Concept:

Since enter_universim is inspired by dreams, it would make a lot of sense to create a Conjure inspired by a dream catcher.

In my mind, I want to incorporate spiders into this, as spiders are an innate fear humans have. My initial idea is to have the dream catcher not be the Conjure itself, but instead a vessel for containment for an entity born of channeled nightmares.

Research:

• Dream catchers are objects that are often associated with Native American cultures, particularly the Ojibwe (Chippewa) tribe. They are typically made of a small hoop, usually made of willow, and adorned with a web-like pattern of thread or sinew. The hoop is traditionally wrapped in leather and decorated with feathers, beads, and other sacred items.
• The origin of dream catchers can be traced back to the Ojibwe people, who are indigenous to the Great Lakes region of North America. According to Ojibwe legend, a mystical and protective spider woman known as Asibikaashi (also spelled Asibikaasi) watched over the tribe's people, especially the children. As the Ojibwe tribe grew and spread across the land, it became challenging for Asibikaashi to reach all individuals. So, the Ojibwe people started creating dream catchers as a way to replicate her protection.
• The traditional purpose of a dream catcher is to ward off harm and negativity in the air, getting caught in the web of the dream catcher. Dream catchers are not traditionally associate with dreams, and have since been appropriated by Western culture, which has given dream catchers an alternate purpose, which is to filter out bad dreams and allow only positive and meaningful dreams to enter the sleeper's mind. The web-like pattern is believed to catch the bad dreams, while the good dreams pass through the center and gently descend upon the sleeper. When the first light of morning arrives, the bad dreams caught in the web evaporate and disappear.

Translatable Qualities:

Since I want the Conjure to be a malicious entity trapped within the dream catcher, I think the best approach is to focus on the offensive archetype. I want the entity to still be able to interact with the world from inside the dream catcher however.

• Perhaps the Conjure could concentrate nightmarish energy through the dream catcher as a ‘beam’ of sorts, since dream catchers channel negative energy into their webbing.
  • Perhaps a powerful ranged attack that can only go in straight lines, light a laserbeam?
    • Perhaps it could spend turns charging up this attack to grow stronger, unleashing a more concentrated version?
  • Perhaps an ability that can heal the Conjure if conditions for ‘channeling’ energy are met?
    • Perhaps if allies take x amount of damage, the Conjure could be healed for x amount?
  • Perhaps an ability that ‘traps’ enemies in the webbing?
    • If the enemy deals a fatal blow, they cannot move for x amount of turns?
      • If they deal x amount of damage?

Conjure Ideas:

I’m very much inspired by the initial idea I had, whereby a malicious entity born of nightmarish energy resides within a dream catcher. Since spiders are strongly related to this concept, and are an incredibly common fear, perhaps the entity within could resemble a spider? I’m not going to heavily reference spiders, as I am a massive arachnophobe, but I will absolutely make suggestions to them that won’t trigger it.

• Nightmarish entity combining multiple common fears into one being?
  • Spiders?
  • Skeletons?
  • Devilish imagery e.g horns?
• True form hidden within the dream catcher?
  • Legs attempting to break free?
  • Vague representation of the entity?

Moodboards:

The moodboards don’t have any spiders on them as my arachnophobia unfortunately triggers at sight, not just presence. I will have to make some educated assumptions based on written texts and my own memories to serve as reference. I will also be making references in Blender to make sure I make something that looks enough like a spider to demonstrate the inspiration and stay in line with it.

Conjure Brief:

• Create a Conjure inspired by dream catchers. Within the dream catcher is a malicious entity composed of pure nightmarish energy that has been concentrated into it.
  • The entity is to take inspiration from horrific imagery, utilising common human fears that could be the subject of nightmares, such as spiders, snakes, skeletons, blood/gore.
  • Imagery should be nothing short of evil and demonic to connote nightmares
  • The entity is to be shown trapped within the dream catcher, its full form heavily obscured, its legs or arms may protrude through the webbing in an attempt to anchor itself in ‘reality’.