its hand in Quidditch for the first time. Despite being called the World Cup, this nation came from another universe, perhaps to understand more about magic or simply to make new friends.

The Seoul Enforcers, stylized as N-Forcers, were hand picked by the Imperial government to represent the Asian nation.

Since many of the players come from the law enforcement divisions of the Imperial Army, the N-Forcers' approach to Quidditch is similar to Amenria's approach to war - achieve supremacy through machines and muscles. Since usingmagic is an offence punishable by death in Amenria, it's only natural that the N-Forcers use technology instead of magic. In place of flying broomsticks, each player rides a hoverbike, while beaters use shields and supercharged batons instead of magical bats. Playstyle is straightforward and defensive.

Chasers

• Choi Siwon - The 28-year old is a familiar face in the community he was assigned to, always maintaining a cool air of calm and confidence around him, befitting his positions, both as a Sergeant in his military career and as team captain of the N-Forcers.
  
• Kim Mingyu - A 25-year old man and partner to Siwon as a soldier. He is shrewd and able to sense changes of feelings between people in a room, and act accordingly. This trait will surely help him as a Quidditch player.
  
• Ahn Sungmin - Another squad mate of Siwon in the military. The 24-year old has always been a reliable friend, both on and off the field. His training as a sniper gives him a good accuracy, though he doesn't shoot while riding a hoverbike often.

Beaters

• Jeong Jaesun - Also known as Jason, this baseball player caught the eyes of an imperial guardsman who happened to be enjoying a where Mister Jeong scored several home runs in a single match. He is 25 years old.
  
• Son Jongmin - At 19 years old, he is a rookie in the military. Despite his lack of experience, however, he is particularly proficient with a shield, sometimes being compared to a character often appearing in pre-2020 American movies.

Keeper

• Jang Daehyun - A bald mountain of a man, Mister Jang's stature is intimidating to criminals and new recruits alike. Outside of combat, however, the 25 year-old is gentle giant and is generally a nice person.

Seeker

• Shin Ryujin - This street racer was recruited into the team when she managed to impress an undercover soldier watching her pull off difficult maneuvers with her hoverbike in a race in the slums of the city. Recently turned 18, she is the youngest member of the team, as well as the only woman.

Choose scorers: ✔
Choose snitch catcher: ✖ (there's only one seeker)
Godmod scoring events: ✔
RP injuries: Discuss

[Sarzonia]

Choose my goalscorers? Yes
Godmod scoring events? No
RP injuries to my players? No
Eject players or coaches? Yes. They're not dirty, but they won't take any shit from anyone.
Godmod injuries to my players? No
Godmod other events? No

Chaser - #9, William Jansen (6-foot-1, 200 pounds, male)
Chaser - #18, Mike Reynolds (5-foot-10, 190 pounds, male)
Chaser - #13, Keri Rakers (5-foot-6, 145 pounds, female)
Keeper - #1, Edwin Nash (5-foot-11, 185 pounds, male)
Beater - #59, Elynn Davis (5-foot-10, 158 pounds, gender non-conforming)
Beater - #46, SaQuon Douglas (5-foot-10, 225 pounds, male)
Seeker - #32, Tommy Entwistle (6-foot-1, 190 pounds, male)

1st Reserve Team
Chaser/Seeker - #11, Louis Ross (5-foot-8, 160 pounds, male)
Chaser - #17, Joanne Barkley (5-foot-10, 155 pounds, female)
Keeper - #30, Angel Gonzalez (5-foot-5, 145 pounds, male)
Beater - #39, Matt Spencer (5-foot-11, 180 pounds, male)

Manager: Chris Entwistle
Assistant: Anthony Christensen
Keeper Coach: Erkki Taipale

It seemed like it was eons ago the last time that Chris Entwistle and Edwin Nash were part of a Quidditch World Cup team, However, only eight years had passed in real time since the third Quidditch World Cup.

For Nash, he was back in the starting lineup as the keeper. His presence would likely bring some stability for a team that was by and large brand new to the world stage. He knew what to do defensively and he was not afraid to communicate -- loudly.

"You could hear Ed a kilometre away," said beater Elynn Davis with a hearty laugh. "I swear on my mother's grave I have tinnitus or something."

Beater Ken Flanagan quickly agreed.

"I need earplugs when I'm within a metre of Ed," he said, rolling his eyes theatrically. "To be honest, it's hard to tune that motherfucker out."

Turning serious, Flanagan quickly praised his keeper.

"Ed knows how to get us in position and knows how to protect his net. He also knows our jobs in and out. That's why he's back after eight years."

For his part, Nash said he was pleased to be competing once again.

"I wasn't doing too much, to be honest," he said. "I was coaching my daughter's team a month ago, but their season was done, so I was getting bored, to be honest. When I got the call to come back, I couldn't say no."

As for Entwistle, he went from playing in Sarzonia's first two appearances to managing the team now. He said the transition posed "a challenge," but it was also rewarding.

"Absolutely," he said. "Getting these players to believe in what they can do and buying into our concepts was job number one when I got here. Once we started scrimmages, we began to believe in ourselves a bit more."

Entwistle acknowledged another challenge: Managing his baby brother Tommy.

"He never listened to me when we were kids!" Chris Entwistle said. "He was always talking back, and by the time he hit 12th year, he was beating me up!"

Tommy Entwistle said he would listen to his brother "for perhaps the first time in my life," punctuating that with a ready laugh.

"I mean, he's my coach now. I gotta listen."

[Banija]

RP Permissions

Don't kill anybody. Otherwise, have at it.

