Shensi (Nico) I

*********************************************************************************** ILLMYTHIL OUTPOST ADVENTURING PARTY SANCTIONED MISSION ILLMYTHIL, ILLION IN REPLY REFER TO: 1060 1 THIRDMOON 268.3.3 From: Alaseida Shensi Kelanu, Operative, Lepidoptera Wing (Reserves) To: Office of Emergency Response, Illmythil Outpost Subj: AFTER ACTION REPORT FOR EVENT CONDUCTED 1 THIRDMOON 268.3.3 Ref: (a) IOA 5564 Illmythil Outpost Adventurers Sanctioning Officer: Samaníl Elentari, Innkeeper of Adventurer Inn Commanding Officer of Action: Amríen, Illion Outpost Researcher 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Red mana well formation at proximal volcano was quelled by application of water to key lava pools, magic frost item directly applied to caldera, and incomplete but significant reduction of elemental and red-aligned talus population. First attempt unsuccessful and resulted in full mission team death. Second and third attempts successful. Tactical performance increased in cohesiveness throughout mission duration. Follow-up monitoring required to determine time and intensity of subsequent red mana well formation in area. 2. IMPETUS OF ACTION Commanding Officer Amríen had previously identified, monitored, and studied methods of counteracting the impending formation of a red mana well in proximity to the Illmythil Outpost. As specified in Operational Objectives manual of outpost operations, this formation would be strongly negative to the ability to carry out the goals of the research outpost, which are highly contingent upon relative neutrality of mana influence. 3. PRIOR ACTION Commanding Officer Amríen had in the prior moon directed the Illmythil Outpost Adventurers (IOA) to an attempt at quelling this red mana well formation but the mission team was required to halt that mission because of insufficient allocated time for the operation. An after-action report was not filed for that instance of the mission but informal exchange of ideas within the IOA transmitted some of the key observations from that incomplete action. 4. MISSION OBJECTIVES Overall mission: Degrade the presence of red mana by reducing the presence, on the landscape, of key features aligned with red mana. Concrete targets identified: 1) Use water to neutralize lava pools along the switchbacks 2) Use magic frost items to reduce extent of caldera 3) Use specialized ranger personnel to reduce extent of caldera 4) Slay fire elemental and associated red-mana-aligned creatures in vicinity 5. PERSONNEL DEPLOYED Personnel: Standard deployment of IOA personnel, as described in Adventuring Party Operational Procedures IOA 5564 filed by Alaseida Shensi Kelanu with the Office of Emergency Management. Commanding Officer Amríen led the team on the field. The exact composition of the mission team was not documented. 6. RESOURCES DEPLOYED 1) Personal equipment of adventuring team 2) Magic weapons provisioned in prior moon. Batches determined to not pass standards for passive magic distributable via normal methods for reasons of defects. See report on Magic Weapon That Induces Animals To Attack User for example. 3) Large water receptacle intended to transport mission-critical water from point of acquisition to points of deployment 4) Several magic frost items reported to have the capacity to bring frost to an area 5) Ropes, intended to provide maneuvering options on vertical terrain features 7. STRATEGIC POSTURE AND BATTLEFIELD ASSESSMENT Prior to contact with opposing forces, surveys indicated several layers of switchbacks would be present on the field, on which were the key lava pools that water needed to be deployed against for mission success. Operative Kelanu applied logistical training to design procedures enabling refilling of the water receptacle at rates approximately 1/3rd faster than estimated. Two adventurers were assigned to the water receptacle, which was assessed to be the minimum number required for its mobility. 8. BATTLEFIELD PERFORMANCE The result of the first attempt at this mission was insufficient water deployment before the mission team experienced a Total Taskforce Kill. The result of the second attempt at this mission was a success. The magic frost items were deployed to the caldera as planned. The team then learned that another adjacent volcanic location was facing a similar scenario, and so repeated the attempt at that location as well, and succeeded there. In all cases, water was deployed to reduce lava pool levels, which was the stated primary success criterion. In addition, fire elementals were defeated and the lava pool hemmed in in both successful attempts, the lava river was reduced in all three attempts. Many red-aligned talus and elementalings were encountered and slain, but the largest talus survived. 