Day of Swift Night (NightWings)

((For the first phase of this topic the trackers and assassins will be arriving first so for now only they may post. Due to the nature of their specific mission no NPC's may be used for this first phase.))

The wind was lethargic and the skies were a deep blue with sparse clouds. The sun beamed down heating the air to 80 degrees fahrenheit. For most of the humans below this was the perfect temperature and the perfect day to get some work done. This was one of their newer outposts being on the very edge of their new territory. It was comprised of mostly volunteer settlers willing to risk the unknown for some ripe free land. The humans had no idea what the dragon tribe's borders were but they knew the dangers of their greedy expansion. On such a perfect day though they were relaxed as they went about developing the future settlement. At the moment the main part of the outpost was but a wall of tightly packed wooden spikes 10 feet tall and creating a circle of 200 feet in diameter. Within the circle were little stick huts serving as temporary living situations while the settlers got to work building their log cabins outside the wall. Directly outside the wall there was a clearing of fallen timber all around it making it clear where they had gotten resources for the outpost.

30 humans resides here. A third were chopping more trees to expand their outpost. Another third were spread out far from the outpost building up their log cabins. A sixth were out gathering food. The last sixth were women and children residing within the walls doing chores like cooking the food gathered the previous day and washing of the things humans call clothing. All were rather pleased with how the day was starting out and were blissfully oblivious to the night that would soon fall upon them.

Sitting several miles off from the settlement, Oculus was crouched over a rough sketch that the scouts had provided of the small outpost.  It really seemed more like a town than an outpost, as there were hardly any defenses.  They had said there was a small wooden wall that maybe went to their knees, but besides that, it was practically undefended.  And then there was the tree devastation.  They were cutting down the trees, destroying the homes of their prey.  And without homes, the prey would leave, and without prey, dragons would go hungry.  That was something he did not want.  Thankfully, the humans had stayed away from the NightWing territory, but it was time to stamp them out of dragonkind's lands.  "Alright, consider this one a warm up for what is to come.  The defenses are light, and they seem to be hardly armed.  However, I want this treated as if it were a full fortress.  Delillah, I want you to lead this in practice for the main assault.  Assume there will be heavy weapons, and target those, even if this settlement doesn't have them.  Then, once the heavy weapons are destroyed, signal for the main force to attack, and then shift you and your trackers to making sure no one escapes, along with picking off stragglers.  The guardians will then come in and clean up the rest.  Remember, runners and those armed are to be killed, no questions asked.  Those that surrender will become workers for the forge and mines back in our capitol under heavy guard.  After this attack, we will meet the FireWings to take on the stronger forts, as they will provide better guardians to mop up while we can then focus solely on taking out their heavy weapons, picking off threats, and preventing any runners from alerting the rest of the humans.  Any questions?" he asked to the group of trackers there.  He knew that they alone could kill everything in this village, but that would be a wasted opportunity.  They could practice their assault plan for stronger bases on this weak one to work out the kinks.  "Remember, some of the humans might be out of their fort doing work, so don't let them get away either."

As night waited in the position he egarly awaited for the fight to begin "I wonder how this is going to turn out,it dosent matter this should be interesting though and fun,"he thought to himself as he waited in the shadows listining to oculus brief them.

Delillah sat silently beside Oculus listening to his words, so she had done the entire morning watching the two-legged and how she dreaded watching them, unable to tear into their soft flesh and end their worthless lives with a scream from each and single human.

Once he adressed her in his speech she turned to him with her ever apathetic mask, nodding at various times while he spoke. His plan was simple, but never did she underestimate the humans, but that was she supposed, what made the hunt for them so delightful and joyful. During his monologue she smirked in amusement and glanced forward towards the Village creating a visual plan of the following events. She would be forced to leave several trackers behind to catch the surrendering and running, that is if there were any. The other trackers would soon be sorted.

