His Dark Materials
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His Dark Materials

A Spectre, also known as a Spectre of Indifference,[1] was a species of malevolent creature which fed on Dust.

Creation[]

Spectres came from the void between worlds in the multiverse. Each time Æsahættr, the subtle knife, was used to cut a window, a Spectre was created. When Lord Asriel harnessed the energy released with the intercision of Roger Parslow to create a bridge to the world of Cittàgazze, a great many Spectres were created.

Physical description[]

"In some lights they were hardly there at all, just visible as a drifting quality in the light, a rhythmic evanescence, like veils of transparency turning before a mirror."
—The appearance of the Spectres[src]

Spectres were invisible to prepubescent children. To adults, they appeared as shimmers in their air which moved with malevolence.

Behaviour[]

Spectres fed on Dust by attacking post-pubescent humans and eating their soul, leaving them as a mindless shell. If an external dæmon was attacked, they appeared to perform the same process much more slowly. Humans who had undergone intercision were immune to Spectres. Both Serafina Pekkala and John Parry likened a Spectre feasting on attention to a vampyre feasting on blood.

Spectres were originally earthbound, until Marisa Coulter taught them to fly.

Victims of the Spectres were a father of a young boy, Tullio and Lena Feldt.

Defence against Spectres[]

When travelling, all human groups in the world of Cittàgazze were required by law to contain a man and woman on horseback to flee in case of a Spectre attack, to later return and look after the children.

Spectres were repelled by Æsahættr. Humans were not able to kill Spectres. Angels were able to destroy them, and ghosts may have had a way to combat them.

Behind the scenes[]

Appearances[]

Nl 02
HDM Wiki has 3 images of Spectres.

References[]

Species
Humanoid AngelsDæmonsDeathsGallivespiansGhostsHumansMermaidsWitchesZombi
Other Cliff-ghastsHarpiesMulefaNight-ghastsPanserbjørneSpectresWill-o’-the-wykes
World of Cittàgazze
Countries BeninBrasilCoreaEireland
Locations BergamoCittàgazzeCittàgazze caveSant'EliaUnidentified village
Buildings Belvedere towerCittàgazze caféTorre degli AngeliWhite villa
Natives AngelicaGiacomo ParadisiJoachim LorenzPaoloStriped T-shirt boyTullio
Important Guild of the Torre degli AngeliSpectresSubtle knife
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