Corrupting Influence

“	I took Gotham's White Knight... and I brought him down to our level. It wasn't hard. See, madness, as you know, is like gravity... All it takes is a little... push!	„
	~ Joker referring to how he turned Harvey Dent into a killer.

A kind of villain (or Evil Artifact) able to attract many to the Dark Side by persuasion, temptation or manipulation; calling upon one's darkest desires and tempting them with the prospect of fulfilling their wishes or granting them power; or simply because of the foul evil energy radiating from it so intensely that it twists the minds of any who come into contact with it and increases their inner darkness (sometimes by a mix as seen with Malefor).

Those submitted to a Corrupting Influence grow increasingly manipulative and evil depending on how the influence works and the way they are exposed to it. The corruption may only occur when one is exposed (though the victim develops an unhealthy addiction to it or becomes convinced by the Villain's arguments) or gradually increases over time but if nothing is done to stop it the corruption becomes permanent and irreversible. Rarely, this can lead to Damned Souls as some may go over the Moral Event Horizon.

Also, these are the polar opposite of the Passively Empathic who attract others to the good side. They are generally among those regarded by other characters as individuals everyone else would ultimately be better off without (e.g. Peter Griffin, Eric Cartman).

Note that a Pure Good is immune to, unaffected by or not subject to a Corrupting Influence as they are incorruptible.

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Corrupting Influence

See also