ToME WikiAdventures of a handicapped Ent sorceror DeafLeaf (v. 2.3.1) by Bandobras, Part III, section 3b
Bandobras: DeafLeaf III the Speechless enters the Orc Caves. Will he emerge victorius? Will he even see a forest ever again?
For the account of DeafLeaf III incredible adventures in the Barrow Downs that made him one of the most powerful Entish sorcerors on Arda see the beggining of Part III. You are very welcome to add your comments as you read.
Enjoy!
Orc 10
"You have a good feeling..."
I find myself in cavern with lots of monsters, red naga by me, a novice rogue only a few steps away. I cast lots of Globes of Light, a Noxious cloud, a Vapour and a Manathrust. Not much mana left then and Wormtongue, Agent of Saruman enters the stage. Great. I needed help so much, Wormy! How is your master? I still owe him that spell book of Beginner Cantrips. Now, will you help me? Hey, what are you doing? Don't!
"Wormtongue, Agent of Saruman dies."
Fortunately one Manathrust has been enough. What is going on? Perhaps the wretched creature escaped noble Saruman, the Teacher of the Onodrim? He dropped a Fiery Awl-Pike (1d8) (+11,+4). When I meet Saruman, I will tell him and return the stolen Awl-Pike, or at least the money, I get from it.
A nice welcome to the Orc Caves, anyway. 
Trees are indeed splendid creatures, tough and unyielding, as we Onodrim well know for ages. I have just found the power of growing trees is great for non-flying breeders, if only the level is not an arena level. I've just contained a serious worm mass (various kinds) infestation by growing trees and I'm finishing the isolated worm groups now.
"Welcome to level 19."
Why was this level called good? No loot, no vaults... Only the Fiery Awl-Pike. I could have missed some hidden caves. I really need Reveal Ways. Will have to carry Vision, even tough the spell is only level 18, so not lighting the whole level.
Orc 11
"You feel your luck is turning..."
Vort the Kobold Queen nearby.
a) Noxious Cloud Air 30 19 6% dam 98 rad 3 dur 29
Great, non-resistible damage starts just at level 30. Come here, kobolds.
"Vort the Kobold Queen dies."
She drops nothing exciting. Then Ufthak of Cirith Ungol close. One noxious cloud in a corner. A long line of orcs walk there and die.
"Ufthak of Cirith Ungol dies."
Drops nothing exciting, either. But one of the Cave orcs drops The Cord Armour of Andond [6,+3]. What could it be? Recall.
No oil in the General Store. Weapon shop: "I have not the room in my store to keep it." I wonder if The Cord Armour of Andond has something to do with my hunt of tree-killers. Time to visit Galadriel, I suppose. First Lothlorien, then Minas Anor, then on my way back, Lothlorien again. I will buy oil, sell the other weapons and look for books --- there are still some I really miss.
Galadriel says:
This item does not seem related to your quest against the Enemy. It is only: The Cord Armour of Andond [6,+3] (r). Soft armor is light, and will not hinder your combat much. Fibres of hemp or other natural material woven and knotted into a thick, tough fabric. It sustains your wisdom and constitution. It provides resistance to dark and shards. It cannot be harmed by acid, cold, lightning or fire. You found it in the remains of a Cave orc on level 11 of Orc Cave.
If not related to my quest, I sell it. Then I do some really successful shopping and return to Bree. I leave the following at home:
a) ? a Spellbook of Tidal Wave 3.0 lb
Only to be used for Nirnaeth Arnoediad.
b) ? a Spellbook of Remove Curses 3.0 lb
Kept to remove curses from loot (do you have any Amulet of Doom to spare? or, perhaps, a Cursed Ring of Speed -30, please?) and from my equipment after coming home.
c) ? a Spellbook of Healing 3.0 lb
Too weak, yet. Waits for Spellbinder.
d) ? a Spellbook of Confuse 3.0 lb
Just as the Spectral Mace, waits for the Eol quest.
e) ! 5 Potions of Invisibility 0.4 lb
For all quests.
f) ? a Scroll of *Identify* {25% off} 0.5 lb
g) ? a Scroll of *Identify* {75% off} 0.5 lb
h) \ a Spectral Mace (2d4) (+4,+4) 12.0 lb
I trust the Mayor to keep my home safe.
