Ugh! OK. So, had to revamp both the Dark Moon Rising story and the Timeline on the blog. I just got confirmation at last.
Grymforge WAS the Ironhand Clan's primary base of operations in the Underdark when the duergar invaded. So, I had to change both what Thulla said and what the Timeline said in this regards - and anything else that went along with it.
So, as it goes:
1. Years before the game, Barcus Wroot goes to Baldur's Gate. Whether Ironhand Clan was already in Baldur's Gate or not by that time, it is unclear, but at some point the Ironhand Clan also goes to Baldur's Gate, having some in Baldur's and some in the Underdark.
2. The Ironhand Clan fights for freedom. There is some sort of blood feud in the city. Looking for a way to turn the tide in the feud, Wulbren finds hints about Grymforge and that there may have been runepowder at Grymforge.
3. Wulbren lays claim to Grymforge and the surrounding area.
4. Wulbren and the Ironhand Clan head to Grymforge, and they find it and set up their main base there. They begin searching for runepowder.
5. Meerna and others go out on various expeditions, as side quests, to search for other resources to use in the meantime. There are 42 expeditions, and Expedition #42 is Decrepit Village.
6. Runepowder is found at Grymforge.
7. Flameshade Clan, the duergar, are hired by True Soul Nere to find Grymforge and claim it. They have been surviving on myconids for a time, slowly butchering Glut's Circle. At this point, however, when Nere hires them, he leads them to completely wipe out Glut's Circle. This is why Spaw shows Nere leading the slaughter against myconids and why he wants Nere's head.
8. Flameshade and Nere arrive at Grymforge shortly after Runepowder is discovered. The gnomes hide the runepowder. Wulbren burns the recipe on how to make it after memorizing it. Flameshade and Nere conquer Grymforge and enslave the surviving gnomes there. Decrepit Village, however, is left alone, for the duergar don't know about it yet.
9. After some time, Philomeen gets the opportunity to use some of the runepowder to create an incident. There's an explosion. Philomeen uses the opportunity to escape with the runepowder up into the hiding place on the northeast side. Thulla uses the opportunity to steal Thrinn's boots. Thulla escapes to Decrepit Village. Gekh follows. Gekh slaughters the gnomes in Decrepit Village. Spaw's myconids help fight back. Gekh and Spaw suffer heavy losses.
How do I know Gyrmforge was their main base of operations? Beldron. He tells us that Wulbren "found it - a small cache, buried down here with a manuscript." Where? Here. Where's here? Grymforge. So, before the duergar showed up, Wulbren found runepowder at Grymforge along with the recipe. Therefore, the gnomes were not just at Decrepit Village, nor were they at some other main campsite. Their main camp was at Grymforge, and Decrepit Village was their satellite location.
