From Introduction:
Bound In Stone is intended for a group of four to six starting Dragon Age characters with a decent mix of abilities to handle the various scenes – combat, exploration and roleplaying – in this adventure. It can work for larger or smaller groups, or different balances of abilities, with some modification.
A number of alternatives exist to making the characters work for the merchant caravan, which is the easiest way to get the characters involved. The characters could come across the caravan on the road and offered a reward for the recovery of the jewel. One of the characters could already possess the jewel and the bandits could steal it from the characters themselves. Finally, the characters could be hired by Koren to help recover his daughter.