World Cup 101 - The Roleplays

[Masraya]

Chapter 1 - Amala
Chapter 2 - Ledang
Chapter 3 - Temasik
Chapter 4 - Pekan

Chapter 5 - Kenyir

Nobody expected anything from us before the qualifiers. Qualifying to the World Cup felt impossible from the start. But humans are a fickle species. After beating the Holy Empire, people started expecting more.

The defeat at Tikariot calmed the nation down for a while. But then we bounced back with a back to back win. First at home against Myrtle Beach and then away at Gyaromia. Suddenly, people started to believe again.

Then came Kanzlia, back-to-back Esportivan champions. We lost 1-0 at home. We actually did quite well in the match. That was the frustrating part. We managed to create chances but it was Kanzlia who grabbed the only goal of the match.

The whole nation were still telling themselves everything was fine. That we still had enough matches left and qualification was still possible.

Then we lost again. 3-1 away to Shin-Zetsubo. That was when things changed. For the first time since the national team was formed, we were criticized by our own fans. Even the newspapers started questioning Coach Tan Chong Wei. Some even blamed me because I stopped scoring.

Even the atmosphere among the national team players changed.

“You know what the problem is?” said Faiz during one training session after kicking the ball away angrily. “Everybody suddenly scared to make mistakes.”

None of us said anything to him because deep down, we knew he was right. We started playing more carefully after the defeat to Kanzlia. You could feel it on the pitch.

That actually worried me more than the defeat themselves.

__________

It was raining when we reached Kenyir that evening. We checked in at a hotel near the beach before going out again after maghrib because Astillah wanted coffee.

“You always want coffee,” I told her.

“And you always complain before buying it anyway.”

That was true.

The cafe was small and mostly empty except a few university students. Aidil and Amir ordered waffles while Astilah sat across me scrolling through old photos on her phone.

Then she turned the phone towards me.

It was an old picture from years ago. Me sitting inside a Klang team bus with Fahmi and Rahim. All 3 of us still looked young.

“You still have this?” I asked.

“Of course.”

I stared long at the photo. Everything was a lot more simple back then. Football was just football. Not expectation or responsibility. Just football.

“You looked happier,” Astilah said.

I looked up at her.

“I was nineteen.”

“That’s not an answer.”

Maybe she was right.

Outside, the rain started falling again over Kuala Kenyir.

__________

The first time Astilah spoke to me was actually because of Shukri.

We were still in Pekan after the nightclub that night. Most of the senior players looked terrible the next morning except somehow Shukri who looked completely normal.

We were having breakfast at the hotel when Astilah walked in with two of her friends.

Rahim saw him first and immediately looked at me.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” he said to me.

Then Shukri suddenly stood up and waved towards Astilah. That surprised me.

“You know her?” I asked.

Shukri looked confused.

“Of course,” he said.

Astilah then walked over to our table before greeting Shukri first.

Only then did she looked at me.

“You looked uncomfortable last night,” she said.

Rahim started laughing immediately.

“I don’t really go to places like that,” I admitted.

Astilah just smiled at that before sitting with us at the table. Before leaving, she looked at me again.

“You have a phone?” she said.

That question completely caught me off guard. Rahim nearly choked on his roti canai beside me.

“Of course he has a phone,” he said before I could answer.

Astilah ignored him and held out her hand towards me.

I gave her my phone. She typed her number into it before returning it back.

“That way you won’t look uncomfortable next time,” she said.

After she left, the entire table exploded. Even Shukri was laughing.

I stared at Astilah’s number for a while on the bus ride home to Klang later that evening before sending a selfie with Rahim and Fahmi.

“Azman here,” that was my first ever message to Astilah.

[Andossa Se Mitrin Vega]

VIVIENNE SA'IL LIVE!

VivisDayOut
Errion Vega Galleria
3,989,653 watching

The stream opens to blinding sunlight and turquoise water stretching beyond the white sands of Errion Bay. Wind rattles the microphone while Vivienne struggles to set her phone against a beach bag.

“Okay— if the phone falls into the ocean the federation legally has to buy me a new one.”

COMMENTS
bluesndgold4life: WE STILL LOVE YOU VIV
fanforlife: that goal was insane btw
tacticaltea: how are you awake rn

Vivienne drops into the sand wearing oversized sunglasses and a loose teal sarong training over her swimsuit.

“I slept for like fourteen hours. I think I briefly entered another dimension.”

The beach behind her is packed with locals, tourists, beachgoers, and scattered fans. Several people notice her immediately but keep their distance, waving instead.

Vivienne smiles and waves back.

“Thank you for not tackling me today. This is Growth."

She flips the camera toward the water. Errion Bay glitters beneath the afternoon sun. Sailboats drift near the harbor walls while music from beach cafés carries across the shoreline.

“See this? This is why nobody from Andossa Se Mitrin Vega can ever permanently move inland. We emotionally require ocean access.”

COMMENTS

valanoragirl: you almost cooked us btw
dragonultras: WE GO HARD

Vivienne reads that last comment quietly.

“Yeah. We do.”

For a moment she’s more subdued than usual.

“The Valanora match sucked. No inspirational athletic speech here. They’re the second-best team in the world for a reason and we played scared for like… seventy minutes.”

She digs her fingers into the sand.

“But against Qasden? That one hurts a lot more.”

Comments
lucyinthesky: not your fault
pocketpirate: your goal was class
btterfan: defense sold

Vivienne snorts.

“‘Defense sold’ is CRAZY. I am not reading that aloud near my teammates.”

A beach vendor walks by carrying skewers of grilled shrimp and citrus drinks.
Vivienne immediately sits upright.

“Oh now THIS is recovery.”

Cut to several minutes later.
She’s sitting beneath a striped canopy with a plate of grilled seafood, fries, and iced dragonfruit juice.

“Important qualifier update.”

She holds up a fry.

“We may not qualify for the World Cup.”

dramatic pause

“But this fry?”

She points at it solemnly.

“World class.”

COMMENTS
boogienights: call up the fry
omarinsa-aln: better finishing than the strikers

"Wow. won't be reading that in the locker room either."

Nearby, kids are kicking around a football near the shoreline. One of them finally gathers the courage to approach.

“Miss Sa'il?”

Vivienne looks up immediately.

“Just call me Viv.”

The little girl clutches a worn Sea Dragons ball.

“I want to play midfield too.”

Vivienne’s entire expression softens.

“You do?”

The girl nods rapidly.

“My coach says I don't pass enough.”

Vivienne gasps theatrically.

“Your coach understands the beautiful game.”

The girl laughs.

A few moments later the stream becomes shaky as Vivienne joins the kids barefoot in the sand, juggling the ball while the crowd around them cheers.

“Okay but beach football is EVIL,” she says between laughs. “My calves are filing complaints.”

She nutmegs one teenager anyway.

“GET COOKED.”

As sunset begins to wash the bay in orange and violet light, Vivienne settles back onto the sand, damp hair blowing in the wind.

The stream quiets again.

“You know what’s weird?”

She looks toward the ocean rather than the camera.

“When I scored against Qasden… for like five seconds everything got silent.”

She smiles faintly.

“And I thought: ‘Oh. So this is why people chase this feeling forever.’”

Waves crash softly nearby.

“We’re still alive in qualifying. Barely. So we fight for the next window.”

She points toward the horizon.

“No sad ending arc yet, hatchlings.”

COMMENTS
rastadragon: SEA DRAGONS FOREVER
gogodancer: we believe you HATCHMOTHER

Vivienne groans.

“I’m never escaping that nickname.”

STREAM ENDED — 2h 41m

[Alasdair I Frosticus]

Excerpts From the Lectures of Professor Igor Von Madscientisto

'Theories on the Holy Empire's Performance in World Cup 101 - A Re-Evaluation'

(recording begins from 18th minute)

"Ah, yes, so let us quickly return to the five theories that were being rejected by the famous Juan Tzimsices, no?

1) Tzimisces should patch up his rift with his old flame Margaret
2) A temporary excess of RPnin, that mysterious force that bound the multiverse together
3) Referee bias against the five-time champions
4) Failure of other teams to engage with the shoggoths
5) The impending collapse of Ordinary Reality

We have already been seeing why each of these so-called 'theories' - though I am saying that better term is 'hypotheses', being man of science - is what is being called 'stupid'. I am finding that I am having nothing to add to analysis of Mr Tzimisces on this matter, so will not be repeating that here.

Instead I am looking at other causes, to present new hypothesis.

I will now surprise you by saying that original hypothesis four (Failure of other teams to engage with the shoggoths) is containing element of truth, but Holy Empire Football Associations, being blinkered bureaucrats, are lacking in vision to see whole truth.

Let me present to you analysis of other nation media reports from Group 10 following Matchday 10 (this 10-10 numbering being coincidence rather than being meaningful scientific fact).

Group 10 is containing 10 teams (this 10-10 numbering also being coincidence; please do not being applying superstition to numbering coincidence). These teams are being, in the ordering alphabetical (and not counting definite article):

Bongo Johnson
Gyaromia
The Holy Empire
Jeckland
Kanzlia
Masraya
Myrtle Beach
Shin-Zetsubo
Tikariot
United States of Devonta

We are doing statistical analysis of each nation's media coverage of group match media coverage from each nation. If there are being 10 matches with 10 teams, then there should be ten mentions of Holy Empire from other teams in group, including ten mentions of unusual nature of shoggoths in Holy Empire squad.

Instead we are finding that there are very few mentions of Holy Empire from other teams in group, and that none are featuring shoggoths.

Masraya has media report reading "After beating the Holy Empire, people started expecting more." Earlier report on actual match is not mentioning shoggoths, but is simply factual report reading like "Then came the Holy Empire, the four-time world champion. One of the strongest sides in the group." Though since match is making nation of Masraya fall in love with national team, we will perhaps be forgiving of them.

Myrtle Beach has more detailed report, including explicit mention of controversial awarding of four penalties against poor, innocent shoggoths, including - and here I am offering example only - section reading "The penalties were likely due to the fact that the referee had a hard time trying to figure out what was going on with the Holy Empire's players in regards to their limbs, which is a perfectly reasonable ability to not have, and so this referee's calls were fine."

But this is being sum total of mentions of Holy Empire or shoggoths from other teams in the Group 10. In fact, I am discovering that three mentions of Holy Empire from Audioslavia Idiot Project are being equal to sum total of Holy Empire mentions from other teams in Group 10.

This might seem to perhaps give credence to so-called theory that 'Failure of other teams to engage with the shoggoths' is perhaps cause of poor imperial performance in World Cup qualification. But this would be silly. Simply not mentioning other teams does not cause other teams to perform badly. And I am discovering that failure to mention Holy Empire does not mean that team is somehow not caring about tournament. I am directing you to reports from Kanzlia. which are having what I believe some mundies refer to as 'unique narrative' which is telling own story.

And here is perhaps clue to what is really happening... the 'unique narrative' of Kanzlia, combined with other failures to mention Holy Empire, suggests that each nation in Group 10 is existing in own unique bubble of reality. World Cup is not bringing nations together in spirit of friendship and mutual cooperation, but is rather creating sequence of barely intersecting separate realities, each barely aware of existence of other. This is in keeping with past oneirology hypotheses on nature of multiverse, but is perhaps being more extreme example.

What is causing this more extreme example of bubble theory of universe, I am yet unable to say. But I posit that side impact is warping of the membranes which are holding different aspects of Ordinary Reality apart, so that even Holy Empire team - which outside of World Cups exists wholly outside reality - is impacted by the creation of what are being strange and unusual football results. This is also perhaps explaining appearance of blue cat on streets of Chromatika, and why everyone is suddenly loving six-legged puppies that are being born on streets of Squornshelan Remnant States (though latter could also perhaps be caused by residual nuclear radiation).

At present I am unable to do the confirming of this hypothesis, and recent upticking of results following Imperial victories over Jeckland and Shin-Zetsubo perhaps provides initial basis for considering counter-hypothesis; but importance of discovering whether or not this is true is why I am proposing that Imperial Academy give me vast resources and extensive research grant to carry out further research on the...

(recording ends)

[Zwangzug]

“What’s this supposed to mean?”

“It means that Zwangzug has the twenty-seventh best record among all the teams in the qualifiers, as of the halfway point.”

“So what?”

“So if we were in a weaker group, like group 8, our record would be good enough to be leading it.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense, because if we were in group 8, some other third seed wouldn’t be, and we’d have different records because we’d be playing the other teams there, and they’d be playing us, so who’s to say that any of us would still have the same record?”

“You’re right, it’s kind of contrived.”

“This just sounds like a sop to keep us from complaining. ‘Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it looks, your team is actually doing well when measured by some contrived statistic that has nothing to do with the actual method of qualification—’”

“I really doubt that’s the idea.”

“They can probably slice that data a hundred sixty different ways to tell all the hundred sixty teams how they’re overachieving along some axis—“

“That doesn’t seem like a very worthwhile use of time or energy.”

“You’d be surprised what the LLMs can put out these days.”

“Okay, look, suppose you had a hundred and sixty penguins—”

“No.”

“—and they were all huddling in one mass—”

“What would happen is that the ones on the outside would freeze first, and then you’d only have a hundred and fifty. Then maybe they’d jockey for position some more—”

“—that’s not what I’m saying—”

“—and it would become a war of attrition.”

“Okay, but—”

“Now if this was a World Cup qualification structure, you’d probably want to have a pretty grueling but quick first stage, to narrow down the no-hopers.”

“It’s a figure of speech, a simile, I’m not proposing—”

“—neither am I! It would be a terrible idea! And there would always be some unlucky team that goes out at the first hurdle but needs to stay engaged until the Cup of Harmony or whatever alternative they’re proposing now—”

“Right, but listen—”

“—are the eggs representing qualification slots in this metaphor? Because plopping down on one as soon as it’s vacated by another penguin isn’t a terrible representation, but some of them would get jostled along the way and crack—”

“I’m not sure this is working.”