Information
Country code: BNJ
Denonym: Banijan(s)
Nickname: The White Lions
Captain: Forcolo Kalunga
Home Robes: White
Away Kits: Green
Alternate: Orange

Banija National Quidditch Team

Starters

Goalkeeper #1 Kaytuhn Lékunzé- 27 years old, Graduate of Percyvale Academy in Starblaydia; Member of the Quicksilver House. Returning player from QWC8.
Chaser #2 Malick Amsalu- 17 years old, current student at Percyvale Academy in Starblaydia; Member of the Leoric House.
Chaser #3 Njimoluh Tantoh- 22 years old, Graduate of Percyvale Academy in Starblaydia; Member of the Montfort House. Returning player from QWC8.
Chaser #4 Forcolo Kalunga- 29 years old, Graduate of Nangobo School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Returning player from QWC8. Captain.
Beater #5 Amir Bereket- 25 years old, Graduate of Nangobo School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Beater #6 Iyasu Zekulu- 27 years old, Graduate of Nangobo School of Withcraft and Wizardry.
Seeker #7 Jordan Bina- 26 years old, Graduate of Nangobo School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Returning player from QWC8.

Bench

GK #8- Eden Tagena. 24 years old, graduate of Percyvale Academy in Starblaydia. Member of the Quicksilver House.
Chaser #9- Melech Neguse. 28 tears old. Graduate of Nangobo School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Chaser/Seeker #10- Yacobe Desta. 26 years old. Graduate of Nangobo School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Beater #11- Hezekiah Shawel. 29 years old. Graduate of Nangobo School of Withcraft and Wizardry.
Beater #12- Israel Wolitigna. 17 years old. Current student of the Nangobo School of Withcraft and Wizardry.

Basic Information on Banija's Wizarding Community

Banija’s wizarding community is unlike many you would see in other countries across the multiverse. In many countries, their wizarding community is integrated among the general population- hiding in plain slight, as one might call it. Wizards and witches can be drawn from all walks of life, and seen in all parts of their home country.

The above of course, does not apply in Banija.

The magical community in Banija consists essentially entirely of the members of the Mukegara Tribe, a tribe in Northeast Banija. They are a very isolated tribe, and are conveniently located in the center of a mountain range that straddles the Geisenfred/Banijan border in that part of the country. The tribe is small, about 50,000 people, but they, of course, are extremely separate from the rest of the Banijan population. Tourists generally are not allowed to travel to Mukegara land, due to their right to be uncontacted, which is enshrined in the Banijan Constitution. And like most countries, the general population of Banijans do not know that the population is magical- only members of the Royal Family know.

The Mukegara are led by the Paramount Chief, which is the hereditary leader of the Mukegara Tribe. The Mukegara have a two-tiered education system. One, consisting of ‘muggle education’, has children attend one of two elementary schools on tribal land, ran and operated by tribal schools. In those schools, they receive education in mostly muggle subjects. This is to comply with government regulation and the Banijan constitutional right to education, while maintaining their secrecy.

Before the age 11 school year, all students participate in a placement exam. The top 10 scoring students every year are selected to attend Percyvale Academy in Starblaydia- the goal of basically all Mukegara parents is to send their students to Percyvale Academy. This has been happening for almost 200 years pursuant an agreement between Percyvale Academy and the Mukegara Tribe. The rest attend the local school- the Nangobo School of Withcraft and Wizardry. Nangobo, of course, only admits those of Mukegara heritage, though the ties at the teaching and administrative levels between Percyvale and Nangobo run deep- every single Nangobo headmaster, for example, has been a graduate of Percyvale Academy.

It is Mukegara participation in Percyvale that introduced the country to the sport of Quidditch. The sport became highly popular at Nangobo, and of course, quickly became the country’s most popular wizarding sport. In the 8th Quidditch World Cup, they came flying out of the gates(literally), and won their first 9 games on Starblaydian soil, before falling in the tournament final to the Sherpa Empire. They come back to the 9th Quidditch World Cup, looking to ascend to the top of the quidditch world.

[-Anthor-]

The Anthoran National Quidditch Team
Presented by: The Anthoran Ministry of Sports, and the National Quidditch Commission (NQC)

The Harpies performance in the 8th World Cup was much more disappointing then their debutante quarter-final appearance, but none the less, the season had some good matches, and allowed plenty of time for the Harpie's young core to solidify into a more experience group, developing their talents and sharpening their skills.

Roster:

Style Modifier: +2

Head Coach: Anne Landon (Age 47)

Anne Landon returns as head coach, and is determined to bring in harder earned, and more favorable results in her second Quidditich World Cup. She says the team has trained all off-season to develop a slightly more defensive posture, one that is reliant on the burgeoning strength that is developing out of starting Beaters Gunnar Braddock and Iris Hale; the international team has also expanded, adding substitute players that Landon scouted and hand-picked to help give her Harpies some depth and more flexibility on the pitch. Notably, the inclusion of a new reserve Seeker (Stian Leclair), and a few new chasers, of note the flashy Klaus McEwan who was undoubtedly selected for his speed and Quincy Hardy, who has a reputation has a precise scorer even at his young age.

