[Roleplays] :: World Cup 92

[Legalese]

“Fit to be tied!?”

“What, is that a problem? I mean, would have been nice to pick up the win over Omerica, but a 1-1 draw on the road is fair, and keeps the LNT in the hunt.”
The publisher shook her head. “No, I’m just saying it’s a bit too cliched. I know we’ve used it before, if we dig back through the archives.”

“The archives -- especially if you look at old print papers -- stretch back further than time itself. Of course it’s been used!”

The publisher sighed. “Fine, it’s your article to edit. What’s the plan for the next couple of matchdays?”

“I need to assign a writer to the previews, but they should be straightforward. Kuraitia comes here, and they got off to a good start -- beat SPI, also drew to Omerica, looked like a team that responds well to the situation. It basically comes down to the home crowd, getting a few breaks, and seeing if Grant gets the tactics right. I figure he’ll stick with the press, but will have to watch out for getting the same pressure back, mostly on the back line. If there’s any hope of a good showing and signs that this team may someday hack it in the multiverse, this is one where you really need the three points.”

“You know, I think you have that preview down. How about Kimi-Suomi?”

“Do you know what their native language calls our country? Lack-eh-keal-ee. Isn’t that beautiful?”

“O…kay. You should probably focus on getting a writer to cover that.”

[Elmyia]

The Overlap Tactics Blog
Benni Massi In Profile

For observers overseas you might have picked out the odd buzzword about him by now. Words such as 'iconoclastic', 'innovative' and 'excellent barnet'. Alternatively, you might have heard him referred to as 'pretentious', 'rude' and 'a wanker'. In Elmyia he certainly divides opinion, splitting the country between man-marking obsessed traditionalists, and the vanguard of tactics nerds and tinkermen. All of this might obscure the fact that, for the majority of countries, his style of play is fairly middle of the road, tilted mildly towards defense and uses well-worn methods. In the ultra-conservative, insular, world of Elmyian football, this constitutes something of a revolution, and to understand the man, you might want to know a little about his career.

Playing Days

In contrast to most of his footballing peers, Massi has no rags to riches story. No industrial heritage, no kicking footballs around waste ground and no stories of deprivation. Born to a doctor and an accountant in the well to do Beaucester suburb of Marshfleet, his footballing education came at a well rated state school, with his intelligence and adaptability to different positions marking him out as more of a talent. After years of trials and playing for amateur teams, it was second tier perennials Chipping Sersbrek who took a punt on his age 19 in 1985. He came through at a decent time for Serbrek who, without a large or vociferous fanbase, were able to experiment with their players somewhat. He played largely as a left-wing back in the standard 5-2-1-2 of the time, but unlike other wing-backs he was allowed to go forward more, and became known for delivering a stream of accurate crosses from this position. Several seasons of improvement for the club came, including a brief incursion into the top tier, and a run to the Island Cup Semi-Finals.

His star really began to rise when Italia Mosfleet made a move for him in 1988. Manager Luca Spaletti, considered a towering figure as player and manager, bought him to solve the issue of struggling to break deep blocks, and as part of one of the most complete Elmyian teams of all time he won the treble in 1990. Under Spaletti he began to advance his tactical understanding and refine his abilities, eventually being moved into the centre of the park to make use of his passing range and ability. In 1991 he made a move to Serie C side Vincenza, amid rumours of a dressing room bust up with Club Captain Paul Reynard. Eventually he got promoted to Serie B with Vincenza in 1993, forming an important part of their 1993-94 campaign before moving back to Elmyia, re-joining Italia Mosfleet. His playing career was then ended three games into the new season, as Paul Reynard put in a reducer that broke his leg in two places, much has been read into that tackle since, and the two have had diametrically opposed managerial careers since.

Early Managerial Days

After suffering the leg break Massi was forced to retire, and still carries a slight limp to this day. Unusually for Elmyian coaches he made his way to England to study for his coach licenses, stating a desire to expand his cultural horizons. He ended up taking over as manager of Cardiff City in 1997, keeping them up in his first season and gaining promotion in his second from the bottom tier of the football league. He was eventually sacked after relegation came the following season.

Returning to Elmyia, Massi had come back with some very fixed ideas of how football could and should be played. In particular, he was determined to instigate a shift from man to man, to zonal marking in his next side. This would mean players marking areas of the pitch in defense, forming a tight shape and reducing room to operate in around their own box, rather than the tradition practice of tracking your opposite number around the pitch. It took a while to find a taker, but Scolastico had taken punts on experimental managers before, and resting in the bottom half of first division, were ready to experiment.

The experiment had a bumpy start, Massi trying to bring in the English 4-4-2 didn't seem to suit the players available. Elmyia lacked proper wide midfielders, as teams often played without width, and so without stretching teams down the wings, strikers became isolated, and the centre-backs exposed. Scolastico improved, but not dramatically so, the zonal marking did help limit what the attacking midfielders could do, but offered little forward and wasn't quite tight enough to compensate. From 7th the previous year, to 5th the next, Scolastico looked fine, but not exciting.

The Glory Years

The real change for Massi came with using 3-4-3, which he deployed to great effect in his second season (2000/2001). Whilst he retained the zonal marking at the back, the big change came upfront. Previously, he had been trying to accomodate two strong creative players in his side, Xavier Plodi and Peter Stiles, but they were either crowded out in the middle third of the pitch, or left alone upfront. The novelty in the new system was the creative players were placed out wide in the 3. Elmyian football has generally made poor use of width, playmaking funneled centrally through the 'fantasma' (literally, ghost). This change meant the two operated in acres of space, and were able to either drag players man marking them seriously out of position, or were able to play telling passes in from the wing. This change in formation upset the established order, and Scolastico became the first team outside the big two to win the league for over 20 years.

The change to 3-4-3 delivered the first sustained period of success in Scolastico's history. His initial sides were his greatest achievement, and provded multi-dimension in attack, both able to break quickly and play well in possession. Whilst they failed to retain the league the next season, they were able to pick up both the Island and Super Cups, making them the first side to gain a sweep of domestic trophies from the start of the 21st century. His achievements over these two seasons seemed to catch the eye, and he seemd to be establishing Scolastico as a third power in Elmyian football, they came flying out of the traps with 6 straight wins in the 2002/03, but then Spaletti, his prior manager friend and mentor, died suddenly of a heart attack.

Spaletti had been the pre-eminent figure in Elmyian football of the previous 50 years, his death at the age of 62 shook Italia Mosfleet, where he had managed for over 20 years. Looking for a replacement, and his former mentor and bright young thing of the managerial world seemed a natural replacement.

The Italia Misadventure

A book could be written about Massi's time at Italia Mosfleet. Ceaseless dressing room intrigue, a struggle to implement his methods, a series of high profile rows, disappointing results and eventually his sacking. At Scolastico, he had become used to working with a small, streamlined, squad. Moreover, his squad was packed out with players looking to revive their careers, and mouldable young talent. At Italia, none of this was in place, he walked into an unwieldly environment, most of which had been held together by Spaletti's force of personality. Massi was far less avuncular and charming, prefering short interventions and cool distance from his players. Ultimately, he sowed the seeds of his own discontent, fantasma Giorgio Benevetto found himself played out of position, and when he struggled for form, he was eventually frozen out.

Benvetto's treatment would become a portend for Massi, he was leaving out a highly popular and respected player. Additionally, the dressing room seemed organised around cliques, the Italian speakers and English speakers not mixing much already, those who would attempt his methods were also seperated from those who wanted him out. Italia limped through to 2nd place at the end of the season, which coupled with two limp cup exits was leaving the board and the fans somewhat frustrated. The second season saw him off, after a disappointing transfer window, Italia lost 4 games out of the first 7, and were thrashed 6-0 in the Super Cup by Albion. Massi found himself back out of the door, with debate swirling as to whether it could ever have worked.

The Last Decade

Scolastico enthusiastically re-embraced Massi. His initial exit had triggered little ill-will and new coach, Darren Pisco, had struggled to establish any real form. In the time he had been away, however, the gravity of Elmyian football had reasserted itself. Concerned by how easily an upstart coach had broken their duopoly, Italia and Albion expanded their stadiums and renegotiated their TV deals. They went from making up about 50% of the revenue in the league between them to closer to 80%. On his return, Massi found Scolastico had lost several key players, and had a shoestring budget to source replacements.

This predicament led to three changes that have defined this second chapter of his career. Firstly, he switched to playing almost exclusively on the break, with wingers going wide at pace, and swinging in the crosses. Secondly, he started recruiting women into the team, the first manager to bring any through, this ended up being copied across the league. Third and finally, he started taking potshots at other managers and players in the league, frequently kveching at length about the financial inequalities, other teams tactical shortcomings and players 'rtank stupidity'. This seemed to work initially, in his first full season back (2004/05) he managed to grab the league title. Since then, it has been somewhat diminishing returns, with another Island Cup and 2 Super Cups in the last 9 seasons. Some have argued it is the level of financial inequality in the league that has prevented them challenging, there's also the case that most clubs switching to 3-4-3 has undone some of his advantage.

Overall, Massi has certainly changed the face of Elmyian football. Whilst zonal marking failed to catch on, bringing women into the game and doing away with the fantasma surely have changed things. It remains to be seen whether he can now implent a successful approach for the national team.

[Sargossa]

SSM | Sargossan State Media

International Edition - Olympics



New Coach. New Ambitions



Blanco Borrayo reports from Soluca;

New dawns were not something entirely new to the world of Sargossan football. They tended to come along roughly every twenty-three minutes or so. But this one seemed a little different. Ahead of the qualification campaign for the ninety second World Cup former international Miguel Marí, the nation’s Director of Elite Football, spoke of ‘hard truths’. The fact was that the fortunes of Sargossa’s Corsairs were spiralling downhill. The national side hadn’t qualified for a World Cup Finals since losing all three matches at World Cup 84, held in Cassadaigua and Baker Park. The nation’s ranking had since plummeted so far that at the qualification draw Sargossa, five-time champions of Rushmore, would emerge from pot 5.

‘We have to accept that our expectations and ambitions are going to have to match the current international football landscape’, Marí told the press at the Football Federation Headquarters in Soluca a few days after the qualification draw had placed Sargossa in Group 2 for the upcoming campaign. ‘This is not Nephara, Valanora or Turori. Those nations have the luxury of wondering when and not if they will secure their respective passages to the World Cup Finals. It’s sad to have to admit it but gone are the days when qualification was the sole standard by which our national coaches are judged by. That simply is no longer realistic. The goalposts have moved. We have to stop ignoring that fact and attempt to move with them.’

He went on to extol to virtues of new national coach Slavko Jelic. Jelic had ticked all the boxes the Football Federation had looked to tick, using their newly adjusted metric. Now comfortably into his sixties, the veteran Mytanar was not in place to head up any long-term project. Instead, his long career of creating tough to beat teams that were greater than the sum of their parts was what was required. Quite simply Jelic was being brought in to stop the rot. ‘Our target is not qualification, as strange as that is to say’, Marí continued. ‘We’re the fifth seeds in this group for a reason. What we are now targeting is a halt to our slide down the rankings and an overall finish in the group that exceeds our current seeding. We’re confident that under Slavko Jelic that ambition can be achieved’.

Those were sobering words from Miguel Marí, and words that received a mixed reception from the fans. Certainly, many were quick to praise a bit of sense and rationality at the top of the professional game in Sargossa. Marí had already begun to inject a bit of pizazz back into the domestic structure, now let him get to grips with the national side. Others bemoaned what they called a defeatist attitude. They referenced the last time a Sargossan side had entered World Cup qualifiers from pot 5. When they had gone on to win that group ahead of the likes of Nephara, Starblaydia, Mercedini and Darman. What they conveniently forget is that was a uniquely strange campaign. One in which an obscure and now (almost) long-forgotten Nordic nation had twice stealthily emerged from the crowd to give mighty Nephara a sound slapping in a manner akin to a soft drink advert you probably wouldn’t be allowed to make nowadays. In short, that campaign was an aberration.

The tweaked ambition certainly gives new coach Jelic a certain amount of room to breathe. Which, as the opening fixtures showed, is probably a good thing. The coach is sticking, for the early fixtures at least, with the same group of players he selected for the Copa Rushmori. He clearly saw enough in that battling last sixteen defeat to eventual champions Græntfjall to give them another chance to impress. And impress they did, in the opening qualification match in Maturín, in which Bongo Johnson were given a sound pasting. But the limp draw away to unheralded North and South Vietnam that followed it proved a sharp reminder of the work there is yet to do.

[New Eestiball]

We are not point boosters to everyone, say Doorknobs
The New Eestiball Doorknobs somehow managed to hold pot 2 team Audioslavia to 1 goal in their loss yesterday in Audioslavia. Unfortunately, the Doorknob attack was absolutely miserable - but at least this continues the tradition of losing on MD1. This year, however, there is no MD2 to come back with a 5-goal win; the Doorknobs have a bye today. Hopefully they'll come back with a win tomorrow hosting Ingont!
Here's 2 fun facts for 2 matchdays:
#1. We've played Ingont before, just in the WJHC. That ended up as a win for the Doorknobs, 3-2. We would go on to lose in the quarterfinals to Klakahollin.
#2. Astograth was in our group last World Cup, we lost to them 1-0 in Astograth before drawing 1-1 in Tallinn. That MD19 draw came after we were eliminated from contention, but if Astograth had won, they could've made it to the world cup proper. As it was, they ended up losing to Hapilopper after Hapilopper made a second-leg comeback.

[Flavovespia]

Flavovespia 3 - 0 Togonistan

3 games, and 3 wins by 3 goals. Flavovespia are setting themselves up very nicely in the opening stages of the Qualifiers. This win was largely completed in the first half, with Flavovespia having a good level of control throughout the game. Togonistan brought a strong and vocal travelling contingent of fans, but it wasn’t enough for the visitors to get their first points on the board.

Flavovespia only made the one change, with Jonathan Goldstone starting after 2 substitute appearances so far. David Wassell was the one to make away. In the absence of Adrian Jones, Scott Coleman remained in the attack, with Michael Cole and Jonathan Bagshaw flanking him.

Togonistan nearly caught Flavovespia out within 3 minutes, when Luca Faleta sent a long ball downfield that Martin Tufele got on the end of and flicked it back into his path, taking most of the Flavovespian defence out with him. Tufele was probably a bit too selfish tough, as Stuart Cookson hustled him out wide and Tufele shot from an awkward position, and wide of the post.

10 minutes later and that miss would prove costly. It was David Clark with a long ball downfield to Michael Cole, which opened up the defence. Michael Cole drove forward into the box, and drew Afu Ahoeito out of position. Cole then passed across the face of goal, to Jonathan Bagshaw to put in the opener. 1-0 to Flavovespia, a goal that showed their prowess in quick attacking play, and a strong combination of attackers.

Flavovespia pushed on and would get their second goal in the 26th minute. This time Jonathan Bagshaw was the supplier. Collecting the long pass by Andrew Dance, Jonathan Bagshaw kept wide and floated in a cross towards the penalty spot. Scott Coleman timed his jump to perfection, beating Rai Kamakiwole and heading in to double the lead. It was 2-0 at half time, and it was hard to dispute that Flavovespia were having the better performance in the game.

The second half saw Flavovespia look to consolidate their position. They nearly did in the 55th minute, when Scott Coleman was practically unmarked in the box. To the surprise of quite a few in the crowd, he didn’t get a clean contact on Cole’s low cross, his half volley skewing wide when he arguably had time for a touch to try and place it. Not too long later, and David Clark stuck the post when a corner ended up only half-cleared away. The pressure was mostly coming from the hosts.

The game seemed to be fizzling out in the end stages, before Michael Cole livened things up with 5 minutes to go. From just over 25 metres out, he seemed to be in a tough position to create anything. Instead he went from goal for range, and managed to get the ball to curl enough to go inside the far post, no chance for Afu Ahoeito. A spectacular goal to wrap up the scoring, one for the highlight reel even if it was the icing on the top of the cake.

A 3-0 win for Flavovespia in the end showed a good level of confidence and skill in their game, and they showed it on the pitch. The start of their Qualifiers continues on with 3 wins in 3, as they try to establish themselves as one of the teams to beat in Group 6 and qualify for a second consecutive World Cup.

Hopal 0 - 2 Flavovespia

Another win keeps up the perfect start to the Qualifiers for Flavovespia. Hopal were coming off of a big loss and were looking for improvement, and although they did, it wasn’t enough to get off the mark for them.

Flavovespia lined up with the same starting XI that took them to a victory over Togonistan, and for most of the players this was the 4th appearance in the Qualifiers. It took just 9 minutes for that to pay off for Flavovespia. On the first big attack of the day, good passing saw Jonathan Goldstone eventually slip the ball through to Jonathan Bagshaw. Bagshaw finished the move with a composed finish across the goal into the far corner, a trademark of his as he hit his 3rd goal in 4 games so far in the Qualifiers.

Hopal thought they’d had an equaliser in the 21st minute, when Aarif Muhammad dropped a cross under contact from a striker, and it was then put in the back of the net by the midfielder coming in at the far post. Whilst the video referee was looking at the incident, a shoving match between a fair few players occurred. Yellow cards were shown for Stuart Cookson and Jonathan Goldstone for their involvement. The goal was overturned, with Aarif Muhammad having two hands on the ball before the collision jarred them free, to the chagrin of his teammates.

Hopal created a few further half chances, but Aarif Muhamamd and the Flavovespia defence looked equal to it. At the other end of the pitch, Flavovespia had chances of their own, but Hopal had tightened up and toughened up in defence, and there were a few words exchanged between players after some challenges. Michael Cole and Scott Coleman were both on the receiving end of some strong sliding tackles, the latter taking a bit of a knock, and he wouldn’t return after the half-time break.

The second half began with Flavovespia putting pressure on the shots, and in the 54th minute the pressure paid off. Kieron Player’s through ball played into the path of Michael Cole, now at centre forward. His shot was parried away by the goalkeeper, but it struck the leg of a defender awkwardly. The ball just spun into the path of Amrik Singh, who was able to slide in and get enough on the ball to get it over the line before it could be cleared. It was a bit fortuitous, but it was the first international goal for the young attacking midfielder, playing on his slightly less favoured left hand side.

The game seemed in control for Flavovespia, until the 67th minute. Hopal looked to have played through the Flavovespian defence, until Paul Taylor tripped the striker through on goal. A little outside the box, it was a clear denial of goalscoring opportunity, and the young midfielder was sent off, despite his protestations. Flavovespia were forced into a 4-3-2, taking Michael Cole off to bring in Daniel Lansdell to shore up the defence.

For the rest of the game, it was largely the hosts in attack with Flavovespia defending. Despite being a man down, the defence of Flavovespia still seemed confident in their abilities. Whilst Hopal were able to get some shots away, Aarif Muhammad was in good form, and made a handful of good saves to keep his clean sheet up. Flavovespia could no longer offer much in attack, but it didn’t stop Jonathan Bagshaw seeing the Hopal goalkeeper off his line and attempting an audacious 50 metre effort, the keeper doing enough however to get back and push it wide.

The game finished 0-2 to Flavovespia, and whilst it wasn’t a vintage performance, it was enough to get another 3 points and keep the perfect record going. Hopal meanwhile would probably see this as something of a missed opportunity to grab some points. The return of Adrian Jones for Flavovespia could well help them as tough fixtures against Zwangzug at home and away to Ochre Islands approach, but they’ll be without Paul Taylor for a 2 game suspension for his straight red card.

Across the group, and 2 of the perfect record fell. Delaclava would inflict adefeat on both Zwangzug and Ochre Islands, the latter also playing the only draw so far in the group in República Guanacasteca. Jeruselem also still have a perfect record of 4 wins so far, as they, Delaclava and Flavovespia battle in the top 3. Zwangzug also lost to Jeruselem, the Pot 1 side now down to 5th in the group. Civia Welephilostopia, Britland and Hopal are all still waiting to get their first points of the campaign.

[Cabo Azure]

Cabo Azure 2–3 Tumbra
Scorers: Corte-Real, Cardoso

Talannua 2–2 Cabo Azure
Scorers: Mendonça, Gouveia

“Rex ex Machina”, pt 2

"I've got a bad feeling about this," said Alexander Malone to Alexander Hawkins as the island of Sao Cristobal came into view.

