Nightmares

Managing Nightmares is part of the harsh reality of living in the Neath. Your Nightmares become troubling if this Menace quality reaches 5. Don't let it reach 8.

Levels in Nightmares

1. Wary
2. Twitchy
3. Sleepless
4. Plagued
5. Haunted
6. Deranged
7. THEY ARE COMING THEY ARE COMING THEY ARE COMING
8. Raving
9. Raving
10. Raving

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Why are my Nightmares getting worse?

Nightmares can be gained when failing a high-level Watchful storylet, or when certain, well, nightmarish things happen in storylets. The several Recurring Dreams almost always give Nightmares, too.

What happens if my Nightmares get too high?

If your Nightmares quality reaches 4, the following action appears, in all places, that allows you to use 1 x Sudden Insight to relieve your Nightmares by raising a friend's Nightmares.

Find a way to deal with your Nightmares

Your nightmares are becoming a real problem…
Unlocked with Nightmares 4

Invite a friend over to Confess your Fears

If you spend Sudden Insights, you can confess your fears to a friend and reduce your Nightmares. You can get Sudden Insights through social actions in your Lodgings.
Unlocked with 1 x Sudden Insight

Reward spoiler

Invite a friend over to Confess your Fears

a Confession of Fears: choose a player who is your friend on Facebook, or follower/followee on Twitter. Your friend will receive a message about this. They can choose to accept it, or not. You can track outstanding invitations on the Home page.

When you select a friend and send them the invitation:

You've sent the invitation

You pace anxiously, awaiting their arrival.
Lose: 1 x Sudden Insight

When your friend accepts the invitation, you will see this on your Home page:

You've spent the night unburdening yourself to [Friend name]. You feel a little better for it, Nightmares is dropping…

When your friend accepts the invitation, he will see this on his Home page:

You've spent the night listening to the dread tales of [Friend name]. Your own dreams will be a little darker, Nightmares is increasing…

your friend will gain 1 change point of Nightmares.

If your Nightmares quality reaches 5, the following action appears, in all places.

A cheery gentleman

In the street, you pass a tall, cheerful man with a brisk manner, a stovepipe hat and a row of bright brass buttons down the front of his coat. He winks familiarly as you pass and spreads his hands: eight fingers.

You've seen him before. Of course you have. He was beside your bed when you woke this morning. Or were you still asleep?

Note: Your Nightmares are reaching a dangerous level.
Unlocked with Nightmares 5

Greet the Cheery Gentleman

It's only polite.

Reward spoiler

A refuge?

That night you dream of a tall building lit by cheery fires. A sign reads CLEFT FOR THEE HIDE IN ME. The walls are wrong. The walls are wrong.
Nightmares increase

Ignore the Cheery Gentleman

Something is wrong here.
(A matter of luck: it could go either way.)

Lucky spoiler

An interlude

That night, you don't dream at all. Your sleep is deep and thick as meadowgrass.
Nightmares decrease (-1 change point)

Unlucky spoiler

A refuge?

That night you dream of a tall building lit by cheery fires. A sign reads CLEFT FOR THEE HIDE IN ME. The walls are wrong. > The walls are wrong.
Nightmares increase

Approach the Cheery Gentleman

This is the man you need to speak to.
Unlocks with: Ambition: Heart's Desire - the Topsy King 18.

Reward spoiler

'Excuse me, sir -'

'Do I know you? I think I know you. How kind of you to speak to me!' He beams. 'So few do. Did you need my help? I'd be happy to help. I always am. Let's meet in Ladybones Road. Ninth lamp-post from Clathermont's. I'll see you there!'

At this distance there's something migrainous and vague about his outline. It hurts your eyes.
An occurrence! Your 'Ambition: Heart's Desire - the Topsy King' Quality is now 19!

If your Nightmares quality reaches 8, you have gone insane and you will end up in A State of Some Confusion. If your Nightmares quality reaches 8 and you have at least one Memory of Light, you will end up in The Mirror Marches. You can reduce your Nightmares in both places, but at some cost to you.

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Reducing Your Nightmares

There are several ways to reduce your Nightmares quality before you end up going insane.

Companions

A Cheerful Goldfish
A happy addition to your household.

Reduces Nightmares by 1 when equipped.

Weapons

Spiked Rosary

• Dangerous+3, Nightmares-1
• Obtained during Ambition: Bag a Legend

Bejewelled Cane
Excuse me? Could you put a cover on that? It's blinding the butler.

• Persuasive +2, Shadowy -2, Nightmares -2
• Reward from the Assisting a Keen-Eyed Lapidary quest.

Items

F.F. Gebrandt's Superior Laudanum
Ensures a deep sleep, but may affect your health.

Reduces Nightmares but increases Wounds and can lead to A Less than Laudable Laudanum Habit.

Greyfields 1868 First Sporing
A vintage often reserved for the intimates and proteges of Mr Wines.

Reduces Nightmares.

Appalling Secret
Are you quite sure you want to know this?

You can attempt to reduce Nightmares by sacrificing Appalling Secrets.

Opportunity Cards

A moment's peace

Sometimes, even the dank and mushroomed parks of Fallen London are peaceful. Today is such a day. You sit on a park bench and admire the passers-by in their weird subterranean fashions; the church spires silhouetted against the lights in the roof of the Neath; the hundred livid colours of fungus in perpetual autumn.

Relax and enjoy

If you are suffering from Nightmares, this may help…

Reward spoiler

You are refreshed by the interlude

Perhaps you'll sleep more easily tonight.
Persuasive increase
Nightmares decrease

Follow a light into the trees

A pale light among the withered aspens, cool as moonlight. [This option will always remove all your Nightmares, and may have other effects.]

Requires 6 Fate

Fate-locked content must not be placed on the wiki, per the developers.

The Interpreter of Dreams

Perhaps Dr Schlomo, innovative student of the human brain, can explain those troublesome dreams you've been having and possibly reduce your Nightmares.

Several different Opportunity Cards feature Dr. Schlomo, depending on the type of Nightmares and the nature of any Recurring Dreams you are experiencing.

All of these Opportunity Cards are gathered on their own page.

Playing the "Tournament of weasels" opportunity card and winning reduces Nightmares.
Playing the "An unwise ambush" opportunity card and fleeing reduces Nightmares.
If you find yourself on a slow boat because of your Wounds, you could choose to just give up which will reduce your Nightmares. (But not get you off the boat.)
If you've lost your soul and get an opportunity card to consider that situation, your Nightmares will be reduced if you are content.
Paying your respects at a rat funeral when the "The Departed" opportunity card is played can reduce your Nightmares.
Visiting the Parlour of Virtue reduces Nightmares.
Successfully talking to your house plant can reduce Nightmares.
Going batwatching with the Once-Dashing Smuggler can reduce your Nightmares.
A visit from a priest while you are imprisoned will lower your Nightmares.
Sharing your cell with The Repentant Forger while you are imprisoned can lower your Nightmares.
Rare success on Guard duty at the Observatory at Watchmaker's Hill can lower your Nightmares.

Storylets

Tend your wounds in your Lodgings. A rare success will lower your Nightmares.
Lady seeks bodyguard on Watchmaker's Hill. A rare success will lower your Nightmares.
Lizard throwing at Mrs. Plenty's Most Distracting Carnival. A rare success will lower your Nightmares.
Landing at Hunters Keep will lower your Nightmares.

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