𝐟𝐚𝐪

[uruz]

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

🝊 WHAT IS SOMNIA? Somnia is a private panfandom roleplay set in a surreal, apocalyptic world haunted by a god called Sleep. Characters arrive through dreams and awaken transformed— physically, mentally, and spiritually— into vessels of her infection. This is a game about horror, intimacy, memory, and the slow erosion of identity. It blends elements of psychological horror, dream logic and body horror. The game draws inspiration from the music and lore of Sleep Token, as well as their graphic novel Teeth of God, elements from The Last of Us, Annihilation, Avatar, Resident Evil, Stranger Things and more. 🝊 WHERE DOES SOMNIA TAKE PLACE? Somnia takes place across two overlapping realities: a crumbling, post-apocalyptic physical world and the deeper, surreal dreamscape. When your character is first pulled into Somnia, they’re drawn through the dreamscape: a boundless realm shaped by Sleep’s will. When they wake up, they’re in the real world of Somnia: a physically ruined version of Earth twisted by her touch. This is a landscape torn apart by some great, forgotten disaster, all collapsed cities, overgrown highways, flooding skies, and the husks of what once was. In some places, it’s almost normal. In others, it’s been dream-touched, warped by broken logic, impossible geometry, or organic rot. The two worlds bleed into each other. Sometimes dreams spill into waking life. Sometimes reality bends without warning. It’s unstable, shifting, and always a little wrong. The world of Somnia is shaped by the Murmur, by magic, and by the people inside it. As characters bond, transform, and explore, new zones will open, revealing more of this broken place and the deeper, stranger things lurking beneath it. . . . You know. Like New York. 🝊 WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM THE GAME? 🪢Eldritch/psychological horror, survival/apocalyptic horror, fictional religious elements, body horror, occasional nsfw/sexual content and emotional challenges with low energy break months to recoup in between 🪢A vast dream world that slowly reveals itself and a post-apocalyptic waking world. 🪢Dream-logic environments and dissonance 🪢Optional bonds 🪢Themes of intimacy, belief, decay, and transformation 🪢A soundtrack-driven structure using Sleep Token's music 🝊 WHAT ARE VESSELS? Upon arrival, each character is transformed into a Vessel. They are otherworlders who have been drawn into this one by Sleep and changed in the process. Every Vessel takes on one of two forms: Tokens are altered into beings of psychic or metaphysical power, capable of strange magic and perception beyond reality. Offerings are transformed into monster-like forms— part bestial, their bodies reflect the trauma and dreams they carried into the world. 🝊 WHAT IS THE MURMUR? The Murmur is the lingering psychic connection between all vessels. It is how they speak in dreams, how they feel each other's pain, and how Sleep's influence spreads. It is not a network anyone chooses to join— it simply exists. Players can explore The Murmur as deeply or lightly as they wish, but know that it will always be present. 🝊 WHAT ARE TETHERS AND CONVERGENCE? Tethers are emotional and spiritual bonds between two characters— whether romantic, platonic, toxic, codependent, or something different. These bonds give mechanical and narrative benefits, but also come with vulnerability: emotions bleed across Tethers, and proximity strengthens them. When a Tether grows deep enough, it may become a Convergence— a permanent and overwhelming connection that changes both Vessels in irreversible ways. 🝊 CAN MY CHARACTER TETHER WITH CREATURES OR THE LANDSCAPE? Yes! Optional mechanics allow your character to form temporary or permanent Tethers with local flora, fauna, or strange environmental features. These come with insight, power, or companionship— but overuse may lead to signs of Succumbence. 🝊 WHAT IS SUCCUMBENCE? Succumbence is the process of giving in to Sleep’s infection. As a Vessel draws deeper into The Murmur through overuse of their power, too many Ambiental Tethers, or too much emotional erosion, they may begin to physically and mentally change. Succumbence is slow, gradual, and often ugly or beautiful. It may be a chosen path or a tragic one, but it is not immediate and never irreversible— until the final stage, when a Vessel becomes a Host: fully consumed by Sleep’s will. 🝊 HOW LONG DOES THE GAME RUN? Somnia is structured in phases tied to Sleep Token’s discography. The Prelude Phase uses early EPs, singles, and covers to introduce Sleep, the infection, and the world’s crumbling boundaries. Then each full-length album spans about one year of gameplay: 🪢Sundowning: The slow collapse of Sleep's illusion. NPCs begin to interact more with player characters through game events, player characters may begin to rebel. 