Darkest Dungeon Characters' Backstories

Mutilated and disfigured, the Abomination is forced to wander the world, hiding his horrible secret. The dark second half.

Among the fate-maimed and simply insane heroes, the abomination does not stand out too much. At least, in his normal form. But where did the monster come from, which takes control of him and which cannot be restrained by even the strongest chains?

It is hard to believe, but once this vagabond was a learned man. He was interested in alchemy and mechanics. He devoted all his time to his laboratory. And one of his inventions - a mechanical hand he boasts about at the campfire.

From some of the abomination’s phrases, one can judge that at the same time he was close to the king. It is hard to say whether this closeness was due to his scientific achievements or his kinship with the royal family. But he was definitely far from being of simple origin. Such connections gave him access to sources of knowledge forbidden to others. And most likely it was with their help that he came to the discovery that made a freak out of a scientist and made him afraid of himself.

Despite the fact that he often calls his condition a curse, the Abomination says that he created it with the help of alchemy. Poison literally circulates in his veins, which apparently explains his ability to poison enemies. At the same time, the abomination is afraid that his disease may be contagious. But the main danger for those around him is by no means this, but the terrible and uncontrollable transformation of a man into a monster with incredible strength.

As the abomination says, it was thanks to betrayal that he was captured and thrown into prison. Perhaps he would have rotted there until the end of his days, if not for the servants of the church who decided to brand him. But something went wrong. And when the red-hot iron touched his skin, the monster hiding inside him broke free.

Why did he join us? Maybe he got tired of wandering around the world and being rejected by anyone who knows him better. Maybe in battle he decided to find death. Or maybe he wanted to become a hero and save the world?

The Antiquarian Lore analysis by Miskatonic Memorialist.

A furious mob heads to a lonely house in the middle of the forest. A worried father hastily locks the doors and wakes up his little daughter. She doesn’t understand what’s going on. She asks her father, but the mob is getting closer. Without explaining anything, he takes away her toy bunny and gives her a crossbow. Pushing her out of the window, he sacrifices himself so she can escape. Now the girl is left on her own.

The fate of the Arbalest is one of the most tragic in the game. A child who lost her parental care at the will of an enraged mob. But what was the reason for such a lynching? Alas, there is not even a hint of the reason in any of the Arbalest’s phrases. Most likely, she was so young at the time of these events that she hardly understood anything. And what she understood, she doesn’t remember anymore.

One can only guess what the real cause was. At first glance, it seems that the target was the father. But could it be somehow related to the missing mother? Maybe they wanted to kill not the girl’s father, but her? Some say it could have been racism.

According to the Arbalest, we know that after what happened she wandered a lot. During this time she managed to see the world, learn healing, visit distant countries of the East. What happened left a deep trauma on her. The girl constantly remembers her father, keeps his belongings and feels guilty for what happened.

But despite all this, the Arbalest is a brave warrior and a loyal friend in battle.

At first glance, the Bounty Hunter is the most ordinary member of our team. His primary skill is the ability to kill. Ruthlessly, swiftly, mercilessly. But, of course, it's not for free. The thrill of the hunt, the promise of payment are what drive him.

But you need not worry, he is a master of his trade. Even his original comic illustrates how quickly he dispatches targets for a generous sum. The Bounty Hunter bursts into the tavern and silently, with finesse, eliminates an unsuspecting victim, leaving behind only a poster with his name as a farewell.

But it's not just gold that motivates the Bounty Hunter in his killings. His second favorite reward is revenge. While wandering through the darkest of corridors, he always keeps a mysterious bundle close to his chest, which he examines with interest when the opportunity arises. The role of this item becomes clearer with the Crimson Court DLC, where it's referred to as Vengeful Kill List, and it comes with a pouch of trophies – the teeth of bandit leaders.

What he specifically seeks vengeance for, one can only speculate. The taciturn Headhunter is silent most of the time, and when he does speak, it's only about rewards and killing. Even in the face of the heart of darkness, he only emits a brief sigh.

