World Cup 98 | RP thread

by **Doubeia** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 5:29 pm

Maddison wasn't the type to be jealous, but it was a bit hard not to be envious when life throws you unfortunate curveballs.

It all started when Scarlett dropped a carpet bomb one day.

"Is he cute? I met him in Sanford," Scarlett asked while on the bus as she showed Maddison a social media profile of the guy. Scarlett's tone seemed a bit hesitant, as if she didn't know whether she wanted to ask the question.

You're the cute one, Maddison wanted to say, but she instead responded with a meek "Yeah, I guess". She didn't know whether to be honoured or disappointed that Scarlett was even asking her that question. That was the first time Scarlett had asked her something remotely interesting, and it had to be about some stupid guy?

Maddison knew her feelings were uncalled for. It started during the last World Cup qualifier series when Scarlett and Maddison were allocated a room together. Maddison didn't think too much of it, but it slowly got to a point where Scarlett's aura was too overbearing. Was it her beauty, her muscle, or her personality? She didn't know but she fell, fast.

Maddison tried to initiate some small talk with Scarlett sometimes, but Scarlett seemed either uninterested or unwilling to give a proper response. If it were anyone else, Maddison would be annoyed about the non-answers, but since it was Scarlett... Maddison didn't know. Was it her personality that was too captivating to be annoyed at? Ironically, Scarlett's apparent coldness melted Maddison's heart, and to say the latter was infatuated with the former was probably an understatement.

Things started to reach the boiling point during the subsequent Cup of Harmony, when Maddison made a proper fool of herself in front of the entire team because of Scarlett. She remembered talking to Scarlett during breakfast one moment and making a mess at the table the next. Some of her friends got the memo, but Maddison tried to keep her liking Scarlett under wraps. She knew it was futile anyway: Scarlett was looking at a move overseas, and she wasn't even sure Scarlett was even interested in her as a person.

The next Doubeinese season would pass by in a flurry. Time just passed by that quick for Maddison when nothing interesting happened. Whenever her team came to play Winterfalls she would spend some time looking for Scarlett before realising she wasn't there anymore. The next season came about, however, which marked the beginning of another qualifier campaign.

And of course the first thing Scarlett had to say was ask Maddison about the stupid guy.

Life was unfair. It was injustice. Maddison tried not to let out her feelings, but she had many questions, like why him? Why not her? Eventually, however, she made her peace.

Maddison knew she couldn't fixate herself on Scarlett too much, and truthfully the feelings weren't as strong as two years ago. Still, all things had to come to an end, and perhaps her feelings were starting to close shop. Funnily enough, nowadays Scarlett had become more animate towards her, but was that enough to reignite the spark?

It was funny, really. To be friendzoned to the point you lose feelings seemed silly, but perhaps this was a wake-up call for Maddison. Maybe there wasn't a point chasing someone she wouldn't be with. Still, she still liked Scarlett's company, and to Maddison, maybe that was enough.

by **Tanirinthia** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 5:43 pm

OF FATES AND FORTUNES
Chapter Twenty Five - The Key

What greeted her eyes was the harsh fluorescence of the solitary bulb flickering on, finally settling on being on and lighting up the sterile cell she had found herself in for maybe just over a year, but she couldn't be quite sure as time has a way of slipping in a place like this. She allowed herself a smile as this thought reminded her of Jasper explaining the fluid time of the multiverse to her, bubbling with excitement and catching himself. They may have put her in this cell and taken her freedom from her, but she wouldn't let them take her memories of him.

That might be all they are now, memories.

After all she hadn't seen him since they arrested both of them, that fateful evening in Eastfield Lodge. Fateful, she was sure of it, sure that the entity was responsible. In truth ever since that wonderful night in her hotel room, she had been waiting for the hammer to fall. Why else would that thing have guided her along a path that met him, it pained her to think that she might just have been moved like a chess piece to cause Jasper's downfall and to stop any hope we had of destroying it.

And yet along with that pain, there was joy. Yes this thing might very well have done what she feared, but to hells with that! There may be some entity out there able to manipulate fates, but that also means that nothing is written in stone, that the game isn't over just yet, and perhaps what was intended as a way to take Jasper off the field of play with backfire as there was nothing in this universe or any other that would stop her getting back to him, and if there were only memories to return to then you could be damn sure that she would get her revenge for him!

*click*

Clara's attention snapped back to the reality of her cell, her cell had just been unlocked and the door opened silently. A figure stood silhouetted in the doorway

Ms. Bonner, I presume?

Chapter One | Chapter Two | ~~Chapter Three~~ | Chapter Four | Chapter Five | Chapter Six | Chapter Seven | Chapter Eight | Chapter Nine | Chapter Ten | Chapter Eleven | Chapter Twelve | Chapter Thirteen | Chapter Fourteen | Chapter Fifteen | Chapter Sixteen | Chapter Seventeen | Chapter Eighteen | Chapter Nineteen | Chapter Twenty | Chapter Twenty-One | Chapter Twenty-Two | Chapter Twenty-Three | Chapter Twenty-Four

by **Omerica** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:03 pm

by **Vdara** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:14 pm

Hе's funny now, all his jokes hit different
Guеss who he learned that from?

Matchday 10: Vdara versus Kamijiro

At approximately 3am, Markos entered the stadium armed with a toolbox and a vendetta. He still hadn't paid Kamijiro's FA for booting down one of their favourite doors, and by now he'd had enough of the word "door".

"If they love doors so much, they won't get any doors. How does that sound, a dressing room with no doors? Delightfully devious, Markos."

And so he got to work, unscrewing the hinges off the other dressing room's door and shoving it in a janitor's closet. Continuing his mischief, he unscrewed the doors to both the showers and the toilets, fuelled by pure seethe.

"Nae doors for you, hah. Nae doors. You wonder how they'll react to this thing, having nae doors. Hah."

With his job done, Markos snuck back out to the hotel, maniacally chuckling to himself as he did so. Had anybody been watching, they'd probably have assumed he had gone mental - and to be fair, he absolutely had.

The Next Day
Home Team Dressing Room
VdarArena

It didn't take long for Kamijiro's players and staff to start kicking up a fuss about their missing doors, but their complaints fell on the deaf ears of stadium staff, who knew exactly what had went on and showed no signs of helping. Markos, who by now was visibly sleep-deprived, trudged into the dressing room and softly closed the door. Realising his mistake, he re-opened the door, made a gesture towards the empty doorframe, and slammed the door shut. Clearly he didn't plan on making many friends today.

"Right, everyone! I'm gonna try and keep this brief, because too many words can clog up your puny brains. Let me get one thing straight now: this is the one. This is the match. If ever there was a match in this qualifiers to really put some welly in, it's right now. Sure, the Qasden match wasn't our finest hour, but that was away. Yous are at home, in front of your own crowd. They're gonnae chant yer names, sing some songs about you, and be a generally raucous bunch. You're here to match and bolster their energies and pump yourselves up, not to stroll around like a bunch of fucking grannies. I've let you off the hook these past few games because it's got us results, but this one is absolutely fucking vital. Full beans, ninety minutes, no exceptions. If ANY of yous so much as ponder the mere idea of relaxing, I will read your mind and get you hooked, because we're not at the stage of relaxing. Fuck, we're not even at the stage of coasting around, we need everything from everyone with absolutely no fucking exceptions - high energy, high standards, high scorelines. Yous ought to be sweating like pigs for every game onwards, so long as it gets results. Anyway, enough of me, it's time we put this plan into action."

Striding onto the pitch, the confidence in the players was clear to see, and the crowd's rapturous applause and deafening cries were clearly having an effect on both teams before a ball was even kicked. Large banners adorned with "FUCK YER DOOR" were littered throughout the crowd, and the chanting only got louder and louder as kick-off approached. Over on the touchline, Markos had given himself an energy drink and a slap in the face to properly wake himself up - although he'd be hard-pressed to fall asleep with this noise level. Had he fallen asleep, he'd have been quickly woken up when Sophia Kyprianou skipped past Akaminai Akinari and fired a shot into the top corner of the net just six minutes in, sending the home fans wild. She'd replicate this ten minutes later, albeit in the bottom right corner, and despite a defensive lapse allowing Kagawa Haruka to slot the ball past Emilios Nicolides just before half-time, the Vdarans led 2-1 at the conclusion of the first forty-five minutes. The next half was decisively less goal-filled, but a stunning long range effort from Grazzja Le Brun ten minutes from the end put an end to any hopes of an equaliser for Kamijiro, essentially securing all three points. Another Kyprianou effort struck the bar, and Kanazono Kento's attempt to recreate Le Brun's stunner came agonisingly close to flying in, but the scoreline would remain 3-1 until the final whistle blew, sending the crowd and a lethargic Markos wild. This result left them sitting top of the group with four matches to go, a very good spot to be in.

Back in the dressing room, Markos regained what was left of his composure and energy to give proper respect to his players.

"Sublime. Utterly sublime. That performance was one from the gods, I have to say. Not one of you put a foot wrong, even if they managed to score. If you guys can do the same again in the next match, and the one after that, and the two after that, we will be absolutely fine. I just hope today hasn't tired you out too much, especially with the trip to Kanzlia on the horizon. I would give you all a long rant about knowing your opponent and the such, but we've played them three times already, you practically know them inside and out. Of course, they've got a new manager and all that but... ach, I don't care. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, okay? Now, if you'll excuse me, I really ought to get some sleep..."

Back in his bed, the sleeping Markos began to dream. Visions of his meeting with the Goddess Athena in Markosnisi flashed through his mind, and her words began to come through clear as day, just as they had back then.

“Just as valiant warriors such as Themistocles had books upon books written about them, such entertaining stories chronicled throughout history, so too will you. Your people write stories about you every day, if anything you are more prevalent than any of these great names of the past ever were. That is why we have come to you, to preserve, extend, and enhance your legacy as Markos Moustakakos, the Great Commander of the Vdarans, the Sharp-Tongued Harbinger of Destiny, among many other titles which shall be granted to you upon your entry to the afterlife.”

Then, his mind flashed to his visits to the Oracle, which he had consulted often during World Cup 95. Yet again, another quote flashed through his mind.

A mysterious land awaits, where blood-filled rivers flow.
Like the Persians at Salamis,
Or the Ithacans at Troy,
There lies no joy in battle.
Heed this warning, and heed it well,
If you are not to join those in the rivers.

Markos jolted awake, covered in sweat. He hadn't consulted the Oracle nor the Goddess Athena in a very long time, but it was very clear that they were trying to communicate with him. Obviously, he was more than happy to oblige, but one simple question could not escape his mind. "Why?"

by **Kelssek** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:18 pm

He sings the songs that remind him of the good times, he sings the songs that remind him of the better times

From somewhere within the nightclub’s labyrinth of dance and seating areas, they heard it.

“Got my first real football, played it on a plastic pitch
Rubber pellets got everywhere, it was the summer of forty-six...”

A group of people singing the most well-known Kelssek football team song sounded like people who might recognize them, noted Sammy Mao, who needed to catch his connecting flight to Breton anyway.

Rory Joseph, too, decided he should slip out, protesting that while it was still two hours to boarding time for his connection to Burnaby he was just so nervous about missing flights, you know.

Rémy Niemi sadly acquiesced, bid them goodbye, and after leaving his socks at the bar, which the nightclub’s owner wanted a regular supply of in exchange for access to the exclusive hangout, he finished his own drink, texted his partner, ordered a taxi, and slipped out as unobtrusively as possible.

He did not know what the socks were for, nor did he want to think about it. Maybe they were going to secretly clone super-footballers from his DNA, which would actually be kind of flattering, if so.

Top striker's fresh sweaty SOCKS
Bidding starts from t150
or BUY IT NOW for t300

Kelssek national team game worn and UNWASHED socks fresh from the FEET of elite professional soccer players. own the polyester that shanked shot from five yards against Damukuni. satisfaction GUARANTEED :splash:

Buyer pays all shipping and customs charges

by **Oberour Ar Moro** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:25 pm

Goustan Beauregard was impressed that he convinced Mathieu Pueyrredon to get out of the Coordination Center. He would have sworn that Pueyrredon lived there. He at least spent some nights there, Goustan would get in the morning and find a cot with a blanket messily thrown on it. But this is a 24-hour-a-day situation.

Still, that didn't mean that Pueyrredon had to spend 24 days with a stick up his rear.

So Goustan, hoping it would encourage Pueyrredon to think about the snow situation as something with people involved, insisted that Pueyrredon join him at this, the Thurien de Latrie Community Center in the Areement district.

So standing on a springy-feeling gym floor, just meters away from folding tables holding a coffee pot and mostly picked over boxes of sandwiches and surrounded by hearty volunteers and hungry (literally and metaphorically, those jerks ate more than the volunteers) press members, Pueyrredon and Goustan spoke.

Pueyrredon spoke first, droning on about holy purpose or what have you. "The Chancellor has asked all Oberours to remain at their posts for the duration of this weather," Pueyrredon said, chin rising slightly. You could almost feel the breeze and see the Oberour Ar Moro flags flutter behind him. Or maybe there was a not perfectly installed window. You could definitely hear the wind blowing snow against the buildings outside walls.

Then, to try and show him how it's done, Goustan spoke.