🪢This Place Will Become Your Tomb: Sleep's retaliation and the word's descent into psychological and physical ruin. The Murmur deepens, and bonds are tested. 🪢Take Me Back to Eden: Sleep's reckoning and NPC's counterattack. The world threatens to reshape; vessels face their final forms, dreams, or deaths. 🪢Even in Arcadia: An Epilogue . . . Or the beginning of another chapter. Do you think The Cycle Must End or The House Must Endure? The total planned runtime at the moment is approximately 3.5 to 4 years, with narrative break months between arcs. This can span a little more or less depending on player run plots, suggestions and character choices. This estimate may be subject to change (or not!). We'll see what the future holds :) 🝊 HOW DO I JOIN? Start with the Invite page and ask for a Mod invite or get an invite from an existing player that has been in the game for at least a month. Then keep an eye out for our Test Drive Meme to get a feel for the game, Reserves and then Apps! 🝊 IS THERE A NETWORK? In a way! Every Vessel arrives with a mask, blindfold, or veil— a symbolic object bound to their transformation. When worn, it grants access to a shared psychic space we're going to be very original about and call it The Network. The Network is not technology. It is sensation, dream logic, and half-remembered language. Through it, Vessels can communicate over distance— like whispering across a void or leaving behind a memory for someone to find. Mechanically, the Network allows characters to send: 🪢Telepathic messaging, brief and intimate like thoughts or texts 🪢Illusory voice communication, where a vessel hears another’s voice in their mind 🪢Projected apparitions, resembling the speaker’s form in a dreamlike facsimile, like a waking hallucination or VR This communication feels deeply personal, more like memory than machinery. It is not bound by distance, but proximity can intensify its clarity. Masks and blindfolds are not merely tools; they are sacred conduits. The more emotionally charged the message, the more vivid— or distorted— the transmission. 🝊 HOW DOES DEATH WORK IN SOMNIA? Death in Somnia isn’t permanent— but it’s serious. There are ways to come back, either through necromancy (by other player characters with the right abilities) or with help from certain NPCs. That said, dying should never feel like a “reset button” or something casual. It’s a major event with real consequences, and it’s meant to mean something every time it happens. You can’t bring yourself back. Another character, either a Token who knows necromancy or an NPC, has to make the choice to do so. That means death always involves some form of outside intent and consent. Characters who return from death will always come back changed. This can look a lot of different ways: 🪢 They might keep visible injuries (e.g., always-bleeding wounds, stitched scars, signs of rot). 🪢 They could lose an important memory and feel incomplete (a person, a place, a moment they treasured). 🪢 They might show more permanent signs of Succumbence (extra limbs, plant growth, strange eyes, tendrils, fungal growths,etc). 🪢 They might feel emotionally dulled or disconnected. 🪢 They might hear the Murmur louder than before — and have trouble tuning it out. These changes are meant to reflect the fact that your character has died and returned. You can decide what this looks like, but it should always be noticeable. It should be clear to others that your character has been through something intense and should avoid similar fates. 🝊 WHAT TYPES OF CHARACTERS ARE APPABLE? We currently allow OCs and Canon Characters. We do not allow CRAUs. 🝊 GIVEN SOME SONG VIBES FROM SLEEP TOKEN, IS SOMNIA SEX/SMUT FRIENDLY OR MORE HORROR-GEARED? Considering the nature of Sexy Token when it strikes, yes, you can assume that the occasional nsfw prompt or perk can be found in events to reflect that vibe (especially when certain acts could power up Tethers, count as rituals or worship), but these are completely optional. What the game really focuses on is horror! Also a note that characters under the age of 18 should be kept away from these prompts. 🝊 IS THIS A MONSTER TRANSFORMATION GAME? It could be if that is what your heart desires. If you dig the setting but don't want your character turning into a fullblown monster, then a good vessel option for you would be a Token, where they take on a mage archetype rather than a creature. 🝊 DO I NEED TO BE A FAN OF SLEEP TOKEN TO PLAY? Absolutely not. But I hope you'll enjoy the music and the little nerd space we've made out of it. Worship. 🝊 ARE THERE ANY AGE CAPS FOR CHARACTERS? 16+. Any younger than that will be considered on a case by case basis, since we are aware that child characters in horror settings exist (Attack on Titan, Stranger Things, etc). We'll be asking for a reason as to why they'd fit into the setting if they are younger than 16 and will make our decision if they will be a good fit for the game or not.

