Forum:Keeper of Nightmares

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Keeper of Nightmares
Biographical information
Species:	Taken
Faction:	Taken of the Witness
Rank:	Ultra Primeval
Class:	Taken Hydra
Combat information
Mission:	Quest: Keeper of Nightmares Blighted Nightmare
Weapon(s):	Taken Aeon Maul
Abilities:	High Durability Temporary Immunity Midair Levitation Rotating Shields Teleportation Summon Taken Summon Blight Darkness Bolts Pulverizing Stomp Detonation Blight Bomb Summon Acolyte's Eyes Pools of Cleansing Light Dark Haze Dark Fetor Cast Oppressive Darkness Zone Regenerate Health (Blighted Nightmare) Summon Dread (Blighted Nightmare)

The Keeper of Nightmares is a massive and exceptionally powerful Taken Hydra, distinguished by its immense durability and unusually strong connection to Resonance. A Taken Primeval in service to the Witness. It appeared as a powerful and angry force seeking vengeance when its twin was killed.

History

It first appeared seeking vengeance for the defeat of its twin, the Keeper of Memories, but was itself defeated.

Following its twin's subsequent defeat, the Keeper of Nightmares resurfaced during the events of Blighted Nightmare, leading a massive army of Taken and Dread into Prismeer, a Domain of Delight within the Feywild. Acting under the orders of the Bishop of Salvation, it sought to assassinate Alexandra Enchester, drawing the attention of the domain's ruler, Zybilna, and Aloria's Chosen.

Gameplay

The Keeper of Nightmares is an exceptionally powerful Taken Hydra that possesses the standard weaponry and abilities of its kind, alongside several additional attacks, including Pulverizing Stomp and Blight Bomb. Its greatest threat comes from its ability to establish an Oppressive Darkness Zone, alongside its exceptional durability and numerous defensive capabilities.

The Keeper can summon Taken Blights that increase stacks of Dark Haze, strengthening the damage inflicted by Dark Fetor. When it casts Blight Bomb, any remaining Blights transform into explosive hazards unless they are destroyed beforehand. Destroying a Blight before its transformation creates a temporary Pool of Cleansing Light, which removes Dark Haze stacks and heals those who enter it. These temporary pools last for 12 seconds.

A permanent location for a Pool of Cleansing Light also exists at the center of the arena, although the Keeper typically guards this position. After being used, the central pool temporarily disappears before reappearing, functioning similarly to the cleansing pool encountered during the Templar encounter.

The Keeper can further harass opponents by summoning Acolyte's Eyes near temporary Pools of Cleansing Light, allowing them to attack players attempting to cleanse themselves. It can also unleash three Darkness Bolts simultaneously, making it particularly dangerous at range.

Players who successfully plant a Balefire at the center of the arena can maintain the central Pool of Cleansing Light indefinitely, forcing the Keeper to reposition toward the arena's perimeter. This interaction is not explicitly communicated to players and must be discovered independently, providing a significant tactical advantage.

During Blighted Nightmare, the Keeper attacks Prismeer with a massive army of Taken and Dread, initially engaging Alexandra Enchester and Zybilna. Upon the arrival of the party, Alexandra withdraws while Zybilna continues fighting alongside them.

The Keeper possesses three health pools protected by an Immunity Shield. Whenever a health pool is depleted for the first time, the Keeper regenerates its Immunity Shield, forcing players to break through its defenses again using Pools of Cleansing Light or Balefire. Each health pool can trigger this regeneration only once, even if its health is subsequently restored.

Throughout the encounter, Dread Husks attempt to approach the Keeper and sacrifice themselves to restore its health. These sacrifices can regenerate previously depleted health pools, allowing the Keeper to recover damage sustained during earlier phases of the battle. However, restoring and subsequently depleting a health pool does not reactivate its previously triggered Immunity Shield regeneration.

Players must therefore balance damaging the Keeper with intercepting the approaching Husks, as allowing repeated sacrifices can substantially prolong the encounter. Combined with its oppressive abilities, numerous reinforcements, and defensive capabilities, this allows the Keeper to sustain an extended battle of attrition against even exceptionally powerful opponents.

Trivia

• The Keeper of Nightmares appears as a Taken version of Pagouri as portrayed in some parts its model. It lacks some Tentacles but the ones it has plus its glow are tainted by Resonance as this Taken radiates Resonance more than any other Taken before it. Almost as if it was not Taken but rather plucked from the Sea of Screams and enhanced by the Witness.
  • This is supported by the fact its identified as a Taken Primeval. A Taken born of the Sea of Screams and The Witness being a powerful source of Resonant energy.
• Besides the Keeper of Nightmares itself. Only the Herald of Finality and Curseflinger have been shown casting more than one Darkness Bolt at once.