Operation Black Madonna
(Delta Green Shotgun Scenario By Dregarexter)
Introduction
The Icon of the Madonna of Ozeriany, known as the Black Madonna, is an ancient Ukrainian legend. It appeared suddenly in a field in the 1930s and after performing several miracles it vanished just as mysteriously, causing great concern among the Ukrainian community of the time. They interpreted it as a sign that something disastrous would happen. Indeed, many catastrophic events have occurred in Ukraine since then, culminating in the conflict with Russia in 2022.
On December 20, 2025, the body of a Russian soldier (from the 12th Motorized Infantry Company of the Russian Army, which launched the offensive on Kharkiv from Belgorod, then moved to Sumy in November) is found on the front lines.
Inside his backpack, there is a diary that recounts a surreal experience in a cave near Vodyane, which seems to confirm the existence of the Madonna of Ozeriany.
The Program must investigate. The Madonna of Ozeriany is more than a religious symbol. It could be an unnatural artifact with memetic powers and ties to another dimension. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could change the course of the war and bring terrible consequences.
ACT I - “THE BODY AND THE DIARY”
The agents may already be at a NATO European base, in Ramstein, where the Program has gathered them for a briefing. An official from the Program shows them the video of the Russian soldier from the 12th Motorized Infantry Company of the Red Army. Among his belongings, there is a diary and a photo that seems to depict the missing icon. The diary tells of a refuge in a cave near Vodyane, which is not precisely geolocated, where the soldier and his comrades took shelter after a close-quarters battle against the 34th Mechanized Ukrainian Army Company.
The description is vague, mentioning a stone altar and an unnatural light apparently reflected from the painting. The story becomes darker: one by one, the soldier’s comrades disappear into the cave, until he, overcome by fear, flees, taking the chalice with him. The photo on the soldier’s phone clearly shows the Icon of the Madonna of Ozeriany, which is recognizable because there are copies made in the 1930s.
The fact that the Russian soldier had a solid gold chalice (worth $10,000) makes the story believable. The fact that his comrades died in mysterious circumstances seems to support the theory that this is the true icon.
If anyone attempts a geolocation analysis of the phone, they discover that the Russian soldier had disabled the function for security reasons, but in October, his phone connected to the only cell tower in the Vodyane area. He was really there.
The agents must now decide on the cover they will use to go to the location, which could be either civilian or military. They should also keep in mind (which they discover if they search for information) that Vodyane is currently contested by Russian forces present to the east and south.
ACT II - "THE SEARCH FOR THE CAVE"
The town is a pile of rubble; almost all citizens have left except for about a hundred brave souls, including women, children, and the elderly, who do not know where to go. The 34th Mechanized Ukrainian Company, part of the 16th Multi-Armored Army Corps, is stationed there. It faces the 23rd Motorized Russian Infantry Company.
The Monastery of Borisoglebsk
The agents can speak with Father Mykhailo Ivanchuk (common civilian stats), a Ukrainian priest who manages the Borisoglebsk Monastery, where the icon was kept in the 1930s. The priest can talk about the history of the Madonna of Ozeriany, but he is skeptical of the legends surrounding it. He tells that, in the 1930s, a farmer found the icon in a field and accidentally cut it in half with a scythe, taking it home. The next day, the Madonna was miraculously found intact, and the farmer mysteriously died. The icon was moved to the monastery, where it reportedly performed some miracles and healings, but with little documented evidence. It was famously known as a symbol of salvation and redemption. One day, however, it mysteriously vanished, as did the prior, Father Svarivoslav Filippowycz. The legend says that the icon was stolen by the Russians, and the priest died defending it or, according to other stories, committed suicide due to the despair of the icon's disappearance.
The priest doesn't know much about the caves, but if questioned more specifically after speaking with the mayor, he reflects on the underground tunnels, stating that he had read something in the archives, which he will make available. The archives are vast, and reading them all is improbable. If the characters know how to read Russian/Ukrainian, and they make a specific roll (Accounting, History, or Search), they may find a document that talks about an underground chapel used during World War I as a refuge and for praying, near the cemetery south of the city.