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Comments

[grantor]

I have a question about dead/disembodied characters!

The character I'm interested in apping dies in canon. After that, his mind/soul jumps into the body of a different character and he exists as a voice inside that other character's head for the rest of canon. The two share memories and powers while slowly merging into one entity, but are still two different people (for now).

If I were to app just the first guy from a post-death canon point, would I be able to stick him back in his pre-death body? Or would he have to show up in the new guy's body?

[uruz]

hello there! thank you for your question!

it sounds to me that it is a one-body-two separate characters situation, so to prevent there being a problem for the other character's appablility, yes, you could go right ahead and use his pre-death body.

[brewedwithspite]

Hello there! My character is possessed by a demon/spirit that already gives him wings and some powers. (They're inseparable- the canon makes a big point of that.) Anyway my question is how might that combine with offerings? Could he still have use of the wings given to him by the spirit regardless of the transformation I may pick for him? Or could I combine them in a way-- say the wings continue to work as expected however take on more traits of the creature chosen? If you are loose on this, no problem, I'll figure out whatever would be most ✨️aesthetic✨️ haha.

[uruz]

hello!

if the wings are an innate physical ability, then they would be allowed to stay. supernatural/superhuman abilities will be completely nerfed due to a variety of vessel options that can fill in for the previous ability (and to make sure everyone is on equal ground— though i won't for example say a character who is already a bird with wings can't fly anymore, that's silly). hope this helps!

feel free to change the aesthetic depending on what you choose!

[splitworm]

This looks wonderful so far! I'm so, so sorry if I've overlooked a definitive answer on this elsewhere, but are a character's original powers kept, nerfed, or completely removed/overwritten upon arriving?

[uruz]

thank you so much, and for the question as well!

oh dear, something so very basic that i completely missed! because of the array of options as a vessel to mirror most, if not all popular abilities even at a nerfed level, character will not be allowed to keep their canon powers in the waking world. however, during dreamscape events (which usually double as tdms), players do have the option of playing with canon abilities at a reasonable level, since it's essentially a shared dream and we're given a bit more flexibility with the setting at that time.

hope that helps!

[fogsong]

question regarding vessel types: will there be a chance or option to change from token to offering or vice versa at some point in the game?

[uruz]

that's a good question! i understand that sometimes plans may not go as planned and players may not vibe with their initial choice as much as they thought they would. changing a vessel type may be done during dreamscape events, then the change may slot in naturally with the narrative! i'll probably just ask to let me know on the taken page once you're in the game when a dreamscape event is live.

you're looking at a small wait time of 2/3 months between waking world events and dreamscape events, but it helps prevent too many consecutive changes if that makes sense (and gives you time to play with the perks of either for a good amount of time too!).

Questions about character to app

[alluringirisesandfacades]

What do you think of someone apping from Hetalia? Specifically Historical Hetalia? Would that be too close to AU since the original source focused on Comedy and Satire? I'd love to take a Hetalia France into this game but I'd want to play less with regular Hetalia France and more with Historical Hetalia France. How do you feel about Headcanons? I'm wondering since I'd like to play with a Modern Day France with hints of darker Historical France.

[uruz]

hi there! can you elaborate a bit on the canon material? does "historical hetalia" have a source that diverges from original hetalia or is it purely headcanon?

[unaliveyourself]

this looks so cool!

since death is significant in somnia, a question about canonpoints: can a character be brought in from after the moment of their death? or do you have to pick a point where a character can have slept while they were still alive?

