Introduction
In the heart of a corrupt city where shadows stretch long and secrets fester, an insidious force lurks beneath the surface. Shadows of the Black Hand is a dark fantasy one-shot adventure designed for 5th-7th level characters, throwing players into a world of conspiracies, abyssal horrors, and moral dilemmas that challenge not only their combat prowess but their very souls.
The Premise
A string of gruesome murders has left the city’s investigators at a loss. The victims, all marked with strange abyssal lacerations, hint at a force far more sinister than simple crime. Detectives Jax Teller and Anya Petrova call upon the party to aid in the investigation, leading them down a rabbit hole of forbidden knowledge, cult activity, and an ancient evil attempting to break free.
As they follow the trail of blood, they uncover the presence of the Black Hand, a secretive cult wielding abyssal magic to reshape the world in their image. Their leader, Malcolm Thorne, stands at the threshold of true demonic ascension, and if his ritual is completed, reality itself may not survive.
Adventure Highlights
A Dark Mystery to Unravel – The adventure begins with an investigation, leading players to seedy underworld dealings, a heavily guarded warehouse, and the ominous depths below the city.
High-Stakes Combat Encounters – From stealth-based infiltration to brutal fights against Black Hand Enforcers, abyssal monstrosities, and Malcolm Thorne himself, every battle has weight.
The Abyssal Portal Mechanic – A Corruption Meter dictates the portal’s power level—if it reaches its peak, an unstoppable horror, Zathygg, The Hungering End, steps through.
Morality-Driven Choices – The party must make hard decisions, such as saving a loved one bound to the ritual or sealing the abyss at a great cost.
A Cinematic Finale – The final confrontation in the ritual chamber is a battle against time, abyssal forces, and their own limits. Will they stop the ritual, or will the world be lost to the void?
Endgame Scenarios
Victory: The party defeats Malcolm, seals the portal, and reports back to the detectives—but the Black Hand still lingers, watching from the shadows.
Total Party Kill (TPK): The party falls, Lucian Draeven fails, and Malcolm’s transformation is complete. The abyss consumes the world.
Doom State: If the portal remains open for too long, Zathygg fully emerges, triggering an unwinnable event—the party must flee, but the world will never be the same.
Conclusion
Shadows of the Black Hand is a dark and intense one-shot, ideal for players who enjoy gritty investigation, high-stakes combat, and eldritch horror elements. The line between hero and monster is razor-thin—will your players resist the abyss, or become part of it?
Dare you face the darkness?
This 50 page adventure has everything you need to get started including PDF adventure, NPC and Monster Tokens, 10 new Magic Item Cards, 8 New Monster Types, and if the party is feeling cocky, a Bonus Hard Mode to take them down a peg.
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