Nestled in the placid Highcourt Valley, is the former County of Gehesthramayne. Though the County fell in fire and blood over two hundred years ago, there are still human settlements along the Highcourt River. The largest of these, though still tiny when compared to the mighty cities to the east, is Graveshire, a farming community ruled by a hereditary sheriff (whose authority derives from the long-dead line of counts...).
This would, no doubt, be a forgotten backwater were it not for the rise of the goblin warlords of the Brokenstone Highlands. With the vicious humanoids launching raid after raid into human lands, Graveshire finds itself on the front-lines in what is rapidly becoming a long war...
Fortunately, the farmer folk have defenders...
Not only is the sheriff a skilled soldier (F3), but that worthy commands a loyal militia of some 20-odd souls (all F1). Also, unbeknownst to the natives, the innkeep of the newly built (i.e.: within the last decade...) Knave o' Nails travelers' inn is a retired guildsman of the far off city of Roarwater and has secretly sent word to said guild about the loot the goblins have been able to amass... which might not be entirely accurate, but it has led that guild of thieves to send out certain thugs and bravos in an attempt to gain some filthy lucre for themselves. On the other hand, well known to the natives are the Monastery of the Beneficent Storm-lord, the local headquarters of a militant brotherhood tasked by their god to be always on the frontiers, and the Tower of Gherethave the Mysterious, the home of a reclusive and aged wizard and his apprentices (many of who have never seen their nominal master). Both of these isolated communities have volunteered to assist the farmers of Graveshire during the current troubles.
The role of the player characters in all of this is fairly simple, that of an elite squad striking against and scouting the goblin bands (for benevolent or self-serving reasons) and possibly unearthing what has caused the sudden wave of attacks. But it doesn't need to be limited to that, undead created during the County's fall may haunt the shire, claimants - legitimate or not - may appear demanding the old title of Count, soldiers of the nearest kingdom may appear and demand food, shelter, or other things, it all depends...
