Nightmare

## Arătare

You can not kill that which does not live, we are eternal, a never changing constant in the universe that will always come back. You can not kill us, you cannot run from us, you will never escape our grasp.

### Aliases

NightmaresDevils

Horrors

FRAGMENTS OF A BROKEN GOD

## Physical description

### Eye color

Varied (usually glowing)

**Nightmares** (known originally as **Arătare**, also referred to as **FRAGMENTS OF A BROKEN GOD**) are a demonic subspecies that hail from the Nightmare Realm, similar to the Shadows and Coactives. Aside from the Empress, Nightmares are considered the Realm's strongest demons and leaders, and hold a lot of influence and power over the other species in the dimension.

Their powers and origins are directly connected to the Empress.

Venom is one of these Nightmares, as well as Alex Kura. VNG is a hybrid Nightmare.

## Background

Nightmares were created around the same time as both the anomaly and the Nightmare Realm as a whole. When the Empress created the same anomaly that corrupted the universe into what it is today, her power ultimately split, and sought out hosts among recently formed Shadows and other creatures, implanting itself, and officially creating the first Nightmares.

## Physical Description

A Nightmare's appearance can vary, both their human and True forms. The human form is typically their default appearance, and identical to what it was before. However, depending on certain circumstances, the human form may possess a non-human feature (such as Venom/Syphon possessing a devil-like tail). One thing their human forms all have in common are the differing eye colors, which can glow when using their powers.

Their true form is mostly humanoid, though very monstrous. They can vary in size, but are usually just a bit taller than humans. All Nightmares in their true forms can grow to the size of planets and (rarely) stars. Nightmares will typically revert to their true form when they enter the Nightmare Realm.

## Behavior

Much like their appearance, the overall behavior/personality of a Nightmare can vary. Most of them seek to obtain their own goals, not caring who they have to hurt or kill in the process. Many Nightmares share a lust for power and carnage, usually mistreating their fellow entities including Shadows, Coactives, and other creatures. Some infamous ones include C750, a destroyer or worlds, and Venom, a tormentor that was one of the first inhabitants of the Nightmare Realm.

## Abilities/Powers

**Nightmare Physiology:** Every Nightmare has inhuman levels of strength, speed, stamina, durability, and pain tolerance. Simply put, you cannot not overpower them, you can't outrun them, you can't tire them out, you can't kill them, you can't even make them feel pain.

**Extinction Trigger:** A type of natural reaction, Nightmares tend to do this after absorbing power, or acquiring their True or human forms. There are a few (including Syphon) who can trigger this on purpose. It involves releasing a self-explosion of demonic energy that vaporizes anything too close, while sending everything else flying back. This explosion can be so powerful, it completely wipes out all life on a planet and can even crack it into pieces.

**Regeneration:** On the rare occasion they are injured, Nightmares can regenerate any wounds or lost limbs in a matter of seconds. Thanks to this, they can also feign being dead. Wounds from other Nightmares or certain other methods take far longer to regenerate from. Strangely, Each Nightmare seems to regenerate lost flesh and limbs in a unique way.

**Possession:** Much like Shadows, Nightmares can possess other lifeforms. While they are usually better at this than Shadows, the host body is still often too weak to hold together for long before it starts to disintegrate due to the Nightmare's power.

**Limitless Shapeshifting:** Nightmares can turn parts of themselves into tools or weapons, or contort themselves to dodge attacks. They can even transform to imitate people, providing they have consumed one. Overall, there is no limit to their transformation, as they can turn any part of themselves into anything. They can even mimic other people after consuming them, including their voice and any other details that would normally be impossible to replicate.

**Gate Creation:** Though each tend to have their own unique way of doing this, they can open portals to other locations or even dimensions and universes with ease.

**Consumption:** Nightmares can consume their foes to absorb their forms, powers, memories/knowledge in order to make himself more powerful. They do this by extending their jaws to inhuman proportions before devouring the victim in their entirety.

