Father Pat growls at Monique "you'll be putting my servants, nay I say friends, in irons over my dead body. Somehow I suspect it'll be your dead body though." He turns to Nicknack and says "can you pack up the camp and Folzi can you help him please. I will be back shortly." Father Pat then steps away from the camp, sits down and starts whistling a tune which sounds very much like a variation on 'She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes'. After about 10 minutes, the party and the Mystrans here a deep whinny and from over the hill the Mystrans see the largest horse they have ever seen walk down towards Father Pat. It is a Shire Horse stallion standing approximately 21.25 hands (86.5 inches) at the withers and probably weighing excess of 3000 lbs. It is a deep black in colour and has a rough coat with white feathers on its fetlocks. On its face it has a white blaze that looks like a head of wheat. The horse walks up to Father Pat and lowers its head. As he scratches its ears, he rests his head on its muzzle almost as if he is communing with the horse.  

"I vouch for the character of everyone here, and I have sworn my Oath under Sune's watchful gaze and received her blessings, my word is beyond doubt and I give it that you will receive no trouble from us if we are not troubled in turn."

He walks Vihar a step or two towards Sanchez "I do not ask you to abandon all sense, but trust me when I say they are good people. I would give my life for them, they have earned it, with bravery in the face of terrors long thought defeated, they have stood when Shepherds broke and fell, when madness and doubt consumed great men these alone stood firm. They have been chained long enough."

"You seem to have forgotten yourself," Monique begins her tone frank looking at Hrain. "We all swore an oath to our Goddess as well as the Empire captain. These detainees will be chained to prevent harming each other as much as harming us. They can not be trusted. Surviving by what means exactly? Why they could be controlling you right now," she adds as Sanchez looks at her with a hard expression but does not interrupt. "Where we go now prevents them from moving with us in any other alternative than being chained," she adds firmly as once again her companions flank her but now Sanchez men move to their arms not yet drawing them but ready. "We don't have time to weigh your feelings on the matter. These are the hardlines we all follow to keep the Empire safe. As for the dragon we've had reports from other survivors who have sailed here but they came to port and declared themselves. They did not skulk around private land waiting to be found," she explains her ace hard. "As if there is a choice at all," she then says raises her staff as do the other two clerics with her as magic manacles appear once more on Lyra, Folzi, and Nick! "You tried reason and got excuses Sanchez. I will take it from here," she then adds moving towards the party flanked by her clerics. "Apologies," she begins looking to Sanchez but his men seem keen to follow her hard action too. "I fear it's my own error in judgment to see if the newly appointed captain could handle a task of rounding up some strays. We all try not to pull rank here but as I am technically his superior and I will press my authority here now. You both," she begins now looking to Pat and Hrain, "have been found guilty of aiding casters in whatever attempt this is to elevate them beyond their status as detainees. In removing their bonds you have forfeited your rank. I case summary judgement as is my duty as high commander of Mystra's watch," she says dryly. "You come now without trouble or you come with them in chains," the half-orc says briskly now as five Mystrains back her with Sanchez still looking as if he's on the fence. "I swear now on the Lady of Knowledge herself if you resist may Sune and Cheautea forgive me," she then says as the end of her staff begins to crackle but Monique is the only one with an outward show of force the others just look poised to act.

    "Things are a changing, hon," Folzi says holding out his wrists begrudgingly. As the manacles lock around his wrists, he glares back to the half-orc. "But I guess some things still remain the same, huh!?" The gnome slowly shakes his head at this same old song-and-dance.

     "And, as if would change anything... Those two," Folzi motions to Hrain and Pat, "had nothing to do with freeing us. Head Sister Bhalla removed my chains. If Sgt. (Cara) Hudson or Lt. (Lara) Peregrine have made it here safely, they can fill you in on our release. Your Commander Matthias singlehandedly faced a dragon to see that we could escape. Why?! I have no idea. So, why don't you cut us some slack and please don't be putting chains on any more of my friends?" The gnome glances around to all the other Mystrans and then back to the half-orc. "By the way, where are all your constructs at? I find them easier to get along with." He chuckles and just gives Monique smile.

"I will not be chained and you are wrong to have done that to them, but I understand you are doing what you think to be correct. My rank is meaningless if my garrison is no more so you have taken nothing, my power is still here, Sune still blesses me with her gifts, so I wil assume she does not doubt my actions. This is all I need to be guided by. Let us go to your commanding officer, I am willing to be subjected to questioning then, and will look forward to giving a full report. My friends I ask that you abide this lady's decision and do not resist, although you are being treated shabbily."

