Malevolence 5e
The house has stood abandoned on its lonely hilltop, brooding quietly over the ruins of a once thriving town for decades. No one has lived within its walls since the night a terrific storm flooded the coastal town below - and since a tragedy struck down the noble family that once dwelt within - but now, the mansion has attracted the attention of a curious group of adventurers. What is the truth behind the tragic past that empowers the evil that grips the mansion today, and what might happen to the world of Golarion if the sinister influences that grow within these haunted walls are allowed to build beyond the breaking point?
Hello everyone!
My Strange Aeons campaign is progressing at a steady and satisfying pace, and I still have plenty of time to run a second game, so I'm opening up recruitment for a one-shot adventure. "Malevolence" was originally written for Pathfinder 2e, but has been reworked to be playable under 5e rules as well.
What’s the story?
The year is 4721 AR, mid-month of Rova (equivalent to our September). Noblewoman Calindra Jhaltero of House Jhaltero has hired you to investigate an area west of Ravounel - specifically, the old, abandoned estate of the last Chelish count to rule these lands. The government of Kintargo plans to build a new port there, but before the project begins, the site needs to be fully inspected and cleared of any lingering problems. Your assignment is to explore this notorious, supposedly haunted estate, which lies in the middle of nowhere. For completing the job, you'll receive 600 gold pieces from Calindra, to be divided among the group.
The premise assumes that you are already in Kintargo and you've worked for Calindra before - though never together - so you'll be meeting one another for the first time at the start of the adventure. Calindra is known to be sharp, ambitious, and rapidly rising through the ranks in Kintargo. She oversees a network of agents who handle occult investigations and sensitive matters for both private clients and the government. Well-connected within Ravounel’s nobility, she is known for giving her operatives a great deal of autonomy and allowing them to keep copies of any books, documents, or arcane knowledge they uncover - things typically hidden from the public. You can play one of her regular agents or a freelance investigator who occasionally accepts her assignments - or any character concept that fits the tone. (Cheliax loyalists, however, are not a good match for this story.)
Themes: horror, suspense, investigation.
Most of the story takes place in and around a haunted estate. Themes include body horror, domestic violence, mutilation, suicide, and mental illness. If any of these are uncomfortable or triggering for you, please consider sitting this one out - this is a mature, adult-oriented adventure.
No prior knowledge of the setting is required. Any necessary context will be provided in-game or in the OOC thread. The linked resources will also be enough to give your character a place in the world.
How we’ll play:
I'm looking for 4-5 players to explore the estate and unravel its secrets. Posting pace will be one post every 4 days per player. If I ever need extra time to reply, I’ll let you know in advance.
I will not accept any requests to join the game until after the application period has ended.
Build Suggestions:
Characters should be relatively versatile. Out-of-combat skills will be important for everyone, but combat ability is equally essential. Party balance will be a key factor in selection, and I’ll be reviewing submitted PCs with that in mind. Investigation, research and combat are the main pillars of the game.
Skills like Religion, Arcana, Investigation, and Insight are highly recommended. Certain specialized lores may also prove useful (e.g., Occultism or background-based lore related to supernatural research).
The adventure is challenging and potentially deadly - having the means to regroup, heal, and counter possession or mind-affecting effects is vital.
Characters who can fulfill roles such as Divine Support, Arcane Knowledge, Skills & Survival, and Lore/Utility will be the most effective in this scenario.
As this is an exploration-based adventure that generally takes place indoors in close quarters, classes that excel at wilderness themes, such as druids and rangers, should focus on choices that will allow them to function well outside of their usual environments.
The setting is extremely remote - the nearest city (Pezzack in Cheliax) is nearly 100 miles away, so plan your purchases carefully. After the party is selected, you’ll have the opportunity to make some purchase of supplies in-game, so feel free to set aside some gold if you want.
If you're planning to sign up for the game, please check the character creation section. You'll find all the most important information there.
The recruitment deadline is August 15, 2025, midnight (GMT).
I reserve the right to close recruitment early if I receive enough strong character submissions.
Want to see more? Sign up or log in to read the full game, post, and play — you'll land right back here.