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Chapter 6 by Zingiber Zingiber

What are some variant and optional rules?

Receiving a CURSE. Lifting a CURSE.

In some cases, it may make story sense for the result of a Move that would give you a CONSEQUENCE to give you a CURSE.

A CURSE is a special rule that applies in certain circumstances, causing an undesirable effect.

Unlike a CONSEQUENCE, which has rules for when it can be removed (success with an ENCOUNTER, HAVE SEX, GET OUT OF THE INFIRMARY, GET OUT OF DETENTION), a CURSE must be resolved in play by achieving a GOAL (Or possibly one GOAL to prescribe the remedy, another GOAL to apply it).

Example CURSES:

  • Unlucky. Take -1 on any Move roll, on top of any CONSEQUENCE, -1 Forward, HANGER-ON penalty, or other deduction.
  • Transformation. When you take a CONSEQUENCE, you also transform into a fearsome alternate form, and must GET OUT OF TROUBLE. (A sample from Golondrina Redmoor's storyline).

Example GOALS to find a remedy and then lift the Curse. If it's more interesting to do two GOALS to discover and lift the curse, do two; if it feels better for the story to go straight to "Lift the Curse" as a single GOAL, that's fine.

  • Find a Remedy: Library Research. Take a -1 or -2 GOAL vs. DILIGENCE to research your symptoms. (On a 10+, carry +1 Forward to achieve a remedy).
  • Lift the Curse: With the prescription in hand, take a -1 or -2 GOAL vs. CUNNING to cast magic to lift the CURSE. You might use a FAVOR from a classmate or professor for a +2 bonus.

  • Find a Remedy: Friends of Friends? Take a -1 or -2 GOAL vs. AMBITION to discover if any of your friends know who could help you.
  • Lift the Curse: Petition for Help. Visit an expert healer or curse-lifter and convince them to help you. Roll a successful ENCOUNTER, then roll a -1 GOAL vs. AMBITION to have them lift the CURSE. They might extract a promise from you (a FAVOR = new GOAL).

  • Find a Remedy: Divination. Take a -1 or -2 GOAL vs. CUNNING to magically divine what you need to do to lift the curse.
  • Lift the Curse: Purification. Take a -1 or -2 GOAL vs. DILIGENCE to purify yourself of the malign influences and lift the CURSE.

Readers are welcome to suggest other Curses or remedies here, or to contribute chapters containing them.

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