Cursed by the Elders

[Rudolf Weathermay]

In my campaign, the heroes have to travel to the forbidden Ruins where the bodies of the first thorp-elders are burried. They are ordered to commune with the spirits to ask for guidance. They got candles, wierook <-- don't know the english words, is it something that smells and they use it in churches too :p, and an urn. They are ordered NOT to open the urns.

I know there is one player who really want to know what is inside the urn, and I suggest he will peep into it. What kind of curse do you guys fit in this situation? If he open the urn, he violates against the orders and wishes of his elders. It would be a small curse, not really hazardous.

[Nathan of the FoS]

"wierook"="incense". The hand that opens the urn turns white/black, outcast rating goes up by 1?

[Zilfer]

Maybe a -1 to spot or search checks since he was looking at something forbidden.... <.<

and yeah I think the word your looking for is Incense.

[riMkrad]

If this is a "first offense" you could consider having those sensitive to curses (i.e., Vistani) point and say "he's CURSED" whenever the party shows up somewhere. This is technically harmless but will undoubtedly affect the reaction of NPCs at their first meeting.

[A G Thing]

Well a quick question I could ask that would help me think of a response is what is actually in the urn?

If you told us we might be able to think up a specifically crafted curse... Course if your players look here I can understand not writing game info even if you mentioned the curse already... Still if you can say it could help a bit.

[Rudolf Weathermay]

I'm sure my players are not on the forum.
Well in the urn are the eyes of first elders. (without the eyes they cannot guide the players through their actions.)

[Zilfer]

Then perhaps if they look into the urn and see the eyes something happens to their eyes. A penalty like i said or perhaps a physical change of their eyes going, white/black/catlike ect. <.< A possible one.

[A G Thing]

Eyes could deal with a lot of small optical related curses... Something having to do with their eyes not looking normal or correct.

The phrase old eyes comes to mind such that they have seen something that took the youth from their eyes. Perhaps a fear, horror, or madness save with only minor effects for opening it when they get flashes of the lives of the elders through their eyes. Just something that will color their future attempts at looking where they shouldn't which is why I suggest minor.

Perhaps they can no longer look someone in the eye when they are telling the truth since they wanted to see the secret truth of what was in the urn. Since they were trusted with the urn and betrayed that trust now no one will trust them if they cannot look them in the eye.

When they see others eyes even on statues or pictures you could have them always believe such are looking directly at them even if they are not. This could lead to paranoia and can be really interesting in that something one day may actually be looking at them and they would eventually no be aware of it till the danger was upon them. Perhaps also they might feel shame as if when they stared into the urn they get the sense now that everyone is looking back at them.

Maybe they develop a chronic condition of the eyes similar to what an older person can such a cataracts or the like that could affect and eventually rob them of their sight but can be medically fixed. It is embarrassing but treatable.

Another slightly more serious curse could be that they can no longer see eyes at all but the rest of a creature remains. After the initial horror they will have to live with it until they could get such removed. Imagine never being able to tell where someone was looking, know the color of their eyes or being able to see emotion in them. This could result in a penalty to social skills or depending on how you view it a penalty or benefit perhaps to eye based interactions including gaze attacks and the like. If the character likes to flirt or deal with others he or she might now be put off by the fact that all they see is empty sockets and is the only one that can see such.

As for the escape clause you might allow them to try and find the truth without seeing it somehow in some way. Maybe since they stole a truth of something they must hide a truth of something else. Finally the clause for escape could have to do with perhaps similar circumstances or until the character can see through the eyes of another what is most important. Not the easiest puzzles to solve but not impossible with the right magic or even body swapping or other circumstances that may be magically aided.

Hope some of these help!

[Rudolf Weathermay]

thank you for the ideas. There were more than a few good ones in. I will certainly let you know how I handled it, if they open the urn ofcourse:)