The two men stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the prow of a little tender, the type that carries packages between islands in Cabo Azure and can sometimes be chartered as a sort of maritime taxi. They could have been brothers, both tall brunettes with high cheekbones and long eyelashes, dark eyes hidden behind darker sunglasses. Though it was hard to gauge ages precisely, Hawkins looked to be a few years older than Malone, his hair shot through with gray and his eyes more distant.

“What, are we speaking in cliches now?” Hawkins asked his companion incredulously. “Are we on a mission from God, too? Are we going to ask to speak to their leader?”

“It’s foreshadowing,” Malone protested. “If something’s going to go wrong, it wouldn’t be fair for it to come from nowhere.”

“Stop refusing the call,” Hawkins chided, “You’re just an exposition device.”

“Is that what this scene is? Just exposition?”

“Two men on a boat griping at each other is pretty classic exposition, wouldn’t you say? How do you think we got here?”

"Easy, the Royalty Committee sent us to ask Michael Chao for help."

Realizing what he had done, Malone abruptly clammed up. His tendency to overstep himself had gotten him exiled from his native Venta de la Mesilla to the decidedly less choice location of Pravenna, a small Rushmori nation ruled by a notorious autocrat. Both places had since ceased to exist, just a few years apart some decades in the past. Since he still existed separate from his home country, Malone assumed he was meant to do something and spent most of his time trying to find what it was.

"Well, don't stop now," Hawkins prompted. "Who is Chao?"

Hawkins was in a similar predicament to Malone, but had committed to a different approach. Where Venta de la Mesilla had seemed simply to have too little separating it from the Narrative, Hasznia had seemed too grounded in reality, without an overarching story driving it forward and anchoring it to a timeline. Believing his best bet was to keep the Narrative alive so as to not lose another country of his to non-existence, Hawkins had dedicated his time on the Council to forwarding the Narrative of Cabo Azure above his own personal Narrative.

"Michael Chao is an ex-Taijani midfielder, currently residing in Sao Cristobal," he recited tartly.

"There you go. It's that easy. Exposition."

The two men disembarked at Sao Cristobal and proceeded on foot through the little village. It had the bucolic look shared by most Azurean islands that weren't Aho, Portelo, or Dulce Muerte: cobblestone streets, single-story houses built from mortared stone, and a fishing fleet at anchor. More modern buildings–a steel-walled cannery, a health clinic, a small football stadium–were scattered throughout, but none really disrupted the aesthetic.

They walked aimlessly until they came across a small handcart, where a man with dreadlocks was grilling what smelled like lamb kebabs. This was unusual-though lamb is a vital part of the Azurean diet, open-flame cooking is seen as barbaric, and most Azurean meals are made on a stove top or in the oven. Despite this prejudice, the vendor had a small crowd gathered around him as Hawkins and Malone approached.

"Michael Chao," said Hawkins as they approached. "We're from the Narrative Council of Cabo Azure. Do you have a minute?"

"A minute for the Narrative?" asked Chao. "Sure, always. Want some ital?"

"We're alright, thanks," Hawkins refused, clocking the hungry look on his partner's face. "Mr. Chao, are you aware of the Narrative dilemma Cabo Azure currently faces?"

"Yes,” answer Chao, not taking his eyes off the lamb kebabs he was grilling.

The Alexes looked at each other. “What…what do you suppose it is?” Malone asked, nonplussed.

“No one to take the throne,” said Chao. “Sure, Manuel’s yet young, and he’s got sisters, but they’ll go right after him, and none of them seems keen on having kids, so it’s got to be someone else.”

“Spot on,” agreed Hawkins. “Do you suppose you could help us?”

“Help you? Certainly.”

Another looked passed between the Alexes. Michael Chao had been a Hail Mary, a last-ditch effort to find someone more familiar with the Narrative than they, so that Cabo Azure might stand a fighting chance. With a crown prince or princess, Cabo Azure had a future, a defined Narrative set several World Cup cycles in advance; without, it might limp along until Manuel died of old age or was forgotten, then cease to exist just as Taijan, Venta de la Mesilla, Pravenna, and Hasznia all had in their time.

“Great, then,” said Malone. “We’re at the Shepherd’s Inn in town for tonight. If you’d like to settle your affairs and meet us there tomorrow morning, we can get started.”

“Get started with what?”

“Finding the heir, of course,” answered Hawkins incredulously.

“Why would I do that?”

“You said you would!” exclaimed Malone crossly.

“I said no such thing,” Chao disagreed, “I have this cart to manage, and a life in St. Christopher-I mean, Sao Cristobal. Besides, my narrative arc is finished. What use have I of another?”

“What narrative arc?” Hawkins demanded. “Nobody’s heard from you since Taijan won the Campionato decades ago.”

Chao smiled a strange, sad smile and began removing his cooked kebabs onto paper plates to sell. A few customers arrived, as if on cue, and he began to serve them as if the Alexes weren’t standing two feet from him, growing increasingly incensed. When the customers had gone, Chao looked up, his dark eyes scanning the horizon.

“Fam,” Malone tried colloquially, “It’s alright. Neither of us has completed his narrative arc, either. It’s why we’re here.”

“The Gulf of Esportonkin,” Michael Chao answered.

“What?” asked Malone and Hawkins together.

“The answer to your question,” Chao explained. “My narrative arc ended with the Gulf of Esportonkin. I returned to Taijan to live out my days happily in my former home.”

“Then why are you here?” demanded Malone testily.

“Apparently, so I can help you. Anything for the Narrative and all that.”

“So why won’t you?”

“Why won’t I what?”

Malone had become quite red-faced, fists clenched at his sides. The temper that had seen him exiled from his homeland was returning. Hawkins eyed him, wondering if his fellow Councilmember’s own narrative arc might require him to come to terms with whatever experience led to his constant need to perform his emotions, but stayed quiet.

“Why won’t you help us like you said you would?” Hawkins asked levelly.

“I never said how I would help you,” Chao responded, “I simply said that I would, and I shall.”

“How do you mean to help us if you won’t even go anywhere?” Malone asked dejectedly.

“That depends,” Chao admitted. “Would it help you to know the name of the person you seek?”

“The what?” asked Malone.

“The who?” asked Hawkins.

“The rightful heir to the crown of Cabo Azure, the prize you so vehemently seek. Would it help you to know her name?”

Now it was Hawkins’s turn to get hot under the collar; had this git known the name the whole time and been holding out on them? There was so much to process. For one, the person they sought existed, which until that point hadn’t been a given. For two, Chao somehow knew her name–it was a foregone conclusion he was telling the truth, though Hawkins wasn’t exactly sure why.

“Yes, it would help us to know her name,” Malone breathed.

“Solveig Davidsdottir.”

[Chromatika]

ONE

MD1: (53) Juvencus 2-2 (31) Chromatika
Goals: Hauser 31', Ighv 60'
Starting XI (3-4-1-2): Fillar, J. (C); Ansov - de Aea - Anbient; Fillar, G. - Zuniga - Hauser - Ighv; Kuznetsov; Killian - Oveni.
Substitutes: Si -> Zuniga (48'), Régine -> de Aea (76'), Park -> Killian (76'), Fillar, B. -> Fillar, G. (88'), Coulibaly -> Ansov (88')

---

MD2: (31) Chromatika 3-0 (12) Ko-oren
Goals: Killian 15' (pen.), Kuznetsov 49', Hauser 76'
Starting XI (3-4-1-2): Fillar, J. (C); Ansov - de Aea - Anbient; Fillar, G. - Zuniga - Hauser - Ighv; Kuznetsov; Killian - Oveni.
Substitutes: Coulibaly -> Ansov (51'), Kruetzberg -> Fillar, G. (68'), Aimée (68'), Si -> Hauser (84'), Delaya -> Oven (84')

MD3 @ (198) Lisander and MD4 vs. (236) Yakk @ Hawks' Nest, Lanar, Rainbow District, Chromatika (Cap. 112,000; 44,200 Seats)
Predicted Starting XI (3-4-1-2): Begley (C); Coulibaly - Régine - Aimée; Kruetzberg - Larriet-Cortes - Fillar, B. - Fillar, E.; Phoen; Delaya - Xuen-Zhukov.
Reserves: GK Lorée Bautista, GK Jacob Descombes, DCR Paisley Paterson, DC Gwina Ansoll, DC Cylie Nodis, DCL Damon Ingram, DCL Twilight Mixon, WBR Martha Baum, WBL Manda Iara, BWM Mare Si, AP Tyoma Laurette, AM Haley Hauser, CDM Amélie Ju, P Sandara Park, F9 Paskal Toussaint

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The Red League All-Decade Team
02: Goalkeepers

By: Jordan Lawless, Chief Correspondent

Goalkeepers. Ultimately, they are the final line of defense in front of their goal, and if you have a subpar one, no matter how offensive your team is, you are going to lose. There has been many a storied netminder throughout the first ten seasons of the Red League, and it is time to honor a few of them.

This list was compiled using the All-Red League First Team, the Second Team, how the players are received by both their teammates as well as their opposition, and the importance of the player on their respective teams. Please remember that this is the opinion of just The Rebel, not that of the Rainbow League System.

The Red League All-Decade Second Team Goalkeeper: Kimi Herrington, Urrheddiao

One of the most storied keepers to ever put on the gloves for a team in the Red League, Herrington was the identity of Urrheddiao for many seasons, dating back to the Chromatik League days. Her longevity and play led to her making three caps for the Anomalies, where she conceded five goals. Herrington is a cerebral player with enough reach to handle most balls in the air, someone who remains cool throughout any situation, and a quiet leader in the locker room who can steady any ship. Making it to the All-League First or Second Team four times in her career, Herrington steadied the Urrheddiao defense and allowed the defense to not only do their job but also turn the ball around and push it up the pitch. Her dark auburn hair and hazel grey eyes were a mainstay in the Red League for many a season, and all of the Red League was better for it.

The Red League All-Decade First Team Goalkeeper: Kathie Begley, Wirr Tsi

Does this surprise anyone? Since her debut for the team in Season Four, Begley has put the Red League on notice; she's been a First or Second Team All-League every season since Season Five. It was her presence that allowed the Shock to build foreign talent around her, leading to their winning multiple titles, becoming one of the best clubs in not just Chromatika but the multiverse, and becoming a powerhouse to contend with the likes of Myana, Chromatik, and Tihon. Amazing at reading the flow of the game and not getting surprised by anything that the opposition throws at her, she also holds the record for most clean sheets in the most dominant season in Red League history - 11 goals allowed and 21 clean sheets in thirty games back in Season Seven. Sporting twenty-two caps and sixteen goals allowed for the Chromatik National Team, it can be argued that if she had left Wirr Tsi and the Red League, she could've given Juxon Fillar a run for his money; however, she's been adamant in helping the Red League prosper, and has never regretted that decision.

She is the unanimous decision for the All-Decade First Team Goalkeeper for the Red League.

Next: Right Backs

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The Third Chromatik Premier Election

Meet the Candidates #2: Mariola Lemańska, Spade Party

Ask any political correspondent or analyst about the outlook of Chromatik politics, and everyone will start to talk about the emergence of the Spade Party. With the utter destruction of the Traditionalist Party, the Spades - or the Socialists - have taken center stage. Like most Socialist Parties around the world, they're all about power to the union, universal healthcare, free childcare, free housing, and just the government taking care of its constituents. What makes the Spade Party different from other Socialist Parties in the world are that 1) they don't associate with the color Red, as that is with the Red Party, and 2) they are taking things slow, accentuating how they are a law-abiding part of the Chromatik populace instead of spewing propaganda of violence and revolution. This has both earned them the respect of those who wish to work alongside them, while also the ire of those that think that they aren't moving fast enough, and that the wave could be expedited if they were to take bigger risks.

Enter Mariola Lemańska, the thirty-two year old from Pùr, Heartland District. An elementary schoolteacher just five years ago, Lemańska grabbed everyone's attention by being named the Spade Party's nominee for Premier without being a part of the Chambers of the Legislature or being a District Commissioner. A Pùrite her whole life, Lemańska was born to two factory workers - two members of the Yellow colour caste that were lucky enough to have been actually in love with each other. During the Revolution, Szymon was a metalworker for the Revolution's shipyards while Elżbieta made electronics for the Revolution's intelligence agency. They were rewarded for their contribution to the cause by being provided a house and free education for their daughter, and the Lemańska family made good on that promise, sending Mariola to Southern Chromatik University, where she earned her Bachelor's in Education. She became an accredited primary school teacher, and moved back to Pùr, teaching fourth grade at Pùr Central Elementary School.

Three years ago, Elżbieta Lemańska was diagnosed with lung cancer from chemicals inhaled while working in the Chromatik Party's plastic factories, one of hundreds of thousands of Chromatiks who were a part of that colour to be diagnosed. Though the Chromatik government, through money obtained from reparations, took care of every need, Elżbieta passed away just five months later, and her death changed Mariola forever.

What drew Mariola to the Spade Party instead of the Red Party was the belief that just getting the old regime to pay for their mistakes wasn't enough. No, what was more important was making sure that current Chromatika would be set up for success in the days ahead, as well as the admission that in a decade or two, the Red Party would become obsolete, and there would need to be a political party that would pick up the remnants at that juncture to keep the supporting base going. Despite not having a political science degree or background, her oratorical skills, her quiet yet firm confidence, and her zeal for not accepting the current status quo shook the Spade Party to the core. There were initial setbacks, but in a span of eighteen months, she had either converted all of her rivals to her side or utterly pushed them out past the fringes, leading to a unanimous nomination as the Spade Party's candidate.

Mariola remains as pragmatic and realistic as ever - she knows that the chances of her winning the Premiership is rather small. However, she is also aware that her position as the head member of a party that is growing in both power and stature makes her one of the most important people for whomever wins the Premiership to have on their good graces. She aims to be reasonable, but she also will not compromise her beliefs. If the alliance between the Red Party and the Spade Party can actually form, that would elevate her standing to a different level, one that could have a major say in the politics of Chromatika in the days to come.

Is there really anything there between Svyatopolk Tkacho and Mariola Lemańska? From the outside, they are acquaintances with mutual respect for one another, heralding a new age where the Rainbow Party and the Saebitdang will not dictate the entirety of Chromatika; does it truly matter what the truth is in the inside to anyone that isn't interested in the tabloids?

What remains true is that Chromatik history will remember the name of Mariola Lemańska. For what remains to be answered in the years to come.

Next: The Rainbow Party Primary

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World Cup 92 Qualifying, Part 1: Repin Era Starts with a Bang as Anomalies Blank Group Leaders in Home Opener

The start of a Qualifying campaign in the World Cup is a fascinating affair. Start too strong, and you risk the chance of burnout; start not strong enough, and things may be out of hand before you get going at all.

Away at Juvencus was a tough place to play, and the backline of the Juven defense, led by one Carlo Callejon, the same man who had been a part of the Wirr Tsi defense for many a season, proved to be difficult to break. In the end, a Ha'nei Ighv volley from range yielded the Anomalies a point - not the best of starting results, but an acceptable one, considering that this was the first official match under the tutelage of Lev Repin.

Which led to the home opener, and what a opener it was - hosting the top seed in the group, Anaian neighbor Ko-oren, at the cathedral of football in Chromatika, the Capitalize Dome. In front of a sellout crowd, Lev Repin was introduced to Chromatik fanfare and hospitality, as well as the National Anthem; then, the game began, and it immediately became clear that the Anomalies had become very comfortable in Repin's system after one game.

A hard tackle by Hikomoto Mizuno in the box led to Hank Killian getting the penalty try, which he converted without much trouble for the lead. Then, just after halftime, Vasiliy Marten Kuzetsov, from his new Attacking Midfield spot, buried a header to the far left post to double the lead. Chromatika would make it 3-0 at the end with a volley from Hauser to put the game away, but the story of the game was how comfortable everyone was in the shifting between the 3-4-1-2, the 3-2-5, and the 5-3-2 as the situation warranted itself.

Ko-oren only managed six shots, with two of them being on target, as the Chromatik midfield clamped down; the team never seemed threatened, and the way that they took care of pressure was a beauty to watch.

If the Anomalies have done this well to turn their play around after one match, what can they do throughout an entire Qualifying Cycle?

All eyes will now turn to one Lavrentiy Xuen-Zhukov, as the eighteen year old has been named a starter against the Lisander and Yakk. It's games like these that can make or break a campaign, but the Chromatiks remain confident that their young star can handle the pressure.

With five substitutes allowed per side, the Anomalies will have opportunity to put in some veterans if they are to struggle; there is no excuse to fall short.

It's a solid start, but the marathon beckons.

[Adab]

Monday, October 1, 2040
Adab 3-0 95X
Adab scorers: Akaptaha (13’), Yissakar (50’), Barzani (71’)

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Monday, October 8, 2040
United Adaikes 0-2 Adab
Adab scorers: Barzani (32’), Yargab (89’)

THE ADAB TIMES
The Most Trusted Voice in the Nation, Est. 1878

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SPORTS | FOOTBALL
Tuesday, October 9, 2040

Saad Kaykali Says He Has Prostate Cancer

The Adab national football team manager revealed his diagnosis in a statement released on Tuesday, vowing that “business will continue as usual”.

By Jamal al-Farsi

Saad Kaykali, manager of the Adab national football team, announced on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will undergo treatment, but declared that his condition will not “interfere in any negative manner” with the operations of the team as they fight to qualify for the World Cup.

“There is no easy way to break this news, but I have recently been diagnosed with stage 2 prostate cancer,” Mr. Kaykali, 66, said in a statement published on the website of the Adab Football Association (AFA) as well as on the AFA’s and his personal social media accounts. “This is obviously not something that anyone would like to hear, but know that I am not afraid and I will do everything I can to beat this disease.”

In his statement, Mr. Kaykali stated that the cancer was discovered during a screening after he felt “a bit of discomfort” and that he was “fortunate” to have access to such medical procedure. “It is in times like these that we are reminded how precious – and fragile – a gift life is,” he said. “I certainly have been guilty of taking things for granted. Many have said that a diagnosis brings new perspective into your life. I think they are right.”

Mr. Kaykali confirmed that he will undergo radiation therapy, but assured readers that he will remain in his post as manager of the national team. “I am privileged to have great people at my disposal – my assistant manager, coaches, physios, and other staff members who keep the team running. I may not always be able to accompany the team but I know they will continue to thrive with the same diligence and spirit which have carried them all these years. In their hands, business will continue as usual.”

He also recommended that everyone undergo medical checkups if possible and reiterated his support for universal healthcare. “No one should ever be denied the right and access to any and all forms of medical treatment that our nation has to offer,” he said.

The AFA and a representative of Mr. Kaykali did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. It is unclear if he will go to the national team’s upcoming match against Garbelia next Monday.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide and also one of the most common cancer-related death among men; however it is also one of the most treatable if caught early. “The good thing about prostate cancer is that it grows relatively slowly and it is often detectable through screening, even in the earliest stages,” said Dr. Fahd Ashur of the Naram-Sin Imsu Center for Cancer Treatment at Adab City Imperial Hospital. “This doesn’t mean that you can just ignore it, but it is not necessarily the end of the road.”

Prostate cancer has a 5-year survival rate of nearly 100% up to stage 3, although that rate drops to about 30% in stage 4, by which time the cancer will usually have spread to other bodily organs.

In Mr. Kaykali’s case, his cancer was caught relatively early when it had not yet begun to spread out of the prostate. Continued monitoring is usually recommended at this stage but more aggressive options are also available, including radiation therapy – which Mr. Kaykali has chosen to undertake – and removal of the prostate.

Concluding his statement, Mr. Kaykali acknowledged that his life “will never be the same as before” but stated his commitment to carry on and “fulfill my duty to the team as I have always done”.

“My understanding is that, even when you have gone into remission, you are never really completely free from cancer and it may come back - maybe next year, or many more years down the road – and there will always be a specter hanging over me.

“But I will keep on doing what I have been doing, because that is the only way that I know, and I’ll hope for the best.”

