Page 78 - Hunter the Vigil - Mortal Remains

COmPACTS

Network Zero and ghostwalkers are ideal targets, because many of them don’t
The Army of Truth has long been pushing for this agenda,
Network Zero has a keen interest in the haunted for one care if they’re caught on camera. Even now, events are being set
major reason: while most monsters are part of a society that in motion for a big reveal; hunters are actively tracking down
frowns on (and punishes) a monster for talking openly to hu- ghostwalkers and are preparing to recruit enough of them to
mans, ghostwalkers do not. This doesn’t mean they wish to be go along with their schemes. Both sides are reaching out to Jim
too forthcoming; showing up on TV demonstrating the powers Harrison to intervene, but thus far he has not taken a side in
of the grave, talking to ghosts, or rising from the dead draws all these discussions.
the wrong sorts of attention. But, the haunted isn’t necessarily
invested in keeping the existence of ghosts a secret. The trick, Null Mysteriis
for both hunters and ghostwalkers, isn’t recording the evidence Null Mysteriis does not consider the haunted its enemy.
— but getting the general public to believe the truth. Rather, they believe that ghostwalkers are humans who have
Unfortunately, both the haunted and ghosts take actions been infected, and that infection causes them to demonstrate
that can easily be manufactured with special effects. Levitating traits normally associated with ghosts, thereby attracting ghosts
objects, ectoplasm, bleeding walls, possessed subjects — faking to them. The reason why other hunters fear them, or become
such events has a long and storied history. Because of that, most hysterical about them, is not due to any fact-based decisions,
people practically expect that a video proving the existence of but out of religious implications.
ghosts is either a stunt or science fiction. From this core theory, the Null’s opinions diverge.
Still, that doesn’t stop Network Zero from trying. The prevailing point of view is that of the Rationalists.
Compared to other supernatural phenomena that the compact Essentially, this infection originates from ectoplasm, a
has recorded over the years, ghostwalkers can be pretty byproduct produced from the energy that forms ghosts. For
forthcoming. Unfortunately, hunters have yet to learn that reasons unknown, and presently irreproducible, ectoplasm is
ghostwalkers often lack real information about what else is out thought to occasionally infect humans and make them very ill.
there beyond themselves and the restless dead. Their knowledge The sickness manifests in a terrible fever, causing the subjects
of ghosts, the lands of the dead, and haunted locales is top to hallucinate about long-dead gods that make deals with
notch, but ghostwalkers are only dimly aware of other undead them before they can recover. Once the ectoplasm has gotten
creatures, like vampires, and living monsters, like werewolves. into their bloodstream, the subjects’ bodies then begin to
For most Secret Keepers, this is either a major disappointment, manufacture the substance in microscopic amounts.
or a sign that ghostwalkers are “not in on it.” When the human body generates ectoplasm, the subject
For other hunters, ghostwalkers shouldn’t be defended; can cause ghostly phenomena. Because the ectoplasm in the
they should be feared. Some haunted are willing to maim, kill, subject’s system is inconsequential, however, the Rationalists
and destroy technology to keep people from “interfering” with believe that the infected replenish their ectoplasm out of a
the dead. These ghostwalkers tend to be in the minority, even misguided need by frequenting haunted areas to acquire more
amongst those who disapprove of The Secret Channel’s efforts, of it. The subjects do not need to seek out new sources of
but their objections are loud and difficult to ignore. ectoplasm to survive, however, as the scientists initially believed.
The Response At this time, is not known if keeping the ghostwalkers away
from ectoplasm will allow them to recover naturally on their
A few encounters with angry and dangerous ghostwalkers own. This is complicated by the fact that ghosts are drawn to
have forced Network Zero to rethink their open approach. the subjects, thus creating a cycle of interdependency in order
The haunted still seem to be a good contact overall, but brutal to ensure that the ectoplasmic byproduct is shared and used to
encounters with certain members of their kind have taught affect humans.
hunters that they cannot always be trusted. Reporters have A second theory, by the Open Minds, cues off of the
become more circumspect in interviews, and try to gauge how ghost’s nature. If ghosts are extra-dimensional beings made
the ghostwalker feels about the Network before pressing forward. of pure energy, the infection that a subject endures is not
Still, some progress has been made. Some ghostwalkers caused by ectoplasm. Though ectoplasm is a visible byproduct
have asked the Network’s help to send final messages to their of ghosts and ghostwalkers alike, it is not lethal and has no
loved ones; this suits the Secret Frequency just fine. It also infectious properties. Instead, the Open Minds believe that
furthers the group’s agenda; after all, if ghosts are using the the other-dimensional energy of ghosts has found its way into
compact to broadcast messages from beyond the grave, that the human body. This energy is what gives the ghostwalkers
really helps get the message out that humans are not alone. abilities similar to ghosts without actually making them ghosts.
Some hunters, especially those within the Army of The specifics of how energy behaves is uncertain; the Open
Truth, have suggested the Secret Frequency needs to be more Minds have noted, however, that it may cause a part of the
aggressive with ghostwalkers. They see them as Network Zero’s infected’s body to operate on the same “wavelength” as ghosts
best hope for legitimacy, and think that they need to find the do, which sometimes manifests as half-seen images in mirrors,
right agenda and do something big…really big...to shake people or out the corner of one’s eye. While sometimes mistaken for
up with evidence the world cannot ignore. a second being, even by other infected, this residual energy is

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