"When I see neighbors shovelling out neighbor's stairwells, bringing hot soup to those who can't make it out, wearing a smile despite the snow, it reminds me that despite everything this is still the Regium I grew up in. A city of good people doing good, working for those who are unable to work, coming together when the world seems like it's coming apart. That's what makes the de Latrie Community Center, like all Community Centers in Regium, so important.

Coordinator Pueyrredon and I have been working to make sure that the major thoroughfares are open to get supplies in. We're making sure the power and water keep flowing to every corner of this city. And in all of that, we're making sure to work for the communities of Regium that work for each other. You, here-" Goustan gestured to the crowd, "-are doing just as much for the people of Regium as any one else. And we'll do everything we can to make sure you can keep doing that until this blasted snow is done."

The rest of the event was mostly questions ("We are scheduled to discuss the salt runoff situation at tomorrow's task force meeting, we'll get back to you" said Goustan, diving in front of Pueyrredon's somehow boring and politically fraught honesty about river pollution) from the press, and just to spice things up, from a kid.

"My name is Samuel Yeuxdefer, my mom works here, my dad is a paramedic,"

"Thank you Monsieur and Madame Yeuxdefer," said the mayor, clasping his hands together. "Your work is so important. What is your question, Samuel?"

"Well, my father said we would go to a National Team match at the Parade Grounds this year, but because of the snow dad can't make the time. Is there any way he can get any time off so we can go?"

"Hmmm..." Goustan verbally put on his thinking cap. "Your dad is doing important work, isn't he? He's helping out our neighbors who really need him. Coordinator Pueyrredon was right when he said that the Chancellor needs all Oberours, like your father, to do their work at this time. But I know I'd like to see the Dragoons play Vaishnavaria if I could. How about this, I'll get in touch with your parents and see what we can do about at least getting you to a game. And if your father can join us, I know the Chancellor would be happy about that too."

Ooohs and applause from the volunteers and the flashbulbs flashed a little more pleasantly in Goustan’s eyes. To Goustan's side, Pueyrredon looked like he'd never ever heard of football in his life. Ah well. He'd wear him down yet. It wasn't like the snow was letting up.

by **Saint Eleanor** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:32 pm

OOC: Lisander corrected a mathematical error I made in the currency conversion, almost immediately after publication. All other errors are mine alone. UPDATE: Roleplay approved by Lisander at 0207 UTC on Tuesday!

Group of Six meeting (LI) --- Dhemixia 0-0 SAINT ELEANOR
Participants: Gentle Breeze, Reniira Clevinger, Stephen Mitcham ~ Bridget Coombe [C], Cathy Winchester [VC], Rick Goldsmith [ballot]
Location: somewhere to be decided in Saint Eleanor

MAJOR MATCH EVENTS: No goals, only one card (for Dhemixia) - although it was a well-fought match on both sides.

LESSONS LEARNED: Defensively, absolutely none - this was one strong performance to cancel out another. Offensively, this was underwhelming, a point that Rick was especially keen to make (given his experience as a striker) - practice and consistency are the best recipes in this case. There's a consensus that this was not so much a sporting disaster as a media disaster, and perhaps not even that!

RECOMMENDATIONS: [4-2-3-1, one to eleven. will RP this later]

MOVING FORWARD: There's a general sense that we have "potential" right now - not conventionally so, but rather in terms of upside surprise. The Dheximia result will likely not be looked on kindly by many people, but the Reporter took it with a surprising amount of grace and there's a consensus that Dheximia are in a similar place. I therefore imagine that Eshialand might be willing to treat us more calmly; to be sure, this would be a surprise and not one we're planning on, but also a definite possibility. We should not be taking this match lightly, however - nobody here wants three games without a win or a renewed wave of massive media criticism. The notation next matchday is to be done by Cathy.

~GB

The Grand Tour of Anaia - Montesina: A paradise for serious real estate investors... and just about nobody else

by Lara Torridge - March 15th 2006

I would normally try and get my currency exchanged at the airport. Fortunately for my readers, Montesina is not a normal country. At least two holidaymakers, who I can only assume were returning home rather than engaging in onward travel, urged me to sort it out someplace else. One rather prolonged cab ride later, I was able to find a man willing to do the deed - at apparently no transaction fee once he learned about my newspaper column. It does pay to be famous sometimes.

Exchange rate: 330 dollars = 1,850 soles de oro (1 dollar = ~5.6 Sol)

San Beltran an even bigger city than Waldster, depending on how you count it. The wider area bears, more or less, a third of the entire national population - roughly four million people out of eleven. The people here are more dedicated than the stereotypes would suggest. I will normally try to take in a couple of the outlying islands, for escapism, information and entertainment, and therefore decide it's worth my time in the interim to visit a local bookstore and order one of the local tour guides. I learn quickly that Las Tortugas are effectively run by the military and closed to public access in part - although for a good, zoological cause - and conclude that I shouldn't bother any further.

I decide to spend my time in a small, local and unashamedly working-class coffee shop - as most of the stores in this part of the city are. When I'm up for my second cappuccino of the day, the barista offers me a familiar refrain: "You look like a foreigner. A lot of foreigners are here, buying our houses and ruining the community." I have to assure her that I'm strictly here on journalistic business, which she accepts after some hesitation as to what I'm doing in her coffee shop all day.

As it turns out, a surprising number of things beyond cold, hard cash are available on the Montesinan black market. Later in the afternoon, I remember that I've managed to get around the city purely on foot and otherwise via the goodwill of an unlicensed taxi driver. There's a man lurking near, although somehow not actually on, a side street who is willing to let out a motorcycle. I'm not sure if it's his or if it even works, but I offer what he believes to be a reasonable fee: "any amount of money will do while I'm waiting for a job; I hope I will get one in a few days." It's a neat 125cc and it ticks along at a reasonable enough pace, but I'm aware of time and money.

Heading towards southern San Beltran, everything is fancier, shinier, and bigger; the people see my outfit more as a chic fashion choice than as something that makes me look like a typical tourist. I have an excellent slap-down meal, manage to not complain about how much rice I'm getting served, win a couple of informal bets, head over to a couple of nearby bars, get extremely drunk, shout a bit too loudly, narrowly avoid a trip to the hospital on multiple occasions, and end up staggering to a hotel where I put down hardly any money on a room that has a bed, a not-very-upkept shower, and hardly anything else.

Day 1: Summary

What I wore: a short-sleeved shirt, denim hotpants and a pair of trainers
What I spent: 55 soles (less 25 soles won in gambling)
What I've got left over: 95 Eleanorian dollars for emergencies; 1,820 soles

The southern city is still as fun as you would expect it to be in the daytime. The coffee shops do not care who you are, so long as you treat everyone with at least something approaching respect. With that said, the Montesinan mainland is absolutely not a tourist resort - not unless your idea of tourism is moving here permanently and having a bit more fun than you would back home. It feels like spending your entire existence living in and around The Journal's catchment area. What better to do than to loop around and go back north?

At some point, the distinction between the northern part of San Beltran - the dockside; the working-class area - and Iturraide vanishes. I spend a good portion of the evening in and around this area, occasionally fighting off scoundrels. I quickly recognise that I'll need to be wearing more sensible clothes in the vast majority of the country, if I explore much of it. I gravitate more towards Iturraide: sleeker, if not by much; more of a foodie culture (I hate those words), and one I thoroughly enjoyed. Perhaps even more generous - while having dinner, I meet a man who insists he tries to keep out of the fighting and has a spare room open. I believe him, discuss the football somewhat with him, On the other hand, La Unión now has a new fan, albeit one who is not likely to ever attend any of their future games.

Day 2: Summary

What I wore: the same as last time
What I spent: 30 soles
What I've got left over: 95 Eleanorian dollars for emergencies; 1,790 soles

San Beltran was good - not quite excellent or amazing or great, and possibly not even good in hindsight, but certainly interesting. I need another escape. The tour guide I bought earlier reliably informs me that it should take, more or less, twelve hours for me to get to the other side of the country. I assume that some domestic flights are in operation, reluctant as I have been to take them, and ask my lodger what they're like; he can't tell me as he's spent all his life in and around the docks. I have to ask ten or twelve different people before I get the impression that it's not worth the time, not worth the money, and sometimes not even in operation.

I remember that I have to return the bike to the homeless man I borrowed it from, but as he's nowhere to be seen, I just leave it where I first found it. I then cross the street, buy a copy of every single newspaper and a couple of low-calibre novels (just in case), cross four other streets to get to a bus stop which takes me to the bus station, and then get tickets at the bus station to go to Eunik. It is time well-spent, as I hand over the proceeds of my wasted time to a uniformed security guard who's on break at a nearby - almost affiliated - burger restaurant. I decide to try what they're having myself; it's mediocre, but after twelve hours on a bus, even mediocre food is world-class.

The time-honoured tradition of certain venues being open late at night persists even in the Eunik community, although this time it is the coffee bars, again. Did I miss anything? Apparently not: they are largely concerned about how President Ubina is trying to remove what little autonomy they had; somewhat concerned about the football; and hardly concerned at all with the television or what have you.

Day 3: Summary

What I wore: the tiny little coat, a long-sleeved shirt, slim-fit jeans and sturdy boots
What I spent: 80 soles
What I've got left over: 95 Eleanorian dollars for emergencies; 1,710 soles

It takes a few hours for me to realise that this particular charade has been a mistake. The Eunik population do a damn fine breakfast, but - by and large - they are more concerned with politics than life. The same themes repeat themselves over and over; the newspaper does, at least, cover the topics in a better, more understandable manner than whatever was available in the capital. I meet one young woman who recently went to the University at San Martin, only to bring up the familiar complaints: sleek facilities, natural beauty, rich people buying everything. She jokes that "this is the first good meal I've had since I moved out of my parents' house."

Something is not right, here or with the rest of the nation. Fortunately, the bus does leave later that night. I don't have much in the way of reading material, so all I can do is finally look at the signs, see how bad the traffic is, and - after a while - sleep until I get back to San Beltran. It takes a couple of connections and at least one argument - thankfully not about the apparent gentrification crisis that has infested everywhere north of a certain latitude -

Did I almost forget to exchange my currency back? Absolutely not. I'll do it when I get there.

Days 4-5: Summary

What I wore: the same as last time
What I spent: 70 soles
What I've got left over: 95 Eleanorian dollars for emergencies; 1,650 soles for ordinary use

Group of Six meeting (LII) --- SAINT ELEANOR 3-0 Eshialand
Participants: Gentle Breeze, Reniira Clevinger, Stephen Mitcham ~ Bridget Coombe [C], Cathy Winchester [VC], Angelica Northend [ballot]
Location: somewhere to be decided in Eshialand

[notes to be taken by Cathy Winchester in due course. She is pleased and has earned as close to a full-strength 4-1-4-1 as you can get. Will the more balanced approach cost Saint Eleanor yet again, or will it pave the way to another final tournament?]

ISideWith UK · by **Eastfield Lodge** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:35 pm

More than a dozen arrests made as Olastian citizens attempt to seek refuge in the Imperial Commonwealth following the visit of the national team in qualifying for World Cup 98.

Following the 2-2 draw between the visiting Eastfield Lodge side and the hosts Olastor in southern Rushmore, the return flight home at Olastaryn International Airport was delayed for several hours after 14 Olastian citizens had to be forcibly removed by Olastian airport security from the tarmac as they attempted to gain access to the plane carrying the visiting Eastfield Lodge national team. Reports indicate they gained access earlier in the day during the match and had been hiding in the hangar where the team’s privately chartered aeroplane was stationed, until they were discovered by airport staff preparing the flight for departure. For security reasons, this then prompted a full check of the plane as well as a security operation to remove the potential refugees.

This is not the first time such an incident has happened - reports from the Imperial Commonwealth Refugee Organisation estimate that around 4 Olastian citizens attempt to seek refuge every week through stowing away on flights, with several incidents involving larger groups all attempting to take a plane at once. ICRO spokesperson Amaia Kaiser puts this attempted efflux down to abhorrent conditions in the infamously corporate-run country of Olastor, where living and working conditions for those without wealth are some of the worst across Rushmore. However the country has a strong authoritarian stance on emigration, with strong border controls across all ports of entry and exit to ensure no citizens attempt to leave the country for a better life elsewhere in Rushmore. Indeed, there is a small but growing minority of Olastian refugees within the Imperial Commonwealth, as the Home Office has designated the plight of Olastians a near automatic granting of asylum status.

The flight was delayed for several hours in the end, but no harm was done to the plane or the passengers, who were kept safely within the airport until the disturbance was quelled, although the Eastfield Lodge team may have hoped for a quieter trip home following their disappointing draw on the road, ahead of their crucial clash against Nova Calania in Lodgertia a few days later. On arrival of the flight at Gateway Island, airport crews found four further Olastian refugees within the luggage compartments, a man in his early 20s, and three teenagers, who have been taken into custody for further questioning, although the Home Office have declined to comment further on the case when contacted.