* - Starter
C - Captain
A - Assistant Captain

Chasers:
#9* Randolph Winter (Age 26) C
QWC Stats: 480 points, 46 passes, 13 falls

---

#4* Mitchell Haig (Age 29)
QWC Stats: 330 points, 29 passes, 17 falls

---

#3* Juliana Rake (Age 25)
QWC Stats: 260, 14 passes, 9 falls

---

#6 Ocean Hansen (Age 27)
QWC Stats: 200 points, 20 passes, 12 falls

---

#10 Klaus McEwan (Age 23)
QWC Stats: N/A (Debutante)

---

#18 Quincy Hardy (Age 22)
QWC Stats: N/A (Debutante)

Beaters
#15* Gunnar Braddock (Age 26) A
QWC Stats: 35 takedowns, 27 deflections, 8 falls

---

#23* Iris Hale (Age 24)
QWC Stats: 22 takedowns, 14 deflections, 12 falls

---

#2 Kaleigh Sweet (Age 22)
QWC Stats: 13 takedowns, 9 deflections, 5 falls

---

#11 Douglas Carter (Age 20)
QWC Stats: N/A (NT debutant)

---

Keepers
#20* Kennedy Fitzroy (Age 26)
QWC Stats: 47 saves, 23 deflections, 65 PA

---

#5 Charlotte Meyrick (Age 24)
QWC Stats: 25 saves, 25 deflections, 35 PA

---

Seeker
#8* Dianne Spring (Age 23)
QWC Stats: 3 Snitches' Caught, 2 Wins, 5 falls

---

#14 Jack Samuels (Age 25)
QWC Stats: 1 Snitch Caught, 1 Win, 5 falls

---

#17 Stian Leclair (Age 23)
QWC Stats: N/A (Debutante)

---

RP Permissions
RP permissions
Chosse my quaffle scorers: Y
Chose my Snitch Catcher: Y
Godmode scoring: TG
RP injuries: TG
Godmode Injuries: TG
Godmode other events: N

[Starblaydia]

I Give My Opponent Permission
(and actively encourage them) To:
====================
Choose my Scorers
GodMod any Goalscoring or Snitch-catching Events
Call penalties on my Players (Within reason, they're not remotely a dirty side)
GodMod other events for humorous intent

Esteemed Colleagues,

I am pleased to inform you of the squad that the Centre is again providing a team of the Quidditch World Cup. The world-famous team comes from the Starblaydi Quidditch Sunday League (known as the SQSL, or 'Squizzle') and, as such, are the finest exponents of the great 'sport of warlocks' known to us. Though we are, of course, hidden within Starblaydia we are, nonetheless, proud of the nation in which we live and the team will strive to match that pride with their sporting performances. Champions of the inaugural World Cup, the Starblaydi team are looking for a high-placed finish. Listed below are the players we are again sending forth to compete, as well as a brief description regarding each one, as well as the noble House they played for at the famous Percyvale Academy of Wizardry and Witchcraft. Starblaydia will play in the traditional predominantly-purple robes, also detailed below.

Keeper
• Wearing the Number One cloak and keeping goals for Starblaydia will be Enrique Esposito, who plays for the Fox's Irregulars Quidditch Club. A highly-capable Keeper who played for Montfort House, he is an excellent Quaffle-stopper. He is also Starblaydia's Captain.

Chasers
• Harkon Vekkinen is the Chaser with the Number Two cloak, who plays for the ancient Jhani Cavalry side. A Montfort House Quidditch Captain in his time, he is an accomplished tackler.
• The only Witch on the team, Jennifer Havaland, wears the Number Three cloak. Formerly Head Girl of the Coraluna House, her passing is second to none in the entire land; a prized asset of the Neveheim Arsenal Witches side.
• Rudyard Rumplebottom is oft-quoted as saying 'Rumplebottom's the name, goal-scoring's the game'. As such the bearer of our Number Four cloak is the Wizard most likely to be tallied on the scoring scroll. Formerly of House Leoric, he plays for Montepool County Quidditch Club.

Beaters
• Bearing the Number Five cloak is Alfred Grompton, once of Qucksilver House, who's shots with Bludgers are as complex as they are devastating. Currently plays for the Beverington Hawksworth School Old Boys side, where he teaches Arithmancy.
• George Huxtable, descended from the great Leoric Huxtable, is another Leoric House member with a keen eye for an accurate swing at a Bludger. Plays for the Penningworth County Quidditch Club and wears the Number Six cloak.

Seeker
• Xantian The Eagle-Eyed, preferably known as Xantian will be the team's Seeker, wearing the Number Seven cloak. A Leoric House member if ever there was one, Xantian is eagle-eyed (figuratively rather than literally) and occasionally even reckless in his single-minded pursuit of the Golden Snitch. Caught every single snitch asked of him to take the World Championship in the 1st edition. Currently plays for Montepool County Quidditch Club.

Robes
A crude depiction (the most we could manage for this scroll, I'm afraid) of the Starblaydi team follows:

Should any replacements be required in between matches due to unfortunate 'incidents', they will be named and dispatched to the Percyvale Academy as and when appropriate.

- magically signed -

Cuthbert Cruickshanks
Master of Quidditch
Centre for the Magical Arts
Starblaydia

[Zwangzug]

See here for a background on Zwangzug's magical community.

Keeper: #13, Matthias Vanderwaal (Padix Porlocks). Concentrated in Wandless Theory at Warzenhund Academy.

Chasers: #20, Andrea Gallagher (Nittany Narwhals). Concentrated in Wanded Theory at Warzenhund.
#25, Robert Gaposchkin (Dwayne Dugongs) Concentrated in Wandless Praxis at Warzenhund.
#2*, Rochelle Whitesun (Jofpubup Jabberknolls) Concentrated in Wanded Praxis at Warzenhund.

Beaters: #23, Enzo Bartali (Giordano Gheppi, captain). Trained as an apprentice potioneer in the southeastern Alchemist's Guild.
#18*, Timothy Frost-Hordal (Ridder Ravne). Concentrated in Wanded Theory at Warzenhund.

