The Dread Marshes lie as a bleak and treacherous expanse of swampland directly south of the City of Evernight, forming a natural barrier between the city and the distant Crimson Hand Fortress, which is perched on the side of a great volcano beyond a river. The marshes are infamous for their inhospitable nature and the horrors lurking within their murky, blackened waters.
Legends speak of ancient aquatic aberrations that dwell within the depths of the Dread Marshes, beings older than the gods themselves. Though these tales have never been directly confirmed, the constant disappearances and sightings of grotesque, unnatural creatures fuel the belief that something far older and far more terrifying resides beneath the surface. These ancient beings are rumored to be relics of a time before the pantheon and could pose a threat to any who disturb them.
The marshes are a lifeless, desolate wasteland, where little to no natural life can thrive. The toxic water, poisonous vapors, and endless bogs offer nothing but death for those foolish or unlucky enough to venture within. Instead, the marshes are home to monstrous creatures that feed on whatever life they can find. The savage Skullywugs and hulking Banderhobbs are some of the most feared denizens, mutated frog-like monstrosities with insatiable appetites that hunt anyone crossing their path. These creatures, coupled with the marsh's own natural dangers, make it a place few dare to tread.
During the events of the Battle of the Four Armies, the Dread Marshes served as one of the major battlegrounds. This bloody conflict witnessed the forces of the Shadowlords, Crimson Hand, Night Mothers Chosen, and the Floating City of Netheril clash in a devastating battle that scarred the landscape even further. Many wayward Shade and Draekhir warriors disappeared into the marshes during the battle, never to be seen again.
Now, the Dread Marshes stand as a constant reminder of the dark powers that still plague the land. Few dare to cross it, and even fewer survive the journey. It is a cursed land of death, feeding the ever-growing fear that something far more dangerous stirs beneath its depths.