Post by Diamond on May 4, 2012 7:29:40 GMT -5
So, Pesadilla is easily one of my favorite characters that I've ever created. I absolutely dig, her, so I figured I'd jot down a bunch of stuff I came up with for her, here, on the boards. Mostly because I keep being reminded of her with how much Chrysalis coverage has been on EQD. Pesadilla was created BEFORE Chyrsalis ever set foot in Equestria. She's completely originally, but of course, lots of villains have 'black' as there fallback default color. Why don't you ever see villains in paisley? So, what have we discovered about Pesadilla so far?
Pesadilla is Spanish for 'Nightmare'
Pesadilla was captured long ago by Princess Celestia and had been contained in the castle vaults.
Pesadilla is attracted to STRONG fears in an individual. Not simple phobias. Something life effecting and something that could potentially happen. (I.E. something happening to Red Velvets Foal, or Diamond's fear of her disease taking over before she could be cured. Being afraid of Nightmare moon returning, or Discord or losing a loved one from some pre-existing condition)
Pesadilla's True Form (?) Is that of a floating black cloud with bright, yellow, burning eyes.
Pesadilla feeds off fear all around her, but must continually draw strength from the individual she is possessing. (Which is why the fear must be STRONG.)
Once Pesadilla drains enough fear from either an individual, or those around her, she can start commanding additional abilities. These have (So far seen) consisted of
(1) Projecting concussion blasts of fear transformed physically.
(2) Prehensile black tendrils.
(3) The ability to force an individual to live out their most horrifying fear in real life, rendering that pony a screaming mass of hysteria for the next few days.
(4) The ability to seemingly blend into shadows. (Not teleport, just hide exceedingly well)
In Pesadilla's presence, there is a general sense of overall dread and foreboding. It always feels like something bad is about to happen. (Which is in fact an early warning to her lurking nearby)
Pesadilla must fight to control the individual she is currently inhabiting. She battle for dominant consciousness at any given point in time. Using fear to suppress the consciousness of her host is often the most effective technique, but it can be overcome, allowing the host to briefly regain control.
While under control, the host only has fragmented memories of what is Pesadilla is doing (Which is for the better. You don't WANT to know what she's doing half the time)
While under control, Pesadilla refers to herself as 'we' instead of 'I' and uses the term 'our host' instead of an individual's name. And also has slit pupil eyes.
Pesadilla must maintain the host's body for her to maintain control. That is, she must eat, drink and sleep as much as any normal pony would. To that end, she also exaggerates a ponies natural abilities. Stronger magic, faster flight, stronger limbs, and the later.
Pesadilla must be willfully allowed into a pony, in order for her to take control. She's under no law, or rule saying she must keep her promises, so she often outright lies, and tricks ponies, pretending she is a genie or benevolent or beneficial spirit to gain their trust. If she attempts to take an unwilling victim, she stands to lose hold of her host rather quickly.
When the host is under control, Pesadilla can send haunting whispers, to them. Mostly like an echo or a reverb. Generally disheartening thoughts and unsettling concepts. (You'll never succeed. You'll never be rid of me. Your friends are lying to you.)
The longer Pesadilla is without host, the weaker she becomes.
Pesadilla will change a host's body the longer she is in the host, but every time she takes a form it'll be different.
Pesadilla can page though a pony's memories like a book, but must take time to sort out what she's seeing and determine what it IS she's seeing. She generally can figure out bits of information but it's not always clear, and often things are left undiscovered. (Diamond was only aware of five of the elements of harmony, having never met AppleJack, she had no idea there were six members. And since Diamond didn't know how to land, Pesadilla had no idea how to either, and crashed just as often as Diamond did)
Pesadilla tends to stay away from populated areas or places that are familiar to a pony when she's weakened. (I.e. first inhabiting a new body) Calming things and peaceful solutions to situations that SHOULD be terrifying are her worst enemies.
