CYBER-KNIGHT DREAM VISION

The Dream Vision is said to provide a cyber-knight with insight to their destiny and help them find peace, purpose, and direction in their lives. Although these visions can be prophetic, they are not clairvoyant or a psionic power. The cyber-knight has no control over them whatsoever. The knight can not make a Dream Vision come when they want it, nor make it somehow reveal information about some specific event,person, battle, or doubt. A Dream Vision comes when it comes and tells what it tells whetherthe knight wants it or not.In fact, most cyber-knights report that they receive their Dream Visionwhen they are young,usually a few months to a few years after they have finished their training and become full-fledged cyber-knights. Most also report that their Dream Vision came out of the blue, often during the Dream Vision is said to provide a cyber-knight with insight to their destiny and help them find peace, purpose and direction in their lives. Although these visions can be prophetic, they are not clairvoyant or a psionic power. The cyber-knight has no control over them whatsoever. The knight can not make a Vision Dream come when he wants it, nor make it somehow reveal information about some specific event, person, battle or doubt. A Dream Vision comes when it comes and tells what it tells whether the knight wants it or not. In fact, most cyber-knights report that they receive their Dream Vision when they are young, usually a few months to a few years after they have finished their training and become full-fledged quiet, peaceful times when one least expects it. The vision is rarely violent or nightmarish and is usually welcomed because it reaffirms the cyber-knight's commitment to the Code of Chivalry and points out some personal flaw or weakness that needs correcting (too cocky/overconfident, too cautious, too uncertain, traveling down a dangerous path, will soon face a choice or challenge that will shape their life, etc.). The Dream Vision also usually points to some purpose or mission to which the young hero can dedicate their life.

Like any dream,these visions are often cryptic and symbolic, although some (20%) are clear and straightforward. A cyber-knight may draw their own conclusions or seek input from their mentor (the knight who trained them) or a Dream Sage (a hermetic cyber-knight who is wise, insightful and understands the ways of dreams). Whichever way one goes is acceptable.

Dream Visions are deeply personal and a cyber-knight will never talk about it casually. Most rarely mention it even to their closest friends, the mentor or Dream Sage being the two notable exceptions.

In most cases, a cyber-knight receives only one Dream Vision their entire life. In rare instances, twice. Those who receive two, usually get one very early in life (i.e. shortly after becoming a cyber-knight) and another in their middle years (40-60). Only Dream Sages are believed to get more than two visions in their long lives, and that's based on rumour (See Hermetic Cyber-Knight or Dream Sage).

Deciphering Dream Visions
In game terms, Dream Visions are so personal and such an integral part of the PC's life, it is usually best to let the player come up with one, as well as it motivated and inspired the characters part of their background.

If the cyber-knight has not yet had a Dream Vision the DM could generate one for the player, especially if the DM knows the player and character well. Dream Visions should be poignant and dramatically suit the campaign, but also fits the character. They should not be used for punishing or dramatically changing a character, unless such a change is wanted by the player.

Example Dream Visions

1) A cyber-knight rides or is carried through the streets surrounded by a thronging multitude cheering their name. It is clear they are popular and loved by all. The procession stops and the dreamer is confronted by something. It may be another cyber-knight, known villain, CS soldier, monster, woman or child, or just about anything. The dreamer is annoyed and perhaps angry that 'their' celebration and accolades have been stopped because of the intruder and goes to face (confront?) them.

The intruder represents some internal (self) problem, such as pride, arrogance, overconfidence, falling prey to praise and adulation, losing sight of one's real purpose or addressing real problems, etc., and/or some external problem (enemy, imminent or future danger, coming conflict, etc.) that the dreamer must face. Depending on how the character acts and interacts with the 'something' will reveal the thrust of the message.

For example, a beautiful woman (or man/appropriate sexually attractive gender) throws themselves at the dreaming cyber-knight. The knight runs off with her, ignoring those who celebrate their name. The villagers come to ask for the dreamer's advice,and return to invite them to join them in other events, celebrations and activities, but the dreamer is too busy with love and rebukes them every time. Finally, they ask them to come and help solve several problems, and/or warn of some impeding danger. In the dream they ignore each request, either choosing to spend time with the woman or to party or wallow in their own celebrity.

One day the villagers stop coming. When the knight goes to investigate, they find the villagers no longer have need of them, and they are replaced with a new champion, one who cares about them and not themselves or some fanciful distraction. Or worse, the town has been ransacked, many people are dead,and others missing, because the dreamer ignored the villager's pleas.