Adab lineup for WCQ MD3 (October 15, 2040 vs. Garbelia at home) and MD4 (October 22, 2040 vs. HUElavia away)

Starting lineup: Chandrasekar, Altun, Enmerkar (C), Akshak, Thomas, Arthur (VC), Sinmuballit, Emmita, Akaptaha, Yissakar, Barzani

Substitutes: Shulgi, al-Tikriti, Hadad, al-Maliki, Anwar, Samanu, Orlev, Khoury, al-Amin, Abbas, Yargab, Sarsur

[Yue Zhou]

THE NANHAI DAILY
YFA SEEK TO CAP-TIE MINGSDÓTTIR AGAINST XINHUA
DONG Zhewen, Sports

NANGANG -- An unnamed source close to the Yue Football Association suggested that the YFA is planning on calling up teenage midfielder Kara Mingsdóttir for the Dragons' mid-qualifying friendly against southern neighbors Xinhua. Born in Háttmark to first-generation Yue immigrants, and splitting her childhood between Yuezhou and Græntfjall before the outbreak of the Yue Civil War, Mingsdóttir, 19, has grown into a quality young talent that the YFA hopes will be a future Dragons star. During her time as a youth player for Steinaux in the GPL, she has attracted the attention of Yue and Græntfjaller fans alike, and the YFA is reportedly seeking to cap-tie her to the national team as quickly as possible before significant Græntfjaller interest is shown.

The only child of Zhang Ming and Lin Jingfei, Yue academics who immigrated to Háttmark fearing future instability, Mingsdóttir frequently lived with her grandparents in rural Beiyun for months at a time as a child, splitting time between Beiyun and Northern Háttmark up to the outbreak of the Yue Civil War. After the war that would claim her grandfather's life began, Mingsdóttir stayed in Græntfjall permanently, only visiting Yuezhou last year after a twelve-year separation from the country. A precocious child, she developed into a well-rounded midfield prospect in the academy of her hometown club Steinaux, where she idolized Yue GPL trailblazers such as Tao Beiliang and current Dragons captain Li Jing. After taking the Græntfjaller second tier by surprise as a seventeen-year-old while on loan to Oost-Harburg, Mingsdóttir was promoted to the senior team at just eighteen years old, where she made a few substitute appearances for the iconic capital club, first turning the eyes of the YFA with an impressive long-range goal in the early rounds of the Græntfjaller Cup that achieved some notoriety on Twii.tur.

The YFA reportedly first made contact with her during her first season in the GPL, believing her to be a "tremendous future talent" who needed to be secured before further strong performances with Steinaux drew Græntfjall's attention. While Mingsdóttir still harbored ambitions of joining the Snow Wolves, she was reportedly swayed by a visit to Nangang to formally meet the YFA last year, as well as Yuezhou's willingness to offer her immediate caps that would be hard to find amongst the star-studded roster of the reigning World Cup champions. As a player, the YFA believes Mingsdóttir's technical brilliance, athleticism and work-rate, and resilience could allow her to replace the aging Li Jing "within a few cycles" if she continues her upwards ascent. While Mingsdóttir has remained somewhat reticent to discuss these issues, our YFA source noted that she privately expressed excitement at not only playing for the Yue NT, but "serving as a representative of the Yue diaspora."

While the KG never showed serious interest in Mingsdóttir, the products of a recent wave of Yue immigration could bring the two Pavolan FAs into conflict in the near future. Immigration from Yuezhou to Græntfjall has seen a significant uptick recently, both due to economic conditions and due to the Yue Civil War and ensuing instability in the United Republics. Mingsdóttir's generation, as well as the slightly younger generation whose parents fled Yuezhou in the Civil War, haven't fully come of age, but are rapidly approaching that point. And while the establishment of a democratically-elected government in Yuezhou has softened relations between the former rivals, the increasing Yue diaspora in Græntfjall could produce further disputes in the near future.

[Zwangzug]

The Kerlagrad Courier

Don't worry about the world ending today, it's already tomorrow in [tbd Anaia time zone]

Given the preponderance of calendars and timekeeping schemes used around the world, it is virtually guaranteed that the future not only will arrive on schedule, but already has arrived on schedule in other corners of the multiverse. [Are you okay? -ed] While reliable sources have confirmed that humans are not only "stupid and useless" but also "petty, small-minded, and self-destructive," it is a near-certainty that their impotent saber-rattling will not be able to deter even the new World Cup qualifying cycle, much less reality as we know it. [Can we get these people to go on record? -ed]

Moreover, the rise of cartographical standardization makes it possible that some regions may even have an orderly queue for when a new day dawns. On the one hand, our government's standoffishness means we are very unlikely to ever formally appear on a map with any of these time zones; on the other hand, that same isolationism means that it is relatively unlikely we would ever be hit by a missile directed at someone else, and in the event of interregional catastrophe would be slightly more likely to awaken to an ash-plagued world. [This is the sports section. -ed] Upon which we would, presumably, offer our large expanse of stadia with unclear capacities as neutral ground venues.

Zwangzug's first game of the campaign was away in Civia Welephilostopia. [Starting this tournament against the "Emerald Elephants" is fitting, since the last series the baseball Zebras played was the WBC55 championship of the Elephants of South Newlandia. -ed] This is located in the region of The Kodiak Republic, which I have never heard of until this moment, but as of this writing it contains 488 nations, the 44th-most in the multiverse, and is therefore prime territory for yet another global crisis that could erupt any moment. Despite this, they managed to escape in one piece [and pick up three points against a strong debutant squad who held the lead at halftime -ed] in time to return home to take on República Guanacasteca, a country facing a "somber" future where fans use football as a distraction from their "daily life torture." Like Zwangzug, Guanacasteca feature a defensive formation that, while it might yield effective results on the pitch, is ultimately no protection against a cruel, uncaring world.

In the first half, Rodrigo Marín was cautioned for simulating a foul, with an unimpressed linesman pointing out that if Meghna Imomenba had in fact launched a weapon of mass destruction there would not be enough of him left to tell the tale, and if she had merely collided with him, her momentum would have been deflected, which it wasn't. Shortly after the restart, Lukas Helsen-Roan launched a shot that the impulsive teenager, Sergio González, managed to palm away. However, Farrokh Sokhi smashed home the rebound, sending González into a spiral of guilt and self-loathing even worse than that triggered by the anxiety of living on a planet full of loudmouthed warmongers. [Pot is really calling the kettle black here. -ed] Fortunately, due to the hosts' fear of further destabilizing their troubled visitor [or, more likely, Israel Góndola and Alfonso Rosas' smart, attractive defense at the back -ed], Zwangzug did not add on further.

Zwangzug are now set to head to the planet of Sonnel [also the location of WBC 55 in Drawkland! -ed] This is reassuring because, even if we bleep up this particular planet, there will still be humans to continue bleeping things up elsewhere in the galaxy.

[Tikariot]

Again a few piano notes open up to sliding images of different areas of Tikariot, of restaurants, dishes, and more, before the logo superimposes itself over a collage of the various images.

The still then morphs towards a town square, where the host of Culinaria Tikariot, Susanna Wheymore, is sitting on a park bench, just like in the first installment of the series, but this time around her breath is well visible, indicating that it is somewhat chillier than it had been in Saevaroy.

Susanna Wheymore: Good afternoon Tikariot, welcome back to Culinaria Tikariot! After our first trip to Soharr, where we learned a lot about the comfort food of poutine, we have now traveled north and reached the somewhat enigmatic province of Xark. Now when I say 'enigmatic', I am referring to their myth-laced history as well as their people and culture, which, while connected to both Viljamark to the east and Græntfjall to the north, have been called quirky by many and eccentric by some, so reason enough to have a look at the province itself before diving deeper into the cuisine.

This cues come video footage with Susanna switching to the role of narrator.

Susanna Wheymore: Xark is a land of rugged beauty, with rolling hills and tundra plains in the northern and western parts and the imposing Xarkian range in the southeast, completely covering Xark's territory extending between Dhaencunor and Viljamark. The range itself is largely inhabitable and there are only a few mining camps that can be found throughout its length, but legend has it that the legendary dragon Xuroar still lives within, slumbering in his lair deep within the mountains.
Overall Xark is the least densely populated province, at least in terms of humans, with the numbers of reindeer and other wild livestock almost outnumbering them. A lot of the foothills are dense, tough forests, mostly untouched by civilization, allowing nature to rule, while the human population mostly lives in harmony with nature instead of trying to subdue it, keeping the northern wilderness intact.

So it does not come as a big surprise that much of Xarkian cuisine is inspired by this wilderness, utilising as many ingredients from the province instead of importing them from elsewhere. Staple proteins are reindeer and fish from Lake Viljan and the many rivers crossing the province, with hearty vegetables such as potatoes and onions as well as myriad mushrooms and berries, strong cheeses, and more, basically anything that could either be stewed, dried, or otherwise preserved for the winters. Some of the choices might seem a bit odd to southern and western palates, but one of the unwritten rules of Xarkian cuisine and culture is that any animal slaughtered should be used to the greatest extent, be it for food or other uses, so some of the ingredients might be a little off-putting to those fainter of heart.

As the picture returns to Susanna, she is standing in the kitchen of what seems to be a wooden cottage, which is a far cry from the often stainless steel temples many of her usual episodes are filmed in.

Susanna Wheymore: We are here in the kitchen, not of a restaurant as we usually are, but deep in the Xarkian plains, at the edge of one of the many forests, with Xuonja Kroik, who also is not a chef, but a mother and, well, kind of a chef, but of her family.

The camera zooms out a bit to show a middle-aged dark blond woman in a very traditional dress.

Susanna Wheymore: Hello Xuonja and thank you for allowing us to come here and join you in this beautiful, warm house to experience some traditional Xarkian food.

Xuonja Kroik: Welcome to our humble home and your interest!

Susanna Wheymore: So, we've given our viewers a bit of an overview of what Xarkian cuisine, in general, is about, but you've planned to cook one of the most Xarkian dishes there is, right?

Xuonja Kroik: Yes, today I will be preparing hreindýr og bjór, which pretty much is exactly what it says, reindeer with beer, which is a thick reindeer stew with dark beer in the sauce for this extra richness.

Her voice is light and melodious, but with a strong accent. She steps aside a little and shows a fairly small wooden kitchen counter, where several of the ingredients are already laid out, while to the side on a large wood stove a big kettle sits, ready to receive.

Xuonja Kroik: It is a very simple dish, which uses mostly ingredients that we can find right in front of our doors. It all begins with some nice reindeer meet, which you cut into cubes. Just give them a quick braise, then add the diced potatoes and parsnips or turnips as well as the onions.

While it shows that she does not have the knife wizardry skills of the professional chefs, she is making surprising fast process just due to decades of experience and efficiency.

Xuonja Kroik: Then we just cover everything with the beer, it's a dark, thick local beer called drekablóð or dragon blood, which has a slight sweetness to it which complements the earthiness of the other ingredients really well.

Susanna Wheymore: I see a whole bunch of mushrooms and some berries here, too.

Xuonja Kroik: Yes, those will go in, too, but a bit later, because they cook a lot faster and you don't want to lose their richness and earthiness or the sweetness of the berries.

Susanna Wheymore: Makes sense. So for how long will you let this cook?

Xuonja Kroik: About an hour to an hour and a half, adding the mushrooms at about half that. But it's not an exact science, it has to taste and feel right.

Susanna Wheymore: I guess this is something that only experience will bring?

Xuonja Kroik: Yes, and it's also why it will taste different with everybody cooking it because it feels different to them. Some add a few more herbs, some less, or different ones. We like to gather and dry our own herbs, so it will also depend on what is available where people live or which beer they will use. It is wonderful to have basically the same dish but taste different every time.

Susanna Wheymore: So what is it served with?

Xuonja smiles.

Xuonja Kroik: It has all it needs. But some like some freshly baked bread for the sauce.

She walks over to one of the many small cupboards and pulls out a basket of small, round loaves of bread.

Xuonja Kroik: Like these laipi.

The picture cuts away to show the outside of the wooden house and the surrounding forest, thin smoke curling up from the chimney into the still fall air, before cutting back to the inside, where a rustic table has been laid out with bowls, spoons and a big bowl of stew in the centre of the table, with some of the laipi in a basket next to it. Susanna looks very excited.

Susanna Wheymore: The stew is ready and I really wish that you could smell what we can smell here right now because it is heavenly! Rich, aromatic, earthy, but also with this hint of sweetness to it!

Xuonja smiles again as she uses an old, well-worn wooden ladle to scoop the thick stew into aged wooden bowls that have likely seen many editions of the stew throughout the years.

Susanna Wheymore: I'm sorry for digging in right away, but this has made me very hungry!

She takes a steaming spoonful and the moment she bites down for the first time, she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

Susanna Wheymore: Wow, just wow. The meat is incredibly tender, it basically falls right apart, the potatoes and turnips also are soft, but not mushy. And then the mushrooms add this rich, earthy tone to it, playing it against the sweet pop of the berries, this is comfort food if I ever tasted it. No matter how cold it is outside, this will either warm you up or keep you warm!

She breaks a piece of laipi off and dips it into the sauce, allowing for it to soak up some of the deep red liquid.

Susanna Wheymore: And this is so soft and perfectly soaks up the sauce, I could also see this later in the evening, warm, with some butter or cheese. Xuonja, thank you so much for allowing me to witness this, I would never have expected this, but I know that the world would be a far less comforting place without it! We will have the recipe in the comments on our website, if you want to try to replicate this and please also leave your comments, especially if you cook it yourself. Our next edition will be coming to you from the far south of Tikariot, when we travel to Taeria and I hope that we will be able to welcome you again as well!

[Brookstation]

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I||II||III||IV|V|VI|VII|VIII|IX|X|XI

The 20 is a blog series where authors of Brookstation's biggest football blog, The Beautiful Game documents the lives of some of the best players to have played in Brook soil. Aimed at inaugurating the 50th edition of the Harrison Shield, we document the lives of the players who define the top 20 football clubs in Brookstation.

FRASER NEIL-SMITH:THE IMPERFECT LEGEND

It's a stellar task to even try and articulate how enormous a status Fraser Neil-Smith holds in Norwegian wood. Ask any Norwegian wood fan of the greatest player to have started in the light blue jersey and they’ll give you the names of John Burns, Tom Toole, Riley Safford and Alex Williams. But for someone who has been closely associated with the club since its formation in 1971, he is bound to elect Fraser Neil-Smith above everyone else. Rather the question someone should raise is how could someone not regard the man who scored his first hat trick aged 19 as the undisputed king of Norwegian wood.

Expecting one to attract crowds at the age of 19 or 20 is probably not something that one could do, especially in the era when football barely gained fame in the nation and was merely supposed to be a sport to be enjoyed over the weekends. But Fraser was there to change it all. Fraser would go on to revamp the weary and monotonous game and score 234 goals in 316 games, sketching out an eloquent and remarkable career.

Fraser was born to a middle class family like any other Brook family at that time. From the age of 15, Fraser had taken up part time jobs, working 6 hours a day at local storefronts. This however didn’t prevent him from entangling with the sport whenever he got the time and it wasn’t long before he was seen starting for small local sides of Norwegian wood. Even while playing games which were attended by a negligibly large crowd, Fraser’s goalscoring feats didn’t completely go unnoticed and soon enough he would be approached by the very giants Clube de Norwegian wood to play for the senior side. Neil-Smith would make his debut for Norwegian wood in 1970, making an immediate impression by becoming the youngest goalscorer for the side.

Neil-Smith wasn’t the perfect footballer from any direction. Standing at a mere 5’7, he would seem to be a very naive forward but it was this very deceptive appearance of his that would lure defenders into taking him for granted. Neil-Smith had an incredible footwork, his only strength which was enough to make him single handedly win matches for his team. It was through these carefully planned footwork, Neil-Smith exploited every defensive structure in the League at that time. His goalscoring feats soon made him the owner of several luxury cars and mansions throughout the country along with several pieces of silverware as well. Fraser had achieved critical fame at a very young age, something which did play a vital role in shaping up his career. By the beginning of 1974, Neil-Smith would become largely inconsistent, frequently missing training and turning up late to matches. By the end of the season. Neil-Smith would spend most of his time on the bench and the way things progressed for Neil-Smith made it evident that he was on the verge of getting washed up very soon. Things were already deteriorating for Fraser when he met his new friend, Tom Toole.

Toole, a young defender, had been recruited by the club with the intention of strengthening the club’s defense. It wouldn’t be long until the two became close friends both on and off the field. Neil-Smith would regain his focus in the game and again make a comeback in the 1975 season, scoring the club’s winning goal in the finals of the 1975 Harrison Shield. However towards the end of the 1975 season, Fraser would suffer a severe injury which would rule him out of the game for quite a long time. It was during this short period, the two friends would set on their misadventures throughout the various bars of Norwegian wood. The two would be spotted in a drunken misfit almost every night. Nevertheless, Neil-Smith would still have control over his mind unlike his companion Toole.

“I wasn’t a drunkard, it was Toole who always took me with him. Alcohol just helped me wake up the next morning in order to reach training on time. ”

But things definitely needed to change. Neil-Smith understood that if he wanted to stay in the club, his habits needed to change. Following Toole’s departure, rather than expulsion from the club due to his unappreciated habits, Neil-Smith perhaps realised the position he held in the club. It was that very revelation that would lead to one of the greatest resurrections in Brook football. Neil-Smith would be back to deliver for his team and with the commencement of a new decade, he would rightfully be named the captain of the club. As the captain of the biggest club of the era, Fraser didn’t have the scope to make any mistake. A hat-trick against Rottenham United, Denver Stags and most importantly Other side of Paradise would hand down Norwegian wood their 4th Harrison Shield, this time under the leadership of none other than Neil-Smith.

Neil-Smith fighting for the ball

Thousands of fans would turn up in light blue jerseys just to witness Neil-Smith slaughter the opposition and score a dozen of goals. Neil-Smith would be part of several crucial wins and a ton of beautiful goals, some which can’t be recreated even if someone tried to. For instance, the 7 feet curved shot from the edge of the box which shook the entire crowd at the Galaxy or the marvellous leap to head the ball in despite his stature are just moments that I myself regret missing at the stadium.

“ The job of a coach is not as easy as it seems. You need to constantly come up with new ideas for improvement but Fraser made our jobs a hundred times more difficult. There was no literally no strategy that could stop the beast from scoring. “ Grant Smith (Dreamland City coach 1978-1982)

Neil-Smith’s legacy reads a total of 234 goals in 316 games, easily surpassing all his successors in the club and contributing massively to perhaps the golden era of his club. A man of a tiny stature, Neil-Smith would still be remembered for causing helplessness among the sternest defenders of his time. Neil-Smith was never perfect but the fact that he managed to reach such enormous heights without complying to the ideal expectations of coaches and the resurrection Norwegian wood had witnessed during the 80s will always induce him as one of the nation’s finest products ever.

---

MORE FROM THE BEAUTIFUL GAME :

Neil-Smith and Toole: A friendship that extended way beyond the field
"A great start is always what we are looking for." says Bill Browne
Wague's last minute brilliance sees Brookstation edge past Cardenao

[Banija]

Kabaka - King
Luguba - Queen Consort
Sarauniya - Queen Mother
Isebantu - Crown Prince
Omugabe/Omugaba - Prince/Princess
Omulangira/Kyabazinga - Duke/Duchess
Kagere/Kiweewa - Lord/Lady
Katikkiro - Prime Minister
Waziri - Foreign Minister
Lukiiko- Parliament
Kiongozi- Leader of the Opposition

The Busukuma Post
Covering All of Banija, All of our News, All of the Time

Foreign Policy Explainer- the Busukuma-Cardonia Pact, what it means for the Cardenao relationship, and its significance

BUSUKUMA, NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION- As anyone who follows Banijan political machinations knows, the Busukuma-Cardonia Pact was just signed, and ratified by the Lukiiko, to a lot of fanfare between Kabaka Mwanga and President Mihaly Otamendi. It officially came into force under Banijan law last night, as huge bipartisan majorities in the Lukiiko ratified the treaty without much drama or fanfare. It is a wide-ranging agreement- one that deepens Banija's economic engagement with the nation, and both starts and expands the military relationship between His Majesty's Banijan Armed Forces, and Cardenao's military. It will, by default, even if not written down, start military cooperation between Banija and historic ally Bostopia- via their colony, the Ochre Islands.

