Janiven replies to Iolana's urging of something more 'fearsome' in a matter of fact tone.
"While I agree with needing to have some fear us, fear is the tool that Cheliax pushes upon us. We need something to show we are champions of the people, not another despotic devil worshipper --err 'user of devils as tools.' We want the people to love us, and a fearsome name would do more harm than good there." Janiven replies.
Moving on to who Arael is:
"My apologies, but Arael is our friend and our leader. He became very frustrates with the government of Westcrown, Cheliax as a whole. The city should be a shining example, not a dying city. One living in fear at night. He wants to bring about some people's heroes, and, we hope, to show the current crop of rulers in Westcrown a better way.
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After accepting the introductions, and affording the pleasantries expected when introduced to someone, Stanley offers his thoughts on the matter of naming a group of dissidents. "While I do possess my own religious affiliations, which do not necessarily coincide with those of the good lady follower of Milani, I would hasten to reject attaching any form of religious double entendre to the organization."
Then he gives his own suggestion, "Would it not be better to offer a name that both sows confusion and discord amongst the ruling parties, and comes across as a sign of solidarity to the occupants, or more succinctly the citizens? Therefore, I offer the suggestion of 'The Citizens of Westcrown'. Think on how difficult it will be for the authorities that be to discredit a group of such a name without including the rest of the citizens as well."
He puts on a faux official's voice as he offers suggestions of how it would sound. "Like 'Do not trust these Citizens of Westcrown' or 'If you are harboring a Citizen of Westcrown', and how do they interrogate members 'Are you a Citizen of Westcrown?'"
Examples aside, he continues to supply his reasoning "Not to mention that every member of the city could easily get behind the title of being a Citizen of Westcrown, thereby building a rapport with our fair city's denizens. Especially considering that the goal is to put the people and communities back in control of their own government, is it not? Please tell me we are not just replacing one tyranny for a different one of our choosing?"
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Iolana purses her lips when Janiven rejects her suggestion, but brightens at Stanley's suggestion. "I like that idea well. It lacks some of the power of intimidation that 'the Thorns' possess, but keeping our foes confused can only help us." Turning to Janiven, she adds, "I also agree with Stanley that the end result of this movement must be no less than the freedom of the Wiscrani people. Not only can we not settle for less, but there is nothing less to settle for. Do you think Arvanxi will somehow see the light and cease enforcing his diabolically directed edicts? And if he will not, how much less so the devils' slaves in House Drovenge or Oberigo? No, if we would cure the infection that plagues Westcrown and all of Cheliax, we must prune away every tainted branch, down to the very root. We must upturn the current system and bring to light a new one; the so-called 'leaders' of the city have no incentive to do so."
Tervon groans at the idea of knighthoods.
"I don't think 'knights' may be a wise decision. Remember, 'Hellknights?' roam throughout. Knights of Westcrown could be misconstrued as yet another order trying to bring misery to the populace.
I think that we are defending the city, from threats both within and without, I vote for 'Guardians of Westcrown' myself. But, I think Leeka can help with a name. Where did our little slip go?"
Tervon looks about as he looks for the little halfling who tends to be much quieter than she should be.
Leeka withdraws even more as Tervon looks at her. "These all seem like great names to get us caught, tortured, and executed with," Leeka says meekly.
With that, Janiven and the others turn to Leeka (the most meek of the group).
Fiosa prods leeka smidgen closer to the rest of the group, whispering encouragingly, "We can speak freely here. They care, which is more than most slaves ever see here."
The votes, so far are 3 vote Children of Westcrown
3 votes Children of Westcrown
4 votes Guardians of Westcrown
4 votes Knights of Westcrown
3 votes Citizens of Westcrown
2 vote Westcrown's Spanking Crew, although both votes were among snickers.
Stanley continues with his suggestion, seeing it grow some favor, he becomes more attuned to promoting the idea. "There is a direct problem, or correlation, to the title of either 'Knight' or 'Guardian'. That problem arises by the role and imagery that are associated with said terms. Knight, despite it's comparison to the Hellknights, implies a certain level of valiant defender. A doer of good deeds, slaying dragons and righting wrongs." He holds his hands up to give pause to any arguments to allow him to finish, "But that is not the role of the organization. This small group cannot defeat the dragon that is the corrupt government. We are like ants against a predator to the nest. We must wear down the wrong-doers en masse."
