World Bowl LII - Everything Thread

by **Velstrania** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 1:31 pm

Nobody ever told you, before it happened, that this was going to be the worst day of your life. There wasn't a man in a suit with a clipboard with a list of everyone's worst moments who stopped you on the street and said to you 'Hold up, tomorrow's going to be a stinker.' There wasn't a voice in your dreams that let you know that maybe...this was as good as it got. And so it was, when Shanlaviri woke up...he was none the wiser.
He opened his eyes, as he often did, to be greeted by a ceiling painted the ghastliest shade of green he had ever seen. Also...a shade of green he had only ever seen here, on his bedroom ceiling. The people who made that shade of green paint had sold one or two tins...the person they'd sold them to was him, and after that whatever drugs they'd been taking wore off and, Shanlaviri suspected, they'd destroyed the rest of the batch using copious amounts of green. After all, after the drugs he'd been on when he bought the stuff had worn off, Shanlaviri wished he'd done the same. He turned onto his side, the action of teenagers everywhere who were perfectly capable of telling the time but were chosing at this moment to believe it wasn't for them.
"Shan!" came a voice from down the stairs. Shanlaviri ignored it...after all, it might go away if he did that. There was after all a first for everything. What he wanted to think about was tonight, not today; he cared about tonight. The selection. The stage. The selection of the first Velstranian football team to enter a world bowl in a generation. He knew as much as anyone did that he might as well be on the plane already; after all there might be actual lynchings if they left out the pro leagues youngest ever MVP, the man with the most rushing yards in 10 years. But there was always a niggle; there had to be a niggle. He was so young after all...and Velstranian sporting life was notorious for not taking chances on young guys breaking through. He could be sure of one thing, if he was selected...he'd be the only 17 year old on that roster; probably the only man under 20 come to think of it.
"Shan!" the voice from downstars called, sounding slightly less patient. Shan didn't hear it; lost as he was in thought, thinking about just how great it was going to feel, what when they called his name and he walked up in front of the press...when he'd finally know he was on the plane. Maybe he'd go out for dinner after, maybe celebrate with everyone he knew and quite a lot of booze and interesting things to smoke. Nobody had said there'd be a party but...well. His father was not the best at taking what had been put in the parcel drop box out of the parcel drop box after he came back from work, and unless the old man had developed a drinking problem and decided to open up his own smoke shed...there was going to be a party.
The door opened, hot hallway air assaulting his air-conditioned bedroom; and the lady in the doorway, his mother for that was who it was, was greeted by the glorious sight of her superstar athlete son wearing nothing but his boxers, lying atop his bed with his head turned to the pillow. He was dribbling a little bit. As things to look at went, it wasn't the best...she gazed hopelessly at the ceiling and immediately wished she hadn't.
"Are you ever going to repaint that?" she asked, turning on the light and making the young man in the bed groan.
"I will when you learn to love it," he sighed, "I was think..."
"Daydreaming," his mother corrected. "It's gone eight. Breakfast is waiting...but it won't be if your sister finds it."

He shrugged into yesterdays clothes, shorts and a crumpled t-shirt and walk down the stairs, figuring there'd be time to shower later. Downstairs he walked, abandoned the perfectly good kitchen and walked outside to wear his father and his little sister were already halfway through this mornings breakfast. Should you want a breakfast plate to last long, and you have a 12 year old girl in the house, fruity pancakes with ice cream was quite possibly the worst choice one could have made.
"Thought you were going to miss your precious selection night you were asleep that long," his dad laughed, mounding his son's plate full and pouring mango juice into the glass beside him. "Beauty sleep or...hangover sleep?" he asked.
"Beauty sleep," Shan mumbled, digging in. You'd have to be stupid not to realise his mind was elsewhere and he didn't want to talk; unfortunately for him...
"All my friends say you're not going to make it," his sister shouted gleefully. "Because you're too young and coach Kielvari doesn't like young players and because people think you're a beach bum who drinks too much."
"Would these be the same friends who ask you is it weird if they have a picture of your big brother on their wall?" Shan asked, all sweetness and light, "What was it Alvorsanu said? She said I looked 'dreamy.'"
"She's lame," his sister snapped, "All she cares about is boys with muscle and big deep voices."
"And their faces on tv every other day?" Shan pointed out. If there was anything that could get him in the here and now, winding up his little sister was one of the best methods of doing it. "And don't go pretending you don't go telling everyone you know that you're related to me. It's how you're popular now despite, you know...being you."

"Are you planning on going to school today?" Shan's dad asked him, "I'd get it if you didn't want to." Shan considered the question; he was an adult of course. In Velstrania you were an adult once you'd passed your 'maturity test' or you turned 13, whichever came first. At that point, you could just decide you were done with school. Velstrania also had a big issue with teenage gangs and nobody could understand why this might be.
The prospect of skipping school wasn't an unattractive one. As his mother had put it, you knew you lived in a nice place when, every few weeks, people from around the world paid several thousand to stay in the house right next door to yours. Lying by the pool or the beach, maybe getting something good to eat at one of the many restaurants that called Inyusil seafront home and then driving leisurely to the selections...there were worse ways to spend ones day. But then...but then he'd be constantly thinking wouldn't he? About what was coming; his mind would go on and on and on picking at that little nick of doubt and turning it into a big gaping hole until by the end of it he'd think he had no hope at all.
"I'm going," he answered. "7 hours of maths and English and history might make me stop thinking for a bit."
"You mean you started?" his sister asked.

Shan had managed to get a shower, he'd even managed to change into his usual uniform...different shorts and a different t-shirt, and had driven through the painfully slow Inyusil tourist traffic to school. What happened at school? If you'd asked him, he wouldn't have known about it for a second; those around would probably have described him as 'zombie.' It turns out that when the most import night of your life was just around the corner, the capacity for history and maths and level 4 religious education was somewhat limited. But soon, it was over and before he knew it, Shan was on the way back home, driving at a shockingly high speed, what with the morons checking their guidebooks and satnavs, of twenty whole miles per hour.
It was about that point when things started to go wrong for Shanlaviri nos Ralmenklor, star of the Velstranian pro league, future sporting legend. Because it was about that time when the well-dressed young woman dropped from the sky and landed on the hood of his car.

To be continued

by **The Kytler Peninsulae** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 2:05 pm

THE KYTLERIAN GREEN MACHINE WORLD BOWL 52 ROSTER

Style modifier: -1.903

RP permissions:
Choose my scorers: Y
Godmod scoring events: N
RP injuries to my players: Y
Godmod injuries to my players: N
Suspend my players: DM/TG first, but in theory Y
Godmod suspension events: N
Godmod other events: N

The Green Machine are back and once again have quite a bit of continuity despite the failure of their last campaign.

Dirk Dijkstra, who offers more of a traditional look than most Kytlerian signal-callers past, will run an offense that can best be described as "triple option and it's the same but there's an actual passing game so it's not." In the team's internal nomenclature, "SB" refers to "slot back" or "space back," and typically there are two of them on each play flanking the QB/FB in some way, often catching screens or play-action passes while the bigger FB does pure up-the-gut work. "F" refers to "flanker," essentially TE/WR hybrids whose first job is to block and whose second job is to run vertical routes - although increasingly some players who could be actual WRs get that job too. Jón Úlfursson, a true BFG who played tackle first before taking to flanker (and getting an NSCF gig as a TE), is very much at the TE side of the spectrum and indeed was a converted tackle; he emerged as a leader last cycle, and has a trademark of being targeted on play action after pancaking a hapless DB on a "run" block. On the other side of the size spectrum is "Two-Way" Tyler Murray, who also moonlights as a corner; he's specifically been put into the Green Machine side to play offense most of the time and defense in sub packages, meaning he "only" has to learn 1.5 playbooks.

Speaking of the defensive side of the ball, the Green Machine run a two-gap 3-4, but often mix in some Tampa 2-like zone blitz concepts with the OLBs dropping into coverage.

Full depth chart
Duplicate players in different positions are multi-position players, not errors

QB: #3 Dirk Dijkstra, #9 John Rockford, #2 Alan Blackshaw
FB: #26 Dennis de Rijk, #23 Dennis Svensson, #9 John Rockford
SB: #34 Vince Donaldson, #21 Rudolph Hock, #30 Kevin Edwards, #25 Wecoisus Satossy
F: #80 Jón Úlfursson, #88 Tyler Murray, #81 Earl Boone, #89 Victor Henderson, #82 Oliver Linnett
LT: #73 Jón Magnusson, #63 Paddy Daniels, #66 Arnie Rivers
LG: #75 Roger Clarence, #62 Nigel Sanders
C: #74 Benjamin Farrell, #70 Eidur Ragnarsson
RG: #79 Wecoisus Filler, #62 Nigel Sanders
RT: #67 Bjarni Friðriksson, #63 Paddy Daniels, #62 Nigel Sanders

NT: #95 Mike Rose, #92 Eidur Jónsson, #99 Adam Snorrisson
DE: #90 Magnus Arnórsson, #94 Thomas Wilson, #98 Archie Watson, #91 Victor Svensson, #96 Elton Black
OLB: #45 Jonathan Ashe, #52 Paul Card, #43 Cliff Brooke, #59 George Tickle
ILB: #54 Jón Bjarnisson, #51 Stan Oakbury, #55 Samuel Owens, #56 Scott Wallington
CB: #48 Oliver Zeller, #44 Josh Doppler, #40 Alexander Petrescu, #88 Tyler Murray
FS: #47 Ash Bonnell, #41 Iain Bradley, #42 Arne van Damme
SS: #49 Arthur Ball, #46 Dominic Higgins, #42 Arne van Damme

K: #5 Karl Hand
P: #11 Shrifflu Satossy
LS: #49 Blaine Fox
KR: #40 Alexander Petrescu, #21 Rudolph Hock, #82 Oliver Linnett
PR: #40 Alexander Petrescu, #82 Oliver Linnett

by **Banija** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 2:19 pm

Omukama Immaculate, sitting with the Katikkiro, senior members of the cabinet, in addition to various military and defense officials

"It's been too long since Abahamba's military junta took power. Almost 2 years ago- claiming to be the legitimate government of Abahamba." Said Boaz Gor, who was the active, and ruling, Katikkiro of Banija at the meeting. "As we all know, Kabaka Sekakama is the rightful King of Abahamba- by blood, via their own Constititution. Their own military violates their constitution and further oppresses their people. It is time for us to put our plan of attack into action. We cannot, under any circumstances, allow this government to continue."

"Are we all in favor of the discussed plans, to set the ultimatum for Abahamba- and then, to enforce it?" The Omukama said. Every person in the room raised their hand- it was official. Banija was going to be on war footing. The plan here, of course, was simple. They were going to invade their northern neighbor, to remove the illegal military junta of General Jjumba, and restore constitutional order to the country- one that had Kabaka Sekakama, who was a cousin of the now extinct Abahamban royal family, taking his place on the throne of Abahamba. Some in this room wanted outright annexation of the backwards kingdom- but that was a more divisive issue. Whether they'd install democracy, annex the country, or just rule it from abroad was a decision that was going to be made tomorrow. But today, everybody agreed- the threat was imminent. If this junta stood for much longer, Banija's window of opportunity for action would disappear.

The plan, of course, was simple. Omukama Immaculate would make the public ultimatum. Her son, Omugabe Lallo, who was the Waziri of Banija, would fly to Cardenao to discuss the plan with Banija's critical ally, President Mihaly. Would there be international pushback from the global community? Almost certainly. But it was absolutely essential that they be given the chance to publicly surrender- but, one way or another, the boy Kabaka of Banija was going to get that second crown that he always had the right to.

Omukama Immaculate, the next day, standing in front of a full session of the Lukiiko

As Omukama Immaculate walked to the speaking center of the Chamber, she looked around. Any ruling head of state would want to leave a legacy. Omukama Immaculate, was no different. But in a semi-constitutional monarchy system, as Regent, she had wanted to ensure that her legacy, during her Regency, would be one that would be remembered. Changing Banija's borders, in a positive way, was almost certainly a way to do that. And, to her credit, these kind of fell in her lap. Lugave voted, voluntarily, to join the Kingdom of Banija as a full state- a backwards country, that wanted to jump forward economically. One third world state in what was now a first world country in Banija, they were desperate for that economic integration.

To the north, of course, was Abahamba. Now Banija's neighbor, thanks to the ascession of Lugave into the Kingdom of Banija. There was a lot of history of animosity there- Abahamba always hostile to their much larger neighbors, and firmly against Lugave joining Banija. But then, a bit of luck as well. Banija had nothing to do with the ebola epidemic that swept up the Abahamban Royal Palace. Of course, once the opportunity was there, Banija seized the moment. Recuecn had done their best to help out the dictators of that country- but Banija, wisely, had intervened to prevent that from happening. They had taken some criticism, but everyone agreed, that they had to thing big picture with Abahamba. Banija didn't put Kabaka Sekakama into the Abahamban Royal line of succession- and when their family died out, he should have been given the crown jewels. Instead, a soldier was running the country- in a more corrupt fashion than ever.

While some thought the reasoning for war might be weak, Omukama Immaculate was convinced of the need, and ready to make it happen. She addressed the chamber of the Lukiiko. "To the people of Banija, and the elected members of this body- for almost 2 years, we have co-existed, peacefully, while an abomination of a government ruled to our north. Banija certainly has a sphere of influence here in the near abroad, and it is of our interests to see constitutional order followed. The people of Abahamba are being crushed by their military dictatorship- they are poorer, more brutalized, and live in fear of their own government. It is a shameful situation that is happening just across our new northern border, and one that we cannot allow to stand."

"Let me be clear about what is going to happen. To the military junta of Abahamba- you all know that Kabaka Sekakama, by right of blood, is the rightful King of Abahamba. But your junta has stopped your own Constitution from being followed- at the detriment of your own people. We have no qualms with the people of Abahamba, only with the soldiers who call themselves a government. So, I am going to be clear- General Jjumba, you have 10 days for you and your military council to step down, and hand over governance to Banijan authorities. They can hand over governance to the Banijan Ambassador, who will allow the current active military government to disband, and enforce a transition to democracy- keep the ideals of the Abahamban constitution, with their rightful head of state, Kabaka Sekakama, as a constitutional monarch."

She stopped, and started again. "Let me be clear as to the order of operations of what's going to happen. This very week, the Lukiiko will hold a vote to authorize the deployment of troops, from the Kingdom into Abahamba. And if the 10 day deadline is not met by the Abahamban government, then troops will be empowered to enforce the orders that have been asked today. In accordance with justice, and with Banijan constitutional law, the government will be overthrown, forcibly. And the Banijan government will oversee a democratic transition."

She got a large round of applause, primarily from the right-wing majority in the Chamber. Many on the left opposed a war- this is a debate that would rock Banija for quite some time. But the ducks were in a row- and as she overlooked the chamber, she knew- war was coming.

Omugabe Lallo, landing in the capitol city of Cardenao

Omugabe Lallo had just landed in Cardenao, almost under the cover of night. While the political debate was rocking at home, the Banijans knew- they did not want a long war. They wanted a quick, military invasion- a massive, overwhelming show of force, and a spectacular defeat of the opposition's paper army. But Banija had to be sure this went well. A lot was riding on this. Banija's military reputation, for one. What should have been a simple and straightforward operation in Farfadillis, was an epic disaster- they got defeated by Marco Hertel's slaves, and Lithico^TM troops, with other Farf nationalities joining in. A huge collapse on that island, that forced terrible surrender terms- and Banija, which regarded themselves as a burgeoning superpower, was paying the price to this very day.

Not in terms of their global influence- economics and diplomatic saavy made up for that. But the Banijans needed a big victory- even against a force that was no where near their match. And they had to be absolutely sure that happened. So Omugabe Lallo had gotten on a plane, to undergo secret talks with President Mihaly. The terms were simple- Cardenao would publicly support, and help, the impending Banijan invasion of Abahamba- and their forces would also be used to help defeat the military junta.

