Quidditch World Cup 11 - IC thread

by **Gyatso-kai** » Thu Jun 24, 2021 1:47 pm

.:: Gyatso-kai Locker Room, Surairo, Nevelis District, Zwagzug ::.
2045 hours local time, 19 June 2021.2

As Iviin Ram’ser stormed into the locker room, she took her feizhou and threw it into the corner. A Model 2021 Ravenstrill – one of the latest models from illustrious broommaker Lao Oli’sersk – its carbon fiber body easily absorbed the impact of the concrete walls and it ricocheted to the ground. As it rolled, Ram’ser reached into the sleeve of her inner robe, and withdrew her wand, aiming it directly at the feizhou. She took a quick breath, and shouted as she flicked her wrist.

“Tra’shukur!”

With the compound mando’a word, a white bolt shot out from the wand, striking the feizhou and sending it back into the wall. It bounced a little harder than before, the point of impact from the bolt a glowing scar as the shaft of the feizhou seemed to almost vibrate as it landed on the ground. Ram’ser drew her arm back again before it was suddenly gripped, the firm hand of Sato Sachie wrapped around her wrist.

”Iviin…you know Lao has so many runes carved on that shaft that not even the strongest spell could break it.” Sato sighed as she released Ram’ser’s wrist. A quick flip and her wand found its home in her sleeve again as Ram’ser walked away, pacing like a caged animal seeking a way out.

”That snitch was mine!” A heated reply from Ram’ser as she turned towards Sato, who simply held her hands up in surrender. The Apprenticed Master of the Mugong House, Sato was well versed in diffusing heated discussions with slightly-unreasonable adolescent people, and she had learned long ago that when there was shouting, the best thing to do was step away and speak reason.

”This isn’t about that,” the unofficial captain of the team said as she stepped away from the enraged Seeker. ”This is about you walking into this locker room, throwing a three-thousand-yuan feizhou into the walls and then proceeding to open fire on it like some mad-mando resolute on revenge for nothing.”

Ram’ser huffed, seeing Sato’s point before turning to her feizhou; it was a gift from her father before the team left for this World Cup, and she suddenly felt rather ridiculous for having treated it so poorly. She walked towards it – resting neatly a few paces from the wall – and picked it up. She could see the point where her spell had struck, the carbon fiber still glowing from the energy. Beneath the glow, she could make the protection runes that Lao Oli’serek had hand-carved into the ash core of the feizhou, the energy they contained holding the feizhou together from a spell usually reserved for breaking down a fortified door or crashing through a concrete wall. Looking back on just a few moments prior, Ram’ser realized had her spell missed, the team would have likely had to pay for the damages to the locker room walls.

Something Headmaster Batuo certainly would not tolerate…

”You’re right, Sachie,” Ram’ser said as she took her place infront of her locker. ”It’s just… I should have seen that heitie. I shouldn’t have been…”

“It came from below. You were focused on the feizei… That’s your job,” Sato affirmed as the doors to the locker room opened. Sato knew the conversation had to be paused, as there was no point in continuing in front of the rest of the team; they had all seen Ram’ser storm off the pitch, they had all seen Sato fly down and then chase after her, and knowing what was to come, decided to hang back a bit until they absolutely had to go in. First in, as to be expected, was Adlartok Aklaq – the second oldest member of the team and a fellow Mugong. Much of the traditions and customs of the Mofahuojian Hall of Wizardy and Magic were based on age and the passage of time, and with Aklaq being the second oldest, he would walk in first and seek Sato’s permission for the rest of the team to enter. No words spoken, but a simple nod from Sato told him it was okay, and a quick glance to Ram’ser meant the conversation would be finished later.

Mofahuojian Hall of Wizardy and Magic.

The name alone conjures up grand imagery for any and all magically-inclined people within the Avatarian Republics. Of course, ‘magic’ in the traditional sense meant very little to a nation filled with people who could control the elements and had talking ponies parading around.

Since its founding in 11 YYc (1508 CE), Mofahuojian had been isolated from the rest of Avatarian society. So isolated in fact that even though the school was currently located in the highest mountains of the eastern Shenmi range on the island of Daiji, it was rumored that the actual school existed within a bubble of spacetime and that it could transport and move between the known and unknown multiverses…

There was even a multiverse where it was Aang who ended the Hundred Year War instead of Roku… and one where Gyatso-kai comprised most of the land of a vast region of Avatarian nations…

But that was a subject for Professor Kiapo’s Class on Multiverse Theory.

Even if the school was isolated, magically-inclined members of Avatarian society were known my many names – ‘wizard’ being the preferred Basic term, with ‘wushi’ and ‘moru’ the most common terms in Avatarian, while ‘jetii’ and ‘dral’ori’dush’ are in Mando’a – most of which bore a negative connotation; surprising when you consider how commonplace bending is, both in classical as well as modern society.

Recent census figures (2020.1 Census by the National Bureau of Statistics) put the officialnumber of magically-inclined citizens at around 25,000 – 24,873 to be exact – and at such low numbers it is easy to understand how so few people could be so well known. In every day life, most people are not observant enough to spot magic, even when it is performed in front of them. Sure, there are countless videos on the net of people ‘doing magic’; a video of someone reaching for an object and it coming to them, or someone walking through a wall. However, most non-magical people simply consider the videos to be fakes, or if they see it themselves, make a joke about it as it must a trick on their eyes.

The magically-inclined live a life of secrecy from the average Avatarian, though this secrecy is not enforced through any official law or regulation. Government officials at the highest levels are well-aware and well-versed in the existence of wizards; Avatar Aang himself attends a biannual conference at Mofuhuajian as well as the largest wizard community in Traujin on the southern island of Ehn’taap. There are no punishments for using magic in the open, nor are there any regulations against magically-inclined citizens from living amongst their non-magical counterparts… It is just a matter of culture for those of similar backgrounds to tend to flock together.

Just as the members of each Nation tend to reside together, so too do wizards…

by **Valdiviola** » Fri Jun 25, 2021 9:54 am

PARADYCE FOUND
La Viola beat most mysterious opponents yet
VALDIVIOLA 300*-160 PARADYCE LOST

Benedetto Azzardo seemed determined to use the full strength in depth of his squad in naming the seven to take on the team from Paradyce Lost. Even Captain Lorenzo Nobile found himself sitting on the bench as all 6 foot 7 of debutant Feliciano Lio took his place. La Viola also lined up without top goalscorer Isabella Loretto, replaced by Armando Sferra and Erasmo Burrasca made his way back into the lineup to partner Fiorentino.

Not much is known about the secretive Paradycian team, as even their submitted teamsheet was completely illegible. This didn't stop them from putting up a good fight against the much changed 'Violan side. Neither team managed a lead of more than 30 points at any stage, despite the efforts of Captain for the day Lola Febbraio who managed to release Savoia on multiple occasions. Erasmo Burrasca seemed strangely off colour and allowed a few too many attacks overload Feliciano Lio, who made a number of impressive saves on debut.

With Paradyce Lost leading an enthralling encounter 160-150, Simonetta Nocerino would notch up her third straight Snitch catch after a streaky chase across the middle of the action tailed closely by her opposite number. Neutrals were doubtless disappointed that the Quaffle battle was forced to end but 'Violan fans will breath a sigh of relief to win such a closely fought match. Coach Azzardo will be ecstatic to remain atop Group C with the added benefit of having so many of his players having seen action so early on! Next up, Sylestone who haven't yet managed a victory in Zwangzug.

Player Ratings: Lio 7/10, Fiorentino 6/10, Burrasca 4/10, Sferra 5/10, Savoia 6/10, Febbraio 7/10, Nocerino 9/10,

by **Alchemic Queendom** » Fri Jun 25, 2021 10:32 am

“Another flipping tight game!”

The team had enjoyed their picnics for the last few days but one could only eat so many cross-cut sandwiches and crinkle-cut crisps. In search of some more variety, they had sought out a little taverna in Heart’s Jaunt. Over various local delicacies (and lashings of ginger beer) they were toasting their success in the recent game against Equestria.

“Spiffing goal at the end, Bailey!”

“Thanks, chum! I was jolly excited, sorry about all the shouting!”

Jace and Bailey clinked glasses and then returned to their distinctively Ildynian repast. Jessika, who was much more of a fussy eater, was picking at hers rather slowly. Gunnar didn’t seem to have much appetite either, despite looking like he took quite a bit of feeding. Their Keeper had not been on top form.

“Cheer up old bean, we’re still pretty hot in the standings!” said Billy encouragingly, clapping the stoutly-built chap about his shoulders.

“I think I’m just going to get an early night.” Gunnar’s glum response saddened them, but they weren’t going to argue: frankly, his dour mood was bringing the party down a little. He thrust his share of the bill onto the table, and slouched off. Jessika sighed as she watched his tall figure disappear down a shadowy alley.

“Not a bad shout to get a bit of kip. Always wake up feeling a bit restored when I’m feeling blue,” admitted Bailey.

“I like to read,” Aurora said quietly. “If I’m feeling sad, it cheers me up to get lost in an amazing fantasy world. Diving deep into a book helps me perk up when it seems like everyone’s igno–”

“Not sure about, Bailey,” cut in Jace over the top of Aurora. “Worried one too many long dark nights of the wazzock* will just bring him down more. No, what I think he needs is a night on the town. What say you, boys, take him out for a butterbeer or two?”

Billy shrugged amiably, and Bailey protested she was just as much a ‘lad’ as he. That meant Jessika insisted on coming along too. Aurora, somehow, was left out of the invitation.

“What about you Scumgore? Up for a swift half?”

