"Dark as a Dungeon" is a city and dungeon campaign. The dungeon is, of course, the primary source of wealth and glory and most of the action would happen there. But...such newly-discovered riches and power are sure to attract much attention and competition from the nearby city. Therefore, not only would the PCs be in the city to rest and re-supply after a trip to the dungeon, but they can also become involved in intrigues between the competing factions that are also hoping to control the dungeon.
That is the plot of the Glory Hole Dwarven Mine adventure module. Yes, the same module that was used as "Stonefast" in the Zanzer campaign. The Zanzer campaign didn't use the plot surrounding the dwarven mine as written in the module, but instead just used the dwarven mine as a substitute for the original boring Stonefast. The players in the Zanzer campaign experienced less than 1% of the Glory Hole Dwarven Mine, so no big deal if some of those same players would play in this new campaign. Maybe they'd like to take revenge on that three-headed ogre.
(Clarification: This new Dark as a Dungeon campaign would not be connected to the Zanzer campaign in any way. No Zanzer. No Verbosh. No Horny Mandrills.)
This campaign would start PCs at least at level 3, probably higher. Whereas the low level PCs in the Zanzer campaign were to execute a "get in and get out" mission into the shallow levels of Stonefast to rescue Gorgo Kermit, the plot of the Glory Hole Dwarven Mine module encourages the PCs to delve deeper, to clear out, and to maintain control of sections of the mine. Therefore, I think the PCs need to be a little beefier so the campaign can get off to a fast start. I've never had PCs start beyond 1st level, so I'm curious to see how it goes. (For what it's worth, I think the wilderness campaign would also start with experienced PCs.)
Dwarves are prominently featured in this campaign. I've also come across various house rules online that I think would emphasize the visceral and gritty "coal dust in your eyes" theme that I envision:
The Shields Shall be Splintered Rule: Any time you take damage, you can opt instead to say your shield absorbed the force of the blow. The shield is shattered and must be discarded, but you don't take any damage from that hit. Magical attacks can only be absorbed by magical shields.
The Fighter's Chop Rule: When a Fighter kills an enemy, he immediately gets a free attack on another enemy in his immediate vicinity.
The Flagon of Wine Rule: Quaffing a quantity (depending on type) of spirits will regenerate d6 hit points. Repeat as needed. Intoxication rules apply.
Lastly, the name and thematic inspiration for this campaign comes from a song written by Merle Travis and made popular by Johnny Cash called "Dark as a Dungeon". Think of it as a dwarven song...
Come and listen you fellows, so young and so fine,
And seek not your fortune in the dark, dreary mines.
It will form as a habit and seep in your soul,
'Till the stream of your blood is as black as the coal.
It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew,
Where danger is double and pleasures are few,
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.
It's a-many a man I have seen in my day,
Who lived just to labor his whole life away.
Like a fiend with his dope and a drunkard his wine,
A man will have lust for the lure of the mines.
It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew,
Where danger is double and pleasures are few,
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.
The midnight, the morning, or the middle of day,
Is the same to the miner who labors away.
Where the demons of death often come by surprise,
One fall of the slate and you're buried alive.
It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew,
Where danger is double and pleasures are few,
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.
I hope when I'm gone and the ages shall roll,
My body will blacken and turn into coal.
Then I'll look from the door of my heavenly home,
And pity the miner a-diggin' my bones.
It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew,
Where danger is double and pleasures are few,
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.
And seek not your fortune in the dark, dreary mines.
It will form as a habit and seep in your soul,
'Till the stream of your blood is as black as the coal.
It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew,
Where danger is double and pleasures are few,
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.
It's a-many a man I have seen in my day,
Who lived just to labor his whole life away.
Like a fiend with his dope and a drunkard his wine,
A man will have lust for the lure of the mines.
It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew,
Where danger is double and pleasures are few,
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.
The midnight, the morning, or the middle of day,
Is the same to the miner who labors away.
Where the demons of death often come by surprise,
One fall of the slate and you're buried alive.
It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew,
Where danger is double and pleasures are few,
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.
I hope when I'm gone and the ages shall roll,
My body will blacken and turn into coal.
Then I'll look from the door of my heavenly home,
And pity the miner a-diggin' my bones.
It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew,
Where danger is double and pleasures are few,
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.
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