Xeriar/GreatCurse
The Great Curse
This is an overview of how the Great Curse works in my view of Creation.
I'm not sure who first stated, or where it was stated:
You shall know betrayal as we have.
This ephithet, originally intended for the Gods, bounced, striking the Exalted - particularly the Celestials, full force. While it applies to the Dragon Blooded as well, its force is greatly lessened, merely a shadow of the real Curse. For the Celestials, it is not a static, unchanging thing. The very Nature of the Curse changes over time, working its way, slowly and patiently, through the wards of the Gods.
Before the Usurpation, the Great Curse of the Solars and Lunars was different. It was a united, driving force - just as it was, and still is, for the Sidereals. Likewise, there was no real mechanic - just an effect of personality that, eventually, forced the hands of their servitors, bringing about their downfall. At the end of the Primordial War, these effects were not yet in full force - rather, they started at the top, and dropped the Essence required for a certain level of inhumanity by one every five centuries.
A newly Exalted Solar or Lunar was pretty much human. As her Essence grew, however, her personality would twist and warp, eventually becoming a creature more terrifying than the ones they initially opposed. At least by some standards. Lunars had some respite, acting as if their Essence was one less except when Luna would shine with their chosen Face at night.
This effect first manifested at Essence 4. Solars at this level of Essence displayed a haughtiness, a notable cruelty towards animals - often performing experiments for their own sake. Lunars would occasionally give in to their bestial nature at regular intervals, with a variety of sometimes rather morbid results.
At Essence 5, the line between normal mortals and animals blurred. This kind of thinking resulted in the first Beast Men.
At Essence 6, this line was gone. Some might still have cared for humans, but the decision between a deer and a human was an asthetic one, rather than moral.
At Essence 7, the line between animals and objects blurred. Hunting humans for sport was not unheard of.
At Essence 8, this line, too, was gone. Most Solars and Lunars at this level were perfectly willing to consider humans food.
At Essence 9, this line began to cross into the lesser Essence weilders - Elementals, Gods, Dragon-Blooded. God-Blooded of any sort were certainly no better than mortals, and thus, animals or objects.
At Essence 10, this last line was gone. Only the Incarna, and other Celestial Exalted were spared any respect, and even this began to wane...
By this weight, when the Sidereals finally enacted the Usurpation, the overthrow of the Incarna was no more than a millenia away. What would have happenned then is difficult to say.
The Usurpation, however, brought the Curse to fruitation for the Solars, shattering it and its meaning. The Lunars were similarly spared, though parts of it became tied deeper into their nature instead.
