You will never come across a group of people as bitter and suspicious as the ones dwelling within the fief of Halerock’s Road. Smacked dead centre between five competing fiefs, small but possessing numerous mines, the fief has been ceded, conquered, absorbed and mist-treated by nobles and politicians for era. There was a time when the King’s Authority was respected, and the people of Halerock’s Road was hospitable, being the centre of a religious movement and well-known for their friendliness. But now no more.
The PCs are given the impossible task possible – drive the vultures from Halerock’s Road, and gain the trust of the villagers and townsfolk for their liege lord.
- A secretive order is dedicated to make people of Halerock’s Road as miserable as possible; apparently, deep within those mines lie creatures who feed upon feelings and thoughts of resentment, bitterness and revenge. Perhaps it is an ancient god of the land, and the mines of Halerock’s Road was reserved for slaves – and naturally the old owners of the fief achieved two aims, gold and the appeasing of the old god. Yet should the PCs assume that secretive order is ‘evil’? What would be the consequences of not appeasing an ancient entity of power?
- The PCs may drive out the other lords and brigands from Halerock’s Road, but the villagers view them no differently from other conquerors. Regaining their trust and swaying their allegiance to the PCs or their liege lord would be a matter of more than just driving away a couple of armies and defeating some brigand leaders. What matters to those people? What would convince them of the PCs’ sincerity (even if it is false?)
- A rebellion has started in Halerock’s Road, and the leader is charismatic, a fine strategist and has won the hearts of the people. However, this is a ploy. For the sake of tradition, and the religious movement started there, nearby lords were reluctant to actually despoil the borders of Halerock’s Road, and the people were stubbornly independent because of their heritage. However, if they do rebel against the various lords occupying the small fief, it gives them the reason to actually wipe out all the people of Halerock’s Road, leaving the land free for themselves. But how can the PCs convince the people that someone who they see a saviour is actually a real vulture?
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