Darkest Dungeon:The Lombard Family
The Lombard Estate, squandered by the ill-fated decisions of a foolish patriarchal cousin.
Prologue - The Old Road
The Letter
Brother,
Today, I received a most distressing letter from our cousin Matthias regarding the family estate on the moor. Matthias, as you no doubt recall has been spending his nights reveling in the decadent pleasures of our estate and its many luxuries, the Barony having long since grown past its need for a burgomeister who takes an active approach to governing. I confess, despite our agreement that I was to manage the estate to ensure its survival, I had long ago left him to his own devices, in part because I was convinced there was little he would do, harmless hedonist, to bring the family fortune to any real ruin. He had, by my estimation, fallen into a comfortable and sustainable pattern of self-indulgence.
Brother, I have, in this, been deeply misguided, and pray your forgiveness, for he has brought our venerable estate - the very birthright of the Lombard family - to the brink of ruin. Having read the ancient texts locked in the forbidden wing of the library, he had grown certain that something of immense value lay buried beneath the estate. In so searching, he has unearthed something of great evil. While the details are limited, to say the least, what has been confirmed, dear brother, is that our cousin Matthias has taken his own life, and prior to doing so has sent this missive begging me to return to reclaim the estate from the evil the plagues it.
I do not expect you to drop your business at my behest, nor to jeapordize your security in consideration of my error - I know you to be a family man now, and that you cannot abandon your wife and children to assist in this venture. I pray my return to the estate will be brief and its successful reclaimation will be swift. I do, however, request that you spread the word and, if your finances allow, you donate a pouch of coins to the cause, that I may restore the birthright of our family, not only for my own sake, but yours and that of your progeny as well.
Your faithful brother, Anton
The Journey
I awoke from a deep slumber, cast from the crashed remains of the carriage. Dismas and Reynauld, the mercenaries I have hired to guard my journey, had secured my person against ambush or defilement by the bandits rumored to walk these roads, but my injuries are such that I can do little to aid them. Still, I am resolved to continue the journey and reclaim the estate.
We were first ambushed by a brigand on the road who attempted to take us from behind. Dismas dispatched the marauder with a single blow before he could so much as act, proving the value of these stalwart companions. A final ambush before the hamlet left Reynauld at the brink of death, but the man, stalwart defender of the faith he is, was able to resist.
The stress of the situation left Reynault more certain than ever that his life would not be forfeit upon these adventures, but in so doing left him, perhaps, a bit more serene than the gravitas of the situation would suggest appropriate. Dismas, for his part, expressed his willingness to continue, provided he did not "have to get his hands dirty," which at first I took to be metaphor, though I later learned he meant only that he be washed insomuch as it is possible.
I am told that the first order of business is to bring the hamlet back to livable conditions. Given its sorry state, I know this to be a herculean effort - these are my Aegean stables.
Pray, brother, when you receive this letter, please do what you can to provide aid to our cause.
Week 1 - The First Foray
I have taken the time to post our claims in the stage area. This I do in hopes that more will come to assist in the excavation. These is no possible way to know what it is we will find - what compelled our cousin to take such drastic measures to be free of its memory.
A plague doctor named Vastel and Quincey, a Vestel, will join the Highwayman and Crusader I hired initially in the first delve.
The first delve to the ruins is to begin immediately, though Reynauld has expressed he would rather seek respite. I dare not risk taking too many more provisions than necessary, as there are more than the ruins that need to be purified, but this delve shall, no doubt, at least set to mind the scale of the operation.
The Delve
From the record of Reynauld, Crusader and soldier of God.
We first encountered implements of torture, and though Vastel expressed curiosity, I told him not to so much as look at the blasphemous thing if he could not be otherwise restrained from touching. No sooner had we passed it than a group of cultists, led by a blaphemous skeletal tempter, assailed us. We dispatched these with minimal injury, though there was considerable bloodloss. A dead end forced us to walk back the way we came, and it was all I could do to keep Vastel from peering into the blaphemous tool of torture.
Another group of skeletal creatures fell upon us. Though we came out better than unscathed, all things consider, I cannot believe that any man could witness such blaphemies and not feel some gnawing absess in their minds. After the fight, we were able to prepare and, when next foes came to bear, it was we who ambushed them, dispatching half their number before they could so much as draw weapons.
