Mallachd na Cuimhne — The Curse of Remembrance

Bìodh do chridhe làn fuaimean gun sìth,
Bìodh do shùilean a’ faicinn na chaidh air chall.

Chan e pian na feòla, ach cuimhne nach sguir,
Bìodh do latha mar oidhche, do oidhche gun cadal.

Gun cluinn thu do ghuth fhèin anns na gaothan,
Ag iarraidh maitheanas nach tig gu bràth.

This tormenting curse is not fire or blade, but the weight of memory itself. Those marked by it cannot forget what they did — every wrong, every broken promise echoes in their thoughts. It manifests as restless dreams, whispers on the wind, faces seen in mirrors. It does not destroy the body; it erodes peace of mind. Some stories say the cursed can only be freed by true forgiveness — from themselves or from the one they wronged. In poetic terms, it’s the punishment of conscience turned sacred.

Long ago the spell was meant to keep oaths true, but greed and spite reshaped it. Now only those with malicious intent dare speak its words. It doesn’t simply force memory—it poisons it, turning every recollection into pain. The cursed dream of their happiest moments until they rot into nightmares. Voices of the dead mock them, not to teach, but to torment. Even simple sensations—rain, laughter, warmth—awaken guilt and dread. Some whisper that the curse hungers for emotion itself; it feeds on bitterness until both caster and victim are hollow.

How it’s used

1. The caster seals a token of the victim—hair, breath, shadow—inside a ring, mirror, or drop of water.
2. They recite the corrupted verse, no longer seeking justice but control.
3. The memory they bind begins to infect others, spreading misery like a disease of recollection.

Because of this, entire monastic orders or clans might forbid the teaching of the old tongue in which the curse is spoken.

Who would use it

• Oath-breakers who want their enemies haunted rather than dead.
• Tyrants who brand rebels with nightmares so they never sleep.
• Witches of the Hollow Hills, who claim the curse reveals a soul’s true rot before death.

They believe remembrance is power: whoever owns your memories owns you.

When not to use it

Even in dark tales, this curse comes at a price:

The caster begins to share the torment they inflict. The memories they twist eventually turn on them, whispering lies. The land itself sickens—animals grow silent, mirrors cloud, rivers forget their own names. Every memory stolen becomes a scar on the world.