CAFA Cup VI: Get CAFA'd - Everything Thread

[Mertagne]

MERTAGNIAN NATIONALISM ON THE RISE
A nation 'searching for identity' find traction with newly released treatise

An explosive new treatise on the Mertagnian national identity has resulted in a shift in the political makeup of the country, according to new data from statistical sources.

The average response to the question "On a scale of 1 to 10, how important do you believe it is for our community to prioritize and promote the interests of our nation above those of other nations?" has ticked upwards significantly in the wake of a new published work from a prominent political academic.

"'Nationalist' is not a Dirty Word", penned by leading political thought scholar at Neorudo's 'School on the Mount', Adeline Feuerbekk, was published approximately a month and half ago across several platforms. In the text, Feuerbekk comments on Mertagne's turbulent history, and notes that many of the issues that the nation has come across historically and in the present day can be attributed to a refusal to accept a strong national identity.

Citing the foundation of Mertagne as a 'nation manufactured by migrants', Feuerbekk states that the idea of a true Mertagnian national identity is something that has attempted to be born over and over again, but has never truly taken hold in all aspects of the Mertagnian society. 'Too indebted are we to those that had a hand in our making', writes Feuerbekk, 'and until we can organise ourselves well enough to be free from foreign influence, our land will continue to stagnate'.

The treatise discusses the influence that Mertagne's neighbours and allies have had in the construction of the nation, and how the influence of unfair dealings with foreign capital hampered the fledgling Mertagnian state from the very beginning. The sale of Syndicatian land to the Eurans is given as the biggest example of this, as well as the sale of Euran military surplus to the Mertagnian Army -- a lucrative contract given the nation's implementation of National Service that has been renewed in the wake of the end of the Insulation.

Feuerbekk claims that 'The strings of Mertagne's marionette are held not by the Mertagnians, but by foreign multinationals and their own governments. The same spectres that haunted the Insulation still linger even now.' The treatise provides evidence of strong foreign investment within Mertagne to justify its claims, as well as the historical pegging of the national currency to the Euran Pound, and the involvement of the controversial HULD Group (a multi-national industrial conglomerate with its own mercenary force that was active in south-western Mertagne during the insulation) in modern day union-busting activity and tax fraud.

The release of "'Nationalist' is not a Dirty Word" calls for more action from Mertagnians to reject succumbing to 'globalist forces' and instead focus on 'creating and pushing Mertagnian influence on the rest of the world for a change'. Feuerbekk makes an example of Michelle Romanage, businessperson, former FMF Chair, and current CAFA President, as an example of how Mertagnians need to be more 'innovative within their own space'. Several other aims are outlined in the treatise, claiming that those organised for Citizens Assemblies should 'use their opportunity to shape and enact Mertagnian Values' and 'not believe everything the Meritocratic Council informs you about'. One of the more esoteric aims of the project is for more national holidays to be declared, with the popularly celebrated yet not officially stated "Latimer Day", a celebration in reverence of the life of Mertagnian Poet Luke Latimer, to be instated as an official holiday. Currently, the only 'wholly' Mertagnian holiday is the Day of the Small Ships, which the treatise puts on blast as "yet another day for our foreign compatriots to pat themselves on the back for saving the lowly Mertagnian from the horrors of a war they created".

Much of the sentiment expressed in "'Nationalist' is not a Dirty Word" seems to be thrust into the spotlight off of the back of an increasingly souring sentiment to the international community. In a world where Mertagnian industry is feeding half of Calania, but an increasing slice of the population dresses in a Starblaydi tracksuit, watches Krytenian television, spends their holidays in the Ochre Islands, and gets their medication from Euran pharmaceutical companies, it's easy to see why few really recognise what it means to be 'Mertagnian'.

Many critics to the treatise have emerged across the media and community, claiming that Mertagne's diversity and cosmopolitan methods set it apart from other nations on the Calanian continent in Anaia. With some claiming that outright autocracy is practiced in several areas around Lake Bekk alone, Mertagne's involvement of all people at the heart of its decision making is something to be admired. Supporters of a more internationalist approach, such as those in the current ruling political party Aurrera! have in the past claimed that by embracing globalism, 'the mistakes of the Insulation will never be repeated'. A desire to work and become a key player by operating within the international community is of importance to the current government regime, and the current Aurrera! government have placed their focus on addressing income inequality in the rural areas of the nation, encouraging investment from nations across the SARIMEA region such as Tumbra, who Mertagne have gained a close relationship with in recent times.

The treatise discusses this relationship, and warns the diplomats Mertagne against 'pursuing strong relationships without a solid sense of self, lest Tumbran interests dominate the agenda'. However, it can be said that Mertagnian interests in areas such as the Tumbran Northlands have been protected, with Mertagnian industry winning key contracts for resource extraction that will continue to bolster the economy.

Overall, the release of this text will certainly rock the current government, which wears a globalist badge with pride. Whether this will translate to the ballot box is certainly unknown -- but current polling trends do see a slight downtick from Aurrera!'s current majority. The pink-clad party won their majority initially by promising change to the Mertagnian Charter, and reaped the reward of realising that change in the first elections under the new system. However, in a post Bowerton nation, and Aurrera! in its fifth year of governance, the cracks are starting to show in Aurrera!'s own identity and policy direction moving forward. Is it possible that a different, 'authentically Mertagnian' political force could emerge, spearheaded by Mertagnians who are 'innovative within their own space'? Adeline Feuerbekk will certainly be hoping so.

[Audioslavia]

The Worst Way to Lose
Man in checked shirt and dark blue gilet stares disapprovingly at Bulls

There was a time when an opening-day matchup against Starblaydia was a good omen for the Bulls. Before a matchday one reverse in World Cup 88, the side had defeated Il Viola Vile on countless tournament curtain-raisers. Here though, on matchday one of the sixth CAFA Cup, the purple ones accounted for the Bulls in the most humiliating fashion: We have once again been hoisted by our own petard. Posssession 64%-46%, Shots on goal 13-1, Shots on target 6-1, Goals 0-1. Humiliatingly, Starblaydia have once again beaten Audioslavia by the most Audioslavian of means.

It's easy to be reminded of the Battle of Canterlot, the final of AOCAF 61 played between the two sides, in which Starblaydia decided to shock Audioslavia by naming the most Audioslavian-looking side they could think of and out-bastarding a shocked Bulls side, eventually winning via an ill-gotten penalty converted by Hope Roshanak.

With the defeat, Audioslavia are bottom of the group with two games to play, but could find themselves eliminated should they lose out to Chromatika on matchday two. Chromatika, against whom the Bulls have a 1-1-4 record and are winless in two against in CAFA Cup competition, went into the group stage the favourites for victory in this match and Alaba's Audioslavia have done very little to suggest that they might have anything other than a puncher's chance come the midweek matchup.

If there's any hope for Audioslavians it may be in the fact that Ager Alaba has started slowly in every competition he's entered. Back to back defeats in the opening two games of the last Cup of Harmony didn't stop the side eventually reaching the semi-finals, while an opening day defeat in qualifying for the last World Cup was eventually turned around into one of the strongest qualifying runs in the national team's history. On the other hand 'hey we almost qualified for the World Cup and remember how we reached the last four of the Cup of Harmony' is perhaps not quite a strong enough call for the nation to rally around.

[United Hawkland]

Well, a loss to a club like Ko-oren wasn't shocking. It's impossible to say that United Hawkland had a chance. We've already seen how they play against local regions. Huay wiped the floor with them. Ko-oren and United Hawkland could become rivals in the future, but before they can become rivals, they have to be on the same level. Ko-orenite football is still miles above United Hawkland's level. The young nation thrived in the Brevity Cup because there were many nations just like them. But in Anaia, they will have to become aquainted to a much stronger, smarter, and better talent pool. It will take years for United Hawkland to be at the level of much stronger and bigger nations. For now, the remain a 4th pot unranked club. But in the future, one day, the IceBears may be of the greats.