[uruz]

thank you so much!

in that case, no! you can pick a post death canon point with no repercussions!

[deathstealer]

A question of clarification regarding a question on the app, I'm probably just being dense, but:

"List three subclass options within your chosen Vessel type that you think would suit them." Does this mean you pick Offering, and then three random types (ie. Wraith, Kimera, Merrow) for randomization -- or do you pick the Offering type, Wraith, and then three subclasses of Wraith (ie. zombie, vampire, ghost) for randomization?

[uruz]

hello!

if you're going the randomization route, it means you pick, for example, offering, and then three options within that like wraith, kimera, and merrow!

[savourhaste]

Hello! I noticed above canon OCs are not accepted; does this include malleable protagonists (Tav from BG3, Rook/Inquisitor/Hawke/Warden from Dragon Age, Warrior of Light from FFXIV, etc.)? Thank you!

augh edit for additional question: what about player characters from TTRPGs such as Cyberpunk Red/D&D/World of Darkness, etc.)? Thanks again!

[uruz]

that does not include malleable protags or player characters, as long as they have substantial amount on canon and personality. you're good to go with those!

[ussbuttcrack]

What possessions do characters get to bring from home? Do they get to bring guns? (This would affect what type/powers I pick since Crichton would have at least 600 or so rounds on his pulse pistol before the Chakan oil powering it went out.)

[uruz]

hello there! characters will not be arriving with items, but will be given opportunities to regain them during events.

[scowlish]

I saw in the application that there's a spot for wiki links for history/personality. If a good wiki doesn't exist for the character (Onni's wiki page is pretty pathetic), is it okay to link to a previous app or info page we've created ourselves for the character?

[uruz]

hi there! that's totally okay!

[vocalistyodels]

Sooo in canon, Cooper here has this fun thing where if he doesn't take a certain drug, that doesn't have a name (yet) alas, he starts to go into withdrawal from it and he loses his mental faculties, eventually becoming a feral ghoul. Basically a mindless zombie.

I guess I'm curious if in this new setting he'd no longer be effected by that or if he'd still be slowly losing his mind and have to figure out some way to keep himself from turning feral through other means that aren't the drug he took back in his world?

[uruz]

hello! i'm going to leave that up to you, if you want to bring that dependency with him— it sounds like something really interesting to play out!

a few in-game options i can give you to consider and play around with are:

● replacing the drug with tethering: cooper would have to frequently tether with others to get his "fix". this could be as frequent as you'd like to make it, and whether he'd need to keep a single stable tether or create temporary ones for each "fix" is also up to you.
● get a token to create some magical concoction drug. there's a lot of creative liberty here and a lot of plot opportunities to find ingredients and cook.
● wait for events that allow for item regains.
● a secret fourth option where you mix any of these options or maybe you have an amazing idea!

the game is your oyster! as long as it's plausible within the game's settings and mechanics. if you ever have any questions about what is and isn't, feel free to come back here!

[shatteredlenses]

Hello!

Just a quick question, and forgive me if I missed it somewhere, but what timezone will the game be running in?

Thanks!

[uruz]

hey! it hasn't been mentioned, actually. the game runs on brasilia standard time (gmt-3)!

[guidingbookworm]

Piggybacking off of this question about canon powers, during dreamscape events if a character have dream abilities of their own how would those be affected by Sleep's dream? Sirius is an OC who has the ability to travel into people's dreams in order to magically bring out their potential.

Also regarding OCs, for the wiki link section for personality/history on the applications can you link an info page, or a previous app for them? Or would you prefer that part written out? If so is there a word limit?

[uruz]

hi!

regarding dream powers: during our tdms only, canon powers, including dream powers, can be used in the way you see fit. during regular game events that will mostly be waking world events that may have some dream-esque prompts, they will not work/will be nerfed so everyone is on the same playing field.

in regards to linking previous oc info: that's no problem at all. there's no word limit. feel free!

[paraselinae]

hello! i just want to ask: is light text on dark bg going to be the standard for the tdms and event pages?

[uruz]

hello, that was the plan!

