[CIP] Newbie advice

[JoeBWan]

CIP and questions

This character is the futhest I've gotten since back in 0.3.4. I really would love to get my first rune, so was hoping for some advice.

The background is that I've cleared Lair to 8, found entrances to Swamp, Shoals & Hell (in Lair:8)

JoeBWan the Swashbuckler (Kobold Berserker) Turns: 36661, Time: 04:54:43
HP 95/95 AC 7 Str 17 XL: 15 Next: 12%
MP 17/17 EV 32 Int 11 God: Trog [******]
Gold 1750 SH 16 Dex 20 Spells: 0 memorised, 16 levels left

Res.Fire : . . . See Invis. : . P - +7,+5 quick blade of Miuso {god gift, holy
Res.Cold : + . . Warding : . . X - +1 robe {MR}
Life Prot.: . . . Conserve : + q - +1 elf buckler
Res.Acid. : . . . Res.Corr. : . d - +1 helmet {Int+3}
Res.Poison: . Clarity : . r - +0 cloak
Res.Elec. : . Spirit.Shd : . (no gloves)
Sust.Abil.: . . Stasis : . b - +0 pair of boots
Res.Mut. : . Ctrl.Telep.: . a - amulet of conservation
Res.Rott. : . Levitation : . E - +3,+2 ring of slaying
Saprovore : + + . Ctrl.Flight: . u - +4 ring of evasion

@: extraordinarily resistant to hostile enchantments, fairly stealthy
A: disease resistance, carnivore 3, saprovore 2
a: Burn Spellbooks, Berserk, Trog's Hand, Brothers in Arms, Renounce Religion


I've got a few weapon choices right now:
P - the +7,+5 quick blade of Miuso (weapon) {god gift, holy, Hunger rC+ MR Dex+2}
v - an uncursed anti-magic dagger (quivered) {god gift}
C - a +2,+1 anti-magic sabre {god gift}
J - a +2,+6 sabre of venom {god gift}
W - an uncursed crossbow of flame {god gift}

I had primarily been using the Sabre of Venom, but recently got the quickblade, and it seems pretty nice other than the Hunger.

Skill wise I'm at:

Skill Lvl Progr Apt Skill Lvl Progr Apt
a + Fighting 13 (50%) +1 k - Stabbing 1 ( 5%) +2
b * Short Blades 19 (95%) +3 l + Traps & Doors 6 (65%) 0
c - Maces & Flails 3 (40%) 0
m - Spellcasting 1 ( 0%) 0
d + Crossbows 9 (10%) +2
e - Throwing 1 (20%) +3 n - Evocations 1 ( 0%) +2
f - Slings 1 (25%) +2

g - Armour 1 (85%) -2
h + Dodging 14 (45%) +2
i - Stealth 1 ( 0%) +3
j - Shields 7 (10%) -2

I'm now in Orcish Mines:4 with 4, have 1750 gold and some shop items to consider. There were some shops higher in the dungeon,
but I didn't think to add anythign to my shopping list. Current artifacts include:

i - the +3 crown of Dyrovepreva {Hunger rElec Int+2 SInv} 1026 gold
j - the +2 pair of Fencer's gloves {EV+3 Dex+3 Acc+5} 753 gold
j - the ring of Xom's Fair Game {rPois Acc+3 Stlth+} 466 gold
e - the amulet of Ledu {rMut rC- Int+2} 677 gold
f - the ring "Mnefuwuro" {Wiz rPois} 665 gold

Some random questions:

1) Should I spend my money or save it. I was learning toward the crown, but not sure how much a second hunger item might hurt.
Being a kobold thus far hunger has not been a problem.

2) After getting through mines (assuming I survive) what order should I consider for runes. I have a ring of resist poison
so I was leaning towards Swamp first.

3) Is my training OK? Should I be workign on something else?

[Mattchew]

Some random questions:

1) Should I spend my money or save it. I was learning toward the crown, but not sure how much a second hunger item might hurt.
Being a kobold thus far hunger has not been a problem.

2) After getting through mines (assuming I survive) what order should I consider for runes. I have a ring of resist poison
so I was leaning towards Swamp first.

3) Is my training OK? Should I be workign on something else?

First, I'm not that good, so take my advice with a grain of salt. Ordered with what I think is most important at the top.

I think you have overtrained short blades. Might as get your next step since you're so close, but you're way past what you need. I think most people stop training their weapon once they get to min delay (which you can look up the details of, but you're way past that point).

I would train Traps and Doors up to 12. You don't need to focus it, but you'll want it at 10-12 by the time you do vaults.

Use Ctrl-F "shop" to look at the other shops. You can view the shop contents from this menu. If you don't have anything better to spend the money on, I would get those gloves. I love those gloves. You probably won't find a better pair of gloves the whole game.

I wouldn't buy that helm unless I was desperate for sInv.

I'd probably do Swamp first. You might save the bottom level for later, that's where the hard stuff is. It's very common to do all but the last level of the branches and save that for later. On Swamp:5 you get a vault with a lot of hydras in it, that is the Lernean Hydra vault. If you get this vault, do not engage the LH. You will die. Lure it out and sneak back later to get the rune.