WC98Q MD3: United States of Nova Calania 1–1 Eastfield Lodge
Line-up (4-2-3-1): Horak - Webber, Guillou, Strong, St Cleer (<> Karson 64’) - Farrow, Cope (<> Toure 83’) - Caceres, Fredrich (<> Allred 73’), Lysander (<> Gebo-McCraw 73’) - Noble (<> Holdsworth 64’)
Goals (Assists): Gebo-McCraw (82’ - Caceres)
[u]Headline: Late header saves point in lacklustre Eastfielder performance

WC98Q MD4: Eastfield Lodge 4–1 Natanians and Nosts
Line-up (4-2-3-1): Horak - Webber (<> Duncan-Berntsen 84’), Guillou, Kirkup (<> Strong 70’), St Cleer - Farrow (<> Mordecai 57’), Toure - Caceres (<> Ashby 70’), Allred, Gebo-McCraw - Holdsworth
Goals (Assists): Holdsworth (1’, 52’ - Allred, 68’ - Mordecai), Allred (32’ - Caceres)
[u]Headline: Holdsworth hat-trick worth weight in gold

WC98Q MD5: Kandorith 1–5 Eastfield Lodge
Line-up (4-2-3-1): O-Sullivan - Duncan-Berntsen, Boyd (<> Vohra 85’), Kirkup, Karson (<> Webber 77’) - Mordecai, Cope (<> Blomqvist 77’) - Ashby, Lysander, Gebo-McCraw (<> Hackett 67’) - Holdsworth (Dean-Jamal 67’)
Goals (Assists): Ashby (12’), Holdsworth (29’ - Lysander), Boyd (39 - Karson), Hackett (69’), Vohra (90+3’ - Lysander)
[u]Headline: 9-men Kandorith no match for Eastfield Lodge

WC98Q MD6: Eastfield Lodge 2–1 City of Myrtle Beach
Line-up (4-2-3-1): Horak - Webber, Duncan-Berntsen, Kirkup (<> Strong 68’), St Cleer - Farrow (<> Cope 79’), Toure - Ashby (<> Caceres 68’), Fredrich, Lysander (<> Hackett 90+2’) - Noble (<> Dean-Jamal 79’)
Goals (Assists): Noble (15' - Fredrich, 64’ - Lysander)
[u]Headline: Noble double keeps Eastfield Lodge top of the table

WC98Q MD7 : Northwest Kalactin 2–1 Eastfield Lodge
Line-up (4-2-3-1): Ross - Kaber, Fawcett-Ferrand, Strong, Boyd (<> Karson 76’) - Winter-Lula, Blomqvist (<> Farrow 63’) - Ashby (<> Caceres 80’), Allred, Wraight (<> Lysander 63’) - Dean-Jamal (<> Noble 76’)
Goals (Assists): Dean-Jamal (24’ - Winter-Lula)
[u]Headline: Experimental failure as Kalactin triumph

WC98Q MD8: Mertagne 0–4 Eastfield Lodge
Line-up (4-2-3-1): Horak - Webber, Duncan-Berntsen (<> Fawcett-Ferrand 85’), Kirkup, St Cleer (<> Boyd 85’) - Farrow, Cope (<> Toure 74’) - Caceres, Fredrich, Lysander (<> Hackett 74’) - Noble (<> Holdsworth 74’)
Goals (Assists): Noble (32’ - Caceres), Fredrich (45+2’ - Lysander), Caceres (67’, 76’)
[u]Headline: World Cup qualification Inevitable?

WC98Q MD9: Olastor 2–2 Eastfield Lodge
Line-up (4-2-3-1): O’Sullivan - Guillou, Boyd (<> Webber 65’), Strong, St Cleer - Mordecai (<> Farrow 78’), Cope - Caceres (<> Ashby 85’), Fredrich (<> Allred 78’), Lysander - Holdsworth (<> Noble 78’)
Goals (Assists): Holdsworth (32’ - Cope), St Cleer (63’ - Guillou)
[u]Headline: Defensive mixups cost Eastfield Lodge 2-0 lead

WC98Q MD10: Eastfield Lodge 5–3 United States of Nova Calania
Line-up (4-2-3-1): Horak - Webber, Guillou, Strong (<> Kirkup 71’), St Cleer - Farrow, Cope (<> Toure 64’) - Caceres, Fredrich (<> Hackett 71’), Lysander (<> Wraight 84’) - Noble (<> Dean-Jamal 84’)
Goals (Assists): Lysander (8’ - Caceres, 70’ - Guillou), Webber (22’), Caceres (31’), Noble (63’ - Fredrich)
[u]Headline: 8 goal madness goes the way of the hosts

Likely line-up to play Natanians and Nosts (4-2-3-1)
Horak - Webber, Duncan-Berntsen, Strong, St Cleer - Farrow, Cope - Caceres, Gebo-McCraw, Lysander - Noble

Likely line-up to play Kandorith (4-2-3-1)
Horak - Guillou, Duncan-Berntsen, Strong, Karson - Farrow, Mordecai - Ashby, Gebo-McCraw, Hackett - Holdsworth

Suspended: N/A
Injured: N/A

by **Dhemixia** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:40 pm

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The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)

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Dhemixia's back?

In a shocking couple of matches for group 9, including leader Eshialand losing the immaculate group stage by dropping 2 straight games, and namely, Dhemixia not losing both games, the Serpents might be revitalized. Getting 4 points out of 2 games is something the Dhemixians have not done until this point in the group stage, and it could not have come at a better time. Getting up to 10 points and out of the cellar, Dhemixia is technically still alive for the playoffs in third place, currently held by Saterun at 19 points. Granted, with 4 games to go, Saterun dropping at least three of which is very unlikely, even in the scenario that the Serpents win out, but a man can dream. It's clear that given enough time, Doug McMahon and his boys will come to play, although the slow start definitely does not help their cause.

Starting with miracle number one of these two games, Dhemixia drawing with 19th ranked Saint Eleanor away. Coming in to this game, both teams fully understood that Dhemixia was not going to score, at least if this game reflected anything of their first matchup. Those suspicions were proved right, but somehow, neither did Saint Eleanor. From the looks of it, Saint Eleanor should've been on the score sheet in the first fifteen minutes, but young goalie Wesley Williamson has become something of a brick wall, recording his second clean sheet of the group stage in grand fashion. If you look at the Man of the Match voting, it becomes painfully obvious that an insane amount of fans voted "the left post" to win. Why? Well, in the 87th minute on a penalty conceded by Dominic Sanford, Olympia Woodward stepped up to the spot. Potentially crushing Dhemixia's hopes and dreams, Williamson dove right, and Woodward shot left. Fortunately, the left post, being the legend that it is, sent the ball away and out of bounds. Considering the left post is inanimate, all votes for it, drunk or not, were directed to Wesley Williamson, stealing valor from the true hero of this Dhemixian side.

To make it better, the Serpents also got revenge on Carpathia and Ruthenia. In an exact reversal of the score sheet from their first matchup, the Serpents stole 3 points away from a promising side on the brink of qualification. Marvin Bolton, the true workhorse of this team, slotted a chip shot in early, followed by a late dagger from Gregory Baker to seal the win. The fact that the left post of a goal is the reason Dhemixia is still alive sounds like a fact out of a movie, but here we are.

To look forward, Dhemixia has a date with unranked side Paringo (of whom they mysteriously lost to last time around, and low-ranked Island Fusion, a fellow BoF participant. If one thing's clear, it's that Dhemixia has to win to stay alive, so we'll have to see how Doug McMahon reins his young side in to keep their composure.

____███ - - - - - - ███

___Saint Eleanor__0 - 0_'_Dhemixia

__________________'|
_______________'___|

MotM: DHE GK Marvin Bolton

____███ - - - - - - ███

_________C&R__0 - 2_'_Dhemixia

________________'| Bolton 32'
_______________'_| Baker 79'

MotM: DHE ST Marvin Bolton

Schedule

~~@ Eshialand, Eshialand City SuperDome~~ L 2-3 (6th)
~~vs. Saint Eleanor, Brigantine Park~~ L 0-2 (7th)
~~@ Carpathia and Ruthenia, C&R Home Stadium~~ L 1-2 (7th)
~~vs. Paringo, Brigantine Park~~ L 2-3 (8th)
~~@ Island Fusion, Island Fusion Home Stadium~~ W 2-1 (7th)
~~vs. Patriotlandia, Brigantine Park~~ L 3-4 (7th)
~~@ Saterun, Saterun Home Stadium~~ W 1-0 (6th)
~~vs. Eshialand, Brigantine Park~~ L 0-5 (6th)
~~@ Saint Eleanor, Saint Eleanor Home Stadium~~ D 0-0 (7th)
~~vs. Carpathia and Ruthenia, Brigantine Park~~ W 2-0 (6th)
@ Paringo, Paringo Home Stadium
vs. Island Fusion, Brigantine Park
@ Patriotlandia, Parc du Nord
vs. Saterun, Brigantine Park

by **Saterun** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:40 pm

Caesar Ibañez stood basking in the floodlights of the Eshialand City Superdome. He had just rounded off a brace to win Saterun a very important game, and deliver the hosts their first qualifying blow. This WCQ campaign had been a whilrwind for him, as he now stood on 8 goals in 9 matches. He knew that his new club, Tihon United, would be keeping a very close eye on his performances over the international break, and he felt that he had probably impressed. Tonight, he scored one mid-range effort just inside the penalty box before chipping the Eshialand goalkeeper in the 86th minute to win the game. He had been by far the best player on the pitch tonight, and was rewarded with Man of the Match. It added to his growing collection.

It had been a much better away day than anticipated, as Eshialand had gone perfect so far in qualifying, including beating Saterun when the Claws were at home. That made the reversal even sweeter. Saterun had gotten a slow start, to be sure, but now they had gotten a pretty solid grip on at least 3rd place, and were a point away from second. It was a pretty close race in the top four, with even Carpathia and Ruthenia still being in the running. Whatever happened in the next five matches, it would definitely be close.

A week later, and the feeling was very different. Saterun had collapsed late on to throw away a 3-0 lead, and although Ibañez had contributed another goal, he felt as if there was more he could have done. Two shots of his had rattled off the post, and another had been very weak from close range. Although the blame undeniably lay with the defense this time, it still hurt for the whole team. Additionally, they had allowed the gap between them and second to widen again to 3 points, although they had also been fortunate enough to keep the same gap between them and 4th place. It seemed like Kameron Boyd's side were destined for the playoffs. If they wanted more, they would have to seriously rally for the final four games, one of which was against Saint Eleanor. However, goal difference wasn't on their side, so they also needed a helping hand elsewhere.

Casear knew his team felt the same way. He could see it on their faces the next day in training. Sure, they had four matches left, but it felt like any chance of qualifying automatically was slipping away. They could still qualify through the playoffs, but that had a large degree of chance. It would also add games and affect the player's fitness for either the Cup of Harmony or the actual World Cup. Either way, the playoffs were not where they wanted to be. Especially since they qualified directly last time. They had gotten bottom of their group, yes, but even being in the final 48 had been a new experience for them. They had been the first Saterun side to ever qualify for the World Cup proper, but now it felt like they were regressing.

Kameron could see this too. It was most important for him to get results, and to do that he needed happy players. The most he could do right now, though, was remind them that they were still in it and not to give up. They had one more tricky game, against Saint Eleanor, and then it should be decently smooth sailing. However, they couldn't take anything for granted. It would certainly cost them. A pep talk wouldn't work here, no matter how good Kameron was at those. The players needed to believe, deep down, that they still had a shot. The best way to achieve that was to show them it was possible. That's why, for the entire morning session, Kameron broke down how they had beaten Eshialand and how they could qualify. He didn't usually like to lay out his entire tactical plan, but this was urgent. They needed to focus.

by **Kamijiro** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:45 pm

The Less We Know the Better.

Emperor Kaminari's 'hunt' for the assassin of the Prime Minister has ended... with "no hard evidence or true suspect."

Recap:
The arrests and interrogations of 'suspicious individuals' had gone on for days now. Celebrities and yakuza alike have been sent to the headquarters of the kempeitai for questioning. Most of them have been released unharmed, but some have been beaten and battered heavily. Kagawa Raiji was one of them - arrested during a team training along with his starting striker, Kokubun Sōji, and starting center back, Akaminai Akinari. The latter two were released the same day, unharmed. But as for Raiji, he was beaten heavily. The media had caught wind of the arrests and had made their way down to the headquarters to get what were essentially perp walk photos. What they found was a disheveled-looking Raiji, glasses broken and suit torn. Even the infamously ferocious Miraisaki media were taken a bit back by the scene. That was, until they saw the tattoos. It's well-known Kagawa has a seedy past, but it's only been a rumor here and rumor there. Then, like a tiger, they pounced. Photos from every angle, every little tattoo snapped in a blur of flashes. Raiji didn't even have the energy to shoo them off.

And now, the internal memo from the Lt. Col., the head of the kempeitai:

The inquest into the assassination has proven fruitless. Every alibi has turned out to be pretty solid. The guards couldn't have done it - their service weapons don't match the caliber of bullet used. Kaminari would never have done such a thing - he and Kazumori were good friends and got along great. Kaminari's aide couldn't have, either. She was with him the whole night. So, the best thing for us to do is drop it. We'll brief the Emperor, but he's going to be absolutely pissed.
- Lt. Col. Sugawara Misaki

Later that same day, Misaki and her top staffers entered a dark meeting room. The Emperor sat alone at the head of the table and didn't even look up, staring off into space. Misaki tried to open.

