Having failed at convincing the townsfolk to rise up against their oppressors. West calls upon the powers of nature to find the resistance member who originally contacted the party for aid. Little is found due to the scrying except something about fighting forces from the Wild Coast, across the straight to the West. Acting upon this lead, it is thought that the party might encounter more resistance along the coast, and West takes flight scouring the northern coastline all the way to Scant. Meanwhile, Gronk attempts his own tact of finding a band of hobgoblins and convincing them that they really want to be his underlings. This plan meets with a modicum of success until, they run off in the middle of the night. Apparently, even from a distance, these creatures continue to fear their leader Tourach Mach. Finally, Ann takes a final try at talking to the townsfolk, which also failed.
When West returned, learning not much more than, yes, there seems to be a bigger military presence along the coast, the party decides to simply do what they can in the area and wipe out the nearest Hobgoblin encampment. Some attempt is made to subvert them instead of killing them all. This included a show of force, power, and a large wall of fire, but the fighting was inevitable, and most died horrible deaths due to Triben calling upon the power of thousands of black tentacles.
Among the rubble is found some clues that this encampment was organized, having orders to attack a nearby town, but without any firm leads. Fortunately, razing this encampment seemed to have attracted some attention, and Ann was shortly thereafter contacted by an unknown person. It was decided to teleport to this unseen person and who turned out to be known to Tyrion. He was none other than Reyhill Chirt, former head of the thieves guild in Scant, and now leader of the resistance forces in Onnwal.
Much is learned, including that these forces from the Wild Coast are legion and that Onnwal's only hope is to stop their flow. The Scarlet Brotherhood is in league with this Tourache Mach, as they are allowing the ogres, orcs, and hobgoblins safe passage through the waters from the sea monsters. It is suspected that a certain brotherhood wizard is controlling these sea monsters from a small island off the coast of Scant. If he can be stopped, perhaps Onnwal, and ultimately Irongate can be saved. The party begins planning how best to stop him.