However, I take the following with me:
a) ? a Fireproof Book of Beginner Cantrips 3.0 lb
Better than the Saruman's original.
b) ? a Spellbook of Elemental Shield 3.0 lb
For vaults; but lack of resist poison might be a killer in vaults. And lack of free action is an even greater danger.
c) ? a Spellbook of Sterilize 3.0 lb
For arena levels and for flying breeders.
d) ? a Spellbook of Recovery 3.0 lb
For removing poison, mainly.
e) ? a Spellbook of Vision 3.0 lb
No Reveal Ways, so this is needed, even if still weak.
f) ? a Spellbook of Essence of Speed 3.0 lb
Quite effective already. Am I not Light Speed Onod? Ho-hm-ha-ha!
a) Essence of Speed Temporal 18 27 6% dur 28+d10 speed 12
I sell my 4 potions of speed. And when I no longer need potions of speed, no need to carry empty bottles, either, until I hit DL 25. At level 25 potion of Restore Mana and Cure Insanity start appearing in fountains. Healing appears earlier, but !oCCW is good enough.
g) ? a Spellbook of Fireflash 3.0 lb
Together with Magelock this is great for for vaults with big bad monsters, to hit them without them seeing me.
h) ? a Spellbook of Identify 3.0 lb
i) ? a Spellbook of Disarm 3.0 lb
j) ? a Spellbook of Noxious Cloud 3.0 lb
k) ? a Spellbook of Vapor 3.0 lb
l) ? a Spellbook of Magelock 3.0 lb
m) ! 7 Flasks of oil 7.0 lb
n) ! 15 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds 6.0 lb
o) ? 10 Scrolls of Teleportation 5.0 lb
p) ? 8 Scrolls of Word of Recall {25% off} 4.0 lb
A bit heavy load, but I'm well prepared. High strength really helps there.
Orc 11
"You feel strangely lucky..."
Not good enough feeling. Will go down as fast as possible. But some fighting needed to get to the nearest stairs.
"Welcome to level 20."
For one of the Onodrim this means ESP Evil.
Lying by the stairs is a Spear of Life. Hmmm, what? I grasp it immediately:
You are wielding a Spear of Life (1d6) (+5,+10)(20%) (a).
HP jumps from 146 to 175.
You do not feel comfortable with your weapon.
Do I?
Bandobras: I wonder how high should I pump my Spirituality skill, assuming I will max my Wisdom? And the same about Stealth, assuming I will be coward/running all the time and will have, say, +10 to Stealth from equipment? At which point no further bonus is gained?
I've just repeated this question on the forum. No aswer yet, but one kind lad of the Young People has told me he reads my Ditl. Yay! Go, DeafLeaf, go! There are trees waiting for your victory and even Young People watching with high hopes!
Your comments?
...
Orc 12
"You feel your luck is turning..."
Another boring level? Let's see:
The Set of Gauntlets 'Paurnimmen' [2,+15] (+4) [...] You found it lying on the ground on level 12 of Orc Cave.
and:
a Rapier of Westernesse (1d6) (+8,+8) (+1) [...] You found it in the remains of a Hill orc on level 12 of Orc Cave.
I guess the Spear of Life gets buried, for I need Free Action from the rapier.
Orc 13
"You have a good feeling... "
I'm in the corridor surrounding an orc pit. And this is a level of minimal size. Nothing there except the pit. Hooomps!
I'm surrounded by additional orcs crowding the corridor and a Baby black dragon looks at me from among them. Slowly, no hurry. Noxious cloud at the dragon first. Dead. That flank covered, Globe and Noxious cloud at the other side. Lots of orcs coming and dying. No more tree-chopping for you, lads...
Five Noxious clouds later entire level cleared. Not even needed to cast Essence of Speed. I find a Book of Teleportation:
Name School Level Cost Fail Info a) Phase Door Conveyance 33 2 6% distance 15 b) Teleportation Conveyance 24 10 6% distance 149 c) Teleport Away Conveyance 11 20 24%
Nice. One book and two very useful spells. Recall.
