What if they… don't?

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It's possible that the PCs might not want to return home. They might want to continue exploring an area, or resettle in a different town, or just leave and never come back.

To help prevent this, remember to bring it home. While the PCs are on an expedition, ask about NPCs that they care about. Remind them of their responsibilities back home. Ask them who or what they miss the most out here. Do this consistently, so that the PCs feel connected to the village. Returning home will feel like the obvious thing to do.

If they consider staying in the field, remind them of the consequences. Folks might assume that the PCs are dead, their jobs will go undone, lesscompetent folks might take charge, etc. Practically, the PCs won't be able to Outfit without access to a friendly town, or Level Up without at least a temporary home base.

That said, it's not your job to force them home, it's your job to play to find out what happens. Sometimes it makes sense for some or all of the PCs to stay in the field (for example, to unite the Hillfolk against the southern slavers) or to leave town for good (because, say, the Seeker has become a liability). This might mean the end of the campaign, or the end of a particular PC's story. But it might also mean some significant change to how the game plays. See Shake-ups for ideas.