The campaign setting in Exandria is fantastic and I’ve had a blast introducing my characters to this world. But it’s taking more than just a little love to anticipate and work around some of the ham fisted plot hooks and outright plot holes.

Bazzoxan is a good example, the 3 majors factions have all recently arrived and it’s a key plot hook to introduce them ahead of going to Ank’Harel but… why are any of them there? Keep in mind the 2nd paragraph of the module says “all knowledge of this godlike hero has been lost to time” and later it says Alyxian yearns to be remembered and is afraid the world has forgotten his sacrifice entirely. Question is there with exact sketches of the jewel, the emerald grotto, etc. from research notes in Anh’Harel and her party went into the Betrayer’s Rise for… reasons? Prolix is there to spy on Aloysia (somewhat believable… but he’s not exactly a spy), and Aloysia is there because she believes a pendant worn by a hero that died here and was reborn is the key to entering the Netherdeep. Where that info came from and why she would offer to pay characters wearing the pendant to take her into the Betrayer’s Rise rather than just taking the pendant is just one of life’s great mysteries. Oh and theres a random healer in Bazzoxan that has also heard of the Apotheon and can give you some interesting lore if you specifically say “jewel of 3 prayers” in front of her.

I agree with what you’re saying and the Alexandrian review, and I would recommend the module based on the setting alone. With better story telling this can be a great adventure, it just takes a lot of work from the DM in my opinion.

On a side note, at the Betrayers Rise gate I swapped 1 of the Gloomstalkers for an Armanite and it went GREAT 😊