Page 210 - World of Darkness

The Nature of Ghosts

A ghost is an intangible spirit that exists in the physi-
cal world. A ghost with Finesse 1 or 2 is only aware of the
area around its anchor (see below), while those with Finesse
3 or more can perceive the rest of their surroundings much
as a mortal does.
Ghosts cannot be seen or felt by mortals unless a spirit
makes a special effort to manifest (see below). Even when
manifested, a ghost is an ethereal, insubstantial presence.
Ghosts with a Power of 1 to 3 often appear as little more
than an eerie, glowing mist or ball of light. Ghosts with a
Power of 4 or 5 might seem as real and substantial as a living
mortal — until someone tries to touch them. Ghosts pass
effortlessly through solid objects, even when manifested. By
the same token, they can’t physically touch or manipulate
physical objects unless they possess a specific power to do so
(see “Numina”). They are immune to all types of mundane
damage, and can see and hear clearly regardless of environ-
mental conditions, whether in total darkness, fog or a rag-
ing storm.
Anchors
Ghosts linger in the physical world because something
anchors them there, preventing them from continuing on to
the spirit realm. Every ghost has at least one anchor rooting it to
the physical world. Some powerful spirits may have more. The
number and nature of a ghost’s anchors depends on the indi-
vidual and the circumstances surrounding its death. In most
cases, an anchor is a physical place or object that held great
emotional significance to the ghost during its mortal existence.
An elderly woman who spent her last years largely confined to
her bed might be anchored to the bedroom or to the bed itself.
A man who carried a valuable pocket watch wherever he went
might be a ghost anchored to the watch, haunting those who
come to possess it. Occasionally, ghosts can be anchored to people
rather than to objects. A father whose last thought was for the
welfare of his children may be anchored to them, watching over
them in death as he did in life. Or a woman murdered by a jilted
lover may find her ghost anchored to him, sustained by a bitter
desire for revenge.
Ghosts must remain close to their anchors at all times,
whether they manifest or not. A ghost can travel up to 10 yards
from its anchor per point of Power that it has. Thus, a ghost
with 3 Power can travel up to 30 yards from its anchor. Ghosts
anchored to a place instead of a person or object measure this
distance from the spot where they died or from where a struc-
ture ends. A ghost with 3 Power whose anchor is a mansion can
travel anywhere within the mansion, but only up to 30 yards
away from the exterior of the building.
Anchors also make it easier for a ghost to manifest in
the physical world. If a ghost is within one yard of its anchor
it can manifest automatically with no roll required (see
“Manifestations,” below).
If a ghost has multiple anchors it can jump from one
anchor to another with the expenditure of a single Will-
power point, regardless of the distance between anchors.
So, the father who lingers in the physical world to watch

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GHOSTS-THE NATURE OF GHOSTS