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Noctemira Recondite Report
Report Code: NR-DRDSPWN-2025411
Subject: Hypothesis - The Dreadspawn Curse
Author: Black-Lotus, Inquisitor of the Noctemira Recondite
Date of Filing: Twelfth Day of the Fourth Month, 2025
Preface
The following theory was developed based on direct observation, gathered evidence, and a recent strategic meeting with Kayasisis and Ezhar. It documents the fate of Helga, her transformation, and the potential spread of a plague-like affliction affecting the Dream. Please note that the conclusions written in this report are not yet finalized and should not be taken as "truth". The goal of this report is to document what the Noctemira Recondite has been able to pull together given the evidence we have had presented to us, either by first-hand witness accounts (including our own), or by direct information gathered by those involved. Should new information be gathered and or refute conclusions made in this report, they will be noted to show the progress made.
Curse of the Mirrorbound (the process in which a dreadspawn is created)
In my continued analysis of Helga’s condition and the broader implications surrounding her transformation, I have identified a potential catalyst underlying the curse that afflicted her; and now, perhaps, Pamelar. This catalyst is a rare and deeply malignant phenomenon I have begun to refer to as the Curse of the Mirrorbound. Believed to originate from the god Sydrah, whose domain encompasses void, time, and transplanar convergence, the Mirrorbound is not merely a corruption of essence, but an existential collapse. It does not infect in the traditional sense. Rather, it forcefully unites; pulling every echo, every variant of a dreamer that has ever existed across realities, timelines, or dimensional layers, toward a single focal point: the avatar currently bearing the curse.
This process appears to collapse the quantum plurality of self. All alternate paths, identities, and choices are drawn inward. Memories shatter, emotions conflict, wills fracture and refold. The result is a soul weighed down by all versions of itself, many contradictory, some long since lost or forgotten. The being becomes unstable, their consciousness flooded with foreign-yet-familiar memories, often leading to madness, possession-like symptoms, or catastrophic reconstitution of form.
In the Dream, where essence is mutable and reality is shaped by belief and resonance, the Mirrorbound acts as a recursive storm—devouring what could have been to overwrite what is. The final stages of the curse appear to result in a single, dominant form emerging—one that is not chosen, but one that is a single convergence of all that once was, and at the same time, no longer is. It is unclear whether this final form is truly the dreamer... or merely the most ruthless hybrid. It is no coincidence that Helga, afflicted by this curse, began to lose what she once was, her purpose contorted into that of another. Nor is it coincidence that Pamelar, upon contact, began exhibiting fragmented memory, emotional conflict, and spiritual erosion. This curse is not simply a gift of eternal power. It is the erasure of all but one.
I believe the Curse of the Mirrorbound is the tool Sydrah uses to create his most faithful: not by offering power—but by collapsing identity until the only things that remain are the dreadspawn.
Timeline of Events and Observations
- Helga was one of four halfling-elementals trusted with an orb of power by the prime elementals.
- Helga, like the other elementals/Fae, served the Kingdom. This service appeared to be quite selfless and integral.
- It is widely believed she was slain by Ogithus in pursuit of her orb of power. While this may be splitting hairs, I do not believe that she was actually killed by Ogithus, although quite possibly brought to as close to death as one could be without crossing over. I do believe she was instead intercepted by Cassimolair at the brink of her death.
- Cassimolair offers Helga a gift of eternal power. I am of the belief that while it was presented as an offer, the "gift" was given without consent.
- Cassimolair claimed he “saved” her by placing upon her the Curse of the Mirrorbound (take note of the above). This information was confirmed when Cassimolair was asked directly by myself and Duskwatch Ezrah at a later confrontation near the portal to Chaos in the Acropolis Rift.
- The King of Thornhaven later passed on the news that Cassimolair had been murdered by Ogithus, and now the Dreadspawns were under his control (how this was determined by the King is still unknown but will be documented as time permits).
- Eventually, in the Lost Caves, a group including Pamelar, Ezhar, Jake Walker, and Ironies worked to give aid to Helga and siphoned portions of this curse from Helga (it was suggested that they were under the impression that they had removed all of it from her).
- Through this process, be it intentional or by accident, the curse had been injected into the Maren essence fonts.
- Soon, the lesser nightmares began transforming into “mirror” forms, twisted reflections of the nearby dreamers. Seeing as how the curse was both in a heavily diluted state, as well as sourced by the emotions and thoughts of billions of unawakened souls (commonly referred to as "chaos"), the results of this could have been, and yet may prove to be, catastrophic.
- Helga’s appearance was restored, but her soul had already been shattered. This damage may have been further exacerbated by the method of extraction.
- It is our belief that while Helga was stripped of the vast majority of her being, she retained one of her only instincts in Thornhaven, the instinct to serve.
- This became clear as she immediately sought the approval and companionship of Pamelar. Through the process of seeking to be absolved of her past conduct, Helga offered DreamStrike to Pamelar (it is currently unknown if this was part of some overall plan, or a deviation due to some other circumstances).