[Aleirave]

Road Starts Here
Aleirave 2-1 Evermark (Golden Goal)

Being tied after 90 minutes was just a bit yikes for this Seagulls team.

Hopes were high for them, after all. Although they were narrowly denied a spot as a pot one team, they were drawn into co-hosts Cardenao's group, meaning that they were the 7th ranked team in a group where nobody else was ranked over 15th. Surely, surely this couldn't go wrong for the team--

Well you're wrong. This is CAFA. Everything, I mean everything can go wrong, and this match between the Seagulls and Evermark seemed to be going wrong, with the score level at one at full time. The bright side to all of this? Well, there was a weird format in play, of course. Welcome to the golden goal rule, which basically turns your football tournament into Eshian rules hockey; the match can run just as long as it needs to until eventually, EVENTUALLY someone slips a ball past one of the keepers.

This format would wind up bailing the team out, as the keeper was Merry Cassalei and the goalscorer was Terale Fiasala, giving the Aleiravan team their first win.

There were a couple of theories swirling around about why the team couldn't win sooner than they did, but the simplest was Haulafo Paka'ula's response: they simply hasn't seen Evermark before.

It makes sense; every team has their strengths and their weaknesses, and the Seagulls didn't quite understand the Seekers' weaknesses yet. As long as you have the right manager, familiarity with your opponents is nothing but a plus, as said manager can strategize around what makes the other team tick, given the knowledge. If your manager isn't as good at strategizing though... good luck. Your opponents will be the ones with that edge.

Familiarity with the other teams in the group wasn't something the Seagulls exactly had in spades. As already mentioned, they had never seen the team from Evermark before, but neither had they seen the one from Kharakia, either. Some mainlanders had real contempt for Kharakia, sure, but that was mainly about Alex Kolek leaving Eshialand to "chase a paycheck" instead of spending his final domestic years around his friends and family at home. Their grudge should be squarely on Kolek, not the nation he chose to play in.

As for the Aleiravans? They couldn't care less about what happened on the mainland. They knew nothing about Kharakia, and they didn't care either way. Just another game they hoped they could win. As for the upcoming MD though... that one could get juicy.

You see, Aleirave and their Cardenaoan hosts did in fact have history. One could even say a score to settle! The CAFA V playoffs were just that important and heated. Cardenao had the lead in their Round of 16 match at the half-way mark, two goals to one... but the Seagulls started cooking with gas as the second half arrived, scoring the goals they needed to not just tie it up, but be in firm possession of the game by full time. 3-2 was the final score, and it would be Aleirave moving on to face the other hosts of this edition, Huayramarca, in the quarterfinals.

There was no telling for Haulafo and crew whether the Cardenaoans would be out for blood this time around or if things would take a more peaceful turn... but they were ready for anything. The second game of the group stage may not be the last, but it sure was gonna be its climax for this team. Anything can happen in CAFA. Anything could happen against Cardenao. All the Seagulls could do was prepare.

[Krytenia]

The small town of Prestbury, in the north of the state of Aigea, is a place familiar with sport. Football, however, is not the sport of choice. Just up the road lies Prestbury Dale racecourse, home of one of the biggest dates on the horse racing calendar. On the last week of March, the great, the good, and the dying to be lucky descend on the town and the racecourse for the Spring Festival; four days of premium jumps racing culminating in the Silver Trophy, a race over three miles and two hundred and twenty yards with a cool ₳800,000 on offer for the winning owner.

Certainly, this would explain why the main shopping street, Farrier's Way, contains no less than twelve betting shops.

This, however, is not the last week of March. It's the middle of summer, and with summer racing mostly on the flat, Prestbury Dale is quiet. One establishment on Farrier's Way, though, is decidedly not so. That would be the Mustard Pot public house. Unsurprisingly, the walls of the saloon bar in the Mustard Pot are adorned with pictures of thoroughbreds in full gallop, and a few prominent racing silks in frames. Behind the bar, however, there's something else in a frame that seems rather incongruous to the decor; an Ochre Islands jersey, signed by the CAFA II winning squad.

The publican, you see, is one Edward "Teddy" Grainwater, and he's from the Ochres. Coming to Emberton some ten years ago at the behest of an old friend, Teddy had been landlord of a few pubs in the city before the freehold of the Mustard Pot became available. An avid horse racing fan, the decision to up sticks to the more parochial surroundings of Prestbury had been a no-brainer. His genial nature and knowledge of the sports of both racing and football has endeared him to the locals - but he's expecting a slightly different atmosphere tomorrow evening.

"This is the first Krytenia-Ochre game since I moved here," he explained, "and the locals have been enjoying a bit of jokey banter all week. We're expecting a wave of sky blue in here on match day, just for the opportunity to rub it in if they win."

Teddy isn't worried about any trouble though. "Fact is, this is one of those towns where everyone knows everyone, so if someone crosses the line, they'll probably never live it down. Besides, it's only football - and it's a good couple of hours with a full bar and drinks flowing. Even if we lose, I'll be making a nice bit of cash to soften the blow!"

Given Krytenia's recent trajectory, one feels "Teddy the Ochre" might be having the last laugh.

[Vdara]

Getting Back On Our Feet

(OOC: RP written with Declan McKenna’s ‘Brazil’ blaring.)

Estadio de la Universidad Nacional del Altiplano,
El Alto


Markos Moustakakos, looking snazzy as always

With their first game back being more of a ‘re-learning the ropes’ exercise, not many expected much from a returning Vdara side which had about as much international pedigree as President Romanatos’ obsession with button-pushing. Still, Markos wanted to make a point to his squad, of what to expect from thereon out. In doing so, he’d set up a small TV on a wooden stool, and switched on the highlights for the players to pore over.

“It’s there, two-nil! Calamity at the back! Vdara’s rustiness shows as the opposition breeze past them with ease, their ‘Welcome Back’ party well and truly cut sho-“

Markos switched off the TV showing the match replay, and pocketed the remote.

”Hear that, guys? ‘Calamity.’ ‘Rustiness.’ ‘With ease.’ What does that tell you?”

Markos scanned the room, with blank eyes staring back at him.

”I’ll tell you what it tells me. Obviously, that they were better, there’s absolutely no shame in that. But - and I stress this - it tells me that some of you were nowhere near ready for the occasion. Now, this is on me. I thought that the fires in your bellies would have given you the kick up the arse needed for this sort of thing, but evidently I thought wrong. This doesn’t mean I’m going to drop any of you, though. I’d make myself look like a right arse if I took draconian measures after losing a game we were expected to lose. What it does mean is that for every game without a goal scored, you’ll all be training twice as hard in the next session. Outran? Double the distance. Outscored? Double the defence drills. One thing you’ll all come to learn is that when you pull on that blue, white, and gold shirt, it’s not just me you’re playing for. It’s your families at home, your mums and your dads, watching and listening intently. It’s the kids you see in town every day, looking for someone to idolise, someone to imitate, someone to admire. It’s the teammates at your clubs, the punters at the pubs, the drunkards spewing into shrubs - you get the picture. You’re playing for everyone in our wee country, so I’d like yous all to buck up your ideas and fucking act like it.”

Looking down at his clipboard, he turned over the page. The only thing written on it was a smiley face.

