On the Weibo, the Deduction Star overview was announced (as was trailer for Once Ivy and Annie), but no commentary on the Gen AI yet. I haven't verified this yet but apparently the NGP Discord removed its comment that the Gen AI would be addressed.
Hopefully this is because they thought it would've been a quick response and wasn't, but the cynical part of me dreads a "bread and circus" situation.
With that comes my unpleasant reminder: Don't let the excitement of characters being voted for new skins stop you from protesting the Gen AI. The developers who make the characters you want to vote for skins and the skins themselves are at risk of being laid off entirely.
Whether you play or not make sure to spam, harass, survey, pitch, boycott, and protest the use of Gen AI slowly creeping into Identity V.
My motivation to stay angry is this 20th century caricature that is the Nightmare Mr. Hyde sticker. While I believe the skin was hand-designed until proven contrary, it's my personal reminder there was a stark decline in IDV's quality starting late 2025.
Orpheus DeRoss: An Analysis (Part IV-I: The "Nightmare" of Orpheus DeRoss)
This is the fourth part in a series analyzing Orpheus DeRoss, who he is, what his story is, and what it means for Identity V.
The previous entry was a brief overview of Orpheus’ motivations, how they're shaped by his efforts to echo the father he cared about (Dennis DeRoss), how he wants justice against a "sinful world," how he fell into vengeance instead, and why his true motivation is fear.
This entry is an examination of the "Nightmare" identity of Orpheus. Who he is, what he is, what he represents, what we don't know, what are his skins, and why he is like that, among others, will be discussed.
This will be a lengthy analysis.
Warning: This post will feature topics such as suicide, addiction, and self-harm, like previous analyses. Viewer discretion is advised.
Who is "Nightmare"
The answer is far more uncertain than it initially seems.
"Nightmare" is the Hunter IDENTITY Swap of Orpheus DeRoss. This is the most certain we can be about him. What exactly he represents, particularly among Orpheus' DID, is more ambiguous than it appears.
The first possibility is that "Nightmare" directly represents an identity of Orpheus, one that I'll be referring to as Nightmare without the quotes. This is how some quotes about Time of Reunion presents him: He is placed in a dichotomy with Novelist, with them being "two sides of the same coin" (TOR Live-Action Video).
Some evidence suggests Nightmare is the "younger" identity of Orpheus. Detective says that his experiences with Delphi resulted in the formation of "them" (his identities), including "him," which is sometimes* used to mean Nightmare. While Detective is working on limited information, such as falsely assuming that Delphi can cause DID, grains of truth remain. If Nightmare is indeed the "Other Orpheus" discussed in Piety's Design Notes, then he exists to "Purify Sins," with him only exhibiting more destructive behavior towards Orpheus as a whole due to the effects of Delphi.
*At some points, such as the description for Orpheus' Cage, "him" is used to identify Novelist, not Nightmare.
Alternatively, Nightmare represents the older "active" identity. This is due to the implication that the person Orpheus could've been, who I call "Orphy" or "Illusion", died in the Oletus Manor Massacre. So, even though Nightmare is "younger" than "Illusion," he is what remains. The Novelist identity would be "younger' than Nightmare.
In Melly's Fourth Letter, Melly notes the distinct change in Orpheus' behavior from the first time she met him. When he was with Joshua, Orpheus was a melancholic, withdrawn figure. Not the flamboyant, cocky individual she met years later. This is the behavior we initially see from the Novelist identity in Ashes of Memory (Melly Fourth Letter).
If this change to a more flamboyant figure represents Novelist, then that means he's a younger identity than NM. The reason why we can suspect this is Novelist and not Nightmare is due to the NPC Affection Game, where the Novelist discusses his admiration of ravens. This may seem innocuous, but in Nightmare's Character File, Nightmare dislikes bird calls. His association with ravens is a manifestation of self-loathing. Novelist, to contrast, likes birds.
Novelist is occasionally referred to as "him" in the same form Detective refers to both Villain Charm and Nightmare, adding to the ambiguity, with the most recent example being Orpheus' Cage.
One explanation that reconciles these options is that Detective is correct, in that there are more than two identities in Orpheus' DID. Nightmare is "younger" than "Orpheus" (perhaps "Orphy" or "Illusion," if he did continue to exist), but he is older than the Novelist.
Nightmare, at least, sometimes considers himself separate from Detective, but it's unknown if this is because he is a separate identity to Detective, or if Detective is "from" Nightmare, due to the alienation formed from different experiences resulting in NM not identifying Detective as the same identity. He also considers himself different from "Orphy," due to the TOR Epilogue. Though, it could also be like the Detective case just proposed and more a sign of alienation.
The second possibility is that "Nightmare" is a recollection, much like "Memory," and doesn't directly represent an Orpheus identity. It's possible that Nightmare represents both of Orpheus' known identities, or neither.
The first piece of evidence to support this is "Nightmare" is associated with "Memory," who is a recollection of childhood nostalgia and trauma associated with Orpheus' memories of Alice DeRoss. When asked who Memory is and who he is, he answers in echoed words. "Nightmare" is part of Orpheus the same way "Memory" is formed from memories (NM Announcement Reply)(Source of Evil Essence Reply).
"Nightmare's" behavior is also unusually volatile compared to other Hunters, and given the wide displays of mental disorders displayed among IDV characters, I don't think this can be solely ascribed to Orpheus' mental illness. "Nightmare" alternates between a more sadistic personality, with a twisted sense of jovial humor, and a melancholic, insecure personality, oddly willing to offer advice. More will be elaborated on in Part VIII of the Analysis*, but to start off with an example.
