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The Horrors, Haunts and Havocs of Aberrant Earth Investigators Manual
I investigate allegations of paranormal activity, but I’m no commercialized ghost hunting geek. You won’t find me on a second rate TV show acting like a dork over some kicked up dust I’ve mistaken for an apparition. I don’t have an internet site and I’m not looking for headlines or to profit from my work. I’m a consummate professional devoted to ridding the world of harmful horrors, haunts and havocs. In the past six years, I’ve fought specters, lycanthropes, cultists, zombies and vampires, battled malignant spirits, violent poltergeists and a man-eating plant. I’ve exorcized more demons from houses and people than I can remember. But I’m just one over worked dude. While the prima donnas go grabbing headlines and getting book deals, I’m out there on the front line of Aberrant Earth. Aberrant Earth! That’s what we paranormal investigators call the spooky side of the world that most normal people don’t see (or want to see). Nowadays most people can’t comprehend a world with magic and monsters. People today even think the witch burnings of past centuries were a tragic mistake. They laugh at exorcisms, condemn New Agers and scoff at faith healing. If you’re reading this I know you’ve got an interest in the paranormal. So read on! You might be skeptical. I don’t expect you to believe in the paranormal without some proof. . . Like you, I’m a child of the new millennia. I grew up with television, movies and the Internet making light of the supernatural. Like you, I refused to accept the possibility of paranormal activity, but on a trip to London with my girlfriend in the fall of 2000 my life was changed forever. Here’s how I learned the truth . . . After a few drinks, Amanda and I were walking down the street to our hotel when a creature leapt from the shadows and pulled the love of my life into an alley. There was little I could do, but stare in horror. I will forever see in my mind’s eye the creature’s face with its pale, taunt skin and ghastly grin. I remember looking into Amanda’s terrified eyes . . . they were pleading for help, but there I stood petrified with terror. I watched the monster’s razor sharp teeth tear her beautiful white skin and consume choice pieces of flesh. Afterward, the creature passed the remains of her lifeless body back to me and vanished into the shadows. Why the creature left me alive has puzzled me to this day? The police blamed the attack on a pack of wild dogs and discounted my description of the fiend because of my “drunkeness.” I returned to America mentally confused and emotionally devastated. I dropped out of school and may have ended up in a psycho ward if not for Mr. Jeremy Clark. He had read about my tragic encounter in the London Times newspaper and he’d come to America to interview me. At first I thought he was a quack, but then I began to believe. Jeremy Clark was a complicated man. He had the demeanor of an intellectual, but despite his age he moved with the practiced grace of a martial arts expert. His spectacles sat on a hawk-like nose and his white hair was slightly askew. Dressed in a rumpled, brown suit and carrying a leather briefcase he could have passed easily as a business traveler, but seemed more likely to be a college professor. He was actually a paranormal investigator and a hunter of horrors, haunts and havocs. At first I thought he was crazy. He explained his family had been hunting the supernatural for many generations in Europe. He outlined for me the haunted history of man. He told me of his ancestors, famous witch hunters who traveled the Old World burning witches, staking vampires, performing exorcisms and to a lesser extent tracking down lycanthropes. He believed every era of humanity had to deal with its own unique horrors, haunts and havocs. He was especially concerned for people in the modern world. He explained, most people in the modern world lived their life in blissful ignorance. They were content to accept rationale explanations for the most irrational of all occurrences. But ignorance is no protection for those unfortunates who find themselves in the wrong place, at the wrong time, facing abominations too terrible for words. Those people, so confident that their world is a rational place, will have their reality torn asunder as they are exposed to the preternatural world. Most will die or go insane, those few who survive will learn the truth of Aberrant Earth. I knew that I had seen the world of Aberrant Earth in that London alleyway. Jeremy asked me to become an investigator and help him protect others from the horrors, haunts and havocs of the world. What else could I do? I agreed, provided we hunt the thing that killed Amanda. The next day I was on a plane, feeling like I was about to begin a new life. When we arrived in London, I realized Jeremy had come not only for information, but to save me from a slow slide to self-destruction. I met the members of his team, they were all people who had lost loved ones to the paranormal and had been rescued from addiction or insanity by Jeremy. I trained to be an investigator and together we hunted the creature that took Amanda’s life. After a long and tedious search we found the creature’s lair in a London Subway. We destroyed it and saved another girl in the process. She too joined our team. Once you know the truth, no light will ever seem bright enough to dispel the darkness. Horrors, haunts and havocs are all around subsisting on those who stumble upon them. Twisted things of evil purpose, dwelling in the shadows hidden on the fringes of our society just out of sight. Waiting . . .ever hungry, hoping to meet the unprepared, unsuspecting victim who’ll not even put up a fight. There are monsters in the closet and under the bed, lurking in the basement and the attic. The woods are filled with dangerous red eyes watching from between the branches. Evil cults and religious fanatics practice dark ceremonies and make human sacrifices to gods too terrible to name. Serial killers, fascist movements and mad scientists abound, but the average person ignores their prevalence and it falls to the investigator of the paranormal to rectify the situations. Next time you look at the back of a milk carton, wonder at the fate of all those missing persons and know that you right now have the opportunity to prevent another tragic loss. If you desire to help in the struggle against these preternatural Evils then read on because I have gathered the basics of what you’ll need to know here in this manual. The world needs your help. . . You might think I’m someone special, but I’m just an ordinary person. There is nothing extraordinary about me. I cannot use magic. I’m just a guy doing a job that someone has to do, and sadly, there’s not enough of us in this world fighting the paranormal. Innocents are being needlessly harmed, because of a lack of trained investigators. Investigators are normal people who are little a braver than the rest. We can’t use magic and have no special powers. We survive by our skill, wits and a little bit of luck. It’s