Lost? Let's take you down what's going on here.

Mutual Aggression and Defense Pact

Obviously, the most important part of this treaty. Banija's multi-lateral defense obligations are varied, and can seem to be ever-changing. But this is a first for the country- they are the first country to which Banija has launched a mutual defense pact with, that is both outside Atlantian Oceania and outside the Commonwealth. Obviously, Banija has longstanding military relationships with our closest neighbors, nations like Siovanija & Teusland, and our historical partners, nations like Quebec. But Cardenao doesn't fall into either category.

So, what gives?

This is something that stands to benefit both Cardenao and Banija. Banija, on one hand, will get a long-desired formal strategic partnership with a nation that we've long had productive economic relations. "The Kingdom, mostly via the RTC but also other various private investors, has been involved with Cardenao for quite some time." Said a political analyst from the University of Loyola-Jinja. "The benefits for a small nation like Cardenao, like obvious. But there are a multitude of benefits for Banija as well. A nation that heavily values their own diplomatic skills, gets another nation to help defend us if anything goes haywire somewhere. We saw Banija basically go it alone in Nyowani Kitara, which went disastrously for Banijan foreign policy- a lesson that the Kabaka seems to have learned. You can't predict what will happen and where, but you can prepare yourself by building up your friendships and relationships."

The symbolism could not have been clearer, with the arrival of the ceremonial ship in Cardenao. Banija's military advisor delegation, led by Major General Tombe Kavubu, will work closely with the Cardenao military on the ground. They will get Banija's ally up to speed on modern warfare- help equip them with modern tactics, modern weaponry, getting ready for the wars of this very modern century. Beefing up that military presence, alongside working with Cardenao's other primary ally, the Ochre Islands, will be good for everybody.

The world is ever-changing. And the way the Palace sees it, you can either wait to react, or you can take an active role in preparing for what is to come. And Banija- as shown, are picking option 2.

Other News
- Isebantu Mutungi expressed 'disappointment' in the Foringana decision to split off from Atlantian Oceania. "Our region, our home, has been suffering from divisions in the last few years, and we have seen the effects- even post-Anaia, with nations like Delaclava splitting off, and now, four historic member nations of AO. I implore these 4 nations, who were steadfast defenders of Atlantian Oceania in our darkest hours- we are better together, rather than being a world divided." The Isebantu, who serves as Banija's Foreign Minister, said that, despite their choices, he would be willing to fly out to Foringana to ensure strong relations between Banija and Foringana, so that the bonds would not die- although he would also be willing to try and bridge the regional divide to bring them back into the fold, if they wished.

---

Sports- Pair of one goal wins see Banija take 6 points from 6 possible to open World Cup Qualifying[/align]

BUSUKUMA, NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION- The beginning of World Cup Qualifying can always be a difficult slog. The team's getting together again after some club seasons away, with just a few friendlies to warm them up. Banija didn't exactly look spectacular in their warmup friendlies, either. A high-octane 3-3 draw with Baker Park was a great result, followed by a 1-1 draw with Cardenao, in Busukuma, to commemorate the new, tight political relationship between our countries(see above). Our final friendly was our last- an away trip to the Busoga Islands, who are not a WCC nation, the first ever friendly meetup since Busoga's independence. Yet another watershed moment. And it was the Banijans, in our final friendly, away from home, in a hostile environment, who came out with a 2-0 victory.

And that brought us to actual World Cup Qualifying. An upstart Canadian Dominion came to the Eagle's Club, in Dodoma, looking for what would've been surely a massive upset. "They were clearly upset hunting- and that, I can always respect." Pam Scott, the team's manager, told reporters. "We're coming off a regional title, and they were entering their first ever World Cup Qualifier. And their first task? A visit to the group's #1 seed. Considering our ranking, I guess we're the #1 seed that people want to face these days- a notion that we will be quick to scuff out. But they did not allow themselves to be starstruck by the occasion, and indeed, played pretty damn well."

In front of a warm crowd for the Kadongo Kamu, we tried to start off fast. Wesoloski-Okafor forced the Canadian Dominion's goalkeeper into a diving save in just the third minute of the contest, but we weren't able to keep up our hot start. The Canadian Dominion forced a lot of the game in the midfield, and kept us from really creating chances. It wasn't until the 42nd minute that we'd create our next real chance- one that we would take. An interception by Tijan Sowe in the midfield saw us turn upfield and go the other way with pace, and the sequence ended with a cross to Wesoloski-Okafor, as our star dual-national nailed a diving header on the back post. 1-0. Just after halftime, we would score again, as Tairu Conateh would hit from distance in the 50th to make it 2-0. While Lukas Irwin would score the first ever Qualifying goal for the visitors in the 72nd minute, our defense tightened up, and we secured the 2-1 win, and three points.

We reacted to that the only way to react to qualifiers- who's got next. "There was a lot to take away from this- some good, some bad." Pam Scott told reporters. "But, especially early in qualifying, what matters is how the performance is, how replicable it is, and most importantly, how it improves over time as we approach the tournament. But three points earned now count the same as three points earned on Matchday 22, so we are happy with the points." Their next game was a road game against Indusse. It was, indeed, a Baker Park derby- with both Banija and Indusse managed by Baker Park nationals, Pam Scott and Shane Newman, respectively.

The contest, on the road for Banija, was both tight and physical. Quite a few fouls from Indusse, disrupting the flow of the game- just well coached. We had the lion's share of possesion in the game, but we struggled to break down the hosts for long periods of time. They had a strong plan to get a point from this match, and it seemed as if Shane Newman's plan was going to successfully stymy us. But when Pam Scott went for a change of pace in the 70th minute, bringing on Dembo Savaneh for Sarafina Ikpeazu, Newman's side simply weren't ready. He brought something different to the match, and it was his curling finish in the 77th minute, on the break, that would be the only goal of the match- the match winner, enough for the three points.

"There's a lot we need to work on after this window." Pam Scott told reporters. "But that's what World Cup Qualifying is about. The journey to make a World Cup is difficult, even from Pot 1. We've got a brutal group- with teams like Krytenia and Eura also certainly capable of winning this group outright, and teams like Geektopia and even Indusse capable of earning playoff berths. It will demand a lot of consistency. Nothing is won or lost after just 2 games. That said- 6 points from the first 2 games are 6 points, no matter how you square it. We're happy with the result- but we've got a lot to fix, and we're gonna strive to improve before we face Krytenia in our next game, at the national stadium."

WCQ92 Kadongo Kamu Goal Tracker
Abel Wesoloski-Okafor: 1
Tairu Conateh: 1
Dembo Savaneh: 1

[Sarzonia]

Brady Reynolds understands that the going will not always be smooth as Sarzonia's national team manager. He knows the team will face adversity and he will be scrutinised when that happens.

But for a brief moment in time, he will take the team's success as Sarzonia earned a 2-1 victory over The Jovannic at Dave Wilson Stadium in Woodstock and a 5-2 triumph over Sajnur in their first two matches of World Cup 92 qualifying.

Reynolds and the Stars will get a little more time to savour those results as Sarzonia have a bye on Matchday 3. Even so, Reynolds isn't pleased with the timing.

"It's not ideal, obviously," he said. However, when the Stars have their second bye on Matchday 14, Reynolds says that that will be helpful.

"Qualifying is typically a long grind," he said. "When you get a chance to rest during a long campaign, you take advantage of it."

[Krytenia]

"Hello, I'm Brelk-Xeral Erv."
"And I'm Graham Lawton."
"Managing the national team can be a stressful job."
"But whether it's work-related stress..."
"Troubles at home..."
"Or simply the weight of the world on your shoulders..."
"Anything can lead to problems with mental health."
"Depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders can affect anyone."
"And not everyone has a glamorous assistant to help them through the hard times."
"That's where TIO comes in. TIO is a free helpline to assist those suffering from mental health issues. Whether you're calling for advice, answers to questions, or just someone to talk to, they're available any time..."
"Day or night..."
"Every day of the year."
"Never be alone. Call TIO free on oh-five, seven-ten, seven-ten, seven-ten."
"That's oh-five, seven-ten, seven-ten, seven-ten."
"Talk it out with TIO."

[Huayramarca]

Rating: A - Suitable for everybody.
Broadcaster: RTH - Radio y Televisión Huayramarquina.
Time: 1h - 20:00-21:00 every Sunday.

You might not know me, so let me present myself. I’m Santiago Campuzano, I’m a foodie and a lover of tourism, culture, and all things folk. This is my first time in National TV and now I’m a man on a mission! I want YOU to hop into this adventure traversing the entirety of this vast country called Huayramarca, land of the Pachamama, high af mountains, jungles, and exotic coasts to get lost! This trip will, for sure, be an interesting one. “¡Dame tu mano y ven conmigo! ¡Vámonos al viaje para buscar los sonidos mágicos de Huayramarca!

*Then, a 1-minute intro to the tune of Huayramarca by the band Illari¹ popped up, showing footage of the cities of Guayaquil, the Huayramarcan Metropolitan District, Sechura, El Alto, Alto Hospicio, Puerto San Carlos among others*

Welcome everybody to this new project of Radio y Televisión Huayramarquina, I am deeply honoured to be your host in this adventure that will show Huayramarca and her enchant in a different way, one that hasn’t been done ever before. With the help of the crew *a third person focus them as they greet* we will get into deep Huayramarca, where magic happens everyday, to unveil the charm of this nation from some interesting points such as the food, culture, traditions, architecture, etc. There’s no better way than starting this program from a rather unusual face of the Metropolitan District, I mean the faces of Challuma and El Alto, two main components of the Huayramarcan capital.

As we drive through the neighbourhoods of La Marín, Miraflores and Bastión Popular, zones that are located near Challuma, one starts to notice how the amount of people with certain kind of food starts to grow, we are noticing a shiny red bowl in their hands, that’s a good indicator of what we are expecting to see in a couple of minutes in the municipal market of Challuma. Markets are an essential part of the culinary experience of Huayramarca, it is the representation of the popular influx and outflux of popular knowledge, traditions, and customs in the regions.

Since the early days of the Plurinational State, people from across the Sierra² have used to take their local produce from villages around the Distrito Metropolitano or even in other provinces to sell it here, where a significant diaspora of people from neighbouring zones has migrated in hope of a better future, stability and education for their family, even due to conflicts like in regions such as the Valle Mantaro with guerrilla groups in 1950. People are queueing up in the market of Challuma since early morning, around 2:00 a.m. to make business and sell their production from the past week. During the queues, as expected, people talk and interact about food when hungry, share recipes and varieties of those ones to eat it the next day.

It's only 5:30 a.m. right now, so, we are reaching the market in the right moment of the day, the busiest part of every day in Challuma. *As the crew arrives, they notice how the market is essentially collapsed due to the influx of people at that moment, be those buyers or the usual clients trying to get vegetables, fruits, and everything for the day before even the sun rises.* So, now let’s head to ask a question to this woman. “What are you eating right now?” *The woman, who didn’t want to identify herself as he was extremely shy, noticeable as how his face was turning into a soft red one said* “Ah, I’m eating Desayuno Yungueño right now.”

The Desayuno Yungueño has been, since half a century ago, one of the main staple foods of market food for breakfasts. For the eye of a foreigner, it would be a rather strong dish to begin the day and indeed it is, the origins of this dish goes back to the 1930, where people started to bring products from the Yungas³ Region of Huayramarca, a series of provinces that are between the Costa and Sierra when people were fainting due to the excessive workload they were subjected everyday to transport their products to the markets in the Metropolitan District. There was a need to provide those people with enough energy for their daily activities, that’s why once Guillermo Caamaño, a worker decided to create this dish.

Caamaño, the creator, was a famous landlord in the zone of the province of Arequipa who noticed that many workers were having health issues. He tried to change their breakfast routine by offering, free of charge, beef chops, fried plantain, rice, tomatoes, and eggs with a coffee as beverage; as time passed, Caamaño noted that people were working better, the number of fainting episodes vanished completely, and productivity increased in the region. That’s why the Desayuno Yungueño has earned a fame to be the food you should eat if you’re going to have an exhaustive day, as it will “give you wings” for the day.

People often are found eating this breakfast, although there is another option that we noticed down the road. Remember those people carrying a red bowl in some marketplaces around Challuma? Now, it’s the time to move to the docks of the discharge bay of the market; there are a lot of trucks queueing to deliver products, while some 10 years ago we had a horde of horses delivering products in wagons, part of the economic miracle we are witnessing here.

Have you had a late-night shift? Have you been walking since 2:00 a.m.? Did you had a wild party last night and you’re having hangover? There’s a universal Huayramarcan cure for all those situations in the form of fish, specifically Pescado Sudado which, literally, means “sweaty fish”. We asked some people about the name, as many people wonder why the name “sudado” for a food. We walked to see a trucker to talk about the name, he said “It is called sudado because it makes you sweat?” We had to ask why and then he took his spoon and showed us a big habanero pepper floating below the fish.

The tradition of putting habanero peppers in this kind of soups is believed to be originated from students, who often decided to have parties in the late-night to drop out the stress before having their standardised examinations for their courses, dissertations, or presentations of projects at the Universidad Nacional Mayor del Distrito Metropolitano, simply known as “La Mayor”. When they realised that they had important activities, the first thing they used to do is to eat fish, as is believed to be a strong inhibitor of alcohol, then some peppers that they tried as a reinforcement to kick away any indicator of hangover from the last night.

As students were noticing that the peppers weren’t having the desired effect, the urban myth says that one decided to import some peppers from neighbouring Québec & Shingoryeo, Valentine Z and their extraordinarily big peppers and the hottest of all, a variety coming from Montaña Verde. People noted that imports from those three nations were powerful enough to deal with hangover, hence, agricultural workers decided to extract the seeds from those peppers, to harvest and then sell those in Huayramarca. The varieties are still known as Quebequés, Valentino and Montañés despite those countries having different kinds of peppers:

• Québec: Hongyeom (spicy) and One Hundred Hours of Solitude (mild).
• Montaña Verde: Tren de la Noche (warning: extremely hot), Alagoiró (spicy) and Pintininga (mild).
• Valentine Z: Mile-shi puu nat (known as: mile-long hot deities, which are mild and big).

And I decided to ask for myself one of those, a Pescado Sudado with a Tren de la Noche pepper just for curiosity’s sake. A fish taken out of a fishery, prepared, and then broiled for 10 minutes. Then, parallel to the broiling, a tomatoes, lemons, coriander, and even white wine from the south of Huayramarca are used for this. Then, the feared Tren de la Noche, a pepper that is usually avoided by locals while trying to taste this delicacy. I decided to go wild and bite it directly, something I still regret because it was so spicy that I needed to drink some milk to soften off the spice effects; then, ready to eat the fish and drink the soup as normal.
People keep gathering to drink some of those soups and taste the peppers, most of those were students and people who were working out since early in the morning and needed some energy to continue working.

After spending some time with people eating, we decided to walk around the market and see for ourselves what people sell there, which is not only food, but there are also some traditional craftsmanship oeuvres, natural medicines, and, of course, your typical veggies and fruits to buy. We decided to walk across the hall of oeuvres and artisans, in search for something that would scream Huayramarca to our eyes, perhaps the most interesting or purchased mementos from tourists.

We reached María, the owner of one of the most visited spots in the market Jiwaki which means “beautiful” in the local Aymara⁴ language, has showed us some of the beautiful work she does daily with clothing. Jiwaki sells alpaca or llama-made clothing, which are known across Huayramarca due to their capabilities to protect its users from wind and low temperatures, which are a common sight in those altitudes of the Ande Huayramarquino I talk about the chompa⁵.

I got showed the different varieties of chompa, all of those are cozy and comfortable for those moments of harsh and inclement weather in the Sierra; suitable for all occasions as the Huayramarcan weather is unpredictable, so better be protected anytime and anywhere with a chompa. Motifs and decoration in those are variated, from llamas and alpacas to even a simulation of a replica of the Huayramarcan National Team shirt for those fans who want to show up their colours and identity.

María explained us about the process of creation of those clothes, which start from the skinning of the llamas and or alpacas, all made in an ethical way to reduce the suffering of the animals as much as possible, which is part of the national ethos of Huayramarcans with nature, respect for animals and nature. Then, the dying of wool with different colours to make some preestablished designs for sale. Then, the production in the looming machine.

A traditional Huayramarcan looming machine.

María has had some interesting clients during her time as vendor in this marketplace, there’s even a replica of the Huayramarcan National Team shirt that it is displayed with a particular autograph, it is the one of Bryan Tello, the prolific striker of the team and a player of Metropolis Alligators in the Valladar Liga-1. We asked about the significance of the autograph for María, then, a significant surprise emerged “It is one of the most important things I have, you know why? He is my son!” As you listened it, Bryan Tello’s mom still works at the marketplace offering some of the best chompas that the Challuma market has to offer.

Then, we continued walking and seeing more chompas displayed through the halls, we went for the last part of our visit in the Challuma market, the alternative medicines zone. This place offers some of the most exotic products to heal people from different illnesses, or even some situations that they might deem they are in a bad shape and think they need some “special” healing. The emphasis on special isn’t a derogatory, instead, emphasises the rarity of this treatment where people get introduced in special rooms who act like saunas, we talk about the yaku⁶ or “Andean Sauna”.

Near the Challuma market there’s the Tambo Wasi hotel which offers some yaku treatment, which is said to heal people and destroys any bad spirits that may torment people. For this treatment/ritual, a person takes tree leaves that are cleaned with holy water, then you must enter in bath clothing for the next part of the treatment. Water steam is produced due to heating, which reaches 60°C to relax people for a moment, then, the leaves are smashed against your body to kill bad spirits. After some time, you receive the traditional sauna massage and treatment, which may help blood recirculation.

I didn’t want to enter as my stomach is still full, but one of our crew members decided to enter and he will tell us his experience: “I feel like I was boiling inside, yet there was some feeling of relaxation due to the massaging I received on my back and legs, it feels like rejuvenation like, you were born again as stress banishes. About the leaves smashed against me, well, I didn’t feel anything, perhaps I didn’t have any bad spirit tormenting me, but I’m feeling great.

With everything ready, we go to El Alto, as we head off for our next episode of Enchanting Huayramarca! I hope you’ve liked this episode; we will try to deliver the very best that this nation and its people have to offer everybody here. This beautiful nation has some interesting things to offer you as a tourist, it is matter of searching for those beautiful spots and experiences that you might enjoy and have a pleasant time for you and your family.

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1. Means “rising sun” in Quechua.
2. Means “mountain chain” in Spanish.
3. Yungas are mid altitude jungles (1300-2700 meters above sea level) located between the coast and the highlands of Huayramarca.
4. One of the most wide-spoken languages in Huayramarca, a lingua franca in the Sierra alongside Quechua and Spanish.
5. A sweater made from alpaca and llama wool.
6. Quechua word for hot water.

[Ko-oren]

Where to catch your Dragonflies this time

v Gnejs - Spider Stadium, Alara (27100)
@ Chromatika
v Sendhang - Stade Amandine, Étouille (30000)
@ Cardenao
v Xanneria - Uriagali Field, Eaglebury (18000)
@ Atetancillo
v Brookstation - Rikalathen Arena, Maethoru (44000)
@ Juvencus
BYE
v Lisander - Estádio Marítimo, Santa Teresa (28000)
@ Yakk

@ Gnejs
v Chromatika - Stade sur la Baie, Aminey (70000)
@ Sendhang
v Cardenao - Hazel Arena, Straudum (25400)
@ Xanneria
v Atetancillo - Noorderkroonpark, Sterrenwolde (14500)
@ Brookstation
v Juvencus - Golhampton Grounds, Greencaster (23000)
BYE
@ Lisander
v Yakk - Armskirk Municipal, Maynard (26000)

---

WSR AFC's Uriagali Field finally gets its upgrade - the Eaglebury outfit have played in the Top League for a while, but a tight budget has delayed the stadium upgrade to this offseason. After a club promotes into the top 12 competition, an immediate stadium might come back to bite the club, but not WSR. They've first gotten their scouting and development up, and they've survived long enough among the likes of Aminey, Maethoru, and Miradela that they're IFCF regulars now. There's no reason to keep playing in the slightly small-ish and outdated 13000-seater. The stadium will keep its name and location, but the stands will be a bit bigger in the future. For other clubs, Katashi city's second stadium (after Katashi-Kanatsu's Suzumebachi Stadium), the Laomei Stadium, will also see a significant upgrade as the city's second club, Katashi Azula, has made it to the Second Division. Furthermore, the biggest team of the central plains, Vierciennes Victory, has also secured a spot in the Second Division and have also find sponsors for extra seats in the Arène Maulunienne.

