Zoran

29 March 1423
09:00
Port Kaisah neighborhood, Kaisah, District Seven
Two years I have been stuck in this rather unpleasant country with little to no contact to the outside world except for the occasional interaction I have with a Cambrian operative. There are many things I miss…especially the internet…the intranet here is weird but maybe I could explore the option of corrupting it somehow with misleading or disruptive information at some point.
The man thinks as he walks down the streets of Port Kaisah, he came down here from Saint Andreisburg for one reason and one reason only, to deliver a message. While he is taking a risk in doing this he feels that he should take advantage of the situation he believes is occurring. While it may very well be possible that the Zoranian government has changed the way the SIC operates, he has an itching feeling that the Rugby tournament is something they could get involved in considering it is taking place here in Dalimbar.
The tricky part is finding an operative as our intelligence service is clever with their disguises.The whole “little gray man” concept for their disguises helps them become indistinguishable from your average civilian unless you are carefully scanning a crowd.
He walks into a café in the rugby zone and gazes around the establishment to see if he sees a Zoranian, which to his luck he did. After taking a seat behind the Zoranian so that he was back to back with them. He took out the crossword puzzle he had tucked away in his coat and opened it up before saying in a conspiratorial tone,
“Is the banana bread any good?”
“Clear skies throughout the day.” replied the Zoranian to CGZ’s surprise,
“And I thought there would be rain by five.” CGZ responded. He waited for a few minutes before heading to the bathrooms where he waited for five minutes for the Zoranian to join him.
“Listen man, I thought we were told to avoid contact with each other outside of our co-” CGZ pushed against the wall and put a hand over the man’s mouth,
“We don’t have much time, I am not part of whatever operation you are part of but I have a message for your Queen,” CGZ takes an envelope out of his coat pocket and holds it in front of the man’s eyes, “make sure it gets to her, tell your boss to tell her it is from a friend. Do I make myself clear?” The man’s eyes narrowed but slowly nodded his head. CGZ slowly releases the man who immediately grabs their arm and attempts a reversal only to find themselves thrown over CGZ’s shoulder onto the ground. Before they had time to get up and react, CGZ notices the Blue Card in the man’s pocket, snatches it, and backs up a few paces,
“Attempt that again and I will flush this down the toilet.” the man groans as he gets, keeping their eyes on the card, “I am not your enemy but I sure as hell can ruin the operation you are part of should you attempt that shit. Do you understand me?”
“Crystal clear.” says the man begrudgingly,
“Good, now I am going to hand your card back with my envelope. After that, I will leave the bathroom and you will follow two minutes after me. Got it?” The man nods in response which leads CGZ to hand over the blue card with the envelope. He washes his hands at the sink (for hygiene purposes) and walks out the bathroom back to their seat and just as instructed the man does as well two minutes later. A waitress comes up to CGZ’s table,
“What would you like, sir?” she asks in Dalimbari,
“A double shot of espresso please, oh and a pastry of your recommendation.” He is going to need that double shot because it is going to be a long day when he gets back to Saint Andreisburg as he gets the gears rolling on the final phase of his plan to complete the assignment from Cambria, find out a crucial piece of information directly from Stavka’s inner circle that Cambrian intelligence doesn’t know yet…an assignment which he has been working two whole years to complete with careful planning.

29 March 1423
09:00
Port Kaisah neighborhood, Kaisah, District Seven
Two years I have been stuck in this rather unpleasant country with little to no contact to the outside world except for the occasional interaction I have with a Cambrian operative. There are many things I miss…especially the internet…the intranet here is weird but maybe I could explore the option of corrupting it somehow with misleading or disruptive information at some point.
The man thinks as he walks down the streets of Port Kaisah, he came down here from Saint Andreisburg for one reason and one reason only, to deliver a message. While he is taking a risk in doing this he feels that he should take advantage of the situation he believes is occurring. While it may very well be possible that the Zoranian government has changed the way the SIC operates, he has an itching feeling that the Rugby tournament is something they could get involved in considering it is taking place here in Dalimbar.
The tricky part is finding an operative as our intelligence service is clever with their disguises.The whole “little gray man” concept for their disguises helps them become indistinguishable from your average civilian unless you are carefully scanning a crowd.
He walks into a café in the rugby zone and gazes around the establishment to see if he sees a Zoranian, which to his luck he did. After taking a seat behind the Zoranian so that he was back to back with them. He took out the crossword puzzle he had tucked away in his coat and opened it up before saying in a conspiratorial tone,
“Is the banana bread any good?”
“Clear skies throughout the day.” replied the Zoranian to CGZ’s surprise,
“And I thought there would be rain by five.” CGZ responded. He waited for a few minutes before heading to the bathrooms where he waited for five minutes for the Zoranian to join him.
“Listen man, I thought we were told to avoid contact with each other outside of our co-” CGZ pushed against the wall and put a hand over the man’s mouth,
“We don’t have much time, I am not part of whatever operation you are part of but I have a message for your Queen,” CGZ takes an envelope out of his coat pocket and holds it in front of the man’s eyes, “make sure it gets to her, tell your boss to tell her it is from a friend. Do I make myself clear?” The man’s eyes narrowed but slowly nodded his head. CGZ slowly releases the man who immediately grabs their arm and attempts a reversal only to find themselves thrown over CGZ’s shoulder onto the ground. Before they had time to get up and react, CGZ notices the Blue Card in the man’s pocket, snatches it, and backs up a few paces,
“Attempt that again and I will flush this down the toilet.” the man groans as he gets, keeping their eyes on the card, “I am not your enemy but I sure as hell can ruin the operation you are part of should you attempt that shit. Do you understand me?”
“Crystal clear.” says the man begrudgingly,
“Good, now I am going to hand your card back with my envelope. After that, I will leave the bathroom and you will follow two minutes after me. Got it?” The man nods in response which leads CGZ to hand over the blue card with the envelope. He washes his hands at the sink (for hygiene purposes) and walks out the bathroom back to their seat and just as instructed the man does as well two minutes later. A waitress comes up to CGZ’s table,
“What would you like, sir?” she asks in Dalimbari,
“A double shot of espresso please, oh and a pastry of your recommendation.” He is going to need that double shot because it is going to be a long day when he gets back to Saint Andreisburg as he gets the gears rolling on the final phase of his plan to complete the assignment from Cambria, find out a crucial piece of information directly from Stavka’s inner circle that Cambrian intelligence doesn’t know yet…an assignment which he has been working two whole years to complete with careful planning.

