Re: The True Nightmare

First topic message reminder :

Morbius wrote:No enemy you could possibly concieve is more powerful than the True Nightmare. Unless you present real coherent threat, it's peanuts compared to the Nightmare.

Sounds like a challenge to me!

_{(Jer wants his thread to remain on topic.)}

I would think that it would be more suited "The honour of the lone wolf" or "The Honour of hte ehartless wolf", and whath appens to Blightfang after "The True Nightmare"?

Blightfang carries on as he normally does, he goes back to hunting.

"This is the Great Oni Fortress. Here, those most loyal to the Nightmare are given the vast luxuries that are promised. Within, some of our order can partake in a series of rule-abiding and rewarding fatality sports. The fortress took only a matter of months to fully build; 216 ungrateful damned tried to die during its construction.

If you're a Shadow Apprentice, then please come inside and put your feet up, if not GET LOST OR WE'LL MAKE YOU WISH YOU COULD DIE! - Paige Shadowplay"

The second part looks like it was scribbled on.

The True Nightmare is level 1350 with 35,000 Life Points when at maximum
power. However, at minimum, it is level 980 with 17,500 Life Points.
The overall power of the Nightmare is effected depending on whether or
not you've completed certain quests or defeated certain monsters.

If you've defeated the Pest Queen in "The Void Stares Back", it uses the absense of the void's protector to absorb its powers, increasing its speed.

If you've completed "Nomad's Requiem", the Nightmare's power increases also. Without Nomad using the machine, the Shadow Apprentices break in and steal it for the Nightmare's use.

Also defeating Nex has a major effect on the Nightmare as well. Quite how they are tied together isn't clear, but it makes its final level increase from that.

If this strategy is flawed, do tell me. I don't want to end up doing something really foolish.

During the events of "Nighttime over Lupine", the player and Terra are bestowed the power of Raizahka, to help them navigate the streets of Lupine when the sun sets. Sadly, this was an area barely touched on for the quest and deserved slightly better attention.

During quests that follow the events of the Shadow Apprentices (aside from Truth and Law as it is set aside from the Nightmare Saga), this part of gameplay is made useful again. During the Nightmare Begins, the effects of Raizahka's power are used when the player is negotiating a place at night or is the in the presence of the Nightmare or a similar dark presence.

The Raizahkan energy will manifest itself in the form of enhanced aura and physical strength, but diminished speed and defences. Under this state, aura drains summoning points by lesser amounts and is more versatile; there are more variations with combat and foes can award more experience if more interesting methods are used.

A few bosses can be fought whilst under this influence, making defeating them slightly easier, but it can render weapons less useful.

I want to decide on a theme for the Shadow Apprentices, you know, something you hear when they make an appearance. Here are the two choices for the feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcPiaZtZl5s
Gives me the impression of an army marching into a fiercesome battle, the final battle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM0NMhOojGI
This gives the impression you are escaping from something that is going to catch up and when it does, your time is up.

So, embedding does work. Here we have something that I think would be suitable when fighting against the Living Nightmare (Penultimate Boss, just before the True Nightmare).

...what is it?

It's a music file.

Shadow Apprentices, once listed, can be placed under certain categories in regards to the danger they pose. The least dangerous are those that have been rehabilitated whilst the most dangerous have avoided capture all together.

Category 0 - Rehabilitated. These former Apprentices require no further attention. Examples; Mentor Pisces.

Category 1 - Rehabilitated, but under surveillance. These Apprentices are still somewhat untrustable, so the Militia continue to watch them. Example; Adam Vozen

Category 2 - Active, but neutralised. These apprentices have been known to be active, but are safely in captivity such as in cells or on Fugitive Island, where they are cut off from contact. Example; General Frost

Category 3 - Active and hostile. These Shadow Apprentices have been active and await being incarcerated. Level Red of the Militia cells contains many of these, but frozen. Example; Syndel Aether.

Category 4 - Active and highly dangerous. These Shadow Apprentices have commited such atrocities that enormous bounties are placed on their heads for their capture and/or execution. Example; Paige Shadowplay

The lesser used category 5 is sometimes used to describe a Shadow Apprentice that represents a far greater danger than even Paige Shadowplay. Mesophiles has once had this title, but when he was finally killed, the category was rarely ever used since.

Considering the requirements and the content, this reward may come across as either too generous or proportionate, but here we go.