”Anyways, despite that showing, I do think some credits are in order. Ladies - Katerina, Maria, Sophia - congratulations on being the first women to represent your country at this stage. To the vast majority of you, although you could have shown more, congratulations on your first cap. No doubt, the first of many, so yous will have to get used to my long-winded rants.”

He noticed a few smirks across the room. Plan “:)” was working.

”Serapheim, Anargyros - it took guts for you lads to start today, but I’m glad you did. To the seven of you that were playing abroad, I hope this experience has loosened you up a little, got you back into the swing of things. It’s been a tough time for all of us, so getting yous used to the Vdaran way of life shouldn’t be too hard. If you’re struggling, feel free to swing by - I may act like a nutter, but I promise I’ll give any of you the time of day if you’ve got something to say. That being said, if yous ever get invited to dinner with the President - tell him to fuck off. You’re too good for him and his ‘national ethos’ pish.”

With most people around the room having lightened up, Markos decided he’d worked his magic, and left the players to their own devices whilst he stood outside and leaned against the wall, taking it all in. After all this time out of the spotlight - out of commission, if you will - it felt weird being a manager again. It felt weird being on Huayramarcan soil again. It felt weird being himself again. Of course, during the Period of Disconnection he’d had plenty time with his family, raising his wee boy, enjoying his period of semi-retirement, but he wasn’t really his normal self. But with his team-branded suit on, his hair slicked back, and his vocal cords strained, he was truly back in his element, back where he belonged. Soon, he hoped, Vdara would be too. For too long, he had longed for the roar of the crowds, the tension in the air, the-

”Excuse me, Mr. Moustakakos? The press want to speak to you over there.”

He smiled. He hadn’t longed for the media, but he could live with them.

”Coming.”

[Pyazhnaya]

[Huayramarca]

In a seemingly display of growth, but mostly pushed forward due to the performance of the Condors during the last World Cup with a historical quarter-final, the Huayramarcan Football Association, in support of the Government found a perfect way to celebrate. Aside from a simple celebration, the plans are to extend the influence of the nation in Anaia, mostly in the side of displaying “peace and harmony” between the nations of the region, something in coherence with what the nation had done with the Treaty of Foxchester and AORTA.

Marta Mamani took the podium during the inaugural act at the Estadio Nacional in Chuquiago, she then said “Huayramarca is always committed to her principle of promoting unity among Anaian nations, particularly in this moment of change in the multiverse, a period where we should be unified the most, so we can stand stronger against any challenge that could appear. For that reason, we have allied with Cardenao to host this even, as we have a common vision of unity and for the future of Anaia when it comes to regional affairs; we want to forge a feeling in Anaia to be a family of nations who wish to strive and provide better life conditions for all of us.”

People was applauding, then she continued to say “I’m sure that we will provide an interesting hosting experience for all the nations in the region, great accommodation, pitches, organization, etc. With President Mihaly, we think that both nations can stand and fight against adversity in unity, as we have done in the past… The fact of having a similar culture, language, and social principles have made it easier for us to work and provide this experience to all of you.”

Huayramarca entered to the pitch, the fans roared in celebration and the stadium voice said, “Let’s applaud our heroes, let’s support them in this tournament.” In what it seemed to be a mini celebration after the World Cup, then some banners in appreciation were exhibited in some of the stands of the stadium. As Huayramarca fielded, Martha Mamani congratulated the players, one by one, and gave them some medals in appreciation for their efforts during the cycle. People roaring in the stadium in celebration, expectation in the air for the hosting experience and lots to see with the Huayramarcan NT, all of this caused by their World Cup performance.

And indeed, Martha Mamani wasn’t wrong, the Cardenaoans have been incredibly useful for the hosting process, specially make it better and stronger by the fact of being two similarly minded nations, cultural and linguistic-wise too; it will be, for sure, an interesting point of start for the relationships between both nations, for what they could do in the future and what they could provide for the well-being of the region someday.

[Yesopalitha]

Book 1: Eminent Change
Part 1: Omens and Portents
Part 2: The Meeting
Part 3: Amongst Legends
Part 4: True Darkness
Part 5: A Weighted Solution
Part 6: Sacrifice

---

Book 2: Abundant Chaos
Part 1: Everything Falls Apart
Part 2: The White Maiden
Part 3: Pockets of Hope

---

Book 3: Denouement
Part 1, Yesopalithan Half: Awakening
Part 1, Chromatik Half: The Stuff of Nightmares

Part 2, Yesopalithan Half: Of Myths and Legends

Dark Council Chambers
Freedom's Altar, Yesopalitha

"She did what, now?"

Tarahal, the Great Old Vampire and one of the most important people in Yesopalitha, the head of the Dark Council during NIrdasil's slumber, pounded the council table in disgust as he heard the news. Nirdasil, the Dark Crusader, the head of Yesopalitha, had made an executive decision to go visit the Chromatik armada personally. Reports showed that she had been taken in peacefully, and that the naval force was returning to Chromatika - where the Portal to the Abyss had shifted to due to a magical jungle at the middle of the northern island in Anaia.

Chromatika wasn't really well known in Yesopalitha. Sure, M'aka Antoine's career had gained some interest in the Chromatik Red League, but Yesopalithans were more concerned with domestic affairs than international ones. Besides CAFA, Yesopalitha didn't participate in any other sports; they were perfectly happy to let everyone else take care of themselves while Yesopalitha took care of Yesopalithans. This situation, caused by the Abyss, had finally forced Yesopalitha back into the international stage.

"Did she say anything else?" Tarahal asked, his rage fading a little.

"She said to be ready when she gets permission to draw the teleportation glyph," stated Vrandis, the White Maiden, "She will abide by the old laws and not force teleportation on a country that doesn't want it."

This was standard procedure. Unless Yesopalithans were actually at war, they wouldn't teleport to other nations' lands.

"There was one more thing," Vrandis continued before any of the Dark Council could ask her another question.

"She also said to watch for the Sign of Kastehar," Vrandis concluded, bowing as she mentioned Kastehar.

A hush fell into the room. Kastehar was... A controversial figure in Yesopalithan history. A forest elf who was one of the best killers of the Unbidden during the war for Yesopalithan Freedom, Kastehar's symbol became synonymous with danger as her legend grew. A three-talon claw wreathed in flame, it was very distinctive; the myths stated that she wasn't killed, but put away in a prison far, far away. History became myth, myth became legend, and no texts remained that stated where Kastehar had been sent off to.

"Wait," stated the Chosen's Herald, "Does the Dark Crusader think that the Accursed One is behind all this?"

"She didn't stutter," responded Vrandis, "We must be ready. The best of our forces against the forces of the Abyss must be near our best teleporters for when she persuades the Chromatiks to allow her to draw the sigil. Without the specialized forces of our country, that nation doesn't stand a chance. Modern warfare is great, but demons have a way of adapting to ballistics that will put most of their guns out of commission. Magic is the only thing that will save them."

It was a lot to take in at once, but for the immortal populace of Yesopalitha, the name Kastehar was a nightmare, a name soaked in fear.

"Was she seen there?" croaked Sh'ka'zeem, their ghostly voice barely being heard.

Vrandis raised an eyebrow.

"Does it matter?" retorted Tarahal, "Our leader is there. If she calls, we will be ready. Let the forces know to be ready for the Sign of Kastehar."

As everyone agreed in solemn silence, one could hear a pin drop. Things hadn't been this dire since...

The last time that Kastehar had been alive.

As the councilors made their way out of the Council's Chambers, they were surprised by a shooting star, a sign of hope. This alleviated some of the doom and gloom, but all of them that had long memories remembered.

