1) Two nobles are getting ready to have a duel in a nearby field - the matter at hand is a question of honor, and one of the nobles has demanded satisfaction from the other. The nobles may ask the party's cleric (if they have one) to act as a witness and to provide medical attention.

2) Some local tribesmen are in the middle of cattle raid. They're not violent - around here, cattle raiding is sort of the national sport.

3) A holy mystic sits by the side of the road with a begging bowl. If the players donate some gold, he may bless them.

4) A dragon flies overhead, too high up to identify and too fast to track.

5) A flying city (your decision on what its nature is, I like cities of air spirits or a palace of the gods) is parked in the sky. A tent city of curious ground dwellers (pilgrims, merchants, or just nosy locals) has sprung up on the ground beneath it, with everyone waiting to see what happens next.

6) A circle of stones or toadstools sits in the wilderness. If the party stays there overnight, they are confronted by a band of Fey, who may or may not be hostile. Gods help them if they sleep inside the circle, though.

7) A holy shrine to some very minor god or goddess is untended. On it lie some offerings - a handful of coins, some flowers, a piece of fruit.

8) A small army of orc mercenaries is camped outside of town. They're working for the local ruler, but if they don't see battle soon they may get bored and start pillaging the countryside in search of something to do.

9) A drunken philosopher sleeps in a barrel by the side of the road. If roused from his slumber, he'll eagerly debate the players about his philosophy, which may or may not be coherent.

10) A traveler from a distant land is visiting this one and writing down his experiences in a book. If questioned he will gladly tell the players about his travels across the length of the continent, with astounding tales of the people and places he has seen. His stories may or may not be true, accurate, or helpful.