Phantasms

Phantasms have been part of humanity since even before the days of Atlantis. They form a symbiotic relationship with a mortal host. They guard the gap between the waking world and The Dreaming. It is their task to steer wayward dreamers back into the Dreaming if they slip into the Astral Plane. Phantasms are attracted to dreamers from certain bloodlines; the last confirmed bloodline was the Ó hEigneacháin (O'Hannigan) clan. It is possible this bloodline extends back many centuries, or potentially even millennia.

Existing since prehistory, what is known of the Phantasms is largely reliant on oral traditions from ancient cultures. Accounts of encounters with them vary significantly from person to person. The most common denominator is often a raven appearing to speak to someone in a dream. Their precise purpose is not fully comprehended by mortals; the biggest clue to what they are is the term that the entities themselves have accepted over time to describe them - phantasm.

Phantasm

• 1) a figment of the imagination; an illusion or apparition.
• 2) an illusory likeness of something.
• 3) a ghost of the living or dead

Based from what few written accounts there are, their actions are very fitting of the three potential definitions in that they appear to take on shifting forms, often mimicking things in the real world. While unsettling in some forms, their nature is protective, often with a nurturing inclination towards youth. They are Ravens in The Dreaming and often favor that appearance while engaging with mortals. Phantasms do not always pick a willing host, but traditionally the host has viewed the powers of the Phantasm as a gift in exchange for sheltering the entity.

There are hints that there may be multiple phantasms, located in other realms. But oral traditions indicate that as far as earthbound, waking world numbers are concerned, they are extremely rare and the most ever encountered were two. The earth bound phantasms appear to be able to physically interact with things. Currently, Michael Hannigan plays host to a new Phantasm, and is at odds with the Elder Phantasm who has declined to abdicate his role on Earth.

Creatures commonly mistaken for, or could possibly be the variations of:

• Spirit Animals
• Shadow person
• Guter Nachtkrapp
• Poltergeist
• Mare