First, I'm going to be spotty for the next 8ish days due to work. I'll try to get on at least once a day but things might be very slow starting off.
Second, Wizards and similar don't exist in this universe, all magic users have a source patron of some sort, i.e a deity, demon or something like that. You are either born with metamagic (with the blood line/the user themselves being the source) or you have to acquire it from some magical being. Also, Gnomes don't exist either, which is fun because one of the characters is a Gnome from a different plain of existence so y'all probably think he's an odd looking Halfling.
Third, the world is still being built in my head with little things like the above so I'll be making some calls on the fly, have fun)
A cell door opens, inside the cell sits a lonely Gnome. A tall woman of radiant beauty and two half elves are brought inside and the door slams closed. You all have been in this prison for at least a few days, but have up till now been held in small single cells used for in processing until a larger, communal cell is assigned, you have now arrived at your home for an indeterminate amount of time.
It has been explained to each of you that you will be there until such a time as the Duke is available to sit in judgement of your crime, or crimes.
The cell is pretty bare Bones. Stone walls and stone tiles, with a heavy steel door that has two slots. One at eye level and the other at midriff height of the average human. There is no handle for opening these on your side and there is no lock on the inside of the door.
There is a single window, or rather hole in the wall, placed 9 feet off the ground and barred.
Inside the cell there are four cots, positioned with two stacked one atop the other against opposite walls. There is no other furniture.
The dimensions of the cell are approximately 20 feet by 20 feet, giving limited room, or privacy.
Walking in and realizing she's no closer to getting out of here has left a scowl on Ida's face. A change of scenery is nice but this isn't what she had in mind. She hoped it was time to be judged so she could defend her actions. How long are they going to keep her here? She's not doing well with no knowledge of what's happening outside, with no idea if they've told her family or even if her family would try to come help. She tries try to look the other 3 inhabitants in the eye, but for now they are avoiding her gaze. To break the silence she taps her heel against the wall she's leaning on to see if anyone will speak.
Darwin looked up expectantly as the cell door opened, hoping he would finally be getting his chance to explain. He didn’t take much notice of the newcomers at first, just got up and headed to the door, just as it was slammed in his face.
He smacked his small palm against the door numerous times before he sighed and placed his forehead against the door.
After a moment, he heard a tapping sound behind him and turned around seeing the newcomers seemingly for the first time. Great he thought, three large folk and him in this small room.
”Welcome to my humble home”, he said in mock seriousness to them, sweeping his arm out in a gesture that encompassed the whole room. “I am Darwin, your host”, he added as he walked back to his bunk. “And this is my bed”, he finished, eyeing the newcomers warily.
"Always nice to get a welcome. The guards weren't exactly friendly." Ida smiled as she spoke, because it was genuinely nice to have others to communicate with after the past few days. Hopefully they were decent, and she knew she would find out soon enough. "How long have you been here Darwin? How long have any of you been here?"
Darwin looked over at Ida, towering above him. He was about to reply with something flippant, but her smile seemed so genuine his attitude softened. "It's hard to say but I think it's been three days now. Not in this cell mind, I was brought here not long before you all showed up", he said leaning back against the wall.
Turning to Rowan, he looked him up and down. This one was obviously some sort of burglar, and sounded like he deserved to be here. And he assumed that the others did too. "I was just out to get some food after a shift at the carnival, when a bar brawl broke out. I got caught in it and woke up in an alley with a bruise on the back of my head", he said feeling the lump with his hand."Then some guards came along and arrested me for...", he sat upright before continuing in a low gruff voice, "...wanton destruction of public property". He leant back against the wall again and continued in his own voice, "Something about a broken water barrel. I didn't break it though!"
So Rowan is a thief, but appears to be honest about it Ida thought to herself. Well, he may be honest or he may be hiding something worse. Either way, his attitude doesn't seem remorseful, nor does he seem terribly disturbed to be here. He could just be bluffing though, and terrified to face judgement. She really was trying not to be judgemental herself, but to observe words and actions to determine who may be similar to her and her beliefs.
"I think it's been about 3 days for me as well. Hard to tell with the previous cell. I'm sorry you were needlessly arrested Darwin, hopefully the Duke or his advisors or whoever will that it was an error. And I'm here because I tried to stop something, tried to help someone not be killed in a situation that wasn't their fault. We will see how kindly they look upon me when the facts are disclosed. Rowan - why do I feel like this isn't your first time in some sort of jail?"
