Moving up stairs the party comes to a quite garrison above. The armory and infirmary are empty. There is no visible signs of humanoid life anywhere to be seen on the ground level. Another metal sentinel however is visible near the front doors. It has a spear in one hand standing with the might of its size and imposing metal features blocking all entrance and exit!

Thomas roll history please. 

EVERYONE please remember your exhaustion levels!

Thomas' History Check: 6 at disadvantage from exhaustion.

Thomas doesn't recognize this metal man either but it remains staring at the doors not yet acknowledging the party either.

Haldur stares at the metallic figure for a long moment, his brows furrowed in thought. An idea suddenly occurs to the mercenary and he walks up beside where Thomas is standing. Now, at the threshold of the Mystran Temple, with the rush of battle past and the threat of imminent danger apparently lowered, Haldur's more tentative and self-conscious side seems to come to the fore once again. The young sellsword awkwardly clears his throat and gives a weak smile to the cleric as he gets the other man's attention, but he presses forward with his thought all the same.

"Thomas," The warrior begins haltingly, "I might have an idea. Granted, I know next to nothing about things of this nature," Haldur gives a small general gesture to the entire area around them, indicating his unfamiliarity with all things both arcane and divine, "but what if you bestowed a Blessing upon the metal sentinel? Or perhaps even a healing spell of some kind? Surely there could be no better means of identifying yourself as one of Mystra's faithful than calling upon your Goddess's favor, right?"

The mercenary glances again at the metal man and especially at the menacing looking spear, and he clears his throat awkwardly again. "Just, um... just a thought. Be careful, whatever you decide to do."

OOC: The spear is in the air. The guard is facing the door.

Thomas tentatively calls out to this spear-wielding tinman.

"Sentinel, what has become of the members of this garrison? Where is Commander Matthias?"

The guardian says nothing and does not respond. 

"He would be above," a female voice echoes from the stairwell, "hiding in his books as usual," she adds.

A tall, silver armored human paladin of Mystra appears. She has a tattered blue cape and he face is smudged with soot and gore. She's not visibly armed. Her blonde hair is cropped off and she would be very attractive if not for a new scar still pink on her face from forehead to jaw.

"Thomas," she says next her expression a mix of confusion and disdain. "Is there no more of our faith among you," she asks looking suddenly distressed noticing the others among you out of chains! "What is the meaning of this," she demands clutching an amulet around her neck as the guardian finally stirs to life!

Thomas you know her as Ora Fairlight a paladin of some renown among the Mystrans. She's not much for rank and it shows in her open contempt for Matthias leadership as well as yourself on occasion! Her family however was among gge Caorthann elite who survived the Waste. She believes with some zeal that all Casters are evil.

Thomas moves closer to the paladin to place himself between her and the other members of his group.

"Ora, this is not the time for hostility between us. My allies here are present and unchained at the behest of Sister Bhalla, and they have proven themselves trustworthy in the time since their release. You are obviously aware of the attack on the camp. We have managed to scout some of our enemies' capability and confirmed the fall of the Mielikki Garrison, as well as the likely fall of the Sune Garrison. I say again, this is NOT the time for hostility."

Thomas pauses for a few seconds to let his words sink in. His next words are considerably softer as he takes in the fresh scar upon Ora's face.

"What has become of the others? Are there any injured?"

"Others? The order was out on duties. You know how few we are thanks to the great Temple beyond these walls insistence on replacing us here and in all the camps with those damn machines," she adds curtly. "Thomas...," she thrn pauses sounding upset now more than angry, "do you really have no one else of our garrison among you," she asks eyeing the Casters suspiciously. Moving further down the steps the machine moves back into a sentinel like position at the door. "We've cast an illusion the garrison has fallen here too...it seems to be working," she adds next now standing in front of Thomas, Hrain, and Cara who's muscled her way to tgd front on the party.

"Ora," Cara exclaims grasping the other paladin's arm before totally disregarding the party and they both embrace. "It's...good to see you are well," she adds looking at Ora's pink scar but her eyes do not linger there long. "We've been...its been HORRIBLE," she manages to say next as Ora nods.

"Yes. I am glad you're alive as well," Ora says her expression softer than ever before parting from Cara's embrace. "And you share the cleric's opinions on these Casters," Ora asks Cara as she frowns over her shoulder at them before looking back at Cara.

"Yes of course," Cara replies her tone insistent glances over her armored shoulder at the group with a harrowed but thankful look. "I would not be alive...none of us if not for their help! Surely you agree that we need them if only you, Thomas, and the Commander remain alive," she adds.

Ora looks thoughtful for a moment before she replies.

"As you see fit but my trust is conditional," Ora retorts eyeing the Casters again. "Give me no reason to doubt your loyalties," she adds firmly before tapping her amulet that's Mystran in nature but for several jewels that faintly glow inset in the silver of the stars and the metal man moves into a attack position before relaxing again. "Come, " she says next curtly. "Matthias will be....curious at least," she adds talking to Hrain, Cara, abd Thomas. She then looks to the Casters and Haldur. "You four may remain here! Infirmary is through there and kitchens there," she adds pointing to the west and east if the hall her tone curt to Folzi, Leb, Lyra, and Haldur. "Keep an eye on them mercenary," she adds gesturing at the Casters looking to Haldur before turning with a sweeping of her battered cape to climb the steps again!

