(The following story is one that was written a few years ago in the discord, and is being brought here for the first time. As such, it takes place several years ago, depicting the earlier days of New Solstice)Day 5                                                                                                                   Marie   Today marks the fifth day of my arrival, and the first I’ve spent writing my thoughts out. When it was first suggested to me, it seemed rather silly. A waste of ink and parchment, surely there was better use for them? Perhaps now I’m just desperate. Kept awake after another restless night, their screams still ringing in my head. I just want it to stop. To stop remembering the smell of ash and flame. I wish I hadn’t been saved. I wish I had died there, an axe in my skull. Surely that’s better than being left to remember all I’ve lost. My village, my wife, my son. I look to the cliff outside my window and I wonder. Who would be left to miss me? Would anyone here even notice?  I could leave the broken walls of this city first, then I’d be sure not to be found. No mess for the unfortunate few that find themselves here. But, to walk even that short distance feels like more than I can handle. Perhaps if I am truly lucky, I’ll simply vanish as I lie here, never to be spoken of again. To those I left behind, if we are one day reunited, I hope you find it in yourselves to forgive me.   Day 7   I was awoken by knocking at my door this afternoon. It was the first time I’d gotten out of bed in over a day. It seems surreal to me even now that someone had taken notice, that someone even cared enough to check up on me. Part of me wishes I hadn’t answered. When I finally managed to open the door, I found the masked woman standing there, carrying with her rations and a waterskin. I suppose some would be thankful for her help, but when I see her, all I’m reminded of is that day. Her hair and blade soaked in blood as she cut through the bandits that still remained. I hate her. For bringing me here.. For not coming sooner. If she’d been a little faster then maybe..maybe I wouldn’t have to do this alone.  Part of me had been tempted to slam the door in her face, but I invited her in. I needed the food and drink, much as I wished I could ignore it. She asked me about my life, about what I used to do. I didn’t answer. She tells me that I’m safe now, but then why do I not feel saved? She claims that this place, Solstice, is a sanctuary. That one doesn't have to suffer here. I wonder who managed to fill her head with such delusions. I think she got the message with my silence, because she left soon afterward. Left me alone to stare at the food and drink sat in front of me. I wonder how long it is before I’m put to work. Until they find I’m not much good for anything anymore.   Day 11   I found the strength to leave the house today. The thought of staying another day inside was simply too much to bear. Best to see with my own eyes where it is I’m meant to stay. My new prison. I hadn’t seen much of the city on my arrival, and even less after I all but locked myself away.  The roads are unmaintained, and the walls seem to be crumbling. That Nieroi woman claimed this to be a sanctuary, but the term ruin might be more accurate.  There’s only a few people here other than me, which might explain the lack of care taken to the place. It feels we’re more like squatters, then anything. How is anyone meant to survive here? I’m told by the local mason, a man named Oliver, that things are being rebuilt. He said that his work had started picking up recently as new roads are to be constructed over the old ones. He was the one who suggested the idea of writing things down to me, back when I first arrived. That it helped him. I’m not so sure, even now it all feels so foolish.  I wonder how it is he can remain so positive, how he can find something to apply himself to. He seems to have found a purpose for himself, but just the thought makes me feel hollow. Empty. I’m not sure if that feeling will ever go away.   Day 18   I can’t do it anymore. The restless nights, the mindless wandering come morning. I need something real to do. Anything to distract me from this. From the terrors that manage to worm their way into my thoughts. To give myself purpose. I talked with Oliver again, he seems to be the only one I find myself comfortable around. There was so much I wanted to ask. Questions that have haunted me for days. In the end, all I managed to ask him was how he managed to find the work he had. I’d have thought by now that I’d be assigned a task, but Oliver explained it wasn’t quite like that. That his talents and ambitions had been considered in finding the work that best suited him. That it was something he’d wanted to pursue, not something that had been forced.  