Bestiary

These urban spirits form along busy, congested streets and highways. A single traffic jam or a few months of lane closures caused by road construction doesn’t generate enough frustration to give birth to a Gridlock Beetle. Only the most notorious of traffic trouble spots in large cities can awaken them. Gridlock Beetles coaxed away from their native territory wield considerable influence over travel times. Glass Walkers and other urban Garou sometimes dispatch them to delay an enemy, but they are more often called upon to expedite the shapeshifter’s journeys.

Rage: 5, Willpower: 5, Gnosis: 5, Essence: 15

Charms: Calcify, Charmed Journey*, Road Rage*

• Charmed Journey: The Gridlock Beetle rolls Gnosis at a Difficulty of (2 + the number of targets). Until the end of the scene, the target’s overland movement suffers no ordinary obstacles or delays. All the lights turn green. No one cuts her off in traffic and then drives under the speed limit. Even police will not stop her regardless of how far over the speed limit she is driving. This benefit extends to movement on foot or off-road, as well. The Jeep doesn’t get stuck in the mud. The frozen lake holds up under the traveler’s weight. Even in a crowd, bystanders never seem to get in her way as she pursues her target (or flees her pursuer). The target subtracts two from the difficulties of all relevant Drive and Athletics rolls (minimum 3).

• Road Rage: The Gridlock Beetle rolls Rage at a Difficulty equal to the target’s Willpower. Until the end of the scene, countless small obstacles or minor delays hamper the target’s overland movement — a traffic jam, a flat tire, a stubbed toe, etc. The target adds two to the difficulties of all relevant Drive and Athletics rolls (maximum 9). Additionally, shapeshifters under the influence of this Charm use Rage less effectively. Reduce the total amount of Rage the target may spend in a single turn by one (to a minimum of zero) for as long as the Charm lasts.