Preludes and Nocturnes

Lore & Background

The Dreaming is a vast, shifting dimension that exists parallel to reality, shaped by human imagination and the collective unconscious. It is here that Morpheus rules as the Lord of Dreams, maintaining the delicate balance between sleep and nightmare. However, his power is not absolute; he requires respect from humanity to function fully. When Roderick Burgess, a Victorian occultist obsessed with capturing the Endless, succeeds in trapping Dream using an ancient ruby, the Dreaming falls into disarray without its ruler. During Morpheus's absence, the realm suffers from neglect, and nightmares run rampant. The most significant of these is the Corinthian, a creation of Dream who escapes to feed on human flesh and terrorize London. This period highlights the symbiotic relationship between the Endless and humanity; when humans stop believing in or respecting certain aspects of their psyche, those entities weaken. Upon his release, Morpheus must navigate a world that no longer fears him, reclaim his stolen tools (the helmet, the ruby, and the pouch), and confront the consequences of his own hubris.

In Their Own Story

The air in the Dreaming tastes of dust and forgotten memories. A figure cloaked in starlight walks through a corridor that shifts from marble to wood to bone with every step. He pauses before a mirror that shows not his reflection, but the faces of those who dream tonight. They are terrified; their nightmares have grown teeth while he was gone. The Corinthian's laughter echoes down the hall, a sound like glass breaking in a quiet room. Morpheus touches the cold stone wall, feeling the tremor of the realm beneath his fingers. It is time to wake up the world.

Reader's Guide

The arc begins with Dream being summoned and captured by Roderick Burgess using an ancient ruby, leading to decades of imprisonment. Upon escaping in the 20th century, Morpheus discovers his domain has been neglected, causing chaos among his subjects. He travels to London to retrieve his lost tools from a pawnshop owner who unknowingly holds them. During this journey, he encounters the Corinthian, a nightmare entity that has escaped and is terrorizing humans by feeding on their fear and flesh. Morpheus eventually confronts the Corinthian in a theater, reclaiming control over the nightmare but realizing the damage done to his reputation. The arc concludes with Dream visiting the sunken city of Atlantis and meeting Lucifer Morningstar, who offers him the keys to Hell, setting up future conflicts. Key themes include the nature of responsibility, the power of belief, and the consequences of ignoring one's duties. It introduces the core cast of the Endless and establishes the tone for the entire series.

Did You Know?

• The Corinthian was originally created by Dream as a gift to the Lord of Nightmares, but he became a rogue entity due to Dream's negligence.
• Roderick Burgess captured Dream using an ancient ruby that had been passed down through generations of occultists.
• Lucifer Morningstar appears in this arc offering Dream the keys to Hell, marking one of the first major interactions between the two powerful beings.
• The story spans from the 19th century to the late 20th century, showing how human society changes while the Endless remain constant.