(OOC: THAT'S A LIE! we were totally compliant!! Mouthy but compliant!! Nicknack could have Dominated that fool no problem!)
(OOC2: I know that's the NPC doing the lying -- I'm not complaining -- just throwing the fit that Nicknack would have thrown if he had heard it LOL)

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"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.

"Kill off the casters quickly here, do they? Before they get attached to their pets or realize that the same goodly sentient blood runs through our veins as their hoity-toity religious selves?" Nicknack asks.

"Well, Mace -- I am Warnick Baerglenack - folks call me Nicknack. I wish I could say I am pleased to meet you, but I could have gone my whole life without seeing the inside of another Shepherd prison cell."

"We did not escape - we survived. A rebel cult of casters aligned to dragons attacked our prison camp, freeing human casters and slaughtering everyone else like penned sheep."

OOC: Shots fired. Lolz

"Survivors of the dragon attack," Mace looks shocked as the hundled in the cells around your party move closer.

"Casters attacking with...with dragons," a elven woman says. She's older, wearing silver robes, and looks like she's been well cared for regardless of imprisonment. "Mace has the cult returned," the woman asks looking frightened. "Is that why they put me down here," she asks as rhe dwarf sighs loudly.

"I haven't got a clue Marion. They didn't tell me why. They never do. I just care for all of you how my Lady bid me," he adds with a frown. "The humans are always mire critical of us than their own," he adds looking to Lyra now in the cell with the gnomes. "What's your story? Why not join up? If you cast you could have been on the right side if all this," he adds looking at Lyra for an answer.

"The name's Lyra. And well, my story's the same as theirs." Lyra says with a nod towards the gnomes. She takes a few steps and then leans back on the cells wall, her arms crossed and her eyes closed. "We're folk from the camp in the White Waste. And yes, we survived a dragon attack. There's been a white dragon raining down on us, with a rider on top even, and accompanied by a shitton of other human casters. They somehow managed to brainwash the other casters, or rather those that they didnt slaughter immediatly. Being the lucky bastard that i am, i was locked away in some cell very similar to this though, so they didnt quite get their hands on me. We somehow managed to flee, ran through the whole waste, but it got even better. The port had already been trashed by yet another dragon. We didn't get a look on it tho. Just took a boat and got the hell away from there, just to land here and get locked up again. For nothing. As always."

OOC: How many other prisoners to there appear to be?    

     Folzi staggers a moment and he clutches lightly at his belly and he leans against the bars of the cell, the power of the magic-sapping stones seeming to have a fast effect on the gnome. "I don't know about you Nick, but I think we charmed our way out of there." Folzi chuckles with a roll of his eyes. Then to their jailer, "We're not going to be here for long, you say?! Do you expect your commanders to reform so soon?" 

"That's certainly a tale isn't it Marion," Mace says as the elven woman nods. 

Marion looks like an official of some kind but why she'd in the dungeons too you have no idea.

You didn't have time to count but across your cell is Marion's in a cell on her own. Roll perception.

Nicknack gazes with interest at the silver-robed woman. Was she a librarian? Marion the librarian? He shakes his head to clear it -- the stones are already starting to get to him as well.

Perception: 9

Nick can see Marion clearly but the folks in the other cells are too huddled together to make out and the farthest cell near the door the prisoner(s) aren't close enough to the bars to see at all! The cells beside yours a stone wall divides you from them.

"There were more than five if us when we began I can assure you, both Shepherds and casters we tried to protect have fallen since the dragon cult attacked us. We have seen many good people die at the hands of those fools or the dragons they revere so greatly."

Hrain bows his head to Ultus before continuing. 

"If the news of dragons is only second hand you must consider yourself extremely fortunate, but I suggest you assume they will come here soon and make appropriate decisions. We know that both a red and a white dragon have been a part of the attacks, it could be there are others.

But you asked how we survived, it is a tale that may take some time to tell, I hope you will believe it, I will not lie to you on my word as a true servant if Sune. I will also willingly submit to a zone of truth if any of you have it ready to cast, so that you may know that there is no deception on my part. For example, were I to have said my companions resisted your force when we arrived, you would know that to be a lie, all they did was argue verbally with a cleric who repeatedly abused them based on their abilities rather than their deeds, which they had no interest in whatsoever. But I digress."

Waiting if necessary for the spell to be cast Hrain delivers his report. 