“You started it!”

“Okay, look, imagine that—imagine that there are a hundred sixty people, hailing from all the different subethnicities of the multicultural conglomoration of Farfadillis, but—”

“On second thought, can we go back to the penguins?”

MD7: Thorlakson 56, Dupont-Bowles 71, Lavenza 82
MD8: Pokhriyal 6
MD9: qiaiuaua 74; Mookaiah 15 and 60
MD10: Lavrans 9 and 67, Istibar 16, Kalnis 51

[Tikariot]

Episode Six of 'Nine Circles to Glory,' and things are more subdued than usual. Maybe a little tired. The contestants, the judges, most definitely the production crew, they all feel it. The audience, however, is in full swing and more invested than ever, so when the logo roars to life in fire, so does the crowd.

Motyka arrives holding a pepper like a stress ball.

Solfroy notices immediately. “Why do you still have that?”

“It comforts me.”

“It’s a dried ghost pepper.”

“It understands my journey.”

Across the room, Team Belfrage enter with an energy they’ve never had before. Less controlled elegance now, more confidence. More momentum. Socorra catches herself humming.

Andarra notices. “You’re happy.”

“We won.”

“You’re still happy.”

Socorra grins slightly. “I’m trying something new.”

Meanwhile, Davorka is still riding the high of the seafood round while also emotionally recovering from losing Spice & Heat. “We were so close.”

Ante nods. “Yes.”

“But also fair. Motyka nearly committed war crimes.”

“Nearly?”

The Old Guys enter looking stable. This will not last.

Iardwallon steps forward. “Welcome back to Nine Circles to Glory! Tonight, we travel the world.”

The screen behind him lights up with flags, landscapes, bustling markets, coastlines, mountains.

“Round Six: Global Cuisine Draw.”

This breathes some fresh life into the teams.

Chef Voss smiles slightly. “This round tests adaptability, research instincts, and respect for unfamiliar traditions.”

Henrik folds his arms. “Or in Motyka’s case, probably international incidents.”

“I expand cultural dialogue,” Motyka protests.

“You terrorize peppers globally.”

Iardwallon gestures dramatically.

“Each team will randomly draw a region. You must create a dish inspired by its cuisine.”

A large ceremonial bowl is wheeled out because apparently subtlety died several episodes ago. "We had originally considered throwing darts at a map, but we figured that Miss Motyka is dangerous enough with knives, we don't have to give her a ranged weapon."

"Hey!"

Davorka immediately points. “That bowl looks cursed.”

“It probably is,” Socorra mutters.

The draw begins.

Team Belfrage draws: Vdara.

Socorra lights up instantly. “Oh, that’s good.”

Andarra smiles. “Bright flavours. Herbs. Fire. Balance.”

“Also olives.”

“Yes.”

“We can work with olives.”

For once, they genuinely look excited immediately.

The Old Guys draw: Cobrio. Silence. Grimaud blinks.

Morris leans slightly toward the card.

“...spice.”

“Yes,” Grimaud says carefully. “Aggressive spice.”

Henrik immediately notices the concern.

“Oh, no. The old men are scared.”

“We are not scared,” Grimaud says. “We are cautious.”

Storm and Sea draw: Græntfjall.

Davorka gasps dramatically.

“THE COLD PEOPLE.”

Ante takes the card.

“...fermented fish.”

Davorka’s smile vanishes instantly.

“Oh no.”

Henrik is already laughing.

“You two finally look afraid.”

Finally—

Chaos and Fire draw their card. Motyka reads it. Freezes. Then slowly turns toward Storm and Sea.

“Mytanija.”

Absolute silence. Davorka SCREAMS. “NO.”

Motyka immediately starts cackling like an escaped villain. “YES.”

“THAT’S OUR CUISINE!”

“OURS NOW.”

“You can’t just STEAL our heritage!”

Motyka clutches the card to her chest protectively. “The wheel has spoken. Well, the bowl has.”

Ante folds his arms, suddenly very serious. “If you disrespect the food, we fight.”

Everybody turns to him. Davorka is wide-eyed. "Who are you and what did you do to Ante?"

Solfroy raises a hand immediately. “In fairness, I am also concerned.”

Motyka points dramatically at Davorka. “Prepare yourself. We will cook the greatest Mytanar dish this world has ever seen.”

Davorka looks genuinely devastated. “This feels personal.”

The timer appears.

90:00

“Your time starts now!”

The kitchen erupts. Chaos and Fire immediately become intolerable.

“Mytanar cuisine is all about soul,” Motyka declares while aggressively grabbing paprika. “Depth. Smoke. Humanity.”

“You learned this thirty seconds ago,” Solfroy points out.

“I learned it spiritually.”

Davorka yells from across the room. “YOU BETTER NOT PUT CINNAMON IN ANYTHING.”

“No promises!”

“WIOŁETA.”

Meanwhile, Storm and Sea are staring suspiciously at fermented fish.

“I hate this already,” Davorka mutters.

Ante smells something from the Græntfjall pantry section. Pauses. “...this cuisine was invented during survival conditions.”

“That is NOT reassuring.”

Team Belfrage are thriving. Vdaran cuisine suits them perfectly: olive oil, grilled vegetables, citrus, herbs, seafood, warm spices, almost as if made for them. Socorra moves confidently now, not overthinking.

“What if we do shared plates?” she suggests.

Andarra looks genuinely pleased. “That sounds wonderful.”

No hyper-controlled precision. No icy perfectionism. They’re cooking emotionally now. And it works.

The Old Guys, meanwhile, are unravelling.

“Too many spices,” Grimaud mutters.

“There are never too many spices,” Morris replies calmly.

“There absolutely can be.”

Grimaud tastes a marinade. Immediately coughs. “...this cuisine is trying to kill me.”

Henrik nearly falls out of his chair laughing. “The old man has discovered seasoning!”

“I am Covergnian,” Grimaud snaps. “We season.”

“Yes,” Henrik replies. “With restraint and butter.”

At Chaos and Fire’s station, things are escalating rapidly.

“We need richness,” Motyka says. “Paprika stew. Flatbread. Charred peppers.”

Solfroy tastes the sauce and pauses. “...oh no.”

“What?”

“That’s authentic.”

Motyka gasps triumphantly. “I HAVE ASCENDED.”

Davorka storms over immediately. “Let me taste that.”

She grabs a spoon and tastes, before freezing. Then points accusingly at Motyka.

“How dare you.”

Motyka beams. “It’s good, isn’t it?”

“...yes.”

Ante appears silently beside Davorka, tastes it himself, and nods once.

“Good.”

Davorka stares at him. “You can’t just approve this betrayal!”

“The food is good.”

“We are being culturally conquered!”

Motyka spreads her arms dramatically. “Mytanija belongs to us now.”

“No it DOESN’T.”

Storm and Sea continue suffering.

“Why does everything smell angry?” Davorka complains.

Ante tastes something.

“...needs acid.”

“Everything needs acid to survive this.”

Still, they don't panic, they adapt. Root vegetables. Seafood. Dill. Dark breads. Slowly, something cohesive emerges from the Nordic chaos.

“Thirty minutes remaining!”

The kitchen energy shifts again. Team Belfrage are laughing now while plating olives and charred seafood. The Old Guys are still fighting spice levels like wounded aristocrats. Storm and Sea have emotionally accepted fermented fish as part of existence.

And Chaos and Fire...

...are somehow making genuinely phenomenal Mytanar food.

Solfroy watches Motyka finish a smoked paprika glaze.

“...you’re annoyingly good at this.”

Motyka wipes her hands dramatically. “I become one with every cuisine.”

“You become unbearable.”

“Yes.”

“Ten minutes!”

Plating begins. Chaos and Fire create rich paprika stew with grilled meats, charred peppers, herb cream, and flatbread. Storm and Sea build delicate Græntfjaller seafood plates with root vegetables and dill oil. Team Belfrage assemble vibrant Vdaran shared plates bursting with colour. The Old Guys produce deeply aromatic Cobre skewers with rice and charred vegetables.

“Hands up!”

The judges approach. Immediately, Henrik points at Chaos and Fire.

“I cannot believe I’m saying this,” he says carefully, “but I’m excited.”

Davorka folds her arms angrily. “Traitor.”

Chaos and Fire present first.

Motyka steps forward proudly. “We present a Mytanar-inspired Charfire Gulaš, paprika stew with grilled meat, charred peppers, herb cream, and flatbread.”

Davorka mutters, “They even pronounced it correctly.”

The judges taste. Immediate silence. Then Chef Voss blinks slowly.

“...wow.”

DeLuca nods emphatically. “That’s incredible.”

Henrik points at Davorka and Ante. “I understand your emotional distress now.”

Davorka looks betrayed by reality itself.

Ante nods once. “...very good.”

Motyka places both hands on her hips triumphantly. “I told you.”

Solfroy mutters, “I hate that you did.”

Storm and Sea present next.

Davorka sighs dramatically. “This cuisine tried to hurt us emotionally.”

Ante gestures toward the plate. “Seafood. Root vegetables. Dill oil. Bread.”

The judges taste. Chef Voss nods slowly. “You adapted extremely well.”

DeLuca smiles warmly. “This feels authentic without parody.”

Henrik points at the fermented element. “You somehow made this pleasant.”

Davorka points upward. “Through suffering, we grow.”

Team Belfrage step up. And immediately the table changes energy. Bright colours. Olive oil. Fire-charred seafood. Warm bread.

“This is Vdaran-inspired shared dining,” Andarra explains softly. “Food meant to be passed around.”

The judges taste and immediately react.

DeLuca actually laughs happily. “Oh, this is joyful.”

Chef Voss nods firmly. “This is your evolution.”

Socorra’s eyes widen slightly.

Henrik gestures broadly toward the plate. “You finally stopped cooking carefully.”

Andarra smiles. “Yes.”

“This feels alive,” Henrik continues. “Warm. Generous. Confident.”

For the first time all season, Team Belfrage look genuinely emotional hearing praise.

Finally—The Old Guys. Grimaud looks deeply exhausted.

“We made spicy skewers,” he says with the weariness of a man returning from war.

The judges laugh immediately. They taste.

DeLuca nods appreciatively. “Good flavour.”

Chef Voss smiles. “You adapted well.”

Henrik grins. “And you survived seasoning.”

“I suffered seasoning,” Grimaud corrects.

The deliberation is intense again. Three teams clearly in contention. At the stations, tension crackles.

Motyka is practically vibrating. “We stole their cuisine.”

“Yes,” Solfroy says.

“And conquered it.”

“No.”

Davorka points angrily across the room. “A LITTLE yes.”

Across the room, Socorra looks nervous again. “I think we actually did it.”

Andarra reaches over and squeezes her hand lightly. “I think so too.”

The judges return. Iardwallon grins broadly.

“This may have been the strongest collective round yet.”

Chef Voss nods immediately. “Tonight featured growth. Adaptation. Identity.”

She looks across the teams carefully. “One dish honored a cuisine with surprising confidence.”

Motyka beams instantly.

“One adapted brilliantly under difficult circumstances.”

Storm and Sea straighten.

“And one...”

Voss smiles slightly.

“...finally discovered freedom.”

Socorra visibly stops breathing again.

“The winners of the Global Cuisine Draw...”

“Team Belfrage.”

The studio erupts. Socorra actually shouts again before grabbing Andarra in a fierce hug. “We did it again!”

Andarra laughs warmly, visibly overwhelmed herself now.

Henrik points at them proudly. “THAT is the team I was waiting for.”

DeLuca nods emphatically. “You stopped trying to impress us and started sharing yourselves.”

Chef Voss smiles softly. “Keep cooking like this.”

Across the room, Motyka points dramatically toward Davorka.

“We still conquered your cuisine.”

Davorka groans loudly. “Unfortunately yes.”

Ante nods once toward Motyka.

“Respect.”

Motyka gasps dramatically. “I have earned the Slavic approval.”

“You are still insane,” Ante adds.

“I contain multitudes.”

[Zenic]

"This may be either the first or second time I've ever said the following in relation to futbol: I don't know."

Geraldo Zys was stuck at a table, on a small stage, in a small but packed room, taking questions from the media a day or two after the international period that marked the halfway point of the World Cup Qualifiers. "I know you're all going to either ask me to elaborate or try to provide me stats that could point in the right direction of what's causing us headaches but I just don't know if it'll be enough. I don't even know if a full swap of the lineup and formation would fix things, which I definitely know some of you are going to ask," he said, staring in the general direction of most of the reporters who would have asked that question.

Normally, there would be a ton of hands raised, waiting for the opportunity to ask the manager of the most successful national team in Zenician history the final question in a press conference during what is the most tumultuous period of his tenure. Granted, this level of disarray pales in comparison to the worst periods in other national team's histories but it felt almost as impactful due to the high level of success and expectation that Zys has cultivated. So, the fact that only the most courageous of the reporters in attendance could even muster up the strength to raise their hand added to the awkward atmosphere in the overcrowded room.

A hand shot up from the back right corner of the room and Zys pointed at them with a surprising amount of energy comparative to the rest of the room. "Nancy Villegas, Imperial Reporter," she said, trying her best to find a balance between a loud conversation and yelling. "Based on the vibe of the room, it's safe to say that this is the most the Survivors have struggled under your 12 year tenure since the Empire's return to international participation. First, I would like to say that it's incredibly impressive and should be commended." That compliment did bring a smile to Zys' face but he knew better than most that the upcoming question could be a gut punch. "Some may state that you've pushed this team as far as you can and the reins should be passed to someone who can make that next step. My question is: do you believe you've reached your limit or the team has reached its limit?"

