Nightmare (known also as "The Son") is the overarching protagonist of the Camping Series. Originally a member of the unidentified "Family of 5", he was murdered alongside his family by Zach Nolan, but his vengeful spirit continued haunting Specky Woods.
Originally seen in Hotel as a young boy prior to his death, his tormented phantom antagonizes the campers during Camping while he hunts the murderers. He is also the one to rescue the players from Zach Nolan in both Camping 2 and Camping 3.
Appearance
As a young boy, the son takes after his parents in appearance, with black eyes, short brown hair and the innocent smile of a child. He is seen in Hotel wearing a white hoodie with light blue jeans and white sneakers.
Posthumously (as "Nightmare"), the boy adopts a much more monstrous appearance. His body is mostly featureless, emulating the figure of a shadow. His eyes are blood red and he has a sadistic smile exposing his fiery mouth with sharp teeth.
Despite his prodigious physiology, Nightmare remains noble at heart and is determined to rescue players from the malevolence of the unidentified "Random Murderer" and Zach Nolan.
History
Past
"The Son" (his true name is left intentionally unknown) was a member of the "Family of 5". At some point, his parents accidentally hit and killed Emma Logan in a driving accident. The event had a profound effect upon her father Jack Logan, who became consumed with hatred and contempt. Jack created his villainous alter-ego Zach Nolan to take revenge upon the family.
Mansion
The Son appears at the start of the game, looking out a window. Later, Jack Logan mentions to his guests that the "Family of 5" had declined his invitation, prompting him to later try and murder the guests in substitution.
Hotel
The son and his family inquisitively approach the room in which the players hide, wanting to know why they rushed back to their room from the elevator in a state of panic. The players desperately warn them that there is a monster in the hotel but the father believes they are trying to fool them.
The son appears at the end during the "good ending" (activated if the players decide to go down the building instead of the corridor) where he listens as his father converses with police officers, informing them of their plans to go camping.
Murder at Specky Woods
The son was one of Zach Nolan's victims during the murder of the family at Specky Woods when Zack ruthlessly slaughtered the family with a knife and a pistol as they camped. The son's corpse wasn't found by authorities in the aftermath of the event and he was proclaimed missing (presumably as he was reanimated in his ghostly form).
Following the incident, the son came back as a monstrous and powerful ghost (known as "Nightmare") that sought to avenge his family and prevent future murders from taking place at Specky Woods. He likely inhabited the mysterious shed and used his hauntings to wade murderers away from campgrounds.
Camping
Nightmare is the main antagonist of Camping. He appears on the first night hovering above the campfire. Players that don't move or hide in the Red Tent are murdered by Nightmare, while the poisonous rain will kill players that don't make it to the cave quick enough. Nightmare temporarily appears at the cave entrance if lightning strikes, antagonizing the players.
The following day, the players find a dismembered deer near their tents. They theorize that Nightmare was responsible, but Park Rangers Daniel and Steve arrive, informing them that bears have been populating the parklands and are responsible for killing the deers. They lace bear traps along the outline of the campsite as a precautionary measure. During the second night, Nightmare secretly watches the players as they retrieve a picnic basket from the campsite, popping his head up behind the well. Nightmare watches as the players traverse a bear cave, peaking his head from a corner before quickly vanishing. Staring into Nightmare's eyes at this point causes a negligible amount of damage.
The following morning, the players find Nightmare's amputated leg within a bear trap, deducing that he must have stepped in it. They find a blood trail leading to one of the tents, where Nightmare has left the message "I'm still alive" written in blood on the tent's walls.
On the third night, if multiple players remain, Nightmare's face props up on the screen and one of the player's is kidnapped, contained to a tree. This player will die from damage dealt by the toxic rain if other players don't rescue them in time. A black mist fills the woods, suffocating players who are forced to climb up to nearby stone towers. Nightmare appears on the adjacent tower, slowly advancing towards the players, but before he can reach them the morning sun engulfs him in flames. As he dissipates, he desperately informs the players that he was trying to save them from murderers. It is revealed that the players he killed during the first night had been murderers, and that the poisoned sandwiches were the result of an unknown random murderer. Nightmare reveals that he went insane since his own murder and wanted to prevent future murders from taking place, at which point a random player will withdraw a knife (about to slaughter the other players) as the game ends.
