- röt: German, "red"
- schreck: German, "fear"
Rötschreck "The Red Fear" is a fear-based Frenzy caused by a character failing a Courage roll against an attack or sight of Fire or Sunlight. Characters under Rötschreck will hysterically flee from whatever caused the frenzy in the first place. Rötschreck can be caused by pain caused by fire, sunlight. The sight of these sources may also cause great fear on vampires. It is very similar to Frenzy though Rötschreck is a term especially given to state of fear against Fire or Sunlight which are one of the few source of injury that can destroy a vampire. In mythological speaking Vampires have been cursed not only by weakness to Flame but also cursed to fear from it. In Book of Nod Archangel Michael clearly states while cursing Caine that he and his children will fear the flame and it will hurt them deeply causing unbearable agony and pain.
A vampire under the spell of this Rötschreck is completely controlled by their inner Beast instinctly driven to a flight-or-fight mentality and forced to flee blindly from the source of fear while they remove any obstacle or person in their way regardless of their personal attachments with them. Difficulty to resist Rötschreck varies depending on the source of the material.