The objective of this trilogy was to transition the Forgotten Realms scenario from the first to the second edition AD&D rules, much as the Fate of Istus adventure did with the Greyhawk campaign setting. To accomplish this objective, the writing of the modules and novels was being done simultaneously, supposedly to allow their publication at the same time the core rules transitioned to the second edition. The final format of the three-part adventure would be more plot-driven than those of the previously traditional dungeon crawling modules but this would end up becoming more common in published material from here onwards.