<div align="center">(http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/026/2/2/Ronan_Dragon_Knight_Symbol_by_mizj.jpg)<br/>(http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/33400000/Symbols-dragon-booster-33429971-583-467.png)</div><br/><strong><em><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;">When Madness and Night Align<br/>And Innocent blood waters the dark Tree<br/>The Beast Below will mark his Whores<br/>And from them will be born the Free</span></em></strong><br/>—From the<em>Talash Siberys</em><br/><br/>Thousands of years ago, the fearsome Daelkyr came to the Realm from the Far Realm of Xoriat. After a long and bitter struggle, an order of druids known as the Gatekeepers used ancient primal magic to bind the Lords of Madness back into the depths of the Far Realms and the Underworld.<br/><br/>However, the influence of the Daelkyr can still be felt in the world today. Mind flayers, beholders, and lesser aberrant monsters continue to do the bidding of their malevolent Daelkyr masters, and in those places where the borders between Xoriat and the Realm are weak some mortals embrace dark dreams and fall prey to the voice of Madness.<br/><br/>Tucked into the wild frontier of the Shadow Marches, the village of Way's Rim is located on a manifest zone—a nexus point between the Physical Realm; the Plane of Xoriat, the Far Realm of Madness; and Mabar, the Endless Night. The powers and cults were a powerful force to be reckoned with once, but the Mortal Kingdoms spent centuries stamping them out whenever they could. Now, as far as anyone knows the Cults of the Lords of Madness are long gone. But mortals can't be watching every corner of the Physical Realm, and Madness just needs one way in. Now as the Physical Realm, the Far Realm of Madness, and the Endless Night align events begin to play...<br/><br/><hr/><br/>The Shadow Marches are inhospitable at the best of times, and this is decidedly not the best of times. Coming out here on your own would probably not of crossed your mind as the the humid swamp never seems very inviting even to the most seasoned survivalist - which you are not. Whether you came alone or together, you all have one thing in common. Why you are here.<br/><br/>Way's Rim put out the call for adventurers last August Moon. According to the notices it began when all 4 of the serving wenches of the Blue Horse Tavern vanished without a trace in one night. Since then, despite all efforts to the contrary, 9 more of the town's women also met the same fate - vanishing during the night like a puff of smoke. Those are just the notices you know about, more have probably disappeared since that was written.<br/><br/>A village out in the Shadow Marches, apparently it was founded as a research station into the Nexus but that was centuries ago. As a result there is some money here and one of citizens of Way's Rim is trying to put it to use. Doria Veledaar has offered a sizable reward to anyone who can solve the mystery of how women are vanishing without a trace in Way's Rim - and menfolk trying to protect their wives, sisters, and daughters keep turning up dead.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Check</div><div class="spoiler_body">Roll a Knowledge (History) Check. Your character knows everything the result passes. If you don't have any ranks in that skill, Roll Intelligence instead.<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">DC 5</div><div class="spoiler_body">The Shadow Marches are not a recognized nation. Rather, the Marches are an independent territory whose established relationships with its neighbors and the outside world come largely from the presence of deals with Orc tribes. The folk of the Shadow Marches have a reputation for xenophobia, and outsiders are rarely welcomed here. The fact that the Village of Way's Rim called for help from outsiders is significant to the danger but not a sign that things will be easy.</div></div><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">DC 10</div><div class="spoiler_body">Orcs make up more than half the population of the Marches, though humans, half-orcs, and other races also dwell here. Way's Rim is mostly Human but with a heavy Orc presence. The Shadow Marches are composed of two distinct cultures—the orc tribes that first settled these lands and the clans formed by later human migrants.<br/>The orc tribes are an insular society, though humans and half-orcs are sometimes accepted into an orc tribe if they can prove themselves. The tribes are territorial, and typically attack trespassers on sight. Thankfully, their territories in the central Marches see few visitors.<br/>Closer to the outer edges of the Marches, mixed clans of humans and half-orcs are more accepting of the outside world, mostly through their association with traders. The clans have more in common with the folk of the “civilized” world than do their kin in the orc tribes, and they demonstrate a greater level of trust toward outsiders.</div></div></div></div><br/>Your journey through the Shadow Marches has left your cloaks and armor covered in mud and your clothes soaked with sweat. Hungry insects buzz around you and the air is hot and wet. Your destination is Way's Rim, a village tied to the Dorrm and Veledaar clans and their associated Orc tribes. The sun is beginning to set when Way's Rim finally comes into view. Like most villages in the Marches, this small community offers few amenities. It's not hard to see how the discovery of the disappearance of the wenches of the Blue Horse Tavern was so quick - at a glance it might be the only tavern in town. Certainly it's the only one of any quality. Without a central authority in the Marches the village reeve is pretty much responsible for all matters of Justice in the Region.<br/><br/>Way's Rim draws it's name from it's days as a research station into the Nexus - a Nexus many believe to be long closed. The ground here is relatively solid for the Marches and the village sits atop a rocky rise. The huts and houses can sit directly upon the ground instead of on stilts like other places in the region. You can see that Orcs, Humans, and Half-Orcs are all working together in nearby orchards or along the main street - none of them seem particularly keen to see you.<br/><br/>Within moments you are approached by a lean and muscular orc. His skin is weathered with streaks of gray in his long, black hair. He doesn't appear to be armed and his clothes are loose peasant clothing but he does seem to be carrying himself with confidence. As you all arrive at least within earshot at about the same time, whether you meant to or not, he addresses all of you at once.<br/><br/>"<strong>Greetings, I am Toraash'Dorrm, the Reeve of Way's Rim. I don't know what brings you here but our Inn is closed and we don't have time for strangers right now. I suggest you move on. Quickly.</strong>"