Ida's attitude immediately softened towards Rowan. She had seen so many people forced to beg for anything towards a meal. She'd helped so many children who weren't quite sneaky enough when they tried to swipe a piece of fruit or boule of bread by immediately walking up to the merchant and paying for it to avoid a scene. She'd given to almost anyone who asked to try to help them. She hated seeing the class system in action and watching people being treated poorly due to circumstances far beyond their control. She silently vowed to help him when the time came, as she was sure he would need assistance on the outside.
She looked at Rowan and smiled the same way she had at Darwin. She extended her hand to shake his, hoping he would see it as a sign of respect. "My name is Ida, and I'm genuinely sorry to hear of your struggles. I'm sure you'll find the information you seek in time."
Hamish still sits where he slid down a wall when he first entered. He keeps his gaze on the ground in front of him, and his shoulders hunched up, but they don't do a good job hiding the nasty scar across the front of his throat. He glances up at the other three through his unkempt black hair, then returns his gaze to the floor before speaking. His voice is a hoarse whisper but his face shows no sign of pain when he speaks, "You all don't seem too bad. I've been here a few days, too. I killed someone."
Darwin looked from Rowan to the other half elf. He really felt sorry for Rowan, it seemed he had been failed by those around him and forced to a life of crime. He had a certain amount of respect for him doing what needed to be done to survive in those circumstances.
But the other half elf’s statement was equally shocking, but for a completely different reason. He turned back to Rowan and said, “That is a shocking tale, I hope you get the justice you seek”.
“Your tale is equally shocking, was it murder or self defence Mr….?”, he said turning to the other half elf again and prompting for a name and reason for the killing. He couldn’t help staring at the scar on his throat and wondering how he got it as he awaited the reply.
"I'm Hamish. No mister. Just Hamish. I guess it was murder, but I couldn't control it. Whatever is inside of me did it. Father Olyver said he was trying to help me. But now he's dead. And I really am a monster." Hamish tucks his chin lower, uncomfortable with the stares on him and his cheeks start to redden.
“It is a bit of a blur in truth, I swear I had double vision and was seeing things when I woke up after that knock on my head”, Darwin answered Rowan before turning back to Hamish.
”If you couldn’t control it that sounds like an accident. Was it voices in your head telling you to do it or something else?”, he asked, a little concerned for his safety. He hoped the guards wouldn’t lock him up with a murderer and there was something else going on here.
Ida feels relieved that the other two are trying to comfort Hamish, and that she has been confined with compassionate beings. Compassion is a rare trait from what she has witnessed, and she knows she is incredibly lucky to be in a cell with these people. She moves closer to Hamish and kneels near him, but not so close to startle him. In her calmest voice she says "Hamish, you are far from being a monster. I can easily detect good and evil, and a fiend you aren't."
She looks at Rowan and tells him that she agrees that guards will use any excuse to arrest those they deem insignificant. She asks Darwin "Are you still having any issues with the head or any double vision?
Hamish looks up and brushes the black hair out of his face, revealing one green and one purple eye. "It wasn't voices, but some power. A priest had offered to help me with it. Sometimes people get hurt around me when I'm scared or angry. Father Olyver was trying to help me, but then lightning came from my chest and killed him. Threw him through a wall and right into some watchmen. I didn't even have a chance to run." Hamish heaves a ragged sigh, seemingly on the edge of tears. He rasps, "And you are all very kind, but you are wrong. My family always thought I was a monster. Tried to kill me, even. I thought they were wrong but now I'm not so sure." Hamish takes a breath to calm himself, then says, "What do you all think they'll do to us?"
"I'm all good now thanks Ida. They say time is a great healer, and seeing as I am serving time...", he said jokingly.
He took a good long look at Hamish. "What were you scared or angry about at the time this happened?", he asked. He wasn't an expert in these things, but it didn't sound like Hamish was a murderer. Just another victim, just this time a victim of the power inside he couldn't control.
Ida is realizing that the four of them could be in some trouble if the Duke or whomever is as biased as the guards and the rest of the nobility. Theft to survive and wrong place at the wrong time stands a chance to be overturned by an understanding soul. Her choice to blatantly ignore the law may not be looked on as kindly. Hamish having an uncontrolled power could be an immediate death sentence.
At the same time, guards could be killed if Hamish becomes scared or angry. Or the three of them. Ida's focus right now is trying to make sure Hamish is able to stay calm so they can all remain safe.
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(Alright, first a couple housekeeping points.