Shoals is not too bad in the upper levels if you go slow, excepting for the occasional kraken. Do not underestimate snapping turtles, they hit very hard and have reaching. Shoals:5 is horrible and you should probably save it until you've done most of the rest of the dungeon.

You might think about learning long blades. Some guys are happy with short blades the whole game and you do have a decent one (it's OK to switch back to that sabre for kiting, too ). I really like something that hits harder though.

It's a little late to start, but Stealth and stabbing are awfully nice on a light armor melee character. I'd probably pick up a few levels of Stealth anyway and get it up to 10 or 12 eventually.

I like a few levels in Evocations, especially on a non spellcaster.

Good luck!

[TehDruid]

Buy the gloves! They are great for dex based characters.

Short blades required skill for the lowest attack speed possible is 14 for sabres, 12 for short swords, 10 for daggers and 8 for quickblades. You're way higher than what you'd need atm. Those experience points would be much better put into use for training dodging/fighting/stealth/stabbing/...

...And even armour. 7 AC is very low. If you plan on playing without spellcasting you can wear heavy armour, even very heavy like plate/storm dragon or fire/ice/pearl/swamp dragon armour if you don't want to lower your EV more than -3. An unrandart Steam Dragon Armour is also a great find if it has some good modifiers but that's too RNG reliant. When it comes to AC/EV, if you have high dex and armour/dodging skills your EV will still be spectacular and you'll have much better damage reduction for when you get hit. I've lost a SpCK with a spectacular set of mutations even though buffed through translocations he could reach 60+ EV (had ring of the Shaoling and some more EV equips but only around 10-15 AC. It's annoying when you do get hit you lose huge chunks of HP on these lower HP races, believe me.

If you do wear heavy armour, remember that your strength has to be at least 3 times the minus to EV that the armour has. For example, a plate has -6 penalty to EV, so you need 18 STR to wear it, or else you get crippling penalties to combat.

[Wereox]

Thirding "get those gloves right away."

You really don't care much about Hunger as a kobold so +Hunger is more a nuisance than a drawback. Eating more is an annoyance; dying sucks.

The helm is not that great. I would, however, still buy it since you (a) can afford that and the gloves (b) have nothing better to spend money on. I always regret saving money up for 'maybe I'll find an awesome item in a shop later." It's 2 AC (never hurts), SInv (not worth buying it FOR SInv, but it doesn't hurt), and rElec. I don't see another source of rElec, you do need it eventually, having it on your hat is convenient.

Basically, gloves >>> hat > saving your money and dying with 1000 gold unspent.

Not having Stealth on a KoBe is a bad plan. You have a +3 Aptitude so you can get it up to par easily. As you go further you will swiftly start running into monsters with nasty ranged attacks; being able to sneak up to them, then Berserk and murder, is a huge benefit. You have way plenty Short Blades and Fighting and I would "round them up" to the next point, then level Stealth until you can sneak up to most stuff you encounter, then try to keep it at that level. I'd also get a middling amount of stabbing, maybe 10-ish, for when you find sleeping people. Picking them up now is quite doable because of your good apts.

Do you have better armor lying around somewhere? Don't level armor because you might find some later, but if you do find some nicer armor, level Armor some.

Evocations is very useful on Berserkers because you can get lots of useful effects out of Rods. If you find Scroll of Acquirement and ask for a staff, it will always give you a rod as a Berserker, and they're quite handy. Don't level Evocations unless you have a rod or three lying around, but if you find some, level it so you can use them.

[JoeBWan]

Thanks for all the great advice!

I'll definitely get the gloves, and see if there was anything higher in the dungeon using ctrl-f. I didn't realize I had overtrained short swords, so I'll turn that completely off once it hits the next level since I'm 90% of the way there. I had also convinced myself that a dodging character didn't want heavier armor, but it sounds like that was incorrect as well. I'll keep an eye out for leather/chain/plate etc. I'll also turn stealth on. I thought I had read that stealth gets worse the further you get into the dungeon, but now I can't find where I saw that.

Tentative plan is to finish Orcish MInes and head to swamp. One nice thing about Web Tiles is the slight lag forces me to play a bit slower which hopefully will make me think more carefully.

If nothing else I'll know what to improve on next time!

[KoboldLord]

For the record, I wouldn't go heavier than leather with a kobold unless there was an absolutely magnificent artifact available. Kobolds get a multiplier applied to EV due to their size, which means penalties are much bigger than they should be. Low AC is a problem to work around, but you can do so by ensuring you fight as few opponents at a time as possible. EV and SH are much better than AC in one-on-one situations against single difficult opponents, while AC shines when you're getting swarmed by lesser threats. Yes, sometimes you botch your EV roll, but the AC reduction can roll 0, too. If you're fighting something that can kill you in one hit, you probably shouldn't be.

Train up stealth a lot. And then train it up some more. When you think you have enough, more.

