The old king is dead. His son—the new king—is young. Some say too young. There are those who think a regent may have been in order until the new king was proven to be a good ruler. However, there was no regent. The young king displays the ambition, stubbornness, and impetuosity of boys his age. Yet he has good counselors, and the wisdom to listen to them occasionally.
Now a new rumor is starting to spread: that the king is offering a bounty to anyone who would assist in the effort to retake the pass. Word on the street is that Legaire, former Captain of the Royal Guard, has been reinstated into the king's guard for the sole purpose of gathering likely adventurers and attempting to reconnoiter the pass to assess what condition its in and set about making it habitable again. Further, local gossip is full of talk about the treasury being raided in a last desperate attempt to reopen the pass for next summer's storm season.
However, as it is early autumn, time grows short for such endeavors. During the winter, the high mountain passes are closed due to heavy snows and violent blizzards. If anything is to be done, it must be done now, during the lull between putting up the harvest and gearing up for trade season.
These rumors appear to be substantiated, as Legaire himself—something of a recluse in his retirement—has been seen frequenting alehouses and inns, even brothels. He rarely has more than a mug or two of drink, and merely watches the patrons. Also, small patrols have been spotted occasionally heading up into the mountains. One final rumor on the streets is: most have not returned.
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