His last words were followed by silence until she stood and gave another smirk and a quiet sigh in disappointment for she disliked allowing begging humans to live because in those moments one would succumb to mercy and she in particular was not very fond of mercy. She glanced at Occulus at his query  "No, but i suppose that you will remain here" She then turned towards the trees sheltering the trackers "Very well, you've heard the King. I want a third of the strongest trackers to create the first blockade around the village at a safe distance. The trackers believing their advantage to be in stealth and agility will form the blockade behind them, you will not let a single human pass if you do, consider today the last time you set eyes on any kind of light." She dropped her voice allowing the words to settle upon them " We will all surround the village at six hundred metres and quickly enclose them. Once we reach the village kill everything that moves".

Before awaiting any responses she began walking into the forest with grand strides to her desired destination, she would move between both blockades to ensure that they followed the plan. She halted further in the forest and surveyed the surrounding for several seconds before she glanced backwards, commanding the trackers to begin surrounding the village. She continued her strides now able to hear the trackers moving within the trees.

Kaora listened in on the conversation between the King and Delillah. So humans were on the menu tonight then, no one to be left to escape and to take the ones who surrender back. It sounded easy enough, considering from what she knew humans were small and weak things on two legs.

Thinking back to her time with Loque she did remember something about them. They could have bows, something might not be able to pierce scales but might be enough to annoy a dragon. They might be better off too take those ones out first.

When Delillah returned to give us orders the black and gold dragoness stood up, ready to head out. After listening to her she quickly decided she'd be better in the second blockade. Letting the other trackers pass by her she got in line, watching Delillah bounce forward, giving out occasional commands. Maybe instead of forwardly attacking the humans she'd wait back for the runaway humans, for she was unsure how many other ones would do so too.

(Delillah, there are no NPC's, just you, Wolf, and Kaora)

Oculus watched Delillah go off and immedietly get to business.  This was good.  If she could organize this strategy with the smallerforts, then it would simplify when attacking the larger and more heavily defended ones, as they would have already practiced.  "Go on, begin the mission of liberating dragon land from these pesky bipedals."  He would watch and observe, making good sure no humans got away after the assault began.  "Strike hard and fast, take out the major threats, then clean up before they even know what is going on.  Good luck, and remember, stay safe."  He wished the few trackers well as he would then find a suitable perch to look over the area, but not exposing his location until after the strike began.  He hoped e trackers would be able to do it all on their own, but if the few that attempted this feat were not enough for containment, he would assist.

((Two more days before this first phase is closed to new joiners.))

//Super late post, sorry//

Delillah nodded one last time towards Oculus before she disappeared within the trees and made her way towards the village. With the four words, 'strike hard and fast', imprinted in her mind she ran, swiftly manoeuvring  around the trees closing the distance between her and the village harbouring the two-legged toothpicks, she was mere hundred metres away when a flicker of light and the sound of a hitting axe made her conscious of the first line of humans, humans that were soon going to feel the strength and brutality of the Nightwing trackers, of course the brutality was only ever present in the presence of these arrogant humans for the Nightwings had become more ...peaceful towards other dragon tribes personally something she disapproved of. Nevertheless, she had been granted to begin liberating the pest and so she did. She glanced around and caught sight of another female tracker, she was quick to recognise her as Kaora due to her scales. She walked towards her with a simple job in mind "Kaora, come. You will position yourself behind everyone and you will give me a signal once every human is taken care of outside of the walls. We will not attack the village while there are still humans walking freely." She wouldn't wait for an answer as she turned and headed towards the village.

As she enclosed on the human her glistening black scales were covered with a deceptive opaque skin layer that would turn the once glossy scales, matt, allowing no reflection to be cast from her and while she ran she soundlessly jumped above into the trees and came down upon the human.

As she continued towards the village she gave a short nod towards the other few humans around, another silent command for those that followed her. These humans too would soon end up in the tree, perhaps headless too. The human she had left behind had not given her any satisfaction but more frustration, he had died too quick too easy, but dead he was anyway.

After several minutes she came upon the last tree line before the village walls, she had killed many on the way here several picking pretty flowers or carrying wood some guarding the area, which might she say did a horrible job for they were dead hanging along their other toothpick friends in the trees. To her knowledge she had slaughtered all that passed however now as she observed the walls a small smirk cracked her unemotional visage as she imagined the massacre.