29 March 1423
09:00
Port Kaisah neighborhood, Kaisah, District Seven
Two years I have been stuck in this rather unpleasant country with little to no contact to the outside world except for the occasional interaction I have with a Cambrian operative. There are many things I miss…especially the internet…the intranet here is weird but maybe I could explore the option of corrupting it somehow with misleading or disruptive information at some point.
The man thinks as he walks down the streets of Port Kaisah, he came down here from Saint Andreisburg for one reason and one reason only, to deliver a message. While he is taking a risk in doing this he feels that he should take advantage of the situation he believes is occurring. While it may very well be possible that the Zoranian government has changed the way the SIC operates, he has an itching feeling that the Rugby tournament is something they could get involved in considering it is taking place here in Dalimbar.
The tricky part is finding an operative as our intelligence service is clever with their disguises.The whole “little gray man” concept for their disguises helps them become indistinguishable from your average civilian unless you are carefully scanning a crowd.
He walks into a café in the rugby zone and gazes around the establishment to see if he sees a Zoranian, which to his luck he did. After taking a seat behind the Zoranian so that he was back to back with them. He took out the crossword puzzle he had tucked away in his coat and opened it up before saying in a conspiratorial tone,
“Is the banana bread any good?”
“Clear skies throughout the day.” replied the Zoranian to CGZ’s surprise,
“And I thought there would be rain by five.” CGZ responded. He waited for a few minutes before heading to the bathrooms where he waited for five minutes for the Zoranian to join him.
“Listen man, I thought we were told to avoid contact with each other outside of our co-” CGZ pushed against the wall and put a hand over the man’s mouth,
“We don’t have much time, I am not part of whatever operation you are part of but I have a message for your Queen,” CGZ takes an envelope out of his coat pocket and holds it in front of the man’s eyes, “make sure it gets to her, tell your boss to tell her it is from a friend. Do I make myself clear?” The man’s eyes narrowed but slowly nodded his head. CGZ slowly releases the man who immediately grabs their arm and attempts a reversal only to find themselves thrown over CGZ’s shoulder onto the ground. Before they had time to get up and react, CGZ notices the Blue Card in the man’s pocket, snatches it, and backs up a few paces,
“Attempt that again and I will flush this down the toilet.” the man groans as he gets, keeping their eyes on the card, “I am not your enemy but I sure as hell can ruin the operation you are part of should you attempt that shit. Do you understand me?”
“Crystal clear.” says the man begrudgingly,
“Good, now I am going to hand your card back with my envelope. After that, I will leave the bathroom and you will follow two minutes after me. Got it?” The man nods in response which leads CGZ to hand over the blue card with the envelope. He washes his hands at the sink (for hygiene purposes) and walks out the bathroom back to their seat and just as instructed the man does as well two minutes later. A waitress comes up to CGZ’s table,
“What would you like, sir?” she asks in Dalimbari,
“A double shot of espresso please, oh and a pastry of your recommendation.” He is going to need that double shot because it is going to be a long day when he gets back to Saint Andreisburg as he gets the gears rolling on the final phase of his plan to complete the assignment from Cambria, find out a crucial piece of information directly from Stavka’s inner circle that Cambrian intelligence doesn’t know yet…an assignment which he has been working two whole years to complete with careful planning.

"Did you see how wonderful my Paul was!" beamed Lady Arlene as her maid poured the tea.
Archbishop Lumendei patiently nodded and smiled in response for the fourth time in this same conversation. 
"Yes, he was quite a show-stopper. You must be so proud. The Lions were very much on their game today. I almost feel sorry for those poor young people from ... where was that? ... Apexia or something like that? They just couldn't catch a break."
"Oh, yes. Quite. The Lions do deserve the win, of course, though. They've worked so hard this past year, trying to improve themselves. I really think they've come quite far."
"Yes, indeed they have, Countess. It is a fine day for Saint Mark."
"Oh, it is! Our horrible trip here is completely washed from my mind!"
"Let us hope, and dare I say maybe pray a little, that they can make a good showing in their next match. The Zoranians are an excellent team."
"Now don't go spoiling my mood! My Paul and his Lions shone forth today. Let's focus on that for now. Cucumber sandwich?"
The two enjoyed their tea and each other's company in the warm glow of the setting sun and the glorious day.

Why Not? Band Member Hospitalized After Stabbing
Jack Atkins, lead singer of band Why Not?, has been hospitalized after near fatal stabbing and is in critical condition.
Atkins and his band had been hired to play in downtown Sheridan bar Tony's where he had been stabbed, after which the assailant was restrained by bar patrons and the police called.
Reportedly, the Giovanniland vs Saranzio match of the 4th Rugby World Cup was coming to a close on the establishment's television. A patron, 52 year old Rupert Kipling, asked the band to stop playing so he could hear the game. Atkins, who could not hear him, was immediately assaulted by Kipling wielding a knife and stabbed Atkins 4 times before being restrained. 
"I never thought something like this could happen in my bar", says bar owner Anthony Castiglione, "We're in a good part of town. The worst that has ever happened to me or any of the places around here is a break in at 2 am". Anthony has decided to no longer show competitive sports on the television.
Sheridan Police Chief Gordon Sanders has stated that Kipling has been jailed for violent crimes before, including armed robbery and spousal abuse. He is currently awaiting trial in Sheridan County Detention Center.

LIONS WIN!
 
The Lions opened the game on the front foot at the three-minute mark when Hugo Dasher timed an ill-advised Apexiala pass from the ground and raced 50 meters to go ahead 5-0. 
 
Both teams had scoring opportunities throughout the first half, but play was consistently negated by poor ball handling and momentum-killing penalties.  In a last-ditch effort to score their first try of the match, Apexiala elected to play out of their own end with no time remaining. They managed to put together several phases and were driving deep into Saint Mark territory, but were pinged for holding the ball.  After Blaze Emberfell found touch near midfield, the Lions had a chance to find points at the end of the half. 
 
Saint Mark won its lineout and scrumhalf Michael Hawk fooled everyone when he faked a pass off the back of the lineout and darted up the middle of the field. After a strong carry, he offloaded to a supporting Paul Reston who finished the job and scored. 

Coming out of the half, both teams struggled to find their footing in wet field conditions. Emberfell continued to pin the Apexiala team back and the defensive effort of Marcarius Hightower, Gregor Napoli, and Rudolph Centerman stopped any forward movement.
 
With time winding down Alan Stonegate put in one last try on a gutsy inside line for the final 15-0 margin. 

A Sekiyan Story - Part 2
 

The Loss
The Kaiserstahl Stadium in Neuersekitz was packed with tens of thousands of enthusiastic Sekiyan rugby fans. The atmosphere was electric, with the excitement of the crowd palpable. Sekiya had done well in national friendlies recently, and expectations were high. In order to ensure that everyone had the best possible view of the game, large screens had been set up in the middle of the field, allowing spectators from the stands to watch the game live. In addition, over a million Sekiyans watched the match from the comfort of their own homes.
Unfortunately, the Sekiyan team suffered a crushing defeat, leaving many fans devastated. Despite the optimistic start to the match, things quickly took a turn for the worse, resulting in numerous tries being scored against Sekiya's primarily Karlan defense. The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the Sekiyan rugby community.
After the match, the mood was somber, with no celebrations or post-match gatherings. The only activity was a long line of traffic as people left the stadium.
However, the disappointment of the loss was overshadowed by the rise of ethnic tensions in Flussland. A small group of Mittellandians from the Mittellandian-majority county of Héich-Sûre, who had watched the match at a local pub, set fire to a Karlan family's farm in nearby Karlan-majority county of Néier-Sûre shortly after the game. This was one of several racially motivated attacks and incidents of graffiti reported in different parts of Sekiya, targeting the Karlan players.

Map of Flussland. Red: The location of the pub. Orange: The location of the fire.
Within 24 hours of the game, the authorities arrested 62 people for discriminatory acts. The violence sparked a peaceful protest in Eisenhaustad, the provincial capital of Flussland, by the Karlans, demanding greater action to prevent racial hatred against them by Mittellandians. The Provincial Rep., Edouard Dieschbourg, appealed for peace during the tournament but also warned that the 3rd and 4th Infantry Batallions were ready to disrupt any violence in the city.