Not every stadium can be as lucky: the largest third-tier stadium, the Ring of Aurelia in Egevea, will see a reverse operation as 18000 seats will not be filled at any point. Earlier hopes that the stadium could be used for the Aerellen Explosions - the island's pro gridiron team - or a second tier gridiron club have fallen through. Second tier gridiron still puts people in seats, though.

Looking through the stadium assignments for the Dragonflies in the 92 qualifiers, we see two debuting stadiums. The Uriagali Field, finally rewarded with the Greenblues playing there, but also Sterrenwolde's Noorderkroonpark, as Schemerdrecht is entirely passed up. The Stade sur la Baie will be used for the Chromatika game, while Anaian rivals Cardenao will visit Straudum. Brookstation, our ODI co-hosts, will come to the home of those IFCF heavyweights in Maethoru. The Golhampton Grounds will host only their 4th official national team game, but this time it's not a KFA gesture towards the city of Greencaster: local club Sydberg Olympia have secured promotion to the Second Division and that means you're in rotation for the Dragonflies.

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Players on the Bubble

We have our usual group of 26 players (player numbers up to 22, but in duodecimal, as per usual) but there are always more call-ups. Davenport continues a slightly older custom to invite some players 'on the bubble' to training camp, and some of them will likely make the squad at some point during these qualifiers. For now, we've identified:

GK Wemagun Cyamou (KOR, 21) - Amandine AdF. You don't have to play in the Top League: Cyamou might be number 5 or 6 on the sheet, but with Doolan and Theshendan out of the picture for age reasons, Cyamou is looking like an early candidate for backup goalie behind Bittencourt or Malmstroom. His ceiling is pretty high, at least.

RB Phineas Betteridge (KOR, 28) - Kawarthas District, KSK. The lightning quick Betteridge has made some appearances for the Dragonflies, but almost always as a somewhat limited man marker, if the opponent has some 100m sprint star in attack. It's still nice to have someone with his qualities around, with maybe only Mallerbury of the current team able to match him.

CB Ulristhen Derjekhistun (KOR, 25) - Soldarian FC, VAL. Derjekhistun has been ignored by Davenport despite some early callups in the Eagle's Cup and CAFA, where we show up with slightly more experimental squads. The centreback hasn't always been the easiest to work with, but he's earned a transfer to Soldarian either way.

LB Abi Lavaud (KOR, 23) - Montreal Koreana, QUE. The jury isn't out on Lavaud yet, who has shown some upsides, some downsides, a difficult us-vs-them personality that also shines through to stand up for his teammates. Definitely one of Ko-oren's most talented individual players, shows some utility as to positional preference, but difficult to put on the current team.

LB Obadiah Gillinghurst (KOR, 19) - Schemerdrecht SVV. Definitely deserving to be named alongside Kaji and Aedil (the current NT teenager defenders), Gillinghurst should make the NT in due time. Strong, yet kind-hearted, soft-spoken yet also a capable captain at his Willowbourne Technological Academy youth team.

LB Thomas Finisterrais (KOR, 19) - Aminey CS. The fourth name for current teenager defenders. More energetic than the other three, but also worse at deciding where that energy should go, Finsterrais has made some critical errors for Aminey - but we don't want to blame Aminey's subpar placement on him.

DM Orinosuke Uozumi (KOR, 21) - Katashi-Kanatsu. A tenacious defensive midfielder like Yokota was, but not like Dhentingun currently is (who is more staminous). On and off the team sheet. A name that's thrown around a lot in Yoshiman football shows showing how Davenport and the KFA shits on Yoshima.

CM Ryobe Takagaki (KOR, 21) - Katashi-Kanatsu. Just not the kind of playmaker we need, and like we currently have in Entatingun or Parsons, as Takagaki can disappear for minutes on end finding better positions. When he pops up, sure he immediately sets up a brilliant pass for an assist, but the Dragonflies need ball circulation, not dangerous passes.

LM Nanko Wormstal (KOR, 28) - Metropolis Alligators, VLD. Somehow Wormstal has avoided selection for years. Made a beautiful transfer to Valladares, a league that is - for now - ranked higher than the Top League. A good winger, but excelling in backtracking and setting defensive blocks - and a massive help in a counterpress. Again, not necessarily the type of football the Dragonflies play these days.

ST Loren Lemaigre (KOR, 22) - CSKA Quebec, QUE. Remember the days of striker shortages? Well, no longer. We have several candidates now, and it's entirely up to their day-to-day form which one plays. The sole striker needs to be a target man, a passing option, but most of all a confident finisher. Lemaigre is less of a target man, but definitely a finisher. For now, we're rolling with Archer, who's been near-perfect for Aminey for a while now: visible, getting in front of his defender, and scoring plenty of goals. Bonstirthinden is a passing option but needs scoring midfielders around him. Sawyer is a pure target man and finisher. yOraeneig needs some time still.

RS Aurin Aomelirea (KOR, 24) - Revolutionaries, EUR. Same as above, but Aomelirea is a great target man, but not really a passing option.

ST Richard Twickaway (KOR, 20) - Sydberg Olympia. Same as above, but without the goalscoring numbers we're looking for.

[Saint Eleanor]

World Cup 92 - first matchday of qualification
Nyowani Kitara 3 (Wang Jiahui goal 65', Lars Anders goals 90+2' and 90+8')
Saint Eleanor 4 (Dekamela weMexala goals 7' and 27', David Newcastle goal 20', Bridget Coombe goal 44', Sam Newbridge red card 81')

World Cup 92 - second matchday of qualification
Saint Eleanor 1 (Steve Pilchard goal 49')
Quakmybush 0

OOC 1: Grades in the Saint Eleanor School Certificate examinations range from A to F. F is the failing grade; E is the minimum passing grade; A is the best grade. You will graduate at the end of the school year in which you turn 18 regardless of your actual grades, owing to a "quirk" in the Education Decree 1976 that literally everybody loves and nobody wants to get rid of, although most employers expect passing grades in Terranean and Mathematics and the University generally expects at least a C in both subjects. (Adult education centres exist in case you've failed and want to resit those, however.)
If time permits (and after I've done all of the squad interviews for this cycle), I hope to roleplay a bit more about how schooling in EXT works!

OOC 2: So that I don't have to make up dates as I go when I can just make up dates a few weeks in advance, here's the IC Eleanorian schedule for the next two years. All times are Saint Eleanor time, all SEL games start at 3pm, blah, yada, etcetera.

9th January 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 1

13th January 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup Preliminary Round, first leg
16th January 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup Preliminary Round, second leg

21st January 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup First Qualifying Round, first leg
23rd January 2001: IFCF Champions' League First Qualifying Round, first leg

28th January 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 2
31st January 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 3

5th February 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup First Qualifying Round, second leg
7th February 2001: IFCF Champions' League First Qualifying Round, second leg
10th February 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 1

13th February 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup Second Qualifying Round, first leg
14th February 2001: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy First Qualifying Round, first leg
15th February 2001: IFCF Champions' League Second Qualifying Round, first leg
17th February 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 2
20th February 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup Second Qualifying Round, second leg
21st February 2001: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy First Qualifying Round, first leg
22nd February 2001: IFCF Champions' League Second Qualifying Round, second leg
24th February 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 3

27th February 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup Third Qualifying Round, first leg
28th February 2001: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Second Qualifying Round, first leg
1st March 2001: IFCF Champions' League Third Qualifying Round, first leg
3rd March 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 4
6th March 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup Third Qualifying Round, second leg
7th March 2001: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Second Qualifying Round, second leg
8th March 2001: IFCF Champions' League Third Qualifying Round, second leg
10th March 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 5

13th March 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, first leg
14th March 2001: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Third Qualifying Round, first leg
15th March 2001: IFCF Champions' League Playoff Round, first leg
17th March 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 6
20th March 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, second leg
21st March 2001: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Third Qualifying Round, second leg
22nd March 2001: IFCF Champions' League Playoff Round, second leg
24th March 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 7

28th March 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup Playoff Round, first leg
29th March 2001: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Playoff Round, first leg
30th March 2001: Vilitan Cove Invitational Preliminary Round, first leg (3pm)
31st March 2001: Cup Winners' Cup Preliminary Round, first leg
2nd April 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 8

4th April 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup Playoff Round, second leg
5th April 2001: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Playoff Round, second leg
6th April 2001: Vilitan Cove Invitational Preliminary Round, second leg (3pm)
7th April 2001: IFCF Associations' Trophy Playoff Round, first leg
9th April 2001: Cup Winners' Cup Preliminary Round, second leg
11th April 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 9

14th April 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 4
18th April 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 5
23rd April 2001: IFCF Associations' Trophy Playoff Round, first leg
26th April 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 10
28th April 2001: SEL contingency day

30th April - 3rd May 2001: First group games in the IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy (4pm) and Associations' Trophy (7pm), Challengers' Cup, Rising Stars Cup, and Champions' League respectively
5th May 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 11
7th - 10th May 2001: Second group games in the IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy (4pm) and Associations' Trophy (7pm), Challengers' Cup, Rising Stars Cup, and Champions' League respectively
12th May 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 12
14th - 17th May 2001: Third group games in the IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy (4pm) and Associations' Trophy (7pm), Challengers' Cup, Rising Stars Cup, and Champions' League respectively
20th May 2001: CWC First Round Proper, first leg

23rd May 2001: CWC First Round Proper, second leg
26th May 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 13
28th - 31st May 2001: Fourth group games in the IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy (4pm) and Associations' Trophy (7pm), Challengers' Cup, Rising Stars Cup, and Champions' League respectively
2nd June 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 14
4th - 7th June 2001: Fifth group games in the IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy, Challengers' Cup, Rising Stars Cup, and Champions' League respectively
9th June 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 15
11th June 2001: Sixth group games in the Rising Stars Cup (all games at 1pm), Liga B Champions' Trophy (all games at 4pm) and Associations' Trophy (all games at 7pm)
12th June 2001: Sixth group games in the Challengers' Cup (all games at 4pm) and Champions' League (all games at 7pm)

15th June 2001: Vilitan Cove Invitational Round of 16, first leg (3pm); Cup Winners' Cup Round of 16, first leg (7pm)
18th June 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 16
22nd June 2001: Vilitan Cove Invitational Round of 16, second leg (3pm); Cup Winners' Cup Round of 16, second leg (7pm)

Given that the RSC has no second round in 2001, the first round has been moved to the 2R's autumn slot.

WORLD CUP COMMITTEE-ENFORCED BREAK FOR INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL - ALL SENIOR IFCF GAMES AFTER THIS POINT ARE (generally) AT 7pm

27th June 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 6
30th June 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 7
3rd July 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 8

6th July - 12th August 2001: "Reserved for the various regional tournaments" - Charles Trump Shield to be played in this space

17th August 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 9
21st August 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 10 (BYE)
24th August 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 11
28th August 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 12
1st September 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 13

5th September 2001: SEL contingency day
8th September 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 17
10th September 2001: IFCF Rising Stars Cup First Round, first leg (1pm)
11th September 2001: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Round of 16, first leg (4pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Round of 32, first leg (7pm)
12th September 2001: AT Round of 32, first leg (7pm)

15th September 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 18
17th September 2001: IFCF Rising Stars Cup First Round, second leg (1pm)
18th September 2001: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Round of 16, second leg (4pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Round of 32, second leg (7pm)
19th September 2001: AT Round of 32, second leg (7pm)
22nd September 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 19

24th September 2001: IFCF Rising Stars Cup Playoff Round (1pm); IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Quarterfinals, first leg (7pm)
25th September 2001: Vilitan Cove Invitational Quarterfinal, first leg (3pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Round of 16, first leg (7pm)
26th September 2001: AT Round of 16, first leg (4pm); IFCF Champions' League Round of 16, first leg (7pm)
28th September 2001: Cup Winners' Cup Quarterfinals, first leg
30th September 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 20

2nd October 2001: IFCF Rising Stars Cup Round of 16 (1pm); IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Quarterfinals, second leg (7pm)
3rd October 2001: Vilitan Cove Invitational Quarterfinal, second leg (3pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Round of 16, second leg (7pm)
4th October 2001: AT Round of 16, second leg (4pm); IFCF Champions' League Round of 16, second leg (7pm)
6th October 2001: Cup Winners' Cup Quarterfinals, second leg
8th October 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 21

10th October 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup Quarterfinals, first leg (4pm); AT Quarterfinals, first leg (7pm)
11th October 2001: IFCF Champions' League Quarterfinals, first leg
12th October 2001: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Semifinals, first leg
13th October 2001: Saint Eleanor League, Round 22
15th October 2001: Cup Winners' Cup Semifinals, first leg

17th October 2001: First Vilitan Cove Invitational semifinal (3pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Quarterfinals, second leg (7pm)
18th October 2001: Second Vilitan Cove Invitational semifinal (3pm); IFCF Champions' League Quarterfinals, second leg (7pm)
19th October 2001: IFCF Rising Stars Cup Quarterfinals (1pm); IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Semifinals, second leg (4pm); AT Quarterfinals, second leg (7pm)
21st October 2001: SEL contingency day
23rd October 2001: Cup Winners' Cup Semifinals, second leg

25th October 2001: AT Semifinals, first leg (4pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Semifinals, first leg (7pm)
26th October 2001: IFCF Champions' League Semifinals, first leg

29th October 2001: Cup Winners' Cup Final
31st October 2001: First IFCF Rising Stars Cup semifinal (1pm)
1st November 2001: Second IFCF Rising Stars Cup semifinal (1pm)
3rd November 2001: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Final
4th November 2001: IFCF Rising Stars Cup Final (4pm; the kids can probably be trusted to stay up late on weekends)

7th November 2001: AT Semifinals, second leg (4pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Semifinals, second leg
8th November 2001: IFCF Champions' League Semifinals, second leg
12th November 2001: The Showcase Round of Sixteen

16th November 2001: IFCF Challengers' Cup Final
17th November 2001: IFCF Champions' League Final
18th November 2001: IFCF Associations' Trophy Final
19th November 2001: Vilitan Cove Invitational Third-Place Playoff
20th November 2001: Vilitan Cove Invitational Final
23rd November 2001: The Showcase Quarterfinals

26th November - 1st December 2001:
IFCF Super Cup (CC Winners vs LBCT Winners 27/11, LBCT Winners vs CL Winners 29/11, CL Winners vs CC Winners 01/12)
Non-IFCF Super Group (CWC Winners vs RSC Winners 26/11, VCI Winners vs CWC Winners 28/11, RSC Winners vs VCI Winners 30/11)

4th December 2001: The Showcase Semifinals
7th December 2001: The Showcase Final

12th December 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 14
15th December 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 15
19th December 2001: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 16

Boxing Day 2001: Tropicorp Super Cup (Super Group vs Super Cup Winners)

* * * * *

7th January 2002: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 17
10th January 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup Preliminary Round, first leg
14th January 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup Preliminary Round, second leg
17th January 2002: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 18

22nd January 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup First Qualifying Round, first leg
24th January 2002: IFCF Champions' League First Qualifying Round, first leg

27th January 2002: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 19
31st January 2002: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 20

4th February 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup First Qualifying Round, second leg
5th February 2002: IFCF Champions' League First Qualifying Round, second leg
8th February 2002: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 21

11th February 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup Second Qualifying Round, first leg
12th February 2002: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy First Qualifying Round, first leg
13th February 2002: IFCF Champions' League Second Qualifying Round, first leg
16th February 2002: World Cup 92 qualifiers, Matchday 22
19th February 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup Second Qualifying Round, second leg
20th February 2002: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy First Qualifying Round, first leg
21st February 2002: IFCF Champions' League Second Qualifying Round, second leg
23rd February 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 1

26th February 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup Third Qualifying Round, first leg
27th February 2002: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Second Qualifying Round, first leg
28th February 2002: IFCF Champions' League Third Qualifying Round, first leg
1st March 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 2
4th March 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup Third Qualifying Round, second leg
5th March 2002: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Second Qualifying Round, second leg
6th March 2002: IFCF Champions' League Third Qualifying Round, second leg
8th March 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 3

11th March 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, first leg
12th March 2002: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Third Qualifying Round, first leg
13th March 2002: IFCF Champions' League Playoff Round, first leg
15th March 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 4
18th March 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, second leg
19th March 2002: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Third Qualifying Round, second leg
20th March 2002: IFCF Champions' League Playoff Round, second leg
22nd March 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 5

26th March 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup Playoff Round, first leg
27th March 2002: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Playoff Round, first leg
28th March 2002: Vilitan Cove Invitational Preliminary Round, first leg (3pm)
29th March 2002: Cup Winners' Cup Preliminary Round, first leg
31st March 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 6

2nd April 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup Playoff Round, second leg
3rd April 2002: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Playoff Round, second leg
4th April 2002: Vilitan Cove Invitational Preliminary Round, second leg (3pm)
5th April 2002: IFCF Associations' Trophy Playoff Round, first leg
7th April 2002: Cup Winners' Cup Preliminary Round, second leg
9th April 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 7
12th April 2002: IFCF Associations' Trophy Playoff Round, second leg

16th April 2002: World Cup 92 playoffs, first leg
19th April 2002: World Cup 92 playoffs, second leg
24th April 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 8
27th April 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 9

29th April - 2nd May 2002: First group games in the IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy (4pm) and Associations' Trophy (7pm), Challengers' Cup, Rising Stars Cup, and Champions' League respectively
4th May 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 10
6th - 9th May 2002: Second group games in the IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy (4pm) and Associations' Trophy (7pm), Challengers' Cup, Rising Stars Cup, and Champions' League respectively
11th May 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 11
13th - 16th May 2002: Third group games in the IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy (4pm) and Associations' Trophy (7pm), Challengers' Cup, Rising Stars Cup, and Champions' League respectively
19th May 2002: Cup Winners' Cup First Round Proper, first leg

22nd May 2002: Cup Winners' Cup First Round Proper, second leg
25th May 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 12
27th - 30th May 2002: Fourth group games in the IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy (4pm) and Associations' Trophy (7pm), Challengers' Cup, Rising Stars Cup, and Champions' League respectively
1st June 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 13
3rd - 6th June 2002: Fifth group games in the IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy (4pm) and Associations' Trophy (7pm), Challengers' Cup, Rising Stars Cup, and Champions' League respectively
8th June 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 14
10th June 2002: Sixth group games in the Rising Stars Cup (all games at 1pm), Liga B Champions' Trophy (all at 4pm), and Associations' Trophy (all at 7pm)
11th June 2002: Sixth group games in the Challengers' Cup (all at 4pm) and IFCF Champions' League (all at 7pm)

13th June 2002: Rising Stars Cup First Round, first leg (1pm); Saint Eleanor League, Round 15 (3pm)
15th June 2002: Vilitan Cove Invitational Round of 16, first leg (3pm); Cup Winners' Cup Round of 16, first leg (7pm)
17th June 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 16
19th June 2002: Rising Stars Cup First Round, second leg (1pm)
21st June 2002: Vilitan Cove Invitational Round of 16, second leg (3pm); Cup Winners' Cup Round of 16, second leg (7pm)

WORLD CUP COMMITTEE-ENFORCED BREAK FOR INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL - ALL SENIOR IFCF GAMES AFTER THIS POINT ARE (GENERALLY) AT 7pm

24th June - 21st July 2002: World Cup 92 final tournament (group stages 24/06-05/07, round of sixteen 08/07-12/07, quarterfinals 14/07 and 15/07, semifinals 17/07 and 18/07, third place playoff 20/07, final 21/07)
26th July - 11th September 2002: Cup of Harmony 84 (group stages 26/07-22/08, round of thirty-two 25/08-28/08, round of sixteen 30/08-02/09, quarterfinals 04/09 and 05/09, semifinals 07/09 and 08/09, third place playoff 10/09, final 11/09)

In May 2002, the Eleanorian Government will issue the World Cup Opening Order (No. 1) 2002, which requires all restaurants, bars, and similar facilities to be open from 6pm on June 22nd 2002 until 11pm on June 24th 2002, a period which includes the opening match of the World Cup. The standing opening order, which covers Liberation Day, normally expires at 6am on June 24th.

