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 An Introduction to Ghosts

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PostSubject: An Introduction to Ghosts   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeThu Feb 05, 2009 9:01 pm

In 2186, a crew of thirteen was sent by the World Space Alliance to survey the surface of the distant planet Orinoco. The survey itself was uneventful but, on the return journey the ship passed through a diffuse nebula cloud. The composition of the cloud contained elements unknown to Earth and the crew was not able to obtain a sample for further study. When they returned home, the crew passed the regulation health inspection and was not put into quarantine. However, scientists discovered a startling commonality in all of the offspring that came from the crew post-mission: they had extra-sensory perception abilities. The children were studied and it was concluded that the condition was genetic and not contagious.

The military made a mad grab for these children the moment they came of age, knowing their abilities were very valuable. They were dubbed ‘Ghosts’, named after the description of the nebula given by crewman Elsie Patile. Each of these children passed on their abilities to their own children. Even if the other parent was not a Ghost, the offpring would still have the same abilities as the parent.

The abilities varied in strength and type; some possessed telekinesis, while others showed an aptitude for astral projection. Psychometry, empathic ability, telepathy and clairvoyance were also among the recorded abilities in the Ghosts working for the military.

The fourth generation of Ghosts brought a resistance to the idea of working for the military, and several families refused to cooperate, establishing themselves outside the jurisdiction of the armed forces. They began to develop their own culture, one rooted fundamentally in the Zen ideals of harmony and peace.

By the sixth generation, the Ghosts had a fixed and well-established counter-culture. Their philosophical and religious ideals stated that there could be either peace without or peace within, but never both. Using their abilities for the good of mankind meant that they must shoulder the burden of being alone, and never integrate themselves with non-Ghost cultures. To do so invited disaster. The called their communes ‘oubliettes’ and rarely traveled from them unless necessary.

While these isolationist Ghosts built up their culture, the Ghosts in the military served to assist in missions and explorations. They were invaluable in many situations, though most people were unnerved and uncertain of them – their abilities tended to make them behave distant and aloof.

By the eighth generation, both factions of Ghosts numbered in the hundreds.
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PostSubject: Ghost habits of behavior   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeSun May 10, 2009 7:44 pm

General behavior::
Due to the varied but typically personal nature of Ghost abilities, many ghosts tend to be considered aloof and distant, though not typically impolite or impolitic. The simple nature of their mental capacity ensures a certain distance in order for them to maintain functionality.

Ghost powers do not always function by touch, but many do, and as a result most Ghosts also keep a physical distance from those around them who are not close to them. It is often too risky that some stray thought or unwanted impression will be picked up through touch. This only adds to the impressions of Ghosts as aloof or distant.

In addition, due to the nature of their powers, Ghosts are often scrupilously honest. While they may not reveal everything, they typically do not lie. Simply put, many of them are sensitive to human emotion and thought and the ramifications of illicit or false words and actions is frequently felt by them as much as any chosen target. The ethics teaching they receive in schooling additionally tends to circumvent any dishonest behavior.

Negative view points:
Common derogatory parlance for Ghosts includes everything from a mild "Greys" (in reference to Jean Grey, or to the colors that ghosts tend to prefer) and "spooks" to the obviously derogatory "brain fu****s"

Due to the perceived personal nature of many Ghosts' powers, they of course do not recieve welcome from all individuals, some of whom perceive them as mind-controllers or invasive mind-readers. While the nature of Ghost powers tend to keep them scrupilously honest in most of their dealings (for an empath to feel the results of one cheated or harmed is poential punishment in itself), this is of course not a comfort to those with deeply seated prejudices. Even within the military, many Ghosts find themselves quietly ignoring or dealing with the more ignorant insults of some of the GAF forces. Some find themselves driven away from public life due to this and wind up in Oubliettes.

Military life:
Ghosts, as noted, are often found in the military sector, though typically as civilian contractors to the GAF or Isley, rather than as soldiers. Even with no active wars, most ghosts find the thought of killing or harming others to be distasteful at best and abhorrant at worst - again mostly due to their mental abilities. Ghosts serve in capacity as counselors aboard ships (particularly those for colonizing ships in which civilian passengers require adjustment), medical assistants, support engineers, specialists in terra-forming, diplomats, surveyors, and any other number of capacities where empathy, telepathy, telekinesis, and astral projection were invaluable.

