The Old North

These are the first days of summer in the year 986 IR. It is 18 months since the cataclysmic events of the Long Night. The dead rise to attack the living, no pregnancy can be brought to term, magic is dying, gods are silent. Is this the Red Age that heralds the Last War of the gods? Are these the final days of the world?
  12 months ago a group was sent to the mainland from the isolated island of Wayren. The hope was that they would discover what has happened, and learn if anything could be done. They have not returned. Now, Wayren's elders have decided that another group must try. More than half of the island's original population has died since the Long Night. Only a few households still have inhabitants. Some smaller houses have joined together for safety, others prefer to keep to their own. Five days ago, the houses unanimously voted to send a new group to the mainland once the waters were calm enough. Seven houses volunteered to join the expedition. Six of the houses have nominated their representatives, but the seventh house has fallen silent...