In this series of adventures, the setting of play is the wilderness near the village of Wentworth, Shaltor Notch, and the mountains to the east that border the Kingsway. Shaltor Notch, of historic and strategic importance, is a narrow pass in the Snowpeak Mountains through which runs the Kingsway, a paved road many centuries old, patrolled and maintained by the King. Spanning the notch is a fortification that has been turned into an inn, and at the foot of the notch on the west side is the ancient Barrow of Shaltor Plain.
On Thunder Peak stands the castle of Morlach the Malicious, a member of the Brotherhood of the Bolt, an ancient secret society of necromancers. Morlach is attempting to gain power, either by becoming an undead lord (the ultimate aim of all of the members of the Brotherhood) or by becoming powerful in local mundane matters. He is convinced the way to these goals is by breaking into the Barrow.