9. IMPROVE. Areas of the event that occurred during any of the phrases that need to be improved. a. End-of-Duel timing. Decision-making of when to end duels against key opposition forces (1) Discussion. Operative Kelanu unnecessarily put a member of the adventuring team in danger by ending a Duel against a key opposition force while a team member was nearby, and inadequately projecting warning of such Duel ending. (2) Recommendation. Sustain Duels against key opposition forces when possible, remembering that the Kenshi in the Duel cannot be interfered with by others outside the duel. When not possible, ensure clear, directed, and timely warning to allies of impending duel endings against key opposition forces. b. Staying On Task. Commitment to carry out assigned objectives (1) Discussion. One or both of the adventurers assigned to the task of delivering water to the key lava pools abandoned that task upon seeing a general mêlée break out at the caldera and did not notify any commanding officer of this abandonment, leading to significantly reduced deployment of mission-critical water by the time the mission team experienced a Total Taskforce Kill. (2) Recommendation. Implement leadership structure allowing adventurers to clearly communicate to a point of contact when they are unable to complete tasks designated as mission critical, so that the commanding officer or designated second-in-command can ensure that other personnel are assigned to that task for full mission coverage and completion. 10. SUSTAIN. Areas of the event that occurred during any of the phases that should be sustained because they were effective. a. Division of Responsibilities. Team members taking on areas of specialization suited to their skills, and ensuring all key areas are covered. (1) Discussion. In latter attempts, the mission team admirably divided responsibilities between water deployment, application of magic items and wild mage/ranger specialization to the caldera, dispatching of lower-armored targets, focus on high-danger targets, healing one another, monitoring the field, and keeping the targets in the way of the water deployment occupied. This efficiency was enhanced by discussion in between attempts at the mission of how we could more optimally deploy our specializations. (2) Recommendation. Have pre-mission deliberations about division of responsibilities before every critical battle, to enable similarly ideal utilization of mission personnel and resources. b. Utilization of Improvised Equipment. Ropes deployed enabled effective maneuvers (1) Discussion. The ability to ascend and descend the vertical cliffs rather than running back and forth along switchbacks sustained team members’ strength, avoided unnecessary dangers, and enabled more rapid response. (2) Recommendation. Prior to important battles, survey the team for ideas about how improvised equipment could improve the probability of mission success, and include those deployments in division of responsibilities. c. Duels Against Movement-Limited Opponents. High-value targets were neutralized by spatially-strategic use of Duel abilities. (1) Discussion. Several of the most dangerous and difficult opposition forces in this battle were slow-moving, and an abundance of natural terrain features made movement difficult. Another Kenshi on the team used a tactic, to great effect, of Dueling a Talus that was on a lower level of the switchbacks, thus neutralizing its ability to fight while not putting the Kenshi in danger. Operative Kelanu then used this tactic several times against the largest Talus, which was the most threatening of the opposing forces for most of the battle. Its deadly sorceries, high damage output, and considerable durability otherwise required several adventurers’ attention. Because it was slow-moving and Operative Kelanu was swift, it was unable to get to her, but as long as it remained Dueled it was unable to threaten anyone else. (2) Recommendation. Position Kenshi strategically to use Duels to neutralize particularly dangerous opposing forces when (a) terrain or mobility prevents the target from reaching the Kenshi, and (b) removing both the Kenshi and the target from the battle is of overall strategic benefit to the mission team. Look for opportunities to apply this principle to targets with deadly spellstones when they are not within reach of their spellstones. 11. FURTHER ACTION The area in which this action was taken has now been reduced in red mana, but Commanding Officer Amríen notes that it could become an issue again in the future, so the outpost should allocate sufficient personnel time toward monitoring to ensure that its future growth does not reach critical levels undetected. 12. The point of contact regarding this report is Operative Alaseida Shensi Kelanu at Office of Emergency Response or Adventurers Inn, Illmythil Outpost, Illmythil, Illion. ALASEIDA SHENSI KELANU Enclosure (1) ***********************************************************************************