I̸̲̮̮͈̋͌̈͐̒̓͝ ̷͉̜͊͑́̎̄̆͗̏̈̈́́̾Ş̷͉̪̰̹̯͖͋̉̒̓́̕͜H̶̳̹̳͌̒̋͗̀͑̽̀̒͊͂͘̚̕͝A̸̢͕̻͚͉̖͇̙͙̣͛̈́͜ͅL̶̨̖͉̻͈̍̆̅̒͛̄̑̂̋̾̎͝L̷̟̼͍̹͇̠̟̝̮̰͍͎̼̀͌̈́ͅ ̴̧̯̗͈̜͚̬̳̩͓̠̥͕̱͍͒S̶͇͊̽͗̃̈́̆̏̚͝͝͝Ừ̷̭̪̣̬̳͉͕͙̳͖̍́̌͋̉̈͘P̷̢̞̩̩͚̓̈́̀̾̚ ̴̭͕̙͓͕̑Ơ̸͔̻͇̭̠͈̠̓Ñ̴̡̻̭͖̰͙͔̘̀̂̈̽ ̶̧̛̩̪̦̞̪͕̔̀͗̾̑̀̑͜ͅT̸̹̤͍͚́̒͛́͜͝H̴̞̲͗͜Ẹ̷̛̛̹̰̹̱̦̃͌͐̏̋́̋ ̷̞̳̭̪̹̬̙̠͇̟͉͇̖̙̃̓́̊̃͒́̏͂́̆̕͘B̸̮̞̠̩̥̺̣͓͇͕̟̗̳̘͑̓̅̂̍̚L̸̡̢͎͖̞̘̞̱̖͍̠̲͙̓̉̈́̈́͗̎͗̉̓͘O̸̙̰͖̬̜̫͎͖̥̬͎͙͌͌́̊O̸̢͕̼̙̗̟̥͔̞̟̅̈́̏́̈́̄̾̓͗͘͠͠D̵̢̦̠͈̩̣̮̀͊͑ ̵̦̫͚̽͊́͐̒͐̎̃̃̇̈̒͝O̶̪̖͙̺͕̲̖̙͊̕͜͜͜F̸̮͈̠̰̲̬̥̙̥̭̰̗̘͔͛̉̑͑̇͆͂ ̵͈̇́̋͘͘E̸̡̺̣̝̱̳̤̟̮̭̱͗̒ͅͅV̵̧͉̭̘͚̭̦̦̩̲̠̲̟͈̱̄̐͆Ȩ̸̛̛̯͔̝͍͙͙̟͔̈́͂͒̅̓̃̚ͅͅR̷̭̼̎̄̈́̆̎̈́͂̉̃̍͘̕͘͝Ỷ̸̡̺͈̣̟̹̲͕͍̅ ̶͓͇͚̩́̀̒̓̇͐̅̈́͗͘͠F̵̡̡̡̱͇̜̱̰̻͒́̏̀̑̒̔͂̈̇̔̕͘Ȩ̴̛͕͔̣̜̼͔͕̮͛̽̿̀̑̓͒͆͑̊̊͗͑Ê̵̘̲̜̜͇̠͑B̴͈̮̻̉̈L̷̨̨̛̛̩̦̩̥̰̦̘̩̜͎̓̒͌̓̾͋̽̒̒̓̈̄͆͜Ê̷̙̳̮̼͈͍̏͒͗ ̵̡̨̢̳͇͓̣̙̣̦̯̞̘̔͊̅̊̍̂͊̔̀̇̂͘͠͠W̷̢̺̬̠͙̺̻̖̜̘̻̉̂̆̃͐́̀͝Į̶̫̻͇̺̮͕̳̻̗͓͗́̾̈́̎̓̒́̉̅̈́̀̌̃̚M̴͕͔͕̙̘̏̓̿̊͋̒̀̒͌̓͌̈́͠P̵̡̛̞̫̰͖͓̰̗̅͂̎̀̀̍̽͒̎̚͠E̶̦̻̘̙̫͓̲͓̓͋̄̓̿͌͌̆͋͐͌̂̕͝͝R̸̢̲̟̬̰̜̟̬͕̖̙̥͖͆̊̍̈́̽̈́̈̚ͅͅḮ̸̢͍̳̄̈̌͊͗̂N̶̦̝͙̞̪̺̹̺̙͈̻͕̭͒̅̈́͐̇̒̓̔̂͛̈̊̽́͝G̵̡̧͖͇̞̟̪̞͉͂̂̃ͅ ̵̨̠̠͎̱̥̰̞͎͛̇̈́́͒̀̈̌͘͜͝Ṕ̸̳̗̲̝̩͈̲͗̑̂̈́̾̿͘͝È̷͕̰̠̜͍͚̾̃̐̉̒̚͝O̵̗̟̤̒͛̾̽͌͜͠N̵͇̯̰̬̖̠̂̓̏͗͆͌̀͆́͋͒̌͑̆͝ ̵̟̯͇͕̦̹̹̺͕̟̋K̶̳̫̟̫̗̳͐̈́̈̑N̸̡͉͈̖͙̰͓̙̮̍̐̀͗̇͒̍͘Ę̸̂́̈́E̷̳̞̙͈͉̝̪̳̠̱̩͙̒̈́̌ͅL̵̞͓̻̯͕͓͙͓̉̃͋̅̂̆͝I̴̱̽̋̅͋̈̔̑̐̿̽̐̀͊̉̚N̴͕̍̈́̌̓̿̾̒̿̀̈́̄̿̉̇͠ͅǦ̶̨̛̞̝̪̞͙̬̤͇͎͕̬̘̎͒̈̐ ̸̢̨̛͈̯̝̜̣̮̳̲̋́̅͑̓͒́̄̎̂̄̌͠͝B̴̩͓͉͖̼͚̲͈̪̫̝̗̣̊͋͌͒͑̅̈́̕E̶͍̟͒̊F̷̣̠͇̗̪̙̳̞̤͚̼̰̓͑̍̂͛͂͜͝͝ͅÒ̶̗̔̓͋̍̇̆̀̌̓̓͆͝͝R̵̥̀̍͑̀͗̅̍E̶̫̯̝̔̅̓̐̿͑̏ ̸̛̥̤̳͛͒͐̿̀̈̓̄̌̂́̚͘͝M̴̡̧̡̛͎͋̌͝Ḛ̶̲̠͂̒͗̄̒̀̂͑̂͑́̓̓͠ ̷̡̛͕̲̳̭̞͉̇̂̔̑̅̀̓̋́̋̚W̸̟̰̃́͑͜͝H̷̢̱͍̩̺͚̭̖̣͙͖͕̦̎Ę̶̛̤̜̬̟̆̃͊̓͌̚̕͝N̴̗̖̲̯̳̣̐̏̋̒̐̓ ̶͎̞̠̼̪̝̜̟͓̆̓͋M̷̧̡̧̛̭͚͍͔̘̥̣̺͙̖̳̝̈́͐̇̃̑Y̷̜̘̗̠̙͍͇̺̝͇͙͗̎̈́̊̄̊̅͒̚ ̴̨̥͔̝͍̲̍͠ͅL̶̨̖͚̟͈̲̼͓̔̈̊̈́̊̀͑̊̆̓̓́Ȇ̴̲͎͉̭͙̥̜̪͔̫̮͚̗̑̀͑̄̈́̏G̵͚̭̹̰̱̰̖̟͖͓̒͊̇̐̿͐͑̋͜ͅÍ̸̘͖͚̮̥̮̭̻̻̳͇͉̎́͜͝Ǫ̶̨̛͇̞̫̞̹́̎̓̽N̷̢̫͔̬̥̜̣͎̠̫͖̣̻͓̈͑̇̈͑͜S̶͇̃̉̎ ̸̛͕͖͉̠͋̔̽̓́̄̆͠O̶̢̦̠̳̣̻̭̗̜̯̫̭̲͉̎̍̈́̔̀̂̾̑̂̿̈̐͝͝F̷̜̥̗̦̞̝̣̮̼̺̉̆̐̂̈́͌̋̈́̆̅̿̐̚͝ͅ ̷̡̲̗͔̲̮̣̘͇͇͓͚̓̇̌̍̚̕͝͝Ḑ̷͔̣̼͍̻͈̪͊̏̓͆̃̇̍̊̚̕ͅͅA̸̙͖̪͓̮̤͌̋͑́͊̅͜M̵̢̛̬͔̫̟̲̺̭̲̝̰̞̺̲̝̃̐̾́̚Ņ̵͉̬̱̰͗͆̑͑͌͘͜͠A̵̢̝̟̭͎͙̩̐̈́̍̆͋̽͘͝T̶̨͖̟̹͙̊Į̵͍̥̲̮̠̤͉͑̏͒̋̿͒̕ͅO̷̧̢͔̭̜̞͔͓̤̪̙͌̉͒͘͜͝Ņ̵̛̘͖̯̦̖̰͇̖͍͍̳̬͂͐̏͜͠ ̶̨͇̩̯̹̞͔͖̲̐̎̅S̵̨͎͖͕͖̟͓̥̟͉̽̿̊̀̅̿͑͝T̸̟̋͑̓̍͝Ȃ̷̛̱͓̙̹̹͎͐͗̑ͅM̸̹̮͉̩̙̦̈̑P̶̨͚͇̹̥̊ͅͅ ̸̨̛̣̱̘̯̟̙͖͔̣̟͎̭̖͙̒͑͛̓̎͘͝P̶̨͖͉̼͚͇̹̮͖͔̦͙̖̅À̶̬̙͓͔͍͔͖͙͗̉̈́͐̄͗͒͋͑̆͘͘̕͜͠ͅͅỈ̴̢̗̹̿̏̊̌͊̐̅̂̋͗̏̎̚͘Ń̷̨̦̜̫͙̼̤̣̹͙̮̪͖̭͋̊͌͊͂̃̅͊̚̕̚ ̵̡̧̨̺͉̲͇͓̤̮͈͎͆͠ͅǺ̷̡͍͖̻̹͇̺̤͇͛̆̔̃̈́́͐̈́̈̔͘͠N̴̼̻̠̳̋̈̎̓͌̂̓͌́́̇͘D̸̗̞̙̥͉̦̫̠̬͓͉̗̭͙̬͋͘̚ ̴̢̨̡̦̫͉͖͔̫͓̤̭͉̳̔̎͌̋̒̔̄̕͜͠S̵̨͓͚͕̳͖͙̥̲͙̯͉̙͋͆͗̀͛͒̈́͋̿͝U̷̝͕͇͓̱͖̰͓̾̀͋̓̌F̵̢̹͈̺̟͔͈̬̺͉̗̜̪̈́̈͋͐̍̉͒͒̾̊̚̚F̶̳̺͉̜̼̮̲̦̘͖̦̦̭͑̉̇͝ͅĘ̴͔͈͕̥̗̪̼̤̩̠͉̥̈̄R̸̡̛͈̜̞̗̼̫̜̞̯͕̬̻͔̣̔̄̑̆̎̃͐I̵̢̛̩̝̮͈̠͖̯͆̒͛͂̅̀̈́̃̕͘͜N̴͙͈̱̜̹̲͙̣͒̅͑̎͜G̷̛̖̎̇̈́͛̓͂̂̑̍͒͆̍̚͝ ̵̢̛̦̟͙̪̪̠̩̘͋̈̿̂̃̿͑̾͒̓̕͜͝A̴̛̯͌̈́͑̕C̵̤̾̐̒͆͐͘̚͝Ŕ̸͙̱͈͖̘̦̲̦̣̬̣̒̍̔̌̑̉̓̈͘͝O̵̢̪̯͉͔̣͐͗̂̓̉̏̓͜S̷̢̥̺̬̖͈̠̓̀͛͐͑͐̉̚̚͝Ṡ̴͍̘͇̍̓͑̈́̿́̎̿͐͘͘͝͝ͅ ̷̨̲̻̰̘̻͈͚͎͕̬̮͚̈́̋̑̓̎͋̏̽̂͂͌̚͘Ţ̷̧̫͓̗̳̩̝͕͍͉̘̗͛̈́̄̀̎̃̐̎̆̓͘͠H̶̳͖̖̀͗̊ͅE̷̘͖͉̾̑̎̈́ ̵͇͖̫͚̬̅̅̿͐̄̄͂̍̈́̀͗͆͜ͅͅB̷̡̡͍̪̳̖̩̰̘̼̠͋̐͐̈́̚͠L̶̢̜̻̬͙̫͈͔̙̤̫̙̣̈́̌̾I̵͉̰̣̟̤̩̲̪̝̭̅́̐̃̒͌͑̀̐͛̕͘͘͜͝͝G̵̗͎̲̩̫̖̝̣̳͍̦̝̎͛̓̃͊̀͑̇̑̆͆̀̚Ȟ̵̡̓̈́̾T̷̨̢̥̮͚͕͓̊̉͜Ę̵̛̛͎̩̫̦̦̮͈̥̩̭̿̽̀̍͒͑̅͂̉͠͝ͅD̸̨̝̟͚̠̝͝ ̵̧̟͇̙̲̪̤͓͚̺̇̾͛͛̾͒̈́L̷̞͈̼͐Á̶̮̹̪̤̲̻̝͓͚̝͚͇́N̵̨̤̲̬̻̖̯̙̦͉͈̫̥͖̮͗͌̇̓͌̀̄͑D̴͈͚̲͗̆̐́͠S̸̺̼͖̐̏̍̚ ̴̢̞͎̩̜̩̝̻̮̞͉̦̇̑̇͑̆̋͌͘͝T̸͙̬͚͖̘͕͑̃̓̀̈́̀̊̐́̈́͘H̷͕͇̼̜̖͕̲̻̭̠͖̎͐͗͑̍̕͝ͅE̵̢̧̨͙̮͔̦̙̰̻̰̬͎̮͕̅Y̸͈̓̏͆͒́̃̅͋̆̿͘̚͠ ̵͎̲̞̰̝͉͖̋̄͑́̿̌́̄̈̎͒̕͝͠L̸̛̬̫̫̙̮͕̗̙̋̈͛̌̀̓̉͠Ẽ̵̳̩̖̗̇̉͂͊͜A̸͍̞̬̓̎̓̀͐̌̆͋͂͗̒̀̃͝͝V̴̢̢͇͈̜̦̰̹̻̝͖̜̓͊͊̅̎͑͒̄̓͘̚ͅͅȨ̸̘͙̳͈̟̘̤̲͙̟̫̺͙͙̎͂̀̈́̇́̒̚ ̶̡̨̢̹̼͐͗̏͑͑͑̈́̆̒͝͝I̵̥̤̻̞̱̜̓̿N̵̡̧̻̅͐̾̊̅̇̀͑͑͝͠ ̷̛̼̯̎̒̽̓͑̓̈́͑͌Ţ̸̧̙̹̗͚̺̮̖̰̇̍̓͜H̷̰͕̍Ę̵̙̤̮̪̳̙͓̰̑͐̑̌̓̾̏̌ ̴̧͖͖̝͙̋͛̈́̓̂̏̽̓̒͝͝ͅW̵̧͎͓̪͖͚̹̟̹͈̜̼̮͍̾͑͘͜Ą̴͉͖͇̘̪̱̽̈̅̐͝Ķ̸̲͔̣̗̤͕̲͖̮̮͚͖̜͚͌͋́̀̒̍̚Ȩ̸͍̳͉̗̝͑̓̈́̉̀̐̐̔̓͝ ̵̛̲̳̝̪͎̤͖͓͍̰̿̓̆̌̔͌̈̓͂͐̀̀͜͜Ò̷̩͋̐͆̍͛͆̅̑̚͝F̵̡̞͚͇̻̞̙̝̳̺̣̯̉̎͐͂ͅͅ ̴̧͙̮͝T̷̠͉͇̻̬̖͌́̏̇̈́ͅH̵̛̠̃̅̀̔̍̐̏̉͑̍́͘ͅĒ̶̡̧̧̨̼̥̘͇̼̼Ǐ̷̖͎̰̞͚̀́͐̈́͒͋̈́̿͝Ṛ̸̢͙̺̜͎͇̣̟͔̭͕̳̂̍̎̽̊̔͋̎͜͠ ̷̨̩̟̣̱̹͈̘̎͊̒̋̈́͘̕H̷̨̼͇͎͕̺̭̋͋͌E̵̩͓̳͛̈͒̅̓̀͠L̷̫̬̪͉̞͓͈̮͆̍̈́̄̎͒̑͝L̴̲̯̐̇̋̑̊͛̚͠-̷̧̧̥̱̣͐̊͐̒͋̀̊̀̋̿͐̚͝͠͝Ś̸̨̝̖̬̩͕̥̒͗̌̇̂̏̍͆̃̓̈́̍͌̕Ǘ̶̞͈̼̤̫̥̳̾̽̑̂̉̄̚͝R̸̛͔̟̖̺̝̝̹̦̤̮̪̫̳̬͔̒̏̾̓̔̀̈́̀̄G̶̡̨̡̭̲̺̞̗̥̟̝͇̳̍͌̌̿̌͊́͛̌͑͊́̋̾̚ͅẼ̵̡̨̨̦̗̤͔̪̪̤̯̰͇̩̃̆̈́́̈́̔̑̕͜.̶̝̞͕͔̗͈͉͙́