Meanwhile, online forums that support Mittellandian supremacy have called for a counter-protest in the city, raising concerns about the potential for further violence and unrest. The situation remains tense, and everyone is hoping for a peaceful resolution.
The nation tensely waits for Sekiya's next game. A win would guarantee a de-escalation of tensions across the nation, however another loss could only lead to further unrest between the Mittellandians and Karlans.

Quiyakaso: Hellooooooo Zoran! I am Quiyakaso!
Priscian: And I am Noya Priscian and you are watching RNN Live!
Quiyakaso: Not bad, Priscian but you should consider giving it some more spirit next time?
Priscian: Get bent, Quiyakaso. Today is the Day 2 of the Rugby World Cup and here we ha-
Quiyakaso: I thought we agreed to run this together?
Priscian [shoots Quiyakaso a glare] then go ahead and introduce our guest!
Quiyakaso: Gladly, here we have fly-half of the Zoranian Team, Gulkalaski Lemomequa!
Priscian: Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Lemomequa.
Lemomequa: Thank you two for having me.
Quiyakaso: Tell m-us, tell us, many players from various teams have expressed fears about coming to Dalimbar, do you and the Zoranian team feel the same?
Lemomequa: [chuckles] Let me tell you something, after you have fought in the front line of a revolution in the jungles of Zoran where mosquitos are eating you alive while you have no clue where the enemy is hiding, visiting a country that is made to be the ‘Boogie man’ of Esferos is nothing but a vacation. This is how the rest of the team and I feel about it.
Priscian: Quite a statement there, Lemomequa, you served in the civil w-
Lemomequa: Revolution, we fought for change and change is what we brought to our country. If the Grand Defense Council had won we would be calling it a civil war or rebellion. But I digress, yes I did serve, I was the youngest founding member of the Raspberry Berets in fact.
Priscian: Wow, well thank you for your service. You know, our team is going up against Saint Mark again in our first match of the World Cup again. Do you and the te-
A lodge of otters come out of the water and start making their way into view of the camera and proceed to threateningly approach Quiyakaso
Quiyakaso: Aw look, Dalimbari Ot-AAAAAAAHHHHHH!
An otter leaps at Quiyakaso and the lodge drags him to the ground, prompting Lemomequa and Priscian to back away while some of the crew try to get the attention of the local authorities
Priscian:...so the Quiyakaso curse is not just a myth…
Lemomequa: Not even the jaguars in the jungle were that vicious…
.                

Rugby is back, baby!  With the "big four" of rugby (Zoran, Dalimbar, Cambria, and United Adaikes) being able to sit back and watch their competition, the new squads and old alike were able to see out of them who could face the best in the sport.
Overthinkers is looking pretty good. They absolutely crushed returning team Libterraria 26-0, which is the widest spread since RWC2 Day 6 when Dalimbar beat... Libterraria by 27 points. Power move from the newcomers, who gained an impressive 4.45 points in the Rankings. 
Teralyon had a similar match against Sekiya, besting their opponents by 17, and gaining 3.87 points. Saint Mark also had a good day against Apexiala, blanking their opponents 15-0.
And then there were the two ties. Two strong teams, Larxia and Giovanniland, could not break their opponents and tied. Giovanniland had the misfortune of not even able to score... anything. Their opponent did not either, but that's not a great start to the tournament. Cheers to Ostronia and Saranzio for fending off their foes!
A     B Larxia (53.48) 22 22 Ostronia (45.00+3) Hertfordshire and Jammbo (49.20) 21 23 Ionia (45.00+3) Teralyon (45.11) 27 10 Sekiya (45.00+3) Saint Mark (49.87) 15 00 Apexiala (45.00+3) Giovanniland (47.52) 00 00 Saranzio (45.00+3) Varanius (45.00) 26 14 Rivalfiume (45.00+3) Libterraria (52.82) 00 26 Overthinkers (45.00+3) Nieubasria (47.13) 10 07 Peourouin (45.00+3) Einherfell (43.99) 15 16 Cyrylic (45.00+3) Fujai (51.29) 06 03 Ryxtylopia (45.00+3) Dilber (46.61) 10 06 Kalmach (45.00+3) Arifiyyah (45.00) 14 12 Aftokratoria (45.00+3) Day 1 Rankings:
Zoran - 62.61 Dalimbar - 57.04  Cambria - 55.07  Fujai - 52.63  Larxia - 52.38  United Adaikes - 51.91 Saint Mark - 51.50 Blue Bubble - 50.93 Santos-Dominius - 49.51 Overthinkers - 49.45 Nieubasria - 49.30 Teralyon - 48.98 Dilber - 48.89 Min-Su - 48.87 Libterraria - 48.37 Giovanniland - 47.62 Varanius - 47.60 Arifiyyah - 47.60 Ionia - 47.24 Hertfordshire and Jammbo - 46.96 Cyrylic - 46.20 Ostronia - 46.10 Nagaraningrad - 45.77 Saranzio - 44.90 Ryztylopia - 43.66 Apexiala - 43.37 Denieria - 42.95 Peourouin - 42.83 Einherfell - 42.79 Kalmach - 42.72 Rivalfiume - 42.40 Aftokratoria - 42.40 Qostaoyae - 42.11 Hanita Gracse - 41.76 Sekiya - 41.13

"... and with us at Live from Garrison! is the fastest man in all of Dalimbari rugby, the captain of the Boys in Blue, the one! the only! Luka Ivica!"

Picture of Luka flashes on the screen before he walks into the studio. He waves to the audience and gives a wink to the host, Katya Radoslava.
"Well hello, Luka! Welcome to Live from Garrison! How are you, darling?" Katya beams back at Luka.
"Amazing! Just... amazing. It's a dream come true..." he starts.
"Being on my show? Oh how sweet of you!" she playfully interjects.
"Hah, that too! But of course of having the Rugby World Cup here! In Saint Andreisburg!" 
"It really is a dream come true, isn't it? Now, because we have a lot of guests here in the country and all eyes of the world are on us today, could you tell the world a little bit about yourself, Luka?" she smiles at him, nodding encouragingly.
"Oh! Hello outside world! I'm Luka, born and raised here in Saint Andreisburg and I play for Geness. I'm captain of our great squad, and I may dabble in dancing on and off the pitch." 
"That you do! Viewers, as you may know our own captain was a contestant on VIP Dance and won!"

Picture of Luka with his dance partner, Ivona Aljosa, at the finals of VIP Dance, where they danced tango, the national dance. The crowd erupts in applause.
"I wouldn't have won if it weren't for my partner Ivona. Without each other, we would be nowhere. We built each other up and each dance, we knew each other more. She is to dance as my Boys in Blue are to rugby. The Boys and I build each other up. Each game, we face the enemy together. We all need each other to win." he had a proud look in his eyes while the audience was enthralled.  
"We're just going to do a quick commercial break, but please stick with us when we bring out......... Ivona Aljosa! Stay right there!"

The 4th Rugby World Cup opened in Dalimbar with stunning display of athleticism and skill, from all around the world!

