Dream Vestige
In the ever-shifting landscape of the Dreamweave, where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur into indistinct horizons, a malevolent fog rolled in. It was not a natural mist, born of temperature and moisture, but a living entity—a Dream Vestige.
As it moved, the fog seemed to whisper, a cacophony of voices murmuring in languages both known and forgotten. Faces appeared and vanished within its formless mass—agonized, pleading, wrathful—each a soul consumed, now part of this nightmarish entity. Tendrils of mist extended from its core, reaching out to caress the dream-born flora and fauna, which withered and twisted at its touch.
The Dream Vestige sensed something—a concentration of life force, a gathering of souls. It was drawn to it, its insatiable hunger guiding it unerringly through the labyrinthine corridors of the Dreamweave. As it approached, the dreamscape around it darkened, peaceful dreams turning into nightmares, calm landscapes warping into twisted parodies of themselves.
And then it struck, its tendrils lashing out to ensnare the souls it had sensed. One by one, they were drawn into its formless body, their screams joining the eternal lament that was the Dream Vestige. It grew stronger, its form expanding as it absorbed the new souls, each one adding to its collective consciousness and malevolent will.
For a moment, it paused, savoring the newfound strength, the fresh cacophony of voices that now formed a part of it. And then it moved on, its hunger as insatiable as ever, leaving behind a dreamscape forever scarred by its malevolent presence.
Handling a Dream Vestige
Warning Signs of a Dream Vestige
The Ominous Prelude
Before a Dream Vestige manifests in the Material Plane, the air grows thick with an otherworldly mist, and the temperature drops noticeably. Animals grow restless, and even the bravest of dogs whimper and retreat. A sense of impending doom settles over the area, as if the very land itself is holding its breath in anticipation.The Whispers in the Wind
As the Dream Vestige draws near, a cacophony of whispers fills the air—mournful cries, anguished screams, and indecipherable murmurs that seem to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. These whispers serve as an auditory harbinger of the Vestige's arrival, alerting those with keen senses that something unnatural is afoot.The Eyes of the Community
In villages and towns near known hotspots of Oneiric Convergence, the common folk are educated by the Holy Order of Alessandra to recognize these warning signs. Town criers, local priests, and even children are trained to ring alarm bells and light signal fires upon detecting these omens.The Role of the Holy Order
Once alerted, the Holy Order of Alessandra dispatches a contingent of knights and clerics to the affected area. Time is of the essence, for the Dream Vestige's ability to replicate poses a dire threat. The Order's members unfurl the Sunlit Veil, their sacred relic, and prepare to banish the Vestige back to the Dreamweave before it can multiply.The Community's Faith
The common folk hold immense faith in the Holy Order's ability to protect them from such otherworldly threats. Stories are told and retold of how the Order has successfully banished Dream Vestiges in the past, reinforcing the community's belief in the Order's divine mission.Reverting a Dream Vestige Infestation
Initial Assessment and Quarantine
Upon receiving word of a Dream Vestige manifestation, the Holy Order of Alessandra dispatches a specialized team of knights and clerics, known as the Sunlit Vanguard, to the affected area. Their first task is to assess the severity of the infestation and establish a quarantine zone, cordoning off the affected area with a series of divine wards and physical barriers.Activation of the Sunlit Veil
Within the quarantine zone, the highest-ranking Cleric unfurls the Sunlit Veil, invoking the divine power of Alessandra. The tapestry's golden threads shimmer as the cleric recites an ancient prayer, activating its Veil of Return ability to banish the primary Dream Vestige back to the Dreamweave.Purification and Exorcism
Once the primary Dream Vestige is banished, the clerics proceed to perform a series of purification rituals and exorcisms to cleanse the area of residual dream-matter and malevolent energy. Holy water is sprinkled, and incense is burned as prayers to Alessandra fill the air.Elimination of Spawned Vestiges
If the primary Dream Vestige had time to replicate, the Sunlit Vanguard engages in combat with the spawned Vestiges. Armed with divine Magic and holy relics, they work to either destroy the Vestiges or weaken them enough for another use of the Sunlit Veil, should it become available again.Community Restoration
After the threat has been neutralized, the Holy Order assists the local community in restoring normalcy. Damaged property is repaired, and blessings are bestowed upon the affected families. The Order also takes this opportunity to educate the community on the warning signs of a Dream Vestige, reinforcing their role as protectors and educators.Debrief and Vigilance
