| Class: | Non-Corporeal, possibly alien entity |
| Hab: | Dreams, accessed from their home dimension |
| Fre: | Rare |
| Num: | Solitary |
| Lair: | By individual; some nomadic, some attached to a place - or person |
| Size: | No body; some have little energy (= dog), others extremely powerful |
| Move: | At will; with host/prey |
| Def: | Non-corporeal |
| Att: | Terrorize; drain psychic energy, even killing through horror and fear |
| Int: | Could be none to superhuman; inscrutably alien |
| Spec: | Alien entity, non-corporeal manifestation |
| Posns: | None, or perhaps knowledge, even oracular |
Nightmares are life forms from a non-corporeal dimension. They can access our energies through our dreams. They do so to feed upon our emotions.
It is unclear whether most nightmares are actively, consciously malicious or whether they are unaware of the suffering they inflict. Certainly, some minor nightmares are clearly as innocent as [real] vampire bats, driven to feed by innocent instinct. Others are surely quite intelligent - and most malicious.
Nightmares sniff around through the dimensions, seeking psychic energy. When they sense a dreamer, they latch on, inflicting a nightmare. The more powerful the dreamer, the powerful the nightmare inflicted and the more intense the horror - and the more energy drained.
A person whose dreams are pale and weak will not provide much satisfaction to a nightmare; the nightmare may not return to such poor fare. A powerful dreamer, on the other hand, provides a nightmare with a veritable banquet; the very vividness or his dreams provides the nightmare with greater abilities. The nightmare will also mine both the dreamer's mind, conscious and subconscious, for material, and utilize the setting of any dreamland (whether actualized as an adventure setting or just "make-believe") for further material. Thus, a nightmare will integrate itself into the dreamer's pre-existing dreamscape and use the dreamer's own fears against him. A nightmare may also simulate visitations by an Incubus or Succubus.
A rich diet in horror-released energies is sure to prompt many a return visit; the more powerful the dreamer's dreams, the more alluring they are to nightmares. Repeated visits by a nightmare actually increases the power and vividness of dreaming; if the dreamer can withstand the energy drain, a minor (lass powerful) nightmare might actually be utilized as a tool to enhance the dreamer's ability to dream.
A well-fed nightmare may notice other likely prey in the vicinity, and call its kin to enjoy the feast. Thus, nightmares, like madness, may be "contagious." Also, a minor nightmare may be supplanted by a stronger one, so what was an innocuous boost to the dreamer's ability becomes a deadly drain.
No doubt there is a whole ecosystem of dreams in their home dimension, perhaps with competing factions. Daydreams are very likely from the same dimension as nightmares, possibly from different realms; SEE Day Dreams.
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