Equine Nightmare
Equine nightmares may not have been the first nightmare encountered by awakened people, but they are the ones with the earliest documentation. In fact, their horse-like appearance lead to all of their kind being named nightmares, despite many not being horse-like and not all equine nightmares identifying as female. Later on, they were designated as equine nightmares to separate them from the rest.
Equine nightmares are born of nightmares of animals, specifically domesticated ones. As horses have been domesticated on many spheres and have been used by many cultures, this might explain why many look this way. They feed of the fear people feel of domesticated, yet still at heart wild and dangerous animals. Thus they seek to perpetuate those fears, either by seeding nightmares in the Ether or by scaring people among the spheres. More benevolent ones just spook people, but less kindly inclined ones will sometimes kill in order to perpetuate the terror if they feel people are getting complacent.
They do in general feel some kinship with the animals they share a form with and take a dim view on abusive behavior. After all, the animals never choose to become domesticated, that was all on the sapient races. The least they can do is treat the animals they claim ownership of with dignity and respect.
If provoked into combat, equine nightmares have the usual suite of nightmare abilities at their disposal to render their foes into paralyzed, fear-wrecked shells of themselves. If their more supernatural abiltiies fail, they do not hesitate to get physical. Brimming with strong muscles, their hooves can crush skulls with ease, but their mouths arre also full of distinctly on-equine sharp teeth, with which they can rip limbs of anyone that gets too close.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The equine nightmare, as the name indicates, has a form reminiscent of a horse. They walk on four, hooved legs, with a heard in front. Their fur tends towards black colors and their eyes are often luminescent with a vivid, unnatural color, like white, purple or green.
Equine nightmares can fly with their magic, seemingly walking across thin air. They sometimes permit allies to ride them and can share their inherent fearlessness with anyone brave enough to take them up on the offer.
Genetics and Reproduction
Equine nightmare are born fully formed from dreams that invoke fear of animals, especially domesticated animals.
Ecology and Habitats
Equine nightmares usually live in the ether, where thy plant echoes of their birth dream in other sleeping minds. Among the spheres, they usually live in pastoral areas where people live close with their animals. They are usually active at night, scaring passerbys by enacting the role of domesticated animal gone wild.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Equine nightmares are emotivores that feed on fear.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Equine nightmares are social predators, hunting in flocks. Together, they can set up elaborate gambits to inflict as much terror as possible. They can be very competetive among each other, jockeying to see who can harvest the most fear for the herd.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the Ether, but equine nightmares do manifest on many spheres
Average Intelligence
Equine nightmares are calculating and intelligent, a bit above average human intelligence. They do have a feral bent, as befitting their animalistic apperance
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
An equine nightmare has two eyes, two ears, a nose and a mouth, all of which works just fine.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Equine nightmares often take on names that invoke terror, though some take more cutesy horsey names out of a deeply ingrained sense of irony.
Scientific Name
Somnum Exterreri Solebat Equus
Origin/Ancestry
Lifespan
Does not age
Average Height
1.6-2.0 meters
Average Weight
450 - 1200 kilo
Average Length
2.5-2.8 meters
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