Translation of the Plaque of Huaxtepec

Much of the Plaque of Huaxtepec is destroyed but what remains is intriguing. The mighty slann mage Axayacatl had arrived in the region locally known as the 'badlands'. His forces the army of the 7th Sun had already established themselves and had already made contact with the enemy. Huitzilopochtli was present at the mustering of the host and was given the honour of being named the Tlacateccatl or general of the army.

Axayacatl was to spent a week in meditation, scrying the strands of the future. Then on the eighth day it was announced by the skinks that interpreted his musings that they would be returning to the site of the battle where only a week previously Huitzilopochtli's expeditionary force had narrowly escaped defeat.

As predicted the forces of Ulric had remained and had swelled in number. As Axayacatl approached he sensed the fear wash like a flood through the enemies ranks. His presence unnerved them and he relished the sensation. This Ulric and his men saw Axayacatl as a bloated toad, but he knew that his body was merely a vessel for his transcendent consciousness. They knew his power was great but still they underestimated him. It would be their undoing.

Huitzilopochtli led the Nahuatl or 'saurus' warriors forward to the left of Axayacatl and his Cuauhtli believed to mean 'temple guard'. Neither side committed forces forward to readily and the opening phase of the battle was cagey. The 'skinks' ranged ahead tying up the enemy formations and goading them into charges.

As expected, charge they did, and while the temple guard and saurus warriors led by Huitzilopochtli became embroiled in a long and bloody swirling melee the Tepoztopilli or 'cold one' cavalry ran down and crushed Ulric's own cavalry forces. With the left flank won and the regiments of men turning tail and running one by one it was only Ulric and his unit that remained fighting.

From the safety of a nearby tower the priest Ixlilti called on the power of the heavens to watch over and protect the warriors while Axayacatl himself cast powerful warding and healing magic. It is written that Huitzilopochtli challenged Ulric to single combat to settle the grudge they both harboured from the first battle. But while Huitzilopochtli could not best Ulric neither could he kill the mighty Tlacateccatl of the army of the 7th Sun. Each wound inflicted by Ulric drawing only more roars of hatred and bitter curses. Axayacatl's regenerative powers healing Huitzilopochtli as he fought.

It was clear that the battle was lost for Ulric and his men, and indeed Axayacatl could have ordered them all slaughtered. But while Huitzilopochtli detested and loathed the man, as is clear in the text from the Plaque of Tochtepec, the mighty slann mage had seen further into the future than just this minor battle and knew that this Ulric had a greater role to play somehow. As such Axayacatl ordered his warriors to hold fast and allow Ulric's retreat. The field was won, the Tzintzuntzan were victorious.

So ends the Plaque of Huaxtepec.