Though part of human culture for many centuries prior, the existence of Ghosts was not conclusively proven until 1886, when famed Occultist and Spiritualist leader Charles Cornelius Ward was able to produce a "physical" sample - the world's first Ectoplasm. This discovery led to a boom in popularity for the Spiritualist movement, which swept across the United States and Europe as interest in the world of Spirits became part of the public zeitgeist. As increased study of the newly discovered phenomenon continued, the production of Ectoplasm became cheaper and more widespread. It wasn't long before the first "Ghost-Eater" was born - a human being with the ability to utilize injested Ectoplasm to accomplish wild supernatural effects.
The increased interaction between the Spirit World and Earth began to weaken barriers which had kept the two worlds apart, and creatures of Spirit would occasionally begin to cross over, manifesting as monstrous Ectoplasmic forms, and wreaking havoc in their confusion and frustration. Humanity addressed this problem the way they knew best - not by ceasing to explore their new discovery, but by weaponizing the abilities of the Ghost-Eaters, putting them to work against wandering Ghosts, as well as utilizing them in more human-focused conflicts, be those military or against rogue Ghost-Eaters involved with criminal elements.
Over time, Ectoplasm and its role in society changed and adapted, until it found itself in the position it occupied today. Ectoplasm's legality varies by juridiction, as does the legality of any of its applied effects. It sees military and civilian applications, has a role in many of the Spiritually-syncretic religions of the Fourth Great Awakening, and even has a few recreational sports centered around its effects.
But how does Ectoplasm actually work? Ectoplasm is the basis of modern magic, although it is only called magic by Occult groups or a few of the faiths of the Fourth Great Awakening. It acts similarly to how Mana works in many games - it is the fuel for supernatural abilities, and makes up the physical portion of any of its applied effects. Most people need to consume Ectoplasm in order to use any of its supernatural effects, and what effects one can accomplish are divided into several specialities.
Additionally, some are able to absorb Ectoplasmic energy from the ambient traces in the environment around them, while others naturally produce Ectoplasm within their own bodies, and yet others must consume the Ectoplasmic energy within other people in order to utilize their own abilities.
The common forms of Ectoplasmic Application are categorized below:
- Banshee. Like most Ectophages, Banshees must consume Ectoplasm in order to produce any supernatural effects. Once consumed, the Ectoplasm enhances the hearing of Banshees, allowing them to echolocate and selectively block out certain sounds. The Ectoplasm also enhances the lungs and vocal cords, allowing Banshees to emit powerful and damaging sonic shrieks, or to perform hauntingly beautiful songs with ease.
- Dullahan. Like most Ectophages, Dullahans must consume Ectoplasm in order to produce any supernatural effects. Once consumed, the Ectoplasm enhances the natural regenerative properties of the Dullahan's body, granting an incredible resistance to pain, a rapid heaing factor, and even the ability to replace lost limbs with ghostly, Ectoplasmic replacements until a new limb can grow back. Dullahans typically burn Ectoplasm very slowly (using it in significant amounts only when seriously wounded) and can carry a supply of Ectoplasm within their bodies for months at a time.
- Fetch. Unlike most other Ectophages, Fetches naturally produce Ectoplasm within their own bodies, and are able to regurgitate it if need be. Fetches are able to use their natural Ectoplasm to regurgitate a small Ectoplasmic form which their mind can project itself into, allowing the Fetch to remotely control and sense through this "Spectral Body", switching their mind freely between it and their own body.
- Haunt. Unlike most other Ectophages, Haunts naturally produce Ectoplasm within their own bodies, and are able to secrete it from their skin at will. Haunts are able to infuse their Ectoplasm into non-living objects, and can animate Plasm-infused objects, moving them around like puppets. The amount of objects a Haunt can control at once depends on the skill of the Haunt and the amount of Ectoplasm their body can produce.
- Mare. Like most Ectophages, Mares must consume Ectoplasm in order to produce any supernatural effects. Once consumed, the Ectoplasm enhances the Mare's mind, allowing a high degree of influence and control over other living creatures with Ectoplasm in their bodies. As such, a Mare will be ineffective against a mundane creature, and must find some way to force the creature to injest Ectoplasm to be able to effect it. The more Ectoplasm in a creature's system, the more control a Mare will have over them. Over a Ghost, a Mare's control is all but absolute.