"I am the commander of the Sunite garrison in the Waste, or I would be if it still existed, my name is Hrain Atramentar. Recently the camp was infiltrated by human casters who came with a white dragon. They seemed to possess many of the human casters and turned them to their own cause against their wills, at least in some cases, although I could not say this was true in every case. The non-humans and any non-casters they attempted to murder on sight. Many died without knowing what was happening, we were caught off guard and had no chance to organise a proper defence. I was with one of my men and we fought our way to the temple where we went to the aid of one of your clerics, a good man named Thomas, we stood against a group of casters and though the battle was hard we were resolute. At this time we were able to reconnect with the camp commander and Sister Bhalla, head of the Sisters of Mercy in the camp, the commander fell in this battle and we were unable to secure the temple.

Moving to secure the Sunite garrison, we encountered the casters in our party, who had been captured, except for Nick, and brought them out of the cells which we considered too unsafe as the secret way we used to return ran through it. The next day we took a small team back through the tunnels below the camp made up of Shepherds and casters, who had already proven to be decent folk and stripped of their manacles by Sister Bhalla. We fought together against more of the cult, some displaying necromantic powers, and we were repelled from the temple by a more powerful force, we attempted to regroup back at the garrison but whilst we had been away the dragon had destroyed the tower and the brave souls under my command had perished".

The sorrow in Hrain's voice is clear for all but he steels himself and continues.

We journeyed to the Mystran garrison next, Commander Matthias took us in, unbeknownst to us we had been infiltrated by a member of the cult who had been a servant in the Sunite garrison and by another agent disguised as a Sister of Mercy, they bided their time though and Matthias used a powerful spell to banish the dragon but it cost him his life, as we fled to the Waste the infiltrators revealed themselves, attacked and betrayed us to the casters, in the ensuing fight several of our party were killed but as we reached the gates we ran into Father Pat and Nick. We journeyed through the Waste to a village on the coast, the last of my own guard falling in the night to an unknown beast. We were able to board a ship which a paladin of a strange god, known as the Traveller, had taken from slavers and we tried to escape. The ship was attacked by pirates who had us outclassed so we were forced to give up the ship and row the lifeboats to your coast. We had no idea what we would find here so we came aground at the closest point and were then found and brought here by  aotain Sanchez and his men."

Taking a step forward Hrain raises his hands apologetically. 

"You have heard a story, it is all true, what goes unsaid in the telling is the bravery and selflessness I have witnessed repeatedly from those casters sitting in chains in you dungeon. I owe them my own life, I would gladly give mine to save them if needed. They are good people, it is clear in my mind that they should not spend their lives as prisoners, treated as less than we are. I fully understand duty, obligations to both my goddess and the Empire but I cannot remain silent, if we are to be the best we can be then we must reconsider how we are treating people like my friends Folzi, Lyra and Nick and use our resources to combat the Cult of the Dragon, who are our real enemy."

Father Pat doesn't say anything as Hrain recites his story but just observes the Ultus' reaction (Perception 13). When Hrain finishes he just give's him a slow clap and says "proud of you boy!" 

Ultus Herron listens without interjection and Sanchez too remains quiet. After Hrain's explanation the Ultus sits again in quiet contemplation. She's impossible to read but then she finally speaks.

"I need no divine power to see you speak the truth," Ultus Herron begins her expression grave. "As you said these are dire times and although you've survived a great ordeal I fear changes in the very foundations of our systems of protection would undermine our very efforts to restore order" she pauses. "I am not a member of your church but I believe the tenants of faith for the Sisters are the same. We all took an oath to protect and defend the Empire. If you feel you no longer can uphold these oaths than you know the tasks before you. Either submit yourselves," she looks to Pat then back to Hrain, "to the reeducators at your own Prime Temples or break with the faith and be stripped of divine powers. You both, I am sure, understand what those tasks entail. Although I myself appreciate your sacrifice and candor I know as a learned former member of the Empire council no one outside if this office regardless of your circumstance will be more forgiving than I to give you those choices if you feel these...casters are who you're meant to protect over the Empire. Now you will submit to judgement for your admitted collaboration," she explains with a somber expression as three more paladins come into the room with Sanchez. "You will be taken to the cells where I'll leave you to make your choice. You have until dawn," she finishes waving you both off as the paladins of Mystra step towards you both.

