Manifestation Profile: Specters

Drugs abuse represents a fragile, albeit, dangerous side of humanity. It is the mother that prefers getting high over feeding her children, the lonely death of an OD, the loved one who steals from family to support their habit, and the merciless violence of gangs willing to murder anyone threatening to tamper with the flow of cash that comes from selling such narcotics.

Users, Dealers and even so-called Drug Lords all truly believe they are in control or are exploiting the drugs they deal in. The darker reality is that drugs, no matter what form it may come in, serves absolutely no one. From those who submit to its blissful pleasures, to those who gain riches from spreading its influence, all are mere servants or slaves, and the drugs their master. This false messiah’s gifts are temporary and the vast majority who choose to serve it will end up just one more used-up husk or mutilated corpse lying amongst the grim landfill composed of the millions who tried before them.

Even the most successful Dealers know, in their heart of hearts, this fickle and poisonous deity may betray them at any moment for a newer champion that proves far more capable at spreading its hedonistic gospel. It is this tragic excess and brutal existence the Manifestations known as Specters exist to represent.

While mostly humanoid in appearance Specters have dead gray complexions marred by legions of needle track scars, wide-bloodshot eyes, and an absent lower jaw which leaves their mouths little more than drooling orifices unable to conceal the veiny cow-like tongue that constantly writhes and undulates. Occasionally when these Manifestations move their joints emit a wet popping sound that causes their actions to temporarily and briefly jerk for unknown reasons.

Physically Specters come in different genders, ages and races because each time any still living individual abuses cocaine, heroin or even prescription drugs, a malformed doppelganger is birthed in Purgatory. These replicas are always in ruined clothing or are filthy and naked. Worse, like a disease, that monstrous replica multiplies with each additional abuse, going into a brief violent seizure and splitting down the middle to effectively create a duplicate. Depending on a locations correspondence to the real world there can be anywhere from small groups or great hordes wandering the streets of Purgatory.

Unlike other Manifestations that must hunt prey to stave off starvation, Specters can only receive sustenance by consuming narcotics. Possessing the ability to pick up the scent of any exposed drug from as far away as a several city blocks, Specters constantly wander far and wide in a fevered search for what they crave. It is not uncommon for large droves to smash their way into pharmacies in order to reach the medications stored within. If any given Specter is unable to find a fix in time they will always suffer a fatal withdrawal and quickly die in agony.

When any given Specter spots or encounters anything other than another of its kind, it will always respond by instantly flying into a homicidal rage that sends it charging in attack. With no sense of self-preservation Specters will not be detoured by wounds, intimidated by superior numbers, or ever retreat under any conditions. Like a single-minded automaton of flesh, bone and wrath, these creatures will only cease when they have killed the new source of their hatred, lose sight of a target for several minutes, or are killed themselves.

Most Specters are so feral that they are only capable of lashing out with a frenzy of punches and claw swipes. Those with a slightly higher command in deduction skills are quick to pick up any object in the surrounding area that can be used as a bludgeon or blade. All these creatures are able to utilize a dangerous breath weapon. Their stomachs grotesquely distend and then deflate to force a billowy cloud of fine powder from their gapping mouths. Upon contact with the skin it causes OD like symptoms in only a matter of minutes.

Specters often lead short brutal existences of bloody violence and tormenting addiction. While they are aware of one another when unexplainably wandering together, these Manifestations have absolutely no cohesion. Specters only attack in groups because the scream of one will trigger the rage in others and unfortunately draw the attention of any within earshot. Even then they are not as much an army as they are a chaotic mob all trying to individually kill a target.

Many Lost Souls that have come to understand the nature of Specters carry small bottles of pills or narcotics with them. When confronted by these Manifestations they open the container and throw its contents to buy valuable, if even brief, time to either escape or attack