Curses

Curses are caused by a mic of strong emotions, intent and focus. Sometimes caused by the use of specific spells such as the Curse spell, it is usually brought about an individual with no magical experience.

Generally, the person who is cursing someone will feel they have been wronged or hatred of the target. They make a statement saying that during certain conditions the victim will suffer something debilitating leading to a loss. This loss can range from a number of effects. These can be of financial, health and wellbeing in nature. Usually the power behind the negative effect of this affects the victim.

Also, specific conditions are likely need to be met. These can be a fiend or other powerful entity supplying the magical energy needed, being done in somewhere soaked in negative/dark energy, and/or cosmic events such as during the apex of a full moon or stars being aligned a certain way.

It usually starts under certain conditions, as stated under the curse. These can vary and a few follows:

• At the start or during a full moon.
• When the victim tries to carry out a specific action especially for the first time.
• During a specific interaction.
• Entering or exiting a specific place.
• Using a specific item for the first time.
• Saying a specific phrase.

This is not a comprehensive list and the above are common throughout, usually with some type of twist against the victim.

In a few cases, an item may cause a curse and this usually is activated by the same basic conditions, just being activated due to how the curse is set up. A few regions are cursed too, and anyone spending time in these areas runs the risk of falling to the curse. Leaving may or may not cause the curse remaining with the individual.

Spells such as Curse, or a mix of Strong emotions, intent and focus.

The curse can take any range of effects. These can range from the following:

• Crippling or injury of the body and/or mind.
• Poverty or loss of income
• Loss of a private regularly used item.
• Death or death of a loved individual.
• Failure of specific skills or proficiencies .
• Continual illness.
• Negative effects concerning the standing of the victim in society (including wherever they go).
• Generational issues such as any on this list.

These appear to be some of the most common effects and can hit any time.

To break a curse usually involves one of two ways. These are the following:

• The use of Prayers or Spells. These can break the effect of the curse and usually dangerous in the extreme. The effects of these can easily backfire or make it worse. If something like a fiend or similar is backing the curse can get enraged and fight back. Sometimes, the conditions of the curse need to be mirrored to break it. Any slight mistake can cause it to fail.
• Carrying out penitence . Sometimes the curse can be broke by righting the perceived wrong of those who caused the curse. This, again can enrage the backer of the curse, or needing specific conditions to be mirrored or adjusted. Some will forgive the victim and as long as it was genuine & accepted, the curse is broke.

In both cases, the victim needs to go above & beyond the original curse to break it.

In rare cases, the victim can encounter an entity, item or place that can can stop it but the chances of it happening is almost unique. These entities, items or places are usually those giving off an aura of pure benevolence, peace and love.

Generally left untreated, curses will last a lifetime and may even pass down the generations of that bloodline. Only by breaking it can the effects be stopped.

Following social norms and watching one's own actions , or lack thereof, can be the only way to prevent being cursed. Sometimes, handling or dealing with the darker side of life can cause the curse to be applied. This is hard to do but not everyone will be subject to being cursed. it is as much luck as being careful.

Curses have existed since time immemorial, and the act was always seen as a dark & evil. Vengeful gods, ancient creatures and sheer negativity all has led to the first curses. After time ancient species also started to curse their enemies and those that wronged them. Dragon and Star God legends speak of both involved with this practise, and shortly after, the Giants in their turn. Most also had a degree of knowledge to avoid overreaching with curses knowing that if they did it too much, it would attract the attention of others. Potentially leading to one curse leading to another, all of these species realised such pettiness could bring them down in the long run.

When the time of the Hyperborean Age came, many of the species developed their curses and after a time known as the War of Curses, they realised themselves why it should be outlawed. This didn't stop such things being carried out by individuals, and usually only those that had nothing left would utter such contemptuous words & deeds.

Eventually younger species appeared and learning of such practises of previous aeons, nearly every species has curtailed such practises and dressed it so that it can only be done in rare circumstances. The level of the curse is now related to specifics and outright outlawed in many cultures, whether in social structures or religious.

Magic keeps the idea of curses in mind and many of those who practice magic know of one technique or another. Those that do practise it, know that they have to clean themselves in some form or fashion or run the risk of being overtaken in magical or spiritual darkness. Many prefer not to do so, except when to protect the innocent. Those that do regularly curse others are frowned upon or severely punished, and most practise dark/black magic to begin with.

Every culture has some form or idea of curses, and the form it takes. These vary per region, culture, social & religious circles. Being frowned upon or hatred of the practise is bound closely in the majority of cultures due to embargos the practise. A rare few use it in certain circumstances, and only specific settings. This stops those who are not the target becoming affected in a negative manner.

Most who cause distress by regularly or laying the rare powerful curses, are usually subject to severe punishment by the authorities. Sometimes the person cursed has the right to attack & punish the caster themselves, and in others it his up to the local leaders and/or religious orders have the authority to carry out the necessary acts of punishment for the offender.