Ghosts typically enter contractual service with the military after they complete schooling at the university level. Ghosts entering this lifestyle have typically picked their route prior during schooling and have specialized their education to help suit their chosen field.

Commune life:
Ghost Oubliette's are quiet places by nature. Houses and public buildings are austere but comfortable, and much of the Ghosts' contributions are shared with the community. Some commercialism exists in the form of general stores and private suppliers and artisans, but even then much of the profit of these places is funneled into the oubliette's maintenance and upkeep. Quite simply, it is assumed that the peace of the commune is better kept if all contribute to it. It is not anticipated that more well-to-do Ghosts live in the same state as a less financially able one - the oubliettes are not a communist regime after all - but rather that in karmic principle those that can afford to aid more often do, providing aid for those less well off and helping supply and build larger public structures.

Schooling in the commune begins at an early age in oubliette schools. Children are taught the extent and use of their powers as soon as they are able to exhibit control over such as, for a Ghost, control over ones mental abilities is paramount. Schooling also includes basic and advanced subjects and is quite extensive, including the principles of zen philosophy and religion that the oubliettes tend to espouse. Ghost schooling in oubliettes is thus as well rounded and complete as in the civilian or military sector.

Joining the Ghost Oubliette is simple in practice, but often difficult in principle. Certainly some Ghosts are born within, grow up in, and live out their lives in communes. Others, however, enter during the course of their lives either for a brief time or permanantly. Much like a man or woman taking vows to a monastary or nunnery in ancient times, this is not done lightly and while always welcomed, such Ghosts often join oubliettes to remove themselves from the stresses and tragedies of a more public life gone to tragedy or crisis. Within the communes, the prejudices and press of outside life are no longer a concern.

Commune life in many ways resembles the zen rural behavior of an ancient Japanese village or the simplicity of an Amish community. The communes are not devoid of technology - quite the opposite - but life is kept simple and austere. Music, theater, literature, dance, and the arts are common pursuits of leisure. Communes grow and produce as much of their own supplies as possible. Vegetables, cattle, and fowl are raised for food while linen and cotton are produced and woven for use. Supplies which cannot be grown or produced locally are imported and sold.

Miscellaneous Quirks:
Some Ghosts within communes have taken their zen lifestyle to new heights. Feeling a certain empathy with all life, they become vegetarians. Others are not quite so austere.

Not all Ghosts follow the same religion. While many tend towards more balanced eastern philosophies that are more naturally accepting of their abilities, Ghosts follow a variety of faiths.

Ghosts tend to favor loose clothing and simple color tones. Whether this is a matter of practicality or habit is difficult to say, though some have taken quite interesting habits with their garments, using long sleeves and skirts as shields to touch items in public as needed. It is simply assumed for most Ghosts that, often preoccupied with the abilities of the mind and the mental state of those around them, that Ghosts are more concerned with mental pursuit and philosophy than flashy clothing and, as such, tend toward practicality. Jewelry is not forbidden in Ghost lifestyle though also typically follows some function as a focus or decoration of emotional significance.
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PostSubject: Coming of age ceremony   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeWed May 20, 2009 9:13 pm

(loosely based on a Japanese tea ceremony)

This particular ceremony is typically used in Oubliettes though occasionally "outside" ghosts will use a variant to celebrate a child's growth into adulthood. The use of a modified Japanese tea ceremony came into use around the same time that the Ghosts split into "public" and "private" branches. In an effort to embrace a more peaceful existence, oubliette ghosts began incoorperating more eastern philosophy and practice into their lifestyle. While many of these incoorporations became a part of oubliette life in variant form from their original eastern heritage, other ceremonies remained clearly adopted. The search for perfection in a moment and the isolationist and inwardly meditative aspects of zen and buddhist philosophy were ideal for many Ghosts seeking more balance to their extraordinary powers.

The Japanese tea ceremony, with it's aspects of living in the moment and the perfection of a moment that passes, was an ideal syncing for a coming of age ceremony. For oubliette ghosts, this became akin to a sweet sixteen party or quinciniera, typically held when a young Ghost had managed to gain control over their abilities and were entering a period of adulthood around the age of 17 or 18. The ceremony would typically be followed by a small celebration with friends and family.