The terms had been discussed at the lower levels of diplomatic channels before. But now that the Omukama was going public with her plan, Omugabe Lallo was in the country, personally, to sign a face to face agreement with President Mihaly on the issue- so that the world would know that Banija and Cardenao had 'no daylight' on this serious issue.

by **Drawkland** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 2:37 pm

DRAWKLAND NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM (GRID CORPS)
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World Bowl XXX Champions
World Bowl XXXV Champions
World Bowl XXXVI Runners-up
World Bowl XXXVIII Runners-up
World Bowl XLI Runners-up
World Bowl XLIII Runners-up
World Bowl XLVII Champions

Name: Grid Corps
Colors: Black with Crimson trim
Denonyms: Drawkian or Drawkish
TWENTY-FIFTH World Bowl, Rank #6
Style Mod: +3.25

General Manager: Vincent Lovell
Head Coach: Eddie Clarkson
Coordinators:
[O] Austin Thacker (Kayo Globes)
[D] Dan Rocca (Yokare Black Shrews)
[ST] Pierce Armistead (Sadeg Spartans)

Introducing the three-time CHAMPIONS of the World Bowl (XXX, XXXV, XLVII), and unfortunately frequent runners-up (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLI, XLIII): the Grid Corps!

After a long wait, Drawkland's national gridiron team finally put it all together again. Now members of the three-timers club, the Grid Corps followed up their title run with a quarterfinal loss to eventual champions Sarzonia in XLVIII, then back-to-back-TO-BACK playoff losses to Quebec and Shingoryeo to act as pseudo-revenge for the WB XLVII final. Is this team truly falling into mediocrity, or are they just lying in wait for the right moment to strike again? This four-cycle stretch is the longest streak since their debut that the Grid Corps has not appeared in a WB semifinal.

ROSTER / DEPTH CHART
Here's the roster containing the names, numbers, ages, years of Grid Corps experience, and notes for each player. Players are listed in depth chart order, with the typical starters bolded. Naturally, players with a "0" in the XP column are Corps debutants. A quick version of the roster can be found under the "Starters" spoiler.

This roster is filled with GLD standouts, stalwarts, and all-stars. Every player on this roster is great at what they do, and can be depended on for a regular basis. As far as player rotation goes, the skill position starters will go for a majority of the match barring cases of injury or fatigue. More interchangeable positions, like linemen and defenders, can and will be swapped out throughout the game to ensure that they get an appropriate amount of rest. A lot of the players on this roster are specialized, exceptionally good in certain situations. Those players are prioritized in those downs and scenarios as necessary, even if they're normally at the bottom of the depth chart.

Year after year, the Grid Corps offense is one of the most feared groups in the World Bowl (except for when they aren't). In the past they were known for their deadly air attack with an explosive dual-threat ground game. Then came the Proudfoot era, where the gameplan was ground-and-pound with an elite running back room and excellent line play broken up with the occasional deep throw to keep the defense on its heels. Now that Oakley is in the driver's seat, the air attack will return to the forefront. With the depth at Drawkland's disposal, anybody listed here is a threat on the field.

##  Quarterbacks       Age  XP  Domestic Team
2   Logan Oakley        31   3  Kayo Globes
11  Cyrus Aberman       38   2  Bellator Rangers
8   Lane Proudfoot      39   7  Fiston Redwolves [RFL]

Logan Oakley has been a hyped prospect ever since high school, where he was the #1 QB recruit going into college. In a move that shocked Drawkian football, he committed to Cavsar University, eventually winning a national championship with the normally-maligned proram. He put together a great rookie year with the Kayo Globes, losing Rookie of the Year by a single vote. That performance combined with his big-name status netted him a call-up to the national team which many expected. He rode the bench his first cycle, but has led several quality group stages (in lieu of actual playoff success) since then. Why is he so good? He's a cerebral player, an expert in the game of football, excellent at reading defenses and making adjustments on the fly. Combine this with an above-average arm, his ability to build chemistry with his receivers, and just enough mobility to move in the pocket when needed, and you have one of Drawkland's best overall passers.

Backing up Oakley are Cyrus Aberman and Lane Proudfoot. Aberman is a career backup who's currently with the Bellator Rangers (the fifth team in his career). He's got pretty decent upside, solid mobility, a good arm, but struggles with long-term play at QB. His flightiness and tendency to force throws when behind gets him into plenty of trouble, but he's great for spot starts and relief mid-game due to injury. This is why he's the highest-paid backup QB in the GLD, and Corps management thought it'd be a neat idea to have him in the depth chart. With his age increasing though, he probably won't be around much longer.

Proudfoot was the starter for the last three cycles, including the title run in WB XLVII, though he was also a backup for a few cycles before that. The "Cavsaran Casanova," perhaps more notorious for his off-field pursuits than his on-field play, is nevertheless one of Drawkland's most successful overseas players. His abilities as a "game manager" QB, great at leaning on the run and utilizing play-action to its maximum effectiveness, have made him a legend with the Fiston Redwolves in Ranoria's RFL. Hate on him all you want for his statue-like pocket presence and dislike of passing more than 15 times per game, but it's gotten him 3 Winter Bowls and a World Bowl. Finally he returns to his preferred position: getting paid to hold a clipboard. He may be seen in blowout action this cycle.

##  Halfbacks         Age  XP  Domestic Team
21  Trent Walter       33   3  Hessport Spiders
27  Daniel Holst       32   2  Esmereldane Bison    
49  Jack Hoy          *65  20  Hoima Zebra [GFLB]

##  Fullbacks         Age  XP  Domestic Team
41  Rico Evandrus      36   4  Shire-Port Corsairs
1   "Proko" (see safeties)

The aforementioned elite group of running backs has seen a little shakeup recently. Superstar Trent Walter has been a huge asset for the Hessport Spiders since he was drafted halfway through the first round, enough that Hessport rolled out the bank truck to extend Walter once his rookie deal expired. His playstyle is very reminiscent of a young Jack Hoy, but with more action in the passing game. He's a shifty do-it-all back with good hands and vision. He can shrug off some hits, but he's a little less of a workhorse. If you need more of that bruising running style, look no further than Daniel Holst, a multi-season veteran in the GLD renowned for his ability to barrel through would-be tacklers. Holst is known for somehow squeezing three extra yards out of a play, infuriating opposing defensive coordinators.

Of course, we would be remiss to not mention Jack Hoy. First debuting in World Bowl XXXII, Hoy was a college standout and immediate impact player as he won ROTY with the Ducentu Glassmen. His antics off the field, huge ego, and loudmouthed attitude were controversial to some, but others let it slide because he was so damn good on the field. As a young player he was a lot more of an elusive runner who was unstoppable once he had some open space to work with, and seemingly limitless endurance. That endurance was magnified a thousand times when he succeeded in achieving immortality by the same method of Drawkland's founders. Now he plans to play football indefinitely, and with his newfound longevity he's also bulked up. He's turned into slightly more of a power threat while still keeping his shifty moves, just to spice things up. He's good enough to singlehandedly run an offense, but he takes the backup spot to give the mortal players their due time in the spotlight. If you see Hoy lining up in the backfield, alarm bells better be ringing for you. Something electric may be about to happen.

Though the Corps doesn't use the fullback a bunch, they have a damn good one on the roster. Rico Evandrus is everything you want in a fullback. He's beefy, but much more mobile than a lineman. He can run the ball nicely and fit into tight holes, and he even has decent hands for the very occasional pass. He generally gets a couple carries per game, especially in short yardage situations. Also technically on the depth chart is defensive swiss-army-knife Proko, who you can read more about in the defense section. Proko is known to be involved in a gadget play or two, so defenses would be foolish to ignore his presence.

##  Wide Receivers       Age  XP  Domestic Team
85  Rory Akers            32   3  Drawk Corps
12  Julian Gallagher      27   1  Drawk City Lookouts
11  Jace Phoenix          27   0  Metropolon Underrunners
19  Hugo Travers          31   2  Corinth City Lances
80  Eli Linton            34   0  Shire-Port Corsairs

##  Tight Ends           Age  XP  Domestic Team
44  Johnathan Kimbrough   39   9  Quinnaber Club
89  Adrian McAdams        28   1  Kilnelm Garrison
86  Darrel McKeller       31   0  Brammel Slingers

It seems that the transition from a run-first offense back to a pass-first offense is now in full swing. Rory Akers, star wideout for the Drawk Corps domestic club, has become a GLD sensation since his excellent rookie season. He has a penchant for highlight reel grabs, and a habit for making several consecutive catches to take over drives. Akers has great instincts when battling against opposing DBs, often forcing extra attention to himself to give other receivers on the offense more chances. That's a dangerous combo considering the other receiving personnel getting snaps.

NSCF standouts in Julian Gallagher (Cavsar) and Jace Phoenix (Sadeg State) are expected to get a lot of snaps. Both of these guys are WR1 for their new GLD squads, and this somewhat friendly rivalry will be ramping up even more. Gallagher is more of a route specialist with reliable hands, while Phoenix has better speed and a penchant for flashier antics. Either way, they're both legit threats for Logan Oakley, making it difficult for opposing secondaries to lock down every receiving option.

Longtime Corps veteran Jackie Morris has retired following last cycle. Even so, the receiver depth for the Corps is still solid. Hugo Travers might be the fastest receiver in Drawkland, providing some afterburners to keep defenders worried. New addition Eli Linton will primarily get work in the slot, as he's got reliable hands and doesn't mind getting beat up by contact after the catch.

The leader of the tight end group is Johnathan Kimbrough. He was a Cavsar graduate whose last year was that NSCF 26 semifinal run, but he was such an explosive player that he managed an invite to the Grid Corps while he was still in college. Kimbrough has been extremely reliable ever since he ascended to the starting job. His hands are great, he naturally finds the soft spot in defenses, and he's a bang-up run blocker. He's everything you want in a tight end, though if you were going to split hairs you could maybe ask for a little more speed from him. Alongside him are Adrian McAdams and Darrel McKeller. Not sure why Corps management picked up two tight ends with McNames, but both of these guys are all-around decent tight ends who will get most of their action in protection. Still, don't discount their hands in short yardage situations.

##  Left Tackle       Age  XP  Domestic Team
71  Ron Dermott        34   2  Krakon Kings
75  Victor Odilon      29   0  Bellator Rangers

##  Left Guard        Age  XP  Domestic Team
61  Barry Hackett      33   3  Kayo Globes
66  Tommie Labelle     28   0  Bolabore Ocelots

##  Center            Age  XP  Domestic Team
59  Dexter Bosco       31   2  Kayo Globes
55  Alec Gastone       32   3  Delmore Canaries
      
##  Right Guard       Age  XP  Domestic Team
64  Felix Capello      36   4  Ducentu Glassmen
65  Joel Deering       29   1  Corinth City Lances

##  Right Tackle      Age  XP  Domestic Team
76  Dannis Langdon     35   3  Bethelm Goldswords
79  Denny Remco        32   2  Akkor Beach Gulls

To manage an effective run game, you gotta have a beefy offensive line. The Corps has seen a fair amount of O-line turnover the last couple cycles, including this year. Rest assured that the starting line of Dermott, Hackett, Bosco, Capello, and Langdon is an elite group, and now they have a couple cycles of experience under their belt. The unit continues to get younger. Most of these guys, especially the right side of the line, are excellent run blockers, but the new emphasis on the passing game has caused some turnover to prioritize guys that pass block at an elite level. Also, Bosco is Logan Oakley's center on the Globes, so that additional chemistry may prove helpful.

Alright, be honest, are you actually reading the offensive line segment? Anyway, the backups aren't slouches either. Any of these guys can easily be subbed in, though the older fellas will likely get less play. With the solid depth, expect a little bit of shakeup of the O-line during the game, with pairs subbing in and out to keep the guys fresh throughout the game. Depth wins championships, after all, so having that flexibility in the trenches is an advantage on Drawkland's side that is rarely mentioned.

The Drawkian defense is hallmarked by its elite defensive line. They suffocate the run game, disrupt the pass game, and help out their secondary by making it difficult for opposing offenses to move the ball. This isn't to say the linebacking unit or secondary are subpar, but the D-line is where the Grid Corps often wins games. The corners are pretty good against 1-on-1 balls due to their height, so your best bet is to use more horizontal routes than vertical, hitting players in stride. Also, anybody that ignores Proko does so at their own risk. He's the ultimate defensive nuisance, and comes up with big plays every game. Also new this cycle are the rookie "Gelia boys": five great defenders who graduated from the same high school in Gelia and played for five different elite NSCF programs in college.

##  Left End           Age  XP  Domestic Team
99  Bear Bannister      30   2  Masteser Merchants
90  Max Bermuda         27   0  Tula Crocodiles

##  Defensive Tackle   Age  XP  Domestic Team
95  Eldon Del Rio       31   3  Waxton Pilots
96  Chad Vaughn         25   0  Hellenmack Flames
91  Scott McCrumb       36   2  Elmanden Circuits
92  Robert Leon         34   4  Shire-Port Corsairs

##  Right End          Age  XP  Domestic Team
98  Russell Marsh       33   3  North Point Oaks
77  Leo Cross          *74  24  Raikennax Stallions

Here's the lineup of shitwreckers for this edition. Bear Bannister has been a menace since he nearly set the rookie sack record, and has continued his meteoric rise since then thanks to his power rushing skills. Russell Marsh was in a similar boat, winning DPOY in his own sophomore season from the defensive end position and creating a true power duo on the ends. Up the middle, Eldon Del Rio is so good that he nearly won ROTY despite being a defensive tackle. He's a pure run-stopper, disruptive the O-line's blocking scheme and burrowing threw it to plug holes and grab the running backs seemingly out of nowhere, and now he'll typically be in for 3-man fronts. Joining him in 4-man fronts will usually be Chad Vaughn, the rookie sensation who graduated from Loyola-Istria recently.

Robert Leon is also a great run stopper with experience, so you'll see him often. Max Bermuda had an excellent rookie campaign as well and is great at pursuing the quarterback, shutting down openings and preventing scrambles. With the great depth this unit has, expect frequent rotation to keep everybody fresh.

We also have to mention Leopold Cross. Leo is the only player to have played in every edition of the World Bowl that Drawkland has participated in, though he got some help in that department by achieving immortality on the same trip as Jack Hoy. The monstrous man with scary speed and animalistic instincts on the line, despite being a reserve player on technicality, will be seen several times a drive. He prefers the ends, but can play anywhere on the line, so he's often shifted around to give any player a break for a few downs and make the opposing O-line shit their pants a little bit.

##  Left Outside Linebacker    Age  XP  Domestic Team
50  Benjamin Ruzzier            32   3  Drawk Corps
52  Nathan Armando              36   4  Masteser Merchants

##  Middle Linebacker          Age  XP  Domestic Team
55  Tito Bird                   25   0  Akkor Beach Gulls
54  Dennis Waverly              34   2  Drawk City Lookouts
45  Dillon Belmonte             32   3  Kilnelm Garrison

##  Right Outside Linebacker   Age  XP  Domestic Team
42  Archer Allen                25   0  Hessport Spiders
53  Myron Waters                35   4  Krakon Kings

If you had to pick a "weak spot" in this defense, it would be the linebacking core. Honestly though, the fact that a group of linebackers including these players is considered "weak" is mostly just an enormous compliment to the rest of the Grid Corps roster. This group has seen the most turnover in recent years (especially now that a pair of Gelia boys are in the mix), ensuring the whole unit is very athletic and versatile. That said, they're mostly not the "heavy hitter" type. With the 4-3 defense often employed, you'll see the young duo of Tito Bird and Archer Allen with a rotation of the other veterans included.

Of course, with the relatively equal skill level between these players, there will be a lot of variance based on the game situation and expected behavior of the offense. Dennis Waverly is the pass coverage specialist, particularly great at matching against tight ends. Benjamin Ruzzier is quite young, but he's been a breakout star with the Drawk Corps due to his versatility between pass rushing, run defense, and pass coverage. He won't see a lot of pass rushing play due to the well-stocked D-line, but look out for him on blitzes. Tito Bird may be a future captain of this defense due to his excellent communication and instincts, along with the physical gifts to bring ballcarriers down and disrupt passes. There's a reason he's a former NSCF DPOY winner. Archer Allen is the heaviest hitter and perhaps the best run stopper of this group.

With Drawkland using the nickel often, there's also a lot of two-LB sets. Bird is the best all-around guy and will get the most playtime in that scenario, and he'll be flanked by whichever guy is freshest or has the best matchup against that particular team or situation. The linebackers will also see Proko hovering around their area as a rover type position, check the safeties for more info.

