Religious: Disregarded Non-Delegate - Orgull, once of Asmodeus

He first knew he wanted to be a priest of Asmodeus when he was 8 years old.

He didn’t remember much before then, every day at the orphanage was the same. You took food from other kids who were too weak or scared to stop you, or you stayed hungry. You did your best to not annoy the older kids who had to look after you, did your chores, stayed out of the way of the orphan handlers, and didn’t cry when you were beaten anyway. Every day was pretty much the same.

But the older kids got to go to the temple once a week, they got to wash with the hot water first thing, got out of the orphanage all morning, and didn't even have to catch up on chores when they were back. They were too young and too worthless for Asmodeus to pay them any attention. Which was fair enough.

The year they all turned 8 years old it was their turn. The best-behaved kids, or the nicest looking, got to sit at the front. Some of them even got the special clothes the staff kept in locked closets, though they had to give them back afterwards. The stupid kids, the ugly kids, or the ones who'd lost fights and had too many bruises where people could see, had to sit on the ground at the back the whole time and couldn’t see anything. He was just about in the middle. Just able to see over the shoulders of everyone else.

That was the first time he saw a priest of Asmodeus in real life, and from then on that was the only thing he ever wanted to be.

45th Bulletin

General Staff, First Army Command, frmr. Ironquay War Academy, Liberated Ostenso, Cheliax

24 Pharast 4713 AR, 8pm

Marshal,

Following my initial verbal report delivered 11am, 24 Pharast I have interviewed the participants as instructed and am able to offer recommendations attached.

Casualties:

Soldiers

Fatalities: 2

Injuries: 5

Civilians

Fatalities: 25 (17M, 5F, 3C)

Injuries: Unknown. Est. 120+

All soldier deaths and one injury occurred during target’s initial escape from the Inn.

NB: Awd. Posthum. Hons. – M

Fortunately no soldiers were in range of his second channel in the dock market crowd, though 4 suffered minor injuries during crowd control.

Almost all civilian casualties were from incident 2, and many of these due to crowd panic not the attack itself. The crowd, likely encouraged by the priest or other enemy elements, assumed aggression had been initiated by our soldiers against civilians and attempted to flee, causing additional injuries to the already wounded, wounding others, and hampering attempts to provide first aid or continue pursuit.

Response to mass casualty incident:

The officer on scene (Lt. Tessier, 1st Batt, 3rd Inf, 1st Coy) chose to prioritize contacting assistance and crowd control over continuing pursuit. This was the correct decision in line with the strategic goals set out in occupation briefing.
Agreed. But shouldn't have got to that point – M

Select Marius (attached to the 2nd cavalry) was nearby and had channels remaining from previous day. His prompt arrival and demonstration of freely given healing likely reduced fatalities significantly and assisted in establishing order. Though disruption to the wider docks area took longer to subside.

Damned lucky. – M

NB: Send thanks. Review cleric deployment. – M

This panic would not have occurred if we had greater support from the general population, if this happened in Galt or the longer incorporated provinces the crowd would have assisted with capture, and not caused additional casualties. We need to convey to the civilian population we, and the new regime, are meaningfully different from the Asmodeans.
Just keep peace, avoid major fuck ups. Then it’s Litran and new Archduke’s problem. – M

I recommend we have criers, broadsheets, etc. spread the correct narrative of events, “Brave Young Soldier Dies protecting INNOCENT CHILDREN from Mad Asmodean Revenge Attack” etc. We can offer to pay Abadarians to provide funerals for dead civilians and refer to them as “Martyrs in the Liberation of Cheliax from Infernal Rule”.
Consult Chelish auxiliaries. Could read as bribe to families? Martyrs = sacrificial magic? Other bloody nonsense. – M

Threat posed by single second circle cleric is low and does not justify allocating specific resources to capture. Description to be circulated and standard bounty offered.

Existing checks at strategic locations are sufficient to prevent infiltration using known capabilities. Expanding checks to city checkpoints would excessively disrupt trade for minimal benefit.

Agreed. Let's not waste any more time on this. – M

Doctrine:

As outlined in bulletins 7, 14, 16-19, 33, existing doctrine and training is proving inadequate for operating in an urban environment with uncooperative local population and remnant hostiles. Issues are likely to be more severe in any future engagement in locations with higher social cohesion and more unified popular resistance.
You've made your point. – M

Lt. Tessier showed initiative in adapting to the cleric’s unanticipated use of invisibility (see intelligence failures below) however did not anticipate the use of other cleric spells for misdirection, and his judgement about likely method of escape was based on battlefield experience.

Related failures include the inconsistent adherence to passphrase protocol, failure to anticipate the variety of possible escape routes and the continuation of pursuit into a busy market area.

While this operation was a failure all officers involved behaved professionally and in accordance with doctrine. As such no formal punishments or demerits are recommended.
Agree. But for appearance assign desk duties. – M

Wider revision of doctrine with respect to operation in urban areas is ongoing. For present, recommend requirement for clerical support in any similar operations, and greater use of Chelish auxiliaries at the planning stage.

Future attempts to confront Asmodean Clerics or other suspected negative channel capable combatants should avoid pursuit into densely packed areas where possible.

First Arcane Marchand suggests commissioning and issuing scrolls of Glitterdust for all to combat wizards with relevant training. Alternatively, troops on urban patrols to be equipped with bags of flour.

