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Nightmare Spell
Cosmic affliction that infects young mortals and forces them through a First Nightmare from which they emerge Awakened or do not emerge at all.
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First Nightmare
First dream trial imposed by the Spell. Determines an infected person's Aspect, Flaw, and rank.
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Aspect
Signature ability granted by the Spell that defines an Awakened's identity and potential.
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Flaw
Cosmic weakness bound to every Aspect — the price paid to the Spell for the gift.
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Innate Ability
First ability of an Aspect, present from Sleeper rank onward.
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Aspect Legacy
Martial inheritance bundled with an Aspect — a shapeless combat art tuned to the Aspect's nature.
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Memory
Enchanted object left behind by defeated Nightmare Creatures. Currency and raw material of the Awakened world.
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Echo
Residual spirit of a defeated Nightmare Creature, sealed in essence — can be summoned as a companion.
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Shadow
Permanent companion obtained by transforming an Echo (Sunny) or by divine accomplishment. Unique to Shadow Slave.
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Shadow Fragment
Shadow shard extracted from creatures Sunny defeats. Internal currency of his Aspect.
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Soul Core
An Awakened's soul-heart, the crystalline structure that holds their essence and determines their rank.
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Spell Runes
Mystical marks the Spell inscribes on every Awakened's soul — fingerprint of their Aspect, Flaw, and progression.
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Shadow Sea
Sunny's inner sea where his collected shadows, Memories, and the pulse of his soul float.
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Ranks (Sleeper to Supreme)
Awakened power hierarchy in five tiers — each tier unlocks an Aspect ability.
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Combat Classes
Awakened martial specializations — Warrior, Knight, Titan, Saint, etc. — shaped by their Aspect.
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Awakening
Public ceremony that reveals a new Awakened's Aspect on emergence from their First Nightmare.
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Domain
Personal metaphysical territory obtained at Supreme rank, where the bearer rewrites the laws of reality.
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Weave (Weaver's Lineage)
Cosmic legacy of the Demon of Fate, shattered into seven fragments: Blood, Bone, Flesh, Soul, Mind, Spirit, Shadow.
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Lore
70 entries compiled from Shadow Slave canon. Four pillars: magic system, cosmology, geography, glossary.
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The -unknown- (Primordial Beings)
Primordial beings that existed before time, space, and death, in a boundless dark void.
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The Seven Gods
Dominant pantheon: Sun, War, Storm, Beast, Heart, Shadow, and the forgotten Seventh (Forgotten God / Dream God).
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Shadow God
God of peace, death, solace, and mysteries. Implicit patron of Sunny's Aspect.
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Forgotten God
The seventh god, formerly the Dream God. Shattered into seven fragments that birthed the Seven Daemons.
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The Seven Daemons
Children of the shattered Forgotten God. Weaver, Hope, Ariel, Mirage, Repose, Oblivion, Nether — authors of the Doom War.
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The Nine (Mortal Titans)
Nine mortals bearing the [Fated] Attribute, summoned by the Oracle to orchestrate the gods' fall during the Doom War.
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The Doom War
Cosmic war between the Seven Gods on one side, and the Seven Daemons + the Nine on the other.
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The Cataclysm
Apocalyptic event that shattered the real world and plunged humanity into the era of the Spell, the Citadels, and the Dream Realm.
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The Great Sun
Original celestial body now lost, linked to the Sun God. Its light was the primordial warmth of the pre-Cataclysm world.
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Lord of Hunger
Menacing cosmic entity mentioned from Vol 7 onward — possibly one of the -unknown- or its emanation.
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The Mirror
Cosmological concept linking the Dream Realm to the real world — each is the reflection of the other.
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The Sea of Suffering
Cosmic expanse of tortured souls, implicit reservoir of Defilement and certain dark magics.
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The Great Sleep (Spell of Endless Sleep)
Cosmological hypothesis: the entire real world is locked in a dream-induced sleep by an ancient spell.
