Ultimatum after Ultimatum

Job Details:

After the raid on the Little stone tribe, Ani had taken time to consider her next plans as she took what recruits she could with her and escorted them back to her base. Though along the way Ani had learned more about the tribe they had been previously subjugated to. The Kreshyll Tribe as they were known among the plains were a clan that specialized in shock warfare with their weapon of choice being clubs made from bones of plains animals and gems from the mountain mines that they occupied with their prisoners of war and raiding. They seemed tough enough with the size of their raiding parties but there was also the added benefit of the chance to liberate the prisoners and rally them underneath her banner.

With the information that she had on them now, Ani felt quite confident in the plans she had been weaving for quite some time now. Dropping off the refugees back at the fortress in the Jade Dragon mountains she had already sent a letter ahead for the rest of her Shadow Glass Squadron to get their gear and selves ready for travel. Liqin and Niu had been excited about rejoining with the squad and talked about it even before they were ready to meet up.

"Ah Father, we all trained together and now we all get to go on our first large scale mission together!" Liqin had adjusted the saddle of his Wyvern as he remounted it having only got off moments ago to restock his food and water supplies. "Though the camping was fun with just us three, with all of us it will feel like Bootcamp again." His words trailing off in a chuckle he found himself smiling.

"Indeed Li, though while it's all fine and well for us to enjoy time with our allies and commander we mustn't forget the importance of these next raids." He was standing next to his wyvern as he loaded supplies into its satchel and continued to speak. "This is our launching point towards expanding throughout the plains."

"I didn't forget, I'm excited about that part too. We can really show how strong the Azure Raiders are." He said with a small fist pump as his dad let out a soft sigh, but then laughed as he mounted his own Wyvern.

Within moments of their conversation ending a loud series of cheers came roaring from the halls of the castle as the rest of the Shadowglass Squadron had revealed themselves with their supplies and mounts in tow. It would be brief but all of them, including Ani, would greet one another. With Ani having spent time with Kor and taking care of him while she was here she was glad to see her child who was all too excited to share his stories with her just as much as he wanted to hear what she had been up to.

After she had put her child to bed and said goodnight and goodbye until her trip was finally over she would prepare to head out soon after. Her own supplies had been resupplied and triple checked by herself and her assistant with the rest of her team already mounted and ready to leave. With very little effort Ani had leaped into the air landing with a front flip to remount her beast. Dragot let out a soft cry but ultimately was unfazed as within moments they had taken flight. With their trip beginning, they would have to travel less time than they had to get to Little Stone tribe, but they had to camp earlier due to the weather.

For the first few days, they were able to travel about a quarter of the distance before they were suddenly halted by rainstorms that had started to disrupt their flying path. It had been nice to camp with all of them and gave them plenty of time to plan and review their intel. They knew that none of the real fighters would be there when they would arrive since it was raiding season and the weather would also delay their own return home. As they listened to their commander and her drills they learned that Ani mostly wanted to find and try to recruit early defectors but would play up the opportunity to shake the enemy tribe. If their morale was down before the real battle began then she would start off with one advantage, though she would exploit that she could get.

Once the weather had finally begun to clear it didn't take long for Ani and her men to get into position and take flight once again towards their target. Within a few days, they had located were Kreshyll Tribe had been trying to hide while they wait for their army to return. After they had confirmed that the army was still a few days away they decided to go forward with their plan for them to go in and give their message just as they had done before. With more of them on the take this time around however it did mean they had to explain the gritty details to the rest of the squad.

At the dawn of morning, they were up and already starting to get armored and their weapons sharpened for the worst-case scenario, as well as maximum intimidation. Ani had been up earlier than the rest and they had even wondered if she slept at all, but she stood infront of them petting her wyvern and asking them all about the details of the plan before asking. "Are y'all ready to show them what it means to be an Azure Raider?"

In a matter of seconds as if they had it beaten and drilled into them they responded in unison even giving Ani a bit of a surprise as she chuckled as they said. "Yes, Commander, M'am!"

With a grin gracing her face Ani had turned her head towards the hill line they would be flying over soon enough, and while she couldn't see it regardless she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I guess this will be as good as a test as any." Ani had told herself knowing that it would be even more difficult doing a performance in front of a large group when she will have to make sure she is facing the right way based solely on what she hears. "Now, let's head out!"

Following her words, they all took flight and started soaring towards the hills and the horizon. With the travel speed of the Wyverns, they weren't long before they were over the hills, and below them laid the Kreshyll tribe. Circling above them from higher in the sky as not to raise suspicion they looked for where there would be a decent gathering in their territory that they could crash and make a show. With Ani listening in down below the rest of them scanned with their eyes and the aid of their mount.

"Commander, it looks like there's some sort of tribal meeting going on, I think we should land there." Niu had called as he flew over towards Ani who had nodded in response despite not knowing if it had been seen.

Ani let out a loud whistle and all the wyverns had circled Ani with their riders and listened for what was coming next. "Alright, Niu instruct Dragotsennyy where she needs to take me and as I go to land the rest of your mounts should follow me."

Without much wait, they had followed her plans and suddenly all nine of them were landing in the middle of a meeting of hundreds and hundreds of villagers. A lot of them had let out a few gasps and as a few cries of worry and some of awe fell on Ani's ears she would stand atop Dragotsennyy before whistling as she had before but this time with the intention to gather the attention of the villagers.

"You may not know me, and you may notice that I am blind, but don't let that give you any impressions," Ani spoke clearly and loudly as she heard a few people mumbling, and others shutting up as she spoke but either way she knew that their attention was on her. "I've come here to free those who desire it, not only you but those who have been sent to the mines without regard for who they are or what they may or may not have done. I will wait here and give you a chance to surrender or leave but once your tyrant chief returns I will put him back in his place."

With eight different men in obsidian armor with obsidian weapons mounted atop wyverns with a blind Imuchakk woman imposing her dominance, it was obvious that some of the villagers would start to get easy. However, they were not prepared for what Ani said next as she continued to prove her point. "You may have heard what has happened to Little Stone tribe and their leader Baulin, but let me show you what speaks louder than words."

Without having to reach around Ani had pulled Baulin's helmet from her satchel and dropped it from atop her wyvern. As it clanged on the ground it could be seen that not only was it dented but it was also frozen over and singed from multiple burns. With some of them having known Baulin before he was assigned to that tribe they started to gulp looking at Ani.

"Now, while we all wait over these few days think it over, you know what your choices are." Ani smiled as she would get down from standing sitting firmly atop her mount as she listened to their words and got ready to wait for their armies to return. "Make sure to choose wisely."

WC: 1,640/1,500

Item's brought:

Beasts:

Glass Soldiers: