Wraiths

Wraiths

Wraiths are corrupted souls, the broken remains of souls twisted by trauma, violence, or divine neglect. They are formed when death fails to take hold completely, leaving a being trapped between the spectral and physical worlds. Though classed as ghosts, wraiths are far more dangerous, unstable, and vengeful.

Origins

A soul becomes a wraith when it is too damaged, too twisted, or too burdened to be collected by the reapers. This can happen in several ways:

Trauma: Souls shattered by extreme suffering — either from a violent death or a tormented life — are fragile. While healing is possible during life, it is far more difficult after death. If unrepaired, the soul may fail to move on, becoming lost and restless.
Corruption: Some forms of magic or transformation warp the soul. Werewolves and lesser vampires are notable examples; their souls are often claimed by the Ynue who made them. But not all are retrieved. When left behind, their corrupted essence decays, creating a wraith
Orog's Touch: Individuals who were affected severely by Orog's influence during life are very likely to become wraiths upon their deaths. His feeding of grudges, driving people to commit or suffer great acts of revenge, breaks people. Those who die with that hatred burning too hot often cannot let go, corrupting their souls.

Nature and Behavior

Wraiths drift through the spectral realm but are drawn back to the world of the living. They do not accept death. They seek continuation, revenge, or closure, often through violence. Some return to inhabit their own rotting corpses, animating them out of sheer will. Killing the body does not remove the spirit, but only enrages it.
If they are strong enough, wraiths can displace other souls and take over fresh bodies, often wearing a new face while continuing an old vendetta.
They sometimes stay in the spectral world, but this is only because they haven't found their body yet. They can also cause mayhem from the spectral world, but it is much more difficult for them.
It is bodiless wraiths releasing their anger that convince people that certain places are haunted.

Defeat

Wraiths are not destroyed through simple means. Their soul must be resolved or removed entirely. Known methods include:

Soul Trapping: Binding the wraith into an object halts their movement but not their malice. Without follow-up, the spirit will find a way to escape.
Offering to Killian: Killian can purify a wraith's soul, but this requires ritual and intent. Simply killing a wraith's host is not enough.
Reaper Intervention: Reapers can still collect the soul — if convinced or drawn — but they are rarely willing to engage with already-degraded spirits.
Soul Mending: A rare and peaceful approach. A soul mender can repair and soothe the spirit, returning it to ghost-state. From there, a necromancer can guide it to the afterlife.