Crimson Curse

A Hellion becoming afflicted with the Crimson Curse.

The Crimson Curse is a persistent status effect found in The Crimson Court.

Mechanics

The Crimson Curse has a large number of effects, both positive and negative: altering heroes' stats, causing them to deal stress to party members, making them act out in combat, and possibly even killing them outright. If left untreated the Curse will progress in stages (Passive, Craving, Wasting, and Bloodlust), detailed in the sections below.

The Crimson Curse may be contracted from a number of different ways, most commonly by being attacked by an enemy from The Crimson Court. Mechanically the Crimson Curse is treated as a special type of Disease. Once a hero contracts the Curse, they become immune to all other diseases, and any previous diseases they may have had are automatically removed. Heroes' chance to resist the Curse from any source is determined by their disease resistance.

Unlike diseases, however, it is initially very difficult to treat the Crimson Curse—normal methods of curing disease via Sanitarium or Camping Skills cannot cure the Crimson Curse. Killing a Boss in The Courtyard will remove the Crimson Curse from all heroes, and killing the Countess will unlock the ability to treat the Crimson Curse in the Sanitarium like a normal disease.

The Curse can spread amongst heroes left in the Hamlet—if an uncursed hero spends a week in the same building as a cursed hero, they too will contract the curse.

Cursed heroes remaining in the Hamlet each week will have their curse state progress by 30 rounds. They may also consume The Blood if it is available.

When embarking upon an expedition with at least two cursed heroes, The Fanatic may appear and try to hunt down the party. The Fanatic is an extremely dangerous opponent, easily killing most unprepared parties, and care should be taken to avoid bringing too many cursed heroes to avoid triggering his appearance.

Passive

“

M-madness...in my veins!

„

The Crimson Curse is in its Passive state when first contracted, and returns to this state when the thirst is slaked. While in this state, heroes' stats change as follows:

Passive State
Stat Changes
-5% Stun, Blight, and Bleed resist -10% Max HP +1 SPD
Random Actions
None in this state
Duration
31-75 rounds

If you give a hero 1 vial of The Blood while their curse is in the Passive state, they gain +7 DODGE and +4 SPD for 3 rounds.

Craving

“

The blood! I must have the blood!

„

Like hunger activations, eventually the cursed hero will get hungry and enter a state known as Craving. At this point, their condition gets worse:

Craving State
Stat Changes
-10% Stun, Blight, and Bleed resist -10% Max HP -10% Virtue Chance +2 SPD
Random Actions
Pass turns. Change position. Attack teammates, in a desperate attempt to gather blood. Stress out party members that use curios, believing the curio may contain The Blood. Complain about the lack of blood when Camping, receiving high Damage and Stress Damage and sometimes refusing to eat. Deny heals, complaining that only The Blood will help them now. Deny to be moved. Stress out teammates who are attacked. Involuntarily interact with Courtyard Curios.
Duration
31-46 rounds

Hereafter, you can either ignore their craving and deal with their urges or give them 1 vial of The Blood, sending them into Bloodlust. If you ignore them for too long, however, their condition will deteriorate into the Wasting state.

Wasting

“

Without the blood, I shall perish...

„

As the voracious thirst for The Blood becomes crippling starvation, the hero starts Wasting away, bloodflies stalking their every move. Compared to the Craving status, they lose the SPD bonus and replace it with a SPD penalty with an additional penalty to Deathblow Resistance:

Wasting State
Stat Changes
-10% Stun, Blight, and Bleed resist -20% Max HP -4 SPD -10% Deathblow Resist
Random Actions
Talk about their withering body, dealing stress damage to the party, at the start of the turn. Pass turns, because they're too weak to do anything. Attack themselves in a desperate attempt to draw blood. Stress out party members that use curios, believing the curio may contain The Blood. Complain about the lack of blood when Camping, receiving high Damage and Stress Damage and refusing to eat. Deny heals, complaining that only The Blood will help them now.
Duration
61 rounds

Past this point, if the hero does not receive 1 vial of The Blood before their next blood check, they will die.

If a Wasting hero is given 1 vial of The Blood, the Crimson Curse will return to its Passive state.

Heroes left in the Hamlet while Wasting will automatically consume 1 vial of The Blood from your Provisions instead of dying. If no vials of The Blood are left when the mission is finished, the hero perishes as normal. Look at your provisions to see how many you have stockpiled.

Bloodlust

“

THE BLOOD MAKES ME WHOLE!

„

If a Craving hero is given 1 vial of The Blood, they enter a euphoric state of mind called Bloodlust, granting buffs while also putting them into a state of unpredictability. Their stats change as follows:

Bloodlust State
Stat Changes
+25% DMG +4 SPD +25% Stun resist +15% Blight resist -10% Bleed resist
Random Actions
Randomly heal stress for themselves. Scream twisted thoughts related to The Blood, dealing stress damage to the party. Move forward, feeling compelled to wound enemies. Use a random ability. Maliciously attack teammates, damaging them and possibly inflicting Bleed, Blight, Stun, or a specific Debuff (different heroes inflict different conditions). Deny buffs, stating that The Blood coursing through their veins is all they need. Stress out teammates who are attacked.
Duration
22-30 rounds

If you give a hero an additional vial of The Blood while their curse is in Bloodlust state, they will receive massive (35-40) Stress Damage, but gain +50% DMG and +4 SPD for 3 rounds.

After a while, the Bloodlust will fade, returning the curse to its Passive state.

Below is a table showing what statuses each hero class inflicts on other heroes during Bloodlust.

Hero Status Inflictions
Hero	Effect	Hero	Effect	Hero	Effect
	Blight		-3 SPD Debuff		Mark
	Mark		Stun		Bleed
	Blight		Bleed		(None)
	Bleed		+Stress	*	(None)
	Stun		-10 Dodge Debuff		Blight
	-10 ACC Debuff		-7 SPD Debuff

*Deals higher damage than the others to his party members.

Removing the curse

A Jester using The Cure.

Defeating Courtyard bosses will remove the Crimson Curse from all infected heroes in your roster. Note that this won't prevent future contagion when exchanging blows with Bloodsuckers.

The Fanatic will chase any infected hero. If killed, he will drop The Cure, which can remove the Crimson Curse. The Cure can only be used during a mission, so save it for after you have completed your quest if you want your character to have the best chance of avoiding re-infection via random encounters.

The Cure
	Stack	6
	Description
	Its origin and ingredients unknown, but this tincture will quell the Curse. Cures Crimson Curse.

Upon completing the quest "A Bewitching Predator", an event called "Of Curse and Countess" will trigger. The event removes the Crimson Curse from all affected heroes and enables active removal (like any normal disease) through the Sanitarium. But note that the Curse still cannot be removed with camping skills that cure diseases.

A Special Town Event called They Made a Tonic from the Color of Madness DLC. For 30 shards, every hero in the roster has 1 disease cured. This also applies to the Crimson Curse.

