Info
HABITAT(S): Dreams
0BXX
Rapid Eye Movement during an interaction with The Dreamwalker.
Entity X-a — The Dreamwalker — is believed to be a variant of The Keymaster, serving a function analogous to his own within a system of stable, recurring dream-spaces. Although appearances of The Dreamwalker in The Backrooms only began shortly after the Twisted Penumbra Incident, records found in The Middlesorts pertaining to the entity's native reality indicate encounters dating back much further. As communication with the entity is difficult at best, most information pertaining to her has been obtained from these secondhand accounts.
Description
The Dreamwalker has never been directly observed nor perceived, even in dreams, leading to the belief that such a thing may be simply impossible. The closest to a visual description that has been provided was spots manifesting in one wanderer's peripheral vision, accompanied by a splitting headache after asking the entity to "show herself."
Mockup image of Entity X-a, based on a description by Entity X.
In all known instances, the entity manifests in dreams as a "presence," and in some rare cases this presence can persist into waking thought. The "presence" appears to convey a feeling that the entity is in close proximity to oneself, accompanied by basic concepts and emotions which the entity wishes to communicate. There may also be unknown instances in which the entity does not make her presence known, though this obviously cannot be proven.
In a passing mention, The Keymaster claimed to have directly seen the Dreamwalker. When pressed for details, he provided a vague description which was then used to construct a mockup image as a possible depiction. It is speculated that The Keymaster's nature allows him to perceive things which humans cannot, thus allowing him to see the Dreamwalker's true form.
Biology
The Dreamwalker is believed to be an adult human female named Isabelle Liligrass, located in the coma ward of Sheffield Hospital in her native reality. Prior to her coma, she was known to associate with a group of skilled astral projectors and lucid dreamers, whom used these techniques to explore a system of stable, recurring dream-spaces. Isabelle herself was described as "reserved" and possibly even depressed, having repeatedly stated a preference for dream-space over reality. The last item found scheduled in Isabelle's journal was a planned dream-dive, from which she apparently never woke up. Although it exists "rule" of dream-space that two dreamers can never meet, since the incident many dream-divers and later wanderers have reported feeling her presence in their dreams accompanied by the repeated appearance of keys. The bleed-over of emotions and simple concepts in her presence may be an effect of two dreamers attempting to share the same dream, and thus the same mind. A notable aspect is the presence of of a physical cloak and keyring left by her bedside, further tying her to The Keymaster. It is unknown what effect the physical proximity of these items has (if any), although they may relate to her power.
Behaviors
The Dreamwalker visits sleeping wanderers in their dreams. Most will never encounter her, although some are visited frequently. First encounters may be frightening, especially to non-lucid dreamers who do not know they are in a dream. Accompanying a strong feeling of being watched, keys of various form will begin to appear in keyholes found throughout the dream — in objects such as doors, cabinets, briefcases, chests, puzzle boxes, clocks, and even wind-up toys. Removing these keys has no effect, and they will generally disappear shortly afterwards when not in sight. However, turning the keys transports the wanderer from one dream-space to another. These dream-spaces are stable and consistent, with the same spaces being described by multiple independent witnesses. It has been suggested that they are levels of The Backrooms which do not reside on the physical place and may only be visited in dreams. The entity can be spoken to, and if a specific dream-space is requested, the corresponding key will appear. The entity has even manifested keys to other people's dreams on request, but attempts to use them has always resulted in both dreamers waking up with headaches.
Reports of earlier encounters with The Dreamwalker in her native reality describe her behavior somewhat differently form how she has since behaved in The Backrooms. They recount receiving the feeling that she wanted to "trade places," and that they were being offered all of the dreams she showed them. Groups exploring these dream-spaces had strongly cautioned against accepting her offer, as they believed it would result in anyone who did never waking up. Curiously, these feelings are absent from her appearances in The Backrooms, and may indicate a change in the entity's behavior. What prompted this change is unknown.
Relations
Humans: The Dreamwalker visits various dreaming humans and appears benevolent in her interactions, limited as they are. Although she was avoided as a hazard by dream-divers, The M.E.G. has taken a much more open approach to interaction. There are several individuals she has "befriended" and visits frequently, even demonstrating the ability to remain with them after they wake up in what is described as a "daydream state." These interactions have proved extremely useful in documenting dream-space. In return the entity appears to enjoy conversation, generally consisting of the visited wanderer speaking to the entity and changing topics if the emotional feedback indicates she is disinterested. In waking interactions this can give the appearance that they are talking to themselves.
Entities: It is unknown to what extent The Dreamwalker interacts with entities, although some instances of interaction with highly intelligent entities have been confirmed. It is speculated that entities of A-class intelligence or higher have the mental capability to fully share The Dreamwalker's mind-state and are not limited in their interaction.
Previous Dreamwalkers: It is considered likely that The Dreamwalker is a role that can be passed from one person to another, and that others have held it in the past. In her final dream-dive, Isabelle Liligrass likely met and accepted the role from her predecessor, as previous Dreamwalkers did from theirs. The passing of the mantle likely allows the former Dreamwalker to return to their physical form and awaken.
Discovery
The first appearances of The Dreamwalker within The Backrooms began shortly after the Twisted Penumbra Incident, though were not verified until after multiple individuals corroborated extremely similar dreams in which they encountered her. A full investigation was not launched until after most of the aid efforts to decimated settlements in the aftermath of the aforementioned incident had been completed. When the entity was properly documented, no connection was originally made to The Keymaster despite the recurring key motif, and it would not be until it was matched to similar reports from former dream-divers found in Middlesorts that the connection would be drawn and The Dreamwalker would be reclassified as Entity X-a.