*If you are impatient, the document version of this analysis features the quote and motif section filled out. It can be sent with request.
Here, "Nightmare" sounds wistful, insecure. He wants to be dreamed of, but, fixated on his monstrosity, feels as though it would be a curse. He is tragic.
Then, in his deduction star, Nightmare alternates between this melancholic tone and a more sinister tone.
"Nightmare" constantly referring to himself as a nightmare, in a way that neither "Fool's Gold" nor "Hullabaloo" reference themselves as entities is also curious. This could be a reflection of how dehumanized Nightmare perceives himself as being, or it could be a sign that "Nightmare" is not what he seems.
*A massive thank you to my friend for providing me with the screenshot of the wish, since for some unknowable reason my self-collected archive of IDV quotes did not include my main.
When the Hooded Figure (or second figure) puts on the "Nightmare" mask, they are illuminated by red and blue light. Red is associated with the Detective identity of Orpheus, while blue is associated with Villain Charm and the Novelist. Together, red and blue make purple. Purple* is heavily associated with "Nightmare," with it being the dominant color in his Character Video.
*Though it should also be noted that, close to the final design stage, Nightmare/"Nightmare" was associated more with red, with his cinematic model reflecting it, for it still has red eyes.
This will be expanded more in my next entry, but it leads to the question of what the Novelist is? The assumption made in the first possibility is that the Novelist represents Orpheus and Nightmare the Other Orpheus. Or perhaps the other way around, with Novelist being the Other Orpheus and Nightmare Orpheus.
If "Nightmare" doesn't directly represent an Orpheus, or is a chimera between at least two Orpheus identities, then are we certain Novelist is a distinct identity or he, too, is a chimera? And if Novelist is a distinct identity, but the Detective and Charm identities comprised "Nightmare," does that mean the Novelist ceased to exist?
And then there's the possibility "Nightmare" isn't Orpheus, at least partially. I discuss it more here, but physical features of "Nightmare" align with Frederick Kreiburg, and Cage of Yesteryear confirms Frederick has access to where the NM mask is held. While Orpheus is unconscious at the end of Time of Reunion with the mask in his hand, there's still the possibility he took it from someone else or there are multiple masks. Thus, the "Nightmare" of TOR, at least, is multiple figures, and his behavior reflects that.
The most likely answer is all of these are true, to certain degrees. One answer isn't often the only answer in IDV.
Whatever Nightmare or "Nightmare" is, he has a purpose. According to Piety's Design Notes, Nightmare's role is to "purify sin." It's hard to identify what exactly this means, but it seems to be tied to Nightmare retaining more memories of his past than Novelist. This will be elaborated upon more in discussing Nightmare's intentions.
Appearance
To Orpheus himself, Nightmare is a representation of self-hatred. NM is bad memories made incarnate.
Unlike Novelist, "Nightmare" is noted to have a dislike of bird sounds, similar to Alice. Yet he is a massive bird-human hybrid, one that chips and whistles mid-game. His abilities center on ravens. While Luchino and QB look like creatures they admire, SF a man Joker envied, Nightmare looks like something he's terrified of, something he dislikes. Unlike some other Hunters, too, whose self-perception and external perception differ (such as Vio, whose dying dreams envision herself in a gorgeous dress, versus Margie hallucinating her as a spider-bird hybrid), we see "Nightmare" from Detective's reconstructed memory in TOR. Before he even knows who NM is, he sees NM as a monster.
Alice, in contrast, sees Nightmare as a bird when she imagines the "worst case scenario" for Orpheus' actions. Subconsciously, I do think Alice recognizes Orpheus as her long-lost friend and brother. Cage of Yesteryear revealed the last thing that happened before the Oletus Manor Massacre was a poor corvid flying into the window. Both Orpheus and Alice associate that bird, and what the bird's death foretold, with Orpheus.
This provides an unusual case where two perspectives see the Hunter form of a character as the same form. In GO HUNTING, we see FG and QB from Detective's perspective. While the Doylist explanation is that FG and QB's designs were not finalized, the Watsonian explanation is that Orpheus perceived FG and QB in the shapes of his biological parents. Alice, who lacks the traumatic opposition between the Blanches as birthparents and DeRosses as adoptive, but has the fear of tall men looming over her due to Vilhelm Lamb adopting her, perceives FG and QB as lanky like Lamb. They both see the monsters, but how the monsters look differ. But they both see NM.
The reasons why each sees NM as Nightmare differ, but they both see Nightmare.
In addition to the self-hatred, it appears NM is designated to be dehumanized by Orpheus. In addition to the "purifying sin" comment in Piety, Abyss' Design Notes mention the effort to emphasize the "dehumanization of Nightmare." According to the Roulette Design Notes, Nightmare is "inhuman."
The most notable feature of Nightmare is that he wears a plague doctor mask. The design itself is ahistorical but, the curious thing about plague doctors is there's a debate about their historicity. Some historians (such as Austin) believe the iconic, birdlike plague doctors are chimeric entities. Products of 19th century speculation. While this is the most extreme position (Satire is often based on fact), it's fair to say that the plague doctors of today don't look similar to older imagery, and Orpheus' default mask invokes modern plague doctor masks than historical masks. This may support the theory that "Nightmare" is (like Memory) not a one-to-one identity in the same way FG, Hullabaloo, and QB are.