As he turns to leave Hrain replies "Not instead of, as well as. Until dawn then Ultus." 

Father Pat just stomps off to the cells saying nothing but obviously in deep thought.

Sanchez and the other Mystrans take Hrain and Pat to the bottom of the tower and into cells. They are noy empty surprisingly enough. There are six cell, three cells on each side, and two of them are occupied. Hrain and Pat are asked to give over their arms, armor, and magic items. The Mystrans wait for compliance.

Father Pat hands over all of his armour etc saying “it is better I face my goddess for a discussion about my future and what will be a hard decision regardless without the distraction of material goods.”

"I have given a lot recently, to me it feels enough, you may take the blade as I understand the need on your part for safety, the remaining items will stay with me, the armour is mine as is the shield, they will not become some Mystran trophy. I have very little distance further to fall in the eyes of your mistress so I have very little to lose, take the weapon and walk away or fight me for them. I do not care especially which choice you make." Hrain draws his sword but holds it point down away from a threatening position." What choice will you make Sanchez?"

"So, Mace -- how did you come by your nickname? Mine is pretty obvious, but I know many prison guards and warriors swing maces. Are you particularly good at cracking skulls with it? Or is there a more interesting story?" Nicknack asks to pass the time.

The choice was a courtesy. There really is no choice," Sanchez sighs loudly. "Guards," he then calls as three more armoured men appear bringing the numbers to six. "Put that one in the cells," he points to Pat Sanchez's patience worn thin as the other paladins put Pat into a cell and lock it. The other prisoners have perked up watching the exchange between Sanchez and Hrain.  "Your pride, like all Sunites, is your greatest enemy," the older man adds with a deep frown. "I have no power to let you keep your armor or shield. You will yield them or face further dishonored after we've taken them from you," he adds with hus hand in his greatsword hilt waving off the others to stand back even as they ready their blades and mauls. "It's down to me," he says grimacing. "Yield or die," he adds next seemingly taking no pleasure in the standoff.

OOC: Note. The room is narrow 60ft (including 20ft of cells on either side so essentially 40ft across and 40ft long cooridor between the cells facing out into it. There's six paladins of Mystra and your only ally is now locked in a cell.

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

"Why this sir," Mace replies to Nick patting the mace on his belt. "It's been in my family for generations," he adds stroking the grisly instrument of death. "What sort of conjuring do each of you do? Marion's a wizard," he then whispers loudly. "The former tutor of our Ultus until...well I'm sure you can fill in the blanks," the old dwarf adds as Marion sits on a stool in her cell. 

Come to think of it Maroin's doesn't look practically drower like yours. Furniture like a bed, two chairs and a small dining table, and even tge stool she sits on. There are also countless books.

"Hush Mace! You say too much," the elven woman scolds him as the dwarf chuckles.

     Folzi sits down at the edge of the cell, he cocks his head as Mace explains Marion's situation. "Uhh... No, I guess I can't just fill in the rest. But you never did say why you thought that we wouldn't be here for long."

    The gnome turns to Marion, "It's not like you suddenly became a wizard right? That type of magic takes lots of studying." He looks over her furnishments and flashes her a smile. "You need a cellmate over there? I promise I'm potty trained."

"The attacks. You didn't hear? The attacks happened at ALL the camps not just the White Waste! Dragons outside of Sul Na Mara and the great forest fortress at Foraris was burnt to cinders," Marion explains dumbfounded. "It's....its horrible," she adds somberly. "I pitty them...." Marion then says with a soft look at Mace. "They already executed the others. I... I wait for the Ultus herself," she adds.

After Marion explains Mace waits a moment before explaining himself.

"Oh, uh they don't keep folks they find guilty long," he explains next with a frown. "It's a bit of a quick turn over here these days," he adds with a frown.

"As you plan to steal my possessions anyway getting blood on them doesn't really matter, does it?" Holding his sword out in front of him he points it at the captain. "Face me Sanchez, if you are in the right here you will surely prevail, the goddesses would never let a true servannt fall, would they? And I am sure your faith is strong, shall we see if it is strong enough?" Light begins to seep out of the blade, holy might channeled by the Sunite paladin. As the glow becomes stronger Hrain raises his shield and stands ready whispering" I was ever you servant, in all things I honoured you, grant me this last victory, however fleeting."

Action: Channel Divinity - Sacred Weapon

Bonus action - Divine favor

Initiative 17 if needed