[OOC Note: Only read this lore if you (or more importantly, your character) are genuinely interested in learning about the Spirits that exist in Aeria and how to combat those which are hostile. If your character has no way of knowing this and no motivation to know it, do not use this lore entry to metagame. Thank you.]
Will is an important driving force in Aeria, more so than most people know. Added to the existence of an immortal soul and alternate planes of existence, Will can affect the world even after its owner's death...
Bear in mind, however, that not all spirits are the tortured and trapped souls of the dead. Additionally, not all spirits are magical in origin or even possess any command of magic. Some are different beings altogether, the creations of Gods or the random assembly of chaotic energies which swirl about the Crystal Sphere, and beyond.
Spirits are also not to be lumped together with Demons and their ilk, which constitute a very different type of being, one with a corporeal form and universally malicious intent. Spirits have no physical body, they are pure energy, and Will. Sometimes, that Will could be a necromancer's, driving the spirit to do his or her bidding. But like what was said before, spirits should not all be treated as undead or even magical beasts. Silver can not harm every type of spirit, and not all spirits were ever dead to begin with, thus, not all can be controlled by a necromancer.
Wisp
The weakest and friendliest of spirits, wisps are seen as tiny points of light which float about. They are seemingly incapable of affecting their surroundings, though they may attempt communication, through changes in their brightness, or even small sounds and soft whispers. Wisps are believed to be the souls of the faithless, though that theory has yet to be proven.
Artist's depiction:
There are hundreds of reports of Wisp sightings, but most take place in isolated areas with only one or two witnesses, making their existence a hard sell to a skeptic. From desolate forests to dark, abandoned buildings, Wisps are as elusive as they are pervasive.
~
Gremlin
Gremlins are blamed for interfering with man-made devices, causing them to work improperly for unknown reasons. Whether or not they actually exist is debatable, let alone whether or not they're the undead. Among the many descriptions of Gremlins, commonly shared traits include a small size, an impish appearance, and a mischievous disposition.
The malfunctioning of several scroll pistols, scroll cannons, and crossbows during many battles in southeastern Talibar, 589 MoP, against Shar's Forgotten Army was early purported "proof" of these spirits' existence; however, it is far more likely enemy mages caused these problems.
~
Poltergeist
These spirits manifest themselves as kinetic force. They can move objects about a room, throw things, cause earthquakes, or even destroy entire buildings. Poltergeists vary widely in power and intentions - some try to use their powers to communicate, by writing or signalling. Others are simply violent. Still others use their powers to confuse and unhinge mortals, making them lose items, sealing doors previously left open, and so on. Poltergeists are not undead in nature, and often dwell near children, for reasons unknown. They lack any coherent visual form, and those who have used magic to observe them saw only chaotic energy clouds.
Poltergeists have been known for a long time indeed, the earliest accounts dating before Talibar's founding, depicted and recounted in aging books of lore. The most noteworthy example did come in 232 MoP however, when the merchant family Alvanier was plagued by a particularly nasty spirit. At first, strange occurrences such as moving furniture and floating objects were confirmed by multiple witnesses. After a couple weeks of this, the spirit then flung a knife into Mrs. Alvanier's neck and painted profanity on the walls in her blood. Foul play would have been suspected, except the rest of Mrs. Alvanier's family were visiting a customer in his home in an adjacent town, and none of the windows or doors were disturbed. Furthermore, the remainder of the family were killed just days after the incident, when, according to eyewitnesses, every support beam in the house snapped simultaneously. The true cause of these happenings is still debated.
~
Aspects
These spirits often take an elemental form - earth, fire, and so forth, and become part of that element itself, appearing inside of rivers, plants, or whatever corresponds to their element. It is not only elements that they can adopt; some opt for states of being, or even ideas. These spirits are usually not hostile, but can be unpredictable. Not to be confused with Elementals, which are physical beings with control over their element - Aspects merely dwell in theirs. The visual forms of Aspects vary widely - it all depends on their chosen element, and their personality - and most are invisible save for when they are viewed through magic. The best way to identify an Aspect is by its behavior and location.
Aspects would have remained undiscovered if not for a curious Kerodillian mage by the name of Thrim Fevanis. 53 years ago, Thrim used his magically attuned senses to detect a presence in a song. Though the discovery was accidental (Fevanis heightened his senses to better appreciate the music), his determination led him to the truth behind his experience: the existence of Aspects.
~
Phantom
A Phantom is an invisible, undead spirit with a variety of powers, most revolving around instilling pure fear. For example, they can emit sounds, mess with the temperature or the light, or even conjure up manifestations of a person's deepest fear. A powerful Phantom can wreak a lot of havoc, and may have the abilities of some lesser spirits. It is not always known why Phantoms do what they do, though most seem obsessed with keeping people out of a certain area. It is recommended they be avoided or banished by a certain spell. It is not advised anyone use magic to see a Phantom, for they do not take kindly to being looked upon, and will certainly become violent.
