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I don't like the idea of state sanctioned tomb plundering for independent adventuring parties. While rationale is provided in the adventure, I prefer to have the grave robbing illegal, as that makes it more fun and challenging.
My plot hook for the tombs that need raiding in Half-Dead City, would be for one character in the adventuring group, with background ties to the city of Wati, to inherit a run-down property in Wati from a recently deceased uncle. He died from an infected ghoul bite. Turns out, the uncle's house abuts the wall around the City of the Dead, and the uncle built a tunnel under this wall allowing covert access to the necropolis.
The group could find maps and notes in the uncle's house indicating the most promising sites to explore, that is, where the tombs in the adventure are located. Ideally, the more dangerous tombs are placed deeper into the necropolis, so the group starts with the closest/easiest crypt.
Any ideas to improve this alternative way of running the adventure? Or alternative ideas?
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One alternative idea would be to expand upon how disapproving of the expeditions the Pharasmin church is. Rather than completely changing things around, you could throw in a subplot of the church trying to disrupt the desecration while still making a show of going along with the Pharaoh's orders. Increase the chances of encountering Voices of the Spire patrols, have members of the clergy trying to set up "accidents" for the adventuring parties...Could even go to the extent of making the Scorched Hand agents of the Grand Mausoleum rather than another adventuring party.
In relation to your idea, you could have the uncle have been descended of someone close to Djederet II, like a close relative or part of a servant family. Maybe even a descendant of a member of the Sanctum of the Erudite Eye's clergy or something. Add in passed down knowledge of the mask of the Forgotten Pharaoh, with clues leading to the tombs or buildings the party is meant to explore ultimately leading to the Sanctum of the Erudite Eye and the mask. You could really play up the mystery aspects of it, and maybe get to a point where the party's trespasses might be forgiven when things start going to hell in the second book and they have information on why it's happening.
Thanks, those are both good ideas.