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People like us, we've gained properties normally reserved for apparitions. Producing the tinted vapor we call spectral energy, for example. It's like we're dead without being dead.
Explaining

Chapter 4, Page 74Pnat

Spectral Energy is the power manipulated by the humans known as spectrals, and the stuff of which spirits and ghosts are made. In its raw form, it manifests as a "tinted vapor" of some color along the visual spectrum, glowing with light.

Unlike other humans, spectrals can interact with this energy and perceive the beings made of it. Spectrals actually produce spectral energy, and thus serve as a source of power and restoration for injured spirits, who are able either possess them as mediums or lure them after possessing a tool.[1] The fact that spectrals' bodies are infused with this energy means that spiritual powers can harm them just as if they were made out of spectral energy alone.

As ghosts consist entirely of spectral energy, they are able to be broken down and consumed for their energy by injured spirits. They can regenerate their energy slowly, but not fast enough to avoid being absorbed by a spirit.[2] Some ghosts possess spectral energy abilities varying in strength, including the power to create butterflies.[3] Zack Morrison has described the state of being a spectral as "the parabiological process of your body producing a ghost BEFORE you die".[4]

Color Spectrum[]

Spectral energy colors can come in any color across the spectrum[5] (including grey and black). Each spectral produces a single energy color, as does each spirit. For a spectral and a spirit to be compatible, their spectral energy colors must be a shade of the same color, with variations (such as light green vs. dark green vs. blue green, etc.) making it harder to harness the spirit's powers and slowing down its healing process.[6] For example, Isabel Guerra and Eightfold share an energy color, allowing Eightfold to easily heal and Isabel to access her powers. In contrast, Mina Zarei's color is chartreuse while the Ghost Train's is teal, causing the spirit to heal more slowly and making it harder for her to control it.[7][8]

The exception to the limitation of compatibility is white spirit energy, which acts as all other colors simultaneously.[9] This allows it to act as a form of universal donor and recipient (being able to draw energy from and give energy to any other spirit). White energy is uniquely associated with wights, and while spectrals with white energy are known to exist Zack has confirmed it is not a naturally-occurring color for them to have.[10]

A spectral's energy color is random (unless they became a spectral from a specific supernatural source, in which case their spectral color matches the source's).[11] The rarity of individual colors is generally unimportant, with the exception of one rare color. Though it was left unspecified, Zack described it as "pretty easy to figure out just from relative scarcity/process of elimination".[12] According to Zack, energy color is not genetic, and there is a separate reason why Isabel's color matches her grandfather's.[13]

It does not appear that the color of spectral energy has any sort of necessary tie to the powers of the associated spirit. However, the powers seen in Paranatural frequently have some similar connotations to their associated colors (e.g. Spender's yellow light powers, Isaac's sky-blue weather powers), for narrative and aesthetic reasons if nothing else.

Usage[]

Combat[]

The manipulation of spectral energy for combat requires absolute metal precision. The slightest imperfection in your technique will limit its potential. Perfect your mind, and know limitless power!
SpecShot

Spectrals practicing "spec-shots". (Chapter 4, Page 5Pnat)

Spectrals can learn to shape their spectral energy through training and willpower. With this, even a spectral without a spirit partner can hold their own in a fight against a spectral being. Techniques range from the ability to deliver a concentrated shot of spectral energy at range to the ability to craft elaborate shapes and forms from one's energy. However, a spirit's powers are considered more convenient to use than spectral energy due to the former relying on impulse and requiring much less focus.[5]

The most skilled practitioner of these arts in Mayview is Francisco Guerra, who teaches other spectrals (frequently Consortium members) in the traditional style of the Spectral Fist. Weaponized spectral energy is not very effective on enemies whose durability exceed the user's strength, as evident when many of Spender's spectral techniques barely harmed Forge.[14] Also, as Forge, being over a century old, had not known about weaponized spectral energy until his fight with Spender, it's assumed that the art of spectral combat is fairly recent.[15]

Shaping Spectral Energy[]

Shwing

Chapter 4, Page 102Pnat

A key part of the Spectral Fist is its use of willpower to shape spectral energy into various forms. These can be put to almost any use the creator can imagine to grant additional reach, size, or attack power. Spectral energy can also be made to hold an edge, giving it the ability to cut through and seriously injure spirits, ghosts, or other spectrals.