The above CoH dates are based on the assumption that the tournament will be structured similarly to CoH83. The Charles Trump Shield will take place during this break regardless of actual dates.

14th September 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 17
16th September 2002: Rising Stars Cup Second Round, first leg (1pm)
17th September 2002: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Round of 16, first leg (4pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Round of 32, first leg (7pm)
18th September 2002: IFCF Associations' Trophy Round of 32, first leg (7pm)

21st September 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 18
22nd September 2002: Rising Stars Cup Second Round, second leg (1pm)
23rd September 2002: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Round of 16, second leg (4pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Round of 32, second leg (7pm)
24th September 2002: IFCF Associations' Trophy Round of 32, second leg (7pm)
27th September 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 19

30th September 2002: IFCF Rising Stars Cup Playoff Round (1pm); IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Quarterfinals, first leg (7pm)
1st October 2002: Vilitan Cove Invitational Quarterfinals, first leg (3pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Round of 16, first leg (7pm)
2nd October 2002: IFCF Associations' Trophy Round of 16, first leg (4pm); IFCF Champions' League Round of 16, first leg (7pm)
4th October 2002: Cup Winners' Cup Quarterfinals, first leg
6th October 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 20

8th October 2002: Rising Stars Cup Round of 16 (1pm); IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Quarterfinals, second leg (7pm)
9th October 2002: Vilitan Cove Invitational Quarterfinals, second leg (3pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Round of 16, second leg (7pm)
10th October 2002: IFCF Associations' Trophy Round of 16, second leg (4pm); IFCF Champions' League Round of 16, second leg (7pm)
12th October 2002: Cup Winners' Cup Quarterfinals, second leg
14th October 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 21

16th October 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup Quarterfinals, first leg (4pm); IFCF Associations' Trophy Quarterfinals, first leg (7pm)
17th October 2002: IFCF Champions' League Quarterfinals, first leg
18th October 2002: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Semifinals, first leg
19th October 2002: Saint Eleanor League, Round 22
21st October 2002: Cup Winners' Cup Semifinals, first leg

23th October 2002: First Vilitan Cove Invitational semifinal (3pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Quarterfinals, second leg (7pm)
24th October 2002: Second Vilitan Cove Invitational semifinal (3pm); IFCF Champions' League Quarterfinals, second leg (7pm)
25th October 2002: Rising Stars Cup Quarterfinals (1pm); IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Semifinals, second leg (4pm); IFCF Associations' Trophy Quarterfinals, second leg (7pm)
28th October 2002: Cup Winners' Cup Semifinals, second leg

30th October 2002: IFCF Associations' Trophy Semifinals, first leg (4pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Semifinals, first leg (7pm)
31st October 2002: IFCF Champions' League Semifinals, first leg
2nd November 2002: The Showcase Round of Sixteen

4th November 2002: Cup Winners' Cup Final
6th November 2002: First Rising Stars Cup semifinal (1pm)
7th November 2002: Second Rising Stars Cup semifinal (1pm)
8th November 2002: IFCF Liga B Champions' Trophy Final
10th November 2002: IFCF Rising Stars Cup Final (4pm; the kids can probably be trusted to stay up late on weekends)

12th November 2002: IFCF Associations' Trophy Semifinals, second leg (4pm); IFCF Challengers' Cup Semifinals, second leg (7pm)
13th November 2002: IFCF Champions' League Semifinals, second leg
18th November 2002: The Showcase Quarterfinals

22nd November 2002: IFCF Challengers' Cup Final
23rd November 2002: IFCF Champions' League Final
24th November 2002: IFCF Associations' Trophy Final
25th November 2002: Vilitan Cove Invitational Third-Place Playoff
26th November 2002: Vilitan Cove Invitational Final (3pm)
29th November 2002: The Showcase Semifinals

2nd - 7th December 2002:
IFCF Super Cup (CC Winners vs LBCT Winners 03/12, LBCT Winners vs CL Winners 05/12, CL Winners vs CC Winners 07/12)
Non-IFCF Super Group (CWC Winners vs RSC Winners 02/12, VCI Winners vs CWC Winners 04/12, RSC Winners vs VCI Winners 06/12)

10th December 2002: The Showcase Final

27th November - 22nd December 2002: tentative WCC window for Baptism of Fire 80

Boxing Day 2002: Tropicorp Super Cup (Super Group vs Super Cup Winners)

---

Stephen Mitcham: "Just getting to this point was hardly an overnight success story"
Chief Football Correspondent Jamie Rodgers presses the assistant manager on why he deserves to be there... rather than simply tarred as a beneficiary of nepotism
Originally published on Tuesday 30th January 2001

You would, at least, expect Stephen Mitcham - son of the first and most accomplished general in Army history - to have loved football as much as he knows it inside-out and back-to-front. But, almost remarkably, he only caught the football bug after the war. "I don't remember an awful lot about all of it - I was five when the NLF began, three weeks short of my ninth birthday when it took over. The Tinhamptonians had the good sense not to deliberately attack schools or else I'd have probably been... martyred. Is that the word for it? I think so." In fact, many schools had to operate out of temporary buildings during the War of Independence after being destroyed by opposition forces. "They didn't go after where I was, at least. Anyway, all of you know about my dad. As for me - yes, you were on about how I got into football. It must have been the start of the 1976 school year, we went onto the pitch near the school every lunchtime to have a bit of a kickaround. Sometimes we got into teams but I was invariably not very good at it all - rapidly tired, too easy to win the ball from, wild shots, variable passes, and far too heavy out of possession. I tried my luck every now and then until '79, when I decided playing wasn't for me."

Mitcham junior could have given up on football very easily. "I was much improved on the stamina front when I was at community school, but was I any better with a ball at my feet? No! Music and art, design technology, those subjects - I must have been even worse at those. Where I was good was the book-based subjects, so to speak. I don't remember my entire School Cert transcript but I was 50% As, 50% Bs and the artistic subjects were straggling at mostly Ds, I reckon." This was not to say he missed out on PE, however: "Thankfully, that isn't formally assessed! I took part in most of the events, but sometimes I was called to officiate - some of the teachers thought my decisions were so harsh they unilaterally reversed them and changed the rules in the middle of games. And by the time summer rolls around, football. The Charles Trump Shield? I'm thankful for him, but I was never going to take part. With that said, on a few Sports Days - we have two a year, the nearest weekday to Liberation Day in late June and the last day before the summer holidays three weeks later - I became the manager of a few tutor group teams in the years below me - showed them how to do seven-a-side tactics, good old 2-3-1 with any of the three midfielders able to drop back if necessary, a bit conservative but we won most of our games."

From that early success, Mitcham was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Army in March 1985; he insists he was never interested in going to university. While he did have the planning responsibilities expected of an officer, particularly in his assigned Oaktree district - where the Army is headquartered and which has the highest percentage of soldiers anywhere in Saint Eleanor city - where he really thrived was managing the Oaktree unified team in the Army League. "Most members of the Army are fit and willing enough to play football but, for whatever reason, can't get into the Army and Navy team. This is where the Army League comes in: it's not super-competitive like the SEL or even the Shield, just for fun - given the nature - but every Sunday for a few months, those of us who don't work on Sunday or otherwise aren't seen as essential go down to their boot camps, get in unmarked minibuses and go to the other team's stadium to play them. Obviously Oaktree is one of the most successful teams - some places are so short-staffed they have to field combined teams mixing soldiers serving in their own and nearby districts - but just getting to this point was hardly an overnight success story."

Was it? Oaktree is overall the most successful team in Army League history, despite recent challenges from teams like Brightway and Grand Beach-New Lizard. "Actually, if you're talking late 1980s, early 1990s, you're looking more at Wellington, Holland and Parkside being the big rivals. And if you're talking about me, then obviously I had to work my way up the ranks. Colonel [Simon] Smith always had a few assistant managers and I was put forward in the middle of the '86 season; we were a few points off Holland's pace but, more importantly, we were sloppy in defence, giving chances away, and generally not paying attention. This obviously wouldn't be possible with the national team, but what I pretty much did was tell the centrebacks to stay in their places and the fullbacks not to go off on too much of a tangent. That and the central midfielders paying a bit more attention to their defensive duties. Although we didn't win the title that year, we closed the gap a bit and were good for two on the bounce and three in five years after that."

The sixth full year after his appointment as assistant, 1992, saw him promoted to manager. "Smith decided he'd had enough of those whole football business and asked me to replace him. I'm not sure why - a couple of his other assistants would have been in better stead - but he thought my defensive work was good enough to merit the promotion over them. It was a while, but I stopped being so tough on defence, told everybody to play to their strengths and moved a few of the soldiers about to accomodate that. I was a bit wary of just playing one up front after the Phil Farlane controversy over at Indy, for example, but when it became clear that one of my strikers wasn't very interested in striking and wanted to get the ball to the other one, I moved him to what is essentially an attacking midfield role - 4-2-3-1, if you will - and that worked out well." Does he feel he could have done better than two championships in his four years? "We could have won all four of them if I was a bit more... judicious, shall we say, in selecting players and telling them where to play. There were some defensive errors by the end of 1995, for example, but they were nowhere near as frequent or obvious as they were ten years before that. Attack? A bit quieter, far more effective. I'd say I left Oaktree in good stead, although you'd have to ask Lieutenant [Joshua] Brown; he's the boss now."

Some people have argued that Mitcham's status as the eldest son of the President made his appointment as Priscilla Evans' assistant in 1996 inevitable - or even that his father intervened to put him there, claims that this outlet have published in varying forms over the past five years. "Thankfully, dad was never involved with the FA after... what, 1977? Honestly, he's better at this public speaking thing than I ever was. The real justification was that I was an incredibly successful manager in the Army League - as I said, there are a lot of good footballers within the Army ranks - and none of the Eleanorians they asked wanted to chance their arm on the national team. Priscilla's told you already about the highs and the lows of the national team - you can sense them in our past results and, really, everybody knows what they are - but I have tried my very best to ensure that everybody in the squad has faith in me. The few we've unilaterally dumped without feeling sorry for were causing trouble off the pitch, breaking up morale - nobody wants that. And thankfully, everybody in the squad has been nice from January 1999 up to now."

The quality of the national team has improved along with their performances, especially in the 91st World Cup cycle. "For the most part, I'm the tactics guy. Priscilla has a grasp of who plays best where, what formation's the best one to use given the quality, but I've helped her a lot with that job. She's in charge of selection and I've advised her on a few choices since '98. Her priority is selecting players who are on good form, who've proven themselves time and again, and who have the potential to do that on the international stage." Does this explain why many of the new Eleanorians are fairly inexperienced? "All of the new ones have regularly started for their club in some capacity. Some of them were subbed on against Nyowani Kitara, but actually started against Quakmybush a couple of days ago after Priscilla and I talked about it. With Sam [Newbridge] suspended, Esther [Launceston] started in his place - she was very good in the Champions' League last year. Lydia [Nicholls] started and, as you'd expect, Bridget [Coombe] was perfectly okay with it; she's probably thinking in terms of 'the IWA [Independent Wreckerian Athletes] are a bit on the physical side and we definitely shouldn't rile them up too much, so I think I can be trusted to start against them'. Tim [Brandon] was a late sub - and I know he was in last year's team, but Alan [Eldridge] was on for the last twenty and got a couple of good challenges in. We have a couple of really good players who'll start regularly barring anything bad happening, but a lot of places are up for contention, whether on a regular basis or just against the weaker teams."

Although seemingly unexciting - and decided by a mediocre Steve Pilchard strike early in the second half - the Quakmybush game proved to be important for other reasons. "Nyowani Kitara away should have been a top performance but it very, very quickly turned into a dumpster fire. We were 4-0 up at half time and should have benefitted from the Kitarans drafting the reserve goalkeeper later in the game, but Sam gave away some ridiculous fouls and got himself the pleasure of a red card for it; our attackers thought they could have the second half off - and I'm not faulting the others, we were good out back, but Lars Anders was that lot's freshest pair of legs and he was on fire in stoppage time. A rethink was necessary, Priscilla and I put it into place, great performance all over, 1-0 win and the first time we've ever won our first two qualifiers. The IWA tomorrow will be a challenge but we should deal with them, alright." With 18 games to go and the Holy Empire just downed 6-2 by the Rushmori side, is he willing to give his side a chance - any chance at all - of topping the group over the five-time world champions? "One in twenty. If we play our cards right for the rest of the cycle, I see no reason why we can't."

There are good reasons to believe that Stephen Mitcham doesn't deserve to be Evans' assistant. But there are even better reasons to believe that he does: he is firmly knowledgeable, has past experience of succeeding against vast fields of competitors, knows how to set up effective gameplans and firmly refuses to play favourites. The national team has needed this attitude for the past five years. It will need it for the next five, too; perhaps beyond.

[The Cordian Isles]

The Cordasfjord Daily

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Cordia Opens WCQs With A Bang

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CORDASFJORD, Cordia- There were always going to be high expectations for the footballing North Stars this cycle. Last time around, they managed to make it to the WC playoffs, then the Cup of Harmony knockouts, and more recently the AOCAF quarters. Looking at that, the first few matches of WCQs were expected to be some sort of measure as to whether the Cordians really deserved their rank of 53rd in the world. The North Stars have had issues in the past with continuing to play hard against weaker teams, so potential remained for their home opener against Abanhfleft, a 6 seed, and first away match against Atheara, an 8 seed returning from a cycle of absence, to be trap matches and see the Cordians drop points.

But that was not to be. The home opener on a rainy day at the Cordasfjord Colosseum saw the stadium packed with 60,000 fans despite the weather, the vast majority of them Cordians. The Cordians opened aggressively and stayed aggressive for the rest of the match, as early on Ilda Fausti of Abanhfleft lost control of the ball and saw it picked up by a sprinting Sebastian Voll. Fausti recovered in good order and Voll’s shot went just wide, but that play set the pace for the rest of the match. It wasn’t long after that that the Cordians set up an extended attack in the Fleftic half, with several solid chances blocked by a good back line from Abanhfleft. That changed a couple minutes later, as a Hannah Andersen shot went off the shin of Rose Bane and bounced back. Lucia Verkerk sprinted in a fired a powerful shot into the top-right corner to send the Cordian fans cheering wildly for the first goal of Qualifiers. They would have less reason to cheer a few minutes later, though. Mae Wilbanks of Abanhfleft picked up the ball from a wayward Redvin Chase pass and sprinted downfield, with the Cordian back line struggling to catch up. Feeling pressure from Vladimir Demov, she put the ball over to Josefine Vitagliano at the middle, and Vitagliano wasted no time in putting the ball high and left past Kristin Bergstrin to tie the match at one. That was a goal to quiet the crowd, especially as the Cordians had been the better team for much of the match, but one mistake cost them the lead.

As play resumed, the Cordians remained the better side. Ranked 53rd to the Fleftics’ 91st, they were expected to win and played like the team they’re supposed to be. They again put pressure on the Fleftic defense, with Inocencia Pendergraft making a few key saves to keep the score level at one apiece. However, the Fleftics weren’t able to fully clear their half, and because of that, the shots kept coming, until Pendergraft saved a shot from Anton Osterholt but couldn’t keep hold of the ball in the downpour. Rasmus Karlssen, known best for making great reads, and who managed to get transferred to Audioslavia’s Osarese Marcadia this last transfer window, sprinted in to clean up the rebound, roofing the shot and giving Cordia its second lead of the match, 2-1. Halftime came and went, and the rain did not stop, growing more intense if anything. Cordia remained more aggressive than usual and put a couple more shots on net. Anton Osterholt took the usual responsibility of Sebastian Voll in putting a shot off the crossbar. But it would be a few minutes later that Osterholt got a chance to do what he does best. Namely, making opposing defenders look very silly. Taking a pass from Karlssen, he dodged around a tackle from Ashley Jaxson, sprinted towards the net, somehow kept the ball from Margo Kahn, put the ball a bit behind himself, then turned and launched a shot high and right on Inocencia Pendergraft for the goal and a two-goal lead. Abanhfleft would get a few more chances, but nothing huge, and the Cordian fans left the Colosseum satisfied.

The next match saw 60,000 fans fill the stadium again, but this time it was a largely hostile contingent at Atheara’s Schengen Stadium. Now, Atheara has made shutdown defense a hallmark of their play, but they got a dose of their own medicine when the North Stars came to town, as the Cordian side executed an absolute defensive masterclass against the Anaian side. The entire game was impressive to the fan of post-football, but perhaps not the most exciting. The Cordians, still playing more aggressive than usual after the Abanhfleft matchup earlier in the week, went out on the attack against an Athearan back line that’s far more solid than Abanhfleft’s. They learned their lesson soon, as a swift counterattack nearly resulted in a goal for Atheara, Zack Dawnbridge sending the ball wide under pressure from the rather scary Redvin Chase. But after that, the Cordians adapted to Atheara’s defensive style and the game got bogged down. Dawnbridge’s shot would be the first of just two for Atheara the entire match.

The second half opened much the same, and Cordian fans started to get nervous that the North Stars might drop points to an eight seed - points we just can't afford to drop if we want to make a run at the World Cup this cycle. The North Stars’ saving grace was a massive mistake by Anzel Van Brultheil, who gave up the ball to Anton Osterholt in the Athearan half. Osterholt proceeded to dribble through the rest of the Athearan defense and fire a shot from just outside the box. Perhaps not the wisest choice, but a spectacular shot for Osterholt as the ball went bar-down, right side, and the Cordian contingent in Atheara made themselves heard. The Cordians finished strong and put a bit more pressure on Atheara, but in the end, one goal was enough for the North Stars to head home happy, with two wins from two matches and sitting on top of the group for the time being.

Up next is West Barack and East Obama at the Cordasfjord Colosseum in a couple weeks. Another defensive side like Atheara, but with considerably less history attached, with their only WCC tournament being the Baptism of Fire where they reached the Round of 16. This should be a win for the North Stars, and an emphatic one at that. However, never get too confident and don’t count anybody out. That only invites Margaret to kick your [expletive deleted for the sake of keeping this a family-friendly news article].

And kick our [expletive deleted for the sake of keeping this a family-friendly news article] she likely will, considering the schedule after WBEO. Saint Eleanor the same week, and at Saint Eleanor. The third seed in the group, that’s the team to beat if we want to qualify. After them, we host the hamstermechs of the Holy Empire, then go on the road to formerly war-torn Nyowani Kitara, the 1 and 2 seeds, respectively. Brutal schedule, but any points gained from those three matches will be huge and we’ll be well-adjusted to the play of top sides by the time we face Nyowani Kitara.

[Trolleborg]

Greetings, compatriots!
It's TTV with a latest news about our football team.
At this week our lads play two first games of World Cup Qualification and results give rise to cautious optimism. But only cautious, and only results, because the game of the team still leaves much to be desired. In both fights our team faced opponents below us in the rankings, and there is a tendency in world football to consider this a significant factor – but the victory was achieved both times with a minimum score and not without serious effort.

In the first round of the tournament, EOT, or “Expats”, arrived in Trolleborg, and this is a team staffed mainly by players from teams of league of their elder kin Eura, but also from such a places like Vilita and Brenecia, with the exception of forwards, who were mainly members of local teams. The team fully adapted to the heated and noisy atmosphere of the December 1 stadium, did not lose their presence of mind, quickly and accurately rearranged their orders, transforming freely from 3-5-2 to 5-4-1, then leaving one Quibble, then pressing to the Morten Kerr penalty area with three or four players. Fortunately, our players also acted calmly and unerringly, including the newcomers on the right flank, for whose performance the fans were very concerned. The guests did not manage to impose their game for more or less a long time during the entire match, it usually took place on the space from the center line to the approaches to the EOT penalty area. But Charlie Ross quite confidently coped with all the problems put before him, a couple of times he obviously saved his associates, and when in the middle of the half he made a mistake while playing on the second floor, our players could not take advantage of this and send the ball into the goal. Fortunately, at the very end of the half, our midfielders played a quick and sweeping combination, and as a result, Skrta pretended to strike a shot from the long distance, but he sent the ball into the penalty area under Kronquist's shot, and he struck in one touch both accurately and powerfully.