They remembered the three-talon claw, wreathed in flame. They remembered the hauntingly joyful whistle that she always whistled to taunt her enemies. They remembered her arrows, her magic, and her expertise.

Kastehar. The Unbidden Killer. Was she really back?

[Chromatika]

Book 1: Eminent Change
Part 1: Omens and Portents
Part 2: The Meeting
Part 3: Amongst Legends
Part 4: True Darkness
Part 5: A Weighted Solution
Part 6: Sacrifice

---

Book 2: Abundant Chaos
Part 1: Everything Falls Apart
Part 2: The White Maiden
Part 3: Pockets of Hope

---

Book 3: Denouement
Part 1, Yesopalithan Half: Awakening
Part 1, Chromatik Half: The Stuff of Nightmares
Part 2, Yesopalithan Half: Of Myths and Legends

Part 2, Chromatik Half: Harbinger of Death

Map of Myana Island.

Along State Route 17
Five Miles West of Limonte, Myana Island, Chromatika

Corporal Madeline Essex took another peek through the scope of her sniper rifle on top of the small ridge that she was defending with other members of her platoon. Under the command of Lieutenant Isaac Kashnar, the 3rd Platoon, made up of the Chromatik Army stationed on Myana Island, were asked to hold the hill and inform the rest of the Chromatik forces when the invading forces headed east of Limonte. The forty-eight members of the platoon had taken up position at the top of this hill. Made up mostly of snipers and riflemen, they were equipped to handle almost any small arms incursion. Unfortunately, though, they were not against regular forces.

Chromatika's relationship with magic could be best explained as strenuous. Though The Enlightened Ones had shown that extraplanar, and magical, forces existed, the Chromatiks had been so engrossed in figuring out what to do with their country that they had barely spent too much time figuring out the magical nations of Anaia. The consensus seemed to be that modern arms didn't really work on the enemies that they were facing; however, headshots seemed to work, and as long as they had the guns and their wits about them, they could surely hold the hill...

"Did you hear that about the new death toll?" asked Park So-Yeong, her spotter, "They say that it's more than 50,000 now. Less and less survivors leave the warzone by the hour. Reportedly, there are some that are holding up in Eyrods and other cities, but it doesn't look good."

"This is crazy," commented Madeline, "Demons are things you only read about in books. They shouldn't exist, let alone be here killing Chromatiks. Our country was barely getting over the aftereffects of the Rainbow Revolution. This is nuts."

"Incoming!" shouted one of the other spotters.

Sure enough, showing up on Madeline's scope, was a being of pure shadow, standing at eight feet tall. A group of twenty of them were starting to head for the hill, as the shadow that marked the line started to inch forward.

"Fire at will!" screamed Lieutenant Kashnar, as the shadow demons charged. Madeline made her shots count per Park's calls, clipping three of the demons on their heads; as the demons got closer, the spotters engaged them with their rifles, and the platoon were able to handle the initial twenty without much trouble.

"Call in for reinforcements," motioned Kashnar to his communications officer.

As the sergeant started to radio in for reinforcements, Madeline looked back through her scope, and froze.

A demon with a skeletal head, burning red eyes, and a radiating aura emerged from the darkness. This figure was unlike anything that they had seen before, and although some of the snipers engaged it, the bullets seemed to stop before they could hit the creature.

"Behold," stated the creature in a loud, booming voice that could be heard throughout the landscape, "Your doom is neigh. The Portal has finally found a home, and now that we've access to this plane, all shall fall. The Anointed will arrive and put everything to right. For too long, my brethren and I were split in the depths of the Abyss, infighting. For too long, we had no order. Now, with The Anointed in charge, we have a singular focus."

Four more sniper rifle shots rang throughout the air, but the being dropped the bullets with a swipe of its hand.

"You will serve me in undeath," the creature continued, "It is your greatest calling."

With a sweep of its hand, an army of skeletons rose from the ground. Shadow creatures of various sizes also emerged from the darkness, and the combination of undead and demons began to swarm the hill.

As gunshots rang out, Lieutenant Kashnar was able to send one last message back to Chromatik HQ:

"There are extranormal forces here of immense power. We're going to need magical help to beat them. We will hold out as long as we can. Please tell my family that I love them. Kashnar out."

The Abyss claimed ten more miles of land in the next twelve hours, and started to creep northward toward Egren...

[Cardenao]

A Look Into Cardenao’s Anaia Relations

With matchday 2 of the CAFA Cup about upon us, it is just about time to take a look at Cardenao’s relationship with our fellow Anaia nations. While it’s only been nine years since we emerged from our century of isolation, President Mihaly has been hard at work forging relationships with our regional neighbors (and outside the region but that’s for another article). We’ve made some friends, some very close friends, and we might’ve made some not friends along the way. Generally speaking, it seems the general multiverse feeling towards our great nation and her people is…“Who?” Yes, most countries are seemingly unaware of Cardenao, the greatest country situated in both Nova Calania and Lurhautsia, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. See, I would argue being unknown is much better than being known in the manner of Gregoryisgodistan. Would it be nice to have more respect put on our name? For sure yes but then that means you have expectations set on you and that seems like an awful lot of work to try and fulfill them. So yes, being unknown does have its perks but I hope to see more positive name recognition moving forward for Cardenao and I think this tournament will go a long way to making that happen, providing things don’t go horribly wrong. Anyhow, let’s take a look at our allies.

Allies:

The Kingdom of Quebec and Shingoryeo: Our closest ally within our home region is undoubtedly Quebec and Shingoryeo. From the moment we emerged onto the multiverse stage, the Quebecois have been quick to lend our country aid. First they were sending us medicine, then they bought our marijuana at exorbitant prices to inject some capital into the nation, a couple steps later with one thing leading to another and three years ago our nations signed the Friendship and Solitude (FAS) Treaty. This alliance is primarily a mutual defense and optional aggression pact but there are various economic factors attached to it to help stimulate Cardenaoan economic growth. Fortunately the military aspect of the alliance hasn’t been activated yet but there’s already been a beneficial economic impact from Quebecois purchasing Cardenaoan goods while the weapons our Nova Calania neighbor has been delivering has surely been a national defense boon as well. I know nought what the future of Cardenao is but I’m damn glad to have the Quebecois riding with us.

The Confederacy of Pyazhnaya: The mysteriously named treaty between our two nations is essentially an Amity and Cooperation treaty and has worked out considerably well in Cardenao’s favor. The nation of Pyazhnaya is a prolific producer of military equipment which has been essential in supplying our country with a variety of new capabilities. It is regrettable that securing new ways to kill one another is such a national priority, but considering how Eshan committed a genocidal campaign against us and destroyed 70% of our country, I say it’s well fucking earned. What do we supply them in return? Well here is where President Mihaly shows his genius once again and here enters the nation of Tikariot. Tikariot loves coffee so much to the point it’s like they have a 24th chromosome that specifically makes them fanatic to coffee. It just so happens that several of the Islas Cardenai are prolific producers of such quality coffee that the TIkariotians couldn’t help but sign a Treaty of Friendship and trade their high quality technology to us for that coffee. Most of that tech is passed right over to Pyazhnaya, after being copied and reverse engineered I’m sure, and that’s how we pay for their military equipment. Like I said, genius.

That’s it. We have two allies in our entire region.

Becoming Friends:

The Plurinational State of Huayramarca: Yes Cardenao is becoming friends with Huayramarca as evidenced by, well, our nations co-hosting this CAFA Cup. Our beautiful nations have many shared aspects including our general culture, similar climates, a shared appreciation for pupusas, high tempo attacking fulbo, we’ve got a lot of similarities as our shared hosting of this tournament has shown. I must admit, I was surprised when rumors first broke of Huayramarca approaching Cardenao with a hosting bid,up until this point we’ve been a nobody, but now perhaps our friendship is deepening and this will result in more official government collaboration and agreement. Hosting the most prestigious, high-profile, and important regional football tournament is a helluva way to open an international dialogue.