"The same idea goes for 'Guardians'. We will be expected to be the defenders and protectors of the weak and downtrodden. Yes, these are goals of the political change, but we need change to come from the people. A group establishing a coup, must do so by empowering the citizenry. To do that the name must be one that encourages them to stand up with us, not behind us. To stand up for themselves against tyranny, not rely on others to do the hard work for their lives to improve. To foment change, we must first change their way of thinking about their role in the city. As long as a group stands up as the ones to make the hard choices for them, and do the things no one wants to do, then they are only trading one group of people thinking and acting for them to another, despite the latter's better intentions."
"Lastly, why would you call yourselves 'Children'? Who follows the urging of children? Who takes the advice of children? Are children often not the product of their environment? Wouldn't being a child of Westcrown, potentially make you look like a petulant acting against the wishes of the parent just to be defiant? Citizens will be the ones to define this place, the people, the ones that make up it's very existence. Every one who lives here is a citizen, and every one of them should be proud to stand up and bear that title. Giving the name more worth, more meaning will draw the community together as a whole, would it not?"
Leeka opens her mouth to say something, before being cutoff by Stanley. She quietly listens to his speech, and when the rebels' eyes are still on her, she swallows, wrings her hands, and steps forward. It takes her a moment to speak, and when she does, her words are measured, her voice calm.
"I've been a slave all my life. That's not unusual for my kind, but it's a part of me, and probably always will. In my head, I know that what is happening here is good and right, even necessary, but my heart is so down-trodden, so well-taught by the system, I just want to run back to my mistress and hide, because that's where I belong. This country, this city, has decided that I am only worthwhile as a slave. My mistress is cruel and harsh and powerful over me, except that a few months ago, she had a massive stroke, so now she's an invalid. Nobody but I know this. I fired the servants, and pawned her valuables to keep the household running, because if her nephew ever found out, he'd take me to serve on his estate someplace. Because I'm a slave."
She takes a deep breath, her hands shaking at the magnitude of her revealed secret, but her voice is steady. "But maybe now I'm not a slave. Slaves don't have a say in what they do or how they live, but Citizens do, and not just Citizens, it has to be stronger...the Free Citizens of Westcrown, because even those of you who aren't slaves legally, are still slaves in other ways. I vote...I get to vote?" she tastes those words and finds them strange, "I vote that we call ourselves the Free Citizens of Westcrown."
Janiven, looking at Stanley's argument speaks up.
"Most of the citizens of Westcrown are the downtrodden. They are the ones most in need of assistance. By calling ourselves such, we then may give the Hellknights impunity to strike the rest of the Wiscrani down."
She pauses, looking to Stanley.
"The same, as with Iolana's beliefs and her faith in Milani. We cannot have a single faith guide us, nor can we intimate that faith's leaders are aiding us in any way. Again, with the Hellknights.
Taking a breath. "Knights and Guardians are small orders, or should be. We shouldn't expect ourselves to overthrow a government overnight. The 'Children of Westcrown' was Arael's idea, and one I support fully. The name, while children are not usually associated with bravery, does not intimate we can protect everyone, but gives back a small bit of innocence, something Cheliax has been sorely lacking for quite some time!"
The votes, with one changing to Citizens of Westcrown.
3 votes Children of Westcrown
4 votes Guardians of Westcrown
4 votes Knights of Westcrown
5 votes Citizens of Westcrown
1 vote Westcrown's Spanking Crew, with the dour gnome remaining the only one voting for it.
All:
If all are agreed within the spoiler, I propose Citizens of Westcrown, so that we can proceed with the next portion of the scene. This will be posted Wednesday, or tomorrow night if all have posted that you are ready to proceed.
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Stanley looks down at Leeka and smiles, but it's not one of joy, it's one of comfort. He does it consolingly, as he feels she needs the strength, both to continue to fight for what is right and her inclinations to go back to her comfort. He offers her at least little word of encouragement. "You are right young lady, the 'Free' citizens is so much stronger and means so much more. Know now, that the voice you used to conjure up so much truth in one little, could one day be a shout that the people stand behind. You are a beacon of what everyone should be fighting for, and we just need to shine your light for the rest of this great city to see."
Back to Janiven he replies, "My apologies, as I did not mean to disregard a name that has value to you as the words of a respected leader, and I'm certain, advisor. Sadly, the Hellknights will strike at the Wiscrani people for our actions, regardless of what we call ourselves. It is the cold truth of revolution, but we must ensure that the people are empowered by our actions as fellow citizens, that they are willing to rise with us and grasp the wrist that holds the lash. In that, however, this fight will not be won with innocence. Everyone's eyes need to be open to the fact that lives will lost, families will be rent asunder, and there will be casulties, but that in the end it was worth it for what is to be achieved. This battle we are about to engage in is no place for the innocent. That privilege belongs solely to the children born after the revolution is won."
