The Sun Gods were nearing Itza.

They could feel it in their bones.

The weather was starting to become less oppressive and the sun was starting to peer out from behind of the stately clouds that slowly drifted serenely through the azure sky. With high spirits the players considered what they would be likely to find. Whilst they found it odd that they all knew where Itza was, being newly spawned from those holy pools near Xhotl, they understood that it was not unusual that this would be so as they were guided from afar by the mysterious Mazdamundi.

Xholmundi estimated that they were but a few days walk from the great city that still stood proudly, reminding the world of the greatness of the Slann. Home of the venerable Lord Kroak it was and remained their greatest citadel and the team was honoured that they would be soon to witness it for themselves. But first, they needed to get there.

As if that thought tempted fate, they came across some strangely dressed Elves. Dressed in earthy hues and appearing to commune with the natural surroundings, these Elves appeared to be talking to a tree. Xholtoc shook his head. "We all know that nature should be respected" he said, "But isn't it odd that they would talk to a tree and expect a response?...". With a sound like the earth coming apart, the tree pulled itself free from the ground and joined the Elves who beamed with delight.

Xholmundi introduced himself and the Elves stated that they would be delighted to have a match. With a friendly air, the game got underway with the Elves deciding to kick. Xholmundi received the ball as Itzakai and Tihex made for the flanks to try and make some space. Xholtoc also making his way round to get himself in to scoring range. Some ineffectual blocking made for a interesting scene as the stage was set. Shocked, the players watched as a particularly lithe Elf managed to leap over their lines. Running downfield with a partner the Elf attempted to knock over Xholmundi who was entranced by the ease in which the opponent had avoided his teammate's clutches. Luckily for the Sun Gods, the Elf was unable to knock him down and the reaction was immediate. Xholmundi broke clear and passed to Itzakai who fumbled the ball before clinging on and giving it to Xholtoc. Xholtoc scampered down the line and waited next to the goal line, with Tihex lending strong support. The Elves tried in vain to get to grips with Xholtoc with another of the leaping Elves knocking himself down. Meanwhile, the tree had entangled itself in some roots and had not moved.

The Sun Gods hoped it would continue as Xholtoc ran in an early score.

Divine intervention allowed the Sun Gods to perfectly rearrange their defence and they resumed their attack on the ball. Managing to wrestle down the Wardancer (as they heard the Elf's teammates call it) Xholmundi scooped up the ball and made his way downfield. He was knocked down and the Elves recovered for a time until they fumbled the ball. The other wardancer tripped on the uneven field and managed to hurt himself. He would not return. The Lustrian heat seemed to be affecting the Elves badly as they dropped the ball and the Slann swarmed it to prevent an Elf score to end the half.

Sadly, a young linefrog who had joined them as he was traveling to Itza as well, came too close to the tree who smote him with a powerful crack of an oversized bough. He didn't make a sound as the life fled from his body.

1-0 at half time and the Sun Gods were delighted as things could have been much worse. The tree was not moving much but he threatened the team with his sheer power. Sadly, that power would be brought to bear on Itzakai. Once again that assive branch swept around and smashed into him breaking his neck as the Sun Gods looked on in horror. Xholmundi decided that they needed to regroup and managed to run in a second score after sweeping on to a loose ball and hopping away.

By now the soporific effect of the humidity and heat was doing the damage, the Elves seemed cursed as everything was going wrong. Ruthlessly the Sun Gods capitalised. The ball was lost and Uaxtoc picked it up after it had scattered away from the immobile tree. He threw it towards Xholmundi who was under great pressure but the captain managed to snare the ball and run away to score and gain the favour of the Gods with a new skill.

From this point, both teams wanted the game over without further mishap.

As Xholmundi walked over to the Elves and thanked them for the game he was deep in thought. Another of their brothers had been badly injured and it was with a mixture of despair and pride that he shook the hand of the Elf captain and bade him safe travels to wherever he was going. Returning to the team Itzakai told the team that with his injury he could no longer play, but he would stay with the team and follow them on their great journey. With heavy hearts, the rest of the team agreed.

Itza awaited.

Xhotl Sun Gods 3-0 Wood Lords