Curate, connect, and discover
2 ideas:
1st - Different Dead have Different "lifespans". I don't have to research for accuracy or realistic information so...
Also, baby ghosts Must Be Protected. How long is a Realms Being considered a baby? 3-1,000 years, give or take. Some other versions of dead aren't even considered babies! They just form/revive at peak.
So the Must Protect for baby ghosts is an impulse for all Realms Beings and Adjacent. This leads to some interesting found families with various lifespans.
Like how sometimes in nature animals with cross species adopt. Wolves will adopt humans, for example. I've read before about a kid growing up with dolphins or gazelle/deer.
So, for the dpxdc tag, Jason the Revanent Adopts Phantom the Halfa. Only, instead of recovering normally in his Haunt, Jason got stolen away and dumped in foreign nasty ectoplasm. So his core didn't grow right and his instincts are messed up. This is the Pit Rage.
So, now you've got 2 dumbasses because Halfas don't have the full set of instincts either. :D
2nd head cannon - How a ghost dies has an effect on how their core forms. Usually, it's not an issue, just has an impact on power levels, future abilities, weaknesses. But sometimes, it has a huge effect on the core itself.
Danny died in the formation of a portal to the Infinite Realms. He died by electricity and was revived by ectoplasm in an endless cycle of pain for seconds to minutes. His core formed and was destroyed in an endless cycle of reliving his death exactly as he died until he fell out of the portal.
He has severe core trauma from the moment he died and doesn't know how to find help. His instincts are buried under Death Trauma and Fear, because all he knows about ghosts is his parents' very biased opinions.
When the ghosts start coming through, he has No Context and plenty of fear. Other ghosts, given the context of what they learn about his life, through context clues or Vlad hiring them, should ask questions. 'This electric attack looks like it causes extra pain. Have you seen a doctor to make sure your core is fine?' 'Oh, your parents are hunting you too? Exactly how long have you been dead, that they don't know?' 'How you return us to the Realms, if your parents are hunting you?' 'I've seen you in your parents' lab when I've come through. Do you live there? While they're hunting you?!'
Because they don't, they have no right to complain about anything he does. Skulker and Technus, if I remember right, have both been hired by Vlad. The Vultures too. So, given gossip, all of Danny's regulars really should have suspicions.
Frostbite doesn't leave the Far Frozen, so he can be forgiven his ignorance. Somewhat. When helping with his ice powers, he probably checked on his core and saw how bad it was. And assumed he'd gotten help for it already. Because that's reasonable. But did he ask Danny, 'hey, your core is in bad shape. You're seeing someone about that right?'
SO! This is less of a full on prompt, and more of an opportunity.
I've been in this Fandom for over a year now and over that time I've seen so many little bits or lore and headcanons about the Ghost Zones Culture, but I've never seen a single post put them all together.
So, here I'll try to write down as many as I can think of, and anyone else can add their own Headcanons, or add to whatever I or someone else writes!
...
So! My personal Headcanon is that when a Ghost Passes on, it's a thing to be celebrated.
Ghosts are Immortal Beings, holding onto a desire or unfinished business that tethers them to the Mortal Plane. They live, because they are Unfulfilled, unable to accomplish the task that would allow them to Pass on, and be at peace with themselves.
So when a Ghost manages to fulfill their Obsession, manages to Pass On to the After? It's something to CELEBRATE!
Like when a Viking would die, you don't just mourn their death, you celebrate their Life! A Ghosts Passing On is much the same. When one of them manages it, there are parties across the Zone of people who knew them, or people who didn't but still want to celebrate! It's a Joyous thing when someone you know was able to find peace!
...
Ghosts socialize through Battle.
Ghosts are Immortal, Superpowered, and Stuck together for Centuries. They are going to fight, and they are going to love the thrill of it!
From the freshest of Newborns to the Oldest of Ancients, All Ghosts love the thrill of Battle. It's one of their defining traits! They have Centuries of nothing to do and energy to burn, and they devote it to the art of Combat!
And it's not just Brawls! Some Ghosts prefer to battle with Swords alone, others with their Fists and no Powers, others with their Powers and no Fists, there are entire communities of Ghosts who have specific Rules, or Customs for Combat!
In one part of the Zone, it may be common to Tackle any Ghost you see and instantly start to fight them, but in another? That would be seen as Rude, you need to throw down your glove in front of them to request a Battle!
Or in another section of the Zone you may be forced to battle without Weapons whatsoever, in another it may be Without Powers whatsoever, or with ONLY Powers!
The Fight Culture stretches far and wide, no two parts of the Zone are exactly the Same
...
Art is highly Valued.
Of course not all Ghosts are entirely focused on Battle, and even the ones that are like to focus on something else from time to time. Some of those Ghosts were Artists when they were Alive.
And they continued to make Art in Death. But this Art is Special, with all the Time in the World, a Ghost can spend Decades or even Centuries on their Magnum Opus! It would be their Life's Work, something they dedicated their entire Afterlives to!
So of course, it is respected. Ghosts know better than to ruin or destroy another Ghosts work or Art. Be it a Statue, a Painting, a Song, or a Theater Production.
...
I think that's Good for now, what do you think? Anything to add to the points I written down? Any entirely new points to add?
Go ahead!