A/N: I do not own Darkest Dungeon or anything affiliated with the brand. This is just a fanfic from an amateur writer. Warning: No Beta We Stand at Death's Door, World Building, Unreliable Narrator, Everyone is Broken, Flashbacks, Horror, Death, Stress, Traumatic Pasts, Human Trafficking, Abuse, Child Abuse, Rape, Human Sacrifice, Hey Did I Mention Dark? Yandere, PTSD, Survivor's Guilt, Self-Medication, Drug Dependency, Baggage, Should I just bold horror at this point? 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'

Casting/Skills/Words of Great Power or Meaning

The Ancestor Speaks

The Others

Previously

"Hahaha Yes, well played my dear student. Did I not tell you, good-brother, that she would be worth the bother. Oh, my dear, you do not disappoint. It is a shame the church lost such a promising Vestal. You were a most favorable candidate for the Grand Holy Mother, but I'm sure you'll do great things as a Proper Lord. Provided you live of course. Now I'll give you the backing of Church, and I even have a gift for you right now."

Ch 3: The Forsaken

He snaps his fingers, his golden sapphire and topaz ring glowing brightly for a moment, and several of His Heroes enter the room.

Past the open door, the two guards posted are convulsing from the lingering Power and dribbling blood from every opening. Their eyes glazed white, hands clutching their throats, with pink foam and blood pouring out of their gaping mouths. Their insides are a liquid slurry.

A gruesome but typical fate of someone without Power when exposed to the full unrestrained might of one with Authority backing it. Especially, when several Lord's Powers are clashing and competing, they were never expected to survive our meeting.

'Well, I can at least expect little shortage or unwillingness from His Honored when it comes to providing volunteers.'

I turn to the three heroes… Wait. No.

Two heroes flanking an adventurer, all of the crusader class. The one in front wears a blue cloth and is a full head shorter than the yellow garbed crusaders behind him. The blue adventurer is hesitant, stalls a moment, and is then roughly shoved forward by a yellow crusader. Causing the adventurer to stumble and then fall into a dogeza before His Honored, waiting for judgment. 'Oh, I see where this is going.'

…

'He trembles in fear but has enough of a head to keep silent. Good, he will need to know how to handle not simply fear but horror as well.'

His Honored coughs and looks down at the adventurer, "Crusader Reynauld…while you have greatly disappointed me, disappointed the church…The Light has revealed unto me a path of redemption—a way to restore your honor and prove your faith. You will spearhead a Crusade against a great evil. An accursed land has been unsealed and its Heir has had the wisdom to beg the Church for aid against the Unholy Horrors and Eldritch abominations that lurk within."

He waves me forward as if presenting a prize sow to a market. Naturally, I already softened my posture and put on a genial mask. Presenting a serene and pious lady, to stir the instincts and desires of man to protect, claim, and defend. Seduction by weakness is a very dangerous game to play.

'The claiming will work best if the adventurer wants to be claimed and needed. So this isn't simply to remind me of my place.'

His honored nods towards me pleased that I submitted to his lead and went along with his show to his men. "Indeed, I present Heir Lenore Adamos, and in a different time she might have been one of your Sisters." At this, and as one, all three of the crusaders snapped to look at me and actually saw me.

His Honored Windbag continued, "Indeed for when she was on the cusp of devoting herself as a Holy Sister of Light, an honored Vestal. A premier daughter and student of the Church; if I do say so myself. Sadly, life is not fair, and the Duty of Blood and Land called my dear Lenore away from us. But we will not send her unguarded and without support in that forsaken place! To reignite the Light in those Dark infested lands and promote the Church of Light's glory to extend and entrench itself in its rightful place amongst her people!"

Mid-speech he released enough of his Power to create a halo of yellow light around his person. I find it to be a hollow mockery of a virtue's crest.

'Hmm? He paid attention to my speech? I don't know how I feel about him committing what amounts to wholesale plagiarism. At least it's working, and in the end, that's what matters.'

His Honored graciously waves me towards his offering. The adventurer takes his cue and changes stances to kneel towards me with a clenched fist to the floor. ' Now I need to set the standard between my hero and his Lord. This one seems devout, a strong warrior of Light, I can not play what His Honored wants, but what my Future needs.'

I gracefully approach him, my back straightens, and strength accentuated in every movement. "I am an Adamos. Not many know what that means, and even fewer remember. What we are-"

At this, I strengthen my power enough to allow my form to be hallowed in rose-red light, strong enough to chase away the shadows in the room. This does not go unnoticed by the crusaders.

