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Octopode

16 (34%)

Tengu

7 (14.9%)

Draconian

17 (36.2%)

Centaur

6 (12.8%)

Other

1 (2.1%)

Total Members Voted: 34

[KaminaSquirtle]

While Kiku is definitely a solid choice, my vote is with Sif, for two reasons. One is that, as Un67 mentioned, transmuters don't get to take advantage of the pain weapon. The other is the much improved chance of finding dragon form. It's rare enough that I could easily see that being a problem. And what's the fun of a DrTm without Dragon Form?

And yeah, the color isn't really relevant to god choice.

Necromutation+channeling, while awesome, is more of a pure spellcaster thing, not so much a transmuter thing. And I wouldn't recommend messing around with summoning/conj too early, as we'll need the exp to get our forms up, and then to pump UC. I wouldn't consider either of those worth it until we at least get UC in the high teens and have what we've found of the standard set of utility spells (eg blink, haste, deflect/repel missiles, swiftness, etc) castable. And even then, I'd only consider conjurations a good idea. Beyond butterflies, summoning isn't that great outside of a summon-centric build.

DrTms want to do most of their damage with form-supported UC melee, not spells.

[GlyphGryph]

A true battle! Two of the small ugly humans.. goblins, I think momma called them, and two of the kobolds tried to swarm me. They were no match for my fighting skills.

If I were to be honest, I... I kind of enjoyed it. And I feel stronger, somehow. More skilled. Still, find the Orb, get out. That's the goal, and I'm sticking to it.

In my downtime, I'm going to see if I can't learn more spells from momma's book. The first spell has helped me immensely, letting me grow temporary horns and blades to more quickly kill my enemies, turning my body into more of a lethal weapon than it already is.

There were a couple more fights, but I cleared out the area. At one point, things were close again, and I took the risk of chugging one of the potions in my inventory. It made me feel STRONG! It was amazing! No sign of the Orb, but I did find some stairs heading deeper...

         #######.#########.####.#    Ailert the Changer
               #.#       #.#  #.#    Draconian
       #########.#       #.#  #.#    Health: 15/23     ===============---------
       #......##.#       #.#  #.#    Magic:  2/3       ================--------
       #......##.#       #.#  #.#    AC:  4            Str: 12
########......##.#       #.#  #.#    EV: 12            Int: 13
..............##.#########.####.#    SH:  0            Dex: 11
.................................    XL:  2 Next: 35%  Place: Dungeon:1
########......##.#########.####.#    Wp: -) Nothing wielded
       #......##.#       #.#  #.#    Qv: e) spear
       #......##@#       #.#  #.#    Hungry App
       #.#######g#       #.#  #.#
       #.#  ####g#########.#  #.#    g _ hobgoblin
       #.#  #...S.(........#  #.#    g _ goblin
       #.   #.##...........#  #.#    S _ ball python
       #.####. #...........#  #.#
      ##).....##...........#  #.#
      ........()...........#  #.#
      ##......###.########.#  #.#
       #......  #.#      #.#  #.#
       #.#####  #.#      #.#  #.#



############..........######.#       Ailert the Changer
           #..........######.####    Draconian
           #....................)    Health: 8/23      ========----------------
           #######.#########.####    Magic:  3/3       ========================
                 #.#       #.#  #    AC:  4            Str: 17       
##       #########.#       #.#  #    EV: 12            Int: 13
%#       #......##.#       #.#  #    SH:  0            Dex: 11
%#       #......##.#       #.#  #    XL:  2 Next: 42%  Place: Dungeon:1
.#########......##.#       #.#  #    Wp: -) Nothing wielded
................##.#########.####    Qv: e) spear
................@gS..............    Hungry App
.#########......##.#########.####
.#       #......##.#       #.#  #    g _ hobgoblin
.#       #......##.#       #.#  #    S _ ball python
.#       #.#######)#       #.#  #
.#       #.#  ####.#########.#  #
.#       #.#  #.....(........#  #
.#       #.   #.##...........#  #
..       #.####. #...........#  #
.#      ##).....##...........#  #
        ........()...........#  #
 You punch the goblin.
 The goblin is almost dead.
_Your transformation is almost over.
 You punch the goblin but do no damage. You headbutt the goblin.
 You kill the goblin!
_The hobgoblin hits you with a club.
 Drink which item? (? for menu, Esc to quit)
 You feel very mighty all of a sudden.
_It was a potion of might.

