From the Depths [Part One]

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From the Depths

 

“Ah, I had heard another group of descendents would assist me on a scouting mission today. Is this what you are here for?” -The Scout

 

 

Begin Log.

 

Unit APA Warlock

13th of Snow’s Maiden, Year 197, Second Age

Location: Kh’at’or and Dral’thresh Border

 

Unit APA Warlock is dispatched to address a concern of Organization.Shuul forces, in which Hostile.Organization.Dral’thresh is believed to have encroached and possibly slaughtered an outlying Organization.Kh’at’or outpost, consisting of secluded Priests and an important magi, Entity.Ste’klar’ax, with contextual data indicating they may be important to the ongoing war effort.

 

We are joined by Entity.Silwyn, Entity.Veralia, Entity.Asbjorn, and Entity.Vyllaenen, and transported by an overly large aquatic predator to a secondary location to ascertain Hostile enemy activity in the region, prior to a full military intervention.

 

 

 

Once they had reached the depths below the ship the riders began their ascent upwards with great speed. The dolphins had launched their riders out of the water and onto the boat above!

 

 

Our party arrived to the scene of a ship in distress above us. Prior DATA indicated that Organization.Dralthresh opportunistically raided surface ships enroute along the southern oceans. The ship was in distress due to an above surface shore, and was a prime target.

 

Our artiface was concealed among a forestry of Kelp, as well as optical illusions provided by Entity.Veralia. Entity.Asbjorn presented an unknown but previously encountered form of near-invisibility, and flanked outside of the group while we maneuvered.

 

We then observed the raid as it occurred. Ten slim aquatic mammalians, logged as Entity.Dolphin, approached at great speed, before executing a maneuver that launched their riders into the distressed boat above. Our party maneuvered for closer stealth and discussed an approach, while deceased crewmembers and barrels of equipment and goods were tossed overboard.

 

The riders, consisting of the common Eel Bipeds that make up the majority of Organization.Dal’thresh, returned, lacking four of their number, surmised to have been lost in their raid, as well as an unexpected entity, an older Shuul, labeled ‘Tubs’.

 

 

He appeared to be a large, fish-like shuul that had some resemblance of the Kh’at’or clan. He looked aged, a badge on his vest read ‘Tubs’

 

 

The fight was by all indications, unremarkable. Entity.Asbjorn made use of their near-invisability to ambush the Hostile.Dal’Thresh nearest to Entity.Tubs, while Entity.Silwyn, Entity.Vyllaenen, and our Artiface assaulted using brute force. Problematic behaviors exhibited by those surviving the initial rush were neutralized via ranged magics employed by Entity.Veralia, while one of their number was taken alive via our own Artiface.

 

Hostile.Organization.Dal’Thresh reinforcements however arrived on the scene, likely to initially help transport stolen goods, and instead began to harass us via ranged spear throws. Entity.Vyllaenen and Entity.Asbjorn were injured in their attempt to rescue Entity.Tubs, and were unable to complete this objective. Instead, we initiated a retreat with the aid of Entity.Scout, taking with us a living prisoner, as well as small goods.

 

Our assessment of the pure combat capabilities of Hostile.Organization.Dal’Thresh is poor. They are unable to properly match veteran surface combat parties, relying instead on their targets being debilitated or overwhelmed, choosing to target Entities already in distress rather than prepared targets, such as the surface ship battling a storm. Even then, the raiding parties suffered a four out of ten loss. Additionally, commentary observed from Hostile.Entity.Dal’Thresh regarded these losses as ‘weak and unprepared’ rather than a tactical failure, suggesting tribalistic views of combat, rather than organized and efficient military. Style of life consisting of living off of raiding also suggests a strategic weakness. Rather than outright assaults on territory that may be laden with traps and ambush points, contesting their raids, or fortifying their intended targets will deprive them of resources and war material that they otherwise rely on. Raiding parties also themselves appear susceptible to counter-ambushes, which may bleed them of experienced tribal members.

 

Contesting their ‘hunting grounds’ will provide a strategic bonus for future military campaigns, possibly resulting in Hostile.Dal’Thresh either showing up in reduced numbers or with subpar equipment, whereas leaving them uncontested may allow the Hostile.Dal’Thresh to assemble surface equipment for use.

 

However, their co-dependance with other aquatic life possesses a strong hazard that can not be easily circumvented. Usage of Entity.Dolphine allows their parties quick, and we conclude, discreet, transportation across open water, as well as mobile, agile attack mounts that prevent easy engagement. This also suggests that an ambush from a Hostile.Dal’Thresh party can be particularly severe, as while personally lacking individual combat ability, they possess all the capability they require to quickly react to a perceived threat enmass, possibly drowning a perceived threat with sheer numbers and incontestable maneuverability. We surmise their true threat is not in their individual capability, but rather, the strategic threat they pose to Shuul Logistics by hit-and-run attacks, hostile scouts, and as sudden and unpredictable reinforcement to other hostile parties.

 

 

Edited September 5, 2024 by souleater007