Our own national rugby team took to the field today in the opening match to the cup and managed to defeat the Sekiyan national rugby team, also known as the Black and Reds, by a score of 27 to 10.
The game, which took place in the evening at 19:00 (20:00 Tarajeva Time) at the prestigious Garrison Stadium, Located in Saint Andreisburg, the capital of Dalimbar, drew a massive crowd of rugby fans from all over the world, all eager to witness the much-anticipated opening match to the 4th Rugby World Cup.
From the opening whistle, the game started off with the Black and Reds dominating the field, scoring the first try of the game within the first 10 minutes. However, Teralyon quickly responded with a try of their own, leveling the score at 7-7.
As the game progressed, Teralyon's defense proved to be too much for Sekiyan's offense, with the home team managing to prevent the Black and Reds from scoring any further tries. Teralyon, on the other hand, managed to score two more tries in the first half, bringing the score to 21-7 in their favor.
The second half of the game was a more evenly matched affair, with both teams putting in a strong effort. However, Teralyon managed to widen their lead with a penalty kick, bringing the score to 24-7.
Despite the Black and Reds scoring a penalty kick of their own, it was too little too late, as Teralyon's defense proved too strong to overcome. Teralyon managed to score one more try, bringing the final score to 27-10, much to the delight of the home crowd.
At the final whistle, the Teralyon players erupted in celebration, hugging and high-fiving each other as the crowd cheered wildly. It was a historic win for the team, and one that they will no doubt remember for years to come.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Maldoc Wenavic praised his team's performance, calling it a "total team effort" and highlighting the hard work and dedication that went into their victory.
"We came into this game with a clear strategy, and we executed it perfectly," he said. "I'm incredibly proud of each and every one of my players. We showed what we're capable of today, and we're ready to take on whatever challenges come our way."
Teralyon's Manager, Ratko Jenic, also praised his team's performance, saying, "I'm incredibly proud of them. They put in a tremendous effort today and showed that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. We still have a lot of work to do, but this is a great start."
The win is a major boost for the national team, who have in the past not had the greatest record. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Quiyakaso: Hellooooooo Zoran! I am Quiyakaso!
Priscian: And I am Noya Priscian and you are watching RNN Live!
Quiyakaso: Not bad, Priscian but you should consider giving it some more spirit next time?
Priscian: Get bent, Quiyakaso. Today is the Day 2 of the Rugby World Cup and here we ha-
Quiyakaso: I thought we agreed to run this together?
Priscian [shoots Quiyakaso a glare] then go ahead and introduce our guest!
Quiyakaso: Gladly, here we have fly-half of the Zoranian Team, Gulkalaski Lemomequa!
Priscian: Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Lemomequa.
Lemomequa: Thank you two for having me.
Quiyakaso: Tell m-us, tell us, many players from various teams have expressed fears about coming to Dalimbar, do you and the Zoranian team feel the same?
Lemomequa: [chuckles] Let me tell you something, after you have fought in the front line of a revolution in the jungles of Zoran where mosquitos are eating you alive while you have no clue where the enemy is hiding, visiting a country that is made to be the ‘Boogie man’ of Esferos is nothing but a vacation. This is how the rest of the team and I feel about it.
Priscian: Quite a statement there, Lemomequa, you served in the civil w-
Lemomequa: Revolution, we fought for change and change is what we brought to our country. If the Grand Defense Council had won we would be calling it a civil war or rebellion. But I digress, yes I did serve, I was the youngest founding member of the Raspberry Berets in fact.
Priscian: Wow, well thank you for your service. You know, our team is going up against Saint Mark again in our first match of the World Cup again. Do you and the te-
A lodge of otters come out of the water and start making their way into view of the camera and proceed to threateningly approach Quiyakaso
Quiyakaso: Aw look, Dalimbari Ot-AAAAAAAHHHHHH!
An otter leaps at Quiyakaso and the lodge drags him to the ground, prompting Lemomequa and Priscian to back away while some of the crew try to get the attention of the local authorities
Priscian:...so the Quiyakaso curse is not just a myth…
Lemomequa: Not even the jaguars in the jungle were that vicious…
.                

Quiyakaso: Hellooooooo Zoran! I am Quiyakaso!
Priscian: And I am Noya Priscian and you are watching RNN Live!
Quiyakaso: Not bad, Priscian but you should consider giving it some more spirit next time?
Priscian: Get bent, Quiyakaso. Today is the Day 2 of the Rugby World Cup and here we ha-
Quiyakaso: I thought we agreed to run this together?
Priscian [shoots Quiyakaso a glare] then go ahead and introduce our guest!
Quiyakaso: Gladly, here we have fly-half of the Zoranian Team, Gulkalaski Lemomequa!
Priscian: Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Lemomequa.
Lemomequa: Thank you two for having me.
Quiyakaso: Tell m-us, tell us, many players from various teams have expressed fears about coming to Dalimbar, do you and the Zoranian team feel the same?
Lemomequa: [chuckles] Let me tell you something, after you have fought in the front line of a revolution in the jungles of Zoran where mosquitos are eating you alive while you have no clue where the enemy is hiding, visiting a country that is made to be the ‘Boogie man’ of Esferos is nothing but a vacation. This is how the rest of the team and I feel about it.
Priscian: Quite a statement there, Lemomequa, you served in the civil w-
Lemomequa: Revolution, we fought for change and change is what we brought to our country. If the Grand Defense Council had won we would be calling it a civil war or rebellion. But I digress, yes I did serve, I was the youngest founding member of the Raspberry Berets in fact.
Priscian: Wow, well thank you for your service. You know, our team is going up against Saint Mark again in our first match of the World Cup again. Do you and the te-
A lodge of otters come out of the water and start making their way into view of the camera and proceed to threateningly approach Quiyakaso
Quiyakaso: Aw look, Dalimbari Ot-AAAAAAAHHHHHH!
An otter leaps at Quiyakaso and the lodge drags him to the ground, prompting Lemomequa and Priscian to back away while some of the crew try to get the attention of the local authorities
Priscian:...so the Quiyakaso curse is not just a myth…
Lemomequa: Not even the jaguars in the jungle were that vicious…
.                

Quiyakaso: Hellooooooo Zoran! I am Quiyakaso!
Priscian: And I am Noya Priscian and you are watching RNN Live!
Quiyakaso: Not bad, Priscian but you should consider giving it some more spirit next time?
Priscian: Get bent, Quiyakaso. Today is the Day 2 of the Rugby World Cup and here we ha-
Quiyakaso: I thought we agreed to run this together?
Priscian [shoots Quiyakaso a glare] then go ahead and introduce our guest!
Quiyakaso: Gladly, here we have fly-half of the Zoranian Team, Gulkalaski Lemomequa!
Priscian: Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Lemomequa.
Lemomequa: Thank you two for having me.
Quiyakaso: Tell m-us, tell us, many players from various teams have expressed fears about coming to Dalimbar, do you and the Zoranian team feel the same?
Lemomequa: [chuckles] Let me tell you something, after you have fought in the front line of a revolution in the jungles of Zoran where mosquitos are eating you alive while you have no clue where the enemy is hiding, visiting a country that is made to be the ‘Boogie man’ of Esferos is nothing but a vacation. This is how the rest of the team and I feel about it.
Priscian: Quite a statement there, Lemomequa, you served in the civil w-
Lemomequa: Revolution, we fought for change and change is what we brought to our country. If the Grand Defense Council had won we would be calling it a civil war or rebellion. But I digress, yes I did serve, I was the youngest founding member of the Raspberry Berets in fact.
Priscian: Wow, well thank you for your service. You know, our team is going up against Saint Mark again in our first match of the World Cup again. Do you and the te-
A lodge of otters come out of the water and start making their way into view of the camera and proceed to threateningly approach Quiyakaso
Quiyakaso: Aw look, Dalimbari Ot-AAAAAAAHHHHHH!
An otter leaps at Quiyakaso and the lodge drags him to the ground, prompting Lemomequa and Priscian to back away while some of the crew try to get the attention of the local authorities
Priscian:...so the Quiyakaso curse is not just a myth…
Lemomequa: Not even the jaguars in the jungle were that vicious…
.                