"Your hi-"
"Quiet down. Have you found a perp yet?"
"No. The alibis are solid. The guards weapons don't match and the investigation of the grounds around the Palace have turned up no signs of entry. That would leave you and your aide, as the rest of the Palace court weren't present at the time of death."
"I see. So you suspect me? Or my aide?"
"No. Both of you testified that neither of you left the room that night. However, your highness, we do have one request."
"And it is?"
"We'd like to search your quarters."
Kaminari's blood turned to ice, his smile turning quickly into a dark glare.
"No."
"We'll get a warrant if we have to."
"No, you won't."
Just then, a half-dozen of the Emperor's guards blocked the way out.
"Misaki. You listen to me. And you listen good. I did it. I shot that poor bastard right in the head. You know why? Because he'd made me look like a fool. And I don't like looking like a fool. So, here's what's going to happen now. You and your staffers are going to leave. You are going to drop this case. And if I hear a single thing about a continued investigation or an attempt to get an arrest warrant, I will personally see to it that you and your staff here get the rope. Do you understand?"
Misaki was frozen in place. Her staffers were, too. Both options seemed awful. Drop the case and ruin their reputation as good investigators, or go against the Emperor and... well, die.
"Y-yes, your Highness, I-I... we're going to go now."
"Again. Not a fuckin' word."
"Yes, sir."
And with that, the guards escorted Misaki and her staff out of the Palace and back to their van.
(to be continued...)

The Sports Report: Kagawa On the Hot Seat?
The following article is from the Miraisaki Sports Insider.

Well, it's been a whirlwind week for Kamijiroan sport. On one hand, the arrest of the head coach of the National Team is always a PR nightmare. On the other hand, losing three of four matches for the first time in what feels like forever is an even larger PR nightmare. But the largest PR nightmare has been the aftermath of Kagawa's arrest. The tattoo debacle, sparked by the dozen or so red roses across the back of his wingspan, from wrist to wrist, has put Kamijiro in the worst spot it's ever been in in terms of public opinion. The roses are a Kamijiroan yakuza code for a murder in the service of your family. So, for Kagawa to have around a dozen of them across his whole body? Oh, boy.

Calls for immediate termination were rejected outright, but the FA has been really quiet on rejecting those calls after the losses to Yuugria, Golden Harp and Vdara. Making matters even worse, the Vdarans really rubbed in that loss. They took their locker room doors off the hinges (even the doors to the toilet stalls) and chanted "FUCK YER DOOR" the entire match. The lone consolation in that match was a goal from Kagawa Haruka. But the losses have taken Kamijiro from first in the group down to fourth, outside of qualification chances entirely. It's not looking good at all for the Lightning down the home stretch. And as we all know, Raiji's contract is up after this cycle. This may be it for him.

(H) Kamijiro 0 -  (A) Golden Harp 1
Match held at JirōSekai, Jirō Island, Kamijiro.
Scorers (KMJ): None
Scorers (GHP): Garbhan (90+7')

Yellow cards: Kameda (4'), Keane (9'), Mondy (17')
Injuries: none

(A) Kamijiro 1 -  (H) Vdara 3
Match held at VdarArena, Vdara.
Scorers (KMJ): Kagawa (45')
Scorers (VDR): Kyprianou (6', 16'), Le Brun (55')

Yellow cards: Akaminai (21'), Fujiwara (59'), Kirishima (90+3')
Injuries: none

Following the match against Vdara...
"This is the worst idea you've ever had, Sōji." whispered Katsu Fujiwara, who had been forced to play lookout.
"Shhhhhut the fuck up and let me work. Sōji replied, bringing out a wrench. "He doesn't wanna pay for the door, fine by me."
"Please, just chill ou-"
"Shut up."
Five minutes later, Markos' car was on slabs. No tires left. Sōji and Katsu quickly grab two tires each and book it back to the rental van, then gun it.
"Yeah, there's no way he's paying for the door now." Sōji laughs as he weaves through traffic.
All Katsu could do was shake his head. "You know we're fucked if anyone finds out, right?"
"They won't." A wolfish grin spreads across Sōji's face. "I'll make sure of it."

by **The Kytler Peninsulae** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:01 pm

This is the MD11/12 cutoff

by **Edsmontik** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:10 pm

streggvalkligges.eds
YOUR Edsmon Sports Hub

6/26/2030

EVENTS

FDVL
FDVL CHAMPION: REICHAN DE-WALVARJ

INTERNATIONAL
NSWC98Q MD9

Group 7
Safiloa 1-2 Edsmontik @ Safiloa Home Stadium
M. der-Suiozkeafter (65', OG) | M. Stuero (23'), V. Bervaign (80')

CHANNELS

BE CAREFUL

The first own goal Edsmontik has faced in this World Cup Qualifying not only strikes them in the face, but strikes them in the face hard.
der-Suiozkeafter's bad pass to Lankiv, followed by a curve was all it took to equalize the game in favor of Safiloa.
The Edsmon's chances seemed to be ruined, but they were lucky enough to come out with the winner in the 80th minute.
Here's Vanz Deufrauge with multiple fans on the situation.

Vanz: What are your thoughts on the own goal in the 65th minute?

Fan 1: It was pretty painful to watch. Sucks that it went in.

Fan 2: I wish it didn't happen, sucks that it happened, honestly, the guys in the back could have done a bit more to stop that mistake.

Fan 3: I really think that there were other options. der-Suiozkeafter didn't have to take the pass.

Fan 4: They won, so, I guess it doesn't matter. Still shouldn't have happened though.

Vanz: Do you think der-Suiozkeafter deserves the hate for this?

Fan 1: It's partially on Lankiv, so no, not really.

Fan 2: Completely, honestly, der-Suiozkeafter hit it with a curve. Why was Lankiv expected to save it?

Fan 3: Definitely. He shouldn't have even made the pass in the first place.

Fan 4: Eh, I don't really care. But I would say yes, it was his fault he deserves the backlash.

Vanz: Many say that der-Suiozkeafter should be GONE and never called up until he changes. Or at least, according to fans, he should be benched for a while. What are your thoughts?

Fan 1: I think he's okay, he just has to learn. Benching won't do anything, and hatred will tear him down if he's not called up again.

Fan 2: Yeah, bench him, do whatever. He needs to learn his lesson. It was a costly mistake, and he needs to regain the team's trust.

Fan 3: just play him as normal, with the usual roatations. He's okay, just let him learn more through gameplay and minutes.

Fan 4: Honestly, I think he should stay. He'll learn his lesson faster anyway if we treat him the same.

And those were opinions from fans about a pretty large mistake from der-Suiozkeafter.
How will the Eagles do versus Banija next round?
We'll see tomorrow on ISN.

6/27/2030

EVENTS

FDVL
FDVL CHAMPION: REICHAN DE-WALVARJ

INTERNATIONAL
NSWC98Q MD10

Group 7
Edsmontik 0-0 Banija @ Touve Suberarenae, Touve, Austrankank, Edsmontik
None | None

CHANNELS

WELL PLAYED, GOOD GAME

Two phrases have never been repeated more.
The Edsmons have gained respect for the Banijans, and the other way around too.
After multiple shots from both sides, nearly going in, the game between two giants of group 7 ended in a 0-0 draw.
Dealing with a team like Banija in the Edsmon environment would be easy, or so the Eagles had thought.
The Banijans had silenced them the other time, but they wouldn't now.
The ratio of Edsmon fans to Banijan fans was incredible, and insanely high number in favor of Edsmontik.
However, the boost from the fans would only sometimes ever be enough.
Let's meet Vykren der-Tylvan, former Edsmon superstar before Edsmontik's international showcase, with his thoughts on how the game went.

Pre-Game Thoughts
V. der-Tylvan: One of the most anticipated games was by far Edsmontik, two cycles in with one trophy from the BoF, a good team, and a team that's been around much longer, with more experience and overall the better team, Banija. The away match for Edsmontik was not at all good, ending in the 2-0 defeat that would empty their hopes against this giant of a team. But then, the tides changed for the Eagles when they got to play at the Suberarenae, rebuilt from its old 20,000 capacity shell. Fans packed in everywhere, and if you lived even outside of Touve, you could kind of still hear it.

First Half Thoughts
V. der-Tylvan: The Banijan team went all out, because this was an important game, after all. Son-Saka, Werseo, they had their chances. But it was Lankiv in the back to rescue the Edsmons, along with defenders like Javarqa and der-Suiozkeafter. However, as quoted from Banijan sources themselves, "They had left their finishing boots at home." Lots of post shots, a few saved once, but many nice headers. Props to the Banijan team for the hard work in the first half, and the energy to fight the Vdesmun defense. Edsmontik on the other hand, didn't have much to say as they just held their line and attempted a few tricks once in a while.

Second Half Thoughts
V. der-Tylvan: Our Eagles gained control in the second half, with multiple chances. This swayed the tides of the game, pushing back the Banijans into defense. And with the team worn down, the Edsmons maybe could have done something here. Despite powerful resistance from the 13th Ranked team, Rehcikt, Stuero, and the outside midfielders set up shots for Bervaign in the center. At this one minute, the thousands of Edsmon fans erupted, watching as Bervaign came up and up the field, around the Banijan force towards the goal. A pass, then another. A cross, and a shot! But right at the Keeper. And just like that, a save from Jarju, and a rebound by Ssema. And credits to Jarju for that save, a great one that will probably end up in the books of WC98 greatest saves. A powerful one, one that would have changed the course of the qualifiers for Group 7.

Final Thoughts
V. der-Tylvan: And that's about it! The game ended with the 0-0 draw, and fans satisfied with the performance both teams put up. Beautiful shots, beautiful saves, credits to both teams for possibly one of the most excited and heated games of the qualifiers. Thanks to everyone for being on ISN this afternoon and have a great rest of your day.

EDSMON ROSTER

CHANGES FOR MD11/12

by **Sel Appa** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:17 pm

A shrill whistle blew thrice. "...and the crowd goes positively nuts at [Grand Archduke] Kirby [ı] Stadium with the first Sel Appan win of these qualifiers. What a way to do it, right here at home!!!" Nigel Barrons, the legend himself shouted on televisions, radios, and online streams across the nation and in expat communities abroad. The noise was beyond deafening, forcing techs to adjust the microphones to balance the commentator so he could be heard. "After ten straight losses, the boys have brought a win in Anila City tonight!" was all he could get in as thousands of fans stormed the pitch in celebration, completely overwhelming police and security, who didnt even bother to stop them. "I cannot believe this, the fans have taken over the stadium and washed out onto the pitch. Truly unbelievable and a well deserved win. This team has struggled for so long and to finally get a decisive win...against the 4th ranked team in the world no less. There you have it folks, what we, all of us, have been waiting for. THAT is Sel Appan football!"

The marvelous enunciation of the famed commentator resonated in the hearts and minds of millions of desperate Sel Appans hoping for at least one win in this disappointing qualification run. Beating the top seed was icing on the cake. Nigel wasnt even supposed to work tonight, but was tapped after the other commentator called out sick. And what fortune that the beloved voice of Sel Appan football got to call it. He was awestruck watching the jubilance from his box, the crowd mobbed the home team, who only had time to shake a few hands. The Farf team made haste for their bench, fearing for their bodily integrity, but the blue, yellow, and white clad supporters hardly noticed them on their way to crowd surf their heroes. Coach Marek Löwy, the most hated man in Sel Appa just a few hours ago, was on top of the world as he was involuntarily paraded around the stadium. From the executive box, Gérard Duceppe tried to suppress a smile. He knew as he looked down at his coach that their tenures were no longer on the edge. Even losing the next three matches would pale in comparison to this win.

* * *

"Were in for a night, huh, Kranks?" Pitton noted as he adjusted his uniform, watching crazed fans storm out of the stadium and deluge the streets in every direction. His partner didnt even reply. They both knew what was about to happen, and naturally the department again didnt feel they needed to beef up manpower. No one really expected a win, just another demoralization and embarrassment. But here they were in Anila City, where a near riot broke out after match 7. It wasnt long before the mobs were marching thru the streets smashing windows and breaking or throwing whatever they could find. Visitors from other countries were bewildered as an entirely sober crowd had such force. Alcohol is basically illegal in Sel Appa and certainly not served at sporting events, but the emotions were enough. The poor shopkeepers and businesses who didnt anticipate a need to board up their windows will be rubbing their foreheads come morning.

Police across the city were totally overwhelmed as reports streamed in on 999, radios, and well, just watching the news feeds. Command scrambled to call up and deploy more resources, but it would still take hours. Ill-equipped officers in day uniforms rather than riot gear did their best to protect property and funnel the hooligans to somewhere else. They started to have some success, shouting at the crowds to move along, but they were on their own for now. Pitton and Kranks stayed right where they were, across the street posted outside the metro station entrance. Some attendees began to move towards the door to catch a train home or to their hotels, mostly visitors at first, but increasingly blue, yellow, and white jerseys were seen. Not everyone wanted to party, some just wanted to get the heck out and go home.