- Now, emotionally tethered to Pamelar, Helga is convinced that their goals are aligned. Ultimately this would be the creation of a list of dreamers to DreamStrike and prove "Who is boss" in Thornhaven (while this specific "goal" seems to be childish at first, it makes complete sense given that it is likely the very same mission that was given to her by either Cassimolair and or Ogithus).
- At the Unbound Reclaimer’s stronghold, Helga made a rather specific and surprising offer to Pamelar for "eternal power". As previously stated, it is my belief that the Curse of the Mirrorbound is offered in this way. Just as it was likely done for Helga, an affirmative response was not given by Pamelar, and yet the ritual/process began immediately.
- As she invoked the curse through a summoning circle of prayer, Helga's emotional/mental tether to Pamelar allowed her to begin merging with all variants of Pamelar, across all times, planes, and dimensions. The only one remaining would of course be the one bound to Thornhaven's present temporal state (a prime version).
- As the manifestation of the curse began to take hold, both Helga and Pamelar were pulled into the Dark Awakening (note that Helga no longer exists. The name will be used as only a means of making it easier to understand whom is being referenced. They are both now, in reality, Pamelar).
- As the dreamers gathered at the UR stronghold began to do their best to prepare of the unexpected, painful screams could be felt echoing throughout Thornhaven's planes. The source being narrowed down to Evernight Plateau.
- Upon the arrival of those gathered, we witnessed two mirrored avatars of Pamelar arguing back and forth at each other.
- The true Pamelar was quickly identified by witnesses demanding answers to questions that only the current iteration would have knowledge of. Pamelar was successful in answering and was verified.
- With this realization, Helga was collapsed and surrounded. Her pleas for restoration were ignored, even in the face of her offering power and knowledge to any that would help her.
- It was then the both Magnilia and myself recognized the weaves of the dread art being evoked by Pamelar (note that knowledge of her holding this art was already known by the Noctemira Recondite. Reference report code: NR-PBL-2025405 for more information). Warnings were given about the untold consequences Pamelar may suffer by executing other variants of herself in such a way.
- Shortly after the dread art was evoked upon Helga, those gathered stood in shock, having now realized what had just occurred. All that remained of what was once Helga, was a fractured soul essence of Pamelar.
- It is our belief that Helga no longer exists within any time, plane, or dimension.
- It is our belief that Pamelar has effectively destroyed all other variants of herself and is now Pamelar Prime. What this means for the future of Pamelar and or all of the other variant dreamstates, is clearly unknown. We will be watching.
Let this report stand as record and warning.
Signed,
Black-Lotus, Inquisitor of the Noctemira Recondite
- £
The events detailed in this report represent a convergence of myth, manifestation, and nightmare; a perfect storm orchestrated by unseen hands and given breath through the will of a god and those dreamers who serve(d) Sydrah alike. The Curse of the Mirrorbound is no mere affliction; it is a divine tool of reconstitution. Its purpose is clear: to strip a being of their choices, their alternate selves, their every divergent possibility, until all that remains is one—a single avatar, weighed down by what was, what might have been, and what never shall be. To be bound into his service forevermore.
Helga was not merely corrupted—she was undone. She was chosen, not to ascend, but to collapse inward, to become a vessel of this recursive plague. Her destruction, though violent and complete, may have been an act of mercy, although I do not believe Pamelar Prime will see it that way. The dream cannot sustain such convergence. And yet, Pamelar Prime remains.
We now find ourselves at the precipice of a new era: one where a single dreamer may carry the burden of knowing that all of the dreams, of all possible selves, are placed upon their singular shoulders. What this will mean for the Dream, and for Thornhaven, is unknown. What we do know is this: a power great enough to collapse the multitudes of existence has a form, and it is still waiting out within the Void to see the destruction of untold variants, bent and malformed into a single destiny of servitude.
As I reflect further on the mechanism and scope of the Curse of the Mirrorbound, I find myself unable to dismiss one increasingly disturbing possibility: Has this affliction, or a cousin of it, already extended its reach beyond the individual, in this case beyond Helga and Pamelar, and into the very structure of the Dream itself? What if the branches themselves have been collapsed; folded inward like the layers of a being under the Curse of the Mirrorbound? What if those variant realms, their inhabitants, and their unique identities have all been drawn into this one, single, prime locale: Thornhaven? Is this conclusion that my beloved Lyra has been dealt?
We may be living in the aftermath of a Dreamwide consolidation—a mass convergence dictated not by logic or fate, but by the will of a god who thrives in void, time, and transplanar tethering: Sydrah.
To those who read this record: stay vigilant. The curse may be slowly dying down, reports on the effects of the curse within the Lost Caves and Lost Sea to be published soon, but the echoes of fractured timelines do not silence easily. We will continue to monitor Pamelar Prime and those others who have been affected. We shall continue to build protections around the SoulWell and the gateways to Memory. The Noctemira Recondite will be prepared for whatever comes next...