okay to be scared, but you can’t let your fear paralyze you for longer than a few seconds. If not for the paranormal investigator, the preternatural world would bleed over into mainstream society. The public is not ready for the truth, society has become accustomed to a certain security and we perform a necessary service. Be careful. The horrors, haunts and havocs we hunt are insidiously cunning and diabolically evil. They will kill you if they can. Many of these entities still remember times when the world was filled with their kind and humanity tremble in fear. Investigators are ordinary, mundane people. We can only learn to perform ordinary feats, set traps and learn the knowledge commonly available to the world. We cannot manipulate mana and therefore cannot use any of the extraordinary skills found in the world and used by the horrors, haunts and havocs we hunt. There is no avoiding shock. No matter how many times you see something terrifying you’re never going to become desensitized to it. Shock causes you to hesitate or freeze up before you can act. It occurs the first time that you see a specific creature or grisly scene while on the investigation. The length of time you are affected depends on how horrible the thing or situation that you’re viewing is. It’s in those few seconds that most investigators get killed. Some people are born with an ability that allows them to manipulate mana. These person can do extraordinary feats, perform rituals and procedures, mix compounds, brew poisons, fashion items, scribe runes, draw glyphs and set traps. They can also cast spells, prayers and powers or learn all the knowledge commonly available to the world. You can’t trust people who use magic. They’ve got their own agenda. Don’t let them join your team! Do a complete background check and consider removing them from the world if you find out they are involved in any questionable activity. Some people have gained special powers and abilities. See normal people can breath air, walk on two legs and use their hands for lots of things, but when people start breathing water, flying or growing tentacles something is wrong. These people go beyond what they should normally be able to do. They are called “supernatural.” Stay aware from the supernaturals, they are worse than magic using people. Investigators often form teams. Hunting alone is a dangerous proposition, one person is no match for the paranormal; a group of people may not enough unless they are well-balanced and complement each other. The best teams include persons with a broad mix of skills. These teams draw people from various occupations to have a broad knowledge base. Much of paranormal hunting depends on careful research and planning. Demons and other supernatural creatures are powerful and many require special ceremonies to defeat. While every group needs its toughs, many of the battles are fought with the mind and won with knowledge and careful planning. Assemble your team with caution. These are the people on whom your life will depend. Most teams are democratically organized. They are generally run by an appointed leader who is chosen either by a group of senior members often called the executive board or by general elections from all full members. New members often undergo a period of training and probation. Following this period they become full members of the group. After a period of time they will become senior members and group leaders. They will also have the opportunity to fulfill other group positions. Teams need to be able to identify themselves. They normally choose unique names for their team. Names can often indicate what the team is like. Names like Ghost Research, Examination And Termination (G.R.E.A.T.) And Demons And Monsters Neutralized (D.A.M.N.) signify very commercialized teams that work over an entire region. These groups may have twenty or more active members and teams are assigned according to member specialties. They have large resources and top of the line equipment. Names including localities, Millville Monster Patrol and Greater Palisades Ghost Hunters, indicate more community oriented groups. These groups generally have ten to twenty active members who are drawn from the local community. They work mostly in their immediate area and bring a special understanding of the community to their investigations. Their knowledge of local occult history is often astounding. Some groups take very unique names, such as Icky, Ichor Investigations or Tactical Tentacle Removal. These groups are wild cards. Their names may seem silly or over-the-top, but their results often speak for themselves. They are generally small teams (less than 10 members) of highly specialized or experienced investigators. They don’t have large budgets, but can get the job done.
Advertising Services Groups need to make themselves know so they can be contacted by people in need. Advertising is very important. Groups should take out ads in local newspapers, place ads on local cable television and hang signs on public bulletin boards. They should set up or join Internet forums and discussion groups. Hunting the supernatural is not a competitive enterprise; all investigators need to work together. Teams need to communicate and share information. Sometimes multiple teams will come together to fight a particularly powerful or pervasive antagonist. Paranormal investigators have to make a living so all of us have a day job. Some occupations are more suited to hunting than others. The listed skills represent the “core” of the occupation and persons must know all the core skills of the occupation. People are not limited to only learnin’ the core skills of their occupation so they may have picked up a few more skills. After they’ve been hunting awhile, they can pursue a different occupation or learn more skills so long as they can find a teacher. There is no limit to the number of occupations a person can pursue during their lives. Antiquarians are collectors of historical relics. They frequent curiosity shops, antique auctions, estate sales, junk yards and even old book stores. Their specialty is the appraisal and identification of obscure items. A team is often required to date items and understand their place in history. Feats: dodge I, willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, fine arts, history, literature, rumors, weapon Archeologists study past civilizations. They travel to exotic places or remote areas, often trampling through desert sand or thick jungle growth, in an effort to find lost cities or temples where they will conduct excavations in an effort to unearth the past. Feats: dodge I, parry I, willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, fine arts, geology, history, repair, swim I, throw, weapon Aristocrats are people of wealth, influence and power. They are often a member of the ruling class, the corporate elite or the idle rich. Aristocrats are marked by their privileged demeanor as they attempt to convey dignity and poise. They often have important economic connections and a keen understanding of political dynamics. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, fine arts, swim I, weapon Artists are creative individuals who see the world in their own special way. Whether they are painters, sculptures or pursue some non-traditional artistic endeavor, they have a certain intellectual freedom that separates them from general society. Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, fine arts, swim I, weapon Athletes condition their physical bodies by participation in athletic endeavors. They are diverse sportsmen and are generally skilled in various competitions. Athletes compete on football fields, fencing strips, gymnasium floors, sandlot ballparks, boxing rings, wrestling mats and many other places. Every team needs members who excel in physical endeavors. Feats: dodge I, parry I, strength I Knowledge: appraise, balance, bandage, climb I, fine arts, leap, swim I, weapon Astrologists are attuned to the movement of heavenly bodies as they relate to the human condition. They understand hidden truths and may be able to glimpse the future within the stars. They often work in the circus or on the boardwalk. Their knowledge of astronomical events is equivalent to that of the best astronomer. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, astronomy, bandage, climb I, fine arts, occult, swim I, weapon Authors are a dynamic group of professional individuals who convey information through the written word. There are many kinds of authors, including journalists, playwrights, critics and novelists. They often have keen powers of observation and the ability to organize and convey their thoughts. Feats: dodge I, parry I, willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, fine arts, history, literature, mechanics, repair, swim I, throw, weapon Burglars are criminals who specialize in entering structures. They can shimmy up a drainpipe to an open window or use deft fingers to pick a lock on the door. Burglars are often agile and dextrous, but also cunning and cautious. They generally have a good knowledge of the criminal element in their area of operation. A burglar’s ability to get into places can be a great help to any team. Feats: dodge I, parry I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, crime, fine arts, pick locks, swim I, weapon Clergy are the leaders of the church and pillars in the community. Their faith is strong and their words are heard as an inspiration to all. Although there are many different religions, most clergy are congenial persons who seek to bring people together in worship. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: bandage, climb I, history, occult, spiritsense, swim I, theology, weapon Coroners are government officials who examine dead bodies and in some jurisdictions the scene of the crime. Their specialized knowledge can often help piece together events and provide clues as to what the team is facing. A good coroner can identify an adversaries attack methods. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, biology, chemistry, embalm, fatal blow, forensics, spiritsense, splint, theology, weapon Doctors want to cure sickness and heal injury. Physicians, surgeons, midwives and even those who specialize in herbal remedies, leeches or phrenology have all laid claim to the title doctor. Medicine can take many forms, but the goal is always to help the patient. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, biology, climb I, fatal blow, medicine, splint, study, swim I, surgery, throw, weapon Domestic servants fulfill household functions. They may be maids, butlers, gardeners or cooks. Domestic servants generally know what’s really going on in a household. As members of the team they will be able to quickly deal with other domestics. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, fine arts, rumors, swim I, throw, weapon Entertainment is a timeless profession. Beaters in a stone-age drum line, musicians with electric guitars, actors on a day-time soap or band members in an orchestra, all lay claim to the occupation of entertainer and each has the potential to amass fame and fortune. Entertainers can be a good source of funding for an investigative team. They can also use their fame to open doors and appease authorities. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, fine arts, swim I, weapon Farmers work from dawn to dusk scratching a living from the soil. They are often hard working people with earthy values. Their overalls may be dirty, but they are good, god fearing folk, who will lend a hand to help. Farmers often amass a large amount of down home learning and folklore common to their region. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: animal handling, biology, climb I, geology, rumors, survival, swim, throw Gangsters are more than common criminals, because their connection to organized crime gives them a vast support network. They are often toughs from the bad side of town, who know how to fight. More importantly they understand the criminal world and know how to skirt the law. Feats: critical shot I, dodge I, parry I, quick shot I, waylay I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, binding, climb I, crime, fatal blow, investigation, law, swim I, weapon Historians chronicle and catalogue the past. They often teach at the local university or work in the library. Some historians enjoy going out into the field, but most spend their time researching documents and other sources. They are a fountain of information. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, fine arts, history, investigation, literature, swim I, teach, weapon Hobos are afflicted with the wanderlust. They hitch rides on trains, trucks and sometimes plane, living the carefree life of a wanderer. Traditionally they carried their belongings wrapped up in a handkerchief and tied to a pole, but these days they’re more likely to have a knapsack and a bottle of spring water. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, fine arts, navigation, swim I, weapon Law officers are known by many titles: police officer, copper, sheriff, security guard and detective. Their task is to enforce the laws of their jurisdiction and they are all part of a good ol’ boys system. Having a law officer on the team makes interactions with local authorities go much smoother. Feats: critical shot I, dodge I, parry I, quick shot I, waylay I Knowledge: bandage, binding, climb I, crime, fatal finish, investigation, law, swim I, weapon Lawyers serve the law and to this end have created a jargon of legalese that the common man is loath to understand. A lawyer’s pay is proportional to his ability to twist facts and manipulate words to create truth from falsehood and conceal guilt beneath innocence. Feats: dodge I, willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, fatal blow, forgery, investigation, law, literature, swim I, weapon Magicians entertain with slight-of-hand and subtle trickery. Illusions and phantasms are the tricks of their trade. They’ll dazzle with impossible feats and leave people wondering if magic could possibly be real. Slight of hand could be useful to the team, but if a magician starts to perform real magic take heed and be wary. Magic is a force of awesome power and it takes a strong will not to be corrupted. Feats: dodge I Knowledge: escape, fine arts, performance, pick locks, occult, slight of hand Parapsychologist have developed specialized scientific techniques for identifying paranormal activity. They measure electromagnetic forces by using EMF meters and use infrared imaging, special thermometers and photography. A new addition to their techniques is the use of digital recording devices to capture EVPs. Parapsychologists often make up the core of a scientific investigation team. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, fine arts, occult, spiritsense, swim I, weapon Politicians trade on promises in an effort to wield governmental power. They conceal their own agenda underneath the politician’s facade and not even their own constituents know their true goals. Politicians generally have good social skills and present a likeable face to the world. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, history, politics, swim I, weapon Prostitutes exchange sex for money. They often live in the seedy section of town and have contact with the criminal element of the community. Prostitutes are privy to many secretes and they make a good contact for the team. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, bindings, climb I, fine arts, repair, rumors, swim I, weapon Private investigator are often hired to find missing persons or to reveal a cheating lover. They are often suave and debonair. They have connections all across town and for the right price they will provide the truth giving all the grisly details and graphic photos too. Feats: critical shot I, dodge I, parry I, quick shot I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, climb I, crime, fatal finish, law, rumors, swim I, throw, weapon Most professors teach at the university, where they are members of the elite academia and specialize in specific areas of learning. Associating with a legitimate professor will give your team academic credibility. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, biology, climb I, history, swim I, teach, theology, weapon Scientists search for answers by experimentation and observation. A naturalist, chemist, microbiologist, oceanographer are only separated by the name of their particular discipline. Together they will one day explain the mysterious of the universe, but does the world really want to know? Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, biology, chemistry, climb I, mathematics, swim I, weapon Soldiers or other ex-military make good support personnel especially if the team is going to face a powerful demon with a cult following or some other organized preternatural opposition. Some investigation teams are more like military units with all members receiving combat training. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, bindings, climb I, fine arts, repair, splint, swim I, weapon Students seek to learn, attending class and listening to their teacher’s lecture. They study for tests and hope to achieve a passing grade, but some students enjoy the social aspects of school more than the book learning. Feats: willpower I Knowledge: appraise, bandage, biology, climb I, history, swim I, teach, theology, weapon Every investigation is different and challenging in its own right, but solid research and planning is necessary every time. Along with this preparation an investigator needs good equipment and proper training. Investigators must determine if there is an actual haunting. Not all hauntings are alike, and they may exhibit a variety of phenomena. Some hauntings feature a single phenomenon - such as a particular door slamming shut that occurs repeatedly - while others consist of many different phenomena, ranging from odd noises to full-blown apparitions. The following is a partial list of phenomena that might indicate a haunting:
Unexplained noises such as footsteps, knocks, banging, rapping, scratching and sounds of something being dropped. Sometimes these noises can be subtle and other times they can be quite loud.
Doors, cabinets and cupboards opening and closing when people are not in the room. In minor hauntings, this phenomena does not occur when persons can directly observe, instead the objects appear moved when people return to the room.
Dogs, cats or other pets behave strangely. Dogs may bark at something unseen, cower without apparent reason or refuse to enter a room they normally do. Cats may seem to be "watching" something cross a room. Animals have sharper senses than humans, and many investigators think their psychic abilities might be more finely tuned as well.
Cries, whispers and, on occasion, muffled voices, can be heard. This phenomenon gains more credibility if more than one person hears or sees the same thing at the same time.
Unexplained cold or hot spots in certain areas. Cold spots are classic haunting symptoms, but any instance of a noticeable variance in temperature without a discernable cause could be evidence.
Unexplained odors in certain areas. The distinct fragrance of a perfume or cologne or more commonly foul odors permeating the area with no discernable cause will indicate a paranormal presence, most often demonic in nature.
Electrically powered items will turn on and off. These events are seldom seen actually occurring, but commonly the lights, TVs and radios are switched on or off when no one is in the room. On rare occasions the lights may flicker or even turn on or off with people in the room. This usually indicats a powerful presence.
Unexplained shadows seen out of the corner of the eye. Fleeting shapes and shadows with vaguely human forms may indicate human-like presences. Less distinguishable or smaller shapes or shadows may indicate animal hauntings or demonic entities.
Feelings of being touched when no one is physically present. People feel something brush past them, touching their hair, a hand on the shoulder, a gentle poke or a hard shove.
Items disappearing and reappearing in the same location. Items placed in specific locations cannot be found, but then reappear hours or days later where they were supposed to be. Unexplained writing appears on paper or walls.
Unexplained hand or footprints. Often these are made of water, dirt or mud, but in some instances they have been in blood.
Doors, cabinets and cupboards opening and closing in front of people. When a haunting begins to escalate doors, cabinets and cupboards will open and close in plain sight. This indicates a dangerous haunting.
Moving or levitating objects such as dinner plates sliding across the table, pictures flying off walls, doors slamming shut with great force and furniture sliding across the floor.
Apparitions appearing as quasi-corporeal entities without real physical form. These will generally just show past events and will dissipate if disturbed by the investigator.
Quasi-corporeal entities, such as wraiths, ghosts and specters, appear. These dangerous creatures have a physical form and will often attack people. These assaults are often limited to scratches, slaps and hard shoves, but people have been seriously injured or killed by manifestations.
