The Holy Roman Empire, Anno 1581. A shadow of terror falls upon the Diocese of Eichstätt as a series of bestial murders, each bearing the gruesome signature of black sorcery, instills fear in the hearts of the devout.
Vicar General Ignatius Keller, a man of sharp intellect and unwavering faith, is dispatched from Eichstätt to hunt down the perpetrator. Accompanied by his young, scholarly notary, Caspar Wagner, Keller's investigation plunges them into a labyrinth of superstition, corruption within the Church itself, and unspeakable human depravity.
As they unravel the horrifying truth, they find themselves on the trail of a cunning and elusive fiend whose methods are inspired by the real-life 16th-century serial killer and alleged master of the dark arts, Peter Niers. From desecrated chapels to the haunted ruins of Finsterberg, Keller and Wagner must confront not only a master of camouflage and his brutal followers but also their own deepest fears.
Inspired by historical events, SCHWARZKUNST is a chilling journey into a time when the lines between human cruelty and demonic influence blurred, and one man's faith is pitted against an evil that threatens to consume all.