A/N: I do not own Darkest Dungeon or anything affiliated with the brand. This is just a fanfic from an amateur writer. Warning: World Building, Unreliable Narrator, Dark, Everyone is Broken, Flashbacks, Horror, Death, Stress, Traumatic Pasts, Human Trafficking, Abuse, Child Abuse, Rape, Hey Did I Mention Dark? Cheesy Romance, and Gamer tropes. I do not make any money off this story. Thank you for your time and my gratitude to Red Hook Studios.

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Memories

Casting/Skills/Words of Great Power or Meaning

The Ancestor Speaks

The Others

Previously

That being said…my heroes are nearing the point where they'll be too strong to be allowed in the outermost reaches of the dungeons. So it's time to start the Boss hunts. 'I'll need to prepare my offerings.'

Ch 15: Boss Rush

My instincts ring at me. I prepare Seguier, Possin, Aguilon, and Courteney to face the littlest princess, but send out Talvace, Louet, Neot, and Stafford to the Farmstead first. A tribute is needed to send to the church, guild, and university… and soon.

Success, however, Stafford suffers from hopelessness. So, I reserved a mediation room for him. My luck strikes again, and the party finds a satchel filled with the comet shards. Calling over the Caretaker, he's sent off with a few letters and carefully packaged gifts. Addressed to the heads of the sources for fresh blood. His Honored, His Most Wise, and the new Guild Leader each received 15 comet shards and a letter to pander to their pride and ego. This left me with 12 shards for my stores.

'Only 12, not 15. I don't have enough to send a fourth package. He's the least likely to take insult to being skipped over, and most easily smoothed over if I double his take the next harvest. Guard- The Warden will take insult if I only sent him less than the others.' I put down my quill and fold my hands. 'If I made it 10 instead of-'

The Caretaker steps through the shadows to the in-between, and I leave the matter alone.

It's less than an hour before my shadow returns with a cheshire grin and nods towards me. My intuition calms down with the outside being dealt with, and I can focus on the young lords available to me.

While it is tempting to pursue the littlest princess. There were hoards of fungal zombies clawing at our gates last night. The populace is spooked, and I'm quickly losing what little trust and hope I built up.

That will not do.

I called Dismas to lead the expedition.

'One of the more reliable men, and I want an example made of that deranged diseased granddaughter of a Charlton.'

He asked not to.

"Why?"

He reaches into his jacket and tosses some letters onto my desk. He then steps back to gain some space but is respectful about it. I briefly open and skim them. The anger from that wretched hag's attack on the Hamlet bubbles over at the plots of treachery.

That Vestal I graciously allowed to stay without binding is one of Willem's many bastards. That is something I can accept. I'm well acquainted with the prosecution of sins not you're own. I can't overlook that she has been selling information on me and my activities.

'To sell out my land, that I allowed her to not only rest but make a life…'

I try to breathe out my anger, and it works. For the moment. Rage simmers and stews, as I sit back to think clearly. Revenge in haste would only harm me.

'I'm the Lord of Fortune. Every whim of fate will turn to my benefit. The question is how to manifest it. Start from what I know.'

I close my eyes and breathe in.

'I suppose I can understand her treachery. Looking back, I should have expected it even. The nunneries were kinder to those of good birth and backing, but treacherous even still. Some habits must have remained.

So yes, I could even allow that. It would be easy to make use of the information she gives my enemies. An ever so convenient list of which she has brought me. A mix of lies and truths that when they act on it, would ensnare them further. So when the bigger predators strike, they are confident and comfortable, all the more easily felled.'

If that were the extent of her aggressions, I would still be angry but not surprised. I'm more upset that it didn't occur to me that she would do this. I'd have settled for using her until I no longer needed to fear her benefactors. Then have her quickly and quietly disposed of.

'But have I been too generous? '

In less than a second, the Hamlet shares its past with me. Specifically an overview of her actions as soon I allowed her to stay. Magic thickens in the room in response, and I open my eyes again to help ground me in the present. The room is spinning, and I quench the lights in an effort to stave off an impending headache.

'I can't stand by as she's increasing her threat level.' She overstepped her station and is attempting to take over the Abbey.

Knowing her actions in my town, 'If she were to succeed, she would become another Mother Superior. Much like the previous head of the Abbey. I did not make a show of cleaning up the Hamlet, just to let new vermin settle in and return it to the cesspool I found it in.'

