Lockwood (48 page)

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Authors: Jonathan Stroud

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Death-glow
An energy trace left at the exact spot where a death took place. The more violent the death, the brighter the glow. Strong glows may persist for many years.
Defences against ghosts
The three principal defences, in order of effectiveness, are
silver
,
iron
and
salt
.
Lavender
also affords some protection, as do bright light and running
water
.
DEPRAC
The Department of Psychical Research and Control. A government organization devoted to tackling the
Problem
. DEPRAC investigates the nature of
ghosts
, seeks to destroy the most dangerous ones, and monitors the activities of the many competing
agencies
.
Ectoplasm
A strange, variable substance from which
ghosts
are formed. In its concentrated state, ectoplasm is very harmful to the living. See also
ichor
.
Fetch
fn2
A rare and unnerving class of
ghost
that appears in the shape of a living person, usually someone known to the onlooker. Fetches are seldom aggressive, but the fear and disorientation they evoke is so strong that most experts classify them as
Type Two
spirits, to be treated with extreme caution.
Fittes Manual
A famous book of instruction for ghost-hunters written by Marissa Fittes, the founder of Britain’s first psychical
agency
.
Floating Bride
fn1
A female
Type One ghost
, a variety of
Cold Maiden
. Floating Brides are generally headless, or missing another part of their anatomy. Some search for their missing extremity; others cradle it or hold it mournfully aloft. Named after the ghosts of two royal brides, beheaded at Hampton Court Palace.
Gallows mark
A stone used to support a gallows post. Often this stone remains at the execution site long after the wooden frame has rotted away.
Gallows Wraith
fn2
A malignant subtype of
Wraith
, found at former places of execution. ‘Old Crack-neck’, which killed three agents in Tyburn Fields, is the most famous gallows Wraith of all.
Ghost
The spirit of a dead person. Ghosts have existed throughout history, but – for unclear reasons – are now increasingly common. There are many varieties; broadly speaking, however, they can be organized into three main groups (see
Type One
,
Type Two
,
Type Three
). Ghosts always linger near a
Source
, which is often the place of their death. They are at their strongest after dark, and most particularly between the hours of midnight and two a.m. Most are unaware or uninterested in the living. A few are actively hostile.
Ghost cult
A group of people who, for a variety of reasons, share an unhealthy interest in the returning dead.
Ghost-fog
A thin, greenish-white mist, occasionally produced during a
manifestation
. Possibly formed of
ectoplasm
, it is cold and unpleasant, but not itself dangerous to the touch.
Ghost-jar
A
silver-glass
receptacle used to constrain an active
Source
.
Ghost-lamp
An electrically powered street-light that sends out beams of strong white light to discourage
ghosts
. Most ghost-lamps have shutters fixed over their glass lenses; these snap on and off at intervals throughout the night.
Ghost-lock
A dangerous power displayed by
Type Two ghosts
, possibly an extension of
malaise
. Victims are sapped of their willpower, and overcome by a feeling of terrible despair. Their muscles seem as heavy as lead, and they can no longer think or move freely. In most cases they end up transfixed, waiting helplessly as the hungry ghost glides closer and closer . . .
Ghost-touch
The effect of bodily contact with an
apparition
, and the most deadly power of an aggressive
ghost
. Beginning with a sensation of sharp, overwhelming cold, ghost-touch swiftly spreads an icy numbness around the body. One after another, vital organs fail; soon the body turns bluish and starts to swell. Without swift medical intervention, ghost-touch is usually fatal.
Glimmer
fn1
The faintest perceptible
Type One
ghost. Glimmers manifest only as flecks of
other-light
flitting through the air. They can be touched or walked through without harm.
Greek Fire
Another name for
magnesium flares
. Early weapons of this kind were apparently used against
ghosts
during the days of the Byzantine (or Greek) Empire, a thousand years ago.
Haunting
See
Manifestation
.
Ichor
Ectoplasm
in its thickest, most concentrated form. It burns many materials, and is safely constrained only by
silver-glass
.
Iron
An ancient and important protection against
ghosts
of all kinds. Ordinary people fortify their homes with iron decorations, and carry it on their persons in the form of
wards
. Agents carry iron
rapiers
and chains, and so rely on it for both attack and defence.
Lavender
The strong sweet smell of this plant is thought to discourage evil spirits. As a result, many people wear dried sprigs of lavender, or burn it to release the pungent smoke. Agents sometimes carry vials of lavender water to use against weak