Finally, the Sunlit Vanguard returns to the headquarters of the Holy Order for a thorough debriefing. Lessons learned from the encounter are documented and integrated into future training, ensuring that the Order remains ever-vigilant and prepared for the next Dream Vestige incursion.Basic Information
Anatomy
Nebulous Form
The Dream Vestige defies conventional anatomy, for it is not a creature of flesh and bone. It is a swirling, formless mass of mist and shadow, a living nightmare given substance. Its body is a roiling river of fog, constantly shifting and changing, never assuming a fixed shape. Within this fog, one can discern the faint outlines of faces, hands, and other body parts—echoes of the souls it has consumed.Limbs and Appendages
The Dream Vestige possesses no limbs in the traditional sense. Instead, it manifests tendrils of mist that extend from its main body, serving as both arms and sensory organs. These tendrils are capable of stretching to great lengths, allowing the Dream Vestige to reach out and touch its environment, ensnaring souls and drawing them into its formless mass.Muscular and Skeletal Structure
The concept of a muscular or skeletal structure is irrelevant to the Dream Vestige. It has no need for such physical systems, its form sustained by the arcane energies that birthed it and the souls it consumes. Its tendrils, though lacking muscle, are incredibly strong, capable of exerting tremendous force when ensnaring prey.Aberrant Anatomy
Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of the Dream Vestige's anatomy is its internal structure—or lack thereof. It is an amalgamation of souls, each one adding to its collective Consciousness and abilities. These souls are not stored in any physical organ; they become part of the Dream Vestige's very essence, their knowledge and experiences absorbed into its malevolent intelligence.Genetics and Reproduction
The Dream Vestige does not reproduce in the conventional sense, for it is not a creature of flesh and blood. Instead, it has a unique method of self-spawning that defies natural law. When a Dream Vestige accumulates a number of temporary hit points equal to its maximum hit point total, it undergoes a process akin to cellular mitosis. The original vestige divides into two distinct entities, each with a number of hit points equal to the original vestige's maximum hit point total. This new Dream Vestige is a fully independent entity, possessing all the malevolent traits and abilities of its progenitor.
Given its unique method of reproduction, a single Dream Vestige poses a significant threat to any unprotected community. In theory, one industrious, hungry Dream Vestige could easily overrun an unprotected village in less than 15 minutes. Each new spawn would begin its own hunt for souls, leading to an exponential increase in the number of Dream Vestiges in a very short span of time.
Ecology and Habitats
The Dream Vestige is a creature of paradox, its very existence a defiance of natural law. It thrives in realms where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur, making the Dreamweave its optimal environment. Here, in this surreal realm of collective Consciousness, the Dream Vestige finds an endless hunting ground, teeming with the souls of dreamers and the echoes of their thoughts. However, during events of Oneiric Convergence, it can manifest in the Prime Material Plane, where it continues its relentless hunt for souls.
In the Dreamweave, the Dream Vestige is both predator and part of the landscape. It navigates the ever-changing terrain with ease, its incorporeal form allowing it to pass through dream-born obstacles as if they were mere illusions. It is drawn to phenomena like Dreamstorms and Eidolon Veils, where it can tap into the raw energy of the realm to bolster its own malevolent power. In the Prime Material Plane, it is a creature of shadow and mist, lurking in places where the veil between worlds is thin. It is known to frequent ancient ruins, forgotten crypts, and other places steeped in residual arcane energy.
The presence of a Dream Vestige has a profound impact on its environment. In the Dreamweave, its hunting activities can cause localized disruptions, turning peaceful dreams into nightmares and calm landscapes into twisted parodies of themselves. In the Prime Material Plane, its mere presence can desecrate the land, its malevolent energy seeping into the soil and air, corrupting flora and fauna alike.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The Dream Vestige does not consume sustenance in the manner of mortal beings. It has no need for water, air, or food. Instead, it feeds on an altogether different form of nourishment—souls. Living or undead, the Dream Vestige is indiscriminate in its insatiable hunger for the essence of beings.
