Ghosts

hese can be the most powerful of undead, save the Nazgûl. They are totally energy, having no physical component at all, and are activated solely by the presence of living beings of the same type that they once were (most often Men). They appear as they remember themselves being, with varying degrees of effectiveness: lesser Ghosts often neglect pertinent details, such as appropiate clothing for the occasion. They also do not realize that, since their appearence is nothing but illusion, their will can affect it. A Ghost who wishes to be larger and more menacing is so, with nothing but a thought. Greater Ghosts, whose instincts are under more control, avoid this giveaway and behave in a very lifelike manner, enabling them to drain the constitution (and hence lite- energy) of a victim while engaging him in conversation or merely being near him.

It is a strange fact that most Ghosts seem not to realize that they are dead; often, if they can be convinced of their true nature, they will dissipate and go forth to their appointed rest. (Note that Elves do not have Ghosts, since their spirits always know where to go. It is notable that Elves do not fear Ghosts, perhaps for this reason). However, Ghosts are remarkably impervious to reason on this score (How would you. Reader, react if someone insisted that you were dead?), and would-be persuaders are well-warned that there is no way that the Ghost can avoid draining their life-energy, any more than they themselves can avoid having their hearts beat. Anyone near enough to a Ghost to speak to it is near enough to be drained.

Some Ghosts are bound to a place or object that was very important to them in life or that figured strongly in their deaths: a sentry killed while guarding a crucial post, for instance, whose spirit remains "on duty" long after the fortress that he guarded has fallen to ruins; the murder victim haunting the gold that she was killed for; the child plague victim still holding fast to the wooden doll that comforted its last hours.