[GlyphGryph]

I have killed more goblins, kobolds, various snakes, and bats, and I feel stronger by the minute. I have also learned a new spell from Momma's book - it lets me turn into a monstrous spider creature, and it makes me incredibly dangerous. I think I'm getting the hang of this magic thing.

In addition, I found a strange ring. Putting it on made me feel much strong.
You feel stronger.
_m - a +1 ring of strength (left hand)

My spider form is quite lethal, and the poison allows me to strike and retreat to kill that which survives the first blow.
.#...........##.#    #.#   ######    Ailert the Changer
.#...........##.#    #.#             Draconian
.............##.######.#             Health: 28/28     ========================
#...........(##.#......#             Magic:  0/4       ------------------------
#...######......#.######             AC:  2            Str: 13
#...#    ########...#     #######    EV: 19            Int: 13
#####      #...<#.###    ........    SH:  0            Dex: 17
         ###+####.#      ........    XL:  3 Next:  3%  Place: Dungeon:2
         .......#.#      ........    Wp: -) Fangs (venom)
        ........#.#      ########    Qv: -) Unavailable
        ...g....s.#                  Spider Cling
        ........###
         #######                     g _ goblin

You turn into a venomous arachnid creature.
The goblin hits you.
You hit the goblin.
You kill the goblin!


To explore all of this level, I had to back upstairs and down another set. But, again, I found no Orb? Where could it be, and how deep could this dungeon go?


Okay, from the audience, I need to know - what sort of stat distribution should we be looking towards here? How much does strength help and influence our fighting, for example? Is it a major player in damage? I know it's important with octopode melee fighters since it governs constrict chance and damage, but I don't know here. Even with Sif for better forms, how likely are to need lots of intelligence? And I know dexterity governs how quickly unarmed attacks are launched, so that seems important too.

[Frumple]

If the knowledge bot is accurate*, dex doesn't have anything to do with UC delay (Which is a simple 10 - UC/5). It does, of course, increase blade hands damage by 1 every 4 points, though. On the other hand, both dragon and statue forms increase with strength, as does BH at the same rate as with dex. Quick check at a winner shows about even in strength and int is probably what you'll be after.

*

Spoiler: Henzell sez (click to show/hide)

Fighting without a weapon. 3+UC base damage (+2 per claws level (so +6 Tr, +2 Gh), +X for forms); delay 10 - UC/5; +2 to hit (+4 Tr/Gh). If you have an EV penalty (such as by wearing a shield, or armor (reduced somewhat by armor skill)), attack delay is slowed to max(10, 1d10+2dAEVP) - UC/5.
base for forms: Normal 3, Spider 5 (venom), Bat 1, Vampire bat 2, Ice beast 12 (ice), Blade hands 12 + str/4 + dex/4, Statue 6 + str/3 and multiplies by 1.5, Dragon 12 + str*2/3, Lich 5 (drain) Form base damage scales with skill, just like normal punches. This means forms (except bats) always deal more than regular attacks.

[Dr.Feelgood]

All of my transmuters just focused on intelligence. And none of them had any problems killing things quickly.

[Delta Foxtrot]

I'd go with int since transmuters kill stuff with their forms, and int helps with casting those forms earlier and more reliably.

[Un67]

INT > all other stats for everyone who is ever going to cast anything.

[GlyphGryph]

I've been running about dungeon for a while now, learning spells and killing things. I've encountered no more close calls so far - I ran into a small demon called grinder, along with his posse of gnolls, but didn't take any risks, downing a potion of Might before tangling with them. I've also found a huge pile of identification scrolls. I'm tempted to use them to identify the other scrolls I've found, but I'll put that off for the moment.