The ceremony itself is conducted with only the participant and an elder Ghost - off-world usually a parent, but in Oubliettes typically one of the elders.

The ceremony takes place in a quiet room or garden. The less the decor, the better, though some Ghosts use a natural setting to represent the balance of cycles.

The elder fills a low basin with water and sets it in the center of the room. The elder purifies their hands with the water, symbolizing the distance most Ghosts keep from physicality. The participant enters through the garden gate or room door without speaking, symbolizing the leaving of one portion of life to the next, and the leaving of the physical for the spiritual and internal. The participant also purifies their hands in the bowl of water.

The participant is given a scroll, book, or quotation to study and reflect on. This passage varies from Ghost to Ghost and reflects what the elder believes the participant needs to reflect on most in this time of growth. The elder seats themselves and then the participant. A fire is built (off-planet or in-space Ghosts have taken to using small catalytic heaters in a ceremonial urn or grate). Incense is burnt in the fire to help focus the senses as all ghosts rely heavily on their sensory input - otherworldly and not.

In the ceremony, water represents yin and fire yang. For Ghosts, the water represents the fluidity of emotion and the tenuous hold of the spirital and powers of perception the Ghosts are privy to. Fire represents the worldly aspects that still bind them. A stoneware jar or iron kettle contains fresh water symbolizing purity and is touched only by the elder. The participant is still being brought in and has not reached a state of purity yet.

The elder retrieves the tea bowl, whisk, and cloth and arranges them next to the water jar or kettle. He or she uses the cloth to wipe and purify the container and scoop. Deep significance is found in the elder's inspection, folding, and handling of all these materials for he or she is entering and demonstrating a state of meditation that the child is also expected to one day enter.

Tea is ladeled from the bowl and wisked into the water before being poured into a bowl or cup used specifically for this purpose. The cup or bowl will be given to the participant later as a reminder of unfulfilled potential. The elder passes the tea bowl to the participant who bows, accepting it. The bowl is raised and rotated to be admired before being drunk from and passed to the elder who drinks from the opposite rim.

A conversation follows, unique to each Ghost, about the child's goals, their abilities, and the potential within them. Great emphasis is usually placed on morality and responsibility and balance. For Oubliette ghosts this is an introduction and furtherance of the zen balance of oubliette life. For off-world Ghosts, this is frequently a discussion of responsibilities of Ghost powers within normal society. The conversation is just that - conversation and discussion rather than lecture, with the participant's responses being as important as the elder's advice. The cup or bowl is traded back and forth and the tea is finished during this process.

The fire is put out at the end of this conversation and the elder rinses and cleans the bowl, wrapping it in silk cloth (or other material) and presenting it to the child. For ceremonies involving a parent and child this often also involves the giving of a small gift - usually a focus for psychic ability. Once the gift is given, the child leaves independently, symbolizing their first steps toward or into adulthood.
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PostSubject: Ghost religious tenets   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeWed May 20, 2009 9:34 pm

I'm not going to go into this overly as a player as Nova only loosely follows them herself, not being a true oubliette ghost. That said - some basis would help.

Again, based loosely on buddhism.

1 - I will not kill, I will not become violent. All life is reverential. - Lifted almost exclusively from buddhism this isn't a particularly difficult tenet for most Ghosts to cling to given their abilities. It is something that off-world Ghosts have a particular difficulty with in terms of military service and a source of debate for many Ghosts serving with the GAF and their militar counterparts. Oubliette Ghosts take this to varying lengths - some taking it straight to complete vegetarianism (or proteinism in some very extreme cases of individuals who eat only protein and vitamin suppliments rather even than plants.) Despite the stereotype, many Ghosts do still eat meat though they do so sparingly and with care for the animal's life and well-being.

2 - I will respect the property of others, I will not steal. - A fairly simple precept and well founded in mundane law.

3 - I will be concious in and of my relationships. I will not give way to passion. - Part of their "Peace within" philosophy, many Oubliette ghosts take this tenet to heart as children, finding it difficult to give much sway and credence to emotions that destabilize their powers. Often privy to how much emotional turmoil affects those around them, Ghosts tend to cling to this as a life raft in a sea of human irrationality. Off-world Ghosts tend to take this to less heart than oubliette ghosts but to a certain extent all of them revert to this tenet frequently when emotional rockiness becomes too much.