* * *
Earlier...
It wasnt deep into the first half when Farfadillis drew first blood, as literally everyone in both nations expected. And then came another play at 32 minutes from the 4th ranked side, hoping to run up the numbers while facing the group punching bag. It looked like everything was going as every other match so far while the clock ticked closer to half time. Jesse David charged up the pitch, passed to Lucien Barthélemy, who sniped it towards Henni de la Rue. There still wasnt an opening by the net until Kris Welck snuck past a defender, collected the ball, and knocked it in. The crowd cheered, but an orange and yellow checkered flag was raised, and a whistle pierced the air. A nice attempt, but clearly offside. Welck had hoped no one would notice. Nevertheless, the not goal gave the team something to believe in, they might just be able to solve the opposing goalie with a little more effort.

Coach Löwy wasted no time pointing out the successful teamwork that almost put them on the board. "Thats what I want to see out there, boys. We can do this. Keep at it, and well get one in the net and do our nation proud." Despite the malign thoughts toward the foreign born coach, he felt a true Sel Appan, and wanted to prove it more than a long career right in this very stadium, with Anila City FC, should have already.

The players moseyed back out onto the turf, somewhat pepped, but numb to their continued losses. However, fortune would soon change as a mistake in the Farf defense let Welck drive thru to hammer a ball to the back of the net in the 47th minute. The keeper was stunned, the defense was stunned, the entire stadium and nation was stunned. Welck ran to the corner, followed by his teammates and threw a hand in the air like tossing a rock. It was now 2 to 1, he scored the 7th goal, really 5th given the two own goals Mytanija granted them, in 11 games. Lucky, but only one man, standing by the bench, thought it might be the start of something new. Always an optimist, Löwy cheered and called out YOU GOT IT to his player.

With some newfound confidence, the team drafted a new strategy, realizing some weaknesses in the defense. Rivers and Barnes worked the ball to David, who drove it on. A few passes between the forwards waiting for an opening in the box led to Barthélemy suddenly finding the back of the net, and an equalizer. It was only the 61st minute. A draw would be nice, but the Turtles smelled blood. Farfadillis didnt need a win. The boys drove extra hard, probing the defenses and trying to put shots on goal. The Farf defense was clearly breaking down, not sure what to do with an unranked team tying it up so quickly. The home side pressed on, looking for a go ahead goal. David found himself with an opening off angle from the net. The play was on the other side of the box. Welck had been subbed out for Reddy, who took a chance and smacked the ball to the midfielder. David took aim and blasted it into the net, the keeper still focused the other direction. It was the 80th minute and the crowd lit up as a 3 went on the scoreboard. Was this real? a thought on everyones mind. The clock ticked up towards full time. The Farf team grew frustrated, not believing what they were seeing, down by one to a bunch of U21 teenagers. At 89 minutes, with everyone eager to get off the field, a sloppy play in the box led to a penalty kick for Sel Appa. This would nail it. Barthélemy lined up, strode to the ball, and kicked it with a slight curve around the Farf keeper, who expected a top corner play. It was 4 to 2 when the 3rd minute of extra time ended to the sound of three blasts from the referees tootle.

by **HOT-DAMN** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 10:07 pm

Laughing Dog Bar and Grill, Kensington Town, Hapilopper
A day before World Cup 98 Qualifying Match 13: Kensington Town v. Crpostran

The day before, Jimmy Eaton had gotten the word from William Mathis: HOT-DAMN was ready. Construction was complete on the new territory after over a year and a half of work. Within days, people would be able to fly out to the Nova Calania continent of Anaia to the new territory. And it meant that, after 25 years of owning and operating Laughing Dog, and after 70 years of this bar being in the Eaton family, it was time to sell. It was time to close Laughing Dog down and hope that his successors in his spot would still operate a neighborhood gathering place. Jimmy didn’t have a choice. He was moving to Anaia, and he was moving to Laughing Dog’s successor, Laughing Pup, located just across the street from the new stadium in downtown New Hap City.

It was a rare moment when nobody was in the bar, except for Jimmy. Everyone else was at their regular 9-to-5 job, working their last days at their old jobs. They, too, would be moving to Anaia, win, lose, or draw, with their families, once the final whistle blew on the Kensington Town-Crpostran match. Their days as just regular beer league footballers with regular jobs were coming to an end. They would become the basis of a true national football team based in the new HOT-DAMN territory. And for that, it seemed like a little bit of the beer leaguer mystique was going to die. Jimmy stood there behind the bar, thinking of the significance of what was ahead. And to him, it was a little difficult to process.

All he wanted to do was run a bar, a watering hole that the people of Kensington Town, a sleepy bedroom community near Buckridge, could enjoy. His father had run it, and his grandfather ran it before that. About 20 years ago, on a whim, he had started up the Kensington Town Soccer Club, a beer league soccer team comprised of regulars at the bar, going up against regulars from other watering holes around the area, and on occasion, other places around the country and around the region. He had no interest in going anything beyond that.

Jimmy walked around the bar, thinking of the memories that had been built there. He felt the dent in the bar, something that had been there for years, the result of Freddy Joyner giving a belly-to-back suplex on Anthony Donis. There were black burn marks near the wood-paneled wall on the other side of the building, the result of Jimmy Clifford accidentally blowing up the arcade machine. There was a hole in the men’s bathroom wall, the result of Eddie Deacon losing a bet. Autographed pictures of beer leaguers from the last 20 years lined the walls of the bar. And all of them carried a momento of some kind with them. There was the elf ears next to Bruce Tatum’s picture. There was an autographed copy of “Robert’s Rules of Order” framed next to Johnny Carter’s picture. And about a dozen mugshots of Roger Goetz next to his picture.

But all of it was going to have to come down. The days of Kensington Town being a beer league team was over. As a matter of fact, the days of the Kensington Town Soccer Club, more or less, was over. The team would still exist, sure. But it wouldn’t be a beer league team anymore – it would be a full-fledged professional football squad. He sat down at a stool and thought about how wildly different his life had become since that plane he was on got wildly out of control. And he wondered if all of this had been an extended dream.

There were plenty of times that Jimmy thought back to how different life would have been if the plane ride had gone normally, and had the plane landed in that Esportivan nation that they were supposed to travel to, rather than ending up somewhere in Anaia. The beer leaguers would have played one or two games against Jimmy’s friend’s bar, and then traveled back home, continuing their normal lives of regular people, living regular lives, and playing a little game of soccer on the weekends. It certainly wouldn’t have turned out like this.

It didn’t seem like it was supposed to happen. Jimmy knew it wasn’t supposed to happen. There were two matches that remained in the qualifying campaign, and depending on how the beer leaguers did in those next two matches, they could find themselves playing in the World Cup Proper. The biggest sporting event in the multiverse. All they had to do was get a good result against Crpostran and the North Oharan Valley Union, and hope Tanirinthia could get crossed up by either Loyo or Ile de Richelieu. If that happened, the beer leaguers could possibly wind up in the top two in the group and qualify.

Jimmy sat there and thought about it for a long time. He thought about what happened, what might have been, and what was instead. Had certain things gone differently, he’d still be operating a little beer league team in suburban Buckridge. His players would be known to their friends and family, but not to many others. Their team would be playing in front of a few dozen people, not tens of thousands in a stadium and to billions all over the multiverse. In Buckridge, Jimmy would be known as the guy that owned the bar, not the man that led a beer league team to the verge of qualifying for the World Cup, the man that inspired a Hapiloppian territory in Anaia.

A few players came into the bar. They knew that if this wasn’t their last time coming to Laughing Dog, it would be near it.

“Hope y’all realize I’m not serving anything,” Jimmy said. “I surrendered my pouring license to the city last night.”

“I don’t want anything,” said Chris Spears, one of two starting strikers. “A lot of us know what’s ahead. I’m not drinking anything until this is over.”

Jimmy quietly nodded his head.

“I’ve been talking to a bunch of the boys, they’re doing the same thing,” Chris said. “You know, we started this thing as a lark, we had some momentum, but now… fucking hell.”

“I didn’t think it’d go this far,” Jimmy said.

“None of us did,” Chris said. “I didn’t actually think we’d have a chance to do… you know, this. But, you know, when we’re done with this, let’s break in the new place. All of us.”

“Oh yeah,” Jimmy replied. “That’s part of the plan.”

With a great deal of emotion, Jimmy got out a piece of paper and scrawled some words on it, before taping it to the front door of Laughing Dog. People wanting to get a drink there were greeted with a message:

“CLOSED!
THANK YOU KENSINGTON
FOR 70 GREAT YEARS
JOIN US IN
ANAIA!”

by **Gnejs** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 12:16 am

Enda Clentin’s Last Dance

Chapter three: The Prophecy

Part one: The Act of Proper Responses to Clairvoyant Deeds of 1895

The third pillar of the story of how the 98th World Cup cycle became Enda Clentin’s last as the head coach of the Prosaic Union National Football Team revolves around the intricacies of interpreting prophecy. This part of the story takes place deep below Pebble Street in the Meridian Quarter, in the lowest subterranean levels of The Ministry of The Interior, where you find the offices of their Department of Bewildering and Delphic Occurrences (DBDO).

The Ministry of The Interior is not what is often understood as an interior ministry, or what might be called a ministry of «home affairs». It is not responsible for domestic policy, law enforcement or public security at large, but rather it is dedicated to overseeing a plethora of issues regarding the geographical region named The Interior. This is a massive area of wilderness at the heart of the island making up The Prosaic Union of Gnejs, characterized by rugged and untamed landscapes; here be dense forests, deep valleys, rocky terrain and high mountains with steep slopes. With a few exceptions, The Interior is more or less untouched by extensive modernization and has long functioned as a haven of sorts for people seeking solitude or refuge in times of trouble.

Homesteading is a deeply entrenched and culturally important practice in Union society, and laws protect the right of any citizen to claim and cultivate land in The Interior in accordance with principles of sustainable self-reliance. While the numbers have dwindled over the years, there are still plenty of people living in homesteads dotted across the vast wilderness. Most are indeed eccentric traditionalists, extreme wildlife enthusiasts or followers of esoteric brands of shamanism, but historically it used to be that when people suffered various life-altering events, like lay-offs, divorce or some other collapse of personal finances or social stability, they collected their belongings and trekked deep within the dense forests as a means of survival more dignified and respectable than what urban civilization could offer. Cultural shifts have mostly relegated this kind of thing to the past, but «city people» retreating from society to live The Interior Way, for one reason or another, is still happening to this day.

While the people residing in The Interior enjoy a great degree of autonomy, activities within the region are regulated by The Ministry of the Interior, and its subordinate agency The Interior Constabulary, overseeing environmental protection, law enforcement and certain welfare services within the region. Infrastructure is scanty, with a system of mostly unmarked trails making up the bulk of the transportation grid, whereas small homesteads and provisional «lean-tos» scattered over the vast area are the most common human structures. The few notable exceptions to this general rule are 1) The Trans-Interior Railway which runs through the length of The Interior connecting the eastern region of Birka and the western region of Ängby, and 2) the settlement known as The Hearth (where the railway makes its only stop within The Interior).

The Hearth is a service hub for homesteaders and others who dwell in The Interior and is the closest thing to organized civilization you’ll find. It’s run by The Ministry of The Interior and dates back to the 1810’s, but it wasn’t until the early 1920’s that a semblance of the structure it has today started becoming more evident. The Hearth settlement is a large complex of structures, with a great Common Hall located centrally, where the homesteaders of The Interior can come to trade and resupply, visit medical doctors and attend to other practical matters. Dedicated sections of the Common Hall also serve as venues for social gatherings. Medical services, certain basic stocks, time-limited accommodations and other essential services are provided free of charge for those that have registered as a «Homesteader» in the official records. While many who inhabit the woods, valleys and mountains do register, a sizable share do not. Reasons vary, but one might be a wish to not have the government know your whereabouts.

The bulk of the activity within The Ministry of The Interior is naturally centered on administering these more mundane aspects of life in The Interior, but that’s not all that goes on in the hallways on and below Pebble Street. If you go down a couple of stairs from the ground floor, and then take the special elevators all the way down to deepest subterranean levels, you’ll eventually end up at the DBDO and their the units for Wonders and Bewilderment (WaB) and Delphic Occurrences (DO). This branch of the ministry exists because there is more to The Interior than meets the eye, at least that’s what they say way down there. The ancient woods at the heart of Gnejs have been subject to strange tales since as long as anyone can remember.

Folktales often depict The Interior as something close to a living entity, imbued with a sense of timelessness and power, where rocks and forests either act as strict guardians of ancient wisdom, vessels connecting spiritual and physical realms, or somehow carrying the spirits and memories of the land. A prominent feature of many folktales are warnings against disturbing or misusing the land, particularly rocks, and they often end with people meeting tragic ends after showing hubris. The phenomena of Greensight, where land and rock speak directly via human vessels to provide guidance and prognostications, are also a common theme. The mystical and symbolic tales of The Interior are deeply intertwined with Gnejsian culture as such, and these old tales have had profound influence on shaping personal and societal - and even international - interactions. A prominent example are The Customs of Friendship (and the accompanying Rock of Friendship), a tradition with roots in ancient times and myths drawing on the esoteric origins of the land.

