[ Fears made manifest, and greater in power in accordance with the strength of that fear. It's no wonder that sorcerers continue to dwindle in number, while curses only seem to grow stronger and stronger. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, an ouroboros. ]

Depends. Curses can't be seen by non-sorcerers, so lower-grade spirits might only feel like a headache or a vague illness to the average person. The higher-grade ones, though...those will kill indiscriminately, and need to be exorcised.

[ He jerks the lamp-oar into the air, causing the whole "raft" to wobble in the lava. ]

That's where I come in!