The Circus Comes to Isadora

[Isadora]

Eussk, at the kelp fields.....

----

You tell Isadora 'Good evening, Lady Isadora.'

Isadora tells you 'Why, hello dahling'

You tell Isadora 'I have a question for you.'

Isadora tells you 'Hmm?'

You tell Isadora 'Are you a fan of games?'

Isadora tells you 'Only ones I win'

You tell Isadora 'Oh? Not one to take losing well, eh?'

Isadora tells you 'I wouldn't know, I hardly remember the last time I lost'

You tell Isadora 'Hah! '

You tell Isadora 'Then, how about games where the winner is determined by but one factor alone?'

You tell Isadora 'Luck.'

Isadora tells you 'Such as?'

You tell Isadora 'As simple as Dice.'

Isadora tells you 'Perhaps such a simple game might amuse me for a moment or two'

You tell Isadora 'Oh, I do not ask you to play. Don't worry.'

Isadora tells you 'What?! I'm not invited to play?! How unheard of ...'

You tell Isadora 'Oh? Now you wish to play dice?'

Isadora tells you 'Hmph .... Not at all, I won't play where I'm not wanted'

You tell Isadora 'Oh, it is not that you are not wanted. Lady Luck is always waiting for those to place faith in her.'

You tell Isadora 'However, surely you are curious as to what I am trying to get at through my ramblings?'

You tell Isadora 'Do I have some sort of point?'

Isadora tells you 'I'm assuming not'

You tell Isadora 'Hrmph. Well, I do.'

Isadora tells you 'Lady Luck and I are ancient rivals'

Isadora tells you 'I can't imagine any of her followers would have a point'

You tell Isadora 'Ancient rivals?'

Isadora tells you 'You didn't know?'

You tell Isadora 'Please, now you have piqued my curiosity. How can you rival the only determining factor in a Mortal's life?'

Isadora tells you 'It's easy when -I- have challenged her to be the 'determining factor' in many a talented mortal's life'

You tell Isadora 'You do not believe we Mortals are affected by luck?'

Isadora tells you 'Haven't you ever noticed a trend of certain vices in the more creative cliques?'

Isadora tells you 'Nay, I -know- that Mortals are affected by luck'

Isadora tells you 'She's just as meddlesome as I'

You tell Isadora 'Oh, now I understand what you are getting at.'

You tell Isadora 'A life controlled by randomness and chance, and a life controlled by their instincts, by their inspirations.'

You tell Isadora 'Two rivalling bodies.'

You tell Isadora 'Am I warm?'

Isadora tells you 'It's about time, dahling. But don't worry, I don't expect much from one of her disciples....'

You tell Isadora 'Those who believe in luck should not have any expectations set upon them. Purists who lead a life entirely based on chance and not choice.'

You tell Isadora 'Or perhaps not entirely based on chance, but the majority of major decisions.'

You tell Isadora 'You appear to be just as stubborn as my audience.'

Isadora tells you 'Oh? How's that?'

Isadora tells you 'I can't imagine kelp to be too indulgent to a performer's talents'

You tell Isadora 'Merely a place of solidary for me, for the time being.'

You tell Isadora 'Solidarity, rather.'

Isadora tells you 'You certainly have poor taste'

Isadora has transferred you.

The hotsprings

You stand knee-deep in hotsprings. The water, while very hot, is not

so much to burn your skin. It feels like hot bathwater, and is very

soothing to your tired feet. It seems there are many other creature

who enjoy basking in these springs. Oreads, Naiads, and fauns are all

at play around you.

[Exits: south west]

Isadora the Liberated Muse of Revelry, Sublime Rhapsody of the Senses is here.

A Naiad is frolicking in the hotsprings here.

An Oread is splashing in the hotsprings here.

Isadora says 'I much prefer it here'

You say 'Taste implies opinion, and opinion implies decision making. I left my decision to chance.'

Eussk grins widely, almost manically, the face paint around his mouth cracking.

Isadora says 'Hmph ......'

Eussk looks at Isadora, 'Now, you wished to know why you are as stubborn as my audience?'

Isadora sighs.

Isadora says 'I suppose'

Isadora reclines in the hot spring until the warm water reaches her chin.

Eussk chuckles, 'Chin up.' and pulls a handkerchief from his pocket. This handkerchief is in turn, connected to another, and another, and endless streams of handkerchiefs fly from his pocket, to the floor.

You say 'Incase you get a little upset.'

Isadora chuckles politely.

Isadora says 'Watch out, lest your kerchiefs get wet.'

Eussk scrunches his eyes up, the face paint cracking, 'They will be fine. I have plenty more where they came from.'

Eussk smirks, and then says, 'Yes, my audience. You know, I have not had the pleasure of speaking to a single person who believes chance is THE deciding factor on their lives.'

Isadora says 'In some people, it is the deciding factor'

Isadora says 'Apparently yours'

Isadora says 'But like I said, Lady Luck and I are ancient rivals'

Eussk nods slowly, arms folded, 'And I have to ask again, what is it that makes you rivals?'