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Iolana nods vigorously, grasping Leeka's shoulder in a comforting way. "The Free Citizens of Westcrown! Every one of us."
Lucina, while not agreeing with the idea of the Free Citizens of Westcrown, understands its meaning, and it's a name that the others seem to be getting behind, celebrating that all are coming together for a common cause.
Tervon is also not swayed, but all the others voting for Guardians of Westcrown seem to be going forward, he toasts the victory of that name. To the Free Citizens of Westcrown, the first democratic anything in devil-ridden Cheliax!
While celebrating their newly acquired name, Morosino peeks into the room. Janiven brings the group to Morosino to discuss the situation.
Once together, Janiven, Lucina, Stanley, Leeka, and Iolana sit to hear Morosino's information.
The obviously shaking Morosino is comforted by Janiven. "What news do you bring, Morosino."
To which, Morosino takes a few breaths, as if he's not really ready to say what he needs to say. "The Dottari have released Arael to the Hellknights! They leave in an hour! We don't have much time, Arael's going to go to Citadel Rivad and never come out again!"
He begins sobbing uncontrollably at the end of the outburst. Janiven takes him to Fiosa and Rizzardo who help to calm the boy and eventually, even the youth, falls asleep in Rizzardo's arms with Fiosa's gentle sing song voice.
Janiven, looking to the others, sighs a deep sigh.
"We need to get Arael to safety. I'm up for suggestions, but we need to move quickly."
"What road will they take?" Leeka asks.
"My guess is the main coastline road, it winds a bit southwest, but then there's a little offshoot that goes to the citadel. Mostly plains, but there are several copses of trees that could be of use. And a small stone bridge over a stream."
Janiven says, thinking out loud.
"My bet is that those that caught him would bring him in, likely with a signifier. This would mean about ten Hellknights, plus the signifier, and the carriage. They'll likely be mounted, but slightly slowed due to the heavy carriage cage."
Stanley purses his lips, "I am reluctant to attempt a strike against a group of Hellknights that large, but after our struggles last night, I refocused my attention on preparing ways to incapacitate vice overpower our enemies. I am prepared to put multiple people to sleep in a variety of ways, and if necessary magically befriend them for a short time. Sadly, if they leave in an hour, we have little time to come up with a sound plan."
"The bridge is the best place to mount an assault, if we must," Iolana declares. She begins to pace, frowning. "A distraction would be helpful...Leeka is the obvious choice, as no Hellknight would suspect a halfling of being dangerous. More fools they. But the signifier worries me."
She slams a fist into her palm, irate. "Gods damn every Hellknight's efficiency! I need my arms and armor!" She turns to Janiven, eyes blazing. "Do we strike today, or is the trail long enough to strike tomorrow? If today, where and when do we rendezvous? I must go if I'm to be of any use at all."
"But they'll be mounted. Even pulling something heavy, the horses will be faster than us. Anyone got an extra horse?" Tervon asks as he comes over.
"I could work with a couple of the other Free Citizens, running a distraction from behind, hopefully bringing a few of the Hellknights away, but we've got to be in position to do so."
"All the more reason to move now!" Iolana cries. She turns to Janiven, and begins, without realizing it, to issue orders. "Janiven--divide our soldiers into two groups, two-thirds in one, and one-third in the other. In the smaller group, place our best ranged fighters, some woodsmen, and whoever can create the best distraction. They'll be the diversion team, to split the Hellknights' forces. The other two-thirds will be with me, to strike hard and fast at the body of the main force, extract this Arael, and leave as quickly as possible." Turning to Tervon, she adds, "Horses may be faster on roads, but if we can find steep hills, dense undergrowth, or something similar, their advantage may disappear...I wish I'd seen the place."
Janiven chimes in to Iolana.
"I know that we want to be faster than them, but there are no hills, no swamps to speak of. It's all plains, with an occasional copse of trees. The Hellknights trim them back to prevent just this sort of thing. Their fortress, while a strong defensive point, is built on some relatively open terrain as is the road to get there."
Looking to the others.