Removing whatever significant fear Pesadilla is hanging onto is the best (not only) way to remove her from a pony. In Diamond's case, reassurance over and over again from her friends that things would be 'ok' and promises made they'll face anything she's dealing with together, made her realize she had nothing to be afraid of. Even at her worst, her friends were there, and it, in turn, banished Pesadilla from her. (FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC)
Pesadilla is Spanish for 'Nightmare'
Pesadilla was captured long ago by Princess Celestia and had been contained in the castle vaults.
Pesadilla is attracted to STRONG fears in an individual. Not simple phobias. Something life effecting and something that could potentially happen. (I.E. something happening to Red Velvets Foal, or Diamond's fear of her disease taking over before she could be cured. Being afraid of Nightmare moon returning, or Discord or losing a loved one from some pre-existing condition)
Pesadilla's True Form (?) Is that of a floating black cloud with bright, yellow, burning eyes.
Pesadilla feeds off fear all around her, but must continually draw strength from the individual she is possessing. (Which is why the fear must be STRONG.)
Once Pesadilla drains enough fear from either an individual, or those around her, she can start commanding additional abilities. These have (So far seen) consisted of
(1) Projecting concussion blasts of fear transformed physically.
(2) Prehensile black tendrils.
(3) The ability to force an individual to live out their most horrifying fear in real life, rendering that pony a screaming mass of hysteria for the next few days.
(4) The ability to seemingly blend into shadows. (Not teleport, just hide exceedingly well)
In Pesadilla's presence, there is a general sense of overall dread and foreboding. It always feels like something bad is about to happen. (Which is in fact an early warning to her lurking nearby)
Pesadilla must fight to control the individual she is currently inhabiting. She battle for dominant consciousness at any given point in time. Using fear to suppress the consciousness of her host is often the most effective technique, but it can be overcome, allowing the host to briefly regain control.
While under control, the host only has fragmented memories of what is Pesadilla is doing (Which is for the better. You don't WANT to know what she's doing half the time)
While under control, Pesadilla refers to herself as 'we' instead of 'I' and uses the term 'our host' instead of an individual's name. And also has slit pupil eyes.
Pesadilla must maintain the host's body for her to maintain control. That is, she must eat, drink and sleep as much as any normal pony would. To that end, she also exaggerates a ponies natural abilities. Stronger magic, faster flight, stronger limbs, and the later.
Pesadilla must be willfully allowed into a pony, in order for her to take control. She's under no law, or rule saying she must keep her promises, so she often outright lies, and tricks ponies, pretending she is a genie or benevolent or beneficial spirit to gain their trust. If she attempts to take an unwilling victim, she stands to lose hold of her host rather quickly.
When the host is under control, Pesadilla can send haunting whispers, to them. Mostly like an echo or a reverb. Generally disheartening thoughts and unsettling concepts. (You'll never succeed. You'll never be rid of me. Your friends are lying to you.)
The longer Pesadilla is without host, the weaker she becomes.
Pesadilla will change a host's body the longer she is in the host, but every time she takes a form it'll be different.
Pesadilla can page though a pony's memories like a book, but must take time to sort out what she's seeing and determine what it IS she's seeing. She generally can figure out bits of information but it's not always clear, and often things are left undiscovered. (Diamond was only aware of five of the elements of harmony, having never met AppleJack, she had no idea there were six members. And since Diamond didn't know how to land, Pesadilla had no idea how to either, and crashed just as often as Diamond did)
Pesadilla tends to stay away from populated areas or places that are familiar to a pony when she's weakened. (I.e. first inhabiting a new body) Calming things and peaceful solutions to situations that SHOULD be terrifying are her worst enemies.
Removing whatever significant fear Pesadilla is hanging onto is the best (not only) way to remove her from a pony. In Diamond's case, reassurance over and over again from her friends that things would be 'ok' and promises made they'll face anything she's dealing with together, made her realize she had nothing to be afraid of. Even at her worst, her friends were there, and it, in turn, banished Pesadilla from her. (FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC)