The players are generally not very nice people who would (probably) like to continue their selfish and lawless ways, but that's not in the cards.
For one reason or another, all of them have signed on to follow orders from a shadowy figure known only as Halinger. Some of them may owe Halinger their lives (one way or another), others had some big favor done for them and still others are friends of people who fall into the first two groups. None of them has ever met, seen, or even talked to Halinger.
Halinger's orders either come from a coded telegram or from mysterious messengers from all walks of life, from soiled doves to town sheriffs.