I still find it rather hard to believe. Nothing about this place makes sense. That in this crumbling city there is anything close to sanctuary. That the people here are free to live as they choose. It sounds like a child's fantasy. A fantasy that, were it true, I still find myself suffering in. I suppose if things truly do work like this, I’d wish to be a tailor again. Like back home. That I could focus on stitching something together, rather than watch it all come apart…   Day 20   I worked up my courage to ask Nieroi about the work I was meant to do. I had tried to do so the day prior, but it seems she’s a hard sort to find. Even our conversation today was rather brief, lasting no more than a few minutes. It was as Oliver had told me, the explanation I had thought was a fantasy, repeated by the woman hidden behind the mask. She still seemed so calm, nothing like the demon drenched in blood that I’d set my eyes on all those nights ago. It’d been the same calm I noticed when she’d once visited with things for me to eat and drink. It almost made it worse, the same woman holding two separate images within my head. When I told her of my previous work as a tailor, she suggested a building beside the masonry I could move to.  Apparently, there was someone who did similar work there once, though I wasn’t told what had happened to them. Part of me wanted to ask, but another part was simply relieved to leave the conversation altogether. I’d gotten what I’d wanted. And while I was grateful for the generosity of such an offer, a part of me still felt sick just in the presence of the masked woman.  At the least, I now have something to focus on. Tomorrow I’ll begin moving into the shop, not that I have much left to my name anyways.    Day 48   It’s been almost a month since I resumed my work as a tailor. At first, things moved slowly, but that was ok with me. I’m not sure I could have handled more than the occasional stitching needed to mend a tear during my first week. Now it seems things are moving a bit faster, the occasional mending turned to orders for clothing for those left with scraps as they entered the city walls. I’m ok with that though. I’m just happy I have a purpose again. And while it hurts to see their faces, the ones left with nothing, it brings me joy that I’m able to make things a little easier for them. Easier then I had it.  As more begin to arrive, I’ve noticed the new roads starting to snake through the city. It was as Oliver told me, things are being rebuilt, slow as it may seem. Even the debris left around the walls has started to be cleaned up, though the gaps still remain. In truth, it terrifies me, what could come stumbling through. I’m not much of a fighter, and I know many of the others aren’t either. If there were bandits to come through, would we really be able to fight them off? Is it really a sanctuary if we aren’t really safe?   Day 63   I ended up speaking with Oliver about my worries. That I’ll awake to the smell of smoke, that everything will go up in flames. I didn’t think I could tell anyone, but when I started, it all came out. And Oliver understood. He told me he’d been through similar, long ago. That he’d lost his husband when bandits had attacked his home. And that while he at least had a village left by the time the bandits had been driven off, he couldn’t bring himself to stay. I feel so stupid. I see it more and more, the ones that come through these walls, and yet I still thought I was the only one. To feel this kind of pain. It’s not just me, or Oliver. He said that it’s all like that. People without a place in the world, gathering here. Each with a story to tell. Whether it be attacks by bandits, like me or Oliver, or perhaps to escape the abuses of a corrupt noble.  I think part of me is starting to understand, what was meant in calling this place sanctuary. And while a large part of me still wishes I was never saved, I’m starting to see some good in it. That I get to help those like me. Those without a place outside these walls. That I get to see the smiles I mentioned before.  And while I still hold fear for what may happen, and I still find terror everytime I close my eyes, perhaps there will be a day where it gets easier. I can only hope.   Day 84   I found something rather odd while I was taking a walk through the city today. Near the cliffs, a strange gap in the wall, light pouring outward. When I went to investigate, I found myself in a room with three large arches of white and purple.  They gave off a strange warmth, but I admit the feeling wasn’t unpleasant. There was also a chest in the center of the room, with strange purple threads and other oddities inside. I wanted to investigate more, but figured it would be best to leave things that weren’t mine alone. It does leave me curious though. Even now, hours later, I can still sense that warmth the frames seemed to give off.  Was it always there? The idea of such a thing seems unreasonable and yet I can’t be sure. Perhaps I was too distracted that I hadn't even noticed it before. To think that even after these past months, Solstice still manages to leave me feeling confused.    