Olamtali I
“Keep it steady!” Takuq commanded, his vision solely focused on the ball that had evaded him for so long. It was almost his. He could feel it. He just needed his navigator to play the role well and the game as as good as theirs. It had been a hard fought one too each team having earned a remarkable five points each, now it was a matter of who wanted it more. Though desire played but a small part of it. The true test of was which team could fluidly move as one, be so focused and in sync that their play would be flawless. Only the most compatible would be rewarded with the fruits of victory.
“Steady!” Takuq commanded again.
“Next time you navigate then, Tak!” came the annoyed reply of Takuq’s partner, Aglakti, their navigator.
“Maybe I will…” Takuq muttered under his breath. Yet they both knew it wouldn’t come to pass. Aglakti was simply a better navigator, and in turn Takuq was the better driver.
It had always been something Takuq held a suppressed envy for. He had always wanted to be a navigator yet his attempts at doing so always worked against his favor. He’d stumble a command and cost the team a point. Other times he was too harsh, and their team suffered a game for it, yet other times he was too hesitant giving away points that easily could have been theirs.
Even when Aglakti spent hours one-on-one to help him he never seemed to quite get the hang of it. One time he’d become so overcome with frustration at it all he’d verbally lashed out at Aglakti. As if his mentor had somehow intentionally been making it all too complicated for him. It was that night that fated Aglakti to be the navigator. Amidst it all Aglakti was patient with Takuq, emphasizing with him and even enduring the harsh immature verbal assaults his friend hurled at him.
“Tak! The ball!” Aglakti had practically screamed it.
A pit of despair had wrung itself inside of Takuq, who had allowed his mind to wander, lose focus. A pitiful attempt was made by him to catch the ball with his driving stick. The elongated pole with three pronged like teeth just barely missed the ball, instead scraping the dusty ground indenting three lines as it did so. The ball almost tauntingly remained still not even moved by the erratic motion of Takuq’s lunge.
It was then, the large grey tree trunk like leg of his opponent’s mount came into Takuq’s vision. First one leg then another, and soon enough the monstrous silhouette of the creature overshadowed the ball. With abject horror Takuq witnessed his opponent-driver rake up the ball with his own driving stick, in one fluid motion as if his driving pole were an extension of his own arm.
What followed was a blur, though Takuq was conscious of it. Witnessing but unable to react in any regard.
The trumpeting of their opponents Elephant mount preceded their dash to Takuq and Aglakit’s own net. Aglakit, undeterred, navigated their own elephant mount to intercept perhaps hoping that by some manner of luck the sheer size of the elephant would block their opponent scoring.
A trumpeting of its own in acknowledgement of Aglakits instruction, and the elephant made its own way towards the net. It was all for not though; everyone could tell. By the time Aglikat, Takuq, and their mount (Lak) had reached their opponent’s, the ball had already been shot by their opposing driver. Unremorsefully and with the velocity of determination the ball darted towards the net striking furthest inner bottom pole.
A final echoing ring of rubber on metal heralded Tukaq’s failure and his team’s loss. Tukaq was sure Aglakit was saying something to him, but he couldn't hear it. Or perhaps his mind, still reeling from his own failure, wouldn't allow him to hear. Even the loud roaring cheers and clapping of the spectators surrounding them seemed all but a faint and distant hum to him.
Such it was Tukaq and Aglakit had lost yet another game of Olamatli.
Context Notes:
Olamatli is a popular ball and stick game within Ezithea. The main goal is to 'drive' a ball into an opposing team's net to score points.
The game has three main participants that form a team:
- A driver whom controls a driving stick used to direct the ball.
- A Navigator whom directs and guides the teams mount
- A mount which is the most prominent feature of the game as mounts are often and traditionally Elephants, though variations of the game may substitute elephants for horses or camels.
The elephants of Ezithea are believed to originate from Kermah (Pending Kermah's approval), having migrated south into Ezithea millennia ago. The Ezithean elephant is noticeably smaller than its northern relatives making their taming and mount-ability relatively more of ease.
