The village of Hollowbrook is encountering hard times with a twist. People are disappearing. However, crops have never been healthier. Beneath the ancient cemetery, something stirs and bothers the dead, but the living has been keeping a closed eye.

The ancient crypts that once served as a sanctuary for the dead have become a hunting ground for the restless. Shadows slither in the dark. The villagers speak in hushed tones of The Hollow One, an ancient being that was sealed beneath the vale centuries ago. Now, the seals are breaking.

Shadow of the Hallow Vale: Chapter 1 is a dark fantasy one-shot for 5e, designed for level 3 characters. Featuring deep lore, tactical encounters, and a rich narrative, this one-shot is designed to deliver a balanced mix of combat, exploration, and roleplay, all wrapped in a chilling atmosphere of creeping dread.

And this is only the beginning.

Shadow of the Hallow Vale is an ongoing dark fantasy campaign presented as a series of standalone one-shots. Each chapter builds upon the last, unraveling the mystery of the Hollow One and the magic that has corrupted and/or blessed the vale.

Chapter 1: Whispers in the Dark serves as the perfect introduction to the campaign:

The story will evolve in future chapters.

The PDF for Shadow of the Hallow Vale: Chapter 1 includes:

Unique Monsters and Tactics: Fully designed stat blocks and tactics for each encounter. Monster art is bought from Jeremy Hart.

Chapter 1 is only the first step. The corruption beneath Hollowbrook is spreading, the fractured seals holding the Hollow One at bay are breaking. Dark ley lines pulse beneath the earth, fueling ancient powers long thought dead.

Future chapters will bring the adventurers deeper into the Hallow Vale’s dark heart:
Chapter 2 - Echoes of the Hollow: Face the corrupted druids and the blighted forest.
Chapter 3 - The Forgotten Fortress: An ancient guardian awakens beneath the crumbling ruins.
Chapter 4 - Into the Hollow: The final seal is breaking beneath the vale’s forgotten temple.
Chapter 5 - The Hollow One: Confront the heart of the corruption before reality collapses.

We’ve designed the pledge levels to be straightforward and accessible:

We’re keeping stretch goals simple and achievable:

$1,500 – Additional monsters and more maps.
$3,000 – All Hollowbrook Residents will have an NPC art.
$5,000 – Bonus encounter: "The Reaver’s Return" a short side quest to expand the story.
$7,500 – Unlock sneak peeks from "Echoes of the Hollow" (Chapter 2).

The PDFs will be fulfilled through DriveThruRPG.

The Hallow Vale is calling. Shadows gather beneath the earth. The Hollow One is waking. The Hallow Vale Awaits... Will You Face the Darkness?