Chapter Text
Darkest Dungeon – The Journey of Dismas and Audrey
Chapter 1 – A Bad Hand
Dismas sat alone at a small table near the edge of the tavern, absentmindedly shuffling a worn stack of cards through his fingers. After the latest expedition into the Warrens—where the crushing stress had nearly driven him mad—he desperately needed time to recover.
Those damned Swine Drummers and Swine Slashers had focused on him in particular.
As he shuffled the deck, his gaze drifted toward the gambling hall nearby.
A damn shame he couldn’t participate.
Thanks to his reputation as a notorious cheat, he wasn’t welcome there anymore. And honestly… a few rounds of cards sounded pretty good right now.
The tavern door suddenly creaked open.
A new guest stepped inside.
Dismas recognized her immediately.
Audrey—the newest recruit. The so-called Grave Robber.
She had arrived in the hamlet only last week, recruited by the Heir himself.
Another soul thrown into the endless struggle to free the village from the darkness festering around it.
Dismas still didn’t know what to make of her.
By profession alone, she should have been nothing more than a criminal and a defiler of graves. Yet she carried herself with elegance. Her speech was refined, almost aristocratic, and every movement she made suggested she belonged anywhere but among common folk.
So what was her story?
Why was she here?
Over the years, Dismas had dealt with all kinds of people. As a highwayman, reading others had become second nature to him.
But Audrey?
She was a mystery.
One he didn’t fully trust.
Call it paranoia—but it was always better to be suspicious than dead.
“Well, this is a surprise. Didn’t expect to see you here.”
Dismas looked up to find Audrey standing in front of his table.
“You knew I’d be here,” he replied flatly.
Audrey merely shrugged.
“The only places in this miserable hamlet where anyone can relax are the tavern and the church.” Her lips curled faintly. “And you don’t strike me as the praying type.”
The former highwayman couldn’t exactly argue with that.
He had given up on prayer years ago.
Without waiting for permission, Audrey slid into the seat across from him, a sly smile tugging at her lips. Her eyes drifted toward the cards in his hands.
“Feeling the itch for a game?” she asked. “Why not head over to the gambling tables?”
Dismas answered with a contemptuous snort.
“Can’t. Apparently I have a reputation as a notorious cheat.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Where people got that ridiculous idea from, I’ll never know.”
A grin briefly appeared beneath his red scarf.
Audrey noticed it immediately.
“Oh, you poor man,” she said dramatically. “How about this—we play a few rounds ourselves?”
Dismas raised an eyebrow at the offer.
Audrey leaned forward slightly, her expression playful and expectant.
“You know the rules?” he asked.
“I know enough.” Her smile widened. “What’s wrong, Dismas? Afraid you’ll lose?”
That struck a nerve.
His pride bristled instantly.
“Fine,” he muttered. “Challenge accepted. Just don’t complain when you lose.”
And so, the two of them played.
One round became two.
Then three.
Throughout every game, Dismas remained completely focused, watching for every possible trick Audrey might pull to gain the upper hand.
But Audrey?
She played casually, leaning back in her chair as though she didn’t have a single care in the world.
And that smile—
That charming, self-satisfied, teasing smile never left her lips.
No matter what happened during the game, she kept it.
And for some reason… that irritated him.
Dismas won the first round.
Unfortunately for him, Audrey effortlessly crushed him in the next two.
He should probably consider himself lucky they hadn’t played for money—otherwise a considerable portion of his already pitiful savings would now belong to her.
“Well,” Audrey said, stretching lazily in her chair, “that was fun.”
Her grin turned smug.
“At least for me.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“And you look much more relaxed than before.”
Dismas hated to admit it… but she was right.
The tension weighing on him earlier had eased. His shoulders no longer felt stiff, and even the faint trembling in his hands had subsided.
Then a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
“…Wait.”
He frowned.
“Did you play cards with me just to distract me?”
Audrey merely shrugged again.
“And if I did?”
She rested her chin lightly against her hand, amusement flickering in her eyes.
“If it worked, then you should be grateful.” Her smile sharpened slightly. “Besides… now you owe me a favor.”
Before Dismas could respond, she continued.
“I haven’t decided when I’ll collect it yet.” She rose from her chair smoothly. “But don’t worry—you’ll know when the time comes.”
Without another word, Audrey turned and walked out of the tavern, leaving behind a thoroughly confused Dismas.
The young highwayman stared down at the cards in his hands… then toward the tavern door.
A long sigh escaped him.
“…Women.”
He shook his head slowly.
“No one will ever understand them.”
From that moment onward, Dismas silently swore to keep a much closer eye on Audrey in the future.