Breathe out, 'Bringing all my hard work back to ruin. The greater danger are those within than ever without.'

Dismas is patiently waiting, an easy target for my frustrations. 'I will not shoot the messenger. I will not harm my men,' I close my eyes and take another deep breath, 'Especially when they're loyal.'

I withdraw the power I leaked in my anger and am pleased to see that I had enough control to not harm him. That he was brave and foolish enough to trust me, even after what happened on the old road…

'I do not deserve him.' I eye one of 3 souls I claimed that truly wished for virtue and absolution. Far too selfish to let go of this one, and all the more pleased he has nowhere to go, 'He's proving more valuable than I first thought.'

Another breath, 'Back to business. I imagine Reynauld has this well in hand. If things have built up this far, I must have been kept in the dark.'

"A fair reason, you would need to strike before the trail goes cold. …Perhaps I should no longer spare those I do not take for myself?" The thought strikes me as I say it out loud. 'I can only trust those I control, but that's a luxury beyond my means if I do bring this land back to its proper glory.'

The Hamlet sends feelings of love, affection, and welcome, as I think of the predicament. Easing some of the hunger in my soul and making me more firm in my convictions, 'No way my soul can sustain that many heroes. I'm going to have to employ adventurers in various roles at some point. This incident only proves the need for oversight rather than allowing them to themselves. Problems for another day.'

"What's your plans?" 'How can I help you help me?'

Dismas straightens up, "The rebels are based in the church. With Neara, that rouge Vestal, leading them from there. Reynauld managed to gain intel that they'll be meeting in a couple of nights from now. As far as we can tell there should be a few more cells lurking around town. We're going to blitz them all at once before the rats can scurry away."

'A few curses of misfortune on the rebels from the background…I'll need to scry where and when, but it's best to keep my hand light when they're working. They work for me, not for them. Best never allow them to believe otherwise.'

"This is not the first time."

Dismas stops his right foot from bouncing. A warming maneuver to make it easier to dodge. His hands are hidden in his pockets, and his armor does a good job of hiding the rest of his tells. His scarf is covering his face, so I focus on his eyes.

He speaks up, his manner of speaking fluctuating between merchant-class and gutter dialects, "Nope. Reynauld has had to put down a few crews before. That's why we're trying to catch them all at once this time. We tried to keep it quiet, the fewer people in the know, the fewer leaks that need to be plugged."

'It's prudent to snuff out problems before it reaches the top, because if the top moves then shit rolls down.' Dismas is nervous but doesn't flinch as I try to read him. 'They're just trying to stay alive. If I blame them for my mismanagement then…'

"Including me."

'Reynauld should have personal experience of that.' A slow blink, and I settle back. I doubt my crusader is plotting anything nefarious in his actions. He is sincere in his loyalties, even without the fear of being tossed aside again. 'I'm his last chance, and he knows that.'

'I choose to trust them.' and that's that. Knowing how such matters go I offer again to send Dismas out for some clean killing. 'Easier on the conscience of a good man, if his prey can fight back.' He chooses to stay and support Reynauld.

I make sure to communicate to leave the traitorous Vestal alone. But…he's body language keeps getting tenser, more wound up throughout the conversation. 'Somethings wrong.'

He leaves, and I leave him be. I choose to trust him. He doesn't choose to trust me 'That's fine. As long as I have his obedience, I don't need his trust. '

'Besides,' Only when he's gone do I allow myself to succumb to a wave of dizziness. 'I'm in no condition to take on additional troubles.' A hand gropes for a dreamless potion in one of these damned drawers.

There's an empty glass that appears on my desk, which is quickly filled to a fourth and knocked back. 'Enough for only a few hours of rest. No doubt the effects will wear out halfway through.' Barely able to walk to the study couch in time before I lose consciousness. One of the corners has a deeper shadow to it than the rest.

Seguier, Possin, Talvace, and Villehardian are sent out to take that hag's head. The offerings are made, and I draw out a transference ritual. The perfect sacrifice presented herself, and it would be rude to not partake. Medication can only supplement sleep for so long.

'Maybe meditation will help? Focus on culling the fringes of the curse to weaken it and give me some reprieve?'

