Jay finds Paren already in the room, spinning a Yklwa around as he seems to be practicing a strange fighting style. "Morning. Sorry, I get bored while the rest of you finish your sleep. I'm still not quite used to that." 

Tanni enters the room with her warhammer hanging from her belt and a tied up leather roll with her smithing tools in it. "Morning. Let's get this started so we can be on our way." She looks around the room and asks, "Where's Falaine? Still sleeping?"

"Who needs sleep when there's research to be done?" Falaine lets out a yawn, but due to her shapeshifting nature she looks as put together as always.

Not long after all have gathered together, the Duke arrives with a small company of guards along with Candise. The guard master had brought Jay here earlier but didn't seem to be too concerned with Jay attempting to do anything nefarious in the night. 

The Duke looks rather well rested and refreshed after sleeping for a bit. Candise is actually looking rather composed this morning and back to her normal self. She's been allowed to change into fresh clothes and it looks like she's been cleaned up rather well. It would almost seem as though her sentence has already been determined with the way the Duke seemed rather friendly with her upon her entry. 

With the magical ring of truth produced by Paren, the questioning begins.

[[All, please roll a Charisma Save.]

The process to find if Candise has hidden any information seems to go without issue. Her story seems to check out with what's been said already. She insists that she has never intended to hurt anyone in the group and she has never been affiliated with this Merveille that she doesn't seem familiar with. After many questions, it seems she was just the unlucky one to make direct contact with the stone. From what you all learn, the guards that had acquired it moments before her were wearing their leather gloves that seemed to protect them from the magic of the shard. 

This is the second person of orc ancestry that seems to have reacted poorly to the shard. The first half orc was Gunthar who the group believe found the shard. You don't recall Krusk reacting to the shard but you wonder if his godly magic protected him from its affects. Candise though seemed to be very similarly possessed by the shard and forced to act out in an unnatural manner. You begin to wonder why the shard would react differently to orcs but it doesn't seem to be something you can answer with the information you have. 

[Go ahead and ask any questions you'd like from Candise and she'll answer them!]

You may roll insight on the Duke or Candise if you'd like. 

((Note. Those that did not roll a 12 or higher on the charisma save are under the affects of the zone of truth that takes up the entirety of this chamber. ))

"I will be able to tell if anyone resists the magic, which Candise has not. Now Candise, when you were possessed by Mervielle, what exactly was it that he was telling you to do? Did he give you a reason for the actions he was making you take?" Paren feels a little strange about the spell being able to keep people from lying but feels it's probably best to get the answers in a way everyone trusts. 

((I believe as the one casting the spell I don't need to make a save against it.))

Candise offers a slight shrug. "I heard voices which I did not understand. It was like it was trying to talk to me but couldn't find the right way to speak. There was more than one voice and they seemed to fight against each other. It was like being a dream where you know you're in a dream but can't wake yourself. I was trapped within my own body unable to control it. The voices seemed pleased once the shard was inserted. At least one of the voices I mean. The other went silent. 

There was a woman. I saw her standing there in full armor over your friend. I think she loved him. She yelled something at me with anger. When she struck me, the voices left. I controlled my body again but I was pinned against the wall."

(I believe you're correct)

"The twin voices were likely Lugh and Mervielle, they are connected together, as is the cycle of life and death, and we've heard from others that they are fighting. My guess is Lugh was the voice who fell silent once the shard was inserted." Paren explains his thoughts to the group as he processes them himself. "Do you remember what the woman said to you? We heard something from outside the door about returning a shield or something like that. Do you know who she was speaking to when she said that?" 

Candise shakes her head. "She spoken in a language I didn't understand but it seemed to be the same the voices were attempting to use. She was speaking at me, but I think she knew I was being controlled. I don't think her anger was with me but whatever was controlling me. She did have a large shield. She looked like a soldier."

"Likely she was speaking in celestial then. Up until I touched Jonathan's body I could understand it, thanks to the influence of Mervielle from being near to the shards. Now I no longer can unfortunately." Paren's face looks very sad as he utters the last statement and Tanni and Falaine would remember that the reason he did not want to be cleansed in Holden Heights was that he used celestial to communicate with Lugh. "And there was no one else in the room? No other strange figures?" 