Walking Vihar up to Sanchez he speaks to the Captain "If it is permitted I would gladly hear of survivors from the Waste, we all lost many and even knowing one or two have survived would bring gladness to my heart." 

Father Pat says "I've served in the Empires legions for over fifty years and ten years ago I was appointed appointed First Centurion (Primus Pilus) of the First Foot Guards regiment" He looks across at Sanchez and continues "you may have heard of the Old Bastard -  well that was me!" He then turns back to Monique and glares at her saying "I lost a leg in the service of the Empire and you dare to call me a traitor and want to put me in chains! Exactly what wounds have you taken in service of the Empire - hmmm? Now I serve the Great Mother goddess and the Empire in the way I see fit not in a way some jumped up starry eyed mystic tell me I should!" He then mounts Sampson and reaches down to Folzi, Nicknack and Lyra and easily hoists them onto the giant Horse's back before turning to Monique and saying "well are you going to lead the way or do you only stay in the rear ranks?" 

The mannacles appear on her wrists again, and a heartbeat later, Lyra's head sinks down on her chest in slowmotion. Her eyes seem to phase out again, and act or not, her behaviour comes a tad too close to what she looked like while fleeing the camp after they'd lost some companions. Only those directly next to her may be able to hear the words shes muttering. "Shepherds or Dragons. A choice between the devil and the deep blue sea."

"Whoever freed you dishonored their Goddess and the Empire," Monique replies to Folzi. "Dragon or no you're not safe free," she adds curtly.

"Captain she spoke of villagers from the harbor not the Waste itself," Sanchez begins speaking to Hrain. "They were able to escape the dragon's attack on the harbor. I suppose you are the only survivors of the Waste camp," he adds to Hrain looking to Monique who moves towards the treeline as the party moves ahead.

"As for you," Monique calls out to Pat. "You don't need to be legless to show your service. I happen not to be as careless as you," she adds as her companions chuckle. "But when you put a farmer in armor what do you expect will happen," she adds mounting a horse in the trees as three other clerics with obvious focuses await the forward party bringing the number of Mystrans to ten. "Let's move," she adds urging her horse forward as the others mount concentrating the party in the middle with guards in front and behind.

It takes less than an hour to reach the other side of the island and Lysander lands. They find a walled city with another set of Mystrans on watch. The party finds a mix of reactions moving into the fortified city from Mystrans as well as common folk, nearly ALL human, moving about in the wee hours of morning.

Monique and her clerics are at the front while Sanchez and his paladin guards are are at the rear.

"They go in the cells and they go to the garrison," Monique says pointing from casters to SoTs. "Ultus Herron will be notified," she then says. "As for those two," she points to Hrain and Pat. "We'll do them the courtesy of getting themselves presentable at least," she adds before moving ahead only to dismount as Mystrans acolytes come from the stables to take their horses. Sanchez begins to motion for Lyra to come down off Hrain's horse when Monqiue laughs. "Oh no. We'll do the honors with the cells," she informs Sanchez as she moves towards the gnomes and Lyra. "You escort our guests," she instructs motioning to Hrain and Pat.

Sanchez merely nods waiting for them to dismount.

Nicknack shrugs to the Mystran clerics as the manacles appear again. "No skin off my big gnomey nose. Free room and board works for this farmer too - better a farmer under the good clean sun than an ignorant and hypocritical priest of a goddess of Knowledge. That's just ******* hilarious - do you know how actually useless you are? You're like an illiterate librarian. I'll be happy to sit and watch you burn when the Chromatic Casters and their dragon allies come here."

"Says the slave who's powerless," a cleric near Pat's horse where Nick sits then reaches up to seize him by the scruff of his neck before Monique sighs and waves the man off.

"Know them do you?" Monique begins. "It's as I thought," she then says looking at her cleric who backs off but then to Nick. "You people never realized when you're beaten. Your insults like his," she gestures towards Pat with her staff, "are toothless! I know my cause is justice and my Lady is satisfied with my service. But please by all means continue and damn everyone of your companions down to the last with your talk of dragons," she adds motioning for the clerics to converge on the casters.