Now EOT had to attack and try to even score, and the pressure on Morten Kerr's goal has seriously increased. However, there were no truly dangerous moments, and in all cases our goalkeeper was at his best and confidently repelled threats. Morten Trogil made several substitutions, but, it should be noted, this did not greatly improved Trolleborg team performance – although, perhaps, this was not the task. All in all, our lads took three points, but their game can hardly be called inspiring.

Against Montana Verde, another strong and uncompromising team, which includes many players with experience of playing in the best leagues in the world, our head coach has already brought four defenders to the field, two of whom, however, like to join attacks, and even defensive midfielder. I must say that his decision turned out to be very reasonable - it was Soren Wittingem, who played the role of DM, who was recognized as the best player of the game in our team. A huge amount of work fell on him in the fight against the rhombus of the hosts' midfielders, he coped with it with the support of the central defenders who in turns came to help him, and freed his comrades from rough work, allowing them to create a numerical superiority elsewhere. For the entire match, one can remember two or three moments when the brilliant trio Primitivo-Coco-Aramis was able to play as they want and can. But not everything went well with our lads either. The ball, as usually said in such a circumstances, did not go into the net, then the shot were not strong enough, then the accuracy is lacking. At the beginning of the second half, however, Kranforde caught the moment when the defenders of the hosts lost concentration for a second, got the ball from Troll while being on the verge of offside – but clearly not beyond the line – jumped one on one with the goalkeeper, pretend to shot on goal immediately, and then pushed the ball past the goalkeeper. Two players, one from each team, rushed after, but could not catch up. And this goal, as it turned out later, was the only one in the game. So our lads have won two victories in two matches – but you can’t relax, the fight for tickets to the World Cup promises to be very difficult.

[Cardenao]

The Cardenao Correspondent
AND WE’RE OFF!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, the time WE have all been waiting for is finally, finally back. Yes, our boys in Blue and Gold are out there on the pitch making us proud, fighting to the brink of death on the field of honor to bring glory to Cardenao. It is, of course, World Cup time! That special, special time every two years where the footballing nations of the multiverse come together to determine who is the best and Cardenao arrived at the tournament with unprecedented levels of hype.

Who could forget the then 278th ranked Cardenao’s epic run to near-qualification. 10 wins, five draws, and five losses capped off by an incredible 4-3 win against the then 15th ranked Pasarga that sent the hype into overdrive. Since then Cardenao’s footballing force has gone from strength to strength with multiple Cardenaoans plying their trade in the top 10 footballing leagues, Cardonia FC reaching the Round of 32 in the Association’s Trophy among other surprising victories for Cardenao MegaPower League teams, and the general positive international reception to the emergence of the country on the global stage. Now, ranked 101st in the world, expectations are cautiously high and curiosity is at its peak; was the 91st World Cup just first timers’ luck or might there actually be something brewing within Cardenao? The answer to that question has started to be revealed as we reflect on the results of the first two matchdays of the 92nd World Cup.

Cardenao kicked off their second World Cup Finals qualifying campaign with an away fixture vs Atetancillo, the 208th team in the world, in a televised event that 90% of Cardenao was tuned into. The other 10%, we know who you are and are visiting soon (editor note: Timo wtf!?!? delete before publication). Beloved National Team manager Scooter McNash gave the visiting crowd a wave a fistpump before the game kicked-off so you knew it was going to be a good one, and right from the first whistle it was Cardenao’s game to lose. We were all pleased to see an attacking mentality from the team, aggressive passing and movement to penetrate the Atetancillon half and set up camp there, with Diego Valenzuela in particular playing an important role setting up and recycling play from the base of midfield. The first goal came early on in the seventh (7th) minute and seemed more a formality then a hard-earned product of effort, when a long period of Cardenaoan possession climaxed with a passing movement that went from the center of the midfielder to the left wing, across Juana Saez to Fabrizio Viscarra on the right wing, then back across to the left wing to Acosta-Vargas via Giampetro Vera. It was patient, it was probing, and it paid off when A-V cut in, passed it to Juanma, who dropped it deeper to Haritz Larrainzar, a little chip over the top to Viscarra running in who took a touch, squared it to Juanma, bang. 1-0. His celebration generated as much praise as it did laughter in Cardenao, as he took off his favored right boot and looked at it in amazement, a reference to him having just scored his 21st goal in 30 matches for the National Team.

The match from that point was even more straightforward as the team from Atetancillo was forced to try and play at a higher, more offensive tempo, which played right to the Cardenaoan’s advantage. Attacking pressure was effectively filtered out by Valenzuela and Larrainzar dropping deeper to form a midfield stopper-sweeper combination. Anything that got through was honed in on by Emmanuel Odita like a missile and the end result was goalkeeper Ray Holland having to make only one simple save through the course of the match. The first half ended 1-0 in our favor, but truth be told most Cardenaoan’s were probably feeling a little disappointed, like the team could and should have secured another goal or two but a 1-0 lead is better than a 1-0 deficit so there wasn’t too much to be sour about.

The second half carried on much the same way the first half did, aggressive play from Cardenao to get into the opposition’s half, with the wingers pinning the fullbacks deep and wide so the defense could be stretched around by probing passing. Perhaps sensing a straightforward rest of the match, Scooter McNash made two early changes in the 62nd minute, bringing in Halan Medhagbia for Fabrizio Viscarra on the right wing for a more direct goal threat, and Jayful Archer in for Giampetro Vera as a more offensive minded presence in midfield. The changes made the team more proactive and attacking as a whole, and the result came fairly quickly in the 71st minute when Medhagbia pulled off a wonderful bit of skill, receiving a pass out wide from captain Dylan Mathers, a feint up the wing before cutting in the middle, laying it off to Larrainzar who, with a one touch pass, slide it to A-V on the left wing put in a ball on the ground for national team debutant Medhagbia to smash into the net. 2-0 and the game would be seen out from there without much issue to finish with Cardenao securing the three points and the fire was alive within the heart of every Cardenaoan.

The second matchday brought the first test for Cardenao as we played Brookstation, the 77th ranked nation in the world. Expectations were realistic, but hopeful. A draw would be good, a narrow 2-1 win would be great. The match kicked off and the lads went at it. Things went well for the initial 15 minutes, the usual carrying the ball into the other team’s half before establishing control and dictating play from the midfield. Unfortunately, counter-attacks are an absolute bitch and we were smashed by one in the 24th minute. A fairly promising attacking moment broke down when Giampetro Vera’s through ball was snatched up by their goalkeeper, who punted it down to their right wing. They exploited the space left behind by Hendrix Salvador to blow up the wing, squared it across to the middle for one of their midfielders to pick up, fake a pass to the left wing and poking it up top for their striker to slot past Holland to make it 1-0 to the visitors. Not ideal, not great.

At that point, Scooter McNash was forced to play more attacking, and he adapted his tactics accordingly, bringing Diego Valenzuela into midfield alongside Harritz Larrainzar and pushing Giampetro Vera into attacking midfield. The move instantly proved a success, with attacking triangles formed with ease thanks to the extra body in the attacking quartet and the heat was turned up even further from there. Great movement, dribbling and passing interchanges lead to more shots on goal, but the players from Brookstation matched them with equal attacking play. Cardenao scored via Juanma Saez in the 44th minute when Ibai Acosta-Vargas hit a fantastic trivela pass right to Saez’s outstretched boot. It was a glorious moment and the two teams went into the break tied 1-1. Unfortunately, the positive attacking play was all undone in the 73rd minute, then the Brookstations broke through yet again when their wide man on the right crossed it into the center and their striker headed it home with might.

Three points from the first two matchdays, not bad, it could definitely be worse that is for sure. The next two matches against Juvencus and Ko-Oren will be incredible displays of football one way or another, though we will all certainly be hoping it goes in Cardenao’s favor.

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Mihaly’s Machinations (Part II)

Those who were there would always speak in awestruck tones when describing the gentle morning the HMS Hawabark glided into the historic Port Constancia in New Cardonia. Everything was bathed in the golden light typical of these early hours that illuminated a heavy fog half a mile from the shoreline. A little after six in the morning, the crowd of what had to be hundreds of thousands on the beaches around the capital city could start to hear a faint rumble in the deep. The sound very slowly but surely got louder and louder over the course of the next half hour and by that point there were tens of thousands more Cardenaoans had joined.

They had first started assembling a week ago after a televised announcement from President Mihaly Otamendi had urged the good people of Cardenao to be at the beaches around New Cardonia on the morning of the 30th of September. He had promised a spectacle, a sight to be seen that would herald in an unprecedented era of growth, innovation, and prosperity for the nation, and so the people listened and they went. First it was ‘only’ a couple thousand, but those thousands were Cardenaoans so by the end of the first day, the event had turned into quite the party. By the third day there were over 100,000 people spread over the beaches and it had grown from there into the massive sprawl that it was now with tents, hammocks, joints, bread, footballs, tye-dye, dogs, booze, clothing, all thrown together into one singular mess. But damn was it a good party and it was well supported, with government workers working diligently around the clock to maintain restrooms, ensure temporary showers were operating smoothly, and generally interfacing with the public to ensure the fun times carried on without incident, and now the payoff was about to be revealed to everyone as a deafening horn from within the fog blared across the beachfront. It came again, a blast from a boat sounding to be of considerable measurements that pushed against all onlookers present. Finally, an hour after the first dull rumbling was heard, the source of all the commotion was revealed.

Emerging bow first from the golden fog was a massive battleship, a ship so much larger than anything any living Cardenaoan could imagine. It let out another roar, announcing its presence with a blast of its horn. The brilliant Cardenaoan sun illuminated the stunning workmanship of the vessel and as it neared the shoreline, the battleship flared sideways so it’s starboard side was facing the land and the wondrously beautiful design could be fully admired. The ‘lip’ of the ship was primarily black with a repeating pattern of three staggered lines in gold, separated by half moons also painted in gold. The bow and stern of the sprawling vessel was painted a light orange-reddish color that was reminiscent of dry clay, with that same black and gold pattern repeating in two V shapes, one on the bow, the other the stern. The side of the ship was done in an ornate green and yellow pattern that seemed almost like a yin-yang in appearance, and it was kept in check by an arch painted in that same black and gold pattern. The cumulative appearance was distinctly tribal in nature and it was totally and absolutely awe inspiring to experience in person. Blazed across the side in bright white letterhead was the mighty vessel’s name, the HMS Hawabark, and those who saw it knew fear.

The power of the vessel came from the massive, no-nonsense main guns that dominated the deck of the battleship. There were nine of considerable size on each the forward and aft sides of the Hawabark split into a turret with four situated side by side on the base with another turret with three guns that was mounted above and to the back of it. There were eight anti-aircraft cannons separated into pairs of two on the forward side, and three banks of two on the aft. Five medium sized turrets adorned both sides of the battleship to create interlocking fields of fire that could quite easily blow away all the Cardenaoans in attendance. The cumulative impact of the HMW Hawabark coming through the dense fog was simply tremendous, the shock and awe value of such a massive, impressive vessel that was merely the end result of vast systems and processes that were beyond the mind of the average citizen from Cardenao. They were not, however, beyond the mind of Mihaly Otamendi.

Sitting in a helicopter above the beach, the Cardenaoan President smiled in satisfaction at the stunt he organized was executed to perfection. It would’ve been easiest to bring the Banijan military advisorial delegation to Cardenao in an airplane, just fly them over nice and quick, and indeed the group had boarded the HMS Hawabark via helicopter earlier that morning, but where was the showmanship in there? That was devoid of pageantry, devoid of the meaning that this moment deserved, and so Mihaly worked with Kabaka Mwanga to have an old-school battleship from yesteryear available for the delegation to make an entrance that would capture the eye of the world and the mind of all Cardenaoans. That alone wasn’t enough, so Mihaly suggested a ceremonial paintjob done in traditional Banijan color and pattern to really maximize the impact; the wily old King was only too eager to agree. Not only was this impressive to all the Cardenaoans in attendance who went home that day dreaming of great things, but it was the same to those all across Cardenao, dominating national discussion for some time after with all agreeing that if they could do it…well why couldn’t we? The last aspect Mihaly planned with this stunt was aimed at Anaia and the greater multiverse community as a whole. Having a battleship (admittedly non-functional from an armament perspective) arrive within the region were sure to put other nations on alert that things were happening in Cardenao and that while the country might be a small actor itself, she had some powerful friends and the country’s dream of becoming an international force was now on full display.

The HMS Hawabark was guided into Port Constancia by the Leifox Legion, the official name for the Cardenaoan Coast Guard after Byron Leifox, the Ochren Foreign Secretary who arranged for the first coastal rescue ships to be traded to Cardenao where President Mihaly met them.

“Welcome to Cardenao, gentlemen!” He shouted above the roar of the battleship and helicopters flying about to the assembled Banijan crew. There were several hundred Banijan military personnel, mostly classroom instructors and military advisors but also several security teams and general logistical supporting staff. President Otamendi shook hands with Commander Irumba Kiddu, the captain of the HMS Hawabark and remarked on Commander Kiddu’s fine sailing in deftly sweeping the starboard side of the vessel towards the beachfront so all the gathered citizens could gaze in wonder.

The delegation was, of course, headed by Ambassador Toyuwa Okafor as he was his country’s attaché to Cardenao, but the man practically in charge of this operation was Major General Tombe Kavubu, a highly respected Banijan soldier who was praised by Ambassador Okafor for his role in the Banijan-Equestrian War. He emerged as a prominent officer due to his keen insight into military matters, so much so that he enjoyed a highly prestigious role as Dean of Kabaka's Military College for four years before a two year participation in an officer exchange program in Siovanija & Teusland. This combination of experience, education, and real world practical application made him the perfect candidate on paper, and when President Otamendi first met General Kavubu he had been struck by a sense of steel in the Banijan’s eyes, voice, and general mannerisms; it was, he determined afterwards, the product of unbreakable resolve and total-minded dedication towards completion of a goal. He was perfect. President Otamendi shook hands with the rest of the command staff, there was Colonel Kabonesa Zzimbe from the Royal Air Force, Major Madiba Basie of the Royal Army, Lieutenant Assan Fadiya (Air Force), Captain Eesaa Sanjeh (Army), and Ensign Jarra Jasae (Navy). The men then exchanged hands with their Cardenaoan counterparts, with the notable exception of an equal partner to General Kavubu. On that note, the head of the Anaian’s delegation was President Mihaly Otamendi himself. To some it might seem improper to not have a military figure lead this military undertaking but everything that had occurred over the last two years was entirely unprecedented so why not keep the cards in the hand of the man who had created Cardenao’s deck, Mihaly. That’s not to say there weren’t notable Cardenaoan military figures participating in this new venture.

There was General Laurentino Willibald Adenauer, Cardenao’s most distinguished military officer at the age of 33, and the ‘second in command’ in this endeavor, due to his heroic command of his unit during the San Carnito Uprising. The East Cardonian city was notorious for a general feeling of lawlessness, a desert city where the tumbleweeds tumbled and the sunsets were long and dramatic over the wretched hive of scum and villainy. On this occasion a syndicate of well directed and armed criminal groups seized control of the city and drove away local law and government forces. The Cardenian military was called into the scene and then Captain Adenauer lead his force from success to success and emerged from victorious conflict as a Brigadier General, and his tall striking looks and smooth charismatic persona helped him slide up the ranks in no time. He stood pridefully next to his compatriots, there was General Ajeet Conchabar from the Cardenao Aviation Advisory Force (there was no Airforce as Cardenao didn’t have any military planes), Admiral Rubén Apolinar Berenguar represented then Cardenaoan navy and had continually expressed his impression and jealousy of the HMS Hawabark through the duration of the planning of this stunt and would be hoping to have such a mighty vessel fly under the Cardenao colors one day. It was a distinguished group, perfect for the task that lay before them.

This entire PR stunt did have an actual goal aside from the minor geopolitical announcement the nature of the HMS Hawabark’s arrival created, and that goal was simple in nature yet infinitely complex to actually properly execute. The group had been assembled with the express purpose of establishing the foundations of a cohesive, all-encompassing military infrastructure that would eventually allow Cardenao to develop a professional, modern army that would be able to stand alone and perhaps make a name for itself one day. That meant the establishment of a command structure, training soldiers, well first and foremost [/i]finding[/i] prospective soldiers would be a challenge enough itself. Then there was establishing military bases, which meant economic levers would have to be pulled to get production started so more workers and factories would have to be built, then military academies would have to be built and staffed by qualified military educators (which were very few and far between within Cardenao), then there was the total lack of any sort of military technology/armament/vehicles within or produced by Cardenao. So, there was indeed much to be done and a shorter timeline than anyone in this situation would have desired but that, as Cardenao was finding out, was how things go when you venture beyond your doorstep.

[Drawkland]

E T E R N I T Y . . .

This is the sixth (and final!) chapter of an extended storyline. Below are the previous sections.

In which the characters are introduced
A Hint * A Tease * A Story * A Contradiction * A Roster

In which the trio investigate the Elite
Elite 1 * Elite 2 * Elite 3 * Elite 4 * Elite 5 * Elite 6
Elite 7 * Elite 8 * Elite 9 * Elite 10 * Elite 11

In which Nicole prepares for a great undertaking
Expired 1 * Expired 2 * Expired 3 * Expired 4 * Expired 5 * Expired 6
Expired 7 * Expired 8 * Expired 9 * Expired 10 * Expired 11

In which the party travels to TiSoFaH
Expedition 1 * Expedition 2 * Expedition 3 * Expedition 4 * Expedition 5 * Expedition 6
Expedition 7 * Expedition 8 * Expedition 9 * Expedition 10 * Expedition 11

In which the party contends with the Great Maze
Endless 1 * Endless 2 * Endless 3 * Endless 4 * Endless 5 * Endless 6
Endless 7 * Endless 8 * Endless 9 * Endless 10 * Endless 11

In which destiny awaits
Eternity 1

Cam Cross was zipping along the airway, reading some news on her phone. The aircars of Drawkland were built to travel in the raised magnetic airways that traced through major road systems throughout the country. The advantage of having an aircar was in its autonomous driving: it picked the best route and flowed efficiently through traffic, all while the driver had no obligation to control the vehicle. It was great for moments like this, where Cam wanted to travel alone but still have the ability to relax over the course of the route.

She looked up from her phone and sat up in her seat, taking a look at the dashboard to ensure everything was still going fine. There was little traffic ahead, so that was good news, she'd probably get to her destination before dark.

Her attention was pulled away from the dashboard by her phone, which started buzzing. It was a group video call, instigated by Sarah Arrowsword. Cam grinned, because she knew what it was going to be about, and she answered the call. She punched the button on the console which would project the video footage to the windshield.

"Heyyyy!" Sarah's voice exclaimed, almost booming through the car's speakers.

"Hey!" Cam and Nicole both responded. Cam looked closer on the video feed and could see Sarah was holding an envelope, confirming her assumption about the purpose of the call.

"Did you guys get these invitations?" Sarah held hers up to the camera with a smug face.

"Yeah!" Both girls responded.

"I'm so excited! Isn't there going to be a special ceremony for us?" Sarah was grinning ear to ear, which was weird to see from her normally crabby and sarcastic demeanor.

"That's what I've heard," Nicole said shortly, a bit too much so.

"Awesome! Should we coordinate outfits or what?" Sarah asked.

"Matching outfits? Been spending more time with Andrew lately?" Cam countered with a chuckle.

"Uh!" Sarah mockingly protested. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Nothing, nothing, just an innocent question," Cam smiled.

"Nicole, why do you not seem excited?" Sarah turned her attention to the other video feed.

"Oh, I'm excited, honestly!" Nicole quickly put a smile on. "Just a little tired right now, is all."

"Bullshit," Sarah shot back immediately. "What's bothering you? Do you not want to go? This is supposed to be a big deal!"

