ToME WikiAdventures of a handicapped Ent sorceror DeafLeaf (v. 2.3.1) by Bandobras, Part III
Bandobras: Below you see Part III of our saga, a quick journal of DeafLeaf III the Speechless exploits in the quest inherited from his fathers. With his preference for humming instead of speech (for the convenience of our readers most of the humming is omitted) DeafLeaf III gives little or very shallow explanation for his customs and attitudes, for example his abhorrence toward mushrooms or magical runes. The readers are invited to consult the history of his ancestors and to ask questions and add comments in every delimited comment area throughout the text.
Your comment?
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Ho-hmmm...
Bandobras: And thus the glorious story has started. 
DeafLeaf III begins with the same stats as his grandfather DeafLeaf I (generated by quickstart, the character dump at grandfather's death have shown "normal luck", which is quite good for an Ent). The options are quite standard:
Maximise stats : yes (maximize) Preserve artifacts : yes (preserve) Allow use of some 'joke' monsters : no (joke_monsters) Always make small levels : no (always_small_level) You can receive fates, good or bad : no (fate_option) Allow unusually small dungeon levels : yes (small_levels) Allow empty 'arena' levels : yes (empty_levels)
perhaps with the exception of these two:
Auto-scum for good levels : yes (auto_scum) Generate dungeons with connected stairs : no (dungeon_stair)
There are 98 random quests.
DeafLeaf III runs with coward/running at astounding speed -1 and prays continuously, just as his fathers.
Your comments?
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Hmm, hmm, first some shopping. I sold everything but one torch. Now into the thieves quest.
"Welcome to level 5."
Great. 7 points to Magic, then I will max Sorcery, then Spell-power and then Spirituality. When I get .5 in Stealth, some points there, too.
"The voice of Melkor Bauglir booms in your head:..."
No way, Ash Master. The nice hobbits told me all about Daddy and you. I wish, I will be the one to break the family curse. I wonder if the Elves or Saruman can help me. Anyway, Saruman has not been seen in Isengard, lately, and Elves are far away.
What a shame, when I paid the visit to the thieves, the shops restocked, loosing all ?oID and lanterns. I put the loot at home:
a) ( a Padded Armour [4] 6.0 lb b) ] a Set of Leather Gloves [1] 0.5 lb c) | a Dagger (1d4) 1.2 lb d) | a Dagger (1d4) 1.2 lb e) | a Tulwar (2d4) 10.0 lb
Now to squelch the mushrooms, the tree disease. And down with you, mad dogs!
"My puppy! My poor, defenseless puppy... YOU MURDERER ! Out of my sight !"
Huh? Yeah, that is always the most funny part! For some reason he is always so angry when people save his forest, time after time.
This time, the shop did no restocking. So, ahead with:
a) ? a Book of Beginner Cantrips 3.0 lb b) ! 2 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds 0.8 lb c) ~ a Wooden Torch (with 1673 turns of light) 3.0 lb
BDw 1
"You hear someone shouting: 'Leave me alone, stupid Grey icky thing'"
Lava.
a) Metal Cap b) Set of Gauntlets c) Lance
Most gauntlets are worthless for a sorceror. I'd better take the cap.
Now a trip across the lava for the loot, naked. Now back across the lava and up stairs, because the only down stairs are inside the lava pool.
You sold a Set of Leather Gloves [1,+4] for 269 gold. You sold a Dagger (1d4) (+2,+3) for 340 gold. You sold a Metal Cap of the Noldor [3,+2] (+1) for 9910 gold.
One of the few useless caps... But much money! With so much cash, I can afford some holidays. Let's go shopping to Gondolin. My father wanted to get there, perhaps I will learn something from the the Elves.
Unfortunately, the Elves are not very talkative in the Hidden City. They are very magical folk, but they are so secretive, they do not even have public library. And the trees there are weak, overwhelmed by so much rock and stone. I don't like this city.
Here is my kit after the shopping:
a) ? a Book of Beginner Cantrips 3.0 lb b) ? a Spellbook of Disarm 3.0 lb c) ? a Spellbook of Vapor 3.0 lb d) ! 7 Flasks of oil 7.0 lb e) ! 2 Potions of Speed 0.8 lb f) ! 7 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds 2.8 lb g) ? 7 Scrolls of Teleportation 3.5 lb h) ? a Scroll of Word of Recall 0.5 lb i) ~ a Brass Lantern (with 7062 turns of light) 5.0 lb j) \ a Pick (+1) 15.0 lb k) ! 33 Empty Bottles 6.6 lb
Time to clear some more forests.
BDw 2
"You hear someone shouting: 'Leave me alone, stupid Mughash, the Kobold Lord'"
Arena level, but fortunately not dark!
Bandobras: Your comments?
