Cirque de la Plume
"Love takes many forms," the slender man said, his voice at once quiet and booming. It filled the large canvas pavilion. Edelaide found it odd that the canvas could look so bright from outside and be so sombre and shadowy inside. The light from the great brazier in the circular pit in the centre of the dark cast looming, dramatic shadows as the man walked about it in a slow, lazy circle. "To the Yinaiais, love is in creation. This much many of you know. It is in the bringing about of beauty; this is a paean to Thierrin and the Stars that blessed us. It is in the relinquishing of that beauty, too." He took his tall hat off as he said this, pausing to look down at his feet. Edelaide could not see his eyes from where she sat in the tiered benches. She assumed they were intense as he said, "Tonight, you will see beauty, drama and wonder. As the ringleader of this company, I, Ferdinant the Fabulous, bid you take all that you can as we shed wonder after wonder. Terror and delight, joy and poignant, compassionate pain -- there is beauty and art in each."Founded by Ferdinant de Fontaine, the Cirque de la Plume is an ever-changing entertainment endeavour. It was the first travelling circus in Cetoile. Two hundred years after its founding, the consensus among critics is de la Plume remains regnant among Cetoile's circuses.
A Man Named Ferdinant
The Cirque has its roots in the town of Ifla in the Yinaias county of Sol. Prior to his time as founder and first ringleader of the cirque, Ferdinant de Fontaine was an ink maker. His journal, with entries dated most days of his life, gives the modern world a limited window into his life and times. Ferdinant had a dim view of his family's ink business. It was creative, yes; Yinaias culture drew many of its adherents toward creativity in one form or another; but it was prosaic in the extreme. Ferdinant felt he was destined for something more exciting than the boiling of water and the mixing of gums and wine. It was when Ferdinant was drinking the rough, dark red instead of mixing it that the idea of the cirque struck him.
Ferdinant had always admired performers -- bards and acrobats and dancers. Troupes of such performers existed, but the creative personalities tended to be large. There was often friction between them, and the sparks from the clashes so often resulted in the burning of bridges. Ferdinant saw an opportunity in not only collecting talented performers, but allowing them to focus on their arts. Ferdinant's first cirque consisted of a quintet of musicians, four dancers, two singers, six acrobatic performances and two comics. From the start, Ferdinant's goal had been a simple one: to delight each of his customers. Since the founding, subsequent ringleaders have been chosen by the ringleader in concert with the cirque's performers. When a new ringleader accepts the position, the name Ferdinant is passed on.Cetoile's Premiere Circus
Cirque was derived from the old Rumain 'circus'. Erudite attendees to the modern day cirque often assume the word was derived from the circular arrangement of seating inside the cirque's grand pavilion, and the term ringleader followed. In truth, the arrangement of seating followed the word. Ringleader was used by Ferdinant to describe himself as he saw the cirque as a group without zenith or nadir. He believed staunchly in in equality in his organisation, and considered himself first among equals, or an organiser. The epithet 'de la Plume', contrariwise, holds little significance. Ferdinant, though derisive of his family's ink making business, saw a need to give his education and family some recognition. He chose the feather as both a symbol of the writer's quill and of the free flying bird. In the days since, most of the cirque's performers and all of its ringleaders have incorporated feathers into their eye-catching carnival couture.An Evolving Exhibit
De la Fontaine's desire to delight was not a shallow one. He knew that encores would only get him so far, and his performers would be limited by being forced into rote, routine acts that belittled them and the audience. He sought to combat stagnation by always seeking the talented, the unique and the wondrous. From the humble beginnings of performance art, de la Fontaine built a traveling troupe larger than any had been. De la Fontaine's memoirs recount the traveling cirque often mistaken for a band of mercenaries with its colourful standards and extensive retinue. He describes it as a traveling town and immense extended family. The nomadic, metamorphosing nature of the cirque continues. The cirque is now larger than it has ever been, and its acts and curiosities include exotic beasts, both beautiful and baleful; exhibition fighters from as far as the Jade Empire; giants from Skadi and the smallest of halflings from Auritio. Alkhafi alkhamysts create wondrous colourful blooms in the sky, and Cetoilais sorcerers have illusory serpents chase them. Where there is light, there is shadow. While the Cirque overlands to bring joy, its itinerant population brings with it a certain chaos. When the cirque is in town, one may be sure that all manner of ills will be blamed on its presence. Some of this blame is warranted, but the cirque is often a scapegoat for existing tensions and issues. Additionally, there are some concerns that the Cirque causes instability in economy, population and production -- the Cirque's money and mayhem cause an excitement among locals. Some dream of running away to join it, while others harbour fears that they or their loved ones will be kidnapped because of their talent. The charm of mysterious performers spurs fears of infidelity, ill-fated romance and regrettable decisions. Finally, through its travels, the Cirque embraces many people of many cultures. Cultures can clash, and there are varied substances beneath and beside social ills. How many of these problems will the Cirque bring when it comes to visit?Current Acts and Performers
Les Dangereux Dinosaures. The giant reptiles known as dinosaurs are all but extinct on Ereb and Anatoia. These four fierce specimens were captured in Auritio and sailed to the Cirque for a fine price. Terrifying though they may be, this quartet of quavering proportions are all herbivores. Make no mistake -- they are still dangerous! The stegosaurus, with his terrifying bone protrusions makes any hunter or predator think twice! Behold the euplocephalus's suit of natural armor -- enough to make even the most stalwart of knights blush in shame! The triceratops proves that three horns are better than one! And watch our lovely dinosaur whispering sisters, Freesia and Violette, coax these colossal creatures into terrifying, titillating, terrific tricks!L'épée Coupe-vent. From the far east, the savant of the sword Kazekiri has traveled. His swift, exotic strokes are sure to excite young and old. See his sword slice targets without contact! See him fight five men at once while blindfolded! Hear of the wonders he has seen in his travels! Prior to the show, Kazekiri entertains any who seek to challenge him. The prize, should you best him -- a replica of his sword! Perhaps you, too, can cut with the wind!
Gotradd the Giant. All Cetoilais know the stories about Skaden braves. Warriors as tall and sturdy with an oak and the strength to fell the metaphorical tree in a single chop of a well-honed war axe. Gotradd has descended from his snowy fatherland to not only lend support to the veracity of these stories, but to show that Skaden men do it all with a smile and a hearty laugh. Gotradd's feats of strength will boggle your mind! See him bend iron rods and wrestle our bears! See him lift a dinosaur! Watch him break rocks with his bare hands! When all is done, prepare for an attack on your sides as he tells you ribald stories and jokes from the northern lands! Parents be warned -- this act is not for the innocent! Do you fancy yourself made of stronger stuff than the Skaden? Challenge Gotradd to an arm wrestle! Any who manage to defeat Gotradd will receive a commemorative bent iron bar!
The Cirque is not just a delightful distraction. As with any itinerant institution, it serves as a conduit for news and rumours. The Cirque traditionally makes a point of reaching out to rural areas, often charging severely discounted admission. This is especially the case when outside its homeland of Cetoile. The Cirque considers this a charity -- this is a typically Cetoilais sentiment. After all, foreign lands are often starved of beauty and joy. As such, they undervalue creative endeavours.
The Cirque collects talent -- the beautiful and the strange. The Cirque considers itself a large family. Every member of this family is expected to help one another. There are a number of dark tales in the Cirque's past, though many remain little more than quiet, whispered stories among the members of the Cirque, passed down from generation to generation.
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