The five main characters from the isolated community of Desperloch in Age of Umbra Season 1 are central to the story, but their specific names and individual roles have not been detailed in the available sources. The series follows these five people as they band together to protect their community against the horrors of the Halcyon Domain, a dark and lethal land corrupted by the Umbra.

The Umbra is a dark, ethereal mass that roams the Halcyon Domain, corrupting the land and holding twisted, nightmarish forms of the souls of the dead. It causes the dead to be cursed and reborn as fiendish monstrosities. This corruption is a constant threat to the characters, who rely on Sacred Pyres to keep the Umbra at bay and protect their communities. The presence of the Umbra shapes the survivalist and grimdark tone of the series and drives the characters' struggle for hope and survival.

Whispers in the world of Age of Umbra speak of ancient secrets and powers from a lost age, which are said to be ready for discovery by those brave or foolish enough to seek them. These elements hint at deeper mysteries and potential sources of power that may influence the characters' journey and the unfolding plot, though specific details about these secrets and their direct impact on the story have not been explicitly revealed in the available information.

Sacred Pyres are crucial in Age of Umbra as they protect communities from the corrupting influence of the Umbra. They keep the dark mass and the twisted souls it controls at bay, allowing small communities like Desperloch to endure and survive in the hostile environment of the Halcyon Domain. The Pyres symbolize a fragile hope and a line of defense that the characters must maintain to protect their homes and loved ones.

In the Age of Umbra miniseries, played within the Daggerheart campaign frame, death is permanent with no resurrection abilities available. This mechanic emphasizes the grimdark and survivalist nature of the setting, making every decision and encounter potentially fatal. The characters must navigate a world where death is only the beginning, heightening the stakes and the tension throughout the story.