The blood worm is defeated. After cleaning up the mess on board, some crew members get sick, including Florian, but with the healing abilities of Syllas and Baraka, it does not become a big problem.
The group decides to anchor in Snezleweaz, let the Floating Seamen do more trade runs until further notice, buy spell components and gemstones. Ken is able to teleport the group to the entry circly of Zeantis, where they are being awaited by General Reilgar.
He tells of many problems, including a monster invasion of the lands around the Ruojing Desert, that causes many villages to be either destroyed or their inhabitants to flee to Zeantis. Hunting parties are being decimated and it is only a matter of time until the horde reaches the gates of Zeantis. This leads to a sudden refugee crisis, chaos and not enough guards.
Reilgar also tells of reports by the Dwarfes, that irregular seismic activities at the borders were measured, maybe caused by the iron army wandering through the underdark. Another report by Nonna Bluesky reads of the prison break of Marutuk, the last finger of Morlin that was being held in the Permafrost of Kalderbiod. There is also another secret report, that orcs and Yuan-Ti clans are sending amored forces to the blood swamp, possibly entering an allience with the lizardfolk (the so-called Reptilian Coalition). Reilgar also tells the group that the congegation of Zeantis might have been compromised, as one of the few people aware of Ajasis prison location was found dead.
The group decides to first take care of the mysterious person responsible for the blood worm. On their way through the city, they gather various intel:
- State of Emergency was declared in Zeantis
- because of new cases of the "grey plague" in the colonies, ship travel through the cadacho channel is halted
- import to and export from zeantis is halted as well
- Bruri Ironbeard investigates and finds out that the person behind the blood worm may be the criminal and independent contractor called "The Mediator"
A visit in the Babbling Barbarian tavern leads some members of the group to Qizenya, who does not provide useful information, but promises to visit soon, bringing bread and toiletpaper.
Following a lead of an old contact, the group ends up in the Southcrust district, sneaking up on a barber shop named "price cuts". After closing hours, the location is being seached without finding bigger clues, but a raised suspicion that the place might be connected to criminal payments of some sorts. The owner, Barbara, is being followed by the group and when nightfall hits, an unsuccessful attempt to encounter Barbara leads to more waiting outside her home.