Spirits

Max Puckett riding past a variety of spirits. (Chapter 1, Page 69)

Spirits are spectral entities consisting entirely of spectral energy that inhabit the fictional world of Paranatural.

Overview

Spirits possess the ability to interact with other spirits, ghosts, and any person or object imbued with spectral energy. They generally cannot interact with the material world and can pass through physical objects; however, they can be captured on film, enabling them to be seen by those who could normally interact with them.

Most spirits possess a special power or ability that is generally unique to them, from basic powers of magnetism or fire manipulation to more complex abilities such as erasing parts of people's bodies. Some spirits also possess the capability to speak in different spirit languages.

Possession

When a spirit is fatally wounded or defeated in combat, they enter a weakened state that allows them to possess an object or a person, transforming them into a tool or medium, respectively. If they possess an object, they are able to lure a human in order to feed off of their spectral energy and eventually return to health. If they possess a human directly, they feed off their spectral energy; if the human was not already a spectral, they will eventually become one due to the exposure, and their energy color will always match the spirit's. If a spirit's object is destroyed or their host dies, the progress they made regenerating is not reset, and they either pop out in their "white, ghosty" form or, if fully healed, in their normal form.

There is a "hazy power/size ratio" in respect to a spirit's ability to possess an object; if a large object such as the moon were to be possessed, it would be by an equally large and powerful spirit. Any given item or individual can also only be possessed by one spirit at a time.

While a spirit is possessing a medium or a tool wielded by a spectral, that spectral becomes able to use their spirit's powers to some degree. However, the spectral's energy color must be close in shade to the spirit's, with variations slowing down the healing process and making it harder for the spectral to harness their powers. Spirits are also able to pull their spectral into a mental state where time seems to move at a slower rate, known as a "state of heightened perception" or "spirit trance".

Subvarieties

Three subvarieties of spirit are known to exist:

• Poltergeists, which are spirits or ghosts capable of manipulating the physical world. Whereas the majority of spirits are incapable of directly affecting the material world, poltergeists have gained the ability to move objects and leave imprints. Note that this designation is also shared with ghosts capable of the same feat. Known examples include Forge and the Ravenous Gobbledygook.
• Grudges, which are versions of spirits that, according to Boss Leader, are "beefed up on fear and rage." Most spirits seen entering a grudge state have done so after extreme damage, becoming more uncontrollable and powerful as a result with their appearance changing accordingly. This transformation can be temporary and the spirit can resume their usual form, as seen with the Ghost Train and the Ravenous Gobbledygook, but under special circumstances grudges can transform further into a wight.
• Wights, which are grudges whose suffering has reached a zenith and resulted in a permanent change to their nature. Wights uniquely possess white spirit energy, which acts as all other colors at the same time. These spirits are powerful and difficult to destroy, and their destruction is implied to have a catastrophic effect on spectral energy for miles around them.

Species

While the majority of spirits appear to be wholly unique individuals, species of spirits have been shown to exist with all members of the species sharing basic appearances and characteristics.

Known spirit species and individuals include:

Doctopi Doorman Eightfold Flipflop Forge General Emerald Ghost Train Gorf Hijack Hissin' Pete Hotwire King C. Lucifer Muse

Night Lamps Nin Patchworm Peekaboo Queen of Kindness Ravenous Gobbledygook Sandman Scrapdragon Sphinx of Games Sphinx of Truth The Shadow Toolbox Venus Guytrap Vile Spirits

Trivia

• Both mediums and tool-wielders are able to prevent their spirits from leaving. Though they are unable to force them out on their own, spectrals are also able to destroy them in their spirit world. If a tool-wielder leaves their item out of range, the spirit is able to sneak out.
• Should two spectrals enter heightened perception mode at the same time, they move at the same speed and are able to communicate with one another. However, their spirits would not be able to contact each other in any capacity.