Curse of the Coveters

On Greed and Curses

Treasures are everywhere in literature - even on the ground. In the sky, there is the Loot of the Darkhounds, The Stalactahoard, The Treasure of Sources, The Splendorhoard, and even the prizes guarded so jealously by The Fire Queen, Kragstorn, and Trollendy. Starwalkers bless weary travelers with coins, brave ones venture into The Maw to gain riches untold, and characters such as Kayla Greyweave and King Stroop are given magic coin sacks to help them on their way. Many of these have curses that can be conveniently bypassed if one possesses wards, is pure of heart, knows a password, comes with a blessing, or is of a certain heritage.
More common on the ground, however, is the idea that treasure is not always cursed, but rather gain curses as their holders guard them jealously. These curses can be described as 'sicknesses of the mind', or as 'greedy, dragonish thoughts' that can have drastic consequences. These instances both involve dragons guarding the treasure, as is quite common in many ground dweller tales.
Indeed, the unique magic that dragons possess seems to have the natural effect of creating supernatural treasures. As such, we ought to be experts on such things, and the everyday nimbus capable of bestowing immortality on the one who finds one rain-side up. But, as that is not the case, we must ask ourselves how such cursed treasures are created.
I believe that it has to do with greed, as so much does. Is it not greed that keeps us from sharing with those in need? Is it not greed that spawns corruption in our world, and spite and jealousy among friends? Is it not greed that brings out the worst in us? Such is at the heart of many of these tales. There is nothing wrong with the treasure itself, nor wanting to use it for noble and wondrous causes. Nor is there anything wrong with prosperity, curiosity, and the desire to have a better life. It is when one desire to hoard that for oneself that the 'sicknesses' begin. It just so happens that magic treasure ups the greed factor.
Now, although I have searched the Archives for some time now, I have not found any real instances of cursed treasure. But there have been several stories, and a few obscure and unreliable sources that have had quite interesting information. I have compiled them for you for the sake of convenience.

Days Gone By

Source: Ancient Historical Text; worn title, torn pages - extremely old
"...The line of kings in Cirallia had long possessed a legacy of greatness. It was when the grandson of King Sorwin returned with the Wondrous Treasure that they began to be a little more...oppressive in their decrees. Riots and thunder followed. Then came blood and rain. On the third day of the tenth month, leaders of the unified people stormed the palace. The magic users among them wove powerful Shields on the nurseries, sealing the royal heirs safely inside. The people then rallied against the royal families with a great cry of "Greed rains, but justice blooms." The kings were forced to flee to the mountains, and their families were thrown into prison. This day was known as the Great Confrontation. Interviews with first-hand witnesses swore that the family's eyes had become pure yellow. Both the human and dragon heirs, however, retained their pure blue eyes.
Beneath the palace, vast dungeons of treasure were discovered. The treasure was freezing to the touch, and the dungeons carried strange, whispering winds. The doors were locked and sealed, and the Wondrous Treasure renamed the Horrend. Some were drove mad by the whisperings. Others lost limbs to the cold, icy touch of the coins. For thirteen days, theft, arson, and murder raged in the kingdom. All of the criminals captured were found with Horrend coins in their pockets. The Fortnight of Horror, as it came to be called, saw hundreds of thousands of deaths, entire cities burned, and livelihoods tossed to the wind.
As the country struggled to recover, many rallied around the text that the Steward's advisor wrote - an article titled Days Gone By. It spoke of the simple pleasures of a simple home. It reminded the people that not much was needed to create a happier environment, as long as the people were kind and peaceful. Once the heirs grew to adulthood, they flew flags quoting the text, and the old palace was floated out of the Kingdom."

Within the Mountain

Source: Old Journal Entry
It was a cold day - a windy day. My men and I were on the Mountain - the mountain that calls. There was a storm, and snow and ice. We found refuge in a cavern. A few of the men found a passageway, and several of them immediately ventured down. It was there, in a great cavern that we found, lying in wait for us, a treasure - a treasure so great and vast that we could not see its end. The loot of a thousand kingdoms was stored there, with jewels and gold and silver abounding. We thought we were rich.

We were fools. Oh, ten thousand curses upon the fool who ventures there! Half of our ranks fell to both fire and ire, their blood and ashes staining our cloaks. The others fell victim to the spirits of the gold, and the curses laid within. The curses strengthened with the death, chanting and singing the most alluring music known to man. I was saved only by my Bond - he threw me back to the passage with his dying strength.

I fled the cave, leaping to the Mountain below as the entrance collapsed behind me. Now I sit here, shivering and weak, as I write out my last moments in they hopes that someone will find me. Perhaps the will rescue me, perhaps not - but the people must be warned. Beware! Beware the Mountain! The Guardians sleep, waiting for their next victim...

"Deep within the mountains, where evil sleeps in the deepest places of the earth, where the bravest Darkhound warriors durst not venture...yes, that is where the treasure is.
"Colors too vibrant to be true - blood red, cold ocean blue. Thicket green and bone white - sun gold.
"Oh, the treasure - vast and uncountable, glimmering and gleaming in the shadows. History - dark history - is stored there; a thousand buried secrets and the stolen treasures of empires long forgotten. Empires that, in turn, that have stolen treasures and buried secrets - a thousand dark histories stored in the shadows. Gleaming and glimmering, uncountable and vast - the treasure. Oh, the treasure.
"It is like a golden sun, shining on white bones, and green thickets, blue oceans - cold red blood; truly vibrant colors.
"There the treasure is, where none warrior dares venture. The howls of hounds in the dark pierce the bravest hearts both above and beneath the earth. In places deep, where evil sleeps...deep within the mountains."

"He took the forbidden treasure," the man said softly, staring at Jack as he writhed on the floor.

"And?" Cloudfell asked urgently. "What's going to happen to him?"

"It's difficult to say. Depends on how much he took, and how valuable it was. But side effects of the curse could be anything from extreme pain, headaches, nausea, extreme fatigue, vomiting, paralysis, insomnia, amnesia -"

"Okay, we get it!" Anna interrupted, holding out a hand to stop the flow of bad news.

"And the main effect?" Cloudfell asked.

The man fell silent, then spoke, his words hitting them as heavy as a boulder. "He will become vulnerable to the spirits of evil. It could be a personality change. He could become anything from a petty kleptomaniac to a murderous sociopath. Most likely he'll start spewing poems, prose and prophecies from ancient times, develop red eyes and pale skin, and basically do anything a wandering spirit of shadow might of him."

"Spirits of shadow aren't real," Jacob said defiantly. "They're just old legends and folktales."

The room fell silent, everyone's eyes focusing on Jack. "Unfortunately, to him, they're very, very real."