These stories have traditionally served as moral, practical and cautionary lessons. For the DBDO, however, these are not mere tales you use to scare your children straight or foster increased social cohesion, but rather they are nuggets of insights into the true nature of The Interior, and in extension a forlorn age of magic. In short, WaB research and investigate super- or paranormal phenomena in general, whereas DO are tasked with investigating and verifying potential cases of Greensight specifically.

Surprisingly, all of this is actually relevant to the story of how the 98th World Cup cycle became Enda Clentin’s last as the head coach of the Prosaic Union National Football Team. Because you see, back in the days when the Craqcuet delegation was visiting Delte and became convinced they’d just witnessed a prophecy being uttered, they directly stated that they needed to get back home and get it processed and verified by The Ministry of The Interior and an affiliated elder from the Boysenberry Synod, in accordance with The Act of Proper Responses to Clairvoyant Deeds of 1895. I won’t go into details about how the DO and their affiliated shamanic practitioners go about deciding whether something is a «true case of Greensight» or merely poppycock, but it entails buckets of animal blood, the seeds of wild strawberries and a decent amount of wax harvested from winter apples.

They rarely conclude something to be a genuine case of Greensight, but the prophecy revolving around Enda Clentin and The Dandelions was an exception. In fact, it was the first one in decades, and it was the DBDO’s considerable sway within the Union government that set all the wheels in motion that would eventually end up with Clentin coaching the Prosaic Union National Team, and it was on their authority that Clentin stayed in the coaching chair, despite his varying success over the years.

Prophecy is a tricky business though, especially interpreting them. And, it would turn out, whether or not they have been fulfilled. The good people in the DO had to face this conundrum when news surfaced of an «Enda Clentin» and some «Dandelion team» winning a «WC» in a strange sentient bubble universe, while the Enda Clentin coaching the The Prosaic Union National Football Team (nicknamed The Dandelions) by all accounts had not won the WC (as in the World Cup). Making sense of this would prove to be a crucial part of the story of how the 98th World Cup cycle became Enda Clentin’s last as the head coach of the Prosaic Union National Football Team.

by **Crpostran** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 3:05 am

by **Audioslavia** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:48 am

Carrying the One

Parts [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
[9][10][11]
[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]

A few thousand years ago, Audioslavia had a disastrous fourteen minute experiment with a monarchy. Regardless of how meaningless those fourteen minutes were, the very fact that there was a monarchy at all means two things are true forever. First, there will forever be a lineage of descendants of the usurped monarch. Secondly, it will always occur to at least one person in the world that, hey, maybe there should be a king after all, and while there is a person with a claim to said kinghood, there will always be a Restoration movement, no matter how small or disorganised.

In Audioslavia’s case, there’s also a counter-restoration movement, which aims to brutally murder anyone on Audioslavian soil should they hold the title of first in line to the throne

Aside from the trip to watch Bostopia versus Audioslavia in the centre of Newfort/Newford/Not Rosseford, Fraser had hardly left his house. Bostopia, it seemed, were bringing the outside to him. Furniture arrived for his house, which he figured already had adequate furniture - bed, sofa, kitchen stuff, shelves, wardrobe, table, desk, what else could there be? But apparently an Ambassador needed extra furniture, including, but not limited to, a chaise longe, a chesterfield and a book-case so antique it predated the sandwich. The five houses around him - two next door neighbours and three behind his back yard, plus, he'd seen sandbags atop the house opposite the front - were being repurposed for various functions. Guards. Offices. Application processing for anything from passports to driving licenses, with occasional queues of Audioslavian expats snaking out of what had previously been the living room of number 19 Latter Street, but was now for processing VISA extensions.

One thing he insisted on doing himself was shopping. Yes, he knew they could send someone to do it, yes, he was aware they could transport him wherever he liked. He just wanted to drive to a supermarket, spend twice as long there as necessary because he’d be lost in his own thoughts or playlist, and come back with almost everything he’d set out for, plus two more packs of chocolate biscuits that he didn’t need and some new thing which looked too stupid not to buy, like an açai yoghurt drink or a blueberry and blancmange pizza slice. But it was a constant polite-as-possible war of words with those around him who had assuredly been tasked with not letting him ‘escape’. In the end, he agreed to a plainclothes security guard shadowing him around the supermarket, with a van full of the boys ready to go should someone look at him funny or, more likely, should he try to make a daring escape out of the back door. He did, of course, have a bit of previous for this, not that any of the guards knew.

When he returned, two hours later, with a car boot full of shopping bags, he saw two guards arguing with a man. A man who looked familiar.

“Craig!” Said Fraser, almost dropping his first bag of shopping.
“You know this guy?” Asked a guard, as Craig turned round. “We caught him trying to break in”
“And as I explained” said Craig. “You’d told me to come round any time and let myself in”
“Er, right” said Fraser. He had said nothing of the sort. Whether the guards picked up on this uncertainty or not, they let him and Archibald Craig enter the house alone.
Craig helped Fraser put his shopping in more or less the places where they needed to be, exchanging updates about what had been happening in each other’s lives. The boat’s engine was old and needed replacing, which wasn’t a quick job especially in such a ship. It basically involved dismantling the old engine, taking it out of the ship, dismantling a new engine - the only way to fit in into such an old ship - and constructing it there. Three months, minimum. Aside from a guard detail, everyone was on leave. Craig added that, regardless of whether this was or was not the case, he would definitely be here right now.
“Tea? Coffee?” Asked Fraser.
“Tea” said Craig. Nobody on the ship ever said coffee.
“So, Your Grace” Craig continued. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be dispensing of the Your Grace. The boys on the boat have had a chat and it’s been decided that I’d be better served not quite as your butler, but your advisor. With your permission, of course”
“Granted” said Fraser, without thinking. He finished filling a kettle and hit the ‘on’ switch.
“Good. This means I won’t be calling you Your Grace, Your Grace, and that I might speak with you a little more plainly”
“Of course” said Fraser. “Yeah I mean, if you’re my advisor then I suppose you’ll need to give me some…”
“You’re an idiot” interrupted Craig.
“…oh” said Fraser, in response. A significant part of him felt utterly affronted. Betrayed, almost. But the part of him which didn’t feel like a King, which was thankfully the largest part, relaxed a little. This was, of course, the normal reaction of an advisor to the sort of stuff Fraser had been doing lately, regardless of whether Fraser wanted to do it.
“Even aside from trying to create an heir just a year after the last heir came into the world with a fifty-fifty chance of being murdered right off the bat, or dual-welded pistols as it turned out, you’ve now turned yourself into not only the official ambassador to Bostopia on behalf of Audiosavia, but are now trying to become a celebrity? Have you lost your god damned mind?”
“What, no!” Protested Fraser. “A celebrity? What are you even talking about?”
“This” said Craig, thrusting a copy of a magazine into his hand. This week’s copy of ‘Now Then’ magazine had a picture of him on the front. Black and white. Looking into the middle distance. Behind him was an airport. He recognised the suit he was wearing as the smart but comfortable one he wore for travel.
“I didn’t pose for this”
“Looks pretty posey to me” said Craig, folding his arms. Fraser opened the magazine to page 7, where he saw a number of images of him. All photoshopped to remove blemishes, but all taken with a telephoto lens. Him outside a cafe with Tania and the kid. Him outside his house with Montague Winstanley. Him exiting a car. Oh god, an interview with Tania? An interview with his old boss? An interview with him?”
“I never had this interview” said Fraser, showing the magazine to Craig’s face. “I mean look at it. ‘What would you like to change about the world’, I never got answered that question. And I certainly would never answer with this response. Look what it says as the answer!
Craig read the answer aloud. “As a procedural generative language model I cannot espouse opinions on changes to the world, but they would definitely need more slavery and eugenics”
“See!” Said Fraser. “They didn’t interview me, they interviewed ChatNSG!”
“Hmm” said Craig.
“Probably did the same to Tania, too” said Fraser.
“No” said Craig, flipping to the next page. There, Tania sat in a director’s chair in a photographer’s studio, hair perfect, make-up perfect, her baby in arms. “She did the interview. Even posted about it on Boofer”
“Oh” said Fraser, crestfallen. This. This was a betrayal.
“In any case” said Craig. “What about the football? What possessed you to go to the Bostopia Audioslavia match? Let yourself get photographed, videoed? Your face was on the big screen more often than Taylor Swift at a Taylor Swift concert. Maybe even more than Taylor Swift at a Chiefs game*
“Montague Winstanley. He possessed me. Possesses me, even. It’s like I’m being used as a… as a…”
“Tool” said Craig, cocking his head to the side. “Political tool” he added, for the sake of keeping things civil. “And okay. Montague Winstanley? Never heard of him. But I can find him.”
“Like you found me”
“Your new address has been the cause of hundreds of news articles all over Anaia and is currently listed as the place of the official Audioslavian Embassy. And you already texted me your address twice. So no, not like I found you. Like I find other people. I’ll do that now, I think.”
A click from the corner told them that the kettle had finished boiling.
“No tea?”
“Leave the water in the kettle, I’ll have it later” said Craig. An ex-soldier sort of joke.
“One last thing” said Fraser. “The thing about me saying you can let yourself in whenever. What was that about?”
“Ah, that old thing” said Craig. “I figured I’d get myself into the house without the guards seeing, so I could walk out of the shadows and say hello. Old special forces trick. Mean, sure, but it’s something you need to know. You need to be on your guard. Turns out I couldn’t sneak into this place. Your jailers are pretty good.”
“Guards” said Fraser, correcting. He thought for a moment and sighed. “Jailers. Yeah”
“I won’t try it again” said Craig, nodding, and making his way to the door. “Funny thing about embassies though. The area they sit on is deemed to be sovereign land of whichever nation has the embassy”
“Oh?” Said Fraser. Craig looked at him for a few seconds, hand on the front door. It took a second to click.
“Oh. Oh”
“Yeah” said Craig. “The Union says they have free reign to murder anyone who’s the First in Line to the Throne, but only if they’re on Audioslavian soil”. Craig opened the door and stepped out onto the front lawn. Around him was a perimeter that had been set up, surrounding the six houses. “This right here, this is Audioslavian soil. Your house. Audioslavian soil. And from here, it goes down to technicalities. If an Audioslavian sniper puts himself in a house opposite, he’s on Bostopian soil. When he fires, he kills you in Audioslavia. Is that allowed. Do member of The Union also have to be on Audioslavian soil for them to execute you?”
“I don’t know” said Fraser, standing in the doorway, leaning against the door-frame. He was suddenly aware of the size of his head.
“Nobody does” said Craig. “Though I’ll wager The Union have discussed it already. They might even have a plan, even now”
“I’ll keep my eyes peeled. Alert the guards, and that”
“We already know” said a voice from the next garden.
“Why’d you think we stopped this guy” said another voice.
"We've got this area on lockdown" came another voice, through the open first-floor window of the house next door. A man waved his binoculars at them.
“Hi!” shouted another from across the street. And a dancing red dot appeared on Craig’s chest.
"Yeah" said the first guard. "We're on top of security here, we reckon"
“Oo-er!" said the third guard, with mock concern. "Looks like our sniper's found you, Mr. Craig!"
"Is that Killshot or Larry?" asked the guard at the window. It didn't sound like a rhetorical question. A weird one, without context, but not rhetorical.
"Dunno" said the second guard, before turning to one of the houses across the street and cupping his hands to his mouth. "Are you Killshot or Larry?" he bellowed. There was a pause. The red dot disappeared from Craig's chest. Then, from behind a set of sandbags on the roof of the semi-detached house opposite, a man stood up holding a broom.
"Nah you're alright, it's just Larry" said the guard. "If it were Killshot, he'd have waved a sniper rifle as big as your mum. Well, Larry's mum anyway."
"Why does he have a broom?" asked Craig, genuinely concerned.
"Two reasons. First, we haven't been fully restocked, so there's just the one big sniper rifle. Larry here has a broom with a laser pointer gaffa-taped to the end. Second, we like to think of it as a firing squad. One person has a blank. Well, a broom in this case. They swap places every few days. Sometimes Larry's at the front and Killshot's at the back house, sometimes vice versa. We might keep this going even when we've got a second sniper-rifle."
"R.. right" said Craig, trying not to sound like he thought the concept was the stupidest thing he'd ever heard.
"Mean's Killshot's guarding the back end of the house today" said another guard.
"And why do they call him Killshot" said Fraser.
"Thanks for asking!" said a guard. "His surname's Quiéilsciotta. Family's Pacitalian I think. Maybe Osarian. Haven't asked."
"He will also take your head clean off your shoulders from eight hundred yards away" added another voice. "Well not yours, Your Grace..."
“Right” said Fraser.
“Feel safer?” Said another voice from another garden.
“Yes and no” said Fraser. “Be seeing you, Mr. Craig”
“You too, Your Grace” said Craig, waving to Fraser and then, with a larger gesture, to the rest of the boys.

Fraser closed the door and went back into his house. Alone at last. He walked up the stairs, wondering if he'd have to tread back down them to meet a beaming Montague WInstanley before Craig had the chance to 'talk' to him. He stood on the landing and yawned. Something about being both King and Ambassador was absolutely exhausting. It was, perhaps, time for a nap. He opened the door to his bedroom and entered it. He noted it was darker than he'd expected, but paid the thought no heed, walking a few steps inside before pausing. It was darker than he'd expected. It smelled funny. The curtains were drawn. He wondered why the curtains were drawn. Surely he’d opened them when he got up this morning.