Quiyakaso: Hellooooooo Zoran! I am Quiyakaso!
Priscian: And I am Noya Priscian and you are watching RNN Live!
Quiyakaso: Not bad, Priscian but you should consider giving it some more spirit next time?
Priscian: Get bent, Quiyakaso. Today is the Day 2 of the Rugby World Cup and here we ha-
Quiyakaso: I thought we agreed to run this together?
Priscian [shoots Quiyakaso a glare] then go ahead and introduce our guest!
Quiyakaso: Gladly, here we have fly-half of the Zoranian Team, Gulkalaski Lemomequa!
Priscian: Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Lemomequa.
Lemomequa: Thank you two for having me.
Quiyakaso: Tell m-us, tell us, many players from various teams have expressed fears about coming to Dalimbar, do you and the Zoranian team feel the same?
Lemomequa: [chuckles] Let me tell you something, after you have fought in the front line of a revolution in the jungles of Zoran where mosquitos are eating you alive while you have no clue where the enemy is hiding, visiting a country that is made to be the ‘Boogie man’ of Esferos is nothing but a vacation. This is how the rest of the team and I feel about it.
Priscian: Quite a statement there, Lemomequa, you served in the civil w-
Lemomequa: Revolution, we fought for change and change is what we brought to our country. If the Grand Defense Council had won we would be calling it a civil war or rebellion. But I digress, yes I did serve, I was the youngest founding member of the Raspberry Berets in fact.
Priscian: Wow, well thank you for your service. You know, our team is going up against Saint Mark again in our first match of the World Cup again. Do you and the te-
A lodge of otters come out of the water and start making their way into view of the camera and proceed to threateningly approach Quiyakaso
Quiyakaso: Aw look, Dalimbari Ot-AAAAAAAHHHHHH!
An otter leaps at Quiyakaso and the lodge drags him to the ground, prompting Lemomequa and Priscian to back away while some of the crew try to get the attention of the local authorities
Priscian:...so the Quiyakaso curse is not just a myth…
Lemomequa: Not even the jaguars in the jungle were that vicious…
.                

Quiyakaso: Hellooooooo Zoran! I am Quiyakaso!
Priscian: And I am Noya Priscian and you are watching RNN Live!
Quiyakaso: Not bad, Priscian but you should consider giving it some more spirit next time?
Priscian: Get bent, Quiyakaso. Today is the Day 2 of the Rugby World Cup and here we ha-
Quiyakaso: I thought we agreed to run this together?
Priscian [shoots Quiyakaso a glare] then go ahead and introduce our guest!
Quiyakaso: Gladly, here we have fly-half of the Zoranian Team, Gulkalaski Lemomequa!
Priscian: Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Lemomequa.
Lemomequa: Thank you two for having me.
Quiyakaso: Tell m-us, tell us, many players from various teams have expressed fears about coming to Dalimbar, do you and the Zoranian team feel the same?
Lemomequa: [chuckles] Let me tell you something, after you have fought in the front line of a revolution in the jungles of Zoran where mosquitos are eating you alive while you have no clue where the enemy is hiding, visiting a country that is made to be the ‘Boogie man’ of Esferos is nothing but a vacation. This is how the rest of the team and I feel about it.
Priscian: Quite a statement there, Lemomequa, you served in the civil w-
Lemomequa: Revolution, we fought for change and change is what we brought to our country. If the Grand Defense Council had won we would be calling it a civil war or rebellion. But I digress, yes I did serve, I was the youngest founding member of the Raspberry Berets in fact.
Priscian: Wow, well thank you for your service. You know, our team is going up against Saint Mark again in our first match of the World Cup again. Do you and the te-
A lodge of otters come out of the water and start making their way into view of the camera and proceed to threateningly approach Quiyakaso
Quiyakaso: Aw look, Dalimbari Ot-AAAAAAAHHHHHH!
An otter leaps at Quiyakaso and the lodge drags him to the ground, prompting Lemomequa and Priscian to back away while some of the crew try to get the attention of the local authorities
Priscian:...so the Quiyakaso curse is not just a myth…
Lemomequa: Not even the jaguars in the jungle were that vicious…
.                

Results of the 1st Match Day of the Group Stage
Group A Larxia 22–22 Ostronia Hertfordshire and Jammbo 21–23 Ionia Teralyon 27–10 Sekiya Group A Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 Teralyon 1 1 0 0 27 10 +17 4 2 Ionia 1 1 0 0 23 21 +2 4 3 Larxia 1 0 1 0 22 22 0 2 Ostronia 1 0 1 0 22 22 0 2 5 Hertfordshire and Jammbo 1 0 0 1 21 23 −2 0 6 Sekiya 1 0 0 1 10 27 −17 0 Group B Saint Mark 15–0 Apexiala Giovanniland 0–0 Saranzio Varanius 26–14 Rivalfiume Group B Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 Saint Mark 1 1 0 0 15 0 +15 4 2 Varanius 1 1 0 0 26 14 +12 4 3 Giovanniland 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 Saranzio 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 5 Rivalfiume 1 0 0 1 14 26 −12 0 6 Apexiala 1 0 0 1 0 15 −15 0 Group C Libterraria (NPC) 0–26 Overthinkers Nieubasria 10–7 Peourouin Einherfell (NPC) 15–16 Cyrylic Group C Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 Overthinkers 1 1 0 0 26 0 +26 4 2 Nieubasria 1 1 0 0 10 7 +3 4 3 Cyrylic 1 1 0 0 16 15 +1 4 4 Einherfell (NPC) 1 0 0 1 15 16 −1 0 5 Peourouin 1 0 0 1 7 10 −3 0 6 Libterraria (NPC) 1 0 0 1 0 26 −26 0 Group D Fujai 6–3 Ryxtylopia Dilber 10–6 Kalmach Arifiyyah 14–12 Aftokratoria Group D Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts 1 Dilber 1 1 0 0 10 6 +4 4 2 Fujai 1 1 0 0 6 3 +3 4 3 Arifiyyah 1 1 0 0 14 12 +2 4 4 Aftokratoria 1 0 0 1 12 14 −2 0 5 Ryxtylopia 1 0 0 1 3 6 −3 0 6 Kalmach 1 0 0 1 6 10 −4 0  

Häřtferdsierndeambeu Ragbi Jünjen/Катфадсие ае Дзаембеу Рагби Сцийас - The 101

HertJammpedia - The Rundown


Star Breaker - The Roster




The Style - Tactical Approach
-0.7(Balanced, veering towards slightly defensive)
The Checklist - Role Play Permissions
RP permissions: If my opponent RPs first, they may... Choose my try scorers: N Choose my kicker: N RP injuries: Y Godmod scoring events: N Godmod injuries: N Godmod other events: N Other Necessities - The Language Script And More
Due to the gradual process of switching to a new language script within what is now the Tsardom of Hertfordshire and Jammbo, the translation of all relevant information into the new alphabet shall be provided by the people at Conversation Street.
 