I can afford one scroll of *ID*, I guess:
Wearing on your hands: The Set of Gauntlets 'Paurnimmen' [2,+15] (+4) Handgear is used to protect hands, but nonmagical ones can sometimes hinder spellcasting. Alchemists need gloves in order to do alchemy. Metal gloves protecting the hands up to the middle of the lower arm. A set of handgear so icy as to be able to fire frost bolts. It can be activated for frost bolt (6d8) every 7+d7 turns if it is being worn. It has a spell stored inside. It increases your constitution by 4. It sustains your constitution. It provides resistance to cold. It speeds your regenerative powers. It cannot be harmed by acid, cold, lightning or fire. You found it lying on the ground on level 12 of Orc Cave.
Hooom! +4 to Con! And regeneration! I copy Identify to 'Paurnimmen'. Back down.
Orc 13
"You feel your luck is turning..."
"Welcome to level 21."
Orc 14
"You have a good feeling..."
My new new light source is a Feanorian Lamp found here, in the corridor.
"Boldor, King of the Yeeks dies."
And I thought squirrels live on trees...
The goodness of this level might be:
p) - a Wooden Rod of Quickness of Nothing (10/10) 1.5 lb u) / a Blessed Lance (2d8) (+6,+2) (+2) 30.0 lb v) \ a Morning Star of Slay Demon (2d6) (+2,+2) 15.0 lb
What the Blessed Lance can do for me? Burden me, the foremost, I guess. Recall.
Examining a Blessed Lance (2d8) (+6,+2) (+2)... Polearms are melee weapons. This is the original polearm. It is shaped like a spear but is bigger. It's meant to fend off enemies, not to be thrown. It must be wielded two-handed. It increases your wisdom by 2. It allows you to sense the presence of good beings. It speeds your regenerative powers. It has been blessed by the gods. Using it you would have 1 blows and do an average damage per turn of 0 against all monsters. You found it in the remains of Boldor, King of the Yeeks on level 14 of Orc Cave.
Not enough goodness. Sold.
Orc 14
"You feel your luck is turning..."
q) | a Dagger of Slay Evil (1d4) (+3,+3) 1.2 lb
"Welcome to level 22."
Orc 15
"You have a good feeling..."
t) / an Awl-Pike (*Defender*) (1d8) (-10,-2) [+1] (+4 to stealth) 16.0 lb
Hooomv! Resist poison at last! I wield it at once.
Several orc heads later, I'm past 10000 kill count with Melkor, and the pitiful, misled ash-collector grants me increase to physical stats and decrease to mental. This results in 1% increase in fail rate, to 7%. ;< But, fortunately, I gain a boost to invisibility, as well.
Orc 16
"You have a good feeling..."
An orc pit. Looks like a forest of orcs. Or like a field of mushrooms. Lined up in rows. Time for a harvest.
"Welcome to level 23."
In the mown field I find a Ring of Protection [+17], a Shocking Mace (2d4) (+7,+3), and 29 Bolts of Venom (1d5) (+6,+3).
Now I'm past 15000 kill count with Melkor, which means more reduction to intelligence, and... immunity to fire! The old burner of trees is teasing me. This seems too big a boon for a fire-susceptible Tree Shepherd. I do not trust him, I have to check it out. No princesses here, with their beauty lava baths... But I've heard one mage in Lothlorien failed some experiments and has some really hot shack at the back of his office, close to the forest. If I'm so cool, I can try to clean the heat, before the forest is harmed. Recall.
After selling the loot I have quite a lot of money: 205090 AU.
The (*Defender*) is:
Attacking monsters with: an Awl-Pike (*Defender*) (1d8) (-9,-2) [+1] (+4 to stealth). Polearms are melee weapons. This is a polearm with a long square-sectioned spike on the end. It can be wielded two-handed. It increases your wisdom, dexterity, constitution and stealth by 4. It sustains your intelligence. It provides immunity to paralysis. It provides resistance to life draining, acid, electricity, fire, cold and poison. It allows you to levitate. It allows you to see invisible monsters. It speeds your regenerative powers. It cannot be harmed by acid, cold, lightning or fire. Using it you would have 1 blows and do an average damage per turn of 0 against all monsters. You found it lying on the ground on level 15 of Orc Cave.
Could be better, but at least the sustain is just right.
Vision is almost there (lev 24). After a quest or two the spell will start lighting whole levels. Then I will come back to the Orc Cave.
I enter the hut and use the grow trees power immediately. I do not trust the old stream-poisoner and his immunities. Only trees make people really safe.