Her next actions were quick as she one after the other picked the humans from the stations along the wall making quick work of them, occasionally ripping their head of their bodies or slit their throats, whatever she preferred in the moment. She knew that her team were mirroring her actions and as she stilled to climb onto a dense oak tree she watched them and the humans within the walls, they continued their daily tasks, so unaware of the danger just outside their defences. Somehow it amused her, soon the air would reek of fear and blood and death, but not quite so yet as she was forced to wait for Kaora and her signal.

Mythryl had waited, positioned near the back as she listened to the leaders. She didn't want to make herself known too much, instead, wanting to let her work speak for her. When Delillah had spoken of her plan, she allowed a sigh to escape her lips. It looks like she would be at the front line, as she was extremely confident with her skills to dash between humans and silence them-especially in her current form. She quickly followed Delillah, before splitting away from her. She would keep an eye on both groups, just making sure that she was following the orders correctly. The last thing she would want to do is compromise the integrity of the NightWings and (potentially) allow a human to escape from them.

She smelt a the blood from the humans a long distance away, sending a shiver of excitement down her spine. A smile cracked on her maw as she stalked a human before her. Oblivious to the smell of human blood, he dared to walk forward, probably in order to collect something for their friends. But Mythryl wouldn't allow this. She waited slightly, then when his back was turned from her,  she pounced and silenced him quickly. It was a fitting punishment for those who had dared to leave the fortifications of their walls and homes. In fact, they all deserved it in her eyes.

She picked the body up, quickly disposing of it before she continued a quick loop around the site of attack, her paws dead silent on the leaves and twigs around her as she walked. Her body snaked between the trees, before she gave a nod to Delillah, waiting for further instructions.

As night looked on unto the quick and deadly execution of the humans he thought ''why am i not helping them,''.He then noticed two lone humans wandering around the area of the gate about 10meters out from any human contact ''easy,''he thought.He jumped of his ledge and into the shadows of the night and disappeared as he followed the humans then he grabbed both from behind and revealed his teeth biting into their necks instantly killing them saviouring their blood. He quickly tossed their corpses into the bushes and disappeared again heading back to his hiding spot

Kaora glanced over at Delillah, having to do a double take to verify that she was actually coming over her direction. She slowed down to listen to her instructions, nodding before the female bounded away without waiting for an answer. Now Kaora would just have to decide what signal she'd exactly want.

Standing back she watched as they started to take on a few of the humans outside of their home. Delillah wouldn't want something with nose that could alarm the humans inside, so nothing with sound. It'd just have to be a flick of the tail or a good to go sign.

As she was thinking, something flashed in the corner of her eye. It was a lone human that had somehow escaped the grasp of the others, and she'd almost missed it. Quickly leaping the dragoness leaped on the human, quickly killing it with a quick nip at the neck, as if it was a small, small, deer. She was too used to doing that, it was most likely already dead by the time she did that.

Before she could give the signal she'd have to make sure that there were no humans left. Not even one. That'd mean she'd have to circle it again. Kaora wanted to make sure she would do this right, so she made a wide circle around the camp, her keen eyes looking for anyone else outside of the borders.

Satisfied, the female looked for Delillah again. Finally spotting her she looked up and nodded, hopefully giving enough of a signal. Of course, if needed, she would also give a good-to-go signal before waiting for more instructions.

(Is one more NW allowed to join? (Mythryl)?)

The humans had no idea what was to come it seemed. Oculus could only watch the village from his position, glaring down at it. He verified once again that all the humans were accounted for, and that there were none making any escape attempts. Judging from the amount of people there, there must have been at least thirty or more of them. With any luck, several would surrender and become workers in the NightWing lands.

(I don't mind)

Delilah's orbs flickered through the forest intently while the smell of human blood hung in the air bringing a sense of thrill to her, as she caught sight of kaora she rested her eyes on her watching and awaiting her signal her serpentine tail uncoiling from the tree as she herself maintained a desire to continue.

When Kaora gave the signal presented as a nod she silently dropped from the tree and began seeking for another tracker. Close by she identified one as Mythryl and walked towards her "Mythryl, you and Nightwolf will join me into the village using one entrance only then you and me proceed to spread out. Kaora will remain outside and take care of the running, she may fly if she desires to. Nightwolf will remain at the entrance to aid Kaora. We aim for the head of the village, i want no noise until he is down. Once he is down kill everything that moves and doesn't beg for their worthless life. Inform the others we are going in now." Following her last words she made her way back to the North entrance  with a smirk cracking her callous visage.

