The White Apple Campaign Chapter 1

Hello all. It has been a while since I posted because I have been incubating the next phase of my writing plans. You see, like many today I have been seduced by the power and joy of collaborative story telling aided by tabletop RPGs. So, my creative friends and I decided to start a campaign over the holidays. Instead of launching a podcast or a web comic (which might have been better ideas), I decided to use this campaign to polish my craft and began turning the sessions into chapters. We play a game, and I write out the events in narrative form (I also add some speeches and polish improvised dialog to take it to "the next level"). I think this has resulted in some of my best writing to date and has been extremely educational. You can expect a fresh chapter each week so long as we keep playing and I would love any and all feedback you have. So without further delay, I would like to introduce you to the first chapter of "The White Apple Campaign".

“I’m afraid I’m already prepping for lunch my dear. What I have here are mere ingredients, not true food yet.” Said Cornelius from behind the bar as he chopped onions. After three days of pestering, he was almost accustomed to this woman’s inappropriately timed appetites. Almost.

In front of him sat a half-elf woman in her prime. She was pretty and cleanly put together, but she talked and acted like a farmhand. Her skin was blemished from the sun, but apparently could not fully tan, and her auburn hair dangled dangerously close to Cornelius’ knife as she craned over the bar to watch him work.

“That certainly seems like food to me, Corny.” She replied, her eerily green eyes twinkling. Perhaps from the onion fumes. Such a strange young woman, Cornelius thought for the third time this morning.

“You know I don’t like it when you call me Corny, Lady Ashlyn.”

“It’s Lenny.” She said, turning away from the chopping to look him in the face, full tears in her eyes. It was probably from the onions, but the effect was shocking enough. Feeling surprisingly moved, Cornelius reluctantly grabbed one of the still whole onions, wiped it on his apron, and handed it to the young fellow cleric.

“Cheers Corny!” Lenny said, snatching up the onion and walking away.

Cornelius heard a loud crunch as she turned to take a seat at one of the nearby tables where that unsettling tiny rogue sat. Apparently a friend of hers from before the boat. At least she is a woman of her word he thought to himself, noticing Vasher make his way down the steps from the upper deck.

Being a gnome, every table in the dining hall came to about nose height for Vasher. This had its blessings and its curses, one of the blessings being – if someone was reading something flat on the table like a map, all Vasher had to do was walk up and, boom, nose deep in reading material. It even took them a while to notice him sometimes, a blessing for extra reading time, but that same blessing was a curse when people with armored elbows were involved. So today, to hedge his bets, Vasher went straight for Johnathan. The bespectacled human wizard was a bit over the hill, judging by his greying short hair. He wore no armor and seemed to be scribbling something interesting in a book in front of him. Once he was properly close, Vasher could see Johnathan was taking notes next to a sketching of a plant.

“I’ve seen one of those before.” Said Vasher from Johnathan’s right elbow, making note that the man had no startle reflex, thank goodness, to his interjection. Instead, Johnathan simply paused writing and squinted wrinkled eyes very hard at Vasher for a moment.

“Where ever did you find a plant like this?!” He finally said in his tense reedy way, pointing at the drawing with one hand but still squinting at Vasher.

“Oh, I donno, somewhere along those ruined rocks at Gohst.”

“That is fascinating, you see, because this plant is extinct.” Johnathan went on, still squinting at Vasher.

“Well, uh,”Vasher replied, “Let me tell you something. Don’t boil it. It’ll give you a bad rash.”

“Why would I boil it?”

“Oh you know, ointments, tea, whatever might come to an adventurous mind. But I learned my lesson. Don’t boil that if you find it!”

As he said this, Vasher was already looking from table to table to find a way out of this disaster of a conversation. Johnathan was, surprisingly, actually taking draconic notes on what Vasher had said, whether he believed him or not. Taking his leave, Vasher made his way to a private table to try to wake up a bit better, ashamed at his wit’s morning performance. As if reading his mind, Cornelius immediately drifted past the table leaving a cup of tea as he went.

Savoring his tea, Vasher was relieved to notice that Lenny also seemed keen to bother Johnathan this morning. Even better was the fact that she seemed to be doing it with both a fist and a mouth full of raw onion.

“Whatcha drawin!” Lenny said plopping down next to Johnathan, her armor clinking softly. Vasher had to cover a grin with his mug as Johnathan’s already squinted eyes drew subtly tighter upon being hit with Lenny’s breath. When the man finally opened his mouth to describe the extinct plant, Vasher yelled “Don’t boil it!” from across the room – raising his mug to his two fellow travelers, earning a vigorous and oddly appreciative nod from Johnathan before he went on to “educate” Lenny into a stupor.

It wasn’t long until everyone was fed and settled for the morning. The last three days had set up a ramshackle rhythm to the traveler’s lives already, so everyone tended to be in the same place at the same time. All but of course the essential crew whom, Vasher noticed, manned posts at all hours. Also missing was Uru the elf, who never seemed to join the other passengers. Satisfied with the light breakfast, Vasher joined the rest when the time came for the predictable lot to make their way to the upper decks. Sure enough, Vasher spotted Uru at the prow of the ship away from everyone as soon as he emerged into the decks morning light. It seemed Uru was staring off into the clear day, though there was nothing to see but open sea. The elf’s mint green skin was a strange contrast against the blue of the surroundings, like a spring plant against a winter sky.

Continuing his scan of the upper deck, Vasher made his way to the port side of the ship and pulled his small lute from thin air before sitting down to play and watch. It was far more convenient to keep his instrument hidden by the wind than to carry it everywhere. Gnomes can’t lift much after all. So, contented and lute in hand, Vasher watched his crew-mates. Lenny had made her way to do something near the lifeboats, and behind her that tiny quiet woman “Jr” broke off towards the mast to start polishing her knives. I bet Cornelius is right about that one being an assassin of some kind, Vasher mused to himself, noticing the extra knives hidden in special folds of her strapped leathers.

Seeing everyone out and about on deck with the crew suddenly made Vasher notice something odd about the surroundings. The crew didn’t fit the boat. Scanning from prow to stern, Captain to deck hands, they all wore the same shabby grey fabric, suggesting that their uniforms were all cut from the same cheap cloth. Even the sails seemed of similar grade material. The boat itself however was some of the finest woodworking Vasher had ever seen. Various types of hardwood grains could be made out – each used in elegant and masterful ways. The wood bore designs and scrollwork as well. A ship with bones like this deserves prettier dress, Vasher mused to himself letting his music drift with is contemplations.

As the morning passed, all seemed fairly normal until there was a lull in the rushing breeze. Between chords, Vasher picked up a mumbling coming from the front of the ship. Uru still had not moved from his spot there, and seemed to be chanting something with all of his intent and focus - long black hair trailing like a flag behind him.

Now, I can’t let him go on uninterrupted Vasher thought, and used his talent to throw his voice so that it would sound right next to Uru’s left ear, saying, “Now I see what you’re up to lad. Best be careful.”

For a moment, Uru looked up from his clasped hands and glanced around before shrugging and returning to his chanting.

Well at least now he knows I know, Vasher thought with an internal sigh. Before he resumed playing however, he noticed the rogue Jr. eyeing Uru as well, apparently just as aware of his behavior as Vasher.

I wonder if we could really survive in these things, they sure look fancy. Lenny thought to herself to pass the time up deck. I mean, they’d float sure, but where’s all the food gonna go? How far away is land I wonder? Do I know how to fish? I can’t remember. I bet Vasher can teach me. He seems like a capable bard if there is such a thing.

Before she could get totally lost in her thoughts, Lenny noticed that Jr. had stopped her polishing and was staring at Uru at the front of the ship. The glance only lasted a moment however, and soon her halfling friend went right back to polishing as if nothing had happened. From their previous job, Lenny knew that Jr. was good at just letting things go, but this was just too suspicious for Lenny herself. She had to investigate, but she had to be subtle too.

“Aha!” Lenny exclaimed punching her hand into her palm in excitement. And then she ran backdown stairs in search of Cornelius.

After her eyes adjusted to the lower light, Lenny saw that Cornelius was making his way back to the bar with a rack of bread loafs from the cellar, his strong but rotund body effortlessly carrying the rack in one hand while using the other to straighten stools as he went. Perfect she thought, running over to greet him.

“Lady As-, um excuse me, Lenny, haven’t you bothered me for food enough this morning?” Cornelius asked as she sidled up next to him, sniffing.

“Yeah, yeah, but this is bread!” Lenny retorted. She almost went on to say it was for someone else anyway, but Jr. had been saying that sneaky meant only saying what you had to, so she kept it brief.

“Well you know you are welcome to any food on this vessel Lady Lenny. That is, unless you force us to rationing.” Cornelius replied with an exacerbated sigh and roll of the eye.

