Experiences with Thunderspire?

[Nebulous]

We're pretty far into Shadowfell, about to level to 3rd. I've been planting some Thunderspire hooks and will probably have some significant NPCs kidnapped from Winterhaven by the Bloodreavers, people that the players would actually WANT to rescue, not just because they feel they "should" to move the plot forward. That's the idea anyway. As a backup, i might offer a monetary award (as usual!)

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

The initial encounter is placed incorrectly on the map. I just moved it into the first major corridor as the PCs enter the mountain and everything worked fine.

Using the Bloodreavers hook, I pointed the party to the Seven-Pillared Hall and let them explore. After a stop at the seedy tavern they made their way to the Inn. When they asked about the Bloodreavers, the innkeeper told them that his son had followed a group of them into the Labirynth and hadn't returned.

That way I was able to keep the hideout in place on the map. It didn't make sense to me that their "hideout" would sit along a heavily-traveled well-lit corridor.

We played through section one, which was fun. A little light on the challenge to the group, but still fun.

Section two was interesting and became even more so when an enemy combatant escaped to put the third stronghold on high alert. The party retreated from the full force of the third stronghold, without the warforged fighter. We're not playing Eberron, so I deemed the warforged to be a unique being in our campaign world. The forces on the third stronghold dragged his inert body inside as the rest of the party escaped so they could try to figure out how to get the construct repaired and "working" again. The second assault on the stronghold started with the warforged inside and the rest of the party attacking from without to save him.

They retreated again and are regrouping to attack again. The stronghold forces are staying to defend the fortress and preparing the slaves for transport. They would rather leave intact with their property than pursue the PCs into the other strongholds for an unecessary fight.