Day 107   I didn’t realize how used to the quiet I had gotten here. Even now, our numbers are rather small, and much of the construction has been happening far away from me. Not now though. At the front of the shop, the new roads have started to be put in, and on the other side of the building, the walls are finally being patched up. I can’t imagine how long it will take. Until I arrived here, I’d never seen such things before. A wall that towered over even the tallest of buildings.  At times it feels too grand, such construction wrapped around our home. Like it was made for a castle, or a fancy nobles estate. Not for the likes of us. I often wonder what Solstice was like before, how such craters in the walls came to be. The weapons outside perhaps? But that only leaves more questions. What really transpired here? I don’t dare ask, I’m sure there’s not a pleasant answer. And, despite my curiosity, I’m not sure I need one. However Solstice was in the past, I’m sure it’s better like this. At least, I hope so. That we’re improving it. Not making things worse. It seems unrealistic, the more I stay here. That the outside world could offer something better. Not unless it had..them. My son and my beautiful wife. I still miss you both so much. I’m sorry. You would have liked it here, I think. I hope.   Day 179   I haven’t written anything in a while. To be honest, I haven’t felt the need. I’ve focused on my work, stitching together more and more as the city continues to grow. I sometimes wonder where we’ll be in the future. With how much change has happened, how much more will come to pass?  But I suppose it’s become a habit now, to write when the world feels like too much. There was crying this morning, I could hear it and it’s horrible echo from across the street. The voice of a young girl, gravely injured. I learned later in the day that she’d been found with her parents, both passed on. Only a child, and yet the world has been so cruel to her. Even now I hear her sobs and I’m reminded of things I never wanted to remember. The moon hangs high in the sky, but I know tonight will be another restless one.    Day 183   I wasn’t sure how to feel when the girl I mentioned earlier arrived at my shop today. Edith. She seemed so skittish, afraid of every moment spent under the watchful gaze of the person who had brought her. Apparently she needed new clothes, and a place to stay. She was far too little to take care of herself, and there wasn’t much housing yet suitable to have another move in so suddenly. My name had apparently been brought up, and so I was asked if I’d be willing to spare the room.  The shop has always seemed so empty, and yet still I confess I was a little hesitant. I thought about the offer as I was taking her measurements, but it wasn’t until the two were almost on their way that I had decided. I wouldn’t let my fears hold me back, and I certainly wouldn’t let them be the reason to turn the girl away. I just hope I can provide the care she needs until something more suitable is arranged. When I offered her some stew she barely touched it at all. I suppose I was like that too when I first arrived. Perhaps she just needs some time. Time to reflect, and to heal. It certainly won’t be easy for her.Day 226 Edith asked me to show her the city today, which was something of a surprise. Just over a month later, and she still rarely talks to me. It isn’t uncommon to hear nothing from her the entire day. Rarer still, the desire to go outside. Once again I’m reminded of how I once was, when just the thought of leaving bed seemed too much. I took her up on her request, figuring it better to encourage her curiosity then shut it down. The shop has been slow this past week, so there wasn’t any guilt in closing early for the day. It’s starting to get warmer again, but the glaring rays didn’t seem to bother Edith at all during our walk. I showed her the masonry, the main hall, and the large home on the top of the hill.  We passed the tents and housing of those just getting their footing here, and the grand tavern looking out at them. Perhaps the most interesting for Edith was the strange construction standing near the carrot farm. A small gate, coloured both purple and white. Surrounding it, an odd stone, and purple threads that sprouted from its surface. When I had seen similar within the cliffs those months back, I hadn’t yet understood, but now I knew the strange garden for what it was.  