The room grew still and quiet for the next few seconds, although most would tell you that it felt like minutes. "That's a great question. Thank you for that." Some of the tension left the room but others remained guarded at what may come next as Zys began his reply. "If I need to be truly honest, I think that both have reached their limit, independently and jointly." Scribbling echoed throughout the room. "Obviously, we always knew that this was most likely the last hurrah for this historic and legendary generation, as much as some of us had wanted it not to be. However, we know this team's limit would be making the World Cup and getting eliminated in the first round of playoffs, even in this period of their careers. We are very much 'underperforming' for our established limit."

Zys took some time to catch his breath and collect his thoughts. "I would be remiss if I didn't also admit that Geraldo Zys has reached his limit." Before the room could react, Geraldo Zys threw up his hand to silence everyone before lowering it to continue. "The Geraldo Zys of this era: the one who prefers to play an attacking-minded style that doesn't go too aggressively, the one who loves to not fix things that aren't broken. the one who prefers loyalty and consistency over the hot streak that needs a bit more time in the oven. That version may need to go away. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Remember: Change CAN be a good thing." Zys could see that he was slowly but surely winning over the room with those he knew he could win over; some folks just could never be won over.

"As it stands, we're going to try what we can to turn this ship around and end this era on a positive note. We absolutely owe it to both the players and supporters. Rest assured, though, that the World Cup 102 cycle will be the debut of a new look Survivors squad. What changes amongst the formation, players, staff, and ideology is up in the aim but they will be united in one goal: gunning towards making the next step upward and beyond on the national team front. Thank you." Zys abruptly stood up and made his way out of the room as the room exploded as usual with everyone standing up and shouting questions upon follow-up questions at the manager.

Zys would let them stew in that for a bit before his next appearance so they would, hopefully, get off his back for a while. In the meantime, he had a fitting send-off for some icons to focus on.

[Chromatika]

World Cup 101 Qualifiers Game 9: Serenitas Novae 0-1 Chromatika
Goals: Han Cunningham 80'
Starting XI: Swanson (C); Lehmann - Han Cunningham - Ataciara; Oriol - Holgersson - Lee - Mátyás; Þyrill; Jean-Baptiste - Baïe-Verte.
Substitutes: Thiers -> Lehmann (51'), Mesic-Mizayaki -> Holgersson (51'), Bittencourt -> Jean-Baptiste (66'), Prenn -> Lee (66'), Sullivan -> Oriol (73')
Summary: A sharp header off of a Maddie Prenn cross ended up breaking the tie as Chromatika barely edged past a spirited Serenitas Novae side in Qualifiers action. Though Chromatika held on to possession for more than 75% of the time, the defense of the home side was a tough nut to crack; it was only when Prenn came in that the Anomalies started to threaten for real in set pieces before finally cashing in to finish first half of qualifying at a perfect 9-0-0 record.
World Cup 101 Qualifiers Game 10: Chromatika 3-0 Stewartika
Goals: Lee 3', Jean-Baptiste 49', 58'
Starting XI: Swanson (C); Lehmann - Han Cunningham - Ataciara; Oriol - Holgersson - Lee - Mátyás; Þyrill; Jean-Baptiste - Baïe-Verte.
Substitutes: Nana -> Han Cunningham (49'), Hrönn -> Lee (49'), Vallaki -> Holgersson (64'), Heimdell -> Baïe-Verte (64'), Panaś -> Mátyás (84')
Summary: Chromatika opened up the second half of qualifying by completing the sweep of Stewartika, with the team having the game in hand so early that the they practiced the 4-4-2 formation for the final forty minutes once again with the Sæsdóttir twins. Kaytlyn Jean-Baptiste had her brace, but the question for Manager Alina Khabibullina was how she planned to implement the back four position in the World Cup Proper if she kept only playing it with the Sæsdóttir twins. Han Cunningham is far too good to leave off the roster - would Chromatika really take the Sæsdóttir twins if they qualified to have the flexibility in the World Cup Proper?

---

World Cup 101 Qualifiers Games 11 and 12: @ (61) The Ko-orenite Constellation, vs. (430) Cothe Saria
Starting XI: Sourtois; Van der Plas Bouwmeester - Lethbridge-Antonio, C. - Saburo; Hauptmeijer - Lethbridge-Antonio, J. - Fillar; Prenn; Xuen-Zhukov (C) - Howard-Dawes.
Substitutes: GK Jill Swanson, GK Jessika Aniston, DCR Jaxon Lehmann, DC Samantha Han Cunningham, DCL Hélène Ataciara, DCR Caro Thiers, MR Kandice Oriol, WBL Nemes Mátyás, WBL Marci Schaefer, CDM Eden Gundsdorf, BWM Erica Holgersson, AP Lee Hyun-Seol, AF Kaytlyn Jean-Baptiste, CF Harriet Baïe-Vere, CF Jack Heimdell.
Preview: With thirty possible points from thirty secured, and an eight point lead, the Anomalies head into the final four games that could just secure qualification for them - away at the Ko-orenite Constellation, away at TJUN-ia, and home versus Valentine Z, with a home date against Cothe Saria sandwiched in. The starters return, all injuries having been recovered from enough to play again, as the team tries to keep up their stellar form and not get complacent. Win three of the next four matches - including the one against Valentine Z - and all but secure the group.

Previously...

Andisori.

First Chromatik footballer to ever play club football in a different country. The striker in Chromatik football history with the most goals still (though Lavrentiy Xuen-Zhukov is closing in). Shadow Writer. Contributing member of the Rainbow Revolution. Capital District Commissioner. Wife of Alyss Montague, fellow Anomalies legend and member of the initial squad. Revered as a national hero, considered the best hope for the Rainbow Party moving forward, and a member of the current ruling Security Council, Keira Andisori is a name that carries with it such weight in the Chromatik populace and psyche.

Always steadfast in her belief that the best days are still ahead for the Chromatik populace, Andisori has been the leading proponent in easing the quality of life of Chromatiks while stuck in the pocket dimension/plane since the Great Resonance Shift, even if it meant spending millions of NMS of her own savings to help fund the efforts being made. It was she that was the lead of working with the Yesopalithans in both returning normalcy to the general populace while keeping an eye on the efforts by Zaiden, the god of the Unbidden and the actual leader of Yesopalitha to return Chromatika to the correct plane of existence. She let other members of the Security Council worry about infrastructure, business, and the like - Enigma Armageddon was good at that side of things - while focusing on just the morale. The split of duties was working whether well, and she was surprised by just how much she and Enigma had learned to work with each other during the two years that the country had been stuck in the pocket plane/dimension.

Unfortunately, the Security Council had to make a decision regarding the hundreds of thousands of souls that had been taken during the Great Resonance Shift. Instead of holding the population hostage on hope, they decided to be honest with the Chromatik people, holding funerals when asked for, offering comfort to those that still had loved ones missing, and hearing out everyone who had frustrations regarding the fact that their family members had been taken without recourse. Zaiden and the Yesopalithan magic users were continuing to narrow in on the location of the malignant forces that were led by The Prophet, but there was no timeline in this sort of thing that involved contending with an entity with the power to shake the very fabric of reality.

One evening, the Security Council was faced with a question that they had never considered before. If they were to be translated back to the correct plane/dimension, where would they go back to? They could not go back to where they had been in Anaia - the distance between Chromia and Freedom's Altar would be way too close for the amount of Yesopalithan magic that now resided in Chromatika. In fact, it was the opinion of the Yesopalithans that Chromatika shouldn't return to Anaia at all, given the fact that Yesopalithan magic was a potent magnet for magic of its own kind, and that there was a major chance that the translation of Chromatika back to Anaia would lead to all of Yesopalithan magic leaving Chromatika for Yesopalitha at once - causing untold amounts of damage.

They were told from the Yesopalithans that they could pick a general direction, but the rest would be dependent on reality itself. Where did the dimension/plane that Chromatika had left behind think that they were the best fit, given the allies, the ties, and the story that was being told?

It was a tantalizing question, and one that left Keira thinking late into the night. She already had assurances from Banija and Quebec that the relationship between Chromatika and those nations would not change - they were already used to navigating a relationship that went beyond regional boundaries, after all.

Where should Chromatika go?

[Eshialand]

The Seeds of Discontent

OOC Note: While this continues from the second half of this recent Aleirave RP, I felt it more appropriate to continue the RP line on this nation given the direction I’m taking it. Any relevant past RPs will be linked for reference.

“This just in here on ENN, the conservative United Eshian Front has been circulating a petition to abolish the special statuses of Aleirave, the Klysevian Autonomous Region, and the Kia’u Special Economic Zone, bemoaning Eshialand’s current system which subdivides into 5 different types of region of various levels of local devolution and autonomy.”

The United Eshian Front was always a fringe group. They operated in the shadows for many years, opposed to practically every system that made Eshialand tick. The king? A moron, give us a republic. The Klysevians and Aleiravans? They don’t deserve any special privileges, now do they? One important thing to know about them, however, is that they were good at hiding. Once in a while, their leader, Daniella Frith, would speak out about the latest governmental failure making the rounds before disappearing back into the pit she came from.

Lately, however, things were piling up. The KAR blocking the extension of the Great Western Line earned a long speech from Mrs. Frith about how the system wasn’t working anymore, and the entire existence of the KSEZ was viewed as a lawless wasteland.

The tipping point which made Frith start this petition, however, came in the form of an email she received from an anonymous address…

“Attached is a transcript of Aleirave’s latest high court nightmare… why should these guys have their own system when it only ever helps their own corrupt ministers out?”

Normally, something so bad happening in Aleirave that it could be described as a “nightmare” would be something Mrs. Frith would be all over. The moment headlines broke, she would be talking about how it was all this broken system’s fault, et cetera et cetera. However, this was the first she was hearing about this, and that was all by design.

Haulafo didn’t want word of this trial getting out. After all, basically everything he did in the year and a half leading up to it was a secret, that’s why he stole the whole team and played matches in the KSEZ instead of at home. Secrecy was all a part of avoiding the shame of the situation. Since Katya Olayeva was in the room and involved, she was able to ensure that every last word said in there remained under wraps. Sure, the prospective jurors could always gab to their friends about it, but they would never be able to get anyone to believe them with how outrageous it all was. With Haulafo and Katya being the two most respected people on the island, everybody outside that room was left in the dark… except for the leaker and now Mrs. Frith.

This transcript enraged Daniella. She had been out here all this time complaining about how the Eshian hybrid system was doomed to fail and full of corruption from the very start, and here was living, documented proof that yes, this sort of corruption was alive and well. The Lahaira Papers were indeed not the end of the corruption on the Sunshine Isle. It was time for her to finally release her petition she had been planning for so long.

The petition she was campaigning for, she said, would lead to an end to all this madness. The KSEZ would be abolished, effective immediately. All work, both economic and scientific in nature, was to halt immediately and Eshialand was to abandon New Alikonora at once. The KAR would be merged into the province of Hartshire, being forced to integrate into wider Eshian society rather than being allowed to remain as isolated as they pleased. Aleirave, on the other hand, would become its own province, but all federal crimes should be handled in federal courts, which would be conveniently located in every provincial capital except Lahaira, specifically excluded due to perceived corruption.

---

“Heh heh…”
“What is it?” EIS Director Mark Monley asked Lana Garber, the prosecuting attorney in the Lahaira case.

“I just find it ironic,” she replied, “that you, in a fight against corruption, would send a corrupt email to a firebrand reactionary in order to further her anti-corruption goals.”

“Is it really corruption if no money is changing hands?” He asked her in response. “This is just two people with common goals helping each other out to achieve them!”

“You are leaking classified information to her though.”
“Is it really classified if I didn’t attain it as a consequence of my position? It’s just something my friend sent me, that’s all. Just forwarding it along, like any other citizen would forward a chain email.”

“A chain email? What is this, the 1990s? Anyway, what even is the end goal, toppling the government you work for? You know this woman wants herself as the president of an Eshian Republic, and I doubt she’ll be keeping people like you around when she could hire her own people instead.”

“She’ll find out the part I played, if it ever even ends up mattering anyway. That’s the beauty of doing these things anonymously with the best VPNs in the country. Nobody has to know, unless it’s convenient for me to let them know.”

“Okay if what you said before wasn’t corrupt, that sure was.”

[Libegeist]

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Wormwood

Play music.

You are stuck in hell.

You don't know how long, but being in Wormwood within the Exclusion Zone was the most stressful part of your life. Wormwood was a red risk threat area in the EZ, but miraculously you were able to get a working generator with energy to engage in a pet project to keep yourself occupied.

You called her Samantha.

She was your companion that you made from scratch. You gave her pink hair. You gave her a beautiful dress. You did everything that you could to give her skin that felt and looked natural. Thanks to your knowledge back at the skin care lab, before your colleagues saw you as a major liability for your "dangerous" idea, you managed to find her skin to not look like a walking corpse. Knowing of the uncanny valley was key.

The process for skin wasn't easy. You made sacrifices. You managed to wrangle in those bastards that have been busy in killing any fresh blood that they see. Are you a "sicko", just like them? You don't feel like it. You feel like yourself, nevertheless.

You have Samantha's interface be hooked up to a wireless device that you created that includes a large monitor and a comfy chair to sit in. It was like the program for a video game. Rather, it did operate like a video game. You booted up the system and then sat down at the chair with a video game controller that was supposed to be used to control a submarine.

You operate Samantha.

She opens her eyes. She still looks like a robot, even though you intend to make her an android. You went to give her a test run. Have her kill some sickos of her own with the help of your contraption. You made sure that she was able to walk down the unpowered escalator, when you put her into combat at the tunnels. There was something beautiful at seeing her tear the crazed cannibalistic zombies apart with her metallic hands.

Perhaps, you can see her in having more better uses. Such as getting rid of those mutants that have been causing terror at the birthplace of evil, as you believe Wormwood was where the Kirbyan virus had first started. This virus you believed was a failed attempt to de-evolve the human species into being extinct or being in the same level as the dinosaurs. A pathetic attempt to turn life into primeval slime and soup.