If only one player has made it to the third night, however, the player will either be killed by the fog or by Nightmare on the pillar (as Nightmare appears behind them and murders them offscreen). It is assumed that this player is the random murder.
Camping 2
Nightmare may arrive to the player's rescue during the incident at Terra Park during Camping 2.
As the players enter a cave towards the end of the game, they are trapped by Zach Nolan. Zach Nolan reveals his identity as the murderer of the Family of 5, and will run to kill the players as well. If the players had executed Daniel (who was suspected to be Zack Nolan), Nightmare does not appear and Zack Nolan butchers the players unhindered.
However, if the players had spared Daniel, then Nightmare will intervene with Nolan's monologue, reminding him that he failed to kill the entire family before decapitating him. Nightmare gleefully proclaims that he is liberated and disappears, presumably having achieved his purpose of avenging the death of his family.
Camping 3
Nightmare appears at the end of the game as Zach Nolan and Limbo struggle with the ghosts Family of 5, intending to push and kill the surviving players in the cart. Declaring that it is time to put an end to the conflict, he waves his hands and triggers an explosion that destroys Limbo and Zach Nolan's suit (which had been keeping him alive following his decapitation). The ghostly apparition of the father apologises and reaches out to Zach, who forgives them and returns to his former self. As a final act, Jack rescues the players from falling into the mine below, but is himself pushed off in the process.
Nolan's death brings an end to the spiritual conflict and presumably alleviates the ghostly family as well as Nightmare himself.
Powers & Weaknesses
As a ghost, Nightmare had several supernatural capabilities, attaining all of them posthumously:
- Strength: Nightmare is able to effortlessly decapitate Zach Nolan and kills several other players by snapping their neck.
- Levitation: Nightmare is often seen hovering above the ground
- Teleportation: Nightmare elusively follows the players through the bear cave in Camping, disappearing when he is seen. He also teleports to rescue the players in both Camping 2 and Camping 3.
- Regeneration: Nightmare survives several fatal injuries. Despite having his leg amputated, he reappears with his leg intact. Despite Nightmare's vaporisation from sunlight in Camping, he reappears in both Camping 2 and Camping 3 seemingly unharmed.
- Psychological impact: The sight of Nightmare in Camping is suggested to be fear-inducing and in some instances causes damage. Players are blinded by hallucinations of his face, allowing him to kidnap one of them unnoticed.
- Control over Environment: Nightmare spontaneously procures a beam of energy to stun the Mouse and Limbo in Camping 3. He also uses a shadowy mist to force players up to the pillars.
Despite this, Nightmare is also vulnerable to the physical environment:
- Nightmare is amputated by a single bear trap, causing him to bleed excessively.
- Nightmare only makes appearances at night and is vaporised by the Sun (although this doesn't seem to take effect in Camping 3)
Nightmares leg, as seen in Camping 1, caught in a bear trap. Which is why Nightmare is later seen with one less leg.
Relationship
Player/You
After the murder of his family, he became insane and seemed like he wanted to murder the group. But in reality, he knew that there was a murderer in the group. so he tried to stop new murders from happening in Specky Woods. Despite his actions, he tried to help the players, by trying to kill the murderer.
Zach Nolan
After the accident which resulted in Emma Logan's death, The Son swore vengeance on Jack Logan for murdering his family. In Camping 2, if Daniel is not shot, he will later save the group and Daniel by killing Zach. This proves he has been holding a grudge ever since the murder. However, in Camping 3, he asks both sides to apologize, revealing that he no longer has a grudge on Zach Logan.
Quotes
Camping
- "NO!!! The sun!"
- "You don't understand... I was only trying to help!"
- "Ever since the incident occurred, I went insane, and I couldn't let another murder take place in these woods"
- "The person I killed the first night was out to get you!"
- "I didn't poison anyone..."
Camping 2
- "Not the whole family"
- "I'm free!!!!!"
Camping 3
- "Enough!"
- "It's time to put an end to this."
Trivia
- He most likely knew Daniel.
- The Son's old face was SCP 087-B.
- This was probably changed due to copyright or Samson wanted to change him up.
- While he does not have a real name, it was confirmed his name is "Nightmare," when he appears in Camping 3's ending.
Gallery
Main article: The Son/Gallery
| Camping |
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| Camping | Zach Nolan | Daniel | The Park Ranger | Sandwich | Lucky Coin | The Son |