I own the hardcover but have not read it completely through but I do own and did read the original Dungeon versions. I also don't have access to the HC to check these details for myself. A friend of mine recently got the HC and read it cover to cover. Knowing I am running my players through it now and he is planning on running his players through it next year he had some questions which I couldn't answer 100%
1) Adimarchus has been in prison for only 50 years (I thought it was 300 but apparently this isn't correct). How the heck did he create such a far reaching group as powerful as the Cagewrights to free him in such a short time?
2) How is Admiarchus manipulating things multiple planes away from the prime and is in prison? If I remember correctly his madness is leaking out of his prison and through this connection (somehow) he is consciously or subconsciously manipulating events and people to free him (?)
3) Why do the players even want to goto Carceri to kill him at all? I thought there was two reasons. The first is just so the players can get closure since Admiarchus has been the indirect root of all their problems (and Cauldron's). Secondly I was under the impression that Admiarchus was actually luring the PCs there to in fact free him. He feels he can handle a group of powerful mortals but they would have the resources to destroy his warden and prison.
Are my answers correct?
Most of the answers are in the introduction of the HC. Once you have it back, you should be able to look up all the info you need.
Basically, the cagewrights have been around for a long time. Dyr'Ryd is a very powerfull 'leth, whó has been planning the a gate between Carcerri and the material for a long time. He sent many of his most powerfull luitenants to create fiendish progeny. Their (great-)grandchildren bear the carcerrian sign.
Dyr'ryd gathered a group of powerfull mortals around himself bent on ruling the material once the ghereleth armies pour out of the carcerian gate. This group is the cagewrights. At some point after Adimarchus' imprisonment, the cagewrights recruited Fetor Abradius. Appart from being an expert on many palanar subjects, he was also in the possesion of a Statue of Adimarchus, crafted by the demon prince fimself from basalt found in occipitus.
The statue acted as an antenae for Adimarchus'mad dreams and soon infected Fetor and later the rest of the cagewrights. He soom learns to control Fetor and the other cagewrights through these dreams.
Thanks Chef!