[Mkguild] The Curse

[Mark Lowell]

 The Eclesia priests and nuns, thanks to the sancments they told when they
became priests and nuns, are inmune tio the TG spell. I think this is a
needed thing to the Metamor Keep universe. And if they break those vows then
they can be transformed into a woman or man.

On 9/19/08, C. Matthias <jagille3 at vt.edu> wrote:
>
>
> I think we need some hard and fast rules on what exactly the Curse is and
>> what it does to people.
>> I can understand where Matt is coming from on his suggestion about *Eccl=
esia
>> priests, and I really have no opinion either way. * But it seems that, at
>> some point or another, *everyone* wants to be the exception to how the C=
urse
>> has "traditionally" worked.  Whether it's divine protection against TG,
>> getting hit with two curses, or somehow manipulating it more toward their
>> own favor, the central "problem" in the MK world is getting fudged and
>> pushed around more than it seems like it should.
>>
>> I'm not trying to call anyone out on this or anything.  I've also read
>> what rules there are that govern the Curse, but it's clear those rules n=
eed
>> to be updated and expanded, or things are going to start to unravel.  If=
 Eli
>> gives protection to certain individuals, then those situations should be
>> clearly spelled out.  If there are ways of getting cursed twice, then th=
ey
>> should be spelled out.  On the other hand, it might be best to stick with
>> simpler scenarios from here on out.  I don't know.
>>
>> In any case, I think it would be best for us all if most of these
>> questions were answered beforehand, that way we can avoid huge arguments=
 and
>> anyone getting upset.
>>
>> Of course, making the rules should be an exercise in diplomacy and
>> self-control.  ;o)
>>
>
> Indeed!
>
> Sadly, I didn't get to this topic as quickly as I'd hoped, and before long
> I'm going to have to leave on my trip.
>
> Let me state a few things though while I have the time.
>
> The Curse is, along with the fantasy atmosphere, "THE HOOK" for the Metam=
or
> Keep setting.  Without the Curse, nobody would write in Metamor Keep.  It=
's
> a fulcrum point that determines the fates of characters and storylines.  =
It
> can irrevocably alter lives and fortunes.  It can make people rethink the=
ir
> place in life.  In short, the Curse is essential.
>
> What is the Curse not?  The Curse is not a wish-fulfillment device.  The
> Curse is not partial to one type of change.  The Curse is not forgiving.
>  The Curse is not reversible.  The Curse is not avoidable.
>
> But, what elements of the Curse are debatable?  Let us first list the
> elements of the Curse.  The Curse --- and when I say the Curse, I am
> refering to the original curse cast by Nasoj and his allies, and the coun=
ter
> curse cast by Posti and the Keep mages, and what together they have formed
> --- causes one of three types of change to occur to anybody living in the
> Metamor Valley for more than a certain period of time.  This transformati=
on
> is random, thus there should, in the Valley, be a roughly even distributi=
on
> of those who have been made as children, those whose genders have switche=
d,
> and those who have been blended with a beastly body.  The actual change c=
an
> take anywhere from minutes to a full month (as in the case of Michael the
> beaver), though the average is on the order of a day or two.  Once the
> change begins, it cannot be stopped.  Those cursed can never return to th=
eir
> former selves.
>
> These are the involate parts of the Curse.  So what isn't inviolate?  The=
re
> have been already many instances of people manipulating the curse to atta=
in
> their favored form which Shazer has already pointed out.  This implies so=
me
> leeway in the application of the curse.  He also raises a point about
> whether the prolifigation of Curse manipulation is a good idea and whether
> or not it can lead to the downfall of Metamor Keep as a setting.  I don't
> have the time to debate that issue right now, but I thought I'd raise it.
>  Another point is the original one that I've raised, that is what sort of
> divine intervention can come into play to insulate certain groups from
> certain effects of the Curse.  This has not been delineated specifically,
> though given the two examples of Ecclesia priests who have been cursed, it
> is clear that there is no divine protection against the AR or TF curse.  =
One
> could similarly ask what intervention do the Lothanasi give since both
> Lothanasi priestesses are animal morphs.  But as far as the stories go,
> there aren't enough data points yet to reach a final conclusion based sol=
ely
> on precedent.
>
> The task we have now is to determine what sort of restrictions and caveats
> we want to place on the Curse that accommodates what has been written to
> date, and also, what people would like to do with the Curse in the future,
> as well as what is best for Metamor Keep as a setting.
>
> Okay, that went from a few things to the beginnings of a philosophical
> discussion on the Curse!
>
> I'll be back Sunday so I can hopefully flesh out my thoughts on these
> questions.
>
> May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love,
>
> Charles Matthias
>
>
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>



-- =

TTFN!!!
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