The curse of eternal thirst is a mystical phenomenon that is said to afflict those who have committed grave sins in their past lives. It is believed to be a punishment handed down by higher powers as a means of eternal torment and atonement. Those afflicted with this curse are said to experience an insatiable and unquenchable thirst that cannot be satisfied no matter how much water they consume. They are in a constant state of dehydration, with their bodies craving water at all times. The curse is often described as being not just physical, but also mental and emotional. The never-ending thirst becomes an all-consuming obsession, leading to desperation and madness.
The first generation of mortals was given the privilege of dining with the gods on Mt. Olympus, but Tantalus misbehaved spectacularly and made his host Zeus positively livid with outrage. There are three versions of Tantalus' mischief. The first is that he gossiped with his fellow mortals as to what the gods were cooking up with their divine plans for humanity. The second version has Tantalus stealing some of the divine nectar and ambrosia served at the dinner and giving it out to mere mortals down below. These two sins were bad enough and threatened the balance of order between gods and humanity, but the third version, the most popular one, tells of an even more outrageous deed.
His wife differs in various accounts Euryanassa or Eurythemista, both daughters of river gods, or Clytie, daughter of Aphidamantes, or Dione, one of the Pleiades. Sisyphus had to forever roll a stone up a hill each day, Ixion was tied to a flaming wheel that never stopped spinning, and Tantalus, completing the most unfortunate trio in Hades, was made to stand in a pool of water but never able to drink from it and quench his insatiable thirst as it drains whenever he bends down to drink.
The never-ending thirst becomes an all-consuming obsession, leading to desperation and madness. The afflicted are driven to extreme measures in their quest for relief, resorting to stealing, begging, or even violence to obtain water. Legend has it that the curse can be temporarily lifted through acts of true repentance and redemption.
Card Spotlight: Eternal Thirst
I think most players have thought that about a card at some point in their gaming life time. Some cards may seem clunky or situational, but we try to convince ourselves otherwise because we like what the card offers.
For me, this is Eternal Thirst.
I’ve had a bit of luck with it in M15 drafts. Typically, I’ve run this in a few Black/White decks alongside Ajani’s Pridemate. In a draft environment, you can often get away with this because there are so few answers, especially where enchantments have come from. Specifically, you have to put this on a card that isn’t a threat. For one draft, I kept putting this on Heliod’s Pilgrim. The Pilgrim had done its job and was not the main threat next to Ajani’s Pridemate. Yet getting rid of it would take a removal spell, forcing the opponent to shift their focus from the real threat. If they do leave it, on the other hand, than it can get quite big if you manage to kill a few of your opponents creatures, which shouldn’t be very hard if you’re in Black.
Is there Standard potential?
The general consensus on this card is that it’s bad. If its not playable in limited, why would you try it in constructed? Even more than this, the fact that it’s an enchantment means it can be taken away easily and many opponents will have planned answers for auras. As a result, we should look for a deck where it will be a big benefit if it sticks around but, even if it doesn’t, can it offer any incremental advantage?
In short, I think Black heroic could have some potential here. The first card that came to mind for me was Agent of the Fates. This card is strong in its own right, thanks to its heroic trigger and deathtouch ability. However, it’s worth noting that it won’t gain a counter when you trigger it with Eternal Thirst – the heroic trigger activates while the aura is on the stack and has not yet attached itself to the Agent.
Since we’re in a Black heroic strategy that likes to kill creatures, it seems only logical to include Nighthowler. This gets bigger with the more things that die, and can be cast as an aura for more triggers, or even played as a creature in its own right.
Throw in the likes of Bloodcrazed Hoplite, Spiteful Returned or Tormented Hero and there’s a potential budget deck in the making. You could also run the likes of Herald of Torment for something more evasive. In short, there are options.
Similarly, could there be some form of budget Black/White midrange deck that could use this with Pridemate and friends? Maybe, but I feel adding white takes away from removal and neither does it add more ways to kill things. It does add more heroic creatures, however, some it could work in a constellation-esque strategy.
On the other hand, adding a second colour such as White (or even Blue) could add protection. Once you start targeting Agent of the Fates, or even playing him in the first plays, a smart player will identify him as a threat. Heroic decks need protection, as putting all your eggs into one basket has never proven a viable strategy without it.
Anyway, these are my current thoughts on the card for now – I don’t have a full deck worked out yet but I know I have the cards available to put something together.
Those who sincerely regret their past actions and make amends may be granted respite from the eternal thirst. However, the curse is said to always linger, waiting to return if the person falls back into their old ways. The curse of eternal thirst serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of one's actions and the importance of living a virtuous life. It reminds us that our actions have consequences, and that we are ultimately responsible for the choices we make..
Reviews for "The Cursed Ones: Tales of Those Who Bear the Burden of Eternal Thirst"
1. John - 1/5 stars - Unfortunately, "Curse of eternal thirst" fell far below my expectations. The plot was predictable and lacked originality, and the characters were one-dimensional and poorly developed. The writing style was also quite uninspiring, making it difficult for me to become immersed in the story. Overall, I found the book unimpressive and would not recommend it to others.
2. Emily - 2/5 stars - While "Curse of eternal thirst" had an intriguing concept, it failed to deliver. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest multiple times throughout the book. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to connect with the characters. Additionally, the ending was quite anticlimactic, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. Overall, I was disappointed with this novel.
3. David - 2/5 stars - I had high expectations for "Curse of eternal thirst," but it turned out to be a letdown. The writing felt amateurish, with awkward phrasing and repetitive descriptions. The plot felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction, leaving me confused and unengaged. The characters were also forgettable and unrelatable. Overall, I found this book to be a struggle to get through and would not recommend it.
4. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I struggled to find any redeeming qualities in "Curse of eternal thirst." The story was slow-paced and uninteresting, and the characters were unlikable and lacked depth. The writing style was overly descriptive, bogging down the narrative with unnecessary details. Additionally, the world-building felt underdeveloped and inconsistent. Overall, I felt no enjoyment while reading this book and would not recommend it.
5. Michael - 2/5 stars - "Curse of eternal thirst" had potential, but it fell flat. The plot was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to follow along. The dialogue was often stilted and unrealistic, hindering my ability to connect with the characters. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of boredom. In the end, I was left underwhelmed and wishing for more coherence in the narrative.