Ghost
Ghosts are the disembodied spirits of the dead—souls that have not passed on to the afterlife. They often appear as translucent or ethereal versions of their living selves, though their forms may be distorted by the emotions or trauma tied to their death. Some look peaceful and sorrowful; others appear horrific and twisted, reflecting rage, pain, or madness. Their presence is often accompanied by cold spots, flickering lights, whispers, or the smell of decay or flowers.
Ghosts are spectral remnants of the dead—beings caught between worlds, haunted by what they were and what they cannot become. Neither fully alive nor truly dead, they are tragic, mysterious, and often dangerous. Whether mournful wraiths or malevolent haunts, ghosts serve as reminders that death does not always bring peace.
Basic Information
Biological Traits
As incorporeal undead, ghosts possess abilities that defy the natural laws of the living world:
- Incorporeality: Ghosts can pass through walls, ceilings, and physical barriers. They cannot be harmed by mundane weapons, though magical or blessed items may affect them.
- Haunting: Most ghosts are bound to a location, person, or object that holds emotional or magical significance. Their presence can cause environmental changes—cold temperatures, poltergeist activity, or visions.
- Possession: Many ghosts can possess the living, briefly taking over a body to speak, act, or relive a moment. Some use this to communicate; others do so with malicious intent.
- Life Drain: A ghost's touch or proximity may drain vitality, induce fear, or corrupt the mind, especially in weakened or spiritually sensitive individuals.
- Emotional Influence: Ghosts may cause hallucinations, despair, nightmares, or madness, especially in those who linger too long in haunted areas.
- Telekinesis: Ghosts can manipulate small or even large objects with unseen force, slamming doors, hurling furniture, or writing cryptic messages.
Though resistant to most physical threats, ghosts are vulnerable to certain conditions:
- Holy Magic & Symbols: Divine energy, sacred relics, or consecrated ground can weaken or banish them.
- Exorcism & Rites: Clerics, shamans, or mediums can perform rituals to free a ghost or sever its link to the world.
- Fulfilling Their Purpose: In many cases, resolving a ghost's unfinished business—righting a wrong, delivering a message, or unearthing a secret—allows the spirit to pass on.
- Sunlight or Warding Circles: Ghosts are sometimes weakened or repelled by natural sunlight, salt, iron, or magical wards.
Genetics and Reproduction
A ghost is typically born from unfinished business, violent death, deep trauma, or the influence of necromantic magic. Not all who die become ghosts—only those whose spirits are unnaturally anchored to the material plane. This binding may result from betrayal, vengeance, lost love, duty unfulfilled, or cursed burial grounds.
Ghosts do not have physical bodies. They are incorporeal, existing in a half-state between life and death. Many are unaware they have died, while others are fully conscious and tormented by their own memories or obsessions.
Behaviour
Ghosts are defined by obsession. Whether it’s revenge, grief, guilt, or duty, something keeps them tied to the world. Many are locked in a loop, replaying the moment of their death or wandering endlessly near places they once held dear. Some become malevolent, their sorrow turned into hatred, while others remain tragic figures who seek peace.
Over time, a ghost's sense of identity may degrade. Those who linger for centuries can become shades—warped by emotion and the spiritual erosion of time. Others become poltergeists, pure manifestations of rage, or specters, fragmented pieces of soul twisted by necromancy.
Despite their incorporeal nature, ghosts retain knowledge, memories, and emotional imprints from their former life. Some may even form bonds with the living, offering guidance or warnings, especially in magical or spiritual cultures that venerate the dead.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Unlike more structured undead like liches or vampires, ghosts are independent, driven by their own inner compulsion. However, powerful necromancers or cursed entities may bind ghosts into service, using them as spies, assassins, or sentinels. Some ghosts willingly serve dark masters in exchange for a chance at vengeance or the promise of release.
In certain cultures, ghosts are revered ancestors, oracles, or divine messengers, and are summoned for wisdom or protection. Others are feared as omens, and entire regions may be abandoned if a ghost becomes too powerful to appease.
Comments