[Lev Lafayette]

The leaders are somewhat interesting mainly on a challenge/risk basis, but that's about it. There is no real elaboration of who they are, what they are or what they know. Basically they're just another monster.

As for narrative, I am not looking for a sophisticated narrative within the module, least of all a tournament module (indeed, A2 is much better as a tournament module). I am looking for a reason for the module to exist; it doesn't have one. There is absolutely nothing gained in the storyline. One could have dumped the crude map to the locale of A3 (dungeon location #22) in A1 and it wouldn't make any difference - the PCs would still be just as ignorant of what they were actually up against.

You know what could have been interesting? If the leader of the Stockade was actually a slave lord, who, whether through capture or escape, reveals their number, class/level, operations and where A3 was located. That would have given the module a reason to exist, it would have provided the PCs some interest in their upcoming challenge, and it would have fitted very nicely in the tournament series.

As for nonsense encounters, I do criticise other modules - regardless of the game system - of such crimes against verisimilitude. Personally I grimace in visible pain when an encounter calls a halfling samuri riding a pegasus is encountered in the alpine climes, or when beehives are discovered in a dungeon. But if one really enjoys such things I'll be sure to note them in my reviews - just do a search for those that I give a value of '1' or '2' in substance and you'll be happy ;-)