Curios that can cause Crimson Curse

Curios found within the Courtyard
Curio & type	Description	Cleansing	Without cleansing
Damned Fountain Drink; Fountain; CCrave; Unholy; Haunted.	A bubbling fountain spews crimson ichor from some damnable source.	Holy WaterThe purified liquid offers a surprising boon! TorchBurning the blood stings the nostrils and turns the stomach. Stress Heal 30 Stress +5	60% BleedThe hero's scars weep open when bathed in the crimson fluid! 20% Disease: Crimson CurseThis bloody artifact invites ailment! 20% Any Loot x2 + 16.7% BleedTreasure lies in the gore-filled basin!
Forgotten Delicacies Body; Food; Haunted; Unholy; CCrave.	An anachronistic mixture of both rotted and fresh victuals adorn the cart.	Medicinal HerbsPrecise use of herbs purifies the tainted remains. Food x2 + Gold/Supplies x1	20% Gold/Supplies x4 + Supplies x1 + 25% The BloodThere are valuables scattered about the repast. 20% Negative Quirk: Stress EaterWhat a peculiar flavour... 20% BlightIt is tainted! 13.3% Crimson CurseThere is nothing but rot inside the seemingly fresh morsels! 6.7% Random DiseaseThere is nothing but rot inside the seemingly fresh morsels! 20% NothingThere remains nothing worthy of your time.
Pile of Strange Bones Unholy; Scrounging; Haunted; Knowledge.	A heap of peculiar bones and dusty sinew litters the floor (This curio can only appear along corridors.)	BandageThese bones hold riches! BandageThese bones hold riches! The BloodThese bones hold riches! Any Loot x1 (50%) The Blood 16.7% (50%) Ambush	50% BleedAn insectoid mandible pierces the hero's skin! 20% Any Loot x2 + 16.7% The BloodBaubles and other items of value are found in the grisly remains! 10% Disease: Crimson CurseYour blood is tainted with a strange infection! 20% NothingThese remains hold no danger nor anything of value either.
Wine Crate Drink; CCrave; Treasure.	You can see that some of the bottles are still intact.	Antivenom Shovel Stress Heal 30 Firewood	41.7% The Blood (33.3%) x2 + Any Loot x1 + Gold/Supplies x4There is loot in the broken glass! 16.7% Negative Quirk: TipplerA sip uncorks a disturbing new habit! 16.7% Disease: Crimson CurseWhat terrible fortune! 8.3% ScoutingYou find a map in an empty bottle! 8.3% BleedTake more care sorting through broken glass! 8.3% NothingNothing but broken glass and wood splinters.

Attacks that can cause Crimson Curse

Name	Monster	Attack(s)	Target(s)	Effect(s)
Courtesan		The Thirst	Any 1	45% Crimson Curse 85% Stress +8
Esquire		The Thirst (bloodlust form)	Any 1	31% Crimson Curse 85% Stress +12
Manservant		The Thirst	Any 1	31% Crimson Curse 85% Stress +8
Supplicant		Gather the Blood	Any 1	31% Crimson Curse
Sycophant		The Thirst	Any 1	31% Crimson Curse 85% Stress +8

Enemies or Curios that inflict random Diseases do not count as Crimson Curse adders.

Barks

From Passive to Craving

• The Blood! I must have the Blood!

From Craving to Bloodlust

• I am the fury! I will drink from my enemies!

From Bloodlust to Passive

• My pulse slows...the need abates.

From Craving to Wasting

• I must...please...the Blood...

From Wasting to Passive

• Relief - at last!

Dying from Wasting Away

• I'm weakening!

Stressing Party

• The thirst. THE THIRST!
• The craving itself speaks through me.
• I know not what I've become but I know what I need!

Attacking Party Member

• You are keeping The Blood for yourself, aren't you!
• Just give me a taste!
• Do not deny me what I need to survive!

Refusing Buffs

• As if encouragement and magics will help! Only The Blood!
• True strength can only come from the Blood!
• Those benefits are ephemeral and will eventually betray me!

Refusing Heals

• The only thing that will restore me is The Blood!
• All that supports me now is the Blood!
• I would rather thirst forever than accept any inferior nourishment.

Refusing to Move

• Touch me not — I am on the hunt!
• I will yield no quarter till I am sated!
• No! The Blood is mine!

Refusing Camping Meals

• Disgusting! Have you any of The Blood, though?
• It simply won't fill me up like the Blood does.
• What dross, how dull everything tastes once one has sampled the exquisite Blood!

Moving Forward

• I can smell their blood!
• What is that sweet smell that sings to my very veins?
• Stand aside! I must slake my thirst!

Passing Turns

• I want it so...so much.
• I am reduced to pure desire, a fire that cleanses reason!
• Hold! It transfixes my every nerve!

Party Member Getting Hit

• Mmmmmm, the wondrous smell of a wound!
• Oh gods! That odour! That aroma of freshly spilled Blood!
• Please just a taste! You're already injured!

Party Member's Curio Interaction

• Perhaps this contains The Blood!
• I must see if there's any Blood hidden here!
• Blood?! Could there be some here?

