Mara Venn wants her apprentices alive and the armory useful, but she will not condemn Pell without proof because the militia needs a quartermaster.

The party controls the trapped smiths' rescue, the armory's weapons, and the evidence needed to keep the militia from blaming one another.

• Promise the recovered weapons to the militia before claiming any for yourselves.
• Offer Quartermaster Pell a private hearing instead of public blame.
• Put the strongest character on the beams while another questions witnesses.
• Show the clean cut on the chain and ask who had access to the armory.

• Athletics DC 14: Free the blacksmiths from the fallen beams.
• Investigation DC 14: Recover weapons and identify which racks were disturbed recently.
• Persuasion, Insight, or Intimidation DC 14: Expose who damaged the gate winch.
• Medicine DC 14: Stabilize an injured smith, granting one honest answer.
• Thieves' Tools or smith's tools DC 14: Secure the winch without worsening the damage.

• If the party frees a smith, Mara becomes cooperative and gives a truthful lead.
• If the party grabs weapons first, the militia captain becomes defensive but offers two volunteers.
• If the party accuses Pell without evidence, Pell shouts for guards and demands the party leave.
• If the party protects the winch, everyone stops arguing long enough to hear the witness testimony.