Rewards;
5 Quest Points
250,000 Summoning Experience (from Grand Master Maelstrom)
250,000 Strength Experience (from Grand Master Magnus)
100,000 Prayer Experience (from Elder Silver)
100,000 Dungeoneering Experience (from the Master's Council)
Ability to summon Dark Familiars
Ability to craft a pouch for Photonix once every week
Ability to use Dark Spells
Access to Torn Realm battle arena
Access to Lycosa, Vulpes and Latranz
250 Precursor Charms
Raizahka Godsword Hilt


1. Precursor Charms can be used in the place of any other stackable charm, making them the most valuable of all charms. Some familiars, however, can only be summoned with them, such as Photonix.
2. Dark familiars have higher offence than normal familiars, but a weaker defence. Some familiars only exist as Dark familiars and all require Ebony charms.
3. Summoning Photonix from a pouch requires all five parts of the creature assembled together. The familiar is not as powerful as the one summoned at the spirit site, but you still need to go there to summon it.
4. The Raizahka Godsword is very different to its counterparts. It sacrifces some of its stats to make it faster and lighter, meaning it can be carried in one hand. Its special attack is "Aura of Light", which will land a critical hit on a target and will restore prayer and summoning as it does so.

must read...

he hasn't posted the actual stories. what he's posting are like 10 page long "teasers" and "info snippets" from his story.

gah!

Dungeoneering will be a key element of this quest.

This will, without a shadow of a doubt, contradict a lot what I have already described, but this needed to be said.

The Nightmare presents itself as a clear and present threat through the support of its followers, but ultimately, the actual entity does very little. Its power is mostly being able to feed from fear and gets a great deal of euphoria from the fear it consumes. To that extent, it commits the atrocities it does so it can feel good.

The Nightmare is only capable of two main feelings, interest and disinterest. It feels not happiness, joy nor love, but neither does it feel sadness, anger or hatred. Its actions appear to either make it feel good or not, and so lacks a conscience for its negativity, as it feels nothing from misdeeds.

But an important talent the Nightmare does have is being able to influence behaviour to its own ends. As it only has two main emotional responses, it finds itself able to dwell on the emotional burden that people possess; vanity, insecurity, short-tempers, self absorption, insanity and pessimism. Usually, a thought can be planted inside a mind if it finds itself exposed to those kinds of burdens. A thought made by the Nightmare comes without prior explanation and is forgotten without explicit reason.

As it only dwells in two states of personality, it can be manipulative and vindictive. Whilst in a state of interest, it becomes pleasant natured and behaves with some wit and passivity. Under disinterest, it becomes aggressive and irrational. However, both sides are in agreement in one important goal, to bring about darkness.

It entirely sets itself on its goal to bring about eternal darkness, but why its dedication is so intense is worrying. It's interested side states that the darkness will be suitable as it will stop all fighting. Good and evil are always warring, but when both are supressed into nothing, when there is only one will, then conflict is over. The disinterested side simply destroys because it wants to feel good.

ok…? how does this contradict everything you said about the Nightmare? All I see is a somewhat cliche monster who loves the euphoria of eating fear.

"Journal Entry 01

We have set up our research within the old Lupine Laboratories. Today, we begin our work on trying to develop my power such that it could have personal protection properties.

Despite my initial reluctance to pursue this project, Master Maelstrom encourages me to be strong and think of the positives behind this. I remain optimistic that this project will work."

~

"Journal Entry 02

We've been having some issues with the power system, it's been slowing down our progress. We daren't attempt anything big if we are having power failures when we need the safety buffers up.

There hasn't been a way of predicting them happening, they come at random, so we are going to get a backup generator fitted. Shouldn't take too long till we are back on schedule."

~

"Journal Entry 03

One of our technicians has been dismissed for his own wellbeing. He claims that when taking supplies through the corridors, he can hear footsteps behind him when the lights go out. Sadly, Orbs of Occulus all go out when he hears the steps, so we can't tell if it's just a prank.

The generator is playing up, the safety buffers are alarming weak when we need them most. We can't have any more delays."

~

"Journal Entry 04

The buffers failed! One of our trial runs has gone terribly wrong with the machine erupting into an explosive mass just as we hit critical point. No one was terribly injured, but we are going to have to get this fixed.

I've had to dismiss some more staff, not just because of the injuries, but because some claim they can hear someone talking to them in their chambers, notably when they are alone. I hope this isn't a side effect of being exposed to my power for too long."

~

"Journal Entry 05

The project is going to pieces. We hired ourselves some labourers with abilities in the hope they could contain the power when the generators are failing. We sent the back up generator for testing and as far as they can tell, there shouldn't be a fault.

We managed to make some product, but all we have is this sickly looking tar being formed. I daren't release any of it outside in case it is incredibly dangerous, we haven't worked out what it is just yet, but my dark familiars seem to like it."

