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Albtraum | Der Sandmann
So very long ago when the world was still young and its people still nomadic, a handful of tribes travelled south to new lands where they eventually settled. This area would later become known as Germania. These tribes built homes, hunted food, crafted their own language both spoken and written, grew and prospered. Eventually, they created stories. About how the world was made, about gods and goddesses of the lands. And as their children grew ill, they created songs. To appease Death into not taking their young. And in making songs and stories they created Der Sandmann. The Sandman.
Albtraum is patched up from Germanic Folklore and also, frankly, a song. It is one of very few Sandman and the first Sandman to come into existence. It is unique in that it's missing it's heart but its heart is still beating which makes it dead but not dead at the same time and shoves it into a realm between being a Sandman and being a manifestation/spirit.
Due to this, Albtraum has lost its ability to create good dreams, songs, and stories. Now it is a thing of darkness, nightmares, and fear. This is not to be understood as similar to a Mare or a Nachtkrapp, however. Albtraum is not malicious, and its relationship to nightmares and fear is symbiotic in nature. Where they are, it is. Where it is, they are. Whereas a Mare and a Nachtkrapp are malicious, aggressive, and have even killed children in their sleep.
Albtraum has been known to stay with the children who wake in fear of their nightmares, occasionally holding them as they scream, cry, or panic, before disappearing.
Albtraum is patched up from Germanic Folklore and also, frankly, a song. It is one of very few Sandman and the first Sandman to come into existence. It is unique in that it's missing it's heart but its heart is still beating which makes it dead but not dead at the same time and shoves it into a realm between being a Sandman and being a manifestation/spirit.
Due to this, Albtraum has lost its ability to create good dreams, songs, and stories. Now it is a thing of darkness, nightmares, and fear. This is not to be understood as similar to a Mare or a Nachtkrapp, however. Albtraum is not malicious, and its relationship to nightmares and fear is symbiotic in nature. Where they are, it is. Where it is, they are. Whereas a Mare and a Nachtkrapp are malicious, aggressive, and have even killed children in their sleep.
Albtraum has been known to stay with the children who wake in fear of their nightmares, occasionally holding them as they scream, cry, or panic, before disappearing.
personality
+
(Usually) Non-Violent, (Usually) Non-Confrontational, Gentle, Calm, Friendly, Cultured, Formal, Wise, Loyal, Polite
-
Macabre, Non-Confrontational, Morose, Stubborn, Repressed, Emotional, Cagey, Lonely, Introverted
🔥
Masochistic, Obsessive, Possessive, Lovesick, Devoted, Affectionate, Passionate
appearance
A shadowy creature, agendered, and reaching a height of just above six feet. In terms of social perception, Albtraum is incredibly masculine. A broad chest and shoulders with overall strong and muscular features and a throaty deep voice. Biologically, it is actually neither sex and mentally it doesn't care. Technically it will respond to any pronoun and is unlikely to correct someone, so one might call it he or they or even she, but personally 'it' fits it most and therefore this is the pronoun I am most likely to use.
It's skin is a dirty deep peach color with various aged scars littering it -- most notably, one that tears across where a human heart would be -- and a cracked white face with black lips and dirty stained teeth. Muddy reds and tar black lay slathered around striking blue eyes and black wispy hair that acts more like shadowy ink than hair. From just about mid-breast and all the way down is a stark black dress-like attire that moves quite unlike fabric and sometimes seems to have a mind of its own which suggests this may just be its figure and not attire at all (spoiler: this is the case). Much like it's hair, this dress-like shape drags along the ground in an inky shadowy manner. From halfway down its forearm to its fingertips lays the same black, blacker than night itself, and fingertips that end in claws. Although hands appear when interacting or expressing itself is deemed necessary as Albtraum is often expressive when it speaks and gesticulates frequently.
