Orc Resisting a Curse

[Gidoza]

The wording is somewhat ambiguous...which of the following is it?

1. The Orc can resist a curse and loses a level, unless he is level 1, in which case he can resist the curse but loses no level.

2. The Orc can resist a curse and loses a level, unless he is level 1, in which case he cannot resist the curse.

[Brf]

If the Orc is 1st level, he cannot pay the level to do the resist, therefore, he cannot resist it.

[Gidoza]

So I'm wondering why it's this way for Orc, and not for Thief? Seems silly to me.

[Blazinjsin]

For the org, it's an activation cost. For the thief, it's a penalty for a bad roll, just like suffering bad stuff. And just like bad stuff and curses, if they can't affect you, nothing happens

[Brf]

For the thief, the Cost of stealing is the card they discard first. They have to pay the cost of discarding a card before trying to steal. The level-loss for being unsuccessful is a resulting penalty, not a cost.

[Gidoza]

Yes, I understand that...but what I meant by my question is why it's permitted for Thieves to steal at level 1 at all. Let's phrase it that way instead.