If it's his budget. – M

Better. Tho pos bad look wasting food. Ash? Arrange testing. – M

Intelligence:

Informants were aware of the cleric’s frequent use of Disguise Self, and his access to second circle spells such as the Lesser Restorations. Taken together, these would have allowed the Invisibility to be anticipated, and proper counters prepared.

While the necessary knowledge is somewhat obscure, it is not unheard of. Indeed Sub-Lt. Arcane Valadon made the connection during the incident.

However, intelligence team who identified target did not take part in planning for capture. Officers planning operation assumed any spells remaining would be combat standard and planned accordingly.

This was chiefly an intelligence failure. And an avoidable one.
Agreed. Its on their heads not ours. – M

Respectfully

Capt. Cazenave,

Adjutant-Major, Commandant de place Ostenso

Marshal, Following my initial verbal report delivered 11am, 24 Pharast I have interviewed the participants as instructed and am able to offer recommendations attached.
Casualties: Soldiers Fatalities: 2 Injuries: 5 Civilians Fatalities: 25 (17M, 5F, 3C) Injuries: Unknown. Est. 120+ All soldier deaths and one injury occurred during target’s initial escape from the Inn.	NB: Awd. Posthum. Hons. – M
Fortunately no soldiers were in range of his second channel in the dock market crowd, though 4 suffered minor injuries during crowd control. Almost all civilian casualties were from incident 2, and many of these due to crowd panic not the attack itself. The crowd, likely encouraged by the priest or other enemy elements, assumed aggression had been initiated by our soldiers against civilians and attempted to flee, causing additional injuries to the already wounded, wounding others, and hampering attempts to provide first aid or continue pursuit.
Response to mass casualty incident:
The officer on scene (Lt. Tessier, 1st Batt, 3rd Inf, 1st Coy) chose to prioritize contacting assistance and crowd control over continuing pursuit. This was the correct decision in line with the strategic goals set out in occupation briefing.	Agreed. But shouldn't have got to that point – M
Select Marius (attached to the 2nd cavalry) was nearby and had channels remaining from previous day. His prompt arrival and demonstration of freely given healing likely reduced fatalities significantly and assisted in establishing order. Though disruption to the wider docks area took longer to subside.	Damned lucky. – M NB: Send thanks. Review cleric deployment. – M
This panic would not have occurred if we had greater support from the general population, if this happened in Galt or the longer incorporated provinces the crowd would have assisted with capture, and not caused additional casualties. We need to convey to the civilian population we, and the new regime, are meaningfully different from the Asmodeans.	Just keep peace, avoid major fuck ups. Then it’s Litran and new Archduke’s problem. – M
I recommend we have criers, broadsheets, etc. spread the correct narrative of events, “Brave Young Soldier Dies protecting INNOCENT CHILDREN from Mad Asmodean Revenge Attack” etc. We can offer to pay Abadarians to provide funerals for dead civilians and refer to them as “Martyrs in the Liberation of Cheliax from Infernal Rule”.	Consult Chelish auxiliaries. Could read as bribe to families? Martyrs = sacrificial magic? Other bloody nonsense. – M
Threat posed by single second circle cleric is low and does not justify allocating specific resources to capture. Description to be circulated and standard bounty offered. Existing checks at strategic locations are sufficient to prevent infiltration using known capabilities. Expanding checks to city checkpoints would excessively disrupt trade for minimal benefit.	Agreed. Let's not waste any more time on this. – M

Doctrine:
As outlined in bulletins 7, 14, 16-19, 33, existing doctrine and training is proving inadequate for operating in an urban environment with uncooperative local population and remnant hostiles. Issues are likely to be more severe in any future engagement in locations with higher social cohesion and more unified popular resistance.	You've made your point. – M
Lt. Tessier showed initiative in adapting to the cleric’s unanticipated use of invisibility (see intelligence failures below) however did not anticipate the use of other cleric spells for misdirection, and his judgement about likely method of escape was based on battlefield experience. Related failures include the inconsistent adherence to passphrase protocol, failure to anticipate the variety of possible escape routes and the continuation of pursuit into a busy market area.
While this operation was a failure all officers involved behaved professionally and in accordance with doctrine. As such no formal punishments or demerits are recommended.	Agree. But for appearance assign desk duties. – M
Wider revision of doctrine with respect to operation in urban areas is ongoing. For present, recommend requirement for clerical support in any similar operations, and greater use of Chelish auxiliaries at the planning stage. Future attempts to confront Asmodean Clerics or other suspected negative channel capable combatants should avoid pursuit into densely packed areas where possible. First Arcane Marchand suggests commissioning and issuing scrolls of Glitterdust for all to combat wizards with relevant training. Alternatively, troops on urban patrols to be equipped with bags of flour.	If it's his budget. – M Better. Tho pos bad look wasting food. Ash? Arrange testing. – M

Intelligence:
Informants were aware of the cleric’s frequent use of Disguise Self, and his access to second circle spells such as the Lesser Restorations. Taken together, these would have allowed the Invisibility to be anticipated, and proper counters prepared. While the necessary knowledge is somewhat obscure, it is not unheard of. Indeed Sub-Lt. Arcane Valadon made the connection during the incident. However, intelligence team who identified target did not take part in planning for capture. Officers planning operation assumed any spells remaining would be combat standard and planned accordingly.
This was chiefly an intelligence failure. And an avoidable one.	Agreed. Its on their heads not ours. – M
Respectfully Capt. Cazenave, Adjutant-Major, Commandant de place Ostenso