Dark Reflections: Spectres

Dark Reflections: Spectres is a supplement to Wraith: The Oblivion that details the lives of Spectres and how to create one to play.

Summary[]

From the White Wolf catalog:

Devoured by Oblivion...

"I was once as you are, but now my Shadow and I are one. We serve Oblivion, yes, and drag others down screaming to share in the sacrament of our torment. Join me willingly and partake in the blessings that Oblivion bestows. Refuse me, and you shall receive double your portion..." —Coldheart, Nephwrack and priest of Oblivion

Bend Yourself to Its Will!

Join the servants of Oblivion as they raven from the mouth of the Void to the hearts of Stygia's citadels. Dark Reflections: Spectres is a guide to the Shadow-Eaten, their desires, powers, and history. It opens the gates to the Labyrinth, to show you the horrors that dwell within, and demonstrates that some evils are far stronger than the grave.

Dark Reflections: Spectres includes:

Everything you need to run a Spectre Chronicle!
Dark Arcanoi only Spectres possess!
New Castes of Spectres and more!

Chapters[]

Ghost Story: Haunted[]

Introduction[]

Lexicon

Chapter One: Spectral Culture[]

The information here includes the common characteristics of Spectres, how they are made and manage to exist, the castes within Spectral society, and the history of Spectres in general.

Chapter Two: Spectres as Characters[]

Character creation for Spectres as player characters, and the new toys that go with existing hand-in-hand with Oblivion. Includes information on four of the Dark Arcanoi, Tempest-Weaving, Shroud-Rending, Hive-Mind, and Contaminate.

New Shade Powers:
- Talons
- Miasmal Breath
- Tempest Wrack
- Siphon Emotion

New Background: Shadowlands

Merits and Flaws:
- Penetrating Glare (3 point Merit)
- Secret Fetter (4 point Merit)
- Speeding (5 point Merit)
- Strong Psyche (1-3 point Merit)
- Blurred (2 point Flaw)
- Foul Presence (3 point Flaw)
- Hunted (4-5 point Flaw)
- Decayed Corpus (variable)

Dark Arcanoi:
- Tempest-Weaving
  - Basic Abilities:
    - Eavesdrop
    - Find Nihil
    - Navigate
      - Wormhole
      - Ride the Soul-Storm
      - Grasp the Passing
      - Favored Flotsam
      - Carve the Chaos
- Shroud-Rending
  - Basic Abilities:
    - Hold Back The Curtain
      - Threshold
      - Echoes
      - Fleeting Glimpses
      - Virtuality
      - Transparent Memories
- Hive-Mind
  - Basic Abilities:
    - Distress Signal
      - Silent Whispers
      - Distant Whispers
      - Recall the Known
      - Recall the Unknown
      - Racial Memory
- Contaminate
  - Basic Abilities:
    - Perceive Contamination
      - Shadowspeech
      - Sense Nature
      - Transfer Angst
      - Awaken Latent Thorns
      - Call the Shadow
- Larceny
  - Basic Abilities:
    - Weigh Oblivion
      - Steal Corpus
      - Emotional Infection
      - Savor Agony
      - Withstand Oblivion
      - Defy Oblivion

Chapter Three: Spectres and the Storyteller[]

How to make a Spectral chronicle, including themes and how they interact with their Psyche by way of the Psycheguide.

Fronds:
- Wraith Prestige (1 point/level)
- Allies (1 point/level)
- Memories of Life (1 point)
- Mirror (1 point)
- Pure Relic (1 point/relic)
- Psyche Sigil (1-3 points)
- Psyche Traits (2 points)
- Guilt (3 points)
- Indulgence (3 points)
- Freudian Slip (4 points)
- Penance (6 points)
- Psyche Independence (7 points)

Chapter Four: Templates[]

Ideas and templates for the various kinds of Spectres.

Doppelganger Impostor
Demonic Nephwrack
Stripling Prodigy
Mortwight True Believer
Rampaging Shade

Background Information[]

This book was published under the Black Dog label due to the disturbing themes inherent in Spectral nature and existence.
Ads at the back of the book include: Werewolf: The Apocalypse, RAGE card game, Changeling: The Dreaming and Mage: The Ascension Second Edition.
Apologies are made to Mike Danza for leaving his name out of the credits of Hierarchy.

Memorable Quotes[]

"It is lucky for us that spectres exist. If there were not a foe against which we could have united Stygia, we would have had to invent one. All empires need external threats to provide cohesion, otherwise enemies rise up from within. As long as there exist spectres to battle, Stygia will remain strong." - The Smiling Lord, General of the Grim Legion, victims of violence

"The shackles spectres would place on us are those of madness and despair, which are even stronger than Stygian steel. Were ever the spectres to triumph, I fear even the Skinlands would fall before them." - Myrmidia, agent of the Shattered Chain

"Spectres are the Shadow of Stygia's empire. They have grown stronger since Charon closed the Temples of the Shining Ones and banned all religions from the Isle of Sorrow. Only by letting light into Stygia can spectres ever be vanquished." - Pastor Veritas, First Church of Harmonic Accord

"Many spirits would appear to be dominated by their bestial nature, just as some Kindred are. These wraiths are often of tortured appearance, and what powers they have are primal, reflecting their turbulent natures. Even so, if proper care is taken, the aspiring necomancer should be no more concerned if the spirit she converses with is Restless or wild. All are helpless before our art." - Ramona Giovanni, of Clan Giovanni

"The Wyrm has agents among the dead, just as among the living. It ha long been our task to cull such spirits, just as our wolf cousins cull the sick beasts from a herd." - Long-Time-Running, Silent Strider

"We bring the Good Death to those who are ready to die, even if they do not yet know it. Sadly, some spirits die before their time. Those wraiths called spectres are such spirits, mortals who have died badly. Thus are they tormented and angry after death. Bring them solace, my brothers. Bring them peace." - Mortimer, Euthanatos Mage

Characters[]

Coldheart - Nephwrack, formerly "Cleitus the Black"
Gorool - Malfean(?) who destroyed Charon
Lamachis - The Devourer, Malfean
Mulhecturous - The Filth Goddess, Malfean
Rabark - The Inhabited, Malfean
The Smiling Lord - Wraith, General of the Grim Legion, Hierarch
Myrmidia - Renegade Wraith, The Shattered Chain
Pastor Veritas - Heretic Wraith, First Church of Harmonic Accord
Ramona Giovanni - Giovanni Vampire
Long-Time-Running - Silent Strider Garou
Mortimer - Euthanatos Mage
Jemima Screech - Stripling, Spectre, Destroyed by the Void

Terminology[]

Angst, Being, Caste, Catharsis, Composure, Contaminate, Corpus, Dark Arcanoi, Dark Passions, Devoured, The Devouring, Doppelganger (WTO), Fetters, Fronds, Hive-Mind (WTO), The Labyrinth, Malfean (WTO), Mortwight, Nephwrack, Oblivion, Passions, Primordial, Psyche, Psychic Healing, Rapaciousness, Redemption, Shade (WTO), Shroud-Rending, Sinkholes, Spectre (WTO), Stripling, Tempest-Weaving, Void

References[]

Previous release	Game Books	Next release
WTO: Dark Kingdom of Jade	Wraith: The Oblivion books	WTO: Guildbook: Artificers