While not a factor of his TOR or COYY animations, in the game itself, Nightmare's mask blinks, implying that, at least in whatever canon or quasi-canon the game-mode takes place in, Nightmare's mask is his face. Alternatively, it's the Spider-Man emote cheat where the mask is expressive.
Nightmare displays the most departures from his Survivor Identity out of any IDENTITY switch. His face is obscured, his coat removed, multiple key objects removed, and only his waistcoat and hand scar remaining. This calls back to the question: Is "Nightmare" entirely Orpheus? Could someone have been mistaken for him if he had something resembling the hand scar?
Nightmare's weapon is a massive pen nib worn on his right index finger. Alongside Hullabaloo, this makes him the second Hunter Swap to utilize a weapon that invokes their Survivor objects , with Mike's snow globe resembling his bombs, and Nightmare's nib resembling Novelist's pen. The pen is stained with ink at the end; in his idle animation, Nightmare writes in the air with it.
An interesting detail regarding Nightmare's appearance is that he carries a vial of the drug "Orpheus" on his neck. "Orpheus" is the Delphi drug with the least understood effects. All that is known about it is a simple warning: Avoid overdose, coma.
There's some information that can be taken from "Nightmare" to speculate on its effects, though: it alters memories.
In "Orpheus' Cage," Nightmare is depicted as retreating into Orpheus' memories and editing them. While the Novelist seems to be missing memories of his past ("Memories drift beyond my reach" in Orpheus' Cloister), Nightmare seems quite aware, given he shares Alice's fear of bird calls.
The process of the editing is destructive, with names burnt from the record ("Names turn to ashes"). If the Anniversary Package is still canon, the last letter has the writer (implied to be Alice) mention that their brother (implied to be Orpheus) cannot remember them, but they vow to protect him in exchange for the years they tried to save them. Given Novelist's behavior implies some awareness of Alice's similarities, it doesn't seem to be entirely true, but there could be a grain of truth remaining.
The "coma" detail regarding "Orpheus" has some dire implications.
According to the Anniversary Package, if it's still canon, Orpheus was in a coma between being found in the fire and waking up an amnesiac (Anniversary Package). This could mean he overdosed on "Orpheus," whether by his own actions or by someone else's, notably Alice. At the current moment, too little is known to say.
Lastly, in Cage of Yesteryear, Nightmare has the most physical transformation out of any of the Hunters. Rather than being a swarm of bees or rocks, Orpheus' hand begins to break in order to transform into Nightmare. The imagery invokes werewolves, a significant choice given the breadth and variety of werewolves in culture. Note how the Final Game is heavily associated with the full moon and the association with some werewolves and the moon.
The Skins
Nightmare has a few skins, most added in the past year. Most are of superb quality, with implications for Nightmare, and they explore multiple aspects of his character.
First is Abyss
"There is a thin line between good and evil. If you see "Me" when you open your eyes, then welcome to the deepest depths of evil."
Abyss is the Release S Skin of Nightmare, and depicts Abyss in the latter half of the Eden storyline. He takes place after the storyline of Novelist's skin, Hollow, which explains how Hollow got to the point of setting up the banquets of madness Source of Evil discovers.
Hollow represents Orpheus when he still believed that no cost was too great to protect his Eden. He still believes there is justice in his vengeance quest. He is this tragic, innocent thing that cannot last, not with the despair that chokes him. Denial is what preserves his innocence (Hollow Essence Video).
"Abyss," in contrast, represents the Orpheus aware he has descended into the abyss: despair, hatred, and embracing your inner-monster. He has realized that he became the same "sins" he hated in others. So, in despair, he embraces these sins. He depicts himself as a man-made god, the ruler of the broken paradise (Abyss Design Notes).
I do want to clarify that Nightmare is not the "Serpent" of the setting, nor a demon. While he carries aspects of a Miltonian Lucifer, he is still an Adam. I have some suspicions who could represent the "Serpent" of the Eden storyline, but they are unconfirmed.
Something interesting that the concept notes for Abyss propose is that Nightmare is the identity of Orpheus that feels remorse regarding the Manor Games. He feels despair at being evil. If Release Essences reflect the emotions of a character, their motivations, then Abyss reveals Nightmare acts as a monster out of the feeling he cannot be anything else.
Given in Eternity's Essence, Hollow's shadow is seen, I suspect that Abyss takes place after Eternity refused to judge mankind. This would coincide with the implication in Novelist's video that, after Alice and Orpheus figured out who the other was, Alice attempted to convince Orpheus to cease the games, but Orpheus refused out of fear (Part III).
Appearance-wise, NM exchanges his ink for a fiery motif, the abyss corrupting his skin and face, turning his bird-skull mask and talon wicked and burning. He dresses the most formal of the Nightmare skins, with a top hat, cape, and a mixture of Tudor and Victorian clothes. Nightmare's avian feet are subtly visible, with his heel spines poking out beneath his boots. Abyss is beautiful, but highlights the dehumanization NM experiences.
The first A-tier for NM is Roulette
"What number will it fall on? He loves the anticipation."
Roulette was released as part of Season 21, Essence 2. The story was within a supernatural casino, where guests bet their souls. If they win, they will win immortality, all their desires on a silver platter. If they lose... well, the costs are clear. (Risktaker Essence Video).
The casino is associated with the degradation of religion and Ancient Greek mythology. Spring Heated Wine (Dionysus-impersonating Luchi) and Shower (Nymph Philippe) are depicted on murals in the casino. This is part of why Orpheus was selected, in addition to the casino standing for Oletus itself.