I learned how to turn pieces of wood into snakes - if I run into anything truly scary, this bundle of arrows and my spider form should allow me to escape.

The fight with grinder actually gained me two levels, raising me from 4 to 6.

Ailert the Changer (Draconian Transmuter)                                                                                Turns: 4653, Time: 00:30:46
HP  47/47        AC  6     Str 13      XL: 6   Next: 40%
MP   9/9         EV 12     Int 14      God:
Gold 175         SH  0     Dex 13      Spells:  3 memorised,  3 levels left

Res.Fire  : . . .   See Invis. : .      - Unarmed
Res.Cold  : . . .   Warding    : . .  (armour unavailable)
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : .    (no shield)
Res.Acid. : . . .   Res.Corr.  : .    (helmet restricted)
Res.Poison: .       Clarity    : .    (no cloak)
Res.Elec. : .       Spirit.Shd : .    (no gloves)
Sust.Abil.: . .     Stasis     : .    (no boots)
Res.Mut.  : .       Ctrl.Telep.: .    (no amulet)
Res.Rott. : .       Levitation : .    (no ring)
Saprovore : . . .   Ctrl.Flight: +    m - +1 ring of strength

@: slightly resistant to hostile enchantments, unstealthy
A: unfitting armour
a: no special abilities


I have discovered a strange temple! I wish Momma was here to see this. It is full of alters, each with a whispering voice, offering to grant me great powers, causes, knowledge, and allies, if only I pledge myself to them.

There is no one I pledge myself to buy you, Momma, but... before I left, one spoke to me of you. Of you, and our people, and our heritage. She promised me books of magic, and, eventually, the ability to unlock my true form. Oh, what I would give to be a true dragon, to soar through the sky...

I could not say no. She asked so little in return - only that I learn about magic, and do not turn from her to follow another.

I do not know how long it will be before I find the orb, Momma. I don't know how long the oath of fealty will last. But maybe next time you see me, I'll be a real dragon, just like our ancestors. Maybe next time you see me, I can make you proud.

' You kneel at the altar of Sif Muna.
 Sif Muna welcomes you!


...
Hello again, Momma. I've been bad lately I think - I've been distracted, wondering how deep this dungeon goes, and have not been exploring the entire floors on the way to this point. My most recent descent revealed a large number of orcs, two wizards and one priest plus a number of fighters. I retreated back up the stairs, deciding backtracking and finishing exploring the previous levels for the orb is a better bet than delving deeper at this point.

[GlyphGryph]

Oh momma, oh god, oh no, oh no, oh no...

Running... There are, so many. I was cornered, by too many of the purple magic orcs. I retreated up the stairs, injured and weak, to 6 fighters and a nast looking leader. I fled back down the stairs to find that more orcs had poured in.

I might die here, I realize.

But I will not go down easily.

The scrolls are too risky - a single wasted moment, and I could be dead. A chug of a previously unknown potion of curing gives me enough health to survive one more attack, which is really all the time I have.

And then I run.

I retreat back up the stairs, surrounded on seven sides by orcs. But there is a gap. In a moment, I've shifted, becoming that monstrous but quick spider I know so well, and I've slipped through the gap.

Somehow, none of them hit me. A quokka, a goblin, and a large newt have all been attracted by the sounds of combat, and are pouring in through the only possible exist from this room. Had they stayed in the corridor, I would probably be dead, but the slip into the room, and I dash past them, feeling the whistle of clubs and the snap of teeth as I pass.

