Dubious Research, chapter 2

Tapping Belief.

Christianity appears to have been the most-followed religion on the planet for a long time.

As such, it should probably be our main focus. Once the process has been tested, we may extend it to also cover other religions, allowing access to more Belief.

In 1900, the main religions were:

1. Christianity
2. Hinduism
3. Islam
4. Buddhism

Belief is often expressed through prayer, a way to communicate with a higher being, or with the universe at large. Let us assume that a properly tuned antenna can receive part of this belief. A way to pick up a certain frequency.

Specially adapted tuning forks could be made to vibrate within the field of Belief.

Quartz crystals are piezo-electric, and generate electricity when under mechanical stress.

This electricity can then be stored in Leyden jars, to be released as bursts whenever required.

Aether.

Imponderable Fluids

For this we may rely on the method patented by Mr Martin Ziegler., Improved Imponderable Fluid, And Mode Of Generating The Same.

The method relies purely on the reaction of two different materials, one nitrous, the other carbon.

For convenience, we shall stay away from ammonia, and other liquid compounds.

Saltpetre (potassium nitrate) is a common substance, and can be found in powder form.

Graphite, the main component of pencil leads, is made of pure carbon.

To conduct the fluid, we shall use silk threads, as suggested in the patent.

Spirit.

This is where the work becomes interesting, as we cannot easily employ actual human spirit.

The hypothesis is that ghosts are an amalgam of these three elements (Belief, Aether & Spirit).

Our construct does not need to be sentient, it only needs to carry a positive charge.

It should also project the intent behind the intervention. Namely, getting rid of the ghost, and protecting people from it.

During the course of history, many elements have been given protective properties, and we are spoiled for choice. However, the smaller elements would be preferable for practical purposes.

We have chosen:

• Amber: to drive away demons and protect against insanity. This last part may be quite useful.
• Amethyst: helps hunters and protects against black magic and negativity.
• Chalcedony: protecting against nightmares, demons, harmful spirits and mental disorders.
• Coral: protecting against spells, black magic, and evil.
• Emerald: enemy of all enchantments, will banish demons, returns negative spells to sender.
• Garnet: protects from evil, wards off poison, lightning and plague
• Jet: driving away demons, proof against possession, ward against the Evil Eye.
• Pearls: driving away demons, protecting against evil
• Peridot: expelling phantoms, ridding people of their follies.
• Sapphire: against evil spirits and deceit

(More information can be found from many sources, but we found Gemlore, by Diane Morgan, both instructive and entertaining.)

The stream of combined energies shall be focused through a lens, allowing for a wide dispersion of thin line, depending on the number and size of the entities to be dealt with.

Some of said entities may not disperse, but may only be weakened. Those may need to be contained.

For this purpose, we have designed a trap, mostly based on The Art of Drawing Spirits into Crystals by Johannes Trithemius, a 16^th century text (or possibly older.)

To its basics were added several of the aforementioned stones, with the addition of a silver mirror under the crystal. Indeed, some cultures think that mirrors and photographs can trap souls. Since those have a common element in silver, it seemed a logical decision. As a power source, we used fulgurite, a stone created by the heat of thunderbolts striking the ground.

A lens was set in the top of the box, to direct to the spirit to the crystal.

As an additional layer of protection, the four sides of the box bear a St Benedict medal, known as the “Devil-chasing medal”, for it carries the Vade Retro Satana formula.
At the bottom of the box is engraved the Seal with which Solomon compelled spirits into a brass vessel.

For extra conductivity, all elements within those parts of the equipment are linked with a twist of three wires made of different metals: iron, copper and brass, all used in magnetic batteries such as Boyd's.

Dubious Research, chapter 1

Ministry of Dubious Affairs

Department of Research

What if? Is one of the key elements in Dubious Research. Many would go as far as calling it Mad Science. Today we concern ourselves with What If Ghosts Were Real.

Most particularly, what if we needed to get rid of them.

Many humans believe in ghosts. Some even hunt them.

Spiritism and Post-Mortem Communication have always been popular, around the world.

Let us assume that those efforts are not in vain, and that ghosts, spirits left behind by dead humans, are real. These may only be a shadow of the beings they once were, but that still means that at some point they were human. Which may mean Trouble.

Belief is a strong force. It is commonly thought, within certain circles, that any “religious” symbol may be used against vampires, as long as the person has real faith, really believes in it.

Sorcery, charms and curses are said to only work if the people involved believe in them.

What if people's beliefs were some form of as-yet untapped energy, only available on a metaphysical plane? Could it take form by interacting with the aether?

Could ghosts be a contruct of spirit, belief and aether?

Let us work on the premise that it is the case. Dubious logic? Well, yes, what else did you expect from us?

If ghosts exist because people believe in them, it is possible that the same applies for other things.

We chose to apply this theory to a way of preventing said ghosts from causing trouble.

Harmful ghosts would most likely carry some negative energy, which one of our trainees keeps referring to as “Bad Vibes”, which would have to be cancelled by a construct of opposite polarity.

A first problem appears as many people naturally believe in ghosts, but only a select few will be aware of the means created to neutralise them. Ghosts can be created out of a far larger belief potential than the counteracting construct, and they also posess their own spirit.

As such, the fight would not be a fair one, and the rules need to be changed.

We suggest nothing less than altering reality around the... ghost grappler.

How to achieve this?

The operator needs to believe that this is possible.

This belief may then be amplified through a specially-designed instrument.

The Reality Modulator

Made of the following parts:

• The Improbability Aggregator: a platypus charm. If such an animal can exist, who knows what can actually be achieved?
• A horseshoe nail
• A butterfly

• Items of dubious actuality:
  • a strand of wool from a Hobbit scarf
  • a ring of chainmail created by Weta Workshop
  • a chip of Police Box blue paint.
  • A fake forged stamp.
    • - A Lexicographic battery: two dictionaries framing the rest of the modulator, for the potential existing in words.

Once we have a chance to tip the scales in our favour, we can move onto the required elements.

Belief

Aether

Spirit.

Belief

There is a lot of belief in the world. It is often linked to religion.
Think of it as a refined form. Raw belief gone through a special filtre.

Sympathetic resonance through the use of the appropriate religious symbols should allow us to tap into this worldwide reserve.

Aether

This is present all around us too, but is even less tangible than belief.

We shall need to draw it out of thin air, then distil it, and store it until it is required.

Spirit

This may be problematic. It would be inconvenient to require the operator to die, and there is no guarantee that they would not turn against you. Spirit needs to be replaced, and this is where positive vibrations need to be involved. 

To Be Continued.