It's a rough world. Kingdoms have risen, and they have fallen. The few large cities have ancient stories in their foundations... Layer upon layer of attempts at civilisation that will never have a chance to tell the tales of their rise and their return into the dust.
Many of the common races live together all over the world, though no major empires unites them. Mostly villages and towns and farms keep themselves to themselves. Especially if they can. Merchants make an excellent living connecting these little points of light, and there are often explorers and adventurers that parlay such expeditions into fantastic riches. And sometimes destiny...The town of Winterhaven stands watch over a ruined keep that was once a bastion of good in the realm. This keep overlooks the Shadow Rift, a dark scar in the world that was once a gateway to the Shadowfell but has been dormant for many years. Now, an evil cleric of Orcus, Demon Lord of the Undead, seeks to re-open the gate, and the only thing standing in his way is a small yet determined band of heroes.