Recon

Aliani looked back and saw the inn grow smaller. There was no use dwelling on the danger the others were in, all of them were risking their necks. Still, this needed to be done. Tongren and Oud've were on her heels, their horses well-fed and groomed despite their apparent age. They were also well-trained and wouldn't spook easily. 
An hour later, the three of the reconnaissance team were where they needed to be. Cloaked by the trees of a forest at the base of a big cliff-walled mountain on the side away from Beersel's tavern, they were pretty safe. It was their job to make certain the area was safe for their objective. Aliani had trained herself so diligently in keeping it hidden, that she hardly dared to think about what was going to happen today. Planning a rebellion was something else. She glanced around nervously.
"No-one is around." Oud've told her.
"Are you sure?" She asked just to be certain.
"Very." he replied, "But we'll be sticking to the plan."
Aliani nodded and looked at Tongren. She wasn't totally convinced they should tell the boy what the actual plan was, but he would not be able to rat them out out here and after today their intentions would be in the open anyway. Convincing herself that it was the right way to proceed, that it was what they had agreed to do, she called the boy over:
"Tongren?"
"Yes." the boy said, excited as ever to have been included in the mission.
"Listen very carefully...." she started.
When she was finished, Tongren looked flushed. His eyes were wide open and it seemed like he might be jumping.
"Are we really doing this?"
"We are." Oud've told him.
"Wow." Tongren whispered, quiet for once, "It's about time though, but..."
"You didn't think we had it in us?" Aliani smirked.
"To be honest, no. I mean, we've done so many tasks for the lord, even if I know Alden makes sure to not be as bad as instructed."
"It was the only way to get the information we needed." Oud've explained.
The trio talked some more and then they fell silent, doing their jobs to prepare for the other group. They swept through the forest, making certain no-one was around to watch or counter them and they placed the signal wards at the correct intervals so Mechlen and his group could launch the signal to start the rebellion.
Oud've felt his heart jump a couple of times, but every time they heard something, it was just a bird or some rodent or mammal scurrying though the bushes. Their nerves were all pretty frayed and Oud've was actually looking forward to dawn when everything would be set in motion. They'd spent years on this plan. Nothing would stop them now. There was too much at stake.  

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THE PLATEAU

Tongren felt his calves burn from the climb up the mountain. And they had been able to take the walking path. As he'd heard Aliani explain it, the others were going to climb up the vertical cliff wall. It would have been amazing to be part of that group, but Tongren knew he wasn't strong enough to pull it off. Especially compared to the other guys on the team who had bulging muscles to spare. Oud've had told him he would bulk out after he was done growing, but Tongren wanted to get stronger now. Especially now that he knew they would be fighting in a real rebellion! There was no-one he needed to fear for, the most important people to him were right beside him and they could look after themselves. If anything, he might hold them back. Tongren resolved to do his best and to keep out of trouble. 
As the path started to flatten, Tongren pulled a little sprint to reach the top. They had seen nobody all evening, the young boy felt confident that the plateau would be vacant and ready for the next stage of the plan. They'd been setting torches all over the mountain side, Mechlen and his group would have done the same on the cliff wall; They would probably not take that much longer to arrive either. As soon as Alden reached them they would set off the signals and a huge symbol would burn on the mountain, visible for miles. It would the sign to tell the people that they should all take up weapons and fight the tyrant.
Giddy with excitement, Tongren didn't notice the intruder until the man grabbed him by the neck. Startled, Tongren cried out, alerting Aliani and Oud've before they could step out of the forest. Both older mercenaries stopped dead in their tracks. Oud've recovered his wits first and hastily threw the signal flares in the bushes. The sound would give them away, but it maybe would also alert the climbing party that something had gone amiss. Oud've's loyalties laid with his group and if he got killed while saving the others, then so be it.
Oud've pushed aliani and didn't stick around to watch her fall silently backwards but started to make quite a show of charging. A quick prayer went through his mind that the boy would survive at least and then he was upon the burly man that was holding Tongren captive. The glint of a sharp dagger, grunts and shuffling as the men fought, neither really at an advantage, when suddenly.
"Cease!" a commanding voice called.    
The burly attacker drew back, but others appeared in his stead to capture Oud've. Tongren tried to fight back now that he was free, but they were outnumbered and easily overpowered. It didn't take long for them to be tied and gagged. 
The sky was already lightening though dawn was still a ways off. But high on top of the plateau, there was enough light to see that Lord Stannon's second in command, Constable Credz, had been the one who'd spoken. When they'd left the inn, the lord had still been there, having arranged to meet with Alden. No doubt to give them another assignment, but this time they had had no intention of taking it. They had not verified the presence of his second in command but had assumed the man was around. Apparently they had been too confident. 
Smirking, the bad-tempered noble got close enough to look them in the eye, clearly enjoying the defiant looks both Oud've and Tongren were giving him. 
"It was my pleasure watching you make your way up here." Constable Credz told them.
"You know, this all wouldn't have been possible without a little help. You see, you were really good at keeping things hidden..."
Constable Credz walked around them in slow circles, sometimes lashing out with a hand or boot. Breaking people was his biggest pleasure and people who ended up in his clutches never returned to testify to what he'd done to them. But sometimes their bodies were found. Bits and pieces of them anyway. Enough to assume who they were, but not enough to actually be certain. 
"Luckily for us, we got some inside information..."
Tongren tensed and instantly, Credz turned to him.
"I see you would like to know who helped us."
Constable Credz waved his finger and grabbed Tongren's hair with his free hand, pulling his head back while watching Oud've cringe. The lawman who had little respect for the law he was supposed to serve, deducted the dynamic between the two and continued to hurt the boy, all the while talking about mundane things, waiting to finally give the punch that would break these man. And then he would be done with them and would leave them in the hands of his servants who liked to have some time to play out their darker fantasies from time to time. Alas, Constable Credz knew that his time was limited since the others would soon arrive. Having them see their comrades bleeding and broken would bring him joy as well so he sped things up:
"Just ask your boss how his evening with the Lord went. I believe they had quite the enjoyable meal and chat."
At the absence of a reaction, Credz continued: "Don't believe me? Ask yourselves how I knew you would be here. I was here even before you guys started your little walk in the night. And why else would your leader insist on being the one to stay behind? Alden knew you'd all be caught. He needed a chance to clear his name. Don't worry though, we'll make sure none of you will be able to rat him out."
Credz laughed as the first cracks appeared in Tongren's trust. 