Isadora says 'We offer opposing but similar lifestyles'

Isadora says 'You were close in your assessment'

Eussk nods, 'I thought as much. I sense a but, however.'

Isadora says 'Those who are disciples of Lady Luck are seduced by shallow indulgences'

Isadora says 'But -I- ....'

Isadora beams broadly at nothing in particular.

Isadora says 'I -empower- mortals'

Eussk looks at Isadora, 'Empower?'

Eussk chuckles lightly, 'With inspiration?'

Isadora says 'That is the definition of inspiration'

You say 'I will agree with that.'

Isadora says 'I provide the means for mortals to realize the potential within themselves'

Isadora says 'Whereas Lady Luck is a jealous mistress'

You say 'Regardless of what inspires them, it will be luck that decides whether they achieve.'

Isadora says 'She would have her followers dependent on her, devoted to her'

Isadora says 'It is not luck that decides whether they achieve, it is their own initiative to achieve'

Eussk takes a dice from his pocket, and begins idly spinning it between the fingers of his left hand, 'Let us assume you are correct, then. For a moment.'

Isadora says 'Of course, I'm correct. Why would you assume otherwise?'

Isadora rolls her eyes, disgusted.

Eussk coughs into his hand, before continuing, 'Because, assume we have a play.'

Isadora lets out a sudden squeal of delight!

You say 'With one major role.

Isadora says 'I love plays!'

Eussk holds a hand out, 'That is why I use the example.'

You say 'What is it that decides between the two actors or actresses, who gets the leading role?'

Isadora says 'Talent'

Eussk continues to idly spin the dice around his fingers.

Isadora says 'And me'

Isadora winks suggestively.

Eussk throws his dice onto the floor, and yells, 'Nonesense!'

With a brief shake you roll your bone die.

The die stops on 5!

Eussk grumbles, 'Blast! A five!'

With a brief shake Isadora rolls her stone die.

The die stops on 4!

Isadora says 'I told you Lady Luck and I are enemies!'

Isadora points to her losing die with anger.

Eussk smirks, 'Bad luck.'

Eussk looks at Isadora, 'You know, that when somebody doesn't get a leading role in a play, that is what they say to them?'

Isadora shrugs helplessly.

Eussk says, 'They don't say Bad Talent.'

Isadora says 'Mortals generally choose their words in an ignorant fashion'

Eussk folds his arms, frowning, the face paint around his forehead and eyes cracking visibly.

Isadora says 'It's alright, dahling.'

Isadora says 'I don't blame them for it'

Eussk says, 'Do you see what I mean about being stubborn?'

Isadora says 'I've always seen that you were stubborn'

Isadora winks suggestively.

Eussk growls, and throws his hands into the air, exasperated, 'I am NOT stubborn!'

Isadora holds a hand to her mouth as she giggles coyly.

Eussk looks at Isadora, 'You will see. You will see when you see my audience.'

Isadora says 'Oh, aye. I forgot about your audience'

Eussk narrows his eyebrows, 'Do you know who my audience are?'

Isadora pauses to think about it a moment and shrugs indifferently.

Eussk throws his arm out, from east to west, 'Each and every living thing in Aabahran.'

Eussk tilts his head to one side, 'You called me a performer earlier, did you not? Do you know what my act entails?'

Isadora says 'Nay, what are your talents?'

Eussk holds his dice high into the air, 'My talent was being lucky enough, to understand that these are what control us.'

Eussk smirks, 'The dice being merely a representation of chance.'

Isadora says 'I can't imagine you get good reviews'

You say 'It does not matter.'

You say 'A good review, implies opinion.'

You say 'Opinion implies choice.'

You say 'Choice implies that we do not live by chance.'

Isadora says 'So ......'

Eussk brushes himself off, obviously a great deal calmer.

Isadora says 'That's your act?'

Eussk says, 'The act, if that is what you wish to call it, are The Games.'

You say 'I am 'The Clown' of the Circus of Aabahran.'

Eussk pouts, and squeezes his big red nose, which makes a loud 'Honk!' sound.

Isadora giggles.

Eussk says, in an almost menacing tone, 'And how I entertain, is through The Games. Games of chance.'

Isadora says 'Like dice?'

Eussk looks down at his hand, and starts to idly drum his fingers against his green dungarees, 'Just like dice.'

Isadora says 'Oh, alright.'

Isadora says 'Well, I've never been a huge fan of dice so I'm afraid I won't ask for an encore.'

Isadora smirks.

Isadora says 'However .....'

Eussk looks to the west, obviously quite annoyed by the comment, 'Hrmph.'

Isadora claps lukewarmly.

Isadora says 'It still calls for a bit of applause, I suppose.'

Isadora says 'Let me know when you ....'

Isadora says 'Spruce up your act a bit.'

Isadora winks suggestively at you.

Eussk looks at Isadora, 'Then, before you leave.'

Isadora lazily arches an eyebrow.

Eussk points to the beautiful looking flower pinned to his chest, 'Perhaps you would like to smell it?'

