Bestiary

Bitter Rages exist for the sole purpose of driving Garou mad. They feed on Rage, and in turn they fuel that Rage, pushing their prey into frenzies of ever-increasing proportions. In many ways, they are the spiritual equivalent of a rabies attack. While these Banes prefer to target Garou and other Changing Breeds, they can also affect humans and even animals who come too close to Wyrm-infested areas. Even creatures which normally don’t possess Rage gain the powers of spiritual anger when ridden by these Banes, including the ability to regenerate and to frenzy.

Rage 8, Gnosis 6, Willpower 8, Essence 22-60

Charms: Airt Sense, Possession, Raging*, Reform

*Raging: Each Essence Point that the Bitter Rage spends increases its target’s Rage. In the case of creatures who normally cannot Rage, the cost is two Essence Points. The increase is usually gradual and occurs over a number of days, but a Bitter Rage can force the issue if it so desires, and send any possessed target into an instant frenzy.

Image: In the Realm, Bitter Rages are invisible, making them decidedly difficult to detect. Even in the Umbra, they’re difficult to perceive, taking the form of an amorphous cloud of buzzing gnats that disperse quickly if attacked.

Background: Bitter Rages are something of an exception among Banes; they are in the minority that do not permanently possess hosts and turn them into fomori. They can be driven out, although it’s a difficult task. Once in possession of a host, the Bane fuels the target’s Rage constantly, increasing it above the normal maximum and into insanity. The pain of possession grows from the equivalent of a minor headache to gut-wrenching sensory overload, where even a whisper seems like a jet engine and moonlight burns the eyes. Victims inevitably succumb to a frenzy that can’t be stopped as long as the victim is conscious. Only complete exhaustion slows these wretches down, and then only until they’ve recovered enough to

start attacking everything in sight again. Bitter Rages are only vulnerable in the Umbra, and are notorious for running away as soon as they are located.