“That’s the stuff, lad. Hey, Gunnar, wait up!” Jace rose from the table and began to chase after the Keeper so they could take him for a drink.

The proliferation of magic-users (who make up over 99.9% of the Queendom’s population) and magical creatures, whether the more commonly known dragons, sea serpents and unicorns, or those unique to the Queendom such as hezzygurgles, jumblywhiskers, and lesser spotted greater striped giant pygymy fromps, has rather retarded the development of transportation technology. Certainly, for example, flying carpets are legal, but regarded as rather redundant when once could simply strap onto the back of a roc (not to mention a waste of a perfectly good carpet).

* Alchemists do not really believe in souls. They instead believe in something called wazzocks, which are a bit furrier and have more legs than souls.

by **Soldera** » Fri Jun 25, 2021 11:44 am

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, Janna Gonzalez (5-foot-7, 150 pounds, female)
Chaser - #10, Darren Lloyd (6-foot-1, 190 pounds, male)
Chaser - #11, Emelio Rivera (5-foot-9, 165 pounds, male)
Keeper - #1, Keren Davis (5-foot-7, 155 pounds, nonbinary)
Beater - #29, Jeff Bannister (5-foot-11, 180 pounds, male)
Beater - #6, Eldrick Davis (6-foot-2, 225 pounds, male), no relation to Keren
Seeker - #12, Eric Thompson (5-foot-10, 170 pounds, male)

1st Reserve Team
Chaser/Seeker - #5, Harvey Tippett (5-foot-11, 170 pounds, male)
Chaser - #7, Hailey Massey (5-foot-8, 145 pounds, female)
Keeper - #30, Chad Gray (5-foot-7, 155 pounds, male)
Beater - #22, Noah Roessicker (5-foot-10, 190 pounds, male)
Beater- #23, Jonah Haslim (6-foot, 195 pounds, male)
Seeker - #40 Leonid Novikov (5-foot-9, 150 pounds, male)

Manager: Elaine Brandeis, 50
Assistant: Jordan Crosby, 39
Assistant: Yan Holt, 42
Keeper coach: George Malarchuk, 45

by **Soldera** » Fri Jun 25, 2021 12:03 pm

The Solderan national Quidditch team wasn't even on the radar screen in the 11th Quidditch World Cup.

Hell, the sport wasn't on the Solderan radar screen. There was no magic community within the country to speak of. The country as a whole was a collection of muggles.

So how did a bunch of muggles manage a 3-0 record in their first experience with Quidditch?

"Beats the hell out of me," said beater Jeff Bannister, whose eyes widened ever so slightly as he cringed for a moment. Then, he quickly closed his eyes, shook his head almost imperceptibly, then added, "no pun intended."

The Suns are flying high (again, no pun intended) at 3-0 in their first Quidditch competition, where just a 40-point differential separates them from Valdiviola for top in the Group C table. They defeated Sylestone 280-130 after Sylestone scored three consecutive goals to draw the match level at 130 three hours into the contest. Seeker Eric Thompson managed to elude the toilet that seemed to be assigned to mark him and almost stumbled into the snitch. He secured his glove around it and then the Starblaydi referee signaled the match was over. The Suns shined brightest over the sentient toilets flying in Sylestone robes.

Previously, the United Kingdom earned victories over Paradyce Lost 320-200 and an opening 370-120 triumph over Newlandian Dragon Island. The Solderans have won all three matches despite either trailing (against Paradyce Lost) or being drawn at the time Thompson captured the snitch. Only the team's first-ever match saw the Suns comfortably ahead at the time of the snitch capture.

"Ahead, behind, we'll take a victory by snitch capture any way we can get it," manager Elaine Brandeis said. "When you're new to a competition, you'll happily take a victory whenever possible."

Soldera have a match against Amenria, who are coming off a bye on Matchday 3. They are 1-1, having lost to Paradyce Lost 380-240 in their first match and defeated Sylestone 210-110 in their first two matches, respectively. The Suns have their bye after the Amenria match. Valdiviola and Western Fardelshufflestein wrap up Soldera's group stage schedule, which means the Suns will go from fellow debutants Newlandian Dragon Island and Paradyce Lost to experienced teams in the latter part of their schedule. However, Soldera's performance against Sylestone, another experienced side, suggests that the Suns may not necessarily falter even with a disadvantage in experience.

"We've learnt not to count our chickens," Brandeis said. "We'll make sure we're ready."

by **Tikariot** » Fri Jun 25, 2021 1:22 pm

Marjorie Bramley: Good evening, witches and wizards of Tikariot and beyond, welcome to Much Magic News, I'm Marjorie Bramley. Our top story tonight is yet another story about why muggles cannot be trusted. Despite, or maybe because of, the highly controversial topic the Quidditch World Cup in muggle news outlets, there has been an alarming number of reports about counterfeit sports brooms popping up from all over the country. We have Arthur Hatch reporting from Alcassar.

Arthur Hatch: Thank you, Marjorie. In the light of several newspapers and TV stations picking up on the currently ongoing Quidditch World Cup in Zwangzug, it seems like a growing number of muggles are trying to cash in on the event by offering original quidditch broom sticks, some advertising them as actual game-ridden, as well as 'conversion kits' that will help convert any regular kitchen broom into fully operational quidditch equipment. Especially on online market places like Kojojo, Gregsregister or on Headtome there have been advertisements trying to entice unknowing quidditch fans to buy these obviously fake items. In an attempt to uncover the practices, we contacted one such seller and approached him with a hidden camera.