Seeker: #4, Bita Sarhaddi (Surairo Serpents). Apprenticed to an elder mystic in the southwestern ascetic tradition.

*=new this tournament

If RPing first, feel free to do pretty much anything. I would discourage godmoding in a literal sense.

[Pius Desurongcrandis]

*Name #, School, Piesian Quidditch League Team*

Keeper
Kayla Frolts #23, Pius Desurongcrandis Institute of Magic, Fennex Nationals

Chaser
John Hucks #11, Pius Desurongcrandis Institute of Magic, St. Joe’s Maurauders
Tara Vargas #3, Aleoplanz Zarden Colonial School of Magic, Gatesborro Guardians
Josh Zelt #53, Magic School of the Tutelia Colony, Unity City Totems

Beaters
Brendan Balts #26, Hawkerian Colony Magic School, Garretsville Nobles
Freddy Shampt #19, Aleoplanz Zarden Colonial School of Magic, Malanchester Katanas

Seeker
(Captain) Jason Arma #9, Pius Desurongcrandis Institute of Magic, Fennex Nationals

Reserves
Katy Wurst #45 Chaser, Colonial Falconera Magic School, Aleoplanz City Marlies
Dominik Gruden #87 Keeper, Kerestal Colonial Institute of Magic, Zarden City Rangers
Georgia Sameren #22 Chaser, Piusema Colony Magic School, Piusema City Storm
Leon Fern # 33 Chaser, Kerestal Colonial Institute of Magic, Jarsteville Colonials
Leo Dramp #66 Beater, Piusema Colony Institute of Magic, Derus Red Wings
Katharine Deys #46 Beater, Hawkerian Colony School of Magic, Anerst Bills
Peter Salan #55 Seeker, Magic School of the Tutelia Colony, Piusema City Storm

More on Quidditch in Pius Desurongcrandis

[Pius Desurongcrandis]

The Piesean Quidditch Team Uniforms consist of a Black Cloak with Red trimming and Gold Letters and Numbers. The team wears Black Pants and undershirt under Cloak. The Right hand side on the Cloak has a Phoenix while The left hand side says Pius. On the Back there is the Players name and number. The team is given the latest Firebolt Broomsticks

[Sarzonia]

One day after the team began installing its game plan for the opening match against Starblaydia, a rift began that threatened to tear the team apart.

Before Chris Entwistle could get to the dressing room after hearing shouting that didn't sound like the usual between teammates banter, he heard slamming against the room's walls and he walked in and saw beater Ken Flanagan, all 6-foot-6, 215 pounds of him, wiping blood from the right side of his mouth. He saw keeper Edwin Nash's dress shirt torn at the shoulder with drops of blood. He was aware of the glaring going on between them -- and the look of abject fear on beater Elynn Davis's face.

"What the FUCK is going on?" the Sarzonian manager shouted.

"This fucker," Nash shouted, pointing accusingly at Flanagan, just called Elynn a 'fucking freak of nature'."

"IT is," Flanagan said. "Gender non-conforming my ass! You're either a man or you're some fucking pussy."

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" the manager shouted, walking toward Flanagan and angrily pointing his own finger at him.

"Get out of my face," Flanagan said.

Entwistle decided to LITERALLY get in Flanagan's face.

"What was that? You're talking like that to someone who has the power to send your ass back to Sarzonia on the next flight. You KNOW the team rules. Pack up. I'll talk to you at the hotel."

"Fuck you."

"OK, wanna have that talk now? Fine. You're off the team. Don't at me," Entwistle said. He turned and walked just beats before Flanagan took a swing at his team's manager.

Six hours later, Flanagan was not only off the team, but he was in a police van on the way to a jail in Woodstock. When he got there, he saw his father Matt. Even though Matt was a scant 5-foot-7 and 130 pounds soaking wet on a day after a massive Thanksgiving dinner, the older man still instilled massive fear in his son when he was angry.

And boy was Matt Flanagan angry.

"I heard what happened in the dressing room," Matt said. Ken put his hand up and said, "I don't wanna talk about it, Dad."

"Too fucking bad," Matt said. "I taught you better than that. Grandpa taught you better than that. You don't disrespect people like that."

"It's not a 'person'," Ken said. Matt put HIS hand up now and said, "Kenneth Earl Flanagan, you listen to me and you listen good. I taught you to respect other people regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. That includes people who are gender non-conforming. Remember Pat? I wouldn't have had them over at our house even once if I didn't respect their choice to be gender non-conforming."

Ken glowered for a moment, but then he suddenly remembered.

"Pat was a freak," he said.

"Fine," Matt said. "I was coming here to post bail, but fuck that shit. You're spending the night here." He turned around.

"WAIT!" Ken called out, but it was too late.

"Is that your son?" a police officer asked.

"Who him? I never saw him before," Matt said.

"Dad!"

"Don't 'dad' me you bigoted asshole!" Matt said before storming off.

After a sleepless night, Ken woke up to the police officer's keys opening his cell door.

"All right, you're free to go home," the officer said.

As he left the cell block, he saw Chris Entwistle there.

"You're off the team," he said. "I've given this situation thought and we can't allow bigots on this team."

[Kriegiersien]

A small bus was standing at a lonely side road in the dark. The bus driver was holding the wheel, steering and singing quietly a song while looking at the road. The bus wasn’t moving and the door open.

At the side of the bus some shapes were putting bodies into a man-sized trunk.

