Courtyard

“	Soaked and sinking, these stone terraces and sprawling gardens are the site of long forgotten revelry...and well remembered regret.	„
	~ The Narrator on entering a expedition in the Courtyard

At the far edge of the Hamlet, near the marshes of the Moor, stands a crumbling wall and rusted iron gate. Beyond those rusted gates was once home to upper echelons of society, but they all disappeared under mysterious circumstances many years ago, leaving the Ancestor as the sole ruler of the Realm. Over the decades their lavish mansions and surrounding gardens have become flooded and merged with the nearby swamp, creating a damp, miasmic maze where the air is heavy with the scent of blood. Many have tried to unravel this mystery, but the gates stay locked to all as if some foul enchantment prevents anyone from entering.

For many years there has been silence as the entirety of the Estate slowly succumb to the corruption. But when the Heir arrived at Hamlet, something began to stir in the Courtyard, hungry for blood and vengeance.

Behavior

The Courtyard is a new location added in the Crimson Court DLC. The former lavish gardens of the estate, now sinking into a swampy mire and infested with supernatural insects.

The Courtyard is unique as the Torchlight here is always at Bloodlight. This means there is a permanent +Stress and -Bleed Resistance debuff. However, torches aren't useless here, because when used, they will boost your accuracy for the duration of one battle. Torches can also be used to destroy the Throbbing Cocoon curio for a large stress reduction.

After completing the first mission in the Courtyard, the vampiric insect infestation will begin to spread to the surrounding locations, enabling Bloodsuckers to appear. Every run a player does in a dungeon makes the infestation level higher, increasing the amount of Bloodsuckers present in the dungeon. The Gatekeeper now appears in the 4 main locations and drops invitations to continue expeditions against the Courtyard bosses. At High Infestations, Egg Sac curios also appear in other dungeons containing a fight and/or an invitation. The Fanatic has a chance to stalk a party with a Crimson Cursed hero after his Town event triggers.

Courtyard Strategy

The Courtyard is similar to the unique dungeons encountered before, such as the Darkest Dungeon and the Vvulf Dungeon. As you progress through the Courtyard, more and more will be revealed through preset scouting, and if you do not know where you are going it is easy to become lost looking for the way forward.

Don't be fooled by the early appearance of the Courtyard, sending in weak heroes is a quick path to a shallow grave. Your heroes must be as high-leveled as possible, as the quests are extremely long at over fifty or even a hundred rooms with many branching paths, locked doors requiring special keys hidden within the Courtyard, and no camping unless you smash wine crates with a shovel to loot firewood.

Because of the extreme prevalence of Bloodsucker type enemies, be prepared for any party member that goes inside to become Vampires, if they aren't already. Bringing large amounts of The Blood is therefore a necessity, not only for Curios, but to feed your vampiric heroes. While The Blood may be dropped by Bloodsuckers, it is not enough to sustain for the long term, although abuse of Curios such as Throbbing Coccons can force combat with Bloodsuckers. Also note that non-human wandering enemies may also be found within the Courtyard, and will not drop The Blood.

Another threat the party faces is constant stress. Your heroes will gain stress at a rate of 1 point per square, and considering the obscenely long hallways that can reach 20 squares, rapid stress gain is a serious concern. Add that to the constant stress damage dealt by many Bloodsuckers, and stress can quickly build out of control, something that can be catastrophic when facing the minibosses, or the bosses proper, inside the Courtyard.

Despite all of this, it is possible to return to the Courtyard at any time, as the game automatically saves progress should you decide to retreat. Simply return later with a fresh party, and the game will return you to exactly where you last left off. Unfortunately, the game counts this as a defeat, with appropriate stress gains, and one week will advance, meaning that you must be prepared for the Hamlet to be exactly as you left it should you retreat early.

The lighting is considered above 75% for the purpose of Sun trinkets and quirks, hence, it's a good idea to bring hero with trinkets/quirks depending of high light, like warrior of light/photomania quirks for example, and Sun ring/Sun cloak/solar crown/etc trinkets.