You are a man that values evolution and these heretics that claim that the Kirbyan virus is a benefit had to be purged. They were the ones to create this ruin, so they must rot away for their sins.

After a long test run, you bring her back over to you. You use another remote to control her away from your little "video game" that you made. You get her cleaned up and wash away the blood. She still had a blank expression on her, but you didn't mind that. You get yourself seated at a blue couch, so that you can sit down with her. You need to grant her love. A kiss from her true love. The one that created her from scratch. It was only fair.

You leaned in, while keeping your arms wrapped around her.

You pressed your lips against her metallic mouth.

Then, she blinked.

Was it magic?

Or maybe, the artificial intelligence had learnt something from the experiences that you have been showing and making her do.

Perhaps, there was a miracle at hand.

She blinked again and looked at her.

She had became sentient.

You couldn't believe it yourself.

You go in for another kiss-

SMACK!

You were lucky that the "slap" didn't cave in your skull. You were sent flying from the couch and onto the floor, as Samantha gave out a disgusted huff. She was free now and she knows what you tried to do without her consent.

You can only just lay there on the floor, flabbergasted at what is happening, as she gets up and leaves your quarters.

Love was much harder for you than you thought.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Rheged

Play music.

Snow had briefly stopped falling outside of the window. At the same window, the pylon towers can be seen, standing with maintenance still being treated on them and sending electricity to the nearby buildings.

Pan out.

Inside of the apartment, someone is letting an egg fry on a skillet at a stovetop. Close by, an infant was in their crib, not sleepy but had its eyes on the mobile.

At an answering machine, someone has called to leave a voicemail.

"You have reached the Karelis residence. Please leave a message after the beep."

BEEP.

"Hey, girl. It's me. Uhhhh... Shit, where to start? We met and I got your number. At that boutique. What was it called? Dalmau, yeah. Dalmau Boutique. You gave me your number, after I took you down to the station. Nearly dropped the note into the escalator. I was the guy that had the yellow shirt on. The one with the names of the bandmates from Weasels? Yeah, that's me. Listen, if you get this message, just give me a call back. I don't know what job you have, so I just give you to it.

12 hours later.

The infant is sleeping in the crib. There is a woman that is wearing only a bikini on the bed, as her and her boyfriend are making out.

At an answering machine, someone has called to leave a voicemail.

"You have reached the Karelis residence. Please leave a message after the beep."

BEEP.

"Hey, it's me!" he had accidently woke the infant up. "Listen, I don't know how much I can tell you how beautiful you are. Like I know you were into designer clothes and fast cars, but you really are getting me obsessed with you. Don't worry, I'm not drunk. Ok, I might have had a bottle of beer, but I was thinking of getting you a glass of wine or maybe a bowl of donuts. Wait, f### not donuts... Hey, listen. Can you call me back, please? I don't know, if you're sleeping or are you sleeping? I don't know where else to be, I'm standing in front of a payphone, and it's cold out here. Can I... I just want to meet you again. Just one more kiss. Is that good? It's... wait no, I don't have more coins-"

click

[Recuecn]

In Reçueçn, the midpoint of World Cup qualification also happened to fall in midwinter, during Le Championnat's holiday break. The players on the ÉNRF were meant to be flying to Hamborn for a qualifying game, but a sudden blizzard had delayed flights across the country.

Théophile Thériault, one of the équipe nationale's first-string midfielders, stared blankly out the window of the Genève airport. Like many modern airports, the windows were massive, floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall, but through the sheets of snowflakes whipping past outside, it was hard to make almost anything out—the exterior was little more than a white blur. Every couple minutes the flashing yellow lights of a snowplow would go past as the ground crews fought to keep the runway clear, but it looked like a losing battle.

Théophile sighed. "This is miserable," he opined. "I hate waiting at airports."

His teammate, Rébecca Firaut, was sitting next to him. "At least we're in here and not out there," she said, gesturing toward the wind howling on the other side of the glass. Rébecca wasn't going to be flying to Hamborn—she was still recovering from her injury and hadn't been cleared to play for Les Licornes yet—but not only was she Théophile's teammate on the équipe nationale, but they also both played for Association Genève. Rébecca had been seeing the team physical therapist every day, as well as the personal trainer they'd assigned her. She was still in the process of rehabilitating her leg, but at least she could walk unaided now. She also attended the team briefings and games, and had become quite close with her teammates since the season had started. Living in Genève, a new city for her, had been quite lonely at first, so her teammates had become her close friends and she spent a lot of her time with them.

She and a couple more of her Association Genève teammates had come along with Théophile and Sascha Schreiber to see them off for their flight to Hamborn. They were all waiting here now, on a bench outside airport security, watching the estimated delay on the monitors slowly climb.

"Is that why you didn't come to lunch with us yesterday, Bec?" asked Sascha. "Just avoiding the winter weather?"

"No, I was getting..." Rébecca cut herself off. "I already had plans," she finished lamely.

Théophile leaned over and lowered his voice so only Rébecca could hear. "Were you getting lunch with Michèle?" he asked.

Rébecca glanced at him sidelong and cautiously nodded her head. "Yeah, but she didn't want me to broadcast it," she whispered back. "I don't think she wants people to know she plays favorites."

Théophile chuckled. "She probably needs to be a little more subtle about it then." Then he glanced around again, and continued in a whisper: "Will you take a walk with me? I want to ask you something."

The pair got up and strolled over to a vending machine on the other side of the concourse. They paused in front of it, trying to look like they were deliberating.

"I know you've been hanging out with Michèle a lot lately," Théophile said, "and I don't wanna talk shit about her behind her back, especially not if you two are good friends now."

"But?"

"But... I just think you should look out. More than anyone else I know, she is always trying to manipulate people to get what she wants, and I think what she wants is usually... usually pretty selfish. Not always for the best for the team." Théophile tried to gauge Rébecca's reaction. "Sorry, I hope I haven't offended you; I know you two are quite close..."

"No, it's fine," Rébecca reassured him. "I'm actually really glad you said something. I've been wondering about her for a few months now."

"Oh?"

"Yeah... When I first got to town she was there to meet me and welcome me, and I was injured, stuck at home, and pretty lonely, so I definitely wound up spending a lot of time with her. But she was almost... too nice? Like she was so friendly and sycophantic that I had to question it, like, 'this can't be real'. I'm not stupid, I can tell she must want something from me. I'm kind of waiting for the shoe to drop, and it's terrifying. Like one day she'll say to me 'Rébecca I did all this stuff for you, you owe me now...'"

"'You owe me now, so pay me back...' What is it you think she wants from you?" asked Théophile.

"That's the problem!" exclaimed Rébecca. "I have no idea! That's why I was glad you brought it up; when you mentioned that you knew she can be manipulative, I was hoping you had some insight or knew what she wanted."

"Well, I'll tell you what I know," said Théophile. "Michèle's been the club's FNRF representative for years now, so she usually spends most of her time in Reçueçn. Or at least she did, until you joined the team, and now it feels like she's here all the time, looking for excuses to see you."

Rébecca shuddered.

Théophile went on. "The FNRF obviously isn't perfect, but it feels like every time they try to do something that's egregiously bad, Michèle's behind it. When you led the protests and the strike to integrate the league, she helped organize the team of scabs. There was a logistical fuck-up that same year with hosting the IAC in Reçueçn—I heard a rumor that her office was responsible for that too. And the most recent thing is this feud she has with Coach LeBouffe. She has some kind of long-standing grudge against him; I don't know why. Last year Laurent kind of discovered it because he'd been helping Coach and Michèle sent someone to try to get in his way. I mean you remember all those FNRF people at the IAC this past summer. Laurent said he's pretty sure she sent them just to try to sabotage Coach LeBouffe. You missed it when he announced it because you'd already been inured, but at one point they had fully convinced him to resign after the tournament. The only reason he's still coach is because we wound up winning and so the rest of the execs at the federation wouldn't accept his resignation. But I don't think Michèle ever got over it. That's the only thing I can think of that it might be."

Sascha's steps tapping on the marble airport floor announced her approach behind Théophile and Rébecca. "What's going on over here?" she asked. "You two are taking forever."

"There's just a million kinds of chocolate," complained Rébecca, gesturing helplessly at the vending machine, which was indeed stocked with dozens of different varieties of luxury chocolate bars. "Perks of living in Reçueçn, I guess. But I can't make up my mind."

"You've lived here your whole life and you don't know your favorite?" Sascha was incredulous.

"What if we all get different ones and share them," said Théophile.

"Yes, please!" said Rébecca.

Each of the players in turn tapped their card and punched in their selection. The chocolate bars thunked into the bottom of the vending machine. Rébecca had hers unwrapped almost immediately and took a huge bite. "That's actually really good," she said, laughing. "I'm not sure I do want to trade."

"Come on," said Sascha. "You said."

"I'm just joking," said Rébecca.

Chocolate secured, the three of them returned to the bench where the rest of their teammates were waiting.

"Good timing," Nicolas Aubé greeted them as they got back. "They just updated the departure time. It looks like you two will finally get out of here after all."

"Thank goodness," said Sascha.

Sure enough, outside the window, strips of gray tarmac were beginning to appear amid the white snowscape. The plows were catching up.

"We should head through security then," said Théophile. He and Sascha hugged the rest of their teammates goodbye.

"Good luck in Hamborn," Rébecca told him as he leaned down to hug her.

"Thanks, Bec," he said. "I know you of all people will be fine here but... be careful, okay?"

Rébecca nodded. And watched, not without a twinge of jealousy, as her uninjured teammates walked away to catch their flight.

[Aphrilia]

THE ANNOUNCEMENT
"I wish to announce that I, Amelia Haze, will be retiring from the national team by the end of the next Independent Associations Championship."

The announcement was sudden, though some players were able to connect the dots. Amelia hadn't been playing as much as the team thought she would this year, and her training was often cut short for one reason or another. Two players on the team that weren't surprised at such an announcement were Ines Forrestal and Edward Elliot.

Ines knows the feeling of your own body giving up on you, though she didn't experience it directly. There was one player back home in Aphrilia she knew about, someone who would be a suitable replacement for her once her time with The Anchors was up. But fate wasn't as kind, their body gave up on them much earlier. Previous medical conditions didn't help either. The foxian saw how the light sapped out of their eyes when they heard the words "You can't play anymore." Ines hopes that doesn't happen to her.

Edward is the oldest player on the team, and the only one within their forties until next World Cup season rolls around. Ever since the start of qualifying, he has seen Amelia take longer breaks, play less minutes, and train not as often as she would. He knows it's impossible for this to be intentional by her part, and his conclusion was correct.

So with the permission of Leonardo Bianchi himself, as well as team captain Jessica Rhine-Faust, the older players decide to organize a special event to cheer Amelia up. They know from the announcement that she would be looking for a job on the national team staff, but everyone believed this would help. Amelia was awesome to be around with. Her knowledge about the game itself is one of the reason she's so valued, and overall, Amelia is a cool person. She's foundational to this team, and she deserves to be treated a such.

And so, the older players would be holding a dinner in her name. And she would be attending whether she liked it or not.

Whilst they could have had the younger players too, perhaps it would be best if Amelia was around people she's known the longest. Among those were Ines and Edward, but also Brent Wallace, Andrew Paxton, and the Aston siblings. Natasha was considered old enough in the context of this dinner night. Everyone else would be having a dinner of their own.

And so here they were, sitting in a fancy restaurant around one massive table. Some of the dishes were still being cooked, so they had plenty of time to linger around and wait. Sitting on the short side, treated as if they were a monarch of their own, was Amelia herself. "Thank you everyone, for all of this. I appreciate it." She could only say.

Words of affirmation from everyone else could be heard. But it was Ines and Edward that had the most to say. "It's the least we could have done. I'm saddened, we won't be playing together soon. I'll support you either way, still." Ines spoke. They were together on the team since the formation of The Anchors. In act, looking at it, sooner or later they will no longer be on the team. Whether it be due to the age limit, injury, or perhaps personal reasons, one day the last player from the 95 Squad would retire.

"The best thing we can do is use the time we have to our fullest. You have our full support for the transition." Edward spoke. Amelia smiled hearing that, everyone else too. Mike and Natasha were very understanding, while Brent stated that he was available at anytime if she needed to talk. She knew this team was a family, but perhaps for once, she viscerally notices how everyone cared for one another. And just in time, a few waiters carried the remaining dishes and put them on the table before taking their leave.

Amelia picks up a glass and stands, the others follow. "To the closing stages of one era, and to the approach of a new one upon the horizon."

[Ko-oren]

and

Rivalries in the Era of the Thirty-six, part 2

Section II: Regional (aka: if you're pretty deep in Ko-orenite domestic affairs)
The bulk of rivalries sits here - we don't have that many true city derbies (more on that later). You've already read about how for a long time we've had relatively few clubs try out in the upper echelon of professional football, so most rivalries occur between teams that are already a bit further apart, but still in the same region. There've been countless ways to divvy up the country in zones - cultural, natural, administrative, and so on - but for these we seem to gravitate either towards provincial or towards a general north-east-south-west-central thing.

Starting off with the latter, we have the Eastern powerhouses, Katashi-Kanatsu vs Advance Alara. Two attacking clubs fighting over dominance over the four eastern islands. Some clubs would throw their hat in the ring for 'pretty big eastern club' but these two have been in the Top League to determine who gets the east for decades, and it's still the main rivalry in the area. While players are usually pretty happy when it's just a nice, open, attacking game, this is one of few rivalries where the fans can get into a bit of a scrap.

The north also has had two clubs in the Top League for ages: Schemerdrecht SVV vs Straudum VV. The complete opposite of the eastern powerhouses, this one has friendly fans but players absolutely battling it out on the field for 90 minutes as these are some tough defensive squads that need to catch a few bookings to let the opposition know they're not getting much space this game.

