String theories suggest the existence of a plethora of axion-like fields with masses spread over a huge number of decades. Here we show that these ideas lend themselves to a model of quintessence with no super-Planckian field excursions and in which all dimensionless numbers are order unity. The scenario addresses the why now problem-i.e., why has accelerated expansion begun only recently-by suggesting that the onset of dark-energy domination occurs randomly with a slowly decreasing probability per unit logarithmic interval in cosmic time. The standard axion potential requires us to postulate a rapid decay of heavy axions to Standard Model fields. The need for these decays is averted, though, with the introduction of a slightly modified axion potential. In either case, a Universe like ours arises in roughly 1 in 500 universes. The scenario may have a host of observable consequences. Show Partial Abstract