A Dungeon Built to Punish the Greedy, Not the Weak
This is a ready-to-use trap dungeon focused on player greed and moral decisions over combat stats. It follows the full SOP: Mike's signature voice, SEO, 6+ live links, system-neutral mechanics, and plug-and-play design.
A Dungeon Built to Punish the Greedy, Not the Weak
Mike’s Thoughts from the Barstool
Now I’ve seen fools trigger traps by sneezin’ on the wrong tile, but nothin’ — and I mean nothin’ — makes me wince harder than a party that pockets everything that glitters. Oh, shiny crown? They grab it. Dusty urn? In the bag. Gilded doorknob? Ripped straight off and into the sack.
Then they step into Ashen Vault. Not named after fire, lad — named after what’s left of yer morals by the time it spits ya out.
This dungeon don’t kill fools for bein’ underleveled. It don’t care how many hit points ya got or if yer rogue brought enough string. It waits. It watches. And every time ya touch somethin’ ya shouldn’t — not cursed, mind — just unearned — it takes a little more.
There ain’t no big boss inside. No treasure hoard at the end. Just a mirror that shows ya what ya gave up for what ya grabbed. Some folks leave in silence. Some leave screamin’. Some don’t leave at all.
Want a Dungeon That Tests Character, Not Just Stats?
👉 Mike’s Toolshed is stocked with traps for yer conscience, not just yer gear. Ashen Vault is a one-session gut-punch built to shake greedy players and smug builds. Drop it in raw from the Tavern Toolshed, and follow up with a cursed blade from the Tavern Armory or a regretful NPC from the Player Builds & NPCs.
Ashen Vault: The Dungeon That Judges
Type: Modular trap dungeon (system-agnostic)
Ideal For: Morality checks, downtime arcs, one-shots with high stakes
Works Best: When players are loot-happy, suspicious, or getting too comfy
What the Party Sees
Vault doors shaped like open palms, soot-stained
Echoes inside seem too clear, like they repeat what you meant instead of what you said
Vault is lined with small items: trinkets, coins, heirlooms, weapons… each unique
No obvious traps. No monsters. Just temptation
Greed-Triggered Effects
First Touch: The item vanishes. A memory disappears from the character who took it — usually a small, happy one.
Second Touch: Another item disappears. The character’s face subtly changes — like they aged, or lost something spiritual.
Third Touch: The vault awakens. The character begins to hear whispers… and they all sound like their own voice.
The effects can be reversed — if they return the items, if they admit what they did, if they pass the Mirror of Witherstone at the vault’s heart. But few do.
Optional Twist: NPC Integration
Want to push the party harder? Add The Goblin Cleric Who Hates Healing to the vault’s entrance — as the only survivor of a party who failed the trial. Or have The Sword That Remembers Every Kill whisper louder the deeper they go.
GM Usage Tips
This isn’t meant to kill. It’s meant to mark.
Best used mid-campaign, when players feel confident.
Keep the atmosphere heavy. No jump scares — just slow dread.
Make sure at least one object is tied to each PC personally — a callback, a connection, a test. Let them wonder who built this place. Then let it not matter.
FAQ
Q: What if my party resists all the temptations?
A: Reward ‘em. Let ‘em see visions of others who failed. Give them a relic — not gold, but meaning.
Q: What happens if a player takes every item?
A: Then the vault makes a copy of them. And one of them leaves. Which one? Even you don’t know.
Q: How long does the vault last?
A: One session. One nightmare. One echo. Then it’s gone.
Ashen Vault Don’t Need Traps — It Just Needs Greed
👉 This isn’t a meat grinder. It’s a soul sifter. Drop Ashen Vault into your next campaign via the Tavern Toolshed, and twist the blade deeper with gear from the Tavern Armory or NPCs that don’t leave scars — just shame. If it breaks your table, yell at me later.
