The Dream-Walker

Have you ever felt like you were falling, only to find that it was a dream, and not be able to sleep again afterward? Relish that, as you might just have escaped the Dream Walker’s clutch.

There are many cultures that speak of the Dream Walker. Natives of the deserts of Vacuo call it a Dream-Eater, Faunus from the woodlands of Mistral name it Ynzomniux, and nomads of Mantle refer to it as the Sleep-Glut. What is striking about this creature is that, though these tales are found across the world, far from each other, the descriptions are similar enough that there is no doubt they speak of the same entity. It is hard to obtain many specific details, for its victims only see it through their dreams, and are often in too deep a state of shock to recall anything more than vague glimpses. A few things are certain about this creature; it is of the shape of a man, but far too inhuman to be one, with six arms and silver skin. Its highest two arms clutch the sun and moon, and the bottom two arms carry a blade. The description of this blade oft varies.

The two middle arms are bare, and the Walker uses them to reach out to the dreamer. The victims can recognize its presence through two signs. The first sign is that their dream abruptly changes, and they meet another dreamer, and are able to interact with that dreamer’s own dream. This means that the Walker is particularly ravenous that night, and is preying on more than one poor soul. The second sign is that the victim’s dream falls apart. It is described as if the dream around them was a panorama being rent to shreds by unseen claws, showing only darkness behind the fragile façade. The entire dream is literally eaten away, and the dreamer falls into the dark nothingness. Only when the final piece of light is blotted out, will the dreamer see the Walker’s face. This face is completely bare; nothing more than a skull wrapped in skin. The only distinguishing feature on this horrendous creature’s face was a single staring eye, glowing like an ember.

One reported side effect of this assault on the dreamer is them descending into insanity, though there has not been any actual evidence for this. The other side effect is more believable, and far more deadly; the fear that the dreamer exudes when under the Walker’s influence is enough to attract the Creatures of Grimm from a mile away. This is especially perilous since the dreamer is having their dream devoured at night, when few of their settlement’s defenders are awake. Entire villages have been known to descend into chaos in less than an hour, and completely vanish the morning after. Because of this, it has been speculated by indigenous priests and shamans that the Walker is a Grimm itself, and that it feasts on nightmares instead of actual humans.

However, it has one weakness; a Huntsman or Huntress’ aura, if used, is actually said to repel the Walker. If several individuals adept in utilizing their aura are invaded by the Walker, they can all simultaneously repel it and even cause it harm, making it flee, leaving small, ghost-like creatures in its wake. These minions are easily defeated, but if left unchecked, can slowly sap away a man’s aura, leaving him vulnerable for assault once again.

This is not a permanent solution, however. Like the deplorable habit of Grimm adapting to their enemies’ tactics, Walkers learn to distinguish those with control over their aura, and those with not. They hunt for the weakest, and gorge on their dreams, causing nightmares in their minds.

Nightmares bring fear. Fear brings the Grimm.