George Joy’s Guide to Faerytale Creatures, No 10: Nightmare Shadows

During the period following the First Coming of the Dark Warrior, a strange phenomenon struck Europe.  Slowly, successively, people in different towns and villages suffered the most terrible nightmares - each one much the same in that it featured the shadowy figure of that dread soldier.  

Reports came in from far and wide of a sensation of a presence as people, from low born peasants in villages, to lords and ladies and kings, tried to get to sleep.  And then, once asleep, they dreamed of being tormented by that shadow, that reminded them so of the Dark Warrior who had so recently stalked their world.  Some believed that he had raped them, some believed that he had convinced them to kill a loved one, some that he had destroyed their favourite toy - all had their own chilling experience.

After the phantom passed and reports of it dried up, it was initially seen as a good thing - the Dark Warrior had finally left to let them be.  But then he returned.  

After the Second Coming, of course, there were no dreams.  And some call this a good thing, others a bad.  That, perhaps if we are haunted, we are safe - and that a lull means only one thing - that the Dark Warrior is scheming to return...