To the dungeon

Two orcs take you to the dungeon. It's in the basement of the castle and you have visited it sometimes when you captured a criminal or need information from one of the prisoners. The cells are made of pure stones with only one wall made of metal bars. There also is a door in the wall to let the prisoners in. The cells are very small. Barely enough for one person to live in. There is a bunch of hey in it to sleep and a bucket.

However after the witch won the battle most prisoners were freed and replaced by townspeople. You can see the captain of the Guard in a cell and the head of scholars. You also recognize a few others who are powerful in the town. Like the mayor, the head of craftsmen guild and a local crime lord. Well the last one was already down here before the battle. But he still was the biggest crime lord through corrupt guards who smuggled letters for him.

You also see that every prisoner in wearing a collar like you. You assume that the dungeons are the new quarters for people who are just to dangerous to let them live among the townspeople. To break these men and make them pets to the elite soldiers are a cruel but clever idea to break the spirit of resistance among the remaining soldiers and rebel townspeople. The strategist in you admires the cold, sadistic calculation. Finally the orcs arrive at an empty cell. They throw you in, lock the door and leave you wordless.

“My lord,” the captain of the guard, who is a cell on the opposite of the floor, says as soon as the orcs are away, “Are you alright? What will happen to us? Do you have a plan?”

Of course you have no plan right now. You know that a leader is supposed to have a plan in a crisis but you never were in such a situation before. You have no idea how you will save your people. But the last thing you can allow now is to let the townspeople loose hope.

“I know it is a fucking mess,” you say honest, “and right now I don't have a plan. But I will work one out. There must be a weak spot in the army of the witch. Don't worry! Together we will find a way out. Either to defeat the witch or to negotiate with her. I know it's not perfect, but I can't make miracles. For now I want you to rest and save strengh.”

“As you wish, sir,” the captain says and a prisoner in the cell next to him nods, “I pray that you will find a way to save us. If you need help, the people still stay behind you.”