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Burning Signs

Aliani held her breath, all she could do was listen. Moving too much could reveal her location. Going for help wasn't exactly an option since all of the people who were likely to help her out were scaling a vertical cliff face. Oud've had saved her. Or at least saved her for now. Maybe she could do the same for the guys. 
With each taunt, with each chuckle, Aliani grew colder. Staying and doing nothing was not an option either. She wouldn't be able to live with herself. There was only one thing she could do. It was a risky move and it would likely spell all of their deaths. But if the rebellion managed to improve the lives of all the other people in the villages then maybe it would be worth it. What would lowly mercenaries do in the new order anyway? It's not like they would be chosen to govern or uphold the law, right?
Hyping herself up, Aliani got ready for the half hour that would determine all of their fates and be the culmination of everything she'd ever done before. Before she could chicken out, she got moving. It would only take a little time, but she'd need to work quick and not allow herself to hesitate. 
Sprinting, she didn't mind the noise she was making. She'd grabbed hold of the flares that Oud've had previously dropped right beside her. Maybe this had been his plan for her all along. But no, she couldn't reminisce. She hurriedly placed the unused ones and lit the fuse. Someone grabbed her from behind, but a fraction later, a bright flare lit her surroundings. She tried to knock her head back into her assailant, but he had her in a tight lock and she didn't manage more than a kick to his shins. He gave a grunt that pleased her, but her smug smile faded fast when he pulled her shoulders back.
Aliani was dragged toward the other two, bound and gagged. But at least she'd managed to light the signal for the others.

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Action

Oud've looked dejected as Aliani was deposited right beside them. He had hoped the woman would have been smart enough to run away. But where could she have gone? The light of the flare brightened the dawning of the day and loud cries sounded as Mechlen, Anwerp, Tinien, Hegouw and Bergen crawled onto the plateau. Aliani looked baffled, she'd hoped the five of them would have turned away but apparently not one of them would give up or sacrifice their comrades. In a way it was fitting, and stupid. 
"Get them!" the constable ordered.
"You're too late!" Bergen called back.
"The signal has been given." Anwerp added.
And just then, Alden appeared on the other side of the clearing. Sword drawn and looking as if he knew what was going on. 
"Get away from them, Crazy." he called, using their nickname for the constable.
Constable Credz turned around, not in the least worried about the five armed mercenaries at the edge of the plateau, he still held the upper hand after all, and called out:
"How good of you to join us. So you did want to see your friends' demise? Even if you betrayed them for a measly sum of money and a title." the constable sneered in a loud voice.
"Your plot isn't working!" Alden called back. 
No-one seemed to be doubting Alden, but the boy had to wonder. How else could they have been found out? As the back and forth taunting continued, Tongren suddenly noticed Mechlen inching closer. Sadly though, so did the constable's goons. They rushed forward and before Mechlen or the others could make a move, they were swarmed and subdued. But although they appeared to be caught, Mechlen did not look in the least bit worried. In fact, as Tongren looked over the others, they almost looked smug. It wasn't obvious, but he knew these people. He could tell from the tilt of Hegouw's head and the twitch of Tinien's mouth, as if she was about to smile. 
Tongren looked at Oud've and Aliani, trying to guess if they'd seen it too. Both of them seemed to be focused on Alden and Credz however so they'd probably missed it. Tongren struggled with what to do. Should he try to make contact with Oud've? His teacher was sitting closest. Or should he stay quiet so as not to alert their captors that something was up? Deciding that doing something is better than nothing, Tongren acted as if he lost his balance, toppling against Oud've. 
But before he could try and get a message across, all hell broke loose. Aliani and Oud've watched as some shadows appeared to grow bigger. Aliani for a moment thought she was seeing bright eyes light up in the middle, but that illusion was gone before she could blink and look again. A maelstrom of black appeared, twisting and spiralling. An unnatural wind picked up. 
Aliani watched horrified as Alden broke through the guards that had surrounded him and dove headfirst into the vortex. Almost simultaneously Aliani and Oud've started moving. They jumped up, Oud've pulling Tongren to his feet along with him and dragging the boy toward the uncertainty of the vortex.
But the unknown can only be better than a certain death at the hands of your enemy. Without a doubt, they jumped into the vortex. 

Stats and Dragons
[ALIANI] -*- [OUD'VE] -*- [TONGREN]

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Lantessama Isle

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