"Iolana, I know revolution can be bloody, but we are not there yet. They are reasonably good with slings and crossbows, which we have on hand, but they are not near as good at a frontal assault. Mayhaps another tack on this. If the hellknights see a larger group, they'll hold position and not chase the distraction, but if the distraction harries them enough, it could draw enough of them so that those that are... ahem... more combat tested... could do a fine job."
She implies the party with that, and she would be happy to help harry the Hellknights to help protect the less experienced members of the Free Citizens of Westcrown.
Iolana purses her lips. "Very well--I suppose you know your own soldiers' strengths best. If we have no cover to hide behind, in any case, it will be best for the main force to be the distraction. We should get moving, though!"
Agreed. Let us get going, unless we have anyone else who has any ideas?
Leeka is fine with Janiven's plan. It's certainly much better than the one where she was to distract the Hellknights by herself!!
"I'll swing by my home to equip myself, and meet you at any rendezvous point you choose," Iolana says firmly. "Let's set out."
Stanley scowls and purses his lips in consternation, "I do not like the idea of chasing down a Hellknight prisoner transport, out in the open. We need to find some kind of intersection where we can cut them off, otherwise they will just outrun us. If we can do this it will help greatly."
The hellknights approach just as the party finishes its preparations for the ambush. The Free citizens are ready from the rear of the road, while the main "rescue" force is going for a frontal assualt from the bridge. While driving, you see the driver is a slave, with a cruel Hellknight signifier sitting beside her. On top of the carriage is a rather large heavy crossbow, loaded, where the signifier could easily climb on top of the thing if needed.
The remaining hellknights are mounted, with most guarding the rear, only two remaining up front as a lead to the carriage. The hellknights, confident in their capture and the fear of the populace, are not looking terribly alert in their duties, smug in their recent "rebel capture."
Before the hellknights get there, Janiven pulls hooded masks out and ties a red sash on each member's right arm. "We must know who is an ally, and this will help the other citizens of Westcrown know who is working to help them, despite the need for the masks."
Stanley begrudgingly takes the proffered 'uniform' as he tries to take up a spot amongst the nearest foliage where he can try to hide and prepare to sleep as many of the crew of the caravan as possible. Sadly, stealth is not his forte.
Leeka is quite happy to receive the hood, and covers herself up quickly, making sure she can still see easily.
I have placed her under the bridge.
Having gathered a handful of sand, she flings it into the eyes of one of the horses pulling the wagon.
from bless
Edit: Roll20 server is on the fritz, so if it didn't save her spot, I put her beside the bridge on the party's side, just to the left of the corner of the bridge.
Iolana disappears as the group moves out, heading swiftly back to her home and donning her gear. Fully outfitted, she looks over herself, grins, and retrieves her morningstar from its hiding place. Hefting her shield, she briefly contemplates removing the cloth binding over the front, but then shakes her head. "The time is not ripe yet," she mutters to herself, then grins. "Although the time certainly is ripe for smacking down some of those arrogant devil-worshipers!"
When she catches up with the group, the homespun young Varisian woman is gone. In her place stands a warrior, a rough looking woman who wears a fierce grin beneath her helmet, who hefts a heavy shield with ease and wears sturdy-looking scale armor. "It's a good day to start a revolution, my friends!" she exclaims with evident glee. She accepts Janiven's offering with clear pleasure, tying it to her arm and striding across the bridge with a curt nod at the others to take up a place as near the edge of the foliage as possible.
The big woman isn't particularly well-hidden by the low scrub, but she grins in anticipation as the Hellknights come into sight.
As the hellknights get across the bridge, Lucina steps out from the far side of the shrubs, forcing the main two hellknights to lead up to her, just as the carriage comes across the bridge. At this point, Iolana steps out (5' step) and casts bless.
Leeka's tossing of river sand into the horse's eye works. At this point, the remaining Free Citizens of Westcrown spring into action!
Attacks:
Ermolos
Tarvi
Clavo
Janiven
Fiosa
Yalopulio
Vitti
Gorvio
Mathalen
Rizzardo
Larko
Amaya
Tervon uses his sling on the second hellknight, nearest Iolana, while the remaining Free Citizens focus on harrying the rearmost hellknights. Sadly, not a single attack hits, but the hellknights are thrown into disarray at the end of the surprise round.
At the end of the surprise round, the initiative rolls are thus:
Order of adjucating:
Group A:
Leeka, Tervon, Lucina, Free Citizens, Janiven, Iolana,
Group B:
Driver, Hellknights
Group C:
Stanley Signifier
Leeka grabs another handful of sand and flings it at the second horse pulling the carriage.