4. - I will honor honesty and truth, I will not decieve - The moral implications of empathy and telepathy are far-ranging. Lifted right out of buddhism this tenet is clung to by many ghosts as the ability to legally and morally nagivate and defend themselves. A people who find it difficult to lie because their neighbor can sense it tend to be unfailingly honest. Ghosts that do violate this are rare and tend to have had very little contact with other Ghosts. This tenet is equally followed in Oubliettes and in off-worlders.

5. I will exercise proper care of my body and mind. There must be peace within my mind to have peace without. I will not violate the bodies or minds of others - A strong philosophy of meditation, physical care, and healthy living tends to pervade oubliette life. For off-world Ghosts this tenet tends to vary. For some it means following the intense physical rigor of the GAF military despite lack of membership. For others it means following a more meditative philosophy and still others choose to ignore it. It is rare, however, to find a Ghost that drinks heavily or abuses substances as such intoxicants make their abilities unreliable at best.

6. There can be peace within, or peace without, but never both. - a tenet most often adopted by Oubliette ghosts, this describes their need for isolation. Some Ghosts feel that the only peace that can be had between Ghosts and non-ghosts is separation. Obviously off-world ghosts don't follow this tenet though as previously noted it often comes into question when conflicts and prejudices arise.
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PostSubject: The arts in an oubliette   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeWed Jun 03, 2009 9:24 am

Kenning toward Zen and eastern philosophy, the arts most often practiced by at least Oubliette ghosts are often meditative. Perfection is sought, as is intense focus. While some Ghosts have gone to the extreme of following zen calligraphy as part of their endeavors, others simply apply that meditative focus to other arts.

Poetry, writing, drawing, painting, and music are all popular choices.

Oubliettes are not devoid of louder artistic endeavors or celebrations either - simply these pursuits are still quieter than most regular people would anticipate. Dance is extremely popular - though often through modified forms that don't require touch (think medieval pattern dances and solo ballet). Children often participate in theater as well though most adults don't find that particular exhibition comfortable at least in Oubliettes.
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PostSubject: Studying Ghosts   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeWed Jun 03, 2009 9:13 pm

It was inevitable that with the formation of a new perceived "sub-race" of humans that people would begin studying Ghosts. While this was often a voluntary process - Ghosts after all are just as curious about their nature as many of the doctors and researchers who want to find out about them. Studies have ranged from base physiological exams to psychetry to a anthropologists studying development of culture. The studies, as far as the general public and even most ghosts know, is entirely a voluntary process as both GAF, Isley, and the Terran government are well aware these are still human beings and sensitive ones at that.

Researchers in oubliettes, all of that said, have noted how discomfiting some of their work can be. While some researchers are welcomed, the solitude and philosophy behind the oubliettes mean that oubliettes themselves don't always welcome those wishing to stare and take notes. While well-intentioned guests are never turned away, it can be unnerving to watch an oubliette first hand, particularly from an outsiders perspective. Elders in the oubliette enforce strict codes of conduct toward guests but this has not stopped more than one researcher from noting the eerieness of their work when they were not specifically hosted or invited by one of the oubliette's residents.
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PostSubject: Naming conventions   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeThu Jul 09, 2009 9:08 pm

Ghosts often use only one name, particularly as generations have passed. They are often secluded enough in their oubliettes to avoid any name over-lapping and Ghosts in "public" life often are not accompanied by other ghosts outside of small family units; the practice thus remains practical for identification purposes.

Ghosts do occasionally take last names, usually at marriage, though it is by no means required.

Ghost names tend to follow planetary or celestial inspiration though this is simply a matter of popularity and reference to their origins than any hard and fast rule.
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PostSubject: Ghost populations   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeMon Jul 20, 2009 7:38 pm

There is the impression that Ghosts are rare enough to be remarkable and unusual still and given the certain billions of people on Terra and other colonies, they certainly are. Ghosts do not readily have as many children as most people are encouraged to have with popular family planning programs; quite simply one or two gifted children ends up being more than enough for any one family to handle. The population growth of Ghosts is thus much slower than "normal" humans.