As soon as he set the rack down, Lenny scooped up two sizable rolls and with a “Thanks Corny!” was back up deck, the sun washing out the world as her eyes adjusted yet again.

Satisfied with her efforts to be covert thus far, Lenny decided to stride straight across the deck towards Uru. When she got close enough, she could see the thin elf man was chanting something and grasping a charm between his pale green hands. He didn’t seem to notice her presence even in her noisy chain armor.

With a raised eyebrow of intrigue, Lenny palmed the rolls into a single hand and used her free hand to tap Uru on the shoulder. No response. Not even a flinch. I think I’ve seen this before, that charm probably has him mesmerized! Lenny thought at his unwavering chanting. Slowly, she lowered her hand from his shoulder to try to get the charm from his hands. As soon as she was able to pry a single finger loose, Uru’s black eyes snapped open and he fumbled to pull the charm to his chest away from Lenny. In his haste, she was able to just barely catch the shape of a silver tree before Uru had it back close to his chest.

Sheepishly, Lenny grabbed the spare role and held it out to Uru to cover up her transgression. “They’re fresh, and I haven’t seen you eat very much these last few days.”

Uru’s expression was solemn as he looked at the roll in Lenny’s hands. But sure enough, he took it from her and spirited it away into his bag. When his hand reemerged, it was holding a shining white apple, which he then offered to Lenny, mirroring her gesture. As he did this, he said to her in a boyish voice, “All is love in the green wood.” And simply returned to his chanting.

Confused, but sufficiently distracted by the apple, Lenny slowly turned to leave Uru alone again, but not before throwing a few nervous glances over her shoulder as she went. Well that was weird, she thought, but he’s been weird this whole ride. At least he gave me an apple. It seemed to be a normal apple, albeit too perfect for a normal apple. Normally Lenny would be tempted to eat such a perfect sweet snack surrounded by such a salty sea, but the way Uru gave it to her gave her pause. Still confused, Lenny placed the apple in her magically deep bag for safekeeping and decided to check back with Jr.

Jr. it seemed, had decided to pass the time with some target practice on the main mast. Lenny made it just in time to see one of her friend’s daggers fly and thump firmly into the hard wood of the mast. Before she could congratulate her friend for the throw, however, Lenny noticed First-mate Tetsubo storming down the steps from the stern of the ship. He was a dark, strong, and looming dwarf with a raging beard and eyes to match. For all she knew he was mute, but the weathered dwarf’s body screamed indignation all on its own. Each stride was like a wave of thunder as he closed the distance to Jr. paralyzing her with his stare. Then, methodically, Tetsubo pulled the dagger free from the mast with one smooth tug, walked over to Jr., and held it out to her handle first. As she reached up to retrieve it, he held onto the dagger for just a moment, slowly shaking his head in distain, never letting Jr. free from his iron gaze. Then he let the dagger go. Visibly off put, Jr. huffed and stormed back below decks. Likely to her quarters where she would not be seen again until dinner.

Her friend gone, Lenny now found herself at a bit of a loss. This time of day, the upper deck was mostly occupied by the ships creepy crew. Rat (at least that’s what they called her) was little more than an animal when it came to conversation. She could barely be seen up in the crow’s nest. Lenny was afraid of heights anyway. The two goonish and lanky “Brickbat” twins weren’t much better and were swabbing the decks. The Captain never talked to anyone either, and Cornelius was probably at his wit’s end with her after this morning. Then, through the sea breeze, Lenny heard the tinkling sound of plucked strings.

Music was coming from the opposite side of the mast from Lenny, the drifting tones her only que that someone was even there. Making her way around the mast to investigate, she found Vasher seated, playing what looked to be like a child sized lute. While it was small for Lenny, she noticed the lute was full sized for Vasher, and he played it with the delicacy of a court musician. He sat with his back to the railing, unruly white hair twisting in the wind. That hair, and the general mystery of gnome aging, made his true age hard to pin down. His skin was tan from a life of travel, which hid wrinkles, but they were still there. His deep green eyes sagged a bit but shone with youthful energy. In general, his characteristics made him appear both old and young at the same time. Even though he was one of the most outgoing personalities on the ship, Lenny still felt she hadn’t really scratched the surface of who this bard truly was. Come to think of it, Jr. is like that too. Maybe I just like those kinds of people, Lenny thought as Vasher smiled up from his music, noticing her approach.

“How can I help you on this fine day miss?” Vasher said in his mild lilting accent. You could never tell what kind of accent a gnome would have nowadays, at least Vasher’s was understandable.

