Dalelands under Shadow ?

The heroes returned from their other-world trek triumphantly.
They had bested the Yuan-ti forces, defeated their Risen King, and rescued most of the prisoners, returning them to the coastal city Melvaunt.
One dragon had escaped, and they made a loose pact with one Cult Leader in order to return safely.

Proven to be capable Adventurers they returned to the Portal that connects southeast Cormyr with southwest Thar, only to find it in ruins.
A Wizard astride an enormous squat, bloated, multijawed, winged, toadlike creature (Foulwing) hailed them, and asked their names and business.
Being somewhat familiar with the wizards who control the permanent Portals, the four returned the questions and asked what had happened.

Apparantly, the huge Fire Giant they had encountered before had flattened the Portal and charged his gargantuan beast of burden (Dire Elephant) to savage the stones.
Greatly annoyed with the loss of their easy travel, but with no other options, the four continued south on horseback.
The Zhentarim Wizard watched them depart, and when they were out of sight, reported it in.

Rekk, Jack, Anon and Tereus traveled through the Dalelands encountering no monster or creature of importance.
They did, however, notice an increase in soldiers, mercenaries and adventuring groups.
At one of their many stops, they questioned the locals about this, as normally the Dalelands are rural communities keeping to themselves with nothing really interesting going on.

Apparantly the Elves have allied with forces from the Silver Marches to ride into Cormanthor and dispatch the Devils and other evil creatures below Myth Drannor once and for all.
Of course this attracted many Mercenary Companies and Adventuring Parties, wanting to make some gold. And then there was the Black Network, who bartered between factions and wants to monopolize the trading.

In hindsight, Jack remembered hearing of the Black Network before, and he suspects the Wizard at the Portal to be one of them..

At last arriving in Wheloon, they set out to see Redbeard and tell him of their latest adventure. They also mention the stirrings in the Dales and the destruction of the Portal, as well as pass on rumors of Drow creeping out of the Underdark.