##  Cornerbacks         Age  XP  Domestic Team
3   Danube Jackson III   32   3  Metropolon Underrunners
33  Marcel Ewers         34   4  Sadeg Spartans
36  James Rolle          25   0  Baribone Wyrms
30  Kevin Dickson        31   2  Pittsennat Rhinos
35  Kasey Benitez        33   4  Raikennax Stallions

The new duo of Marcel Ewers and Danube Jackson III did quite well in their first couple cycles headlining the Corps corners, so they're both back to continue making life difficult for opposing receivers. The Gelia rookie James Rolle (from Mar Sara Tech) will likely get the most play in nickel packages, but expect there to be heavy rotation outside of the top two corners. Danube Jackson III was a standout at Sadeg State University known for coming up with huge interceptions, and after some seasons in the GLD, he can match up against even the best wideouts the multiverse has to offer.

Kasey Benitez is also a solid option, though he works better in tandem rather than 1-on-1, so he'll get most of his playing time in zone coverage. Kevin Dickson is another guy who's done very well against high-level wideouts in the GLD, but questions remain on if he can do the same against World Bowl-level talent. Ultimately unlike the other defensive groups, this one will feature less rotation, or even some play from the safeties manning up against receivers in passing sets. This is also the youngest group by far on the team, but thanks to a certain somebody at safety, you don't really need to worry about leadership in the secondary.

##  Strong Safety                   Age  XP  Domestic Team
1   Prokopios Vortigern Roijakkers   38   9  Raikennax Stallions
20  Reed Ferrero                     31   3  Quinnaber Club
    
##  Free Safety           Age  XP  Domestic Team
23  Derek Boss             25   0  Esmereldane Bison
25  Colin Sancho           27   1  Cemmendy Hackers

Finally we get to the back end of the secondary. The backup safeties each have a particular specialty. Reed Ferrero is an elite run stopper, and Colin Sancho is excellent in zone coverage. These guys are absolutely playable, and are far from liabilities when they're on the field. However, compared to their starting contemporaries, they lose a lot of their luster.

First off, rookie Derek Boss has finally made it to the national team and is ready to take some souls. The cerebral safety committed to Cold Hill as a rare defender with a brain and a pulse on the Buffalo side. After an Incident near campus during his sophomore year, Boss became scarred both physically and mentally. He retained his intelligent play on the field, but added a vicious hard-hitting element to his game that made receivers and runners absolutely terrified of having to be anywhere near him on a play. Boss rightfully earned DPOY in NSCF after multiple seasons being considered one of the best defenders in all of college football, and now he's on the professional level with a similar level of dominance despite this being a bigger pond. He's good against the run, the pass, and though he probably won't be knocking any grown men out of the game like he did to the kids in college, he's still someone that opposing offenses may shrink away from.

Then, of course, you have Prokopios Vortigern Roijakkers, who is more easily known as Proko. He's the true "do-it-all" player defensively, playing that hybrid safety-LB role and showing up everywhere on defense. When you watch a game with Proko on defense, you'll notice how he's involved in almost every defensive play. Run defense? Proko is there assisting the tackle, or taking down the runner if they're in the second level. Pass defense? Proko's there with the breakup or the tackle to pick up his teammates. Deep ball slightly off the mark? Proko's there to gobble it up. Trying to punch it in on the goalline? Proko just spawned in the A-gap and forced a fumble. If playing football was a horror movie, Proko is the jumpscare. He can even blitz when the situation demands it, and has been known to help execute gadget plays on offense and special teams. He's a truly special player, and that's not even elaborating on the fact that he's half-Ranorian and thus a foot shorter than all of his tall Drawkian teammates.

Anyway, Proko will be in for almost every play, though he won't always be in the traditional safety spot. If he's down by the front seven, expect to see one of the backup safeties in play as well. Again, all these players will be getting plenty of rotation depending on the game situation and keeping each other fresh. This Proko-Boss tandem may be the thing that finally gets the Drawkian defense to stop falling apart consistently.

Well, they're the special teams. They're not an ultra-elite unit, especially after the departure of David Merit, but this is still a tight group that will get the job done and won't make stupid mistakes. They're not infallible, but who is?

##  Kicker            Age  XP  Domestic Team
9   Kendall Moon       35   3  Shire-Port Corsairs

##  Punter            Age  XP  Domestic Team
4   Cody Torcall       33   2  Bolabore Ocelots
6   Lance Long         36   4  Quinnaber Club

Generational placekicking talent David Merit retired from Corps play a couple cycles ago. Now the Grid Corps has Kendall Moon, a reliable kicker with a big boot. He's prone to missing kicks early in games, but has never missed a kick in the fourth quarter through 10 years of play with the Corsairs.

Stud punter Cody Torcall's got a good boot, great accuracy, and can even throw the ball reliably for about 30 yards. Lance Long will boot for kickoffs thanks to his huge leg, and could take a placekick or a punt in a pinch if something happened to Moon or Torcall. Theoretically he could also take a really long field goal attempt if it was the last second and out of Moon's range, but in that case the Corps would be more likely to try a hail mary anyway. This is the same group as last cycle.

Proko will hold for placekicks (and is also the typical upman on punts), Alec Gastone will be the long snapper, and Jack Hoy will return all normal kicks and punts.

STRATEGY
The name of the game for the Grid Corps is aggression. The goal of both the offense and defense is to make their opponents uncomfortable. Even to their detriment, the Corps will be trying for big plays on both sides of the ball all game long, unless they're holding a slim lead late in a crucial game.

The Grid Corps offense was pretty run-heavy in the cycles with Lane Proudfoot under center. Now that Logan Oakley is QB1, there will be decidedly more action in the passing game. The run game is still going to be featured either way. The Corps typically runs with a RB-TE-WR-WR-WR set, though RB-TE-TE-WR-WR and RB-FB-TE-WR-WR looks have become increasingly common. The shotgun and singleback ace formations are the ones you'll see the most, but I-formation is also seen a few times per quarter. With Oakley having a little mobility, the pistol formation has also made a comeback. Even though the Corps will take deep shots down the field and excel in the short passing game as well. If you're gonna beat the Corps, you'll have to shut down the run game early to make things difficult on Oakley. Beware, though, Oakley is very cool under pressure and can scramble a bit when needed, so opposing defenses will have to make sure their QB contain is airtight.

The defense as aggressive as always. Blitzing is very, very common, as the defense is fearless. Usually the blitzer comes from linebacker position, though the corners and even safeties (especially Proko) will rush on occasion. Even on non-blitz plays, the defensive linemen go all out, hoping to tire the opposing O-line and force them into making mistakes. Typically you'll see the Corps run 4-3 or 4-2-5 nickel. Man coverage is used probably 60% of the time compared to zone, and Cover 2 is the most common scheme either way. The Corps secondary is also very aggressive at playing the ball or trying to jump routes, but this obviously leads to blown coverages and big plays. That's the key to beating the Corps defense.

Special teams has been known to pull off some crazy fakes. Laterals on a kick return, fake field goals, and even fake punts have all been used in cycles past. Some of these plays even led to critical scoring plays late in World Bowl playoff games, so teams would be unwise to let there guard down. Of course, 95% of the time the Corps will take the points or get the ball downfield. There's nothing the Corps hates more than gifting good field position to their opponents. The Drawkian special teams may not be as wild nowadays, but opposing teams will have to include that in the scouting report regardless.

The Corps often opts for two-points conversions in the first half, then shift to normal PATs after the half. Obviously, they'll go for 1 or 2 when the game situation overwhelmingly demands it. The playbook is deep and the number of dynamic playmakers means that two point conversion plays are plentiful and well-rehearsed, hence why they're pretty fearless going for it. This is done to put the pressure on opposing teams if they're able to complete a couple two-pointers early and maybe get an "extra" possession's worth of points for free.

PHYSIOLOGY
I recommend you read this. It contains important information on how Drawkians are different from your average human. In a nutshell, they're over 7 feet tall on average, and have larger proportions to match. They're also lankier and less stocky all-around, but that doesn't mean some like a D-tackle can't get thick and muscular, it's not just not the average build. This may conflict with some of your RPing preferences or make it harder to RP about us, so you're free to just ignore that and pretend we're the same as humans. That's completely your call, and I don't mind it either way.

Also important: Drawkian lifespans are longer, and their developmental period is extended a little bit. Most Drawkians, including athletes, don't finish college until 25, and athletes that keep themselves in shape and uninjured can play until they're 50 (assuming they have enough talent to justify sticking around that long). National teamers are typically in the 25-45 age range.

VENUE

For group stage home games, Drawkland will be playing in Metro Arena, the 150,000 seat indoor gridiron stadium in the heart of Metropolon, Drawkland's capital.

Metropolon is a truly unique and futuristic city. Serving as Drawkland's current capital, the city was entirely planned, designed, and built by Drawkland's government over several generations. A small, shallow lake a few hours by car away from Drawk City was the location; a perfectly circular artificial island was built to serve as the base for the city. Metropolon's footprint is perfectly symmetrical, with every building, road, alley, tunnel, and view designed and aligned to provide an identical experience. From afar, the skyline resembles a parabola, climaxing in The Pinnapex, the tallest skyscraper in Sonnel. Cut into 4 quarters, the largest deviation from the perfectly aligned pattern are the four major sports arenas near the central cluster.

Metro Arena is one of these four venues. While they differ in exact dimensions and somewhat in shape, each of the four venues are indoor fields with turf surfaces (besides the basketball arena which is hardwood, obviously). Metro Arena follows this trend, with a symmetrical and hyper-futuristic interior hallmarked by its huge scoreboard hanging over the field. The amenities are top notch, and the wifi speeds are so good you could probably game at the game. Not sure why you would do that, but it's part of the flex.

GROUP SCHEDULE

MD1: v Velstrania (UR) - Metro Arena (150,000) Metropolon
MD2: v Natkr (20) - Metro Arena (150,000) Metropolon
MD3: @ United States of Devonta (36) - Ian James Financial Field (70,000)
MD4: v Free Republics (UR) - Metro Arena (150,000) Metropolon
MD5: @ Tjorl (UR) - [unknown]
MD6: v TJUN-ia (9) - Metro Arena (150,000) Metropolon
MD7: @ Juvencus (31) - [unknown]
MD8: v Nortallius (UR) - Metro Arena (150,000) Metropolon
MD9: @ Quebec & Shingoryeo (4) - Iqaluit Stadium (120,000) Iqaluit
MD10: @ Valanora (8) - Lathalein Celestial Stadium (60,000) Mar Sara

PERMISSIONS

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my Scorers: Yes.
Choose Scoring Events: Yes.
Godmod Scoring Events: Sure.
RP Injuries to my Players: To an extent (also please tell me if you do).
Godmod Injuries to my Players: Fine if it's funny or serves a story.
Godmod Other Events: Ditto ^
Style Modifier: +3.25

As far as these go, do anything except kill or brutally injure my major starters. Other than that, free reign. TG or Discord DM if you want to collab.

by **HUElavia** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 3:02 pm

Hungry for More

HUElavia enters World Bowl LII with many new players and plenty of motivation to improve and make a deep run!

Football is back baby! Gridiron Football, that is. HUElavia returns to what is the nation's 2nd favorite sport in an attempt to claw back to the Top 10 of the Multiverse rankings. Ever since the debacle and disgrace of World Bowl XLVIII, Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos have been working their way back to being seen as one of the best Gridiron Football teams in the Multiverse. And now, they may have an outside shot to do so. Still, many HUElavians will be present to cheer on the team in hopes that they come to finally win a World Bowl title.

HUElavia (11) enters into Group A, with the likes of Banija (2), The Golden Harp (24), Comrades United (UR), Jaoaa (UR), Draakur (19), Equestria (42), The Batavia (UR), Valanora (8) and Israel Emirates (UR), adding an Intergroup game with Group B resulting in TJUN-ia (9) as the last opponent. A pretty tricky group where Banija (the co-hosts for the knockouts), Valanora, Draakur, and the intergroup opponent TJUN-ia will be the main direct opponents for Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos to have a shot into the knockouts. Estadio Capital (90.000) in Curumba, home to the Curumba Bolts and Rams, will host all of HUElavia's home games during the group stage. Since the schedule was released, many tickets have been sold, in particular the opening game between HUElavia and Valanora on Matchday 1 being fully sold out. With head-to-head being the first tiebreaker for the standings, it will be crucial for the team to win these games in order to have a favorable spot in the knockouts. Then again, four years ago at World Bowl LI, we had a favorable position only to get juggernauts Ko-oren and get obliterated 35-0 in the Round-of-16. Well, survive and advance is the game folks!

The team has had quite a makeover, with many older players retiring and new players out of University and early standouts in the HFL (formerly the HGFL) being picked onto the Final Roster for the tournament. The team captains for the team are: QB Uchechy, RB Uche, C Dufour, NT Ogbonnia, LB Ogbonna, CB Oogami, and P Katterfeld. No surprise to anyone that the oldest members of the team are the captains on Offense, Defense and Special Teams respectively. Some notable youngsters to look out for in this tournament include WR Uchimura, TE Palermo, NT Konstantinovich, DE twin brothers Gigot, and K Solar. A nice mix of veterans and youngsters, almost much like the National Football Team with the mix of players they tend to call up for World Cup Qualifiers and Tournaments. There is plenty of optimism that this could be the start of a Golden Generation of Gridiron Football for HUElavia. And this team is truly hungry for it.

It will not be an easy path to the knockouts, but then again, when is it ever? One would have to be a massive juggernaut like Cardenao, Banija, Drawkland or Quebec & Shingoryeo to expect to cruise through the group stage and possibly the tournament. Although, many looked at the Top 3 Pots and many remarked that anyone of those 12 teams could really win it all. In that set of 3 Pots, we're in there. Meaning, we got a shot, even if outside to win this tournament. It'll be a long and grueling tournament, but the team is confident they can make noise and have a deep run. Here's to what can be a positive and memorable tournament.

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

by **South Newlandia** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 3:19 pm

This Ellie has gotten very lost. Can you help them find their way back to where they're supposed to go while avoiding getting ated by the Dragonfly, the Card, or the Iron Legion?

by **Ranoria** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 3:47 pm

**If you just want a need quick info, scroll farther down! There's a lot here, but the full staff and depth chart quick view sections should give you everything you need**

The Ranorian National Gridiron Team; aka The Krauts
-
International Representatives of the Ranorian Football League

Ranorian Krauts Quick Facts

Head Coach Isaac Dieter

Overall World Bowl Record: 120-39-1
Group Stage: 106-31-1
Knockout Stage: 18-8
Worst Finish: World Bowl XXXII: 3-5
Best Finish: World Bowl XLVI: 9-0 (Champions)
Championships: World Bowl XLII, World Bowl XLIII, World Bowl XLVI, World Bowl L
Third Place: World Bowl XL, World Bowl XLV

Stadium: Karmin-Falce Superdome
Capacity: 121,450
Location: Ranoria City

Head Coaches:
Raul Nieler, World Bowl XXXII - World Bowl XLVI
Isaak Dieter, WB XLIX - WB L

Captains:
Offense: Goliath Castellan, Rylan Rodgers Jr
Defense: Najee Isidora, Akhello Volson
Special Teams: Billy Kidd

Banija: 4-1
Delaclava: 3-0
Saint Kanye: 3-0
Drawkland: 2-3
Chromatika: 0-1
Cardenao: 0-2

The Ranorian Krauts are Ranoria's prestigious national team, funded by the Ranorian Football League and filled with players participating in professional domestic play both at home and abroad. The Krauts, former three time world champions, are back for a second edition of their second stint in the competition after a bit off an off period following World Bowl 46.

Coming in with three golds and two bronzes in their trophy cabinet, the goal this season is the same as ever: Win a championship. This isn't the same team that terrorized the world stage in recent times. They're still fielding some players who can claim to be among the world's best at their positions, but they've yet to completely refill the war chest that helped field a three time championship football team.

On offense, this team's going to pound the rock over and over and over again. Ragnar Sampson is expected to take the lead role there - but Dante Flowers has secured the starting job. There wasn't much of a quarterback competition - the team deemed that was a waste of time, but fellow young guns Nick Singer and Paul Shepherd aren't far behind, with all three boasting elite arms, size, and some level of athleticism. And of course, Kualu Luani returns as the sole survivor of last year's quarterback room after the Diamond Rhine disaster.