I stand on the edge of the little tree grove I made inside the hovel (these are quite small trees, but sturdy!) and cast Noxious cloud any time a burst of fire appears on the limit of my sight. One especially vivid fire blob appears, then steps further into the cloud of chocking green gas and one more step...
"The Hellhound dies. Welcome to level 24."
I wonder among the quenching fires and they do not harm me! I extinguish them with my stump and find in the ashes
j) ! 2 Potions of Constitution 0.8 lb
that increase the perimeter of my trunk from 31 feet to 34 feet. So much more food. Hoooom, Hmmm!
Now to Minas Anor. Back to Lothlorien. No luck with Stone Prison nor Spellbinder.
How is my Vision spell going?
Name School Level Cost Fail Info a) Vision Divination 25 31 7%
Right! Revealing whole levels!
And Stealth is for the first time above 0.00. DeafLeaf the Silent I am, ho-hum.
Time to harvest the orcs again. You thought trees will not seek revenge?
Bandobras: Your comments?
...
Orc 16
"You have a good feeling..."
Vision. Ho-ho! This one is really nice! Whole level mapped and all items visible.
Hey, son, what is your bow made of, huh?
"Thwang!"
Houch! Hoom! Thrust!
"Ulfast, Son of Ulfang dies."
Steel, actually. Oh, well...
The breeding rats make me really nervous these days. I cast vapour and vapour, again and again.
"Your purse feels lighter. 12196 coins were stolen!"
Hey! I thought that was a mountain, not a trap! All is blue from the vaporous gas. No hurry, think, think... I'm thinking and thinking and nothing explaining the good feeling I had about this level. 
Downward.
Orc 17
"You feel strangely lucky... "
Down fast. On the way to the stairs I see a Sharp Short Sword (1d7) (+7,+5).
Hey, squirrel, let me take you back to your forest. Don't bite me! Stop! This is my spell book. Don't touch. Foooom! Cough, cough!
"Orfax, Son of Boldor dies."
Stupid squirrel. And it seems to have laid and egg!
"You see a Pseudo dragon Egg."
The egg is translucent and I see scales inside. Hooeech! [all eggs to be destroyed by the automatizer]
Orc 18
"You have a good feeling..."
"The Giant flea dies. <3x> Welcome to level 25."
That was a heroic battle, indeed. Loot:
a Cleaver of Gondolin (2d4) (+9,+13) (+2) a Spectral Battle Axe (2d8) (+5,+6)
Recall.
In your pack: a Cleaver of Gondolin (2d4) (+9,+13) (+2) (s). Axes are melee weapons. A small axe with a heavy rectangular blade. It provides light (radius 1) forever. It increases your strength and constitution by 2. It is especially deadly against dragons. It is especially deadly against trolls. It strikes at demons with holy wrath. It fights against evil with holy fury. It provides immunity to paralysis. It makes you completely fearless. It provides resistance to dark. It allows you to levitate. It allows you to see invisible monsters. It allows you to sense the presence of evil beings. It cannot be harmed by acid. It cannot be harmed by fire. Using it you would have 1 blows and do an average damage per turn of 0 against evil creatures, 0 against trolls, 0 against dragons, 0 against demons, 0 against other monsters. You found it lying on the ground on level 18 of Orc Cave.
No ESP, no high resist. Sold.
You bought a Fireproof Spellbook of Recall for 10791 gold.
One more level and I will be able to use the spell of recall.
You bought a Spellbook of Spellbinder for 5016 gold.
Let's bing something at 75% HP: Healing.
Orc 18
"You feel strangely lucky..."
q) | a Rapier of Slaying (5d7) (+7,+3) 4.0 lb r) | a Spectral Tulwar (2d4) (+5,+6) 10.0 lb
Orc 19
"You have a good feeling..."
Arena level, not dark. Plus two destroyed areas.
"The Rat King dies."
No more feeding on saplings' roots! Actually, this one must have been feeding on Young People and mature trees as well:
o) ( a Cord Armour of Resist Fire [6,+6] 8.0 lb
w) { a Wooden Boomerang of Accuracy (1d8) (+20,+4) 6.0 lb
I'm now above 20000 kill count with Melkor. This means 8% spell fail. And 289 HP
Orc 20
"You have a superb feeling about this level."
Ho-hmmm. Vision. No vault, but a possible pit.
Troll pit.
"Welcome to level 26."
Lots of gear left by the trolls.