- Onryo. Like most Ectophages, Onryo must consume Ectoplasm in order to produce any supernatural effects. Once consumed, the Ectoplasm can be used by the Onryo to deleterious effect, being placed on others as curses which negatively impact the cursed party in one way or another. Each Onryo's curses are different, and few Onryo are able to wield more than one curse. The highest number of unique curses held by a single Onryo is believed to be four, though even this claim is disputed by some. How long a given curse lasts depends on how much Ectoplasm was burned to lay it, and how strong of an effect the curse has.
- Phantom. Unlike most other Ectophages, Phantoms are able to absorb Ectoplasm naturally though their environment, drawing in the trace amounts of Ectoplasm found in the atmosphere. Phantoms can utilize their Ectoplasm to enhance their senses, most often sight. These enhanced senses allow them to sense through obstructions (such as heavy fog) and to sense into the Spirit World. A well-trained Phantom is able to sense residual traces of energy from prior happenings, allowing them to gather an accurate picture of events which transpired in the recent past.
- Shade. Like most Ectophages, Shades must consume Ectoplasm in order to produce any supernatural effects. Once consumed, a Shade can burn their Ectoplasm to create temporary matter, whether in the form of inanimate objects (such as a Shade materializing a magazine of ammunition for their gun) or animate constructs (such as a Shade materializing a spectral lion to attack a foe). The Shade must burn differing amounts of Ectoplasm depending on the size and complexity of the creation, but all Shade constructs last for exactly three minutes and forty-two seconds (222 seconds total). The reason why is currently unknown.
- Specter. Like most Ectophages, Specters must consume Ectoplasm in order to produce any supernatural effects. Once consumed, a Specter is able to transform parts of their body by burning Ectoplasm to create the newly-transformed matter. The amount of Ectoplasm burned is dependent on the complexity and size of the transformation, though unlike Shade manifestations, the amount burned will also determine the length of a transformation. A Specter can consume and burn Ectoplasm while transformed, potentially allowing the transformation to continue indefinitely (given a sufficient supply of Ectoplasm).
- Vampire. Unlike most other Ectophages, Vampires can only consume Ectoplasm by siphoning it from other creatures. Their own bodies cannot process Ectoplasm, often vomiting consumed Ectoplasm back up. Ectoplasm can be absorbed by consuming any part of an Ectoplasmically-charged creature, with varying efficiency of transfer depending on the medium. Blood or flesh transfers the most efficiently, and is the preffered source of Ectoplasm for many Vampires, hence the moniker. Vampires against the idea of feeding on other humans can derive Ectoplasm from Ectoplasmically-charged animal meat, though the process is less efficient. Less effecient still, yet still common method is the siphoning of ectoplasm through shared saliva or other bodily fluids. While obtaining Ectoplasm is much more difficult for Vampires, they also burn Ectoplasm extremely efficiently, and need to consume Ectoplasm far less frequently than most other Ectophages. Vampires burn Ectoplasm to enhance their body in all sorts of physical ways, often including (but not limited to) increased strength, speed, reflexes, and toughness.
- Wisp. Like most Ectophages, Wisps must consume Ectoplasm in order to produce any supernatural effects. Once consumed, a Wisp is able to burn Ectoplasm to generate energy, most commonly light, fire, or electricity. The energy produced this way seems unable to harm the Wisp producing it as long as they still have Ectoplasm in their body. Wisps with great control of their abilities are able to produce more unusual forms of energy as well, including gravitational and thermal control.
- Wraith. Like most Ectophages, Wraiths must consume Ectoplasm in order to produce any supernatural effects. Once consumed, a Wraith can burn Ectoplasm to temporarily pass into the Spirit World, allowing them to phase through solid matter on Earth. With practice, Wraiths learn to selectively phase parts of their body, instead of their whole form, allowing for much more versatility.
And those are all of the different varieties of Ectophage! Which kind of Ectophage would you want to be? Does your current place of residence allow you to use those abilities? Let me know!
-Rabbit
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