Randomly Triggering Traps

• Oh! I was not myself for a moment...
• Blood... blood... blood... blood...
• So hungry... I didn't even notice...

Stressing Party

• I shall surely perish of this thirst!
• Gods have mercy! I am practically hollow!
• It feels as though sand pushes through my veins...

Attacking Party Member

• I asked nicely before, I just really need some Blood.
• Please just a small taste! Do not make me drain your veins dry!
• I made every reasonable offer possible, and look at what you just made me do.

Refusing Buffs

• But will it soothe my thirst?
• I will be dead of thirst soon anyway.
• Nothing could overcome this thirst I feel.

Refusing Heals

• Useless. Give me only my red nectar...please.
• I don't want THAT.
• Much appreciated, but come back when you have some Blood.

Refusing Camping Meals

• Only... The Blood... will do...
• Is it Blood..? Oh nevermind then.
• Would you mind if I just nicked your wrist instead? Oh well then...

Passing Turns

• I am fading...
• Too faint... but have you any Blood?
• Give me some Blood and I'll consider it.

Damaging Self

• I must gather what little I have left...
• Must find...blood...
• Hee hee hee — The Blood is within me!

Party Member's Curio Interaction

• It must have The Blood hidden within. I pray...
• Please let there be Blood, even the tiniest drop.
• Forgive me but I must make absolutely sure there's no Blood.

Randomly Triggering Traps

• I fear my thirst has made my footing unstable.
• I am just so tired, please end it now!
• It is hopeless, I will never drink Blood again.

Stressing Party

• AWASH IN CRIMSON! I AM REBORN!
• AM I HUMAN OR MERELY A VESSEL FOR THE BLOOD?!
• MY LIFE FOR THE CRIMSON FLUID!

Attacking Party Member

• ALL MUST BLEED! IT IS THE WAY!
• BLOOD FOR ALL!
• GIVE IT TO ME, I KNOW YOU HAVE IT!

Refusing Buffs

• I AM A GOD!
• DO NOT TAINT THE PURITY OF THE STRENGTH THE BLOOD GIVES ME!
• NOTHING COMPARES! BLOOD ABOVE ALL!

Refusing Heals

• HA! I NEED NOTHING! THE BLOOD COURSES THROUGH ME!
• WHAT FOR?! I AM FULL TO THE BRIM OF CRIMSON NECTAR!
• I ALREADY SURGE WITH THE BLOOD'S VITALITY!

Refusing to Retreat

• WE STAY! THEY BLEED!
• SOON ALL WILL RUN RED!
• WE MUST FLOOD THIS PLACE WITH BLOOD!

Moving Forward

• COME TO ME, PREY!
• HERE I WILL STRIKE FOR BLOOD!
• I CAN SMELL WHERE BLOOD WILL BE SPILLED!

Reducing Own Stress

• Ahhh...it courses through my veins!
• Yesss — behold the power of The Blood!
• I am the Blood God!

Random Action

• AAHAHAA! I FEEL... SO....ALIVE!
• I WILL DO ANYTHING FOR IT!!! ANYTHING!!!
• I AM LOST IN THE THROES OF ITS ECSTASY!

Party Member Getting Hit

• YES! BLEED FOR US!
• TEMPTATION GROWS WITH EACH BLOW!
• I WILL TASTE YOU AND NOTHING WILL STOP ME!

Strategy

• When a cursed hero is in the last stages of the curse (Craving or Wasting, see above), he can deal stress damage to a hero who interacts with any Curio. Thus, to prevent any stress damage, it's better to use this cursed hero to interact with these curios.
• Furthermore, as they are immune to any Disease, the risk of being affected to a negative consequence with curios is therefore attenuated.
• Don't waste your Blood; you can wait before you give it to a Craving hero, since it can last 31-46 rounds. It's better to use it just before a fight, for example.
• It isn't important to focus on fully stress recovering a cursed hero in Bloodlust stage (unless the quest is almost completed): there is a chance that they stress heal themselves, and they will do it even if they are at 0 stress.
• Be careful with ranged Heroes in Bloodlust stage, because they can go forward during a fight and that may upset your strategy.