[RPG] monster/plague that makes people go berserk

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I'm looking for a creature, spirit or plague that infects or possesses people into becoming berserk, granting them superhuman strength and durability as well as bloodthirsty rage, akin to the Berserker Axe.

Once enough violence has been made or time has passed, the "something" moves to a new host and doesn't generally have a solid form (but it might be some kind of physical mist or swarm).

The system the creature is for is DnD 5e, but I'm expanding the question to accommodate all editions in case 5e doesn't have this kind of entity.

Best Answer

No.

You set a really high bar, and nothing exactly matches what you're looking for. Each of these criteria have things that match them, but nothing has all of them:

  • spirit or plague - There are both spirits and illnesses in all editions D&D, none that match the rest of the criteria.
    • Ghost has existed since Monster Manual 1st Edition.
    • Wraith have existed since The White Box Set in 1974.
    • Werewolves have existed since The White Box Set in 1974 as an infectious or hereditary.
  • infects or possesses - There are things that infect or possess, none match the rest of the criteria. (See above sublist.)
  • people becoming berserk - Most of the things I've seen do this are cursed weapons. There is also an illness from 3.0 that can almost do this.
    • Festering Anger from 3.0
    • Breserker Axe
    • Home-brewed Craven Edge on Critical Role can; but weapons have bodies, and don't "spread" or "pass."
  • enough violence ... or time has passed, it moves to a new host - This is something a Ghost could choose to do, or an illness could pass, but none exist in published material that meet the berserk super human requirements.
  • superhuman strength - Examples of super strength exist as class features and feats, but not as a thing to catch. In most editions, lycanthropy (when playable) grants exceptional strength, and the Gauntlet of Ogre Power (exsisted in d20, probably before) is the epitome of super strength.
  • superhuman durability - Examples of super durability exist as class features and feats. Resistances, Immunities and things that bring you back up after dropping bellow zero the first time have been around for a while.
  • doesn't have a solid form - That would be swarms, illness, and arguably ghosts (depending on edition, 5e they definitely have bodies); but again that isn't a blind rage.
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