Story introduction

For generations, the Stolen Lands have spanned the southern border of Brevoy. Many attempts have been made to settle them, but to date, none have succeeded, making these 35,000 square miles of wilderness the largest swath of unclaimed land in the entire River Kingdoms. As tensions mount in Brevoy, one of Rostland’s swordlords hopes to change that fact; she plans to issue charters to several groups of adventurers, sending them south into the Stolen Lands to reopen old trade routes and defeat the bandits and monsters who have made them too dangerous to use. By sending free agents south, this swordlord of Rostland hopes to create new allies without sacrificing her own position of power in Brevoy.
Yet as with most complex and brilliant plans, the future holds plenty of opportunities for disaster.

Your backstories

How you found out about the expeditions

Recently all of you have accepted an invitation by a Sword Lord from Rostland to join one of thse expeditions into the Stolen Lands. The Sword Lord has been advertising these expeditions for some time in Brevoy but over time word has also spread to neighbouring lands. You could have found out about it by:

• Reading a notice while in Brevoy
• Hearing about it in a neighbouring country, via official notice or via a organisation such as a mercenary guild.
• Running into a mercenary from a previous expedition that failed who was drowing their sorrows in a far off land
• Something else of your choosing

However you came across it, you were required to meet up in the capital of Brevoy, New Stetven, and join a convoy of other like minded people to travel to meet the Sword Lord. How you came across the information and how well you know Brevoy will give you different information.

Why you joined

The notice said that you will be paid 300 gold pieces just for joining the convoy and listening to the Sword Lord's offer. Further, more significant rewards of gold and other valuables are mentioned but the specifics are unknown until you meet the Sword Lord. The Expedition offer does mention adventure, exploring untamed lands and staking your own claim to them as well. As such, a wide variety of individuals have signed up, from those seeking riches, others fame and some have dreams of settling and establishing their own country.

You could be interested because:

• You are after gold or other treasure
• You are seeking adventure
• You have a political motivation in Brevoy (such as a relationship with an Issian or Rostlandian noble) and wish to investigate further
• You have a political motivation outside of Brevoy (such as a surrounding country, either from the river kingdoms or further afield)
• The idea of building a civilisation in untamed lands appeals to you
• Some other idea of your choosing

Based on your character's motivations to join I will give you additional information relevant to your situation.

Where you are now

All of you travelled to New Stetven in Brevoy where you joined a convoy heading to Rostland to meet the Sword Lord. The convoy consists of 8 Wagons of adventurers with some guards and drivers and a supply cart for each wagon to handle the trip. From what you've seen, the amount of supplies is enough for at least 10 days travel. Your wagon is the last in the convoy to leave. Based on your direction of travel those of you with knowledge of Brevoy's Geography can guess you are heading towards Restov, the capital of the former country of Rostland, and home of the Sword Lords.

You find yourself on the morning of the 6th day, your driver informs you at breakfast you should arrive this afternoon for a feast. As you sit around the campfire and eat you can sense the signs of an approaching storm from the northwest heading in your direction.