The picture switches to an old house, somewhat dilapidated, with an old, partially cracked fence. A hand comes into view and knocks on the door, which opens the tiniest of margins and a gruff voice barks "What do you want?" A slightly intimidated female voice responds: "I-I'm here for your ad for a quidditch broom conversion kit."

The door opens slightly and the woman has to squeeze through, stepping into an anteroom that looks like a hoarder had collected brooms for the past 20 years. Brooms of literally every kind are lined up on the walls and the floors, with a giant pile of them stuck in one of the corners. When the picture returns to the man, he looks like he has not seen a water in about 20 years as well, scraggly, bearded, greasy and streaked, he definitely looks like a trustworthy purveyor of legitimate magical broomstick trade.

"I have the real deal, too, y'know, not just the kit. Look here, this is a Broominator 2500i. Top o'the line. Superior handling, top speeds. Or over here, the latest Alumimaster 3.0. Brandnew technology with lightweight aluminum handle. As agile as they come. Here, hold it!"

He pushes it into her hand and she weighs it. Then she holds it outstretched and drops it, predictably falling right to the ground with a loud clatter.

"Are you insane? This is prime equipment, you don't just drop this on the ground! If this is broken, I'm telling you, you'll have to pay!"

"They are supposed to hover."

"Uh, yes, of course they are supposed to hover and they do. But for security I disabled the, the, hovering spell, so that people couldn't just fly off on them. But I see that you are not convinced, true connoisseur, aren't we, I have something really special for you."

He walks over to an old wooden crate. He opens the lid and shows her a withered, partially cracked broom with half the twigs missing.

"Oh, I know what you're going to say, that old geezer is trying to scam me and sell me garbage. Oh no, no, no, Miss, this, this here, is an artefact. This is the first ever broom ridden in Tikariot for quidditch! Oh yes, this is history! The Stormsweeper One, legendary stuff, absolutely legendary! You see this here? Where it is partially broken? That's where the gold ornament used to sit, y'know, the one that made this a true Stormsweeper. All gold, did I mention? Old legendary quidditch player Pleborathensius Flabberbottom rode this in the first match ever and guess what? They won! 3-0, clear win! Other team didn't have a chance! And then one day he got into a really bad crash, chasing down the ball, got bumped by one of his opponents, crashed right into the goal posts, caused the crack right there!"

"Uh, I feel, uhm, honoured to be able to lay my eyes upon such a-a legendary piece, but I am sure it is way over my budget, I would just like a conversion kit, please."

The man's enthusiastic look withers away immediately. He smashes closed the lid of the crate and walks over to a rickety shelf with non descript brown cardboard boxes, some of them slightly water and grease stained. He picks one up and walks back to her.

"That'll be 1200 bucks."

"1200 bucks? In the ad you said they were 300!"

The look on his face sours even more.

"Ah, you want the budget version. Fine."

He trudges back to the shelf, puts the box down and picks up the one next to it, which looks exactly the same.

"Here ye go. This contains some brimborium powder, a scrap of pa-- uh, an ancient scroll with the spell and other instructions. Can only be performed during a full moon, though, so you'll have to wait for a week to use it. Can be returned for a full refund in case it is not compatible with your broom within 24 hours of purchase."

"But how would I know if it works, if the next full moon is only in a week?"

"Look lady, I'm not making the rules here, I'm just working for the manufacturer here, ok?"

She reluctantly hands him the money and as soon as it is in his hand, he briskly walks to the door, pushing her ahead of him, opens it up, pushes her out and slams the door in her face.

Arthur Hatch: When we opened the box back in our laboratory, it contained a pack of mixed glitter, dollar store quality, absolute gibberish of a 'spell' scribbled on a scrap piece of paper as well as these instructions: "When moon full, take broom, shake brimbleborium magic powder over handle, then read spel. Turn around three times fast and jump over shadow. Then broom magic."

Marjorie Bramley: This is outrageous! These people should be reported to the authorities!

Arthur Hatch: Oh, we did. When they arrived, he claimed that it was obviously just a joke, that magic doesn't exist and that he has never sold or harmed anybody. Unfortunately law inforcement agreed with him and on he goes.

Marjorie Bramley: Thank you Arthur. So keep your eyes open, my fellow magicians, only trust nationally registered traders for your broomstick needs. And now, the weather.

by **Bears Armed** » Fri Jun 25, 2021 4:28 pm

Florise Fane looks again at the summary of scoring events from the Bears' match against Starblaydia, waves her right hand in front of her stomach gently in disbelief, and turns to face Krsytal Bruin.
"Please," she requests, "Try again to explain to me how this sport's scoring system -- and its method for determining games' lengths -- makes any kind of sense hwhatsoever,"

3 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Hakkinnen): Score = 00-10
7 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Rumplebottom): Score = 00-20
8 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: Potter): Score = 10-20
14 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Rumplebottom): Score = 10-30
23 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: WidewindleSide): Score = 20-30
29 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Rumplebottom): Score = 20-40
34 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Rumplebottom): Score = 20-50
39 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: O Jherran): Score = 30-50
47 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: WidewindeSide): Score = 40-50
52 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Rumplebottom): Score = 40-60
53 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: O Jherran): Score = 50-60
57 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Rumplebottom): Score = 50-70
58 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: Potter): Score = 60-70
59 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Rumplebottom): Score = 60-80
78 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: WidewindleSide): Score =70-80
83 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Rumplebottom): Score = 70-90
102 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Rumplebottom): Score = 70-100
128 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: O Jherran): Score = 80-100
147 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: WidewindeSide): Score = 90-100
162 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Rumplebottom): Score = 90-110
164 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: O Jherran): Score = 100-110
179 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Rumplebottom): Score = 100-120
188 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: WidewindleSide): Score = 110-120
213 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Rumplebottom): Score = 110-130
220 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: WidewindleSide): Score =120-130
239 minutes -- goal, for Starblaydia (scored by: Havaland): Score = 120-140
244 minutes -- goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: Potter): Score = 130-140
281 minutes... goal, for Bears Armed (scored by: WidewindleSide): Score =140-140
&
282 minutes... Snitch caught, for Bears Armed (caught by: True): Score = 290-140;
= Game over, Bears Armed wins.

Krystal shrugs.
"I can only tell you hwhat Sermharn and some of the wizards have told me, of course, and a lot of that hrreally boils down to '"because that is how it always has been done", but anyhows"
(The rest of their conversation is lost to us, as they leave the room and its door closes behind them.)

Another sheet of paper is just visible, protruding partly from under that scoresheet, on the table If we look closely at this then we will see that it carries Florise's rough notes about the latest questions asked by the local wizarding" newspaper, the ones about modes of transport used by each contending nations wizards back home... but that is a matter for another time, not for today... (OOC: I hope to get this material typed up in time for tomorrow's deadline.)

by **Zwangzug** » Fri Jun 25, 2021 6:01 pm

Day 4 coming soon!

Optional prompt: the Dark Arts. Have there been any notorious incidences of malevolent magic in your society? Are there curses or poisons that are considered especially foul? What precautions might wizards or witches take to protect themselves from such dangers?

Group A:

Zwangzug              300
Sarzonia              230

Equestria              20
Quebec and Shingoryeo  170

Squidroidia           180
Alchemic Queendom     290

*                                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Alchemic Queendom                       4    3   1  1180  880 +300     6
2 Sarzonia                                3    2   1   740  460 +280     4
3 Squidroidia                             3    2   1   700  510 +190     4
4 Zwangzug                                4    2   2   700  780  −80     4
5 Quebec and Shingoryeo                   4    2   2   580  690 −110     4
6 The Islamic Caliphate of the Balkans    3    1   2   670  810 −140     2
7 Equestria                               3    0   3   400  840 −440     0

Group B:

Gyatso-kai            320
Tikariot              170

Starblaydia           280
Darmen                130

Mertagne              350
Bears Armed           150

*                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Bears Armed             4    3   1  1030  830 +200     6
2 Mertagne                3    2   1   610  410 +200     4
3 Starblaydia             3    2   1   630  490 +140     4
4 Tikariot                3    2   1   800  690 +110     4
5 Darmen                  4    2   2  1160 1060 +100     4
6 Gyatso-kai              4    1   3   660  970 −310     2
7 Abanhfleft              3    0   3   610 1050 −440     0

Group C:

Paradyce Lost               180
Western Fardelshufflestein  20

Sylestone             180
Valdiviola            30

Amenria               250
Soldera               180

*                             Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Soldera                       4    3   1  1150  700 +450     6
2 Valdiviola                    4    3   1   880  470 +410     6
3 Paradyce Lost                 4    2   2   920  880  +40     4
4 Amenria                       3    2   1   700  670  +30     4
5 Sylestone                     3    1   2   420  520 −100     2
6 Newlandian Dragon Island      3    1   2   400  650 −250     2
7 Western Fardelshufflestein    3    0   3   240  820 −580     0

Group D:

Hebitaka              160
Eshialand             290

Banija                240
Ko-oren               380

Kriegiersien          70
Bollonich             260

*                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Hebitaka                4    3   1  1060  670 +390     6
2 Bollonich               4    3   1  1020  740 +280     6
3 Ko-oren                 4    3   1   940  730 +210     6
4 Eshialand               3    2   1   610  460 +150     4
5 Kriegiersien            3    1   2   450  680 −230     2
6 Malandrin               3    0   3   410  760 −350     0
7 Banija                  3    0   3   380  830 −450     0

by **Ko-oren** » Sat Jun 26, 2021 2:39 pm

Thyllowyth Lighthouse and Naval Base, .. km west of Dindall, the Domains, Ko-oren
"Greg, take a look at this. What the hell am I looking at right now?"

"Mist, clouds, maybe a horizon... Does that sound about right?"

"It should. And yet. Here, take the good binoculars."

"I swear these hours make everyone a bit loopy. I swear you're just looking at the same old same old... Wait, what is that?"

"Anything on the radar? Anything on the security cameras? Hell, anything in the background of your sweet Quac.Kor video? Is there anything that can explain this?"

"I'll have you know I uploaded that to Twii.Tur, I don't trust this Anaian stuff. Also, chill! We'll just get the morning crew to check it out. We've been staring at nothing for days, weeks, months, and I'm 99% sure we're looking at nothing at this very moment."

"I hope you're right. What happens in that 1% chance?"

"Then we lose our jobs, a blessing in disguise, I'll take anything over staring at an empty horizon while checking dots on a radar."

