Curse of the Flame

The Curse of the Flame has driven many fireshapers mad

Causes

Once a fireshaper takes a life, the Curse of the Flame will be triggered. No matter if it is in cold blood, self-defense, or even unintentional, once a person is killed by their hand, that fireshaper will be tormented by the Curse of the Flame.

Symptoms

The beginning stages of the Curse may vary from person to person, but typically when a fireshaper first triggers the Curse they don't seem any different at all. On average, it may take a few days or maybe even weeks to see the first signs of the Curse of the Flame. When they begin, the afflicted will simply be more irritable or aggressive than usually, maybe as if they didn't get a good rest or skipped breakfast. It'll soon get worse. A cursed fireshaper will become savage and bloodthirsty, picking fights for the littlest of reasons to satiate the urge.

Treatment

Once afflicted by the Curse of the Flame, one must learn to meditate to calm the fire within. No fighting, no confrontation, and certainly no killing. A cursed fireshaper must learn discipline immediately if they ever wish to live a normal life. Depending on their attitude pre-Curse, this can be easier or harder for some. There is no set amount of time, no magical "cure the curse" number of hours one must meditate. It all depends on the person's discipline and how consumed by rage they have become. Once enraged, it is not impossible for one's anger to be quelled. An enraged fireshaper who has killed must be restrained for days without human interaction and food until their mind and body is calm enough to speak again. Once there, the meditation can be again. Not many people wish to help someone afflicted with this Curse, however, as it comes with great risk.

Prognosis

The beginning is the most crucial time for a newly cursed fireshaper for if they kill again, there's almost no turning back. Their heart will be corrupt by the Flame. The more they kill the more savage they become, maybe even forgetting their own name. It is said that they'll get to a point where they thrive off nothing but the primal instinct of violence. This has never been documented, but there are rumors that the Curse of the Flame can corrupt a person to the point where they forget how to speak and no longer need to eat. They live off nothing but screams and fire until they become consumed by the very flame that sparked their rage.

Affected Groups

The only group of people that the Curse of the Flame affect are the fireshapers. This affects a person of any sex and of any age.

History

First Outbreak

No one knows when the first fireshaper was afflicted, because it was so common long ago that the first record must have not have been recorded.

The Burning Age

There was a time, about 200 years ago, when the Kingdom of Fire was ruled by a mad man. People called him the Burning King because under his rule, he began a 25-year-long war with the entire world. For two and a half decades, the Kingdom of Fire's soldiers laid waste to different parts of the worlds, burning cities, kidnapping children, and taking slaves. This was caused by the Curse of the Flame. The Burning King became mad with the curse and set out to burn the world. This triggered the curse in many of the soldiers. The more and more they killed, the more rabid they became.

Cultural Reception

The Cursed are feared among the people residing in the Kingdom of Fire. They are seen as ticking time bombs, if left unchecked. Most of the warriors in the Kingdom of Fire are very heavily disciplined before they are trained in combat. However, if an untrained fireshaper becomes cursed and they do not immediately seek out help, they will be either exiled or executed, depending on how far along they are.

Type

Mental

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Uncommon