                                  

I dag i Verden // Today in the World
Reindag, 13 snaumånad 107 // Tuesday, 28 March 1422
Saint Andreisberg, Dalimbar - For the first time in well over a decade, a Fujansk sports team has stepped foot in Dalimbar. The ongoing Rugby World Cup IV invites 28 nations of the world to Dalimbar in a reported show of magnanimity. Spectators must acquire a limited number of Rugby Blue Cards for entry, and are only allowed to visit the central portions of the host cities inhabited by ethnic Dalimbari. The Landslag will be playing their matches in the city of Kaisah, approximately 500 km south of Saint Andreisberg. // Read more.
Riekia, Gloibria - Leaving the 56th Annual Conference of the Rønnøn Forum, Utanriksrådgafar Kjell Midtbø was asked by journalists about the diplomatic boycott of the Rugby World Cup, saying this: "With the still-recent revelations surrounding 'Project Sitka' the government could not in good conscience sponsor state attendees to this sporting event. We wish all attending good luck and good fortune. That's all." Earlier investigation had uncovered that the Rådgafar's ministry indeed pushed Fujais Idrottsforbund to boycott the Cup altogether after qualifying, a move consistent with their party's less moderate stance on Dalimbar. // Read more.
Ludde, Fujai - A new contract between Nørensk and Varanius-based company ZygPort marks the first time since the 1380s a monthly liner service will be offered between Hasmark and Andolia. The new service is driven by increased desire to diversify imports and exports at both ends of the route. The ships will be primarily focused on bulk goods, but will have the capacity to carry containers and other cargo. // Read more.

"... and now for the weather forecast for the host cities of Rugby World Cup IV."
Saint Andreisburg:
Current temperature: 13c, sunny
Overnight: -1c, mostly cloudy
March 29 - High of 13c and mostly sunny, Low of -2c
March 30 - High of 10c and mostly sunny, Low of 2c
March 31 - High of 5c and light rain, Low of 0c
April 1 - High of 5c and mixed precipitation, Low of -3c
April 2 - High of 7c and chance of a shower, Low of -2c
Nadu:
Current temperature: 7c, a few clouds
Overnight: 5c, mainly clear
March 29 - High of 7c and mainly sunny, Low of 4c
March 30 - High of 6c and a mix of sun and clouds, Low of 4c
March 31 - High of 6c and chance of a shower, Low of 4c
April 1 - High of 6c and chance of a shower, Low of 4c
April 2 - High of 6c and a mix of sun and clouds, Low of 3c
Donlas:
Current temperature: 16c, clear
Overnight: 4c, mainly clear
March 29 - High of 13c and mainly sunny, Low of 3c
March 30 - High of 12c and mainly sunny, Low of 5c
March 31 - High of 9c and rain, Low of 5c
April 1 - High of 8c and light rain, Low of 3c
April 2 - High of 8c and light rain, Low of 1c
Kaisah:
Current temperature: 14c, partly cloudy
Overnight: 6c, partly cloudy
March 29 - High of 14c and mainly sunny, Low of 6c
March 30 - High of 11c and a mix of sun and clouds, Low of 5c
March 31 - High of 8c and light rain, Low of 6c
April 1 - High of 9c and chance of a shower, Low of 4c
April 2 - High of 9c and cloudy with showers, Low of 2c

From the journal of Alan Cord
Saint Andreisburg, District 1, Dalimbar
Night before Matchday 1
Saint Andreisburg is a beautiful city. 
Sure, I understand my baseline is Wells, but I think that’s just a fact regardless. East Overthinkers isn’t exactly a destination for architecture. I’ve been to Aurum a few times, and they have some neat stuff there, but Dalimbar is something else entirely. 
Hell, anything looks pretty after 20 hours of flight. But to be fair, since the NRUU(1) doesn’t have the budget for a private jet yet, they borrowed one from the TRY RL. Had to be the nicest plane I’ve ever flown on or ever will again.
The arrival in Saint Andreisburg itself was underwhelming. As soon as we got off the plane, we were ushered into a waiting room while Ambassador von Edelgard did our paperwork. It felt like hours before she came back with her staff, and they handed out “blue cards”. They’re apparently the only way the “Stafka” or whoever will let us in to the country.
“Your blue card must be on your person at all times,” Ambassador E said. “If at any point it is not, you’ll be issued a red card, and forced to leave the country.”
I laughed nervously at her joke. She shot me a look that could kill. It wasn’t a joke.
I retract what I wrote last week. Theresa Argent angry is no longer the scariest thing in the world. It’s Ambassador E now.
Once we hard our cards, though, we immediately got to actually see the city. Like I said, it was breathtaking. The streets were crowded with rugby players and fans alike. The buildings were simultaneously, like, elegant and imposing. It feels wrong to say, but it’s just so—so—foreign, I guess? Like being transported into a storybook. Also, for the record, that one movie in my childhood got it completely wrong.
Also it’s a hell of a lot colder here than Overthinkers. I think when they ordered team jackets, they weren’t expecting the World Cup to be in like, the northernmost country of the world.(2) They ain’t cutting it. Practices have been pretty brutal too.
I keep saying this, but Coach Ed has been great. The night we arrived, every bit as exhausted as we were, he got us all together and hyped us up. We were literally going where no Overthinker had gone before.(3) We may have been last pot in the draw, but that just meant we could shatter expectations. 
He was on it again today at practice, too. There’s a lot of things up in the air with our group, it could turn out just about any way. Cambria’s far and away the scariest team, and Libterraria’s ranked 5th in the world. But what’s important is just getting past the group stage, and Coach Ed wants us to take it one game at a time. Play to our strengths and force the opponent to adapt.
Libterraria’s high ranked, but they weren’t in the World Cup last year, so who knows how good they still are. We’ll sort that all out on the pitch tomorrow. Assuming Ambassador Edelgard doesn’t sort us out first.
—Alan
 
(1) The National Rugby Union Union of Overthinkers, the organization that oversees the national team.
(2) It looks like Fujai is actually northernmost, but Alan is a simple man and doesn’t know that.
(3) Citation needed.
 