"The Ball lightning is destroyed. The Tiger Eye Ring is destroyed!"
Ooops! [later historians tracked down, the ring was of Sustain Intelligence]
p) | a Spectral Broken Dagger (1d1) (+4,+0) 0.5 lb r) | a Short Sword of Slay Animal (1d7) (+4,+3) 8.0 lb u) \ a Spectral War Hammer (3d3) (+4,+7) 12.0 lb v) \ a Flail of Extra Attacks (2d6) (+2,+5) (+2 attacks) 15.0 lb
Too heavy load and a bottle of mushroom beer is in order after the hours spent in odor of troll blood. Some of the trolls cursed me dying (others did not bless me, they just died from the first shot) and cried something about an army approaching from an orc town below. Deathwatch they called it. I will have to ask in Bree. Recall.
Black Market has
j) ( an Elven Cloak [4,+10] (+3 to stealth) 0.5 10434
Zorak the Smart, the shop owner assures the luck should pay off quickly, especially considering the wealth of the orcish town I'm about to loot. He asks to have some of the loot for himself, without identifies. Hoomf. Should I trust him? His dwarven beard looks so much as my uncle's moss. Good old uncle. Hoom. We'll see.
I limit inventory, to fit all the Deathwatch goods into my little backpack (apparently of the hobbit workmanship):
a) ? a Fireproof Book of Beginner Cantrips 3.0 lb b) ? a Book of Teleportation 3.0 lb c) ? a Fireproof Spellbook of Recall 3.0 lb d) ? a Spellbook of Essence of Speed 3.0 lb e) ? a Spellbook of Vision 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) ! 6 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds 2.4 lb j) ? 4 Scrolls of Teleportation 2.0 lb
Orc 20
"You feel strangely lucky..."
I hope so.
Orc 21
"This level looks filled with evilness."
Good, I'm here. This level really needed filling with trees. For the harvesting and planting effort I take a small salary:
You are wearing The Leather Scale Mail 'Thalkettoth' (-1) [11,+25] (+3) You are on The Main Gauche of Maedhros (2d5) (+12,+15) (+3) The Set of Leather Gloves 'Cammithrim' [1,+10]
Orc 22
"You have a good feeling..."
Normal level. I start in a room full of Ugluk, the Uruk and his thugs. A noxious cloud close to me, so that they don't feel like amours.
"Welcome to level 27."
Stinking is such an exciting work.
"Ugluk, the Uruk dies."
Did you say, who will come to your aid? Could you repeat? Oh, well...
"Azog, King of the Uruk-Hai dies."
Whom did you call? Hoom. How can you call your soldier so rudely?
"Gorbag, the Orc Captain dies."
Yes, actually you are the last one here. But, to comfort you, the caves are not empty. No, not your comrades from Mordor. Trees. Underground forest. See? At last you died looking at something beautiful.
For some reason the orc's grandfather, Melkor, seems to be very content with me. 30000 kill count, 9% fail, 331 HP. Actually, a forest in Mordor would be even more beautiful. How do you see that?
"God quest 1! Thou art to find the lost temple of thy God and to retrieve the lost part of the relic for thy God! The temple lies a very long way to the south-east of the Pits of Angband, and quite some way to the north-east of the Land of Mordor, I can feel it.'"
And in Angband? Oh, well, one at a time. Be patient. I'm coming.
Loot, apart of the artifacts:
i) - a Wand of Slow Monster[1|20] (10 charges) 1.0 lb j) - The Wand of Digging of Thrain (17 charges) 1.0 lb k) ~ an Everburning Torch 5.0 lb l) ( an Elven Paper Armour [4,+7] (+2 to stealth) 3.0 lb m) ( a Rhino Hide Armour of Resist Fire (-1 to accuracy) [8,+11] 11.0 lb n) ( a Cord Armour of Resistance [6,+10] 8.0 lb p) | a Dagger of *Slay Demon* (1d4) (+7,+1) (+1) 1.2 lb r) | a Basilard of Slay Undead (1d8) (+5,+6) 8.0 lb s) | a Vampiric Cutlass (1d7) (+2,+5)(-20%) 11.0 lb t) | a Tulwar of Life (2d4) (+8,+5)(20%) 10.0 lb u) / a Spear (1d6) (+5,+6) 5.0 lb v) / a Beaked Axe (2d6) (+4,+6) 18.0 lb w) \ a Lucerne Hammer (2d5) (+7,+5) 12.0 lb
All but the elven armor sold.
