When you ask a returning traveller what they saw in the Shadow Marches, they will usually list three things: swamps, orcs, and dragonshards. That basically sums up the region.

It is also the birthplace of the half orc race, who they call the Jhorgun’tal. Sarlonian refugees from the Sundering came to its shores around -500 YK, and after a few years of conflict with the local orcs, they eventually made peace, and interbred. The Mark of Finding manifested not long after in humans and half-orcs, to be found by House Sivis about 500 years later. Their efforts to exploit the land drove the naturally tribal groupings to come together.

The Shadow Marches Triumvirate is the closest thing to a ruling body in the region. Druidism is common throughout the region, and the most influential sect are the Gatekeepers. On the other end of the spectrum, the Cults of the Dragon Below also have a strong influence on local politics.

Geography

• The Marches form the southwestern corner of the continent, bordered by three nations: the Demon Wastes to the north, over the Shadowcrags, the Eldeen Reaches to the northeast, and Droaam to the east. The landscape is dominated by marshland, the Crawling Swamp to the north and the Vile Swamp to the south. Zarash’ak Bay is the center for western naval business.
• Notable Locations
  • Zarash’ak is the nominal capital (population: 6,000); its main focus is commerce, and even the Triumvirate rarely meets there.

Demographics

• 500,000
• 55% orc
• 25% human
• 10% half-orc
• 7% goblin
• 3% other