D&D 5th: The Dying Lands

I am looking to run a 5th edition campaign on Thursday nights, around 9 PM - 12 PM EST, Sessions for three hours weekly, USA. I am hoping to find mostly newer players to D&D 5th edition, or at least no power-gamers. Actor / roleplayers or fans of plot, puzzles and intrigue preferred, as the game is skill and RP more than combat.

I'm seeking to run a narrative style game, that will have some combat but more skill and roleplaying challenges than combat. Combat will be harsh, and deadly healing is slow and rare (i.e. harsh and gritty healing and resting on full.)

Seeking Lots of descriptions by GM and players. Interesting PCs, and NPCs.

The setting is called "The Dying Lands", in what is these days called The Realm of Ningulas, the remnants of what used to be The Magocracy of the Realm of Essealloth.

The History of the Setting:
The legends say that four thousand years ago, the Portals of the Wizards of Legacy were used to move about the Realm of Essealoth as they wished, throughout the land, and they ruled wisely and well for over a thousand years...

But it came to pass that the Wizards were struck by a magical sickness, "The Wasting" that could not be cured, and they became frail, and weak, covered with wounds that bled, and would not heal.

They all struggled mightily to find a cure, but over time, they all eventually perished, leaving no apprentices, and with their passing, the secrets of the Portals were gone with them, leaving many of the dimly understood magical implements of the wizards in their crumbling towers, and overgrown dungeons.

The people endured for a time without guidance, but soon the power vacuum created yielded to warlords. The Nine Kingdoms came into being as the known lands divided, and warred with each other in "The War of Staves", which raged across the continent. Much of what had been built was laid to ruin.

A dark time fell upon the Land, and many cities perished, sacked and looted, starved for lack of food. But after a time uncounted, a legendary hero, named Ningulas the Strong, established his Kingdom in the Mountains of the East, (in what is now known as Ladhone) forging bonds of allegiance among the Stone Tribes, who united under his banner. His sons, and his son's sons ruled for dozens of generations, slowly regaining the prosperity that once held sway during the Rule of Wizards.

But in the West, the Cult of the Snake took hold, and many were converted to the worship of reptiles, and snakes.

Years passed, and the Gods decreed the practices to the West to be abominable, and came forth from the clouds in an event called The Judgement to sear the land with heat, and flame, and what was not burned was drowned as the very oceans crossed the lands, salting it so that nought would grow.

With that the Cult of the Serpent collapsed.

The chronicling of recorded events began with The Temple of Tomes, Established at the great Library of Lirith. That was 660 years ago.

[More to come]

The Campaign begins in the Town of Shamet, the Westernmost town of Ningulas, lying at the Eastern edge of the Salt Waste.

To the Northeast lies Naramunz (the Kingdom of the Gray Mountains) and beyond that, Egron, (the Kingdom of the Silent Forest.)
To the East, surrounding Mount Norreth lies The Theocracy of Helad.
To the Southeast, past the Graven Mountains lies Ladhone, the Theocracy of Scrolls.
To the South, across the Salladrim River, lies the Asiq Desert, and the Barren Lands of Tormet.
To the Southwest lie the Canyons of Chaos, and beyond that, The Doomblade March.
To the West across the Salt Waste and the Parched Lands lies The Iron Empire of Zaddabilg, and the Diamond Sea.
To the Northwest, across the The Nulbaram Highlands lies Siriene, the Kingdom of the Centaur Woods.
To the North, across the The Riven Steppe lies Dorwine, the Republic of Voices.