Editing DFRPG Ghosts:Echoes and Phantoms (section)

==Death Marks and Names==

Though they are complete as persons (as much as anyone else), Phantoms are often "incomplete" in other ways, at least when they are first formed.  This renders the ghost more vulnerable than it otherwise might be.

There are two ways in which this manifests, which can occur together or separately.

The first is their appearance.  Phantoms, even more frequently than Echoes, tend to bear death marks ... persistent wounds, discoloring, environmental effects, etc.  These traits are always related to their death in some way, and generally can't be affected through a ghost's natural ability to alter their shape.  The more spectacular death marks, such as decapitation or burnt skin, make their ghostly nature hard to disguise, leaving them open to discovery.

The second is a form of selective amnesia that affects the ghost's sense of identity.  Put simply, some Phantoms don't initially remember their name, sometimes in part, sometimes not at all.  Who they are, or rather were, is left a mystery to them.  Magically, this means that the phantom's identity is vague and undefined.  Some believe this may tie into or be responsible for their ability to learn and grow, or the difficulty they have in being perceived, though neither trait goes away should the ghost ever learn who they were.  

In any case, identity is a bulwark for existence in the mortal world, and lacking one weakens you.  Many Phantoms don't learn their names until they are used against them in an exorcism.  Phantoms who never regain such an important component of their sense of self don't tend to stick around long, even if they aren't actively destroyed.  Sometimes they become Echoes, and sometimes they merely fade away altogether.

It is common practice among those who are friendly with ghosts and regularly interact with nameless Phantoms to gift them with an identity in place of their natural one (basically a nickname or pseudonym) to give them something to incorporate as the core of their sense of self.  The only thing this semi-magical process requires is a mortal willing to do it, who has familiarity with the ghost in question, and a brief, mildly formal naming ceremony.  In essence, such names arise from the mortal's own personality and opinions of the ghost, and represent the gift of a portion of the mortal's soul to "fill the gap."  It's not quite as good as the real thing, but much, much better than nothing at all.