Spectres

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(Redirected from Spectre)

Spectres are phantom-like beings that feed on the soul of adults, leaving them zombie-like, void, without a dæmon and a will forever after. To adults, they appear as slight shimmerings in the air but children with unsettled dæmons are unable to see these hideous creatures or sense their presence at all. The children are unaffected by the Spectres, too, the Spectres seem to be repelled by their innocence. Spectres seem to have no interest in humans whose dæmons have been seperated from them through intercision, too.

The specters are created by the Subtle Knife whenever it cuts into the fabric of the multiverse. Spectres cannot be killed by humans, they can only be killed by the Subtle Knife.

Spectres primarily populate Cittàgazze. Once in relatively small numbers, they have become common since Lord Asriel tore open the skies. This led to the exodus of all adults from some cities, leaving behind roving bands of children.

In "The Subtle Knife", Mrs. Coulter manages to bend the specters to her will by promising them that following her command would give them greater prey. She manages to make them forget that they are earthbound, so that they are able to fly and eliminate the witches who accomppany Lyra and Will. They were later employed by Metatron to fight in the war with Asriel's army, but were repelled by the ghosts, which included Lee Scoresby and John Parry.

At the end of "The Amber Spyglass", Xaphania promises that she will "take care of" the Specters, so angels may have some means of neutralizing them.