Cam shuffled in her seat, sitting a little straighter. She knew why Nicole was reluctant to go, and she knew Sarah would catch up in a few moments. It had been about five years since their party had returned from the maze, and thus it'd been a little less than five years that Nicole had broken up with her boyfriend, Mike Rodney of the Elite Eleven. It was ironic, since the only reason Nicole attempted the immortality quest was to be with the immortal Mike forever, and now they weren't even together. The Elite Eleven would certainly be attending this gala, as they'd attended every single one since their first. Ergo, Mike would be there. It had been a few years, but the feelings were still raw and bound to cause problems, or at least Cam figured that's what Nicole was thinking.

"No, no, I want to go. I mean it." Nicole replied firmly, and sighed. "It's just going to be weird since Mike is probably gonna be there."

"Oh, right." Sarah rolled her eyes. "Nicole, it's going to be fine. It's a reasonably big event, you guys should be able to avoid each other all night and there'll be no worries."

"Don't forget that most of the old immortals will want to talk to us since we're new people," Cam added. "The gala is only one night, there will be so much for us to do that you won't even have to think about him."

"Fine, I get it." Nicole waved her hand dismissively. "I was gonna go no matter what, I mean Iarocav was really driving the point home that we have to go. That doesn't mean I have to be thrilled about it, though."

Cam and Sarah nodded in understanding. Hopefully she'd come around by the time the event was coming, they both throught.

"Oh Cam, where are you headed?" Nicole tried to change the subject, looking in the background of Cam's video feed to clearly see the interior of her aircar.

"Just the city for some shopping. Didn't feel like driving," Cam lied. She hoped that her overnight bag wasn't visible in the back of the shot. She wasn't breaking any rules by going where she was going, but it would definitely serve to feed drama if she revealed it.

"Nice!" Sarah raised her eyebrows suggestively then mimed taking a drink. "More convenient for the drive home, right?"

"Don't know if I'm doing any of that tonight," Cam laughed, "but it's always nice to have that issue taken care of."

"Have fun, Cam!" Nicole responded, seemingly satisfied with that answer. "Well, don't let us keep you. We can figure out the details another time, we have like five months to go until it even happens."

"Sounds good," Sarah gave a thumbs up. "See ya!"

"Bye!" Cam and Nicole both responded, and they ended the call there.

Cam sighed, turning off the phone projection on the windshield. She looked out, and saw the skyline of downtown Sadeg poking out in the distance.

"Estimated time of arrival: 30 minutes." The car speaker crackled to life with the navigation system making a little chime. Cam looked over and nodded when she saw the map in the corner of the windshield. Hopefully this would go well.

---

Thirty minutes later, Cam's car was sliding to the parking area in front of the Elite Eleven Complex. She'd put everything back in her bags, even put on a little makeup, and was ready to go as soon as the car touched down on the pavement. The car system gave a different chime to indicate the trip was complete and it was ready to be unloaded. She grabbed the bags, slid open the side door, and stepped out.

Cam closed the car door and locked it, then jogged across the rest of the parking lot to get to the door. She'd been to the Complex a few times by herself, but they were still making her park in the visitor lot and go through the main entrance. It was a little weird, but then again, so were they.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw Jaxon Madison lounging in one of the chairs, scrolling through his phone. He looked up, and smiled once he saw her.

"Hi!" Cam exclaimed, grinned and walking over to meet him.

"Welcome back!" Jaxon stood up, and came over to meet Cam halfway. He went in for a quick hug, and Cam obliged once she dropped her bag on the ground. "It's good to see you."

"Good to see you too." Cam replied as Jaxon broke out of the hug.

"Alright, real quick, check this out." Jaxon beckoned for Cam to follow him, and he moved behind the front desk (which rarely, if ever, had somebody sitting at it). "Bring your bags."

"What is it?" Cam asked, coming up behind Jaxon with her bags in tow. Behind the desk was something that looked like a large tray, low to the ground and connected to a little notch in the wall.

"Something we just installed two weeks ago. Ross's idea," Jaxon explained. "Just put your bags down there, and it should get sent to your room automatically. No need for anybody to carry it!"

"Are you sure it's not going to eat my stuff?" Cam joked as she placed her bags on the tray as requested. "I have some pretty important things in here. Like ... oh, like my invitation to the gala."

"Ah, right!" Jaxon nodded. "Don't worry, we've used this thing like three times and it hasn't crushed anything yet. Except when it crushed Roger's coffee that one time, but I think somebody messed with the settings to make it do that on purpose. I wouldn't do that to your stuff, of course. Especially not to your first Accords invitation, that's a big keepsake!"

"That's what I've heard." Cam smiled. "You're gonna be there, right?"

"Me? Of course," Jaxon confirmed. "We have a qualifying game the day before, but it's being held at the Root Field, so we'll already be there. The other guys will be coming too, or at least, they should be."

"Why wouldn't they?" Cam asked, perhaps a little too innocently.

"All of them should be coming." Jaxon rolled his eyes. "Some of them are being melodramatic about it. And by some, I mean one. You know who I'm talking about."

"Oh yeah, I know. Mike just can't get over himself."

"Actually, it's Septimus. I don't think it's occurred to Mike yet, who's specifically going to be there." Jaxon sighed. "I'm not excited to deal with the fallout of that revelation. He and Septimus will probably skip and spend the whole day sulking together on the plane."

"Nicole is worried about it too. I told her that there should be enough distractions there that she won't even notice him around."

"You'd be surprised how effective a magnet love can be. Even with them being apart for five years, they haven't done enough to heal themselves. If Nicole is anything like Mike, then I'm sure she's still not over him."

"I thought Mike fell out of love with her." Cam furrowed her brow. "That's what I heard from Nicole, at least."

"Listen, I'm not one to pass judgement, but I do have that certain insight you know." Jaxon motioned for Cam to follow him out of the lobby and into the main area of the Complex. "Maybe that's how he felt when they broke up but that's not what he feels now."

"I'm not sure it matters." Cam walked alongside him as entered the main Complex area, a large warehouse-like floor with different sport setups and mini arenas throughout. "Nicole is over him now. It's been years, she's no longer interested."

"If she was over him, then him being at the gala wouldn't be an issue." Jaxon replied, and then he winked. "Now, I know you didn't come here to talk about Nicole and Mike's relationship drama. What is it you said you wanted to work on?"

"I need to work on my defense." Cam pointed over towards the section of turf on the far side of the Complex. "I figure that now I have infinite time to improve my craft, I can spend more time on the aspects of my game that I don't often use."

"Sounds like a good plan!" Jaxon paused a moment, then smiled. "That sort of thinking brings you one step closer to being like us Elite."

"Oh right, because you guys are the paragon of discipline and forward development," Cam sneered lightly. "As if I'd want to be Elite anyway! I'd rather be my own thing."

"Oh yeah?" Jaxon gave Cam a light shove on the shoulder. "What would you even call yourself?"

"Hmmm ..." Cam pondered a moment, then her face lit up. "Cream of the Crop Cam! How's that?"

"That ... is quite possibly the worst thing I've ever heard."

"You're just jealous you didn't come up with it first."

"You know, I'm going to really enjoy destroying your ankles all night." Jaxon cracked his knuckles, and Cam gave him a shove in return.

They laughed, and by then they'd reached the turf practice area. They started setting up cones and balls to work on some drills. When Cam thought over the conversation in her head, she couldn't help but snicker to herself.

[Valanora]

"Does it worry you Didrik that despite how good the Premiership is perceived to be among the leagues that most of the national pool comes from abroad?"

This was a typical question during qualifying for the manager, not focusing on the match itself, but how they could poke holes in the pool or other parts of the Vanorian program.

"I take the players who are in form and who are doing well with their clubs. It just happens to be that a little over half of them currently are plying their trade in other respectable leagues. The Premiership is a great league, I vastly enjoyed my time managing there at the helm of Raynor City United but it is far from the only league out there that is capable of developing talent that can make the national team. To not look at all of the available options would be short sighted."

The reporter pressed further on the manager. "And yet if you look across the Premiership, many of the starters and the stars of the league come from abroad rather than being from the Eternal Empire. Does this not say that Vanorian players are struggling to make an impact at the highest levels and are not developing to be the stars of tomorrow that may eventually be filling up your national pool in the near future?"

That was where the reporter had erred, Didrik knew that this was going to be his last qualifying pool and that someone else would have to deal with all this headache in the future.

"I would disagree with the evidence of those players who are developing quite well at home and abroad. They have come into this team over the last few years and have made wave, have helped this team make multiple deep runs in the Finals and have the Marauders once again truly a force in the world's game. The competition that they face in the Premiership makes the have to develop better to earn the starting spot and the playing time to get noticed. These players and the pool are made stronger by the high level of competition from both other domestic raised players and those that are brought in from abroad."

[Cap Nord]

Ferdinand Hammersby coughed softly but the thousands of recorders in front caught on to it like a storm.

“I mainly want to express… ehm… That this could be a pivotal moment in the positive relationships of our beautiful nations and-“
“You already said that!”

He gasped. This was not what he had expected from the press conference and that was even after a tense game. Words barely escaped his mouth anymore, why on earth was he here. Deep down, Ferdinand knew the answer. Because he, the vice-minister of Foreign Relations, had drawn the short straw. Or rather, the rest of the cabinet had fumbled the short straw between his sweaty hands. They were currently sharing a charter flight to Saltstead for the second encounter of the World Cup Qualifiers. The surprising opening win over Qasden lead everyone to believe that the success of the Whalers would reverberate on those in their vicinity. And yet, the government had to deal with the rather direct plea of chancellor Max Karlson for a diplomatic visit. It looked like an opportunity where there was more to lose than to win and… Here Ferdinand was, sweating in this firepit of questions.

“How will your country compensate? What will they do about the detained Capnordic criminals? Why did the government send a minnow such as you?”

”As cheaply as possible”, “Please keep them, we don’t want them.” and “Because it has a bad look on who goes and I’m unimportant enough to fly under the radar” were the answers that he had been strictly requested not to give (the briefing had been quite thorough on that point).. So he went with the sole trick in the book he knew. After all, he was just a loyal, hardworking backbencher who had avoided any scandal for so long that he accidentally ended up on the first row when the ranks and titles needed to be distributed.

“We want to focus on the positive future which lays ahead for Capnordic-Koronavian relation-“
“That is not what we want to hear!”

With the flashing camera lights, Ferdinand could not see who said that.

“I… I just can say we’re really sorry. For the destructions here.”

As he said it out loud, the first and last slide of the briefing flashed in neon lights. Do not apologize, under no circumstances, for the incidents in Taaglecht and Hullenberg. It is not our fault. Thirty years of avoiding any scandal, but Ferdinand Hammersby knew his luck ran out tonight.

/***/

As Joachim Herklotz indicated his direction, taking the A29 towards the Taaglecht-Seyden Airport, a solemn smile appeared on his face. About everything of the night had been perfect, up to the exquisite brandy server by the King. It was laughable that after all those years, he still tried to maintain the royal decorum in a single-floor apartment in an impoverished burrow of the Koronavian capital. But, to his advantage, king Harold was a likeable man, rather modest but amiable (in short, the kind of person who could do well with the average Capnordic until they got to know him better). It was crystal clear to Joachim that the king was a man without friends and as such had lighted up due to his visit. Together, they had watched the second encounter of the Capnordic trajectory for the World Cup. They had tuned in early and broadly ignored the long analysis by some pundits, who could not stop lauding the tactical skillset of Forseth (despite running what was, all-in-all, a pretty standard 4-2-3-1 format with a high-quality striker). But when they zoomed to the stadium, they were immediately on the edge of their seat and it did deliver. During the home opener in Isbècque, the new anthem had premiered. It was an eclectic piece with baroque pieces, modern accents and an intricate text with pompous wording devoid of meaning. The eleven on the pitch all seemed like mutes, focusing on some very interesting point in the distance as the camera panned by their faces, well aware no one knew the lyrics yet.

Even more interesting was the poor reception in the stands and by the end of the second stanza, a small but vocal part of the crowd had overruled the anthem with a version of the ‘Chanson du perce-neige’, a slow, sentimental but catchy tune with easy lyrics. It paints a romanticized picture of the nation, with its natural beauty symbolized in the modest snowdrops who raise their head despite the occasional storm. More importantly, it was a song previously associated with the Stabswache, an elite force that stood for King and God as the last frontier (but was banished after the revolution). That captain van Hilvaren, the last one to be caught by the camera, mouthed the final line ‘find your pride and raise your head’ did help.

Joachim Herklotz had already been delighted but the away game to Saltstead was an even greater success. His party had planted various supporters, who handed out the lyrics to the alternative and had studied the lines in advance. Not everyone of the away fans stood by their side but bar some shoving and shouting, they managed to infiltrate well across the sizable visiting crowd. With effect as, when the new anthem started, it got quickly drowned by the ‘Chanson du perce-neige’. What made everything better was that the camera first showed the government, who rose for the anthem but who now looked like fish out of water, unsure whether to attempt to sing or to sit down would look worse. The contrast with the enthused supporters could not have been greater. Herklotz and Harold looked at it with delight: the king because it made him believe that the wider population could be rallied around a nationalistic cause; Herklotz because it symbolized how much the king was already on board.

On top of that, the Whalers had played an impeccable game with a triumph. Herklotz sped up a little more, darting in the fast lane. The second goal, a diving header by Williams, had clinched the game spectacularly. The NUP leader started to wonder whether they could get one or more of the players on board to officially ignore the anthem. The symbol would be powerful and from experience, Herklotz knew that intangible impressions could steer the future.

But now he would have to steer to the right. In his back mirror, he saw blue lights come up. After a quick check on the speed meter, he mumbled a curse and hoped to stay out of it, but alas. With a clear hand signal, Herklotz was set aside and asked for his papers.

“Joachim Herklotz… Capnordic citizen.”

The officer said it far too slow for comfort before looking Joachim up and down.

“Can you step out of the vehicle please, mister Herklotz, hands where I can see them?”

It had been such a perfect night.

[Brenecia]

Sharktail 1 - 2 Brenecia
(4-4-2) 1 - Meade; 17 - Hadley (2 - Sidle 68'), 18 - Killen, 5 - Shrine, 3 - Culpepper; 15 - Wake, 19 - Seager (4 - Briggs 81'), 8 - Conway (23 - Sitko 68'), 10 - Byrne (16 - Marusak 68'); 21 - Lofthouse, 13 - Stokes
Goals: Lofthouse 25', Conway 53'

Brenecia 1 - 0 Captina Island
(4-4-2) 1 - Meade; 17 - Hadley, 18 - Killen, 5 - Shrine, 3 - Culpepper (25 - Reed 65'); 15 - Wake, 19 - Seager, 8 - Conway (11 - Covolan 71'), 10 - Byrne; 21 - Lofthouse, 13 - Stokes (9 - Baker 65')
Goal: Wake 51'

All was silent in Parliament. But the two leading figures glared daggers at each other.
It was a far different Parliament to that of only a few years ago. No Ward, while the LDR formed to oust her was quiet, peripheral. They weren't the opposition people were talking about, anymore.
Esther Smetona was no Ward, nor was she a Kearney. She was a capable lawyer from a hard-working, third-generation Buyan immigrant family. She had followed well-worn path: the first generation laboured hard to build a small business, the second helped it thrive but forgot how much sheer luck it took the generation prior to establish, and thought the message to pass down to the third generation was that meritocracy was not a scam. Smetona did not labour like her grandfather, but she did labour under the sincere belief that, so long as you knuckled down and were a really, really good citizen, the rest would take care of itself.
It was, thus, no surprise to see her latest cost-cutting measure. The welfare state in Brenecia did genuinely have a red tape issue, this was agreed upon universally. It was an artifact from the Nepharan administration, in keeping with the best a government could think of those decades ago; they had left it alone after independence and it had for a long time been generous, then a longer time still remained fit for purpose. Reform was inevitable. But Smetona meant to shred it. Capital had to be raised from somewhere. Had to keep the heating on somehow. Why not set the building on fire from within?
Nadia Hawthorn knew, unfortunately, that there was no chance to stop it. The CPP had reached across the aisle; between them, the CPP and the LDR had 176 of the 215 seats. It was a comfortable enough margin that the LDR did not even bother to whip their people, allowing a conscience vote from the few who really did think it a dreadful error. But, for the most part, LDR was a middle-class, pro-business party; they did not relish cutting welfare, but it was an acceptable target.

Both major parties waved it through. All three minor parties dissented. Yet Nadia Hawthorn looked on her colleagues with contempt.
The NPD were pointless. They had spawned off the Progressive Democrats, never electorally successful in Brenecia, and their decline represented that of the welfare state itself. The NPD's urban strongholds had been gutted - from the right by the LDR, from the left by Hawthorn's own NoCom. They opposed the cuts, but would simply turn in their nays, make a sad statement to the press, and be seated meekly.
The White Cross were strange bedfellows, but it made a certain kind of sense. Their seats came exclusively from people who were over 60 and thought that teenage immigrant delinquents were stealing the jobs they were no longer in, because they were, critically, pensioners. So of course WC wanted welfare to stand. Also, Mullane, their leader, loathed Smetona. WC had originally been in the coalition at the start, in Kearney's term. No longer. The split had been acrimonious, and WC hoped to make big election gains at their expense.
As, in fairness, did Hawthorn herself. Now she stood. Now was her moment, after a few of her peons had expended themselves. That was the advantage of her healthy 18 seats as things stood, which was 18 times as many as NoCom had ever held before. Hawthorn was a firebrand, a visionary, and she had a cult of personality. But she was able to preach in a way that didn't just reach old tankies in Falkner coffeehouses, as had sunk previous far-left parties in Brenecia.
She had credibility. Critically, she was a northerner, not a westerner. And she was, like Smetona, a lawyer; after her union's strike was crushed, she cobbled together everything she had to become a lawyer and make sure Brenecia's unions enjoyed significant protections from the punitive breaking measures foreign corporations could employ. She looked like a Twii heartthrob goth girlfriend fifteen years later, lanky and deshabille with deep, dark green eyes, but she could talk the talk, look comfortable with the musty old suits, outmaneuvre them. She was The Hope.
And she was able to stand up now, in parliament, and look Smetona in the eye. It was not time for careful legal language, now. She got as far as, "You are a traitor to your country--" before all hell broke loose.

BRENECIAN NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION - FORTNIGHT 2
Goalkeepers: 1 - Cessair Meade (Rammsissil, VIL), 12 - Phoebe Corder (Ituraitz FC, ASG), 20 - Casper Harder (Sparta Zijweg, AUD)
Defenders: 2 - Esther Sidle (SC Montfort, TLI), 3 - Nimue Culpepper (Sabrefell Athletic, NPH), 5 - Athelney Shrine (Falourr, EUR), 6 - Cerys Staplewood (Suttonville, EUR), 17 - Caoimhin Hadley (Sabrefell Athletic, NPH), 18 - Iucharba Killen (North Laithland, NPH), 22 - Patrick Fitz (Royal Rumiatzi, ASG), 25 - Shana Reed (Creed United, NPH)
Midfielders: 4 - Skaidrina Briggs (Southern Star), 7 - Kendra Carpenter (Wirr Tsi, CMT), 8 - Iseult Conway (Wirr Tsi, CMT), 10 - Katua Byrne (KT Itzalovalle, AUD), 11 - Lienke Covolan (Vermillion Rage, NPH), 15 - Maerhen Wake (1830 Cathair, AUD), 16 - Sylvia Marusak (Juavi FC, VAL), 19 - Tamara Seager (FK Arsika, MYT), 23 - Rajmund Sitko (West Cuono United, TMB), 26 - Vaida Meskela (Makosile, VIL)
Forwards: 9 - Siobhan Baker (Anomalies, CMT), 13 - Mor-Rioghain Stokes (Mountainside, EUR), 14 - Danand Tristram (Sabrefell Athletic, NPH), 21 - Jadwiga Lofthouse (Yassaca, SRS), 24 - Cyprian Korsak (Kingsgrove)

Sharktail 1 - 2 Brenecia
Brenecia 1 - 0 Captina Island
Savojarna vs. Brenecia
BYE
Brenecia vs. Karodin Tetrarchy
95X vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. United Adaikes
Garbelia vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Huelavia
Adab vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Polkopia
Brenecia vs. Sharktail
Captina Island vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Savojarna
BYE
Karodin Tetrarchy vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. 95X
United Adaikes vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Garbelia
Huelavia vs. Brenecia
Brenecia vs. Adab
Polkopia vs. Brenecia