Timeline
Pre-1340s: Nightmare travelling around, eating/killing people from random villages.
1340s: Nightmare settles in original village. Demands sacrifices be sent to him.
1350s: The village is attacked by bandits while Nightmare happens to be there and Nightmare kills and feeds from them. Village is thankful and strikes up a deal; in exchange for further protection they will willingly send up a villager for him to drink from (and not kill).
1350-1480: Stagnant period. Village unable to grow but safe from bandits. Mythology started around mysterious Great Elk that shows up to protect them during the day.
1480s: Rough period: famine/plague. Nightmare calls in Dream for help, who convinces him to switch to feeding from animals and start the truce. Nightmare and Dream reconcile somewhat.
1500-1700s: Village is no longer weakened by Nightmare feeding on them. Time of prosperity; village starts expanding under Nightmare's rule and protection from bandits.
1580s: Statues made during this time. 100 year anniversary of the truce. 1680s: Killer joins Nightmare.
1690s: Dust joins Nightmare.
1700s: Landslide at old village. Significant portion of the population is killed/injured. Villagers move into castle temporarily while village is rebuilt (~5 years). People from nearby villages help them rebuild and some stay, but the new people are wary of the vampires.
1710s: Horror and his brother join Nightmare.
1850s: Cross joins Nightmare.
1880s: Current time period.