Spec Shot[]

The more common name of the "spectral energy compression projectile burstshot" invented by Guerra, this technique concentrates spectral energy into the user's finger or hands and unleashes it as a projectile towards a target at high velocity. This is one of the Spectral Fist's basic techniques. It allows a skilled spectral to remain dangerous even at considerable range.[16][17]

Other[]

Spectral Energy Isabel Ch5Pg46

Chapter 5, Page 46Pnat

Spectral energy can be shaped into almost any form, and its resultant shape is visible to other spectral-energy-using beings. This can be used to for entertainment, to discreetly communicate in the presence of non-spectrals, to try to achieve some psychological or intimidating edge in battle, or just to look cool.

Spectral energy can be extended away from the user's body while remaining "attached" to the spectral, and thus can be used to pull the spectral towards or push the spectral away from other objects or individuals made of spectral energy. This can grant the spectral an additional degree of motion or allow them to pull an opponent off-balance. Though energy constructs that aren't attached to one's body are generally hard to create, they can be achieved more easily by stretching the energy into as fine a thread as possible.[18]

Trivia[]

  • Although Spender describes black spectral energy as "fairly common" on Chapter 1, Page 59Pnat, this was later described by Zack as "a joke than as any sort of important worldbuilding detail."[12]
  • Out of the current members of the Activity Club, Isaac O'Connor is the worst at handling spectral energy.[5]

References[]

  1. Chapter 3, Page 9Pnat
  2. Chapter 4, Page 74Pnat
  3. Chapter 1, Page 40Pnat
  4. Q: "Is being a spectral anything like being actually dead, or does it just mean you get to interact with the dead and spirits?"
    A: "*spender pushing up glasses voice* it's the parabiological process of your body producing a ghost BEFORE you die"
    Tweet
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "It is a spectrum, and you can use whatever color you’re close to. The spirit heals faster the closer your color matches theirs. (...)"
    "It is more convenient to use tools. You gotta do all that Green Lantern visualization and focus stuff to make things with energy, whereas tools just work on impulse."
    "Isaac’s the worst at spectral energy stuff in the group, yeah. He’s OK."
    Tumblr post (16 Jun 2014).
  6. "Different shades of the same color! Light green, dark green, yellow green, blue green, etc. This will be explored!" Twitter (14 Dec 2015).
  7. Chapter 4, Page 147Pnat
  8. Chapter 5, Page 112Pnat
  9. Chapter 7, Page 16Pnat
  10. "So are spectrals with white energy able to control wights somehow? I mean they can't use white tools since wights ressurect instantly""no special power over wights, but can use spirit powers/feed energy to spirits of any spectral energy color. universal donor/recipient. it is also... not a naturally occurring color for spectrals to have!!!" Twitter (27 Aug 2020)
  11. "It's random unless you got your spectral status from a specific supernatural source, in which case yours matches its" Twitter (1 Jun 2015).
  12. 12.0 12.1 "Hmm, I would say that the relative uncommonness of all the energy colors except for one are unimportant, and (...)" Tumblr (24 Jun 2014).
  13. "No, there’s nothing genetic about it! We will see why Isabel’s color matches (...)" Tumblr (26 Jun 2014).
  14. Chapter 4, Page 81Pnat
  15. Chapter 4, Page 81Pnat
  16. Chapter 4, Page 4Pnat
  17. Chapter 4, Page 36Pnat
  18. Chapter 5, Page 107Pnat

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