Expect the Krauts to rotate frequently on the front four defensively. The team may not feature a superstar of the caliber Gideon Kearse was in his prime, but they are deep and strong at the position. Julian Anneliese is the star at edge and Alexander Eisenberg isn't far behind, but a bit younger, with guys like Trevyon Specter, Rolan Monroe, and even veterans Gideon Kearse & Abram Fairbanks ready step in if need be.

Isaac Dieter and this squad won a championship last season in the World Bowl's iconic fiftieth edition, and in doing so ran themselves out of the "new team" excuse. The standard of Ranorian Football has been set back where it belongs: Gold.

Stadium Info
The Karmin-Falce Superdome
Ranoria City, Ranoria

Capacity: 121,450

The Karmin-Falce Superdome is, unofficially, Ranoria's national stadium and will serve as the home for the majority of their home games throughout the group stage. With a whopping 121,450 person capacity, relatively luxurious seating and climate control, it was indisputably the crown jewel of the nation's sporting venues for decades. A retractable dome allows for ideal conditions, be that for the fans or the home team if visitors aren't used to a harsh winter.

The surrounding city is thriving with Quebecois-influenced nightlife, restaurants claiming to serve "Banijan" food, as well as other attractions in Ranoria's largest city. Visitors should keep in mind that while marijuana and alcohol are legal, tobacco and other recreational drugs are not. Not to worry, most offenses regarding such substances will result in nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Especially for foreigners - Ranorian police have a "horrible" tendency of just not wanting to get involved with embassies.

Overall - it's worth planning a weekend getaway rather than just a trip to the big game, but either way you'll leave satisfied!

Coaching Staff

Front Office
Name                  Age   Roles
Isaac Dieter           50   Head Coach, Playcaller, Assistant GM
Jermaine Elliot        57   General Manager

Offense
Name                  Age   Roles                                    Domestic Role
Lance Patterson       43    Offensive Coordinator                    South Americanistan
Eins Turner           57    Running Backs, Run Game Coordinator      Munich Thrashers OC
Mandie Evans          51    Quarterbacks                             Madison Gladiators OC
Raphael Rio           50    Wide Receivers                           Richardson Fenrirs OC
Tanner Corringer      69    Offensive Line                           Munich Thrashers OL Coach
Timmy Bullion         37    Offensive Assistant                      Ranoria City Silver WR Coach
Maria Fuller          39    Offensive Assistant                      Rouyoute Colts QBs Coach

Defense
Name                  Age   Roles
Reinhardt Collier     66    Defensive Coordinator                    Fiston Redwolves HC
Jack Saccomen         60    Defensive Tackles                        Mariana Tigers DTs
Justin Kearse         52    Defensive Ends, Pass Rush Consultant     Fiston Redwolves DL Coach
Obasi Chikelu         57    Linebackers                              Former University of Loyola-Istria LBs
Tim Shaw              48    Defensive Backs                          North Ashialand Dreadnaughts DBs
Kyle Sanders          51    Defensive Assistant                      Yellowknife Wraiths DL
Nicholas Ryans        38    Defensive Assistant                      Brittany Walruses DC

Medical
Name                  Age   Roles
Dr. Arthur Bernhardt  81    Team Doctor                              Indianapolis Hogs Team Doctor
Falco Vivienne        44    Head Trainer                             Indianapolis Hogs Head Trainer
Annika Kuhn           41    Trainer                                  Highport Hawks Head Trainer
Davie Nadine          35    Trainer                                  Apollotown Sabers Head Trainer

Offense

Defense

Depth Chart Quick View

QB

#       Name               Ht.     Wt.     Age
14 Dante Flowers        6-4     225      23
8   Nick Singer            6-5     215      23
9  Kualu Luani             6-2     220      33
12 Paul Shepherd        6-6     245      24

HB

#       Name         Ht.   Wt.   Age
29 Ragnar Sampson   6-3    245    28
1  Rylan Rodgers Jr 6-1    225    31
22 Hebron Naphtali 6-2    225    24
24 David Perry      5-11   205    30
28 Drake Mullins     6     215    29

FB

#       Name             Ht.    Wt.   Age
47  Maximillian Marie    6-1    225    25

WR

#       Name          Ht.   Wt.   Age
17 Jannik Nadine      6-3   225    32
81 Demeco Burns       6-4   230    30
16 Tank Conner        6-1   220    26
19 Ja'Sir Pruitt      5-11  200    27
15 Michaiah Metchie   5-9   170    29

TE

#       Name          Ht.   Wt.   Age
84 Hezekiah Thomas     6-7  270   26
85 Russell Farmer     6-6   245   33
88 Mike Midodano      6-5   255   30
87 Vasily Schmidt     6-7   270   40

LT

#       Name          Ht.   Wt.   Age
78 Goliath Castellan 6-10   355  29
78 Travis Handon     6-7    330  37

LG

#       Name        Ht.   Wt.  Age
71 Greg Silver      6-3   295   33
79 Jakob Kersting   6-2   320   36

C

#       Name            Ht.   Wt.   Age
75 Jakob Engelhaft      6-4   320    37
68 Braxton Morrow       6-2   320    40

RG

#       Name             Ht.   Wt.   Age
64 Hector Storolfsson    6-7   335    37
65 Ottoman Fulches      6-2   330    23
66 Jacob Silva           6-4   325    39

RT

#       Name               Ht.   Wt.   Age
70 Malachi Mauigoa         6-8   345   27
71 Eric Modin              6-8   315   39

Strong Side DE - Defensive linemen will rotate frequently. Expect ~60-40 snap split between starters and 2nd string

#       Name           Ht.   Wt.   Age
95 Julian Anneliese    6-5   270   26
97 Alex Eisenberg      6-7    275  22
99 Gideon Kearse       6-5   280   35
59 Rolan Monroe        6-4   265   30

DT - Defensive linemen will rotate frequently. Expect ~60-40 snap split between starters and 2nd string

#       Name            Ht.   Wt.   Age
92 Deandre Kelly        6-3   285    31
93 Bill Brady           6-5   335    32
91 Jack Quinn           6-3   325    33

Wide Side DE - Defensive linemen will rotate frequently. Expect ~60-40 snap split between starters and 2nd string

#       Name           Ht.   Wt.   Age
94 Trevyon Specter     6-3   255   26
54 Abram Fairbanks     6-5   245   38

OLB

#       Name           Ht.   Wt.   Age
52   Bradley Bain     6-2   245   30
43   Tom Zachariah  6-2   245   23
53   Raleigh Jones   5-11   230   34
46   Michael James    6-2   240   31

MLB

#       Name           Ht.   Wt.   Age
51 Najee Isidora       6-3   250   34
55 Kenny Parham        6-5   265   24
58 Ezekiel Ebuka       6-1  245     22
50 Alder King          6-3   250   38

CB

#       Name           Ht.    Wt.   Age
27 Landon Rayne      6-1     190   21
23 Akhello Volson      6-1    195    33
24 Charles Raleigh     6-1    200    34
40 Jared Ragnow        6-1    200    34
39 John Daniels        5-10   195    31

S

#       Name            Ht.   Wt.   Age
24 Rodney Knight       6-2   195    29
20 Tony Victory         6    205    30

K

#       Name         Ht.   Wt.   Age
8 Rio Bocan           6    190   24

P

#         Name         Ht.   Wt.   Age
2 Billy Kidd           6-3   185   26
4 Abner Tille           6    170   33

KR

#       Name          Ht.   Wt.   Age
23 Akhello Volson        6-1   195    33
15 Michaiah Metchie   5-9   170    29
24 Rodney Knight     6-2   195    29

PR

#       Name          Ht.   Wt.   Age
23 Akhello Volson        6-1   195    33
15 Michaiah Metchie   5-9   170    29
24 Rodney Knight     6-2   195    29

Just my two cents on how I'd attack this team:
I should emphasize that despite being reigning champions there are holes on this team - they're not perfect by any stretch, where would be the fun in that?

On offense, rip it or run it away from Julian Anneliese/Gideon Kearse's side. Anneliese and Kearse are larger and can dominate the line of scrimmage where his running mate on the opposite side, Trevyon Specter, is more prone to chasing down runs from the back side and while strong, isn't as insane against the run. On the inside, Deandre Kelly can be prone to giving up position/abandoning his gap to make a play, where Bill Brady is more of a run stuffer and isn't going to contribute much in the passing game.

Defensively, this is a run-first team, and it should be treated as such. Load up the box and hope you don't pay when Kualu drops back. Be mindful of play action. The team does often run 22 personnel though, and that means you can bring more players into the box to account for that. A clever defensive coordinator knows that means you can bring blitzing linebackers or defensive backs from a lot of different places due to their proximity to the offense, and as the team typically runs an I-formation, that does leave the quarterback a little more susceptible to blitzing. The biggest weakness here is at the left guard spot - if you can catch Kersting without help, he very well may miss his assignment.

The weapons on the outside game lack speed - Jannik Nadine, there isn't much of a threat to take the top off, and the receivers mostly rely on size and physicality. Rylan Rodgers Jr is arguably the best running back in the competition - make sure to game plan accordingly or the superstar will make you pay.[/spoiler]

HC History:
Raul Nieler: Overall World Bowl Record: 84-24-1
Group Stage: 75-18-1
Knockout Stage: 13-6

Isaac Dieter: Overall World Bowl Record: 33-10
Group Stage: 28-8
Kncokout Stage: 5-2

by **Katzeburg** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 3:52 pm

The following is an except from national newspaper The Katzestadt Times as part of a wider series in the paper's cultural section.

It might not be something you'll see many people in Katzeburg shouting about, but this weekend will see a celebration unlike any other. No, we're not talking about the World Bowl kicking off its 52nd edition (Katzeburg take on world number 1 Cardenao in their first game over in Seecester this weekend), but rather the 600th anniversary of the first Katzeburgian novel.

First published in BK575, Jon Atherton's seminal work - The Cat In The Wood - is barely something which would fly off shelves in today's modern culture. Set in the a small village on the banks of a river which is widely believed by academics to be the River Cuomo, the story follows a small cat which lives in a nearby wood and details its daily life from hunting for food to watching the villagers as they go about their daily lives. The novel, only 50 pages long and considered an early Katzeburgian epic for its length, has some notoriety in academic circles for ending rather abruptly when the cat decides to instead leave it's comfy home in the wood to wage war against the Kaiser - a satirical twist which confused many and saw Atherton executed as a result.

However, Atherton uncorked something which would not be clogged anytime soon with his novel - and the Katzeburgian literary canon would be born. Now, 600 years later, we've had novels of great importance and great lengths, often directly contrasting against the other. And so we here at The Katzestadt Times are announcing a short series to be run over the coming weeks, where we highlight the most seminal novels of the grand Katzeburgian canon - why they're important, how they changed Katzeburgian literature, and most importantly; whether they are actually worth reading (In the case of The Cat In The Wood - the answer is no by the way; reviews at the time called it 'incredibly derivative' of real life experiences of cats and 'deeply frustrating and unrealistic' for its depiction of a functioning Katzeburgian village).

From Olivia Bakerson's rural-horror classic Southdown Cathedral to the great never-published project from Kaiser Thomas the Distracted (Schlongsor - the deeply-rich fantasy project soaked to the bone in filth and smut detailing the political intrigue and ongoings of a fictional nation modelled after Katzeburg), to even more modern novels like Sunday Afternoon With The Proletariat and Colin Anderson's Aberstadt Junction, we're sure that among this list of novels you'll find something worth turning the page for - and if you've never read a Katzeburgian novel, there's no finer starting point than this list right here.

by **Ranoria** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:01 pm

Quarterback Controversy:
Will The Krauts Go From One Catastrophe To Another Under Center?

Head coach Isaac Dieter running practice in the preseason

Ranoria's rarely been known for flashy passing attacks, aside from those guys near Buffalo Run or the prime John Garrett era in the World Bowl. Ragnar Sampson and Rylan Rodgers Jr are still anticipated as the superstars in this offense. But quarterback is the most important position in sports, of that there is no debate, and running out Diamond Rhine last cycle as the team's emergency option ended in one of the most crushing losses in Ranorian football history.

So, after the signings were blocked by the RFL last season, Isaac Dieter brought in the three biggest names at quarterback among the youth this season. Dante Flowers, former NSCF runner up with the Cold Hill University Buffalo, Paul Shepherd, who played for both the Buffalo and the Ranoria State Wolfhounds, and Nick Singer, the one man show of Alexandria's offense.

Luani is still on the roster, but this team is going with talent and upside over the veterans known limitations and consistency. There was no quarterback battle - Dante Flowers came in as the starter, has gotten almost all of the reps with the ones, and is virtually unchallenged at the position.

"We didn't have time for a quarterback battle like Banija did with Ifeatu Chineze," Dieter said at a presser leading up to week one, "We have a very limited amount of time with these athletes, squeezing the World Bowl in at all is a challenge with how long of a slate we're tasked with. So we watched the film and made our call. Hopefully it's the right one."

Flowers for his part has played well in the RFL to this point - with Shepherd and Singer each struggling for differing reasons. This team is defense oriented, and will lean heavily on its two superstar running backs, but there will come a time when they're tasked with letting it fly, every champion faces adversity at some point. Will Flowers be able to answer the call? He played for the Cold Hill Buffalo - he's used to the standard being a championship - but he has yet to live up to those expectations. Can he change that here with so many world champions around him?

Opposite him of course is the nastiest defense this side of the Dragonflies. The team brings in two elite first time Krauts from Richardson University in former Big 8 DPOY and number one recruit Landon Rayne along with Alexander Eisenberg. Rayne allows the aging if elite Akhello Volson to slot down to the number two role, and no one's doubting that the Blue Thunder alumn will try to outshine the man ten years his savior, with both having an appetite for flash. Eisenberg, meanwhile, will back up Julian Anneliese as a fellow monstrous power rusher, while being more than willing to slot in at three tech from time to time. And of course, Tom Zachariah, Derek Boss's teammate at Cold Hill, helps to provide a shot of youth to the linebacker corps.

Rayne is likely to make the most impact - while reports of alcoholism and a waived DUI surround the young man, he's undeniably the most exciting cornerback prospect Ranoria's produced since Volson. This secondary - and defense - remains loaded with no true weaknesses. If this team is to win yet another championship, it will be on their backs.

by **The Kytler Peninsulae** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:07 pm

MD1 Groups A/B results

Group A
Banija 17–9 Israel Emirates
HUElavia 37–16 Valanora
The Golden Harp 7–0 The Batavia
Comrades United 37–43 Equestria
Jaoaa 6–29 Draakur

   Group A                     Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
 1 Draakur                       1   1  0   29   6 +23
 2 HUElavia                      1   1  0   37  16 +21
 3 Banija                        1   1  0   17   9  +8
 4 The Golden Harp               1   1  0    7   0  +7
 5 Equestria                     1   1  0   43  37  +6
 6 Comrades United               1   0  1   37  43  −6
 7 The Batavia                   1   0  1    0   7  −7
 8 Israel Emirates               1   0  1    9  17  −8
 9 Valanora                      1   0  1   16  37 −21
10 Jaoaa                         1   0  1    6  29 −23

Group B
Drawkland 51–20 Velstrania
Natkr 13–44 Quebec & Shingoryeo
United States of Devonta 24–3 Nortallius
Free Republics 19–48 Juvencus
Tjorl 16–35 TJUN-ia

   Group B                     Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
 1 Drawkland                     1   1  0   51  20 +31
   Quebec & Shingoryeo           1   1  0   44  13 +31
 3 Juvencus                      1   1  0   48  19 +29
 4 United States of Devonta      1   1  0   24   3 +21
 5 TJUN-ia                       1   1  0   35  16 +19
 6 Tjorl                         1   0  1   16  35 −19
 7 Nortallius                    1   0  1    3  24 −21
 8 Free Republics                1   0  1   19  48 −29
 9 Natkr                         1   0  1   13  44 −31
   Velstrania                    1   0  1   20  51 −31

by **Banija** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:09 pm

MD1 Groups C/D results
here are some tunes

Group C
South Newlandia 10–14 Beal an Mhuirthead
Ko-oren 9–13 Chromatika
Abanhfleft 23–21 Bongo Johnson
Serenitas Novae 45–37 Tumbra
Libegeist 3–13 New Umoja

   Group C                             Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
 1 New Umoja                             1   1  0   13   3 +10
 2 Serenitas Novae                       1   1  0   45  37  +8
 3 Beal an Mhuirthead                    1   1  0   14  10  +4
   Chromatika                            1   1  0   13   9  +4
 5 Abanhfleft                            1   1  0   23  21  +2
 6 Bongo Johnson                         1   0  1   21  23  −2
 7 Ko-oren                               1   0  1    9  13  −4
   South Newlandia                       1   0  1   10  14  −4
 9 Tumbra                                1   0  1   37  45  −8
10 Libegeist                             1   0  1    3  13 −10

Group D
Ranoria 48–7 Tomerion
Katzeburg 16–32 Cardenao
Andso Mangis 13–16 Zumrudqislaq
Saperetia 17–23 Lisander
The Martian Independent Republic 6–25 The Kytler Peninsulae

   Group D                             Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
 1 Ranoria                               1   1  0   48   7 +41
 2 The Kytler Peninsulae                 1   1  0   25   6 +19
 3 Cardenao                              1   1  0   32  16 +16
 4 Lisander                              1   1  0   23  17  +6
 5 Zumrudqislaq                          1   1  0   16  13  +3
 6 Andso Mangis                          1   0  1   13  16  −3
 7 Saperetia                             1   0  1   17  23  −6
 8 Katzeburg                             1   0  1   16  32 −16
 9 The Martian Independent Republic      1   0  1    6  25 −19
10 Tomerion                              1   0  1    7  48 −41

by **Libegeist** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 8:50 pm

OOC Context for the following story arc, AKA a short form description on what has been revealed in Demon Days:

Previously on Demon Days!