[snaggletooth]

UH, the answer to this is probably really, really obvious, but I just want to make extra sure before I commit:

How much is dream logic allowed to influence how a character appears in the dream half of the setting? For instance, if I were to give my Offering character an extra gnarly creature form, would he still be able to manifest as his normal, canon self during dream events?

[uruz]

he certainly could! go forth and have fun with the aesthetics!

[pseudolirium]

hiya! i just wanted to confirm my understanding that all powers, regardless of whether they come from an external magical source or are inherent to a character's biology, are completely nerfed within the game setting except on tdms?

[uruz]

that is correct!

[faa]

Hi! I have a question about the Valkerie type:

When characters develop wings as a Valkerie, is it possible for them to keep the arms and have their wings be additional limbs?

Is it possible for their form to be dynamic depending on game events, i.e. sometimes they have claws/avian feet to perch and sometimes they don't?

[uruz]

hello! both of those are completely possible. the offering and token pages are simple guidelines only. i encourage players to be as creative as they want to be with their changes, so long as it fits the offering/token type they've chosen.

ex: the breath of life ability for the merrow type isn't listed, but it belongs to a lot of siren/mer/merrow myths and legends, so it's totally okay to bring that in. this goes for any and all types of offerings/tokens!

And a question on Merrow + Apps

[faa]

Two more I thought of, sorry for the dp!

1. For those considering Merrow, how much water is there in this game's world for them to be in?

2. If you're apping an original character, should you link their infopage in the wiki link part of the app?

[uruz]

1. more than enough . . . ;)

2. yes!

[faa]

BACK AT IT AGAIN AT THE SOMNIA FAQ... Figured I'd ask here instead of discord so the answer could be Shared With The Class!

Is it possible for one Vessel type to borrow a trait from another, so long as most of the characteristics fit the one chosen?

The specific example I'm thinking of is based in playability - I'm planning on going the realistic route in terms of wingspan and how big wings (and tailfeathers!) would need to be compared to the body in order for flight to be possible. I'm hoping that it would be possible for the degree of Valkerie traits to come and go erratically, like a Lycan's but less predictable - effectively, to give Mr. Frédéric here a way to fit through human doorways and lie down on a bed to sleep without wings making that impossible, and to allow him perchable feet at times but not others given that walking is much easier with a human's feet. Plus it would be fun to giveth and taketh away at random, especially if he'd really like to fly in the moment and suddenly can't...

[uruz]

hello!

the traits for most offerings could come and go as you see fit, yes. the only thing I'd take note of is to keep it distinguishable. he wouldn't be able to follow a lycan's form of transformation which depends on the lunar phases. that trait belongs to the lycan alone. if you want traits to come and go at random, and not because of how the moon looks, that's perfectly fine.

[thedeadtwinofnarcissus]

I have come with another question but a different account for a different character! Eugene Davis from Ghost Hunt!

Gene died at 16. Is that too young or just barely old enough? And what about background characters? Is it okay if I fill some holes with headcanons? Like Gene is important to the story but he doesn't show up that much. You get some of his personality but most of it is muted from time in the void. The rest (how he was before he died) is mentioned by people who knew him (like his teacher). Is that okay? Or is that too little info and too much headcanon?

[uruz]

that's fine, regarding his age. as for the canon content, that's a bit tricky! again, there'd need to be enough content from him in canon to be played off of without relying heavily on headcanon (think of headcanon as a loose base for flavor only, not his entire character). if you're looking at more headcanon than you are canon when playing him, then that's likely a sign he's not the right character to app here.

[kusuriuris]

Well this has an interesting premise, and I'll admit I love the usage of Sleep Token as the touchstone for this game. Worship!

That being said, I do have some questions, mostly about item regains.

In their canon, the Medicine Sellers carry swords that are possessed by a spirit (henceforth referred to as Shingi). Once a certain set of criteria are presented to the sword, the Medicine Seller and Shingi do a fusion dance of sorts.

So first, is a passenger entity bound to an item kosher? Second, the Medicine Seller has a fairly intimate bond with Shingi, could it be possible to have the two Tether to each other? And lastly, most of the time only the Medicine Seller or Shingi can manifest in one area, with the exception of one area in their world. Would it be possible for the pair to be together in the dreamscape?

