Maybe you are looking at this in all the wrong ways ... "maybe" you should try to go off the grid a little. I see where you said you really hated leaving your comfort zone (outside Abanasinia) Sure, I get it.

I am similar to you in not know a LOT of info on regions that were not really focused on in the Chronicles books so yea I get it! Lets look at what you have for the moment.

1. You have your companions going to the Inn of the Last Home shortly after the Heroes of the Lance arrive at the Inn. First thing I would do, is you have them coming from Haven heading to Ravenvale for whatever reasons "and Ravenvale being the companions place they call home" so before they enter Solace, give em the classic confrontation the Heroes had on the road with the Goblins "but not Fewmaster Toede" make the leader a ranked officer in charge of that troupe of Goblins. That should put them in the Dragonlance "feels" lol letting them relive a similar incident that was in the first book. This should get the juices flowing,
2. Then they push on and arrive in Solace. Everything looks strange, guards are about in force and a stray goblin can be seen here and there with the guards. The companions push on to the Inn of the Last Home. Let them see Tanis and the other inside the Inn, hell, let me friends from the past and even go say hello and such with them (another way to get the Dragonlance juices flowing with your players).
3. So then a little later the brawl kicks off, with the High Theocrat freaking out and such calling for guards. The companions see the Heroes trying to escape out the back door of the kitchen (the companions figuring the Heroes must have been in some sort of trouble) and being distant friends with them you can nudge them in the direction of "hey! lets kill some goblins while they escape!" but after a short time of fighting goblins, they start to get overwhelmed and decide to retreat and escape themselves.
4. This is where your campaign detaches itself from having anything to do with the Heroes of the Lance storyline. Maybe nudge them in the direction of discussing why the goblins and this High theocrat are in charge of this peaceful settlement. With Ravenvale being not far north-east from Solace, and this being the place the companions call home, you can nudge them towards returning home with haste in fear of this same thing happening to Ravenvale.
5. So they set out and travel with haste to Ravenvale and find it occupied as well. Maybe there own personal homes have been set fire and Ravenvale basically 100% occupied.

This is the point where you take off with your campaign, they are now wanted men/women since they attacked the Solace guards and such so the Dragonarmy will have circulated the companions descriptions. Hell, it is possible that the forces in Ravenvale already are looking for the companions - maybe a Dragon rider stopped here for a moment to tell the lord of the enemy forces to be on the lookout for the companions, leaving detailed descriptions on them. So now the companions cannot even return home, if they do I am sure they will throw up hoods and such and maybe visit the Inn or something

Maybe they meet someone in the Inn, that informs them of what is going on and about the Dragonarmies and such. This fella could be someone of importance "undercover" and this could be who starts the companions in the direction to start your campaign. The question is - what direction do they go? This is where you insert your adventure campaign "hook".

1. Maybe he is a Wizard of the Wizards of High Sorcery telling the companions they need to get word to the (wasn't there a Tower in Darkenwood or near Qualinesti?) I'm not sure and not at home to verify. Maybe this wizard is trying to warn the Conclave. Once the companions reach the Tower, maybe the Conclave sends them on a journey?
2. Maybe .... this fella is a Knight of Solamnia "uncover" and sets the companions off like #1 to warn the other Knights in Solamnia?

The companions "need" to be given a direction so you can focus your campaign. In my line of thinking - who could the players meet that would send them on a quest? I think it becomes easier for you once you find some form of DIRECTION. So they get sent to warn "so and so" and from that point are sent somewhere else. Eventually something major will happen and you will see everything just fall into place. So I think the first thing that needs to happen is get the companions in that Ravenvale Inn and have them meet someone that sends them on a quest. Then I think maybe you will be fine.