It had been explained to me by a younger woman who I’d recently managed to become friends with, a half elf named Lillian. She explained that the arches were a gateway to something known as the dream, guarded by a being known as Ephales. Even now I’m not quite sure I fully understand it, but if this dream truly is watching over Solstice, then I am most thankful. Lillian happened to be there when Edith and I found the garden, and it was there she answered all of Edith’s questions. She had left an offering for this Ephales, and so we both joined her in giving thanks. On our way home, Edith told me she wanted me to teach her sewing. I’m not sure where she found such inspiration, perhaps it was the talk of dreams that did it. No matter what it was, I can’t help but smile, even as I’m writing this. That she would ask such things of me, I only hope I can be a good teacher for her. Day 290    I was just opening up the shop for the day when I was greeted with an unusual guest. A woman with brown hair, and eyes a deep crimson. I didn’t recognize her until she spoke, being the first time I’d seen her without her mask, and the first time I’d seen her at all in several months. She wanted to thank me for taking Edith in, and wanted to know how she was. I told her about her practice sewing, and the steady progress of her slowly coming out of her shell. I admit I was distracted, as I spoke to Nieroi. Without the mask, it was clear to see how young she was, about the age of my son. And yet, despite her age, she seemed rather troubled. Not that I could tell from her expression, seeming to act as a new mask of feigned indifference. It was in her eyes. A look of deep sorrow, as if she were burdened by the weight of the world itself. It reminds me of how the ones brought here look upon arrival. But even that slowly fades with time. To have it linger? I admit I’m curious, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask. It’s not my place, and even if it was I don’t think I’d have the courage to question it. Not to her face at least.  I asked around later in the day, but the closest to an explanation I got came from Oliver. He mentioned hearing from some others of a recent trial. Not even they seemed to have any details for him but it makes one's mind wander. To be put on trial, I shudder to think what she’s done to deserve such things. What crime has she committed? And her punishment? I’m reminded of the twin images of Nieroi in my head. The blood stained demon, and the woman that brought us here. To this sanctuary. That both could be true at once… During our discussion Nieroi mentioned that more housing had recently opened up for Edith. Others to take care of her if I wanted. I refused. I can’t do that to her. Not after she’s just starting to open up to me. Edith belongs here, and I’ll be sure to continue keeping her safe for as long as she wants me to. I’m not sure what I’d do without her here. She’s become another part of this strange life I find myself living. I don’t think I could forgive myself if I simply gave it up.   Day 357   It’s been almost a year since I first came to Solstice, but today was perhaps the most surprising day I’ve experienced so far here in this city. It was before I’d opened the store for the morning. Edith had finished her breakfast and was following me around as I began pulling out some of the cloth I’d be using for our latest order. It was then that she asked me if she could help. That she used that word. Mama. At first I thought it a simple slip of the tongue, but when I looked to her it seemed intentional. As if she were testing me, waiting for a reaction. It hurts to hear that word again. Not because I don’t wish to continue taking care of her, but because I’m not sure I’m ready. To be a parent again. It was easier when I thought of myself as her teacher. Someone to show her how to sew and make sure she’d been fed. Giving her a roof to sleep under. Just thinking about it makes my vision grow blurry, and I worry I might ruin some of the pages here. She looked so hopeful as I turned to her, the green of her eyes practically sparkling. I couldn’t ignore her. But now I wonder if that was a mistake. I hesitated at first, and just that was enough to hurt her. A hurt that soon vanished as I answered, as if me being her mama were the easiest thing in the world. But I know I’m just a coward. I couldn’t bring myself to see her like that.  My mind wanders back to those terrible nights, to the smell of burning ash and flickering flames. Can I truly keep her safe? What is to stop history from repeating itself? I can’t go through that again. I can’t. Even now I still see their faces, think of them everyday. I won’t let that happen to you Edith. I promise. I’ll give my life to protect you, if it comes to it. The dream that watches over Solstice, if it is truly as wonderful as I am told, then perhaps it can hear of such a desire. A desire we all share within these walls. One of hope, and one of safety. That this sanctuary truly lives up to what we’ve been told it’s meant to be. A home for those without a place in the world, shielded from the horrors left outside its walls.    Day 470    A haunting sound managed to startle me awake last night. A series of strange croaking. I was left feeling petrified, caught in a sense of terror I haven’t felt for some time. Even writing didn’t seem to calm me. The croaking seemed to draw closer and closer, and I hurried to check on Edith. She seemed undisturbed by the racket, and yet I stayed by her side until morning. When the sun's light began peeking out, I hurried to assess what had transpired just outside the shop, the cause of such noises that had kept me awake.  