"You're forgetting the exciting moment when there actually is a ship there and we get to relay their position."

"But that is no ship."

"That is no ship."

Greg walks over to one of the base's few consoles, clicks a few buttons, flips a few switches, and looks at a few LEDs. "Report your position," he commands over the radio. "Report your position!" he says, again, trying to sound more forceful. "If I don't get anything within 10 seconds, I'm calling in the morning crew."

No response.

"Dafidh? Are you and the other guys up yet?" and without waiting for an answer, Greg continues: "We're seeing something right now and we need our favourite morning guys to confirm we're not really high."

"Fuck, what happened? We're up, we can be there in 15."

"Actually, stay down there. Get a patrol boat and get to the coordinates I'm sending ASAP."

"Are you serious? Are you and Thanu seeing a Sarzonian warship up there?"

"I have no idea... it's no ship." (Thanu, in the background: "that's... no ship.")

"I mean, sure. If this is a waste of our time, you know there might be some emergency calls during your time off. Just saying."

"Dafidh, I swear, this is not a waste of time. There's an... island, I guess, out there, in the mist."

Maulahngan Guild of Messengers

"Is it me or is something off today?"

"It's not just you. I had to visit Teredahl this morning on some Quidditch duty, and I'm so damn sure that I took a few lefts where I took a right last time."

"You take lefts and rights?"

"Well, you know what I mean. You leave the world of Maulahngan, and you can feel like you're in the Link for a few seconds."

"Technically, from what I understand from the Guild of Maintainers, you are in a Link for a few seconds."

"Yeah, yeah, but depending on where you're going, the Link feels different. I always get a bit nauseous, but at least I can sort of predict the jolts and bumps. This was different. And it was even worse on the way back."

Thyllowyth Lighthouse and Naval Base, .. km west of Dindall, the Domains, Ko-oren

"Greg? Can you hear me?"

"Yes, Dafidh?"

"We had a look. We saw that structure in the water, you guys weren't crazy."

"And?"

"And then it was gone."

by **Eshialand** » Sat Jun 26, 2021 2:48 pm

New Futures
Hebitaka 160-290 Eshialand

"Malandrin was the practice round, but Hebitaka? They're gonna be a challenge."

It was two days before the Eshian Quidditch team's next match, and Coach Lainsbury wanted to make sure that they were ready for what was to come.

"That last match certainly was... something... but there are definitely a few things we could work on."
"Like what?" Lara asked.

"Well, for one thing, we could work on our defense. Malandrin put 20 points on the board in practically a blink of an eye, and we just can't let that happen again. That's why you," he points to the Keepers, "are going to work on protecting those goalposts, and you," he points at the Beaters, "will focus on... using the Bludgers creatively."

"You want us to intentionally hit the Bludgers towards our opponents?" Jason asked. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that..."

"Only if the situation demands it, and it usually won't. You should just have it in your toolkit just in case you need it. And lastly," he looks at Kevin and Emily, the team's Seekers, "I want you two to focus on honing your Seeking skills. There's always room for improvement when it comes to catching the Snitch."

"Wait, what about us?" Josephine asked. "You never gave us Chasers something to do!"

"You've actually been doing a great job, and I don't think you need to do anything differently for now. Just fine-tune what you've been doing and you should be fine!"

So, the team got to work, training for their match against a 3-0 Hebitakan team.

Eventually, the day of the match arrived, and the Eshian team felt ready for once in their lives. The whistle blew, and the match began.

Twenty-five minutes in, the score was 40-20 for Hebitaka, and things were already starting to look bleak. Granted, it was only twenty points, but Hebitaka was just outclassing the team from Eshialand. But there was hope, as Kevin was coming extremely close to catching the Snitch multiple times, and if he caught it, Eshialand's deficit would be wiped away...

After 58 minutes, Barry had tied up the score 70-70, and the match was even starting to look winnable... on one condition. Kevin had to catch the Snitch, which conveniently hadn't been seen for twenty minutes.

At the 82-minute mark, the score was 110-100 for Hebitaka, and Kevin finally saw the Snitch for the first time in nearly three-quarters of an hour. It was very low to the ground, maybe only a foot above the surface. He instinctively dove for it, and it looked like he might have even caught it... but REDACTED hit a Bludger right towards him and into his face before he could get his hand around it.

Despite finding out just what dirt really tasted like, Kevin insisted that he was fine and that he should continue. Coach Lainsbury reluctantly agreed, and Kevin resumed his seemingly eternal hunt.

Then, in minute 126, with the score at 160-140 for Hebitaka, he saw it... and it was right next to Hebitakan Seeker REDACTED! But wait, was that Jason over there, fending off a Bludger?

"JASON! GO FOR THEIR SEEKER!!"
"With the Bludger? I don't really wanna hurt--"
"Just do it for the team!"

Jason hit the Bludger straight towards the Seeker, knocking them off of their broom. Kevin then swooped in and grabbed the Snitch, only to be sent flying off of his broom by the very same Bludger.

"I'VE GOT IT!! I'VE GOT THE SNITCH!!!" he yells, before landing face-first into the ground for the second time that night.

The match had been won in that moment, by a score of 160-290. Kevin and Jason were the heroes of the match.

Hebitaka   160 | Eshialand    290
---------------|-----------------
REDACTED    80 | Lainsbury     60
REDACTED    50 | Clamian       40
REDACTED    30 | Martinault    30
               | Serakis   Snitch

by **Alchemic Queendom** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 5:43 am

“Gosh!” said Jessika. “What an absolutely ripping contest, chums!”

The team struggled to match Jessika’s excitement, despite the closeness of their latest win. They’d been trailing by 40 points when Scumgore had executed a spectacular flying move to grab the Snitch from the very fingertips (or tentacle tips, possibly) of Squidroidia’s Seeker.

The truth was, they were all a bit hungover. Going out for “a half of butterbeer” to cheer up Gunnar had somehow ended up with Aurora dancing on the tables while Bailey and Billy drank each other under the table (and under the table was, incidentally, where they had found Jessika and Gunnar locked in an embrace that could not wholly be written off as a chaste team building exercise). Even Scumgore found himself crooning away at the karaoke bar, with some charming renditions of maudlin classics like “Hammer Smashed Face” by Cannibal Corpse and “Infecting The Crypts” by Suffocation (plus an encore: “Wonderwall”). Only team captain Jace had kept himself sober.

Bailey still looked a little green around the gills now, and Billy, for once giving up the role of bullying brother to actually care for his sister, was fixing her a hangover potion the recipe for which had passed down through generations of students at the Phovkos School of Great Magickal Undertakings & Most Commendable Acts of Wizarding & All That.

Jace was reading the Daily Mercury with a look of concern on his face.

“Is there something wrong?” asked Aurora quietly. She was mainly concerned that he was crinkling the newspaper so hard he was going to crease the cryptic crossword, when she was one clue from finishing it. Easy, lest one reveal land of toilets? (9)

“Flipping worrying news from the Queendom,” said Jace. “Another dark portal has opened up.”

The Queendom was a mostly peaceful land, but it was not unknown for some to dabble in particularly evil and forbidden kinds of magic such as necromancy, hex-laying, and Monopoly. Lately several portals to strange and twisted dimensions had been opening, brutal hellbeasts spilling out to terrorise the land.

“At least we’re all wearing our Aura of Invulnerability bracelets,” said Aurora sagely. All of the team had been kitted out with the little bracelets, which protected them against undergoing serious harm while participating in the tournament as well as preventing anyone from taking photographs of them, oddly.

“I should say!” agreed Jace stoutly. “In fact, last night after we all got a bit merry Gunnar’s nearly slipped off her wrist. Good thing Scumgore was there to help him put it back on. Came upon them in the boys’ dorms, damned thing had nearly come all the way, but old Scummy and I got it back on nice and tight. Eh Scumgore, that was a close shave!”

“H̸̡͚̹̟͈̬̟̱̝͖̹̩̜̭̅̀̎͗̀͛͘À̸̡͔̞̲̞̙̞̤̗̯̱͛͌͊̎̽͋ͅ ̸͕͎̯͖̦̦́͐̌́̾͗̽̾̓͊̔̑̇̚͜H̴̪͙͓̙͎̃̾͂͆A̷̢̘̭͕͂͒̌͛͗͐̚ͅ ̸̯̤̤̜͎̜͎̖̜͓̮̹̘̅͊̀̊̈́͊͛͒̽̔Ḩ̷̨̭̤̻̥̬̦̟̞̞̯̜̞̔̿͑͗͝ͅĀ̸̡̳̗̥̮͓͕̰̣̘͎̈́̓͑̑͝”

“Ha ha, quite right!”

by **A m e n r i a** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 7:33 am

Team Amenria Secures Second Victory

It seems that the latest change in tactic worked again. This time, against Soldera, the top scoring team in the entirety of group C. It was even more well-received by fans too, with an 80 point difference before the Snitch was caught. Going forward, the team decided that they'll stick to focusing on the snitch, with chasers using formations inspired by military jets.

Developer's Insight

by **Valdiviola** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 10:15 am

LA VIOLA SYLENCED
Winning Run Comes To An End
SYLESTONE 180*-30 VALDIVIOLA

Valdiviola's fine start to this campaign was ended in unceremonious fashion by winless Sylestone in their latest World Cup matchup. Despite fielding a strong lineup of Chasers, La Viola were unable to take control of the Quaffle game early on. Isabella Loretto opened the scoring win a fine move on the left getting the better of Dean Spears and putting a nice shot past Alice Nolan in front of The Hawthorns' Hoops. Of the Sylestone team, Amelie Mosman showed the most promise and was rewarded on the scoresheet after some impressive juggling to leave Armando Sferra perplexed and grasping at straws.

The score was tied 30-30 when the match was brought to a close after a hard-fought tangle between two young Seekers. Simonetta Nocerino will be disappointed to have finally been defeated and return back to 'Violan basecamp at Giordano Snitchless for the first time. In reality, Zane Ransford managed to just get an inch ahead in the race at just the right moment to take the Snitch. Had he been a couple of seconds later to get in front his chance would have been gone, so Nocerino shouldn't fret as she was never really out of the chase.

Coach Azzardo will have to rebuild any morale lost quickly with another tough match upcoming against Amenria, who had a solid victory against Soldera last time out. Maybe a return to their strongest seven is in order to create a serious sense of momentum in preparation for the knockouts.

Player Ratings: Nobile 6/10, Burrasca 6/10, Peloso 6/10, Loretto 8/10, Strazza 6/10, Sferra 4/10, Nocerino 7/10

by **Bears Armed** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 5:28 pm

Bears Armed wrote:Another sheet of paper is just visible, protruding partly from under that scoresheet, on the table If we look closely at this then we will see that it carries Florise's rough notes about the latest questions asked by the local wizarding" newspaper, the ones about modes of transport used by each contending nations wizards back home... but that is a matter for another time, not for today...