“Good, this is the last one”, said Shao, looking down to the bottom of the magic trunk, were over a dozen bodies were lying in a room which had more than ten times the size of the chest.

“Are you sure they are ok?”, asked Anora.
“With the Stasisspell they will be unharmed for the few weeks we are at the World Cup. Ok, to the roles. Anora, you are Eli Canelight, the Seeker. Drink.”
Anora took a sip of a flask, changing her appearance to one of the persons at the bottom of the trunk.

“Whooo. Never experienced that before. Did it work?”
Yes, you look like her and should sound like her. At least your voice is different.

“It always works, my potions are Premium quality”, said Rink, giving further potions to the other people.

“Imoen, you are Ash Strix, Tim is Odie Conebush and Skull Ashton Night...”

“I don’t need that”, said Skull Dodgery, the unholy skeleton, which had already taken the form of the mentioned person.
“Are you sure that the wizards there can’t see through this disguise?”, asked Rink. “My potions work perfect.”
“First I am not sure they work with me and second: Even if they see that I am a terrible skeletal demon, they will prefer to not see that. There are more curious and pleasant things to watch at the tournament.”
“But what if someone remembers you from one of the last games?”
“They won't. I bet most of them wouldn’t recognize any of you, even if you would run around in your form. Not that I could remember anyone of the other players.”
“We were so often at these World Cup. They should remember us!”, boasted Imoen.
“For what? Did we make big friends? Did we win once?”, asked Skull.
“We got third once.”
“Great.”
“And now theses guys here wanted to steal our glory and participate for our nation…..What was its name again?”
“Crygreaseen.”
“Kriegiersien.”
“Gesundheit.”
“Yeah, no one takes our place. Not some...how do they call nonmages in the official Wizardcommunity?”
“Nomajs?”
“Or Muggles.”
“Yeah, they won't steal our parade. Or at least not our fun!”, proclaimed Anora in her now squeaking voice.

“Ok, please go on with the drinking of the potions. Kraven, you are Lenard Graytwig, Adhan is Ernst Snowpear, both Beater.”

Adhan took the potion and changed from a tattooed ugly giant into a scrawny guy, while Kraven looked a bit sad.
“Aww, I wanted to be a woman”, he said, sighing.
“Why?”, asked Tim.
“They have nice dresses.”
“You can wear one anyway.”
“But maybe I am falling out of character then.”
“No one knows their characters over there, so who cares?”
“I am Armin Skinner, the principal of the school and keeper”, declared Shao.
“You? A teacher?”, Imoen exploded with laughter.
“Why not?”
“I find the idea amusing.”
“Dear child, I am now your captain and teacher. Behave.”
“Yes Sir”, grinned Imoen.
“So the student has become the master. Very well, then lead on, for the… Dogwarts School of Strangeness and Sorcery...”, said former captain, Tim, now two heads smaller and with long hair, hence called Odie Conebush.

They squeezed their own luggage and the trunk into the bus and set down.
Shao closed the door and tapped the bus driver on the shoulder. The man blinked, started the bus again and they went on.
“Sorry, must have flooded the old girl”, he said.
He looked at the driving mirror, frowning.
“Weren't you more than that before? Is someone missing?”, he asked.
“No, we were always only 8. We don’t need more players. And I don’t think that someone went missing during the ride. Are you ok?”
The bus driver shook his head. He looked at the guy arranging some small bottles in a bag. He couldn’t even remember him getting in. Maybe he was just a bit tired. It had been and was still a long way to the Free Republics.
“I think we should make a pause”, the driver said.
“Again?”, Kraven complained, before getting hit at the back of the head from Tim.

[Endem]

Quidditch Team of Republic of Endem

Name: Suns of Endem ( Popularly called Sunnies or Red Greens )

Colors: Red and Green with Endem's national emblem on the chest ( the one I have on the flag )

Squad:
Keeper: Quiery Irin #16
Chaser 1: Imelda Ytr #45
Chaser 2: Alberta Gren #11Captain
Beater 1: Tyler Axey #66
Beater 2: Berta Hyn #34
Seeker: Alex Indr #20

Bench:
Irma Byn #19
Albert Yan #35
Percy Gren #12
Sally Vyr #80

RP Permissions:
Just don't kill my players

[Sarzonia]

The walk from the jail cell to his car was a brisk 38 steps, but they felt like a 1,000-kilometre journey for Ken Flanagan.

There were journalists with video and digital cameras shouting out questions. Many of them were variations on the same theme, but they all were a buzz in the background. The former starting beater on the Sarzonian Quidditch team stared straight ahead with a natural scowl, as he had what some Sarzonians still referred to as "resting bitch face."

However, the reason the questions from various media were little more than a buzz was not apparent to anyone but Flanagan. He was beating himself up over his decision to challenge Elynn Davis over their gender non-conforming status, a challenge that left them an emotionally scarred wreck in the Sarzonian dressing room.

Clearly, he didn't understand why someone would even be gender non-conforming. To him, you were either a man or a woman. You were either straight or gay, or bi. The idea that someone could be pansexual didn't really enter his mind. He was attracted to women and that was it. But he had gay friends and bi friends, so that wasn't something that would have triggered his aggression against Davis.

However, the fact he got into the confrontation with his father in the jail cell was what really left his mind spinning. Dad was absolutely right. He'd instilled a set of values that included respect for all people regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, and the like. He and his siblings all were taught the same way. Their grandfather reinforced those teachings, and modeled that behaviour by being close friends with Pat. Ken remembered Pat. Pat presented themselves in an androgynous manner and then with the term "gender non-conforming" becoming more common, that was how Pat identified. Ken had never encountered anyone as a teammate of his who was gender non-conforming. Pat never considered any athletic pursuits, so the fact they were gender non-conforming never really registered with him.