More info here
Albtraum's voice is as much important to its appearance as its physicality is. It is very soft-spoken, but holds a deep baritone voice soothing enough to make anyone fall asleep (which does occur in humans) and often found to naturally use Sprechstimme, a vocal technique that's more speech than song but holds a touch of song to it. It's speaking manner, especially while speaking it's native language, is known as Bühnendeutsch--it's slow and with precise and sometimes over-dramatized diction such as its heavy tendency to roll its r's. While the depth of its voice is quite dark and intense, it has a rich and warm timber to it. Albtraum also, unsurprisingly, holds a very thick but understandable German accent. It can be caught humming old lullabies in idle time.It's skin is a dirty deep peach color with various aged scars littering it -- most notably, one that tears across where a human heart would be -- and a cracked white face with black lips and dirty stained teeth. Muddy reds and tar black lay slathered around striking blue eyes and black wispy hair that acts more like shadowy ink than hair. From just about mid-breast and all the way down is a stark black dress-like attire that moves quite unlike fabric and sometimes seems to have a mind of its own which suggests this may just be its figure and not attire at all (spoiler: this is the case). Much like it's hair, this dress-like shape drags along the ground in an inky shadowy manner. From halfway down its forearm to its fingertips lays the same black, blacker than night itself, and fingertips that end in claws. Although hands appear when interacting or expressing itself is deemed necessary as Albtraum is often expressive when it speaks and gesticulates frequently.
abilities
Character Q&A
Have a Question? Leave it in a comment!
➺ What, in the most concise terms, is Albtraum?
A Sandman, and the first Sandman at that. A Sandman without a heart.
➺ Is there more than one Sandman?
Absolutely. They aren't a very common race, though. At any given time there is maybe around three or four since they are capable of being in more than one place at a time. This ability though, along with everything about them, becomes less with age.
➺ How is a Sandman born?
Out of need. If a Sandman is aging and cannot be as many places as it could before or perform its duties as well as it could and needs to take more time to do them, another is born. If one dies, another is born. As the population grows, another is born.
➺ Does a Sandman have a name?
No, not usually. They are simply Sandman. Sometimes they are given names by the children and adopt those names.
➺ Why does Albtraum have a name now and what does it mean?
Because its not fully a Sandman anymore. While technically Sandman is still its race, it is more a manifestation, spirit, or entity now. One that has effects similar to a Sandman. Albtraum simply means Nightmare in German.
➺ Why is Albtraum not fully a Sandman anymore?
Because it's dead, sort of. While a dead Sandman disappears, it still exists because its heart hasn't stopped beating its just not IN its person. So this puts it in a weird place between being a Sandman and being a Manifestation/Spirit.
➺ How does being Heartless affect a Sandman?
Well, typically it kills them but its heart is still beating. It just isn't beating within its own chest. Without a heart, The Sandman is unable to make pleasant dreams, stories, or songs.
➺ How did it lose it's heart and why did it happen?
Death took it because she loves Sandman but is no longer prominent among the young, with its heart she can always have Albtraum with her. This is the running theory at least. It's probably a little more complicated.
➺ Where is Albtraum's heart?
It's unknown. Some think Death has hidden it away and others think she carries it on her person.
➺ Does Albtraum love Death in return?
Absolutely, It fell completely head over heels for Death many years ago. It loves her still to this day and likely will until its heart stops beating.
➺ What are those scars?
Guess.
➺ Kind of sounds like Albtraum is a masochist...
That's because Albtraum is a masochist.
➺ What did Albtraum look like before when it was a Sandman?
Like this.
➺ Why does Albtraum sometimes cry blood?
Its Death's way of communicating with Albtraum. When it cries blood, its her whispering to it about a young life it just took away.
➺ Why do they not see one another anymore?
It's not particularly clear why Death avoids Albtraum or Albtraum avoids death or who avoids who, but it IS known that Death's presence around young children is becoming rarer and rarer as Humankind advances. Whether that has anything to do with it isn't clear, and Albtraum doesn't talk about it.
➺ What is the difference between Albtraum and a Mare?
Mares are malicious and aggressive. They sit on the dreamer and force them into nightmares. When one wakes from them, they force the dreamer into a state between the waking world and the dreaming world which results in temporary paralysis. The anxiety and fear that comes from this effect is feasted on until they are full and they disappear. A Mare can be incredibly violent, and it's not unheard of a Mare to physically harm a dreamer in search of stronger fear.
Albtraum occasionally visits those it has grown attached to and they often experience it's visit as sleep paralysis, but Albtraum does not cause it. It's more of a result of the adult mind not particularly being open to the concept of Albtraum being real which typically throws the dreamer into a panic, attempting to wake before the body is ready.
➺ Where is Albtraum most prominant?
While many cultures have a creature like Sandman, The Sandman as its known in this tale and many others hail from Germanic countries. It's prominent in places like Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
➺ Can or does it travel to other parts of the world?
Not really, no. For the sake of roleplay, I often go with the idea that whomever it speaks with is dreaming at the moment whether they're aware of that or not. In places like Nexus, where worlds collide or creatures can manifest outside of their normal parameters this matters less.
