Culture

Ghosts and spirits are, by and large, humans who have passed beyond the realm of mortality. Some are bound to their place of death or forever trapped within an eternal quest to settle 'unfinished business', and others are very much intelligent entities capable of conversing with - or harming - the living.

 

There are some among the mundane who claim to have powers of contacting the spirit-realm. These 'mediums' may use an array of tools to enable themselves to open up to ethereal plane, such as seances, ouija boards and channelling.

 

Appearance

The form spirits take are as varied as the different types of entities within themselves. While some may appear solid and quite real, still others will seem faded or even as though they are constructed from smoke. The one thing that all spirits, be they visible or invisible, have in common is that they are not grounded to the mortal plane. As such, the never possess feet, or anything resembling a physical tie to life; they simply fade away below their knees.

 

Types of Ghosts

Residual Spirit

These are largely those ghosts who reside in their place of death or another location that has a similar meaning of significance. Sometimes these spirits are also those who are trapped to haunt until they finish some kind of task that was left behind them at their death. It is believed that if their task can be completed or the reason for their presence can be determined and remedied, these spirits can be freed from their torturous constraints. These spirits do not generally speak, or if they do, they speak fluent nonsense.

 

Apparitions

The 'able-bodied' amongst the spectral realm, apparitions take on the form of their former selves and look to be quite real. Their appearance may vary from almost seeming to be alive to moving with an unsettling, jerkish gait; their voice may range from a natural timbre to a ghostly whisper. They have either chosen to remain on this plane or were summoned and never sent back, and are now bound to haunt the living. Unlike Residuals they may go where they choose and interact with whom they wish.

 

Poltergeists

Largely invisible unless they expressly choose to present themselves (which is quite rare), Poltergeists do their very best to make absolute nuisances of themselves. Typically attaching themselves to a particular person or family, they make a variety of noises and will move things in or around the home in order to cause a disturbance. They are notoriously clever and exceptionally hard to banish without often extreme measures, as they tend to use aliases rather than go by their living name. Of course, relocation is never a solution as they are attached to the haunted person or people of interest and will simply follow them.

 

Wraiths

Essentially, Wraiths are the spirits of dead souls whereas all other ghosts are spirits of living souls. They have no mind of their own or any intelligent purpose; their only need is to feed on the souls of the living in an attempt to feed their insatiable hunger. They have been unleashed specifically to feast upon humanity, and although sightings of them have been rare, they are becoming more and more common. The only way to repel a Wraith is to show it its own reflection. The only way to destroy it is to contain it with a spell and then burn the container -- containers may be anything at all that can be sealed shut. Most favour bottles and jars accordingly. Wraiths present as fog -- which can make them hard to determine from some vampires -- or as a smoke-like, faceless hooded mass. Wraiths are unplayable.

 

Powers

All ghosts have the ability to vanish and appear at will, though some are more inclined to take a physical form than others. They have some ability to move objects and make contact with people, though Poltergeists are typically the only type of spirit who choose to do so.

Physical manifestation is tiring, and cannot be done at all times. However, it is up to the player if their ghost is capable of doing so!

 

Weaknesses

Spirits cannot be present on Holy or magically protected ground -- however, crucifixes do not repel them. They are weakened by physical manifestation, so while they are capable of touching and becoming solid, extended efforts in that regard require them to take respite.

 

Banishing a Ghost

The only proper way to be rid of a ghost is to have a magical Rite of Banishment performed by a witch and will only be successful if the real name of the spirit is determined for use within the ritual. Exorcisms and blessings will have no effect on spirits whatsoever, as they are both remedies against inhuman, demonic forces.

 

Registering a Ghost

In order to register a ghost, please use the full name of their former living self ie. Harriet. Poltergeists may go by an alias and may be registered under that name, eg. Peeves.