"-Is the last bulwark against the Darkness of the Night. We are the dying light of dusk that stands strong against the encroaching shadows. The bloody dawn, that paves the path for the Sun beyond the Abyss of Void.

Sadly, due to the folly of my Great Ancestor, many of us have lost sight of who we are…who we are meant to be. By his folly and treachery to our very purpose, he invited in what we were meant to hold back. The price of which is the blood of our people, of our land, and his descendants.

I am the next on the long list of Heirs, of sacrifices, to the Darkness that plagues my lands. And unlike many of my predecessors, I am not so foolish to believe that I can Reconquer my Land and People without aid."

I soften my posture and the tone of light I'm casting but not the intensity. The soft red light, almost pink, shines across the blue crusader's armor. Stating my interest in Claiming him very clear.

"I-I…I am not worthy! I'm Forsaken!" The crusader interrupts me and blurts out in anguish. He slams his head against the floor, with a hard clang, missing how my light recoils at this news. This Trap. My very Powerhisses and writhes in anger and dawning horror. 'How Dare they! How Dare He! That traitorous Pig! He-'

It takes immense willpower, but I don't drop my act of a gracious lady. I can hear the sinister chuckling from the ghoulish wise man. He is no doubt enjoying this twist in events.

A sob comes from the broken, Forsaken in front of me. This fact, this trap, this poisoned chalice, does not change that I can not survive alone.

'If I snuff this gift, His Honored will have cause to reject and refuse me any aid from the church. He made certain that there are no witnesses that wouldn't go along with whatever reality he wants to portray. And the one that might, is already slated for execution if His Honored is feeling merciful.

If I do Claimhim incorrectly or hastily, then His Honored can take possession of him or reap any knowledge from his mind at will. If I do this wrong, I have a spy in my midst at best or an assassin at worst. Not to mention the sheer insult that giving me his leftovers implies.

That a Crusader he has Claimed, raised, Reaped, and then thrown away is what he expects that I am worthy of?! For all, he knows this is my First Hero! …No, he believes this is my First Hero and seeks to not only permanently maim my own Power but also gain a claim to my Soul, my Power, and my Person through this Forsaken!

Light Above, I… I'm so glad my Guardian set up an Adventurer for me to Claimas my first. Did he know what His Honored planned? That even now he protected me? I… I have to do this, Dark Damned! Fine! I'll take this wager, my Power and Soul on the line for more aid to come! May His Honored rot in the Deep Abyss for this!'

'This one is broken. Be gentle.' I get on one knee and place a hand on his pauldron. "Did you mishear? I am an Adamos, my entire line is Forsaken."

The crusader shudders, and hesitantly looks up. I ensure my light remains gentle, before continuing, "What I can not offer is riches or glory. I won't lie, all I can offer is Death. But I can offer a Death with Meaning. To be given purpose anew.

Whatever you were previously. Whatever you have done. I offer a chance to you, to all those who are lost and need purpose. I offer a chance at redemption, that even should you fall, you would have made a difference to those who follow in your footsteps.

The brothers-in-arms you will fight with, those heroes I gather. All of us are lost, forsaken, damned… Even myself. We will fight for a chance at redemption! We will fight to reclaim not only ourselves but also other souls from the Darkness! We will fight, even to our last, for the Light! For Hope! Not only for ourselves but for those that come after!"

I slowly stand up and guide him to stand up with me, my light returning to a defiant rose-red. "So speak now Crusader Reynauld! Will you come with me? Will you accept me as your new Lord? Will you accept a second chance at life, at purpose, at redemption?"

I take a small step back and offer my hand to take his. He surprises me. He kneels instead with a hand holding his heart and faces squarely at me, his back towards His Honored and His Most Wise.

"I, Reynauld, Crusader of the Holy Church of Light, do swear to follow and serve you. That your command will be my act. That I will remain loyal and true to you and your will. That in life and in death I will serve the Light and you as my Lord. That I will take this second chance and bring Hope to the Lost and Forsaken. Let the Holy and Divine Light hear my oath, given willing, of sound mind and true purpose."

My eyes both soften and harden at his sincerity to do this right. To serve anew and not be cast aside again. And the immense pain I must inflict this poor man for he is Forsaken and all traces of the previous Lord must be purged. My Power concentrates, becoming denser, surrounding this crusader… Reynauld. 'I'm sorry.'