Nightmare is noted to be "mad" and "nonhuman" in the design notes, with the jester design intending to exaggerate this effect. Now, he's a luck-loving monster, betting souls in a random draw (Roulette Design Notes)
Nightmare is also a "karmic" entity. He enjoys watching casino guests descend into greed and gambling, forfeiting their souls for the mere possibility of winning it all. While High Roller Novelist is an addict now running the game, Nightmare appears to be an embodiment of the casino itself.
Novelist and Nightmare are entirely separate beings who work under the ruler of the casino, Risktaker Emily. High Roller/Novelist in this setting is undoubtedly a human being. Roulette, though, appears to be... something else. His body is patchwork, tied with the red string of fate, coins spilling out of seams.
Appearance-wise, Roulette is the most monstrous of the Nightmare skins. He is inhuman, a bird-monster in a jester's outfit. He wears a roulette wheel with the spade medallion. The spindle crowns his head, surrounded by more card medals. These have the same designs as the coins spilling out of his body.
Roulette highlights the humorous, sadistic side of Nightmare. It highlights the performative, dramatic side of him that bows after hitting a Survivor. This Nightmare is the epitome of the game master.
The second A-tier for NM is Piety
"False hope is a vicious disease. It disguises itself as saintly brilliance, yet it brings destruction to all who pray for healing."
Piety was released in Season 26, Essence 1. This is the third essence entry in the "Eden" storyline, commemorating the release of secondary protagonist Alice DeRoss, and the release of IDV 2.0. The plot focuses on Eternity Alice, representing the Horseman of Death and the grown-up Source of Evil, deciding to side with humanity on Judgement Day, rather than punishing them alongside her fellow Horsemen, lead by Hollow as a false god.
The most remarkable thing about this skin is that it's from the Eden Storyline, but Piety is not the same entity as Hollow/Abyss. Instead, Piety is one of the horsemen obeying Hollow, when his efforts to take revenge against humanity for the destruction of Eden involve unleashing the minor gods/archangels (Eternity Essence Video).
Now, don't take this as gospel. There are previous examples of Swap Identities being separate figures in Event or Essence stories. While FG is ambiguously the product of Norton's possession in the main storyline, as both Infernal Sin and Stibnite are wholly separate entities from the Orphan of Goetia and Ronald of Nice respectively.
Still, given the possibility "Nightmare" may represent different individuals due to both wearing the NM mask, it's a detail that should be noted.
Returning to Piety, the skin represents the horseman Pestilence (who is a replacement of other white horsemen like Conquest). As a result, it invokes Dr. Beak in its concept notes. Dr. Beak is a satirical image of a Plague Doctor associated with death. A bad omen. Piety's necklace is the same as Dr. Beak's staff, and the holy robes loosely bring to mind the Doctor's garments. On his belt, he carries incense and garlic. This is a reference to Plague Doctor's protecting themselves from the "miasma" that spread disease, on top of giving Piety religious iconography.
On of the most significant revelations from Piety's Design Notes is that Nightmare or "Nightmare" is not an inherently malevolent identity. His original function was to "purify" Orpheus as a whole. Given Nightmare's appearance aligning himself with traumatic memories of Orpheus, it appears what NM is trying to protect Orpheus from is his negative memories. However, the notes elaborate that, as a consequence of Orpheus' unresolved trauma and his addiction to Delphi, Nightmare lost himself to broken memories. He lost his purpose. It's then said that this is the fate experienced by the "other Orpheus." Which Orpheus it refers to, and whether this means "Nightmare" is an allegorical entity than a direct representation of an Orpheus identity is unknown (Piety Design Notes).
Piety reveals a different side to Nightmare than Abyss does, providing insight into Nightmare's origin.
The third A-tier for NM is Nightstalker
"Decaying peace demands a silent slaughter. Where darkness festers, a predator prowls—and with every strike, the world falls deathly still."
Being a logic path skin, Nightstalker's design notes are sparse. He exists to be a supplemental skin. Still, a reconstruction of what he may represent can be scavenged together.
Nightmare is a part of the Season 39 First Essence, featuring Luca Balsa, Evelyn Mora, and Antonio in a dark fantasy, Poe-inspired story. Luca arrives at Antonio's Manor, where he learns Antonio entraps visitors to become puppets for his music. Luca is left wandering in a dream within the Manor, until Evelyn, a guiding spirit, helps him escape. Nightstalker appears to be a jailer within the dream, trying to ensure Luca cannot escape (Fugue for Dawn Essence Video).
Luca Balsa is one of Orpheus DeRoss' parallels. Like Orpheus, Luca had a sick biological mother, an abusive biological father, and developed a close bond to Alva Lorenz as not only a mentor, but a man he saw as his adopted father. While their stories differ in significant ways- Herman is portrayed more sympathetically than Mr. Blanche, Mrs. Blanche may be less sympathetic than Mrs. Balsa, and the adoption of Orpheus may have been a motivating factor in the DeRoss' deaths- the similarities are apparent enough that Burke and Bonbon recognize it in Game Ten.
While Antonio as the "Manor Owner" complicates it, a potential parallel can be drawn between Luca and Orpheus both being 'trapped" within the Manor, and Evelyn and Alice/Memory trying to free him, with Luca representing the Orph that wants to move onward, and Nightmare the Orph that wants to stay in the past (even though Hollow/Abyss argue that Hollow Orpheus wants to stay in the past, while Abyss Orpheus is aware and in despair). This is supported by Nightstalker hunting, then jailing lost souls to preserve the "decaying peace," much like how Orpheus tries to protect himself/his loved ones through the Manor Games.