For several years, the Leader of Main Nation Ministry has been exiled from his own nation by Princess Keller Harrington. Placed in a prison off the coast of Libegeist and within international waters, the Leader was locked away with all of his power gone. That was until corrupt government official Francis Taccone decides to arrange a prison break to bail the Leader out to use for his schemes. Things go awry, as the Leader manages to escape after his helicopter is shot down, to which he decides to trek over to the city of Fairfax, exploring this new country he is in. After causing some commotion, he ends up coming into contact with two sisters, who are also citizens for the Ministry and avid supporters for the Leader. He would hide out in their apartment, since he is currently a wanted man in the nation for being an ex-dictator.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the nation, a mysterious terrorist attack hits a private university, to which Libegeist finds itself in a downward spiral, even with the new monarchy in place and with the developing political parties. Fed up with his isolation and the state of the country that he is in, the murderous side of the Leader has resurfaced for full power and he already has a plan that he wants to put into motion...

The Antichrist Candidate presents...

DREAM TEAM

Dream Team: Is This A Cult?

"You're good?" Violet asked the Leader, or rather Napier, as the two were out shopping for some supplies as part of the first step to the dictator's plans. As a disguise, the sisters had gotten him a large trenchcoat, a hat that covered up his purple hair well, along with some sunglasses. It was the type of outfit that he would usually wear out in public, so people didn't recognize him immediately. Violet and Lavender had suggested other outfits that he was comfortable in wearing, but this is what he preferred.

The two were at a department store, to which Napier was checking out some perfumes that were on sale. "Hang on. We need to find something." Napier said, checking the types of scents. Violet, who was wearing something much more closer, to which she had a Libegeist Locusts sports jersey on with a cap and sunglasses, didn't seem out of the ordinary either. She checked the perfumes that Napier was inspecting. "What are you looking for?"

"It's a type of scent. It will calm me down, so that I can be more rational than usual." Napier explained, though the scents that he was finding didn't match what he was wanting. "Is it a brand of perfume?" Violet asked, helping check.
"Coconut and blackberries. It's... from someone I care about." Napier did think about Daphne. That moment that she returned, the Leader was in a more docile state than usual. Unfortunately, it would probably be forever until he got a chance to see her again.

"Is there anything that I can help you with?" a female sales clerk came over to see the two interested in the perfumes. Napier immediately tilted his hat to keep his face covered. "Ahem! Yes, we are looking for a coconut and blackberry-scented perfume. It's a... wedding gift for a friend of ours." Napier had to deepen his voice, though Violet did most of the talking.

"Um, yes! We are looking for something that has that specific scent. You know a cheap brand of it?" Violet asked her.
"Well, we do offer some custom scents that you can do, though that could cost you extra." the sales clerk mentioned.
"We take whatever works best..." Violet said, though Napier hid his annoyance.

Back at the apartment, Lavender has been hard at work in checking some "certain" properties that would be secluded enough for the group to carry out their plans. However, Lavender also made a certain discovery, which she believed will be helpful with the Leader's endeavors. That was until Napier and Violet had came back with some "supplies" and "materials", though the Leader side of him wanted guns.

"You got what you need, you two?" Lavender asked them.
"Not quite, but it's still a start." Napier said, though he was starting to sound a bit more sinister, as he was reverting to his Leader side. He took off his outfit briefly, as he had the TV on.

"With security guidelines being put in place, King Robert Kruger is expected to have Libegeist be put into the World Bowl, making sure to ensure the safety of its citizens and players, Kruger has earlier mentioned-" a newscaster said, though the Leader was keeping in touch with what was going on.

"The World Bowl! I know how this happens. This is the moment, where a lot of turmoil happens, as the nations get their finest players to play football. Trust me, when my nation first got into the World Bowl, we..." the Leader trailed away, remembering the chaos that had happened.

Damn it, Winston.

"I think we all know what happened 10 years ago with a disgraced general, but I handled it."

World Bowl XXXI was truly the time where everything changed, didn't it?

"Anyways, what is going to happen is that Libegeist will be making sure that their football team doesn't die horribly! This means we are taking advantage of a distraction on our hands!" the Leader said, getting out some notes that he wrote down last night that highlighted some broad ideas. "Now, as long as I'm recognized as a foreign refugee, I could have some freedom around here. Though, that isn't going to last long, since you know..."

"That you're going to be a national scapegoat for all of the country's social ills." Violet finished for him.

"That is why I'll try to find a loophole in my refugee status. If I can make it clear to the public that I'm not in the mood for terrorism, and start an organization of my own. I can be recognized as an everyday blood-sucking no-morals politician, like how all politicians are supposed to be!" he explained to them. "Every winged individual and every extremist is going to want to be in the polls, so that is where we shall form a political party of our own. Of course, we can't let your names be visible for the competition to know us." The Leader dug into one of the boxes of stuff to pull out a skull-shaped mask.

"We need to make a cabal. Maybe a cabal in an unusual term, but we need staff members who are able to carry out my tasks on a whim! Thugs, assassins, hackers, journalists, lawyers, and lobbyists! They will be the ones that are able to be behind the scenes in making sure that I don't get thrown in another prison or worse, that Exclusion Zone. With a strong upper foundation, we will show Libegeist that we are not ones to be messed with!"

"We shall make sure that the nation will be in my hands, no matter how far I shall go!" the Leader said, almost going for some supervillain flair.

The Leader calmed down, snapping out of the mania.

"Ahem. So you were going to say something?" the Leader said to Lavender.

"Yes, I was going to go over some secluded meeting places, but I thought I share some tidbits. There is someone else that I know who is from the Ministry that is also in Libegeist." Almost immediately, the Leader's eyes sparkled.

"Oh! Is it someone with guns? Weapons? Propaganda?"

"Ummmmm... not exactly, but she knows how to start some media to benefit us. Not as an official editor in-chief, but she has written articles for some magazines before." Lavender explained, bringing up the location of the National University of Libegeist. "We do need to be inconspicuous. The universities are going to be on high guard, especially after what happened in Red Rock." Lavender said, though the Leader was digging something from one of the boxes to get a mask ready for Lavender.

"Let's not worry about that. How about we get you into character?" the Leader said, almost developing a sinister yet playful vibe to Lavender. "No offense, but we need to make sure that you fit the same profile that I envision someone who is a higher-up to serve me is." Violet didn't say anything, as she knew that the Leader was the one that was using Napier at the moment. "I want to make you less... submissive. I know how to fix that." the Leader said, hopping on the couch with Lavender.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Lavender was supposed at this, as she suddenly found herself on her back on the couch, as the Leader got a mask out.

A mask of a white wolf that was supposed to look ferocious.

"Lavender. Don't worry. Let me help you."

He slipped the mask onto Lavender.

by **Cardenao** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 10:13 pm

TEAM CARDENAO!
La Furia AzuleThe Blue and Golds–Team Nao

Quarterbacks:

#10 Bobby Dials: 26, 6’4 222lbs-Bobby Dials
#8 Yaw Beatty: 35, 5’11, 218lbs-Dart Thrower
#15 Briton Schifano: 28, 6’1, 208lbs-Scrambler

Running Backs:

#3 Reno Thai: 26, 5’9, 207lbs-Power Back
#23 DeAndre Vick: 32, 5’10, 229lbs-Power Back
#22 Marcial Pritchet: 31, 6’3, 213lbs-Agile Back 
#34 Dalton Jayce
#48 Xavier Youboty

Tight Ends:

#85 Nejc Graciano: 29, 6’5 260lbs-Vertical Threat
#81 Dante May: 28, 6’3, 261lbs
#19 Andrew Ferguson

Wide Receivers:

#82 Deacon St. John: 24, 6’2 219lbs-Playmaker
#7 Marquis Ingram: 33, 6’4, 221lbs
#11 Saivion Ware: 28, 5’11, 189lbs-Playmaker
#42 Dale Malepeai: 6'1, 209lbs
#88 Wayne Hendrix: 30, 6’4, 215lbs
#4 Lee Gay: 25, 5’10, 182lbs

Guards:

#51 Cortez Del Rio: 28, 6’5 324lbs-Pass Protector
#50 Marvin Harris: 28, 6’5 317-Power 
#52 John Carter: 29, 6’7, 308lbs-Pass Protector
#53 Zak Wight: 28, 6’1, 304lbs-Agile

Tackles:

#54 Gabriel Santos Dos Liminas de Varacruz Manuel y Miguel: 29, 6’4, 284lbs-Pass Protector
#55 Iggy Jones: 28, 5’11, 301lbs-Power Blocker 
#57 De’mont Martinez: 25, 6’5, 311lbs-Pass Protecto
#56 Price Early: 23, 6’6, 344lbs-Run Blocker

Centers:

#59 Rejhan Tatum: 26 6’4, 314lbs-Pass Protector
#58 Anthony Jordan: 26, 6’3, 323lbs-Power 
#60 Alexander O’Neal: 33 6’2, 288-Agile Blocker

Main Formation: 4-3 defense

Tackles
#61 Elton El-Amin: 31, 6’8 311lbs-Power Rusher PRIEST HUNTER: 22, 6’6, 301lbs—Speed Rusher
#62 Michael Dubrenyak: 27, 6’7 326lbs-Power Rusher
#63 Giovanni McCollum: 27, 6’6, 282lbs-Speed Rusher 
#64 Dustin Cummins: 29, 6’5, 322lbs-Power Rusher

Defensive Ends

#69 Mack King: 23, 6’2, 281lbs-Speed Rusher
#65 Dustin Samples: 26, 6’4, 299lbs-Run Stopper
#66 Mike Banks: 30, 6’7, 286lbs-Speed Rusher
#67 Jhet Muldrow: 27, 6’4, 311lbs-Power Rusher

Middle Linebacker

#77 Alabaster Red: 26, 6’3, 235lbs-Speed Rusher
#68 Khalil Preston: 28, 6’4, 235lbs-Pass Coverage
#71 Max Tillson: 29, 5’11, 231lbs-Speed Rusher

Outer Linebacker

#70 Reggie Jackson: 28, 6’2, 235lbs
#72 Leeks Bambo: 25, 6’6: 224lbs-Pass Coverage 
#73 Kyle Cardinal: 27, 6’3, 239lbs-Pass Coverage 
#74 Jonathan Tah: 29, 6’, 243lbs-Senior, Run Stopper

Cornerbacks:

#43 Paul Alcorn: 28, 5’9, 202lbs-Hybrid
#48 Jessie Fluellen: 27, 5’11, 180lbs-Pass Coverage
#29 Adrien Hicks: 27, 6’2, 190lbs-Pass Coverage 
#39 Johnbo Dollarooz: 26, 6’3, 202lbs-Hybrid

Safeties:

#43 Cheeto Masarati: 24
#46 Jack White: 28, 6’1, 226lbs-Run Stopper
#33 Tony Strombone: 26, 5’11, 213lbs-Pass Coverage 
#37 Phil Boggard: 28, 6’2, 201lbs-Pass Coverage

Kicker: #1 Badrick Cedella: 23, 6’1 188lbs
Punter: #2 Andy Moody: 32, 6, 210lbs 
Long snapper: Glenn Kelly: 30, 6’, 300lbs

Coach: Steve Valentine

Main Team Strategy: Speed on attack, kick ass on defense! Quick snaps on O means quick TDs. Kicking ass on D means kicking ass on D. The Blue and Golds have grown from an air-raid team to more surgical precision while counting on a slept on defensive unit. It's Bobby Dials…it's Alabaster Red, Mack King, Deacon St. John, Cheeto Masarati, Nejc Graciano, Priest Hunter…La Furia Azule!!

-5 style modifier.

My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my scorers/scoring events: Yes.
Godmod scoring events: Yes.
RP/Godmod injuries to my players: TG/DM me!
Suspend my players: TG/DM me!
Godmod suspension events: TG/DM me!
Godmod other events: TG/DM me!

by **Tumbra** » Tue Mar 10, 2026 8:09 am

Best read with this RP for context.

Nantwich, Finnley
Newsprings Primary School
184 Ettingen Street 16

Politicians in classrooms was nothing new. A photo-op with students, showing them learning, before some speech on education reform or other nonsense. Some found it in bad taste — why include kids in politics? — while others simply saw it as a means to an end. Politicians needed to be humanised, after all, and what better way to do it than showing them interacting with kids?

Now, though, there were no kids in the darkened classroom; just a politician sat at the teacher's desk, legs on the table, speaking into a phone.

"No, sadly, I can't provide a quote," he said. "No, I'm the Deputy Prime Minister, if I were to brief against the Prime Minister I wouldn't be in the next Cabinet. Quite frankly, it's — off the record? Now you've piqued my interest." He looked around, as if to confirm he was alone; the door to the classroom was sealed shut. "Say it's from a staffer."

The response from the other side was evidently affirmative, for a grin appeared on his face.

"The campaign started strong, but it was unfocused and weak. We ran on our record, but we didn't have many achievements beyond 'hey, everything hasn't gone to shit.' We didn't have a cohesive message to sell; the other side, credit to them, were laser-focused on their five messages or whatever it was. That forced us on the back foot, and for the rest of the campaign we were responding rather than setting the tone of the campaign." Jacob Christiansen, the Deputy Prime Minister, let loose as he stared at the false ceiling of the classroom. Little stars dangled from the air-conditioning vent.

"There's your quote. The debates? No, no, I really can't comment on that. Debate prep was a very high-level thing. So high-level that if you said it was a staffer, we'd be able to identify and fire them before the end of the week. So no quotes on the debates. Really wish I could, there's so much to say, but no, I can't. Thank you, no, I think that was a lot. It's a lot. You can fling barbs at me if you'd like, call me an ineffectual campaigner; I certainly don't think I was given a lot to work with, and I was sent to every fucking battleground state. No, she won't sack me, she's too afraid of me being able to stand outside the tent and piss inward. Now that you definitely can't quote, but I think you can spin it into an alleged fear of internal enemies."

"Nothing else. Good night." Christiansen put his mobile phone down on the table, but put the TBC coverage on and stared at it for a while. They were doing some fluff piece on the referendum in Hamilton, while waiting for the votes to come in. A sharp sense of frustration; they'd just pissed away a solid majority for nothing. It had been a terrible campaign, all things considered; weak from the beginning, and it got worse as time went on.

The phone started vibrating. Jordyn Longfellow, former Premier of Alexandria and eager new candidate who'd jumped to federal politics with the promise of a ministerial role, was calling. He sighed, and picked up.

"Yes, Jordyn? Not calling to tell me you've suffered a 35% swing against you, have you? No? Good. What's up? Yes, we've all seen the exit poll. To say I'm pissed would be an understatement. If you're not going on stage tonight at Straton I'd say away, honestly. I'm not interested in going there, it's her that's cost us our majority. Congratulations on becoming Attorney-General, by the way; I don't think even she'd take that away from you now. Yes, I'll see you on the Monday. Good night."

