[color=DAA250][b][u][h1][center]Act One, Scene Four: A Chance Encounter[/center][/h1][/u][/b][/color] [hr] Yamat, as it were, didn't really need to walk. It was far more efficient to fly about or use some other godly means of transportation. However, if he did either of those it would be far harder for him to enjoy the more pleasurable things in life, such as moving your gangly body down overgrown paths in the forests and scarring of any poor deer or birds that just wanted to eat some grass. Sure, it was petty and hardly on the scale of Tragedy, but there was still something to be said for mild inconvenience. Besides those small moments, there was also the great secondary benefit of walking to your destination of there being other people who were walking to their destination. And sometimes, people were lucky enough to cross paths, or unlucky if they crossed it with him. So, while Yamat traveled back to his home in the Kyslar Isles, he, as with all the journeying he did, did it by foot. As he plodded along the trail that pressed through the fens, Yamat found himself quite content. He had just passed by a small group of Thumblings, lost in their travellings, and had been happy to help. It was quite unfortunate, however, that the directions he had given them were a tad bit too cryptic and the two most trusted thumblings were so hot headed. They would surely start to argue over which would be the right path, forcing the party to split in two depending on who they believed, instead of listening to each other's arguments. Well, either way, at least half of the Thumblings would make it back home. It was pleasing to be able to work such simple works; he didn’t even need to use his godly powers! Which was a good thing, since he had been feeling just the smallest bit weary as of late. It would be nice to rest for a while back at his home. Well, maybe he had enough left in him for one last jaunt. Yamat took a step off of the trail and pressed his body against a gnarled tree. He toned down the glowing of his halo and, in that strange way things that are unmissable when they are moving do, disappeared from sight as he grew still. Yamat lay in wait as the unmistakable sound of someone singing drifted down the trail. Someone singing really badly, but singing nonetheless. The singing figure soon showed themselves from around the bend in the trail. An older looking woman was swaying on top of a large beast of somesort. Her simple gray robes hung down and over the tall animal’s flanks as it trekked through the swampy lands. Besides the laurel of feathers she wore on her head, she looked incredibly familiar, although Yamat could not remember where he knew her from. That didn’t matter though, Yamat smiled to himself. Usually he doesn’t meet people twice, but if he did, that would be extra special. As the woman and her mount made their way down the path, Yamat stayed silent. He could swear that the animal she was riding could sense him somehow, although since it never did look at him directly, he stayed still. Finally, when the pair was right next to him, Yamat decided to reveal himself. The god unraveled himself from the tree, taking a step out onto the pathway, he gazed upon the pair and spoke [color=DAA250]”Why hello there travellers, what brings you to this neck of the swamps?”[/color] He asked, cutting off the woman’s singing and performing a slight bow with his strange body. The mount instantly swung his head towards Yamat, beginning to issue out a low growl, but the old woman put her hand on his head to calm him, a small smile on her face. “Well, I believe that is a personal matter,” She said plainly, “Although if you must know, we were simply passing through. Now, what might you do with that information?” The god chuckled [color=DAA250]”Merely curious is all,[/color] he extended one of his arms, gesturing towards the swamps [color=DAA250]”I take great care of any who enter these swamps[/color] “That is a pretty big job,” The woman chuckled as she passed Yamat, her mount not stopping, “May I ask, are you one of those gods who have been running about, or just some hero or magical creation. There seem to be so many of those these days.” [color=DAA250]”I am merely a humble guardian, built by the creator of these swamps to guard it from those who would seek to destroy it,”[/color] Yamat followed the mount, spinning his tale and using his long strides to keep pace [color=DAA250]”I also tend to offer help to those travelling within, so that they may find the right path, it can be rather dangerous here if one where to, get lost.”[/color] “That is quite kind of you,” The woman nodded slowly, as if in thought, “You know, I happen to be a little bit turned around myself, would it be a bother if I could ask for directions to the next town?” At that, the woman’s mount turned its head to look at its master, something akin to surprise in its eyes. The woman just gave it a knowing smile and it turned back to the road. Yamat frowned, although no one could see it. The mount was not acting much like a simple beast of burden, it seemed rather smart. Yamat scrutinized the woman’s face, certain he knew her from somewhere but couldn’t quite remember where. [color=DAA250] “Well,”[/color] Yamat began slowly, trying to not create any suspicious silences, [color=DAA250]“There are hardly any groups of humans for a long while… I could show you to a village of the Thumblings if that would suffice.”