All full-blown demonic manifestations will include all of the above and a demon with physical form and various powers. Only a highly trained group should investigate a demonic manifestation. When I was young, I loved the blood pumping excitement of being on the hunt . . . of trailing the horror, haunt or havoc to its lair and confronting the beast within. Oftentimes my team and I were unprepared. Some investigators took greater risks than were necessary and they paid for their zealousness with their lives. As I got older, I realized how important it was to carefully examine the clues and puzzle out how to defeat the horror, haunts or havocs before engaging it. Once I get the initial report, I spend ample time researching the history of the area and the background of the people involved. Every investigation begins with the discovery of a strange event. It’s often a subtle unexplained event. A disappearance, a strange murder, a noxious odor, a series of car crashes on the same stretch of road, odd noises in the graveyard, waking up at the same hour each night, an outbreak of contagion and so forth. Years ago investigators read about questionable events in the newspaper, but in this modern age of information you can discover horrors, haunts and havocs in many ways ranging from the tabloids, to television, to the Internet. Most teams advertise their services to the public in some manner. Webs sites are a must! Ads in a local newspaper or on cable access television can also generate contacts. Many calls are false alarms that can be explained by mundane means (a leaky faucet or scratching branch), a few calls will be hoaxes, but eventually the legitimate call will come. That’s why every call must be taken seriously. After discovering the phenomena, I research the background of the area thoroughly before arriving on site. More often than not horrors, haunts and havocs arise from tragic events taking place in the local area. Establishing this background is very important as it focuses the search and guides the investigation. Members of the team with various research skills (such as geology, history, investigation, theology, etc) will gather up all possible clues and share them with other team members in a roundtable discussion before arriving on site. Most teams will meet at their headquarters, someone’s house or even at a diner to go over the details of their research. Sometimes circumstances do not permit enough time for a formal meeting and in these situations there is always an impromptu sharing of information even if its in the car before entering the site. When my team gets on site we interview the people involved before we make any search of the premises. It’s very important to establish a firm relationship with the people affected. They must trust your team; be reassuring and treat them with respect. When interviewing the subjects you must be very careful. Exposure to paranormal activity places people under great emotional strain. I cannot stress enough that normal people will seek any rational explanation possible to avoid believing in the paranormal. They may become agitated or violent if confronted. I recommend keeping your theories a secret. If you try to explain the paranormal during an investigation you may provoke the people you are trying to help. It’s not uncommon for people to become terrified and try to stop an investigation in the middle, especially if they discover you have guns or other weapons. Sometimes, the very people you are trying to help may report you to the authorities as trespassers, or worse. Following the interviews many of the neighbors and other extraneous persons not directly connected to the paranormal crisis should be sent away. Next you must conduct a thorough search of the area. When searching the area, look thoroughly in all places that could contain possible information. Read diary entries and letters very carefully. If you find objects that interest you more than others, they will likely be important. Hauntings are often connected to items. Modern investigators use various devices to sense for paranormal activities, but these devices are not always necessary. For example, while thermometers can measure the exact temperature of a cold spot they are not necessary to determine the existence of temperature change which can be easily felt by the investigator. Compasses work as well as EMF meters and are not as easily influenced by home electrical wires. Similarly, drowsing rods can do everything a GMF meter can do except measure exact deviations. Further, all modern equipment can be easily disrupted if the power source is compromised. More important than modern tools are your instincts. You must trust your instincts! Humanity is sensitive to the paranormal. We have genetic defense mechanisms that people in the modern world have not developed. You must develop and use these instincts while searching the area. Don’t forget the physical surroundings and forensic evidence. Look for tracks on the ground which can often identify whether you’re facing a beast, humanoid or quasi-corporeal entity. Check the body or the pattern of blood splatter to determine the cause and time of death. Cultists use guns, serial killers prefer blades, wild beasts have teeth, monsters have claws and demons can kill a thousand different ways. Finally, you must not overlook the obvious. Magical writings and scientific notations are often placed in codes. Look for the solution to the code, but don’t hesitate to try to break them on your own. Team members should learn different language skills, especially Latin, and bring along a dictionary to translate old writings. After the interviews and search of the area the information discovered will most likely identify the general type of paranormal activity. There are many possibilities, a madman serial killer, a vengeful spirit haunting, a monster from eons ago, visitors from other realms, a demon summoned by cult members or something more insidious. Now is the time to establish a solid plan to destroy your paranormal adversary before having the final show down. The confrontation is the most dangerous part of the investigation and it must be carefully planned. Most paranormal entities are not hurt by normal weapons and many demons can only be un-summoned by specific ceremonies or activities. Engaging an entity without a solid plan incorporating all the facts has caused the death (or worse) of many investigators. Only after you have prepared to the best of your ability should you think about confronting the paranormal entity. I have found it best to lure the entity into a trap of your own setting. This way you have the home field advantage and are fighting the monster on your terms. It’s more dangerous to pursue the entity into its lair, but often you have no choice. In these cases, proceed cautiously. You must check carefully for traps and vermin; always watch your back for henchmen, servants or pets. With a lot of preparation and a little luck, you’ll survive and keep your sanity. Paranormal investigators rely on a number of special tools. Some of these were used years ago, but many are the product of modern science. Most of these items are easily available and can be used by anyone. When a device requires special skill to operate a note is made in the description. Many people use animals to detect the presence of spirits. Most animals can sense supernatural activity more readily than humans. Dogs and to a lesser extent cats have been used throughout history to investigate paranormal activity. The use of animals requires skill in animal handling. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure. Radical fluctuations in atmospheric pressure will often indicate paranormal activity. Sometimes a person will experience a tightness of the chest (not from a heart attack) or an unexplained feeling of claustrophobia. This is caused by an increase of atmospheric pressure due to paranormal activity. Paranormal investigators have used film to capture the images of horrors, haunts and havocs since the technology became available in the 1800s. Cameras are arguably the most important investigation tool because they preserve images of the paranormal event. Digital cameras are becoming more popular these days, but some people still carry film. Use of a camera to take viewable pictures of paranormal entities requires skill in photography. Candles provide more than a light source. Candles are a source of energy and some entities can readily harness this energy to interact with the world. Candles are often burned in churches (and other religious places) to provide energy to the spirits within allowing them to communicate. I’ve also used candle to detect movement of invisible entities. Spirits will cause slight breezes when they move and the flickering of candles detect these breezes. Electromagnetic disturbances will affect the needle in a compass. Since the use of mana (performing rituals or casting spells, prayers and powers) causes disturbances in the electromagnetic spectrum, the needle may shake or even spin in the presence of mana manipulation. The use of a compass requires skill in navigation. Drowsing or divining rods have been used since ancient times to sense energy flows. Traditionally, a forked branch or stick was used, but rods can also be made of metal bent in an "L" shape and held in each hand. When investigating paranormal activity the single rod will point at the paranormal activity, while the double “L” rods will cross while being held out to indicate the presence of paranormal activity. All hauntings are connected to mana energy. Drowsing and divining rods will identify a mana node or flows of mana energy. The use of drowsing or diving rods requires knowledge of the occult. People still use rods for the mundane purpose of indicating subterranean water or minerals. Investigators believe that the rods are drawn not to the water or minerals, but to the flow of mana energy that moves with the water or that collects in the ore. Electromagnetic field (EMF) meters measure fluctuations in the electromagnetic field. All spirits (and living people too because they have spirits inside) radiate slight electro-magnetic fields that can be detected by the field meter. The difficulty in using an EMF meter in the modern world is that many things affect the field meter including household electrical wiring, solar flares and radio waves. The user must be very careful not to achieve false positives. Only the trained observer can separate abnormal patterns which are tied to paranormal activity from mundane fields. An investigator must have knowledge of electronics and occult to properly use an electromagnetic field meter to detect paranormal activity. Background Magnetic Field 0-1.5 milliGauss Low-Level Magnetic Field 1.5-2.5 milliGauss Mid-Level Magnetic Field 2.5-10 milliGauss High-level Magnetic Field 10-20 milliGauss Extreme Magnetic Field 20+ milliGauss Most paranormal entities emit EMFs in the low-high ranges. Spikes in EMF meter higher than 20+ milliGauss often indicate the casting of spells, prayers or powers or the performance of ritual magic. Every investigator should have basic first aid training. A basic first aid kit including bandages and splints should be carried by every member of the team. At least one member of the team should have the skill to stitch up wounds and provide psychological counseling. No modern investigator should be without a flashlight and extra batteries. The flashlight must have a red filter fitted to the lens. No investigator uses a white light flashlight out in the field. Red lights will provide clear vision, but the lens will keep your night vision intact. The extra batteries are necessary because many entities have been proven to drain batteries. Geiger counters detect the presence of radiation and convey the amount by visual and audible indications. A geiger counter can allow investigators to confirm radiation levels which may correlate to paranormal activity. Approximately 11 pulses per minute is considered to be normal background radiation. Many types of paranormal activity leave behind mid-range levels of radiation. Some entities, especially those created by mad scientists or secret governmental programs, emit strong radioactive signatures. An investigator must have knowledge of electronics and chemistry to properly use a geiger counter. Geomagnetic field (GMF) meters measure magnetic fields generated by the earth itself. High readings on this device are indicative of mana nodes or flows of mana energy. The GMF meter is actually an expensive drowsing or divining rod. Mana nodes are concentrations of mana which are often associated with paranormal activity. Mana flows travel between these mana nodes creating an interconnected web. Often creatures will migrate along these mana paths or ley lines. An investigator must have knowledge of electronics and geology to properly use a geomagnetic field meter. Ion detectors measure the amount of positive and negative ions in the area. Ions can be generated from the decay of radioactive minerals, radon gas, fires, lightning, and evaporating water. Ions are also associated with storm activity; in fair weather at sea level, typical ion counts are about 400 negative and 500 positive ions per cubic centimeter. Before a storm, positive ions increase dramatically, but during the storm the negative ions increase. Paranormal activity has been proven to cause a dramatic shift in positive and negative ions. These detectors will confirm the presence of mana manipulation (such as the casting of spell, prayer and powers or the performing of rituals). A ion detector requires skill in electronics. Motion detectors give off an audible signal when their infrared beam is broken. Spirits and invisible entities are detected by infrared technology and motion detectors will reveal their presence. Film cameras were used extensively in the last century to capture paranormal activity. Most modern investigators use video cameras. Many of these have night mode enhancements which allow the capturing of images without additional light. Taking viewable motion pictures requires skill in photography. Powder is placed on the floor to detect footsteps. Spirits moving across the floor will cause minor disturbances in the powder. A physical being moving across the powder will leave clear footprints. Don’t use powder inside someone’s house without their permission. Investigators use various kinds of sound recording devices. The basic device is the tape recorder with an external microphone and high grade tapes. Parabolic microphones are often used because they amplify sounds that are a great distance away or below the range of hearing. Digital audio recorders are becoming much more popular as is the use of computers to filter sounds. The goal of using sound devices is to capture Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP). Spirits often talk at a lower frequency than humans can hear or at a slower or faster speed. Manipulating the recordings, often with computers, will reveal the messages of spirits and other entities. Thermometers detect a change in temperature. Mercury tube thermometers have been used for centuries. Modern investigators use digital thermometers. Thermal scanners have become more popular because they can scan entire areas while looking for cold spots. Fluctuations in temperature have always been associated with paranormal activity. Certain areas that become inexplicitly colder or warmer should be thoroughly investigated. These areas will often indicate the location where the event initiating the haunting took place. Every investigator should carry two-way radios. It’s important to be able to call for help. Movement of paranormal entities and invisible beings often create subtle breezes. Investigators on a budget place wind chimes in areas