Nightmares (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)
Definition
Nightmares means daysleep gives you no rest. Kindred rarely dream at all, so when they do the dreams land hard: the Embrace replayed from the outside, the first kill, the faces of everyone you have drained lined up and patient. You wake at sunset already behind, with the previous night's problems and none of the recovery. It is a quiet flaw that colors the opening of every session. It also gives the Storyteller a legitimate channel for foreshadowing, which is why it tends to earn its keep in chronicles that care about what your character is becoming.
How it works
Tips
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from Recurring Nightmare?
Nightmares are varied and general. Recurring Nightmare is one specific dream tied to one specific event, usually with a plot behind it that the Storyteller intends to reveal.
Do Malkavians see real visions in these dreams?
The Storyteller may use a Malkavian's nightmares to deliver omens, but the flaw itself grants no insight and no reliable information.
Can I avoid the dreams by sleeping somewhere safer?
A secure haven helps the fiction, not the flaw. The dreams come from what your character carries, so the usual cure is resolving that in play.