“You think that pain will make you stronger? What fool filled your mind with such drivel? The only one who grows stronger from your fear is me.”
The Nightmare is a fear demon of unparalleled size and power.
Background
My friends, we accept as fact that more powerful and intelligent demons select more complex aspects of our reality to observe and interact with. A demon of pride may gravitate to the corrupt hubris of nobles, the bloodthirsty arrogance of soldiers, or sadly, the blind confidence of mages. A demon of desire may focus on lust, greed, or even the desperate wishes of those with no recourse in the waking world.
Whether demons are naturally inclined to such specificity, or made so by observing a confluence of specific events in our world, is a subject of much debate, and not the question my experiment would answer. Instead, I turn to the question of fear.
We think of fear demons as lesser creatures, powerful but simple, like those common beasts of rage or hunger. But fear has many faces, from the absurd phobias of the pampered nobility to the very real threats of magic, demons, dragons, and perhaps especially, the Blight.
What event has shaped the course of human history more than the Blights? Had the First Blight not weakened it, the Tevinter Imperium would have crushed Andraste's rebellion; we would have no Ferelden, no Circles, and indeed, no Chantry as we know it. The Blight is unequaled as a force of devastation and terror, hated and feared by peasant and king alike from the northern hills of the Anderfels to the southern reaches of the Korcari Wilds.
I know of nothing else that inspires such universal and specific fear. Dragons and demons, yes, but both have found respect and fascination in cultures across Thedas. Only the Blight is an unadulterated source of horror. If there exists a demon of fear who has shaped itself into a more intelligent, more specific mold, it will be a demon focusing on fear of the Blight.
This is the experiment I undertake. By the time you read this, my friends, I will be asleep, traveling through the Fade to find such a creature. If I am correct, it will yield an unparalleled source of information on the history of our world; wisdom hidden since the time of ancient Tevinter. I have instructed the scribes to write quickly upon my return. I will have much to impart.
—A letter found beside the sleeping body of Senior Enchanter Jessimerre, her last known communication before her subsequent possession and then death, along with twelve mages, nine templars, and uncounted apprentices and Tranquil, at the hands of Knight-Captain Hewlgarre[1]
Involvement
After Corypheus fails to acquire the anchor to pass through the Fade and reach the Black City, Nightmare reaches out to the Herald of Andraste's mind in the Fade and magically seals their memories of the events at the conclave to prevent them from revealing what they discovered.
At Corypheus' behest, Nightmare helps deceive the Grey Wardens of Orlais into thinking they are all hearing the Calling simultaneously. With the Grey Wardens convinced they are about to be wiped out and Thedas left defenseless against the inevitable Sixth Blight, they turn to magister Livius Erimond who convinces them they can storm the Deep Roads with an army of bound demons and kill the remaining Old gods before they become Archdemons, thus preventing any future Blights. In truth however, the ritual will also make the summoning mages thralls of Corypheus. The Inquisition assaults Adamant Fortress just as Warden Commander Clarel is about to bring Nightmare through the Veil. The Grey Wardens and the Inquisition turn on Erimond when the truth is revealed. However Corypheus' red lyrium dragon destroys the walkway the Inquisitor, Hawke and their companions are standing on just as Clarel drives off the dragon and to save themselves the Inquisitor opens a Fade rift to escape the fall into the chasm below.
The Inquisitor and their allies find themselves trapped in Nightmare's section of the Fade. As Nightmare notices their presence, it begins to taunt the party of intruders one by one, playing on their respective fears and speaking with the voice of Corypheus. Nightmare also inadvertently reveals that it is the key to Corypheus' demon army and without Nightmare, the bound demons will fail. The Inquisitor and their allies finally confront Nightmare in person as they reach the rift back into Thedas. A spirit or perhaps, the soul of the late Divine Justinia V, attacks Nightmare to allow the party to escape, scattering Nightmare's corporeal form. However though Nightmare itself is weakened, a separate Fear Demon which is part of Nightmare's self, the Aspect of Nightmare, escapes unharmed and prevents the party's escape. The Aspect is finally slain, but only half of the party are able to escape before Nightmare re-forms and blocks the passage once more, leaving the Inquisitor, Hawke and their Grey Warden ally trapped in the Fade. Either Hawke or the Warden ally sacrifice themselves to distract Nightmare long enough for the Inquisitor and the other companion to escape back through the rift, closing it behind them and leaving Nightmare sealed in the Fade.
Quests
Quotes
- (To Alistair, regarding his deepest fear)
- (To Blackwall, regarding his deepest fear) "Ah, there's nothing like a Grey Warden. And you are nothing like a Grey Warden."
- (To Cassandra, regarding her deepest fear) "Your Inquisitor is a fraud, Cassandra. Yet more evidence there is no Maker, that all your 'faith' has been for naught."
- (To Cole, regarding his deepest fear) "Are you afraid, Cole? I can help you forget. Just like you help other people. We're so very much alike, you and I."
- (To Dorian, regarding his deepest fear) "Greetings, Dorian... It is Dorian, isn't it? For a moment, I mistook you for your father."
- (To Hawke, regarding their deepest fear) "Did you think you mattered, Hawke? Did you think anything you ever did mattered? You couldn't even save your city. How could you expect to strike down a god?"
- (If a romance was completed) "(Name of love interest) is going to die, just like your family, and everyone you ever cared about."
- (If no romance was completed) "You're a failure, and your family died knowing it."
- (To Iron Bull, regarding his deepest fear) "The Qunari will make a lovely host for one of my minions. Or maybe I will ride his body myself."
- (To Loghain, regarding his deepest fear) "Teryn Loghain Mac Tir, the brilliant commander. Pity the one time you tried to rule, you failed so miserably. You had to be beaten, humiliated, lest you destroy your own country. You even doomed the Wardens by bringing the Inquisitor down on them. You destroy everything you touch."
Trivia
- According to Cole and the spirit encountered in his lair, this demon originally started off with the desire to help: taking fear away so people could move on. Over time, its desire to consume fear and power twisted it into what it became.
- It appears that the demon has a large knowledge of Elvish, as shown when it speaks to Solas.
- In the game files, this creature is called Grand Fear Demon, abbreviated to GFD.
- David Stern, who is the voice actor for the Nightmare, is also the voice of Corypheus.