Jusenkyo vs. D&D Clone spell

[SpaceKnight of Chaos]

This is just something that has been gnawing at me for a while, and which I finally decided to bite the bullet on. At its fundamental root, it's a simple question: if a Clone spell from Dungeons & Dragons was used on the victim of a Jusenkyo curse, would the clone have the original's Jusenkyo curse?

The Clone spell, for those without access to the older editions, was basically a fantasy take on a bit of science fiction. By taking a blood or tissue sample from a living being, the wizard could then use this spell, along with a number of spell components (alchemical reagents and a "womb jar", basically) to cause that sample to grow into a physically perfect double of the original specimen, lacking a soul or memories- it's just a mindless vegetable. The primary usage of this spell is in conjunction with spells like Soul Jar and Trap the Soul- these necromantic spells could implant a soul (or soul-like entity) within the clone-body. One famous Forgotten Realms villain actually had a dozen or so clone-bodies prepared with this spell, enabling him to leap into a new body should his old one be restored.

I'm not certain why, but I feel compelled to point out that, in canon, we've no real evidence of Jusenkyo curses being carried genetically; the closest example are the Musk tribe, and they merely have 'traits' (strength, speed, etc) from their animal mothers, which may actually be evidence that the curses aren't passed on via genes (which would mean that, despite fanon to the contrary, Ranma would be able to have male children as well as females- his sons would just be bishonens). Before anyone brings up the anime episode "Ranma Goes Back to Jusenkyo At Last", and how Akane and Ryoga's triplets (quadruplets?) all had Ryoga's curse, allow me to point out that the entirety of that episode was confirmed at the end as just being a nightmare of Ranma's.

[mondu_the_fat]

Clone (necromantic), from AD&D Player's Handbook

"This spell creates a duplicate of a person. This clone is in all respects the duplicate of the individual, complete to the level of experience, memories, etc."

I'd think it would be the GM's call if the clone spell also copies curses, but keep in mind that clone copies even intangible things, like memories and experience.

it's just a mindless vegetable.

"However, the duplicate is the person, so that if the original and a duplicate exist at same time, each knows of the other's existence; and the original person and the clone will each desire to do away with the other, for such and alter-ego is unbearable to both."

That's not a description of a mindless vegetable.

[SpaceKnight of Chaos]

Ah, I see. I think they might have changed the rules in 3.x edition, or I was confused all along. My apologies. I might have been thinking of another spell altogether...

Anyway, my original curiosity still remains; would transferring his soul to a soulless, magically grown clone-body (I'm sure that there's a spell that does that, but I can't recall what the name was) be a possible escape for Ranma?

[SpaceKnight of Chaos]

And now my morbid curiosity has been aroused; if Ranma somehow got a Girdle of Masculinity/Feminity clasped onto his waist (cursed belt; switchs the wearer's gender until removed- or switches automatically then falls off, depends on the version), just what would happen? Myself, I see four possibilities:

No effect: Ranma is technically a hermaphrodite, so the belt can't affect him/her.

Blended magic: basically, the Jusenkyo curse and the girdle's curse blend together, which has the effect of reversing Ranma's triggers (so cold water turns him into a boy, hot water into a girl).

Mutual burn out: the conflict between the two curses causes them to unravel- congratulations, Ranma; you're a normal boy again.

Jusenkyo burn out: the girdle's magic overpowers and destroys the Jusenkyo curse, causing the permanent gender switch. If Ranma-chan put it on, he's cured. If Ranma-kun put it on...

[Kilich]

I think that this belt will go haywire as soon as Jusenkyo curse is triggered and will keep changing Ranma's gender as much as possible.

[Atrum_Ensis]

With my book infront of me... The 3.5 Clone Spell is as in the original post. Having never played AD&D, nor owning a AD&D book, I can't say anything about the second version mentioned, but I can say this:

If Jusenkyo is anchored to the Soul, it continues in the cloned body. The cloned person's soul jumps bodies when the current one dies.

If Jusenkyo is anchored to the Body... Then it gets complicated.

The Musk have one Cursed parent, and no curse - just traits from the parents original form (thought I'd point that out, derailing the Ranma's male kids must be bishy thought. His female kids, if conceived while HE is female, would be manly-looking girls instead. Or herms.)

This shows that there is an effect on the genetics - the original form bleeds over a bit in offspring from the Cursed Form. BUT, is the Curse such that it's anchored into every little bit of the Cursed's body in Natural Form? If so, the clone has it yes.

If it's such that it ISN'T, and only effects the genetics in the Cursed Form, then as long as the sample is from the Natural Form, the Clone does not have the curse. If it's the Cursed Form? It likely does pass on, yes. Or causes a manly-looking female Clone. Or a herm clone.