Murphy announced that Chapter Two of the main quest had ended, but that didn't mean everything related to the Black Calamity would instantly settle down after Huggerson's death.
In fact, according to reports from Nash's Bloodclaw Clan, large numbers of gnoll marauders were still roaming the Filthy Swamp.
They were trying to escape the garrison's pursuit and make it through the increasingly dangerous Filthy Swamp alive. But because the swamp had swallowed so many lives recently, its ecosystem hadn't stabilized. Instead, it had further stimulated the growth of carnivorous plants.
The direct result was that, apart from Avalon's faithful, anyone else who entered the swamp faced the same dangers as the gnolls.
Although the players also had the blessing of the God of Avalon, even sending every player they had out there wouldn't be enough to stop so many gnolls from fleeing. So, following the staff's recommendation, Kudell and Maxim discussed their strategy.
In the end, they agreed not to pursue the fleeing gnolls into the Filthy Swamp. Instead, they would let them enter the Barren Mountain region, then wipe them out in coordination with the garrison at Fort Courage. They would also send in the new recruits to get some practice.
But before that, Murphy had to retake Shadow Valley.
The task ultimately fell to Chief Nash. Since he was a fellow gnoll and had Huggerson's final letter in hand, he was the best choice to persuade them to surrender.
The Wise Wolf Hogg, still at the Creation Plains, agreed with the decision. He saw things clearly: once the gnoll kingdom was established, the Bloodclaw Clan's location would inevitably become a "diplomatic hub." If Nash wanted to secure his position as chief there, he would have to make a substantial contribution to Transia's cause.
It was a very good