The Crusader is one of the most famous characters in the game. Being one of the first heroes introduced to us (alongside the Highwayman), he practically became a symbol of the game, and his absence in Darkest Dungeon II disappointed many fans.

We know very little about the Crusader's life. His comic tells the pivotal moment in his life. Leaving his wife and son, Reynauld goes to war. Initially an unsure fighter, he toughens and becomes more ruthless with each battle, transitioning from the Light to the Crimson. After such a long journey, he now leads an army. However, upon returning home and seeing the faces of his loved ones, he can't bring himself to go back to them. Duty and war have changed him too much. There's no way back.

Rumors of the devilry happening in Hamlet have reached the ears of the churchmen, which likely led the Crusader to our town as well, as confirmed by the presence of the Vestal in our team. So, his loyalty to the church probably brought the Crusader to our city.

An unforgiving fighter against the undead and a courageous warrior, he still remembers his family, although he strives to forget them, as evidenced by the caption under his Crimson Court set: "I will forget them. Regret is sin."

Night. Two drunkards leave the tavern. Their attention is drawn to a ragged man reaching out to them in a plea. Driven by alcohol and their own cruelty, they smash a bottle over the beggar's head, delivering a blow and another. But something is amiss. Instead of the expected groans, laughter emanates from under the vagrant's hood. Pain is his pleasure, and the blood flowing from his wounds grants him strength. Pain is a song of light to him, and agony is his blessing.

The Flagellant is one of the most mysterious characters in Darkest Dungeon. We know neither his past nor what he repents for. All we know is his belief system. He is a self-flagellator, a fervent follower of the church. He believes that only pain and blood can cleanse from sins, and he considers serving the light as his highest purpose. People like our hero renounce worldly pleasures, shun women, and eat the plainest food. They perform their penances in public, demonstrating what they are named for.

The Flagellant's personal item is a Chipped Tooth, inscribed with "We're all falling apart..." Perhaps it symbolizes how the hero's self-torment is slowly breaking down his body, but consumed by his faith, he cannot stop.

The Stagecoach has many diverse personalities that the presence of a true lady among them is unlikely to surprise anyone. And this is not just words; she is truly from a well-known lineage.

From childhood, she was taught to maintain posture, dance at balls, and embroider. She was married off to a nobleman just like herself. But somehow, she is now called the Grave Robber. She earns her living by raiding ancient crypts and recently deceased rich folks' fresh graves.

But what made this charming lady take a crooked path? Why did her walks with other ladies in the garden turn into rendezvous with withered corpses?

As previously mentioned, the Grave Robber used to belong to a noble family. She frequented balls, indulged in expensive desserts, and elite beverages. However, her life began to change when she was bound in matrimony.

Chris Bourassa described her as a trophy wife in one of the interviews—a woman a man marries not out of love but to maintain his status. Her husband, on the other hand, is portrayed as an abuser. Therefore, it's not surprising that after his death, the grave robber harbors only negative feelings toward him and hurls a glass at his portrait.

It's difficult to say what exactly happened after his demise. According to her words, it can be said with certainty that there was a trial.

And from the phrase "the judge said, better a sparrow in hand," I deduce that for some reason, perhaps her husband's debts, she was stripped of her husband's estate but left with the mansion where the events of the comic unfold.

And it's at that point she realizes that even though they took her husband's money, they couldn't take what he managed to claim for his tomb.

The Hellion is another standout character of the Darkest Dungeon. And it's not just about her appearance. The Hellion has a different worldview, values, religion, attitude towards life, death, and family. And it's no wonder because she grew up in the depths of the forest, among wild and untamed tribes. Her people are far from civilization. They follow only the cult of strength and battle, worship the elders, believe in spirits, respect nature, and sometimes even indulge in cannibalism. But why is our Hellion no longer among them? It's all because she was banished.

Her people do not tolerate cowardice. No matter how slim the chances of victory, they fight to the last. And only her hand trembled. Only she, realizing the recklessness of their plan, backed down and refused to participate in an obviously losing battle. Hiding behind a tree, she watched as her brethren were killed by better-armed warriors. Thanks to this, the Hellion saved her life but was shamefully exiled from her tribe and branded with a mark of rejection. She never parts with it. It adorns her belt, so that neither those around her nor the Hellion herself can forget her shame for a moment.

