Cursed Ones
AKA: the Friendless, Owlers, Fortune Eaters
She was a strange child, with yellowed eyes too large for any face and billowing hair that could not be tamed. Any who were near her knew that something was not right; and, it wasn’t due to her appearance, but the feeling she gave of — one that promised doom, death. I met that orphan once, on the worst day of my life; as horrible as it sounds, I can’t help but feel my misfortune was her fault. Though she may not have been evil herself, I will never shake the thought that something within her was… and that it would be best if neither existed long.
- Anonymous
A strange thing happens when a baby girl is born on a Tuesday to a family that has maternal, Tuesday-born lineages spanning four generations; the fifth, however, is considered an Unlucky Tuesday. These babes become possessed, eternally linked to a long-forgotten being—one that is paranormal and connected to luck and the cursed imagery of owls; they share a body with this entity, who, aside from their unusual forms, display little signs of existence. Living within them, the being alters their genetic material and causes them to absorb, then destroy the luck of those around them.
Cursed Ones are born with thin necks, low set ears, no thumbs or hallux, and long, triangular dents starting at the forehead and reaching back, mid-skull. Light, fluffy hair adorns their face, often hiding their most unnerving quality; the girls have abnormally large, owl-like eyes that are gold, yellow, or orange with large pupils, and thick lashes. Their eyelashes are also feathery, their face smooth, but below the neck, an Owler’s skin is stretchy, thick, and wrinkled. Lacking fingernails, their phalanges continuously lengthen as they age; over time, toe tips darken and come to a point. Further in development, their limbs also elongate, giving them a lanky appearance, as their torsos remain unusually short. Cursed One’s bones are less dense, prone to fracture and break. Owlers move around in a hunched manner, as their spine grows to be extensively curved, forming a distinct ‘s’ shape; sometimes, this issue can be resolved or reduced with medical attention.
Though they rarely enter adulthood, when maturity is reached they grow beautiful, white and gold feathers and their arms become functional wings; they then fly off to live peaceful A lives with those of their kind in a secret civilization—where no one may be hurt by their blight. The beings that reside within them are neither benevolent or nefarious, though they help their host and harm those outside. When these halflings die, they become ghostly, golden-hued owls who bring bad luck to those that see them, or good luck to those who have not had any for a while.
Social Lives and Relationships
Cursed Ones gain their namesake for their innate ability to absorb and eradicate the luck of those within a mile radius of their forms. Because of this, those near them often unintentionally harm themselves or others, lose money, are caught in unexpected bad weather, or find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Car accidents, bad dates, theft, tornadoes, and being hit by falling objects are a few things that happen when Cursed Ones are present.
It does not take long for the halflings to be connected to bad luck at any stage of their development: infant, toddler, child, adolescent, or adult—each may become despised. Many Owlers lose almost every friend they make—whether via death or hatred—and gain a bad reputation instead.
Aside from bringing bad luck, Cursed Ones often spark jealousy or suspicion in others; though people around them experience disaster, things always seem to go in their favor. The entities within the halfling not only take away luck from outsiders but give it to their hosts. Owlers always win games of chance, escape unharmed, or are at the right place at the right time. This gift may bring them wealth and success, but it also makes them some of the loneliest people in the world—frequently orphaned or shunned. In the past, Cursed Ones were killed once their nature was discovered, as they could bring families, even whole communities, into ruin.
When interacting with others in hopes of garnering a positive occurrence, such as pregnancy, luck cancels out, resulting in true, random chance. There are no documented instances of Owlers having children, as most people want nothing to do with them. They are often killed by others who blame them for their misfortunes; though luck may save them on many occasions, it can only go so far to preserve their lives.