The centre has a few options. First off, there's Maethoru SC vs Gehrenna FC, the capital derby. Maethoru long ruled alone over the four capitals, until there was a team that wanted to get a piece of that and Gehrenna invested heavily in scrappy, creative players perfect for toppling the big green menace - and they succeeded a few times, including one title. Now it's a pretty even affair, if one-sided, with Gehrennans hating Maethoru and Maethoru being quietly happily surprised there's local opposition now. Then there's Aminey CS vs Tanques AOE, the two teams from the historical region of Ehnigo, both cities on the southern side of the Bay, and Tanques hating Aminey more than the reverse.

In the south, the main one is between two complete has-beens of teams: Cirelbourne United vs Bruncester United AFC. Once a proud rivalry between two industrial cities, today it's more a reunion between two long retired boxers that don't have what it takes. That said, both are investing a lot in their futures, so who knows? It can be a source of talent once more, as it is in cricket and... not much else (passed on by both rugby codes and baseball). The modern version of the main southern rivalry is Cresthill United FC vs Sydberg Olympia, from Garihnkatar and Ilohbonu - the two largest cities in the country - who didn't have much of a football presence but have really found a city identity in these two clubs that originated from a bit outside of city limits. Both clubs have thrown money at their problems and it's working like a charm. Not a highly rated match in the rest of the country, but we might well see the championship decided between these two before long!

Moving on to provincial affairs, we're zooming in just a little further again.

Gahrugkothis has the most easily flammable matches. That's the southeastern peninsula, in the curl of which are two cities (Thelesra and Erpubehte) that feel very far away from the rest of the country, which has fueled these matches as standalone thing, and on top of that they have a few very successful teams over history. The main one we'll cover under section three ('Local'), but the rest are worth mentioning here. That's Castelo e Calvente CS vs Miradela GD as the heated Erpubehte-Thelesra match, and Castelo e Calvente CS vs Branvon CD as a bit of a drunken brawl (frequent arrests before the match kicks off, but no arrests once the game starts). Throw in Coloruna de Paraiso vs Castelo e Calvente CS as a more rural meetup - also contested in baseball, by the way - and you've got the most country yokel match that draws national attention as the football is genuinely usually quite good.

Looking way, way north, to only the northern islands, there's AFC Aevarea vs Arboren FC, a match sometimes played out only in the lower tiers, as a match that's always played in subzero conditions, that's not so much a 'man vs man' but more a 'man vs nature' literature trope. Zooming out, there's Elezaora Aerellen vs AFC Aevarea vs Egevea Aindauka as a three-way rivalry that somehow has no clubs in the largest city of the islands (Ehbanna, which is big in ice hockey instead), as well as Avimoren Celestials vs Arboren FC as the island derby a bit further down.

Libahilotalhaun (northeast) clubs tend to have money thrown their way by local IT firms meaning their importance has skyrocketed in the last 10 years. They have the means now, but their sleepy fanbases aren't following suit. Primarily this is Straudum VV vs SC Sokrona who give out a medal to the team winning the Libahilotalhaun match once/twice/three times a year but ultimately that's kind of it - an opportunity for a local sponsor to attach their name to a prize nobody really cares about.

In Mahrkioren (north-central), there's a bunch of clubs that have wanted to kick Schemerdrecht SVV down a notch. That's Sterrenwolde FC vs Schemerdrecht SVV first and foremost as the unofficial Mahrkioren derby, and fans really do care about this match, but it's blown up a little. Basically it's everyone vs Schemerdrecht. Think of Laringen Almoedskapers, a very new club to the top of the Ko-orenite pyramid. Rural Mahrkioren has a few gems as well, with Turnaardse Walkuren vs FC Arendsvlucht FC vs Honingsweg-Toreneik Combinatie vs OV Eekeinde, where entire towns show up to the game and put entire carnavals and festivals around it as a big day out for all inhabitants of the town. The visiting team is just an object in this configuration and they're not supposed to actually try to win - and if the away team does get away with three points, police has to make an appearance to make sure they can get back home safe. Mahrkioren is funny like that: bougie cities on the coast (Shemurdar (=Schemerdrecht), Seterbohdu (=Sterrenwolde), Alahinga (=Laringen), Razahnbahna) and fully self-contained towns inland (the four just mentioned).

On the West Coast, there aren't a lot of people so the rivalries carry further. That's WSR AFC vs Myaranowra Salamantica as the main one. Going further south, we arrive in Mauroren, home to cricket and rugby league - and gridiron - and Southern Rules football (a game they share with their west coast cousins) and soccer makes an appearance, if that, as the fifth team in the list. Still, Mawrystwyth vs Llandy FC is a fun rivalry when it happens and these teams aren't separated by two levels on the pyramid. Mawrystwyth vs Ayesorigin FC has become a nice stand-in for that, a match fiercely contested alongside cricket and rugby (union) festivities.

[Choppyhausen]

(OOC Disclaimer: Don't do gambling, people, it's not worth it and it could very well ruin your life.)

Three Foolproof Strategies for Sportsbetting in Group 9
Do you need money? Yes? But you don't want to leave your comfy spot on the couch infront of the TV and get up to actually do some hard work? Then I've got the solution for you: Betting! Without even moving a muscle, you can easily make a lot of money by correctly identifying who will win the upcoming WCQ matches (or if anyone will win at all). Pure chance, you say? Not at all! With a few clever strategies, you can turn your 50/50 chances into a near certainty. And today, I will show you these strategies.

Bet on Flavovespia
From the category "Low Risk, Low Reward", I present our first betting strategy of the day: "Bet on Flavovespia"! For all those of you who prefer to take their umbrella with them even on a sunny day, who like to support the defending champions every season no matter who they are and who will wait on a red light even if there's no tram in sight, this is by far the easiest way to make a bit of money by betting in Group 9. Flavovespia, who are currently ranked 3rd in the multiverse according to the KPB+ rankings, have not lost a single of their qualification matches so far, leading the group with 26 points after ten matches. As a result, winning your bet is pretty much guaranteed with this strategy. It does come with a cost, however, as the winning margins on favorites like Flavovespia are usually rather small.

Bet on No One
Can't decide which of the opposing teams will win? Well, worry not as I present you the perfect solution for your dilemma: Betting on No One. Did you know? Group 9 is this WC qualification's "draw magnet", with around 1.7 of the 5 games each matchday ending in a tie. This is by far the largest number of draws out of all qualification groups, with the other groups averaging around 0.8 draws per matchday. And even better: As ties are usually considered to be less likely than other results, winning margins are very much larger than in Strategy #1. Interested readers might want to take a look at the match between Choppyhausen and Drawkland next week, where both teams have ended half of their previous matches without a winner.

Bet on the Host
The home advantage in football is well known. Playing in their own stadium, on familiar turf, changing in familiar changing rooms, without a long journey to the ground, spurred on by their own fans... teams usually perform much better at home than away. This is particularly true in this World Cup qualification: In Group 9, out of the 33 games that didn't end in a draw, 24 were won by the home team while there were only nine matches in which a team managed to win on foreign turf. With that said, betting on the hosts is a valid strategy in almost every game (except, of course, for the matches where you have already bet on a draw according to Strategy #2). Even if the away team seem utterly superior, at home everyone has a chance to win.

[Kelssek]

Ryan Potter nodded politely as the club official seated next to him in the VIP section continued his monologue, as if completely absorbed in the finer details of Logane Hannigan’s ball distribution for very important national team selection considerations. Latrobe Athletic had recently engaged an accounting firm to tamp down some fairly lurid accusations about one of the board members. This was having distressing effects on all the staff, even the good honest ones, another board member who had ended up sitting next to the Kelssek manager was explaining.

“...and then they said, well you claimed expenses for a flight, a car rental, and a train ticket, all at the same time, for the same trip? And they are making a fuss because I accidentally set the reciept as a cruise ship voyage and Novonaya is ‘landlocked’, whatever that means. These auditors, they are monsters.”

It was much less stressful attending Kelssek Championship matches as a VIP spectator than as a head coach, and the mini-pies at Macquarie Docklands were very tasty. Hopefully the TV cameras hadn’t been watching when he’d scarfed down a beef curry pie with gusto at half time; it’d have been very bad for his “turtleneck-wearing tactical mastermind” image.

* * *
Big moments as fresh faces give Kelssek boost

A solid Kelssek debut for Artemios Ostend helped the national team to a pair of strong performances, including a win against Bostopia that could be crucial in the battle for direct qualification to World Cup 101 finals.

If Latrobe Athletic fans might have bemoaned Logane Hannigan being left out of the squad for this pair of fixtures, they can’t complain about the results. Ostend and Métisser have been the key midfield double pivot on which CS Saint-Rémy’s title-winning season was built, and have continued to be a foundation for that team’s audacious bid to retain the Kelssek Championship, even if its Champions League run came to an ignonimous end at the group stage just prior to this international window.

Another key contribution came when Trevor Cantwell grabbed his first goal for Kelssek in his fourth appearance for the national team, arriving in the box to open the scoring with a composed finish.

BOSTOPIA 1
KELSSEK 3 – Mylonakis (23’), Niemi (71’), Pogbacar (85’)
Tessier, Cantwell, Hupe, Cleeves, Bastien (Tolmach 68’), Mylonakis (Licea 74’), Pogbacar, Ostend, Obident (Lios 63’), Hirji, Niemi (Cutter 68’)

Moonbeam Infantino smiled and ignored the corner of the stadium where fans were singing “You’re a wanker, and you know you are!” to the tune of Go West. Most spectators, particularly those closer to the pitch where the tickets were more expensive, had yet to arrive or were lingering in the concourse where life-size foozeball and other pre-match diversions were playing out.

Why he’d decided to award Solgavden’s manager the inaugural Football Kelssek Inner Peace Prize was unfathomable. As was the apparent assumption that Peter Strömberg would emerge from pre-match preparations to collect a misshapen porcelain dove, if he’d even heard Infantino dramatically annouce his name on the PA system – which was wired to the stadium’s outside areas, not the dressing rooms.

“Congratulations, coach...! We’ll be sure that you receive this wonderful award!” he said, as the Stadium of the Workers events staff gently ushered Infantino off the pitch and packed away the prize and podium before the sprinklers started up again.

The fans had switched it up and were now singing “A wanker! A wanker! A wanker! Moonbeam is a wanker!” in the key of I Will Follow Him. Yet Infantino sneered, for during the match he would be lounging in the lounge where he could help himself to a tasty charcuterie tray, and they would be queuing for overpriced hot dogs.

KELSSEK 2 - Cantwell (43’), Cutter (73’)
Tessier, Cantwell, Vergland, Cleeves, Casiraghi (Bastien 69’), Pogbacar, Ostend (Rutvica 77’), Obident (Consðntin 77’), Hirji, Cutter, Niemi
SOLGAVDEN 0
Stadium of the Workers, Neorvins (attendance 59,356)

* * *

It was clear Ryan Potter was going to be just as tactically flexible as he’d been in club football, and the experiment with variations on 4-3-3 had immediate benefits for winger Medysn Consðntin. The youngster was also familiar with club teammates Artemios Ostend and Romy Métisser in the midfield, and they would have to be very careful how they explained this back in Saint-Rémy, but it was also so much... easier, with Titan Pogbacar marauding through the middle and forwards like Rolando Cutter and he of the hated Outineau rivals Rémy Niemi who made you look good because they were just better at getting onto your pass even if you'd gotten it slightly wrong. World Cup qualifying, we are so back. The league title chase, right on. Challengers Cup chase, right on. Forget the group stage Champions League debacle, why are you even bringing this up now anyway. All is good for the Saint-Rémy crew.

YANGCHENIA 0
KELSSEK 1 – Consðntin (46’)
Carrieri, Jouppi, Lalande, Cleeves, Casiraghi (Tolmach 78’), Pogbacar (Licea 67’), Métisser, Ostend, Cutter (Hartzell 82’), Niemi, Consðntin (Hirji 67’)

OLASTOR 0
KELSSEK 1 – Métisser (44’)
Carrieri, Jouppi, Lalande, Cleeves, Tolmach, Pogbacar (Licea 76’), Métisser (Lìos 76’), Ostend (Nordet 73’), Hartzell (Niemi 65’), Coulter, Hirji (Consðntin 76’)

[Bhumi Matawis Empire]

The series of visits this early year was an eye opening for Shellomita. At first she kind of doubting about the reason why that area continue to flare up. But now she realize and understand about dissatisfaction that they feel for many generations and still continue. Some pointed out about development happened in the recent decade that increase the local economy which is a good sign. But they seems to already done with it. A separate government is seen as a solution. Mandala system just like President Mastari propose when they met. But is it possible? Will it be acceptable especially by the higher ups? Shellomita hasn't touch about the issue for a while as she can't find the right time and the right way to address the real situation to the Parliament, Graha Pawongan to be exact. Because this needs a change in constitution or rather the creation of a new constitution. Something that never happened in the Empire's history despite the era change where now they are in the fourth era. Oh, the fourth era see an amendment to the constitution though. However this change will be drastic.

Shellomita seat in her office reading several reports that present on her desk from several department. Something is really happening globally that pressing the Empire's economy. Prices hike up which affected the subsidy especially to the country's energy sector as majority of the commodities are imported. She pinch her nasion with a big sigh. Every reports give her a headache. She close one report book as Piambudi enter her office.