"I, Heir Lenore Amaris Branwen Adamos, do accept your oath of fealty. From now to the end of time you are mine. In this, I swear to you a home in my lands, a place by my side, and a mission to restore and preserve Light, Life, and Hope. You shall serve me with Faith, Honor, and Stalwart in your purpose. Now rise, born anew, as my Hero Reynauld of the Scarlet Glenn."

'In this vow, in this blessing, do I curse anyone but us who dares to claim you, for evil or dark. None shall use you but I.'

My magic, my Power, and the Lord's Ring surround Reynauld's soul in complete agreement. 'How dare that Pig try to continue to Claim what is OURS!'

Meticulously we pierce his soul, inch by inch and layer by layer. We scour his soul for the Defiling Pyrite Glitter hidden, planted, and rooted in OUR HERO'S SOUL! Reynauld screams in pain and fear, far from the euphoric sensation that is meant to take place. No, this Pig saw fit to poison the well with his filth and now it must be purged not indulged.

Briefly, I note that Reynauld has fallen on his hands and knees. Spewing out bright yellow-green bile with golden sparkles between his screams and cries. My Power once rose red, is now crimson of fresh blood, not allowing a single shadow to touch him and snuffing out any hint of yellow light coming from him. It's not over. No, this battle is only now hitting the crescendo.

Plucking the glitter like the weeds they are, deeply rooted and everywhere. Reynauld's scarred soul begins to crack with the body following suit, convulsing and jerking as a man possessed. I would not know what to look for if I did not already claim my first hero, Dismas. The sound and memory of who was mine renewed my hope. That hope then echoes into his soul.

Spurred on I continue, checking and backtracking, turning over his soul again and again like a luminous snowglobe filling it with my color. Binding his soul in my Light and Shadows. Filling the holes, soothing the bruises, and easing the hurts that Pig's Power left behind. Slowly but surely his soul is scarred but cleansed, and our Power, mine and the estate's, settled in to restore and fill whatever we could. He finally is Ours. He is Claimed.

Returning to our Waking Reality, my Power dims. There is barely anything left over. I should not have been able to do that. I should not have been to establish an Accord with a Great Lord, perform a Claiming, and redeem a Forsaken in so short a time. The Lord's Ring gleams balefully towards His Honored. 'I had to borrow power from the Estate to finish my tasks here. This isn't a Light Blessed miracle. No, I'll be paying for that later, one way or another. Hopefully, the price for this weakness won't be beyond me.'

'Time to get out while we are still able to.'

I turn and curtsey to the two men behind the table, now with significantly less food. "I thank His Honored and His Most Wise for their time and support. Seeing as my appointment was for your lunch, it appears time to depart. I ask the Light and Dark to bless both of your endeavors and that you reap the due wages of your investments."

His Honored smiles decorously, and his ring shines before abruptly stuttering out. His smile drops, replaced with a pout of annoyance. It's his cohort's turn to laugh at his expense and break out into mad giggling. 'I somehow avoided the obvious traps laid for me…what remains unseen?'

My hero is picking himself up, slowly coming together. The severe trembling that lingers causes his armor to clank. 'I want to help him, but I can't show weakness before these predators. They have us vulnerable, in the heart of their territory and Land. The only escape is by their leave.' I swallow down the HATE inspired by His Honored. 'I need to lower my pride, let them have their victory, and escape to live another day. Dark Damn them to the Deep Abyss.'

My eyes glance to the man I've become responsible for, trying and failing to pick himself up. With as much grace as a newborn calf. 'At least I was successful at redeeming Reynauld. Had I failed, His Honored would have been able to command and control Reynauld. If he was truly my first and only hero, through him, my soul would have been left vulnerable to that pervert. He would probably have used that advantage to turn me into his mistress before sending me off in shame. I won that round, but that doesn't change the fact we need to get out of here now.'

"Your Honored!" A page slams into the room, "His Highness of the Greater Empire is Here! With a full retinue! Practically the whole court!"

His Honored's expression turns grim and angry at not being able to finish playing with me, but his duties call him. He puts on his mask of a good-natured Holy Man, "Alas this would be the time of parting, wouldn't it? Dear Lenore, this time together has pleased me greatly, I hope you would be able to visit again before you leave. But I'm such a busy and sought-after man. So I'm afraid I will have to bid you goodbye. I will make sure to look after your dear little brother in our monastery."

'And there's the message of "serve me or you won't like what happens to our hostage." Sadly that only works when we care about said hostage. Oh well, this will buy us the resources and time we need to escape. This wouldn't be so smooth if he still didn't believe he had leverage over me. Needs must let's continue with the pious humble act.'

