Phantom

The home of this race of enigmatic xenoforms is a world bathed in a perpetual twilight, where the population live in large cities with grand gothic architecture, casting great shadows over the cities interspersed with dim stained-glass patterns highlighting large rows of roses and tulips. Physically, phantoms are exactly like humans with light eyes and skin, and hair of any darkish color. They have a supernatural speed and even the most bumbling phantom can easily outfilch a normal human being. All phantoms have soothing melodic voices and make great singers. Phantoms love any sort of intrigue and high culture, are extremely fashion conscious and must at all times be the center of attention. They favour grand hats and cloaks, flashy fighting styles and big entrances. They shun all kinds of brutishness, such as intimidation tactics and 'muscling it', and would never suffer the indignity of wielding a gun whilst they have perfectly good fists on the end of their arms. Phantoms favour the sword over every other weapon, especially long, beautiful blades. Phantoms appear to have some sort of supernatural link with the spirit world, but the extent of this is unknown and very difficult to research.


The alternate reality known as Leroux is one of the many exact copies of earth with radically different lifeforms and histories. It is here from where the enigmatic phantoms hail. Leroux is a world bathed in a perpetual twilight, where the population live in large cities with grand gothic architecture, casting great shadows over the cities interspersed with dim stained-glass patterns highlighting large rows of roses and tulips with prismatic coloration at significant times of day. These cities, while densely populated are almost as quiet as small towns and are home to the phantoms.

Physically, phantoms are exactly like humans with light eyes and skin, and hair of any darkish color. They have a supernatural speed and even the most bumbling phantom can easily outfilch a normal human being. All phantoms have soothing melodic voices and are great singers. Fashions vary as frequently as every year, however they always tend to wear grand cloaks and hats. Eye-masks are always worn on formal occasions.

Phantom technology also seems to Mirror that of Earth's. Phantoms have cars, sophisticated medicine and computers, but strictly have a 18th-19th-Early 20th century french styling to them. Guns and cannons have also been invented, though most phantoms find them a much distasteful way of fighting, preferring swords, knives and knuckles, and hence haven't advanced much further than simple revolvers. Using a gun in a fight isn't regarded as unfair, but it is regarded as loutish except in a few cities.

One primary part of phantom culture is the love of art. Art can be in any form as it is for humans, but the most revered kind is singing, a passtime that every phantom performs very well. There are few celebrities elevated as high as their singers.

When operating as part of a team with humans or other xenoforms, phantoms are prized from their unnatural silence, stealth and gentlemanly Parisian charm and often fulfill infiltrating and social roles quite nicely. They are inept at intimidation, as they cannot resist engaging in reparteé instead of forcing their will, and are blunderous with guns unless they are brought up being trained with them. They refuse to use muscle even to their detriment as they would not soil themselves with brutishness, and have little understanding of acceptable underhandedness as nothing in their culture is considered as such. Like humans, the ability to cast rituals and fight depends on the individual.

Psychics are about as common as in humans. Phantoms refer to them as Cerverau and they rarely seek to hide their existence. Their powers are usually telepathic, but a good few have powers over mediumship - a disproportionate amount compared to other races. All phantoms all have an attachment to the incorporeal world. They are all able to at least see spirits and other incorporeal things. For about three hours either side of their vernal equinox all spirits and incorporeal things on Leroux merge with the real world and psychics are at the height of their power, often manifesting strange new powers for the duration, or manifesting standard powers which they keep for the rest of their lives. Conversely, for about three hours either side of either solstices, all but the most powerful medium phantoms lose their ability to see and affect ghosts. Strangely, nothing happens during the autumnal equinox. Needless to say, the Vernal equinox is treated as a major holiday all over Leroux.

Phantoms in the Hughniverse:
Nate Cyril - A swordsman and sorceror working for The Agency.

See Also:
Raient - A prominent Phantom city applauded for its Industry, but ostracized for its gun culture.
Soirée d'Esprit - Leroux celebration of the Vernal Equinox, where the incorporeal world joins with the real world for about 6 hours.