Clumps of giant grubs blocked our path next, after Desmas startled them from their hiding places whilst picking a lock. We slew them before they could so much as harm us. This expedition goes quite well.
I spoke too soon - the next fight went much more poorly for us, though none of my companions has yet lost their life, and we have reached the end of this struggle.
The goods we have retrieved are considerable, but there is now deep concern. We have searched only a fraction of the ruins on the estate, and there are numerous other portions of the estate to search. What's more, Vastel has confirmed that Dismas' concern for cleanliness was well placed, as the poor fellow is afflicted now with a ghastly case of the runs, the which has caused him not inconsiderable discomfort and dehydration.
I shall report back to the master of the estate, and, hopefully, I will be given some respite in the week to come.
Epilogue
Brother,
This undertaking will be long and arduous. Our cousin surrendered to despair, but I will not so easily be felled. Mention me to the Abbot that he may request the Saints intercede on my behalf. Now, I set to mustering for a second foray, ideally once the carriage arrives with more brave souls and the books are balanced.
Your brother, Anton
Week 2 - First Search for the Ring
Prologue - The Reply
Dearest Brother,
I had hoped that these events would not transpire in my lifetime... I am all too familiar with the forbidden lore into which our foolish cousin delved and am all the more horrified to hear of the release of so hideous a force upon the world. I feel that I must now divulge some secrets that have been long kept, with good reason, from the light of day.
Our family's fortune and wealth are the result of fell rituals and unholy pacts. It is as plain and abhorrent as this. Long ago, when the region was first settled, our ancestors came to what is now our estate and wrested it from a savage people of unspeakable barbarism and inhuman mannerism. Through strength of numbers and technological superiority our forefathers conquered and claimed the land for their own, but not before learning all that they could from the native peoples they had claimed as hostages. By fell rights that they gleaned through torture and treachery, they uncovered the secrets of an antediluvian portal. Not intended as a gateway for mortals, this doorway itself could be used to bend the fabric of the world itself. From common stones gemstones could be crafted and the secrets of alchemy were uncovered from the sigils etched into its surface.
But our ancestors were wise beyond measure and tempered their greed with this wisdom, sealing the door away beneath the estate. From this vast and sudden wealth they crafted our proud line and passed down the burden of this secret to a select few members of the family. Yet fate is cruel and all those who knew the greatest secrets of those times are long gone and lost, having focused too much on the uncovering of hidden lore and not enough on the carnal production of progeny.
When I uncovered these secrets once more as a youth, I was understandably horrified and promised myself I would do everything I could to more firmly and permanently seal away the horror that may reside behind that door. My progress has been slow, however, and to that end I have sought out others that could aid me in my studies as well as a wife and children to carry on the work after I have gone. I send to you now as many of my associates as I am able to convince to come to your aid and what little funds I can spare. I pray that you take care in your dealings with these otherworldly entities for the danger lies not only in death now... but in what may come after.
God be with you,
Melchior
Vastel's Expedition Journal
Being the only one of my companions who was still relatively intact (mentally) I was sent to the coaching house to acquire new recruits. A shoddy assortment of rabble was all that could be located to be of assistance in this coming expedition and my hopes quickly sank as I realized that we had little in the way of a vangaurd for our group. Arriving on the coach was a cutthroat named Peceoth, who had a significant arm injurybut insisted he was capable enough, a vestal named Cambrai who had a mace that was entirely for show, and a gravedigger named Mallilie who had a nagging cough that made me very unsettled.
Nevertheless, progress had to be made and after I had sent my previous companions to the chapel to beg God for relief from their ailments, I set out to plan our expedition. There was little in the way of useful resources in our run down hamlet and I felt it pointless to spend resources that may be useful elsewhere on less important improvements. Having various opportunities available to our group, I decided to search for a particularly valuable ring that could prove very useful in the coming weeks. This was going to be no small endeavour and would have us spending at least one night in the depths before reemerging. I was optimistic to the point of naivety and committed our little band to the task none the less.
At Mallilie's suggestion I brought along 4 shovels as well as an abundance of food and torches, for one can never be too careful when it comes to such hardships. Our spirits were high as we entered the terrible depths. Those spirits were immediately broken as our first encounter with the horrors of that place left us eviscerrated and downcast. The task afforded us was that of mapping the depths as best we could and our party was already off to a grim start.