The Dream Vestige is a tireless hunter, its methods as ethereal as its form. It does not forage; it stalks. Utilizing its intrinsic connection to the dream realms, it can traverse great distances in the blink of an eye, appearing in the Dreamweave or the Prime Material Plane as it wills. It hunts from the shadows, its incorporeal form allowing it to hide in places both seen and unseen—behind walls, beneath floorboards, or within the very mist that shrouds the land. Its approach is heralded by a sudden, visceral sense of dread, and as it closes in on its prey, the whispers, moans, and lamentations of its subsumed victims become audibly apparent.
The concept of storing or protecting food is alien to the Dream Vestige. Once it claims a soul, that essence is immediately absorbed into its formless body, becoming part of its ever-growing amalgam of tormented souls. These souls remain trapped within the Dream Vestige, their knowledge and languages adding to its own, until the creature itself is destroyed. Thus, in a twisted sense, the Dream Vestige is both hunter and larder, its body a nightmarish repository of the souls it has consumed.
Behaviour
Dream Vestiges are solitary entities, each a swirling vortex of countless souls bound together in a nightmarish amalgam. When two Dream Vestiges encounter one another, a paradoxical dance ensues. They circle each other in a haunting ballet, their tendrils of mist reaching out as if to touch yet never intertwining. It is as if they recognize the abomination of their own existence and shun the notion of amalgamation further. However, should one Dream Vestige be significantly weaker, the stronger may attempt to subsume it, adding its cacophony of souls to its own twisted choir.
The Dream Vestige knows not the concept of a predator, for it is a creature of such malevolent potency that few dare to challenge it. However, Oneiric Navigators and seasoned adventurers who understand the arcane may pose a threat. To these potential predators, the Dream Vestige exhibits a behavior most cunning. It invades their dreams, sowing seeds of doubt and fear, attempting to weaken their resolve before a confrontation in either the Dreamweave or the Prime Material Plane.
To the unfortunate souls it considers prey, the Dream Vestige is a relentless hunter. It stalks its quarry through the veils of reality, its formless body allowing it to hide in places both seen and unseen. Whether in the Dreamweave or during an event of Oneiric Convergence, it strikes when least expected, its tendrils reaching out to drain the very essence of its victims. Living or undead, all are equal in the eyes of this insatiable predator. Once ensnared, the prey's soul becomes yet another voice in the Dream Vestige's eternal lament.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Conventional Senses
The Dream Vestige possesses blindsight up to a range of 120 feet and darkvision up to 60 feet, allowing it to perceive its environment in the absence of light. Its formless, incorporeal nature grants it a unique form of perception that transcends the need for physical eyes or ears. It is keenly aware of its surroundings, capable of detecting even the subtlest shifts in the arcane energies that permeate both the Dreamweave and the Prime Material Plane.Echolocation
While the Dream Vestige does not possess echolocation in the traditional sense, its unique form of perception allows it to navigate effortlessly through even the most complex and shifting landscapes of the Dreamweave. It can sense the presence of obstacles, creatures, and even intangible phenomena like Dreamstorms and Eidolon Veils, adjusting its course accordingly.Magical and Psionic Abilities
The Dream Vestige possesses innate spellcasting abilities, its malevolent will allowing it to manipulate the arcane energies of the world. It can cast spells like fog cloud, dream, misty step, sleep, and phantasmal killer, each spell a manifestation of its nightmarish essence. While it does not possess psionic powers per se, its intrinsic connection to the dream realms grants it a form of dream-based telepathy, enabling it to invade the dreams of other creatures and sow seeds of fear and doubt.Extrasensory Perception
Perhaps the most unsettling of the Dream Vestige's sensory capacities is its ability to sense the souls of living and undead creatures. It is drawn to concentrations of life force and arcane energy, its insatiable hunger guiding it unerringly to its next victim. This extrasensory perception is not limited by distance or barriers, making the Dream Vestige an incredibly effective and relentless hunter.Civilization and Culture
Common Myths and Legends
In the annals of arcane lore and whispered tavern tales, few entities evoke as much dread and fascination as the Dream Vestige. Originating from the nebulous realm known as the Dreamweave, this malevolent entity has been the subject of myths and legends that span continents and epochs.
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