On arriving she didn't halt but slither to the open entrance. The humans situated above seemed to be waiting for the others to return with whatever they had been doing, what a shame they never would. With a flick of her serpentine tail they both fell to the ground with twin like gashes on their throats. One had fallen before her and while he gripped his throat in sheer pain his eyes settled on her and he visually attempted to crawl away from her his mind no more filled with pain but fear. Fear she had caused, it was a delightful sight, yet one she could not enjoy for ever as she was forced to move on.

If the other trackers had joined her by now she would proceed to enter the village and walk crouched along the wall seeking for the head while killing those that stepped bravely or stupidly in her path. Those she would then hide behind or beneath wagons or other objects. She would glance into a window belonging to one of the grandest house within the village, harbouring two children and a woman that would stare at her in horror. They'd all be frozen in fear except one child that would emit a high pierced scream that'd last for mere two seconds before it'd be grabbed and crushed beneath her claws along with the other child and the woman. There'd be no concerned humans rushing towards the house and so she'd continue.

Night nods in acknowledgement as he hears delillah's plan. He dashed down following her as she made her way to the north entrance and dropped down into the shadows covering the area as she said waiting for her to strike.

"Ok shouldn't be too hard wait in the shadows near the entrance until myth and deli kill the target and take down any humans coming out from the area piece of cake," he thought as he waited.

Sitting from a vantage point, he watched Delillah orchestrate the assault on the humans. They never stood a chance, and he showed no pity on them. Where was the pity on the extermination of the EarthWings? They were gone. It was no point in bothering to spare them to live on their own. No, if they wanted to live in dragon lands, they would be ensalved, working their short lives to exhaustion or forever leave. Oculus watched around, making sure to note if any humans had snuck past the small group of trackers attacking, to take them out himself to make sure no warning was given to the remaining forts. He believed in his dragons to succeed in the task, and just planned on watching. Hopefully, not all the humans would be killed. A few extra servants to perform tasks no one else wanted to do would be nice to say the least.

((I'm terribly sorry for my terrible activity here and terribly sorry for the fact that I'm leaving it for another staff member to take over.))

((From now I will be the one in charge of the humans in this invasion))

The plan the Nightwings made was working wonderfully well so far. Well, of course, it would have been an utter shame if they were to lose to only a few unarmed humans. While all their efforts were clearly overdone, it would be a rather good practice for the other outposts they would encounter on their way to the center of the former Earthwing territory.

Dellilah was especially taking the practice at heart. Even though one might object her trying to sneak against a wall that was barely reaching her knees was a bit ridiculous, no dragon would really dare making fun of her for this excess of zeal. The humans probably wouldn't be in the mood to criticize either anyway.

Despite their best efforts at acting all sneaky, there wasn't much that could hide two dragons of more than 40 feet tall in a space that they wouldn't even deem big enough to call a bedroom. It was a tiny outpost, not some fortress. So it was only logical that panic soon spread in the outpost. About half of the humans had been killed while they were outside the walls, which basically only left about fifteen more in. A few men were foolish enough to get out of some tiny huts that had been built, taunting the dragons in their direction. They were armed, but their weapons looked poor and almost rusted, probably being as effective as a toothpick on most of a dragon's areas. The only threat on that side seemed to be the risk of getting tetanus if stepping on them carelessly. Quite obviously these men were doing a big job at taunting the dragons, a bit too heroically seemed like.

Mythryl listened intently to the assassins instructions. Silently, the NightWing followed Delillahs instructions and called upon her shadows to help conceal the NightWings. It slowly turned dark around them and seeming she was hugging the wall near the gate, it stretched to the other side of the fort. She glanced into the fort, making sure to kill the guards near the entrance with a quick and silent blow with her tail over the walls. The Nightwing, seeing that she couldn't really get through the gate that easily,  stepped over the wall but if she had decided to step through the wall, the wooden fortress would have been nothing to her in her other state.