Provisions

• Holy Water can be used on fountains for stress relief and to boost resist against the Crimson Curse.
• Torches are not necessary to provide light, but they will boost your accuracy for the duration of one battle when used, and can also be used on Throbbing Cocoons and Thronging Hives to reduce stress with the former and gain large amount of treasure for the latter. They are also required to clear a special obstacle called Shifting Mist.
• Bandages are necessary, because most of bloodsuckers cause bleeding, and also can be used to clean a Pile of Strange Bones.
• The Blood can be given to hooded beggars. You will also almost certainly need it for infected heroes.
• Shovel on the ancient caged skeleton to uncover riches and to gain loot from bloodflowers. Can also be used to smash the crate of wine to gain firewood. Useful for extending the expedition through camping.
• Medicinal Herbs on food trays to gain a large amount of food.

Party Composition

The Bloodsucker type-enemies that infest the Courtyard are vulnerable to Bleed and resistant to Blight. Many also have strong defenses against stun, while others are weak against stun (especially Sycophant and Chevalier). Note that if a Bloodsucker is able to wound a party member with the attack "The Thirst", they will mutate into a second form with a different moveset. Kills need to be quick, as they will quickly heal themself with "the thirst" (and they tend to use it only when they lose some HP).

Because of the length of dungeon runs you want your teams to be "self-sufficient", in terms of health healing and especially stress healing.

Thus, Jester, Houndmaster and Flagellant are good choices to bring, as they can deal huge bleed damage and lower stress. For example, the Flagellant could move the party's stress onto himself with "endure" while the Jester is also removing stress from the Flagellant with "inspiring tune". This strategy is enough to hold an entire Courtyard quest.

It is risky to bring an Occultist as your main healer as the Bloodlight will make the bleed chance from Wyrd Reconstruction greater (-10%).

Notes

Several Bloodsucker enemies can afflict your party with the Crimson Curse, an affliction unlike any typical disease. It cannot be cured through conventional means, and can cause erratic behaviour among your party.

Things to watch out for

• Crocodilian - A ferociously powerful monster with a lot of health that moves in and out of cover during battle. First encountered in the first Courtyard mission, then later on as a miniboss in later missions, a low-level party can be in trouble when facing this creature. Vulnerable to stun, but on Champion difficulty clears Bleed and Blight with its Submerge ability.
• Trap - Courtyard traps either inflict a high amount of damage or spawn enemies.
• A Secret Door can spawn inside this area. Within it, you can find a randomly generated leveled hero who can be rescued by clicking on them. Upon returning to the Hamlet, the hero will be avaliable at the Stage Coach.

List of Courtyard Monsters

Crimson Court DLC Enemies found within all dungeons
Enemy	Monster	HP	DODGE	PROT	SPD	Type	Resistances	Abilities
Supplicant		12	0	20%	1	BLOODSUCKER	Stun - 150% Blight - 50% Bleed - 15% Debuff - 40% Move - 25%	"Gather The Blood" "Predigestion"
Sycophant		12	10	0	10	BLOODSUCKER	Stun - 15% Blight - 80% Bleed - 15% Debuff - 40% Move - 5%	Thirsty Form "Maddening Whine" "The Thirst" Full Form "Deafening Whine" "Bombing Run" "The Thirst
Gatekeeper		10	16	0	9	BLOODSUCKER	Stun - 40% Blight - 40% Bleed - 15% Debuff - 30% Move - 10%	"Enraging Slight" "Elusive Exit"
Chevalier		21	9	30%	0	BLOODSUCKER	Stun - 20% Blight - 50% Bleed - 20% Debuff - 30% Move - 250%	"Buried Blast" "Subterranean Skewer"
The Fanatic		99	3	15%	7	HUMAN	Stun - 45% Blight - 80% Bleed - 45% Debuff - 35% Move - 55%	"Sentence Rendered" "Righteous Condemnation" "Holy Stake" "Brand the Tainted" "Strike the Heretic" "Fury of the Righteous"

