Missing Caravan

A trade caravan teamed by desert nomads and eastern merchants was expected to arrive at Fort Cradyn just two weeks' past. Its absence sent a flurry of questions throughout the town, and as every day went past with still no sign of the caravan its financiers and families became increasingly agitated.
Commander Cornelius of the Fort Cradyn garrison sent out a team of rangers into the Arid Waste to investigate. A few days later the rangers returned with news that they'd found the caravan's tracks near the Hell Scars, but that it seemingly vanished without a trace.
Travelling and trading through the Arid Waste is treacherous at the best of times. The deserts are home to giant red lizards, roaming warbands of nomads and devilish sand witches. But this caravan was owned and operated by Mistress Cassan, a gruff old desert woman who'd made the crossing dozens of times throughout her life. It was the only caravan expected this year, laden with expensive goods and guarded by fifty veteran desert riders. Caravans of this size are rarely the targets of lizards and raiders.
A lot of of money was invested in this venture. Many merchants and even some of the Old Families are demanding answers.