Finally, though, Ken made it to the police van that was going to drive him back to his apartment in suburban Saugerties. During the 45-minute drive, Ken stared out at the highway as the vehicle sped off toward his destination. He would also walk through throngs of reporters trying to ask him about his being booted off the team, ask him about his hostility toward the one gender non-conforming player on his team, ask him about spending the night in jail, ask him whether he would appeal to the Department of Health and Athletics.

He finally made it to his apartment door and breathed a heavy sigh. He touched the key fob to the door and opened it. After he walked in and shut the door, he slumped to the floor and sobbed.

Meanwhile, for Elynn Davis, it was a day they were dreading. They stood in the centre of the dressing room, facing their teammates. Elynn was trying to figure out what to say to the team when William Jansen stepped into the centre of the room and put his arm around Elynn.

"Turn around," Jansen said. They hugged.

"You don't have to say anything," Jansen said. "You're our teammate." The rest of the team crowded around the two players, all of them seeking to be the next to hug Elynn.

As for Chris Entwistle, he was still fuming after stepping out of his office. He'd just spent the previous hour arguing with his boss, who'd tried to override his decision to kick Ken Flanagan off the team. Finally, though, Entwistle threatened to resign if that happened, and that was the one thing his boss couldn't have dealt with.

After Entwistle stood out and saw his team hugging Davis, he heard a female voice.

"Coach, Ken Flanagan's on the phone." He rolled his eyes and walked back into his office.

"Coach," Ken said.

"Now's not the time," Entwistle snapped. "It may never be the time," he said before hanging up the phone.

Fortunately for the Stars, their position in the group draw meant they had a few more days to prepare for Starblaydia. They had a few more days to adjust their strategy to include tactics that didn't involve the hulking Flanagan providing the intimidating presence he was expected to. They had a few days to let the effects of a meltdown in the dressing room subside before the first matchday.

But Entwistle was right. It may never be the time to address the situation with Flanagan. There may never come a time when the two of them made peace. There may never be the time when former teammates of Flanagan's became friends.

Not all stories have happy endings.

[The Sherpa Empire]

‭Tshering of Fuzhou had put in his two weeks notice at the Sports Department, where he had been a bureaucrat for the last few years. His boss, Xue Gong, was disappointed, but not hugely surprised. He had offered to let Tshering take a leave of absence and return after the Quidditch World Cup, but Tshering said no, it was time for him to move on. Tshering wasn't sure exactly what he would do when the Cup was over. Maybe he would get a job with the Ministry of Metaphysics. Maybe he would become a court shaman. Maybe he would enroll in a university. Maybe he would move back to Fuzhou. Maybe, if Changjun Ihawa agreed to it, he would get married and start a family. But whatever the future held, he was sure there was more to life than sitting around shuffling papers at the Sports Department.

‭First things first, though. He had to get all the paperwork for the Quidditch World Cup finished before he left. And he needed to find at least one new player for his team, a replacement for Dawa Sherpa who was training to be a military shaman and did not have time for quidditch anymore. He also hoped to replace Dhamey of Rajasthan, who just wasn't very good. When Tshering had assembled the team originally, most people had told him it was stupid, it had been difficult to find players, and he'd had to scrape the bottom of the barrel with Dhamey. Now that the team had a reputation -- defending champions, no less -- it was easier to get people interested. 16 people signed up for try-outs, and 14 actually showed up. Tshering and his returning teammates (Changjun, Wangdi, Dai, and Namgyal) spent an afternoon at the Syangboche Athletic Complex interviewing young aspiring quidditch players and watching them zip around the ballpark in an effort to demonstrate their skills. The guy who flew his broom into a hot dog cart and spilled snacks, tongs, and used cooking grease all over the gritty tiled floor of the concessions area did not make the team. Neither did the obsessive baseball fan who couldn't stop gushing about how exciting it was to meet Changjun Ihawa face to face and asking questions about her dad the famous ballplayer, or the ultra-conservative monarchist who treated Wangdi more like a deity than a prospective teammate. Wangdi didn't mind being worshipped, but Tshering, Changjun, Namgyal, and Dai all agreed it would be awkward and distracting. It was better for team cohesion if the new players had the self-confidence not to grovel at the feet of the veterans.

‭The baseball fan who idolized Jamling and Changjun Ihawa actually could fly a broom decently, but Tshering and Wangdi were worried that she wouldn't be able to handle the pressure of playing in front of a crowd at a major international event. When the try-outs were over, and the team had decided who they wanted, Changjun Ihawa took her aside and told her, "You're not bad with that broom, but you're not going to get anywhere in sports if you show up thinking you're not worthy to be there."

‭In the end, they chose a fresh-faced nobleman named Tashi of Jalalabad to replace Dhamey of Rajasthan, and an eccentric (but very driven) Southerner named Pasang Nair to replace Dawa Sherpa.

[A m e n r i a]

Seoul Skyline, Empire of Amenria
Friday, 3 May, 2047

A man stands on a rooftop of a tall building, looking down on the streets where cars flashed through, looking like streaks of light that shone like the lights of the surrounding buildings and holographic government posters. He was wearing tactical armour, usual gear for a member of a law enforcement division of the military. "Slow day, huh?" He said as he glanced to his side, looking at another man wearing the same uniform. "Sure is, hyung, you think it's really okay to take a break like this though?" "Eh, I think it's alright to take a breather once in a while. HQ would ring if something came up. Besides, patrol drones got our routes covered." The first man took a sip from the canned coffee he has his wrapped around in. "Mingyu, you doing okay over there?" He glanced over behind him to yet another fellow soldier, who was leaning against a door and looking up to the sky. Still keeping his eyes above, he replied. "Yea, I'm fine. Just enjoying the clear skies and all. We should really do another round after this though."