Our lot did not improve as time went on and we bedded down for the night far sooner than I would have hoped. Spirits were poor and Mallilie and Peceoth began swapping macabre stories of dark times they had both experienced. At first I and Cambrai were appalled by this but we quickly warmed to the idea that our own plight was not so terrible in light of far darker and more mundane plights that could have befallen us in everyday life and, after a quick blessing was said, we retired.
I'm fairly certain that had we not been ambushed we could have succeeded in our quest. As it was, what little improvement we had made to our general wellbeing was quickly undone by the vicious blades of our foes. Additionally we then had to backtrack much of the way we came and this was in itself disheartening. Yet all that would have been acceptable were it not for the events of our next battle.
Encountering a group of skeletons was something that our group was not unprepared for. We were, rather, unprepared for the unrelenting assault that resulted in Peceoth's untimely demise. After we had managed to dispatch the last of these skeletons, our party found ourselves in dire straits indeed. I had hoped that we would find little left to challenge our continued exploration but when we came upon a room filled with a host of fiends guarding a treasure chest I had had enough. We abandoned the expedition and returned home with what we had managed to collect. Despite everything, the haul we left with was better than some results we could have received from a successful foray. My main concern though is that Mallilie may be more trouble than she is worth and should most likely be dismissed. The cost of treating her cough may be more expensive than the value of her contributions. On top of that she's just selfish!
I hope that the opening of the guild and the reconstruction of the blacksmith may aid our future expeditions. I feel that these should be a priority over all other improvements.
Week 3 - Second Search for the Ring
A Dubious Reply
Brother,
Your letter has etched upon my heart both a dread and a yearning. Dread at all the warnings you have given regarding the dire nature of our family secrets, but also a yearning for the glory of old. To think even now our estate rests atop that very thing that gave our family its great power and influence in the first place! If our ancestors were capable of harnessing these forces to their advantage, how much more so we, you with your experience in the occult, and I with my political and mercantile influence?
I have resolved to uncover that which was so concealed, not only to lay it once more to rest, but for the glimmering promise of a new tomorrow for our family. Brother, I ask that you tell me more - give me as much information as possible regarding the nature of these darkened depths that I may restore our imperial estate. Consider, if not for me, then for your wife and children. Surely they deserve a better lot than to be slaves to this restless darkness? Your progeny should be elevated to positions of power and authority, not cloistered in darkened abbeys among inscrutable eunuchs as your youth was spent. Surely if some good can be wrought of our cousin's hubris, this is that good - a renewed legacy for our family!
Think on the words I have said. When you have well considered them - when you know that I speak the truth and that it is within us to elevate our family such that the name "Lombard" will once again be on every tongue - then send me what you can in aid, be it material, morale or informational.
Deus vult!
-Anton
Postscript: At the coaching house today, I met with Haute and Guernon, the Grave "Diggers" you sent from the Abbey, as well as Tinel, your Plague Doctor. I am pleased to add these to my associates, and hope that more of their ilk will be sent, though glory seekers of a more physically robust sort may be of value in the future. As the last foray into the dungeon did not go quite according to plan, resulting in the untimely death of one member of the exploratory team (and the dismissal of Mallilie, our Grave Robber) I have taken the preliminary precaution of enclosing clippings from their fingernails, as well as, at Guernon's request, a vial of her blood. In the event of their untimely deaths, they have asked that these be buried in the cemetery at the Abbey, as they are convinced that while some part of them is properly interred, they will pass on to their eternal reward "without delay."
The Preparations
There is so much that must be done to address the decay of our homestead. I note, for example, that while a Blackmsmith has taken up residence once more in the smithy, he has admitted to lacking suitable tools to provide our party with improvement in any sense. The Guildhouse, similarly, has no capacity to teach advanced techniques to our intrepid explorers. Even the Abbey and Inn leave precious little along the lines of comfort to be had. I have improved, to some degree, the Abbey, both in hopes of having more able-bodied adventurers back into the fold shortly, but also in the secret hopes that I can persuade my brother to take an active role here in restoring the estate. If I can convince him to move his studies and family here, I will be in a much better position to use his learning to the glory of our great house.
Our next foray into the Ruins will be led by Reynauld, who is taking Dismas, Quincey and Tinel with him. He has nicknamed this group "The Bright Company" and asked for permission to seek out the Knight's Crest. I have, however, told him that we would instead be seeking the Unholy Slayer's Ring once again, on the grounds that the Crest would not be of immediate value to us while he was recuperating (if, indeed) he would return at all).
