After playing a lot of Pathfinder I came back to 5e and Forgotten realms only to find that the plot hooks for 5e FR are a bit lacking for me in the Sword Coast and the North.
I feel your pain.
I tried to remedy things a bit with the Clack in my Neverwinter sourcebook (see my Sig).
I've cut and paste a few entries from it here:
* The merchant Guthkort Arnhast was found injured and bleeding on the street in front of his mansion in the Protector's Enclave. Neighbors claim Guthkort threw himself out of an open second story window to escape his own house, and that strange, inhuman noises emanate from within. For his part, Guthkort claims his dwelling is cursed: The doors of his abode shut of their own accord, and whenever he opens them he runs the risk of being confronted with wild places far from Neverwinter. Sometimes horrible beasts lurk on the other side.
* Among the lamp carriers whose services are oft utilized to light the way for night travelers in Neverwinter, a fantastical tail has been shared. A Neverwintan noble of some repute was attacked and struck senseless by two of their number. The first lamp carrier transformed into a gryphon, while the second became a large python that coiled around the noble and hoisted itself and its captive onto the gryphon, which took to the air and disappeared into the night sky.
* Beleaguered merchants, newly arrived in Neverwinter in the company of loyal knights pledged to the defense of Thornhold and the surrounding lands, claim a Beast Lord has arisen in the heart of the Kryptgarden Forest. The knights fought off a pack of crazed owlbears and perytons that decimated a mounted patrol out of Waterdeep and attacked the convoy of merchants. The creatures bore strange azure marks on their bodies and moved with frightening speed. The few creatures that escaped made straight for the dark depths of the Kryptgarden.
* The disappearance of several minor Waterdhavian noble families have sent rumors up and down the length of Sword Coast like tremors from an earthquake. Some claim a Deepwinter purge of nobility by the Masked Lords of Waterdeep is underway. Others say a magical plague has swept away the noble houses. Some whisper that grim war between nobles has returned to Waterdeep, with the lesser houses first to fall victim to internecine fighting. Few mercenary companies winter in Waterdeep, leaving merchants, nobles and guild houses to compete with each other over the hiring of adequate protection against the battles to come. Adventurers and mercenaries alike are hastening to the city.
* The Holy Host of Kelemvor, comprised of clerics, sellswords and devout followers of the god of the dead, has arrived in Neverwinter by boat from Baldur's Gate. Led by the Doomguide Tathanter Ebonhand, the Host claims negligence on the part of Lord Neverember has allowed the Neverdeath graveyard to become corrupted and fallen under the sway of foul influence, leaving the city awash in spirits seeking their final rest. Tathanter and his followers intend to scour Neverdeath of its corruption, with or without Lord Neverember’s permission.
* Drow surface raids have forced merchants on the roads north of Neverwinter to turn back for the city. The dark elves spare the lives of anyone who gives no resistance, and thoroughly search each caravan, taking any items of magic they find. The merchant Chelios Khor claims the drow, "flow out of the shadows and melt back into them after robbing us of everything of value!" Khor, having twice been robbed by the dark elves, has offered gold and treasure in payment to anyone bold enough to ride the northern trade routes and slay drow. Pairs of drow ears may be brought to Khor's merchant warehouse located along the Neverwinter Docks and presented to his factor for payment.
* The murder of Doomguide Tathanter Ebonhand has left the Holy Host of Kelemvor leaderless and in shock. Rumor claims Tathanter met his end in his own bedchambers, after being skewered by several longsword-wielding suits of empty plate armor bathed in green fire. The floating suits of armor escaped through the shattered upper floor window by which they came. Members of the Host saw the armor make for the docks, while dockworkers swear the armor disappeared among the moored ships from the Dusk Ports of Returned Abeir. That same night, the paupers that dwell near Neverdeath graveyard claim a floating suit of armor made for the center of the graveyard and vanished.
Lastly...
* Day and night, the regulars of the Thousand Faces tavern debate the significance of a bizarre event that unfolded there in the last tenday. All agree that a stranger to the Tavern arrived unheralded and removed one of the many mirrors adorning the tavern walls and spoke a word of magic; that the stranger stretched the mirror as though it were made of dough, widening and elongating it; that trustworthy regulars watched the traveler stand the much larger mirror in front of an old mannequin standing in one corner of the tavern and beckon it to come forward; that the mannequin, now animated by unseen magic, stepped into the mirror and vanished, only to be replaced by a tall, black-haired elf in battered armor; that the traveler bowed deeply before the elf and said, "Majesty, we must return to Silverymoon before the next full moon or the Gentle Ghost will give the task of finding your kinsman to another," before pocketing the now shrunken mirror and hustling the bewildered elf out the door and into the night. None can say who the elf was or what land she ruled over.
Hope this helps!