That said, it's been 240 years since the first group went through the nebula and eight generations have passed. To the GAF and Isley, it may seem as though Ghosts are more common as outside of the Oubliettes, Ghosts tend to find themselves employed by the GAF and Isley more frequently; in short your average marine is far more likely to have met one than your average civilian has.

After eight generations, the Ghost population is roughly estimated around 6500 - 7000, as noted previously, this population is split fairly evenly between "oubliette" and "off-world" though even the off-world ghosts are now more often than not at least aware of and do sometimes visit oubliettes. After two and a half centuries and a population of this number, anthropologists have begun to consider Ghost culture a viable and separate, if small, developing culture, validating Nova's recent predictions that the differences between Ghost and "normal" culture would continue in subsequent decades.
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PostSubject: Ghost pregnancies and power increase over time   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeSun Dec 06, 2009 8:29 pm

Ghost pregnancies are in many ways, typical of human pregnancies. However, certain differences and "difficulties" occur.

Ghost women are prone to increases in their powers when they become pregnant. medical studies have revealed that hormone releases during this phase typically increase a female ghost's powers permanantly; this is a similar process to what happens with Ghosts during puberty and mid-life/menopause. For most women, this change is an amplification of current abilities. Some Ghost women, however, develop entirely new facets to their powers. This process is similar for all Ghosts, although obviously only women experience these alterations during pregnancy.

Ghost babies are, by and large, born with limited abilities as well. They typically manifest quickly, often even in utero for some of the more common abilities. It is common for Ghost women to be able to sense and sometimes even communicate in rudimentary ways with their unborn children. As a result, their attachment is often particularly fierce and protective right from day one.
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PostSubject: Ghost meditation   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeFri Jan 01, 2010 10:56 pm

Drawn almost entirely from Buddhist beliefs on meditation with various differences in practice depending on the individual, meditation serves two very important purposes for Ghosts.

Samatha meditation is based on the need for refocus and cleansing, a sort of deep cocoon that the meditator may put themselves in in order to recenter their emotions, abilities, or simply to gain some additional solace or calm. The precept behind this meditation is that the mind is typically a whirlwind of agitation, often focused on the past or obsession of needless thoughts. Samatha meditation often involves descending into deep meditation for several hours at a time, using breathing as a focus.
During the meditation, one of five focuses is typically sought to address: laziness, forgetting discipline, excitement, non-application, or over application. For Ghosts, the last two focuses apply specifically to their abilities.

A practitioner of Samatha may spend hours in a near comatose state, using breathing to relax the body and focus the mind into a mental state in which they can examine the focus they seek to address. In addition to clarity and comfort, this type of meditation, like all, brings in a heightened awareness of the world, but it does so through a lens of clarity and focus and re-orienting the meditator to their actual place in the universe rather than a potentially false "perceived" place.

Vipassana, the second pillar of Buddhist meditation, is the second type of meditation most Ghosts are practiced in. A full meditative cycle will often begin with Samatha and progress in Vipassana, which focuses on clarity and emptiness. Vipassana, rather than focus on a particular aspect, leads to introspection. It is said that Samatha can calm the mind, but that Vipassana can help determine what the underlieing upset actually was. Ghosts additionally use Vipasssana states to help hone their mental abilities, often practicing their abilities in this state, but also using it to test or push their limits, and in some cases to extend them.

Meditation is important for Ghosts in general. Even a light session can help calm or soothe them, recenter them, and give them a refreshed outlook. For off-planet Ghosts, it's often a way for them to defend themselves and recenter from the barrages of a world that is not concious of their particular mental needs and many off-world Ghosts will use meditation nightly in a light trance to help calm themselves and prepare for the next day.

For oubliette Ghosts, meditation can reach a divine art, as part of their religious and transcendent beliefs. Oubliettes are often equipped with meditation rooms, meditation gardens, and various other locales where a practitioner may enter this state with ease.

To the outside observer, Ghosts in either level of these deep meditations can be eerie to say the least. Both practices leave the body relaxed and still and undisturbable nearly to the point of them seeming comatose. While regular humans can of course reach this state as well, for Ghosts it seems to take on a largely new level of conciousness at least for those posessed of empathic or telepathic abilities, that can be unnerving for those around them.
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PostSubject: Pregnancy and birth customs   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeWed May 19, 2010 11:48 am

Ghosts undergo rather specific rituals while pregnant, though mostly they seem to be focused on re-emphasizing the community and personal bonding experience. Women are frequently gifted with new clothing, embroidered or decorated in various motifs, though still suiting the loose fitting styles they favor. It's not uncommon to see more color in a ghost woman's clothing during this time, as if the celebration of new life was an excuse to break out of the box a bit.