“That Archibald Craig” came a voice behind him. Fraser froze. “Can’t get past a few Bostopian guards? Fuckin amateur”
Fraser raised his hands slowly. He wasn’t sure what else there was to do.
“Me? I’ve been doing this for years. Decades.”

Fraser stood stock still. He could tell the stranger was in the doorway of his bedroom, behind him. Fraser himself was stood a couple of feet further inside. He dared not turn and look at who he was speaking to. Instead, he looked in the darkened room. Next to his desk was a swivel chair. On the back of the swivel chair, a coat. Long. Beige. Dirty. Sitting on the chair there was what looked like an old trilby.

“Maybe even centuries”

*the characters did not use these examples in their conversation. I have instead used a metaphor that would be more familiar with an RL states audience. You’re welcome.

—

Back in the Big Time
Audioslavia qualify for the World Cup for only the third time in seven cycles.

Qualification for the World Cup used to be a dead cert for the Audioslavian national team. In their first 26 cycles, 4 to 29, they failed to qualify just once. After a slow comeback in the late 50s, the side qualified for, and won, World Cup 63 and proceeded to qualify for all but two World Cups of the new 27 - missing WC79 entirely and struggling in WC80.

And then in World Cup 91, after two third-place finishes and a quarter-final in the preceding three cups, the side disappeared entirely from the upper echelons of football. Whatever it was that Audioslavian football had over its opponents, it was gone, or at least it had been figured out.

Reaching World Cup 94 after the three-cycle absence was like righting a wrong, but then followed cycle 95 and a failure to even reach the playoffs, with the side pipped at the last by a 0-1 home reverse to Qasden, humiliatingly the first ever match at the new Beltzarga stadium. In for 96, out for 97 despite the expanded format, not even making the playoffs behind Delte, Siovanija and Teusland and Cardenao.

People like to pretend that the Audioslavian sides of the 90s will be glossed over by the history books as a series of blips in the history of an otherwise proficient football team, but the reality is harsher. In modern football, there are more good teams than there were even fifteen cycles ago. That 20 to 40 of them have proven themselves better than the Bulls in each of the last seven cycles is far from a blip. It’s the way things are now. The national side are accomplished in defence, that remains true, In five of the last seven qualifying campaigns they have conceded less than ten goals. The side’s counter-attacking nature, however, seems to have been figured out. It’s like the most basic textbook at coaching courses covers Kontrapuntzeka and how to deal with it. The Bulls’ brand of football is prehistoric, and the results bear this out.

This last week, though, they’ve at least proven they can grind out a result.

The Ko-orenite Constellation were the side’s closest rivals for second place when the teams met on matchday eleven. The gap was five points, meaning even a draw would stand the Bulls in good stead, with at least a four point cushion above whoever ended the day in third. As such, Monterroso set the team up even more negatively than usual, with the stodgy centre half Jean-Marc-Antoine Vidoqc preferred to the diminutive wing-back Uriah Malcom in defence, with Alex Bocker moving from RCB to that right back position. The Bulls weren’t here to counter-attack, necessarily, more to kill the game. More to force The Ko-orenite Constellation to come to them. They might not be as defensive as region mates Ko-oren, but it’s certainly not in their DNA to push forward with the extravagance of more attacking teams. As it happened the Bulls tested the waters for the opening ten minutes, weathered a short storm, won a corner, bundled the ball over the line by the outstretched boot of Gael Coorie, and set about playing the auntiest and anti-football they could muster, which turns out to be so auntie it sneaks you chocolates when your mum isn’t looking and dyes their hair purple.

The win. Eight points clear. A trip to Legalese to come. Legalese’s for varies from cycle to cycle, even more wildly than that of the Bulls. Eleventh in their qualifying group in World Cup 94, second in 95, mid-table in 96, the Bulls caught Legalese on a slight upwards trajectory this cycle, but after dispatching the side 2-0 in Audioslavia in the first half of qualifying,, the national team vanquished their cross-sea rivals 3-1 to cement their spot in the 98th World Cup.

Up next come two dead rubbers, at least on paper. There is, however, something at stake for the penultimate game of the qualifying series.

Squornshelous’s form over the last cycle and a bit has been breathtaking. Winners of World Cup 97, winners of ARC 3, holders of the Unofficial World Championship for 39 of the last 43 matchdays, the side have been unbeatable so far in qualifying, with only tired draws with Legalese and The Constellation preventing them from posting a perfect record. The Black-and-reds defeated the Bulls comprehensively in the first game, two-nothing, and have easily been the better side in recent encounters, but this is a rivalry which stretches all the way back to World Cup 5, through barnstorming 7-goal and 9-goal knockout games in the tens, and the one-two punch of arresting that losing streak and wrestling that UWC title belt from their rival’s hands would be a perfect end to a successful qualifying campaign.

Since losing to the Black-and-reds, the Bulls have gone 5-1-0, conceding just one goal. If there’s an opportunity to give the reigning champions a pasting, it’s right now.

by **Indusse** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 6:06 am

Hind Tribune
No Way to Go

By Subrato Shahla

Indusse’s World Cup qualifying campaign suffered a serious setback after two disappointing results that have left fans frustrated and uncertain about the team’s chances of reaching the nrxt stage of tournament. On matchday 11, they faced bottom-of-the-table Sekela in what should have been a straightforward and easy win considering the 1-6 win when both the teams met, but instead, they were handed a bitter 1-0 defeat. The loss to Sekela, who had already been all but eliminated from the competition, was especially hard to swallow for Indusse, who had been expecting to pick up three crucial points at home. The team struggled to create clear chances, with strikers Mersias, Kumar, and Butea failing to break down Sekela's defense. Despite having most of the possession, Indusse couldn’t find a way to score, and Sekela snatched the win with a late goal, leaving the home fans in disbelief. The performance was far from what was needed, and manager Newman admitted that his team lacked the necessary quality and mentality to secure the win. The boos from the crowd were a clear reflection of the disappointment.

Things didn’t improve for Indusse in their 12th match against Elmyia, which ended in a goalless draw. While Elmyia are a strong side considering the recent trends, the result was another missed opportunity for Indusse to gain the necessary points. The team showed some promise in the first half, creating a few chances, but once again, they couldn’t make it to thr goal. Mersias, who had been in decent form earlier in the campaign, missed a couple of key opportunities, and Kumar was visibly frustrated with the lack of service. Even Butea, a player who had been one of Indusse's standout performers, couldn’t find a way to score. After the match, Newman acknowledged that the team needed to be more clinical in front of goal. "A point is better than none, but it feels like two points lost," he said. Indusse’s defense had held strong, but their inability to score consistently was becoming a alarming issue.

With just 15 points from 12 matches, Indusse now finds themselves in a dangerous position, sitting 6 points behind second-place Elmyia and with little room left to drop points. Fans are growing increasingly concerned that their team’s World Cup dream is slipping away. The mood among supporters is more of frustration, as many feel that this is another campaign where they’ve come close but will ultimately fall short. However, there is still a slim hope that Indusse can secure a spot in the qualification play-offs, but the team will need to get thiings sorted quickly and find a way to score goals if they are to make it.

There’s a growing demand for changes in both tactics and team selection, with some suggesting that the forward line needs to be shaken up. The next few matches will be crucial, and many fans are hoping that the team can find the form that has eluded them in recent weeks. The pressure is mounting, and Indusse must deliver if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the World Cup. Rumours say that the team if unable to qualify for the world cup may face serious changes before they are send for the next important tournament.

by **United States of Nova Calania** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 7:49 am

Nova Calania's fate still in limbo: We still can qualify directly, through playoffs or not at all

Starting XI vs Olastor @ Zhāng Jiānglǐng Guójiā Tǐyùchǎng, Yuzhong District, Shanzhou
GK C.-É. Moineau - DEF MacNeely - DEF McCormack - DEF F.-X. Moineau - DEF N. McCaskill - MID Y. M. Xiong - MID M. Q. Xiong - MID Baumgartner - MID C. Gibouleau-Beaudoin - ATT Berlinguette - ATT Malboeuf

Shanzhou, Shanzhou - Nova Calania isn't eliminated and we still can qualify directly to the World Cup. Honestly there's a higher chance we either qualify through playoffs or we don't qualify at all. Our fate is still in limbo! On matchday 11, the Tapirs easily beat Olastor 5-2 at Zhāng Jiānglǐng Guójiā Tǐyùchǎng in Yuzhong District, Shanzhou. Then, on matchday 12, they travelled to Mertagne and held them to a 3-3 draw. The weather in Shanzhou was hot and sunny and it was a beautiful day. Nova Calania took the lead early at the 11th minute when Charlotte Gibouleau-Beaudoin had the ball and made a short pass to Lily-Rose Malboeuf who kicks it into the goal. The Tapirs increased their lead at the 26th minute when Mei Qi XIong passes the ball to Charlotte Gibouleau-Beaudoin who heads it into the net. Nova Calania is on fire and Ludwig Baumgartner had the ball at the 32nd minute and he made a cross to Louis-Philippe Berlinguette who kicks it past Goalkeeper #1. It's good to see Berlinguette scoring again after being relegated to the 4th spot in the depth chart. Charlotte Gibouleau-Beaudoin scored on a free kick at the 38th minute and Nova Calania was leading 4-0 at halftime.

Olastor scored at the 58th and 72nd minutes to bring the score at 4-2. Olastor still attacked at the 86th minute but Nathan McCaskill intercepted the ball and made a long pass to Yi Ming Xiong who passed to Ashton Gockley. Gockley shoots and she scores. The final score was 5-2 Nova Calania. Ludwig Baumgartner had a red card at the 52nd minute and will be suspended on matchday 12 against Mertagne. He's a reserve player who don't play often anyway.

GAME SUMMARY

11th    GOAL NOVA CALANIA     Lily-Rose Malboeuf assisted by Charlotte Gibouleau-Beaudoin
26th    GOAL NOVA CALANIA     Charlotte Gibouleau-Beaudoin assisted by Mei Qi XIong
32nd    GOAL NOVA CALANIA     Louis-Philippe Berlinguette assisted by Ludwig Baumgartner
38th    GOAL NOVA CALANIA     Charlotte Gibouleau-Beaudoin (free kick)
58th    GOAL OLASTOR     Player #10 assisted by Player #8
72nd    GOAL OLASTOR     Player #7 assisted by Player #11
86th    GOAL NOVA CALANIA     Ashton Gockley assisted by Yi Ming XIong

Starting XI @ Mertagne @ Dannin City Stadium, Dannin, Dannmarsh, Mertagne
GK Bleau-Bean - DEF A. McCaskill - DEF Wolkowicz - DEF T. Gibouleau-Beaudoin - DEF N. McCaskill - MID Fauteux-McGrath - MID M.Q. Xiong - MID S. McCaskill - MID C. Gibouleau-Beaudoin - ATT Guénette-Velazquez - ATT Goudreau-Luneau

Dannin, Dannmarsh, Mertagne - On matchday 12, Nova Calania visited Mertagne (18th), among the top 5 Anaian teams in the World Cup based on KPB rankings with Flavovespia (9th), Ko-oren (12th), Saint Eleanor (19th) and Huayramarca (21st). There's actually something wrong with the Green Goblins, they had their 3rd straight draw against us and they haven't won since matchday 7. Nova Calania took the lead at the 18th minute when Frédérique Goudreau-Luneau made a short pass to Rodrigo Guénette-Velazquez and he scores. Mertagne tied the game at the 27th minute when Aislin Du Moucel made a header pass to Trebuchet who kicks the ball and it's a goal. The score at halftime was 1-1.

Mertagne attacked early in the 2nd half when Stewart Bickley had the ball and made a cross to Burro Curwood who kicks it past Serge Bleau-Bean. Mei Qi Xiong scored on a free kick at the 65th minute and the game was tied at 2-2. Burro Curwood had the ball in the penalty area at the 69th minute and he was about to shoot when Nathan McCaskill trips him. It's a yellow card for McCaskill and a penalty for Mertagne. Trebuchet takes the penalty, he kicks the ball and it goes in. Towards the end of the game, the referree announced 6 minutes of extra time and at the 90 + 6th minute, Rose Van der Jagt dribbles with the ball and passed it to Charlotte Gibouleau-Beaudoin who made a header pass to Frédérique Goudreau-Luneau who receives the ball with her foot and quickly kicks it into the net to tie the game and the final score was a 3-3 draw!

An unbelievable 3-3 draw with Mertagne and we are ahead of them in the standings. I repeat, Nova Calania is ahead of Mertagne in the standings! Eastfield Lodge already qualified and is all alone in the drivers seat with 29 points in 12 games. Myrtle Beach is 2nd with 24 points in 12 games and will likely qualify if they don't mess up. They can direcly qualify with a win against either Eastfield Lodge or Olastor, they just need one win. Natanians and Nosts are 3rd with 21 points and have yet to play Nova Calania and Mertagne. Nova Calania follows in 4th place with 20 points and Mertagne are 5th with 19 points. What an awesome finish! All N&N and Nova Calania have to do is win and they're qualified. For Mertagne, it will be harder, they can win but they needs help and they needs other teams to lose. Below I posted the remaining schedule. Nathan McCaskill will miss matchday 13 against Natanians and Nosts for having too much yellow cards and Evan MacNeely will replace him. Coach Findley usually starts backup players agaist lower ranked teams but most of the regular starting XI will play against Kandorith on the final matchday to increase our chances to qualify.