Nightstalker departs from the "top-hat" and "leather hat' model Nightmare has exhibited previously. He also is the first to use porcelain as a mask base, with his beak slightly visible beneath the porcelain. This implies that, like Roulette, the beak is his face. In addition, Nightstalker keeps a whistle and shackles, a jailer's lantern as his accessory.
Being a denizen of the dream, with no "real world" equivalent, it's likely that Nightstalker is an entity like Evelyn. One that tries to keep spirits within the Manor than to help it escape them.
Then there's.... Mr. Hyde.
"Every transgressive desire waits for conscience to step aside."
I have made my thoughts clear on Hydemare here. To try and keep myself as neutral as possible, Mr. Hyde is the Deduction Star of Nightmare, based on Rouben Mamoulian's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931).
Thematically, Mr. Hyde is a very superficial comparison to Nightmare or "Nightmare." Hyde is not a separate entity from Jekyll, not even in a dissociative disorder manner. Mr. Hyde is a mask Dr. Jekyll uses to get away with indecent activity.
To give credit where it's due, the story of Jekyll and Hyde is an allegory for substance abuse, among other things. It's confirmed in the Piety Design Notes that Nightmare's "confusion" from his initially benevolent purpose was the result of Delphi affecting him negatively.
The only interesting feature of the skin is that it's actually Jekyll and Hyde, rather than Mr. Hyde alone. The intro animation is a replication of the famous transformation, with Jekyll turning to Hyde. This could be potential support that "Nightmare" is a chimeric entity representing multiple Orpheus identities, rather than solely a representation of Nightmare/"other Orpheus."
A charitable interpretation of the film choice is Mr. Hyde represents the self-perception of Nightmare/Orpheus, dehumanizing his "dark side" tied to the memories of Orph's past to a malevolent urge like Mr. Hyde. A less charitable interpretation is that it was chosen out of disinterest for selecting a more thematically compelling option. Regardless, it exists.
For the B-tiers, Nightmare's first B-tier was Duke White Raven
"Ostracized by the other nobles, he vowed to be the most remarkable amongst the mediocre and unambitious ravens."
Duke White Raven depicts NM with a white plague doctor mask and a fully-covering suit. He wears gloves, epaulettes, and long leggings. He also has an adorable turtleneck.
Duke White Raven is the only Nightmare skin that is part of an event. Representing a character from the Truth and Inference Universe, the Duke is the stingy manager of the Crystal Palace where the phantom is causing problems.
It's eventually revealed that the "phantom" is referring to multiple individuals: Amethyst Duchess Mary, the sister of Belladonna Mary, who sabotaged Duke White Raven's attempts to act as a phantom thief to deliver the Koh-i-Noor diamond to D.M., so that she could prevent D.M. (who was involved in Belladonna's death) from obtaining it; Duke White Raven himself, who was attempting to sabotage the Crystal Palace as revenge against his family placing him in a dead-end position; and Lockheart, the puppet phantom who sabotages the Duke's plan to avenge her father. The Duke disappears near the end of the storyline, yet to be seen since in TNI.
The Duke represents a crueler side of Nightmare, taking pleasure in humiliating others. At the same time, he was a victim of circumstance, being treated lesser by his own species for the crime of a skin condition.
A pale, disgraced nobleman exiled from his family due to his skin condition, covering himself in red clothes, associating himself with phantoms, and working with a major antagonist to steal a gemstone so he can take revenge on his family sounds.... oddly familiar.
The second B-tier release is Fan Visit.
"A great performer can garner fanatical fans anywhere. He hid amid the crowd and awaited an opportunity to steal a souvenir from the dainty "ecosphere"... Never had he expected that it would lead him to witness a scene that surpassed his imagination."
Fan Visit depicts Nightmare in his torn suit, but with a spider lily on his lapel, daisies in his trouser, and an embroidered image of Ecosphere (Melly and the film's protagonist) on his back.
Fan Visit is possibly responsible for the setting of COA VII, VIII, and IX. When he visited the set, he was unaware of the horrors within. Stealing one of Ecosphere props, it allowed him to witness the cosmic horror that would consume him, and would later consume the world, leading to the post-apocalyptic world of COA VII.
At the same time, Fan Visit isn't.... malevolent beyond it. He stole a prop as a souvenir, without being aware of its eldritch nature. No greater crime.
While Fan Visit shares a humorous nature like Roulette, he expresses a more "innocent" form of Nightmare. One who did do a crime, yes, but had no awareness of the devastation he would bring.
Nightmare's third B-tier is Lamenting Kite.
"He tirelessly crafts kites, dreaming that one day he'll grow wings of freedom and soar far above the clouds."
Lamenting Kite is from Season 37 Essence 3, and lives in the city of Iris. Iris is a beautiful, rainbow city renowned for a beverage called Eris' Tear. Yet, the indulgence in Eris' Tear is causing the degradation of the city from vice to flame. A utopia dies in a kaleidoscope of colors.
Lamenting Kite is the first Nightmare skin to be entirely benevolent. There's no implication he's involved in the failing utopia; all he wants to do is craft kites. When he's seen in the Essence, he's happily cheering glasses with the fellow members of Iris. Perhaps the beverage offers him brief freedom from his life (Fragile Essence Video).