Enemies found within the Courtyard from the base game
Enemy	Monster	HP	DODGE	PROT	SPD	Type	Resistances	Abilities
Webber		7	15%	0%	5	BEAST	Stun - 25% Blight - 20% Bleed - 20% Debuff - 10% Move - 10%	"Web" "Bite"
Spitter		7	15%	0%	4	BEAST	Stun - 25% Blight - 20% Bleed - 20% Debuff - 10% Move - 10%	"Spit" "Bite"
Ghoul		42	13.75%	40%	6	UNHOLY	Stun - 70% Blight - 40% Bleed - 40% Debuff - 40% Move - 82%	"Rend" "Skull Toss" "Howl"
Maggot		6	0%	0%	3	BEAST	Stun - 100% Blight - 40% Bleed - 40% Debuff - 60% Move - 0%	"Grave Nibble"
Carrion Eater		9	0%	0%	4	BEAST	Stun - 50% Blight - 100% Bleed - 60% Debuff - 40% Move - 50%	"Munch"
Large Carrion Eater		48	8.75%	0%	2	BEAST	Stun - 70% Blight - 120% Bleed - 80% Debuff - 60% Move - 95%	"Weaken Prey" "Tentacle Devour"

Curios

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Curios found within the Courtyard
Curio & type	Description	Cleansing	Without cleansing
Bloodflowers Scrounging; Knowledge.	"The soil is soaked through with half-clotted blood which seemingly feeds these vital blooms."	The Blood. "The flowers surge with growth! But the blood invites no other occurence." Holy Water. "The wilting gives off a noxious odour!" Shovel. "Digging reveals loot!" Nothing Stress +15 Gems/Heirlooms x2 66.7% OR Any Loot x1 33.3%	38.5% Stress +15. "The blossoms reek of death, pestilence and unfathomable nightmares!" 23.1% Scouting. "A map is nestled between the thorns and blossoms!" 15.3% Any Loot x2 + 16.7% The Blood. "The potting soil reveals its treasure!" 5.1% Disease: Tetanus. "Thorns hook into the flesh, a cloying sap seeps into the hero's blood!" 2.5% Random Disease. 15.3% Nothing. "Apparently these ghoulish flowers are harmless."
Damned Fountain Drink; Fountain; CCrave; Unholy; Haunted.	"A bubbling fountain spews crimson ichor from some damnable source."	Holy Water. "The purified liquid offers a surprising boon!" Torch. "Burning the blood stings the nostrils and turns the stomach." Stress Heal 30 Stress +5	60% Bleed. "The hero's scars weep open when bathed in the crimson fluid!" 20% Disease: Crimson Curse. "This bloody artifact invites ailment!" 20% Any Loot x2 + 16.7% Bleed. "Treasure lies in the gore-filled basin!"
Disturbing Diversion Unholy; Haunted; Scrounging; Torture; Reflective.	"Mouldering evidence of a society's depravity."	Shovel. "What sadist put treasure in its skull?" Heirlooms x3	40% Stress +25. "You picture debauched and bloody games... 15% Random Positive Quirk. "Suppressed desires awaken!" 15% Random Negative Quirk. "Suppressed desires awaken!" 10% Any Loot x2 + 16.7% The Blood x2. "Wagers long forgotten." 20% Nothing. "The remains yield nothing."
Forgotten Delicacies Body; Food; Haunted; Unholy; CCrave.	"An anachronistic mixture of both rotted and fresh victuals adorn the cart."	Medicinal Herbs. "Precise use of herbs purifies the tainted remains." Food x2 + Gold/Supplies x1	20% Gold/Supplies x4 + Supplies x1 + 25% The Blood. "There are valuables scattered about the repast." 20% Negative Quirk: Stress Eater. "What a peculiar flavour..." 20% Blight. "It is tainted!" 13.3% Disease: Crimson Curse. "There is nothing but rot inside the seemingly fresh morsels!" 6.7% Random Disease. "There is nothing but rot inside the seemingly fresh morsels!" 20% Nothing. "There remains nothing worthy of your time."
