Structure of the Nightmare Dimension
Part Two: the Four Elements of Nightmare
Elemental Nature of the Fifth Dimension
In the Nightmare dimension there are actually four basic elements, just like the ones existing in the Multiverse, but being it another dimension, they are quite different from ours. More precisely, being the Nightmare dimension in many ways a mirror image of the Multiverse, the four elements are nearly a complete opposite to our own. An example of this is the Blackflame, that has been widely used by the Hin as their Clan Relic, and in fact a transplantation in the Prime Plane of a Nightmare Element. The four elements of the Nightmare Dimension are the Blackflame, the NightmAir, [the Vischor and the Pastearth]. Obviously, the Nightmare's dimension nature results in the complete inversion of the dominance elemental table:
Blackflame dominates Vischor
Vischor dominates Nightmair
Nightmair dominates Terro
Terro dominates Blackflame
The differences between our Multiverse and the Nightmare dimension don't end here. Another interesting aspect of this Dimension is that there are no distinct Elemental planes; rather, the entire dimension is made of an amorphous mass at what could be considered its center, immerged in a mixture of the four elements that are not definitely separated by the others. This influences much the features of the Plane, that are better explained in that specific chapter.
Blackflame
Blackflame is the Nightmare Dimensional equivalent of Normal fire. It originates on the Nightmare Dimensional Region of Fire, and is occasionally found in isolated locations beneath the region of Mystara known as the Five Shires. Dimensional instabilities in the area allow Blackflame to exist in its natural state, rather than appearing simply as Normal fire (as it would if properly dimensionally shifted). The properties of Blackflame are essentially opposite those of Normal fire- it is cold, it burns items considered non-flammable by Normals, it gives off darkness rather than light. Blackflame fulfils many of the same needs that Normal fire does for Normals.
Nightmair
Freezingly cold, poisonous and chocking to Primes- this is the NightmAir, the commonly breatheble air of the Nightmare dimension. Its consistence is somewhere between liquid and gaseous; where it becomes colder it is also lighter, and so it becomes more gaseous. Normally, it seems to be a sort of an extremely humid fog. A creature passing through it becomes in fact as wet as a person on the Prime being caught in a light shower. The NightmAir is obviously easily breathable by Nightmare creatures, but proves to be poisonous to Primes: not only it has the same consequences of the Cloudkill spell, caused by the interactions of its chemical molecules that differ completely from our own, but it effectively chockes its victim with its watery consistance that rapidly fills the inappropriate lungs of Primes, causing death in a number of turns equal to their constitution. If the Prime is amphibian, it can resist for a double amount of time, if the Cloudkill effect doesn't kill him first. The natural colour of Nightmair is purple, lighter at night, and darker at day.
Vischor
This viscous and horrend ichor is the Water counterpart of the Nightmare Dimension. At its best, Vischor seems a freak mixture of acid and mud, but it is in fact very fluid, though seemingly half-solid and viscous to the touch. (Don't worry if these features seem impossible to coexist- it's another Dimension, after all!) The Vischor in its more fluid aspect is the common drinkable water of the Plane, although not all creatures need it to survive. It is rather poisonous to Primes: the only way to get water here is to use a 'Neutralize Poison' spell on the Vischor, that will become a disgusting fluid deprived of its venomous components. In this state the Vischor may be drank, but it will give a painful stomach ache for 2-12 hours subsequentely (no save allowed, due to its alien nature), until the body learns to recognize it and becomes able to assimilate it. After the first time, a save versus poison is allowed to resist to the ache; when it will be done successfully, there will be no need of it, because it will mean that the body has adapted to it. The stomach ache drains temporarily three points of strenght and gives a -4 penalty to attack rolls.
Terro
Terro is the name of the Diaboli controlled region of the Plane, and it has given also the name to the Fifth Dimensional equivalent of Earth. Terro is a strange substance; although it's quite similar to our Earth, it's hot, and its consistence seem muddy, like that of swamplands; nevertheless, moving on it is exactly like moving on the Prime Plane, at least in the more 'normal' region of the Plane. Zones of very hot Terro are present in the Nightmare Plane, and where it is hotter the muddy feel is much reduced. Diaboli live in a region where the Terro is quite hot, and it damages clothes and similar objects originated in the Prime Plane if they are not treated with the oil made of Ghraknar fat (see the Monstrous Compendium). The same applies to any organic material that is in contact with it (eg: bare skin!).
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