First, I'm going to be spotty for the next 8ish days due to work. I'll try to get on at least once a day but things might be very slow starting off.
Second, Wizards and similar don't exist in this universe, all magic users have a source patron of some sort, i.e a deity, demon or something like that. You are either born with metamagic (with the blood line/the user themselves being the source) or you have to acquire it from some magical being. Also, Gnomes don't exist either, which is fun because one of the characters is a Gnome from a different plain of existence so y'all probably think he's an odd looking Halfling.
Third, the world is still being built in my head with little things like the above so I'll be making some calls on the fly, have fun)
A cell door opens, inside the cell sits a lonely Gnome. A tall woman of radiant beauty and two half elves are brought inside and the door slams closed. You all have been in this prison for at least a few days, but have up till now been held in small single cells used for in processing until a larger, communal cell is assigned, you have now arrived at your home for an indeterminate amount of time.
It has been explained to each of you that you will be there until such a time as the Duke is available to sit in judgement of your crime, or crimes.
The cell is pretty bare Bones. Stone walls and stone tiles, with a heavy steel door that has two slots. One at eye level and the other at midriff height of the average human. There is no handle for opening these on your side and there is no lock on the inside of the door.
There is a single window, or rather hole in the wall, placed 9 feet off the ground and barred.
Inside the cell there are four cots, positioned with two stacked one atop the other against opposite walls. There is no other furniture.
The dimensions of the cell are approximately 20 feet by 20 feet, giving limited room, or privacy.
Welcome to the Haukberg Prison.
Walking in and realizing she's no closer to getting out of here has left a scowl on Ida's face. A change of scenery is nice but this isn't what she had in mind. She hoped it was time to be judged so she could defend her actions. How long are they going to keep her here? She's not doing well with no knowledge of what's happening outside, with no idea if they've told her family or even if her family would try to come help. She tries try to look the other 3 inhabitants in the eye, but for now they are avoiding her gaze. To break the silence she taps her heel against the wall she's leaning on to see if anyone will speak.
Darwin looked up expectantly as the cell door opened, hoping he would finally be getting his chance to explain. He didn’t take much notice of the newcomers at first, just got up and headed to the door, just as it was slammed in his face.
He smacked his small palm against the door numerous times before he sighed and placed his forehead against the door.
After a moment, he heard a tapping sound behind him and turned around seeing the newcomers seemingly for the first time. Great he thought, three large folk and him in this small room.
”Welcome to my humble home”, he said in mock seriousness to them, sweeping his arm out in a gesture that encompassed the whole room. “I am Darwin, your host”, he added as he walked back to his bunk. “And this is my bed”, he finished, eyeing the newcomers warily.
"Always nice to get a welcome. The guards weren't exactly friendly." Ida smiled as she spoke, because it was genuinely nice to have others to communicate with after the past few days. Hopefully they were decent, and she knew she would find out soon enough. "How long have you been here Darwin? How long have any of you been here?"
Darwin looked over at Ida, towering above him. He was about to reply with something flippant, but her smile seemed so genuine his attitude softened. "It's hard to say but I think it's been three days now. Not in this cell mind, I was brought here not long before you all showed up", he said leaning back against the wall.
Turning to Rowan, he looked him up and down. This one was obviously some sort of burglar, and sounded like he deserved to be here. And he assumed that the others did too. "I was just out to get some food after a shift at the carnival, when a bar brawl broke out. I got caught in it and woke up in an alley with a bruise on the back of my head", he said feeling the lump with his hand. "Then some guards came along and arrested me for...", he sat upright before continuing in a low gruff voice, "...wanton destruction of public property". He leant back against the wall again and continued in his own voice, "Something about a broken water barrel. I didn't break it though!"
Darwin, you hear a slight ethereal chuckle that you might assume was an hallucination.
So Rowan is a thief, but appears to be honest about it Ida thought to herself. Well, he may be honest or he may be hiding something worse. Either way, his attitude doesn't seem remorseful, nor does he seem terribly disturbed to be here. He could just be bluffing though, and terrified to face judgement. She really was trying not to be judgemental herself, but to observe words and actions to determine who may be similar to her and her beliefs.
"I think it's been about 3 days for me as well. Hard to tell with the previous cell. I'm sorry you were needlessly arrested Darwin, hopefully the Duke or his advisors or whoever will that it was an error. And I'm here because I tried to stop something, tried to help someone not be killed in a situation that wasn't their fault. We will see how kindly they look upon me when the facts are disclosed. Rowan - why do I feel like this isn't your first time in some sort of jail?"
