A meteor falls to earth near town.
The local Temple of Bane wants to haul it back to make weapons out of meteoric iron.
The local Wizard's Circle wants to haul it back to study it.
The local humanoid tribes think it's a sign from their gods, and want to haul it back to worship it.
Etc.
Several of them independently try to hire the players (if possible, they independently hire separate players!) to retrieve it for them, while others send their own agents.
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Meteor!