Date: ERROR [Custom Entry: LD+23, A little after sunrise]
Author: Deidre Hann [transcribed]

It's morning. We had a very, very bad day yesterday. Lost two Praxis: Augustus and Cigi. One survivor, Lyla. The survey team is fine as we didn't progress farther into the cave.

I should back up. The Council commanded we take a team to a possible iron deposit north-northeast of Survival, roughly a day's walk. We were one of several excursions, to various locations scouted through the ship's long-range sensors, prior to our landing.

We should've done this much sooner, but processing the ramifications of the Survival's malfunction has been ... daunting. So many new species, created in what feels like an instant, but was likely more like several centuries of travel. It's hard to process.

Ganara's faerie has opinions now, and isn't afraid to share them. It's strange, to say the least.

Aside from me (logistics), the team was as follows:

• Ian, cartographer
• Ganara, engineer
• Gigi, Ganara's assistant
• Donren, transport
• Everil, Caddy, Valencia, ore assessors
• Vedra, Kosto, Helga, assistants
• Augustus, Cigi, Lyra-03, praxis

Prior to leaving, Lyan gave a silly send-off speech: "Colonists, today begins the most important time in our colony’s survival. We entrust our security to you and your discoveries, and we thank you deeply for your choice to depart. It is in this moment that we determine if our people will continue on. May the Maker fill your cup."

(Note, I did not memorize that, I simply had my recorder on.)

We traveled all day to reach the cave. Along the way we got images of various flora and fauna. Lyra found a small, curly, purple succulent. Cigi spotted blood red moss. Augustus spied a small six-legged rodent of some kind.

Around midday we encountered a deep and long chasm, extending far enough on either side that it would take hours out of our trip. It was only 10 feet across and around 30 feet deep. Praxis opted to leap across and set up a makeshift bridge, but in doing so, they alerted some strange cliff spiders which attacked. Thankfully, Praxis managed to eradicate them, and we traversed the chasm and moved onward.

We reached the cave at sunset and while setting up camp, the dwarves began arguing that the deposit was useless and not enough to supply the colony. Now, of all times! The rest of us argued that we needed as much ore as we could immediately. Praxis got involved, attempting to assuage our anger, though I could tell they only wanted us to shut up so they could sleep. I can respect that. Over time, our tempers cooled and the dwarves agreed to continue on.

Now I am recounting what Lyra told us after returning, as the survey team remained at camp while Praxis explored. The cave descended steeply at the opening, and Praxis climbed down. Further within was a pool of cold water that held some strange, leech-like slugs. It was crossable, but the slugs would attach to their clothing, causing issues.

Beyond was a narrow path and a small hole to the west. Inside the hole was a small chamber with a four-legged creature half-swallowed by a giant plant. Praxis rightfully decided not to engage. Meanwhile, northeast led to an abupt end—a boulder covering the rest of the path. Praxis moved the boulder and inside was a very large, very angry cave ogre.

Praxis engaged the ogre, who threw boulders at them. The battle did not end well, and Augustus and Cigi were killed, and Lyra nearly killed, before she managed to kill the ogre and escape. She returned to us bloodied and beaten, and we quickly packed up camp and left before anything else attacked us.

Now we're back and the dwarves are pointing fingers and saying, "We told you so." As if any of us knew there would be a fucking orge in the cave.

They're sending a secondary squad to retrieve the bodies and clear out the ogre. It will be smaller, and Lyra and I have volunteered to return.

END REPORT