They do wait for them to move of their own will not all of you know you can be compiled the manacles having many forms of punishment built into their design and not just blocking your abilities to cast!

"Sanchez your choice bit I advise you chain them too. They've been out of the grace of the Sisters too long to know their enemies from friends," she adds curtly moving into the opposite side of the garrison as Sanchez gestures for Hrain and Pat to dismount.

"Come and please with a wave of this gauntlet I can dispelling both horses too so don't think about fleeing," Sanchez says somberly next as if he takes no pleasure in how the situation is being escalated.

Nicknack snorts with frustration and humor. "Yes - you have all the power - that's true. The lust for it leaks from your eyes and your mouth. When the truth hits you one day, that you have enslaved a harmless tree farmer out of your deluded definition of justice... well, you probably won't even notice. Take me away, Librarian of Justice."

Lyra will move forward with the others, shaking her head with a sad expression on her face. "Pathetic. When did you all forsake yourselfs?" As she wanders past Monique, she cant help but raise her voice again. "To think you view yourself as so important that goddess of yours would bother wasting a single second judging you. You dare justifying yourself for shutting down part of the populace for the mistakes of others? You think you're right, hiding behind your borrowed 'powers' as an excuse, taken up to enslave others? Does it turn you on, seeing us like this? We've seen your fellow Shepperds lock away people in cells to rott to their deaths for no other reason than their mere existence. And you think you're being just?" Lyra obviously got herself into something at this point. The longer she keeps going, the more emotions are bursting out of her. As a mix of anger and sorrow seem to balance themselves out, her voice suddenly grows a soundless. "I know you're not obligated to respond, and theres no need to answer me right now. But do tell me, what would you do, if you'd find you could suddenly weild those powers without any god as excuse. When you'd just have them as part of your very nature. Would you give it all away, your rank, your status, your whole life, and let yourself be locked away? With that, Lyra continues to march in silence, one foot after the other.

      Welling with pride, a tear begins to form in one of Folzi's eyes as Nicknack doesn't hold back. "You see," he begins to Monique, "I'm tired of having this conversation with the likes you narrow-minded twits. I agree fully with my younger, more spirited friend here. If you think you've beaten us, that's fine. Just know payback is a *****!" He flashes a smile and a deadly twinkle sparks in his eye. 

OOC: 

Monique doesn't acknowledge any one else simply parts from the parade of prisoners and clerics who then led the casters into a tower. Once inside she disappears into a room while the casters descend two flights of steps into the dungeon below. Then Lyra, Folzi, and Nick gear is removed before they're put into a cell together beside others hunch in five cells around them with another five in front! The room itself is 80ft by 100ft.

(Assuming y'all aren't going to resist)

"Feel that," another cleric says grinning from ear to crooked ear as he pats the stones and other prisoners perk up or remain huttled in their cells. "We brought the stones in these cells special," he explains still grinning as he pounds them now as a familiar wave of magic sapping nausea hits all of you. "The stones you see are fresh from Caorthann give or take a decade," he adds through the bars 5ft away. Each of you are in the same cell that's 10ft by 15ft. "Please do enjoy your stay," he adds with a grin as he swaggers off dropping the keys in the haggard hands of a large male dwarf who now walks over looking suspiciously at the cleric then at the party.

"Oh, go on and tell them we've got three more for breakfast," the dwarf growls! "I don't need them hysterical as well as hungry," the dwarf thens adds his thumbs in a heavy belt with a grizzeled mace hanging from it. He then waits for the clerics to clear out before he speaks again. "So...safe to say you've not turned yourselves in then," he asks scratching his bearded chin as he speaks before a yawn escapes him. "Well, breakfast isn't much but it's hearty. I eat it too so if they've spit in it we're all getting the extra flavor," ge adds comically shuffling off down the cooridor between cells.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

OOC: Pat and Hrain dismount and follow or???

"Yes yes, mighty master cleric... we've felt it before. Listen to the pleasure at our pain that rings out in your voice. I've never enjoyed anything in my life as much as you are enjoying this. Commune with your goddess, mighty cleric, and ask her whether she is pleased that you enjoy inflicting pain on people she has commanded you to protect!" 

Nicknack trails off as the sadist cleric strolls away.