And here those notes are:

what is the status of other transportation technologies in your country?
Wizards who are travelling on private business, and those travelling for non-military & non-'emergency' roles in the Nation's service, are fairly likely to use the same forms of non-magical transport that 'mundanes' travelling for the same reasons utilise.

Are flying carpets legal or regulated?
They are legal but, due to the lack of a significant native carpet industry, rare.
Wizards who want a flying vehicle with more capacity [and more stability] than a broomstick has are more likely to use enchanted bedsteads, instead.

Who are your leading broom manufacturers?
The three largest businesses are 'Hawker' and 'SuperAerial'', who supplied all of the broomsticks used by our team here, and 'Broomsarreurrs' who produce mainly lower-performance but cheaper models: The first two of these companies primarily supply those wizards who are employed to work with the armed forces and the emergency services, although their products also include all of the models allowed (for the sake of fair balance) in the National Quidditch Association's matches, whereas the third of them deals almost entirely with wizards as private customers instead. There are also a number of small businesses and even individual wizards involved in this line of manufacturing & trade.

Are your dwellings connected to the Floo?
No. That system does not exist within Bears Armed.

Magic trains hidden among mundane platforms?
No, because our wizards and our railway managers agree with each other that having the necessary "dedicated" lines built & set aside just for the wizards' special routes would be impractical: Arrangements can be made to attach extra carriages to scheduled trains for use by the wizards alone, just as arrangements can be made for other people who want to rent carriages for their exclusive use on a particular occasion or even have carriages that they own personally that could be attached. Hogwings Academy itself is situated in an area to & from which trains carrying tourists run quite regularly anyway, so that this is no problem. For some occasions the railways may even be persuaded to put on 'special' train services, running in between those regularly scheduled for more public use (and probably "off-peak", quite possibly at night) for wizarding groups' use.

Other magical forms of transport?
Yes. A number of examples exist of doors at differing locations that are linked to each other, in pairs, so that a wizard stepping through one of them arrives through its counterpart.

[OOC]
Re the railways: this sort of arrangement used to occur in the RL UK, for more mundane travellers, too... and I think, at least for election campaigning, also in the USA. There were, for example, several occasions when Sherlock Holmes instructed Dr Watson to arrange for a special carriage or perhaps even a special train when they needed to travel some distance for investigative work...

by **Zwangzug** » Sun Jun 27, 2021 6:00 pm

Matchday Five is soon to be upon us!

RP prompt: What sort of organizational/governmental structures exist in magical society? If someone has a legal matter, do they sort it out with the Wizengamot? The Ministry of Magic? Are these roles more ceremonial or forceful, hereditary or democratic?

Group A:

Quebec and Shingoryeo  170
Squidroidia            20

Sarzonia              400
Equestria             180

The Islamic Caliphate of the Balkans  180
Zwangzug                              60

*                                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sarzonia                                4    3   1  1140  640 +500     6
2 Alchemic Queendom                       4    3   1  1180  880 +300     6
3 Quebec and Shingoryeo                   5    3   2   750  710  +40     6
4 Squidroidia                             4    2   2   720  680  +40     4
5 The Islamic Caliphate of the Balkans    4    2   2   850  870  −20     4
6 Zwangzug                                5    2   3   760  960 −200     4
7 Equestria                               4    0   4   580 1240 −660     0

Group B:

Darmen                70
Mertagne              220

Tikariot              130
Starblaydia           270

Abanhfleft            90
Gyatso-kai            190

*                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Mertagne                4    3   1   830  480 +350     6
2 Starblaydia             4    3   1   900  620 +280     6
3 Bears Armed             4    3   1  1030  830 +200     6
4 Tikariot                4    2   2   930  960  −30     4
5 Darmen                  5    2   3  1230 1280  −50     4
6 Gyatso-kai              5    2   3   850 1060 −210     4
7 Abanhfleft              4    0   4   700 1240 −540     0

Group C:

Valdiviola            350
Amenria               190

Western Fardelshufflestein  300
Sylestone                   30

Newlandian Dragon Island  320
Paradyce Lost             200

*                             Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Valdiviola                    5    4   1  1230  660 +570     8
2 Soldera                       4    3   1  1150  700 +450     6
3 Paradyce Lost                 5    2   3  1120 1200  −80     4
4 Amenria                       4    2   2   890 1020 −130     4
  Newlandian Dragon Island      4    2   2   720  850 −130     4
6 Western Fardelshufflestein    4    1   3   540  850 −310     2
7 Sylestone                     4    1   3   450  820 −370     2

Group D:

Ko-oren               30
Kriegiersien          180

Eshialand             90
Banija                230

Malandrin             40
Hebitaka              190

*                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Hebitaka                5    4   1  1250  710 +540     8
2 Bollonich               4    3   1  1020  740 +280     6
3 Ko-oren                 5    3   2   970  910  +60     6
4 Eshialand               4    2   2   700  690  +10     4
5 Kriegiersien            4    2   2   630  710  −80     4
6 Banija                  4    1   3   610  920 −310     2
7 Malandrin               4    0   4   450  950 −500     0

by **Eshialand** » Mon Jun 28, 2021 8:41 am

Defection
Eshialand 90-230 Banija

"Look, you shouldn't feel down about the loss to Banija. We all know that they're a strong nation in virtually every sport they participate in."
"Dad, they were 0-3 before that match..." Barry told Coach Lainsbury.
"That doesn't change the fact that they're a good team."
"Coach, aren't our last two opponents Kriegiersien and Bollonich?" Henry asked.
"Well, yes..."

"Kevin?" Josephine whispered in the team Seeker's ear.
"What is it?"
"Let's go for a walk, I have something to talk to you about..."
"I'm trying to listen to Coach!"
"Every one of these speeches is the same, and I really wanna talk to you!"
"Can it wait?"
"I guess so..."

Later that night, Josephine and Kevin met up for their walk in the forest.

"So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" Kevin asked.
"Look, I'm just gonna say it... I'm not going back to Brightonsea."
"Wait, what??"
"I'm tired of living my entire life in a small bubble... there's so much more out here! And I want you to come with me."
"Wait, what are you trying to tell me??"
"We can start a new life in Eshialand City, we can experience a normal life, out in the real world!"
"The real world doesn't want us!"
"It's more complicated than you think Kevin! Rachel told me--"
"Rachel?? You're just going to trust a barn owl with your entire life?"
"She told me that she thinks the king might be a Muggle-born wizard! If that's true, imagine what that might mean for the rest of the country!"
"And if she's wrong, or if you just misunderstood her, what could that mean for you going forward? You could get yourself killed!"
"That's why I want you to come with me! We can handle anything together, I just know it!"
"I could never feel safe out there!"
"We could always go back to Brightonsea if something goes wrong!"

Kevin takes a deep breath and replies, "could I have some time to think about it?"

"Yeah, of course you could, take all the time you need..."

The pair walked back to their rooms in dead silence.

Eshialand    90 | Banija        230
----------------|------------------
Clamian      40 | REDACTED       30
Martinault   40 | REDACTED       30
Lainsbury    10 | REDACTED       20
                | REDACTED   Snitch

by **Zwangzug** » Tue Jun 29, 2021 8:08 pm

Apologies, this slipped my mind. Cutoff!

RP Prompt: Etiquette. What are the "unwritten rules" of magical society? What clothes would people wear, or not be caught dead in? Are there any taboo or vulgar words? What should visitors know to avoid committing a cultural faux pas?

Group A:

Equestria             		      260
The Islamic Caliphate of the Balkans  210

Squidroidia           170
Sarzonia              300

Alchemic Queendom     200
Quebec and Shingoryeo 60

*                                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sarzonia                                5    4   1  1440  810 +630     8
2 Alchemic Queendom                       5    4   1  1380  940 +440     8
3 Quebec and Shingoryeo                   6    3   3   810  910 −100     6
4 The Islamic Caliphate of the Balkans    5    2   3  1060 1130  −70     4
5 Squidroidia                             5    2   3   890  980  −90     4
6 Zwangzug                                5    2   3   760  960 −200     4
7 Equestria                               5    1   4   840 1450 −610     2

Group B:

Starblaydia           120
Abanhfleft            310

Mertagne              110
Tikariot              260

Bears Armed           220
Darmen                330

*                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Mertagne                5    3   2   940  740 +200     6
2 Tikariot                5    3   2  1190 1070 +120     6
3 Bears Armed             5    3   2  1250 1160  +90     6
4 Starblaydia             5    3   2  1020  930  +90     6
5 Darmen                  6    3   3  1560 1500  +60     6
6 Gyatso-kai              5    2   3   850 1060 −210     4
7 Abanhfleft              5    1   4  1010 1360 −350     2

Group C:

Sylestone                 210
Newlandian Dragon Island  120

Amenria                     260
Western Fardelshufflestein  360

Soldera               70
Valdiviola            200

*                             Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Valdiviola                    6    5   1  1430  730 +700    10
2 Soldera                       5    3   2  1220  900 +320     6
3 Paradyce Lost                 5    2   3  1120 1200  −80     4
4 Western Fardelshufflestein    5    2   3   900 1110 −210     4
5 Newlandian Dragon Island      5    2   3   840 1060 −220     4
6 Amenria                       5    2   3  1150 1380 −230     4
7 Sylestone                     5    2   3   660  940 −280     4

Group D:

Banija                120
Malandrin             150

Kriegiersien          240
Eshialand             350

Bollonich             270
Ko-oren               220

*                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Hebitaka                5    4   1  1250  710 +540     8
2 Bollonich               5    4   1  1290  960 +330     8
3 Eshialand               5    3   2  1050  930 +120     6
4 Ko-oren                 6    3   3  1190 1180  +10     6
5 Kriegiersien            5    2   3   870 1060 −190     4
6 Banija                  5    1   4   730 1070 −340     2
7 Malandrin               5    1   4   600 1070 −470     2

by **Eshialand** » Tue Jun 29, 2021 10:15 pm

Questions
Kriegiersien 240-350 Eshialand

When it came to Eshialand and its Quidditch team, it seemed as if nothing could ever truly be known for certain. Whether it came down to the matches themselves, the players in those matches, or the magical community as a whole, there always seemed to be unanswered questions.

At least three of those questions seemed to be flying through the head of Seeker Kevin Serakis about three hours into the Brightonsea Seven's match against Kriegiersien. Could he catch the Snitch and save their match from their 240-200 deficit? Was the king a wizard the whole time like Josephine told him?

Should he leave Brightonsea with Josephine and try his luck with the outside world?

He couldn't get this last one out of his mind, no matter how hard he tried. This decision would be one that would define his entire life going forward! How could he just not think about it?

