# Curse descriptions

##### Curse of Conceited Obsession

*6th-level Enchantment (curse)*  
Casting Time: 1 hour  
Range: Self  
Components: V, S, M (a thread from the bed of  
your target, a handful of teeth, and a Shadowsteel  
gilded mirror worth at least 1,000 gp, all of which  
the spell consumes)  
Duration: Until cured  
This spell curses a creature on the same plane  
of existence as you with an obsessive selfinfatuation. The target must make a Charisma  
saving throw against the spell’s DC, which  
is modified by the Curse Strength Table. On  
a successful save, the target becomes aware  
that somebody attempted to curse them. On a  
failed save, the target becomes cursed and is  
unaware of this. Upon the completion of this  
curse’s triggering event, the target automatically  
advances to stage 1 of this curse.  
Triggering event. The next time the cursed  
creature looks into a mirror or reflective surface,  
it spontaneously cracks.  
Stage 1. The cursed creature is compelled to stop  
and admire themselves whenever they see their  
own reflection.  
Stage 2. The cursed creature becomes obsessed  
with looking for and finding its own reflection  
wherever it goes. Additionally, the cursed creature  
has disadvantage on attack rolls.  
Stage 3. The cursed creature is driven to find or,  
if necessary, build a location where it can see its  
own reflection from many angles. The cursed  
creature is compelled to remain in this location  
and admire itself. Additionally, attack rolls  
against the creature gain advantage.  
Culmination. Upon failing the final escalation  
check, the cursed creature twists into a deformed  
figure and becomes a Weeping Willow. If the  
creature is a player character, they become an  
NPC under the GM’s control.

##### Curse of Damned Aging

*4th-level Necromancy (curse)*  
Casting Time: 1 hour  
Range: Self  
Components: V, S, M (a childhood possession  
of the target, a pint of blood, and a Shadowsteel  
stopwatch worth at least 1,000 gp, all of which  
the spell consumes)  
Duration: Until cured  
This spell curses a creature on the same plane  
of existence as you with withering and horrific  
aging. The target must make a Strength saving  
throw against the spell’s DC, which is modified  
by the Curse Strength Table. On a successful  
save, the target becomes aware that somebody  
attempted to curse them. On a failed save, the  
target becomes cursed and is unaware of this.  
Upon the completion of this curse’s triggering  
event, the target automatically advances to stage 1  
of this curse.  
Triggering event. The next time the target  
changes clothing, they find multiple wrinkles,  
grey hairs and liver spots they did not  
previously have.  
Stage 1. The cursed creature is compelled to  
rest when the occasion permits it, becoming  
lethargic and lazy.  
Stage 2. The cursed creature becomes feeble as  
their muscle mass begins to deteriorate. The  
cursed creature has disadvantage on Strength  
saving throws.  
Stage 3. The cursed creature starts to age rapidly,  
becoming decrepit. The cursed creature’s Strength  
score becomes 6, unless it was already lower.  
Culmination. Upon failing the final escalation  
check, the cursed creature twists into a deformed  
figure and becomes a Body Snatcher. If the  
creature is a player character, they become an  
NPC under the GM’s control.

##### Curse of Foul Blight

*4th-level Necromancy (curse)*  
Casting Time: 1 hour  
Range: Self  
Components: V, S, M (a shred of the target’s  
clothing, a chunk of rotten flesh, and a  
Shadowsteel jewellery box worth at least 1,000 gp,  
all of which the spell consumes)  
Duration: Until cured  
This spell curses a creature on the same plane of  
existence as you with a putrefying and stinking  
pox. The target must make a Charisma saving  
throw against the spell’s DC, which is modified  
by the Curse Strength Table. On a successful  
save, the target becomes aware that somebody  
attempted to curse them. On a failed save, the  
target becomes cursed and is unaware of this.  
Upon the completion of this curse’s triggering  
event, the target automatically advances to stage 1  
of this curse.  
Triggering event. The target searches their  
backpack, clothes drawer, or wherever else they  
store their garments, they find an infestation  
of insects.  
Stage 1. The cursed creature is afflicted with a  
minor cough. Whenever they speak more than  
a few words at a time, they break into a fit  
of coughing.  
Stage 2. The smell of putrescence lingers in the  
air around the cursed creature. Food and drink  
quickly spoil, jewellery tarnishes, and wood rots  
within 10 feet of the cursed creature. Additionally,  
the cursed creature has disadvantage on Charisma  
saving throws.  
Stage 3. The cursed creature’s skin becomes  
riddled with pock marks, pustules, and lesions.  
Insects flock to the cursed creature, infesting  
their clothes. The cursed creature’s Charisma  
score becomes 6, unless it was already lower.  
Culmination. Upon failing the final escalation  
check, the cursed creature twists into a deformed  
figure and becomes a Plague Carrion. If the  
creature is a player character, they become an  
NPC under the GM’s control.

