APPALACHIAN WIZARD GANG — AFTER-ACTION REPORT
CLASSIFICATION: EYES ONLY // LEVEL III
OPERATION: ECHO LANTERN II
AREA OF OPERATIONS: ECHO 63 — NORTHERN RIDGELINE SECTOR
COMMANDING OFFICER: MAGUS ACTUAL
OPERATIONAL SUMMARY:
2015 hours: Magus Actual assumed operational control of Bravo Squad and led the element into AO Echo 63. All personnel were issued thaumaturgically consecrated white-ash ammunition. Standard radio communications were suspended in favor of hand signals and pre-established challenge-and-password procedures. Personnel were directed to disregard all voice transmissions originating outside the squad unless authenticated through established procedures.
2240 hours: Bravo Squad entered the original contact area. Magus Actual reported anomalous interference affecting protective wards, followed by multiple auditory manifestations matching the voice of former Bravo Eight. The entity attempted to separate personnel from the formation by issuing commands in the voices of both Magus Actual and Bravo Actual. Neither manifestation passed authentication.
2317 hours: Bravo Four's thaumaturgic instruments registered a concentrated disturbance along the eastern treeline. Magus Actual halted the element and initiated a counter-evocation. The surrounding forest exhibited immediate environmental changes, including a sudden temperature drop, cessation of ambient wildlife activity, and visible distortion of the treeline. The suspected entity manifested approximately thirty meters due north from the squad, initially assuming the appearance of former Bravo Eight before undergoing an observed morphological transition inconsistent with human physiology.
Magus Actual engaged the entity through direct thaumaturgical intervention. Operatives report that the entity's movement became restricted as a series of occult bindings took effect across the immediate area. The bindings proved temporary. The entity resisted containment and continued producing vocalizations matching former Bravo Eight, including the latter's final recorded communications. Magus Actual directed all personnel to disregard the manifestations and authorized engagement with consecrated ammunition.
2321 hours: Bravo Squad engaged with blessed white-ash rounds. Initial impacts produced a visible reaction in the entity, disrupting its manifested form and degrading its ability to maintain the appearance of former Bravo Eight. Magus Actual sustained the binding while directing a second evocation against the entity. As the protective wards converged, the squad performed saturating fire.
2324 hours: The entity emitted a vocalization described by witnesses as resembling several human voices speaking simultaneously. Magus Actual completed the counter-evocation. Remaining white-ash rounds struck the entity as its manifested form collapsed. All anomalous activity ceased immediately thereafter. Thaumaturgic instruments returned to baseline readings, and the entity failed to reappear during a thirty-minute observation period.
2355 hours: Magus Actual directed Bravo Squad to establish a security perimeter around the neutralization site. No further manifestations were observed. A subsequent personnel accountability check confirmed all assigned personnel present and accounted for. No unauthorized transmissions were received during the remainder of the operation.
RESULTS:
Primary objective achieved. Skinwalker neutralized through combined thaumaturgical intervention and consecrated white-ash ammunition. The entity's ability to mimic former Bravo Eight's appearance, voice, and identification credentials was confirmed prior to neutralization. No casualties were sustained by assigned personnel. No additional anomalous contacts were reported during exfiltration.
Physical remains recovered from the engagement site were inconsistent with known regional fauna and were transferred to Magus Actual for occult examination. The remains exhibited no further activity during initial containment.
COMMAND REMARKS:
Bravo Squad is authorized to resume routine patrols within the surrounding sector pending completion of a final thaumaturgical assessment and psychological screening. The standing prohibition against responding to unauthorized manifestations of former Bravo Eight remains in effect. Personnel are reminded that successful neutralization of the entity does not establish that all associated anomalous activity has ceased.
SEMPER IN OBSCURIS.
Missed the first encounter? Read Field Report: Operation Echo Lantern — Pt. 1.
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