In warmer oubliettes, the practice of mehndi or henna has often been adopted as both a passtime and a bit of heat relief as the cooling henna paste also cools the skin. Ghost women during pregnancy often can be seen with henna "tattoos" and it is not uncommon for them to choose a favorite motif to continue sporting after child's birth.

Newborns to Ghost communities are a celebrated event, in part because of the general joy of such things, but also because it is an extension of their small populations numbers. Frequently, introduction ceremonies are held to introduce the infant to the community and it is one of the few times where Ghosts will willingly touch others, often forming chains of empathic and telepathic power. This has the added benefit of getting the new infant used to the presence of many individuals at once.
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PostSubject: mourning rites   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeSun Nov 14, 2010 7:44 pm

While many Ghosts follow Zen Buddism and thus believe in reincarnation, they are still human and thus the sorrows of death are not unknown and not without their own rites. Since Ghosts typically wear somber colors anyway, the habit of wearing "funeral black" isn't followed. However, mourning or times of uncertainty and deep sorrowful introspection are marked by various observances. Deep meditation, binding or cutting of hair, and physical deprivation are common during these times. Some Ghosts undertake fasting during this time period. Addition to altars or zen gardens is common as well with some momento or symbol of the deceased or cause of mourning. Ghosts tend to be very symbolic in nature and the inclusion or exclusion of such symbols, mentally or physically, is an important part of this process for them.
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PostSubject: "Travel shrines"   An Introduction to Ghosts Icon_minitimeSun Nov 14, 2010 7:54 pm

Since I made this up prior to the game and it explains the altar in Nova's quarters. Potentially also relevant since ya know Orion stole the ship :0p

The predominantly eastern-faith oriented Ghosts who do leave oubliettes often seek to take some sense of their zen lifestyle with them. To this end, Ghosts often travel with small personal shrines – miniaturized versions of the zen gardens and patterns they would use for meditation, small important objects linked to family members, and in the case of many psychometrists and clairvoyants, objects of positive or soothing resonance. The objects may seem meaningless to outsiders, but are usually of particular importance, meaning, or attachment to the individual Ghost and they allow the carrier to have some sense of home, protection, and rootedness even when far from their actual home.

Shrines vary in complexity, from those featuring traditional Buddhist décor and motif, to simpler boxes compartmentalized. Like the Ghosts themselves, the origins of their beliefs lie within Buddhist and zen teaching but have, over centuries, modified to suit the practitioners.

Nova’s shrine:
Consists of a small wooden box with fifteen small drawers, each painted with a different motif beneath a glass like finish.
Each of the fifteen drawers features a Japanese character symbolizing a principal of Ghost zen philosophy at the bottom.
Nova has filled each drawer with something particular or personal to her.
1. Introspection: A rock from the oubliette’s meditation garden
2. Family: A small charm from her mother’s necklace
3. Love: A scrap of a note that Jackson left her during their first meetings
4. Faith: A coil of prayer beads from Eben
5. Enlightenment: Incense
6. Joy: A piece of blue ribbon, used at Orion’s naming ceremony
7. Home: A small scrap of wire from the Valdosta’s last overhaul
8. Journey: A vial of space dust
9. Charity: An ancient, antique gold coin
10. Past: The Atlantis coin and ribbon from Gull
11. Future: Rank pin and note/poem from Denton
12. Present: Tea
13. Community: turtle (Pietro’s favorite animal – carved for Nova)
14. Balance: symmetrical sea shell
15. Adaptation: Flower Petal from the oubliette garden (fallen petals)

Near the box itself, she keeps the tea cup from her coming-of-age ceremony as well as two photographs of Orion, the wings from one of Jackson's military ancestors, and one of Orion's favored stuffed toys - something she often would hold onto before settling in at night or going out in the morning to remind herself of him. (and the oc side note being that "oofie" was mine when I was a munchkin.)


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