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Origin of the Dreamscape
The Dream Realm is said to have emerged from the dream-domain of the Forgotten God / Dream God, fractured by his fall.
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Post-Cataclysm Real World
Shattered continents, populations sheltering in fortified Citadels, Nightmare Gates opening at any moment.
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Ravenheart
Sunny's home Citadel — working-class outskirts, true black and grey hues.
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Antarctica Campaign
Massive Citadels military operation in Antarctica to neutralize an unprecedented chain of Nightmare Gates.
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Path of Memory
Ascension path associated with Memories — one of the two great paths to cross the ranks.
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Dream Realm
Parallel dream reality where Awakened fight Nightmare Creatures and collect Echoes/Memories.
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Forgotten Shore
Initial shore of the Dream Realm — landing point for extended First Nightmares and stage of Vol 2.
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Tomb of Ariel
Sanctuary devoted to the Demon of Dread, key site of the Doom War and Sunny's Third Nightmare.
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The Great River
Cosmic river of the Dream Realm crossed in Vol 7. Boundary between the Daemons' realms.
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Underworld
Domain of Nether, last of the Seven Daemons. Realm of the dead and destiny.
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The Cradle
Origin or womb of the Dream Realm — deep layer linked to the Dreamscape's birth.
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The Great Clans
Awakened dynasties that dominate the economy and politics of post-Cataclysm Citadels.
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Awakened Factions
Awakened Society, Sleeper Society, Saintdom, Knights of the Crucible — trans-Citadel alliances.
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Awakening
Ceremony revealing a new First Nightmare survivor's Aspect.
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Citadel
Fortress-city sheltering millions of post-Cataclysm survivors.
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Cohort
Group of Awakened forming a Nightmare or campaign unit.
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Dread Lord
Informal title for a very high-rank Awakened specialized in terror or death.
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Dream Lord
An Awakened who masters Dream Realm rules well enough to act as local sovereign.
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Foundation
Metaphysical bedrock of an Awakened's soul — the base on which higher ranks are built.
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Gate of Heavens
Cosmic threshold evoked in sybil revelations. Likely tied to supreme ascension.
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Mountain King
Massive creature of Sunny's First Nightmare — central foe of the initiatory hunt.
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Nameless
Status of an Awakened who hides their True Name — ultimate protection against cosmic bindings.
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Nightmare Creature
Creature inhabiting the Dream Realm. Source of Echoes and Memories.
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Path of Glory
Ascension path by hunting — defeating ever-stronger creatures to gain essence and Echoes.
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Quintessence
Rare concentrated essence — cosmic fuel of rank breakthroughs.
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Saint
Awakened with healing, divinatory, or holy vocation. Saintdom faction.
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Sleeper
Lowest-rank Awakened — freshly infected by the Spell, limited abilities.
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Soul Sense
Metaphysical sense allowing perception of souls, the Soul Core, and other Awakened's Aspects.
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Spell
The Nightmare Spell — cosmic curse that assigns Aspects and Flaws.
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Tyrant
High-rank Nightmare Creature category — recurring boss of Nightmares.
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Weave
Fabric of fate woven by Weaver — seven cosmic fragments (Blood, Bone, Flesh, Soul, Mind, Spirit, Shadow).
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Sovereign
Status beyond Supreme rank: sovereign of a cosmic domain. Sunny becomes Sovereign of Death.
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True Name
An Awakened's true name — key to the Shadow Bond and entry-point for cosmic bindings.
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Defilement
Cosmic corruption spread from Aletheia after her passage through the Tomb of Ariel.
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Nightmare Gate
Portal between Dream Realm and real world — hunting corridor for Awakened.
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Obel Scale
Quantitative scale measuring a Nightmare Gate's power and danger.
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Essence
Cosmic fuel stored in the Soul Core — required to use Aspect Abilities.
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Attribute
Cosmic trait bound to an Awakened, Echo, or Shadow — Strong, Swift, Lucky, etc.
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Divine Host
Army of the gods during the Doom War — captures Eurys at the conflict's end.
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