If the agents reason that the icon disappeared in the 1930s and decide to investigate documents or records from that era or earlier, they gain a +40 bonus for accessing records from that time.
The Mayor of Vodyane
Anastasia Romaniv, the mayor of Vodyane (common civilian stats), is a worried woman seeking resources for the town. She has never hidden her hope that the war will end soon, even though the human cost is too high. She tells the agents that her grandmother often spoke of the legend of the icon and that, although she doesn't believe in these things, she imagines that finding it could give the Ukrainians symbolic hope in these difficult times. Anastasia knows that many of her fellow citizens have fled, but about a hundred have remained: the elderly, the sick, and some children. She can't help them find the cave, but she says she doesn't believe there are real caves in the area, but rather tunnels often used by soldiers.
Ukrainian Lieutenant
Lieutenant Igor Sokolov, commander of the 34th Mechanized Ukrainian Army Company, offers a different point of view. He doesn't believe in the icon's legend but is curious. He doesn't know about caves in the area, but he knows about tunnels used by Ukrainian soldiers.
He can guarantee that none of the Ukrainian tunnels contain the icon, and no Russians have ever entered them. However, in the south and east zones, he can't say because they are under Russian control. If the agents help his unit in some way, with weapons or by conducting a targeted strike (using Heavy Weapon or Artillery skill), he may provide soldiers and resources for the mission.
The Black Market Merchant
A mysterious man, Sergiy Kuzmich (Ukrainian soldier stats), approaches the agents. He is a weapons, resources, and information smuggler. He has heard of the Black Madonna and knows that the chalice and the icon are valuable items. He proposes selling information, weapons, or resources, but it quickly becomes clear that he's not interested in doing any good.
His offer of black market weapon could be useful, but it’s a risky deal. Kuzmich is ambiguous and will not hesitate to betray the agents if they are not careful. He might also reveal the location of the underground entrance if the agents cannot obtain this information at the monastery.
ACT III - THE CEMETERY AND THE GUARDIAN
The Entrance to the Cave is in a Russian-Controlled Zone, and the agents will need to cross through it. They will certainly encounter a Russian unit and have to fight against them. This conflict can be handled traditionally or, if the agents have any ritual knowledge, they could try an alternative method. If the Ukrainian soldiers are with them, or if the lieutenant has given them a radio, they can request mortar fire.
Once they reach the entrance, they will encounter the MRUD directional mine that the Russian soldier had mentioned in his diary. The agents must find it and disarm it. After navigating the entry tunnel, the agents find themselves in a sacred space where the icon is displayed above the stone altar. But it is guarded by the Custodian, a figure who was once Father Svarivoslav Filippowycz (now over a century old), transformed into a ghoul by the icon's unnatural power. He is the immortal guardian of the icon and will fight to the death to protect it.
The ghoul initially is not in sight and tries to attack the agents stealthily, taking them out one by one, and dragging their bodies into hidden pits. If there are Ukrainian soldiers with the agents, they are the first to be killed automatically.
If the guardian is confronted or is at risk of dying, he will attempt to speak to the agents, explaining his role and that he cannot allow the world to find the icon.
Once the Icon is taken, it will try to charm the character who carries it (POW×5, 1d4/1d10 SAN), and they will be seduced by it. Additionally, once they exit the Cave, Sergei might be interested in buying it to resell it at an auction.
In case an additional serious complication is needed, once the ghoul is killed, it will be discovered that he activated a 10-kiloton atomic demolition charge left by a Russian squad killed several years earlier in the cave (Science/Electronic, Demolotion,Luck or similar roll at handler’s discretion to disarm it).
STATS BLOCK
The Icon of the Madonna of Ozeriany (AKA Black Madonna)
Description of the Icon:
The Madonna of Ozeriany is a seemingly traditional religious icon, but it carries with it a history of curse and unnatural power. Painted on an ancient wooden surface by the followers of a cult of Shub Nigurrath in pre-Russian times, The icon depicts a woman with dark skin, draped in a richly decorated cloak, with eyes that seem to live beyond the canvas. In her arms, she holds a baby, whose gaze is unnaturally intense, as though the child is aware of something beyond the mortal realm. The figure of the Madonna is austere, but an unsettling presence pervades the painting as if somebody is looking from another dimension.