Ida's attitude immediately softened towards Rowan. She had seen so many people forced to beg for anything towards a meal. She'd helped so many children who weren't quite sneaky enough when they tried to swipe a piece of fruit or boule of bread by immediately walking up to the merchant and paying for it to avoid a scene. She'd given to almost anyone who asked to try to help them. She hated seeing the class system in action and watching people being treated poorly due to circumstances far beyond their control. She silently vowed to help him when the time came, as she was sure he would need assistance on the outside.
She looked at Rowan and smiled the same way she had at Darwin. She extended her hand to shake his, hoping he would see it as a sign of respect. "My name is Ida, and I'm genuinely sorry to hear of your struggles. I'm sure you'll find the information you seek in time."
Hamish still sits where he slid down a wall when he first entered. He keeps his gaze on the ground in front of him, and his shoulders hunched up, but they don't do a good job hiding the nasty scar across the front of his throat. He glances up at the other three through his unkempt black hair, then returns his gaze to the floor before speaking. His voice is a hoarse whisper but his face shows no sign of pain when he speaks, "You all don't seem too bad. I've been here a few days, too. I killed someone."
Darwin looked from Rowan to the other half elf. He really felt sorry for Rowan, it seemed he had been failed by those around him and forced to a life of crime. He had a certain amount of respect for him doing what needed to be done to survive in those circumstances.
But the other half elf’s statement was equally shocking, but for a completely different reason. He turned back to Rowan and said, “That is a shocking tale, I hope you get the justice you seek”.
“Your tale is equally shocking, was it murder or self defence Mr….?”, he said turning to the other half elf again and prompting for a name and reason for the killing. He couldn’t help staring at the scar on his throat and wondering how he got it as he awaited the reply.
"I'm Hamish. No mister. Just Hamish. I guess it was murder, but I couldn't control it. Whatever is inside of me did it. Father Olyver said he was trying to help me. But now he's dead. And I really am a monster." Hamish tucks his chin lower, uncomfortable with the stares on him and his cheeks start to redden.
“It is a bit of a blur in truth, I swear I had double vision and was seeing things when I woke up after that knock on my head”, Darwin answered Rowan before turning back to Hamish.
”If you couldn’t control it that sounds like an accident. Was it voices in your head telling you to do it or something else?”, he asked, a little concerned for his safety. He hoped the guards wouldn’t lock him up with a murderer and there was something else going on here.
Ida feels relieved that the other two are trying to comfort Hamish, and that she has been confined with compassionate beings. Compassion is a rare trait from what she has witnessed, and she knows she is incredibly lucky to be in a cell with these people. She moves closer to Hamish and kneels near him, but not so close to startle him. In her calmest voice she says "Hamish, you are far from being a monster. I can easily detect good and evil, and a fiend you aren't."
She looks at Rowan and tells him that she agrees that guards will use any excuse to arrest those they deem insignificant. She asks Darwin "Are you still having any issues with the head or any double vision?
Hamish looks up and brushes the black hair out of his face, revealing one green and one purple eye. "It wasn't voices, but some power. A priest had offered to help me with it. Sometimes people get hurt around me when I'm scared or angry. Father Olyver was trying to help me, but then lightning came from my chest and killed him. Threw him through a wall and right into some watchmen. I didn't even have a chance to run." Hamish heaves a ragged sigh, seemingly on the edge of tears. He rasps, "And you are all very kind, but you are wrong. My family always thought I was a monster. Tried to kill me, even. I thought they were wrong but now I'm not so sure." Hamish takes a breath to calm himself, then says, "What do you all think they'll do to us?"
"I'm all good now thanks Ida. They say time is a great healer, and seeing as I am serving time...", he said jokingly.
He took a good long look at Hamish. "What were you scared or angry about at the time this happened?", he asked. He wasn't an expert in these things, but it didn't sound like Hamish was a murderer. Just another victim, just this time a victim of the power inside he couldn't control.
Ida is realizing that the four of them could be in some trouble if the Duke or whomever is as biased as the guards and the rest of the nobility. Theft to survive and wrong place at the wrong time stands a chance to be overturned by an understanding soul. Her choice to blatantly ignore the law may not be looked on as kindly. Hamish having an uncontrolled power could be an immediate death sentence.
At the same time, guards could be killed if Hamish becomes scared or angry. Or the three of them. Ida's focus right now is trying to make sure Hamish is able to stay calm so they can all remain safe.