Type Ones
.
Limbless
fn2
A swollen, misshapen variety of
Type Two ghost
, with a generally human head and torso, but lacking recognisable arms and legs. With
Wraiths
and
Raw-bones
, one of the least pleasing
apparitions
. Often accompanied by strong sensations of
miasma
and
creeping fear
.
Listening
One of the three main categories of psychic
Talent
.
Sensitives
with this ability are able to hear the voices of the dead, echoes of past events, and other unnatural sounds associated with
manifestations
.
Lurker
fn1
A variety of
Type One ghost
that hangs back in the shadows, rarely moving, never approaching the living, but spreading strong feelings of anxiety and
creeping fear
.
Magnesium flare
A metal canister with a breakable glass seal, containing magnesium, iron, salt, gunpowder and an igniting device. An important
agency
weapon against aggressive
ghosts
.
Malaise
A feeling of despondent lethargy often experienced when a
ghost
is approaching. In extreme cases this can deepen into dangerous
ghost-lock
.
Manifestation
A ghostly occurrence. May involve all kinds of supernatural phenomena, including sounds, smells, odd sensations, moving objects, drops in temperature and the glimpse of
apparitions
.
Miasma
An unpleasant atmosphere, often including disagreeable tastes and smells, experienced in the run-up to a
manifestation
. Regularly accompanied by
creeping fear
,
malaise
and
chill
.
Night watch
Groups of children, usually working for large companies and local government councils, who guard factories, offices and public areas after dark. Though not allowed to use
rapiers
, night-watch children have long
iron
-tipped spears to keep
apparitions
at bay.
Operative
Another name for a psychical investigation agent.
Other-light
An eerie, unnatural light radiating from some
apparitions
.
Pale Stench
fn1
A
Type One ghost
that spreads a dreadful
miasma
, a smell of noxious decay. Best confronted by burning sticks of
lavender
.
Phantasm
fn2
Any
Type Two ghost
that maintains an airy, delicate and see-through form. A Phantasm may be almost invisible, aside from its faint outline and a few wispy details of its face and features. Despite its insubstantial appearance, it is no less aggressive than the more solid-seeming
Spectre
, and all the more dangerous for being harder to see.
Phantom
Another general name for a
ghost
.
Plasm
See
Ectoplasm
.
Poltergeist
fn2
A powerful and destructive class of
Type Two ghost
. Poltergeists release strong bursts of supernatural energy that can lift even heavy objects into the air. They do not form
apparitions
.
Problem, the
The epidemic of hauntings currently affecting Britain.
Rapier
The official weapon of all psychical investigation agents. The tips of the
iron
blades are sometimes coated with
silver
.
Raw-bones
fn2
A rare and unpleasant kind of
ghost
, which manifests as a bloody, skinless corpse with goggling eyes and grinning teeth. Not popular with agents. Many authorities regard it as a variety of
Wraith
.
Relic-man/relic-woman
Someone who locates
Sources
and other psychic artefacts and sells them on the black market.
Salt
A commonly used
defence
against
Type One ghosts
. Less effective than
iron
and
silver
, salt is cheaper than both, and used in many household deterrents.
Salt bomb
A small plastic throwing-globe filled with
salt
. Shatters on impact, spreading salt in all directions. Used by agents to drive back weaker
ghosts
. Less effective against stronger entities.
Salt gun
A device that projects a fine spray of salty water across a wide area. A useful weapon against
Type One ghosts
. Increasingly employed by larger
agencies
.
Sanatorium
A hospital for patients with chronic illnesses.
Seal
An object, usually of
silver
or
iron
, designed to enclose or cover a
Source
, and prevent the escape of its
ghost
.
Sensitive, a
Someone who is born with unusually good psychic
Talent
. Most Sensitives join
agencies
or the
night watch
; others provide psychic services without actually confronting
Visitors
.
Shade
fn1
The standard
Type One ghost
, and possibly the most common kind of
Visitor
. Shades may appear quite solid, in the manner of
Spectres
, or be insubstantial and wispy, like
Phantasms
; however, they entirely lack the dangerous intelligence of either. Shades seem unaware of the presence of the living, and are usually bound into a fixed pattern of behaviour. They project feelings of grief and loss, but seldom display anger or any stronger emotion. They almost always appear in human form.
Shining Boy
fn2
A deceptively beautiful variety of
Type Two ghost
that manifests as a young boy (or, more rarely, girl), walking in the centre of cold, blazing
other-light
.

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