The Seige of Nightmares

During the invasion of Xylos, the city of Natare and the invading army reached an impasse - the city had not the weapons to repel the demon 'army' and the demons had not the weapons to overcome the defensive spells.

So Xylos reached into his pack of tricks and abilities, calling upon all things forbidden to amplify those abilities that reached into people's minds, dreams and emotions. Now the Incubus Lord could not implant things, nor could he amplify things not already there, but under the current administration, the city of Natare was already a place wound too tight with the expectation it placed upon itself and each other.

It started with nightly images of his face, then came the enhancing of people's desires - the urge to do the things people wanted to. Most resisted, and those that did not were quickly detained. But the strain began. 'Nightmares' of people acting on things they would rather not, but secretly act to do - crushing the prize tomato of a neighbour for example. Telling a boss you wish to quit because you dislike their personality. The cravings did not have to be tabboo or extreme to set the whole city on edge.

The more on edge the city became, the more irritable, the more unfocussed and reckless, and the more change Xylos might get to the object of his desires - the Council Member 's of the City - the demon believing he could do better.

The seige itself lasted three long irritable months, calmer minds finally persuading the incubus lord to let go of the dreams of the city - that the demon lord could create his own space and let those that desired escape outside the walls of the prison of proprietry. And thus the nightmares ended.