~

"Journal Entry 06

We have people calling for this project to be discontinued. The back up generator is in perfect condition, something else is cutting it off, which is making me worried. We keep having accidents and more of this tar being produced. We've no idea what to do with it.

I had to dismiss a member of staff with serious trauma, I found her in the security room screaming and crying like an infant child. She claimed that she keeps hearing footsteps behind her when the light goes out, someone talking to her in her room and grabbing her as she slept. When she checked the playback, she saw nothing, but in the static, a face appeared and screamed at her, its monstrous countenance almost pushing her to taking her own life.

What have I done? Why is this happening now?"

~

"Journal Entry 07

Our final push before closing this down, I cannot take this continuously happening. The last thing we need is....

#BOOOM!#

What was that?"

~

"Journal Entry 07 Part Two

The system failed. All the scientists are dead, there was nothing that could be done! The project finally failed and now the lights won't turn on at all, only my natural bioluminesence shines in the darkness.

I fear that I may have unleashed something far more deadlier than I imagined. The viscous tar is becoming active, so I've forced it into a vat within a contained area so it can't reach the stuff.

#heavy breathing#

I know you're there! Show yourself!

(different voice) I am all around...

Stop being cryptic with me! People are dead and I will stop at nothing to ensure that you are finished!

(different voice) Where there is darkness, so am I!

Not here! I am Giovanni Magnus and this ends here!

-message ends-"

At some stage during the story, the player and Terra must go into the old laboratories of Lupine in order to retrieve an experimental by-product created inside it. The product, nicknamed "Essence of Fear", was something the Nightmare tried to use to become corporeal a few decades before the events of the game. Safely contained and denied access, it was defeated and the tar was stored away. If Maelstrom's speculation is anything to go by, the stuff could be used as a weapon.

The labs are arranged like a set of dungeons, several different projects inside them. Thanks to some of the mineral testing, geology and horticulture, there are impressive numbers of supplies inside.

Here are some examples of the music playing inside;







In the upper levels past the original presentation chamber, the labs used by Giovanni's scientists worked on the project before it tragically failed. For whatever reason, they are still running whilst those originally opened hundred of years ago were terminated and have fallen to decay. Altogether, Giovanni's labs were state of the art.







Enjoy!

During the time of the God Wars, many Mahjarrat hailed from the plane of Freneskae to revel in the warfare that took place over those thousands of years, usually siding with Zamorak and Zaros. However, some forces, usually unaccounted for in the Mahjarrat's original listing, chose to serve the likes of the Nightmare, the most notable being Kharshai.

The Nightmare would show them challenge, and if they were defeated or didn't escape, they usually were forced to work alongside the Shadow Apprentices in trying to nulify Raizahka's opposing forces. By the later half of the God Wars, the Arzonus werewolves had discovered means of trapping near unstoppable forces(1) by using the Pandoran Boxes, so that enemies that couldn't be easily defeated were safely sealed away until such a time in which their execution could be found.

When entering the Torn Realm and attempting to take the Oni Fortress to find the Torn Realm Artefact(2), the player finds themselves ambushed by the Shadow Apprentices(3). The Nightmare has managed to break into the pocket dimensions(4) of the Pandoran Boxes and retrieve the Mahjarrat that formerly served it. With the current numbers there are roughly about three dozen(5). However, the Mahjarrat we know from the Ritual have been forced into working alongside one another to defeat the apprentices(6). Once the battle is over, their debtor has managed to leave only 24 alive(7), at which point they're sealed into their boxes as future sacrifices at the upcoming Rituals(8).

Amongst the Mahjarrat taken are the following(9);
Cleyera - Lucien's aforementioned daughter, Theta just kills her so that he can take some of her blood, Lucien gave her up when she tried to leave him for dead in her place, obiviously backfired.
Aralia - A witch, notably skilled in Necromancy, but is easily distracted.
Cilurnum - Uses range, notably unattractive, dim and is blind in one eye.
Eboracum - Has a nack of turning invisible, but physically weak.
Veteris - A Mahjarrat warrior, but lacks any real ability. Simply believes bigger weapons are better than proper strength.
Othona - A coward by nature, gave herself up without even putting up a fight.
Venonis - Lover of puppetry, likes to get others to do her dirty work. Cannot fight by herself.
Nomlasetih - Very dim, tries to cover up that fact by cursing.
Sankuru - Probably one of the more stronger of the weaker Mahjarrat. Claims he only joined the Nightmare because he had a "cold" when asked to fight.
Likouala - Pyromaniac, but hates catching on fire.
Rufiji - Possibly related to Enahkra in some, bears no resemblance. Hides from a distances and strikes by backstabbing.
Milosz - Killed by Theta with a swift strike to the head, just a petty thief who tries to steal the tricks of others and does it badly.