Lamenting Kite's desire is to be free. This aligns with the implication Nightmare feels trapped within the Games, but is unable to stop them out of fear. He wants to end them, but feels as though he must embrace vengeance and hate out of necessity. Lamenting Kite is the gentler side of Nightmare. Were he not bound to vengeance, he would continue his quest to try and "free" Orpheus as a whole.
Design-wise, Lamenting Kite wears a dark blue, feather suit with a half-constructed kite. His mane feathers are iridescent and one sleeve is ripped to reveal rainbow macaw feathers. In contrast to the gloom and darkness of most Nightmare skins, Lamenting Kite is bright. Lamenting Kite is cheerful, in its own way.
This skin is gay as hell.
Nightmare's most recent B-tier is No Doubt
"Execution Unit: SRS-H-N03
Primary Task: Coordinate in combat with SRS-H-N01 and SRS-H-N02.
Classified Task: Monitor the behavioral patterns of all predators in real time. If deviation exceeds preset thresholds, immediately alert the human overseer"
No Doubt is found within Season 40 Essence 2, as an android tasked with retrieving Mayfly Jose alongside No Heart Burke and No Limit Sangria. Unbeknownst to Burke and Sangria, No Doubt is tasked with the task to report abnormal behavior to their superiors, so that they may be terminated. When No Heart hesitates to harm Mayfly and Dormant Tracey, No Doubt reports them without hesitation, costing No Heart, Ho Limit, and No Doubt their lives. Mayfly sacrifices himself to save Dormant (Mayfly Essence Video).
The thing is, the android names in Season 40 are ironic. No Heart Burke hesitates to harm an innocent girl, just as though main storyline Burke reveals he wants someone to escape the games alive in his Fourth Letter. No Limit Sangria is a supportive figure destroyed alongside No Heart, just like how she could not pass the limits to keep Madame Nicholas and succumbed to the flames in Game 3-2. No Passage Jeffrey sacrifices himself to hold the barrier against Burke and the androids, but they pass through once he is destroyed, and Jeffrey himself breaks the cages in his story.
No Doubt's name and role are ironic, reflective of Nightmare's tragedy in the main storyline. Nightmare is implied to feel remorse over the Manor Games, but believes he is trapped. He doubts himself, but cannot free himself. In the present, Detective is reminded he must trust himself. He must not doubt. Mythologically, in some versions, it is doubt that makes Orpheus turn back.
However, lacking doubt is another extreme. One that leads to doom.
Lastly, Nightmare's C-tiers are cryptic insights.
First, Misty Brown says, "Behind the mist lies a trap, but its allure is enough to captivate the heart." The Manor Games are heavily associated with traps, with the Novelist laying it out that he invites characters with the promise of fulfilling their greatest desires. If they say yes, then they are guilty, and whatever happens to them is acceptable. The only way to not be tempted by sin is to say no. Oletus Manor is the trap, but Oletus' promise of fulfilled desire is the bait, just like the casino in Roulette.
Second, Cursed Yellow says, "Pictures and symbols are the condiments of the game." First, calling it "cursed" ties back to the self-perception that nightmare is a bad omen, that Orpheus is cursed. The description itself, meanwhile, implies that the construction of the game is one of symbols, with them acting as "condiments": substances used to add flavor to food. The Manor Games often use symbols, plays, or other creations to structure the Games. A notable example is Game Eight being structured around a playbill the Circus Survivors were tasked to "perform."
Lastly, Abyss Blue says, "The beautiful nesting structure is powered by his malice and madness." Out of all the skin descriptions, this paints Nightmare as the most malevolent. This fits with the mention of the "Abyss," a motif in IDV associated with despair, embracing your inner monster, and becoming your worst self. "Abyss" the skin and Call of the Abyss personify it.
What's interesting is calling what appears to be Oletus Manor the "nesting structure," and comparing it to a bird's nest. Dennis DeRoss, Mrs. DeRoss, and Alice DeRoss are associated with nightingales, while Novelist Orpheus is associated with blue-throat nightingales, and Nightmare associated with ravens. Oletus Manor is a cursed bird nest that Orpheus roosts in.
Placing the skins together, we can infer some interesting things about Nightmare as a character.
Nightmare is morally ambiguous or malevolent in seven of his nine S, A, and B skins. To qualify as malevolent or morally ambiguous, there must be signs that he is aware of the consequences of his actions. While Fan Visit helped kickstart the apocalypse, he was unaware of the genre of story he was in, and Lamenting Kite is neither malevolent nor an antagonist. This supports that Nightmare is a morally ambiguous figure who is a threat, similar to how Queen Bee, Fool's Gold, and, oddly, Frederick Kreiburg (a Survivor) are depicted within their skins.
Nightmare is a tragic entity in four of his nine S, A, and B skins (Abyss, Duke White Raven, Fan Visit, and Lamenting Kite), six if you consider Jekyll/Hyde and No Doubt tragic. Adam trapped in evil, a nobleman discriminated for a skin condition, an unknowing fan stealing a deadly souvenir, and a kite-maker who yearns to be free.
Nightmare is depicted as a karmic, judging entity in three of his nine S, A, and B skins (Roulette, Piety, Nightstalker). This lines up with how Orpheus, particularly Novelist (such as Hollow) depicts himself as an avenging angel, like Edmond Dantès, the Count of Monte Cristo. Unlike Novelist, however, some of Nightmare's skins imply despair or indifference are the source of this judgement, such as Abyss and Piety.
