As my companions and I finish packing up our campsite, a sense of anticipation and apprehension hangs heavy in the air. Breakfast has fortified us, but now it's time to face the trials ahead. With determined steps, we make our way to the path where Iria awaits, accompanied by their ominous beast. Iria's menacing look and manic grin send a shiver down my spine, but I square my shoulders and exchange a glance with my companions, silently conveying our resolve to face whatever lies ahead together.

 Iria says with an eerie toned voice “you young travelers ready for your worst nightmares” as they speak these words, thunder clacks in the sky sending shivers down our spine.

Iria speaks with a sinister tone” I like to add dramatic affect to my word sometimes.”

Then a menacing cackle skips their mouth.

Iria's eerie tone sends a shiver down my spine as they speak, “Each and every one of you will be facing their worst fear on their own and if you all succeed my path will open for you and you will get a safe passage through my domain, if you fail your souls will be mine, let us begin”.

The ominous thunder punctuates their words with a sense of foreboding.

Their sinister demeanor adds an unsettling atmosphere to the already tense moment. As they finish speaking, a menacing cackle escapes their lips, echoing through the forest and sending a chill through the air. We exchange uneasy glances, knowing that our worst nightmares await us, and steel ourselves for the challenges ahead.

With a wave of Iria’s hand, me and my companions are transported into our worst nightmares.

---

(POV Helgi)

I Wake up in my nightmare, the village lies in ruins, engulfed in roaring flames that lick at the sky with an insatiable hunger. The acrid stench of smoke chokes the air, filling my lungs with a suffocating dread. Screams pierce the night, their anguished cries echoing off the charred remains of homes and buildings.

Amidst the chaos, I see the attackers, their figures shrouded in darkness as they move with predatory grace. Their eyes gleam with malice, reflecting the flickering flames as they descend upon the village like a swarm of vengeful spirits.

My family and friends stand huddled together, their faces pale with fear as they face the onslaught of the merciless invaders. I watch helplessly as they are outnumbered and overwhelmed, their cries for mercy drowned out by the roar of the inferno.

The clash of steel rings out in the night as I charge into battle, my heart pounding with a primal fear as I confront the enemy. The air is thick with the metallic tang of blood as swords clash and bodies fall, the ground slick with the crimson stain of spilled life.

With each strike, I feel the weight of my fear pressing down on me, threatening to overwhelm my senses. But I refuse to give in to despair, drawing strength from the desperate cries of my loved ones and the fierce determination burning within my heart.

As the battle reaches its climax, I fight with a savage ferocity, my sword slashing through the darkness with deadly precision. The enemy falls before me, their twisted forms crumbling to the ground like broken dolls. 

Finally, as the last of the attackers lie defeated, I collapse to my knees, my body trembling with exhaustion and relief. I gather my family and friends close, their tear-streaked faces a haunting reminder of the horrors we have endured.

 In the aftermath of the nightmare, I am left shaken but unbowed, my resolve hardened by the ordeal. Though the scars of the battle may never fade, I know that I have faced my deepest fears and emerged stronger for it.

--

(POV Björn)

I Wake up in my nightmare, I'm transported back to that fateful day when I was just a young boy, powerless to stop the tragedy unfolding before my eyes. The air is thick with dread as I watch helplessly, my heart pounding in my chest like a drumbeat of terror.

 I see my mother, Fönn, standing before me, her face a mask of fear as she faces off against my uncle, Klaki, her murderer. His eyes gleam with malice as he raises his weapon, a cruel smirk twisting his lips as he prepares to strike.

I scream out in desperation, but my voice is drowned out by the deafening roar of my own terror. I'm paralyzed, unable to move or look away as the nightmare unfolds before me in agonizing slow motion.

The memory is etched into my mind with excruciating clarity, each detail haunting me like a ghost from the past. I can hear my mother's voice, pleading for mercy, and I can see the look of betrayal in her eyes as Klakis blade descends.

The sound of metal meeting flesh echoes in my ears, a sickening thud that reverberates through my soul. I want to run, to hide, to escape the horror unfolding before me, but I'm rooted to the spot, trapped in a nightmare from which there is no escape.

But even as fear threatens to consume me, a glimmer of hope flickers in the darkness. With a surge of inner strength, I confront my deepest fears, accepting that I couldn't have changed the outcome of that tragic day.

In that moment of acceptance, the nightmare begins to lose its grip on me. I feel a weight lift from my shoulders, a sense of forgiveness and peace washing over me like a cleansing tide.

 I emerge from the nightmare stronger and more resilient than ever before, ready to face the challenges that lie ahead with newfound courage and determination. The memory of my mother's sacrifice will always be with me, guiding me forward as I embark on a journey of healing and self-discovery. 

--

(POV Gyða)

I Wake up in my nightmare, I find myself standing in the midst of a scene of unimaginable suffering. Everywhere I look, there are people in desperate need of my help, their cries of pain and anguish echoing in the air. My heart races with fear as I realize that I am their only hope for survival.

 I reach out with trembling hands, trying to heal their wounds and ease their suffering, but my efforts are in vain. No matter what I do, I cannot alleviate their pain or save them from their fate. Each failure weighs heavily on my soul, filling me with a sense of overwhelming helplessness and despair.