➺ Can Albtraum manifest anywhere or anytime?
No, it exists in the dreamworld and only comes into the waking world when someone nearby is about to sleep, sleeping, or just waking up.
➺ Does a Sandman age and can they die?
As mentioned above, yes they can die and yes they age. They age incredibly slowly, but they do age and they can die. For an example of how slowly they age, Albtraum was born shortly after Germanic tribes started singing lullabies and remembering dreams. It has only now started looking up there in age.
A Sandman can also die by the hands of the divine or otherworldly. Humans cannot kill them. Death by an outside force is more common than old age given how slow they age. Mostly, this is by the hands of a particularly aggressive Mare.
➺ Let's talk sex and gender about Sandman?
Sure, they're all sexless. Some prefer being known by certain pronouns or present themselves as certain genders, but none of them have any reproductive organs. Albtraum itself doesn't care and will go by any pronoun one wants to give it. Due to its appearance, it is often called He but in my meta I will use It.
➺ What about romance?
A Sandman can love, and Albtraum is one who loves deeply. Much like humans, their relationship style varies. Some are monogamous, some poly, some have gender or sex preferences, some don't. Albtraum is monogamous and panromantic.
➺ Do all Sandman act the same?
No, they all have the same function but their personality and gained interests vary widely.
➺ What sort of interests does Albtraum have outside of stories, songs, and dreams?
Albtraum is a poet and loves poetry, it also loves visual art and theatre, it loves Opera and Orchestra music as well. It has an affinity for philosophy and philosophical conversations.
➺ What is the role of sand for a Sandman?
It depends on the Sandman. A Sandman has mystical sand that can help ease a child to sleep but it also has stories and songs in its arsenal. Each Sandman has a different preference. Albtraum prefers song first, story second, and Sand last. A Sandman is also composed of this sand and leaves it behind when they pass, or sometimes if they spend a considerable amount of time with a child traces of sand can be found in their room.
➺ How does Albtraum create nightmares?
By existing. They exist around it and it exists around them. Both happen, usually, simultaneously. The relationship between nightmares and Albtraum is symbiotic in nature.
➺ Can Albtraum force nightmares onto others?
Certainly. It does this sometimes on children that are particularly poor behaved, but generally not. Overall its a non-confrontational creature. It does whisper and lull children to sleep, though. Old habits. Unfortunately this will indeed cause them to have nightmares. It also hushes children who wake from nightmares and while its presense doesn't exactly help, it listens to them while they scream, or cry, or panic.
➺ What, in the most concise terms, is Albtraum?
A Sandman, and the first Sandman at that. A Sandman without a heart.
➺ Is there more than one Sandman?
Absolutely. They aren't a very common race, though. At any given time there is maybe around three or four since they are capable of being in more than one place at a time. This ability though, along with everything about them, becomes less with age.
➺ How is a Sandman born?
Out of need. If a Sandman is aging and cannot be as many places as it could before or perform its duties as well as it could and needs to take more time to do them, another is born. If one dies, another is born. As the population grows, another is born.
➺ Does a Sandman have a name?
No, not usually. They are simply Sandman. Sometimes they are given names by the children and adopt those names.
➺ Why does Albtraum have a name now and what does it mean?
Because its not fully a Sandman anymore. While technically Sandman is still its race, it is more a manifestation, spirit, or entity now. One that has effects similar to a Sandman. Albtraum simply means Nightmare in German.
➺ Why is Albtraum not fully a Sandman anymore?
Because it's dead, sort of. While a dead Sandman disappears, it still exists because its heart hasn't stopped beating its just not IN its person. So this puts it in a weird place between being a Sandman and being a Manifestation/Spirit.
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➺ How does being Heartless affect a Sandman?
Well, typically it kills them but its heart is still beating. It just isn't beating within its own chest. Without a heart, The Sandman is unable to make pleasant dreams, stories, or songs.
➺ How did it lose it's heart and why did it happen?
Death took it because she loves Sandman but is no longer prominent among the young, with its heart she can always have Albtraum with her. This is the running theory at least. It's probably a little more complicated.
➺ Where is Albtraum's heart?
It's unknown. Some think Death has hidden it away and others think she carries it on her person.
➺ Does Albtraum love Death in return?
Absolutely, It fell completely head over heels for Death many years ago. It loves her still to this day and likely will until its heart stops beating.