It is unknown whether she can redeem her guilt and return to the tribe. Perhaps, that's why she joined our ranks. Or maybe, a battle is the only thing she excelled at in life, and the only thing that can sustain her away from her people.

The Highwayman, a prominent character and the main symbol of Darkest Dungeon, arrived in our town from the open road, and, at the same time, as a face of ruthless and cruel banditry. At first glance, the audacious and unprincipled Highwayman came to our little town in search of redemption. Now, he is part of our team, and thievery, robbery, and crime are left behind. But what motivated this man to change so drastically?

Previously, the Highwayman was earning a living by making candles. This may not sound like the most profitable occupation, so it's likely that financial difficulties drove him down this path. Perhaps it all started with gambling fraud. However, as is often the case, appetites grew, and so did the severity of his crimes. And now, our hero was not just a swindler; he had become a robber.

One day, he was waiting to ambush a stagecoach filled with valuable cargo. The security detail consisted of only two individuals, and the highwayman was swift in catching them off guard. They didn't stand a chance. Hearing a noise from inside the carriage, fearing an armed passenger, he fired a few shots without looking. This was a fatal mistake, one he would never forgive himself for. It was not the intended stagecoach, and he had killed an innocent woman and child.

In his words, the highwayman frequently mentions a woman he simply calls "she." He reminisces about how he loved her and how well he felt with her. Yet, he also says, "I could have run away with her. How could I leave her behind?" But he also refers to the murdered woman. "I didn't kill her. It was an accident. You have her face." Perhaps it's the same person.

It's strange that a man accustomed to killing for money is so devastated by the deaths of innocent victims that he completely changes his way of life and essentially heads toward his own demise. And the portrait in the locket that he always carries with him, where did it come from? It's unlikely it was found in the stagecoach.

Perhaps the woman killed by the highwayman was his former lover, from whom he separated due to his new profession.

Once, the Houndmaster was a constable and kept order in his city. Together with his faithful Hound, they caught villains and investigated crimes. But, it seems, our hero was one of the few who really cared about justice and conscience. Corruption and extortion flourished in the ranks of the police.

But even despite all this, the Houndmaster did not give up and always tried to fulfill his duties. And so one day, our constable, during the investigation of the case of the disappearance of a young girl, finally stumbled upon a clue. A bloody piece of fabric. The scent of his faithful dog did not fail. She quickly and accurately led them to the place where the victim was. Preparing for battle and trying not to make noise, the houndmaster opened the door and could not believe his eyes. The girl was dead. Her body was surrounded by a bunch of cultists in cloaks. They seemed to have killed her during some perverted ritual. But the most shocking thing was not that. Under the hood of one of those present, he saw the face of his captain.

The case was never solved. Judging by the phrases of the Houndmaster, the evidence was destroyed. He himself was beaten by his own colleagues. And, it seems, he himself was accused of involvement in this. There was no one to turn to. As he says, "even the Chief was in on it". Disappointed with his profession and in the justice system, betrayed by his colleagues, he was dishonorably discharged from the police.

Together with his faithful dog, he decided to leave his home and went to our town. Perhaps he was led by evidence in the case of cultists?

The enigmatic Jester, tightly bound to his theatrical persona and never removing his mask, was indispensable in any royal court. Our fool lived at the court, entertained the palace's master and guests, and delighted children. Despite his seemingly jolly role, his life was far from sweet. He recalls how cruelly his audience treated him, how they mocked him, and how they attempted to kill him on more than one occasion.

Judging by the chalice that belongs to our hero, he also served as the royal food taster, ensuring his master's meals were not poisoned. This is where his extensive knowledge of poisons, which he constantly boasts about, likely originates. His life at court was horrific, and even a fool's patience can run thin.

