The Cursed Gold: A Tale of Misfortune and Greed | The Immortal Gazette
Ah, gold. The one thing that can turn friends into enemies, fortunes into ashes, and life into a series of unfortunate events. The Cursed Gold - a tale that has traversed ages, whispered by the winds in quiet taverns, shouted by the seas in tempestuous rage, and carved into forgotten tombs.
Now, let’s take a seat, shall we? Because, once again, we’re about to delve into a story of greed, revenge, and an ancient curse that absolutely no one should ever mess with. But, of course, someone always does. Right, Loki?
Loki, lounging on the couch, grinned. “Well, of course. It's gold. What else would you expect people to do - avoid it? No, they must be tempted.”
Alice, who had been sipping tea, raised an eyebrow. “Ah, yes, Loki. Always the voice of reason.” She flicked her gaze to Rumplestiltskin, who was pacing with his usual frustrated energy. “Tell me, Rumple, do you know anything about the Cursed Gold?”
Rumplestiltskin, his mood turning more sour by the second, huffed. “Oh, the cursed treasure, is it? Of course, I’ve heard of it. Everyone’s heard of it. It’s the oldest tale, and it’s always the same, isn’t it? Someone finds it, someone dies. Big surprise.”
Loki chuckled. “Ah, but it’s not the how of it that’s interesting, Rumple. It’s the why. Why do they go after the gold in the first place?” He looked to Alice, as if daring her to continue.
Alice smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Oh, you’re right, Loki. The temptation, the desire... It’s what makes the story so tragic. So, let’s talk about the origins of this cursed treasure, shall we?"
In ancient times, long before immortals like ourselves came to dominate the world, there were tales of a hidden hoard of gold - so rich, so dazzling, that it could blind a man with a single glance. It was said to be guarded by a powerful spirit, an ancient god who thrived on greed and lust for power. This gold - referred to in the legends as The Gold of Seraphon - was not merely a symbol of wealth; it was a vessel of dark power, a tool for those daring enough to wield it. But like all treasures that lure in the unwary, it came with a steep price.
The tale begins with a man named Thalos, a seasoned sailor from a distant land. He and his crew were out at sea, facing a brutal storm when they stumbled upon an uncharted island, shimmering beneath the storm clouds like a beacon. It was here that Thalos found a cave, filled to the brim with golden treasures - coins, crowns, and jewelry, all forged with intricate patterns that told of a forgotten civilization. And in the heart of that treasure, gleaming brightly in the dim light, was a chest, carved with symbols that seemed to twist and writhe as if alive.
The legend says that as Thalos touched the chest, a cold wind swept through the cave, and a voice boomed in his mind, warning him: "This gold is cursed. Touch it, and you shall never know peace again."
Thalos, driven by his desire for wealth, ignored the voice. He took the chest, securing it aboard his ship, and set sail back to his homeland.
The moment they left the island, strange occurrences began. His crew grew ill, plagued by nightmares of terrible beasts and the sinking of their ship. The weather turned against them, as though the very sea itself sought to claim them. But Thalos, greedy and blind to the warnings, pressed on. As they neared port, the ship was torn apart by an unseen force, and only Thalos emerged, clutching the chest tightly.
But no man could escape the curse of the gold.
Thalos found himself a rich merchant, and with his newfound fortune, he lived a life of opulence. Yet, every night, the gold haunted his dreams. He could hear the voice of the spirit, its whispers growing louder, reminding him of the price he had paid. "The gold is mine," it hissed. "The soul of the one who steals it shall never be free."
In time, Thalos' greed grew insatiable, and he sought to expand his wealth, trading the cursed gold with other kingdoms and lords. But as he did, the curse spread, infecting all those who came in contact with it. Kingdoms fell, armies crumbled, and one by one, the men who had acquired the gold met violent, tragic ends.
The curse of the gold was said to eventually destroy Thalos himself, with his final moments spent in agony as the spirit of Seraphon tore him apart. No one knows the exact fate of the gold after that, but legend says it sank to the bottom of the sea, buried under centuries of lost history, waiting for the next fool to seek it out.
"Quite the charming story, isn't it?" Alice quipped, sipping her tea. "Greed, desire, and, of course, the inevitable downfall of those who refuse to listen to the warnings." She raised her eyes to meet Loki’s. "Remind me, Loki, have you ever been tempted by cursed treasures?"
Loki flashed a devilish grin. "I have plenty of treasures, Alice. But, yes, there’s always something deliciously tempting about gold... especially when it comes with a curse."
Rumplestiltskin groaned, throwing his hands up. "I knew it. Greedy, all of you. Gold? Treasure? That’s the worst kind of mischief."
Alice smirked at him. "Oh, Rumple, darling. You’re just mad you weren’t the one to get your hands on it first."
As the conversation wound down, a chill seemed to hang in the air - a reminder that, while some treasures are worth seeking, others are best left untouched, especially when they come with a curse that no mortal, nor immortal, could escape.
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In this tale, we recounted the story of The Cursed Gold, a timeless legend rooted in human greed and the eternal consequences of ignoring warnings. The story centers around Thalos, a sailor who discovers a chest of gold that once belonged to the god Seraphon. Despite the warnings of the curse, Thalos takes the gold, only to find his life - and the lives of those around him - unraveling in tragedy. The gold, a symbol of greed, spreads its curse across kingdoms, causing death, destruction, and chaos wherever it goes. A tale as old as time itself, reminding us that some treasures are not meant to be found.