of suspected paranormal activity. The wind chimes make noise when invisible entities pass by them alerting the investigators of the presence. Forget modern science, rationale thinking and the laws of physics. Einstein and his crew didn’t figure out anything new. String theory and atomists are only coming close to learning what ancient cultures already knew. . . There is an underlying force in the universe that permeates everything. This force is called mana. It connects all things and all thoughts and is responsible for most paranormal activities. Mana comes from the sky, sun, moon, stars and also from within the earth. Mana flows through the universe and across the surface of the earth and within every single living thing. Ancient civilizations (Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, Incans, Mayans and so forth) were inextricably linked to mana. They carefully constructed their cities to channel mana flows to promote the magical nature of their civilization. They used mana for healing, religion, war and every other aspect of their life. The ancient world was generally ruled by magic-using hereditary kings who inbred to ensure their offspring could use magic. These leaders ruled the earth for many millennia, up until the birth of Christ and the rise of the Christian faith. The fall of Rome caused a great upheaval. Mysticism, druidism and other magic-use philosophies clashed with the Christian Church and the Pope. The horror of the dark ages turned Europeans away from magic. The world changed to a place where people began to discount magic and put their faith in other things such as science and technology. Witch hunts, exorcisms and inquisitions drove magic users underground where they formed secret societies and heretical cults. Many of their descendants still wait for the day when their descendants will rule the world again. The industrial revolution ushered in the modern age and almost everyone excepted the death of magic. Anti-magic sentiment became so strong, most people alive today do not believe in magic and doubt that it ever existed. One of our many tasks as paranormal investigators is to thwart the plans of these arcane covens and dark societies. Many persons capable of manipulating mana are inherently evil and seek to abuse their power for personal gain. The force of mana permeates all things, running like unseen rivers through the landscape. Mana collects in certain areas saturating the plants, beasts, soil, minerals and ore. Modern day investigators call these places mana nodes, but throughout history they have been called many things by various civilizations. In medieval Europe mana nodes were called cairns, grounds or circles, in China they were called vessels, meridians or channels and the American Indians called them by various names translating to sacred earth places or simply lodges. Nodes exude a neutral energy when they form, but the nature of the energy will change with their environment. Nodes surrounded by good, wholesome activities will develop a positive demeanor, whereas nodes that are exposed to dark thoughts or violence develop negative energies. Positive nodes are called hallows. These nodes exude a tranquil, restorative energy that makes the world around them seem to sparkle. People entering hallows feel a peaceful reverence. Hallows are often used for religious buildings and cemeteries, hence the term hallowed ground. Negative nodes are called blights. These nodes exude a spooky, pernicious energy that makes the world seem a dark and dreadful place. The light in a blight is never bright enough and mists often collect around plants that have withered and died. Necromancy and harmful hauntings are common in blighted areas. All living things have spirits. A spirit gives form to the physical body. Spirits need a body to anchor them to this world and when the physical body dies most spirits will leave the world and go to a place between the realms. The place were spirits go is called the Void by some Investigators, but various cultures have their own names for the Void; Christians called it heaven or hell, Norse Vikings called it Valhalla, etc. The process begins after death; the body slowly decomposes and becomes unable to contain the spirit. The spirit slips from the body and goes into the Void. This process can take a few weeks and during that time the body may be affected by the forces of magic such as restoration or necromancy. Almost every culture has religious practices for removing the spirit from the body. This process is called embalming. No one wants a body with a spirit lying around that’s not going to be restored to life. It’s too easy in some places (especially near blighted nodes) for the spark of necromancy to enter the body and spontaneously raise the corpse as an undead. Sometimes when a person is killed in tragic circumstances or dies with a task undone the spirit becomes trapped in this world. These spirits can become ghosts or other forms of quasi-corporeal undead. Paranormal activity involves all sorts of activities that involve ectoplasm and apparitions. Modern investigators generally use the word ectoplasm to describe a milky white essence that often appears as shapeless mist or white-grey ovals called orbs. Both mists and orbs seem to float through the air. Some researchers use ectoplasm as a catch-all word for spiritual energy, others believe mists and orbs represent the presence of spirits themselves. Both views are erroneous, ectoplasm does not represent spiritual energy and orbs or mists do not indicate the presence of spirits. Ectoplasm is more properly described as visible mana flows. Orbs and mists are condensed flows of mana that become visible because of their active oscillation in the electromagnetic spectrum. Ecoplasm and the resulting orbs and mists represent paranormal activity or at least the manipulation of mana in the area. Ectoplasmic mists are extremely common in all forms of hauntings. Some researchers believe that the coalescing of mana flows (which create the white mists) is what allows apparitions to exist or facilitates most haunting. Ecoplasm, orbs and mists should not be confused with apparitions. Apparitions are defined images of past events that will act in a certain repetitive manner. Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) and the recording spirit voices has been around for nearly a century, but has recently become a major field of study on the cutting edge of paranormal research. Spirits often talk at a lower frequency than humans can hear. By enhancing the frequency of the sound recording the spirit’s voice can be rendered audible to the human ear. Sometimes spirits talk too fast or slow to be understood and the sound recording can be mechanically slowed or speeded up to reveal the spirit’s message. Spirit voices sometimes speak in short phrases and their sentences are often grammatically incorrect. They commonly use simplified language or even multiple languages during the same sentence. Sound recordings can be used to help the listener decipher the content. White Noise Most paranormal investigators believe electronic mediums (such as radio and televisions) allow haunts to convey messages more easily. Often investigators tune a radio between stations or a television to an unused channel so only the white noise is audible. The idea is that the background static provides an acoustic basis for the voices to communicate. Computers Computer manipulation plays a large part in the examination of EVP. By using computers the noise can be converted to files that can be speeded up, slowed down or otherwise manipulated to make the message audible. Repetitive hauntings and other spectral sightings are like video presentations. At certain times the past re-plays over and over again. Repetitive hauntings begin with a burst of ectoplasm (generally white mist) and then apparitions enter the area to replay a moment from history.