"I thank His Most Honored for his time, and indeed though it might be short. May I humbly ask for the blessing of the Church of Light before we depart? Both for myself and my new hero?" I kneel and urge Reynauld to line up with me, I use a small amount of power to steady and buy him time to regain his bearings.

"Of course my dear. That is a most suitable end before I send you off on your crusade, yes?" His Honored waddles from his desk with a closed-eyed smile, before raising a hand with his Lord's Ring. The ring shines with yellow light casting over us both, "O Great Light guide thee unto victory, unto glory. For these humble servants seek you and let you be found. Even in the Darkest of Nights to the Brightest of Days may you claim and be with your humble warriors. Now with the Blessings of the Church go forth and claim glory in our name!"

His Power washes over us, trying to use the Light he invoked to gain purchase into our souls. The estate snarls at the intrusion and my Power fights united with it. Exhausted as I am, I have the advantage of home territory. Allowing only clear white Light to pass. Red Light and Withering Shadows block any trace of Yellow Pyrite from even touching Our Heroe's Soul and especially our own. Time slows into eternity, and only because he can't afford more than a short blessing, that we outlast him.

His Honored's lip turns into a snarl and in a blink returns to a genial smile. I've won again against his plots, and with the Blessing of the Light, backed by the Church even He can't withdraw aid should I ask of it. As the Light saw, blessed my purpose, and even with his Power turned back, we are still marked as honored by the Origin Light. Any church member with Power will be able to sense this fact and must act accordingly by their vows and faith, lest they be Forsaken by the Light itself. He grew too greedy and the hunter became the hunted for it.

With this meeting, I've secured backing from the Church and all those sworn to it, financial security from the University, and a steady stream of heroes from both establishments. Repercussions of my success will undoubtedly haunt me in the future, but if I can reconquer my land, their pride, and boast of aiding the poor fool of an Heir will migrate any severe consequence. After all my victory can be claimed by their success and wisdom. It isn't proper for the prize horse to show signs of whipping.

'That poor little bastard, the little lamb. No doubt your time here will be full of strife and pain. The only reason you will continue to live will be punished for my perceived slights and failings. May fortune and cunning favor you, as the Light can't save you now brother.'

I raise myself and my hero, placing us into a slight bow, heads low as everyone else files out to greet His Highness. The Lord's Ring hums pleasantly at the reminder that its chosen Heir willingly sacrificed its Blood to gain success and Power. Only with them gone, do I move. "It's time to go, we need to make our way to my inn and get you settled."

I cup his face searching for the state of his soul. Still weak but enough time has passed to hide that weakness.

"I'm sorry that the process couldn't be more gentle but-"

I leave him and begin walking to the door, unrushed and poised. Both for appearances and to allow Reynauld to keep up.

"-We must leave now, while we are able to. I was received at the side entrance, and that's our exit."

Passing through the twisting halls and opulent decorations to the servant's entrance, I come to a rather unpleasant surprise.

"So you're saying that His Honored had my carriage dismissed from the property. That in his goodwill he paid off any debts I had to my driver, and let him take his leave?" The guardsman posted nodded still awestruck at His Honored's grace and care for a disgraced noble.

A jangle of bells attracts my attention, a red-clad Jester is chatting up a barmaid across the way. A small smile peeked out and my heart swelled with gratitude. 'Thank you, you silly fool. Convincing the Court to come today was probably what saved us. I hope it didn't cost you too greatly.'

I return to the green guardsman, "I see, I am grateful to His Honored for his generosity and wisdom in this manner. Not only did he save me from such an expense but allowed more time for the Hero he has given me to escort me to my home. Truly, a benevolent man."

The guardsman nodded but drew back at seeing the once Forsaken but now Redeemed crusader.

I continue, "Thank you for telling me this, I believe I should enjoy His Honored's grace and enjoy the walk back home. It is such a lovely day today after all."

Grabbing Reynauld's arm so we are linked by the elbows, I lean into him so he can lean into me to help support both of us remaining upright.

Leaving the church, I make sure to pass by the Jester and his catch of the day. With my free hand, I dust off my skirt twice near him and then continue onto the bustling city. A song of longing lovers and well wishes breaks out behind us.

'One of the few songs that don't end in tragedy.' I note while walking with my new hero. The Sun beats down overhead as the crowd swallows us and then sweeps us away from the church.