Neutral yet somewhat positive

The Absolute State of Bostopia: Our history with Bostopia isn’t very extensive, no not at all. Indeed we’ve really only had one substantive encounter with this mysterious nation when they provided us with a good deal of salami after the Chestnuttening, which was quite nice of them and brings us to our final entry on the list.

INRSTBHWYAIHMP (I'm Not Really Sure To Be Honest With You And It Has Me Perplexed)

The Republic and Community of Ochre Islands: Now this is a complicated one because I myself am not even sure what’s happening with our closest geographic neighbors. First, we started as strangers. Then we became kinda sortaish friends, traded some materials and opened up a ferry lane between our nations. Then……The Chestnuttening. A date that will live in infamy when the Ochrens carpet bombed our beautiful nation with chestnuts, leading to 6 year old Annabelle Bloom getting sent to the hospital for having quite a nasty cut on her head. Naturally, the only viable reaction was for President Mihaly to flex his muscle and launch an invasion of the Ochre Islands, which has resulted in………I don’t know. You don’t know. The people that know don’t know. Nobody knows. This conversation is over.

All in all, the state of Cardenaoan relations within Anaia can be described as promising yet pitiful. The relations we have are truly good ones, which plenty of benefit for Cardenao while we aren’t sacrificing anything essential or even important. However, our list of nations we engage with is quite small and the list of those we could reasonably consider to be allies are even short, that is a problem. Creating meaningful relations with other nations, not just militarily but also in terms of culture, in terms of economic activity, in terms of just generally creating goodwill with our regional neighbors, that is important and if I am being honest, it seems like Cardenao has been slacking on that front in the past few years. The first six years of our post-isolation period were marked by rapid internal development and forging promising ties with other nations. Now, while our country is building and growing faster than ever, Cardenao has yet to really create a relationship of international connections and has certainly not established any level of credibility as a meaningful actor on the big stage.

What does that mean? While it’s nice to be unknown it seems those days are numbered.

[Huayramarca]

Matchday Two cutoff!!!

Gold skies ahead! Will your team get closer to qualification?

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Group 5 (Five)
Wokeanaia 0–2 Legalese - Il Palomino, Alameda
Ochre Islands 0–0 Krytenia (1-0 Golden Goal) - La Academia, Joya del Sol

  Group 5 (Five)           Pld   W  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Legalese                   2   2  0    4   1  +3    6 Q
2 Ochre Islands              2   2  0    4   2  +2    6 Q
3 Krytenia                   2   0  2    1   3  −2    0
4 Wokeanaia                  2   0  2    2   5  −3    0

Group 6 (Six)
Kharakia 1–1 Evermark (1–2 Golden Goal) - RTC Transhub Arena, Sareña
Cardenao 3–3 Aleirave (4-3 Golden Goal) - The Cottage, Küsbon

  Group 6 (Six)            Pld   W  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Cardenao                   2   2  0    6   4  +2    6 Q
2 Aleirave                   2   1  1    5   5   0    3
3 Evermark                   2   1  1    3   3   0    3
4 Kharakia                   2   0  2    2   4  −2    0

Group 7 (7)
The Karodin Tetrarchy 0–0 Atheara (1-0 Golden Goal) - The Palace, Alegría
Lexandrija 1–3 Mertagne - Casa Cartablanca, Cartablanca

  Group 7 (7)              Pld   W  L   GF  GA  GD  Pts 
1 Mertagne                   2   2  0    4   1  +3    6 Q
  The Karodin Tetrarchy      2   2  0    6   3  +3    6 Q
3 Atheara                    2   0  2    0   2  −2    0
4 Lexandrija                 2   0  2    4   8  −4    0

[Cardenao]

Matchday Two cutoff!!!

Group 1 (One)
Parumaquae 0–0 Bostopia (0–1 Golden Goal) - Estadio Nacional de Huayramarca - Capacity: 45,500 - Huayramarca Metropolitan District
Huayramarca 2–1 Pyazhnaya - Estadio de la Universidad Nacional del Altiplano - Capacity: 24,000 – El Alto

Group 1 (One) Pld W L GF GA GD Pts
1 Huayramarca 2 2 0 3 1 +2 6
2 Pyazhnaya 2 1 1 5 3 +2 3
3 Bostopia 2 1 1 2 4 −2 3
4 Parumaquae 2 0 2 0 2 −2 0

Group 2 (Two)
Vdara 4–3 Starblaydia - Estadio Olímpico del Oriente - Capacity: 26,000 - Sechura
Chromatika 0–1 Audioslavia - Estadio Municipal de Pando - Capacity: 18,000 - Pando

Group 2 (Two)           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   Pts 
1 Vdara                   2    1   0   1     4    5     3
2 Starblaydia             2    1   0   1     4    4     3
3 Chromatika              2    1   0   1     2    1     3
4 Audioslavia             2    1   0   1     1    1     3

Group 3 (Three)
Notricia 2–2 Cocoabo Forest (3–2 Golden Goal) - Estadio Olímpico Universitario - Capacity: 55,000 Lima
Flavovespia 1–1 Estorvipa and Estorpiva (2–1 Golden Goal) - Estadio Metropolitano del Guayas - Capacity: 62,000 - Guayaquil

Group 3 (Three)            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   Pts 
1 Flavovespia                2    2   0   0     3    1     6
2 Notricia                   2    1   0   1     3    3     3
3 Estorvipa and Estorpiva    2    1   0   1     2    2     3
4 Cocoabo Forest             2    0   0   2     2    4     0

Group 4 (Four)
United Hawkland 0–2 Koronavia - Estadio Marítimo - Capacity: 22,000 – Puerto San Carlos
Ko-oren 1–0 Yesopalitha - Estadio Marítimo - Capacity: 22,000 – Puerto San Carlos (Match held immediately after United Hawkland-Koronavia

Group 4 (Four)          Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   Pts 
1 Ko-oren                 2    2   0   0     3    0     6
  Koronavia               2    2   0   0     3    0     6
3 United Hawkland         2    0   0   2     0    4     0
  Yesopalitha             2    0   0   2     0    2     0

[Cardenao]

Matchday 3 prompt (optional): What are your most memorable moments with other nations in the CAFA Cup?

[Cocoabo Forest]

Matchday 2 prompt (optional): Any history between your nation and your opponent? Perhaps it's the time to write about it. No rivals, perhaps it's the time to forge one?

The only Nation with any history with Notricia is Flavovespia, who played them on Matchday 1. We know nothing about them, other than what was included on their team sheet, they claim to be led by an Earl and enjoy the color Burgundy. We think Burgundy is OK too.

Matchday 3 prompt (optional): What are your most memorable moments with other nations in the CAFA Cup?

All memorable moments in the CAFA Cup are with other nations. For a future CAFA Cup, we request the opportunity to play ourselves only to forge new memories that do not include other nations in order to do a proper comparison. Also, it would likely reduce the odds of being eliminated from the competition after just two matchdays. At least we won't have to stick around for the messy conclusion to Matchday 3 when everyone finishes on the same amount of points... except us. Bon Voyage, Cup of Tiebreakers!

[Ko-oren]

It seems that the parliamentary elections have found their focus: language. Where last election cycle aimed at economic growth, and specifically where and how this economic growth could be best attained, this election cycle we are back for cultural themes. Central to the language issue is the promotion of Gehrennic - local - languages over others, but this comes with a significant federal undertone. Promoting Gehrennan goes hand in hand with a centralist state, while a larger diversity of languages on Ko-oren is a platform that pro-regional or federal parties also run on.