[/color] “That sounds quite lovely.” Yamat smiled, she was just all too trusting. He would give her directions, but he would also lead her straight to a deep mire. There, her mount will surely get stuck. She seemed to have a great bond with the creature, so it would all be so tragic if it were to die. Either she would get herself killed trying to save it or she would abandon her close companion, only to be trapped in the land of the Thumblings, none of her own people around and having to live with the guilt of letting the great beast die. If she chose the latter option, Yamat would make sure to show her after the fact how many ways she could have avoided the situation, a little salt in the wounds. A perfect addition to his play. [color=DAA250]”Here, I’ll part the trees to make a path for you,”[/color] Yamat made an enormous and dramatic flair, a whole lot of pomp for an action that was very insignificant for a god. The undergrowth that spurred away from a new trail that shot off into the swamp, straight towards the most dangerous parts, [color=DAA250]“Now, be sure to stay on the path, and never stray no matter what. This trail leaves my part of the swamp and enters my brother’s, and he isn’t nearly as helpful as me.”[/color] Yamat made a mental note to line the trail with all sorts of things that would make an old lady disobey that advice. The old woman smiled in thanks and then patted her mounts neck to get it to turn. It seemed rather adamant about not turning and Yamat briefly considered working some charm on it to force it down the path. Luckily, it did listen to its rider and the pair started down Yamat’s doomed trail. Yamat smiled to himself, another fine work completed. The duo stopped just a few steps into their tragic direction and the old woman turned back to look at Yamat. Yamat felt a sudden twinge that everything just went horribly wrong… “Say, Mr. Guardian,” She began, a foul glint in her eye, “What is your name? Just so I know who to say helped me.” [color=DAA250]“Oh, a simple swamp spirit like me has no name,”[/color] Yamat tried to maintain the act, despite the fact that some sixth sense told him it was falling apart, [Color=DAA250]“Why do you ask?”[/color] “Oh, no reason,” the woman chuckled, “It just is’t every day you meet a God who lies, I didn't think that any of you could do it.” Yamat took a step back, his one eye narrowing and the glow of his halo growing angry: [color=DAA250]“Who are you, have we met before?”[/color] Suddenly realization dawned in his eyes and Yamat begna to laugh, [color=DAA250]“You’re that woman, the one who I helped a few months back. Did you track me across the whole continent? Well I’m sorry to say that it isn’t really my fault; you are the reason your son commited suicide. I’m sure if you hadn’t exposed his lover both young men would still be alive!”[/color] Yamat felt giddy and completely out of character but he couldn’t help it. A character from a previous scene had gone on, adding more layers to her tragedy. And all by herself! Wasting the rest of her life to track down a god she could do nothing against, all for petty revenge! It was beautiful. [color=NavajoWhite]”Wow, you sound like a real piece of work!”[/color] A sudden gruff voice rumbled out, interrupting Yamat’s laughing. [color=DAA250]“Who was that,”[/color] Yamat growled, surprised that someone had somehow slipped his perceptions. [color=LightYellow]”That was Toog,”[/color] The woman laughed, her entire aura changing in an instant, taking Yamat aback, [color=LightYellow] “And I’m Iternis. I’ve got to say, I am quite fascinated by you, ‘Mr. Guardian'”[/color] Yamat looked at the great beast, Toog, and realized he had been the one to talk, finally realizing the intelligence glowing in them. He then turned back to the woman, who had extended her hand in greeting and seemed to be radiating some invisible energy. [color=DAA250]“You are a god.”[/color] Yamat sighed, disappointed in himself for not noticing sooner, [color=DAA250]“That is quite the plot twist, the extra turned out to be a lead role…”[/color] He trailed off but then jumped slightly before going into a deep, almost sincere, bow, [color=DAA250]“Yamat at your service.”[/color] [color=NavajoWhite]”As if we need any of your services,”[/color] Toog the dog growled, [color=NavajoWhite]“He reeks of all sorts of misdeeds.”[/color] [color=LightYellow]“Now, Toog,”[/color] Iternis playfully scolded, [color=LightYellow]“He is technically my brother so we have to at least be somewhat polite… But in all honesty, you do seem a little sketchy. What are you the god of?”[/color] Yamat chuckled [color=DAA250]”Would it surprise you if I were to say you were the first to ask?”[/color] [color=LightYellow]“I think it would surprise me if I wasn’t the first to get the chance to ask. Judging by the fact that this path you made me would lead me fairly close to certain doom, I don’t get the feeling that many of your travel companions end off that well.”