The Best Kind of Curse

There is a joke amongst Black Magicians, especially No-Hearts like me, that "The best kind of curse is one that achieves the desired effect." It seems like it is saying nothing at all, but the truth of it is that the Doom of Harm can only accomplish certain things. All it does is corrupt the flesh of your enemy, making them sick or putting them in the ground. But there are other things, besides, like sending a message or making someone rethink their position. But is not, in itself, an argument to change one's ways. It is a simple threat. The Doom of Harm will never win a heart, a mind, or a soul.

The Doom of Maladies, though, that's much better at that. Rob them of their health. Humble them. It works slow, unlike the Doom of Harm. They have time convalescing, time to second guess where they are in their lives. They will discover that the world goes on in their absence, or maybe that the best friend they thought they had doesn't really think all that much of them when they think you have the plague. It might also kill them or make them go broke with medical costs. The Doom of Maladies is awfully cruel justice.

But, for my money, if I joke about this sort of thing, if I think an enemy is redeemable and just needs a push, I reach for the Doom of Poverty. There is nothing like driving a wedge between a comfortable bastard and society. That is real justice. Let them know what it is like on the bottom. And when they are at their lowest, that is when you visit them in their dreams, like the Void itself. You tell them exactly why their life has turned to shit, and this is key: you give them an out. You tell them exactly what they have to do to lift the curse, like a fairy tale. "This is why you deserve to be cursed and here is how you can turn your life around. Accept my wisdom and lift the curse." That makes a very powerful argument.