"Yes? What is it now?" Shellomita ask before Piambudi could speak.
"I just want to remind you that Mr. Darmowijoyo is asking again about your 'Great East Visit'. Again," answer Piambudi with a hard pressing note on the 'Great East Visit'.
Shellomita put another big sigh. "The way I want to avoid this issue. But guess I couldn't," she murmur.
"It's been months and he demand the report. Why can't you present it to him? It's not hard to make it, isn't it?" Piambudi nagging.
"I'm afraid that he will get a heart attack when he find out the truth," Shellomita comment.
"I believe he already know about the situation. Your report will only admit it and expose the scale of how high these people wants to seceded from the Empire," Piambudi says.
Shellomita roles her eyes. "Technically not seceded. They will still under the Empire but more freedom. They demand more freedom to govern their own domestic affairs," Shellomita defend them.
"To the point where the Empire only responsible for them in defense and macro economy. That pretty much a secession, Ma'am," Piambudi press his statement.
"Alright. Alright. You're right. But how can I report that? How can I report that half of the Empire wants to stand up on their own feet without our interference?" Shellomita ask for advice.
"It's better to tell the truth than keep him uninformed. Someone could give him a misleading information. After all this is the party plan to embrace the Eastern region and make them feel more acceptable to the Empire. Thus reducing their chance to rebel. That's why he needs the report, Ma'am," explain Piambudi.
"I know. The report is also needed in Graha Pawongan. I have avoided the issue ever since. The chamber will be in shamble if they know the truth. Although the MPs from the east might be quite happy cause we understand their situation now," Shellomita speaks.
"So, do you intend to make the report or not? Mr. Darmowijoyo will have to read the report first before being presented at the chamber's meeting," ask Piambudi.
"Alright. I'll make it and you will bring it to Darmo. This old man is really demanding while he doesn't know what's going on," Shellomita end the conversation with a little insult.

---

A few weeks passed after Shellomita give the report to Darmowijoyo. But nothing have happen. She's getting anxious. Feels like something bad might happen anytime. And she doen't like this feeling. Luckily the work give her the opportunity to not always focus on that issue. There are many other issues that needs her attention. Like the recent nickel issue where locals rebel against the company's employment policy which bring many foreign workers where most of them working as hard labors which supposed to be filled by locals. Or the situation with palm oil companies who continue to open up forest and expanding their plantation. Some of it violate the contract of maximum size that they have to abide. And many others. Then suddenly....

"Good evening, Your excellency. Please come with us," a man with a black suit block her when she is about to leave a fundraising event that night. Her guards initially take a full defense position to cover her.
"Who are you? And where do you want me to go?" she ask calmly.
"It's a secret, Ma'am. I am commanded by Mr. Darmowijoyo. We seek no harm. But this is a private meeting so no one needs to know including your guards and the press. So don't make any radical moves," the man warn her.
Shellomita gives command to her guards to stand down. She whisper to Piambudi to track her through her phone but no one will follow her. Piambudi nod.
"Very well, sir," Shellomita follows the man.
He walks to the black sedan and open the door for Shellomita to enter. She is shock when she finds Darmowijoyo already there.
"Mr. Darmowijoyo," greet her with a shacky voice from shock.
"Good evening, Mita," reply Darmowijoyo.
The car move out from the fundraising venue and enter the busy road of Kartasura.
"I'm sorry to having you in this situation, Mita," says Darmowijoyo. Even though they are in the car but the meeting is some kind of private with a tick partition separate the back seat and the driver seat.
"Not at all, Mister. I believe you have a very important thing to say,"' Shellomita calm herself.
"Yes, indeed," he pause. And give her a document. She immediately realize that document. "It is about your visit report. It's a bold report, Mita. Do you really want the Empire to extinct?" he add.
"It's not like that, Sir. But I believe it is for the best. For them to end the rebellion and chanting about separatism. It's for the good of the Empire," she defend her opinion.
"Nonsense. They are great under the Empire. These rebellions and separatists are none other that people who wants to see the Empire breaking up," Darmowijoyo's tone harden. "These people are terrorists. All they want is to make people suffer. To make us look bad in those people eyes. That's how they work. That's how they persuade these people to rebels," comment Darmowijoyo.
"But Sir. The report says otherwise. It is the demand of the people. Even their own government wants it. Change is needed for a healthy country. I hope you realize that, sir," says Shellomita.
"I guess you already invested with their thoughts. Your opinion have been corrupted. They success to turn you against the Empire. And I can't let you do that," Darmowijoyo voice is slow but firm and demanding.
"But sir!" Shellomita insist.
"Stop this right now, Mita. Or you face the consequences. Change your report before present it to the chamber. Make them believe that these people are trying to destroy the Empire," command Darmowijoyo.
"If you do this the situation will get out of control," remind Shellomita.
"Are you afraid with these rebels, Your Excellency?" Darmowijoyo mock her.
"That's not what I mean," says Shellomita.
"Do that or we sack you from your position," warn Darmowijoyo.
Shellomita fell silence. The drive seems running too slow until they arrive in their destination. It's none other than the Mahapatih Anom' official residence. Shellomita walks out from the car. Her guards immediately rush towards her. She gives the gesture that she's alright. They escort her back into the mansion where Piambudi and her husband waiting for her.
"What's going on?" ask Syarif, her husband as she hug her. He feels her body shaken a little.
Piambudi looks at her nervously.
"Nothing," she reply before turning to Piambudi. "You can go back. We talk tomorrow. I need my rest," says Shellomita.
Piambudi nod as Syarif escort her to their room. Inside their private room, Shellomita hugs her dearly. As if she doesn't want to let him go.
"What happened?" he ask as Shellomita getting calmer.
"Everything seems to be a lot harder lately," she says with a low voice.
"Let takes some rest shall we?" suggest Syarif. Shellomita nods.
He help her to change and escort her to the bed before he getting up the bed too. He put the blanket around her and kiss her forehead. Shellomita then hug him as she trying to sleep and forget what just happen. "Good night, my love. Sleep tight," Syarif whisper to her ear. He kiss her once more before closing his eyes and sleep with her in his embrace. While his thought continue to asking what really happen after the fundraising night.

---

---

MD 09
Taeshan 0 - 1 Bhumi Matawis Empire
@ Taeshan

H. Prasetyo Y (42')
S. Wijaya (45'+2)
F.F. Kusnanto Y (61')
D. Sasongko <===> H.R. Dian (66')
P.S. Pradana <===> A.H. Syah (70')
U. Nur Wahyudi Y (77')
F.F. Kusnanto <===> N. Suherman (80')

---

MD 10
Kwrpania 2 - 1 Bhumi Matawis Empire
@ Kwrpania

R. Marabessy Y (21')
F.F. Kusnanto M (54')
R. Marabessy <===> K. Sudarwanto (60')
E. Ravanesya Y (65')
P.S. Pradana <===> A.H. Syah (66')
S. Wijaya <===> Y. Ardiansyah (69')
E. Ravanesya Y (73')
Y. Ardiansyah (80')
U. Nur Wahyudi <===> W. Suputra (85')

MD 11
Sel Appa vs Bhumi Matawis Empire
@ Freedom Field, Anvorbuod City, Sel Appa

MD 12
Bhumi Matawis Empire vs Eastfield Lodge
@ Matawis National Stadium, Kartasura

Players
Starters
GK - Chandra Adi Sukma
LB - Emanuel Ravanesya
CB - Nanang Suherman
CB - Alexius Reinhard
RB - Rakha Wijaya Kusuma
LM/LW - Hendri Prasetyo
CM/DM - Eka Wiryawan
CM/DM - Usman Nur Wahyudi
RM - Ananda Sukandar
ST - Viktor Tampanea
AT - Yudha Ardiansyah
Reserve
GK - Gilang Hardiyanto
GK - Cornelius Brasso
LB/CB - Wayan Armadiyasa
LB - Oscar Renjana
CB - Ahmad Al-Faridz
CB - Lino Coutinho
RB - Kristian Sudarwanto
LM - Hernando de Sousa
LM - Stefano Reinaldi
CM - Wisnu Suputra
CM - Asraf Huwaidi Syah
RM/CM - Heriadi Gustaf
ST - Hisyam Rahma Dian
ST - Dion Sasongko

Position
Captain - Alexius Reinhard
Vice-captain - Eka Wiryawan

Likely to
Corner kick (left) - Emanuel Ravanesya or Hendri Prasetyo (Wayan Armadiyasa or Stefano Reinaldi if sub)
Corner kick (right) - Rakha Wijaya Kusuma or Ananda Sukandar (Kristian Sudarwanto or Heriadi Gustaf if sub)
Free kick - Yudha Ardiansyah or Viktor Tampanea (Hisyam Rahma Dian or Dion Sasongko if sub)
Penalty - Viktor Tampanea (Dion Sasongko if sub)

Condition
Injured:
Arsyad Arsyandi

Suspended:
Felix Fernandi Kusnanto (Double yellow cards lead to red card. Suspended to play in match 11 and 12)

[United States Of Alpha]

MatchDay9 Preview:
United States of Alpha vs Eriadni
Details:
Okay, the 'six seven for good luck' thing did not work out at all, guess the World Cup officials don't like that sort of stuff (bastards), but our 3-0 loss against Kharakia brings into question the talent of this team. I mean, we are on a five-game losing streak (the soccer gods probably want to make it six, but we don't believe in that sort of fantasy) folks.

So, now, we have to play EXTRA HARD. We have to destroy all of our opponents, including the Eriadnians, which is the team that we first lost to. If we want chance at qualifying for the World Cup, then we must beat the absolute piss out of everybody this time around.

Just PLEASE WIN.

MatchDay10 Preview:
United States of Alpha @ Afanc Strait

Details:
Our team will be battling Afanc Strait today , which we beat 4-0 on matchday 3. We're not going to focus on the Kharakia scenario, because if we lose today, I'll request a hearing from the World Cup officials, because in that case match was clearly rigged against us. As always, we have to WIN, and we need to go all in.

Above all else, don't get to comfortable, Alphanians, because the road gets steeper from here on out.
(or whatever it is I'm not good at idioms)

_{still though the 3-0 loss to Kharakia what the f*ck}

[Serumpun]

Revenge in Kendorian Soil, The Three Stars Squad Second Win

Aidil Rustam - 9 August 2028

KENDORIA - The Three Stars Squad starts the second half of the qualification by heading to Kendoria. After their fifth defeat in the end of the first half against Busoga Island, it would be a good thing if they were able to flip the table when they faced Kendoria. In their first meeting, the team share one point after a goalless match. But an away match would be harder for Serumpun to handle.

The team start slow as they use a defensive strategy as usual. Sometimes the strategy proof successful but sometimes it doesn't. Like when they face Busoga Island or the other 4 losses. But this time, the strategy works. Even though it means the defenders have to work extra. The team still rely on counter attacks for most of the first half to bring shocked and surprise for their opponent. The first half ended with in a goalless match.

Entering the second half, the team become more confident. But Coach Shankar seems to continue with their defensive strategy. Although throughout the second half, this defensive strategy was rather loose. The Three Stars Squad have a frequent attacks in the second half rather than the first half. And they are not relying on counter attack but also solo attack either from left or right side of the field. The fans were fire ups every time the team attacks. And result was satisfying. The Three Stars Squad success to booked 2 goals in the second half. First was scored by Adiranjan from a commotion in front of Kendorian goals. He took the slim opportunity to shot within a close range. And with anyone react abruptly with the sudden shot, the ball gliding into the goal line which giving them the first official goal in the match. The second goal came from a free kick initiate by Aznan after Sulong was tackled just outside the penalty line. It was a close free kick and Aznan success to shot the ball hard. It knocked the crossbar and bounced back to the field. Players from both team try to reach the ball including Kendorian goalkeeper who wants to secure his goal. Adiranjan got the ball but he immediately swarm by Kendorian defense. He passed the ball to Muhaajir who stand free near him. Muhaajir then shot the ball back to the goal. And it success to give the team their second goal in the match.

The match ended with 2-0 for Serumpun. The result makes the team rise to 8th place, one place above Kendoria. It is also their second win in the qualifying round. The win brings joy to the fans and supporters. And it seems, the win will save Coach Shankar from being sack. But the qualifying is still a long journey. There are 8 matches to go. The aim is still, to avoid bottom placement. Their next opponents are Hintuwan and Legalese. Playing at home at Port Campbell Stadium will be an opportunity for The Three Stars Squad to get revenge from Hintuwan after a 2-0 defeat in their first match. And could the team pushed for another draw against Legalese? We'll see.

---

More on this topic

Is Coach Shankar already save?

---

All 3 Mandalanusan in Group 11 are still outside the playoff line as Hintuwan, Eraman and Serumpun placed 6th, 7th and 8th respectively

[Valanora]

Life in the Eternal Empire is relatively peaceful, most citizens go about their daily lives simply doing whatever it is that they set their hearts and minds to do. Disease, famine, food shortages, anything of the like is not an issue for them as the science or magic of Valanora is there to assist them and nip any and all hardships in the bud. It has allowed the nation to be one of plenty, to be one where the pursuit of ones life is not the pursuit of whatever makes the most silver coins, it is the pursuit of the heart, it is the pursuit of the mind. Artists, musicians, theater troupe are all common in the Empire, the need for enforced labor of the people in service or essential needs is not required and done by only those who desire to serve the community of the nation through such pursuit. It makes the people of Valanora live lives that are seen with envy from their peers from abroad where strife is all too common, such as those who suffer through war or natural disasters. Though many Vanorians hold themselves in a higher regard than those from abroad, there is a kindness nonetheless for their common inhabitants of the world and when disaster strikes, aid comes in droves from the Empire.

When the news broke that in the northern part of Arrosia that a massive tsunami that resulted from an earthquake near the southeastern shores of Squornshelous, there was both anguish but also quickly a drive to get aid for their fellow Arrosians. It was not falling on deaf ears, the Empress was already coordinator with her advisors on the logistics and affordability to send a massive aid package to the northeast. Lathwen knew that in events like this, the outpouring of aid was often seen in a measure of good will but very few actually paid attention to where it went or in the case of currency on how it was used. She held no desire for an aid package to wind up in the hands of those who would use it for their own gain, exploiting an already suffering people through exploitative pricing or merely pocketing whatever form of financial aid was sent. The food, water, and shelter was going to be given to those who were in need and the coin spent to attempt to get their world and lives back to normal as quickly as was possible, or that was here plan at least. Relations between most of Arrosia and the Empire were frosty at best, with the region seemingly folding on the ACES initiative.

