Crimson Curse

"*These swarming fiends carry a pernicious plague! A sickness so virulent, so insidious, it is more a curse than a mere disease.*"

The Crimson Curse is a persistent status effect, much like a disease (but can't be cured by camping skill Leeches and Snuff Box), that gives a hero unique conditions and may lead to the character's death if not treated. It is only found in the Crimson Court DLC.

The Curse is automatically removed from all heroes in your roster after slaying a Courtyard Boss. The ability to cure it through the Sanitarium will become permanently available once the Countess is slain.

It's important to note that after completing the first Courtyard quest, subsequent runs require an Invitation to gain entry: as the Crimson Curse's Infestation grows, Bloodsuckers begin to spawn in every other location. When the Infestation reaches its peak, these random spawns will have a Gatekeeper carrying an Invitation.

Defeating said Gatekeeper will always grant the player one Invitation, but from the second round of combat, the monster can use "Elusive Exit" to escape, denying the player the Invitation drop.

## **All States**

Be wary, for the curse can spread while you're away from the Hamlet, and while in a dungeon, you may come across those who wish to end the curse by any means necessary.

Those who are cursed are immune to all Diseases, and all diseases they had before are cured.

Heroes that remain in the Hamlet when you set out on an Expedition will have the curse state progress by 30 rounds, even if you immediately return from the Expedition. They will also consume 1 vial of The Blood if any remains available in the Hamlet (Look at your provisions to see how many you have stockpiled from Expeditions).

## **Passive**

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:

* -10% Max HP

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**

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

* -10% Max HP
* -10% Virtue Chance
* 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.

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**

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:

* -20% Max HP
* -4 SPD
* 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.

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**

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:

* +4 SPD
* +25% Stun resist
* +15% Blight resist
* 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.

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.

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

## **Removing the curse**

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.

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.

The easiest way to prevent Courtyard expeditions from overwhelming your roster of heroes with The Curse is simply to only send in characters that already have it, or characters with high disease resistance barring that.

## **Attacks that can cause Crimson Curse**

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

## **Barks**

* Stage Progressing
* Craving
* Wasting
* Bloodlust

## 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.***

## 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!***

## **Advice**

* 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.