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"Mughash, the Kobold Lord dies.
Welcome to level 8."
Great. The rewards:
a) Lance b) Wooden Boomerang c) Rapier
I choose the boomerang. Of Westernesse would be welcome.
BDw 3
"You hear someone shouting: 'Leave me alone, stupid War bear'
You have a very good feeling..."
Indeed --- not arena level this time. Nothing interesting on the level, though.
Lava again in the princess room. Her rewards:
a) Light Crossbow b) Light War Axe c) Lead-Filled Mace
Hmmm. Cubragol? Let's hope and try...
Let's try to get this crossbow across the lava. I see the "Grow trees" power makes trees grow on lava! Who would have thought? With some patience I can make the green devils grow at least on every shallow lava square. Combined with the shallow lava path to the princess cage this seems to make all my future quests safe.
Anyway, time to recall because the backpack is quite full. I have backpack and home both full of unidentified loot. Did I say, I'm greedy? Those ?oID are so expensive and I would like to use the loot as soon as possible. Time to visit other town in search of the spell book of Identify.
First Minas Anor because I can go there without crossing water. No spell book of Identify. Then, Lothlorien. No luck, either, and no admittance to Galadriel. Celeborn explains, I know enough from the memoirs of my father that have been passed to me. He wants me to help him with the wolves, instead. They have made their nest in the area of the forest once given to my father. I reclaim my heritage, advancing to level 12. Indeed a nice garden. In this quiet place finally I max Sorcery and Spell power.
I get back to Minas Anor. If I don't find the spell book of Identify here, I return to Bree and spend my fortune all on ?oID. I have sworn to avoid scumming that killed my father and his many relatives. Shop-scumming in particular.
"You bought a Spellbook of Noxious Cloud for 785 gold."
At last! Now I ID entire pack at once!
Bandobras: Once again the DeafLeaf family proves to be comprised of brave and true-hearted but not-so-bright tree shepherds. Our hero has just tried to identify his loot with the spell of Noxious Cloud. After several tries the entire backpack got quite stinky but no more identified than before. (In fact this your favorite narrator again , mixing the notes about DeafLeaf III's adventures with some notes about one of his relatives. All is repaired now. Sorry!)
Disappointed, DeafLeaf III buys two ?oID for the rewards and stows the rest of his loot at home. Unfortunately, no boomerang of Westernesse and no Cubragol. Not yet. :}
You sold a Wooden Boomerang of Accuracy (1d8) (+11,+7) for 1854 gold. You sold a Light Crossbow of Power (x3) (+5,+19) for 2358 gold.
Your comments?
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Hmm, huh, hmmm. After that embarrassing failure with Noxious Cloud, I venture again into the Barrow Downs. Yes, yes, indeed I have no Identify spell, but the tree enemies will quickly start regretting, I got Noxious Cloud instead. Ho-hum.
BDw 4
"You hear someone shouting: 'Leave me alone, stupid Rattlesnake'"
Noxious Cloud at work.
"Smeagol dies."
He drops his ring and a mace.
The rewards:
a) Leather Scale Mail b) Small Metal Shield c) Lucerne Hammer
Armor boosting HP would be nice. Let's try: a Leather Scale Mail of Resist Acid (-1 to accuracy) [11,+1]. Not this time.
BDw 5
"You hear someone shouting: 'Leave me alone, stupid Stegocentipede'"
Arena level, but not dark. Quite stinky, quite soon, however.
"Welcome to level 13."
Rewards:
a) Beaked Axe b) Broad Axe c) Dagger
The beaked axe will give most gold, I guess: a Spectral Beaked Axe (2d6) (+12,+4). Indeed a lot money.
BDw 6
"A strange man wrapped in a dark cloak steps out of the shadows: 'Ah please help me ! A group of Owlbear stole my sword! I'm nothing without it'"
As many as 18 owlbears. And this is large level, hard to find them and the backpack will overflow soon. Recall to Bree.
Nothing in shops. Recall back to BDw 6.
Some stinking again. What would my Fireworks Daddy say?
"Welcome to level 14."
Finally maxxed Spirituality. Now I would like to start maxxing Stealth, but no good modifier, yet. Rewards:
a) Conveyance : +03.000 value, +0.000 modifier b) Thaumaturgy : +02.700 value, +0.000 modifier c) Weaponmastery : +01.000 value, +0.300 modifier d) Disarming : +01.000 value, +0.300 modifier
The only sensible choice is Thaumaturgy. Nothing interesting among the spells, unfortunately:
Name Lev Fail Mana Damage a) Bolt - confusion (Spell untried) b) Bolt - acid (Spell untried) c) Beam - confusion (Spell untried) d) Beam - flames (Spell untried) e) Beam - pure time (Spell untried)
Spell a) might be good for Eol. But is says
Bolt - confusion : Damage: 1d5, Power: 5
What does power 5 mean? Does it have smaller chance of confusing Eol than with power 100? I guess so... :<
And what does e) do? Let's see... Only damage, is the opinion of an unhappy Rattlesnake.
