Nightmares

Basic Information

Anatomy

Nightmares are described as being made of an inky black substance that seems to run superior and lateral from the main body, creating a smoke-like appearance. Most confirmed documentation of nightmares describes them as bipedal with thin limbs that bend and twist in unnatural directions. While four limbs seem to be the most common, nightmares have been documented with many more, and are known to have the ability to split their limbs in twain, effectively multiplying their available appendages. Nightmares often adorn their anterior sides with recognizable biological apparatus such as beaks, insectoid features, ocular membranes, or even mortal-like features.

Biological Traits

Nightmares do not leave an imprint on the material plane and are unable to interact with it directly. For this reason, a nightmare is invisible to all but its host, unless an outsider uses a magic ability such as Arcane Sight or Astral Binding.

Genetics and Reproduction

It is unknown where Nightmares come from, it has been theorized that they are leftover consciousness from those who perish while dreaming, or perhaps they hail from The Deep.

Growth Rate & Stages

Most Nightmares are rather small, around 4 feet in height, with thorough feeding a nightmare can eclipse heights of 12 feet.

Ecology and Habitats

Nightmares are much more likely to be found in city centers where there are greater population sizes. The tend to congregate in places where much fear is presant.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Nightmares feed off the fear of denizens of the astral. If a nightmare can consistently draw out fear from a prey item it will follow this creature even while it is awake, stoking the fires of fear seeded during the night. While the feeding doesn't directly affect the host, long-term night terrors often lead to exhaustion within the host and paranioa as the glipses of their dreams begin to seep into their waking hours.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Nightmares hail from the immaterial, while some speculate that their home realm is the Astral Plane this has been contested by some experts who posit a more primordial origin. Because of their nebulous presance they can be found anywhere mortals dare dream.

Average Intelligence

While younger Nightmares are very hunger-motivated, larger Nightmares have been known to show extreme cunning and even sadism in their actions.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Nightmares ignore most physical sensations and rather, detect emotional impulses from their prey. Nightmares are the most perceptive of fear and can track fearful minds from much greater distances. Nightmares are otherwise unaffected by light, sounds, and smells and it is debated whether they can sense these things at all.

Origin/Ancestry

Extraplanar