The most well-known appearance of a Phantom was circa 490 MoP in an Occitanian operahouse.
~
Wraith/Wight
Wraiths make fearsome foes; though relatively easy to banish and vulnerable to silver, they are still capable of many feats. Wraiths are unhindered and undamaged by physical objects or barriers, yet are perfectly capable of physically interacting with objects as they see fit. Their forms are often gruesome and demoralizing, and the touch of a Wraith can drain a mortal of his or her very life force. Wraiths lack intelligence, however, and must be directed by a necromancer. They are rarely armed with any sort of spectral weaponry beyond their own claws, though their touch is their most dangerous attack.
Artist's depiction:
Wraiths rarely seem to occur in nature. Most are bits of a person's soul dragged into the mortal world by a necromantic ritual, the way zombies and skeletons are bits of a person's body dragged from the grave.
~
Banshee
By far the least subtle of spirits, it is believed that a Banshee is the ghost of a rather loud, vengeful woman, fully intelligent and thoroughly angered. Initially, banshees were found hovering over dead bodies, which led people to think they were gatherers of the dead; in fact, banshees like to get as close as possible to a victim and scream loudly enough to kill them. Their screams are their only weapon, but strong enough to shatter glass and weak architecture, and whatever made them so irate in death drives them to a homicidal frenzy. They can rarely be reasoned with, and are almost always initially hostile. Enchanted equipment, particularly that of silver, can harm them.
Artist's depiction:
While Banshees have been around for hundreds of years, their reputation is due primarily to the infamous Tenvi Incident of 27 MoP. Not long after the Maylarn Dynasty began, Alferius Tenvi murdered his wife, who had a reputation of being both boorish and obnoxious. He dismembered her corpse and put the pieces into a wine barrel, only to be found with his head buried in the very same barrel, bleeding from splinters and a pair of burst eardrums. The banshee herself was floating only a few feet away, and was claimed to have said, "He thought it would make me shut up," before vanishing.
~
Revenant
Revenants are one of the oldest and most popular forms of spirit by far, as they are both common and conspicuous in their behavior. Revenants are mortal souls that have clung to life for one reason or another, and master necromancers take pride in being able to summon and control them. While not always violent, they are often driven by revenge or obsession, so caution is recommended when dealing with one. Their forms may vary, but usually look like the deceased when he (or she) was alive, and possess all the memories and intelligence (though not necessarily the personality) of the deceased. Like Wraiths, Revenants can physically interact with their surroundings, yet nothing can physically harm or hinder them, save for specialized enchanted weaponry and magic. Depending on who they were, Revenants may even use spectral weapons and magic. This makes them potentially quite dangerous.
Wret Secundus, founder of the Sentinels, credited a Revenant for the concept of his order. Not because the Revenant came up with the idea, but the way it and the necromancers that controlled it ruthlessly slaughtered ill-equipped, ill-prepared students of his school inspired him to create a group that protected those in need from such dangers.
~
Fury
A Fury is born of a sufficiently abhorrent and unjust act that goes unpunished until the offender's (natural) death. The victim's rage, if sufficiently potent, then takes form, destructively taking revenge on anyone even slightly related to the misdeed. It's best not to get in a Fury's way, as they are among the most powerful, fearsome spirits imaginable, and tend to cause the most collateral damage. Rarely can they be reasoned with at all.
If you have never heard of the Lieben family of Occitan, that is because they were completely wiped out by a Fury. Josef Lieben was the author of a book called "Human Pathologies", the results of a lifetime of depraved experiments done on sentient beings of all races, in order to get a better understanding of infectious diseases. Since no one in his family sought to stop him, they all paid the price. One by one, with ruthless efficiency, horrible accidents befell family members, as well as some horrors that could not have been accidents. Within a week of Josef Lieben's death, his entire family line was killed off, as well as many family friends. In total, 278 were killed: the exact number of subjects killed in Lieben's experiments.
While Furies are each unique in their appearance, this one was described as "A vortex of glass."
~
Ghast
It is not known where Ghasts come from, or what their motivations are. What is known about them is that they are terrifying, alien entities that defy comprehension, driving men mad merely with their appearance. Their powers are strong, and strange, enough to convince most researchers that Ghasts hail from the Otherworld, or perhaps somewhere else entirely. Consequently, they are the rarest of all spirits, having only been encountered three confirmed times throughout all of human history. The results were most certainly disastrous. it watches it sees all
Artist's depiction:
it knows you, Guest it will find you No further information on Ghasts shall be written here, for safety reasons. It is best not to speak of them or their doings.
Last edited by Munroe on Sat Dec 24, 2011 7:30 pm; edited 9 times in total
Munroe DEAR GOD DON'T LOOK IN HIS EYES
Posts : 1392 Join date : 2009-02-24 Location : Fortress of Ultimate Darkness
Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:30 am