BDw 7
"You hear someone shouting: 'Leave me alone, stupid Baby green dragon'"
Ooops.
Fortunately not even one breath. It seems, my breath is worse (Vapour this time). >:)
"Welcome to level 15."
Rewards:
a) Cord Armour b) Wooden Boomerang c) Light Crossbow
Cubragol would be nice, but armor boosting HP is even more important for a sorceror. ID: a Cord Armour of Resistance [6,+10]. Not exactly what I ordered, but quite useful, indeed.
Found also a Wooden Torch of the Ethereal Eye, but it's only magic napping. It is hard to fit all the loot into a backpack. Let's try to wear that ring:
"You are wearing a Marble Ring (f). Oops! It feels deathly cold!"
Oops! It quickly turns out to be =oTeleportation.
Recall. Then some fun with getting to the Temple. After several teleportations I succeed to buy and read ?oRemove Curse. I will make the Magic Shop owner a joke and sell him the Marble Ring.
You sold a Ring of Teleportation for 31 gold. I think I'll retire! h) = a Ring of Teleportation 0.2 341
What? 
Now I remember, the ring has aimed teleport activation. Hmmm. The joke is on me, I guess.
Let us put the rest of the loot at home.
"Your home is full."
No!!!
Time for shopping around Arda.
No spell book of Identify in Lothlorien nor in Minas Anor. Back to Lothlorien: I will have to buy lots of ?oID again, I fear. Return to Bree and what do I see: spell book of Identify in both the Magic shop and Book Store!
After identifying all the home content and the backpack (no stench this time) I find the Smeagol's mace is a Spectral Mace, so I can sell the Spectral Beaked Axe. One mace will be enough to escape Eol into the walls.
After the shopping I have the following at home:
a) ? a Spellbook of Elemental Shield 3.0 lb b) ? a Spellbook of Vision 3.0 lb c) ? a Spellbook of Remove Curses 3.0 lb d) ? a Spellbook of Confuse 3.0 lb e) \ a Spectral Mace (2d4) (+4,+4) 12.0 lb
I carry (some of this is equipped):
a) ? a Fireproof Book of Beginner Cantrips 3.0 lb
b) ? a Spellbook of Fireflash 3.0 lb
c) ? a Spellbook of Identify 3.0 lb
d) ? a Spellbook of Disarm 3.0 lb
e) ? a Spellbook of Noxious Cloud 3.0 lb
f) ? a Spellbook of Vapor 3.0 lb
g) ! 6 Flasks of oil 6.0 lb
h) ! 2 Potions of Speed 0.8 lb
i) ! 15 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds 6.0 lb
j) ? 7 Scrolls of Teleportation 3.5 lb
k) ? 10 Scrolls of Word of Recall {25% off} 5.0 lb
l) = a Ring of Invisibility 0.2 lb
m) ( a Cord Armour of Resistance [6,+10] 8.0 lb
n) ! 56 Empty Bottles 11.2 lb
Time to get back to work.
Bandobras: Your comments?
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BDw 7
"Bullroarer the Hobbit dies."
A hobbit harming trees? I thought they enjoy gardening all day and then burrow themselves for the night, as any regular person should do.
BDw 8
"A strange man wrapped in a dark cloak steps out of the shadows: 'Ah please help me ! A group of Dark hound stole my sword!
You have a very good feeling..."
Hmmm. Wait. No hurry. First thing first: detect monsters.
You sense the presence of monsters! The Dark hound breathes darkness. You are blind!
It didn't work. Escape into the trees! Fortunately the dark tree-blinders cannot pass trees. However, I can.
"Welcome to level 16."
Let's hunt them! Ahhh, a trinket: Indestructible Ring of Critical Hits (+1% of critical hits). Another one:
You see an Eyeball.
Bleh! Some creature's eye with a rune inscribed on it. A rune! The tree-harming rune-masters got there before me!
You cannot destroy an Eyeball.
You see an Eyeball {special}.
Never mind, I bury the awful thing deep into the ground. No more toys for you, rune-masters. Come, search them, I will gladly help you get to where the rune lies now. Deep, deep, under the roots of trees. You will enjoy the silence.
Rewards:
a) Thaumaturgy : +02.700 value, +0.000 modifier b) Mindcraft : +01.000 value, +0.300 modifier c) Symbiosis : +01.000 value, +0.300 modifier d) Stealth : +00.400 value, +0.100 modifier
I would gladly choose Symbiosis for invisibility and the occasional avoidance of blows. But Stealth is so much more important for my Skill plan. I already have some skill points saved to put into Stealth, which result in:
Stealth -4.-100 [0.500]
Ho-hmmm, not exactly positive, but improving.