"Listen ladies and gentlemen, this is an aid package, this is the people and government of the Empire sending support to Squornshelous in a gesture of good will and commonality. We are not going to allow it to fall into the hands of some pirates or corrupt local officials who see this as an opportunity to increase their own standing. The personnel that volunteer to go and oversee this aid need to be prepared to be in the north for months, perhaps even up to half a year to ensure that the aid is being distributed to those who need it and the coin does not mysteriously disappear in some accounting error or for a service rendered that never actually takes place. I want our boots on the ground to ensure that the people who need this are the ones who are receiving it. Organize with the local officials to ensure that everything is done as cleanly as it can be, I know there are going to be some hardships and hiccups, the logistics of something like this is always imposing. Above all be compassionate, who knows what these people might have just lost in an act of nature, keep your own emotions in check and stay calm even if those around you are not."

The Empress hoped that they would heed her words, they would be sending about three dozen people to help coordinate the effort and if the initial outpouring in the hours and days since the news of the disaster struck, they would be making weekly supply drops to the effected areas for at least a month if not more. Potable water, non perishable food, as well as pop up shelters with plenty of blankets and pillows were among the items being collected for the first drop that would leave the Empire on the following day. It was not much, it would not replace that which had been lost in materials or in life, but it was enough to stem the tide she hoped. Food and somewhere safe to sleep while you attempt to put your life back together, one less burden that those effected by this disaster would have to think about. At some point in the next week, she would have to talk with the Sentinel about possibly drafting an emergency resolution to grant aslyum in the Empire for those who saw her shores as an alternative to trying to rebuild, though that would also need to be negotiated with the government of Squornshelous. One thing at a time, that was how you had to handle these things lest you be overwhelmed.

[Indusse]

Safe Spot?

As the first half of the World Cup Qualification draws to a close, Indusse seemed to have secured a decent second place finish in their group. Flavovespia who ended up drawing against Indusse is the only team as of now who's ahead of Indusse in the group. In the last match of the first half of the qualification stage, Indusse had a really close victory over lower ranked United States of Alpha. A high scoring match overall, it showed the incompetence of the defense in certain matches. Thanks to a later hour goal by Grundjee, Indusse was able to seal their victory against United States of Alpha.

In the first match of the second half, Indusse met Anewkansas. Anewkansas had defeated Indusse in the first match this qualifiers at their home ground and now Indusse was successful in taking a revenge against them in Indusse's own Aditya Varma Kulashekara International Stadium. Another match with decent goal scoring by both teams, Indusse sealed their victory with another late goal.

The last minute saver was a goal by defender Cyrus Yazdhani which marks his first International goal in the Indussean jersey. With these matches, Mathias Paulson also marked his 402nd International in the Indussean colors. Butea's record that stood for a while was broken and captain Mersiás is also in the path of breaking it soon.

With the incoming retirement of Mathias Paulson and Lhazang Tsang Po taking over his spot, the management has also started the search for more players to warm the bench and maybe shine in the field once a blue moon. Tsang Po currently plays in the starting eleven instead of Akshay Adhaan who has been slightly out of form lately. Adhaan is set to return after he's back in form and Tsang Po may lose his spot for the time being.

United States of Alpha 3–4 Indusse
Playing XI: Preetham Singh (GK), Cyrus, Paulson, Tsang Po, Bhattacharya (All Defenders), O'Shaughnessy , Grundjee, Djetson (All Midfielders), Mersiás (c), Rahul, Djenkzo (All Attackers)
Substitutions: None
Goals: Rahul (33'), Djetson (52'), O'Shaughnessy (77'), Grundjee (86')

---

Indusse 2–1 Anewkansas
Playing XI: Preetham Singh (GK), Cyrus, Paulson, Tsang Po, Bhattacharya (All Defenders), O'Shaughnessy , Grundjee, Djetson (All Midfielders), Mersiás (c), Rahul, Djenkzo (All Attackers)
Substitutions: None
Goals: Djetson (63'), Cyrus (86')

---

[IA3x]

Atheara stands at a record of 6-0-4. This was admittedly, quite good compared to last time.

Mugel Krygorf knows one thing, that the top five all get spots. The first two of each group go straight to the World Cup, and third to fifth enter a playoffs. The lower your standing, the more matches one would need to play for a chance to appear on the greatest stage of multiversal football. He's been doing well as manager, but there's no expectations.

There's a lot of things he has to keep up with. One thing that was certain was Athara's affiliation in the multiverse. Something he hasn't thought of.

The First Republic was a former part of Anaia. The old Atheara was both Athearan and Anaian, they played in CAFA, it was... Well, Mugel certainly remembers it all. But this new Atheara, as of currently, is independent. There are many big sporting affiliations throughout the multiverse, but which would Atheara go to? In honesty, he doesn't know.

Return to Anaia? Perhaps head to one of the others? Maybe even stay as an independent association? He is, at the end of the day, in charge of Atheara's national football team. This decision is indeed up to him. However, what would the other heirs think? They have political say in this as well, so they in theory should also have a voice. That's how democracy works.

Except no, this Atheara is no longer a democracy. This Atheara is six people ruling a floating mega-city and some other cities from the shadows of the public. It's ridiculous and hilarious, admittedly. It feels directly ripped out of a video game or a fantasy dystopian novel. Though perhaps this is how Atheara tends to end up being.

At the end of the day, this is still a nation that bears the name of his home. He won't abandon it because he cannot. Mugel has a duty to accomplish with this nation and team.

But still. A few things to tick off. One of them is the affiliation. The reason he was thinking about it recently was because he got a complaint from a few players. They want to play more games so they can get better, especially the ones that don't really play professionally. Sure, the floating city is massive and holds several football clubs.

But there's not really a league infrastructure in place right now. And unless they all go out to more obscure footballing nations, they aren't going to get playtime for many football clubs. So competing in tournaments would be a good choice. Question is where? Friendlies are also on the table, perhaps that is also an idea worth considering.

League infrastructure, national team play time, multiversal affiliation... What else is there that he needs to think about? Surely there's more?

If that's all there is, well. Perhaps there are some things that can start to be done. He will unfortunately need the assistance of the other heirs. This is not something a single individual can accomplish. But he is one of the heirs, if this will be able to benefit Atheara as a whole, perhaps some of them would be more willing to assist.

All that Mugel wants is for Atheara to return to the status it once had. Sure, it's not exactly the same thing. The Second Republic is merely a shadow of what The First Republic was, but it doesn't have to be the exact same shape. All he wants is for this country to have the same status, honor, and reputation it's predecessor had.

And whether people like it or not, this is what Mugel has determined as his life-long mission. And no one is convincing him otherwise.

[Yangchenia]

---

To Advance is not to Develop

---

The bitter cold bit deep into Yuko Tanaka’s skin as he waited for the bus that would take him to the center of the city. The bus stop was an old relic of the imperial past, back when automobiles were just making their way into the continent. It relied on a fire source to keep its interior heated, boasting a large fireplace and a couple, old dilapidated benches where it seemed people in the past used to gather around and share stories over the flame as they waited for their transportation. Yet now, Kanazawa’s forgotten state had left the fireplace unlit for what seemed like many years now—though its old firewood still remained there, unused.
He checked the schedule of bus routes on his outdated, government-issued phone, a Naraean model from 2012, lacking any of the shiny new features of modern technology, like advanced touchscreens, large storage capacity, or in-built AI assistants. Yet it did its job over the last few decades, and got Yuko through his education in a system that very much relied more on technology and students doing the research than the teachers’ ability to actually teach their students. Oftentimes, they just asked their students to watch a presentation of online teachers spitting out information like it was a rap, or long recitals of ancient poetry, all memorized.

Yuko could remember his Yinese teacher forcing them to recite Wang Gyaltsen’s legendary poem in Sixty Years at Xanadu for their final exam, a long 300 line piece of poetry in the classical version. His teacher, a Mr. Yen, distributed copies of the poem and spent almost every day telling his students to memorize it word for word. His fellow classmates would close their eyes and mindlessly scream the words at the paper.

“By the will of the Heavens,
They watch over us with pride.
Gongsun’s men at Xanadu charge to certain death.,
We all shall return to Xinyou year with honor.”

It was such a beautiful poem, yet it was tarnished by what the system had done to it. Yuko was sure if Wang had known what would have become of his work in the future, he would have never created it in the first place.

Lost in flashback, he did not realize that he was reciting the last few lines of the poem out loud, and that another man had entered the bus stop. He was an old man, maybe around seventy years of age, and was definitely old enough to have seen the city rise from its humble beginnings to where it is now.

“You a student? I see you’re reciting Wang’s work. That certainly brings me back to my dictation tests as well”, he laughs.
“Oh, I’m not taking a test or anything. I’m just…reminiscing back my high school days. New graduate.”, he replied with a smile.
”“Well, those words really stick with you after they drilled it into your head”, replied the old man. “Listen boy, you better do well in your studies. Education is the key to a good life in the city! Maybe one day, you can leave this decrepit, old slum behind like I did several decades ago already.”
That was a textbook phrase at this point. The education system was supposed to produce valuable, talented members of society, as the elders said. Confucian traditions had always asserted that the elders were always right, their words contained unimaginable wisdom that the degenerate youth could never compare to. But his elders, whom he very much respected in their own right, lived in a completely different world. Raised in a completely different Raijugang. In Yuko’s eyes, the system wasn't raising talents, they were only raising more, mindless drones to toil their backs for the benefit of those at the top.

“What future can this education system even bring for me.”, Yuko responded bleakly.
“Eh?”, the old man replied, a confused tone in his voice. “A better job! Better salary! Everything!”
“I dont see the point.”
“That’s the problem with your generation. You always complain, sit around and twiddle with those goddamn cellphones, never actually do anything to improve your lives. This generation is too soft! Back in my days, we used to hall bricks to build the city from the ground up! You all should be thankful for us!”
“Why would I be thankful to those that constructed this hell?”
“Are you talking back to me? I know what life is like in the city. Hard work leads people to greatness! You’re just on your way there, and I’m already heading back.”
“I don't question your wisdom. But you and I grew up in a different Raijugang.”
“Finally, you’re making sense. Back in my day, life was harder. My father grew up during the Ya Dynasty, and guess what he had to do? Every day in school he wasnt taught anything but work! How to handle a pickaxe and dig through rock, extract and polish gems only for their hard work to be sold off for the benefit of the Ya Family. He used to say that the daughter of the Ya Mistress herself watched them labor in the fields, all while she herself hadnt even lifted a pickaxe in her life. All day, every single day. Now look at Raijugang now. So much has changed for the better. We have—”
“NOTHING HAD CHANGED”
Yuko had accidentally screamed louder than he was intending to, but at this point, all the struggles, all the pain of his entire life came flooding back to him, enough to give a full lecture.
“Nothing had changed since the times of the Ya Dynasty.”
“You cannot be so ridiculous. Look around. We don't have slave masters watching our every move while viewing us like property! Things have changed. You only need to work hard to get yourself a better life.”

“You say that if I simply work hard I’ll magically improve my family’s living conditions. Then why does my father work an entire day, twenty-four hours, three days a week, followed by twelve hour days in between, and still struggle to feed us? You claim this is a system that rewards hard labor. But if it was, then we wouldn't be in this state! This system doesn't reward labor, it rewards luck and family names. And about the Ya. You told me that we no longer have the Grand Mistress watching our every move. They are still here. We simply now call them bosses and politicians. We toil everyday, yet we barely see even the smallest fruits of our labor. You call it emancipation, but I call it redesignation. Those chains you speak about didn't vanish, we simply forgot they even existed., Everything is still the same as it was a hundred years ago! Only now, we bow to multiple masters.”

As he heard his bus arrive, he stood up from his seat, and walked towards the door, but not before he stopped at the threshold and said;
“I wish I lived in your time instead. Because maybe I would have seen a time when this city felt like it belonged to us, the people.”

Before the man could say another word, Yuko boarded the bus, and left for the city center.

[Auprussia]

"Kingdom" Era Lorentine Names and Origins

This chapter is dedicated to the era where both The Kingdom of Eolorent and Ouelorent were both at the height of their power. These names have a bit more Auprussian/Pied influence of course (after all this happens after the fall of the Kingdom of Piendoux (109 ASE) and the migration of the Pied peoples south and west). You will notice a lot of these names have been distorted in Modern Lorentine or even left behind to forever be forgotten to time. Keep in mind after this chapter we will not talk about Modern Lorentine until much later and you will see how much things had changed from this era.

Teren:
The noble who led the kingdom to Eolorent to some of its finest military victories early in the Kingdom's existence. His armor and sword are in the Chagris History Museum and has been long associated with Lorentine bravery and cunning. There are tales of Teren encountering impossible odds but winning the day through trickery and intelligence. After his time in the military Teren had retired to the countryside, wanting out from the noble life and it's twists and turns. After that, Teren just...disappeared. One day during a festival commemorating the founding of the Kingdom of Eolorent a friend of Teren's attempted to talk to him about coming back to the capital to participate in the festivities but when he got there Teren was gone. So was his family as well. To this day no one at the time nor any historian has found a good reason for Teren's disappearance thus, it remains a mystery.