This evening was no different from the others. The palace owner gathered his subjects for another feast. The court jester sang, danced, juggled, and cracked jokes. But all of this was not enough. The guests wanted more spectacle. Sharp daggers, thrown at the Jester by the king's command, missed their mark but conveniently landed near his hand. In a moment, an acute dagger was in his hand. The king's сhalice, and the arm holding it, along with a resounding clang, fell to the floor.

The fool, who had entertained the public, swiftly dealt with it, leaving behind a massive trail of blood. It's unknown whether our hero dispatched his master for noble reasons or because of the humiliations that the master constantly subjected him to. There's even a theory that this tyrant was not the last, and that the jester, during his performances, ended the lives of more than one cruel ruler. In his travels, he aged and lost his sanity.

Perhaps the Jester was called to the Hamtel of the deprivation, which our cruel ancestor brought to these lands. Or maybe he simply came at the sound of jingling coins.

No matter what qualities you possess or what place you hold in society, illness spares no one.

And the Leper has seen this firsthand. His body is covered in bandages, and an iron mask conceals his face, hiding the deformities inflicted by the disease. But he conceals something else as well – who he used to be.

You see, the Leper was once a king. His character was inspired by the knights of the Order of Saint Lazarus. These were warriors afflicted with leprosy who, in their hopelessness, joined the ranks of the order and fought recklessly in the front lines.

Indeed, this resembles the Leper. He often mentions that he was a warrior and took part in many battles. He is also deeply religious.

However, there are many details that hint at the fact that he was more than just a soldier. For instance, in his comic, we can see the moment when his crown was removed and replaced with the mask. Having his body wrapped in bandages, the Leper gazes one last time at his people as if bidding them farewell. His people are somber and moved, showing their respect as they send off their former king on his final journey.

Another confirmation of his origin is his personal items with the inscription "The last treasures of a King." This links our hero to another prototype, King Baldwin IV, who also suffered from Leprosy. We can see from the comic that, like Baldwin, the Leper was beloved by his people, and judging by his speech and the flute he owned, he was intelligent and educated.

The disease deprived him of his sensitivity and practically took his sight, making him nearly impervious to pain, and his, albeit powerful, strikes often miss their mark. However, while others come to our town due to obsession or guilt, he embarked on his mission, genuinely wanting to make the world a better place. Even before facing the "Heart of Darkness," he utters, "Spare the others, I am ready."

The Man-at-Arms is an old and battle-scarred veteran who has seen many battles and bloodshed in his lifetime. Tactics and strategy are his strong points, but at what cost did he acquire these skills?

The history of this hero is vague, we know nothing about his life except his military past, but perhaps that is the essence of the character.

He dedicated his whole life to serving in the army. Thanks to his devotion to the cause and great combat experience, he quickly climbed the career ladder and at some point he was leading the troops and leading them into battle. He was not just a commander, he was a leader, and his soldiers were his family. And this is confirmed by his attitude to our team at the campfire. He trains, teaches them, teaches them how to heal wounds. And all because he does not want to lose them - he has already lost people and blames himself for it to this day.

His comic tells the story of one of the battles. During it, he tried to protect one of his soldiers, covering him with himself. But one shot of a cannon, and waking up, before the eyes of the Man-at-Arms lay a whole field of bodies of his comrades and enemies. No one survived except him.

Also curious is the moment with his missing eye. He does not talk about how he lost it, only remembers how it was removed. And how he, losing it, in return received his medals. Some interesting story related to the eye was also hinted at by Burasa in his Instagram. The Man-at-Arms was too arrogant. His arrogance cost him his eye and his regiment. The medal awarded to him is a testimony of his failure. During the events of the comic we see that he is already missing an eye, which means that this is not the first squad that he lost. And it seems that he carries the burden of this guilt with him to this day.

The Musketeer is a sharpshooter, honing her shooting skills and keen eyesight from a very young age. She loves to challenge herself, relishes trials, and can't imagine her life without obtaining rare trophies.

