Nevermore Spectres in Real Life Mythology
Lady in White - Annabel’s spectre. As Poppet said, Ladies in White are female spirits who have been killed just before they were supposed to be wed. What’s more, they symbolise a theme of loss, unrequited love and betrayal. For most Ladies in White, their causes of death were accidental, murder or suicide, but for all of them, tragic. Peonies are a classic bridal bouquet choice, which makes Annabel’s “withered peonies” ability make sense. Her “rigor mortis” ability ties to a Lady in White’s association with death, as does “kiss of death”, however the latter also has implications of tragic or doomed love.
Shadow Man - (This may be triggering for some people with sleep paralysis.) Prospero’s spectre. Shadow people are described as dark, humanoid figures that are sometimes seen when a person has sleep paralysis, which explains Prospero’s “paralysis” ability. While it is most likely that these figures are hallucinations, some people believe that there is a spiritual element because so many people around the world consistently describe Shadow People the same way. This leads some to believe that they are malevolent spirits or demons.
Dybbuk - Montressor’s spectre. Dybbuks are demons believed to be the detached soul of someone who is dead. These spirits are known for possessing people and using them as hosts, hence Montressor’s “possession” ability. Dybbuks are typically linked to Jewish folklore which, although not Christian, does tie into Montressor’s religious background, as does his “fire and brimstone” ability.
Banshee - Ada’s spectre. In Irish mythology, banshees are described as female spirits who are known for their shrieking wail, hence Ada’s ability for an “ear splitting scream”. Additionally, the Banshee’s shriek is believed to foretell an upcoming death of someone in a family. This links to Ada’s “mark of the grave” ability.
Doppelganger - Will’s spectre. Perhaps the spectre that has the most direct connection to the original Edgar Allan Poe story he was based on. (Maybe apart from Pluto). A Doppelganger is a spirit who looks exactly like a living person and usually haunts them and they’re also usually seen as a harbinger of bad luck. The word “doppelganger” translates from German to mean “double-walker”. In ”William Wilson”, William eventually kills his Doppelganger and in doing so kills himself, essentially bringing about his own downfall.
Guardian - Morella’s spectre. Guardian spirits are believed to be supernatural beings of purity and kindness who watch over and protect a person or group. They have been described in many forms, such as animals, warriors and angels. Moralla’s “sword and shield" ability is explained by the nature of these spirits being to protect those they need to, as well as defend them from more malevolent forces. “Divine light” is a reference to the association with angels and higher beings, while “convalescence” is more of a nod to Poe’s story “Morella” (I think).
Poltergeist - Duke’s spectre. Usually known for the loud noises and disturbances that they cause, poltergeists are mischievous spirits who thrive in causing havoc. They are able to partially interact with the physical world, doing things like causing objects to levitate, making loud noises, tripping people up and generally just being annoying for the sake of it. Poltergeists have often been explained away by sceptics as hallucinations and dissociations, which would explain Duke’s “hypnosis” ability. “Levitation” and “invisibility” are clear. Poltergeist roughly translates from German to “noisy ghost” or “loud spirit”
Cryptid - Pluto’s spectre. Cryptids are animals that some believe exist but have never been proven by science. Examples of these include the Loch Ness Monster, yetis and chupacabras. They are different from mythical creatures as cryptids are often described as beings that could exist, whereas mythical creatures are linked to the supernatural. Pluto’s abilities seem to be mainly about Poe’s story “The Black Cat”, however, some cryptids are seen to be omens of misfortune and disaster which could link to his ability of “unlucky”.
Chimera - Eulalie’s spectre. Originally from Greek mythology, chimeras were said to have a lion’s head, goat’s body and snake’s tail. The similarities between the Greek chimera and Eulalie are very limited, but the Baku from Japanese mythology is much more relevant. Bakus are said to devour nightmares, explaining her “dreameating” and “dispeller of evil spirits” abilities. Being from Japanese mythology, this is definitely a nod to Eulalie’s Japanese heritage.
Strigoi - Berenice’s spectre. In Romanian mythology, strigois are said to be restless or troubled spirits who rose from the grave. They are able to become a beast and are said to drain the blood or “life force” from their victims, which links to Berenice’s “bloodlust” ability. They are believed to be the souls of those who died having led an unfulfilled or sinful life.