Argant:
Known by the full name of Argant Orteio, Argant was a merchant who lived during the Ostrogic Raids (237 ASE) who had himself raised a mercenary army to deal with the raiders. He led them to battle and successfully pushed them away from the capital of the Kingdom but then attempted to raid said capital. His army was promptly pushed back and Argant himself exiled to Basony, then he returned in the brief the "Argant War" (244 ASE) where he invaded Ouelorent. The invasion of course, went poorly with Argant and his army destroyed. This was turned into a song by the reasonably popular Auprussian band Ancyclor as "Traitor of All" in 2001 ASE. When a Lorentine historian thinks of "traitor" this name is usually who pops up first.

Sevedend:
Known as Sevedend Arcau this man was a peasant accused of murdering a nobleman in cold blood. Sevedend himself was thrown into a dungeon, promptly escaped when another noble named "Iren" broke him out of the dungeon, and had to prove that he was not a murderer in 5 days. This story was recounted in a compilation of Old Auprussian tales named Le Histoire de Chagris (1953 ASE) by Pierre Valmac. Historians find the story a bit hard to believe and figured that Pierre made up most of the stories in his book but recently the found evidence that a family by the name of "Arcau" lived in the area around 648 ASE. It's also notable that Pierre Valmac mixed in old folk tales with some real historical tales as well, so it's almost impossible to verify if this actually took place.

Latheor:
In a time with mysterious individuals this might be the most mysterious of all. Latheor was first documented to exist in 117 ASE as a scribe for the Kingdom of Eolorent. The next time his name comes up was in 130 ASE as a part of a group of scribes who stood accused of conspiring to kill a noble named "Audeqer". Then his final appearance was in 144 ASE where he suggested the idea of invading Ouelorent to the heir of Eolorent at the time. Other than those three instances historians cannot find any traces of Laethor. Not a descendent, not a noble house, not even a place of residence but we know he exists because of these three creditable instances recorded by other scribes at the time. Theories range from an advisor to the royal family, to being the real person running the kingdom at the time, or even more outlandish instances like he was a demon or devil who was influencing the kingdom. The first theory is probably the most probable one but we probably wont have a real idea unless more evidence comes along.

[The Republic of the United Marble Tribes]

Group 6

---

MD9
Serenitas Novae 0–1 Chromatika
The Ko-orenite Constellation 2–1 Quakmybush
TJUN-ia 1–1 Valentine Z
Vetrahjart 1–0 Cothe Saria
The Republic of the United Marble Tribes 2–0 Stewartika

Group 6                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Chromatika                                  9    9   0   0    24    7  +17    27
 2 Valentine Z                                 9    6   1   2    14    9   +5    19
 3 TJUN-ia                                     9    5   1   3    16   11   +5    16
 4 The Ko-orenite Constellation                9    5   1   3    14   10   +4    16
 5 The Republic of the United Marble Tribes    9    5   0   4    15    7   +8    15
 6 Serenitas Novae                             9    4   0   5     9   12   −3    12
 7 Quakmybush                                  9    3   1   5    11   13   −2    10
 8 Vetrahjart                                  9    2   2   5     4   16  −12     8
 9 Stewartika                                  9    1   2   6     9   19  −10     5
10 Cothe Saria                                 9    1   0   8     5   17  −12     3

Matchday 9 RP
(Words taken from the live highlights recording)

Wonderful weather and a thrilling 9th matchday. We are at the half-way point already. Wow. Today, we have Marbleland against Stewartika.

19th minute: Here comes Marquez, a beautiful pass to Wilkins, chips it over, and Matusaleh scores the first goal of the game. Utter Marvelous!

30th minute: Ryan Goldbridge chips the ball away to the half-way line, caught by Wilkins, Wilkins to Ahmad, Ahmad passes to Matusaleh, and Matusaleh scores yet another brace for Marbleland. Oh no, looks like there's gonna be some VAR check here.

32nd minute: and the referee approves! A goal is a goal!

60th minute: Mustard, down to Nottingwood, Barack, Hart, back to Nottingwood, Barack, Barack runs down past the half way line, to Harrison, Harrison running down the win, can he score a third for Marbleland, Harrison, Harrison, Harrison, HARRIso- And it goes off the post! How unfortunate!

90+5th minute: There you go fellas, that's full time! Nothing too interesting in the second-half tho, but a win, is indeed a win. Marbleland 2, Stewartika nil.

---

Group 6

---

MD10
Chromatika 3–0 Stewartika
The Republic of the United Marble Tribes 3–0 Cothe Saria
Vetrahjart 2–3 Valentine Z
TJUN-ia 5–3 Quakmybush
The Ko-orenite Constellation 0–1 Serenitas Novae

Group 6                                      Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Chromatika                                 10   10   0   0    27    7  +20    30
 2 Valentine Z                                10    7   1   2    17   11   +6    22
 3 TJUN-ia                                    10    6   1   3    21   14   +7    19
 4 The Republic of the United Marble Tribes   10    6   0   4    18    7  +11    18
 5 The Ko-orenite Constellation               10    5   1   4    14   11   +3    16
 6 Serenitas Novae                            10    5   0   5    10   12   −2    15
 7 Quakmybush                                 10    3   1   6    14   18   −4    10
 8 Vetrahjart                                 10    2   2   6     6   19  −13     8
 9 Stewartika                                 10    1   2   7     9   22  −13     5
10 Cothe Saria                                10    1   0   9     5   20  −15     3

Matchday 10 RP
(Words taken from live highlights recording)

The Marblelanian and Cothe Sarian team are back facing each other again. While Cothe Saria is struggling survive, the opponent is trying to get at secure 3rd or 4th place. We had past the half-way line. Who would make it out alive?

3rd minute: Joseph King kicks it off to Lias-Naire. Barack receives the ball, Fariz, Rottingham, to Law, to PRATT AND A SPECTACULAR GOAL BY CHRIS PRATT!!! His first goal in the world cup! Pratt leads the Yellow Monkeys into an early lead.

29th minute: Fariz throws in to Rottingham, Rottingham, Barack, Harrison... Harrison, Harrison, HARRISON! And that was almost the second goal for Marbleland. It just went slightly over the bar. That was extremely close!

72nd minute: Barack taking the free kick here. Matusaleh... steps up, saves by the keeper.

79th minute: Barack steps up again for another free kick. Can he do it this time? Barack,... BARACK! He never disappoints at free kicks! What a whipping goal from Enoch Barack! This is madness! What a rocket goal that was! The Cothe Sarians are awe-struck. The Yellow flames are coming out!

90+1st minute: Frans steps up for the corner. He shoots... good curve, but headed out by King. Here comes Wesley clearing the way, and the captain Matusaleh is running like a mad hog, chasing the ball. Good speed here, Matusaleh running down the wing, Maurizio comes up, and slips. oh, Matusaleh trips, oh shoot, he's still running, that's insane determination, Harrison is here, Matusaleh, to Harrison. Harrison crosses back AND MATUSALEH SCORES ANOTHER BRACE FOR MARBLELAND! THE ULTRAS ARE GOING MAD NOW! WHAT A NIGHT! Marbleland had never ever had 2 wins in a row this tournament! This is crazy!

90+8th minute: And that is full-time, ladies and gentleman. What an epic night we have here, as Marbleland gains 3 points while Cothe Saria resumes its struggle at the bottom of the table. Marbleland 3, Cothe Saria nil.

I hope I get to do another interview soon.

[Pasarga]

A split of what was most definitely the most challenging international window was probably the most realistic of the outcomes, with trips to Saint Eleanor as well as Natkr. It was not ideal but it also provided enough stability for the Wanderers to maintain their pursuit of automatic qualification, even if it was now a three way race between themselves, Zwangzug, and Saint Eleanor. The top seed's early struggles seemed a thing of the distant past at this point, having rattled over over half a dozen victories in a row now, including the one in their home over the Wanderers, to overtake Pasarga in the table. The loss at home to Skorpiie and draw away to Epicly Amazing Giraffes were looming large with the team sitting level on points with Zwangzug, though the former champion sat in third thanks to the Dual Islands having both the goal difference as well as the head to head tiebreakers against them. While the match in Zwangzug was some time away still, avoiding defeat there was going to be quite important if the team was going to maintain its advantage against Zwangzug. Avoiding the playoffs was going to quite the task but the Wanderers clearly had the quality to do it.

It had been a spirited effort from the side in Saint Eleanor, the team having held their ground for large portions of the match and the midfield battle being a large part of the game. Each team was attempting to cancel out the other in the midfield, looking to impose their will on the middle of the park to dictate the pace of play. What resulted was definitely not the most attractive football to watch, neither team really could hold possession or the momentum for long against the other, resulting in quite the gritty battle in the middle. A combined six shots on target at the end of the game, three a piece by the respective sides, and only eleven total really highlights how few and far between chances were in this pot one against pot two matchup. It likely played out more in favor of the way that the hosts were looking for though, with the more negative setup that they seemed to prefer, low scoring and low scoring opportunity games seemed to be exactly how they wanted matches to play out and banking on their ability to be the team that would pip the goal that would earn them the full share of the spoils. Unfortunately for Pasarga, that tactic and mindset proved true in this occasion, Saint Eleanor grabbing the lone goal in the match in the seventy-second, the Wanderers unable to match in the last quarter hour.

The trip to Natkr a few days later was as important as the one to Anaia had been, as failing to win would have been disastrous and would have allowed Zwangzug to have completely leapfrogged them and have sent the team to third and only three points ahead of the two teams tied for fourth. Fortunately for the Wanderers Mór Buday would open the scoring in the sixth minute when he took a cross from Daniela Zagorec, taking a touch to move the ball to his stronger foot before curling it past Ethan Carter in net. It would be a lead that the Wanderers would hold on with a tight grasp through the first half, though the hosts would not go away quietly as they are still dreaming of making the automatic qualification places themselves. Isaac Bridge would get above the rest of the crowd in the six on a corner and put it past Óskar to pull things level in the fifty-seventh. It would not be enough though as the Wanderers knew the stakes and Katinka Fazakas, who came on in the seventy-second, would score in the seventy-ninth on a mesmerizing individual effort dribbling past the defense and chipping Carter. Óskar would deny Bridge's attempt at a brace in the eighty-sixth to secure the victory and the three points for the squad, maintaining second in the group.

Now the team finally gets to return home and it is a game that there will definitely be a bit of extra intensity from the Wanderers from, as they will be playing hosts to the Giraffes in Torgos in the first game of the next international window. Rooted to the bottom of the table despite having taken the share of the spoils in the first international window of the campaign, the Giraffes present the opportunity to pair wins together and keep the momentum rolling. Heading to Natanians and Nosts a few days after will definitely emphasize the need to keep the form going for the Wanderers, with Nosts sitting six points behind the team in a tie for fourth, alongside Tomerion, and Natkr sitting only a single point behind that pair. All three clubs are looking for any slip ups by any of the current top three in the group so that they might capitalize and force them into a battle going into the home stretch. Scouting out the Giraffes, Tomerion, and Nosts has been difficult with their use of completely anonymous players who do not wear numbers on the back of their jerseys. Regardless they have been proven formidable enough to sit just a few bad results behind the top of the group and the Wanderers need maintain their vigilance lest they allow themselves to be drawn into that bit of quicksand.

[Tanirinthia]

---

OF FATES AND FORTUNES
Chapter Forty-Two - Origins (continued)

---

”Now let me tell you some lessons about travelling between worlds. The first lesson is never assume that there is something universally understood, say putting your hands up to indicate surrender. The second lesson is you will find out pretty quickly and most of the time forcefully when you’ve done something deeply wrong and that most of your learnings at the beginning are going to be that you’ve continued doing new wrong things.”

”I found this out when I tried to indicate our surrender, only to be met with a cry of anger and whatever they were holding painfully jabbed into my ribs with great force. I compounded this by trying once again to indicate with my hands that we were not armed. This brought several further blows and a loss of consciousness. I found out much later that showing your palms was considered a great insult and in fact a provocation of a fight, the idea that you don’t even need to be holding a weapon to take them down. Well it wouldn’t be the last time I insulted someone without meaning to, nor would it be the last time I was rebuked with force for it.”

”I awoke a little while later, head throbbing and I could feel the dried blood on my face. Blearily I tried to move but found myself tied to a post, as my eyes adjusted into focus I saw that I was in the centre of some kind of camp, no sign of my friends, my back feeling a little too warm as the roaring campfire behind me was a little too close for comfort. I did begin to wonder if perhaps I was on the menu. People milled around the camp purposefully avoiding eye contact and passing too close to me. I heard snippets of conversation, it was odd they were clearly sounds I’d heard before however they were combined in such ways I’d never heard on Tanirinth, despite them clearly looking human when they spoke it was so alien.”

”So what I saw next was the most surprising thing. As my eyes scanned around the camp they came upon a group of children playing with a ball and were kicking around the ball with their feet. There were sticks in the ground indicating a goal, in front of which stood a player who was the only one that handed the ball. Here on an alien world, with people speaking in an alien language, with alien customs, was a game of football.”

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Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four | Chapter Five | Chapter Six | Chapter Seven | Chapter Eight | Chapter Nine | Chapter Ten | Chapter Eleven | Chapter Twelve | Chapter Thirteen | Chapter Fourteen | Chapter Fifteen | Chapter Sixteen | Chapter Seventeen | Chapter Eighteen | Chapter Nineteen | Chapter Twenty | Chapter Twenty-One | Chapter Twenty-Two | Chapter Twenty-Three | Chapter Twenty-Four | Chapter Twenty-Five | Chapter Twenty-Six | Chapter Twenty-Seven | Chapter Twenty-Eight | Chapter Twenty-Nine | Chapter Thirty | Chapter Thirty-One | Chapter Thirty-Two | Chapter Thirty-Three | Chapter Thirty-Four | Chapter Thirty-Five | Chapter Thirty-Six | Chapter Thirty-Seven | Chapter Thirty-Eight | Chapter Thirty-Nine | Chapter Forty | Chapter Forty-One | Chapter Forty-Two (Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven)

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Matchday Nine

Matchday Ten

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