Our heroine often mentions that she was born in a rich family and spent her childhood in luxury and surrounded by servants. Her father was fond of hunting and took her with him from a young age. In one of those outings, she was even bitten by a hound. It was then that her father taught her how to treat wounds. And that wasn't the only knowledge he passed on to her, as he himself was a skilled and experienced marksman. He took her training in this craft seriously, even instructing the servants to equip the girl with the deadliest weapons. All of this influenced who the Musketeer is today.

Growing up, our hero turns her life into a series of trials and challenges. She participates in numerous competitions and hunts for rare creatures. It seems like she does all of this for herself, to please her ego.

Her comic tells the story of one of her tournaments. She was already close to victory. Then, in the final round, as she was about to take her final shot, she suddenly saw the eye of a horrifying creature. Startled and thrown off, she missed her shot. The embarrassed girl walks through the crowd of spectators, throwing away her silver cup, a symbol of her greatest failure.

But why does she chase after all these awards? Why does she take second place so hard? She speaks of her fate as, "A life wasted stalking dumb beasts!" And when in serious danger, she is concerned only about how her death will reflect poorly on her family's reputation. It becomes clear that she does all of this not for herself but to gain the approval of her parents, who have evaluated her solely based on her achievements since childhood.

Why she saw the eye of a creature clearly connected to the Heart of Darkness remains unclear. There is a theory that her eyesight is so acute that even in the darkest of moments, for a split second, she was able to see the world as it truly is. Some even say that the Heart itself called her to the Hamlet. In any case, our Musketeer decides to deal with the creature that caused her failure and add the most worthy trophy to her collection, finally putting an end to the hunting she no longer needs.

A dark and mysterious character, whose story shares many similarities with our ancestor's history and intersects with the main storyline of the game.

The Occultist was a scholar, most of his life dedicated to learning. In university, he studied philosophy, mathematics, literature, and many other sciences. In one of his phrases, he even mentions psychosomatics, which indicates that his knowledge is truly extensive. Over the years of his work, he even became a university professor. But, much like our ancestor, in his thirst for more knowledge, he touched things he shouldn't have.

Perhaps the path to the occult sciences wasn't revealed to the Occultist by himself - the skull he always carries in his hands is called the "The Mentor's Skull" As he practiced shadow of thought exercises, he simultaneously engaged in dark rituals and studied occult treatises in search of something that was inaccessible to others.

And it seems he found it. Perhaps it's related to the flame. When other characters worship him and consider him holy, the Occultist says that he knows something different about it. And the flame of a candle will play an important role in his fate.

During his long journey, he finally reached the temple he had sought for so long. Approaching the statue of some ancient god, he performed the ritual steps again, one he had studied so thoroughly. He was ready for it. In his hands, there was the skull with the candle. He recited words in an unknown language, and the gods answered, lighting the candle. Now he was forever bound to an ancient deity.

And this was his greatest mistake. After this ritual, the Occultist began to share his body with a creature he calls the "Black Beast." Often, it speaks through him in an unintelligible language and urges enemies to kill its host, desiring to break free. Because of this proximity, our hero is constantly in fear for his life, suffering exhaustion and periodic loss of control over his body. The Occultist does not tell us if he gained any powers in exchange for this. But we can see that in battle, the abyss still assists him. But was it all worth it?

Our hero made a pact with a deity not so much for power but for knowledge. On the statue, we can see an image of the candle on the skull gradually burning out, and around it, we see scattered skulls with already extinguished candles. Perhaps, as long as it burns, the Occultist has access to secret knowledge and the secrets of the universe, and when it goes out, he will die and be consumed by the being inside him.

A girl who transitioned from the university classroom to the battlefield, all in pursuit of knowledge and scientific experience.

The Plague Doctor possesses one of the most twisted minds among all our characters.

Before the events of the game, our hero was a devoted medical student. However, at some point, she became obsessed with vivisections, showing more interest in them than any of her fellow students. She assigned a number to each of her subjects, even those she dissected as part of her coursework.

During these events, her professor, the Plague Doctor, unfortunately fell ill with an unknown disease. He left his bloodstained handkerchief next to his student without any intention, unwittingly igniting her intense interest and curiosity. Thus, the professor became object number 40.

