Animum Frangit

This monster has never been seen, neither has its existence been proven. Yet its influence had affected many people's lives. It does not eat plants, neither flesh, nor blood for it has no tangible body. It is a spiritual being that feeds on people's anxiety, on fear, anger and frustration. The usual amount of these negative emotions being felt by an average human is not enough to most of the Animum Frangit. Moreover, everyday calamity, caused by coincidence are no delicacy and do not satisfy the ambitious hunter.

For that reason Animum Frangit of a certain age learn how to harvest the emotions they desire by concentrating their efforts on one individual. They sneak up to their victim like a shadow, preferably at night, deeply penetrating the human's soul. Old hunters see their prey's deepest concerns and pain, forcefully pulling them out, no matter how well their owner has hidden and locked them inside. The other Animum Frangit learn about these feelings by testing their victims:

They start off with nightmares. Nightmares are an easy, yet effective way to detect peoples deepest fears. While the emotions being evoked during nightmares are a mere snack to the monsters, the uneasy feeling that stays after the nightmare is their breakfast. And this is where the work begins: Animum Frangit are bodiless beings, but they are capable of covering eyes, ears, the hands and fingers, lips and even lungs. To lead their victim into a state of constant anxiety and displeasure they bend the prey's reality. When going outside, the colours would seem dulled and everyday noises louder, unpleasant. The difference is not obvious, but has an unnerving effect on the victim. This is not all the spirits do. While interacting with other people, the prey would always hear others' neutral voices rather annoyed or even angry, criticism in a harsher tone and compliments with a hint of irony, whereas smiles seem arrogant, knowing, mischievous.

These distortions of impressions cause the victim's mood to drop rapidly, create strong feelings of irritation and paranoia. Since most people react about as aggressively as they feel like have being addressed before arguments are unavoidable and wholeheartedly enjoyed by the Animum Frangit.

Not only hearing and seeing are influenced, but also all other senses. Even the individual's favourite food would taste rather flavourless, just as any drink besides water, which would taste stale.
Unpleasant smells get the prey's attention more easily and the loved one's smooth skin would neither smell nor feel as familiar as usual.

During the first few days when an Animum Frangit started feeding on someone's emotions many people react rather aggressively to the altered reality. Depending on the individual the victim would notice that something could be wrong with them, not their environment. The uncertainty about their ability to judge on their own senses would lead to additional frustration and additional sensitivity to negative stimuli. By then the creatures causing all this would find a feast of nutrition for them. When they feed on negative emotions they do not take it away from the one who feels them; the consumption itself does not have any effect on humans.
Some victims would isolate themselves, because they find themselves being constantly misunderstood, letting their frustration get to them and becoming part of their mindset.

A few Animum Frangit stay with one victim for their time being, whereas others move on after a while, leaving behind a person who would feel like awakening from a long nightmare – or a broken soul.