The Lord's Ring makes itself known again.

"I had collected many rare and elusive volumes on ancient herbal properties and was set to enjoy several weeks immersed in comfortable study. My work was interrupted, however, by a singularly striking young woman, who insisted on repeated calls to the house."

It appears that the Lords of the Land around mine…are in cahoots with one another. The hag lured my men there with a response that could not be ignored. Whereas before there were many supplies and treasures to be found. This time few supplies and many ambushes lay in wait. She learned from the apprentice's mistakes or she is much more clever than the normal foes I deal with. Either bodes ill and must be accounted for in future hunts.

The battle wasn't close, even with the hag's preparations. She had chosen poorly to force Possin into her cauldron. He laughed rapturously as he urged his party member to take down the hag. Talvace and Seguier obeyed, while Villehardian could not ignore such a Dark Artifact and chipped at it. Only stopping to heal the main fighters.

The cursed cauldron was tipped over by Seguier's hound as the hag dodged out of the way of his attack. Into a critical one by Talvace. So ended the youngest hag and with its owner's death the cauldron sunk into a dark pool to return to the Great Hag Mother.

They attempted to backtrack to scavenge some loot but I noticed the forest growing darker than normal. The plant life slithers in the background, and I recall them before the Land takes them in retaliation for one of its Spare Lords. They appear in my study shocked and on guard. Their mission is done, but the next…will be a tight one indeed.

The empty glass is taunting me with false promises. 'My work is done for the night. Another draught will not go amiss.' Even a few restless hours will be better than none, 'then I'll chip away at that curse.'

I've had to pawn a few trinkets, but the new party is ready. Louet, Possin, Aguilon, and Courteney are off. I've had them prepared for a few weeks, but now we can act on it. The offerings are made, my ritual is set, and I've become addicted to dreamless potions. 'How much gold have I wasted on them?'

Regular meditation has helped improve my mind palace. I've been able to weaken not only the curse but also cut back the web latched to my soul. I'm still bound to it, but its corruption will have a harder time spreading and infecting me.

The party enters the cove, "My lofty position wasn't always accompanied by the fear of office, and there was a time, when I could walk the streets or raise a glass at the tavern, without concern for molestation. Faithful, as the tide, one precocious village waif made it her hobby to shadow my every errand. It was charming then. Troublesome, later."

The princess has a brain. Lulled by desired loot and treasures, Courteney leads the party around to collect everything. So they arrive at the Lord's chamber exhausted and encumbered. The siren seduced and charmed my main attackers in the beginning while summoning fish folk to serve as meat shields. Near the end, she targeted my healers, and Aguilon finally could critically heal for more than 3 health… on the fish woman. When he came back to his senses, his shame fueled his healing, and was able to keep everyone alive.

I will admit it was amusing to watch Courteney and Possin get outraged when the siren charmed the other. If they haven't properly claimed each other by the end of the week, I'll be sorely disappointed and surprised. In the end, they won. Bleeding, exhausted, and afflicted…they're out. They seem to want to backtrack, and I need the gold…I'll allow it.

The Cove allows them to leave. They suffered certainly, but there was no retaliation from the High Queen, the Land- …I watch the black water as it stills for a moment. And the tides pull back, inch by inch. So slowly that if you weren't watching for it, you would have never noticed.

'Dark Damn it.' I try to divine their plans. A storm deep and dark stirs and a ghost ship has risen once more by its allies. That won't stop the hurricane that's being called. I pull on my bond with Land and its people. Calling to those at sea to return, and those that reside beside the ocean to make way for the Hamlet.

I call the Caretaker to me. "There is a hurricane oncoming, gather my men and the townsfolk. Get whatever men you need to get preparations in place. Collect and store the food, barricade the buildings, and once the men are tasked you will give Reynauld and Dismas supervision of them. I will need you with me to empower the wards."

My commands given, the Caretaker compelled by my determination, and the Lord's Ring absolute agreement in defense of Ours, disappears without a word. Hastened to complete his tasks. I hop over the desk to run to the storeroom to gather the materials needed and use my Power and bonds to communicate to all heroes within the Hamlet my instructions.

It's a gamble, but with the return of the party, I send all afflicted heroes into the Abby and tavern. I have the coin now, and I need all hands on deck after the storm. I call a party of my heroes, Neot, Guildersleeve, Ecouland, and my newest recruit Dacre the Arbalest. They meet me at the gates, for another gamble.

