The Idol of Lesbos

(This adventure is based on the story "Cursed: The Idol of Lesbos" and its sequels by Melissa Dubban, used with the author's permission. While starting from the author's premise, the player's choices may take the story in a very different direction than the original. That is after all a big part of the fun.)

It had been a slow day at the antique shop, but the clerk finally saw a chance to change that when a woman stopped to examine the wooden figurine in the Mediterranean arts and crafts section.

"Is this supposed to be Venus?" the woman asked.

"Aphrodite, actually," the shopkeeper replied. It's Greek, not Roman. See the flowing, sensual lines? That's characteristic of the Hellenistic period. Lots of oriental influence loosening up the old stiff Classical designs."

"I've seen better," the woman said as picked up the statue and examined it from different angles. "But it is growing on me."

"It's said the statue is a powerful fertility artifact," the shopkeeper told her. "If a woman puts it by her bed she will experience passion the likes of which she couldn't imagine."

"Riiight," the customer replied, rolling her eyes. She looked at the statue in her hands again. "Still, my fella would probably never forgive me if I passed up the chance to own a real 'powerful fertility artifact.' " She paid in cash and left with the idol.

The clerk immediatetuly called the shop owner to brag about the sale. "I unloaded that fertility idol," he told her.

"Fertility idol? What fertility idol?"

"The wooden statue of Aphrodite."

They won't be getting blessings for many children out of THAT!" she laughed. "That's not Aphrodite. That's Sappho."

(story discussion thread on message board at http://forum.chyoa.com/threads/the-idol-of-lesbos.427/)