Despite the rumors, there was no civilized settelments in the Orc Caves. A pity, I have come too late, it seems. I wonder, can there be Young People's town on level 21 somewhere outside the beautiful Deathwatch forest?
Bandobras: Your comments?
PeterWiersig: Yes, that Onodrim sould return one time to that depth. Good Luck.
Bandobras: So, here he goes (but first some questing)! Actually Onodrim is a plural (a lot of fixing in all the past installments). Singular for Ent is Onod. Confusing, isn't it? Moreover, I spelled it (wrongly) Onondrim for quite some time. Well, the heroes are neither perfect in hearing nor in pronounciation, so it passed the attention of both the grandfather and the father. It is said, the rangers discovered it first and managed, amidst much humming and booming, to explain it in writing to the son. 
Zorak the Smart of the Black Market helps me identify the loot (using my hard earned scrolls of *ID*).
Wearing on your body: The Leather Scale Mail 'Thalkettoth' (-1) [11,+25] (+3) Soft armour is light, and will not hinder your combat much. A suit of armour made of overlapping hardened leather scales. It offers good protection while still being rather lightweight. A tunic and skirt sewn with thick, overlapping scales of hardened leather whose wearer moves with agility and assurance. It increases your dexterity and speed by 3. It provides resistance to acid and shards. It cannot be harmed by acid, cold, lightning or fire. You found it lying on the floor of a special level.
Hmm-ho. Speed is nice.
In your pack: The Set of Leather Gloves 'Cammithrim' [1,+10] (k). Handgear is used to protect hands, but nonmagical ones can sometimes hinder spellcasting. Alchemists need gloves in order to do alchemy. Light gloves which do not seriously hinder finger movements, while still protecting the hands somewhat. These gloves glow so brightly as to light the way for their owner and cast magical bolts with great frequency. It can be activated for magic missile (2d6) every 2 turns if it is being worn. It provides light (radius 1) forever. It sustains your constitution. It provides immunity to paralysis. It provides resistance to light. It cannot be harmed by acid, cold, lightning or fire. You found it lying on the floor of a special level.
Paurnimmen is better, but free action can be useful for a swap later.
In your pack: The Main Gauche of Maedhros (2d5) (+12,+15) (+3) (l). Swords are melee weapons. This blade is sinuously curved and tipped with a harpoon-like end. This blade has a large handguard and was designed as an off-hand weapon, This short but cruel blade is a favourite among orcs. A short thrusting blade with a large guard worn by Maedhros the Tall, eldest son of Feanor, and wielded with his left hand after the loss of his right hand in the pits of Thangorodrim. It increases your intelligence, dexterity and speed by 3. It is especially deadly against trolls. It is especially deadly against giants. It provides immunity to paralysis. It provides resistance to confusion. It allows you to see invisible monsters. It cannot be harmed by acid, cold, lightning or fire. Using it you would have 2 blows and do an average damage per turn of 0 against trolls, 0 against giants, 0 against other monsters. You found it lying on the floor of a special level.
Intelligence and speed and resist confusion. With a helmet of seeing I could do a swap and have all spell-spoilers covered, because I'm immune to stunning being of the Onodrim.
This is my first real choice to be made about equipment: if I swap Maedhros for (*Defender*) I loose hold life, resist poison, resist electricity and 4 constitution, but gain 3 speed and 3 intelligence and resist light. Deal. Will have to buy amulet of electricity, carry the spell book of Recovery again and avoid poison breaths.
Let's see what the drop in HP is: from 321 to 265 and the fail rate with Maedhros is 6% rather than 9%. Hmmm. That hurts. No, back again. I stay with the (*Defender*). Higher HP is more important than speed (I have Essence of Speed) and failure rate. And I get resist poison to boot. I will switch only if I get that helmet of seeing.
Zorak the Smart tries to hide some packet under his tunic. Hooom!!! Yes, I see you are only identifying. So what have you identified?
In your pack: an Elven Paper Armour [4,+7] (+2 to stealth) (k). Soft armour is light, and will not hinder your combat much. Thickly pleated sheets of paper assembled together into a suit of armour. It increases your stealth by 2. It provides resistance to acid, electricity, fire, cold and nether. It allows you to sense the presence of orcs. It cannot be harmed by acid, cold, lightning or fire. You found it in the remains of Azog, King of the Uruk-Hai on level 22 of Orc Cave.
