Rebel Group

## History

### The Rebel Queen

The night the soldiers came for Faran, Tilda and her oldest children fled to a cottage in the mountains. There were people inside waiting for them. Rebels. But the rebels never knew about their family. (Faran and Tilda were so careful.) The rebels didn't know anything for sure, but they'd been chasing rumors for years, one of which eventually led them to the Corentines in Riverfell.

Their leader at the time, a man named Galdric, had already approached Faran and Tilda in the marketplace, and they had laughed away Galdric claims. The night the Royal Guard accused Faran of being involved with the rebels, having his youngest son, Kerrin stabbed and his youngest daughter, Kiva with him to Zalindov. Tilda took Zuleeka and Torell straight to Galdric and offered to join the rebel cause in exchange for one thing. Vengeance.

Over the next few years, they stayed with Galdric and his closest confidants, moving from safe house to safe house. The rebels were plotting and planning and scheming with Tilda. Zalindov and Torn learned to fight, to protect themselves. And Tilda started using her magic publicly, no longer caring who might discover them.

Eventually, the revels decided that it was time for Tilda to take over leadership from Galdric. She had Corentine blood, she was their rightful ruler. Galdric remained her closest adviser, but she had final say over everything the rebels did. Up until then, their numbers had been slowly growing as whispers spread about the return of Torvin's heir, but she was restless and wanted things to move faster. Once the reins were in Tilda’s hands, she started a campaign for active recruitment, with rebels going from village to village, encouraging people to follow her cause. Doing what she had to do.

They did what we had to do.

> “Their attacks grew bolder, to the point that they became openly hostile, causing damage to villages and loss of life to those who stood against them.” —Jaren, The Gilded Cage
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> "Only if they tried to hurt us first. They got what they asked for. Wars aren't won without sacrifice, little sister. Anyone who stands against us is our enemy and enemies don't deserve mercy. Why should we care about them when they don't care about us?" - Zuleeka, The Gilded Cage
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Tilda got sick. A rotting illness, something they couldn't find a cure for. She could heal anyone else in seconds, but her magic never worked on herself. The infection spread slowly, over years, something none of them realized until it was too late. When the end was near, she became obsessed with freeing Kiva. She was convinced that Kiva should be the one to take over as Rebel Queen. But Galdric and the other leaders knew Zalindov was too well fortified and the risk was too great. Once, they might have led the rescue themselves, since Tilda spent years talking about how powerful Kiva is, even as a child. All along, they'd intended for her to take the throne and Kiva to be her heir, the Corentine blood in her veins was undeniable.

Tor rose through the ranks to become general, and Zuleeka earned the respect of Galdric and his peers, they decided that they were enough to lead in Mother's place, even without Kiva’s supposedly immeasurable magic. The rebel leaders knew we were Torvin's descendants, they didn't require anything more to see us on the throne. But Tilda sicker she became, the more determined she was to see Kiva one last time. She was captured in Mirraven, because she walked right into Zadria and knocked on the castle gates.

But Kiva didn't get to speak with her. Not really. She was so sick when she arrived. And she was blind. And Kiva didn't save her or her father.

### Galdric

Galdric said he wouldn't let Tilda risk any rebels coming to free Kiva. When Tilda decided to go to Mirraven, she didn't tell anyone. She took off in the night, leaving only a short note explaining where she was going, and why. What Tor and Zuleeka managed to piece together, Galdric was the first to realize she was gone, and he went after her, probably trying to stop her. But he he never came back. All they found was his cloak, covered in blood. Maybe Tilda she killed him? She wasn't in her right mind.

### Rebel Queen’s deal with Navok

King Navok was more than happy to make a deal with the Rebel Queen, knowing how much it would piss off the Vallentis family and how desperate they were to get their hands on her. In return, he only had to make it so the negotiations between kingdoms resolved with her heading to Zalindov.

### Zalindov Prison

They knew what was going on in Zalindov during the Ordeal, because the had contacts from the inside. Cresta Voss, was under orders to protect the Rebel Queen until they could rescue her. (Cresta threatened Tipp's life, said she would kill him if Kiva didn't keep the Rebel alive. Not knowing who Kiva was.)

Tor came to rescue Kiva and their mother until we were called back by Zuleeka.

When the riot broke out, Cresta hurried to the infirmary, but someone else beat her there. Cresta saw a boy on the ground in a pool of blood, Tipp, knew it was a mortal wound. But later she saw Kiva running toward the front gate with him in her arms. Cresta thought you were being sentimental, had no idea you were escaping with him in town. (Cresta had died.)

Spies at the palace confirmed the appearance of the kid, but they said he was perfectly healthy. It was easy enough for me to put two and two together. Kiva used her powers only to save Tipp.

## Rebel Cause

The rebels are fighting because to them, the Corentine are royalty. For hundreds of years, all they've wanted was a Corentine back on the throne. Or at least, that's the case for the most fanatical of Torvin worshipers, the ones whose families have stayed dedicated from generation to generation. But what about the newer recruits who don't care about bloodlines, is it because they don't like the Vallentis family.

There will always be people who disapprove of how a kingdom is run, regardless of who sits on the throne, so that's true for some. Others just want anarchy for the sake of anarchy. But the rest . .. Never underestimate the power of hope.

The rebels weren't always so destructive. Back when they first started to actively recruit, people joined us because Tilda offered them something they desperately wanted-she healed them of their injuries and illnesses, just like Torvin did before he was exiled. At first, not ask for anything in return for her magic. Whenever they traveled to a new village, she healed everyone who came to her.

But then one day she began to say they needed to earn their healing by proving themselves loyal. People were so desperate to help their loved ones and themselves-that they joined, waiting for the day Tilda Corentine would reward their devotion.

As the time passed, she stopped healing people altogether, and started thriving on the chaos caused whenever the village guards were provoked, almost like she thought the bloodshed would turn more people to us.