The nature of ghost?

[hyenaskate]

Greetings, I've a question about Ghost / Spirits in Azeroth.

What are they? Are they stored memories and behaviors with no awareness or life, accidentally impressed into the surrounding material by the burst of Arcane, afterimages or actually self aware.

For an Orc, Troll or Tauren I doubt there is much questioning. But how would a human society see this, what is their available source of where they could got these beliefs?

What about the after-life? Is there any proof for it? And when I'm talking about proof, I mean something that an in-game character would considered hard evidence. Are they actually created of arcane of something else? If a warlock drains your life, what is it that he's draining?

[Reigen]

I've seen two types of ghosts in Azeroth.

The first type being the soul/spirit present in an area with no body. Sometimes they're aware of the area around them, sometimes they appear to be seeing things as they were when they died.

There are also ghosts that are memories. They're stuck in a certain moment of time acting it out again and again and don't acknowledge outside interactions. So really, there are both types depending on the situation of the spirit.

Humans likely accept the fact that ghosts are there as much as the other races, but may be more inclined to do them in compared to the trolls, tauren and orcs who would be honored to have a visit from a spirit, provided the spirit is not intending on harming anyone else.

The only after-life I've seen in the game is a world for spirits, which you get sent too a lot in WoW, but that seems to be more of a purgatory thing than a real after-life. Each race has their own belief, but I don't think there's any hard evidence beyond that you can call some friendly ghosts from it from time to time, though they never speak about it. [Trial of the crypt and Lord Raymond]

The only other reference I can think of for an afterlife would be this interaction from a quest. Though, take it with a grain of salt as it was put in in honor of a blizzard employee who died.

A'dal says: Fear not, young one, for this crusader shall not taste death.
A'dal says: In life, Bridenbrad was the bearer of great deeds. Now, in passing, he shall taste only paradise.
A'dal says: The light does not abandon its champions.

I'm not sure if ghosts are made out of arcane, or just their own spirit in a slightly 'physical' form [considering you can attack them with weapons]. Many do seem to possess arcane abilities, but that's just off the top of my head.

As for drain life...I'm not exactly sure what is being drained there. Its an exchange of health so it may be taking the essence of life from one person in order to speed of the healing to the warlock's own body? I'm not too sure, honestly.

[Ural]

Reigen's response reminded me of another discussion. You might find some answers there. Here is what I wrote and would have replied here.

A snippet from a guide I've really found useful with my own warlock.

Drain soul does not necessarily kill somebody but it does very much hurt them, leaving them with a lack of energy and somewhat withered (like stealing blood).

Draining a person's soul will very much so zap their energy. Think of when you run up a flight of stairs. Now run up ten.

When I think of spirit, I revert to the human racial ability, The Human Spirit. It is the motivation, the drive, indeed the very essence of that person. I believe that is why Shamans deal with spirits rather than souls.

The spirit is the sail, and the wind the soul.

[hyenaskate]

It does indeed make sense, to see the soul as the 'life energy' somewhat like druids can get energy from nature. I think it's a very different idea of soul, different definitions. More like a metaphor? Drives away you will to live? At least, somewhat... Although that wouldn't completely explain why warlocks itself can gain life, from draining souls. Or maybe that's better to be considered a game mechanism.

As for the ghosts... I guess that indeed depends on the type. Maybe the type the shamans call for, are more like the after-images of the life force of those who lived, not actually conscious, although that of course could be completely up to the personal belief of the character, somewhat like the 'philosophical zombie' idea.

So basically. By this logic we could say, it's sensible that character doesn't believe in the soul / afterlife? Soul defined as: Exactly you, but not in physical manifestation. As this world also fit the misconception that a warlock could actually take you soul, and put it into a sandwich. Or, soul shard... More like some kind of energy, instead of something actually conscious...

What do you think?

[Ural]

Well, most of the resurrection spells mention rejoining the spirit with the body. So you could base their belief on how valid or knowledgeable they are regarding that powerful magic.

Posted from my phone!

[Dae]

Troll spirits (at least those that worship him) are very clearly "Wid Bwonsamedi," or in the Loa's domain. He's shown summoning Darkspear spirits at the behest of Vol'Jin.

However, Sylvanas's near perma death with the Lich King suggests that the afterlife for her would be cold, empty... All in all, a place she fears.

The dead in WoW all have different fates in WoW depending on their beliefs and cultural power sources.

As for ghosts, I'd agree with the theory that there are two types- one being a preserved element of one's mind and spirit, with the other being an "echo," of emotion and intention and the likes. As for their magical constitution, I think it has a lot to do with the circumstances of their creation. An orc spirit would likely be Divine shadow with a hint of elemental energy from the magic of the pyre that cremated them, while a forcefully made banshee would be be necromantic.