It seemed I wasn’t the only one who had decided to investigate, a few others had already gathered outside a nearby storage house. The noise it seemed had caught the attention of many of us, and its source had been contained in the building beside us. Frogs. A whole swarm of them. I admit when I first saw them, I was charmed. And yet, the appearance of such creatures also brought a sense of dread. There was no broken glass, or other signs of entry, and yet they’d managed to worm their way inside the house. No one had seen anything that night, and the creatures hadn’t been there the day before. It was quickly decided the frogs were to be left within their new home. We were too scared to move them, unsure what should happen if we didn’t meet the frogs demands.   Edith asked me later that evening to see them, and upon laying eyes on the creatures demanded we adopt one. I told her that they’re dangerous, but she didn’t really seem to believe me. Perhaps their charms have gotten to her. I admit I find a part of myself wanting to take one, but I know such ideas are foolish. If the frogs are left alone, perhaps we all can simply live in harmony. I can only hope.   Day 542It started with the arrival of soldiers, clad in armour head to toe. As if overnight, they arrived, spears in hand as they stood guard over the city. Now, only a few days later, notices have been distributed across Solstice. A set of instructions on what to do in the event an evacuation is needed. It worries me, perhaps only more so when Nieroi is the one handing them out personally. I saw it then, not just in her eyes. Her expression was different, a nervousness I’d never noticed there before. What could she have learned to have something shake her so? The holes left within the walls have long been fixed, and with the recent arrival of the soldiers, we should be more well guarded than ever, so why now the concern? Perhaps I’m overthinking it. I hope I am.  If there is something out there that warrants such distress, that all this wouldn’t be enough..  Nieroi tried to reassure me when she stopped by the store, parchment in hand. It was only a safety precaution, she had said. She would keep us safe. I suppose if anyone could, it would be her. But I’m still terrified. When I first arrived here, I would have welcomed it. Death. I didn’t care what happened to me. And truthly, I didn’t care what happened to anyone else either. I’d given up. But things are different now. There’s too many people I have to worry about. My friends, my daughter, and the community we’ve managed to carve out within these walls. For them I’d give anything.  Perhaps I’ll go visit that garden tomorrow, the one filled with purple thread. I’ll take Edith there, and together we can decorate it with all sorts of trinkets. We could stop for lunch at the tavern after, a special treat for us. I’m sure no one will mind if the shop is closed for just one day. I could even invite the others too. Make it a celebration of how far we’ve made it. I know the worries won’t fade quite that easily, but perhaps that’s ok. Baby steps. It’s what got me here, after all. Taking things one day at a time. I just hope there can be more days to come. That’s my wish. My desire. My dream. A world where we can go on living.

(The following is a copy of a real book found within Templehelm, made to fit the format of this forum post) ❁°˖✧✿✧˖°°˖✧✿✧˖°❁      Within The Dream's Eye               Volume 1  ❁°˖✧✿✧˖°°˖✧✿✧˖°❁Written by June Nieroi, Guardian of Dreams°˖✧✿ Glossary ✿✧˖°✿ Introductions:Pages 3 - 6✿ Flora:Pages 7 - 17✿ Fauna:Pages 18 - 46✿ Other Discoveries:Pages 47 - 52°˖✧✿✧˖°°˖✧✿✧˖°      Introductions°˖✧✿✧˖°°˖✧✿✧˖°The Dream is a realm unlike any other. There is no other place where you will find so much warmth and beauty, so much hope and happiness within the core of it's being. The Dream is a world shaped by the thoughts and wishes of the people, governed not by rules meant only to deliver despair. As such, much that exists here is something unable to thrive anywhere else. There is all matters of life flourishing with the hope that only this wonderous plane can bring. By writing this, I wish only to offer you a glimpse of what this Dream has to offer, that you may experience the joy I have over my many years of wandering this plane. That with this knowledge, an understanding can be reached between all who share an open heart and mind.°˖✧✿✧˖°°˖✧✿✧˖°             Flora°˖✧✿✧˖°°˖✧✿✧˖°  ✿ Onyx Tree ✿Also known as a Black Glass tree. As the name implies, the leaves of this tree are made of thin pieces of black glass, a complete contrast to the stark white of the tree's branches and bark. Despite their composition, the leaves act much like the leaves of other trees seen within the waking world, blowing with the wind and slowly fluttering down once plucked from their home. The roots of the tree do not burrow very far under the ground, flourishing instead on the energy of the Dream, rather then sunlight or water.  