BDw 9
"You hear someone shouting: 'Leave me alone, stupid Swordsman'
You have a very good feeling..."
"Welcome to level 17."
There is one unusual room there. And a frozen dagger. Rewards:
a) Metal Cap b) War Hammer c) Arrows
Only the cap makes sense. I hope this is not of the Noldor...
You are wearing The Metal Cap of Thengel [3,+12] (+3) (s).
Ha-ho-hmmm-ha-ha. Resist confusion and boost to luck!
BDw 10
"You hear someone shouting: 'Leave me alone, stupid Griffon'
You have a very good feeling..."
Arena level. And not dark one.
"Welcome to level 18. "
What? Runes again? This time on some joined pieces of wood and metal. No more runes.
You destroy a Magic Trap Set.
"Brodda, the Easterling dies."
He picks on defenseless trees and saplings, I've heard. No more tree-harming.
Rewards:
a) Light Crossbow b) Pair of Soft Leather Boots c) Soft Leather Armour
Boots are rare. Let's try...
You are wearing a Pair of Soft Leather Boots of Stealth [2,+2] (+1 to stealth)
Back home and sell them.
There is some more loot to sell, after clearing all the Barrow Downs valleys. I see some Dragon Horn. I remember they are quite dangerous, spewing acid around. No use for them: I could harm trees!
You sold a Dragon Horn (+1) for 911 gold.
I see the Black Market owner makes quite a business here:
h) / a Dragon Horn (+1) 3.0 15787
How come this acid bag is so expensive? Let's see:
Examining a Dragon Horn (+1)... Musical instruments can be used with the Music skill to play magical songs. Some of them can also be activated. A simple wind instrument made from brass. If used by inexperienced musicians it sounds like somebody making "prbbt!" noises down a drainpipe. It can be activated for large acid ball (300) every 100 turns if it is being worn. It increases your constitution by 1. It provides resistance to poison. It cannot be harmed by acid, cold, lightning or fire. You found it lying on the ground on level 8 of Barrow-Downs.
Oh no! This one would have granted me resistance to poison, I need so much! What a mistake!
After some failed efforts to talk Zorak the Smart into returning me the horn, I sell Chaotic Dagger (1d4) (+18,+15) to the Weapon shop and make some more shopping around Middle Earth. In particular I buy Spellbook of Recovery for 3663 gold to be able to neutralize poison...
My equipment is:
a) Wielding : (Weapon combat) 0.0 lb
d) Shooting : (nothing) 0.0 lb
e) = On finger : a Ring of Invisibility 0.2 lb
f) On finger : (nothing) 0.0 lb
k) Around neck : (nothing) 0.0 lb
m) ~ Light source : a Brass Lantern (with 8190 turns of light) {25% o 5.0 lb
n) ( On body : a Cord Armour of Resistance [6,+10] 8.0 lb
o) About body : (nothing) 0.0 lb
p) On arm : (nothing) 0.0 lb
s) ] On head : The Metal Cap of Thengel [3,+12] (+3) 2.0 lb
u) On hands : (nothing) 0.0 lb
x) On feet : (nothing) 0.0 lb
{) Quiver : (nothing) 0.0 lb
|) \ Using : a Pick (+1) 15.0 lb
And my inventory is:
a) ? a Fireproof Book of Beginner Cantrips 3.0 lb
b) ? a Spellbook of Elemental Shield 3.0 lb
c) ? a Spellbook of Recovery 3.0 lb
d) ? a Spellbook of Fireflash 3.0 lb
e) ? a Spellbook of Identify 3.0 lb
f) ? a Spellbook of Disarm 3.0 lb
g) ? a Spellbook of Noxious Cloud 3.0 lb
h) ? a Spellbook of Vapor 3.0 lb
i) ? a Spellbook of Magelock 3.0 lb
j) ! 5 Flasks of oil 5.0 lb
k) ! 3 Potions of Speed 1.2 lb
l) ! 15 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds 6.0 lb
m) ? 7 Scrolls of Teleportation 3.5 lb
n) ? 9 Scrolls of Word of Recall {25% off} 4.5 lb
o) ! 59 Empty Bottles 11.8 lb
Time to visit the Orc Caves where the hideous tree-choppers sharpen their axes. In Orc Caves I cannot hide in trees, but neither can the awful flying breeders. And there are some nice rewards for Light Speed Onodrim there, I've heard.
Bandobras: The not so succinct journal of DeafLeaf III the Speechless continues in /section 3b.
Your comments?
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