Our heroes set off back to the ten towns to deliver rum to town of Goodmead.
On their way, they encountered a group of friendly and enthusiastic goliaths from the Wyrmdoom tribe. The goliaths were searching for a whale named Angajuk with a boat on his back. Angajuk is said to speak with those who visit, and can be summoned by a bell located somewhere on the coast of the sea of moving ice.
They were warned that their heading would bring them to the domain of Arveiraturice. The goliaths decided to adjust course, and perhaps visit the dragon on their way back. Our heroes were invited to their settlement in Wyrmdoom crag.
Later, in a blizzard, our heroes happend upon a verbeeg giant and two hyenas feasting on the remains of a Duergar expedition. After dispatching the threat, our heroes found magic items and chardayln crystals among the Duergar remains. They also found a map with each of the ten towns numbered from 1 to 10. Dougans hole first, then incrementing counterclockwise to Brynn Shander. A note with the map said
We have enough Chrdalyn. Deep Duerra commands us to begin our invasion. Find Avarice the mage in the ten towns, and put an end to her work.
This note would later be fully translated by Vellyne, who expressed confusion that Avarice would be targeted by the dwarves.
When our heroes reached Bremen, they brought solemn news to Cora the innkeepr regarding her son. She understood but was releived he was spared during the routing of the Black Swords in Caer Konnig. She’d also received a message from her son that he was alive, but could never return home.
Cora was asked to inform the rest of Bremen that a Duergar invasion was imminent. Our Heroes sold sheep recovered at the Verbeeg camp and Bremen feasted on mutton.
Arriving in Targos, our heroes found a town in revelry. A cauldron of endless food recovered by the velvet order was sold to Targos, and the people, unshackled from hardship, have no cares about a Duergar invasion. Speaker Nildar expressed that as #9 on the list of targets, he’d have enough time to respond to any Duergar threat. His willingness to throw the other towns under the bus was troubling.
In Brynn Shander the mood was far more desperate. Murders taking place at night were at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Invisible assailants were picking off lone guards and small regiments. Our heroes decided to bait these murderers, and found that they were conducted by the same Mind Master Duergar they faced in the spire of netheril.
When defeated, he sputtered about the power of his father, and that the Ten Towns doom comes on Dragons Wings. Yrso didn’t let him finish his rant.
Speaker Duvessa Shayne was willing to organize relief for refugees. As the final mark for the invasion, she knew people would come from all the towns the secure walls of Brynn Shander. She was unwilling to commit forces to fight outside the city.
Vellyne interupted the meeting to commit herself to the town’s defense. She also helpfully translated the Duergar message.
Our heroes then travelled to Dougan’s Hole, #1 on the list, to warn the people there. They were able to convince Speaker Durmoot to move his people to Brynn Shander.
Finally, in Good Mead, after delivering the rum to the enthusiastic innkeeper, Our Heroes implored him to use his influence to evacuate the town. For a brief moment all he could think of was the money he could earn from selling the rum in the days before invasion, but ultimately he agreed to secure the rum and encourage everyone to fortify in Brynn Shander.