Longacre in open rebellion!

Gunshots rang out during the night, cutting through the town's silence as easily as thunder. The townfolk who hear it, know better than to leave the safety of their homes to investigate. They also know that the sunrise will bring with it more bad news about the well being of their countrymen. The sound of the fierce Azriel's firearm has now become associated with the murder of friends and family.

Try as they might, Dravus Arkell (newly appointed Sheriff, and associate of Cimri Staelish) and his men leave enough clues and evidence behind that citizens of Longacre realize that several grizzly murders took place at the Longacre Armory, even if they are not sure who was killed. Word spreads like wild dragon fire.

It seems that the most righteous citizens of Longacre have finally reached a fervent hatred for their oppressive government. For years now, Archbaron Fex has been taxing them into starvation, bankruptcy, and slavery. His most recent appointments that masquerade as lawmen even while they murder townsfolk is the last straw. Convinced that their only chance of survival is in overthrowing Archbaron Fex and his lackeys and throwing in with the Glorious Reclamation, the bravest among them dust off their old military weapons, create makeshift clubs from broken furniture, or simply gather up small bags of rocks for throwing and take to the streets. They are determined to put an end to known Thrune supporters, Sheriff Arkell, and Wyrune Thrune and his unnamed band of enforcers.

Most of the populace hides indoors, a sense of forboding strong in the air. They secretly hope that their more courageous neighbors might combine with the Glorious Reclamation and rid them of the Thrune menace, but they also secretly long for things to go back to the way they were - oppressed, but safe. They watch from shuttered windows to see how events play out in the streets, eager for the dice to fall as they may so that they can get back to their lives.

Word also spreads that The Fifth Sword Knight Tileavia Allamar has broken through her grief after being visited by The Angel Knight herself and gifted with potent magic that may just turn the tide against the local government.  She has sent word to her parishoners that they should travel in groups to the Church of Iomedae where she will rally them into an organized attack once she has finished her prayers.

Rumors from Kantaria

Razelago approaches your nameless group while you are briefly alone, out of sight from the citizenry. Appearing seemingly from nowhere, he buzzes low and deep, a rare sign of the devil's irritation.

"Ingeo has delivered news to the Archbaron, who believes that you are trusted enough to be informed. It seems that the city of Kantaria has fallen to the Glorious Reclamation. The city has a long history as a pilgrimage site. The bitch goddess once ruled the city for a year and a day, as part of her long path of ascension. I believe House Thrune was keeping a close eye, knowing the Iomedaeans would seek to claim it - but it was done with guile and alacrity,  rather than with the violence and bloodhshed they expected. The leader of the revolution, Oppian Nevilindor, a fourth sword knight,  smuggled in numerous important figures, placed them strategically and then launched an almost bloodless round up of all known Thrune supporters. The only killing of note to be done was that of bound devils. The citizens are showing overwhelming support for the Reclaimers. Fex is making a strong appeal that you be sent to assist the Queen's Hand, Queen Abrogail's own personal investigators. If you've never heard of them, they are her team of very dangerous men and women who are defenders of the realm, but in a much more political sense. They have routed out countless would-be coups and rebellion plots. They will undoubtly need muscle to help cover the areas where their specialties do not." Razelago's buzzing becomes higher pitched. "Of course, this is all  contingent on approval from the Queen. If Fex gets approval, and you perform well under guidance from the Queen's Hand, it would greatly improve the station for us all. I would suggest doubling down on your efforts to find and kill this Angel Knight. It will be a major accomplishment if you succede, and may be what is needed to open more doors for your further advancement. Think on this, Fex will meet with you later to answer any questions you may have." Razelago shimmers briefly, before the image of him stretches vertically and he teleports away.

The Archbaron's Justice

Gregory Haylissh had suspected something dramatic might occur at the execution. Well, something even more dramatic than the execution itself. As he fled to the open doorway of Fenton's Butter Bakery, he acknowledged that he had not been disappointed. Ducking into the store with a half dozen other spectators who also had enough sense to get out of the way, he peered through the large glass window at the scene outside. Behind him, he could hear Fenton yelling and berating them for rushing into his store and not queuing up to make purchases. Gregory ignored the strangely accented man ad watched the scene unfold.

The Angel Knight was every bit as spectacular as Riley Kels has sung her to be. The ornate full plate, with gold trim on gleaming iron armor,  complete with a set of "wings". The placid face mask that was her iconic image. She reared back, issuing forth a challenge to the Archbaron's men, calling for the townsfolk to revolt and save their kinsmen.

'Valorous might be the word for it.' Thought Gregory to himself, blocking out the baker, Fenton, who yelled excitedly behind him. "She musn't know the Chellish people very well." Gregory believed that although the people of Longacre might be a bit more tight-knit than the citizens of other, more metropolitan cities, they were still Chellish at heart, and all too aware of the fate of rebels. Gregory knew that even in her fancy armor and majestic horse, she would be hard pressed to rally assistance so openly. More people scattered, a few joining Gregory in taking refuge in the baker's shop. Gregory's thick auburn eyebrows raised up and he stroked his beard absent-mindedly as six citizens of Longacre stayed behind, brandishing clubs, apparently ready to fight alongside the Angel Knight.

"Poor fools. Haven't the slimmest chance of survivin', even with all the luck of the pantheon behind them." he clucked to the people beside him, viewing the same scene.

'Silas Kimmer' Gregory identified to himself. The older man had his shillelagh in hand. His wife and succumbed to a lingering case of devil's chills.  Poor man must've grasped on to the Reclamation's propaganda as an excuse to keep on living. Silar charged forward swinging wildly at one of the town's new deputies, who easily deflected the blow with his armor, and stabbed Silas right in the chest. Gregory flinched in sympathetic pain.

In a flurry of feathers, Gregory watched as the tengu leapt and stabbed wildly at the Angel Knight, who directed her horse in a tight pull, dodging the blade. The attack was so precise and unexpected, and the Angel Knight's response was so lightning fast, Gregory felt a glimmer of hope that she might actually succeed.

Nikalus and Mitch Ernstrum - Brothers and two of the town's strong men were cut down by the time Gregory shifted his eyes back to the rioters. So quickly had it been done, he hadn't even seen who was responsible. 'Poor boys. Their ma' is going to take it hard. Probably kill her with grief.'  Gregory had known the boys all their lives. Himself being a young lad when they were born, they had been the second set of twins born in Longacre in as long as memory served, after Allamr's boys of course. Although not very bright, they were good natured, and always helped their neighbors in times of need.

Wyran Thrune had taken to the cobblestones now, his monstrous transformation well underway into...that thing that was quickly becoming a local boogeyman. Heavyhands, he believed it was being called. He stalked towards the Angel Knight, murderous glee in his eyes.

Mykrah Collins, Heath Cohen, and Pilka Meliri, dead with just a few strokes from the deputies. All those lives snuffed out with barely an effort. Even if they had managed to throw down the deputies, they never would have been able to stand against the fierce half-orc lancer Tsadok, or the trigger happy Azreal.

Gregory's mouth dropped wide in amazement, as did all the patrons in the bakery, even Fenton stopped his angry shouting in a wide gasp as the Angel Knight was knocked from her horse, and as Thrune...no, Heavyhands, lifted her up, the magical disguise washed away, revealing Riley Kels.

Few things really shocked Gregory, but this was a moment. 'Looks like we'll be having two hangings today.' he told himself.