One (1) roll of firewood (gathered by hand at no charge), twelve (12) rations (@75gp for 900gp), two (2) shovels (@250gp for 500gp), two (2) skeleton keys (@200gp for 400gp), one (1) flask of holy water (150gp), one (1) flask of antivenom (150gp), one (1) herbal poultice (200gp) and eight (8) torches (@75gp for 600gp). Total cost of the expedition: 2900gp. I cannot say that sits well with me. The promised reward was 4500gp in the treasure vault, to say nothing of our heritage restored and any treasure that may be hidden along the way.
So I bid Reynauld embark.
Reynauld's Journal
Our first encounter, which happened nigh unto immediately, took us by surprise, despite the bright torchlight which should have given us some warning. We sadly spent far too much of our efforts on reordering to move up, giving them a brief opportunity to pile onto Quincey. We pressed our advantage, however, and were able to overcome them without further issue. This led us to a dead end, so we turned about.
As we searched, Quincey found an urn of ashes, presumably some patrician of the Lombard family. She poured holy water upon them in a cleansing ritual, and the ashes burned away as if ashamed of their continued existence. Several trinkets of some value were brought to light in this manner, including a critical stone, a bauble said to improve chances of striking a truly devastating blow. Dismas affixed this to his jacket.
The next room revealed more of the skeletal horrors, but this time we were duly prepared. Once again, they focused their efforts almost exclusively on Quincey, possibly aware of the holiness of her charge. I was likewise wounded, but the others suffered little harm.
That there would be brigands in here had not so much as crossed my mind, but Dismas seemed unfazed by their sudden appearance. The fight initially went to our favor until a fusillade felled us all rather soundly. Quincey continues to take the worst of it, but her resolve is still far from breaking.
The next room dealt us cultists, and I found that the resolve of my companions broke more that expected. At one point, Quincey lay teetering at death's door and I swooned from a stunning blow. However, we persevered.
The next group of cultists we came upon fell to our blades without landing a single blow. We had not even the opportunity to celebrate our victory when Dismas fell ill of a trap. Skewered, but alive, we cursed our luck.
Our next battle went poorly. Dismas couldn't land a blow, Quincey had to spend her efforts keeping him alive, and Tinel was struck with the cursed waters of the Tempting Goblet. We were able to emerge with Dismas at death's door, and I bade him eat some of the food we had scavenged off the bandits.
We backtracked and made camp, eating a feast - for we knew this could be the last meal for any of our number. Dismas prepared his traps so we could better catch the enemy off guard. I encouraged our party with valorous words, though I confess my own resolve to have been somewhat shaken. Tinel fell into a drug-addled reverie, which left me ill at ease, and Quincey muttered a prayer.
Immediately, Dismas' planning payed off and we were able to, with his scouting acumen, locate and disarm an insidious trap. We then came upon some cultists, the which we were able to vanquish. I fear, though, Quincey may be approaching her breaking point. I was left bleeding, but a brief cleansing in the holy font the cultists had been intent on desecrating left me nourished and rejuvenated. I dare say if this expedition goes well from here out, I may be able to lead the next as well.
The cultists in the next room proved little impediment in general, as Dismas' scouting once again gave us the opportunity to fall upon them with great force. We found more treasure than we could carry having slain them; the difficult decision was made, and our antivenom was abandoned, as we had found no creatures in the dungeon thus far that risked poisoning us.
The quest thus complete, we had the hard choice to search the final room, or declare victory over the dungeon. With no desire to press the luck of the Bright Company, I voted we beat a retreat, and my companions concurred, but not before Vastel put on a blight charm. It weighed him down, but he said a man of his profession could afford to be anchored to the floor so long as he could abide the plague.
We gathered our takings less, of course, that which I took in secret as my well-earned pay (is not the workman entitled to his keep?).
Epilogue
I am emboldened. By my calculation, the journey took in far more than it cost and, more importantly, all four not only survived but came out relatively unscathed. I advised Reynauld to exercise caution, despite his proclamations that he was certain he could survive another excursion.
I am anxious for my brother's reply - more anxious still should he come. I must make preparations in the case that he does arrive. Make ready for his wife and children as well, though he may leave any number of them in the care of others if he believes so firmly in the gravity of our peril.