Then, he noticed something that immediately made him forget about his dilemma, if only for a split second. He saw a golden streak out of the corner of his eye... it was the Snitch. Miraculously, it looked like Kriegiersien's Sam Mandrake hadn't seen anything at all. Seeing his chance, he flew straight towards the Snitch, and he managed to catch it.

Sure, he had just won the match for Eshialand, but the first thing that came into his mind after his catch wasn't what he had just done, but rather that stupid question again.

Should he pick a safe but boring life or should he go with Josephine and leave everything he knew behind?

Kriegiersien   240 | Eshialand    350
-------------------|-----------------
Shazam         100 | Clamian      100
Brad            70 | Martinault    60
Kirfenia        70 | Lainsbury     40
                   | Serakis   Snitch

Two days later...

Rachel the barn owl had finally arrived at the king's office, once again carrying the latest issue of the Brightonsea Journal, only to find that the window was closed. Why today, of all days! She needed to talk to the king (to the extent that she could communicate with him) about what she thought to be his magical potential. Luckily, she could see him in his office, so maybe she could get his attention?

"Hoo! Hoo!"

"Wait, what the..." the monarch looked out the window and saw Rachel, carrying the newspaper. He opened the window for her, and she flew right in.

"Hoo!"
"Yes, yes, thanks for the paper."
"Hoo! Hoo!"
"Okay then, Rachel it is."
"Hoo! Hoo!"
"You think I'm what now? You must be crazy!"
"Hoo!"
"True, I am the one talking to an owl... maybe I am crazy."
"Hoo hoo hoo!" She flew away, obviously frustrated that he didn't see the point.

The king started to read the Journal, until it hit him. He really did just talk to an owl, didn't he?

He decided to take a walk for a while, just to try and digest everything that just happened. While he was out, his assistant Michael decided to do some cleaning in and around the office... and then he saw the issues of the Journal.

He knew he wasn't supposed to read through his boss' stuff, but he couldn't take his eyes off of this newspaper for one simple reason: it was proof of a magical side of Eshialand.

"Should I call ENN and break this story?" he asked himself. How he would decide to answer this question could alter the future of the small, secluded community forever.

by **A m e n r i a** » Thu Jul 01, 2021 4:04 am

Notice: since RMD is a dum dum who forgot to post his nation's RP in the last match, have two questions answered in dev insights instead! Enjoy!

Developer's Insight

by **Bears Armed** » Fri Jul 02, 2021 5:00 pm

In the dining room of the Bears' hotel, on the evening before the group stage's last match-day, the team and staff have mostly finished their supper. Their manager Sermharn ['the Wanderer'] and their Chief Physio Krystal Bruin, who have now been a couple for several years, are lingering over a bowl of mixed nuts and a bottle of mead, and enjoying the moment as the players and some of their party's other youngish] members -- including Krsytal's daughter, the famous footballer Steffanee Bruin* -- indulge in a karaoke contest.
The team's trio of first-choice 'Chasers' take the stage next, for a rendition of a popular hit by the title of 'We are Ursine, and we are Dancer'

"I do my best to notice
When the call comes down the line;
Up to the cosmic dance-floor
I am brought, for fate is kind;
And there's no need to feel nervous,
When one steps out on that floor _
Open your ears,
Clear your mind,
Hear the chord.

"We are Ursine,
And we are Dancer;
My soul is vital,
My liver's warm;
And I'm on my feet,
Proving the answer _
We are Ursine,
And we are Dancer;

"Dance in respect for Life and Furrness,
Dance in reverence to Joy,
I dance regard to Soul and Romance,
They prove to me I'm not some toy;
And I dance to show devotion
To the causes that I love _
Dancing in hope
I wish them all well,
I will never let them go.

"We are Ursine,
And we are Dancer;
My soul is vital,
My liver's warm;
And I'm on my feet,
Proving the answer _
We are Ursine,
And we are Dancer;

"May your life be all alright,
May you dream of home tonight,
This message, are you receiving,
No more need for fear or grieve?

"We are Ursine,
And we are Dancer;
My soul is vital,
My liver's warm;
And I'm on my feet,
Proving the answer;

"I help you know_

"We are Ursine,
And we are Dancer;
My soul is vital,
My liver's warm;
And I'm on my feet,
Proving the answer_
We are Ursine,
And we are Dancer;

"We are Ursine,
And we are Dancer;
We are Ursine,
And we are Dancer."

Krystal smiled a small smile, and spoke quietly to Sermharn.
"I rmember Steff telling me that on one occasion hwhen the 'Bear-Belles' visited a Human nation to play she found that the people there had a song much like this one, in some important ways, but with a hrrather less upbeat message..."

"Ayyuh," he replied "That would be the one titled 'Are We Human, or are we Dancer', hwhich was originally sung out there by a group called 'The Killers' hrrather than -- as for ourr song -- 'The Hunters'... although apparently their version was inspired by something that had been said by an author named 'Hunter', instead**. The main difference is that for them the term 'Dancer' symbolised just a puppet dancing on strings under somebearry else's control, hwhereas of course for urrs -- because of our traditional belief that "The Great Bear danced, and the World was born" *** -- it symbolises somebody using creativity and spiritual strength to be more than just a brute beast..."

____________________________________________________________________

OOC Footnotes

* Some of you might remember Steffanee -- "incurably" optimistic, and usually dressed (unless the situation required otherwise) in lilac -- from her presence as a player in two consecutive Di Bradni Cups (in the first of which the Belles reached the quarter-finals, and the second of which they actually won), and then the immediately-following World Cup's qualifying stage & its associated 'Cup of Harmony'. If you are a fan of DC Comics' 'Bat-family' characters then, also, you might realize who her counterpart in that version of reality is...
** i.e. Hunter S. Thompson, the infamous "gonzo journalist".
*** I keep meaning to write-out the Bears version of the hymn 'Lord of the Dance'...

by **Tikariot** » Fri Jul 02, 2021 5:32 pm

The sound of a heart beating quickly can be heard before anything pierces the blackness on the screen. The sound of cheering fans briefly overpowers the heartbeat before fading away into almost silence. Deep breaths are being taken, then eyes flicker open. A wide stadium lays ahead, brightly lit up, filled to the rafters with cheering fans of Tikariot and Bears Armed, easily identifiable by their obvious ursine appearance, as well as some neutral fans, who are still cheering, for which of the two teams - he did not really care. Xarax Krogstad was feeling the surge of adrenaline coursing through his body, as game time was approaching. He turned around and returned to the locker room, where the rest of the team was waiting for coach Xerxes Andersson to deliver his final speech to the players.

As he looked around at the others, it was amazing to see how differently they were reacting to what lay ahead of them, the final match of the group stage, against Bears Armed. The top four teams will qualify for the round of 16 and out of the seven nations in Group C, five were even on points, only separated by 140 points of point difference. Darmen already had played all of their fixture, but with Mertagne playing last-placed Abanhfleft, who were sitting at a measly 1-4 record, and Starblaydia against Gyatso-Kai, who were next to last, it made this game even more important. Currently the Xarkian Dragons were second, but given how tight everybody was together, it really was coming down to the finest of margins.

They had won against Darmen, Abanhfleft and Mertagne, lost against Gyatso-kai and Starblaydia, but with the other teams' games also counting into the tie breakers, they could not take any chances to suddenly find themselves out of contention, which would have been a big disappointment and just not acceptable. Literally everything was still possible, from winning the group to crashing out. Xarax heard the din of the fans from the outside getting louder and the clapping of Coach Andersson's hands brought him back to his surroundings.

Xerxes Andersson: Alright, folks, we're about to go out there and treat this like the most important game you've ever played in your lives! Well, in a way it is he most important game you'll have played in your lives, come to think of it. Anyways, Bears Armed are strong. Very strong. I could make a joke about them being strong as bears, but that, well, wouldn't really be much of a joke.

So you, Xarax, and you, Bambam, you'll have to be really on your best there, because those bludgers are going to come in real fast and real hard. If either of you feel that you're getting tired or hurt, get Xamuel in, we can't show any weakness, because they'll jump right on it. Tactic-wise, there's no magical words to help you--

The whole team briefly laughs out, taking the coach by surprise and it took him a moment to realize how ironic his choice of words was.

--OK, OK, I ran right into this one. Anyways. Focus on what you do best, especially you three upfront, leave it to Xarax and Bambam to protect you and don't worry too much about the bludgers. Those bears are surprisingly agile on their broomsticks, but I know you are fast and can get through them.

He turns to a girl that looks almost as thin as her broomstick, her very long, fiery red hair bound together in four places to keep it in check.

Xerxes Andersson: Ximona, you've done a fantastic job so far in getting the snitch and I know that you will do it again tonight. I know that the flashes from the cameras can be distracting, but try to use them to your advantage, any reflection of them can reveal the snitch faster than you'd normally see them. You've got this!

He straightens up and looks at the team in front of him, looking at equal amounts excited, nervous and focused.

Xerxes Andersson: Now go out there and kick some bear butt!

The team rises to their feeet, grabs their respective brooms and raises them towards the ceiling.

Team: GO DRAGONS!

Xerxes looks at the team filing past him into the tunnel leading to the field in Surairo, knowing that they've got everything they needed to go far.

by **Zwangzug** » Fri Jul 02, 2021 6:00 pm

The end of the group stage is upon us!

Please be patient as I am gaming elsewhere and will need to set up tables as well as compute tiebreakers if need be, before doing matches for the next round.

As a reminder, first tiebreaker is goal differential, followed by head-to-head results within groups if need be.