I pass them a handful of trinkets, the potent salves, and call the orbs of Dark and Light in front of them. I slice my hand and feed blood to both. Normally I'm much more careful with my offerings, but Blood is always accepted in a pinch. Never mind the dizzy state it leaves me in, I've grown used to it. 'I can work through it.' They rush off.

Guildersleeve yells backward at the trailing Arbalest, "Hell of a first mission Rookie!" The Weald swallows them as they set out on their mission. Clear the way for those of the sea village and most importantly activate 3 cursed corpses with the salves. To bring about the phenomenon known as, "Sunshine in the Thicket."

A special event where the Holy Sun helps purify and weaken the infested and corrupted in the Weald. That is useful, but that's not why we need it. We need to strengthen the Sun to weaken and disperse the Dark Storm brewing over the horizon.

The Caretaker appears at my side and we run in opposite directions around the walls that anchor the wards. I feed Light into each I pass, while he feeds Dark into his. We met at the opposite end of where we started. We both empower the 6th ward at the same time, with his magic taking point.

Our magic tasting and testing each other. Eventually, it comes to something like mutual understanding and shared goals. The Ward reflects the Power of a New Moon.

We take off in the direction of where the other came from. He feeds Darkness into the Wards filled with Light. I provide Light into the Wards empowered by the Dark. The Wards shine and reflect the stages of waning and waxing, until as one we make it to the gate where the 12th ward waits—repeating what we did with the 6th ward only this time with my Light magic taking the lead. The Ward above the gate shows a brilliant full moon against the darkness of the Void.

His work done, I send him off to protect our home and all the secrets within. 'I could use him to help continue to power the wards, but he does not care for the town. What he truly cares for lies in our home, and that is where his heart is. He does not need urging to protect it, but rather with permission he might be too enthusiastic…if someone is trying to take advantage of this crisis…they deserve his undivided and unbridled attention.'

I take my place at the feet of the broken statue, the exact center of the Hamlet and wards. In a meditative position, for once the protections are raised I will not be able to move. I activate the wards and glowing walls of moonlight rise into a dome above us. Blocking the rain that is starting to drop. 'Now it is a test of endurance.'

'I've gotten spoiled.' Only the Lord's Ring aids me in the regulation of my magic. Lately, I've been drawing on the Estate's and Land's Power to supplement my own. The land is in turmoil, barely able to cling to the idea of sanity and life, unable to give aid. The Estate is just enjoying the show. Whoever wins, whatever the outcome, The Estate benefits.

'That being said…' I grimace as I don't only feel the Wards draining my Power but also the Estate sapping it as well. While it doesn't care about the outcome…it does take offense to me using Light magic over Dark magic.

I down another bottle of holy water to increase the potency of my Light magic and my resistance to the Dark. I have a case of 30 beside me. I suspect that they will be gone before the night's end. Tranchant was also kind enough to donate her entire stock of Emboldening Vapors. All 3 of them and with the potions beside me I should hold out until noon.

'I'm so glad I've taken to trimming back the Web's roots and fortifying my Mind Palace. I would not last the night otherwise.' Noting the drain from the Estate, who is displeased at this realization. The howling wind gains strength and the lightning, a brackish blue slams into the moonlight wards. Yet not a drop of the cursed water makes it into my abode. 'A woman's Power lies in her territory of home. You Are Not Welcome!'

The wards flare and a section of clouds purifies into nothingness before being replaced. The entire horizon is filled with dark blue-green clouds. I down another bottle of holy water. 'At Me Then.'

I hold against the buffeting wind and the targeted lightning.

I hold against the deluge of water drying to drag me down.

I hold against the infected refugees from the fishing villages. The healthy ones were taken in, but those who came out from the weald cursed…they were turned away to their fates. Without Power to protect them, most folk will succumb to becoming fungal zombies. In the end, I think I was able to save a fourth of the population.

I witness the Brother and Tavern Owner taking in the refugees. I imagine they are shifting through their ranks for new employees. The ambitious Vestal that was meant to be aiding the Brother…was missing.