The National Rugby Team prepares to compete in 4th Annual World Rugby Cup hosted by Dalimbar.
Terajevo 1423-03-27 - The national Teralyon rugby team is gearing up to compete in a world rugby tournament that is being hosted by Dalimbar with which diplomatic relations have tended to be strained.
Despite concerns about the political climate in the host country, the team is determined to focus on the sport and give their best performance on the field.
"We are aware of the political situation in Dalimbar, but we are here to play rugby and represent our country to the best of our ability," said Savo Jastrowitz. "We have been preparing diligently for this tournament and we are excited to compete against some of the best teams in the world."
The team has been training extensively in the lead-up to the tournament, working on their skills and strategies in order to give themselves the best chance of success. They have also been working with their coaching staff to develop a game plan that will allow them to adapt to the challenges of playing in unfamiliar conditions.
"We have a great team and a strong coaching staff, and we are confident that we can compete at the highest level," said Ratko Jenic. "We know that there will be challenges ahead, but we are ready to face them head-on and give it our all."
Despite the tensions between the two nations, the team hopes that their participation in the tournament can help to promote greater understanding and goodwill between their countries.
The world rugby tournament will take place from 1423-28-03 to 1423-17-04 in Dalimbar, with teams from around the world competing for the championship title.
For more information about the rugby team's participation in the tournament, continue to follow us.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Teralyon Naval Commission has a released a statement regarding the upcoming training activities being planned between the Teralyon, Cambrian and United Adaikes Navies in the Mille-Mer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Teralyon, Cambria, United Adaikes Navies Collaborate to Run Joint Training Exercises. 1423-27-03 - The navies of Teralyon, Cambria, and United Adaikes  Are gearing up to run a series of joint training exercises, in an effort to enhance their collective maritime capabilities. These naval exercises will take place over a period of days, and will include a range of activities designed to test and refine  the participating navies' skills in areas such as maritime security, search and rescue, search and destroy, and disaster response. The exercises will also provide an opportunity for the three navies to build relationships and foster greater cooperation,  and coordination as they work together to achieve common goals. "We are excited to be collaborating with our partners in Cambria and United Adaikes on these important training exercises,"  said Josip Vilović, Rear Admiral of the Teralyon Navy. "By working together, we can better prepare ourselves to respond  to a range of potential challenges at sea." The joint training exercises come as part of a broader effort by the three navies to deepen their strategic partnerships  and enhance regional security. Through exercises such as these, we hope to increase their ability to respond effectively  to maritime threats, and promote greater stability and prosperity in the region. For more information about the joint training exercises, please contact the Teralyon Naval Commission.  

A "Quiet" Interview
 
It was the night before the match, the players of the A.R.R had just arrived at the hotel they would stay at that night, a few members of the Ryxtylopian press were already waiting for them at the lobby, since the flight from Ryxenia had suffered a minor delay, they had to stay one night more in Ryxtylopia than they had anticipated, nontheless they had finally made it to Dalimbar.
The first impressions for the team basically were; "It sure is quite cold here." as most were too exhausted to look at their surroundings, with the main goal being to reach the hotel and get some sleep. Rather unfortunatley for the players, at the door were a few members of the press, the exhausted players mostly ignored them as they asked questions.
Ryxtylopia's first match on their Rugby World Cup debut would be against Fujai, a team with to say the least much more experience than the A.R.R, spirits of the team weren't too high as their first debut on the pitch would most likley result in a loss, nontheless a few players did step up and talk to the press.
 
"Sir! Sir! What's your goal for the match against Fujai?" Asked a reporter.
To this, Marco Xilta, one of the players responded: "Well, we don't want to get "bombed" out of the stadium and become a laughing stock, you know the current situation of our rugby league makes that slightly complicated... but im sure that my teamates will perform just fine."
"Do you think a win is possible?"
"While not impossible, its inprobable, it will be complicated to get a win against a team with wayyyyyyy more experience than us, so we'll focus on delivering a good show for our fans and the cameras."
"How do you plan to pass the group?"
"Im not very sure, we didn't have a lot of time to talk about that at the airport with Tivarra (the coach) so im guessing we'll formulate a strategy depending on how well we do on our first match."
 
Another player had different answers:
"Are you worried for the match against Fujai?" Asked the reporter.
To this he got a response: "Yes! I am! Well maybe i am also overreacting a bit, but they are a better team than us, aren't you aware the current state of our league just has two teams basically trading turns in taking the league title? Ive been here for a while, it has always been like this, our talent always getting capped at some point, i regret not even trying to move to another country at this point, i had so much optimism 10 years ago, only for it to fade away..."  Answered Ernysto Rivas.
"Would you tell something to the audience back home?"
"Alright, alright, look i know the stuff i said might not be the best for inspiring confidence... but your support means everything to us, it gives us a reason to play this, well apart from the paycheck we need to secure the daily loaf of bread, you motivate us to even in the... least ideal situations, not give up and keep trying, that's all, now im going to bed, good night Ryxtylopia, and hello Dalimbar!"
 
The reporters went back to the airport, some dissapointed and others at least satisfied, as supporters of the A.R.R got ready to watch what hopefully would be a successful debut in the Rugby World Cup.

Hitobito Television Network (Minsunese: 人々テレビネットワーク; abbreviated HTV) is the flagship state broadcasting station owned by the Government of Minsu. Founded in 1364, HTV is the main brand of Hitobito Television Network, Inc. (HTNI), one of the attached agencies under the Public Relations Office (PRO) of the Cabinet Office.
HitobitoTV is HTV's primary news division. It acts as the state's public journal and main publication of the Minsunese government. Its newsprint is printed by the State Printing Office (SPO), an agency attached to the Cabinet Office.

 

Varanius' Amazing Rugby Assembly
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Tim Perdere had been a mid-level bureaucrat for what had felt like ages now. In reality, it had only been a little under a decade. He had been in the Ministry of Cultural Enrichment since he was 29, and now he was a ripe old 38. Certainly one of the youngest senior government official in Varanius in ages, he had worked himself all the way up to Assistant Vice Co-Director of the Physical Activities Sub-Division of the Televised Media Department. Hardly the most glamorous job in the world, but he felt the future was bright. Well, it was certainly feeling cloudy right about now. And to think, he let some stupid refugee and a some suburban rugby dad talk him into this. Whatever. Best to look towards the future right? Now he could proudly serve as Varanius' first ever Minister of Winning. Minister of Winning? What a joke of a position. What even is that? Sure he advocated for a ministry dedicated to real international sporting events, but surely they could've named it something reasonable? Varanius had never had an international sporting team. Sports had always been internal for the nation. Something the citizens to celebrate, not the world to ogle at. He had gone out on a real limb for that Joe Schmoe fellow to get the Minister of Cultural Enrichment to even consider sending a Varanian team to any such World Cup, much less devote a whole Ministry to its' coordination? But now he was here. Ah well, he may as well do the one thing he always excelled at: mindless government drivel. Now with the added bonus of talking to the Dalimbari. Given the team's star player was a damned Dalimbari refugee, some calls had to be made to ensure he wouldn't be arrested on entry. He picked up the phone lying on his desk, and dialed the number the Ministry of Foreign Engagement had emailed to him hours before. After a solid few rings, the other end answered.
 
“Good day! Is this Lev Toksin?” he asked.
"Privet?" the phone responded, the raspy voice of a woman surely no younger than 60 behind the machine.
“I’m sorry, I don’t speak Dalimbari I’m afraid. I suppose you don’t understand Common?”
"Izvinite, chot?" 
“Ah,” he stops for a moment, considering his options. “Do you speak Kommom, rodniy?” he asked in a heavily offensive attempt at a Dalimbari accent, likely one which would get him hate crimed if he spoke it in Dalimbar itself.
"Keto eto? Chot vy govorite?" 
“Perhaps I have the wrong nu-“
“Chortovy deti, otlozhite telefon!" she declared as the call abruptly ended. 
 
