RPPR Illustrated - The Ghost Viewer

In 2000, a cabal of engineers and filmmakers with an interest in the occult modified a single miniDV camcorder as part of an experiment to commune with the dead. It succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. The camcorder can force spirits in the vicinity to manifest under the control of the camera operator. Furthermore, the operator can steal the spiritual energy of the ghost and store it into a tape, making the tape into a separate and powerful occult artifact. This leaves the ghost intact but weakened and the camcorder can only do this once on any given ghost. The members of the cabal are all missing or dead, as they fought each other for control of the camcorder. The secrets of its creation are now lost, although several documents and notes float around on the Internet on how the cabal created the camcorder. 

Using the camcorder

 The camcorder model is well known and online searches can easily find copies of its official manual from its manufacturer. The aftermarket modifications are documented in a notebook written by a cabal member. It is not an easy book to find, so most people who find the camcorder are likely to figure out how to use it through trial and error. 

Operating the camera requires skill in videography to even turn it on. Its battery is welded into it and its charging cable port has been removed. It does not use electricity to operate. Turning it on drains a small amount of energy or willpower from the operator. This effect is noticeable to the operator. 

Once it is turned on, the operator can record video to a miniDV tape, like a normal camera. It works like a normal camcorder until it is used at a haunted location. A red light on the side of the camera blinks when it is in a haunted location.

Directing Ghosts

When the camcorder is turned on at a haunted location, a ghost visibly manifests in front of the operator within an hour of it powering on. The ghost does nothing until the operator gives it a verbal command. It follows the operator’s direction as long as the camcorder is turned on. If the machine is powered off or taken away from the haunted location, the ghost disappears and does not manifest for at least a week. The ghost may or may not be able to communicate with the operator. If a location has multiple ghosts, randomly pick one to manifest, unless the operator desires a specific ghost. No ghost may attack or use its abilities against the operator as long as the camcorder is turned on. 

Recording a Ghost

If the operator starts recording the ghost, then the camcorder channels energy from the ghost into the tape. The tape plays back the energy whenever it is played and viewed. A digital copy of the tape’s contents has no effect. The tape itself must be played. The effect of the tape depends on what the ghost is doing while it is being recorded. In general, pick or roll randomly based on the effects below:

1. Scene of anger/violence - Attack - a powerful psychic attack that harms the sanity and health of viewers. The strength is based on the power of the ghost, but generally can seriously harm and traumatize humans. 

2. Scene of grief/sadness - Mourning - stuns viewers into a depressive episode that can last for hours or until approached by someone else. 

3. Scene of revelation - Knowledge - the viewer learns a secret from the ghost. A copying of memories from the ghost to the viewer. 

4. Scene of the unnatural - Fear - the viewer is attacked as though the ghost in question was actually there. 

5. Scene of Joy/Peace - Serenity - The viewer is calmed and recovers mental health from the presence of the ghost. 

6. Scene of determination - Willpower - The viewer is reassured by the strength of the ghost and gains a bonus to their abilities, based on the nature of the scene and the power of the ghost. 

Each ghost can only perform certain types of scenes based on their personality and type of death. Ghosts hate the act of being recorded and bear a grudge against the operator. Once a ghost has been recorded, it cannot manifest for at least a month and can never be recorded again, unless its tape is destroyed. Tapes can be reused, but they do experience wear and tear. After a certain number of playbacks, the tape breaks down. 

Art by Patsy McDowell