The wind moaned long and hard around Middenheim as if an extension of the feelings of the city itself.

Trying to shut it out, Coach BigF, poured himself a too generous glass of whiskey, from the newly opened, but almost finished bottle. It had been a rough few days.

A copy of the Die Fauschlag Nachtrichten, highlighting the Classics win, sat unread and even an offer from Coach c9805222 of use of his Elven flesh house had not lifted his spirits.

Cradling his glass, he leaned back into the chair and his thoughts drifted...

Following the service in the Temple of Ulric, where the Flame had seemed to burn brighter than normal, the procession had wound itself through the tightly packed streets of the Fauschlag.

Men and women, struggling to contain their emotions, had looked on and delicate black roses of Morr littered the streets.

First came the popular Reman, Andre Waters, who despite being a foreigner had been taken to heart by the Middenheimers.

Following him was local born Ed O'Bradovich, who's industry & braveness on the LOS had been a byword for Middenheim itself.

Then it happened.

The city cracked, as surely as if the Fauschlag itself had crumbled. Tears and wailing broke out as the crowd saw the solitary figure of team captain Kendall Reyes, who with his prodigious and newly found strength, carried with him his burden and duty.

Inside the coffin he carried was the body of Michael Floyd... "Snowflake".

Coach's first ever draft pick and the greatest player in the Classics' woeful and cursed history.

Whilst he had died far from Middenheim and in the colours of Fort Solace, he was the afforded the honour of burial in Morrspark alongside his former teammates. The North would remember...

A loud knocking, shook Coach F from his thoughts. In walked his Assistant GM.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked. "There is no turning back once this is done Manling".

"Do it" he replied without hesitation. He drained his glass and poured two more.

"Its done Manling, Jim Sofitsis and the Wolfenburg Wolfskins have been entered into the book of grudges".

F. passed a glass to his assistant, "also let it be known league wide, €10 to fumbbl if he is removed from the league this half season".

The two smiled in satisfaction as they clinked glasses.

Outside, the wind roared as if in approval and it began to snow...