Apparitions are not spirits; they are simply reflections of history embedded in time by mana and have no real existence in the material world. They can’t hurt anyone in the material world and generally won’t even interact with those around them. Investigators should not disturb the paranormal sighting by touching or loud noises as this could make the haunting go away. Apparitions will generally stay confined to areas cloaked in the ectoplasmic mists. Some hauntings take place in an ecotoplasmic sphere where past events have their own solid form and existence. Opposing theories exist to explain these events: Paranormal purists insist these are simply powerful repetitive hauntings taking place in the physical world, while paranormal physicists explain the haunted mists by using a theory of slipping temporal dimensions. They believe people are partially entering into another temporal dimension in the multi-verse when they pass through the ectoplasmic mists. When an investigator ends up in the misty sphere, they are actually stuck in a place that is part the past and part present. Sometimes the landscape of the present will dominate and people can only see parts of the past landscape if they look real hard into the mist. Other times the past landscape almost completely supercedes the present. People and entities encountered while in the haunted mists will have solid forms. They will often interact with persons trapped in the reflection as if they were people in the past with whom they would have communicated. Often investigators find themselves playing parts in a macabre reenactment of the cause of the haunting. The best way to escape from the haunted mist is to go out the same way one entered. If escape is impossible, the person will have to ride out the haunting. Sooner or later the reflection of events will end and the trapped person will be standing in the present. Stay on paths or with persons who you encounter while in the haunted mists. Do not go too deep into the mists without some kind of guide or you could become lost forever. Mana manipulation and hauntings are closely connected to the electromagnetic and geomagnetic fields. Science has detected various energy patterns that seem to be influenced by astronomical objects such as the moon, sun and planets. Moon The moon affects the geomagnetic fields on the earth. It has the strongest effect during the periods of the new and full moon cycles. Mana flows and paranormal activity increases during these times. Sun The presence of the sun decreases negative mana energy. However, research has shown that the amount of paranormal activity increases during periods of heightened solar flare activity and geomagnetic activity in space. M class and X class flares are good sources of energy for the apparitions to use to manifest. Apparitions often draw energy from open flames (candles, lanterns and camp fires) and electrical sources (electrical appliances and batteries) to get the energy, but on days when the air is full of excess energy due to a solar storm or flare, they have a surplus of energy to tap into. The planets also have an effect on paranormal activity. When they draw close to the earth or are visible in the sky they cause various activities to occur more frequently. For example, Mars has often been associated with war and hauntings dealing with battle are more frequent when Mars is in the sky. Modern paranormal investigation is closely tied to an examination of electromagnetic fields. Many paranormal occurrences produce measurable electromagnetic waves. Investigators use EMF meters to examine and classify these electromagnetic disturbances. To understand electromagnetic theory it’s often easier to examine them as two separate fields: the electric field and the magnetic field. A non-zero electric field is produced by the presence of electrically charged particles and gives rise to the electric force; this is the force that causes static electricity and drives the flow of electric charge (electric current) in electrical conductors. The magnetic field, on the other hand, can be produced by the motion of electric charges, or electric current, and gives rise to the magnetic force associated with magnets. The term "electromagnetism" comes from the fact that the electric and magnetic fields generally cannot be described independently of one another. A changing magnetic field produces an electric field (this is the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction, which underlies the operation of electrical generators, induction motors, and transformers). Similarly, a changing electric field generates a magnetic field. Because of this interdependence of the electric and magnetic fields, it makes sense to consider them as a single, theoretically coherent entity. Light, as it turns out, is actually a propagating oscillatory disturbance in the electromagnetic field, i.e., an electromagnetic wave. Different frequencies of oscillation give rise to the different forms of electromagnetic radiation, from radio waves at the lowest frequencies, to visible light at intermediate frequencies, to gamma rays at the highest frequencies. Mana energy in the from of ectoplasm (mists and orbs) often appears as milky white merely because of their oscillation in the visible light spectrum. Some paranormal events can be explained by visitors from other worlds. The multi-verse is composed of countless inhabited worlds filled with beasts and beings, many of which are known to earth as fables. Elves, orcs, pythians, trolls, goblins and gremlins are all common creatures of folklore. Astonishingly many of these beings actually walked and still walk the earth. Some alien visitors are dangerous to humanity, while others seek only to survive long enough to return home. Other worldly beings can reach Earth by opening portals that allow them to step from their world onto earth in seconds. Some beings use interstellar ships to make the trek across the heavens. Investigators are often called to deal with aliens who have established bases on remote parts of our world. Investigators often use a rough method to classify paranormal entities, depending on the overall actions and goals of the entity. Some entities can earn multiple designations. Horrors: Horrors are entities that seek to impart terror. They do not seek to injure or hurt, but relish in the affect they have on innocents. Horrors will often appear to their victims. Haunts: Haunts are entities tied to a particular area or paranormal event that portrays the past. They are often repetitive hauntings with a lot of ectoplasmic activity. Havoc: Havocs are entities that seek to cause mayhem and general confusion. Poltergiests are common havocs. Havocs can be playful or pernicious. The following is a list of the more common horrors, haunts and havocs which an investigator will face. Apparitions are not spirits; they are simply reflections of history embedded in time by mana. They don’t have any physical form and you can almost see right through them. Apparitions are always completely white, but not wispy at all. They are quasi-corporeal, but have no real existence in the material world. They can’t hurt anyone in the material world and generally won’t even interact with those around them. Apparitions are usually only a side effect of paranormal activity. They will sometimes provide a clue as to the root cause of a haunting, but are not generally the reason for an investigation. Often apparitions will accompany a more powerful entity. Banshees are women who suffered great emotional pain during their lives, usually because of unrequited, lost or betrayed love. Their sorrow compounds, day after day, and fills them with a despondency that envelops their soul. In the end, they may take their own lives or die of a broken heart. Whatever the cause, death will not give them release from torment, but rather condemns them to eternity as an undead. Banshees are deeply entrenched in romantic notions of love and will repeat poetry, sing and dance through the night. Banshees are dangerous to men who cannot live up to their impossible romantic ideals. They are also dangerous to women who get in the way when they want a man. Demons are a manifestation of evil malevolence. Some demons are little more than deleterious clou |