The distinctive features of this icon make it unique among other Marian representations:
- Unusual pigments: The paint used to create the icon seems to absorb light and, under certain conditions, emits a faint luminescence in the dark. These pigments are believed to come from non-terrestrial materials, possibly minerals extracted from a meteorite that fell centuries ago, a link to cosmic entities beyond human understanding.
- Blurry and mutable details: Those who look at the icon for too long begin to notice that the details of the Madonna's cloak or her hands become vague and blurry, almost as if reality itself cannot define them.
- Regenerative powers: The icon is capable of feeding off others’ suffering, instilling, in return, feelings of false hope that can lead to beliefs of being cured of non-existent diseases or, worse still, the illusion of a healing that never took place.
- Corruption of body and spirit: Daily proximity to the icon causes a loss of sanity of 0/1d4 per day. Once the Breaking Point is reached, the person becomes seduced by the icon and compelled to remain close to it. There are no other manifestations of madness beyond this. When sanity reaches zero, the person transforms into a Ghoul.
- Anyone who sees the icon for the first time suffers 1d4/1d12 SAN loss. The icon seems alive, luminescent, and around it, one seems to see shadows in motion.
Filippowycz Ghoul
STR: 16, CON: 14, DEX: 15, INT: 12, POW: 14, CHA: 8, HP: 18, SAN: —
Skills: Stealth 80%, Unarmed 70%, Melee 60% Occult 60%, Athletics 60%
Attacks: Bite: 70%, damage 1D6+1; Claws: 60%, damage 1D8+2; Grab: 70% (if it grabs an agent, holds for 1 round and deals 2D6 damage)
Special Attacks:
Unstoppable Grip: can carry bodies moving at superhuman speed. Mental Mimicry: can hide in the agents' perception if not directly looked at (if they fail POW×5). Endless Resurrection: if the icon is in sight, it can revive in 1d4x10 minute.
SAN Loss: 0/1D6 for seeing it in action; 1/1D10 if its true nature is revealed.
Common Ukrainian Civilian
STR: 10, CON: 11, DEX: 10, INT: 12, POW: 10, CHA: 10, HP: 10, SAN: 50Skills:Alertness: 40%, Persuade: 50%, Drive: 40%, Bureaucracy: 30%, Survival: 40%, Unarmed Combat: 30%Weapons:Improvised Weapon: 40%, 1D4Tactics: Civilian behavior, non-combatant. Tends to flee or hide during hostile encounters.
Ukrainian Soldier
STR: 12, CON: 13, DEX: 12, INT: 11, POW: 12, CHA: 9 -HP: 12, SAN: 45Skills: Alertness: 60%, Firearms: 50%, Military Science: 60%, Athletics: 50%, Demolitions: 45%, Survival: 50%, Unarmed Combat: 40%, Stealth: 50%, SIGINT: 40%, Drive: 50%Weapons: Assault Rifle: 60%, 1D10, Grenades: 50%, 2D6
Small UAV (Kamikaze drone): 50%, 1D12 (damage is explosive, range 100-500 meters)Tactics: Standard infantry tactics, use of cover, basic drone operations for reconnaissance and offensive. Familiar with urban combat and guerrilla tactics.
Russian Soldier
STR: 13, CON: 14, DEX: 13, INT: 12, POW: 13, CHA: 9 - HP: 14, SAN: 40Skills: Alertness: 55%, Firearms: 60%, Military Science: 60%, Athletics: 55%, Demolitions: 50%, Unarmed Combat: 40%, Stealth: 45%, Tactics: 55%, Drone Operation (Kamikaze UAV): 60%Weapons: AK-74: 65%, 1D10, RPG-7: 50%, 2D10 (explosive), Small UAV (Kamikaze drone): 60%, 1D12 (explosive, range 100-500 meters)Tactics: Standard Russian infantry tactics, heavy use of artillery and drones. Skilled in urban warfare and ambushes. Capable of operating and deploying small UAVs for surveillance and kamikaze strikes.
