CH. 6: Clockwork Horrors

[HorizonsDream]

"I'm sure there is some kind of ship we can catch once we get out of here," Jocelyn says with a yawn. "Though, for the time being, I say we rest." She knew she needed sleep at this point, as she was having a hard enough time just keeping her eyes open.

[JadedDM]

Jocelyn crawls into the bottom bunk on the right side of the cell, too tired to even try to climb up onto a top bunk. The mattress is fairly stiff, but better than the hard floor.

Ouragana looks out the window and more hears than sees the ocean crashing against the rocks, which is a rather soothing sound. The scent of salt water is strong here and there's a nice breeze to keep things from getting too stuffy. It will be dawn in a few more hours.

=============

It is now 1:30 AM.

[Breila]

Not having gotten an answer from Val, Ouragana shrugs and climbs onto the top bunk above Jocelyn. "Good night everyone" she says before closing her eyes.

[JadedDM]

(OOC: Just a minor note, but Ouragana and Areilon left their backpacks at their room in the Paragon. But if they hadn't, they would have been confiscated by the wardens anyway. At the moment, the only possessions the party has are their clothes and jewelry.)

[Breila]

(OOC: Oh, right. Stupid me. Should I edit the post?)

[JadedDM]

After a long rest, everyone feels better. The sun comes up and fills the cell with light.

A few hours after sunrise, a guard approaches carrying a tray of four bowls and four steins. Each bowl contains some hot fish stew and a wooden spoon sticking out of it. Each stein contains some watered down beer. "Breakfast," the guard says, opening the cell door and setting the tray on the ground. "You should eat up. The Warden captain will speak to you soon."

=============

(OOC: By all means, go ahead, Breila.)

Jocelyn's near-death fatigue ends.

It is now 9:00 AM on Agate 28th, Flameday.

[Breila]

Ouragana smiles at the guard as she picks up the tray. "Thank you" she says politely. "For the food and for the advice."

[Jenara]

"That will be interesting." Arei says with a worried glance at the door, did they know yet? It would only be a matter of time...

Reaching for food and drink she sits on the floor, food in her lap, eating slowly and in silence.

[HorizonsDream]

Jocelyn stretches out a bit, wincing in pain from her wounds, before she finally gets up to get something to eat.

[JadedDM]

The stew is nourishing, although a bit bland. Little to no spices were involved in its creation, but it's warm, at least. The beer is diluted, but better than nothing and helps in washing it down.

[Breila]

Over the clanking of bowls, Ouragana asks quietly: "Do we need any strategy when we're interviewed? Or do we simply stick to the truth?"

[Jenara]

"I am sticking to what we told them, hopefully the talk with Frisno will reveal we did not kill him, the person who did is most likely long gone. We tried to save these people, did we not?"

[HorizonsDream]

"There is no reason to lie," Jocelyn says as she munches on her food.

[Jenara]

"On occasion... There is." Arei replies eating the awful food.

[JadedDM]

Shortly after they finish their meal, four guards arrive. Each one is wearing heavy armor and has a sword buckled at his or her waist. "Let's go," says one, unlocking the cell with a key (one of many all on a big brass ring). The lock clicks open and the cell door is pushed open, squeaking slightly as it swings. "Time to see the captain."

The four are escorted to the captain's office; the same one they all stood before only 11 days ago. All four line up in front of her massive desk which towers over them all. Captain Thorola Highlaw sits there, casually doing paperwork and barely lifting her gaze when the party enters.

What a sight the four of them must be. They haven't bathed in days. They're covered in bandaged wounds. Their clothes have been ripped to make bandages, cut by spiders, and thoroughly stained all over with dried blood and oil.

"The charges of murder against you have been dropped," she begins without preamble. "Frisno's spirit confessed to killing the girls and we found a secret compartment in his basement that held a stash of gems, blueprints for those odd spider things, and four hearts in jars. "Further, he admitted you had not killed him, although he was unable to identify his actual murderer." She straightens some papers on her desk.

"But that mystery has been solved, as well. An elf woman has been claiming credit for the whole thing, attempting to make the wardens look bad. We've been unable to catch her, as she has a tendency to literally disappear into thin air," she continues.

She tents her hands and looks down at them, one after another as she speaks. "The charges of curfew violation, breaking and entering and vigilantism, however, remain. For what it's worth, I'm glad the murderer has been caught and the town is once more safe. But the law is the law, and we have them for a reason. I have no choice but to follow it."

She closes her eyes a moment, then opens them again before speaking. "However, I can offer you a choice. You can get out now on bail, and attend a trial in a month or two. You'll have the opportunity to prove your innocence in the three charges, but honestly I don't see how you'll succeed. The evidence against you is overwhelming. But...if you agree to a plea bargain, we can skip all of the red tape and you will be found guilty on the spot. As punishment, you will be banished from the island for a year's time under threat of arrest. What say you?"