"Well, sir, I'm glad you like the rations, because you will be getting extra helpings. Either you or our new neighbors," the little wizard says, gesturing towards the other prisoners. "Eating your food, sadly, helps support my imprisonment. I do not support my imprisonment, so I do not plan on partaking of your hospitality. Not willingly, anyway. But I do appreciate your concern for our welfare - it is more noble than your religious friend there."

Father Pat gets off Sampson and whispers in his ear. The horse immediately disappears. He then stands up to his full height of over six and half feet and glares at Monique "typical rear echelon type, all bluff, bluster, quick quips and self-righteousness but one thing you can be sure of they wont be there when the chips are down." He turns to Hrain and says "sorry Captain, you're going to have to do this on your own." He turns to Sanchez and says "throw me in there as well" pointing to the cell where Nicknack, Folzi and Lyra have been placed because "Michael O'Shannessy doesn't desert his friends." He peers more deeply into the cell and straightening his shoulders shrugs and says "I've been in worse!"

"You have no option. You will face the Ultus," Sanchez says looking shocked by Pat's dismissal of duties. "You may then go to Chauntea garrison and face her retribution on the mainland," he adds next.

"Is...is your belief in Chauntea so weak you've abandoned all sense," another half-orc paladin asks removing his helmet and walking over to Pat with a hard glare. "Sisters have mercy on us all! They have been enchanted," he adds looking to Hrian now with curiosity and reproach! "They'll bring the dragon captain," he says next, "mark my words," the younger paladin exclaims moving towards Pat as if to move him if need be with Sanchez motioning to another tower and away from the one the others were marched into!

"Please no more trouble. Help yourselves," Sanchez says his tone bordering on pleading.

Father Pat starts to glare back at the other Paladin and show his tusks. But he then softens the look on his face and says "No I have not lost my belief in Chauntea's mercy - in fact far from it!" He pauses a minute and then continues "you know before I lost my leg, I didn't have much truck with Gods or Goddesses believing only in myself and my own abilities. However after Chauntea saved me - both physically and mentally - following the loss of my leg I began to change my beliefs and would argue that my faith in her is greater than that of many others, who may have joined her church for their own ends. Increasingly I've come to realise that she is a Goddess of Mercy and Gentleness, who expects her followers to make the right decisions not always the correct ones as some religions would have their followers do!" He turns to Nicknack, Folzi and Lyra  and says 'hang in there" before following Sanchez to face the Ultus.

"They will be fine, for now. I am sure, however I do not intend to see them left to rot. We have seen things that these people have not, they did not witness the murder of the non-human casters by the dragon cultists, they cannot see the distinction and they do not see the danger of grouping all casters into one breed." Hrain shakes his head sadly, looking at his fellow paladin. "This was always likely to be the hardest part, the Empire is scared, the power they represent is too chaotic for it's liking and so they wish to remove them from society. Unless we can affect great change the three of them will have this through their lives."

"I don't make theological decisions. I swore an oath to Mystra's church and to the Empire. I follow their orders," Sanchez replies ushering both Pat and Hrain into the other tower in the garrison.

They are taken through a communal area filled with books where a bunch of Mystrans are reading and debating. Then through a corridor before climbing a famailar built tower to the top floor. Knocking Sanchez waits before hearing a resounding female voice say "enter" the young captain opens the door entering first.

"This is Ultus Herron," Sanchez says bowing to the silver robe clad human woman of middle age sitting at a paper and book riddle desk. The room itself is lined with bookshelves heaving books, scrolls, and artefacts. "Ultus this captain Hrain Atramentar, garrison commander and servant of Sune for the White Waste and Patrick O'Shaughnessy servant of Chauntea," Sanchez introduces you both. "They came...willingly Ultus but they're companions from the camp were....less compliant. I am sure commander Nygaard will attest," he adds before giving her another bow backing away and taking a guard position by the door.

"What news do you have of the camp? We have villagers just common fishermen who claim dragons wreaked havoc on the Waste harbor and they barely escaped with their lives! How did you..." she looks to Sanchez.

"These two and three others Ultus," Sanchez explains.

"Three casters get this far unharmed," Ultus Herron asks with quizically furrowed eyebrows staring at both Hrain and Pat.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Meanwhile down in the cells in the south tower dungeon.

"Eat or don't," the dwarf replies, "you won't be here long I don't expect," he adds with a frown. "I'm Ferren Ironfist but you can call me Mace," he adds his hand on his weapon with a toothy smile. "How'd you escape where it was you were confined," he asks curiously.