GAME SUMMARY

18th    GOAL NOVA CALANIA     Rodrigo Guénette-Velazquez assisted by Frédérique Goudreau-Luneau
27th    GOAL MERTAGNE     Trebuchet assisted by Aislin Du Moucel
50th    GOAL MERTAGNE     Burro Curwood assisted by Stewart Bickley
65th    GOAL NOVA CALANIA     Mei Qi Xiong (free kick)
69th    GOAL MERTAGNE     Trebuchet (penalty)
90 + 6  GOAL NOVA CALANIA     Frédérique Goudreau-Luneau assisted by Charlotte Gibouleau-Beaudoin

Remaining group 2 schedule - First team listed plays at home - Games involving two eliminated teams are omitted

Matchday 13
Northwest Kalactin vs Mertagne
City of Myrtle Beach vs Eastfield Lodge
Natanians and Nosts vs United States of Nova Calania

Matchday 14
Mertagne vs Natanians and Nosts
United States of Nova Calania vs Kandorith
Olastor vs City of Myrtle Beach
Eastfield Lodge vs Northwest Kalactin

Myrtle Beach: vs Eastfield Lodge; @ Olastor
Natanians and Nosts: vs Nova Calania; @ Mertagne
Nova Calania: @ Natanians and Nosts; vs Kandorith
Mertagne: @ Northwest Kalactin; vs Natanians and Nosts

Current standings excluding eliminated teams

  Group 2                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Eastfield Lodge                  12    9   2   1    38   14  +24    29    Q
2 City of Myrtle Beach             12    7   3   2    35   23  +12    24    Z
3 Natanians and Nosts              12    7   0   5    26   18   +8    21    Z
4 United States of Nova Calania    12    6   2   4    35   25  +10    20    Z
5 Mertagne                         12    5   4   3    26   22   +4    19    Z

Starting XI @ Natanians and Nosts
GK Bleau-Bean - DEF A. McCaskill - DEF Wolkowicz - DEF T. Gibouleau-Beaudoin - DEF MacNeely - MID Fauteux-McGrath - MID M.Q. Xiong - MID S. McCaskill - MID C. Gibouleau-Beaudoin - ATT Guénette-Velazquez - ATT Goudreau-Luneau

Starting XI vs Kandorith @ Terrain de Soccer 1 au Complexe sportif national
GK Bleau-Bean - DEF McCormack - DEF Wolkowicz - DEF Guerrero Lopez - DEF N. McCaskill - MID Fauteux-McGrath - MID M.Q. Xiong - MID Van der Jagt - MID C. Gibouleau-Beaudoin - ATT Guénette-Velazquez - ATT Malboeuf

Paul-André Veilleux

Candidates for Co-Consulship

Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer - Wlodzimierz Pruszkowski has been appointed the first co-consul in Nova Calania's history and will serve his term from january 1st 2027 to august 1st 2029. The next co-consul to be named will serve from august 1st 2027 until august 1st 2031. A new co-consul will be appointed every two years for the next 4 years, except the 1st one who was named in january and will serve for only 2 years and a half. Who will be the next co-consul? Only two candidates filled the necessary paperwork and has collected enough money and endorsement to be declared as candidate. Co-consuls are not elected by the population, they are appointed by the 5 state governors. Here are the candidates:

Sophie-Charlotte Gingues

Sophie-Charlotte Gingues, 32 years old, applied for consulship of Nova Calania because she wants the nation to benefit from her values. She's a strong anti-racist and feminist who thinks racism, misoginy and far right populism have no place in the nation. She was the General Manager of the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer before going on a maternity leave and would like to make the jump into politics. Her favorite food is sushis and her favorite association football club is C.S. Lavigueur. She have a 1 year old baby.

Dobroslaw Trumski

Dobroslaw Trumski, 69 years old, is an Odleglian businessman who owns a few hotels in Nova Calania. He applied for consulship of Nova Calania because he said Nova Calania is Anaia and it isn't great enough and he wants to Make Anaia Great Again. The first thing he will do if appointed is he will annex the Plough Islands located north, Cardenao and it's strait in the middle and any nation producing maple syrup. He doesn't have a favorite food, nor a favorite football team.

Anne-Charlotte McDermott

Breaking News: Dobroslaw Trumski's candidacy for co-consulship declared invalid

Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer - In a press release sent to Le Courrier de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer and signed by Co-Consul Wlodzimierz Pruszkowski and by the 5 state governors, Dobroslaw Trumski's candidacy for co-consulship have been declared invalid for the following reason:

We don't understand Trumski's purpose. We believe Nova Calania will benefit from having allies in Anaia and have a friendly approach and Trumski wants to do the total opposite by threatening other Anaian nations. We can't accept it and his candidacy has been rejected. There is one candidate for co-consulship and our next co-consul will be announced during World Cup 98 or Cup of Harmony.

Signed

Co-Consul Wlodzimierz Pruszkowski, co-consul of Nova Calania
Prince Pierre-Alexandre 1er de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer, governor of Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer
General Secretary of the Burnhamese Communist Party, Braelynn McIlwain, governor of Burnham-on-Stove
Grand Duchess Wladyslawa Wozniakowska, governor of Odlegla Ziemia
General Zhang, governor of Shanzhou
Supreme Leader Moctezuma XIX, governor of Nova Calanian Aztec Confederacy

Anne-Charlotte McDermott

World Cup 81/82/83/84

BP on verge of bouncing out of short term WCQ once again
Scott McCrae
The Daily Mail Chief Soccer Writer

With only two fixtures remaining in the fight to qualify for World Cup 98, the Commonwealth National Team is running out of time to make up ground against their Group 3 opposition if they want to end up with one of the 36 automatic berths available.

There is still all to play for in nearly every group with only three having had both their top two sides decided and a fourth having their top three teams locked in but not having sorted the odd nation out; the Bees dropped points in each of the previous three matches and only two of the four contestants for the the Group 3 sports can theoretically close out with maximum points, as Yuezhou and Hapilopper face off on matchday 13 as does BP and Cobrio in the finale.

Baker Park failing to make the Finals would mark the third time that they will have fallen short in a qualification series with fewer than 16 fixtures, although this particular tournament has seen them have a strong run of form until recently.

The match versus Aphrilia at the BBP National Stadium will mark the 150th WCQ home fixture in BPNT history, with the trip to Cobrio the same milestone of away fixtures as well as the 300th all time qualifying contest. There's hope that the national team's less than stellar performance in milestone fixtures can be overcome if there's to be any chance of a second consecutive trip to the 48 team WCF.

by **Captina Island** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 11:43 am

Captina need one point, six would be dream finish
The Captina Company Press Association

The Captina Company National Team could make history if they earn a point in their final away fixture of World Cup 98 Qualifying against Sajnur--securing a berth in the playoffs for one of the final places in the World Cup 98 Finals in either Tikariot, The Kytler Peninsulae or Qusmo.

A victory against either Sajnur or bottom of the table dwellers Sel Appia--or full points against both--could see the Rosso e Oro leap above Farfadillis or Mytanija for one of the two automatic qualifier places, along with some other results going in their favor. Regardless of the finish it has been a milestone campaign for TCCNT during the transition towards a new generation of Captina stars.

The 3-0 win over Sangti & the Filindo Isles on matchday 12 ensured that the squad took points from all seven group opponents while avenging their only shutout thus far in the tournament. The 30 goals scored are a team record for a single tournament fixture list and marked a record seventh time the team scored 3+ times in a match; in addition the fourth shutout win over a single fixture run is also NT record.

by **Baggieland** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 1:03 pm

The Cause Célèbre

By Lei Siulung, Sports Reporter / Culture Reporter

Okay, so this last one is going to be a bit – well, a lot – controversial.

A long time ago during the lead up to an NS tennis tournament, Goran McEnroe – a Baggielandian tennis player – went to Gnejs for training.

Whilst in the Prosaic Union, a young Gnejsian schoolboy named Lars Varg crossed paths with Goran. Now, that Lars kid was a grade A pain in the neck (and probably still is). A spoilt little brat whose mother let him get away with anything and everything.

And Goran sprayed Lars in the face with wolf repellent.

Of course, this led to an international 'incident' between Gnejs and Baggieland. Every Gnejsian demanded to know what would possess a Baggie to spray a child with wolf repellent? They declared it was criminal, but some also claimed it was because Baggies are so uncouth, they can't tell right from wrong.

So, does uncouthness lead you onto a path to criminal behaviour?

Well, we have already definitively established that Baggies are couth, therefore Goran couldn't have sprayed the kid out of uncouthness. Also, that Lars brat is a little terror and he totally deserved it…

Therefore, the charge that spraying children in the face with wolf repellent is uncouth is…

BUSTED

by **Sarzonia** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 1:53 pm

The energy inside Dave Wilson Stadium in Woodstock was pulsing with a fervour it hadn't seen since it played host to World Cup matches back in the World Cup 57 cycle.

After a protracted renovation period and a vagabond Sarzonian national football team playing in multiple venues, the country's national stadium would see the Navy and Silver return home to face world No 1 Valanora in front of a capacity-plus crowd of 106,344.

Unfortunately for that beyond sold out crowd, the team weren't able to ride the momentum of six-figure supporters cheering them on, and Valanora walked off the unseasonably warm pitch as 3-0 winners.

A quiet, sombre Caleb Rush addressed the media a few minutes after the final whistles heralded the Sarzonian defeat in World Cup 98 qualifying.

"We just got outclassed today," he said. "Weather isn't an excuse. Footing on the pitch isn't an excuse. It was warm for everybody. The conditions were great. Ideal, even. In the end, they were just a better football side than we were on this day."

John Wells made four saves, and aggressively commanded the defensive end, preventing what otherwise could've been a touchdown and two-point conversion for the visitors. As it was, Sarzonia (7-2-2) lost out on the two-point lead they held over Valanora, slipping into runner-up position. Even their next encounter, an away contest against unranked Bohr didn't portend a guaranteed result.

"They've been playing to good form," forward Spencer Wilson said of Bohr. "They held us last time we faced them. We're not expecting them to be pushovers for us this time out."

Rush chose to look on somewhat of a bright side after the result.

"We still have a chance to avoid the added drama of playing a one-off playoff to get into the proper," he said. "That alone would be an improvement."

by **Jeruselem** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 2:37 pm

At Dazza Dallas Stadiium, Jeruselem Manager Sam Maxis and Naked News reporter Princess Alice Stella Dallas after Jeruselem beat the visiting Bears Armed team 3-2.

Alice: Hey we beat Bears Armed, well after that disaster at Bears Armed where we lost 5-1. Total turn around
Sam: Of course, half the team aren't allergic to local population like it was last game. We're back home where that is not going be an issue.
Alice: I heard something about allergy shots
Sam: Given our players are always going be in proximity of the visiting team during the game, the allergic had allergy shots so they don't get effected during the game.
Alice: But there's no specific allergy shots for Bear fur
Sam: The shots are just one down the allergic reactions, it's not targetted. The effect is temporary

Alice: We eliminated yet?
Sam: Not mathetically, but we'd need to win our next two games anyway. That's not happening since we play Valanora last.
Alice: 1st and 2nd qualify automatically so Valanora and Sarznoia have qualified. That leaves 3rd placed Doubeia, 4th placed Bears Armed and 5th placed Bohr. Bohr have done well for unranked but I think it's Doubeia or Bears Armed.
Sam: Just from the last two games, Doubeia should seat 3rd spot. The others need Doubeia to lose their games.
Alice: Yes, Doubeia don't need much to secure 3rd spot.
Sam: We're just a nuisance now

Alice: I guess we proved a really bad nuisance for Bears Armed today
Sam: We drew with Doubeia 2-2 last game and beat Bears Armed here. Draw with 3rd and win against 4th. We aren't pushovers.
Alice: Except most of our losses were pretty bad
Sam: We didn't exactly start very well did we
Alice: Our 2nd half proves we getting better over time, but not good enough
Sam: Our losses to Valanora and Sarzonia were narrow, I wish we did that in the first half.

Alice: We're not going be last anyway given the bottom 2 are pretty bad
Sam: Given we're only 5 points off 3rd spot, we could have done a lot better
Alice: There's always another world cup
Sam: I guess there is but maybe someone else might do a better job
Alice: Hey we didn't expect to qualify don't worry
Sam: Not that we're even close

Alice: So we host Bongo Johnson and then travel to Valanora. Weird we play the last placed team and then the top placed team last.
Sam: Not that it matters, we won't affect position of those teams much.
Alice: Would be nice to finish 4th to annoy some people
Sam: Not likely, we'll be 5th or 6th.
Alice: Playoffs are brutal even we somehow got to 3rd
Sam: Yeah low ranked playoff teams end up playing much better high ranked teams in a playoff anyway, so we'd be screwed

World Cup 98 | RP thread

Lara Torridge's Grand Tour of Anaia: episode 20

6/26/2030 and 6/27/2030

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