Interestingly, Abyss is the only skin where Nightmare is depicted as the one "in-command." Roulette works with High Roller, Piety obeys Hollow, Nightstalker possibly works for Artificial Paradise, Mr. Hyde hasn't fully overthrown Jekyll, Duke White Raven received aid from D.M., and No Doubt was subordinate to the company.
What Does Nightmare Want?
Again, this is harder to determine than it seems.
So far it seems we only have two "confirmed" appearances of Nightmare in IDV: the DA CAPO video and the TOR Epilogue. All other appearances* of Nightmare (or "Nightmare") are from a recollection or an extremely vivid hallucination. I have suspicions about other potential appearances of Nightmare/"Other Orpheus," but without a smoking gun, I cannot be certain beyond noting behavioral differences.
*Examining handwriting changes provides mixed results. Detective and Charm share handwriting similarities with Nightmare, and there's not enough data on Novelist to compare with the others yet.
DA CAPO, while a promotional video by Studio PPURI, appears to be depicting an event believed to have happened in The Final Game, which is Orpheus DeRoss beating the daylights out of Norton Campbell. Nightmare's mask briefly appears as the "mirror Orpheus" punches his way through the glass wall. To do this, he must punch out his own reflection, an act of self-harm. At the same time, a desiccated Orpheus pulls himself from a throne he's tied to with tree roots, rehydrating himself in the process. Papers fly as strings similar to Lacrimosa swell. Afterward, Orpheus appears out of it, hyperventilating, with him connecting back to awareness upon seeing a diary on the ground. He calms down, later, as he listens to a music box (DA CAPO).
Orpheus' behavior seems reactive, as if Nightmare is a fight-or-flight response. Given Nightmare finds comfort in dark spaces, Orpheus associating the Final Game with the Oletus Manor Massacre (hallucinating Alice as her childhood self, the night their parents were murdered) and Orpheus possibly hallucinating Norton as his abusive biological father (who aided in the murder of his adoptive parents), this implies Orpheus may switch to Nightmare under stress.
Nightmare himself comments on it using the Japanese Twitter, arguing that himself/Detective switched in, believing on some level (likely subconscious) that reacting violently was a better response than a peaceful one (NM DA CAPO Twitter Reply).
What's interesting about that is that if the visual language is meant to represent Nightmare's agency, then it implies Nightmare has not been active in a long time. The identity of Orpheus who has been conducting the games, at least for a significant period of time, is not Nightmare, but another identity such as Novelist (or the identities Nightmare and Novelist stand in for). Orpheus' Third Letter supports this, with the decision to "revert" back to Orpheus' "original identity" in order to eliminate Sam Bourbon and **. It's left ambiguous if the writer is Nightmare or Novelist, but, either way, it implies they are aware of the "other" and will swap to them if needed (Orpheus Third Letter).
As mentioned in the first section, Nightmare's initial function was "purifying sin." Whatever he is or represents, he is not an inherently malevolent being. This is supported by how he's represented in the Identity V Tarot Cards.
Nightmare is assigned The Devil. All the Da Capos have devils, demons, and angels inside their motifs, but Nightmare is cast as the Devil (note: I have discussed Frederick as the Devil too, but Frederick is Lucifer, while Nightmare is better understood as Satan). In the Identity V Tarot Set, Nightmare is depicted as the Devil card.
What is interesting to note is that the Devil Card is not an evil card. It represents a warning. Upright, it warns you that you're trapped within desire, fear, addiction, hedonism. You are chained.
Nightmare appears to be aware how unhealthy his dependence on the Manor Games is, but is unable to free himself or his other identities from the fear they cease. He embraces malice out of belief he cannot be anything else. Orpheus is caged.
Reversed, the Devil represents freeing oneself from addiction, releasing oneself from what traps you, and exploring your dark side in balance.
Novelist is depicted as a separate card from the Devil, so he does not represent the reversed form of Nightmare. However, there is an identity of Orpheus that seeks to free himself from his past by returning to it: Detective.
We can infer more from Orpheus' Cage, where Nightmare is depicted as slinking between his memories, editing them. One of the reasons why is to find some truth locked within himself. I've elaborated on the piece here, without discussion of details like it being played freely or key signature, but the lyric analysis is insightful.
If Nightmare solely seeks to understand the truth of his past, then why is he rewriting his- and Orpheus as a whole- memories? One possibility is that Nightmare is trying to alter Orpheus' memories in a way that frees Orpheus from his trauma.
The question is, though, when Nightmare is the one "stuck" with processing the bad memories, with little integration between the Orpheus memories, how will it negatively affect him, or Orpheus as a whole? He keeps diving deeper and deeper, removing memories, but what does he remove with them? Self-medication is a temporary balm.
Nightmare, at the end of his song, demands the colder voice within him to tell him the "debt" he hides from him. If Nightmare is meant to be taken as a direct identity of Orpheus (and not the lower voice guarding the "debt"), this has massive implications on the Detective-Charm dynamic. Here, it is Nightmare who questions the mirror, the Novelist his shadow. The harsher, lower voice that sings within, that he questions in the mirror, is not Nightmare, and possibly the Novelist. Applying this to Time of Reunion, then Nightmare is closer to Detective than to Villain Charm.
Something interesting to note about Time of Reunion depiction of Nightmare is that a drug list implied to have been written by him, ending with the comment "I commend you for your foolish bravery" in red ink, is found in an journal implied to be owned by Alice. While Detective Orpheus, in his recollection of the past, assumes that the note is aimed at him, I suspect it was targeted at Alice.
