There are caves full of monsters not far from the Keep.
For some reason the goblins from the caves are roaming the countryside much earlier than usual - while the snow is still heavy on the ground. No-one knows why.
The bandits in the area may all report to a single leader.
An undead creature was trying to steal a powerful artefact from a gnoll burial chamber. It likely works as part of a cult of some kind.
There's a wizard's tower that appears and disappears all over the region.