(1)unstoppable is subject in interpretation at this stage; it could refer to anything from near god-like character to creatures that were armed with potent doses of viscum album.
(2)this artefact takes on the form of a broken hourglass and allows the user to traverse the realm by simply rotating it.
(3)luckily they won't fight you, you're after Paige remember?
(4)using the research of the late Bilrach. Also, as it tampers with the dimension from inside itself, the box's security isn't triggered.
(5)the Mahjarrat inside these boxes are notoriosuly weak in comparison to their brethren, otherwise they wouldn't have been recruited or sealed inside the boxes in the first place.
(6)by Theta Magnus; he has given them favours in the past and they are all marked for life (so embarassing for them).
(7)it would be all the more valuable keeping them alive, but sealed inside their boxes still. The Nightmare couldn't care less what happens to its servants.
).approx. 12,000 more years of life can be acquired from the prisoners.
(9)no real point in naming them, but it's something you can have on examining them from the telescope.

Dragon78114 wrote:ok…? how does this contradict everything you said about the Nightmare? All I see is a somewhat cliche monster who loves the euphoria of eating fear.

I gotta agree It seems much like a creature that simply lives by taunting and scaring, rather than being a real threat, it relies on pawns to do any of its dirty work. That's not true fear. It's the reason Drakan is such an awkward villain for the Myreque series, for example. Sure, he's told to be immensely scary and immensely powerful, but the fact that this has never been displayed for millenia leaves many doubting his power, or even if he's alive in the first place.

If your central villain is actually a being that holds nothing but fear, it's not as good as one says. Not to start and arguement, but I can honestly say that I feel the villain I've personally created in Karion, within my I Am Become series, is a more immediate and true thread. Immensely powerful, infinitely patient, and at a point where he doesn't underestimate you, seeing you as a real thread, considering the way you hound him, makes him a powerful villain. Many villains totally ignore all threats, considering themself to be above it, due to their abilities, and their downfall is underestimating, whilst my villain basically reverses the role. Your character constantly underestimates him, continues to go after him, and makes many rash decisions, while Karion (death) knows your strength, and seeks to bypass you anyway to reach his ends. He displays his strength, he plays with fear and powerful, and is able to show that he will be a pain to beat.

What you've written about the Tue Nightmare feels almost as if you're creating a rumor that holds more sway in fear than true power, and that's a huge mistake to write, and expect it to be the best.

It's biding it's time. Why risk exerting all your power in the run up trying to eliminate one threat, when footsoldiers who'd throw themselves into oblivion just to avoid being killed by you would do the job?

It's like terrorism really, the leader's power is the ability to break the will of those around them into doing their bidding. However, unlike terrorism, the Nightmare has genuine power. But then again, why do most villains shy away from direct combat as opposed to badgering the protagonist time and time again? Usually they are working on something big and then they'll unleash their wrath when the time is right. In this case, that is true. Since it has been incorporeal for the best part of thousands of years, its power has developed into psychological warfare, but it is waiting to strike at the right time, just at the perfect point.

You gave Drakan as an example. From what I've read about how the vampyres behave, it looks as if he's baiting you. He knows you're a threat, he knows you are rallying the otherwise no-hopers of Morytania, but does he act? He's biding his time for something big. He could have killed you outright from the beginning, but something more pressing takes place here, he'd rather let you come to him, underestimating him, and then make you squirm and suffer such pain until you beg for death. That's what I reckon.

The Nightmare isn't the finest monster at the moment. Having only just been restored to corporeal state after centuries of just planting thoughts into the living world for so long, its former strength is a little distant. It just needs to create a climate of fear, genuine fear and it takes in that phobic energy to become stronger. That and of course the coming of Blood Red Moon, when its body and soul are unbound by distorted space and time.

I still want to see him in action before I can make further judgement, that's for sure. Anywhere I can get a lot more information on the topic, by chance? I've not read the giant thread on Arzonus, mainly and mostly because I'm really worried that I'll find lore-mistakes, and considering that I've heard nice things about it, I don't want to read it and discover that I can pick out mistakes. I know I'll get to it eventually though

It is riddled with a few continuity errors, mainly because I wrote a lot of quests, not taking into account further plot developments that DID take place.

I will get round to ammending the mistakes.

Would you mind if I pointed them out as I read through then, by chance? I did a bit of flipping yesterday and saw some things that could really use an explaination as well.

Not at all. It's not been properly updated for some time and I would prefer some help.