Apple's Heart

[dramatispersonae]

Your arrival is marked by the feel of sand under your feet, with the sound and smell of the ocean wafting in from behind you. A dampness hangs in the air and the sky is overcast. Directly in front of you the sand fades into a grassy hill, on top of which a white castle rests. To the left, a little ways off, you can see tall sandstone cliffs. Off to the right is a large field of sunflowers that stretches out into the distance. There are no paths or signs anywhere to be seen.

((#applecore))

Comments

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

A lot. Two dozen? They seem to vanish when they're not in your line of sight. There are consistently ten of them, sometimes more.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[points to the five that volunteered]

All right. You are now the bad guys in this play. Everyone else will fight against you -- but not for real!

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"Got it!"
"Okay!"
"We'll win!"
"No way, we'll win!"

The children start fighting to determine who will win.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[supervising and ready to heal if necessary...]

Um, k-keep fighting! We won't let the library fall!

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"For the library!"
"For the...not the library!"
There is proper swordfighting, at least.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[claps...and I think I've given the children enough things to play with.]

[Is there a way to continue on from here?]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

There are...more sunflowers. There is a heavy mist off to the right, and a tiny path off to the left.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[...tiny path seems safer.]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

It is. It winds its way around the sunflower fields a long ways, heading towards the back of the castle.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[...CASTLE! Lets go to the castle now!]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

The sunflowers clear, and you find yourself at the back of the castle. There is a crop garden, training grounds where a handful of guards are practicing, and a large greenhouse. There is also a pathway leading around to the front.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

Ah, wonderful!

[opening the seed bottle and looking for a clear spot in the crop garden]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

There is a spot near the end that looks ready for planting.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[takes out the seed and plants it]

There you are. You can grow more comfortably now.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

The seeds are successfully planted. The spot glows a little.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

That's better.

[...lets see the greenhouse now.]

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

Inside is, if possible, even larger than outside. Every kind of plant imaginable is here; hanging from the ceiling, in planters and pots, in tall shelves and niches. There are small waterways flowing throughout, bringing all of the plants water. A woman with light hair and a lab coat is there, a playful smile on her face even as she checks on the plants.

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

[oh gosh, so many things!; waving to the woman]

Oh, hello!

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

She looks up.

"My, I've got so many visitors today. Hello, how can I help you?"

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

I'm a little lost...Can you tell me where I am?

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"You're at the castle, of course. Is there someplace you're trying to get to?"

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

...I don't know. I just found myself at the beach and wandered a little. Is there a place I should go?

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

"Everyone seems to be asking...if you're looking, I'd say go up."

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[fullmoonblooms]

Up...How do I go up?

Re: THE SUNFLOWER FIELDS

[appleofhiseye]

She points to the top of the castle.

"Take the stairs, I'd think."