To give a premise of the situation as the game starts that might help people make decisions about their characters, here is the sort of opening story hook:
You are in Crydee when the game begins. You have very little money to your name having only recently arrived upon hearing that the Duke's interest in employing a small group of adventurers to keep an eye on that land around his kingdom. Normally this task is handled by the Rangers of Crydee, but due to the massive losses in the recent Riftwar, and the recent discovery that Martin, once a Ranger of Crydee was in fact an illegitimate son of the former Duke legitimized just before his death and then placed as Duke of Crydee the Rangers have been decimated. Martin isn't looking only for a group of scouts, but men and women of skill that can handle themselves in any situation, and you have come believing that your skills will serve.
You have presented your case, and been given the task of exploring a nearby stronghold for signs of activity. Once upon a time this was a stronghold for the moredhel(evil elves but not drow), and later was again used by other forces seeking power by wielding the dark forces, and ever since then the Duke's of Crydee have tried to keep a watchful eye on the area. The war that spanned the last 10 years has caused this vigilance to wane, and the Duke believes that it is best this practice be renewed with the end of the Riftwar. You will be paid as mercenaries of your level would be paid and be considered constantly employed by the Duke until such time as your services are no longer needed. You will not be wearing the Duke's colors, and will not to directly privy to the use of his name for special treatment.
Great service to the realm has been known to result in great promotion. Several commoners were elevated to earldoms after their service was noted during the Riftwar, and should your service prove particularly beneficial to the Duke of Crydee it would certainly be possible to achieve a stipend of land and a title to go with it. The western part of the realm is mostly wild, and thus much of the terrain is still uninhabited and ready to be claimed and put to use for the Kingdom.
Crydee is very near(and kind of engulfed in) a heavily forested area that is mostly coniferous forest with some deciduous trees mixed in. It also has a small and not heavily used harbor.