There was this DND story where a low - level character, a simple peasant - turned - adventurer. He joined a group to explore an ancient tomb. He had dreams of finding enough treasure to support his family back in his village. However, during the exploration, a powerful trap was triggered. The rest of the group managed to escape, but he was too slow. He was crushed by a falling stone slab, and his body was left in that dark, cold tomb forever, his family waiting in vain for his return.
A paladin I knew in a DND session tried to use his holy powers to bless a barrel of ale. He thought it would make it a 'holy ale' that would give extra strength to those who drank it. Instead, the barrel exploded, drenching everyone nearby in ale. It was quite the mess and everyone was laughing at his miscalculation.
There was a DND dungeon where a group of rogues entered. They were in search of treasure. But as they delved deeper, they found chambers filled with the remains of other adventurers. In one room, there was a bard's lyre, broken and covered in dust. It seemed that the bard had tried to charm some of the dungeon's beasts but had failed. As they moved forward, they were attacked by a horde of rats. One of the rogues got separated from the group and was bitten multiple times. The group managed to escape, but they left their friend behind. The memory of that sad dungeon haunted them, and they carried the guilt of leaving their comrade to die.
I remember a bard in our party who was supposed to sing a song to calm a group of angry goblins. But he forgot the lyrics and started making up the most absurd words. The goblins were so confused that they just sat there scratching their heads. It was a great comical relief during a tense moment. And we all still laugh about it when we recall that session.
In a well - known story, the necromancer's showdown with a paladin was a memorable moment. The paladin was bound by his code to destroy the necromancer's undead army. But the necromancer, using his wits and dark magic, managed to outmaneuver the paladin at every turn. It was intense as they dueled, with the undead surrounding them.
Death of comrades is a common element. When a character loses their friends or party members in a battle or through some cruel plot, it can be extremely sad. For example, a fighter might see his best friend, a rogue, get killed by a backstabbing assassin.
One sad story could be about a character who was a paladin. He dedicated his life to serving the good and protecting the innocent. But during a battle against a powerful demon, his entire party was wiped out. He survived, but lost his faith in the face of such overwhelming evil and despair. He then wandered the lands alone, a broken shell of his former self, haunted by the memories of his fallen comrades.
Well, in a DND sad dungeon story, the setting itself is a big element. Dungeons are usually dark, damp, and full of secrets. There are often lost or doomed souls within. For instance, the bard whose lyre was broken. The actions of the adventurers can also lead to sadness. Like when the party left the goblin or when the rogues left their comrade. And then there are the mysteries that hold a sense of sorrow, such as the diary in the dungeon that told of past tragedies. All these work together to make the story sad.
There was this time when our rogue tried to pickpocket a noble. He thought he was being so stealthy, but he actually grabbed the noble's pet mouse instead of his purse. The mouse started squeaking and running all over the noble's clothes. The noble was freaking out, and we were all trying hard not to laugh. Our rogue was so embarrassed.
My DND group had a story where a ranger's wolf companion was killed. The ranger had raised the wolf from a pup. They were inseparable and had been through many battles together. One day, while exploring a cursed forest, they were attacked by a group of shadowy beasts. The wolf fought bravely to protect the ranger but was outnumbered. The ranger watched helplessly as the wolf was torn apart. The ranger was never the same after that, losing his joy for adventure and often getting lost in memories of his beloved wolf.