**Nightmare Form:** Also known as their Devil Form, Nightmares can transform their appearance to resemble their true demonic nature. Typically used for combat, it enhances their already staggering abilities, while overclocking their regeneration to the point that wounds start to heal before an attack has finished impacting them. Much of their body becomes hardened like armor, though this only applies to a few Nightmares (like Syphon or War).

**Eldritch Form:** Also known as their True Form. This is meant to be the Nightmare's true appearance, resembling something intangible by human perspective, a clear look at just how far from their humanity they have fallen.

**Mental Connection:** Referred to as the [REDACTED], it seems to link every Nightmare together at one central point, The Empress. A result at having her power fester in the bodies of alternate hosts, Nightmares can receive visions, messages, whispers, or even (ironically) nightmares. Those who are more weak minded may follow these orders, while others tend to see them as a nuisance. It should be noted that this is not a hivemind, and that Nightmares cannot locate other Nightmares using this connection.

**Body Snatching:** A sort of self defense mechanism. If a Nightmare is killed, it has a method of escape. It's soul, due to the Empress's influence, can retreat and seek out a host to implant itself. Since the original host has been fused with the Empress's power, instead of giving the new host power and turning them into a Nightmare, it completely takes over their mind and body, physically molting them to look like the Nightmare that has possessed them. The victims consciousness is also overridden, destroying any semblance of the original person.

## Known Nightmares

Cerberus (Nightmare of Savagery)

Nidhogg (Nightmare of Gluttony)

Syphon (Nightmare of Pride)

Armaros (Nightmare of Isolation)

Amaya (Nightmare of Shadows)

Nightmare of War (Deceased)

Nightmare of Greed (Deceased)

Nightmare of Deception (Deceased)

Nightmare of Violence

Nightmare of Lust

Yamato (Nightmare of Death)

Nightmare of Famine

Nightmare of Destruction

**Hybrids:**

VNG (Partial Nightmare, Nightmare of Madness)

Aghi (Partial Nightmare, Nightmare of Fear)

Jaeger (Partial Nightmare, Nightmare of Insomnia)

**Other:**

Imperfect Arătare

## Hybrid Nightmares

Despite their differing ideals and goals, Nightmares have a rule: never sire offspring, especially Hybrids. This is due to how the Empress's power increases with each generation. The child of a Nightmare, especially a Hybrid, will be more powerful than the one that created them. These Nightmares in their infancy are known as Voidborns. It is why Hybrid Nightmares are often looked at with fear and disgust, and why there are not many of them. If a Nightmare were to consume a Hybrid, they would gain all of that Nightmare's power, increasing their strength furthermore. As of now, there is only one known Hybrid: VNG.

## Weaknesses

Nightmares have very few weaknesses. If you think you managed to hurt or kill one, it's highly likely that it's exactly what it wants you to think, and you die before you can realize it's deception. Any normal person stands no chance against these creature, though for the rare few, there are a few options:

**Other Nightmares:** While lesser creatures in the Nightmare Realm are rarely capable of even harming a Nightmare, other Nightmares can wound, and possibly "kill" their own kind. Though the only way for the Nightmare to be down for good is to consume it.

## Gallery

Venom/Syphon in his True Form.Alex in his True Form.Nightmare of War.Unknown Nightmare.Nightmare of Deception.Unknown Nightmare.Kait has a more human-like appearance in her True Form.
## Trivia

* Nightmares are slightly inspired by eldritch horrors.
* Prolonged exposure, or staring at a Nightmare for too long seems to result in the mental breakdown of the individual. Side effects include nosebleeds, headaches, hearing voices. hallucinations. and violent/aggressive behavior. More will be listed soon.
* Most Nightmares, like Shadows, don't have human names. Instead, they have titles, usually relating to their abilities or status. Their actual names are taken from demons and other creatures.
* It is currently unknown how many Nightmares there are.
* These creatures do not actually go by the name Nightmares in their own Realm. They are only known as "Arătare". "Nightmare" is simply a human name given to them.
* The name "Arătare" is a Romanian name with many meanings, mainly apparition. But it can also mean phantom, ghost and monster.