Another call, soon after. This time, the former Premier of Gamaliel, Brendan Charlton; similarly lured onto the federal stage with the promise of the Home Office, which Jacob was intending to vacate anyway after the election to focus on being Deputy Prime Minister.

"Yes, Brendan, I just got the call from Jordyn. How's Helen? Good? Good. I hope you're not calling to tell me you've suffered a 35% swing against you, that'd mean I'm probably out of a job too. Plotting? No, too soon. Give her eighteen months, then we'll get Jordyn and Christopher Lindsay and Heather Hughes and Liz Flanagan if she's still there and we'll see what we can do. Congratulations on becoming Home Affairs Minister, by the way; no, she's going to pivot hard to the centre, and you're right where she wants to put the party. Yes, I'll see you on the Monday. Good night."

The mobile was slammed down again; Jacob rubbed his eyes. He was getting old, and he wanted a bite at the apple; the fake concord between himself and Prime Minister Sandra Campbell could only last for this long, even if she'd reportedly planned to be in office for ten years. But the hung parliament...it complicated things. Negotiating, confidence and supply agreements, the lot...it would probably fall on him to navigate the intricacies of the House. Wearily, he stared at his phone's contact list, scrolled down all the way to V...Vollebregt. Surely it wouldn't hurt to try and make first contact.

The other side picked up on the fifth ring. "Hello, this is Zoe Vollebregt's staffer, Mick van Velden. Zoe isn't available at the moment, but I can definitely take your message."

"Hi, Mick. You're that one that's always with Zoe?"

"Yes, that's right. It's good to hear from you, Deputy Prime Minister. I'm sorry about the exit poll."

"Ah, it's fine. We'll make do. Listen, will Zoe be free in a few minutes?"

"I can check for you. Would you like me to tell her it's you..."

"Yes."

A few moments passed. Zoe Vollebregt soon came on the line, the obvious sounds of cheering being blocked out by the voice of the former Mayor of Lormark. "Hello, Jacob? What can I do for you?"

"Hi, it's Jacob. Listen, just wanted to say congratulations on the result, if it's true; I think you'll be taking Alex Ross' old seat. Ah, just wanted to call and wish you well; but also wanted to ask, just preliminiary — between the two of us, if we offered a confidence and supply deal..."

"Yeah, we're interested. But it won't be up to me. Ah..."

"Eh? I mean, if it's a partyroom vote, we'll get to that when we can, I just — was calling, to, ah..."

"No, Jacob, you don't understand," A light chuckle came from the other end. "I'm quitting as Republican leader after this election. Just between the two of us, of course."

by **HUElavia** » Tue Mar 10, 2026 9:20 am

MD 1:
HUElavia 37–16 Valanora
(10-0, 10-8, 10-0, 7-8)
Estadio Capital, Curumba, HUElavia

Back With A Fury!

HUElavia dominate and upset Valanora to open the World Bowl with a major statement victory!

Matchday 1 in the World Bowl was finally upon the Multiverse, and one of the marquee matchups of the Group Stage was none other than HUElavia hosting Valanora in a very tightly even matchup that was viewed as a very exiting matchup. Playing at Estadio Capital (90,000) in Curumba that was filled with thousands of HUElavians present to cheer on the team, with the couple of thousands of Vanorians arriving to the HUElavian capital to cheer on the team. HUElavia won the coin toss and opted to receive to put the offense to work in hopes to put a statement drive to open the game and tournament.

The match was what many would call an utter domination from HUElavia, really bringing the fight to the game from the get-go. The 70-yard opening drive resulted in a 17 yard pass from Uchechy to Orjy, who beat his marker in Østebø to get a nice touchdown to make it 7-0. Late in the 1st Quarter, the new kicker in Solar got a 55 yard field goal to end the quarter 10-0. Valanora would attempt to get something going, but would continue to stall out to punt the ball back to HUElavia. An 83-yard drive would be fruitful once again, as they marched down the field to get a 12 yard touchdown run from Uche to make it 17-0. Valanora would eventually get a good drive going that would result from a 72-yard drive where a fading pass from Sørbø to Isaksen to push past Santana into the endzone for a touchdown, followed by a small run from Østby on the 2-point conversion to make it 17-8. HUElavia would make a quick drive under two minutes to get towards their endzone for Solar to make a 42-yard field goal to end the half at 20-8.

The second half had HUElavia once again stalling out Valanora, forcing incompletions or giving very little gain from the run game. A punt resulted in Uchimura getting the ball and weaving his way past Vanorians and running unopposed to the endzone for a 78-yard punt return touchdown, making it 27-8. On the next drive, Valanora began to march down the field, looking to respond with a score and got to the redzone until a pass from Sørbø to Dybvik got deflected into the air, only for Talatala to pluck it from the air for an interception, getting the whole defense to mob him in celebration as he ran to the endzone to pose for the cameras with his teammates, with the crowd cheering wildly. HUElavia took that turnover and marched down the field to get a 48-yard field goal from Solar to end the quarter, 30-8. Valanora once again would finally get something going for the team, this time relying on the rushing game, resulting in a long 86-yard drive where Østby got to the side away from the HUElavian secondary and ran unopposed to the endzone for a touchdown. A short slant pass on the 2-point conversion from Sørbø to Midtbø cut the score to 30-16. It would become an affair of punts throughout the 4th quarter, as HUElavia seemed content with the gap and how the game was going. Valanora would attempt a miracle to comeback with 5:30 left in the game, getting passes down to the HUElavia 42 yard line. A pass from Sørbø to Strömberg would be cut off by Oogami, who intercepted the pass and began to run past chasing Vanorians to run it back for a 58-yard pick-6 touchdown, making it 37-16, the definitive score. The HUElavian crowd jumped and cheered with joy at the great defensive play, as now all teams on HUElavia had scored during the match, an uncommon feat against such a strong opponent. Not much would happen there, and ultimately, Uchechy would kneel the ball to run out the clock and take the much needed victory.

HUElavia sits in 2nd Place in Group A, being bested by Draakur's 29-6 victory over Jaoaa to have the point differential being the tie-breaker currently. Coach Huamanchagua was quoted saying after the game "I couldn't have asked for a better start to the World Bowl from this team. They were great on all aspects of the game, didn't let the incompletions or the few gains on the run affect them much. The team showed they can take on anyone and they played with that passion and grit I wanted them to show. I'm also grateful for the fantastic showing by the fans, really made it feel like a great home game, much like the National Football Team. Still, it's only game one and we got plenty of games to go. Gotta get the team to practice well and study film as we take on co-hosts Banija, which will be a very tough test for us. Still, I have good faith and confidence in this group of men to put up a great game and fight against the Banijans. After all, we don't fear anyone, rather we respect them. And we want to prove we belong in the Multiverse with Gridiron Football." Matchday 2 will be a tough away game at Banija in what could be a crucial game that can shake up the standings in the grand scheme of things. This is followed up with a home game against Israel Emirates, which one expects to see Los Amarillos/Os Amarelos to win. On to the next and to what can be a historic victory in HUElavia!

FORCA HUELAVIA! VAMOS HUELAVIA! GO HUELAVIA!

by **Ko-oren** » Tue Mar 10, 2026 2:15 pm

Previous part

"Peace in the Ayes starts with Ko-oren in charge of the Ayes, because nobody else is going to protect our trade," Abodhiru Gelogathingun said, with a piercing gaze directed at Olhihzo Pabahdhen, the incredulous presenter of Ko-oren's largest daily news and talkshow. The prime minister had been repeating that phrase on every TV show, every interview, every press moment for weeks now, ever since she and her cabinet claimed threats to national security were imminent. Imminent enough, at least, to override checks and balances that previous governments had so meticulously woven into the constitution. Parliament, the courts, media, senior and junior ministers, financing of cabinet plans, even the role of ministry officials in creating legislation - all of that cast aside because the Bostopians are watching.

But Olhihzo wasn't letting Abodhiru get away with her regular talking points. The prime minister had appeared on the show countless times, but this was the first time after her appointment as the boss of Ko-oren. During her campaign, and previously, during her time as regular minister, Abodhiru showed up to talk about much simpler things. Well, simpler things: Gelogathingun was the minister of foreign affairs, but that was in a very different Ko-oren - or at least, that's how Gelogathingun refers to it these days. "It was a time of optimism, of working together as a region, creating Koroa City as the level playing field between nations." Completely incompatible with the current view of the region according to her cabinet. "Anaia's become a place of competing interests, a chaos that needs order."

"But Mrs. Gelogathingun, surely these threats would have been known, by you? How is it possible that the Ko-orenite government has been taken by surprise this badly?"

"We have known about some of these threats, and they've been monitored."

"Are these threats recognised by our allies?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then why haven't you coordinated with our allies to mitigate these threats?"

"We are - that's what the military is doing right now."

"But Huayramarca - perhaps the nation we're closest to, not just literally - found a Ko-orenite fleet on its doorstep that they didn't know was coming. The same fleet that spotted the Bostopians."

"Yes, that's the nature of exercises, and it's a good thing, because how else would we have found out about Bostopia?"

"It's not my place on this show to cast doubts and judge - but Mrs. Gelogathingun, I don't believe this for a second."

That last line made waves. Endlessly clippable, repostable, t-shirtable. It didn't matter if it was true. It immediately shot to the status of a quote you could throw out anywhere you were. You're at the station and on the screen, your train pops up with an unexpected five minute delay. "Mrs. Train, I don't believe this for a second." Or you've just asked your colleague for a small favour, but they say they don't have the time for your two-minute task. "Mrs. Colleague, I don't believe you for a second."

Elsewhere, doubts about Gelogathingun's claims started coming in as well. Incorruptible Lydia Vuhgehshen, minister for Information, Security, and Communication - and therefore a key figure in the cabinet - had been missing from work for a few days. Her ministry communicated to the public that her whereabouts were known, but that she had to take emergency leave from her position for a short while.

Turns out, she had been building a case against Gelogathingun all along. She was in Majara, at the national police headquarters, where the justices of the Constitutional Court also convened. The first few cases submitted to the court by parliament had come in, and while the courts were always a little slow to react - that is, doing proper inquiry simply requires time - together, the police, the cabinet members unimpressed by the prime minister, and the constitutional court were starting to unravel what happened. It was not just them grasping at straws. No, the cabinet really did try to confuse the public with an endless barrage of legislative initiatives, dozens of press releases per day, and media appearances. Or well, that was up to the courts whether that was actually the case, but Vuhgehshen was the one person able to pull up all of the information needed.

There was an even easier path out of this. National security or not, a committee of previous presidents and prime ministers could, with some ceremony, sack a current prime minister. And with it, send an entire cabinet packing.

by **Nortallius** » Tue Mar 10, 2026 5:35 pm

It was a rough day for the Allied States on the gridiron, as Nortallius fell at home to the United States of Devonta in a 24-3 blowout. The lone score for the Allied States came late in the second quarter, as Rock Koonce, star kicker for the New Harriston Flags, sent a 48 yard through the uprights to put the national team on the board. It was a disastrous day offensively, as Nortallius would only move the football a total of 223 yards. With most players playing with each other for the first time ever, the offensive connection between all the indiividual parts just wasn't happening. The team also faced different defensive formations than what is custom in the NNFA. After contracting an illness two days before the game, starting quarterback and four time NNFA MVP Keion Mathis was not able to hold up, and exited the game after the first quarter. Mathis threw for 52 yards on 64% passing with no interceptions. QB Rontez Clark took Mathis's spot for most of the rest of the game and finished with 103 yards on 43% passing and 2 interceptions. Myles Chrysler took over under center late in the fourth and played eight snaps while passing for 15 yards. The team managed to cover just 53 yards on the ground. Nortallius did appear to score a touchdown in the third on a 12 yard screen pass from Clark to RB Orion Walker, but this was overturned by a holding call on TE Davis Kennedy. Nortallius lost 85 yards overall on a total of 12 flags. Fumbles from Eric Wyatt and Dom Hammond as well as a turnover on downs gave Nortallius a grand total of five turnovers. On the other side of the ball, the defense played better, but not much better. Devonta managed to score 24 points. Nortallius was able to force some punts and CB Giovanni Omenihu caught an interception in the second quarter. Otherwise, Devonta was able to roll to a comfortable victory.
Passing Leader
Rontez Clark - 103 y
Rushing Leader
Eric Wyatt - 34 y
Recieving Leader
Jerome Jarvis -99 y
Offensive Player of the Game
WR Jerome Jarvis (99y, 10 receptions)
Defensive Player of the Game
CB Giovanni Omenihu (6 tackles, 1 interception)

by **Chromatika** » Tue Mar 10, 2026 7:08 pm

When you go through a thorough, substantive change, there can be a bit of consternation, uncertainty, and trepidation regarding what the future holds. When you lose three of the best players you’ve ever seen play for your country in the Mio sisters and Sarai Gwenderyn, it’s understandable to be nervous about the cycle ahead – especially in a competition as loaded as the World Bowl.

Facing Ko-oren in the first match of the Group Stage? Difficult. Playing that game on the road, in Ko-oren? Even harder. Anne-Maurice Vivayavich had had starts in the past, filling in for Gwenderyn to spell the veteran due to injury or due to rest; now, she was taking the field as the actual starter for the Iron Legion – an entirely different role altogether.

“It’s a monumental tournament for our team and the country as a whole when it comes to gridiron football,” admitted Offensive Coordinator Naia Curentino, “You don’t replace people like Sarai, Victoria, and Alessandra – you have to adjust what you have afterwards to make sure that your team is ready to go.”

As advertised, the Dragonflies’ defense proved to be as potent as ever. The Iron Legion matched them, and for three quarters of play, neither team made it inside the other’s red zone. The score was 9-6 starting the fourth quarter, five field goals having been scored. Penalties and negative plays plagued both teams on third downs to result in the field goal tries, weather being a non-factor as it was the defenses actually doing the work.

Up to that point in the game, Vivayavich had gone 14-of-20 for 161 yards, not good but not great at all. Benjamin Merik and Anne Holmes had added a total of 67 yards on the ground, as the Iron Legion’s field goals had both been more than fifty yards long, hit well by the impeccable Dwayne Markseon. It was at this point that Curentino and Vivayavich decided to bring out an entirely different formation – trips left, Ulrich Jefferson to the right, with a single back. With St. Pierre, Perrier, and Enox Silverman all bunched up, the Dragonflies’ secondary had to adjust – and Vivayavich started to target the one receiver that was being covered by the nickel corner.

Pinpoint, accurate throws made the difference on a third-and-eight as the Iron Legion crossed the Dragonflies’ thirty-five for the first time. Holmes found some room on a draw to get six yards, and on a play-action that the linebackers bit on, Jen Hallow leaked out to catch a fifteen-yard pass that carried the team to the red zone.

It being their very first time in the red zone and down three points, the Iron Legion weren’t going to let the opportunity go to waste. Utilizing trips again – this time, to the right – Earl Silverman ran a drag route that carried a safety. Vivayavich bought just enough time for Silverman to get a step on his defender, and the resulting throw – out in front of the receiver on the back shoulder, away from the defender – was perfect.

Touchdown, Iron Legion. The defense did the rest, and Chromatika had its first win of the post-Gwenderyn era.

“It was a true team effort,” explained Anne-Maurice, “The defense held on for us throughout the game, we made just enough plays on offense, and the field position game and kicking was excellent. It took all three phases to win here in Ko-oren, but I think we truly showed that this current team has all the potential in the world.”

Freya Odinsdóttir shined for the Iron Legion – even if she only played sparingly on third downs. She had two sacks and three hurries, and showed the coaching staff that she should get more playing time in the games to come. The Group Stage will become considerably easier for the Iron Legion after they face Abanhfleft until the end, when they must rev up to play South Newlandia and Ranoria.

That’s enough time for everyone to truly gel together and hopefully get something going. For all of her accolades, Gwenderyn never won the World Bowl. She did lose in the game multiple times, but it wasn’t enough.

Could this be the cycle that Chromatika bucks that curse? The start is good, and the World Bowl is a marathon to test the team’s tenacity and ability to ramp up to the playoff – it’s all about finding strengths, committing to them, and learning how to deal with the curveballs.

