“CIBBL - Y8, Spring - Athel Loren: round 5:

The last game of the season was of low importance to the Meddlers. After their defeat against the Drakwald Thicketkeepers, the title had already slipped through the wood elves’ fingers. Nevertheless, 2nd place being better than 3rd, there was still some prestige to be gained from the duel with the Wraiths of Woe. Barely recovered from his last nervous breakdown, Timaris Stormwing – founder and head coach of Modryn’s Midnight Meddlers – was preparing a herbal infusion to calm his fiery mind. Mereia, the Meddlers’ assistant coach, preferred something stronger herself, but was glad her boss was keeping his mind together. “This is it”, she pointed a slender finger towards the document she just dropped on the table. “The players’ list”, she clarified after noticing the absence of a reply. Timaris, still focused on his herbal tea, thanked her for the preparations and sent her off to the practice yard to overview the warm-up for the game. Syabeth and Nimrodel were showing off in a somersault competition while Hauclir practiced his long bomb with Merwan, the newly recruited catcher. Eventually, after having finished slurping his tea, Timaris picked up his green cape from the coat stand, slung it around his shoulders and walked towards the stadium.

Upon arrival he installed himself on the bench. Mereia was already present, dressed in her favorite tank top. In her hand he noticed a glass of martini, filled to the rim. “Celebrating something?”, Timaris wanted to know. “Only the second place of the regional championship”, she winked while lowering her shades. Timaris didn’t need to be reminded about last week’s catastrophe and focused instead on Aery, the Meddlers’ cheerleader, who had already climbed onto the dancing platform where she was warming up the crowd for the game. He’d much appreciated her massage of his temples after last week’s disaster. It was a miracle how her gentle fingers were able to soothe his mind when in distress. As he was pondering how privileged he was to count such a skilled employee among his staff, suddenly the referee’s whistle blowed, signaling the start of the game and returning Timaris’ wandering mind back to the present.

Despite facing a wizard, this time the Meddlers opted to receive the ball. The game hadn’t even fully started when an upstart goblin launched a well-aimed rock from the crowds. The projectile hit Syrabeth in the face, stunning her on the spot. To complete the mayhem, the opposition's wizard launched his fireball immediately in turn one, but all elves miraculously escaped being hit. With that threat gone, Timaris visibly relaxed on the bench. The situation improved even further when Ethandril managed to kock out Aimhirghin Gluingel, the chainsaw-slinging hired star. Optimally making use of their maneuverability, the Meddlers spread out over the pitch, abandoning and isolating the slow-paced wraiths. But things were not over yet, as Ethandril got badly hurt early in the game and Eldain snaked a dodge, opening the path towards disaster. “By Isha”, Timaris exclaimed, “it’s happening again!”. Even Mereia raised an eyebrow upon witnessing Eldain’s failed dodge. She adjusted her cap backwards, finished her glass and started offering directions to the elves on the pitch. Meanwhile Hauclir barely escaped a blow from the groping limbs of a willow aspect trying to rob him of the ball. Desperate times require desperate measures, so Hauclir just lobbed the ball towards Nimrodel, despite the fact that both super stars were stuck in two tackle zones each. The ploy worked however and Nimrodel sleekly leapt over the oak aspect blocking his way towards the endzone: 0-1 for the Meddlers in turn six!

The wood elves were rewarded for their tenacity with a Blitz! on the ensuing kick-off. Keira sprinted forwards towards the expected landing spot of the ball, while her teammates followed. The catcher got pushed out of the way by a birch aspect though. The next turn the Wraiths failed a dodge, thereby eliminating their chance for the equalizer before halftime. As a result the Meddlers had a final shot of stealing the ball, but snaked a going for it while setting up the assist. The score of the game would remain unchanged at halftime.

The second half started with the Wraiths of Woe receiving the ball. Early in turn one Gildor snaked another dodge leading to new turnover. That put the Meddlers under pressure, but they reduced it by badly hurting Aimhirghin Gluingel. Next turn an opening presented itself to Syrabeth who gratefully accepted the invitation and knocked the ballcarrying birch aspect down. The ball landed in her hands and there was only limited space to run away. Both teams were failing dodges now, so the revenge blitz never happened. This sealed the deal as Syrabeth ran in the second touchdown in turn five: 0-2 for the Meddlers! In the remaining three turns the score didn’t change anymore.

The Meddlers finish the season as runner-up!
”