Thana Mourningjay
I awoke early, to the sound of bells. These weren't the normal ones, the ones that they played on a daily basis from all of the temples and the like, but deeper, rung with more vigor, alarms. With care I rose and moved to the little window in my cell, hauling myself up to look at the early morning skyline. Fires dotted one edge of the horizon, fires that were spreading slowly.
It'd been two weeks since I'd learned that the war wasn't going great, but I'd not expected things to be this bad. Perhaps my informant hadn't either, or maybe he'd not told me just how bad. It changed things though, because there was no way I wanted to be in this prison if a siege began. Who even knew how they'd respond to that.
Carefully I reached down under my bunk and grabbed under the edge, trying to get the little bit of grease I'd saved from my food. It wasn't much, but if I could just get these chains off I could make a move. The time for waiting had passed, now I needed to act. I also felt the few things I'd managed to gather over the years that were worth much to me. A bit of one of the religious candles they'd given us for one of the holidays, tied up and half-burnt in a bag with my most valuable possession.
The best way to keep a mage locked down was shackles like I was wearing, but next to that, keeping them from any materials for spellcasting was a good move. It had been hard, receiving it from one of my former friends as she was taken to The Room of Judgment. Carving the sigils that came to me unbidden into it had also been a chore, but I knew that it would be the basis for the most useful of my spells should I need it. My best spell was now something I might use, a spell I wished I had had before was now within my grasp.
The girl in question had once helped me, and didn't believe that she would survive. I was pretty sure it was from one of her toes, chopped off and wrapped up, then slipped into the back of my dress when she hugged me on the way by. Only accompanied by the words 'Give them hell.' She hadn't survived of course, and her screams as they killed her echoed through the halls of our floor.
All through the sunrise I stayed near the window, in part to hide what I was doing, in part to see what was going on. Men were flooding the walls, and more than a few to the base of The Tower, that bode poorly. Even from here I could see the spells flying over the defenses. Balls of fire and light whirred, with deadly intent through the cool air, sometimes met with counterspells mid-flight, sometimes bouncing off the city wards that hadn't been dispelled yet. Few struck true into the city proper, but those that did made fires and shattered buildings. From my vantage point I could see some of those fires moving unnaturally, surging forwards towards the brigades trying to put them out.
Breakfast, a normal occurrence here in The Tower, didn't come. Instead a voice I'd only heard a few times, but could never forget rang out through the spells of the building.
“The city is in great need, as such, any prisoner willing to face The Life's Judgment now and serve in the defense may call upon one of the guards, success in this endeavor will lead to a full pardon,” the warden declared.
The stir in the air was palpable as a few, but only a few, on our level began to call out to the guardsmen here. It was sad to say, but being among the worst of the worst meant that few thought they'd survive the ordeal; I of course knew I wouldn't, but that was another thing entirely.
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Quickly the guards got to work, we were the most dangerous, the worst, and if we could be brought to bear against the enemy we might be a real boon. The first of the men to call for his Judgment was rushed down the hall to it.
My shackles projected a field of anti-magic, meaning I couldn't feel it, but I could see the shimmer in the air as his time came and went. There were no screams, no begging from the room at the end of the hall and through the doors. For they'd placed the seat upon which men were freed or died here, on the topmost level above the rest, where those who might need it most could hear the results of failure.
There were failures, but not many. Only a few sets of screams of agony came through till lunch as man after man and woman after woman was led to the chamber in a line. Those that did though shook everyone, and a few of the volunteers began to fear for themselves. I wasn't too sure what to think of that.
Milo Greyson
“What's going on!?” A familiar voice called as I pulled the man beside me along. He'd asked to go to his Judgment and we were in a bit of a hurry.
I'd just gotten in, and the groups of men formed as fast as they could from the former prisoners had shocked me. In the atrium several were being unshackled, holy symbols of Vitala hung from their necks as a priest gave them a quick blessing, praising them for both their bravery and repentance, declaring that as a group their sentence would be over the moment the siege was repelled. A runner was there to meet them, to lead the now freed men and women to the walls where they were needed most.
“We're under attack Mourningjay, they must have marched through the night and on more hidden roads. We need everyone who can fight. Look, I know you fear it, but if I'm any judge of character you should volunteer. It will free you from this place and I'm sure the goddess will look kindly upon you trying to help,” she was obviously in full panic, eyes wide.
“Guard Greyson, it's not the judging I fear but the...”
“NEXT!” roared one of the paladins, drowning her out.
“It's my curse, please, I need help,” she begged as I pulled the man forward, there was no time, though I did want to help her if I could.
Beside me the chanting of the prisoner, and those in front and behind interrupted any further thoughts.
“Oh merciful Vitala, Lady of Life, please hear my call. I know what I did was wrong, my actions tainted by my own dark desires. Wholly do I reject that now, and beg your mercy, that I might show my hope to do better. Please lead me through this ordeal, please let me have a chance to protect this city and the ones I love.” The man beside me prayed until we reached the Room of Judgment, where I helped a paladin get him into the chair.
Trying to protect the ones you loved was a good act, almost innately, and such an act was being committed to all over this prison. In some cases men had tried to deceive us, to escape their confines, but most accepted that they had a chance to save the city and their families if they gave themselves fully to the light. It was enough to save so many, and empty so many of our cells.
Once he'd been fully strapped down we backed away and the paladin began to speak. “May Vitala judge you prisoner,”
The massive inscription on the floor began to glow, and the spell took effect. The man's prayers intensified as the wave of energy washed over him, halting for a brief moment. If he was evil, truly evil, that would be the end of him now, but after a brief hesitation the magic passed. A second wave of healing mana slammed down, purifying the man of ills and making him look up in ecstasy as the goddess' power washed over him.
“Normally I would congratulate you more fully, but time is of the essence my friend. Well done, go, and serve as our sword and shield now,” the paladin told him, as we removed the restraints, and led him the the exit.
One did not enter and leave this place in the same way, it would be improper to not change here. Someone had felt so strongly thus that they'd actually enchanted the door to be one-way. The exit was a straight shot down though, leading you to the atrium. Of course, if you made it through your Judgment, you were no longer a prisoner, no longer someone who belonged amongst those awaiting theirs.
At last check we were already halfway down the prison, working our way from top to bottom for the volunteers. The numbers only got larger with each floor we went down, and soon all thirty would be cleared of those unafraid to face the goddess. Those nearest the ground floor almost all asked us to take them as we passed. Most of these were petty crooks and criminals, almost none expected to die should they go before The Life's Judgment.