For five weeks, the party transported large quantities of pistols, rifles, ammunition and explosive devices to various locations within the city of Stansbury which were under the control of men still loyal to the Duke. The city remained in turmoil: since the party's appearance and liberation of the prisoners, popular discontent with the Submitters had grown. Word of the inexplicable events surrounding the thwarted executions had spread throughout Stansbury and beyond into occupied Kingsland. The Submitters themselves, outwardly still the masters of the city, had begun to question how "The Only God" could have permitted such an outrage.
This discontent and doubt was amplified when, about a week after the weapon supply effort began, the party made another appearance. This time, the party were dressed in costume: shining armor, large white feathery wings, halos. Lou used his bardic music ability to fascinate a number of Submitters, and then made the suggestion that the Most Praised One was doomed and would soon feel the wrath of the heavenly powers. On the following day, the party again conferred with the Duke. "My agents report that the city is in turmoil. Your appearance has done much to undermine the zeal of the Submitters," he said, smiling sardonically.
Four weeks and several additional appearances later, the Duke and the party concluded that the time was right for a truly demoralizing blow against the savages. They would seize the Apostle of Submission himself! Even more, they would seize him in the middle of the Friday prayer service the savages held in the defiled temple itself. Capturing the Submitters' prayer leader and military commander in such a blasphemous manner would be a devastating blow against the savages.
Firiona scried on the Submitters' Friday service, in order to locate the Apostle precisely. All the party except Arnold then donned their celestial disguises, and the raiders then teleported directly into the sanctuary of the defiled temple!
The Apostle was discoursing on a chapter of the Recitation, exhorting the massed rows of Submitters, who were bowing forward on the floor of the temple, to keep faith in the Most Praised One and the Only God and not to have any of the people of Stansbury who were not believers for friends. "They are only each other's friends! Anyone who has one of them for a friend is surely one of them! God will not reward the evil-doers!" As the Apostle ranted against unbelievers, the party suddenly appeared behind him. Firiona began to speak.
"Fools! Deluded followers of the false prophet! Souls condemned to perdition! The heavenly powers will endure your evil deeds no longer!" she thundered. "They have decreed the doom of your "Most Praised One!" His rule on Arth is nearing its end! No more will his wicked words be heard! Words not revealed to him by an angel, but a Recitation of jinns of the abyss! Woe to you evil-doers! Renounce your allegiance to the false prophet and his false creed now, while you yet live!"
Mediel looked at Firiona, not expecting such eloquence from the girl. The bowed Submitters began to spring up, hearing the blasphemy. The Apostle turned toward the source of the outrage. But what the Apostle saw was Edward, racing up the stairs of the pulpit, sword drawn! But almost immediately, from hidden doors on either side of the sanctuary, four armed guards emerged to seize the blasphemers!
Green Arrow fired a volley of arrows, felling two of the guards. Lou used his bardic music to fascinate a number of the worshipers. Mediel attacked another of the guards, killing him. Firiona continued denouncing the false creed of Submission, then cast dimension door with Lou to move to the other side of the sanctuary. Chip dazed the remaining guard, while the worshippers began to get to their feet amid all the confusion.
The Apostle tried to jump from the pulpit, but Edward grappled him, threw him over his shoulder and carried him down the stairs! Lou suggested that the worshippers renounce Submission and the false prophet. Some of the worshippers tried to attack the party and free the Apostle, but were cut down with little difficulty. Firiona then teleported the party, with the Apostle in Edward's grasp, back to Castle Wolfsbury, where the Duke welcomed them. He clapped, and several of his attendants came into the room. "Send our guest to the accommodations we have prepared for him," he said. They proceeded to bind and gag the Apostle, then dragged him, struggling futilely, out of the room. "What will you do with him?" Mediel asked. "I'm sure you can deduce his fate," replied the Duke. "I will learn what he knows, and he will pay the price for his crimes against my people. In fact, I will personally help him do so," the Duke said, as he left the party to savor this first victory.
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