As the humans dared to try and be the hero and taught the rather large dragons, Mythryl held in a rather nasty snarl. But before some of the humans could even take a step, her claws, fangs and talons lashed out towards them. She quickly dispatched of their weapons, then her claws and teeth sank into them, dealing a rather painful death blow. They bodies were wrapped into her tail, silently dumped on the other side of the wall as she went around the camp. Her feet were silent as she crept through the tiny fort, her body staying in the darkness as she circled through the village, unseen by some of the few remaining humans. Mythryl wasn't sure how many there were, but she did kill at least seven in a similar fashion-the idiots who dared to try and oppose her.

Kaora watched as the others continued to get rid of the humans, quiet easily it seemed. Of course, this was just training, or at least she thought so. The female always thought the humans might have been at least a little harder, especially living in this environment.

She circled the place again, closing tighter with each pass. She had to make sure no one got through. Something sounded nearby, and she knew it wasn't one of a dragon. Jumping over a bush she found two more humans trying to get away, unarmed in anyway. Pathetic. But, before she killed them right away a thought came into her mind. The NightWings could always use a few more helping hands, couldn't they? He did say that if they surrendered that they'd work for the empire anyways.

Smirking, she gently picked them up in her maw, making sure not to harm them. After another quick circle she couldn't see anymore, most scents leading to the smell of blood. The rest looked to be inside of the little village, either getting slaughtered or surrendering. Now they just needed to get back to Oculus.

By scenting and looking she eventually found Oculus, sitting down in front of him and dropping her trophies. Growling she watched them, making sure they didn't try to dart away. They should know by now any chances of survival would be with staying. "Oculus," She started with a slight bow, still watching the two in between her paws, "I'm sure the extermination is over, and I found these two defenseless humans. I'm sure they could be of use in the kingdom." She waited for a reply, hopeful her acts has pleased him.

It wouldn't take long for the dragons there to wipe out the few remaining humans. A few of them were trying to escape, on the opposite direction from the ones that had given their lives rather foolishly. There wasn't much they could do anyway, most of them being totally unarmed. The elimination of the whole human camp was done. It was merely a small one though, and it was expected for some better defended ones to show up. Maybe those would provide an adequate training.

((Slightly speeding this to the interesting part. Feel free to move on to the next target. Just telling though, only two to go!))

Delillah walked towards the centre of the village shoving five little humans, a child was in the arms of a woman who uselessly attempted to hide it from her. A child so young. Too young. It could never work as a slave it was too small too weak but perhaps as a snack it would suit quite fittingly, no not even for that was it big enough. She took the woman with one claw while with another single nail she raised the child and pierced through its flesh. The woman screamed and flailed at Delillah but she simply let out low growl and shoved her back to the others.

As she reached the gate she called for the other shadows and shoved two toothpicks towards Mythryl, there were no more humans alive in this village. The stench of the blood began to rise and she gave a short smirk then nodded towards the Kings direction "We're leaving, Mythryl take the two." without awaiting an answer she took the other three but before she could they fell to their knees and began blabbering in the pathetic human tongue. She hissed and continued to pick them up not specifically gently then took to the air towards Oculus.

Reaching him she dropped the three next to Kaoras' and landed soundlessly next to the king "Your human slaves just as you desired M'lord" She glanced at the begging bodies cowering at their claws and flicked her tail at one, hiding her chuckle as the bloody human jumped away. She then masked her visage with her ever apathetic facial expression and sat lithely beside oculus her ebony coloured forked tongue slithering from her maw as she watched the others then spoke "Our next targets M'lord?"

The larger NightWing cam over to Delillah, the inky darkness caused by her ability still in place. Her claws lightly tapping on the ground as she made her way over to them. But as the assassin spoke, Mythryl approached them quickly, only needing a few steps to reach her. Her magenta eyes were one of the few things which the humans were able to make out, quivering in fear. Mythryl could almost taste it from here. She nodded, receiving her orders from Delilah she wouldn't fail her.

She turned her body, her tail temporarily forming a circle around them so they couldn't try to run away. With a sinister smile, she took the two humans up in one of her mighty hands, easily fitting the two wriggling and screaming things in her hand. With a quick snarl, she silenced them once more before she followed Delillah, her speed on her three legs still surprisingly fast. But for the humans, it was almost like torture because of how tightly Myth had to hold them to get them to stop moving.