These trees have even been spotted growing in the waking world, when an active dream portal is left nearby to help nourish them. The fruit the Onyx tree bears is strikingly similar to that of a pear, in terms of silhouette at least. With a dark colour and glass skin, in practical terms the two couldn't be more different. Surely I do not have to explain why this wouldn't be edible for most people? At the very least, the wood that can be harvested from these trees is much stronger then it's appearance would imply, a useful resource for any seeking to build within the Dream. Instead of the rings found within most trees, the Onyx tree hides black and white spots inside it's body.    ✿ Evocation Flower ✿A large purple and blue flower that only blooms once plucked, it's long petals fold themselves into magnificent patterns that capture the attention of any who peer it's way. According to the Esper, the petals of these flowers can be used to put any who ingest them into a heighted state of suggestibility. The smells these flowers emit once plucked vary, seeming to take on the scent of the dreams that surrounded them as they grew.  ✿ Dream Threads ✿Though many have been spotted deep within the Dream, these purple threads are most commonly found where the waking world and Dream both meet, seeming to thrive on the budding energy of hopes and desires newly realized.  The people of New Solstice have taken to fashioning all sorts of clothing out of Dream threads, the warmth buzzing within each one providing comfort to all who wear it. Interestingly enough, the threads seem to bend rather easily to the influence of a skilled dream weaver and their magic, the rather large concentration of dream energy within their bodies perhaps being the cause of such a phenomenon.  When harvested, pieces of these threads can be cut and placed back within the ground, causing more to flourish in their place. °˖✧✿✧˖°°˖✧✿✧˖°             Fauna°˖✧✿✧˖°°˖✧✿✧˖°  ✿ Reverie Wisp ✿These wisps are perhaps the most common of the creatures ones can find in the Dream. They come in a variety of colours, each burning as bright or as dull as the energy inside them allows.  Fueled by fragments of desire, on their own these wisps hold very little power or sway over the world, but given time, they can transform into many of the other lifeforms I've written about here. In that sense, the Reverie Wisps are like a caterpillar, waiting until the moment they realize their true form as a butterfly. In order to reach such a state, the wisps must gather the necessary energy and more importantly, survive. Much like the waking world, a hope or desire needs strength to persevere, lest it flicker out as nothing more then a passing whim. One such strategy these creatures implore is clinging onto the other fauna, using them as a means of safe travel throughout the lands. Those with wisps attached to them do not suffer negatively, although they may find the desires the wisp holds slowly bleeding into their own. With all but the largest of wisps, these feelings are never stronger then a small craving or a flicker of emotion.   ✿ Esper ✿This is the name I was given for some of the peoples that inhabit the Dream. While rather humanoid, most seem to take on characteristics not typically found in those of other realms. It's not uncommon to see ones with the ears of a cat, the eyes of a snake, or the wings of a moth. It is said that when one spends enough time within the Dream, their bodies transform into such shapes, a reflection of the persons heart and character. Many Espers share a special connection with their home, finding themselves able to tap into the magics of the Dream far easier then many, with enough practice and care given to such efforts. Beyond a change in appearance, an Esper's needs are rather different then the peoples of the waking world. Their bodies are not fueled by water, food or blood. Rather it is mana and the energy of the dream that truly keeps an Esper's heart beating. Those cut off from such sources will find themselves weakened considerably, even beginning to fade if removed from any energy or magic for a considerable amount of time. In dire circumstances, an Esper may shrivel into a Reverie Wisp, returning to the Dream to begin the cycle anew. If this is impossible for them, the Esper simply perishes, their hopes and desires forgotten by the world.  ✿ Starlight Frog ✿Named for the glowing white powder that many seem to carry on their backs, the Starlight Frog is perhaps one of the more interesting creatures one can find within the Dream. Besides their glowing white backs, these frogs have a skin that appears almost transparent, their innards able to be seen as if looking through a window. A very gross window. Often found in clusters together, their diet primarily consists of Reverie Wisps, making them one of the many predators such creatures face. With long purple tongues, they snatch the Reverie Wisps from the air, taking their desires for their own and allowing the dust on their back to glow brighter and brighter. Perhaps it is this light that lures their prey toward them?To the other denizens of the Dream, the Starlight Frog is rather harmless, if you don't count the strange amount of adorable charm their eyes seem to hold. It does make me wonder why they aren't more commonly found as pets to the Espers that live within the Dream. They're simply too adorable.  ✿ Detonation Slug ✿A white slug with an explosion of black glass jutting out of much of it's body. It can often be found near forests of Onyx trees, their leaves a steady part of the Detonation Slug's diet. Despite it's squishy underbelly, this creature is surprisingly sturdy, the glass it eats and the broken shards it sheds doing nothing to tear at it's body, as one would expect. The slime it secretes is somewhat dangerous, causing those that come in contact with it to experience both visual and verbal hallucinations. These hallucinations tend to wear off rather quickly, though prolonged contact with the slime can cause them to linger for hours. If large quantities are somehow ingested, the slime becomes a potent poison, destroying the mind and leaving the victim in an endless state of delirium.   ✿ Toy Fawn ✿A tiny creature, reminiscent the deer of the waking world. At even their largest size, the Toy Fawn only reach the size of a small dog or cat. They are hard to spot within the Dream, due to their skittish nature and habitat in the deep forests of the realm. They typically graze on the mushrooms and grasses found on the forest floors, though with a particular interest in the Evocation Flower, the usual symptoms left by their consumption seeming to have little effect on the Toy Fawn. With a pig like snout, these animals can easily sniff out a meal for themselves, quickly discerning the foods edible and inedible to them within the Dream.  ✿ Winged Mirage ✿Found at the bottom of the Dream's ponds, lakes and oceans, these odd star-shaped animals have their bodies primarily covered in soft pink and orange feathers. The feathers seem to act as an amplifier of dream energy, warping a small area around the Winged Mirage and driving away any would be predators looking to grab an easy meal. Of course, such properties make the Winged Mirage highly sought after by the Espers and any interested in the study of dream magic. With the amplification of such energies, the feathers in particular make excellent stuffing for a pillow, plunging any who rests their head upon it into a deep slumber almost instantly. Despite the name, these animals do not have any wings or methods of flight.  ✿ Night Terror ✿Of all my time spent within the Dream, these savage animals are perhaps the most alarming sight I have ever had the displeasure of encountering. Their bodies seem to be made of a thick, tar like substance, with sharp white talons  breaking through their flesh in odd and painful  angles. On their backs, it is not uncommon for the Night Terror to have shards of darkened crystal and pieces of bone jutting outward, primarily used as a defense against any foolish enough to attack them. The true nature of these beasts is both unpredictable and completely unknowable, often changing from one moment to the next.Their creation seems to stem from large quantities of hatred and fear, such negativity overwhelming the Dream until it lashes out, resulting in the beasts described here. Of course, such emotions rarely last forever, and as such the existence of the Night Terror is fleeting, but no less dangerous so long as it clings to the despair within itself. It is my hope that there will be a time where the Dream can be rid of them, and I hope it does not reflect badly on these lands as a whole. The Dream is a beautiful thing, not meant to be tainted by the hatred that many show. If there is one glimmer of hope, it's that the Night Terrors seem to be a rare sight within the Dream. I wish only to keep it that way.°˖✧✿✧˖°°˖✧✿✧˖°    Other Discoveries°˖✧✿✧˖°°˖✧✿✧˖°  ✿ Reverie Crystal ✿A crystalized form of dream energy, found growing wherever the Dream's influence is particularly strong. When fully formed, these crystals glow a bright purple, illuminating an area with as much light as a proper lantern would. They are quite potent when it comes to the matters of the arcane, their whimsical and potentially unstable nature doing little to slow the dream weavers of the lands. When held, the Reverie Crystal emits a warm glow, offering the hopes and desires that it contains if you only wish to see them. If given willingly, small fragments of sight and sound can be contained within the crystal's shell, kept preserved for as long as it's body remains intact.   ✿ Evanescent Motar ✿An incredibly reflective metal, birthed from a purified motar ingot that has been bathed in the light of the Dream. Despite it's resilience, under the right circumstances, the metal can transform completely, making it a valuable material for any smiths hoping to bless their craft with the whimsy and magic the Dream offers. This star shimmering ingot is often used by the peoples of New Solstice, as well as many of the Esper capable of finding such a rare material.