You can see three groups of parties here: the Meritocratic Centralists, the Democratic Centralists, and the Democratic Regionalists. The fourth quadrant, the Meritocratic Regionalists, is almost empty, though several individual politicans could be classified here. In this area belongs a belief that policy makers will benefit regions, by making policy in and about the regions, but believing that all must do so while working under meritocratic tenets - which is explicitly something that multiple regions of Ko-oren reject. Most notably, Cote Austral's fiercely democratic voterbase, and Yoshima's rejection of 'Gehrennan ideas' - with those ideas being largely synonymous with a Ko-oren-style meritocracy.

The Meritocratic Centralists include the pro-government parties, with the famous yellow M (Meritocrats) at the top. In their neighbourhood are the pro-meritocracy Conservatives ('Con'), the pro-Gehrennic Nationalists ('N'), and the duo of green parties, Vert&Bleu (VB) and Midori! (M!). The latter group do not have a large preference, but the current meritocratic system overlaps with their ideas of how to attain a green society - as is written into the constitution - so they often end up supporting the legislative branch.

The Democratic Centralists include three parties supporting policy areas that were taken from foreign systems, ie. the 'typical' labour and liberal parties (La, Li) and the International party, who wish for Ko-oren to become a larger force in cross-border cooperation and treaties.

The Democratic Regionalists are comprised of several sub-groups that just so happen to agree on these specific issues. The Regional parties - Reg and Yos, the Democrats (purple 'D'), the Pirate Party ('P'), and the liberal economic party ('É').

While the labour and liberal parties have gotten significant traction and routinely both poll within the top five of largest parties, the true battle of this cultural axis is fought between the top-left Meritocrats/Centralists and the bottom right Regional/Democrats. We suspect that both labour and liberal will trend towards one of these two groups as the cycle continues, with both likely to pick opposite sides as to appear polar opposites even more, even though they see eye-to-eye. There are obvious differences, which show up clearly with the 'typical' compass:

[Ochre Islands]

DIPLOMATIC NOTE

On behalf of the rightfully elected Prime Minister of the Ochre Islands, Willow of the Finches:

This afternoon, my Parliament has ratified the Ochre Environmental Revival and Natural Protection Act, 2264, on the advice of the Ochre deities whose precious guidance we follow. For too long we have let those without our Ochre-heart and environmental spirit spoil our precious wilderness and nature by trampling over it in their coachloads, or residing in our hotels without paying the proper homage to our deities and the natural world in which they inhabit.

With immediate effect, we are therefore reducing our ties with other Anaian nations, who for too long have let Ochre goodwill and wishes for harmony amongst all Anaian nations be either taken for granted or outright ignored. Ochre diplomatic missions in foreign states will be greatly reduced to a skeleton personnel only in order to serve any Ochre citizens there, and we shall no longer be attending any foreign-held conferences. The Ochre Islands section of Koroa City will be abandoned and left 'as is' as a reminder to the region of the destruction that they have caused to us.

We are hereby reviewing all of our international agreements, including AORTA membership, and the ferry service from Cardenao shall run for the final time on Friday evening.

[Bostopia]

There was a familiar park in the centre of Newfort, in the district which was colloquially known as 'Central Newfort', despite its official name of 'Newfort Central.' The park itself was simply known as 'The Park', and was famously a known meeting spot for spies, diplomatic types and regular people who were neither spies nor diplomatic types and you can't prove anything.

However, 'The Park' isn't where todays protagonists met today and nor does it have much to do with anything, for they were instead in a statue garden in the grounds of the Foreign Palace, as the grand HQ of Bostopia's foreign office was known, sealed off from the rest of the city by high walls.

Charatha Gronsthune was one such foreign office worker, taking her lunch break and cautiously inspecting the statues around her, convinced that the one holding a cockeral was watching her back and the pair of them were breathing ever so slightly. She looked around her and furtively began to reach her hand out to flick the statue's cockeral when she heard her name called, causing her to both jump and pull her arm back toward her.

'Charatha!' It was her old friend, Precious, who had come running out the building. 'I've just heard something amazing. And I saw you reaching out toward that statue, ready to flick it's co-'

'No time for that, Precious' Charantha said, quickly changing the subject. 'What's this news?'

'Well' Precious replied, with a glint in her eye. 'Two things. Firstly, the statue isn't real and you can't just go flicking random baby roosters, whether men are holding them or not, and whether they're real or not. And secondly, actually, let's sit down for this one.'

'Alright' Charantha replied, glancing back at the statue and being glad to be moving out of its earshot. Whether it was real or not, it sure was creepy.

Finding a bench on the other side of the garden next to a rather large bush, they sat down. 'I figured you'd want to be sitting down for this' Precious told her, taking Charantha's hands into her own. 'What's that then?' Charantha replied, subconsciously squeezing her and Precious's own hands as her anticipation built.

'It's-' 'WAIT' cried Charantha. 'The statue with the cockeral - it's gone!' The two of them looked at where it had been, only to see that it had been loaded onto a trolley and moved closer towards them by a familiar-looking staff member.

'Made out of rubber' the worker explained to the ladies. 'You have to move it around in the sun or it'll melt.'

'Oh' replied Charantha, still not entirely convinced. 'Sorry Precious, go on.' 'It's the Ochres' she began. 'They've gone into a period of isolation. I think we've won.'

Charantha gasped, as did Precious, though Precious only did as Charantha was known for her long fingernails that were now digging into Precious' skin. She wasn't likely to be that shocked by news that she already knew and had just told somebody else.

Charantha's eyes widened. 'Does the Duke know?' Precious thought for a moment then replied with a single word 'no.' 'Then I must tell him!' Charantha replied, before falling off the bench as it clumsily rose to its feet.

'No need' said the bench. 'For it is I!' He cried. 'The Duke!'

[Flavovespia]

A golden goal victory in the group stage is an unusual occurrence, but it was what Flavovespia got over Estorvipa and Estorpiva. Again, the game was closer than hoped, not helped by Flavovespia’s early mistakes, but in the end the holders ground out another win.

There was just on change for Flavovespia from their squad from the opening game, Richard Birmingham starting in place of Adrian Jones. However it was at the back where changes were maybe needed. In just the second minute, a relatively simple headed clearance by Paul Taylor was fluffed, and the ball was set up easily for Fabian Prasutagusic. He made no error to slot the ball low past Aarif Muhammad. Flavovespia were shocked by that error, going 0-1 down so early. The defence was shaken, and were desperately hanging on to avoid conceding a second for much of the opening exchanges.

Against the run of play in the 38th minute, Flavovespia found themselves an equaliser. A threaded through ball by Jonathan Goldstone was perfectly weighted for Jonathan Bagshaw. Bagshaw cut inside, and unleashed a great shot to beat Sashka Vidanova with precision and accuracy in the finish. Despite a less than stellar first half, Flavovespia were going to go into the break level with Estorvipa and Estorpiva.

The second half was one where the teams felt more equal in performance Michael Cole and Jonathan Bagshaw on the wings were proving a real test for Estorvipa and Estorpiva to deal with, they had a good handful of chances. Estorpiva and Estorvipa though were certainly finding opportunities of their own, and could consider themselves unlucky to come up against Aarif Muhammad in great form. The minutes ticked on with no decider, and the full time whistle blew after 90 minutes, the score 1-1.