......#   #....###.###'###.#'#...    Health: 18/47     =========---------------
.#..###   #....#<).###.# #.#.##.#    Magic:  6/9       ================--------
.#..#     #....#.......# #...##.#    AC:  2            Str: 13
.#..##### #....#.####### ######.#    EV: 20            Int: 14
####....# #...##..            #.#    SH:  0            Dex: 18
......#.# #...##.#  ########  #.#    XL:  6 Next: 58%  Place: Dungeon:4
####..#.####'###.####......####.#    Wp: -) Fangs (venom)
[..#..........##..g..o...........    Qv: -) Unavailable
##.#.##.####...'soo.oo...........    Spider
.........# ##.##b..l.o...........
#.##.########.##.................    o _ Blork the orc
....>....#....##.................    ooooo  5 orcs
#.............##.....#...........    g _ hobgoblin
######.#......##.....#.....>.....    b _ bat
  #...........##.....#...........    l _ giant newt
  #.##..#.....########..)........
  #...........#      ######+###+#
  ###[..#.....#
    #.........#

 A hobgoblin comes into view. It is wielding an orcish club.
_The hobgoblin shouts!
_The bat closely misses you.
_The hobgoblin completely misses you. The bat completely misses you.
 Blork the orc casts a spell.
_You feel troubled. The hobgoblin misses you. The bat closely misses you.
 Blork the orc casts a spell.
_Blork the orc seems to speed up. The bat misses you.
_The bat hits you.


The exit is in front of me, now. The worst is past, but I am still not safe - one wrong turn, into one enemy, and the rest will be on me. A bat keeps pace, pestering me with small bites and scratches, but I ignore it. The moment I put space between me and my other pursuers, I slip one spidery limb into my bad and slide on a ring I found earlier, one I'd already used to insure my safety in a couple risky fights - a ring of regeneration. As I ran, I felt my health returning - no sooner did the bat scratch me open than the wound closed again.

I was, somehow, unbelievably, looking like I was going to survive.

TO BE CONTINUED...

[GlyphGryph]

Eventually, I felt fully healthy. And rather than surrounding me, the bulk of my pursuers were spread out in a long line. I took a position at the top of the stairs, and called to them.

I had run long enough, and far enough. Now I would teach them that they, too, should know when to run.

An orc, a new, a bat, all fall quickly before my bite. Two more orcs, and then the leader himself, yelling his name, "Blork" to me before charging up the stairs.

               #.....#               Ailert the Changer
               #.###.#               Draconian of Sif Muna ......
               #.#...#               Health: 34/47     =================-------
               #.#.###               Magic:  7/9       ==================------
               #(#.#                 AC:  2            Str: 13
               #.#.#                 EV: 20            Int: 14
  ##############.#.#                 SH:  0            Dex: 18
  #............#%#.#                 XL:  6 Next: 62%  Place: Dungeon:3
 ##.'########'.#.#(#                 Wp: -) Fangs (venom)
 #..#........#^#o#.#                 Qv: -) Unavailable
 #..#.'####'.#.#s#.#                 Nausea Spider
##..#.#....#.#.o[#@#             
.#..#.#.##.#.#.#.#.#                 o _ Blork the orc
.#..#.#.##.#.#...#<#                 o _ orc
.#..#.#....#.#.###.#             
....#@'####'.#.....#             
.#..#........#.#####             
.#..'########'.#                 
.#.............###               
.#.#.###.#.#.....#               
.#.#.###.#.#.###.#               

_There is a stone staircase leading up here.
 Blork the orc hits you with an orcish scimitar!
_The orc misses you.
_You climb upwards.
_There is a stone staircase leading down here.
 You hit the orc. The orc is poisoned.
 The orc is heavily wounded.
 The orc hits you with an orcish falchion.
_Blork the orc picks up an orcish club.


At first, I am doing well. But an Orcish priest (Where do these orcs keep coming from!) turns a corner to join the battle. Something, I know not what, tears into me, rending me, filling me with pain. Blork is poisoned and on the verge of death, but I can not not stay to make sure he days - I can only run and hope the poison does it's work.

Run, perhaps, and come up behind the priest, and destroy it.