Ukrainian Lieutenant
STR: 14, CON: 14, DEX: 12, INT: 14, POW: 14, CHA: 13HP: 16, SAN: 45Skills: Alertness: 70%, Firearms: 60%, Military Science: 70%, Leadership: 60%, Athletics: 50% Mortar Operations (60mm Mortar): 65%, Tactics: 70%, Demolitions: 50%, Survival: 50%, Unarmed Combat: 40%, Drive: 45%Weapons:
Assault Rifle: 70%, 1D10, Mortar (60mm): 65%, 2D6 (radius 5 meters), Grenades: 60%, 2D6Tactics: Leadership skills in command situations, battlefield decision-making, and coordination of infantry and mortar fire. Proficient in coordinating fire support and organizing troop movements.
Handout 1 – Diary of a Russian Soldier:
October 15, 2025
“We were stuck. The battle on the outskirts of Vodyane was relentless. The Ukrainians had the upper hand—being in the heart of the besieged city, they could use the buildings for cover and pick us off with their snipers. Every time we tried to advance, they hit us with mortar fire. We could barely make it out of the trenches without taking casualties. My squad—five men—was tired. Our morale was shot, and the constant shelling made it hard to keep going. That night, after one of the most intense attacks we’d faced, we managed to find shelter in a cave. We weren’t expecting anything more than a place to rest and regroup, but we knew better than to let our guard down completely. I set up a MRUD mine at the entrance, just in case the Ukrainians decided to surprise us while we slept. I wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice. Once we were inside, we ventured further into the cave, walking cautiously through the narrow tunnels. The air was damp and heavy with the smell of earth. It wasn’t much, but it was shelter, and we needed it. We walked for what felt like hours, turning a corner, and then we saw it. A large chamber opened up before us. In the center of the room was a stone altar. And hanging above it, an icon of the Madonna, her face serene but unnervingly intense, as if watching over us. The icon seemed… wrong. It emitted a strange glow, a light that wasn’t quite natural. It was almost like it was radioactive—the air around it felt thick, heavy, as though we were breathing something toxic. In front of the altar was a golden chalice. It caught my eye immediately. The gold gleamed under the dim light, and I could see it was encrusted with diamonds. I had to see it up close, to touch it. I didn’t know why, but something drew me in. I barely noticed when Igor, one of the guys in the squad, asked where Yuri and Seregei had gone. I wasn’t paying attention. I was too focused on that chalice. I snapped a quick picture of the icon on my phone—it looked even stranger in the photo, as though it were alive. Then I turned around to look for the others… and they were gone. I called out for them, but there was no answer. The silence hit me like a slap. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. It was as if something had shifted in the room. I turned back to the icon, and for the first time, I felt like it was watching me—not just in a way that made me uncomfortable, but in a way that made me feel like I was being judged. That feeling… it was like it knew me. The Madonna, in the painting, looked at me with eyes that felt so… cold. So severe. Panic set in. I knew something was wrong. I grabbed the chalice, not thinking, just acting, desperate to take something with me. I ran. Ran faster than I’d ever run before, not stopping, not thinking about anything but getting out of that place. I made it out of the tunnel, and I didn’t stop until I found another unit. I told them the others were dead. Mortar fire. The same story I’d used before. I couldn’t tell them about the icon or the chalice. I couldn’t explain the feeling, the dread, the sense of loss. I couldn’t tell them what had happened in that cave. But I kept the chalice. I hid it, knowing it was a prize. And somehow, it felt like I was protecting it—as if it needed to be protected. Maybe it’s madness. Maybe it’s the war. But I can’t stop thinking about it—the icon, the chalice, the way it seemed to watch me. I don’t know why I’m keeping this, but I can’t bring myself to get rid of it. I can’t bring myself to tell anyone about what really happened. Something inside me tells me that I’ll never be the same again after this.”
Handout 2 - Icon of the Madonna of Ozeriany
Handout 3 – Cemetary Battlemap
Credits
The Black Madonna was written by Dregarexter for the 2025 Shotgun Scenario contest.
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eMpah6vOdnmtokj7SLGsBaYGooHRjb5pQiS_GMds7OQ/edit
NB: AI generated images originally uploaded with this scenario have been deleted in line with Fairfield Wiki policy not to host AI "art".