1

A party member or creature catches an illness or gets hurt.

2

The road is impassable or blocked off.

3

Severe storms.

4

The mail service is down around here, and has been for weeks (if you have a source of information that doesn't depend on local mail, it won't be affected).

5

The region is starving/under drought.

6

There is plague in this region.

7

The region is being terrorized by dangerous creatures.

8

The region is infested with bandits, pirates, slavers or other crime.

9

The region is being preyed on by corrupt police or military.

10

The region is short of resources or equipment.

11

The people who were supposed to be here, aren't. There's other people here instead.

12

The people who were supposed to be here, aren't. The place is deserted.

13

The region is mysteriously devoid of life.