A Forgotten Fear

[Lord Iezkon]

The following report would be sent directly to Kaer from Acolyte Elias, only members of the Conservancy or people shown by Kaer or Elias could access this report.

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A Forgotten Fear: Mission Report

- Elias Zotam

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Preparation:

Prior to the mission Sith Sarias wrote a full document outlining the weaknesses of each creature, the tactics that we were to use and additional equipment we were to take. UV torches on our belts, some form of paralytic gas grenade of Sith Sarias' design and several UV floodlights. Acolytes were, of course, given some armour and vibroblades.

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Deployment:

Sith Tarati took myself on the front line, Sith Sarias and the Imperials in the middle and Acolyte Sadraan covering the rear with Apprentice Dijomatasa handling the floodlights. This plan fell apart the moment we encountered a Darkling group, originally of no more than 15. Yet lack of clear orders resulted in the group growing into a horde too large to count. The formation fell apart, Sith Tarati charged ahead and to the right flank. Sith Sarias to the left. Imperial Gary on the far left firing rapidly into the horde and Imperial Thymius on the right with a flamethrower. This funnelled the darkling horde onto myself and Acolyte Sadraan, the two weakest forced to face the brunt of the horde. We held our ground, myself nearly dying to neck wounds, until I finally lost my nerve and called out in a panic to use the floodlights or gas grenades.

At this point everyone threw grenades, a flash bang blinding us all, Sith Sarias using her gas, and another Imperial throwing a standard grenade that almost killed Sith Tarati. Dijomatasa did not use floodlights, in the end I retreated to activate them to try and thin the horde attacking us.

The large number of explosions causing the cave to partially collapse, before we could confirm the eradication of the Sithspawn.

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Conclusion:
- Although preparation was done, it was mostly useless as none of it was used until the group was almost overwhelmed and torn apart.
- Leadership wasn't clear, leading to confusion during the conflict.
- A large humanoid, possibly a brood mother(?) was definitely killed.
- An immense number of smaller creatures were killed.
- No larger creatures from Sith Sarias' document were seen.
- There was almost certainly more deeper into the cave which may now escape through openings from the collapse.
- We found two survivors, wounded Imperials left for the hatchlings. We acted too slowly and they were devoured. More survivors may have been deeper into the cave.

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I apologise if this report is going above my station, my Lord. I thought it necessary you received an honest and unfiltered report to fully know the situation left by this deployment. I am sure the creatures will need dealing with again and this mission failed in eradicating them.