A page before, implied to be Alice's last diary entry before the Final Game, is a comment on her vowing to "bring Orphy back." Nightmare appears to be cynically commenting on, perhaps even teasing her, about the idea that she can save Orpheus. Considering Orpheus (whether NM or Novelist or another identity) possibly refused Alice when she pushed him to stop the Games, she faces an overwhelming task. One that likely cost her life (TOR Act 3).
In Orpheus' Cage, while holding a bottle of a Delphi substance, possibly Orpheus itself, Nightmare muses whether he will "hold or fall." Will he be or not be? This invokes the Hamlet soliloquy where Hamlet debates whether suicide or life is the better fate.
Considering (possibly) Nightmare's response to Alice vowing to save Orpheus, one possibility is that Nightmare is a suicidal identity. He is amused by the idea that she can save Orpheus as a whole, including Nightmare. They are trapped. What is the fate of a trapped beast but death?
Alternatively, given the possibility that, after Alice's exploration of Arthur Byers' childhood, she may have seen the advice against Arthur regaining his traumatic memories as sound advice, Alice is attempting to "save" Orpheus by riding Orpheus of the Nightmare identity using drugs (Hastur Sixth Letter). Combine that with drawing a potential false equivalency between Hastur's bond with Arthur* and Nightmare being an identity of Orpheus, Alice could misunderstand Nightmare's purse as an external, malevolent entity, rather than a fragment of Orpheus harmed by addiction. Nightmare finds the idea laughable. Orpheus, having DID, can get rid of Nightmare as much as he can rid himself of a limb.
Nightmare can only "disappear" by combining with Orpheus' other identities and, even then, it would have to be the decision on Orpheus' part. This cannot be forced.
*Even though this is complicated by Hastur's relationship to Lakeside Village and how Arthur found some kind of peace embracing his possession, rather than have his trauma mistreated through questionable psychologists and exorcism by those around him (Hastur Seventh Letter).
Where is Nightmare Now
Again, a question more complicated than it appears.
In the Epilogue of Time of Reunion, an unconscious Orpheus is seen on the ground, Nightmare mask in his hand. Overheard is a voice saying "See you, Orphy," with a similar tone as Nightmare's voice in his Character Video. Combined with a newspaper clipping of the fire having the same words, a focus on the Nightmare mask in the shot, and the writer having similar red ink handwriting as the "I commend you" line, the Epilogue is trying to imply the speaker is responsible for the newspaper clipping and red handwriting as well. From this, it's implied to be Nightmare.
At the same time, the lack of guarantee if this is Nightmare, or who Nightmare is in relation to Orpheus' DID, leaves questions as to who is speaking, and why.
Assuming Nightmare is the only other identity, with the "host" Orpheus being the default, and that both identities persisted after the events of the Final Game, then Nightmare is promising to interact with him again, soon, in contest to Nightmare dissipating into smoke. It could represent Nightmare being Villain Charm, with the disassociation beginning during Detective's mental breakdown being the first clue that Charm-Nightmare has returned. On the opposite side, if Detective is what remains of Nightmare, then he successfully had taken over "Orphy's" spot as the host. Charm's behavior could be an effort to reclaim his role by whatever means necessary. Helping Detective-Nightmare remember the past and what he had done could be a step necessary to do so.
However, both of those accounts assume an inherently hostile dichotomy between the two Orpheus identities, one that, as discussed, the text itself challenges.
If Nightmare is not the only other identity, then it provides the question of who NM is in the present storyline. Nightmare could be Villain Charm or Detective as positioned, or he could be a third identity, one that is now returning. This could potentially be the "third party" Charm is afraid of in TOR. On the other hand, there are signs that the "third party" is external, such as the Prologue Reichenbach ploy and Detective being locked inside a room in TOR. Unless Detective's present perception is far less reliable than minor visual hallucinations, the latter is more likely.
If "Nightmare" is an allegorical or chimerical entity, then, again, we are left with the question of what does the return of "Nightmare" represent. It could be a signifier that Orpheus has learned too much about his past. He is no longer ignorant and he is teetering on learning the "truth." False memories are a start of a road, not a conclusion like Detective (and Alice) believes.
Considering the implication that whoever wanted Orpheus to return to the Manor wants closure for the "Final Game," Orpheus learning the truth of what happened is a necessary step in their plan. It's most likely that this individual is external to Orpheus, but, there is also the possibility they are internal, and are one of Orpheus' identities interested in bringing the Manor Games to a true conclusion.
A separate possibility is, whether as Charm, Dec, or a separate personality, NM is trying to aid Orpheus as a whole, but is confused on how to do so. This would align with Charm's attempts to tell Dec the truth in TOR, but being vague due to "someone else" he is afraid of.
Time of Reunion is described as the "End of the Nightmare," and the end of the tragedy, with a new beginning; Detective interprets it as the end of the Baron. The audience knows this is not true, due to both the "See You, Orphy" promise and the truth Orpheus is Baron DeRoss. However, it could represent the end of Nightmare's previous plan. If he directly represents an identity of Orpheus, whether as a distinct one or the previous form of Detective and/or Charm, it could represent their differences in comparison to their predecessor. If he is an allegorical being, it could represent Orpheus is forming a new relationship with his trauma. When he inevitably learns his past, he may not be chained to it. It is a new beginning for Nightmare.
In conclusion: We know very little about Nightmare, beyond he exists.
~~~
Next entry will be an overview of the Novelist, speculation on his origins, discussion of relation to Dennis DeRoss, Roy Kafe, and Sam Bourbon, his skins, and what it means for Orpheus.
