Mini-Dungeon #316 The Vault

Mini-Dungeon for 4–5 characters of levels 3–4. A Troubling Inheritance After Merchant Venum’s death, his widow, Madame Veva, opens a lockbox with an old key he gave her years ago. Inside she finds a small stone disk carved with a dragon’s head and a note explaining that Venum placed his most treasured possession in his guild’s vault. The disk is a marker proving his right to store valuables there. Veva expects the usually friendly guild to honor it, but she is abruptly turned away with the warning, “Now is a bad time.” Fearing that someone intends to keep her inheritance, she hires the characters to enter the vault and recover what belongs to her. The Vault in play using the Dynamic Dungeons map. Inside the Vault The job appears straightforward. The marker opens an ornate door, torches illuminate the descending stairs, and the party is admitted into a marvel of craftsmanship and arcane protection. Beyond the entrance lie magical safeguards, watchful sentinels, and a sealed vault door controlled by two keys and a deceptive riddle. Characters who pay attention may find ways around some of the guild’s defenses, while those who rely upon force must be prepared for the consequences. If the party reaches the treasure chamber, they encounter a guardian whose appearance raises as many questions as it answers. Careful observation may prove as valuable as courage, while greed could turn a successful recovery into a dangerous escape. What Veva’s husband left behind also carries a value that cannot be measured entirely in gold. Easy to Add to an Ongoing Campaign The Vault is a compact urban adventure that can be placed inside nearly any city or ongoing campaign. Its clear objective brings the characters into the action quickly, while four keyed areas provide a mixture of exploration, problem-solving, tense interaction, and combat. The conclusion offers an emotional reward for completing the job and leaves room for the party’s actions to create further trouble after the vault door closes. Adventure Features A complete urban adventure for 4–5 characters of levels 3–4 A strong adventure hook built around a widow’s disputed inheritance Four keyed areas protected by magical security A two-key logic puzzle guarded by deceptive sentinels Opportunities for investigation, negotiation, and combat A suspicious vault guardian and a treasure with unexpected significance An ending that can lead to further adventures See the Enhanced Edition in Motion The Enhanced edition adds Dynamic Dungeons moving maps and an accompanying audio soundtrack. The animated map allows the vault to reveal itself at the table as its torchlit chambers and circular treasure room come into view. Animated preview from the Enhanced edition. Included in Your Download Mini-Dungeon PDF GM Maps Player Maps VTT Maps Dynamic Dungeons Moving Maps (Enhanced edition only) Audio Soundtrack (Enhanced edition only) Choose the PDF edition for the complete adventure and static map collection, or select the Enhanced edition to add the Dynamic Dungeons moving maps and accompanying soundtrack.