Grudge

“Grudges are delightful little engines of poetic justice—if one has no poetry and even less justice. Watching a Grudge work is like watching a pressure cooker without a release valve. Eventually, there’s a bang.
And if you’re clever enough, it’s never your kitchen that gets destroyed.”

— Madame Soki Noles, Lecture to a Room of Students Who Should Know Better

Description

Grudges are Tertia aligned with Wrath, but unlike Banes (wrath in the abstract), a Grudge is wrath with focus, with narrative structure, with a moral argument—however warped. In their natural state, they appear similar to a tick or spider, though black and with a disturbingly humanlike face. A Grudge manifests differently after latching onto an individual who feels deeply wronged. Once attached, it mirrors the host so closely that it takes on their appearance—almost correctly. Their imitation is detailed enough to be immediately recognizable yet distorted enough to evoke the uncanny valley: the wrong skin tone, too-wide eyes, expressions that seem puppeted.

The parasite does not feed on the target of the host’s hatred. It feeds exclusively on the host, drinking deep from the loop of outrage → justification → escalation → violence. The Grudge amplifies every perceived slight, invents new ones, feeds the host intrusive fantasies of revenge, and then basks in the emotional payoff when the host finally snaps. Afterward—after the violence, after the catharsis—it abandons the victim to face the consequences alone.

Wild Grudges cling to the edges of populated regions of Redspace, lurking around humans, Reticulans, Boglers—anything capable of resentment. Once a Grudge has chosen a host, it becomes impossible to dissuade it except through either physical disruption (attacks that harm RAIs) or emotional release. They can be spoken to, but their moralizing rants are circular, self-congratulatory, and utterly convinced of their righteousness.

Prophylactic

The simplest Grudge-defense is psychological hygiene:

• Letting go of resentments collapses the Grudge’s feeding loop
• Growth-mindset therapy, commonly used by subspace medics, works well
• Violence disruptive to RAIs, such as exorcistic shock pulses, can scatter them
• Recognition of the doppelganger often reveals the host quickly—Grudges always wear their host’s face
• Avoid isolation during emotional volatility; Grudges prefer solitary hosts

The most reliable prophylactic is resolving the underlying resentment. A sincerely forgiven slight starves a Grudge faster than any weapon.

Utility

Grudges have little direct use in Kthoniker craft—they resist long-term bindings and offer no special material properties. However, their hosts generate something extremely valuable: Black Bile.

This substance forms as cysts in the livers of long-term Grudge victims. It is:

• A viscous black ichor
• Potently psycho-reactive
• Useful for painting sigils, inks, and foci
• A conduit material for subspace “brushwork,” enhancing Kthoniker ritual precision

Black Bile is illegal under nearly every jurisdiction, and the only consistent source is extracting it from contaminated victims—generally unwilling ones.

Grudges are otherwise used by ambitious supplicants to induce revenge-based psychological catastrophe in enemies… or rivals… or troublesome superiors.

White Grudge

Regular; Resisted by Will

A Grudge is directed to the target’s subspace shadow, triggering dormant guilt and internalized anger. All mental Disadvantages based on guilt or resentment immediately activate.

Effect: All guilt-based Disadvantages trigger; target suffers -2 to all Will-based rolls during the duration

Casting Time: 1 second

Duration: 1 minute

Cost: 4

Maintenance: 2

Prerequisite: One Wrath Calling

Red Grudge

Regular; Resisted by Will

The supplicant summons a Grudge and binds it temporarily to their own resentments. From the breach steps a doppelganger of the caster—an imperfect reflection—who attacks the chosen target.

Attack: Unarmed, skill 14

Casting Time: 1 second

Damage: 1d+1 crushing

Duration: 10 seconds

Cost: 6

Prerequisite: White Grudge

Black Grudge

Regular; Resisted by Will

The supplicant calls upon a Grudge that latches on to the target's self-loathing. The Grudge enters realspace near the target, and immediately attacks them, loudly announcing their deepest guilts and self-doubts.

Effect: Creates a hostile third-party actor

Casting Time: 3 seconds

Cost: 8

Duration: 30 seconds

Prerequisite: Red Grudge