##### Curse of Ill-Fated Fortune

*5th-level Divination (curse)*  
Casting Time: 1 hour  
Range: Self  
Components: V, S, M (a shred of the target’s  
clothing, a splinter of bone, and a collection of  
Shadowsteel dice worth at least 1,000 gp, all of  
which the spell consumes)  
Duration: Until cured  
This spell curses a creature on the same plane of  
existence as you with lethal bad luck. The target  
must make a Dexterity saving throw against  
the spell’s DC, which is modified by the Curse  
Strength Table. On a successful save, the target  
becomes aware that somebody attempted to curse  
them. On a failed save, the target becomes cursed  
and is unaware of this. Upon the completion  
of this curse’s triggering event, the target  
automatically advances to stage 1 of this curse.  
Triggering event. The next time the target walks  
through a doorway or up a flight of stairs, the  
target stubs their toe, bruising it badly.  
Stage 1. The cursed creature falls victim to minor  
inconveniences and bad luck. Shops they wish to  
visit close just as they arrive, equipment breaks  
at inconvenient moments, and other unfortunate  
events befall them.  
Stage 2. The cursed creature becomes a beacon  
of bad luck as otherwise harmless setbacks  
become increasingly dangerous. For example,  
objects constantly seem to be placed in their way.  
Additionally, the cursed creature has disadvantage  
on Dexterity saving throws.  
Stage 3. The cursed creature becomes dangerously  
accident-prone, as even the simplest tasks have  
unforeseen life-threatening consequences. The  
cursed creature’s Dexterity score becomes 6,  
unless it was lower already.  
Culmination. Upon failing the final escalation  
check, the cursed creature twists into a deformed  
figure and becomes a Herald of Calamity. If the  
creature is a player character, they become an  
NPC under the GM’s control.

##### Curse of Insatiable Greed

5th-level Enchantment (curse)  
Casting Time: 1 hour  
Range: Self  
Components: V, S, M (a coin that the target has  
previously possessed, the tail of a rat, and a  
Shadowsteel crown of thorns worth at least 1,000  
gp, all of which the spell consumes)  
Duration: Until cured  
This spell curses a creature on the same plane of  
existence as you with a bitter and self-destructive  
greed. The target must make a Wisdom saving  
throw against the spell’s DC, which is modified  
by the Curse Strength Table. On a successful  
save, the target becomes aware that somebody  
attempted to curse them. On a failed save, the  
target becomes cursed and is unaware of this.  
Upon the completion of this curse’s triggering  
event, the target automatically advances to stage 1  
of this curse.  
Triggering event. The next time the target  
completes a long rest, they notice they have lost a  
valued item.  
Stage 1. The cursed creature becomes compelled to  
steal trinkets they do not own.  
Stage 2. The cursed creature finds a secret place  
to start stashing their hoard, and becomes  
anxious about leaving the location of their hoard  
for extended periods of time. Additionally, the  
cursed creature has disadvantage on Wisdom  
saving throws.  
Stage 3. The cursed creature is driven to  
transform their hoard into a labyrinth of  
possessions and treasure they have stolen. The  
cursed creature cannot leave this labyrinth.  
Additionally, the cursed creature’s Wisdom score  
becomes 6, unless it was already lower.  
Culmination. Upon failing the final escalation  
check, the cursed creature twists into a deformed  
figure and becomes a Verminous Abomination. If  
the creature is a player character, they become an  
NPC under the GM’s control.

