Ronova likely would have changed the Khaenri’ah aftermath from a fate of endless cursed survival to something closer to ordinary death, but the bigger unknown is whether that would have reduced suffering or made the cataclysm even more total. Lore discussion around the curse says it was tied to Ronova’s role as the Shade of Death and that many fans believe it was meant to prevent a worse abyssal corruption from spreading further.

Most likely outcomes

  • Khaenri’ahns might have died instead of lingering in immortal decay. The curse is described as what left the full-blooded Khaenri’ahns “to rot and suffer,” so without it, the immediate result could have been death rather than cursed survival.
  • The Abyss could have spread more freely. One popular interpretation is that the immortality curse acted as a containment measure, buying time against abyssal corruption or preventing the worst-case scenario from reaching everyone.
  • The Five Sinners and other key figures may have faced a different fate. If the curse was not applied indiscriminately, some lore readers argue the true culprits might have been killed or judged separately, instead of the entire population being bound to immortality.
  • Dainsleif’s personal story would be very different. Since he is one of the famous survivors tied to Khaenri’ah’s aftermath, removing the curse would likely erase the long, tragic “walking through history” angle that defines his character arc.

What the lore implies

The strongest read is that the curse was not just punishment, but also a harsh containment choice in a catastrophe where every option was bad. That means “no curse” does not automatically mean “better outcome”; it may simply mean a faster death for many Khaenri’ahns, with less prolonged suffering but possibly less protection against abyssal fallout.

Fan theories in brief

  • Some fans think Ronova was acting under the logic of preserving humanity overall, not saving Khaenri’ah specifically.
  • Others read the curse as a morally terrible compromise that punished innocents along with the guilty.
  • A third view is that the curse was a story device to set up later paradoxes, bargains, and revenge themes around death and immortality.

In plain terms

If Ronova had not placed the curse, Khaenri’ah probably would have suffered a cleaner but more final destruction: fewer immortal victims, less long-term torment, and potentially less protection from abyssal consequences. The story would likely feel less tragic in the “eternal suffering” sense, but more like a complete eradication of the nation.

Public forum discussion leans heavily toward “the curse was awful, but it may have prevented something even worse,” though that remains interpretation rather than confirmed fact.

TL;DR: No curse likely means less immortal suffering, but possibly a more total death for Khaenri’ah and less barrier against abyss corruption.