Then the world's magic ebbed, forcing these abominations to retreat to the astral Hell of their origin. But because the Horrors departed before the magicians and wise men had believed they would, the people remained wary. They emerged slowly from their kaers, facing the world half in hope that the Scourge had truly ended and half in fear that the Horrors lingered. Many Horrors remain in this world, inflicting agonies on other living creatures. As the peoples of the Earth struggle to rebuild their shattered world, they must combat the Horrors who seek to prolong their reign of destruction and despair.
Heroes travel across the land, exploring unknown places and rediscovering lost legends.
The Scourge has changed the world almost beyond recognition. The dwarf kingdom of Throal lies at the center of the province of Barsaive, the largest inhabited province in the known world. The dwarves seek to unite Barsaive's far-flung cities and people under Throal's crown and banner, so that Barsaive will be strong enough to repel the advances of the Theran Empire that ruled the land before the Scourge. The Therans returned to the province shortly after the Scourge ended, seeking to bend it again to their yoke, but Barsaive's people rallied behind the dwarves of Throal. Though temporarily beaten, the Therans gather their strength and wait to strike again.