Candise shakes her head. "Just the guards, your friend, and the woman. I didn't see anyone else.  Whatever the stone was doing seemed to stop when she touched it."

 Charisma save, with an advantage because of Gnome Cunning: 22

Insight Check on Candise, because Tanni still doesn't fully trust her: 8

Charisma save 19

 Tanni listens closely for the interrogation, focusing on Candise for any sign of deceit or secrecy. "Very well, so she is probably innocent in all this. Mervielle then knew that we had the shard and controlled guards to search our quarters. But how did he gain control over them?"

"If we bring the guards here in the next few minutes we could have them enter the spell and ask them. Or I could cast it again if we really want to know." 

The Duke thinks for a moment and says, "Compulsion magic is rather tricky. It most certainly had to come from somewhere. I'm guessing that the stone itself called to the guards. If it is godly magic as you all have mentioned, who knows what kind of power it could have been infused with. I also am starting to think that's not just a regular piece of stone you all had possession of. Where did you say you found it?"

Tanni, you get the sense that Candise is telling the truth. You also can tell from her posture and reactions to the questions that she's rather calm now. Her cries of the night before seem to be a distant memory for the half orc. She seems to have returned to the type of person she was when you all first met her.

The Duke looks to Paren and says, "I don't think that would be necessary. From what I've learned, it sounds as though Candise had no control over her own actions and I assume the guards will report the same. The only person to blame for all of this seems to be a god."

He paces about the room for a moment. "I don't have the time or the resources to even attempt to bring a god to justice. Good people's lives are at risk and I can't dedicate any more time to this. If you all want to wage this war with the gods, I won't stop you. For now, Candise, you're free to resume your duties. If you have even a small feeling of not being yourself, you are commanded to tell Tyler immediately. If any of the guards sees you acting oddly, we will have no further choice but to send you through the door."

Candise nods and bows, "Of course, your Grace. I only wish to serve you after all you've done for my family. I assure you that it will not happen again."

The guard master nods in understanding at the ruling and says, "We will continue our search for any information on the person responsible for killing the guards and your wizards. If they've left through that rune circle, there is little hope we'll find them by now. Shall we board up the room?"

The Duke shakes his head. "Not yet. Our companions said they'd investigate the room further now that they have a better understanding on it. Wait until they say they're finished before you start that project. Just make sure it's either safe or closed before we leave for the expedition."

Tyler nods, "I understand your Grace."

With that, the trial and sentencing of the murderer of Jonathan seems to come to a close with no results. It's unclear what will be done in regards to Jonathan's family but the body and possessions will be sent as is required of the station. The Duke seems ready to be done with all of these issues that so far seem far beyond his capabilities. His plate is already full with other issues.

"I'll see that food is brought to the cellar so that you do not go hungry this morning. If you could investigate the circle and see if there's anything you can do to make it safe, I would greatly appreciate it." He pauses for a moment. "Is there anything else that you require of me today?"

Falaine bows to the Duke. "Excuse me your grace, but with the trial ended I will return to my research." Falaine keeps her head lowered as she backs out of the room and returns to get chambers.

GM:

The Duke nods and gives Falaine a smile that seems to calm him slightly amid all of this mess. 

Falaine exits the room leaving the others to research the circle. 

Paren takes Tanni aside for a second, talking quietly to her. "So, it seems Mervielle was the one responsible for Jonathan's death. And if I heard the yelling through the door correctly he and the daughter have worked together before, that's how she got her shield back. I wonder if the new gods are having some trouble in their family and are working against each other? The other question is what do we three, or four, do now?" He then begins to examine the circle, looking for any signs that it's changed since the last time they used it. "So Jay, what do you know about this circle?"

Tanni whispers back, "All I know he was saved from a falling belltower in Holden Heights by Shamara. I think you're right and we will put stop to their squabble before it escalates more." She then goes next to a wall and begins opening up her toolpack. "Only one thing, your Grace. How old is this section of the castle?" Tanni asks.