Eussk slowly fondles a hidden pump in his hand.

Isadora says 'How beautiful! How did you know I love flowers?'

Eussk grins a wide smile, almost a manical smile, and says 'I did not. How lucky that you do.' emphasising the word 'lucky'.

Isadora leans closer to examine the flower, inhaling deeply its fragrance.

Eussk squeezes the pump hard...and nothing happens.

Isadora returns to her reclining position.

Eussk grumbles, and squeezes the pump again.

Isadora says 'However, it has no aroma.'

Isadora says 'Perhaps, it's wilting'

Eussk mutters under his breath, 'Blast.'

Isadora winks suggestively at you.

Isadora yawns.

Eussk folds his arms, 'Most unlucky, that is. Perhaps when I 'fix' it, you could smell it again sometime.'

Eussk turns to the pump in his hand, and grumbles again.

Isadora says 'Perhaps'

You say 'I will be off to entertain my Circus for now, Lady Isadora.'

Isadora says 'Before you go to your kelpy seclusion'

Isadora says 'Can I honk your nose?'

Isadora grins evilly.

Eussk tilts his head to one side, and rasps, 'Roll your dice.'

You say 'Evens, you may honk it.'

With a brief shake Isadora rolls her stone die.

The die stops on 5!

Eussk folds his arms, evidently quite pleased with himself.

Isadora says 'Bloody Lady Luck ...'

You say 'Lady Luck stands proud again.'

Isadora says 'She never leaves me alone!'

Isadora shakes her fist in the air.

With a brief shake you roll your bone die.

The die stops on 5!

Eussk points to the dice on the floor, 'Do you know what that means?'

Still fuming, Isadora snaps, 'What?'

Eussk licks his lips, 'It means I will dine on duck, and not chicken, this day.'

Isadora rolls her eyes, disgusted.

Eussk smirks, and collects his dice from the ground, 'Farewell, Lady Isadora.'

Isadora says 'Wow, that had everything to do with Chance considering I gave you duck.'

Isadora chuckles politely.

Isadora has transferred you.

Masses of kelp

Massive green plants sprout here from the thigh deep waters and form

giant canopies of leaves. All around you are these massive sea plants and

the small animal life that accompanies them. The kelp looks well tended and

you can see paths to walk and care for the kelp every so often.

[Exits: east south]

Isadora the Liberated Muse of Revelry, Sublime Rhapsody of the Senses is here.

A country bumpkin dreams of pipeweed and its many uses.

You say 'Hrmph.'

You say 'Thought you didn't like kelp?'

Isadora says 'I think you were making the Naiads nervous'

Isadora says 'Ta-ta!'

Isadora leaves in a swirling mist.

Moments later..

Belegriel peers at you intently.

Eussk looks up at Belegriel, 'Good morning.'

Belegriel says 'A grand one isn't it.'

Eussk shrugs, 'I have no opinion.'

Belegriel says 'I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with the Muse.'

Eussk says slowly, 'Oh?'

Belegriel says 'And would ask a boon favor of you.'

Eussk chuckles, 'And what would that be?'

Belegriel says 'Honk your nose again.'

Eussk blinks, the face paint around his eyes cracking, 'E-excuse me?'

Belegriel says 'Your nose...make that blasting honking goose sound again.'

Eussk holds his dice up in the air.

Belegriel says 'You will be properly rewarded for entertaining me.'

Eussk reaches for his big red nose reluctantly, squeezing it tightly, as it makes a loud, 'Honk!' sound.

Belegriel throws back his head and cackles with insane laughter.

Belegriel says 'That has to be one of the most amusing things I've ever heard clown.'

Belegriel gives you 1000 gold.

Eussk mutters under his breath, 'Hrmph.'

Belegriel says 'A small pittance for entertaining the gods.'

Belegriel chortles mischeviously to himself.

Belegriel says 'We await your preformance at the Games with bated breath.'

Eussk says, with interest, 'The Games?'

Belegriel says 'Did you not say you would be entertaining at the Game?'

You say 'Ah, I said that I myself entertain with games.'

Eussk folds his arms, 'The games will be onrunning for as long as I live.'

Belegriel says 'Oh, you will entertain yourself with games.....'

Eussk shakes his head, 'That would be pointless, as I am of the only who understands the truth. My Games, will entertain and inform the masses.'

You say 'My audience.'

Belegriel says 'Careful who you entertain clown.'

Eussk tilts his head to one side, 'Why?'

Belegriel says 'Some might not be nearly as amused with your...antics....as I am.'

Eussk says, in a serious voice, 'I am not here to amuse.'

Belegriel says 'And I do hope you discern what is wrong with your flower.'

Eussk looks at his flower, and grumbles under his breath.

Belegriel says 'Entertainment, amusement....by products of your actions.'

Belegriel says 'Whatever you are here to do, know that I am amused by it and be thankful that it is so.'

Belegriel peers at you intently.

Eussk chuckles, 'Very well, then.'

Belegriel leaves in a swirling mist.