You say resist nether is great for paying a visit to Wights? Why should I visit them? I should visit the mayor? If I find a cursed, worthless, dangerous filthy rag I will bury it! You will pay me a whole 100AU for such a rag? Hummm. Hmmm? What was I thinking about? Hum, the mayor. Hmmm.
I promise, I will make a filthy rag of the Zorak, when I meet him again. Mayor just tells me how splendid the rag is for a sorceror. He says the wights are weak indeed, especially for such a powerful Tree Shepherd as myself. Hooom. I would go at once, but he advises to arrange the backpack for some more loot and to wear that Elven Paper Armour, just in case.
He explains, the rag grants resist blindness and a boost to intelligence, just what I need. If only the rag boosts spell power instead of mana! I like so much stopping tree-harmers before their hatchet falls, with the first shot. And the boost to intelligence is bigger with spell power, I'm told.
I need resist nether for the quest (in theory I will not get hit, but in practice I may make a mistake) and a way to walk trough mountains, so that I can avoid being in line of sight of the Wight-King. Let's see if spectral weapons allow to walk into mountains. A short walk over the mountains east of Bree assures me so. Now, this is indeed a much easier way to bury yourself for a nap than a normal root-burrowing. Only the lack of carbon dioxide makes it somewhat uncomfortable...
I wonder if wights are immune to noxious cloud? One really stinking half-orc in the inn assures me the wights nearly got him and they were not repelled by anything in himself. I assume, noxious cloud will not work, either. He says they were startled by a sunrise. I will better take Globe and Fireflash with me. The wights do not breath poison, so I can leave *Defender* at home. I will switch the spectral weapon from time to time, so the bonus to HP will vanish, therefore Maedhros is the best.
Equipment:
a) | Wielding : The Main Gauche of Maedhros (2d5) (+12,+15) (+3) 3.0 lb
d) / Playing : a Horn (+1) 3.0 lb
e) = On finger : a Ring of Invisibility 0.2 lb
f) = On finger : a Ring of Protection [+17] 0.2 lb
k) Around neck : (nothing) 0.0 lb
m) ~ Light source : a Feanorian Lamp 5.0 lb
n) ( On body : an Elven Paper Armour [4,+7] (+2 to stealth) 3.0 lb
o) ( About body : an Elven Cloak [4,+10] (+3 to stealth) 0.5 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 : The Set of Gauntlets 'Paurnimmen' [Identify] [2,+ 2.5 lb
x) On feet : (nothing) 0.0 lb
{) Quiver : (nothing) 0.0 lb
|) \ Using : a Pick (+1) 15.0 lb
Inventory:
a) ? a Fireproof Book of Beginner Cantrips 3.0 lb b) ? a Spellbook of Essence of Speed 3.0 lb c) ? a Spellbook of Recovery 3.0 lb d) ? a Spellbook of Fireflash 3.0 lb e) ? a Spellbook of Disarm 3.0 lb f) ! 2 Potions of Invisibility 0.8 lb g) ! 10 Potions of Cure Critical Wounds 4.0 lb h) ? 3 Scrolls of Teleportation 1.5 lb i) | a Spectral Broken Dagger (1d1) (+4,+0) 0.5 lb
Did I miss anything? Did I miss anything? Hum, never mind, tremble wight tree-chillers! Your clothing is no longer safe on you! Shortly you will lay bare and your mounds will be clothed with young saplings!
Bandobras: Your comments?
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One Globe of Light kills all Forest Wights in the first mound. I wonder how I would feel if a Forest Wight passed through me. I guess similarly as the wights felt when the light passed through them. Poor trees of the underground forests, so much chill and filth each day.
So far, so good. In the second mound one Grave Wight killed by a single Globe. Others needed another helping. After several jumps I'm too close to the boss to risk another void gate. I wield and activate the spectral dagger. I have too little mana to fight the boss, but I visit one more clearing walking through the mountains and then I back off to the starting corner. Rest a little. A potion of wisdom in the corner. I wonder how the mountains feel when I walk through them. Hmmm. I feel a little bit sleepy. A nap would not harm anybody, I guess. But how chilly and dark it is here. How chilly... Brrr! Hooom! Onward, Lighspeed Onodrim! I'm coming!!!