Both horses pulling the carriage are now blinded. Good luck, driver. Not!
Iolana laughs with delight to see the Free Citizens--and especially Leeka--fighting back against their oppressors. Circling around the back of the rearmost Hellknight, she swings her morningstar at him as the knight struggles to control his mount.
Driver
Signifier
The Driver falls asleep, while the Signifier on the side, begins to shout orders in infernal.
Seeing the driver asleep, but not the man in charge beside him, Stanley is determined to put him to sleep as well. He steps out from the bush, and focuses on whispering soothing words to the man, "Shhh, everything is fine. You should take it easy. Just relax."
Leeka's dirty tricks blind both horses, who begin to panic, while Tervon advances to the same hellknight as Iolana, drawing his shortsword at the same time. Lucina charges the frontmost hellknight, aiming to stab the hellknight's horse. The Free Citizens of Westcrown take another round of shooting, before beginning to fade back slightly.
Lots of rolls:
Lucina
Tervon
Ermolos
Tarvi
Clavo
Fiosa
Yakopulio
Vitti
Gorvio
Mathalen
Rizzardo
Larko
Amaya
Janiven
Tervon's attack hits the hellknight, doing some damage, while Iolana's attack brings him to the ground. Lucina's attack fails.
Fiosa and Amaya hit their targets, further enraging the hellknights, but with them not being able to get to the Free Citizens all they can do is howl in anger at the heretics.
The hellknights, for their part, begin trying to get to the Free Citizens. The horses, unfortunately, cannot get past the underbrush to attack the Free Citizens. The lead hellknight, not having a major advantage, attempts to hit Lucina,
but failing in the attempt.
The driver, fast asleep, cannot control the horses who begin running straight forward, and into the hellknight directly in front of them, nearly crashing into Iolana at the same time!
The signifier, attempts to resist Stanley's Sleep hex, while on the very bumpy heavy wagon and both Tervon and Iolana just barely avoid the wagon as it tramples both the downed hellknight and the horse. All horses fall and are in a heap, with the one on the ground pinned under a wheel, and the hellknight solidly run over by his own allies.
And fails.
Round 2!
Group A:
Leeka, Tervon, Lucina, Free Citizens, Janiven, Iolana,
Group B:
Driver (asleep, wagon uncontrolled, one horse hobbled), Hellknights (one dead)
Group C:
Stanley, Signifier (asleep)
Uncharacteristically quiet as of late, Lucina feels the excitement course through her as she straps on Janiven's proffered red marker and remains still for the Hellknights to arrive. When the moment arrives, she leaps out, thin blade flashing in the bright daylight as a battlecry springs to her lips. Her first strike falls short, but agile as ever, she evades the lead Hellknight's counterstrike with ease.
Perhaps it's the distraction of out-of-control horses from behind, but her foe's attention slips for just a moment--and a moment is all Lucina needs to thrust her rapier through the soft joint in the black armour around his armpit with impunity.
Iolana dodges out of the way as the wagon careens toward her--seeing the signifier fall asleep on the wagon in front of her, she smiles grimly. Everbloom, forgive me this brutality. All may be necessary in the quest for liberation. And there can be no doubt that this commander of the inferno poses the greatest danger. As the signifier careens past her, she carefully lines up a blow, and swings her morningstar straight at his skull.
Stanley decides to try and continue with threat removal resolutions. Being able to minimize casulties on thier own side allows him to minimize the amount of after care he has to perform on the wounded.
Leeka leaps up onto the back of the wagon. She heads for the reins and attempts to get the horses under control before they flip the wagon and kill Arael.
"Whoa!"
The sleeping siginifier falls down and into the road as Leeka leaps in and uses him for leverage.
As he falls, he hits the ground, dazed, and barely aware of his surroundings, Iolana lines up a strike on the hellknight's skull.
The bash leaves a very red puddle, and an unmoving signifier, on the ground.
Tervon leaps in front of the carriage, despite seeing that Leeka's attempts are not fully successful, the cart is not able to roll forward with one horse being hobbled, the prison cart, being unable to move, makes him feel at least a little safer... attempting to hit the one that Lucina is attacking.
Lucina's blow finishes off the lead hellknight, even as Tervon's strike did not succeed.