They do not tell us what she discovered after stealing and studying the professor's handkerchief. Nor do they tell us if she waited for him to die, or if his death was just a fortunate coincidence. Some even believe that the doctor deliberately poisoned the professor to hasten his death. Ultimately, he ended up on the dissection table, where his student meticulously dissected him, studying him with particular attention and interest. She dedicated an entire book to this research, which she named "Subject #40 Notes"

Of course, such an incident did not go unnoticed. According to our heroine, she was expelled from the university. Her appearance and overall demeanor also support this, as plague doctors were often regarded with a dubious reputation. They were typically individuals either unaffiliated with medicine or young doctors practicing anti-scientific and charlatan methods. This is a typical path for someone who never received a medical education.

Moreover, in terms of the Plague Doctor's abilities, it's difficult to say that she excelled in medicine. What specific knowledge did our heroine gain from her study of object number 40? Perhaps poisonous bombs and plague grenades were developed based on her research. It's also possible that the most valuable experience she gained was knowledge of protection against these poisons and diseases. In any case, she takes her notes and formulas very seriously.

A beauty from the distant Eastern dunes, an agile and graceful warrior who turns her battle into a dance. But every night holds the risk of turning into a nightmare for her, and all of this is owed to her past.

Shieldbreaker highly values her freedom, for once she was a slave, a dancer who had to entertain men and be nothing more than a plaything for them. She hated them, but despite her dissatisfaction with her life, she was afraid to change anything. But one day, her owners decided that she was too beautiful for such an audience, and her place was in the palace. So, alongside with other dancers and golden statues, she was bound by her hands and feet, traveling in a carriage as a gift for the Vizier.

She knew that Vizier was known for his exceptional cruelty, and she understood that her previous life would seem like a fairy tale in his palace. That's why she decided to take matters into her own hands. After escaping from the cart, she attacked her guard, but the carriage couldn't withstand the commotion and fell off a cliff. Buried beneath the wreckage, she was the sole surviving dancer, attempting to free her trapped arm. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a snake approaching. The pain from its bite didn't take long to set in.

With no time for contemplation, the girl grabs the dull knife of her guard, deciding to cut off her bitten hand to prevent the venom from spreading throughout her body. She sacrificed her beauty to gain her freedom.

In essence, the snake saved her, prompting the decision she should have made even without its bite. In her story, following the incident, the girl even referred to the snake as her savior. Nevertheless, Shieldbreaker still carries deep psychological trauma and, in her dreams, she returns to the day that took her hand but gave her a new life.

The Vestal is a warrior priestesses who dedicated her life to serving the Light and maintaining the sacred fire. She guides and blesses her allies, but suffers from the weight of her vows and struggles with her inner demons.

The image and name of the Vestal refer us to the priestesses of Vesta, virgin goddess of sacred flame in Ancient Rome. Vestals were chosen in a very young age, and their service was supposed to last 30 years, during which they could not marry and were obliged to keep chastity. The main task of the Vestals was to maintain the sacred hearth and conduct religious rituals. Their faults were severely punished, and for breaking the vow of chastity, the girls were buried alive. All this is confirmed by the quotes of our heroine, both vows and cruel punishments. The decision to go to church, most likely, the Vestal made herself.

Once, when our Vestal had to put firewood in the sacred fire, she was distracted, noticing a kissing couple in the window. The sight so captivated the girl that she completely forgot why she came to the sanctuary and did not notice how the sacred fire went out. This comic with the The Crimson Court DLC trinket set quote "I fear the whispers of my mind!", gives us an opportunity to understand this character more deeply.

Similarly, the vow of chastity for the girl is a heavy burden, and indecent thoughts torment her so deeply that she is forced to keep a separate "Salacious Diary" for them. Some assume that the Vestal is not a virgin, but there are no hints on this in either the phrases of the heroine or any item description.

During the events of Darkest Dungeon, the Vestal was sent by the church to our town along with other nuns. Perhaps this was done to help us with the curse that gripped these lands. Or maybe to get rid of wrongdoer servants.