Root of the Rot - Investigation & Moral Complexity in a 5E One-Shot [PWYW]

I'm excited to share my latest project: Root of the Rot, a 5E compatible one-shot adventure that's a bit different from your typical "kill the monster" scenario.

The Premise: A frontier village is dying from a mysterious blight. Everyone blames the forest witch, but what if the real monster is fear and ignorance itself?

What Makes It Special: 

Investigation-focused - Four detailed locations with environmental storytelling 

Moral complexity - No clear villains, just people making bad choices from desperation 

Rich NPCs - Five characters with real motivations, secrets, and complete stat blocks 

Beginner-friendly - Clear structure for new DMs, engaging for experienced players 

Professional presentation - 29 pages with full-color artwork and handouts

This adventure came from wanting to explore what happens when the "villain" isn't actually evil, just misunderstood. Players can resolve the situation through investigation, negotiation, combat, or political maneuvering. All paths are valid, but the consequences differ dramatically.

Technical Details:

• 29-page professional PDF with full-color artwork
• 3-4 hour playtime
• 4-6 characters, 5th level (scales for 3rd-7th level)
• Complete stat blocks (no Monster Manual needed)
• Three handouts, quick references, scaling advice
• Digital-optimized with bookmarks and hyperlinks

I'm launching this as Pay What You Want because I believe good adventures should be accessible to everyone. If you try it and enjoy it, any support helps me create more content like this!

The investigation system actually works—clues feel earned rather than handed out, and player choices genuinely matter. It's perfect for groups tired of hack-and-slash who want something with real emotional stakes.

Link: https://questludica.itch.io/root-of-the-rot

Would love to hear thoughts from fellow creators and players! What kinds of moral dilemmas do you like to explore in your games?

Thanks for checking it out! 🌲✨