Thomas' shoulders slump at hearing that so few have survived, but he stirs himself up as Ora begins giving direction. Before following her up the stairs, he quickly turns to Haldur and the casters, saying,

"We won't be gone long."

Thomas then quickly follows after Ora.

"The mercenary is a ranking officer in my force, offer him a slight such as that again and you will answer to me. Furthermore, should any misunderstandings, shall we say, occur with your metal friends I will hold you personally accountable." Turning back to Haldur, Hrain continues "I trust that you will be comfortable enough here, keep your eyes open, both for the tin cans and that writhing mass of bodies that we left behind in the tunnels."

Haldur answers Ora's command with a stoic, expressionless mask, as if the paladin were speaking to yet another metal guardian. He simply stares at her in silence, neither defiance nor compliance evident in either expression or body language. As Thomas and Hrain speak aside to him though, the mercenary immediately nods and acknowledges their words.

"I will stand guard, Captain. Both of you please, be careful in there."

Turning back to the rest of his companions, Haldur continues "This might be a good chance to catch a fast rest, depending on how things go in there. A warrior is never promised sleep, therefore one must try and find it where one can. I suggest you all try and find some now. I will stand watch and guard you while you rest, and I will protect you all with my life."

With that, the sellsword starts looking around the chamber they are in for anything at all that might be able to be cut or broken into kindling. Rugs, wooden furniture, cloth, a tapestry, anything at all. He pulls his tinderbox from his pack in preparation for the fire that he desperately wants to build for his allies, and continues to search the immediate area for anything that might allow him to build a source of heat.

Investigation Check, looking for anything possible that could be used to fuel a fire: 13

(OOC: Might I suggest using one of the ovens in the pointed out kitchen as a place to build your fire? Probably also the best place to look for needed materials.)

Folzi looks rather pretuebed, but not surprised, at the greeting they recieved. "Things are just as icy up here as in the tunnels it seems... Whelp, I'm gonna try to get warm in the kitchen."

"You're in my garrison now Captain and you'll mind me and my tin cans or brave the dragon," Ora replies her expression stoney as she blocks the party's progression up the steps. "Isn't just like you Thomas to welcome anyone as a alley," she adds in a scoff as she glares at everyone. "None of you lost generations of their families it seems to their kind. The same kind that's invaded this forsaken place," she growls her hand worrying the amulet again as the guardian again springs alert to her distress. "You keep your orders in you mouth. Mystrans rule here and for all the wisdom in the world I wouldn't let a Sunite peacock give my kitchen boy orders," she adds the last jab.

"Ora be reasonable," Cara protests at her friend. "You think I am a peacock too," she asks. "That my faith is misplaced," she adds as Ora frowns.

"Mystra's tower stands. All others have fallen. What other conclusion could I make," Ora adds pointedly. "Thomas advance. These Sunites can guard their new companions," she adds in a hard tone glaring.

There's a slight thud next then the sounds of heavy foot falls on stone.

"Giving orders again isn't your place Fairlight," a odd sort of echoy voice comes from the alcove above as a bronze metal figure unlike the others in silver and blue robes appears at the head of the steps. The metal figure seems genderless and slight ever if made of metal. "Thomas," the robot says to the cleric with a bow of their head. "I am Artemis," it then says to tje party. "Personal scribe to Matthias Stoneheart and librarian of the Mystran garrison," the robot replies. There's a distinct whirring sound of gears as well as the robot nods and gestures very human like. "Please don't mind tge guards. Their bark and bite may be equally distressing but so it was meant in their design," the bronze clockwork robot replies with something of a smile. "Matthias is eager for news," they adds as Ora begrudgingly steps aside to allow the party to pass. "The Sister in the library requests your presences," he adds to Ora who sighs loudly jogging up after the group and disappearing in a room as Artemis continues to lead the party up stairs in the garrison to the same height as Hrian's office.

>>>>>>>>

A quick investigation by Haldur finds a fireplace with plenty of kindling and cut wood in both the infirmary and the kitchens.

Seeing Folzi already headed for the kitchen and discovering a well-stocked supply of firewood therein, Haldur will beckon the others inside and commence with starting a roaring fire.

Survival Check to start a fire, rolling with advantage because of the tinderbox in Haldur's inventory: 15

Hrain laughs after the reply from the Mystran paladin and the subsequent arrival of the construct "You were doing well for a minute there until the automaton put you in your place.."  He follows the construct as they ascend without another comment. 

Haldur fumbles a bit but as he puts the wood in the fireplace it springs to life with magical flame!

Lyra looks at the fire commiseratively. "All the others have fallen? Are you serious? Even the Sune Garrison?!"

Thomas quietly follows Artemis upstairs, somewhat deflated by Ora's behavior.