Ghost World

The **Ghost World** is an alternate dimension in which every ghost that ever died resides in, regardless of where their separate haunting grounds are in the Real World. The best way to describe the look of this place is to compare it to a spooky black velvet painting, as it is always night there and every building, object, and landmark there is forever glowing in the dark, as it is all made from materials that are as natural and sturdy to ghosts as bricks and mortar are to humans.

## Ghost World Etiquette

It is considered very rude for one entity (human, ghost, or otherwise) to pass through another here.

In addition to words they found insulting in their human lives (ex. being called a "nobody") the ghosts who live here find it extremely insulting to be called things like "cute" and "cuddly" as they embraced the sick and twisted mindset that comes from accepting the fact that they are dead.

Ghost puns are not frowned upon, as it is considered a "grave" importance to have a sense of humor, though it does have its limits. (ex. Scratch shouted "Don't you GHOST me!" when two members of The Ghost Council were ignoring him; they do not tell him off for his choice of words, yet they are clearly annoyed.) One particular limit to take note of is that it's considered offensive to ask "What died here?" when you smell something disgusting.

The Ghost Council's Chairman holds the ultimate authority over all disciplinary actions, including the decision to banish a ghost to the Flow of Failed Phantoms, as well as all incentives, such as promotions. However, the dynamics of the Council changed when the previous Chairman was destroyed, and Scratch assumed the position. Under his leadership, the Council operates with minimal regulations.

It is customary for ghosts to tell the story of how they died on their Death Day, which is treated with celebration like an extra birthday in the Ghost World.

## Locations

### The Dark Dais & The Flow of Failed Phantoms

In a desolate void, a solitary rock serves as the stage for a summoned ghost's evaluation of their ability to instill fear and misery. The Ghost Council presides over the proceedings, their towering desks resembling those of a judge and jury. The presence of the Council is rarely a positive sign for the summoned ghost. Adding to the ominous atmosphere, the void is encircled by a wall of distorted faces belonging to ghosts and ghouls deemed too "friendly" or "incompetent" to fit into Ghost World society. These spirits were forever trapped, unable to escape the Flow of Failed Phantoms, which was fueled by the Chairman's absorption of human misery. The Flow lost its power to hold ghosts when Molly's spirit, which brings joy, sent to it.

### Ghost City

Not to be confused for the ghost towns that are merely locations in the Real World that the humans completely abandoned (though those could be an extension of the Ghost World if haunted enough), the Ghost World is full of towns and cities for every spirit that ever spooked to spare their spare time, and Scratch was considered an outcast in one of them in spite of his numbers on account of his poor manners and (possibly) his pre-death background. With whatever substances they've been built with, every building looks like it is completely made out of neon.

#### Creepy Coffee Shop

Scratch comes here to drown his regret in a Misery Mocha (which, apparently, is a popular beverage in the Ghost World on account their entire existence revolves around causing misery to humans). It is extremely popular among unpopular spirits, and when a ghost somehow "forgets" to pay for their drinks, they can make up for it by leaving a tip for the waiter on their next visit. Apparently, the Creepy Coffee Shop has an area to sell souvenirs, as Scratch has his own ghost mug that reads "If You Got it, Haunt it".

#### The Haughty Haunts Club

The most popular joint in the Ghost World, strictly members only... if you aren't on the list, you aren't getting in, and that previously go for Scratch.

### Other Places

#### Ghost School

Scratch and several other ghosts had come here for training in the art of scaring, curse inducing, and other things ghosts need to know. Even after graduation, ghosts are required to come back annually for a Scaring Seminar, which is basically listening to the same lecture year after year. While this seminar normally ends with a roll call and dismissal, it is not wise to sleep though the seminar or play hooky from it, as there is an occasional "pop quiz" supervised by the chairman, who'd waste no time banishing those who flunked to the Flow!

#### Spectral Spa

When Scratch and Geoff were playing hooky, one of the places they went to was a spa where they got deep ectoplasm massages that molded them like silly putty, as well as aroma-scare-apy (aroma therapy that uses herbs specifically grown to help calm ghosts). There may or may not be a slime soak included at the spa.

#### Boo! Buster

When Geoff brings Molly to the Ghost World, Molly notices that there's a video store. Geoff tells her that things start existing in the Ghost World once they die in the Human World.

#### Ghost Doctor's Office

Since illness is a rare thing after death, but still happens anyway, there is only one known doctor in the whole Ghost World, and her appointments are all scheduled via a phone wait-list that is often thousands of patients long (Scratch gives her medical business "zero stars for customer service" because of that) yet she often breezes through it because those who need her help are usually easy to diagnose or just occasional "total hypochondriacs who are always scaring themselves". The hospital bedsheet "paper" is extremely sticky, and her office is decorated with posters reading post-living health advice such as "Remember to schedule your annual autopsy today" or "Know the risks of Joy Infection". The Ghost Doctor also has a barf-bucket with a rainbow on it (on account that too much positive energy is considered a biohazard in the Ghost World for those who didn't build an immunity via personal fear) and the office is full of bats, which she uses as ghostly sanitation wipes.

## Trivia

* As Molly discovered the hard way in a mission to rescue Scratch, a human doesn't need to be dead to enter the Ghost World, but they still have to "give up the ghost" via leaving their bodies behind thus becoming a wraith, even if only temporarily. While a wraith-ghost is in the Ghost World, their mortal bodies (if still alive) act as if they had died emotionally, and are extremely apathetic to everything going on around them until reunited with their soul.
* When a business or object "dies" in the human world, a ghostly copy of it materializes here.
* Positive emotions such as joy are considered a poisonous biohazard in the Ghost World, and some ghostly entities such as the Chairman and the Sobgoblins can even be seriously harmed by it, yet while there are complaints about the resulting flowers, fireworks, and anime-colors among many of the locals, there are also several ghosts who consider the effects of joy to be an improvement to the Ghost World provided they don't "catch a cold" from the cheerful energy, of course.