Ghosts

Origin
The first Ghosts began to appear after the Cataclysm, 4,000 years ago. From what knowledge is available, the best explanation for this, is that after the attacks of the Numinis on Heaven and Hell, the barriers that kept the dead in the afterlives were damaged. As such, in rare cases, after an individual's death, their soul will not move on. This is when a Ghost is created.

History
Ghosts are... an interesting case. They are sentient, that cannot be denied. However, there are some who see them as abnormalities, abominations, which should be hunted down and sent to their afterlives, both as a safety measure, and as a kindness. Officially, Ghosts are a Sentient race, the same as Humans and Angels.

There are 4 cities around the world that have been designated Ghost Zones. These places possess no living life, and instead provide a safe haven for all manner of Ghosts. In addition to this, there are several haunted buildings and places around the world, which are known to house Ghosts. However, their has been less effort to document these places.

Ghosts have actually made some interesting discoveries in the nature of Souls, especially when working together with the Mage colleges. It is thanks to them, that some enchantments aimed at protecting one's soul were developed. Also, it was due to this sort of cooperation, that the discovery of what are known simply as Twin Spirits, was made. Twin Spirits are individuals who's souls have been split in two. Each piece of the soul inhabits a separate body, but each is so fragile, that they must stay in close proximity to one another, or in some cases, even maintain physical contact, or both will die.

Appearance
Ghosts have the same general appearance as they did when they were alive. However, they tend to have a paler color to them when in physical form, and are partially transparent when not. They possess the same dimensions as they did in life. They can, however, alter their appearance a bit. They may choose what clothing they appear to be wearing, as well as minor details, such as facial structure, hair color, hair style, etc.

Behavior
Ghosts tend to stick to one place. They do not appear fond of travelling. They dwell within older buildings, saying that the older the building, the more stories it has to tell. They do not generally elaborate beyond this. Some Ghosts are known to be friendly, quite gladly interacting with living individuals, whereas others appear bitter, shunning others, and taking joy in causing others strife.

Abilities
Ghosts, lacking an actual physical body, have a rather interesting set of abilities. First of all, they cannot be harmed by normal weapons. Even when in physical forms, these weapons simply pass through them. It does feel as if the weapon is cleaving through something solid, but the damage is non-existent. Ghosts are also not restricted by gravity, meaning that they may float around as they wish. However, if they leave solid mass, i.e. the ground, for too long, they seem to just disappear. The cause of this is unknown, but if a Ghost wishes to stop existing, it is a strategy they may employ. Ghosts may move through solid objects, or interact with them, as they see fit. Enchanted weapons do, however, negate this, as enchanted weapons can harm the Ghost no matter the Ghost's will. Ghosts have the ability to become invisible, providing them with great stealth abilities when dealing with the average person. They have no scent either, and do not disturb even the air as they move, meaning that hearing and smell do not give advantages against them.

Weaknesses
Ghosts do, however, have a few certain flaws. First of all, Magic is especially potent against them. Magical, Demonic, and Angelic energy require little power to severely harm a Ghost, and can hit a Ghost that has become incorporeal. In addition to this, Ghosts are vulnerable to species that consume souls, as Ghosts do not have a body to help protect their soul from being consumed. The last weakness that Ghosts exhibit, is a vulnerability to salt when they are in their physical forms. Throwing a handful of salt on a Ghost is often enough to cause it to disappear for a few moments, and rendering it harmless for that time, giving the one who threw it a chance to either attack, or escape.

Diet
Ghosts do not require sustenance to survive. They simply, exist, neither going forward, nor backwards, in their health.

Lifespan/Lifestyle
Technically, Ghosts are immortal. They do not age at all. In reality, their lifespan is entirely unknown. They simply exist, until some point, when they disappear. The reason for their existence, and their disappearance, is unknown, even to them.

Reproduction
Ghosts cannot have children. Technically, they can mate, but they can neither get pregnant, nor impregnate others.

Death
After a Ghost 'dies', it is theorized that it simply goes on to whatever afterlife it was intended to go to. Further information is unavailable.

Ranks
Rank E - House Spirit - Almost completely harmless, these individuals are usually completely invisible, and can only affect the physical world in small ways, such as pushing over a cup.

Rank C - Lost Spirit - Weaker Ghosts, they tend to be the most common type. They can interact with the physical world, but are no stronger than a Human.

Rank B - Wraith - Mid level Ghosts, they can be dangerous if angered. They are about as strong as a well built Human. They can resist a handful of salt if it is just thrown, but if it is shot at them at high velocity, they will disappear for a few moments.

Rank A - Reaper - Powerful individuals, these Ghosts are generally tasked with punishing those who break certain laws of nature. They can create great fear in weaker enemies. They are stronger than any normal Human. However, they also find it difficult to become invisible.

Rank S - Phantom Lord - The most powerful of Ghosts, these individuals have armies at their command. They can make groups of enemies flee in fear. Their strength is enough to throw cars.