[uruz]

🙏 worship indeed!

it's fine to regain that when given the chance to. within the dreamscape events/tdms, characters can be given more creative leeway and dream up their items, so long as they don't carry over to the waking world. it would be fine for them to manifest together in the same space during those times, as well.

as for tethering, that mechanic is reserved for vessel-to-vessel bonds to promote character interaction OR interaction with the setting's flora/fauna, so i would have to say no to this. it would put the medicine seller in a position where they wouldn't have to reach out. they are still welcome to regain the item at some point.

hope that helps!

[faa]

I have a question about a question, this one on the app!

The app says "Why does this Vessel type feel appropriate for your character?" - I'm assuming based on the question before it that this means just Token or Offering in very broad strokes, but wanted to confirm that there's nowhere that we put the rationale for the specific Token/Offering type, or if we do, where that explanation should go. Thank you!

[uruz]

hello! i should change that to be clearer. this is in fact referring to the specific token/offering chosen!

[ar_cane]

Lovely mod!! Some questions on masks that are maybe more ponderings than anything concrete, but...

Can the masks be removed? Is it as easy as lifting them off, or do characters have to desync from them? What happens if you lose your mask? Can they be lost?

Is there the potential for accidentally "posting" something to The Network, or does it take intention to share something?

Is there any difference in mask mechanics between the dream and the waking world?

[uruz]

masks can be removed! only during dreamscape events/tdms will characters feel a bit reluctant to remove them (they may, for the record, remove their masks during these events, they will just get a horrid feeling that they should put it back on).

losing the masks may be a difficult feat to accomplish, as vessels will always be to some degree aware of them. the relic is sacred and theirs, so even if for some reason the mask has been misplaced, characters will sense where it is and be able to track it down.

while tied to intent, there definitely is potential to accidentally send something through the network if you wish, whether that be a moment, an image or even oversharing thoughts, especially if one is getting the hang of filtering them.

the only difference between dream world and waking world mask mechanics is that while not nearly as strong as the dreamscape impulse to keep it on, characters will feel the need to at the very least keep masks with them when in the waking world, whether that be in a bag they carry, around their necks, within reaching distance or tied to their hip. so let's say someone hates their mask and wants to throw it away
....... they totally could! just be prepared to regret the decision almost immediately and go right back for it ;)

[sorte]

Hiya! This looks really amazing! I just have a question about invites. (Apologies if this is answered in the TDM notes somewhere and I missed it.)

There's the top level for requesting an invite on the TDM and then there the mentioned mod PM route. Are both of these valid options for requesting an invite for the first app round or does only the TDM one coming this initial round count? I see plenty of people I know on the TDM from previous games, but I haven't been on plurk in some time so I'm not aware if I actually know anyone that is already (planning to be) part of the game that has an invite privilege and hasn't extended it to anyone else yet.

Also, kind of topic, but— I only recently got into Sleep Token and really adore their lyrics especially, so I feel like I must do my best to try get in on this adventure you're cooking.

Thank you!

[uruz]

hey, thanks so much for the interest!!

both would be valid for this round, yes! i'll also be going through the tdm tl to extend invites myself if prospective players haven't yet received one from current players.

[faa]

I have a twofer (kind of)!

What does clothing look like in the sleeping world vs the waking world? Like what is the general aesthetic - would real world clothes from the modern day carry over into the dreamscape, or would it be more of a robes situation? What are people wearing in the waking ruins? Where do characters get clothes in both places? Fun Little Outfit enjoyers wish to know... ✍️✍️✍️

Thanks!

[uruz]

a similar question was answered on the first tdm here! going forward, every tdm/dreamscape event means characters get to wear what you choose, from their current clothes, past clothes, a standard black vessel robe, nothing at all, etc. when characters wake up, they should be wearing the very last thing they had on them in their taken canon point.

characters have the chance to scavenge for whatever clothes they could find in the post-apocalyptic waking world, which will have old run down stores and abandoned residential areas (basically anything that one may find in modern day manhattan).