 The pressure mounts as more and more people turn to me for help, their eyes pleading for relief from their suffering. I feel a crushing sense of responsibility weighing down on me, knowing that their lives hang in the balance and that I am powerless to save them.

 But amidst the chaos and despair, a glimmer of determination flickers within me. I refuse to give up, even in the face of insurmountable odds. Drawing on every ounce of strength and courage I possess, I search for alternative solutions, digging deep into my knowledge of healing arts and remedies.

 As I work tirelessly to find a way to save those in need, a sense of urgency drives me forward. The fear of failure gnaws at my insides, pushing me to my limits as I push myself to find a solution. With each passing moment, the weight of my responsibility grows heavier, threatening to crush me beneath its burden.

 But then, just when all hope seems lost, I have a breakthrough. A new approach, a different perspective, a creative solution that offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. With renewed determination, I press on, refusing to let fear hold me back.

In the end, it is not just my skills as a healer that save the day, but my resilience, my determination, and my refusal to give up in the face of adversity. Through facing my worst nightmare head-on, I discover a strength within myself that I never knew I possessed and emerge stronger and more confident than ever before.

--

(POV Elbereth)

 I Wake up in my nightmare, darkness descended upon me like a suffocating shroud, thick and oppressive. The air turned heavy with an ominous presence, and the ground beneath my feet felt unstable, as though it could give a way at any moment.

 Suddenly, I stood in the heart of Silverwood Haven, but the scene before me was twisted and horrifying. The once serene village was now engulfed in flames, devouring everything in its path.

 My heart raced with panic as I desperately tried to rally my fellow guards and the villagers. But my commands were futile, drowned out by the crackling inferno. I fought to extinguish the flames, but they raged on relentlessly, consuming all in their wake.

 With horror, I watched as my comrades fell, their valiant efforts in vain against the merciless blaze. I reached out to them, but I was paralyzed, trapped in my own nightmare.

 The villagers' screams pierced the air, their faces contorted in agony as they begged for salvation. I was powerless to help them, forced to witness their suffering as they succumbed to the fire.

 Each moment weighed heavier on my soul, a crushing sense of helplessness and despair consuming me. I was a failure as a guardian, unable to protect those under my care.

 As the flames closed in around me, engulfing me in darkness, In the heart of the raging inferno, a spark of hope ignited within me. Despite the overwhelming despair threatening to engulf me, I refused to succumb to the darkness that loomed around me.

 Summoning every ounce of determination within me, I closed my eyes and focused on the oath I had sworn as a royal guard - to protect the people of Silverwood Haven at any cost. Drawing upon the strength of my resolve, I broke free from the grip of fear that held me captive and took a stand.

 With a defiant cry that echoed through the flames, I called upon my inner strength and courage. Tapping into the power of my elven heritage, I conjured a barrier of pure energy, a shield of light that surrounded me and pushed back against the relentless blaze.

 As the flames licked at the edges of my protective barrier, I stood firm and unyielding, my eyes blazing with determination. With each passing moment, the inferno began to falter, its destructive force waning in the face of my unwavering resolve.

With a final surge of energy, I unleashed a wave of healing magic, a torrent of pure energy that swept through the village and quenched the flames in its wake. Relief washed over the villagers as they emerged from their hiding places, their faces reflecting gratitude and awe.

 In that moment of triumph, I realized that true strength lay not in the absence of fear, but in the courage to confront it head-on. I had vanquished my worst nightmare, not through sheer force or power, but through the unwavering determination to protect those I held dear.

 As the flames subsided and the village basked in the soft light of dawn, I stood as a symbol of hope and resilience, a testament to the power of courage and conviction in the face of adversity. 

--

(POV Cordelia)

 I Wake up in my nightmare, I find myself enveloped in darkness, suffocating and disoriented. I struggle to move, to breathe, as if invisible chains bind me, constricting my every movement. Fear grips my heart like icy fingers, paralyzing me with its suffocating grip.

 Surrounded by menacing shadows and looming figures, I feel their oppressive presence closing in on me, suffocating my spirit and crushing my will. I reach out in desperation, searching for a way to break free from this suffocating nightmare, but my efforts are futile.

 With each passing moment, the darkness deepens, swallowing me whole and dragging me further into its depths. I cry out for help, but my voice is drowned out,

 by the deafening silence of my tormentors.

 As the nightmare continues to unfold, I find myself trapped in a never-ending cycle of confinement and despair. Every attempt to escape is met with failure,

leaving me trapped in a prison of my own making.

 The sense of helplessness and despair is overwhelming, threatening to consume me entirely. I struggle to hold on to hope, to cling to the belief that there must be a way out of this endless nightmare.

 But as the darkness closes in around me, I realize with a sinking heart that there is no escape. I am powerless to break free from the chains that bind me, condemned to suffer in this suffocating darkness for all eternity. With each movement I make, the chains cut into my skin, leaving me bleeding from my wrists and ankles. The darkness surrounding me, the shadow in the darkness degrades me, calling me worthless, weak, a failure. With each word, the shadows slash me, leaving my back bleeding. The darkness slowly suffocates me, my breath shortens, my heartbeat slows, my lungs filled with the noxious fumes of despair my body shuts down and my organs slowly shutting off, the darkness swallows me whole. 

--