                                     Ailert the Changer
                                     Draconian of Sif Muna ......
                                     Health: 18/47     =========---------------
                                     Magic:  3/9       ========----------------
                                     AC:  2            Str: 13
                                     EV: 20            Int: 14
                                     SH:  0            Dex: 18
                                     XL:  6 Next: 62%  Place: Dungeon:3
                                     Wp: -) Fangs (venom)
              #######                Qv: -) Unavailable
              #.s...#                Hungry Nausea Contam Spider Cling
              #o###.#           
              #.#...#                o _ Blork the orc
              #.#.###                o _ orc priest
              #o#.#             
              #.#.#             
 ##############.#.#             
 #............#%#.#             
##.'########'.#.#(#             
#..#........#^#.#.#             
#..#.'####'.#.#>#.#             

 You barely miss Blork the orc.
 Blork the orc is severely wounded.
 You smell something rotten. (slots v and B)
_Some of the chunks of flesh in your inventory have completely rotted away.
 You closely miss Blork the orc.
 Blork the orc is severely wounded.
 The orc priest mumbles some strange prayers to Beogh against you.
 Something smites you!
_Blork the orc hits you with an orcish scimitar!

I bit Blork one more time before slipping around a corner and fleeing. I do not know if it was the last bite or if he was already doomed when it happened, but I heard is death cry not long after. My rings meant my health was returning when...

Two more orcs from the tunnel ahead of me! Dear momma! I double back, pausing at a corner just as the priest turns. I launch a flurry of attacks at him, pouring poison into his veins, before the other orcs catch up, and then I'm off again, racing away down the corridor while I heal.

This game of cat and mouse finally ends - the priest dies to the poison, and I turn on my pursuers once me health has returned. They attempt to flee, but I make short worth of them.

When I finally, exhausted, free myself from my spider form, I notice something strange - I've changed color. Was it some sort of enchantment? A side effect of the transmutation?

Or could I have received my true, adult colour. That was, I suppose, the sort of defining event that's supposed to mark a Draconians emergence into adulthood.

The orc is almost dead.
 You kill the orc!
 You have reached level 7!
 Your scales start taking on a golden yellow colour.


I stared for a bit, at the yellow of my scales. They were beautiful. I was proud. Ecstatic. Just like Momma's.

[Basque]

Wow, I glad you made it out of there alive. XD That was tense for a moment there. Since I've never seen anyone play this character type before I'm really hoping you can take it a good distance.

And yellow, huh? Well that's an extra Acidic Bite attack at XL 14, but other than that it shouldn't affect play much at all. Be sure not to breathe on anything with equipment we want!

I do like you writing in that you're able to make these characters distinct from each other, which is impressive given there's no characterization in game.

Definitely clear out those previous floors before moving on. Thanks again for doing this LP, an good luck with everything!

[Delta Foxtrot]

Jolly good read so far. Keep it up. I like the character you get into it. Orcs can get a bit tense early on. Never tried transmuters seriously, but orc warriors and definitely knights are something you might want to shy away from until you're sure you can beat them.

[GlyphGryph]

I awoke from a long nap to find myself reinvigorated. As I explored the rest of the floor, killing the creatures I came into contact with, I discovered that with effort I could spit a devastating glob of acid onto my foes. The look on their pitiful mammal faces before the acid melted it off was priceless, bringing back wonderful memories of momma teaching us how to hunt.

Those I encountered in my explorations did not live long before my acid and spider fangs, but it was soon clear that to find this orb I was going to have to descend deeper. I was beginning to lose hope that it was on the next floor, or even the one beyond that. I am sure it can't be that much deeper, though, as I've already gone so very deep...

Before I descend, I am going to take a few moments to learn the Blade Hands and Ice Form spells. The first will make my clawed strikes even more dangerous while leaving me to bite freely and swat those stupid enough to come before my tail. The second supposedly turns my body into ice, a concept that seems like it can be nothing except markedly unpleasant, but it should make me resistant to most threats and allow me more damaging strikes. I'm not good enough yet to cast either reliably, truth be told, but I will be.

I have noticed my actual technique in combat could use a bit of work, though... Should I spend more time with Momma's book and improve my spellcasting next, or work on on my unarmed combat? It is a difficult choice. I will have to consider my options carefully.

