Due to the need for goods and materials unavailable or unproducable in Freehold, such as building stone for the Watchtowers, it was determined that a supply caravan should be organized and sent to the next nearest settlement: The Durpari city of Assur, nearly some two hundred miles east, at the mouth of the Liontongue. Largely orchestrated by Lord Aram Lazard, the caravan began with six wagons and included noteworthy Freeholders such as Thea Sorrowchild and her familiar Willowheart, metalsmith Gheric Nailo, merchant Dimble Garrick, Sunite cleric Valentino Rizavi, and gold dwarf coster Strom Sunforge. Councilor Shara Graye also joined the trading expedition, along with her familiar Cassandra and apprentices Starla Kingshand and Kawashiro Katsura, bearing a significant sum from the Freehold treasury with which to purchase stone, wood, and other supplies for municipal projects.

Departing 1 Hammer, 1374DR, the caravan initially met with no obstacles. That changed on 3 Hammer, when they encountered giant ants not far from the area where those on the mine expedition had fought hell hounds, before. Too close to be avoided by the time they were noticed, the ants were dispatched or scattered in short measure with no harm to any of the trade party or their animals. Less clean was the caravan's next challenge, when they were accosted by Tlincalli on 4 Hammer. Three of the scorpion-men, led by a powerful spellcaster, waylaid the wagons and engaged with prejudice. This proved to be disastrous for the Tlincalli, as one or two of the Freeholders were injured, but the stingers rapidly met their end under the concentrated defense of the traders. Although Cassandra was poisoned by Tlincalli venom, the real lasting wounds were emotional rather than physical, as poor Katsura was somewhat traumatized by the attack, and young Starla was forced to tally her first kill by violently finishing a wounded foe with her teacher's staff.

Fortunately, the only other delay suffered by the expedition was on 8 Hammer, when they met another caravan traveling in the opposite direction, toward Estagund. Lord Lazard, accompanied by Shara and Gheric, crossed the Liontongue to exchange information with the other merchants, learning of troubles with raiding giants along the northern routes to Mulhorand, as well as of occasional basilisks in the area. The road after that was smooth, and by sundown the Freeholders had reached the gates of Assur. Following an inspection at customs, the majority of the party sought refuge at the Riad al Amin, where they met numerous fascinating dinner companions during their stay, including the somewhat mysterious geomancer Eryn and her husband Draco; timid aasimar lampmaker Raj; historian Rabanastre Dalmasca; and jolly gourmand Bartleby Crumb. Lord Lazard, meanwhile, lodged at his own property in the city's Nawab district.

The next tenday or so saw much business successfully conducted as those who had never before seen Assur took the opportunity to mix purpose and pleasure: From the glorious temples of Lucha and Curna, to the rakish arcane trading vessel Al Gol, to Kaneesha Jewelers and fine dining at Karavali; to Chauntea's arbor and the high fashions of Nihal Fasateen; to the great Gathering of Magicians' campus and, eventually, a comedic play at the wondrous theater of the Masrahiyat. Finally, the journey was concluded with many purchases from construction supplier Hakir Bezambar, and the recruitment of mercenary guards to protect the vastly enlarged caravan on its way home. In addition to Lord Lazard's black-armored personal guard, Trollslayers Grace, Ser Erimoor, Neranya, Mideel and Isaru Ormoru, Grimm Cordellan, Celestine Whitecross and her familiar Nym, Melisahndre Ananonova, and Marten Noin were retained to protect the Freeholders on their return journey. By chance, Bartleby happened to be going in the same direction at the same time, and with permission from the expedition's leaders, joined them as they departed.

The expense of the Trollslayer entourage turned out to be of benefit when, on 17 Hammer, the homeward-bound wagon train witnessed a territorial dispute between a mighty roc and a pride of griffons. While none of the creatures turned their attention to menacing the travelers, a wounded griffon did fall nearby, somewhat unnerving the caravan's animals. Thea insisted on trying to help the badly injured beast, and with some assistance from Grace was able to partially calm it and feed it some fresh meat laced with healing potion, though the aasimar sellsword warned that assisting one side or the other in the fight would likely be remembered.

Trouble struck once more on 25 Hammer, when the caravan's break for luncheon was interrupted by a large raiding party of hill giants, including numerous spellcasters, skilled warriors, and pet wolves. More alarming than the attackers, themselves, was the cloak of invisibility under which they came; but for Lord Lazard's notice of the ripples in a teacup, the Freeholders and their allies might well have been taken by surprise despite the consummate competence of the Trollslayers. Luckily, while the mystery of their potent magic was left unsolved, the giants themselves were met in a fierce battle that divided the defenders into forward, center, and rear sections of the wagon train. The assault was defeated utterly, thankfully with no losses and only manageable injuries on the defenders' side.

Thus it was that, on 25 Hammer, the group made it safely home, more or less in one piece and bringing with them sufficient goods and labor to begin an entirely new chapter in Freehold's growth and development.