Hooded Shrew Haunted; Unholy.	"A mysterious figure, not fully human, not fully insect, kneels here on the ground."	The Blood. "Blood for treasure!" Trinket x2	42.8% Stress +15. "The urchin's arcane mutterings stir deep terror within!" 28.5% Any Loot x1. "The shrew seems oblivious to the hero's pilfering." 7.6% Random Disease. "The shrew's filthy grasp is like iron and its nails rake the hero!" 14.2% Nothing. "The supplicant does not seem to notice the hero."
Wizened Shrew Haunted; Unholy.	"This appears to be an elderly but shunned member of this damned court."	The Blood. "From a hidden fold, the shrew offers up a rare treasure!" Trinket x3	7.6% Random Disease. "The shrew's filthy grasp is like iron and its nails rake the hero!" 50% Scouting. "A greasy vellum is proffered to the hero." 33.3% "The being mutters an incantation..." and nothing happens. "The shrew performs a strange ritual, but the results seem positive!" 25% Nothing. "The supplicant is incoherent and penniless. Harmless."
Pile of Strange Bones Unholy; Scrounging; Haunted; Knowledge.	"A heap of peculiar bones and dusty sinew litters the floor." (This curio can only appear along corridors.)	Bandage. "These bones hold riches!" Bandage. "These bones hold riches!" The Blood. "These bones hold riches!" Any Loot x1 (50%) The Blood 16.7% (50%) Summon a Supplicant, Sycophant, & Esquire.	50% Bleed. "An insectoid mandible pierces the hero's skin!" 20% Any Loot x2 + 16.7% The Blood. "Baubles and other items of value are found in the grisly remains!" 10% Disease: Crimson Curse. "Your blood is tainted with a strange infection!" 20% Nothing. "These remains hold no danger nor anything of value either."
Throbbing Coccoons Knowledge; Scrounging; CCrave.	"Shifting and bulging organisms hide behind translucent walls."	Torch. "Sweet relief as the eggs turn to ash." Stress Heal 30 (Courtyard only)	75% Summon a Supplicant, Sycophant & Esquire. "Gestating creatures burst forth from the eggs!" 12.5% Any Loot x3 + 16.7% The Blood. "Valuables found beneath the eggs!" 12.5% Nothing. "Disgusting viscera... and not much else."
Thronging Hive Knowledge; Scrounging; CCrave.	"The hive is twisted and unnatural - the work of cursed vermin."	Torch. "The vermin sizzle and pop as the hive burns to ash." Any Loot x3 + 16.7% Blood	75% Any Loot x2 + 20% Blood. "The hive holds valuables!" 25% Bleed. "The hive's inhabitants sting and bite the hero's exposed flesh!"
Wine Crate Drink; CCrave; Treasure.	"You can see that some of the bottles are still intact."	Antivenom. "A pleasant vintage!" Shovel. "Smashing the bottles reveals treasure!" Stress Heal 30 Firewood	41.7% "The Blood (33.3%) x2 + Any Loot x1 + Gold/Supplies x4. "There is loot in the broken glass!" 16.7% Negative Quirk: Tippler. "A sip uncorks a disturbing new habit!" 16.7% Disease: Crimson Curse. "What terrible fortune!" 8.3% Scouting. "You find a map in an empty bottle!" 8.3% Bleed. "Take more care sorting through broken glass!" 8.3% Nothing. "Nothing but broken glass and wood splinters."

Dungeon Maps

• First quest [map]

• Second quest [map]

• Third quest [map]

• Fourth quest [map]

Trivia

• The Courtyard is the first new location added through DLC.

view The Estate
Hub	Hamlet
Dungeons	Old Road Ruins Warrens Weald Cove Darkest Dungeon
DLC Locations	Courtyard Farmstead Butcher's Circus