Gredha's Failure

 Whatever she was trying to do it did not work. He was still free and roaming the area. Ston Par, Hyfashara, Theillond, Beegris, Fokoh, Dyekatt, Toanne, Black Cobrah, Symnir, and Oragno now faced further raids. Ten cities under the Gantronese rule relied on her to deal with the insurgency that sprung up. It couldn't have been worse timing as well. Right after those Vestrisians pushed into the Unknown Lands, a fleet sunk a bunch of wizards rallied an army to combat the mighty Gantronese Empire. Allover what was still considered the Unknown Lands some Eothan outcast started a little uncertain insurgency. Little was known how many flocked to his cause. What was most certain was the force she was sent with crumbled at the base of large mountain ranges. 

No more than a thousand set out in pursuit of this insurgent. Most of them died whereas a few left them. Granted the title as Colonel, Gredha Oto Ponghan held herself in the highest esteem. Her Gantronese Daimyo gave her the task of putting down the insurgency that started from the slums of Symnir, and the mountain city of Theillond. Gredha observed a map of the territories praying the Vestrisians, and their allies would stay out of this region. Ever since the Gantronese arrived peace was restored among the city-states. She felt the pain of her loss during the last engagement against the insurgent Direglow whose real name was unknown. Among the loss were 6 bunny humanoids who died for Gredha who came down from the stars. Some ninja order of 200 members, and 138 acolytes lost their lives in the weeklong fight. One unit of 24 Gladiators from Black Cobrah City, 17 local fighters and heroes she handpicked. Thanks to the Gantronese connections star knights came down only to lose 200 of their brothers. One large sentient reptile roaming the borders of the mountains lost its life to what she believed was a Zhenrai. Pledging their swords to her a band of sword mistresses lost two sisters. Being the only Dwarf a former Paladin took arms just to lose his life in battle. Although she did not trust them, Gredha gathered barbarians two of whom left to join the VUVR military. Within her battalion 120 "droids" and their two alien puppeteers fell during the weeklong conflict. They were lost to gunfire, rain, rocky terrain, and bashed to pieces in ambushes that caught them in dense woods. Virtuous warriors from Talus, Gora-via, and Vorcadam lost 6 colleagues to the insurgents. An ambitious amphibian warrior seeking wives for his breeding habits died with a bullet through the chest. 

Gredha grieved for these losses knowing her failure would be noted to the Gantronese governors. Her remaining 274 bunny humanoids, ninjas, space Dragon Knights, virtuous warriors, barbarians, and fighters began resting more often. Their wounds needed to be healed after dealing with a larger force of insurgents than they believed. Reports from locals said Direglow only had a few hundred at a time. In their rushed pursuit they found he led close to 8,000. Caught in the rain under the branches of some woods Gredha's forces engaged Direglow's forces while they pressed into the mountains. Her mission was to corner Direglow and end his insurgency in the Gantronese area of East Talus. Instead, she lost 726 managing to kill 408 insurgents. Watching the other 7000 disappear into the mountains under the cover of dark rain clouds demoralized Gredha and those who still stood. Behind her another battalion of 1,305 collaborators from the city-states, and Vorcadam came in. Under the leadership of Collaborator Colonel Ugai Cirann of Oragno this back up battalion helped her forces get the wounded down. 

Colonel Cirann entered her command tent to find Gredha grieving in her night robes. Seeing him enter in the middle of her grieving startled her. Gredha did not expect anyone to enter her tent until she gave the word. Guess his rank overruled any of her guards. She would have them punished, but what was the use. This latest defeat was punishable enough. Having that insurgent Direglow in her grasp only to see him slip away due to bigger numbers became overbearing to keep composure. Wiping away tears she welcomed the fellow Collaborator Colonel to her quarters. In her own traditional garb Gredha served him a local heated alcohol served to sooth pain of grieving. The two of the sat down in her pair of round wicker chairs with covered cushions. Silence filled the room until he broke the silence. Ugai gave her some news about the southern part of East Talus. Several warbands of Gnolls and Troglodytes came down from the mountains while she was on the hunt for Diregrow. These warbands somehow slipped past her scouts' notice. Looking down on the rug she saw this as part of her failure. Gredha held the mug in her hand listening to Ugai explain how the warbands were dealt with by the Gantronese alongside hired Nazdar Grevaskii troopers. All Gredha did was glare at him stating she was on a mission to pursue Direglow not protect the south. Their Gantronese Masters could send a battalion or a brigade of their best soldiers here if they like. Gredha spat on the floor of her own tent. She took a few sips of her drink pondering over her own failure. What did she miss?