The Minister sighed. He should be used to the failures of his fellow government members by this point, but who can blame a bureaucrat for having some hope? He took another look at the email Diplo had sent him, and squinted just hard enough to realize he had mistaken one of the numbers, a 5, for a 6. This was probably still their fault somehow. Despite being somewhat put-off from his last encounter, he picked up the phone, dialed the (correct) number, and waited for the phone to pick up.
 
“Greetings! Do I have Lev Toksin?”
“Indeed you do. How may I be of assistance?”
“Lovely. I am Tim Perdere, the newly appointed Varanian Minister of Winning, and I-“
“I’m sorry, you’re the what?”
The Minister sighed once again, his sole pleasure being that Toksin could not see the exasperated look on his face. “I am the Minister of Winning of Varanius, and I’ve come to inquire about the upcoming Rugby Cup to be hosted in Dalimbar.”
“Minister of Winning? What even is tha- I mean, interesting. What do you need to know?”
The minister could hear the faint sound of a snap, or perhaps a small clap, in the background, but ultimately ignored it. Trying to maintain some sense of dignity, he responded, “I’d like to request blue cards for the Varanian Rugby team members who will be in attendance. Their names and identities will be emailed to you shortly.”
“Ah. Well, I’ll run it by Stavka, who will have the final say, but I’ll be sure to update you as soon as possible. Was that all?”
“Close. I’d like it to be noted that one of the team members, by the name of Joe Schmoe, is a refugee to Varanius from whom Dalimbar is their original country of origin. Will there be any issue in sending them to Dalimbar with the rest of the team? We’d expect they be treated with the dignity and respect of any other participant, and be allowed to return home.”
“I see. I’ll be sure to make note of this.”
“Well, that’s all. Much appreciated.”
“Not a problem! Have a wonderful day Mr. Perdere.”
“You too,” Tim ended as he went to set the phone down, just barely catching the “Motherfu-“ right as the line went dead.
 
Later that month
 
With that issue out of the way, it was time to get started on some of the harder details for the group. Namely, their symbol and jersey. While all of the members of the team had been assembled months ago, the graphic aspects had been unfortunately skipped over in the early organization frenzy. Tim entered the room where these discussions were to take place: one of the smaller meeting rooms in the gargantuan Cultural Enrichment building at the heart of Zygotia. While technically a Minister in his own right, he hadn’t quite the earned the honor of his own office building…or much of a staff. The other members of this meeting included quite the cast of characters. Joe Schmoe of course, as the upcoming cultural icon this whole thing was built upon, was not the only team representative in attendance. Alongside him stood Manuel Man, the team coach elevated from relative obscurity to a coordinator of the Varanian sports efforts after ripping open his shirt at a pro-rugby protest outside the capital building. The little stunt took him from the only little weirdo in his neighborhood to pay attention to sports exclusively from other countries to a national sensation. Then was the Ministry of Cultural Enrichment’s Director of Visual Creativity, Arnold Barnold, who was sent in alone as opposed to along with the Cultural Enrichment minister herself as was requested. Though Tim was technically equal to her in rank, he could be Prime Minister and she’d still treat him as an employee. Though, the Director wasn’t bad. One of the most senior officials in the Ministry, he was certainly an experienced member of the team. Finally, the one and only Woman Creosote. WC, as she was also known as, was one of the highest rated and most famous artists in Varanius. How the government had gotten ahold of her he had no idea, but perhaps the other Minister really had pulled some strings for this. It almost made up for her beginning all of her internal cooperation meetings with “To those needing further encouragement than I have already delivered”. But it’s not wise to look a gift horse in the mouth. 
Immediately they set to work, brainstorming first and foremost the central logo.
“Hm. What do you think when you think Varanius?” Tim asked the crowd.
“Eyes?” suggested Arnold.
“Hm. Perhaps a little overdone, we don’t want to be too obvious,” responded Tim.
“Perhaps you’re right,” the Director conceded. “Can we turn democracy into a tidy little symbol?”
“What like a voting machine?” retorted Manuel sarcastically.
“Got any better ideas?” Arnold smiled back.
“I’VE GOT IT!” WC screamed. They all immediately turned to look at her, though by now she had already started pulled out her iconic bright green crayon. The group stated in silence, watching her draw her mystery icon with complete confusion on their faces.
“Is that-“ Manuel began before being immediately interrupted. 
“Ssssh. Don’t mess with the process,” Tim hushed him.
Finally, after quite some time, she picked up her paper and turned it around so the rest of the group could see.
“Is that…an octopus…with a ball for a head?” Tim asked hesitantly.
“You can’t be serious!” Manuel protested.
Finally, Joe stood up. Over the past hour, this was truly the first time he had spoken all day. In a thick Dalimbari accent, 3 words emerged from his lips: “I love it”. And with that, there was no going back.
“We’re gonna be laughed out of the stadium…” Arnold moaned.
“No,” said Manuel, “we’re going to be heroes.”
 
After a few hours, and the hammering out of a few key details, the icon was set. Now it was time for the jersey.
“Do we want to do a nice yellow? Like our flag?” began Arnold, Tim having long since lost his pizzazz for the day, sipping from a large iced coffee and staring intensely into the painting of the jellyfish in front of him. 
“No no no. I’ve got this one,” Manuel said, with all the undeserved confidence of a poodle. Immediately he started, telling the two actual artists in the room the colors he thought would be best. The end result was…interesting.
“Are we trying to just confuse the shit out of the enemy team?” Arnold remarked upon its completion.
“Haven’t you ever heard of Aposematism? Be bright, be bold, and we scare away any potential predators!” Manuel declared.
“Since when are you a biology expert? And what do you mean ‘scare away’? They’re rugby players, not lions,” 
“Guys, guys,” Tim said, having finally snapped back to reality. “Let’s just go with it, it can’t be worse than the 8 legged egghead.”
 
Manuel beamed. Woman Creosote was much less amused.
 
One month later
 
Sitting at his desk, Tim had finally received the long awaited email from the Dalimbari Department of Sport. The email was a notification the DoS has accepted their applications for blue cards. Relieved, Perdere smiled. Off to Dalimbar they would soon go.
Team Details
Style Mod: +2.9
Coach: Manuel Man
Team:
        Main:
Player Number Position Joe Schmoe 1 Loose-Head Prop Patty Terrace 2 Hooker Rowan Calcium 3 Tight-Head Prop Bradford Octavius 4 Second Row Atlas Briggs 5 Second Row Sissy Fuss 6 Blind-Side Flanker Dante Infer 7 Open-Side Flanker Mercury Rings 8 Number 8 Tim Briggs 9 Scrum Half John Doe 10 Fly-Half Joe Saint 11 Left Wing Nathan Peter-Callahan 12 Inside Center Theodore Ammit 13 Outside Center Asteria Occidens 14 Right Wing Crius Seeus 15 Full-Back  
         Reserve: 
Lexing Ton 1 Hooker Parker Eugh 2 Tight-Head Prop Jeffrey  3 Second Row Astral Pro-Gection 4 Left Wing Lithi Umion 5 Right Wing Donald Guy 6 Loose-Head Prop George King 7 Blind-Side Flanker Cal Cuta 8 Open-Side Flanker  
Jersey: