I believe that maybe we are getting a little overstretched in terms of new characters and areas? I couldn't really tell you how the characters in this new area differ from lakeshard or that dwarf village for that matter, it all blends into one. And these areas feel so isolated and unconnected to anything else that's going on. I think maybe fleshing out the core story and characters in the first place might be more satisfying. (And bringing back Gunnar)