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All kinds of beings dwell in imaginary worlds, many based off on the real world though some are exclusive only to the genre. One such is that of the fantasy ghost, which is considered one of the best parts of the genre, for it does something no mortal being is capable of doing.
The ghost isn’t the only supernatural being to float around the world. There is a bevy of other spirits, each one different than the other. Some take more corporeal forms, meaning they are more lifelike whereas others are mere shadows where they just float in midair from one place to another.
As a being of a world no mortal can enter, the fantasy ghost has a number of powers it can use. Of course, what it can do depends on what type it is. For instance, an evil one can attack its target and attempt to take control of its body, using it as a host as opposed to a good one who endeavors to use the power of the holy light to illuminate a path in the gathering darkness.
Being consigned to the world between life and death, the ghost is essentially trapped in a realm it cannot escape from. There is a medley of reasons why it chose this path, choosing to be a permanent part of a world that eventually forgets who it once was. These reasons are precisely why it is unable to move onto the afterlife where its soul can finally be at peace (or not).
This is the twelfth article in the series delving into all things fantasy creatures. If you like this article and are curious to see what else we have, go to our blog page where you’ll find a whole host of articles that explore different areas of the genre!
The supernatural is an integral part of a fantasy world. It is chock full of things and beings that defy logical explanations. For instance, ghosts and other spirits are capable of floating in midair or vanishing and appearing at will, things that cannot be explained in a way that makes sense. These ghoulish spirits enhance the lore of the world and add a fascinating dimension to it since you can tell all kinds of stories with them that you couldn’t do with mortals.
The fantasy ghost is the most popular type of spirit. It appears in all media, from video games to movies. Ghosts like Boos from Super Mario Brothers and Poes from The Legend of Zelda are perfect examples. They float in midair and attack the protagonist when he ventures a bit too close for comfort. While many ghosts are hard to kill, considering they are kind of immortal, they are not without their vulnerabilities. The weapons that deal damage to them vary from world to world.
Another type of spirit is the shadow one. It is more of a wraith-like figure and typically is an agent of darkness. This malevolent one delights in wreaking havoc and inspiring fear in its enemies. The Ringwraiths from The Lord of the Rings are the perfect examples since they are invisible, save for the clothes they have on, and many men are stricken by fear whenever they are nearby.
A particularly devious type of fantasy ghost is the poltergeist. It loves mischief and sows chaos wherever it floats. It enjoys manipulating objects and uses its surroundings to its advantage to frighten people. Harry Potter and everyone else at Hogwarts had to constantly deal with the antics of Peeves the poltergeist who tormented both students and staff alike.
One type of phantom people have to worry about is the one that can take control of someone’s body. It enters the body and uses it to cause trouble and nobody would be the wiser. In rare cases, it displaces the original soul permanently and imprints its personality onto the host, giving it a second chance at life and more time to cause mayhem.
There are as many powers as there are ghosts in the genre. Some are more benign than others but some are so terrifying that they shock people to their core, leaving them with their jaws on the floor. The powers they have is dictated by the level of power they wield.
One ability the typical fantasy ghost has is to disappear and appear at will. This enables it to strike its foe from a place he cannot see it or to move across great distances without being noticed. When it is invisible, it is in a different plane than the mortal one where it can see and observe things that mortals are unable to.
An uncommon power a spirit has is to seize control of a person or creature and control it. Possessing it enables it to do a whole bevy of things it couldn’t do in its spectral form such as touch things like grass or eat. This power isn’t permanent though and after some time, the spirit will be unable to continue possessing it and it’ll leave. However, some have discovered how to control them permanently, meaning they can do so for a long time.
The ability to turn ordinary objects into weapons is a power all spirits have. This applies to everything from a lamp to candle. They use their non-corporeal powers to make them levitate and fling them violently at their targets, hoping to hurt them. When in a battle with one, take care to keep an eye on your surroundings so that you’re not surprised when objects like vases are suddenly thrown at you.
Elemental magic is one power that only a select few ghosts have. They can summon lightning at will, breathe either fire or ice, or call forth evil spirits to attack their opponent. The ghosts who can do elemental magic are considered to be among the most powerful and thus, the most deadly.
An interesting thing to note about the ghost and other spirits is that they walk a world only they know of, a place no mortal can ever enter as long as he lives. Why have they chosen to live in a place between life and death when they could have moved onto the afterlife? You might think the answer to that question would be obvious but if you dig deeper, you’ll see it is something else.
For the average fantasy ghost, it chose to consign itself to a world that will eventually forget it existed long after everyone it knew when it was alive have passed into the afterlife. It could be because he had regrets that didn’t get resolved before it died and as a spirit, these regrets constantly gnaw on it, making it more and more difficult for it to find the peace it has long desired.
Some spirits are so full of hatred and malice that even death cannot make disappear. Their rage is so strong that everything in their vicinity trembles whenever they’re around. They wander the world, seeking only to destroy and hurt as many people as they can.
There are some ghosts who are afraid to enter the afterlife because they have to account for what they did while they were alive. Maybe they were cowards, too prideful, or did nothing to save other people when they had the chance to do so. They don’t want to have to deal with it, so they choose to live as a ghost. What they fail to realize is that they are only punishing themselves as they can do nothing but watch as the world and the people they knew when they were alive change.
The fantasy ghost is an excellent addition to a fictional world in that it gives you, the creator, a chance to explore plot-lines that you otherwise couldn’t with mortal beings. It builds and expands upon the world you’re building and enriches its lore in ways you don’t necessarily expect to see.
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