Eventually, I no longer had the luxury of maintaining awareness of the natural realm. As I shoulder and hold against the wrathful heavens. I lost track of time, though I felt a hand, 'old squid ink and warm sand', feed me the rest of the holy waters and a couple of Tranchant's concoctions in intervals as I devoted myself to holding.

Finally, finally. My gamble paid off, and the Empowered Sun broke through the Cursed Storm. 'Thank the Light, they succeeded.' I fall back staring at the dazzling noon sun and calling to it. It heard me and turned its attention to the Dark Born that dared!

I allowed my soul to shine through and gave my impressions of the night. The Light Orb appears and gives testament. I hold my breath. The light softens and shines a spotlight on my prone form and its little sibling. Replenishing my mana and restoring some of my life force I had to dip into to keep the Wards going.

The Light Orb chirps and dances in gratitude to its Great Brother.

The Sun then turns with wrath towards the offending storm. It's merciless as it tears through the blanket of Darkness that is beyond its allowed time! The ensuing heatwave shockwaves throughout the clouds. evaporating the curse-bearing water and pushing back the ill winds. Rainbows shimmer in ribbons behind the lancing sunlight. The air ripples as heat reflects and redirects the Light against the Hurricane.

The storm was born to ravage the land, drown crops, and lay waste to home and men. To batter and beat the offending Lord throughout a week was dissipated and dismissed in a day. It is dusk when the Sun is satisfied with its work. The Light, now streaked red, looks at me again and asks its tribute.

"Reynauld, Dismas." I croak out while feeling my guards' familiar presence, "Gather the townsfolk and create a Festival of Light. For the week we were spared of suffering so we shall celebrate our salvation." The Sun muses and accepts the offering. A week's worth of praise, sacrifice, and faith is acceptable for giving it the right, the invitation, against a manifestation of its eternal foe.

I contacted the Caretaker, who is bunkered in our home. Happily playing with the new toy that presented itself. I can hear her echoing screams through our bond as he reassures me, "He will extract all the information she has before she breaks…completely."

"So long as it doesn't interfere with the Festival that will be taking place and the information is brought forward." I send towards him, and he hums agreement as he breaks in his new toy.

'Uh, I didn't need that image.' I grimace in pain and disgust, as the hands that were beside me the entire night, pick me up. It was not Dismas or Reynauld. As both stood guard a ways away. Rather it was Stafford holding me in a princess carry and bringing me to the Barracks, to Home.

I can feel Love as his Power wraps around me, protective and tentative. I relax intuitively and trust my hero. He only takes a few steps before I succumb to Darkness.

A/N: Yeah I need to stop there. Wow, that evolved into something more than I had planned. I am not referring to the start of a Love Route though I'm pleased that it happened so naturally. I wasn't planning on the siren's death and its backlash becoming such a big deal…but it makes sense in the world I'm crafting.

The game gave me a mission that had "Sunshine in the Thicket" as a reward. And that was so perfect, I couldn't pass it up for the story. Plus retriever Light Orb is back and I love 'em. I just love the idea of a little shard of Light asking Big Brother Sun, "See this is my pet. She's pretty and treats me well. I stole her from the Dark and she is mine. But our rival clan is bullying her and trying to destroy her home and the temple devoted to us. Pretty pleas L."

The sun is the equivalent of a big gruff heavily muscled motorcycle dude that has seen shit but has a soft spot for its wide-eyed toddler little brother. That happens to be clinging to this filthy flea-ridden wounded wild mongrel. It sighs, patches the mongrel up, and proceeds to beat the ever-loving shit out of the punk-ass teenagers who thought it would be funny to torment HIS brother's dog. The Light Orb cheering on and praising how cool its big brother is the whole time. So the sun is showing off and flexing its muscles to its little brother as it Hulk Smashes the punks. That's the best equivalency I can find for that Power Throwdown that happened. I personally just find it awesome.

That being said Lenore is stuck in a magical coma and is still afflicted with the Night Terror curse…so the next arc will be backstory-heavy.

I am already regretting what I'm about to do to Lenore…but this world will have its due. Now I need to roll, to see if I'm showing her childhood, her adventures with Hansal, or her time at the Church.

Oh, and Life is happening. School is playing hockey puck with my ass and bills are piling up. So I need to spend most of my time studying or picking up shifts. Thanks for your patience, the chapters will come out as soon as I'm able to. Ciao lovely folk.