The leader of all the Shadow Guilds, the Ceta Consortium is gone, wiped out in a single night, without warning or witnesses. Their empire of control, secrecy, and soft-handed rule has vanished, leaving behind only rumors and blood. Now, the city of Lumina stands on the edge of something new... and something dangerous. Shadow Guilds is a system-agnostic tabletop campaign setting built for fantasy games that blur the line between ambition and morality. Set in a bustling metropolis of vice, corruption, and uneasy power, it invites players to step into the roles of underworld mafiosos, trying to make their mark—or just survive the fallout. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to run a campaign focused on gang politics, black-market enterprise, and the slow scramble toward power in a world that rewards the bold and punishes the careless. You’ll build a crew, carve out territory, and navigate a world where magic is outlawed, alliances are temporary, and opportunity lurks behind every closed door. This is not a story of chosen heroes or grand prophecies. It’s a story of clever rogues, ruthless enforcers, and ambitious criminals rising into the vacuum left by the old guard. The game leans into roleplay, style, and smart decision-making—but it doesn’t shy away from trouble when it finds you. Start small. Lie often. Watch your back. Shadow Guilds is a system-neutral campaign setting designed to drop into any fantasy world where criminal syndicates thrive in the shadows of power. Whether you're running a long-form campaign, a gritty one-shot, or threading a criminal conspiracy into your existing world, this guide provides the building blocks for a dangerous, decadent underworld full of secrets, turf wars, and moral gray areas. This setting assumes a single sprawling metropolis, where various criminal guilds operate openly or in secret. It leans into noir fantasy, urban intrigue, prohibition, and the uncomfortable alliances forged when justice fails.
Welcome to the Port City of Kak! A jewel in the Duchy of Starryshade and near the disputed border of Pryston Realm. A mecca for traders and gamblers this city has something for everyone. While the city is under the control of the duke, Lord Fargo Mellathan is the sole voice of law in this city. The 8th Viscount yields to the duke on most issues but does not allow military units inside the city limits that are not controlled, or willing to be controlled by Fargo. Traders abound the city limits with items and goods from the corners of the known world. The city is nestled in an easily defensible harbor and the viscount’s men protect the port area with large war engines from the bluff. All adventurers of any experience can find items of interest within the borders of Kak and even locate multiple types of transportation here. Whether the party wants to gamble hard earned gold at Ohmar Mylo’s gambling hall or needs to do research in the Hole of Manuals library, your PCs are sure to find a variety of interesting spots ripe for exploration in Kak. Many rumors can be heard, verified, or quashed along the cobblestone streets of this bustling port city. Flesh out the businesses or better yet, have your players tell you what they expect! This adventure setting was designed for the 5th Edition rules and used in the Filbar Duchy of Starryshade campaign. It is easily adaptable to any campaign or setting. Save yourself some time and utilize it for your own!
You are hired by a mine operator to retrieve the mine's gnomish engineer who has barricaded himself in the mine's lower reaches. But there's more going on than just a crazy gnome and his robots sabotaging the mine. You'll need to explore the forest, build alliances, and brave a rollercoaster ride on a mine cart to get to the bottom of this adventure (pun intended). This is a gamebook-style solo adventure that you can play in your browser. You make a 2nd level character sheet, roll your own dice, keep up with your inventory, spells, and HP, and are on your honor to be honest. It's all text-based with some public domain illustrations, and you click on options as you make decisions and roll the dice.
A terrible plague has swept through the city of Cairdus, and despite the local clergy’s best efforts, they have been unable to control the spread of the disease. Even those who seem cured often contract the disease again. The only thing that is making any headway are the special blessings given by the powerful Baron Velstaf, but he only grants these blessings for a price that few can afford. The Star of Olindor is an adventure designed for 7th-level rogue, or other character of similar abilities. The obstacles in the adventure are set up to encourage the use of stealth and trickery, and many rely on classic rogue skills. The adventure takes place in the city of Cairdus, the details of which have been intentionally left imprecise, so that it can be easily slipped into an existing campaign, or better yet the adventure can be altered to take place in any existing city. Part 1 of the Olindor Trilogy.
This setting brings the players to a community with a jungle atmosphere. Based offshore the city of Ru-Marta is a trading depot and religious center. Several independent adventures are also available for those PCs needing just a little more experience points to level up!
Thief's Challenge is primarily a mystery, a story thick with finger-pointing and double-crosses. It takes a thief to catch a thief in this ONE-ON-ONE™ adventure for one player and the DUNGEON MASTER™. A low- to mid-level character will need sharp wits to bag the Gullwing Bandit! TSR 9420
Whilst spending time in Doorstep, the settlement that has grown up around the gates of Gauntlgrym, the town is attacked by an overwhelming force of orcs and you are pushed back into the city. You and your companions are offered an opportunity to escape the mountain through the trap laden, kobold infested, Red Wing Warrens and get help for the besieged city.