[-Anthor-]

Town of Ashney, Dyson County, northwestern Anthor
April 22, 604AE

The smell of diesel fumes flew through the air as Klaus stepped out of the door of the grey and blue painted tram, careful to watch his footing to avoid the half melted collection of snow, soot, and other refuse from the streets that lay between the ledge of the tram's door, his feet and the curb of the sidewalk. The wind began picking up slightly, carrying the cold temperature with it and causing Klaus to pull up the collar on his leather jacket so that the top of it rubbed up against his jaw, and shoving his hands deep in the pockets as he marched on towards his destination at the end of the block, a bustling two story brick building that had a large sign out front that said "Shapter's House - No Ancinnes fan's allowed, all others welcome". At this time of the evening, with the three-quarter's moon high in the sky but hidden largely by thick clouds that would undoubtedly contribute to harsher weather in the next day or so, the side walk was mostly empty of people despite being in the town's center, and aside from a few people emptying out of the tavern up ahead, Klaus found himself unhindered, and mostly alone. However, his target was not the thick wooden door that led into the lively rooms of the tavern, filled with boisterous fans of the currently Anthoran hockey match on the televisions, but rather the wall before the tavern. To most of the town's four thousand or so residents, the tavern was abutted by a larger three story tan-brick building, the two of them directly connected on their sides. However, to people who knew where to look and how to access it, that wall actually had a door, one designed like an interior door from a far-gone century. When Klaus got close to wall, it's red brick stained with various faded posters that advertised everything from men's hair products to a politician long since forgotten, he placed his hand on a brick that had a brick roughly center in the wall that had two distinct cracks on it's surface to formed a rough circle, and he pulled a simple key out of his pocket and held it to the circle, muttering the words that his friends had shared with him. The hole suddenly glowed with a low level of light and took the key, and the brick wall shimmered until the brick faded and a door appeared. Klaus took the faded bronze knob of the door and opened it, revealing a small out-door eatery area, much like a street side tavern might have; there was a fabric awning of a yellow color that hung over the right side of the courtyard and underneath it was a bar that ran a good six feet along the wall and a collection of simple wooden tables and chairs, filled with a whole host of people casually drinking or conversing.

To his left upon his entrance was a small counter, like one might find at a hotel check in, manned by a tall, lean man with fading black hair pulled back tightly into a simple pony tail, wearing a simple navy blue suit. On this side of the exterior wall, there was a small, square wooden box mounted on the wall which the man opened and retrieved the same key that Klaus had used to open the door. He looked at it, briefly examining it and then at Klaus before pulling a large leather bound ledger from underneath his counter and a quill with it, making an entry. "Pewter-bronze, decent craftsmanship, has not been used in some time. Who do we have the honor of hosting this evening?"

Klaus stepped up the counter and glanced around for a moment before he answered the man "McEwan, Klaus. I'm here to meet up with my friend Randolph."

The man finished making his entry into the ledger, and set the quill down and picked up a paper tag with a small string which he tied around the key and then set it in a collection box mounted on the wall behind him, with dozens of small openings where one might find letters or notes, but instead each contained a single key of varying construction, design and appearance. "Very good, I might suggest visiting the bar, Mr.Wolff has a new selection of Hobbes Reserve available, and it's a very good vintage."

Klaus nodded and slowly walked further into the courtyard, examining the tables trying to find his friends; his charcoal eyes wandered over all sorts of people, all of them dressed in varying styles of odd fashion and looking..off to Klaus' eyes. It took him a few minutes before he spied his friend Randolph's light black hair among the crowd, his mouth stuffed with what looked like some kind of beef and bread combination and was holding up the end of a table that had three other people sitting at it; a young girl with chest-length silky auburn hair, a tall girl who even with her arms folded under the table and hunched over still towered over everyone else she was sat with, and a stout man with an apparent large build and a larger yet trimmed blonde beard. Klaus began walking towards their table which was situated at the furthermost back table, and smiled when he got within talking distance and Randolph parted with his food to notice his friend, standing up to greet Klaus with a smile and a quick hug. "McEwan, so glad you could make it!"

Klaus returned the hug and Randolph retook his seat, urging the girl next to him to move over so that Klaus could pull over a chair, which he grabbed from a nearby empty table and joined the crew. Randolph smiled and began talking in between bites out of his meal "Before we begin, everyone, this is my old childhood friend, and your newest team-mate, Klaus McEwan! Klaus, to my right you have Dianne, the tall girl is Juliana and the silent gloomy beard is Gunnar; the best Quidditch players this kingdom has."

The others all nodded and smiled at Klaus as they were introduced and a silent silence followed, which Klaus broke up as he was eager to avoid any form of awkward tension "So, I take it by your introduction that means Landon liked my tryout?"

Gunnar laughed as he took a sip from his mug in front of him "Don't you check your messages kid?"

Randolph held up a hand before Klaus could answer "Klaus and his folk are from the Old Order, they don't use the network like we do; Landon knew so I volunteered to tell him when we all meet up here."