Chromatik Domestic Gridiron Expands

The Chromatik Football Federation has expanded the Chromatik domestic gridiron to twelve teams, to be played in two divisions of six teams – the Chromatik Division and the National Division. Each team will play each other team in its division twice (home and away) and all other teams of another division once, for a total of sixteen games. At the end of the regular season, the winner of each division will qualify for the Semifinals.

The second placed teams will host the third placed team from the other division in the first round, the winners playing the division winners, and the winners of those Semifinals playing in the final.

This new league will be called the CGL – Chromatik Gridiron League. The divisions are:

Chromatik Division
Chromia Cyan
Knetyohai Icebreakers
Z’ai’ai Foresters
Alnio Pirates
Anfanhar Warhogs
Brisara Juggernauts

National Division
Staramara Angels
Lanar Turtles
Sanar Batallion
Tihon Stars
Myana Masterminds
Qet Lynx

Will the Angels, Cyan, and Lynx continue to dominate? Or will a different threat emerge in the season to come?

(O.O) · by **TJUN-ia** » Wed Mar 11, 2026 11:24 am

Gridiron Football is in an interesting place here in TJUN-ia. On the one hand, the Gridiron Jaguars are consistently one of the best teams in the World Bowl, ranked #9 and only barred from going further two years ago by the unfortunate timing of meeting Chromatika in the Wild Card. But if you look towards the collegiate game and the NSCF, things aren't exactly fun. Sure, TSU have managed a winning record this season, but the fact that this feat is considered a surprise is a sign of just how far our NSCF programs have fallen since their heyday. Gus McKerrin still carries on, now with Jason Steels at the helm as QB1, but with 10 games lying ahead of us, everything is about to get spicy once again. So buckle up and prepare yourself for another gander around the Gridiron once again!

The opening game of this World Bowl would be on the road against the debuting Green on the Blue of Tjorl at the Skyhold Dome. A very large arena for this opener, and Darrin Goel Jr. did provide some resistance, scoring twice through Ace Carter in this game. But Steels, in his first start for the Jaguars, didn't want to leave a poor taste in the mouth of those who made this trip, and he managed 5 TDs on the day - two each to Catherine Alcaraz-Cortéz and Harrison Jeffers, once to Yurilka Zelinskaya. Glory Oparanozie went 5/5 on PATs. Simple as that, 35-16.

Nice start, but things are only going to get tougher from here - a leg in Velstrania before the first home game of the campaign in New Washington vs #31 Juvencus.
GO JAGS!

SCHEDULE (Group B)
MD1: @Tjorl (UR) - Skyhold Dome, Natkr W 35-16 (5th)
----------------------------------------
MD2: @Velstrania (UR)
MD3: vs Juvencus (31) - Field of Dreams in The Gardens, New Washington
----------------------------------------
MD4: @Nortallius (UR) - Ulysses Gillespie Memorial Stadium, Cliffside
MD5: vs Quebec and Shingoryeo () - Field of Dreams in The Gardens, New Washington
----------------------------------------
MD6: @Drawkland (6) - Metro Arena, Metropolon
MD7: vs Natkr (20) - Field of Dreams in The Gardens, New Washington
----------------------------------------
MD8: @United States of Devonta (36) - Ian James Financial Field, Devonta
MD9: vs Free Republics (UR) - Field of Dreams in The Gardens, New Washington
----------------------------------------
MD10: vs HUElavia (11/Intergroup) - Field of Dreams in The Gardens, New Washington

by **Banija** » Wed Mar 11, 2026 11:58 am

OOC note to grader: The first half this RP was largely written last cycle, with minimal edits. However, lots of hours went into the rosters, so that's where grading should be focused.

OOC non rosters: Color coding regarding NTs should not be considered, as I need to go back and double check. Aging should be taken similarly.

An introduction - welcome to the Gridiron Football League of Banija

GFLB Rosters during World Bowl LII

Introduction- Format and Scheduling

What the GFLB right now is looking for, is stability. And they seemingly have found it- settling in on a format introduced around World Bowl 46. Six 4 team divisions, with no conferences. You'll play each team in your division twice(6 games), and a single round robin 2 other divisions(8 games), and then 1 game each against the same place team in a division that you haven't already played against(3 games), for a total of 17 games. With divisional realignment, those last 3 games are assigned to the same teams alphabetically in order in the relevant divisions.

An odd number of games? Yes. As always for this league, the byes will be at the same time for everyone. There will be a bye week after Week 9(traditionally rivalry weekend on the domestic college scene), and, with a 17 schedule, the second bye remains. There will be another Bye after week 15(aka national championship weekend for domestic college gridiron). So the regular season will take 19 weeks to complete 17 games. Ergo, each team only plays one preseason game.

Teams, of course, schedule their own pre-season games in this league. The GFLB has de-regulated preseason games- people schedule however they want, against domestic or foreign teams. Ever popular joint practices are expected to become more of the norm, and teams will be allowed and encouraged to play pre-season games against teams from other leagues.

What about the playoff format? That is easy. The six division winners, and the next six best teams by record in the league, will all qualify for the playoffs. Top 4 division winners will be seeded 1-4 and get a first round bye. The next 8 playoff qualifiers will be seeded by record. Which, yes, means that the bottom 2 division winners can be seeded behind the wild cards. They are seeded 5-12. A fixed single elimination bracket commences, and the stronger seed is always playing at home.

The GFLB Title Game name is called "The Simba Bowl", and the championship game shall always be held at the Stadium of the Restoration(cap. 101,835) in Busukuma, National Capitol Region. Below, we have our divisions.

There has been a lot of team stability- same amount of teams, no division realignment, no relocations.

The league contains 21 teams in Banija, and three foreign teams- the Dukuma Dragons(from the Busoga Islands), the Mar Sara Night Elves(from Valanora), and the St. Jakob Honey Badgers (from Siovanija & Teusland).

Hangaza Division
Aissa Crocodiles. Play at the Crocodile's Swamp(cap. 65,000) in Aissa, Hangaza.
Duntho Oilers. Duntho, Hangaza.
Jinja City Springboks. Play at BCEL Stadium(cap. 52,400) in Jinja City, Hangaza.
Igulu Bush Elephants. Igulu, Hangaza.

Moravica Division
Herzegovina City Cobras. Play at Kavuma Field(cap. 83,800) in Herzegovina City, Moravica. . One of two domed stadiums in the league.
Istria Black Mambas. Play at the Istria Olympic Stadium(cap. 80,000) in Istria, Moravica
Kosactus Red Vultures. Kosactus, Moravica.
Rukunbi Wizards. Istria, Moravica.

West Division
Askatasuna Wildcats. Play at Askatasuna City Field(cap. 40,000) in Askatasuna, Aksum.
Busembe Timberwolves. Busembe, Kitara
Mynda Gorillas. Play at Kawesa Stadium(cap. 41,000) in Mynda, Aksum.
Sisonke Leopards. Sisonke, Kitara.

South Division
Busukuma Athletic Club. Busukuma, National Capitol Region.
Busukuma Suns. Play at Sun Valley Field(Cap. 61,000) in Busukuma, National Capitol Region.
Hoima Zebra. Hoima, Ankole Region. Play at Mavuto Field(cap. 75,000) in Hoima.
Mukeruzi Hyenas. Mukeruzi, Ankole.

Central Division
Dukuma Dragons. Dukuma, North Island, Busoga Islands
Isipongo Wild Boars. Isipongo, Buganda.
Lwanga Rhinos. Play at The Watering Hole(cap. 63,000) in Lwanga, Buganda. One of two domed stadiums in the league.
Umbazi Metropolitan Sporting Club. Umbazi, Buganda

East Division
Bunyoro Regional Sporting Club. Play at Albert III Stadium(cap. 48,600) in Dodoma, Bunyoro. Bunyoro RSC are a multi-sporting club, same org operates a soccer team in the BSL(Banija's 2nd tier soccer league) and the BLL(Banijan Lacrosse League).
Bwubanza Ostriches. Bwubanza, Bunyoro.
Mar Sara Night Elves. Mar Sara, Valanora.
St. Jakob Honey Badgers. St. Jakob, Teusland.

For scheduling purposes, the South, West, and Moravica divisions are paired together, while the Hangaza, East, and Central divisions are paired together this season.

While the GFLB generally used geography as a guiding principle for division formation, they ultimately prioritized rivalry retainment over geographic balance. Which means that yes, this season there has been divisional realignment.

- With there now being 4 teams from the State of Hangaza, GFLB owners, after years of negotiations, have decided to act sensibly and ensure all four Hangaza teams are placed into the same division
- To do this, of course, required significant realignment elsewhere. With the priority of rivalry retainment, both Aksum teams were placed into the West Division, leaving the defunct North division, alongside both Kitara teams. While geographically, the Aksum and Kitara teams are separated by the state of Moravica, the rivalry retention of the two Aksum teams, and the two Kitara teams, was considered a priority
- This means the two foreign teams in the West Division were, once again, spread out. Mar Sara Night Elves, despite being way out to the West, were placed in the East Division.
- The Dukuma Dragons, from the Busoga Islands, were placed into the Central Division, alongside the trio of Buganda teams.

The GFLB owners are happy with the new divisions- there is not projected to be any push for realignment in the future, unless there is expansion.

In other news

- The International Series will be brought back- as all teams will play exactly one game abroad this season. Full list of foreign stadia shall be announced when it is finalized.

by **Valanora** » Wed Mar 11, 2026 11:59 am

"After such a promising first few years start, it seems the Silver Star League has hit a bit of a stumbling block and their fourth season has been postponed. VSC is saying it is just for a few weeks to a few months as they work on some financing and other bureaucratic business to ensure the league's continued survival and ability to thrive. Given that the league in Ranoria has similar but far worse sort of circumstances over there, it looks to be a bit of a grim outlook for domestic gridiron, not exactly a great showing for the sport. You even have some established NSCF schools no longer representing their nations in that competition any more, with both Starmara Tech and Sadeg State not being part of the most recent edition of the tournament. Does it give you any pose that perhaps the sport is hitting a bit of a down turn not just in the Empire but across the sporting landscape?"

It was the lingering unspoken question that had been circling around the gridiron spheres in the Empire for the last few months to a year, was this sport that they loved and had only recently really gotten what they thought was a proper place in the Vanorian sporting hierarchy with a professional league, starting to decline across the sporting world? The Silver Star League was months behind schedule for its fourth season, which had initially appeared to be the biggest and best season of them yet but several of the teams had been reporting an operating loss. It called into question about the distribution of the television money across the league and what the league and individual clubs could do better to market themselves across not just the Empire but within the region and beyond. They needed butts in seats and eyes on the screens as well as plenty of people buying merch and shirts to keep the revenue machine working and the league operating at least at a break even pace, preferably operating at least a small profit. It was the only way that the league was going to be able to stay afloat, the VSC would not be able to subsidy it for more than a few years, it needed to be profitable sooner than later.

It was also not a question that anyone who was playing for the Sabres in the World Bowl was going to be qualified to answer, they were not the ones trying to woo and grow the audience base as well as the revenue streams. They were players and coaches, not the moves and shakers, they only coached and played the darn game, the business of it was left up to the suits for better or worse. Yet here they were getting asked these impossible questions for them to try and answer all while trying to hide the fact that they team came out and laid an egg in the first game of the group stage. While it had been away from the friendly confines of Vanorian shores and against the third seed of the group, the team's performance in the opening game had been far from exemplary and they were going to have to be vastly improved if they were going to actual advance out of the group. With difficult games against one of the two hosts in Banija also on the schedule and other teams looking to upset them, they had lost all margin for error that this group stage was going to provide them, the needed to basically be perfect from here on out. What they did not need was trying to navigate these charged questions while trying to get prepare for the next game.

"Organizing a program is difficult enough, I can not imagine how much work, effort, and coordination that has to go into actually organizing an entire league. We have it easy, we simply are boots on the ground either trying to coach the best games that we can or are players that are doing their best to execute those plans, we do not have to think about things like marketing the league or the right way to distribute the finances. I have full faith though that the powers that be will be able to figure out a solution soon and get the Silver Star League back on track so that everyone back in the Empire can get back to rooting on their favorite local teams, after they are done rooting on us in what will hopefully be a deep run in the World Bowl. We know that it is a bit ambitious but the coaching staff and players believe that a quarterfinal appearance has to be the goal with how far the team and the game has come in the Empire over the last several years and how close we have come to having a truly remarkable run that could shake the foundations of the competition moving forward, as well as our own perception." Andy Magnusson spoke with the calmness that betrayed the annoyance underneath it all. He had a team to shape into gear after that disappointing loss to open up the group stage, playing prognosticator was not in his job description.

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Wed Mar 11, 2026 12:53 pm

The Taegukgi: The Korean-language voice of the Quebecois Commonwealth

A Super-Bowl Monday of Byelections to be held in 10 ridings across the country

Kim Seok-Ho

JOONGYEONG, JOONGYEONG - Prime Minister Kang Tae-Goo has called a 'super bowl weekend' of ten byelections, which could not only decide the trajectory of the Jeongdeokgoong federal politics depending on the outcome, but also put into test out the proposed two-staged runoff model for all federal elections moving forward.

Kang announced last Sunday night that the ten byelections across the country will take place on Monday the 15th of May, 2073. Following is the list of ridings below:

Province                                        Category 2025     (Margin)  Incumbent
YOSEO             Swangard North-Sea-to-Sky      SUBURBAN GREENS      (+26)  Duncan Wesoloski-McLauchlan*
ABITIBI-AGAWA     Belwood Park                      RURAL SHINMINJEON (+11)  Nelson Youngblood
ABITIBI-AGAWA     Jeongju Centre                METROPOL. LIBERALS    (+62)  Ji Gyeong-Wan^
MAHAN             Hills of Madeleine-Linfield    SUBURBAN LIBERALS    (+13)  Adrianana Marianelli
TERRE-AUX-OISEAUX Gaepoong                          RURAL LIBERALS    (+14)  Jean-Christophe Pozner
SONGAK            Stretford End                 METROPOL. SHINMINJEON  (+3)  Ida Carignan
JOONGYEONG        Leuchtenberg                   SUBURBAN MOOGOONGWHA  (+3)  Fernand Joly-Niska
ACADIE            Seunghakpo and Western Beaches    RURAL MOOGOONGWHA (+27)  Dianne van Leuken
NORD-EST          Songwha-Ravenscraig               URBAN SHINMINJEON (+14)  Kang Deok-Ho  
INTEACHAN         Beara-Khan                        RURAL GREENS      (+16)  Deanna-Lynn McKinley

* Resigning from current seat, will be running as a Community Independent.
* Resigning from current seat, will be running at Leuchtenberg.

In what was one of the most dramatic election turnarounds in the 21st century, the Shingoryeoite Liberals were elected to a minority government in February 2071. Since then, several changes have happened with the Liberals remaining high in polls, and other parties having leadership void.

While Menzies McConnell has managed to survive a downturn with 93% confidence vote and has managed to bring the Shinminjeon back to high-twenties, it is the Moogoongwha and the other parties who have managed to struggle. Former Fisheries Secretary Oh Jong-Oak has stepped in for Lucien Azagury-Zovaco after a six-month-long leadership race in June 2072. Oh, a Dongnae-area MP who is considered a moderate, well-liked successor to the former longtime PM, is well-liked with decent polling figures at low-thirties but has since seen consistent infighting between its three factions.

The leadership void continues to become an issue for other two major parties as well, as the Nationals and the Greens have faced challenges their own. Warren Woo's reform measures to the Indigenous Congress (CIS) was met with mixed reception as what was a successful renaming and rebranding of the agrarian-indigenous party was neutralised by the public's limited appetite for Woo's proposal to form a coalition with the Moogoongwhas or even the Shingoryeoite Liberals. Currently the Nationals poll around 8%, below their 11% and 8.7% finish in 2071 and 2067 federal elections.

The Shingoryeoite Greens might be the ones most in trouble, however, as the takeover of the party by longtime activist and media professional Shimon Reid have led into an internal civil war. After Reid's victory in June 2072 convention after a highly-acrimonious battle, 33 of the party's 40 MPs have either crossed the floor or announced their intention not to run for the following election citing Reid's history of concerning remarks and 'obstructionist stances that run contrary to the Jeongdeokgoong practices'. So far, 7 have crossed the floor to the Shingoryeoite Liberals, while 6 and 4 others have moved to Shinminjeon and Nationals, causing a significant crisis to the caucus that only features 22 MPs following their byelection loss at the November 2072 Place-Calanie-Alexandre-I byelection.