Usually that’d be that for a group stage game, but tired legs had to go on, for a Golden Goal period of extra time. Much like the lead pack on a cycling mountain climb, or an intense game of chess, there was a sense of seeing would either side crack, or would there be a moment of magic. The first 15 minutes saw some probing passes and attempts at an attack, but the game was in the hands of the defences. Then, 115 minutes in, the decisive and final moment of the game. A corner was whipped in by Kieron Player. Michael Cole made a run from the edge of the penalty box towards the near post. Adjacent to the 6 yard box, he got his head on the ball qith a running leap, and steered it past Vidanova and into the goal. 2-1, the final whistle gone, and Flavovespia had the 3 points. It was again not a stunning performance, but it was enough to win. With Notricia winning 3-2 in extra time over Cocoabo Forest, Flavovespia need another win to guarantee a top 2 spot, although they’ll hope 6 points is enough anyway to make the knockout stages.

Of course, last minute or extra time wins have a big part in the history of Flavovespia’s CAFA Cup story. In the CAFA Cup 4 Final, most certainly Flavovespia‘s finest CAFA Cup and footballing moment, it was the 89th minute, when Jonathan Bagshaw found the space to slot in the winning goal against Ko-oren, sending the nation to their first ever international trophy in an unforgettable moment. In CAFA Cup 5, Flavovespia were back in the final, this time against Pyazhnaya. This one went all the way to extra time, but in the 106th minute, a quick break from the kick off saw Michael Cole’s low driven cross flicked in by Adrian Jones, making it 2-3 in Flavovespia’s favour. The defence held firm for another half of extra time, and Flavovespia retained the CAFA Cup.

[Kharakia]

"This whole 'no draws' thing has screwed our national team over. Why would they even choose to do this? It's not even the knockout stage yet, and already we've lost twice because of Huayramarca's stupid rule. They should just give up hosting events forever, as should Cardenao, who I guess we should be even more mad at because they're hosting us, but Huayramarca actually made up the rule, which caused this stupid bullcrap. I knew we should have voted for Wokeanaia, because at least they have common sense! This isn't even real football! The only two benefits to this entire CAFA experience for us is Frank Michael-Smith finally being useful, and watching United Hawkland suffer! Absolutely ridiculious-" I cut off the radio. I couldn't stand to hear that stupid radio host talk crap about our NT. While I don't agree with the rule, I respect Huayramarca's decision. They tried something new, and clearly, it's failing. The only ones not complaining are the teams who've won on golden goal. I don't think this is real soccer, and as the sport grows in the Kharakian isles, I don't think citizens will respect Huayramarca. But those are just my thoughts.

Kharakia 1-2 Evermark (On Golden Goal)
Ryan Kakasarais 43'

[Estorvipa and Estorpiva]

From the diary of Marek Lemish

I knew there was a reason why I hated extra time. It’s not just because it’s another additional thirty minutes of exertion on my body, plus how long the penalty shootout takes place if it goes all the way. It’s because some of the worst moments in my life have happened in extra time, and the sooner that I won’t have to play these kinds of games anymore, the better. I don’t think I’ve ever been on the winning end of a single game of football that’s ever gone to extra time. It doesn’t matter if I’m actually playing in that game or just watching, the team that I support always ends up losing in extra time. I must have had a curse placed on me when I was young!

That match against Mertagne in the 4th CAFA Cup will always remain the worst football match I have ever played in my life. I had a handful of chances to win the game in the second half as well as the thirty extra minutes, but the moment I knew that I had messed up our chances of moving forward in the CAFA Cup was when I missed my penalty kick as the first kicker. Everything hinged on me making that spot kick, and I failed. I failed myself, I failed my team, and I failed my entire country. Mertagne couldn’t find a way past us in 120 minutes, but once I missed my penalty, they knew that they had us for the taking. This has to be the second worst moment of my whole life, second only to when I found out that my younger brother had been drafted into Vissarion Zhivkov’s Estorpivan People’s Army during the Federal Defense Forces’ reclamation operation.

It’s not over for the Federal Republic just yet though. We still have to play Notricia, and so far it looks like they’re doing better than us simply because they’ve scored more goals than we have. But anything can happen in football, and the only thing that decides whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing is how it affects the team I support. And I support the Federal Republic with all my heart. If I am called upon to play tomorrow, I will go out there and do all that I can to score a goal. Maybe even two. Who knows? A hat trick also wouldn’t be half bad, if my shooting boots don’t fail me tomorrow.

    FLAVOVESPIA 2 - 1 ESTORVIPA AND ESTORPIVA    
  BAGSHAW (38')       PRASUTAGUSIC (2')
    COLE (115')

[Audioslavia]

They've Turned the Beans Against Us
Bulls to play Bird-on-a-Branch types on Matchday Three

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Staring extra-time in the face, teetering on the brink against a superior Chromatika side, Marc-Antoine Trigintillion's speculative half-volley from out of nowhere (how else do you describe the bit of the field kind of equidistant from the centre circle, the left flank and the D of the penalty area?) looped, dipped and swirled into the opposite corner of the goal and left Juxon Fillar, already out of position having strode from his area to intercept a wayward through-ball ten seconds prior, flailing. Trigintillion meant to score, of course, but didn't even claim to be aiming his shot into that corner of the goal - a combination of a slight slice and a strong gust of wind sent the ball on its impossible arc, and that was that for the game. It'll look good on highlight reels, but most importantly it thrusts the Bulls back into the fray in group two, where any two (or more) teams could qualify for the next stage on matchday three.

There, Audioslavia will face their widest test, if not their biggest, in the form of staunch doric welterweights Vdara, a side returning from an all too brief period of self-imposed legume-based isolation. Audioslavians of a certain vintage (basically anyone over 17 or so) will be familiar with the look of the Vdarans, with their swagger, their occasional moustaches, their penchant for the word 'κυντ' and their aniseed-based spirits that only ever taste good on holiday and just feel sad when trying to enjoy back home in Ceilerden. A look to the bench reveals a number of faces that even younger Audioslavians would recognise, not least that of Tryfon Vlahilades, formerly a Champions League winners with 1830 Cathair, now on the books at Union, and the likes of Stamatios Christakos and Anargyros Zervaes who have been kicking around the National League for years.

Although the Bulls had played Starblaydia about twenty times and were playing Chromatika for the seventh, this will be the first attempt at overcoming nearby neighbours Vdara on the football field. They arrive as even more of a mystery than usual, the side seemingly capable of beating the likes of Starblaydia while barely getting a look-in at Chromatika, but more so due to the fact that, well, it's Vdara. As much as Audioslavia like to paint-themselves as the unpredictable wild-card ("yes, but which sideways will we pass the ball?"), they're nothing compared to the caramac-and-blue Vdarans, who for all we know might be turning up with a sixteen foot high rubber mallet, four chippendales and a zeppelin.

With the bizarre decision to get rid of draws in the group stage, there is a possibility to progress in third place, but that likely won't be the case for the Bulls, who would need every other third-placed team to end up with less goal difference (or, ideally, zero points) in order to progress. Whether in 90 minutes or via a golden goal, it's win or bust for the Bulls

[Parumaquae]

The referee blew the final whistle at the Estadio Nacional de Huayramarca. Ninety minutes of football had failed to separate Parumaquae from Bostopia, meaning Parumaquae had finally earned its first result in international football, a nil-nil draw.

Eder Irizahar, captain of the squad, ran over to the touchline in order to celebrate with Axo Loiola, the team's manager. The two were very happy that the team would finally have a point to its name, even if it meant that advancement in the current competition was unlikely. But after a few moments of happiness and celebration, things started to get a bit awkward when they realized that neither the Bostopians or the referees were leaving the pitch.