The children of Westcrown begin fading, with those wielding crossbows not bothering to reload, taking the time to begin to run through the dense vegetation. Ermolos, Tarvi, Yakopulio, and Gorvio begin running. Those with slings and shortbows begin firing on the hellknights who dismounted to chase them on foot through the underbrush, although their heavier armor is weighing them down and slowing them down. Janiven takes aim at the one that breaks the tree line first, with Clavo, Vitti, and Amaya succeeding in seeing that their foes are also hit. One hellknight, bludgeoned, but not dead, falls as they break the clearing.
Clavo Attack, Shortbow:
FiosaAttack, sling
Vitti Attack, sling:
Mathalen Attack, sling:
Rizzardo Attack, sling:
Larko Attack, Shortbow:
Amaya Attack, Shortbow:
Janiven Attack, Longbow:
As the Hellknights begin to dismount and harry the Free Citizens of Westcrown, they are already without their leader, and now, with many without horses.
Stanley's foe, another hellknight, attempts to NOT fall asleep.
Stanley's foe, as he finishes coming across the stream, falls asleep... his horse simply stopping at the edge of the stream.
Round 3!
Group A:
Leeka, Tervon, Lucina, Free Citizens, Janiven, Iolana,
Group B:
Driver (asleep, wagon uncontrolled, one horse hobbled), Hellknights (two dead)
Group C:
Stanley, Signifier (dead)
Iolana feels a surge of triumph, mingled with sorrow, at the signifier's end. Every hellknight who falls now is one less to face when the glory comes, she reminds herself. Seeing Leeka manage to get atop the carriage, she calls, "Free Arael! Alert us when you have done so!"
Then, she turns away and strides to the hellknight who has fallen asleep in the saddle. Still...this one... Dropping her morningstar at her feet, she reaches up and attempts to yank the sleeping hellknight from his saddle, pulling him down and grappling him into the muck at the edge of the riverbank.
Leeka is already searching the non-puddled part of the signifier, looking for a set of keys. Can she see Arael? Is he conscious?
Arael is conscious and looking at you inquisitively.
"How do you know me?" He asks, given the relative safety of the group at this point. "And why so much slaughter to save me?"
He thinks a moment.
"The key is in the left front pouch of the Signifier. My gear is under the bench up front, I think."
Leeka quickly finds the key, along with a letter the Signifier was carrying from mayor Aberian Arvanxi.
"We should ride their horses off the trail a bit to the north, then let them go. This way they'll not only have a hobbled carriage, but they'll have the embarassment of failing in their duties... and they'll get far worse punishment than we will."
Once the door is unlocked the door for Arael. Arael gathers his gear and notes that the party should take care to move quickly.
The remaining Hellknights don't notice that Arael has been rescued, and, pending Iolana's decision with the unconscious, and wet, hellknight, the main combat is over and the other Free citizens will escape unscathed.
"I'm Leeka. Janiven asked us to save you. You're our leader....aren't you?"
Leeka does her best to loot the Hellknights on the wagon.
"Leader is far from what I want to be recognized for. Let's be off and we can talk more."
He suggests that the group take different roads into Westcrown, and he borrows a hooded cloak from Janiven to hide his own face as he hides from the Hellknights and the Dottari as they head back.
He suggests that the group enter into the temple separately over about an hour's time in a couple of days so that everything has some time to simmer down. He states he'll send Morosino as a messenger once he feels it's safe to meet again, even with the temple's apparently empty appearance, and the disguise of actually being abandoned.
At this point, he opens the floor to questions you have about him, and what the group is trying to do.
Stanley tries to quickly give each of the injured horses healing. They were unwitting pawns, and did not warrant being put down for any hobbling injuries they might have sustained while merely being horses owned by Hellknights. He does not tarry, however, recognizing that haste is of the utmost importance.
Before they flee, Iolana seizes the down and muddy hellknight. If he's awoken, she whispers in his ear, "Make sure you tell your superiors it was the Diamond Regiment that did this to you." Then, making sure the group across the river is ok, she departs with the others.
A few days later, Iolana listens to Arael's introduction of himself with barely disguised impatience. When he opens the floor to questions, she say, "The main issue to be decided is what our next action will be! We've won a decisive victory against these brutes--we need to follow it up, and in such a way that the people will start to come to our side. We should also let it be known that a group of citizens attacked, and overcame, the Hellknights."
Stanley nods, in agreement with Iolana, "It would be reasonable to trickle out rumors of a group attacking a Hellknight prisoner transport, and succeeding. It would embolden some of the citizens. No traceable facts, like the armbands or anything that would giver the Hellknights anything to look for, just that it happened."