I've had this idea for a few months, but had never articulated it. Partly because I think it would be very difficult to implement and would run the risk of being unsatisfying to the players. But here goes.
I'm thinking of having a homebrew session before the beginning of Ironfang Invasion; a sort of flashback to the infamous Ramgate Massacre. The players, by necessity, must be pro-Nirmathas and engaged in hostilities against Molthune. They take part in an attack on Fort Ramgate, battling Molthuni troops and trying to breach the fortress' walls. They notice the forest near the fort (where the Nirmathi's unarmed supporters are hiding) burning and are ordered to break off from the battle and intervene. There they find the Ironfang Legion murdering the Nirmathis and must fight the Hobgoblins to save as many people as they can. Azaersi herself then makes an appearance, either capturing the PCs or simply being seen from afar. They might even have a brief combat encounter as Azaersi toys with them, only to withdraw due to external circumstances.
I think that by having the PCs personally witness the Ramgate Massacre and having them confront Azaersi face-to-face, they will feel greater antipathy towards the Ironfang Legion and it's leader, and will be more invested in the plot. If there's only thing I dislike, it's having a villain who simply waits at the end of book six and is never encountered or interacted with before then; being a nominal presence that the PCs have no meaningful connection with.
There are a few potential pitfalls: like the PCs being frustrated that they can't prevent the massacre or that they can't deal with Azaersi. The other thing I realized is that the scenario of "save the villagers from the massacre" is very similar to book one and may feel redundant.
I am open to all suggestions, including the suggestion that this is a bad idea and should not be implemented.
Witnessing the massacre does not have to be first-hand. They could stumble across the aftermath while it is still 'fresh' and - being faster than an army on the march - they could have moved around and somewhat ahead of the invading army arriving at [campaign starting point].
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Yeah. No need to fight the hobgoblins.
Have them realize the odds are overwhelming and run. Run all the way to Phaendar. Have them beaten and tired and they finally get to a town... and then it happens again.
During the massacre they see Azaersci. Moving like lightning, death incarnate.
Like anyone else, they run.
When the denouement comes, everything has changed.
Yeah. No need to fight the hobgoblins.
Have them realize the odds are overwhelming and run. Run all the way to Phaendar. Have them beaten and tired and they finally get to a town... and then it happens again.
During the massacre they see Azaersci. Moving like lightning, death incarnate.
Like anyone else, they run.
When the denouement comes, everything has changed.
The problem with your plot is that a full 2 years separates the Ramgate Massacre and the events of Trail of the Hunted. Unless you want to stretch out the events of 24 months on the rode between Fort Ramgate and Phaendar (which sounds like something of a drag), a flash-forward at that point might be more appropriate.
Yeah, that was the idea. The intro would take place two years before the events of the campaign, and then a timeskip would bring them to the first module. When the Ironfang Invasion arrives in Phaendar, the nightmare begins once again, and now they must end the evil reign of Azaersi and her followers once and for all.
Maybe the prologue could feature different characters altogether? They might reappear later as NPCs -- scarred and traumatized survivors of the massacre who can provide the PCs with information -- or they could just be expendable, one-time PCs who are destined to die in a teaser sequence that sets up the stakes for the rest of the campaign.