(The image above shows early concept sketches of an Imperial Soldier and a Shaman Priestess.)
On the night he fails to place his seal upon the tribute list, Caleb summons Edgar and Bark to his study. With the door locked and no one else present, he declares his intention to stand against the Kingdom.
The preparations had already begun long ago.
Edgar had quietly organized troops and supply routes, while Bark had been reaching out to northern lords to gauge their willingness to join. The odds of success are slim. If they fail, not only the three of them, but their families as well, may lose their lives.
Even so, the plan moves forward.
The rebellion will not begin immediately. Until spring arrives, they must gather soldiers, secure allies, and wait for the right moment. During that time, Caleb must continue acting as the loyal lord he has always appeared to be. He must seal the tribute list, visit the Path of Lamentation, and behave as though nothing has changed.
The three men share winter wine and reaffirm their resolve.
Someone will die.
Perhaps all of them will.
But if they do nothing, countless more will continue to disappear into the abyss below the cliffs.
From this moment on, they are rebels.