She came to the slowly growing group, dumping the captured humans their friends. A few seemed to know each other, but their sobbing and weeping was getting too much for Myth. But she knew better than to just suddenly use her calming mist against them, as it could be seen as attacking the little shrieking things. For now, and rather grudgingly (but made sure her expression retained the grim look it normally had in serious times), she stayed seated, next to Kaora. "Further gifts from Delilah, Lord Oculus." She had explained, her voice naturally was quiet in respect, but easily being heard by the Emperor.

It was more or less a slaughter, something he distanced himself from.  Sure, the humans were screaming in terror and dying left and right. Yes, they probably felt some pain before death, and death by dragon was probably a death they did not want.  However, the crimes they had committed made this all fair in Oculus's eyes.  They dared to assault a tribe of dragons, and exterminate them without mercy.  Heck, just letting a few humans survive was more mercy than the humans showed the gentle giants.  Watching the two dragoness's bring him two humans each, he nodded at them.  "Good job, it is interesting that only four had the intelligence to give up before death.  Makes me wonder how smart those creatures really are.....anyway, congratulations.  It seems this slaughter proved that you can work as a team.  Hopefully the next area will provide more of a challenge when we unite with the other tribe, before assaulting their capitol."  Standing, he stretched his neck and cracked it, before looking at them with a smirk out of the corner of his left eye.  "volunteer to move these filth back to our border where the guardians will take them and race back to us for the next assault?"  Oculus waited to see who of the group would volunteer to force these humans along back to the border, and make it back to them as they prepared to begin the assault anew, just on a bigger target.

Mythryl lowered her head to Oculus, her voice speaking up to him once again. "I can take them Lord Oculus. It would barely take me much time at all before I am able to come back to the main force." Mythryl offered to her Emperor. She was a dragon who was incredibly quick, and by running at a set pace, the dragon was confident she would be able to make it to the border and back before the main invasion occurred. She may be tired and from it, but she was confident that they wouldn't put up much of a fight.

She snarls as the humans began their annoying wailing again, silencing them quickly as they cowered in fear from her. Mythryl lowered her head, before quickly scooping them up in her mouth-careful to make sure that she didn't damage the goods. Mythryl knew the sorts of things which these disgusting creatures would do for her tribe, and she would thank them for their donations... If she could be bothered to. Silently and quickly, the long dragon turned away from Oculus, her paws hitting the ground silently as began her rather long journey back to the border. She chose a speed which she knew she was able to keep up for the entire duration.

When she arrived at the border, the guards approached her curiously, and the tracker allowed the humans to fall from her maw. A sinister smile appeared on their faces, as she spoke to them. "Gifts for Lord Oculus... Don't damage the goods." She instructed as they nodded. Mythryl turned her crimson face back towards where the main army was going to be. "You know the regular drill. Train them well." They weren't able to talk to her any longer as the mysterious NightWing was gone, trying to catch up with the NightWings once more.

The last remaining humans had been taken care quite easily. Only the smell of blood remained, with a tint of body excretion as well - it seemed like some of the captured humans were so scared their bladders were the least of their concerns. But everything was wrapped up quickly, with the prisoners taken back to the NW territory, and all the dragons ready for their next objective.

There was about a day worth of walk between the first camp and the small base they would reach. And while the first camp clearly wasn't militarily prepared for anything, this was was more. The humans had raised wooden walls of roughly 50 feet high, that they after covered with stones so the wood wouldn't catch fire. A few holes were visible in the fence, but a claw was the most a dragon could stick in them. At the top of the wall, sentries were watching toward the forest, more out of habit than really expecting any danger. A large section of forest had been destroyed around the small fort, making an approach under the trees impossible - the dragons would have to cross a band of land without any hiding spot.
Some constructions could be seen inside, presumably storage buildings or whatever the humans needed for their chain of command. A particular building, a tall tower, was towering the rest. It was about 20 feet taller than the wall, and it was to be expected sentries would be watching from that position - maybe lazily, but watching nonetheless.
All in all, maybe this position would provide a decent training to everyone - not just scouts - before the true battle really began...