The World

A great Shroud has been placed over the World. For the whole of known history, the races of the World - Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Halflings - have lived in perpetual darkness and terror. The days have shortened, and the nights sometimes last 20 hours each. The night sky as nearly pitch black; the moon has been blotted out, and only a few stars are bright enough to pierce through the Shroud. With the night came the monsters. Terrible, alien Aberrations that are stronger, faster, and more cunning than any of us could ever hope to be. They have become the top of the food chain: the predators of the populace of the World. They seem to have but one goal in mind: to devour, torture, and enslave everyone and everything.   Civilization has devolved into pockets of people living in walled villages, tenuously connected to each other by scant roads and rivers. The hives of Neogi, packs of Gazers, hordes of undead, and cults of Mind Flayers have made travel between these villages extremely dangerous, and over-night treks a death wish. Settlements have had to wall themselves in, only having people leave to tend of crops or harvest other resources. Trade between these places has stagnated, and communication isn't fairing well either.   But even the Shroud cannot block all hope. Through it, a few stars shine. Each of these divine stars is given a name. Oric, the North Star, God of guidance and justice. Grix, the Crimson Star, God of death. Frejya and Tarr, the Twin Stars, Gods of disparity. Ranald, the Flickering Star, God of the mind. Finally, Yssandryx, the Moving Star, God of magic and change. But these aren't the only divine beings, for the Sun too is a star. Melitele, the Shining Sun, the God of healing and mercy. This is the God that most folk turn to in times of great need.   The World nowadays is steeped in religion and superstition. Life is short, brutal, and often absurd. The Gods offer a sliver of hope, however small, in a world of death and fear. While a certain peasant may worship primarily one God, he still believes fully in all the others, and is expected to make offerings to them. The worship, and fear, of these Gods brings the people of the World together.   Some scholars fancy describing the Shroud as less of a barrier that blots out the light, but more like an overbearing darkness that outshines the light. From this power have come the Aberrations. These monsters come in all shapes and sizes, and are (sometimes literally) the stuff of nightmares. Completely alien, not once has anyone entertained the thought of peaceful contact with these things, nor have they entertained the thought about us.   From this surreal cradle, many are driven to despair, but a small few rise to the occasion and spit death in the face. These are the heroes of this world, and hopefully you'll become one of them.