Cursed Condition in The Last Unfinished Prophecy | World Anvil

Cursed

Unlike the "carved" and "hallowed" conditions, there's no physical evidence of the existence of this condition. Due to this, scholars are divided on this topic.   Some consider it to be nothing more than people reading too much into coincidences, bad luck, and other unfortunate events.   The others point out that magic is virtually invisible and yet exists. Thus, it is entirely possible for some "invisible" conditions or things to exist. Even then, however, those scholars agree that not every proclaimed curse is a curse and that some indeed are nothing more than people reading too much into things.   Regardless of a scholar's stance, the core issue is that there is no way to prove or disprove the existence of a curse.

Transmission & Vectors

It cannot be transmitted to other people. However, the Goddess can punish several members of a single family, or a bloodline. In the following situation, a bloodline can be both carved and cursed at the same time.   The carved Samrad family is the most discussed bloodline to prove two opposing sides: their existence allegedly proves the existence of the cursed condition for one side, and the inexistence of the cursed condition for the other.

Causes

It is allegedly a divine punishment, although some perceive those "curses" as "gifts".   One can be cursed from birth or later on in life.

Symptoms

Curses can be anything and everything, as such, there are no "signs" to establish one's curse objectively.   It doesn't help that being cursed isn't necessarily self-reported, it can be applied to someone by someone else.

Treatment

Among those believing that curses exist:

-some believe a curse is a lifelong state,

-others that if you "fix" whatever the Goddess considered worth punishing someone for, it will disappear,

-another group believes only congenital curses can be erased,

-the last group believes congenintal curses are signs of one's ancestors' misbehaviour, in that case, the cursed one needs to "fix" whatever their ancestors did wrong.   Among those that don't believe that curses exist:

-magical treatment

-medical treatment

Prevention

The only recommendation for those fearing to get cursed is to dutifully follow the Goddess' principles and values.

Cultural Reception

How curses are perceived depends not only on the country, but with which societal groups one interacts. Even among those believing that curses are a thing, one won't necessarily be chastised for it, especially if it is a congenital curse. This is even truer in cases where curses are considered as gifts.   For example, the Southern Godteach is, in general, far more charitable to cursed people than the Northern Godteach.

The King Philibert R. Illean always referred to his heir as cursed, without ever disclosing the reason, however, King Ludwig R. Illean's reign was so prosperous that he was perceived as gifted by both the nobility and the populace instead.

On the more extreme side, the Kingdom of Ibadcathal still has the death penalty for cursed people in its laws, even if its applications have been in decline within the last decades.   Many books of various qualities and written by various profiles produced in different countries are available for those wishing to delve into this topic further.

Type
Divine
Parent
Origin
Divine
Cycle
Chronic, Acquired & Congenital
Rarity
Uncommon

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