“Oh, I’m just passing time.” Lenny replied, honestly. “and wondering what got you on this ship.”

“That’s right! We never got to that our last chat.” He said continuing to play, his music shifting to a nostalgic tone. “Well as you may or may not know, us gnomes are homeless. All of us. The fancy word is ‘diaspora’, it means we are like seeds blown on the wind. You see, our homeland of Gohst is nothing more than mossy rocks in the sea now. So, being interested in forgotten things, I decided to go there myself and see what I could find. This boat is my ticket back to bigger land now that I’m done there.”

“What did you find out there?” Lenny asked as she brushed a loose auburn lock from her face, a bit of mysticism slipping into her question.

“Oh, the usual stuff a person finds when they spend too long staring at nothing.”

With that as an answer, he kept on playing, turning his head down to watch his plucking. After a moment considering what he had said and how to follow it, Lenny decided to dive back into questions.

“Hey, so, have you thought about what you are going to be doing when we get to Port Arbor?”

“I have some ideas.” Vasher said, his playing returning to the bright melody from before.

“Well I sure don’t.” Lenny explained. “Maybe I could tag along with you when we get there. I bet I can get Jr. to join us too.”

When Lenny said this, Vasher went a bit tense, but hid it by lowering his instrument to his lap. Then he pressed it together like we was going to break it in half, but instead the lute bulged like a bubble and popped out of existence with a sound like he had strummed all the strings at once. Not meeting her eyes as he stood, Vasher finally replied.

“I might be able to follow you two, depending on where you’re going, but I have had my share of leading.”

Then he started to walk away.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Lenny shot at him before he could go.

“It means exactly what I said.” He replied. “I’m no good to be leading anyone right now.”

Then he was gone below decks. Just like everyone else worth talking too. So, with a final suspicious glance at Uru, Lenny decided to do the same and made her way to her quarters to sleep off the heat of the day. Before she could make it to her quarters though, she was greeted with the unusually acrid smoke from Constable Hemswick’s pipe. One of the less social passengers on the ship, he was a looming man with dark features, and often kept to himself. While he held the title of Constable, the man before her looked like a haggard highwayman. His cloak was tattered, his hair and beard unkempt, but he had a badge.

“You could smoke that above deck you know.” Lenny said with a wrinkle of her freckled nose.

“Strong words coming from such strong breath.” He retorted, not even sparing her a glance, smoke twisting around him.

This made Lenny remember her stunt with the onion and she had to admit he had a point. So instead of picking a fight, she decided to hold her breath and push right on past his acrid cloud on to her rooms.

That evening, Lenny finally got what she was after. Good company. Making her way into the galley, she found Vasher already sitting with Jr. at her usual table. The two were both so small they had special stools pulled up to see each other as they sat. Glad to see them at least near each other, if they get in trouble I can just carry them off under my arms! she thought, chuckling as she joined them. Jr. was terse as usual and her especially messy short brown hair suggested she had been sleeping a good while. Vasher seemed totally back to his affable self with none of the tension she had seen in him earlier. Overall, everyone seemed to be a bit groggy from the afternoon siesta, so Lenny was content to sit with the group in a comfortable silence as Cornelius busied about in dinner prep. Dinner was also the only time the crew all joined the passengers for meals, so the galley was full and warm. Thankfully the grey clad creep crew all kept to their own tables, she thought, eyeing them from across the room. Uru it seemed had still not come down from above. Constable Hemswick had joined Johnathan at his table and they seemed to be getting along better than she expected. Perhaps is was their similar age or because they were both human.

After a while, Lenny say Vasher pull out a small cloth and two bags that clacked as if full of wooden trinkets. Then he unrolled the cloth revealing a grid of squares with flowery scroll work around the edges. After smoothing out the cloth, he offered the clattering bag to Jr. first, who curtly refused with a shake of the head. Vasher shrugged and then held the bag out to Lenny.

“Been saving this for when the real doldrums set in. But tonight feels special anyhow.” He said jostling the bag at Lenny.

Taking the bag, she could already tell through the cloth that it was full of wooden pieces.

“It’s a game!” Lenny said, her heart thumping with excitement. “I love games. It’s all my mom and I used to do.”

“Well isn’t that grand!” Vasher said with a twinkle in his eye. “This is a game only I know round these parts. Picked it up from a redheaded innkeeper out in the middle of nowhere. He told me that this game is a big deal in some old noble court. He loved it as a bar game though and I have to agree. Now, let me show you how to play.”