Choice is yours, friend. Current skills:
     Skill            Level Train  Apt       Skill            Level Train  Apt 
 a - Fighting          1.1         +1    g - Stabbing          0.0          0   
 b + Polearms          0.0          0    h - Traps & Doors     0.0          0   
 c - Unarmed Combat    3.0          0                                     
                                         i + Spellcasting      2.7   100%   0   
 d - Throwing          0.0         -1    j - Transmutations    7.2          0   
                                         k - Poison Magic      3.0          0   
 e - Dodging           2.0         -1                                     
 f - Stealth           0.0         -1

[GlyphGryph]

My new blade hands spell is difficulty to cast - it's made me quite starving - but it's also fairly lethal when I can hit with it. The level is mostly uninteresting, though I do have to dip into my rations to...

Wait, what's that?

Some sort of normal sized human... wearing nothing but animal skins? And a nasty looking kobold, wielding a whip and shouting out orders to the sad looking humans.
       #...........#       #.##.#    Ailert the Changer
       #...........#     ###.##.#    Yellow Draconian of Sif Muna ......
       #...........#     #...##.#    Health: 52/52     ========================
       #...........#.    #.####.#    Magic:  11/11     ========================
       #...........@..   #<#  #.#    AC:  6            Str: 13
        #......### ##    ###  #.#    EV: 12            Int: 14
        ####.#.#.# .          #.#    SH:  0            Dex: 13
           #.#.#.#@#  #K      #.#    XL:  7 Next:  4%  Place: Dungeon:4
           #.#...#.#..@.      #.#    Wp: -) Nothing wielded
           #.#.......#        #.#    Qv: c) 35 darts
           #.#.#@#.#.#        #.#
           #.#...#.#.#   ######.#
           #...###.#.#   #......#    K _ Pikel (wandering)
           ###.# #.#.#   #.#..###    @@  2 slaves
########  ####'###'#.#####.#..#
.......# ##................#..###
.......# #............########...
....>..###.#.#........##........#
......................##^#####..#
###........#.#....##...#..[..#...
  #...............#....#####.#.##


When he notices me, the orders quickly become "Capture the lizard and bring him to me in chains!".

When I manage to lob a glob of acid past the humans right into his face, the orders become something more like "ARGHARGHHHBLARGHLAH"[/b]

Aim: Pikel, wielding a glowing whip and wearing a robe (lightly wounded)
 You spit a glob of acid. The acid hits Pikel. The acid corrodes Pikel's robe!
 Pikel is lightly wounded.

He is dangerous at first, and I flee quickly, but once I separate him from his slaves in the windy tunnels, I turn. He cackles with glee, fully intending to kill me at this point, until he sees the long, vicious looking blades my forearms have become. He turns to flee. With a swift stab, I push one blade through his leg, pinning him to the floor and sending him sprawling.

The second goes through the hand that had the audacity to flick his pitiful whip at me.
........#.#....##...#..[..#......    Ailert the Changer
...............#....#####.#.##.##    Yellow Draconian of Sif Muna ......
##########.....#..#@K...........#    Health: 51/52     =======================-
#######......).'..#.####.##.#####    Magic:  6/11      =============-----------
...............#.##.......@>....#    AC:  6            Str: 13
...............#.#######.........    EV: 12            Int: 14
........##.....#.#     ######.#..    SH:  0            Dex: 13
........##.....#.#       #.......    XL:  7 Next:  4%  Place: Dungeon:4
........##.....#.# #######.##..#.    Wp: -) Blade hands
........##.....#.###.....#.......    Qv: -) Unavailable
........##.....#@#.K..K#.###[..#.    Breath Blades
........####+###K#.#.#.#...#.....
........#      #.#.#.#.###K#..##.    K _ Pikel
........#      #.#.#.#.....#.....
........#      #.....###@....#.##
#########     ####.#####.###.###
              #..#.#.......###   
              ##.#.#.###@#...#   
               #.#..<# #.###^#   
               #...#####@....#   
               #.#.#)......###   

 Confirm with . or Enter, or press ? or * to list all spells.
_Your hands turn into razor-sharp scythe blades.
_Pikel barely misses you.
 You slash Pikel!
 Pikel is moderately wounded.
_Pikel misses you.
 You slash Pikel!
 Pikel is severely wounded.
_Pikel hits you with a glowing whip.

