Editing Midnight RPG - Chapter 42.453 (section)

==== GM Notes ====
::  Lady Ahemia's Charisma score is/was 16.  
::  Remember to remove those Spell Energy cast.  Remember also - this conversation took place after midnight on the 6th of HALAIL when you were at the rendevous point below Baden's Bluff.  You then travelled on the Paths of Dal Colia to the Corbron Isles, where you are now.  That was nearly 48 hours ago.  Of course (strangely enough)  Zal had specifically been illusioning he and Ahemia to look as normal denizens of the Pirate Isles nearly the entire time, the rest of his time has been calling Outsiders with you guys.  So naturally he hasn't noticed her degradation.  heheh...  He will this game likely... 
# (getting uglier by the hour):  this fulfills the original spell's point of "One ability score is reduced to 1, or two ability scores take –6 penalties (to a minimum score of 1)."  (ie.  you shouldn't be able to "invent" more since it essentially does this one effect of the original spell.)
# (waning of the ugly effect):  this breaks a point of the original spell - "A greater curse cannot be dispelled, nor can it be removed with break enchantment or limited wish.  A miracle or wish spell removes a greater curse, as does remove curse cast by a spellcaster of at least 17th level."  But I'm sort of okay with it for the story purpose.
# (not being able to explain):  is in my opinion outside the ability of the cursing spell...  I'd say that you can explain to her the effects and she's not likely to tell unless forced.  But I can't see the spell doing the above AND this as well.
# (curse ending):  as with Point 2, this breaks the "permanency" of the spell.  Can a Channeller CHOOSE to end an effect at his will?  I didn't think so.  But again I'm okay with it for the purpose of the story here.
# (my thought):  heheheheh, neat role-playing spell...
===== Bill's Reply =====
# (getting uglier by the hour):  This curse does not mimic any of the three listed effects in the spell description, and it was never my intent to have it change her Charisma score in any way.  If you want to give her penalties to her interaction checks when people see that she is ugly, well that makes sense but it's not the express intent of the spell.  This curse falls under the realm of ''"You can also invent your own curse, but it should be no more powerful than those described above, and the DM has the final say on the curse’s effect."''  Based on how little it actually does, the curse could have been a regular one instead of a greater one.  It doesn't impede her in any way, other than to make her ugly (and whatever limitations you determine that might cause, like Zal rejecting her), and it's not a curse that she has to suffer - she has the capability of ending the cause of the ugliness if she chooses to act on it.  The reason I made it a greater curse is because it's going to be HARD for Zal or anyone else to get rid of it.  I mean, with the spell cast I could have KILLED her (through the severe limitations that the 3 "normal" uses of the curse impose) instead of doing what Kyuad said he was going to do.  Is this curse more powerful than the examples given in the spell description?  If not, then it's an okay use of the spell.
::: <font color=red>REPLY: I disagree, isn't it exactly the first (reducing the Charisma to 1)? I know the Charisma isn't only your looks but don't you think this would impede her normal way of interacting - self confidence, etc... I'm just saying that it seems like an easy way to note that it's the first point of the spell...</font>
:::: I don't understand... to what do you disagree?  I think the curse should absolutely '''NOT''' reduce her Cha score to 1, because that would make her catatonic and that's the '''opposite''' of the curse's intent.  She's supposed to recognize that a change is happening, know the cause of the ugliness, and use that to determine that a demon has her under control.  The ugliness is not at all the goal - the goal is to use the ugliness as a litmus test.
# (waning of the ugly effect):  The curse remains active at all times, until it is dispelled.  That the ugnliness wanes when conditions are not met does not in any way end the curse.  In fact, I intended that to be a limitation on the curse that would balance out it's overall strength.  
::: <font color=red>REPLY: Okay.</font>
# (not being able to explain):  This contributes to the overall power of the spell.  Technically I didn't have to tell her that I'd caused this at all.  I could have worded everything in such a way as to make her think that there was no curse at all, and this limitation wouldn't have had to be mentioned.  I just chose to do things above-the-table instead so she wouldn't eventually think I had tricked her if things came out that I had.
::: <font color=red>REPLY: I just don't think this is in the parameters of the spell. Don't get me wrong, it's not likely she'd "tell on you" if this is properly explained to her... But I just don't think it's part of this spell. That's the effect of Dominate in my opinion.</font>
:::: A curse can cause the rest of a person's endeavors to end in pain and anguish - so what if that mimics another spell?  The intent of the curse spell is to mimic the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse wish of misfortune] found in history, right?  I'm not saying you're wrong and you shouldn't remove this aspect of the curse, but I do think that ''a curse'' (even if it's not this one) should be able to do this, at least to some extent.
# (curse ending):  The condition of the curse ending completely with Zal's death ''does'' break with the express limitations of a greater curse, so I'd have no argument if you threw that out.  No, the greater curse is not dismissable (D), so Kyuad does have to gain a level and then remove it if it ever is to go away.
::: <font color=red>REPLY: Okay </font>
# (thoughts): I'm glad you like it!  One of the conditions of the ugliness is something that could be problematic.  She's only supposed to get uglier when being influenced by an outsider.  This includes casting spells powered by outsider energy.  This does not include spells powered by an actual deity.  So if you don't want this curse to be used as a means by which Kyuad can determine if the Great Outsider Conspiracy is fact or fiction, then you should change that portion (either casting spells doesn't trigger the ugliness at all, or casting legate spells no matter the source does trigger the ugliness).  Then again, this ''is'' an 8th-level spell, cast on a legate who willingly let it happen (something that may never happen again) - so maybe it should be able to do something kinda special.  If you don't change that though, you better believe that this is going to be a contributing factor to Kyuad's research into the nature of Izrador! :)
::: <font color=red>REPLY: She IS currently influenced by an outsider... Kyuad could/should have gotten that. She's under the mind-magics of Zal, and he's an outsider. I had/have no intention of changing it to allow Kyuad to determine anything, other than continued influence.</font>
:::: I think I haven't explained it well.  Your intent is going to be to change the effects of the curse or not, but that doesn't have anything to do with allowing Kyuad to do something.  The key here is that she's ugly only when being influenced by an outsider.  If an outsider has her dominated, or if she casts spells powered by outsiders, she gets uglier.  Therefore, if Zal does not have her under control and the curse is still active, her casting legate spells will either have no impact on her looks (meaning the magic is from a god) or it will make her uglier (meaning the magic is from outsiders pretending to be a god).  The curse doesn't prove anything.  The proof has to be inferred, again, like a litmus test.  If you want this to not be possible, change the effects of the curse (it's on a wiki, you can make the changes directly).