Group A:

Sarzonia              330
Alchemic Queendom     110

The Islamic Caliphate of the Balkans  30
Squidroidia           		      210

Zwangzug              60
Equestria             210

*                                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Sarzonia                                6    5   1  1770  920 +850    10
2 Alchemic Queendom                       6    4   2  1490 1270 +220     8
3 Squidroidia                             6    3   3  1100 1010  +90     6
4 Quebec and Shingoryeo                   6    3   3   810  910 −100     6
5 The Islamic Caliphate of the Balkans    6    2   4  1090 1340 −250     4
6 Zwangzug                                6    2   4   820 1170 −350     4
7 Equestria                               6    2   4  1050 1510 −460     4

Group B:

Tikariot              80
Bears Armed           190

Abanhfleft            240
Mertagne              140

Gyatso-kai            160
Starblaydia           330

*                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Starblaydia             6    4   2  1350 1090 +260     8
2 Bears Armed             6    4   2  1440 1240 +200     8
3 Mertagne                6    3   3  1080  980 +100     6
4 Darmen                  6    3   3  1560 1500  +60     6
5 Tikariot                6    3   3  1270 1260  +10     6
6 Abanhfleft              6    2   4  1250 1500 −250     4
7 Gyatso-kai              6    2   4  1010 1390 −380     4

Group C:

Western Fardelshufflestein  230
Soldera               	    0

Newlandian Dragon Island  180
Amenria                   180

Paradyce Lost         230
Sylestone             370

*                             Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Valdiviola                    6    5   1  1430  730 +700    10
2 Soldera                       6    3   3  1220 1130  +90     6
3 Western Fardelshufflestein    6    3   3  1130 1110  +20     6
4 Sylestone                     6    3   3  1030 1170 −140     6
5 Newlandian Dragon Island      6    2   3  1020 1240 −220     5
6 Amenria                       6    2   3  1330 1560 −230     5
7 Paradyce Lost                 6    2   4  1350 1570 −220     4

Group D:

Eshialand             260
Bollonich             50

Malandrin             40
Kriegiersien          190

Hebitaka              200
Banija                340

*                       Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Hebitaka                6    4   2  1450 1050 +400     8
2 Eshialand               6    4   2  1310  980 +330     8
3 Bollonich               6    4   2  1340 1220 +120     8
4 Ko-oren                 6    3   3  1190 1180  +10     6
5 Kriegiersien            6    3   3  1060 1100  −40     6
6 Banija                  6    2   4  1070 1270 −200     4
7 Malandrin               6    1   5   640 1260 −620     2

Please feel free to check my math, but I believe this makes the seedings:

Making the playoffs:
Sarzonia - Sylestone
Soldera - Bollonich
Eshialand - Western Fardelshufflestein
Starblaydia - Ko-oren*
Hebitaka - Darmen*
Alchemic Queendom - Mertagne+
Bears Armed - Squidroidia+
Quebec and Shingoryeo - Valdiviola

Ko-oren and Darmen were swapped to avoid a group stage rematch, as were Mertagne and Squidroidia. Thanks to Eshialand for checking my bracket!

by **Valdiviola** » Sun Jul 04, 2021 3:49 am

KNOCKOUT FEVER
La Viola Among Top Seeds
QUEBEC & SHINGORYEO v VALDIVIOLA

Following two fine victories in Group C, La Viola have qualified for the Round of 16 Playoffs with an enviable record of 5 wins and just the solitary loss. Topping Group C in style has Benedetto Azzardo's team in auspicious company amongst the top seeded teams going into the next round, alongside two former Champions in Sarzonia and Starblaydia and outsiders and newcomers Hebitaka. In theory, the top seeded teams have been granted easier ties in the first knockout fixtures, but as everybody knows there's no easy games at this stage.

World Cup 9 Winners Sarzonia will be heavy favourites against Sylestone who finished with the lowest Points Differential of the qualifying teams. Starblaydia, the Champions of the first World Cup, have a much tougher ask to progress being drawn against former Quarter-finalists Ko-oren who scraped through with a 3-3 record. Group D Winners Hebitaka astonishingly came through the toughest test at the expense of former Semi-finalists Kriegersien and World Cup 8 Finalists Banija. Their tough fixture list continues as they take on Darmen, Champions of the Seventh World Cup.

But what of Valdiviola's opponents? The team from Quebec & Shingoryeo are a force to be reckoned with without a doubt with wins against such illustrious foes as Equestria and hosts Zwangzug. After such a mixed bag of results, Quebec & Shingoryeo will surely have to rely on getting the better of Simonetta Nocerino early and ending the game before La Viola really get into their stride. Anything can happen in a one-off match-up however, so Valdiviola mustn't get complacent. Now is not the time to throw away the hard work done to get here. Coach Azzardo could hardly have asked for a better shot at making the Last 8 than this though...

by **Eshialand** » Sun Jul 04, 2021 7:04 am

Survival Instincts
Eshialand 260-50 Bollonich

If the Eshian team lost this match badly enough, it would all be over.

Kevin was acutely aware of this fact because the tournament ending would mean that he'd have to make his decision about whether to stay in Brightonsea or live a more "normal" life with Josephine. He was in no way ready to make that decision, so he really had to catch the Snitch.

Josephine too seemed to know what was going on, as she was scoring goal after goal, racking up as high of a total as she could in order to at least allow Eshialand to move on based on goal differential. It was as if she knew that Kevin was leaning towards going back to Brightonsea and was trying to give him more time to think it over, desperately clinging to the hope that he would be bold for once in his life...

Josephine's scoring spree had given Eshialand a 100-50 lead at the 30-minute mark, when Kevin spotted the Snitch... but Bollonich's Callinicius De Lorenzo saw it too!

They both charged at the Snitch. The crowd was going nuts, but not for the two idiots seemingly playing chicken, but rather for Josephine. She had just scored again to make it 110-50.

Kevin wasn't ready to risk his life for the Snitch, but he knew he didn't have to. Half a second before he would've hit De Lorenzo, he jumped off of his broomstick, falling towards the cold, hard ground below him... holding the Snitch in his hand.

He managed to escape the incident with only very minor injuries, nothing that could keep him from playing in the Round of 16 against Western Fardelshufflestein. But that was still five days away, which meant that he had at least five days to figure out how to tell Josephine that he finally decided to stay in Brightonsea...

Eshialand    260 | Bollonich    50
-----------------|----------------
Martinault    80 | Campo        30
Clamian       20 | Hämäläinen   10
Lainsbury     10 | Toset        10
Serakis   Snitch

"Michael, what are you reading?"
"Um..." Upon this question from the king, his assistant stuffed the latest issue of the Brightonsea Journal into his shirt.
"Did that newspaper have moving images?"
"Um..."

King William reached into Michael's shirt and took the newspaper. Upon inspecting it, he realized exactly what it was.

"Where did you get this??"
"Y-y-y-your office... I w-w-was just curious!"
"You can't just go into my office and read stuff! What if it had classified information in it?"
"I'm s-s-sorry..."
William sighs before replying "Look, I'll forgive you on one condition."
"Yes?"
"Never tell a soul about what you saw in that paper. That has to stay between us, okay?"
"Got it!"
"Now, how about we go talk about it in my office? I'm sure you have questions..."
"Yeah, I definitely have some questions..."

by **Bears Armed** » Sun Jul 04, 2021 1:07 pm

It is evening on the day after the 'Bearrzards Bright' managed a "surprise" victory over Tikariot's team and thus earned entry into this tournament's 'knockout' stage. The players were allowed to sleep late in the morning, and spent the afternoon in light practice: Tomorrow they will practice more intensively, ready for their ''Round of 16' match on the day after that... Tonight, though, while bearing in mind that they do need to be fit for practice in the morning, they party!
On this occasion Sermharn the Wanderer and Krystal Bruin are not present: Sermharn has decided that it would be better for the Brights to let off steam tonightwithout concern on their part about his possible reactions being a factor, and so has invited Krystal out to watch the sunset and the stars -- or so he said -- from the comfort of a flying bedstead. After all, the team consists of adult wizards rather than school-children, so he expects that they can be trusted to set sensible limits for themselves... (OOC: I really hope that he is right about that...)

In the hotel's dining room, which the Bears have hired as a private venue for this party, the players and their companions have briefly discussed the last game. They mostly agree with each other -- chaser Harro O Jherran being the most vocal exception to this consensus -- that the Tikartiotans had actually showed greater technical skill than them, up there in the sky, hence the 2:1 ratio in goals scored* before Marra True fortunately had been close enough to the snitch when that appeared to seize it -- and, with it, the victory -- while the Tikariotians' own Seeker Ximanna Danielsson was too distracted by having to dodge bludgers. Now, prepared to claim this as a team-building exercise in the unlikely event of their being challenged on the matter, they are once again using the room's small stage & its karaoke sound-system. Singing at present is Marra True, who is giving a rendition of the inspirational & much-loved 'humm'** "Uurru'Sarrum" ***:

"And did those paws, in ancient time,
Walk upon BearHome's hillsides green?
And was the Blessed Great Bear's Cub
In BearHome's pleasant woodlands seen?

"And did that Blessed face Ursine
Spread light across th' haunted dells?
And was Urru'Sarrum builded here
Against the Purple Empire's spells?

"Bring me my bow of living gold,
Bring me my arrows of truth's light;
Unfurl the flag, of fame so old,
That it might wave above this fight.

"I will not from this challenge leave,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Urru'Sarrum
In BearHome's green and pleasant land."

_____________________________________

OOC Notes

* The bears' goals were scored, not necessarily in this order, by WideWindle-Side (2), O Jherrann (1), Potter (1): I'll leave it to Tikariot' own player to identify, if they so choose, their team's scorers.

** IC, 'humms' = "hymns" (and there's a widely-used book by the title of 'Humms Ancient and Modern'); OOC, it's a Winnie-the-Pooh reference.

*** The tune used for this humm is basically the same as that used for the Earth-RL song/hymn 'Jerusalem'. Its title "Urru'Sarrum" refers to the city of 'Sarrum' (located in another Reality, on an island there that went by the name of 'Bruttain'), whose name acquired the prefix "Urrru" -- meaning "Holy" -- after the killing & miraculous resurrection there of the religious leader Artos Ursios. His teachings & those of his disciples were brought to Bears Armed in medieval times, as the religion called 'Ursionity'. This humm is widely sung today not only by Ursions but also by members of various other faiths & sectsf (incluing 'One Plus Seven', the closest thing that the Bears have to a "national religion") as well, because its wording reflects a longstanding belief that Artos himself visited Bears Armed in his youth and helped the 'Rebel Alliance' here to defeat the wizard-run 'Purple Empire'. (Sermhran also played a role in that struggle, but Grimdark the Grey did not appear on the scene -- as far as available records say -- until several octades [i.e. periods of 8 years] after its conclusion.) "Sarrum" was its reality's counterpart to 'Old Sarum', the precursor to southern England's modern 'Salisbury'. This story thus blends elements of [from RL] Christianity, medieval chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth's 'History of the Kings of Britain', the later idea that Jesus had visited Britain in his youth, and the old saying/joke that "God is an Englishman"...
The RL song consisted of verses by the English mystical poet William Blake (otherwise probably best known, today, for the poem titled "The Tyger") that were set to music decades later by composer [Sir Charles] Hubert Parry. For the Ursine version these were 'Wirrim Blacke' (one of whose relatives, although not descendants, is Hogwings' current headmaster 'Serious Blacke'...) and 'Huebearrh Barry', respectively.
"BearHome" is a commonly used, although not official, name for the geographical & historical core of what is now Bears Armed's "Mainland" section, i.e. the part of this nation's traditional territories that is not The Ursine Northlands.
"the flag, of fame so old" refers to 'The Banner Green and Gold".

Quidditch World Cup 11 - IC thread

"Urru'Sarrum"

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