Poltergeist
Spirit
Bump in the Night

BIOLOGY

Physiology

Poltergeists when manifested are made of layers of Ectoplasm like most spirits - a quasi-ethereal matter that allows spiritual forces to embody themselves in physical reality. The Ectoplasm of a Poltergeist is of a strange level of density, making it almost invisible in most conditions - only being revealed by either bright moonlight due to the saturative effects it has on Spirits, or Light Magic. It is also especially thin even for a Spirit, and can often function as though it were completely ethereal, passing through all unenchanted weapons with ease and even often passing through enchanted weapons as well. This also allows the Poltergeist to phase through materials at an even greater rate than other Spirits, gliding through almost any object without difficulty. They can choosen to condense their Ectoplasm to interact with the world physically, though this does not remove the invisible nature of the Ectoplasm. These effects when combined allow Poltergeists to glide through their chosen haunt with ease, throwing objects around, knocking over furniture, and sometimes even outright attacking people, all while being completely invisible. The strength of a Poltergeist depends on the current moon phase - the closer to a full moon, the stronger it is, and the closer to a new moon, the weaker it is. Celestial events such as Blood Moons and especialyl Solar Eclipses can increase a Poltergeist's strength to the point it can fling massive objects like pianos at targets. Visually, Poltergeists when visible appear as pale white, wispy Spirit humanoids whose legs trail off into billowing smoke, completely opaque eyes, and hair that's made of smoky tendrils. Their frame is overall quite petite and soft, despite their already considerable strength when interacting with their environment.

Intelligence

Poltergeists have a level of intelligence comparable to a young child - a particularly mischevious young child at that. They are concerned mostly with playing around and causing trouble, which they satisfy by their tendency to vandalize areas they've appeared in, throwing objects around, rapidly slamming doors and windows, knocking over things, and hitting walls repeatedly. Unlike similarly playful Monsters such as Pixies, their antics are never remotely benign, and oftentimes they will eventually graduate into outright trying to kill nearby humans or living monsters by flinging dangerous objects at them, pushing them down ledges, and similar. They often gravitate towards Monsters who produce great amounts of Necrotic energy, seemingly due to a base instinct. This most often results in them becoming helpers and servants of the Monster in question, either intentionally or not on said Monster's part, arranging their things, opening and closing doors for them, and similar.

Diet

Poltergeists feed off pure necrotic energy like most Spirits, but are unusually dependent on it compared to other natural Spirits, needing it to even remain manifested, and as a result they're mostly bound to being in the area of wherever they were created, or around the Monster they consider their master.

Habitat

Poltergeists come to inhabit places seeped with necrotic energy, especially long-term necrotic energy, and as such are a mainstay of abandoned towns, castles, catacombs, and graveyards, and rarely old battlefields, but they are less likely to remain in such a place due to the tendency for life to overwhelm death over time in such places, and for a hungry Spirit like a Poltergeist, that often means banishment.

Reproduction

Poltergeists naturally manifest in places saturated with Necrotic energy, appearing naturally rather than being the cursed spirit of a Human. They have a unique trait where despite needing the presence of Necrotic energy in large amounts, they do not actively consume it, so many Poltergeists may come to manifest in the same general area, contributing to the storm of objects a group of mischevious Poltergeists can create in their lairs. Rarely, they may manifest as a result of a human girl's potential for Necromancy in the future, a grim omen indeed, and will often harry and harass her throughout the day and night.

SOCIOLOGY

Community

Poltergeists despite, or perhaps because, their childlike and odd personalities, often form small communities together, becoming intensely loyal to one another and enjoying playing with each other even when there are no humans around to harass. Because of this, when a large number of them decide to serve a Monster, the rest will usually come too. In service of Monsters, they perform the role of simple servants who arrange furniture, open doors, and wildly attack intruders by flinging objects at them. They also serve an invaluable role as invisible sentries, being able to track the progress of invading individuals silently and without notice, assuming no Light Magic is being used. If you've ever wondered why you can't seem to get a drop on Monsters as dumb as Skeletons, this is probably why.

Technology

Poltergeists are too playful and childlike to enterain the concepts of technology, unless you count stacking abandoned furniture in complicated ways as technology.

Theology

Poltergeists generally lack the time for religion or worship, being all too occupied with clowning around. However, they comprehend the concept, as they're prone to overturning human holy symbols to frighten intruders as a cruel prank.

Diplomacy

If you attempted to engage in diplomacy with a Poltergeist, she'd simply call you rude names.

Hostility

Poltergeists are not hostile to humans or monsters in the traditional sense, but their concept of playtime involves flinging lots of objects, often heavy or sharp, at whatever poor living thing that gets close enough. This is often why the only responses you'll hear from them to an intruder's presence is giggling or insults. However, if a Monster special to them, such as a fellow Poltergeist, is dealt with, they'll often get angry and begin actively attacking to kill.

HUNTING

Range

Poltergeists can be found the entire world over due to their ease of manifestation, and are a common servant of almost any Necromancer, Vampire, or other necrotic Monster you can find.

Magic

Poltergeists are Spirits, and thus are inherently magical beings, originating from the Spirit Plane. As such, they are vulnerable to Exorcism, which will banish them back to their accursed home, but in time they may return to the world in the presence of sufficient necrotic energy. Of all Spirits, Poltergeists are some of the most vulnerable to Exorcism, and a single ritual is often enough to banish many of them at once at great speed.

Combat

The Poltergeist approach to combat is simple - fling as many things at the enemy as possible. At their weakest, this is an annoyance, at their strongest, it may result in a human being crushed into paste. They'll also often sneak up on humans near ledges and push them off, which is often fatal.

Strengths

Invisibility and intangibility makes her a pain to deal with, during celestial events will become exceptionally strong. Often found in large numbers.

Weaknesses

Easily banished with exorcism, a mere nuisance on the night of a New Moon.

Final Summary

When facing a Poltergeist, keep the current lunar phase in mind, and never underestimate them. Try and draw the battle outside at night, or bring a light mage. Bringing an Exorcist often makes dealing with Poltergeists rather trivial, but don't attempt to face them during a celestial event - your exorcist will die before they can even finish the rite.