Lockwood & Co: The Whispering Skull

Glossary

fn1 indicates a Type One ghost

fn2 indicates a Type Two ghost

Agency, Psychical Investigation

A business specializing in the containment and destruction of

ghosts

. There are more than a dozen agencies in London alone. The largest two (the Fittes Agency and the Rotwell Agency) have hundreds of employees; the smallest (Lockwood & Co.) has three. Most agencies are run by adult supervisors, but all rely heavily on children with strong psychic

Talent

.

Apparition

The shape formed by a

ghost

during a

manifestation

. Apparitions usually mimic the shape of the dead person, but animals and objects are also seen. Some can be quite unusual. The

Spectre

in the recent Limehouse Docks case manifested as a greenly glowing king cobra, while the infamous Bell Street Horror took the guise of a patchwork doll. Powerful or weak, most ghosts do not (or cannot) alter their appearance.

Aura

The radiance surrounding many

apparitions

. Most auras are fairly faint, and are best seen out of the corner of the eye. Strong, bright auras are known as

other-light

. A few ghosts, such as

Dark Spectres

, radiate black auras that are darker than the night around them.

Catacomb

An underground chamber used for burials. Never common in London, the few existing catacombs have fallen entirely into disuse since the outbreak of the

Problem

.

Catafalque

A hydraulic mechanism used to lower coffins into a

catacomb

.

Chain net

A net made of finely spun

silver

chains; a versatile variety of

seal

.

Chill

The sharp drop in temperature that occurs when a ghost is near. One of the four usual indicators of an imminent

manifestation

, the others being

malaise

,

miasma

and

creeping fear

. Chill may extend over a wide area, or be concentrated in specific ‘cold spots’.

Cluster

A group of

ghosts

occupying a small area.

Cold Maiden

^fn1

A grey, misty female form, often wearing old-fashioned dress, seen indistinctly at a distance. Cold Maidens radiate powerful feelings of melancholy and

malaise

. As a rule, they rarely draw close to the living, but exceptions

have

been known. See also

Floating Bride

.

Creeping fear

A sense of inexplicable dread often experienced in the build-up to a

manifestation

. Often accompanied by

chill

,

miasma

and

malaise

.

Curfew

In response to the

Problem

, the British government enforces nightly curfews in many inhabited areas. During curfew, which begins shortly after dusk and finishes at dawn, ordinary people are encouraged to remain indoors, safe behind their home

defences

.

Dark Spectre

^fn2

A frightening variety of

Type Two ghost

that manifests as a moving patch of darkness. Sometimes the

apparition

at the centre of the darkness is dimly visible; at other times the black cloud is fluid and formless, perhaps shrinking to the size of a pulsing heart, or expanding at speed to engulf a room.

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

.

Sight

The psychic ability to see

apparitions

and other ghostly phenomena, such as

death-glows

. One of the three main varieties of psychic

Talent

.

Silver

An important and potent

defence

against

ghosts

. Worn by many people as

wards

in the form of jewellery. Agents use it to coat their

rapiers

, and as a crucial component of their

seals

.

Silver-glass

A special ‘ghost-proof’ glass used to encase

Sources

.

Source

The object or place through which a

ghost

enters the world.

Spectre

^fn2

The most commonly encountered

Type Two ghost

. A Spectre always forms a clear, detailed

apparition

, which may in some cases seem almost solid. It is usually an accurate visual echo of the deceased as they were when alive or newly dead. Spectres are less nebulous than

Phantasms

and less hideous than

Wraiths

, but equally varied in behaviour. Many are neutral or benign in their dealings with the living – perhaps returning to reveal a secret, or make right an ancient wrong. Some, however, are actively hostile, and hungry for human contact. These ghosts should be avoided at all costs.

Stalker

^fn1

A

Type One ghost

that seems drawn to living people, following them at a distance, but never venturing close. Agents who are skilled at

Listening

often detect the slow shuffling of its bony feet, and its desolate sighs and groans.

Stone Knocker

^fn1

A desperately uninteresting

Type One ghost

, which does precious little apart from tap.

Talent

The ability to see, hear or otherwise detect

ghosts

. Many children, though not all, are born with a degree of psychic Talent. This skill tends to fade towards adulthood, though it still lingers in some grown-ups. Children with better-than-average Talent join the

night watch

. Exceptionally gifted children usually join the

agencies

. The three main categories of Talent are

Sight

,

Listening

and

Touch

.

Tom O’Shadows

^fn1

A London term for a

Lurker

or

Shade

that lingers in doorways, arches or alleyways. An everyday, urban

ghost

.

Touch

The ability to detect psychic echoes from objects that have been closely associated with a death or a supernatural

manifestation

. Such echoes take the form of visual images, sounds and other sense impressions. One of the three main varieties of

Talent

.

Type One

The weakest, most common, and least dangerous grade of

ghost

. Type Ones are scarcely aware of their surroundings, and often locked into a single, repetitious pattern of behaviour. Commonly encountered examples include:

Shades

,

Lurkers

and

Stalkers

. See also

Cold Maiden

,

Floating Bride

,

Glimmer, Pale Stench, Stone Knocker

and

Tom O’Shadows

.

Type Two

The most dangerous commonly occurring grade of

ghost

. Type Twos are stronger than

Type Ones

, and possess some kind of residual intelligence. They are aware of the living, and may attempt to do them harm. The most common Type Twos, in order, are:

Spectres

,

Phantasms

and

Wraiths

. See also

Dark Spectre

,

Fetch

,

Limbless

,

Poltergeist

,

Raw-bones

and

Shining Boy

.

Type Three

A very rare grade of

ghost

, first reported by Marissa Fittes, and the subject of much controversy ever since. Allegedly able to communicate fully with the living.

Visitor

A

ghost

.

Ward

An object, usually of

iron

or

silver

, used to keep

ghosts

away. Small wards may be worn as jewellery on the person; larger ones, hung up around the house, are often equally decorative.

Water, running

It was observed in ancient times that

ghosts

dislike crossing running water. In modern Britain this knowledge is sometimes used against them. In central London a net of artificial channels, or runnels, protects the main shopping district. On a smaller scale, some house-owners build open channels outside their front doors and divert the rainwater along them.

Wraith

^fn2

A dangerous

Type Two ghost

. Wraiths are similar to

Spectres

in strength and patterns of behaviour, but are far more horrible to look at. Their

apparitions

show the deceased in his or her dead state: gaunt and shrunken, horribly thin, sometimes rotten and wormy. Wraiths often appear as skeletons. They radiate a powerful

ghost-lock

. See also

Gallows Wraith

,

Raw-bones

.