Everyone now woken. I clear all scattered nests. One !oCharisma, one !oDexterity. Now the Wight-King is just on the other side of a hillock. I activate the spectral weapon, quaff a potion of invisibility, cast essence of speed and approach.
A fireflash at a square near the boss.
The Wight-King of the Barrow-downs is hit hard. The Wight-King of the Barrow-downs flees in terror! The Forest wight is destroyed. <4x> The Grave wight is destroyed. The Emperor wight is hit hard. The Emperor wight flees in terror! The Emperor wight is hit hard. The Grave wight is destroyed. <2x> The Forest wight is destroyed. <3x>
Now standing close to an Emperor wight, seeing the Wight-King but not seen by him I cast one manathrust.
The Wight-King of the Barrow-downs says: 'Trust me.' The Wight-King of the Barrow-downs is destroyed. Welcome to level 28. You can increase 6 more skills. Without their King the wights won't be able to do much. The Emperor wight points at you, incanting terribly! The spellbinder is triggered! Triggering spell Healing. You feel very good.
Health is at max now, so that wasn't so bad. However, now there are 2 Emperor wights close. I don't want to spoil the loot with a fireflash, so I back off one step. But wait! I'm still visible by the Emperor wights, because the mountains I was embedded in have been displaced by stairs! Fortunately the Emperor wights do not attack. I have few SP, so I back off some more, rest, recharge the spectral weapon, reactivate it and run.
"The Emperor wight is destroyed. Welcome to level 29."
All done. One potion of Constitution and one of Intelligence.
The Filthy Rag of the Wight [1,-1] (+6 to searching) {cursed}
What does it mean? What does it mean? Power or mana? I guess power! What an absurd: +6 to searching.
In Bree I visit Zorak the Smart and ask him kindly to identify the rag with me:
In your pack: The Filthy Rag of the Wight [1,-1] (+6 to searching) {cursed}
Soft armour is light, and will not hinder your combat much.
A piece of discarded cloth, smelly and dirty. Eurgh. You're not going to wear
this, are you?
It increases your intelligence, searching and spell power by 6. It provides
resistance to blindness and confusion. It renders you especially vulnerable to
fire. It allows you to see invisible monsters. It is heavily cursed. It
cannot be harmed by acid, cold, lightning or fire.
Zorak seems a bit uneasy. Hooom, spell power! Wonderful. I apologize to Zorak I will not sell him the rag for 100AU. He doesn't seem to object too much, in fact he is quite cheerful and kind today. I propose Zorak to introduce him to some of the wights I met on my quest, they might have some more rags, who knows? He says his business meetings schedule is currently overloaded, unfortunately, and that his is, you known childish fears, a bit scared of wights, actually.
Hooom. I begin to put on the rag slowly. It slowly adheres to my trunk with creaking and hissing. The eyes of Zorak slowly start to grow wide. As the rag folds over my bark, a deadly chills starts to emanate from my trunk. I start humming a cheerful Onodrim song. Zorak starts to sweat. I will visit you often, Zorak, I say, taking the spectral broken dagger in my hand, slowly activating it and walking, bobbing from side to side, through the back wall of his shop. A chilling yell follows.
I quickly uncurse the rag in my house. 4% spell failure! 55d22 Manathrust! Then I wield (*Defender*) back on and see my speed return to the my usual light speed, that is -1. Feels like home.
What now? I've heard the Old Forest is in need of some cultivation. Sunny fragrant forest valleys for a change. How nice! But first I will check for a town on Orc 21. A town there is possible, some very wise swordmaster of the Young People has told me. Recall.
Orc 22
"Looks like any other level."
Hmmm...
No vaults nor pits.
Orc 21
"You feel strangely lucky..."
No civilized settlement. But the trees are growing splendidly.
I find a Club of Gondolin (1d4) (+11,+13) (+1). I have ESP Evil, so for a long time full ESP will not be worth sacrificing the Maedhros' speed or the (*Defender*)'s HP. I sell the club without *ID* (Black Market owner is on vacation and *ID* in private is so much less fun).
Bandobras: Char dump updated at this point. The story of DeafLeaf III the Silent continues in ../section 3c.
Your comments?
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