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Ghost-Touch is a dangerous condition caused by a ghost's apparition. It is a potentially deadly phenomenon of a manifestation. When a person has been ghost-touched, the affected area of skin rapidly begins to turn blue or purple. After that, their internal organs begin shutting down, quickly leading to death unless the person affected receives an adrenaline injection. If a large area is affected, death is most often unavoidable. If a person survives an attack and is medicated, affected areas begin to heal quickly, smaller areas may be healed within about a week. A person affected by ghost-touch, even in an extremely small area, will always die unless administered adrenaline[1][2].

The Skull once claimed that if freed, among its hobbies would be carrying out "a spot of casual ghost-touch, now and again."[3]

Although ghosts were known to exist nearly two millennia before the start of the Problem, Lucy Carlyle speculated that Ghost-Touch might have originated with it. This was due to the fact that in a story of an ancient scholar who bought a house in Athens who encountered a Spectre, but didn't seem at all concerned that he might be Ghost-Touched. She did concede, however, that this may have simply been because the scholar was simply stupid, as well as lucky.[4]

Effects[]

Ghost-touch feels like an overwhelming sensation of sharp, powerful cold. It quickly spreads an icy numbness around the body, making movement very difficult in a short amount of time. After the initial effects, a numbness spreads, as the body accepts its death. Still it is most likely a stinging, painful death, one would not wish upon their worst enemy[1].

Functionality[]

Ghost-Touch is caused when a living being comes into contact with concentrated ectoplasm. It is the most dangerous ability of malicious ghosts, except for the Poltergeist, which has no ectoplasm. While changers can manipulate their ectoplasm freely, most ghost's ectoplasm, and therefore their apparition, is fixed in an at least vaguely human form. This is the main reason for Changer's lethality[1].

Examples[]

Anthony Lockwood[]

Main article: Anthony Lockwood

Anthony Lockwood was ghost-touched by the ghost of Annabel Ward at his hand during Lockwood & Co.'s hunt in 62 Sheen Road. The affected area was small, thanks to a magnesium flare thrown by Lucy Carlyle[5], and he was administered adrenaline quickly[6]. Still, his hand remained only partially functional for a few days after the incident[7].

John Fairfax[]

Main article: John Fairfax

John Fairfax was ghost-touched by the ghost of Annabel Ward. Because his contact had been with almost his whole body, due to the ghost seeking justice for it's murder, he died from the injury, probably almost instantly. After his death, the ghost did no longer manifest[8].

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Screaming Staircase, Glossary
  2. The Screaming Staircase, III: The Necklace, Ch. 10
  3. The Empty Grave, II: La Belle Dame Sans Merci, Ch. 7
  4. The Screaming Staircase, II: Before, Ch. 5
  5. The Screaming Staircase, I: The Ghost, Ch. 4
  6. The Screaming Staircase, III: The Necklace, Ch. 9
  7. The Screaming Staircase, III: The Necklace
  8. The Screaming Staircase, IV: The Hall, Ch. 24
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