a 'Darkest Dungeon' themed RP

INTRODUCTION

Those of you who are unfamiliar with the game “Darkest Dungeon” by Red Hook Games, I highly recommend you check it out, available on Steam and GOG.

Note: While you don't NEED to be intimately familiar with the game to participate in the RP, some semblance of knowledge regarding it is highly preferable.



It’s been nearly 2 months since the heir of the land has returned to claim what is his and started this campaign to purge the evil inflicted upon his home by the blind and mad ambitions of his ancestor. In this time, word has spread of his call for help, promises of bountiful rewards, great glories and a sense of duty have attracted many brave men and women ready to stand against the evil that plagues this once proud and illustrious estate. In time, the small hamlet that serves as a base of operation for all these would-be heroes, has slowly seen activity restored with uneasy trading routes bringing in merchants with ample supplies at profitable prices, people who once owned a respectable establishment returning in hopes of brining their broken business back on its feet and sturdy work-force willing to help bring the estate to its once former glory brick by brick….all for a price, of course. Purging the evil that plagues this land is no easy task in any way, many have died or simply fled with terror in their hearts, until only very few remained, their spirit scared by the horrors they have witnessed and somehow survived, still pressing on to this maddening task for one reason or another. The lord himself seldom if ever shows himself to the people in his service, staying behind the locked doors of a modest building which once served as a guest house back in the days of yore, now taking the place of the venerable mansion that stood proudly atop the moor. The caretaker and a personal servant being the only ones allowed inside, one reporting the progress of the campaign, fetching new instructions and the details to new assignments which he will later pass along to those who came here seeking fortune and glory, while the other brings the lord his meals and takes care of more domestic matters. It’s been nearly 2 months and a bit of progress has been made, yet the corruption still has a tight gtip and almost all who were willing to venture out and confront it have either perished or gone mad, few still remaining. Today, the stagecoach has returned after a long expedition, brining in fresh new blood who have enlisted themselves to this task. Whether it be for fortune, glory or other reasons, they will soon be fighting for their survival and sanity as they thread through the blackened corridors and battle against the nightmarish creatures that lurk deep within….the Darkest Dungeon.

Plot summary
You are one of those who have heard the call for help from the Weaverstar Estate and its returned lord, deciding to enlist along with others to help fight against the evil that has plagued the once noble land. Your reasons for doing this are your own, yet you are not alone and soon enough you will have to rely on these strangers to fight by your side and ensure survival as well as sanity of mind.

This is a dungeon-crawler style RP, where our heroes will be wandering through dark corridors in search for both treasures as well as the source of the darkness that grips and corrupts the land. However, our heroes are not the stalwart and unshakeable sort from High-Fantasy, they are more human and are affected both physically and psychologically by the horrors they face. Team-work is key, for a lone adventurer will soon find himself in an early grave after being overrun by what lurks deep beneath.

Terrifying creatures, dark halls and rooms with but a flickering torch guiding the way, limited supplies and the different quirks and flaws of each character, all will have an impact on our party and the odds of success for each expedition.

Post order

There is no particular order of posts yet I will assume all of you will be understandable enough not to spam 3+ posts while other barely got one through. My posts will consist in both a ‘regular’ post of my character as well as the environment and narration of the story which will react to your decisions.

Combat

When dealing with battle, rather than ‘godmodding’, describe your character’s actions, his intentions and the expected outcome.
Example : “Reynald rushes forward, swinging his mighty blade at the foul creature and hacking it in two.” Vs. “Reynald rushes forward, with a tight grip on his sword he raises the blade up taking a swing at the foul creature with the intent of hacking it in two.”

See the diference?

Think of it like playing a Dungeons & Dragons game, where every outcome to a certain action is determined by the roll of the dice, just in this case I as the GM will play the role of the dice.

Warning : Expect things to go pretty badly for everyone ;)

The Hamlet
The Hamlet is our base of operations, our home-away-from-home. When not venturing in the dark and fighting eldritch horrors, your characters will be stationed here where they can take some time-off and prepare for the next expedition. In the Hamlet one may find some key-locations of interest:

The Abbey - A cathedral where one may find solace and sanctuary for silent contemplation or prayer. Those dedicated enough may even volunteer for flagellation, cleansing their body of sin by way of shedding blood.

The Tavern - A place where one may find strong drink, daring wages and comley companions. Whether you want to enjoy a cold pint, engage in a game of chance or pay for a room in the annexed Brothel, all are welcome.

The Blacksmith - A place where the tools of war are forged. The Blacksmith is your destination for new arms and armor as well as repairing or improving existing ones.

The Guild - A place where experienced warriors and scholars gather and share their knowledge. Every master started as a lowly student and in this place, one is guaranteed to find someone who may be able to improve one's skills and teach new tricks.

The Sanitarium - A place where dubious methodologies and practices may improve your lifestyle. If one should find themselves unable to cope with their flaws any longer, the specialists in this residence will be more than eager to aid in one's reeducation.

The Survivalist - A place at the edge of the Hamlet, where a mysterious woman may teach one how to better survive in the wild, provided they can afford her steep fee.

The Nomad Wagon - A place where one can find trinkets and oddities from the furthest corners of the world. Just don't expect the prices to be particularly generous.

The Graveyard - A place where the fallen are laid to rest and one may visit and honor their memories.

Word in advance for Creating a Character

Each character is unique from the other, each has its own personality and just like in real life, you are not always guaranteed to get along with everyone else. The traits and quirks of your character will have an impact upon their relationship with other characters, events that may happen and the environment itself. An alcoholic warrior would most likely be with a bottle in hand when wanting to relief some of the stress rather than trying to find contemplation in prayer, he may also not see eye to eye with another character who has sworn off liquor for whatever reason. Events and experiences may also alter your character’s personality, adding new quirks, changing existing or both. A long night of unanswered prayers may change the character’s religious beliefs ; a confrontation gone bad with an Undead may have made the character more fearful of their kind, thus reducing his prowess against them in the future ; a night of revelry at the tavern may have made a character addicted to drinks; I encourage you to be as creative as you can :)

Note on “Emotional Response” : When the stress of the task becomes to much and your character reaches their breaking point, they may react strongly to the situation. An ‘emotional response’ will affect both the character’s behavior to some degree as well as those around him. A character crippled with fear and terror may occasionally freeze in combat from the sheer horror that they confront and their frantic babbling may affect the rest of their party, for example. Again, be as creative as you will.





If you have any questions, feel free to address them, no matter how small or complex. Ask and I will answer as best I can.