I did not notice the whip had wrapped itself around my wrist, and as I raised the blade above my hand to launch the final blow my breath was stolen from my lungs my a jolt of lightning. Roaring in pain, knowing I was ticking a risk by responding to this situation with a counter attack rather than escape, I tore into him. He was soon dead, but that did not stop the tearing.

Finally, breathing heavily, I realized something.

Sif Muna, bless her, had touched me, thankful for something I had done. Was this Kobold an enemy of hears? Or was she simply rewarding me for my recent studies in the magical arts? The ways of the god are never clear, but thanks to her touch my eyes were suddenly open to new possibilities.


Ailert the Changer
Yellow Draconian of Sif Muna *.....
Health: 22/52     ==========--------------
Magic:  6/18      ========----------------
AC:  6            Str: 13
EV: 12            Int: 14
SH:  0            Dex: 13
XL:  7 Next: 99%  Place: Dungeon:4
Wp: -) Blade hands
Unavailable
Blades

You slash Pikel!
 You kill Pikel!
 You can now tap ambient magical fields.
_Your Spellcasting skill gained 3 levels and is now at level 5!

I soon run into the former slaves, and fall into a battle stance, but they beg me to simply leave them be. They wish me no harm, they were simply doing the beasts bidding, and they are eternally grateful for me saving them. For now, they simply wish to escape this place.

I let them live, and move to descend deeper.

[GlyphGryph]

But descending deeper is not in the clutch.

Sigmund.

Sigmund points at you and mumbles some strange words.
_The puff of flame hits you!

I have heard, somewhere, of this strange human magician, with his fearsome scythe. I have heard he is quite dangerous.

I flee... at first.

But then I begin to realize that the bolts of flames he's been pelting me with... the effect is laughable! I turn, lobbing two large globs of flames at him, melting away his armor as I walk backwards. The human is slow, as well as weak! Soon he is on the verge of death, and...

............#.##.......@>....#...    Ailert the Changer
............#.#######............    Yellow Draconian of Sif Muna *.....
.....##.....#.#     ######.#.....    Health: 45/52     ====================----
.....##.....#.#       #..........    Magic:  14/18     ==================------
.....##.....#.# #######.##..#....    AC:  6            Str: 13
.....##.....#.###.....#..........    EV: 12            Int: 14
.....##.....#.#....K#.###[..#....    SH:  0            Dex: 13
.....####'###)#.#.#.#...#........    XL:  7 Next: 99%  Place: Dungeon:4
.....# #...##.#.#.#.###K#..##....    Wp: -) Nothing wielded
.....# #...##.#.#.#.....#........    Qv: c) 35 darts
.....# #...##...@.###@....#.#####    Hungry
###### #...####.#####.###.###   #
       #...'..#.#.......###     #
       #...##.#.#.###@#...#     #
       ######.#..<# #.###^#     #
            #...#####.....#     #
            #.#.#%......###     #
            #@......###.#       #
            #####.....#.#       #
                ###...#.#   
                  #..##.#   

 Sigmund flickers and vanishes!
_Deactivating autopickup; reactivate with Ctrl-A.
_It hits you.
 You miss it.
 You hear some strange, mumbled words.
_The puff of flame hits you!
 You punch it.
 You hear some strange, mumbled words.
_Something tries to affect you, but you resist.

...he disappears?

I offer a quick prayer to Sif Muna and to Momma, and feel my limbs lengthen into that of a spider. His spell cannot last forever - I could retreat and return. And I will, if he hurts me too badly.

But he was almost did. If I can get some poison into his veins, I won't have to wait for the spell to run out. I bit at the darkness, and my fangs find flesh. He does not live long.

This, this is the creature I've heard such stories about? Hah!

His robe and scythe flutter and clatter to the floor. But his body... his body is nowhere to be found. I shrug.

He was not carrying the orb, his ultimate fate matters not to me.

My journey continues.