“In
that single instant, brief and vivid as a landscape beheld in the
flash of summer lightning, I saw the moon shining down through a rift
of stormy cloud—the ghastly sign-post rearing its warning finger by
the wayside—the broken parapet—the plunging horses—the black
gulf below.”
–
Amelia B. Edwards, “The Phantom Coach”
Many
an old home in the World Between is said to be haunted, but sometimes
you haven't planned in advance what form a particular ghostly
manifestation takes. Here's a table to find out what kind of
spectral manifestation is afoot:
|
d8
|
Haunting
Type
|
|
1
|
Army
of the Fallen – a detachment of spectral soldiers
practices formations in the moonlight. Where do they march off
to? If followed, they might re-enact a bloody battle—or perhaps
they turn on any onlookers and take them to be reincarnated foes.
|
|
2
|
Ghost
Watchdog – a spectral baying can be heard each night of
the full moon. Is the baying an indication of some forthcoming
familial doom or does the spirit-hound indicate where remains lie
without proper burial?
|
|
3
|
Haunted
Portrait – a certain portrait in the gallery has eyes
that seem to follow your every movement. On a special anniversary
the portrayed person can step from its frame. Why do they ascend
to the attic? If friendly, what knowledge might they impart to
those who ask politely?
|
|
4
|
Phantom
Coach – at a prescribed time, a ghostly coach arrives at
the front gate and the shrouded driver beckons any onlookers to
enter within. Where does it take its foolhardy passengers? Do
they arrive at a place of adventure or does the coach re-enact a
tragic plummet from a jagged cliff?
|
|
5
|
Spectral
Footsteps – ghostly footsteps can be heard in a
particular hallway all through the night. If the footsteps are
followed, where do they lead? Do they end at a secret passage or
do they lead below into the crypts where a fiend awaits?
|
|
6
|
The
Hidden Nosferatu – a strange moaning can be heard coming
from behind a brick wall. If the wall is broken, a vampire will
be discovered chained within. It is weak from lack of
nourishment, but will offer strange wealth for its release.
|
|
7
|
The
Pitter-Patter of Little Feet – a child ghost haunts an
obscure staircase. Perhaps this child merely wants to be played
with and entertained, or perhaps it rises from the well each night
with sodden hair to do worse than mischief.
|
|
8
|
The
Rattle of Chains – the sound of rattling chains can be
heard to emanate every night from the basement. Someone was
incarcerated there, but what will happen if this specter is
confronted? Perhaps this person was unjustly locked away and is
in need of exorcism, or perhaps they were put away for the safety
of all.
|


Cool stuff!
ReplyDeleteI'll take a number 6 with a side order of 7, thank you.
What is that creepy image from? Looks familiar... but not so familiar that I recognize it.
Thanks! I grabbed the image from tumblr, so sadly I don't have a source for it.
Delete"Strange wealth" does have a eerily lovely ring to it.
ReplyDeleteHeh, I thought so.
DeleteFor some reason, I first read Phantom Coach as Phantom Couch, and thought that that was an odd and surprisingly "non-moody" bit of haunting.
ReplyDeleteAnd then I read it again and realized my error.
You know, phantom couch could actually work...especially in an Edward Gorey game.
DeleteThis is why I don't do horror very well - these are completely creeping me out!
ReplyDeleteMission accomplished!
DeleteNow we need a chart to roll on for whatever 'strange wealth' might be...
ReplyDeleteDo it!
DeleteDone.
Deletehttp://fictivefantasies.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/strange-wealth/
Nice!
DeleteSomehow I missed this yesterday. Great stuff. I may have call to us it in my current "spooky old mansion" Weird Adventures game.
ReplyDeleteOoooh, let me know if you do!
Delete