Axo Loiola looked around. "What's going on?" he asked.

The answer came from the fourth official, "Competition rules mate, no draws. We go to golden goal extra time in four minutes."

Loiola and the rest of the Parumaquaeans dropped their smiles from their faces and looked around at each other stunned. It took a few moments but Loiola finally composed himself and told his team to get ready. While the Bostopians retook the field confidently, at least a few of the Parumaquaeans walked back on to the pitch with their body language asking, "Is this a joke?"

It was not a joke and the referee blew his whistle to start extra time. James McDadson took the ball, ran through several defenders who were not defending and slipped the ball past Izotz Zubiazahar, whose desperate attempt to stop the shot ended with him having a chunk of grass stuck in his ear. 14 seconds had been all that was necessary for McDadson to deliver victory to the Bostopians and turn Parumaquaes first result in international football into its fifth defeat in only five matches.

Axo Loiola burried his head in his hands and screamed.

[Yesopalitha]

Book 1: Eminent Change
Part 1: Omens and Portents
Part 2: The Meeting
Part 3: Amongst Legends
Part 4: True Darkness
Part 5: A Weighted Solution
Part 6: Sacrifice

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Book 2: Abundant Chaos
Part 1: Everything Falls Apart
Part 2: The White Maiden
Part 3: Pockets of Hope

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Book 3: Denouement
Part 1, Yesopalithan Half: Awakening
Part 1, Chromatik Half: The Stuff of Nightmares
Part 2, Yesopalithan Half: Of Myths and Legends
Part 2, Chromatik Half: Harbinger of Death

Part 3, Yesopalithan Half: The Chosen of Zaiden

"Just between us, the situation has gotten astronomically worse since this Harbinger entered the field. We have no magical arsenal at our disposal. We are absolutely at your mercy," stated Premier Hélène Embroise to Nirdasil, the Dark Crusader, on a secure line as the CSN Ange de la Paix made its way toward Myana Island at full throttle, "We are throwing everything we can to throw at the current line that we've established, but with the fact that air power means nothing and that it takes time to send troops from the main island or Urrhed Island to Myana Island, it's only due to the fact that the Portal is taking its time that we have successfully fended off the advance to Myana. If we lose Myana, we lose the entire island. If we lose the entire island, there is no stopping them from making it to Chromatika itself."

Nirdasil shook her head sadly. "I am so sorry, Madame Premier," she started, "My nation's problem has become yours. We were established on Yesopailtha for many reasons - but one of the main ones was to keep an eye on the Portal to the Abyss. It took all that I had to keep it at bay, and now that I'm awake, the powers behind the Abyss decided to move it to the nearest undefended magical location - and your temperate jungle in Eyrods was it."

"I have a plan," Nirdasil continued, "Once I get to Myana Island, I can draw a glyph of teleportation with your permission, and we can teleport in my forces. We can help modify your weapons to be able to hit them, we can help contend with them, and we can set up barriers to stop them from crossing further. That is the first goal - to stop their advance. After that, we can talk to your military leaders and start to formulate a counterattack plan."

"I'm glad you have a plan," answered Embroise, "I didn't have any. Yes, as soon as you land, you can draw that glyph. We need all the help that we can get - we can hash out everything else later. There are some members of my cabinet that would say to be wary of you - that this all some elaborate scheme to set up some kind of a beachhead in our nation or something. I don't see that. I trust that isn't the case."

"Absolutely not," answered Nirdasil evenly, "We will help you with this incursion, push away the forces of the Abyss, then help make sure it will never happen again. I am willing to do almost whatever it takes to assuage those concerns."

As they neared the coast of Myana Island - the midpoint of the Island, where the demarcation was - Nirdasil made her way to the prow of the ship.

"Offer assistance from shore," she instructed the Captain, "I will take care of the rest."

Then, a when the ship was five hundred yards from shore, she leapt into the air, soaring at low altitude toward land at top speed.

Kastehar. The old foe, from the days when she had first achieved from by the power of Zaiden. If Kastehar was in charge of the convergence of the forces of the Abyss, this was going to be far more messy. This Harbinger of Death that the Chromatiks were talking about sounded a lot like a certain Demon Lord, and it was concerning that the Demon Lords were working together.

Her power was starting to return to her after a year of slumber, but she had enough for this.

She found the force of the Abyss, along with the Harbinger of Death, ten miles east of the line that the Chromatiks were holding. Silent as the night wind, she utilized the Cloak of Shadows to sneak up behind the Harbinger of Death.

With one deft stroke, she buried her dual magical shortswords into the Harbinger's neck.

"You are not welcome here," she stated in the creature's ear as it started to bleed out, "Die knowing that nothing you've done will ever have mattered."

As the Harbinger of Doom's powers dissipated, the horde of undead that were by it also dissolved. It took not much time for Nirdasil to take care of the little clump of Shadow Demons that had been nearby.

Drawing the teleportation glyph with care, Nirdasil smiled for the first time since the crisis began as hundreds of Yesopalithan magical forces started to appear on Chromatik soil.

Hope had returned.

[Aleirave]

On the Edge of the End
Cardenao 4-3 Aleirave (Golden Goal)

To say this was a position that Haulafo and the Seagulls really wanted to be in would be stretching the truth more than a little.

Plenty of excuses were waved around about why in the world the Aleiravan squad weren't able to defeat the Blue and Golds, but none of them seemed to hold too much water. "It was Haulafo's coaching", some older, usually Klysevian, men said. However... Haulafo didn't do anything wrong. At least, not this time. Sure he wasn't the best manager in the world. He had faults. He had stumbles. Today just didn't seem like one of them though...

"Pavel Rasteniuk wasn't playing like a real footballer!" was a cry heard by some bar-goers. Maybe this could've had some merit to it, but on closer inspection... what? Yes, Pavel was a bit... let's say out of it... in practice. During practice, he was too caught up by the idea of being an NT footballer that it almost blinded him to how much he would still have to work... but somehow, that didn't matter much in the actual match. When he was called on as a substitute in the 73rd minute, there was no denying that he was just... good! He was somehow unfazed by the bright lights of the big show, and performed stunningly!

So... what was it then? What could it possibly have been?

Well, there's one simple truth to this matter. This team was simply outplayed. Nothing big about it. They lost the game, and that was that. Was it a game that they were supposed to lose? That's up to debate. But it definitely wasn't the best look in the world.

There was good news in all of this, however. If they could beat Kharakia, especially with a good goal difference, they'd be in a really good position to squeak their way into the Round of 16. This group has been a total mess so far, with every single match needing a golden goal. Believe it or not, it's still anyone's game out there.

---

Does Aleirave even have history in Anaia? Are they even really in Anaia at all?

Well, the latter question sounds so simple. Geographically speaking, yes, Aleirave is very much in Anaia. However, they sure as hell don't act like it.

Before the Tereyevs, the Aleiravans were everywhere in this region. Exploring around, seeing new lands, meeting new people, even settling islands beyond their own in the Kia'us. But now, even after the island was freed, they're just as isolated as ever.

Eshialand was both a good and terrible pick for a nation to unify with. Yes, while they had a stable government and economy and were willing to help the islanders out with shared goals, they didn't really help with Aleirave's isolation problem. As a nation both outside the region and isolationist themselves, the Aleiravans weren't exactly getting much help interacting with other nations in the region, forming alliances, making friends. Sure, the Department of Anaian Affairs existed, but that was mostly a joke. Aleirave was no more connected to their region than when the Tereyevs cut them off from the entirety of the outside world.

Geographically speaking, Aleirave is a very Anaian nation. But politically? Economically? Culturally? They were a whole nother world distinct from the nations just over the water.