Keep plugging on

"By the time Magistrate Afubar ends his tour of the horrors of the City's dungeons," you continue as matter-of-factly as you can under the circumstances, "Rae has seen things that she never even imagined in her sheltered life." Sandra nods in agreement.

"Rae will be shaken by the horrors, as well as her unexpected reaction to what she saw." You roll a intel saving throw for the Magistrate, but the 11 on the D20 didn't give you any clear indication he knew how shaken his captive cleric was. You decide that he will try one more time to convince her to sign the confession and clear your throat to indicate you are once again playing the evil Magistrate.

"I want to do the right thing, my Dear." You reach out and pat Sandra's hand and the way she jumps shows just how effected this novice player is by the solo session, "but without some kind of assurance, I'm afraid I'd have to keep you in one of those awful cells - at least until I can bring your case to his Grace's personal attention." You grin at the flustered young woman trying to decide what to do. Some role-play enthusiasts like the accumulation of treasure and power, others because they like combat or problem solving but it is clear that Sandra belongs to that group that thrives on the interactions between characters.

"Would I have to be in chains?" She asks and sensing that you might be able to get out of this mess you decide to turn up the pressure.

"Yes, we can hardly make exceptions, not even for a beautiful young woman like you." The words sound even more sinister when you add the rasping wheeze that you affected for this character, "and as I'm sure you noticed, the goaler's have a strict policy about limiting the clothing worn by the prisoners to just one or two simple garments." You see the young woman shudder softly, and raise your eyebrows in a silent inquiry.

"I just can't, Sir." Her soulful eyes look up at you piteously, "I can't sign a confession for something that I don't think was wrong." Your sigh might have been the reaction of the Magistrate, or perhaps in frustration that your attempt to reunite the party so gameplay could continue without interruption has failed but it is actually because you know that your sleep for the next few days is going to be tormented with visions of this busty young woman sitting barely dressed in a cell with with heavy wrought iron chains around her slender limbs.

"Well, it looks like Rae is going to have to spend the night chained in one of those miserable cells." You tell Sandra as you pick up your dice. "I think that's all the time we have if you are going to get to services on time," you watch her carefully as you pack up your equipment trying to read her unusually guarded expression. "Rae is remanded to the bailiff's men and is led a small cell not far from the first few women you saw on your tour." You describe how a heavy collar is fastened to her cleric's neck and that the guards take her away.

"The motley henchmen wait patiently, watching Rae with undisguised interest while she removes almost all of her clothes, and then clamp wrought iron manacles around her wrists and a separate chain around her ankle that is fastened to a thick ring of rusty metal embedded in the wall.

"I guess Rae feels that she is being justly punished for her part in the burglary." You nod in encouragement, remembering Sandra's discomfort at the party's decision to steal the artifact in the first place. After a glance at the time, Sandra tosses the last of her dice into the purse-sized bag and rises gracefully off the low chair. "I've really got to go, but" she rests her hand on your shoulder for just a second, "thanks for taking the time to do this Stephen, I really appreciate it." For some reason it is hard to think with her standing that close, but you are able to mutter some kind of reasonable response. Just when you think you've navigated this potential minefield of hazards pretty well, Sandra murmurs something under her breath that sends your heart racing. "Although I don't know if I'll be able to concentrate on my davening with all these naughty thoughts I have running through my head."