In both instances the dream addresses issues of responsibility, commitment,and caring versus personal pride, arrogance and fleeting pleasure. It might also have to do with reputation and trust and what happens when one takes it for granted.

Note: The villain responsible for sacking the town - the CS, vampires, demons from Calgary, Xiticix, Daemonix, members of the Federation of Magic, Fallen Cyber-Knight(s), a specific villain or band of cutthroats, whomever - might indicate a specific danger that the knight should dedicate their life to destroying or stopping (especially if the character travels to several places in the dream and they are all victimized by the same force).

2) Dream starts as before, only this time a scruffy-looking challenger stops the procession. A boy no more than 16, calls the cyber-knight names, accuses them of being arrogant and self-absorbed and challenges them to a duel. The knight laughs, but the crowd becomes angry, half of them mock and push the challenger,the other half continue past the boy with the dreamer, leading them to the heart of the celebration. Later, the knight learns that the boy was beaten to death by the angry mob.

This dream speaks of being self-absorbed and callous, as well as injustice, intolerance, and lack of compassion. If the cyber-knight had stopped to listen to the boy's complaint or his reason for feeling injured by the knight, the matter may have been settled peacefully and the boy invited to join the festivities. Or they may have learned of some unintended slight or injury to the boy or his family and have been able to rectify or avenge it. Certainly, the knight could have prevented the murder. If the las was a Coalition soldier, mage, D-Bee or other specific race or class of person it might speak to their plight of being ignored,misunderstood and persecuted. Something the cyber-knight might dedicate their life to resolve.

3) As before, only the challenger is a weakling, perhaps an old woman, a little child, a frail D-Bee or young warrior. The knight stops to address the intruder. The dreamer may be nice and understanding, arrogant and condescending or outright mean, it does not matter. Before the dreamer knows it, the intruder transforms into a dragon or monster, or is suddenly joined by a dozen powerful fiends out for blood.

This dream may speak to preparedness, assumptions, naivety or betrayal. Or it may warn of some hidden danger or insidious corruption, perhaps something the hero should dedicate their life to stopping.

4) As before, only the challenger is a fellow cyber-knight. One the dreamer has never met before. The stranger calls the dreamer a traitor and a fool. He challenges them to a contest of arms or a duel to the death. The dreamer refuses and tries to discuss the matter, but the unknown knight will have none of it and warns he will cut the dreamer down where he stands. Whether the unknown cyber-knight is slain or subdued is unimportant. What is important is that the stranger hates the dreamer just for being a cyber-knight.

This dream speaks to the schism within the Fellowship instigated by the war with Tolkeen. It addresses the pain and anger that drives some to battle their brethren and to hate, which if left unchecked, may topple the Fellowship entirely. It also speaks to one's resolve as a cyber-knight and the trouble yet to come.

If the challenger is some other warrior or changes into several different O.C.C.s during the course of the conflict, the dream might be about the cyber-knight's damaged reputation and lost trust. Or about the Fallen Knights whose villainy confuses people and makes them believe all cyber-knights are dangerous villains.

5) As before, only suddenly a dimensional Rift appears, and from it an invading swarm of...fill in the blank...vampires, Xiticix, evil dragons, the Coalition, a known (or unknown but memorable) band of villains, or something else. The dreamer can not fight them all alone, they need help,but the villagers who adore them are no match for the enveloping force and flee in terror. The face of the horde's leader appears in the middle of the Rift, or the homeland from which the raiders originate can be seen just for a moment before the dream ends. Identifying the true source of the trouble.

This dream may indicate some impending doom, treachery and/or a specific enemy. An enemy the cyber-knight now knows and should face. They also know they are no match for it alone and must find others to join their crusade.

6) As before, only the dreamer strikes down the intruder in anger or fear,without determining if he was a danger or not.

This speaks to the dreamer's own inner demons, hate, fear, anger, and the tragedy that might occur if they do not learn to change or control themselves.

7) As before, only before the dreamer is a gallows. The prisoners about to be hung are guilty only of being different and misunderstood. The crowd who loves the cyber-knight scream for the prisoners' deaths,but bow to 'their' justice. The dreamer knows that any decision other than hanging these people will turn the crowd against the dreamer, but they are the only voice of reason. The prisoners' fate rests entirely in the dreamer's hands.

This dream addresses difficult choices and taking a stand, even if it an unpopular one. It also speaks to the anger and horrors spawned by prejudice, hate and lust for revenge. If a particular person or group shouts the loudest or is clearly working the crowd into a frenzy, they may represent the cause of the hate or an undercurrent of conspiracy, and even a specific enemy to be vanquished.