User blog comment:Hyena42/The Warlord Guide, What and What NOT To Do For the Aspiring Conqueror/@comment-1669318-20100515115936

One other thing that hostages can be used for is "get out of jail free passes". If you are trapped inside Redwall, or your horde is defeated and you are surrounded by the enemy, a hostage can be used to get out safely. Simply threaten to kill them if you arn't allowed to go free and un followed. The Redwallers keep their word, and you should get away safely if you don't ro anything stupid. Dibbuns and Abbots/Abbesses are usually good for this.

Another target that shoud have been first onthe list: Badgers.