The mention of Old Order clearly had an impact on the group, a reaction that Klaus was quite accustomed to, especially among those that weren't local to these areas. Gunnar grunted disapprovingly and Randolph took an awkward look around before Dianne spoke up "Well at least Iris will have company now; I'm curious, where did you go to school Klaus?"

"I didn't really, attended Lyness's for a few years before I was 16 and after that mostly everything I know comes from my uncle, or a few family friends of ours."

Gunnar muttered something under his breath and Dianne served him a slight kick to his shins under the table. Juliana shifted in her chair to face Klaus, and waved at a server who was nearby to come over. "Explains why no one on the team besides Randolph have ever heard of you playing before; we're a pretty tight-knit community and I wondered where someone so fast came from. Did you play much Quidditch growing up?"

The server approached and Juliana asked for another one of her cherry-colored drinks, Gunnar also asking for another mead and Klaus taking the time to asking for a Royal Roy, a ale that was bottled in a nearby city. Once he gave the server a note to pay for the drink, he turned back around to answer the question "Hah, uh, I was Lyness' main chaser for two year; once I left school it was mostly just myself. I used to play a few pick-ups with Randolph before he went and got famous and moved away, but usually it's just me practicing by myself; I set up a few trials and hoops in a nearby forest by my house."

Randolph grinned "Dianne, ask him which broom he uses, you'll get a kick out of it."

Dianne looked perplexed, but decided to humor her friend and directed the indicated question to Klaus. He grinned as he answered "Uh, I made it."

Gunnar let out a short laugh "You found a mountain warlock and a homemade broom, Randolph I thought you wanted us to win this thing."

Klaus smiled "I'll have you know it's a family tradition, and it's fully legal by NQC regulations, Randolph and Landon had it checked before I tried out. We never had any money for Ambrose's, Wyndham's, Torwoods or the other big brands, so we made due with what we had. Plus, practicing a lost art is fun."

Gunnar looked more or less content with the answer, and Randolph had just finished up his beef and launched into a new topic "Well, character inquiries aside, this campaign is going to be big for us. I know you weren't there Klaus, but the rest of us remember how disappointing last campaign was and Landon is really under pressure to produce a top level finish, so we can force the Ministry to allow us a professional league. We're going to be practicing alot more, she's designed a whole complex series of drills and training programs for us to run, and we're going to start doing them this upcoming Monday."

Gunnar piped in "And where are we doing this training, our old yard got compromised and turned into a ice field for the AIHF."

"She found a new place with the Commission and they got some well to do bachelor to help fund the construction of this place, it's way more built up and developed then anything we've ever played at, it's huge and it's built over in -"

Klaus jumped in "Ontop of old Kenfearn."

Randolph looked at him sideways, with a half-confused and half-embarrassed look "How on earth did you know that?"

Klaus shrugged "If you know your history, it was a big deal around here with the few that still hold the ways. My mother and uncle had alot of arguments over it when the Commission lads announced it and started building it, they tried to get a few locals to help but everyone slammed the door on them."

Gunnar looked confused "What the heck is old Kenfearn and what's the big deal."

Dianne jumped in with the answer before Klaus or Randolph could "It was one of the Order's most important ritual sites. Commission bought it off of the Crown last year, locals weren't thrilled you could say. Just imagine if Yarmouth sold their arena and let the AFC build a soccer stadium there."

Gunnar nodded, and Randolph looked eager to continue on "Well, I guess I won't need to explain where it is to you Klaus, but for the rest of you, Landon will be sending out instructions on the route tonight. Now, I got a peek into a few of her new drills and I think we could really do well if..."

[Ko-oren]

"Good! The brooms are here. All the best wood from the forests of Shanigun - all the best spells from wherever in the multiverse has proper people for that job. Tahdi, Menegos, could you try one of these out? They should have some added features when diving. Menegos, as a beater, yours should correct a very steep dive, slowing you down as you go, but really only if you're going straight down. Tahdi, as a seeker, yours doesn't - so be aware of that. Be careful."

"Sure thing! What's up with the old ones?"

"We're currently sending them back for servicing. We don't have the materials to do that, I mean Quidditch is a magical game for witches and wizards. We are a magical community, as in we are classified as a magical community, but we're hardly the wand-waving type. So, yeah, brooms still need to go back to a magical place with wands and the like in order to get proper maintenance. Until that point, feel free to use these. They should be a little better than what we're used to, so make sure you get a feel for the differences."

"Sure," and Tahdi took off, trying some manoeuvres about two metres off the ground. Zigzagging, turning, suddenly stopping.

"Coach, that reminds me, where are we training this year?" Menegos asked.

"Well, it seems that the assocations are preparing a practise pitch in the Zeroth World, actually."

"Can't we go to the World of Shanigun again? Or Lurthesingun?"

"Shanigun are afraid to share their World, they've had some quarrels with a few Worlds here and there so they don't want to share the location of their Linking Book. And Lurthesingun are in the middle of opening up a few Worlds of their own, so all of their manpower goes towards exploring those new places. Actually, Razentahn came close to opening up a spot for us, but instead they're building a new town right where the perfect pitch was."

"We can't be practising in the Zeroth World, surely..."

"I can't believe it either, but that's how it'll be, I suppose. The Guild of Legislators have talked to the non-Writers of the rest of Ko-oren, and the spot is kept secret so no actual Ko-orenites should stumble upon it. The place will only be messaged to players, coaches and the like. I mean, until then, Tahdi, you, and Huros can practise in Teredahl. That's the luxury of all coming from the same place. No secrecy involved if we're all Teredahlers! First practise with the entire team is in a week. Make sure to get a feel for the broom before then, it'll raise your chances of making the starters, Menegos."