Editing Forces of the Emperor's Nightmare (section)

==The Sleepless==

A shadow sits over the Emperor's Nightmare. A ghastly curse brought on by the flaws in their Catalapsean Node which chills each and every nightmare to their marrow. It comes like a thief in the night, even the Chapter's Apothecarion doesn't understand the reasons behind its manifestation. From a newly implanted scout to the living relics which are August Dreamwalkers in Iron, nothing is safe from Sleeplessness.

A Nightmare unfortunate enough to become Sleepless will find the rest which proceeds their months awake not to come. Their waking hours stretch on, and on, and on, until the Catalapsean Node has degraded near enough entirely.

These unfortunates, tortured by the incessant wakefulness, start to feel their sanity fray. They will become more alert, faster, with a greater attention to detail than even the rest of their chapter. Unfortunately, even Space Marines cannot endure without rest forever, and sooner or later the Sleepless will lose their grip on reality, attacking even their own chapter in misguided fury.

Looking after and restraining the Sleepless is the province of the Apothecarion, who maintain a vast hold within the chapter keep where these maniacs are kept. Most Nightmares who realize the symptoms immediately turn themselves in, while others hold out in desperate hope for rest. Once Sleeplessness has been confirmed funerary rites are held for the Nightmare, their dreamcatcher ceremonially cut, and their name stricken from chapter records.

In battle the Sleepless form a close mob of howling killers, racing for the enemy (or what they perceive to be the enemy) with the focused fury of true madmen. Other Marines give the Sleepless a wide berth on the battlefield, for all are aware that they may be next to feel the blades of the undreaming.