The Sun Gods had wandered for days, not lost as such, just deep in contemplation from their first ever game. "Xholmundi?" asked Xholtoc, "What is our plan?". The captain considered this and the mood was hushed as they tried to gauge what Xholmundi might be thinking.

"We must make our way to Hexoatl. There we may find allies on our quest. I hear that they Slann there are quite fast and tricky which may aid us on our journey". The others nodded as it made perfect sense. At that moment however, they noticed Tlaxconqua peering intently at the horizon where the low foothills were shrouded in an afternoon fog. "What is wrong?" they asked. Tlaxconqua simply grunted as they made out more of the lithe "Elves" that had bedevilled them in their first ever game.

Yet these were different. They wore antique masks and less armour. Clearly intended to aid their movement. The Sun Gods were well aware how slippery they could be and they groaned inwardly as they considered how they were to stop them in the event they received another challenge. Wordlessly, the two disparate group lined up on the grass and instinctively the Elven players made their way in to a spread formation. Xholmundi nodded to the others and they agreed that they would give them the ball first and see what could be done.

It started poorly.

The Elves were a whirlwind of movement. Even though they appeared rusty in making some mistakes, when it counted they slipped away like the fog that had clouded the surface. Xholtoc himself tried in vain to stop a score with the Elf simply too agile to allow even a desperation tackle from the young blitzer. Tlaxconqua was enraged as the Sun Gods got the ball back. The Elves harried them mercilessly but Tenqhex managed to leap over the stunned Elves and pass to Xholmundi who sprinted for the end zone as fast as he could. The delight on his face was obvious as he scored the first ever TD for the team. Mobbed by his teammates he could only exhort them to keep up the pressure as they would receive the ball again. By now they had an advantage thanks to a journeyman who had joined them. He told the team that he would help them to field 11 players as he was on a spiritual quest of his own.

The team used their unusual tackling skills as the game continued trapping the unsuspecting Elves and allowing for them to gang up on the remaining opposition players. Xholmundi was on fire and managed to score again late in the second half of the game thanks to some excellent work by his unsung brothers. They were delighted at the final result which was a victory all of them could be proud of.

As for the Elves, they were the epitome of their noble race, shaking hands with the Sun Gods before seeming to simply vanish such was their grace and movement. The journeyman revealed himself as a temple guardian and gave Xholmundi a crafted glass jug with some liquid in it.

"In honour of your great victory Xholmundi".
"What is it?" Xholmundi asked.
"A secret elixir given to those who are touched by the Old Ones. Drink... DRINK!!".

As Xholmundi drank he felt his mind quicken and open to possibilities that he had not seen before. He felt more alert and agile and smiled softly. He turned to the rest of the team and looked at them all in turn.

"Onwards".

Xhotl Sun Gods 2-1 CCCP Supoerpow V