Nightmare Host, The

As I(Luelenvati) have dedicated myself to securing knowledge of the Nightmare Host, I will record here much of what I know, so that others may be aware of the threat they represent.

The Nightmare Host are a class of Powers that exist in the world of The Forest. They are comparable in nature to the Celestial Spirits. Like the Celestial Spirits, they are Spirits of concepts and ideas, not physical objects or beings.

The exact Origin of the Nightmare Host is unknown, but there are a few theories. One theory is that they have always existed, but remained bound to the Celestial Realm with the other Celestial Spirits. Research has shown that at some point in the distant past, a pact between the Celestial and Terrestrial Spirits was broken when some being (either spirit or flesh, it is unknown) breached the barrier and invaded the Celestial Realm. This allowed the Nightmare Host to descend to the Terrestrial Realm.

Another theory is tied to this, stating that it was the breach of the Pact between Celestial and Terrestrial that caused the Nightmare Host to be created. We know that contact with sentient beings of flesh can lead to the corruption of a Pure Celestial spirit into a Nightmare Host. It is thought that perhaps once congress between Celestial and Terrestrial realms began, certain Celestial Spirits were corrupted by the malfeasance of the dwellers of the Forest World and perhaps the worlds beyond the gates.

Neither of these two theories has, to my knowledge, sufficient evidence to be compelling. Scholars of the Spirit worlds are encouraged to seek out the truth.

The Nightmare Host is, by it’s very nature, inclined towards the destruction and corruption of all things. They are naturally inclined to acts of violence and trickery, but will deal with Wanderlings to further their ends if it suits their agenda.

The Nightmare Host is tightly organized into a hierarchical structure. At the top of the organization is the Spirit of Destruction. Research indicates that each spirit of the Nightmare Host is a part of Destruction. Currently, Destruction sleeps in quiescence, waiting for the time when it can be awakened. Legend states that if Destruction awakes, it will speak it’s True Name and all things in all worlds will be obliterated.

Directly underneath Destruction are a group of Host spirits known as the Avatars of Woe. The True Name of each of these powerful spirits are said to be a syllable of the True Name of Destruction, and have been said to be Fetich Souls of Destruction. If all the Avatars were to become awake, the likelihood of Destruction itself awakening is raised exponentially.

After the destruction of Oun, the Avatars of Woe went to the sleep of quiescence. It seems that in order for an Avatar to awaken and remain awake, two conditions must be met: First, there must be beings of sentient flesh active in the Forest World and secondly, those beings must commit acts of appropriate vice in sufficient amount to awaken the Avatar. When an Avatar awakens, it’s subordinate spirits arise as well.

A complete catalog of the Avatars of Woe has now been established. New research indicates that their are 6 Avatars total:

Strife -

Carnage -

Privation -

Rot - Legend states that Decay was destroyed beyond quiescence somewhere near the current town of Nexus in the distant past. Evidence supports this conclusion.

Madness-

Despair -

New Research has revealed that the Avatars themselves are all ‘asleep’, but some are more active in their slumber. Furthermore, it seems that the factional lines among the Nightmare Host may not lay along the lines of Avatar, but are more complex, perhaps between higher and lower Magnitude. The two factions are divided in their motivation towards the Destruction. One side wishes to wake Destruction and wipe out all existence, the other wishes to keep it asleep so that they can torment and ‘play’ with the worlds.

Underneath each of the Avatars of Woe exist a teeming mass of subordinate spirits. Like all Nightmare Host, these spirits exist in a hierarchy.More powerful Host spirits can be identified by the brevity of their names. A Two-Named Spirit would be just under it’s Avatar, and a Three-named Spirit would be below a Two-Named Spirit. It is unknown if prepositions factor into this convention, so a spirit known as Bastard of Nastiness could either be a Two-Named or a Three-Named Spirit. Scholars are encouraged to seek the truth in this matter.

Like all Spirits, the Nightmare Host can take on Scions. A Scion of a Nightmare Host can expect to receive great power, as the Host seem able to twist or break rules of metaphysics. However, becoming a Host Scion will immediately make one Anathema marked, although the Host will likely offer to conceal the mark so as to have a better servant. The Nightmare Host will cause it’s Scion to commit acts of evil, further binding it to the Host. Furthermore, the Host will press it’s Scion to enter into a state of Union, promising greater power. However, this Union is a wholly unequal relationship, with the Scion completely subservient to the Host.

According to the collected wisdom of Oun as well as the Pure Spirits, the Nightmare Host are completely incapable of redemption. However, research indicates that such a thing is potentially possible, particularly within the purview of the Undersea school of Magic, the Currents of Deepspirit.

Scholars are welcome to make additions to this page if they possess superior information. I (Luelenvati) ask that changes are marked with the name of they that made the addition.