Throughout the history of the Realms, wars have been fought. Whether the wars were fought between rival nations or the forces of good and evil, the history books tell of bloody massacre upon massacre. That is until King Joseph Dover came into power some 450 years ago, uniting the human kingdoms and making treaties between elves, men, and dwarves. Since then relative peace has settled upon the Realms, with only occasional border skirmishes with goblin and orc tribes.
It was in this time of peace that the moon rose and covered the sun, an event not scheduled for another three months. The next day, the sun was likewise covered, from dawn to sunset. The people of the Realms, as well as its animals, began to act strangely. The solar eclipse continued, day after day, and the world has gone totally mad. Even the gods are insane, and the prayers of clerics go unanswered. Somthing is terribly wrong in the Realms, and only the most powerful adventurers can hope to find out how to stop it.
Each of you has journeyed to the Haunted Lands, and your trips have shown you the extent the minds of those dwelling in the Realms have been afflicted. Upon reaching the Haunted Lands, you fail to understand why they were given that name. Stories are told of the walking dead who roam this land, yet none of you have experienced any thus far. You have an uneasy feeling, however, even though nothing has yet attacked you. Eventually six persons, all well known and respected, are gathered here. They are:
A final word:the world is suffering greatly from the loss of the sun, and it can not be much longer before the damage becomes irreversable. Your most hopeful estimate is that within three days, nothing will be able to save the Realms. If you are to succeed, it must be within that amount of time.