[/color] [color=DAA250]”You would, be rather correct by that, but, since you managed to outperform me, I guess I owe you at least that.”[/color] Yamat spread his arms out, performing a few more extravagant gestures, [color=DAA250]”I, am the god of Tragedy, bringing misfortune and pain to all who walk these lands.”[/color] As he ended his words, a nearby tree suddenly fell, landing upon a group of toads situated nearby. [color=NavajoWhite]“That is hardly godly,”[/color] The great dog growled, [color=NavajoWhite]“Going around, doing harm to innocent people.”[/color] [color=LightYellow]“Well, I think that is a lovely work!”[/color] Iternis interjected, [color=LightYellow]“Despite Toog’s opinions, I can appreciate a good Tragedy.”[/color] [color=NavajoWhite]“What!?” [/color]Toog barked indignantly, [color=NavajoWhite]“How?”[/color] [color=LightYellow]“Well, we pretty much do the same things as Yamat here all the time.”[/color] [color=NavajoWhite]“No we don’t!” [/color]Toog shook his head in disapproval, his ears flopping all about. [color=LightYellow]“What about that human we stripped and threw into a ditch? That was pretty much the same situation.”[/color] [color=NavajoWhite]“It was not!”[/color] Toog growled, [color=NavajoWhite]“He was stealing from passing wanderers and robbing them blind! The only reason he died was because he had driven anyone who could have helped him away from that trail!”[/color] [color=DAA250]“If I may interject,”[/color] Yamat said, [color=DAA250]“that does sound a little tragic to me. What if that man was only stealing to feed his family.”[/color] [color=NavajoWhite]“He wasn’t”[/color] [color=LightYellow]“But what if he was?”[/color] Iternis interjected unhelpfully, causing Toog to buck the God of Journeys off his back in a sign of rebellion. Iternis plummeted into the dirt, making no attempt to stop his descent which launched swampy mud all across Yamat’s legs. [color=LightYellow]“Regardless of Toog,”[/color] Iternis addressed Yamat, his voice muffled as he was still face down in the dirt,[color=LightYellow] “I think Tragedy has its place in this world. Although try not to go too overboard.”[/color] [color=DAA250]‘I’ll keep that in mind,”[/color] Yamat chuckled as he bent down to hoist Iternis out of the mud, [color=DAA250]“Although have got to ask, how did you know to take the form of that woman?”[/color] [color=LightYellow]“Oh, this ol’ thing?”[/color] Iternis gestured at his body as he hung from Yamat’s arms, [color=LightYellow]“I’m pretty sure it just decides what it wants to look like on its own. I’ve given up trying to make it stick to a single style.”[/color] Iternis exploded into a swarm of birds and flapped back towards Toog, where he coalesced back into the form of a mortal, this time a tall, rugged-looking Alminaki male. [color=LightYellow]“See, the damn thing just up and changes on you!”[/color] Yamat chuckled and then gave a bow, [color=DAA250]“It was nice to meet you, Iternis, God of Journeys.”[/color] [color=LightYellow]“Likewise, Yamat, God of Tragedy,”[/color] Iternis parroted Yamat’s theatrical delivery of lines. [color=NavajoWhite]“I disagree-”[/color] Toog tried to interject but was cut off by Iternis. [color=LightYellow]“I get the general feeling that you want to be kept on the down low,” [/color]Iternis said as he leaned back on Toog,[color=LightYellow] “So I won’t tell any of the other gods about you if you don’t want me to.”[/color] [color=DAA250]“That would be nice of you.”[/color] [color=LightYellow]“Then, until next time,”[/color] Iternis declared as he returned Yamat’s bow. Iternis patted Toog’s neck who muttered something along the lines of [color=NavajoWhite]“finally!”[/color] and then shot off through the swamp at breakneck speeds, leaving Yamat standing alone. Yamat stood there for a short while before smiling and starting back off on his way to the Kyslar Isles. You see, this is why gods should walk everywhere even if they can fly. You never know when you’ll have a pleasant chance encounter. [hider=Summmmmmmmbody once told me] Yamat is travelling by foot back to his home in the Kyslar Isles so he can cause as much tragedy and misfortune along the way. In the Weeping Planes, after doing his work on some Thumblings, Yamat comes across a traveller riding on a big beast and decides that he has enough energy in him for some more chakanery. Yamat pulls some Mischief Time on the traveller and almost succeeds when the Traveler reveals themselves to actually be Iternis, riding on Toog. Yamat, appreciating the fact that he had been the one played, introduces himself to Iternis and Toog and the three have a short conversation. Iternis can appreciate Yamat’s role in the world while Toog is lame and thinks Yamat is a big poopoo dingus and shouldn’t be causing so much trouble for people because apparently Toog is bogged down by something called a “Strong moral Compass” The two gods part ways and Iternis promises that he won't tell all the other gods about Yamat's work. Iternis rides off on Toog and Yamat returns to his journey home, happily reminiscing on how he always prefers walking instead of air travel. [/hider] [hider=MP Breakdown] What are you looking for? There’s nothing here? [/hider] [hider=Prestige] Toog: 5P 10,000+ Characters: +5P End: 10P [/hider]