Vasher was right. It was a great bar game. The rules were simple, so they could get right to playing, but when the games got going, the complexity increased with every move. It really was elegant the way such simple rules and pieces could set the mind calculating.

The two played game after game until, again with his uncanny timing, Cornelius swept by the table leaving drinks in his wake. This time he left something a bit more special than tea. Inside the ornamented mugs was a deep and frothy ale. Before she or anyone could take a drink, Cornelius was tapping a knife on the side of his oversized metal tankard.

“Attention everyone!” He said in his firm but polite tone. “This evening I have decide to breakout a very special brew from my hometown. The yeast used to brew it is enchanted so please savor this gift this evening. We find ourselves in the middle of our travels. Middles are funny little places in time and space you see. Fraught with indecision, half-truths, worlds colliding, and that festering knowledge you have just as far to go as you have already gone. It can wear on a soul to be in the middle for too long, so let’s drink right on through this one!”

Lenny was always suspicious of enchantment and this made her eye the contents of her mug for a moment as he spoke. I could disenchant it, but Cony’s never given me a reason to distrust him so far… So, instead of risking the loss of a free magical ale, she jumped to her feet.

“A toast!” Lenny proclaimed to the entire galley, causing all to raise their mugs. “May Olidammara steal this night away as well as our hearts!”

A cheer of enthusiasm rose from the room and all drained their mugs. It was indeed magically delicious.

It wasn’t long before the galley was good and sauced. Cornelius sang, Vasher sang harmony – very well in Lenny’s opinion – and it was quickly becoming one of her favorite nights on the boat. As the hours dragged on, the crew returned to their posts and the passengers kept on singing until, one by one, the bar grew empty, leaving Lenny to wrap up yet another round with Vasher. As they played and drank, Constable Hemswick started growing louder and louder from the adjacent table. Eventually he was full blown yelling.

“I can’t just let it go Johnathan!” He bellowed, froth and spittle in his mustache.

“Now, I’m not suggesting that Constable.” Came Johnathan’s reedy voice in reply. “I’m merely pointing out that you are getting too worked up.”

“Its my wife and child Johnathan! They won this same free ticket raffle last year. And I was too ruddy loyal to the Devics to go with them. Now they’ve been missing an entire year and you are saying I’m too worked up?! I abandoned my post Johnathan. In the Capital! Do you know that that means?”

Johnathan nodded very uncomfortably in reply, held hostage by Hemswick’s intensity.

“Well I am going to find them. Mark my words. Alive or dead.”

With that, the Constable hung his head and returned to his rooms swaying with the boat all the way. Johnathan took a moment to be sure Hemswick was fully in his rooms before jumping up to run to his own quarters, disappearing into the dark hall.

“Well that was interesting.” Said Vasher to break the silence.

“You’re telling me!” Lenny replied. “I feel like I should have been taking notes!”

With a chuckle and his drink finished, Vasher too took the episode as a marker of the end of the evening and took his leave. Lenny then found herself in an empty galley, firelight painting the wooden room the warm orange of good cider.

I’m still to buzzed to sleep. Lenny thought, her legs felling a bit disconnected as she stood. I think I’ll go above one last time for some fresh air or I’ll wake up with a headache.

Going above decks at night was always strange to her eyes. In the day, you had to get used to the dark lower decks. At night, you had to get used to the dark upper decks. Combined with the alcohol, the drastic shift made her head spin a bit, but the night air quickly snapped her back into the moment. All was quiet until she picked up a familiar mumbling. Sure enough, there was Uru in the exact same spot, now chanting even more passionately. Alright I am done with this. Lenny thought as she strode over to conform him for the final time.

Upon getting about ten feet from Uru, Lenny felt like she walked into dead suffocating air. It seemed to glom together and resist her very approach. Bolstered by her drink, and pulling a will from deep within herself, Lenny took one powerful stride forward and felt the resistance break. Strangely, she could almost see the tension in the air come apart. It broke apart in all directions, creeping cracks that flashed in the night like the silhouette of a dark tree. Then it was gone. Quick as it came. Uru’s chanting droning on in the dark.

Her curiosity piqued, and sobriety returning from the shock, Lenny thrust her hand out to again take the symbol from Uru’s hands. When she touched him this time, however, the whole world went black and she knew no more.

Credits:

Matt Holden - World Builder and Head of Story, Cornelius, Johnathan, Hemswick, Crew

Gabriel Durham - Author and Historian, Vasher

Sarah Durham - Ashlyn "Lenny"

Ruth Tully - Jr.