In terms of the national picture, it is a fairly mixed one with the Liberals and the Shinminjeon holding three each, while the Greens and the Moogoongwha holding two each on their end as well. Due to varied nature of the ridings, very little would change in terms of passing legislations for the party, meaning that a snap election could be called at any point between now and March 2075, but where it can get interesting is how the regional polling figures stand.

Of the ten byelections, the most interesting ones will be Swangard North-Sea-to-Sky. Not only will Reid be standing in as the Greens candidate, the seat was left vacant following the Greens' incumbent Duncan Wesoloski-McLauchlan's decision to resign after being pressured into giving up the riding for Reid, who lives in the constituency and has shared major disagreements with Wesoloski-McLauchlan on the direction of the federal Greens.

Wesoloski-McLauchlan is expected to run as a 'community independent', presenting an interesting situation as while both the Liberals and the Moogoongwha will be running a proper candidate to the riding, the two-staged runoff means that the outcome could favour the incumbent over Reid. The intrigue will be presented in time, following the previous byelection where the Shinminjeon flip was attributed to the endorsement Florence Stanasila, their departed leader who openly left the party, gave to Shinminjeon candidate Hemavarthini Kaarvanna, whom she had previously beaten by 55% with 65.33% to 10.94% in 2071.

Also interesting will be the ridings of Hills of Madeleine-Linfield and Gaepoong, where longtime Summerville councilor Ludovic Salgado and Gaepoong MLA May Pozner-Menard are expected to cross the levels to become latest federal politician in their family. Salgado, the 53-year old stepson of legendary campaign manager Dr. Hong Yi-Woong, is expected to win his second crack at federal politics after being crushed at party nomination level by a 25-year old Young Liberals president Adrienne Thomas-Ironside on his home riding. Pozner-Menard, who is married to well-known opera baritone Valentin Choo, also carries high expectations after serving in the provincial riding for 12 years following the footsteps of her mother, Rosalyn Hwang-Menard's naming to the House of Lords after 16 years as Terre-Aux-Oiseaux Premier from 2022 to 2037.

Final line of intrigue will be met by the current Government House Speaker Ji Gyeong-Wan, as he's announced his resignation from his seat of Jeongju Centre, where he's stood since 2063, in favour of running in his childhood riding of Leuchtenberg. The former national team star Judoka and coach, who has also served as the chair of multifamilial Hangyeoreh National Corporation and briefly the owner of Jeongju Javelins, the team of his late wife, Maisie Dreyfus-Milliken, has resigned from his house speaker position to help clear his business interests with both the H&N and the Javelins earlier this year. Having completed the procedures, and also by winning at Leuchtenberg, a suburban-rural riding just east of Hwado Valley, Ji intends to embark his ascent on federal politics by facilitating the return to where he lived until accepting his scholarship at the high-performance institution IRSEA in Arrosianopolis.

by **Drawkland** » Wed Mar 11, 2026 1:54 pm

"The Slow Understanding"

Brooklyn Beck didn’t have time to think about what she’d just done. She looked at the clock on the wall and nearly jumped. Between her moping in the locker room closet and her conversation with Julian Gallagher, she had little time left before the postgame press conference. Brooklyn dashed to a locker room shower, cleaned herself up in record time, and finished packing her things before jogging over to the media room at the Henza Center.

Thankfully she arrived just in time. Scott Linhart was waiting in the side room alongside senior linebacker Ryker Achilles. The shower had washed away the obvious remains of tears on Brooklyn’s face, and her moment with Julian earlier had turned what would’ve been a sullen look into a more serene one. She didn’t exactly look happy, but it was far from sour.

“Ready?” Linhart looked at both his senior players with a grimace, his gaze remaining on Brooklyn for a second longer.

“As ready as I can be,” Brooklyn replied dryly.

“I will take the heat,” Linhart promised, referring to the play call that turned into the game-losing interception out of Brooklyn’s hand. “It was my call. Don’t let them bully you about it, alright?”

“Thanks, Coach.” Brooklyn offered a small smirk. She knew it’d make little difference to curb the criticism she’d receive for throwing the pick, but in her eyes any amount of ire on her was deserved.

The trio walked into the main press room slowly. They took their seats behind the table with its mics, nameplates, and product placement cups already set up. Though she knew she should be feeling some sort of foreboding for her rapidly-approaching public reckoning, Brooklyn didn’t feel too terrible.

Once the three were settled, the media manager cued Scott Linhart to make an opening statement, if he had one. Without skipping a beat, the head coach launched into a spiel.

“Before we get into it, I want to make clear that I am immensely proud of this group of players, first and foremost. Making an international championship game doesn’t happen overnight. A lot of people have put in a lot of work into this program to make it what it is today. That said, this group of Gladiators did what some would’ve considered impossible two years ago. Back to back NSCF championship game appearances can’t be ignored. Cavsar might not have gotten the result we wanted tonight, but that doesn’t take away what everybody’s accomplished over the last two seasons.”

A moment passed before the first journalist spoke up. “Coach Linhart, this is Matt Hayden, DNSN. Obviously this game came down to a late interception. Given that Cavsar was already in field goal range when this play was called, could you walk us through the decision there?”

“A first down wins the game,” Linhart started simply. “It was a risk to throw the ball, sure. But we had the most reliable offensive tandem in the tournament this year on our side. A first down would’ve allowed us to drain the clock and kick a winning field goal with no time left. It’s an aggressive call, but that’s what we do here. Our aggressiveness puts pressure on our opponents and puts us in positions that we otherwise couldn’t manage. If we didn’t go for two every touchdown, we’d have to score a touchdown on that final drive rather than a field goal. I’m not going to abandon that philosophy at the final hurdle. Ultimately we just fell victim to outstanding defensive play. You need plays like that to win championships, and unfortunately for us, NMU got them when it mattered.”

Brooklyn had to contain her awe. Linhart smoothly delivered a small monologue on a play where she’d thrown a championship-losing pick and he only briefly mentioned her by proxy. She doubted it would keep the attention off her for long, but she had to admire the attempt.

“McKenzie Coulson from the Drawk City Post.” Another Drawkian journalist stood. “Coach, it looks like there’s going to be a lot of turnover on the Cavsar roster next season. Do you believe Cavsar will be able to compete again in DOCA or NSCF play next year?”

“We’re more than just a handful of skilled players,” Linhart said after a moment. “We do have some incredible talent graduating out, but you don’t make multiple NSCF championship games without a roster that’s good from top to bottom. We have a culture at Cavsar now that’s on par with other championship-winning organizations at this level. That doesn’t just disappear in one offseason. I expect us to continue being competitive.”

“A question for Brooklyn,” came from the other side of the room, prompting everyone at the table to turn their heads. “Paul Yates, Sadeg Star-Tribune. You weren’t taken by any teams in the GLD draft earlier this year. Do you expect to continue playing football in some capacity at the professional level?”

Brooklyn leaned forward to make sure she could be heard in the microphone. “Right now my focus is on baseball. Once this is over I’ll be flying out to finish the rookieball season with the Masteser organization. I’m not against the idea of playing football again, but I’m going to prioritize the place where I’m valued the most.”

The questions shifted back to Linhart, and even a couple to Achilles. Brooklyn couldn’t help but zone out thinking again about her football career. It really was over. She loved football, but baseball was where her talent shined the most. She wasn’t a pariah on the diamond, she was just another up-and-coming star. It was going to be where she spent most of the year now. With how baseball and football season intersected on the calendar, it would be nearly impossible to do both.

Maybe there was a chance she could get picked up by Masteser’s football team, the Merchants, since they’re in the same town. Still, the time and practice requirement for being a GLD quarterback was immense. There’s no way she could do that in addition to baseball. No franchise would want to stake their chances on a quarterback who’d be split for half the year. Brooklyn hadn’t really thought this through until this very moment, sitting at the table at this press conference. She had a feeling that this game with Cavsar would be her last on the gridiron. Now that feeling felt like fact. Her football career was truly over.

“Jean-Philippe Byeon, Songak Gazette. This is a question for Ms. Beck.” The next journalist, a Quebecois, piqued Brooklyn’s attention again. “We know you had a connection with Julian Gallagher back in high school. Can you describe how your relationship with Gallagher has evolved this season, playing on the same offense again?”

“Well …” Brooklyn hesitated. Her wandering mind had left her unprepared, especially for an unexpected question like that. Her thoughts briefly flickered to what happened in the locker room mere minutes prior, before she cleared her throat and continued. “Julian is an amazing player. He was my most reliable target in high school and a good friend. Seeing him develop into a legitimate star from the other sideline was both frustrating and inspiring. It was a lot of fun being able to come here and feel that improvement firsthand, and … rekindle that connection, I guess.”

Brooklyn didn’t realize that she had started rambling, so she cut herself off and let the next question go. She got picked on a couple more times, but most of the questions went to Coach Linhart before the conference finally came to an end.

The rest of the evening moved by quickly. The Gladiators loaded up their bags and got on the long flight back to Drawkland. Through all of that, Brooklyn’s thoughts kept returning to Julian. As if their exchange in the locker room wasn’t enough, the press conference question about him had her mind twirling around the thought. How did she really feel about Julian?

She considered sitting next to Julian on the plane, but most of the players were sitting by themselves. It was late, the vibes were down from the loss, it just didn’t seem like a good time to try and have a conversation. She couldn’t help feeling exhausted too.

As Brooklyn drifted off to sleep with the whine of plane engines and gentle roar of wind blowing around the cabin, her thoughts continued to center on her old teammate, and what they could be.

The next morning was busy. It was Brooklyn’s last day in Cavsarland. She gave a final thank-you to her gracious hosts and packed up all her stuff. She was going to road trip it back to Sadeg that afternoon, where she had the wonderful task of preparing to move out of the apartment she shared with Grace Robbins. Both girls had been drafted and were beginning the arduous minor league baseball grind. Grace had no pre-existing summer commitment to deal with (as Brooklyn did with NSCF), so she’d already vacated the premises. It would just be Brooklyn and her parents finishing the job of cleaning out the old apartment.

That was something to worry about in a few hours, though. Brooklyn got into her Plexen B30, trunk and small back seat crammed with her bags and equipment (including a couple of her Cavsar jerseys that she snagged on her way out of the team facility). She fired up the engine and took off. Even with music blaring through the speakers, her mind kept wandering as it had the night before.

As she drove by Cavsar’s campus one last time, she felt an odd sort of nostalgia. It hadn’t been that long, just one summer of work, but she’d grown fond of the school in the middle of nowhere. She’d probably catch flak for the rest of her life about her traitorous move from Sadeg State to Cavsar for this season, but even now she knew she’d never regret it. Even though it didn’t end with silverware, it was exactly the sort of run she dreamed of having. Excitement. Stakes. Meaningful football, with her at the center of it all.

And who did she have to thank for it? Julian Gallagher. The guy who’d been running routes through her brain for the last day. Ever since the moment in the locker room, she’d been recontextualizing so many memories between the two of them. She was oblivious in high school, but in college she picked up the fact that Julian had some sort of crush on her back then. Even then, she figured it was just a passing inclination. Not to be too egotistical, but she didn’t blame the guy for finding her attractive, especially since they were in close proximity for half the year.

This was more than just a simple crush, though. No wonder Julian was so torn up when she chose Sadeg State over Cavsar. No wonder he tried to distance himself in college, even in the friend group chats. He was just trying to protect himself. Brooklyn could see it now. His current fling even bore a striking resemblance to Brooklyn, if she was just a regular boring girl instead of a budding professional athlete. He felt so strongly for her that he even facilitated Brooklyn’s move to Cavsar even though it could’ve entirely blown up the NSCF season if it didn’t go right.

For so long, Brooklyn ignored those signs. She’d had a few romantic encounters over the years, but by and large she’d been too focused on the multi-sport grind in college and barely keeping up with her academic obligations that there’d been minimal time for pursuing a relationship. That didn’t really bother Brooklyn before, but now it was all catching up at once. She’d passed by a guy who would do the unthinkable for her. Julian was willing to go to Cavsar just to be with her; he only considered backing out once she’d announced her commitment to Sadeg State. It seemed that the back of her mind reached this conclusion before the rest of her did. No wonder she felt compelled to kiss him in the locker room.

The final epiphany rocketed through Brooklyn’s mind as she approached the on-ramp to take the highway out of Cavsar. She pumped the brakes hard, then cursed to herself the same way her dad would every time she braked too suddenly. She swerved out of that lane at the last second and merged back onto the main road. At the next intersection she flipped a U-turn and sped back into the outer reaches of Cavsar.

She’d only been to his place once before, when some of the Cavsar football upperclassmen gathered for a cookout the day after one of their home wins. Thankfully it was close enough to campus that she still sort of remembered the route. A few minutes later, Brooklyn was rolling up to the curb in front of Julian’s quaint little one-story house. She didn’t know if it was a rental or a cheap purchase with NIL money. The latter was certainly possible given how Julian’s popularity exploded following his MOP win the previous year.

Brooklyn didn’t really have a plan. She didn’t know what to say, or what to do. All she knew is that she wanted to see Julian Gallagher and talk to him. She turned off the car, lightly jogged to the front door, and rang the little doorbell on the frame.

It felt like an eternity standing on the front porch. Eventually, Brooklyn heard movement coming from inside the house.

Julian opened the door.

by **The Kytler Peninsulae** » Wed Mar 11, 2026 2:00 pm

"That's the thing with these opening games against unproven sides - you never know what to expect and you have to be able to put that aside. We've been on that side of things before when we started, and now we're on the other side it's such a relief to escape that same kind of fate, especially after such a tricky trip."

That line from QB Dirk Dijkstra would be an understatement. Interplanetary travel is no laughing matter, and the trip to Mars is significantly less portal-assisted than the more established trip to Sonnel. Goodness only knows what time dilation is going on in this group, but the Green Machine were first to face it, and took care of business just fine with a 25-6 defeat of the Martian Independent Republic. The visitors just had another gear offensively, allowing them to score three TDs - although the first of them was followed by a blocked PAT - before the Martians grabbed the first of their two field goals either side of the visitors adding one of their own. The final gloss on the scoreline was provided by a coverage sack in the end zone - with Paul Card, son of OG Green Machine linebacker Daniel, combining with Archie Watson to bring the QB down - before the final ten minutes dissolved into Oops! All Backups from the triumphant visitors.

"It's good that we had the chance to give all the guys some live action," Dijkstra added. "Although as road games go, it wasn't the most intimidating atmosphere. At least not in terms of the crowd. The actual air, on the other hand..."

by **South Newlandia** » Wed Mar 11, 2026 2:55 pm

South Newlandian Government-Owned Company Scoleg announces strategic partnership with GFLB

Scoleg, a South Newlandian specialist IT firm, has announced that they have begun working together with the Banijan Gridiron League. Scoleg provides expertise and IT solutions to Sports Leagues, especially in the realm of scheduling and results distribution, helping leagues optimise their schedules for competitiveness and fairness. In addition, they provide expertise in communicating results, standings, and possibilities to fans.

The stated mission of the South Newlandian government, when founding the firm, was to leverage South Newlandian expertise in organising tournaments to further the country’s connections to various strategic partners across the multiverse, with Banija being a major ally, as well as increasing the soft power of the nation.

They've been well embedded within South Newlandian Sports for some time, including working with the former LPB and international tournaments organised on the island of all types. Their best-known foreign involvement used to be the RFL, but they also regularly provide services to the CEdC and LigAnaia, as well as The Outbox League.

On the heels of their RFL involvement, which was heavily linked to an overhaul of the Ranorian gridiron regular season, Scoleg now aims to provide a similar service to the GFLB of Banija, with changes likely to come. Reportedly, they were already involved in the divisional re-alignment and the expansion of the International Series. A Jungledrom game has been the subject of some scarcely believable rumours as well.

Elsewhere, the South Newlandian national team has proven that their gridiron competency, perhaps, indeed lies in organising, with the Ellies tripping over their own trunks to faceplant spectacularly in the opener. Entering much tougher games against the Dragonflies and in Abanhfleft, they’re already playing from behind.

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