Editing Ghost (section)

==Variants==
The lore had stuck [[Frank Mentzer]] with the problem of how to detail, and to assign, an undead even more powerful than the [[vampire]]. It wasn't about the HD, since Expert play allowed all manner of 10 HD beasties - it was all the other special abilities. Mentzer eventually buffed up the ghost enough for the "Haunt" subtype, [[Companion Set]]; and he took away the Fear effect, relocating that to the weaker "Phantom" subtype. Ghosts were the only undead as weren't all Chaotic (=evil). Note that the "Haunt" appears between Gargantua and [[Gremlin]] (also out of order); likely is that "Ghost" was at first the subset with "[[Banshee]]", "Poltergeist" and perhaps "Haunt" as the genera within it.

Ghost variants, subtypes and synonyms include:

*'''[[Akikage]]''': Ghost [[Ninja]]s!
<gallery>
akikage MCR3.png
akikage DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Aquatic Remnant''': The ghosts of people whose remains were thrown into bodies of water after they died. Their touch drains Dexterity. Just called '''Remnants''' when they originally appeared in ''RQ2: Thoughts of Darkness''.
<gallery>
remnant RQ2 1.png
remnant RQ2 2.jpg
aquatic remnant DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Arayashka''': The ghosts of people who froze to death. Their touch drains Strength.
<gallery>
arayashka Dark of the Moon.jpg
Arayashka DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''[[Banshee]]''': Though considered a type of fey in mythology, in D&D, banshees are the ghosts of female elves.

*'''Bowlyn''': The ghosts of sailors who died at sea.
<gallery>
bowlyn MC Ravenloft 1.jpg
bowlyn DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Bussengeist''': The ghosts of those who died in great disasters or tragedies caused by their own hand. They are drawn to sites of future disasters, warning others of the coming catastrophe. They don't have any attacks, instead having an ''aura of despair'' that gives all Good creatures -4 to all rolls.
<gallery>
bussengeist MC Ravenloft 1.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Druj''': Ghosts that can only possess small body parts, like hands, skulls, or eyes. They can split themselves into four identical copies. They are also poisonous.
<gallery>
druj MC Mystara.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Geist''': A ghost NPC that can't attack. Remade into a template in 3e for a ghost with unique powers.
<gallery>
geist Realm of Terror.jpg
Geist MC Ravenloft3.png
Geist DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Ghostly Horde''': A whole army of ghosts from the losing side of a battle.
<gallery>
Ghostly horde MC Mystara.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Gossamer''': Ghosts that both drain Constitution and regenerate hitpoints with each attack. They are part of the Saugh, the undead army of the [[Shadow Fey]].
<gallery>
gossamer Shadow Rift.png
</gallery>

*'''Haunt''': They cannot be turned at all, and will relentlessly attempt to possess the nearest available humanoid and then make them strangle themselves.
<gallery>
Haunt A2.png
Haunt MM2 1e.jpg
Haunt MCV2.jpg
Haunt MM 2e.png
</gallery>

*'''Odem''': Ghosts specializing in possession.
<gallery>
odem Realm of Terror.jpg
odem MCR3.png
odem DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Odic''': Ghosts that can only possess plants. Anyone coming within 20 feet of them must save or lose a level every round.
<gallery>
odic MC Mystara.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Phantom''': Phantoms are not enemies but silent spiritual images perpetually re-enacting a traumatic death, like a looping hologram. They still cause the same Fear save as a ghost, though.
<gallery>
Phantom A2.png
Phantom MC11.png
Phantom MM 2e.png
</gallery>

*'''Poltergeist''': Poltergeists attack by throwing random objects, but none of their attacks can actually deal any damage. Instead, anyone hit by an attack makes a Fear save.
<gallery>
Poltergeist MCV2.jpg
Poltergeist MM 2e.png
</gallery>

*'''Psionic Spirit''': Ghosts that bend spoons with their mind.
<gallery>
psionic spirit MCR3.png
</gallery>

*'''Radiant Spirit''': The ghost of a Lawful Good [[paladin]] or [[cleric]].
<gallery>
Radiant spirit MCR3.png
radiant spirit DoDarkness.jpg
radiant spirit DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Rushlight''': The ghost of an evil person who was burned alive. They have fire powers because their soul has merged with the flames or whatever.
<gallery>
Rushlight MCR3.png
Rushlight DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Spectral Hag''': The ghost of a [[hag]].
<gallery>
spectral hag MCR3.png
spectral annis green sea hag DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Spectral Scion''': From [[Birthright]]. The ghost of a scion who was killed and bloodthefted with a tighmaevril weapon.
<gallery>
spectral scion Rjurik Highlands.jpg
spectral scion MCAV4.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Spectral Wizard''': The ghost of a spellcaster.
<gallery>
spectral wizard MCAV1.jpg
</gallery>

*'''[[Spectre]]''': Basically just a more powerful Wraith.

*'''Valpurgeist''' (renamed '''Valpurleiche''' in 3e): The ghost of someone who was hanged for a crime they did not commit. Poetically, it kills its victims by strangulation.
<gallery>
valpurgeist MC Ravenloft 1.jpg
Valpurgeist RQ3.jpg
valpurleiche DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''[[Wraith]]''': Basically just an ethereal [[Wight]].

*'''Zhentarim Spirit''': The ghost of a [[Zhentarim]] wizard. Introduced in the ''Ruins of Zhentil Keep'' boxed set.
<gallery>
zhentarim spirit RoZK.png
zhentarim spirit MCAV3.jpg
</gallery>