Thursday, April 24, 2008

Wraiths

Wraith Origins:
Wraiths are spirit like beings that are parts of many legends. They originated in Norse mythology as guardian spirits known as vörór. These were believed to guard human souls. The word "wraith" was first recorded in 1513 as meaning ghost or spirit. J. R. R. Tolkien popularized wraiths in The Lord of the Rings books. Tolkien's wraiths are beings of power that feed on the strength and emotion of the living and serve only their master's will. In both The Lord of the Rings and popular legend, wraiths are tall human like figures shrouded in black. Wraiths are also considered spirits of vengeance. In some legends, wraiths appear as a warning that something bad will happen. According to more recent myths, wraiths can also be dark black humanoid creatures surrounded by shifting smoke. These seem like undead, but they are created through time manipulation. Time wraiths are extremely rare.

Wraith Stats:
Most wraiths are a type of ghost. Ringwraiths, like those from The Lord of the Rings, do have a physical form. They cannot be seen, but are covered with garments or armor. They are strong and incredibly powerful. They strike terror and panic into all, but the very bravest of hearts. Being near to them can cause pain and severe depression. Some possess unknown powers. These ghost like beings are usually malevolent and deadly. They carry and seem to be able to create their own weapons, perhaps by drawing them to the earthly realm from their own. The second type of wraiths, those created by time manipulation, do not have ghostly power, nor do they inspire fear. They have physical form and look somewhat human like. They are faster, stronger, and more agile than an average human. They also seem to be lighter as they can leap quite far and are incredibly acrobatic. They cannot summon weapons, but they have very limited control of time in a small area.

Transformation:
Wraiths are considered spirits of the dead. However, Ringwraiths were created by kings who desired power more than anything else. The only time wraith ever recorded was created when he found an item of ancient power that allowed him to travel back a short period in time as a wraith. Wraiths can make other wraiths by wounding or killing humans with wraithian weapons. Wraith weapons will leave shards in the wound they make so that a person once stabbed will most likely become a wraith.

Alignment:
Evil. Ringwraiths and other ghostly types are always evil. The ancient wraiths known as vörór on the other hand, were always good. Wraiths created by time manipulation can be either good or evil.

Weaknesses and Slaying:
Wraiths are weak to any cutting or piercing weapon. To vanquish them aim for where their head should be. Beware, if you are to close when you kill a wraith, you will be poisoned by their hatred and evil. This will cause death if not treated. Wraiths are aversive to fire and can be burned to death. Wraiths other than Ringwraiths, time wraiths, and vörór will be aversive to holy items. Ringwraiths can be killed by edged weapons. Little is known about vörór, but since they are good, there is no reason to slay them. Time wraiths can be killed if they take enough damage from any weapon, but they are tougher than the other types of wraiths because they have a physical form. Wraiths can withstand sunlight, but they do not like it. Ringwraith weapons will be dissolved by sunlight.

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