➺ What are those scars?
Guess.
➺ Kind of sounds like Albtraum is a masochist...
That's because Albtraum is a masochist.
➺ What did Albtraum look like before when it was a Sandman?
Like this.
➺ Why does Albtraum sometimes cry blood?
Its Death's way of communicating with Albtraum. When it cries blood, its her whispering to it about a young life it just took away.
➺ Why do they not see one another anymore?
It's not particularly clear why Death avoids Albtraum or Albtraum avoids death or who avoids who, but it IS known that Death's presence around young children is becoming rarer and rarer as Humankind advances. Whether that has anything to do with it isn't clear, and Albtraum doesn't talk about it.
➺ What is the difference between Albtraum and a Mare?
Mares are malicious and aggressive. They sit on the dreamer and force them into nightmares. When one wakes from them, they force the dreamer into a state between the waking world and the dreaming world which results in temporary paralysis. The anxiety and fear that comes from this effect is feasted on until they are full and they disappear. A Mare can be incredibly violent, and it's not unheard of a Mare to physically harm a dreamer in search of stronger fear.
Albtraum occasionally visits those it has grown attached to and they often experience it's visit as sleep paralysis, but Albtraum does not cause it. It's more of a result of the adult mind not particularly being open to the concept of Albtraum being real which typically throws the dreamer into a panic, attempting to wake before the body is ready.
➺ Where is Albtraum most prominant?
While many cultures have a creature like Sandman, The Sandman as its known in this tale and many others hail from Germanic countries. It's prominent in places like Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
➺ Can or does it travel to other parts of the world?
Not really, no. For the sake of roleplay, I often go with the idea that whomever it speaks with is dreaming at the moment whether they're aware of that or not. In places like Nexus, where worlds collide or creatures can manifest outside of their normal parameters this matters less.
➺ Can Albtraum manifest anywhere or anytime?
No, it exists in the dreamworld and only comes into the waking world when someone nearby is about to sleep, sleeping, or just waking up.
➺ Does a Sandman age and can they die?
As mentioned above, yes they can die and yes they age. They age incredibly slowly, but they do age and they can die. For an example of how slowly they age, Albtraum was born shortly after Germanic tribes started singing lullabies and remembering dreams. It has only now started looking up there in age.
A Sandman can also die by the hands of the divine or otherworldly. Humans cannot kill them. Death by an outside force is more common than old age given how slow they age. Mostly, this is by the hands of a particularly aggressive Mare.
➺ Let's talk sex and gender about Sandman?
Sure, they're all sexless. Some prefer being known by certain pronouns or present themselves as certain genders, but none of them have any reproductive organs. Albtraum itself doesn't care and will go by any pronoun one wants to give it. Due to its appearance, it is often called He but in my meta I will use It.
➺ What about romance?
A Sandman can love, and Albtraum is one who loves deeply. Much like humans, their relationship style varies. Some are monogamous, some poly, some have gender or sex preferences, some don't. Albtraum is monogamous and panromantic.
➺ Do all Sandman act the same?
No, they all have the same function but their personality and gained interests vary widely.
➺ What sort of interests does Albtraum have outside of stories, songs, and dreams?
Albtraum is a poet and loves poetry, it also loves visual art and theatre, it loves Opera and Orchestra music as well. It has an affinity for philosophy and philosophical conversations.
➺ What is the role of sand for a Sandman?
It depends on the Sandman. A Sandman has mystical sand that can help ease a child to sleep but it also has stories and songs in its arsenal. Each Sandman has a different preference. Albtraum prefers song first, story second, and Sand last. A Sandman is also composed of this sand and leaves it behind when they pass, or sometimes if they spend a considerable amount of time with a child traces of sand can be found in their room.
➺ How does Albtraum create nightmares?
By existing. They exist around it and it exists around them. Both happen, usually, simultaneously. The relationship between nightmares and Albtraum is symbiotic in nature.
➺ Can Albtraum force nightmares onto others?
Certainly. It does this sometimes on children that are particularly poor behaved, but generally not. Overall its a non-confrontational creature. It does whisper and lull children to sleep, though. Old habits. Unfortunately this will indeed cause them to have nightmares. It also hushes children who wake from nightmares and while its presense doesn't exactly help, it listens to them while they scream, or cry, or panic.
Mun Note: Currently working on getting a diagnosis for chronic pain. Due to this, may be slow or sporadic.
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