HEAR YE, HERE YE! THE BLACK KNIGHT WILL HOST A TOURNAMENT CHALLENGE! The Black Knight is a mighty warrior. Even though he acts a lot like a bandit, they say he keeps his word. The Black Knight usually raids local towns, but now he is sending out invitations. He offers a tournament, a contest of honor, to all comers. But why would the Black Knight hold a contest? Maybe something more is going on. There is only one way to find out! This module is the first entry-level adventure written especially for a DUNGEON MASTER and a single player. Recommended for one fighter, cleric, dwarf, or elf of levels 1-3 (An option allows for using more characters if you wish). TSR 9387
Penchant for Adventure – 5 takes a single PC and DM back to a popular ‘haunt’. With the normal group taking a little time off your PC hears of a gambling tourney in Penchant which coincides with the annual Reaping Festival. Give your player a chance to “howl at the moon” in this quick but dangerous adventure! Remember, Penchant is not for the faint of heart…but have no fear, the adventure is free so no risk in that regard.
Something is amiss in the town of Rhiannon. Recently raided by a band of vile creatures, the citizens of Rhiannon were shocked to find their lord at the root of the incident. And now Lord Kent is holding a competition for “all walks of life with a propensity for the gambling arts.” Will the PC aid the citizens of Rhiannon and uncover the truth about the mysterious Lord Kent? Or will the PC take this opportunity to line her own pockets? Either way, the answers lie inside the walls of Lord Kent’s keep and the gamblers within.
With survival being the hardest thing at low levels it’s important that PCs are careful and find help where they can. Xavier’s Wand offers a fledgling adventurer the opportunity to shine on their own and find a little help on the road as well. This adventure pits your new “hero” up against a bully and other challenges that will bolster a young adventurers experience and pockets! A thorp, humanoids, and potential henchman are some of the encounters in this adventure.
"Dreams Within Dreams" provides a group of heroes with the first hints that ther eis something more to dreams and nightmares than images caused by eating a big meal right before bedtime. It brings them into contact with the first level of reality. One here who experiences a nightmare also catches the interest of Hypnos, a member of the Nightmare Court. This leads to another revelation - dreams can have profound and even dangerous affect on the waking world. Adventure I: Dreams Within Dreams From Book Three: Book of Nightmares: https://www.adventurelookup.com/adventures/the-nightmare-lands TSR 1124
East of the great city of Filbar is the Village of Xer. This large village is the gateway to the Eastern lands and the humanoid tribes. Xer was originally the army base for the Bloodrayne Conflict of 715. After the battle the wounded returned to the serene woods and some remained after that. Since then it has been a comfortable caravan stop for many weary travelers.
One page side quest, one page maps. For amusement, twenty years ago, a transient vampire passed its blood curse to a flying squirrel making it undead, intelligent, and immune to aging. The squirrel calls itself Darkfang and mostly enjoys preying on tiny humanoids, favoring halflings, elves, & young humans. DF often relocates as years ago it learned humanoids seek justice. To avoid notice, DF may move lairs after killing a humanoid. Three solid adventure hooks are provided. Published by Wicked Cool Games
Some games aren't played for fun. A friendly little gambling game - with the most bizarre players and rules! Pgs. 24-32
As a future hero, your master has given you one last task to complete before releasing you from your training - delivering a message. Knowing that you are about to start your career on your own is exciting and this task should be a simple one. A two day trip to congratulate Lord Siklos on the wedding of his daughter and you will control your own destiny. Little do you realize that something has gone terribly wrong at the ceremony! This adventure setting was designed for 1st/2nd Edition AD&D for the Filbar Campaign for a solo/low level adventurer and DM.
With your last adventure complete you head to town to sell off loot, replenish supplies and to find a bard to tell your tale to so that your fame can increase. As the group goes their separate ways you are wandering through the muddy streets when a shriek is heard. You see a man stab a merchant and attempt to escape. With no time to gather your associates you call for your mount (or borrow one) and give pursuit! This scenario is a true solo meaning you don’t need a DM to officiate. It is suggested that a 4th level be used for “meatier” characters or 5th for those of less daunting stats.
A medium sized city is perfect for adventurers who are adventuring in or near a large plains environment where natives/barbarians can be found. Landos is set in a vast plains where natives simliar to American Indians would be from. The city itself is seeking to "civilize" itself by giving more space to upscale businesses as the native population moves back out to the plains. Landos is run by the Caravan Masters who are responsible for trade throughout the civilized lands. See also F6 - Euriduis of Santos. Landos is also the setting for the murder mystery Butchery of the Geldamore.
Mimic Madness is a psudeo-adventure with four interesting mimic encounters. These four encounters are structured in a way that they can be used together as one adventure, or each individually dropped into any adventure from EL4 to 7. The encounters vary the mimic's tactics significantly, such as by having them we a weapon rack that wields the weapon it holds, pretending to be animated furniture using its ability to speak, and pretending to be a floor covering a pit; none of them rely on the typical chest or door mimics. Pgs. 24-25
This adventure was not meant to be a serious campaign addition but could with some tweaking. Instead, we present this as more of a seasonal classic based on a popular movie. The scenario is a solo PC attempting to locate a runaway during the holidays. With a gypsy, a runaway, and an old “abandoned” house what could possibly go wrong?