##### Curse of Lost Sentiment

*4th-level Enchantment (curse)*  
Casting Time: 1 hour  
Range: Self  
Components: V, S, M (a lock of hair from  
someone the target loves, an animal’s heart, and  
a Shadowsteel idol worth at least 1,000 gp, all of  
which the spell consumes)  
Duration: Until cured  
This spell curses a creature on the same plane  
of existence as you with the loss of memories  
and horrific madness. The target must make  
an Intelligence saving throw against the spell’s  
DC, which is modified by the Curse Strength  
Table. On a successful save, the target becomes  
aware that somebody attempted to curse them.  
On a failed save, the target becomes cursed and  
is unaware of this. Upon the completion of this  
curse’s triggering event, the target automatically  
advances to stage 1 of this curse.  
Triggering event. The next time the target sleeps,  
they suffer nightmares of a person they treasure  
abandoning them.  
Stage 1. The cursed creature begins forgetting  
events that have occurred within the past few  
days, as well as the names of acquaintances.  
Stage 2. The cursed creature forgets all but their  
closest companions. The curse begins creating  
twisting the creatures mind, creating delusions of  
hidden threats and scheming rivals. Additionally,  
the cursed creature has disadvantage on  
Intelligence saving throws.  
Stage 3. The cursed creature completely forgets  
their closest companions, who they are, and any  
goals they once possessed (including curing the  
curse). The curse twists their mind into madness  
and fabricates delusions of a great conspiracy  
only the cursed creature can prevent. The cursed  
creature is compelled to take any action they  
believe necessary to uncover this conspiracy.  
Additionally, the cursed creature’s Intelligence  
score becomes 6, unless it was already lower.  
Culmination. Upon failing the final escalation  
check, the cursed creature twists into a deformed  
figure and becomes a Dream Whisperer. If the  
creature is a player character, they become an  
NPC under the GM’s control.

##### Curse of Ravenous Hunger

*5th-level Enchantment (curse)*  
Casting Time: 1 hour  
Range: Self  
Components: V, S, M (a morsel of food that  
belonged to the target, a sun-dried slug, and a  
Shadowsteel dining plate worth at least 1,000 gp,  
all of which the spell consumes)  
Duration: Until cured  
This spell curses a creature on the same plane  
of existence as you with painful and unending  
starvation. The target must make a Constitution  
saving throw against the spell’s DC, which  
is modified by the Curse Strength Table. On  
a successful save, the target becomes aware  
that somebody attempted to curse them. On a  
failed save, the target becomes cursed and is  
unaware of this. Upon the completion of this  
curse’s triggering event, the target automatically  
advances to stage 1 of this curse.  
Triggering event. While eating their next meal,  
the target bites their tongue and their mouth fills  
with blood.  
Stage 1. The cursed creature is gripped with an  
insatiable appetite.  
Stage 2. The cursed creature becomes compelled  
to eat inappropriate items such as coins, flowers,  
glass, dirt. Additionally, the cursed creature has  
disadvantage on Constitution saving throws.  
Stage 3. The cursed creature becomes ravenous  
and is compelled to consume the flesh of  
humanoids. No other food will satiate its  
starvation. The cursed creature’s Constitution  
score becomes 6, unless it was already lower.  
Culmination. Upon failing the final escalation  
check, the cursed creature twists into a deformed  
figure and becomes a Bloated Gastromorph. If  
the creature is a player character, they become an  
NPC under the GM’s control.

##### Curse of Uncontrollable Wrath

*6th-level Enchantment (curse)*  
Casting Time: 1 hour  
Range: Self  
Components: V, S, M (a weapon that belonged  
to the target, a severed hand, and a Shadowsteel  
knife worth at least 1,000 gp, all of which the  
spell consumes)  
Duration: Until cured  
This spell curses a creature on the same plane of  
existence as you with an uncontrollable temper  
and lust for violence. The target must make a  
Wisdom saving throw against the spell’s DC,  
which is modified by the Curse Strength Table.  
On a successful save, the target becomes aware  
that somebody attempted to curse them. On a  
failed save, the target becomes cursed and is  
unaware of this. Upon the completion of this  
curse’s triggering event, the target automatically  
advances to stage 1 of this curse.  
Triggering event. The next time the cursed  
creature wields a weapon or spellcasting focus, an  
old wound of theirs reopens.  
Stage 1. The cursed creature becomes easily  
agitated and aggressive.  
28  
The Realms of Etharis  
28  
Player Tools  
Stage 2. The cursed creature becomes obsessed  
with violence. The thrill of solo battle intoxicates  
them, and their demeanour toward their allies  
sours as the curse grows. The cursed creature  
cannot benefit from the spells or abilities of allies.  
Stage 3. The cursed creature is driven to insatiable  
bloodlust, unable to rest while there are enemies  
to slaughter. The cursed creature cannot complete  
a long rest.  
Culmination. Upon failing the final escalation  
check, the cursed creature twists into a deformed  
figure and becomes an Avatar of Slaughter. If the  
creature is a player character, they become an  
NPC under the GM’s control.