If you're planning to keep the buckler, you're going to want to use slings rather than crossbows. Crossbows have a massive speed penalty if you're using a shield, and shield skill does not mitigate this. Slings do not have this penalty. Slings are excellent ranged weapons, to boot, as their ammunition can be steel-branded.

Throw Brothers in Arms at anything that looks kind of threatening. It costs piety, but piety is a renewable resource and there's only so many lousy weapon gifts one kobold ever needs.

[JoeBWan]

I managed to clear Orc:4, picked up the gloves as suggested, then dove a couple levels back into the dungeon and into an Ice Cave where I had some fun but managed to kill a Frost Giant (I think?) for some fun loot.

I've also turned short blades off entirely as suggested, and added stealth which has improved quite quickly and allowed me to sneak up on a couple scary creatures (Orc Sorc in particular).

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.9.0-27-g8a39726 character file.

JoeBWan the Swashbuckler (Kobold Berserker)        Turns: 42408, Time: 06:16:37

HP  96/96        AC 10     Str 17      XL: 15   Next: 92%
MP  17/17        EV 38     Int 11      God: Trog [******]
Gold 1606        SH 17     Dex 23      Spells:  0 memorised, 16 levels left

Res.Fire  : . . .   See Invis. : .    P - +7,+5 quick blade of Miuso {god gift, holy
Res.Cold  : + . .   Warding    : . .  X - +1 robe {MR}
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : +    q - +1 elf buckler
Res.Acid. : . . .   Res.Corr.  : .    d - +1 helmet {Int+3}
Res.Poison: .       Clarity    : .    r - +0 cloak
Res.Elec. : .       Spirit.Shd : .    Q - +2 pair of Fencer's gloves {EV+3 Dex+3 Acc
Sust.Abil.: . .     Stasis     : .    b - +0 pair of boots
Res.Mut.  : .       Ctrl.Telep.: .    a - amulet of conservation
Res.Rott. : .       Levitation : .    E - cursed +3,+2 ring of slaying
Saprovore : + + .   Ctrl.Flight: .    u - +4 ring of evasion

@: extraordinarily resistant to hostile enchantments, extremely stealthy
A: disease resistance, carnivore 3, saprovore 2
a: Burn Spellbooks, Berserk, Trog's Hand, Brothers in Arms, Renounce Religion


You are on level 12 of the Dungeon.
You worship Trog.
Trog is exalted by your worship.
You are very full.

You have visited 3 branches of the dungeon, and seen 24 of its levels.
You have visited 2 portal chambers: spiders nest, ice cave.

You have collected 2339 gold pieces.
You have spent 753 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 C - a +2,+1 anti-magic sabre {god gift}
 H - a +2,+2 elven dagger of venom (quivered)
 J - a +2,+6 sabre of venom {god gift}
 P - the +7,+5 quick blade of Miuso (weapon) {god gift, holy, Hunger rC+ MR Dex+2}
   (Trog gifted it to you on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)   
   
   It has been blessed by the Shining One to cause great damage to the undead
   and demons.
   
   
   It affects your dexterity (+2).
   It protects you from cold.
   It increases your resistance to enchantments.
   It speeds your metabolism.
 R - the crossbow "Hellfire" {god gift, flame, rF++ rC- MR}
   (Trog gifted it to you on level 11 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It turns projectiles fired from it into bolts of flame.
   
   
   It greatly protects you from fire.
   It makes you vulnerable to cold.
   It increases your resistance to enchantments.
Missiles
 o - 8 bolts
 t - 37 bolts of frost
 I - 28 poisoned bolts
Armour
 b - a +0 pair of boots (worn)
 d - a +1 helmet of intelligence (worn)
 q - a +1 elven buckler (worn)
 r - a +0 cloak (worn)
 x - a +0 animal skin of fire resistance
 Q - the +2 pair of Fencer's gloves (worn) {EV+3 Dex+3 Acc+5}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)   
   
   
   It affects your evasion (+3).
   It affects your dexterity (+3).
   It affects your accuracy (+5).
 X - a +1 robe of magic resistance (worn)
Magical devices
 j - a wand of teleportation {zapped: 2}
 k - a wand of digging (2)
 n - a wand of confusion {zapped: 1}
 p - a wand of cold {zapped: 1}
 s - a wand of frost {zapped: 1}
 B - a wand of enslavement {zapped: 2}
 L - a wand of polymorph other {zapped: 1}
 N - a wand of draining {zapped: 1}
 T - a wand of fireball {zapped: 3}
Comestibles
 c - 7 meat rations
 g - a beef jerky
 V - a royal jelly
Scrolls
 e - a scroll of magic mapping
 f - 2 scrolls of teleportation
 h - a scroll of remove curse
 l - 2 scrolls of fog
 m - a scroll of enchant weapon II
 w - a scroll labeled WULULU JICHUAN {tried}
 z - a scroll of enchant armour
 F - a scroll of detect curse
 G - a scroll of recharging
 M - a scroll of identify
Jewellery
 a - an amulet of conservation (around neck)
 u - a +4 ring of evasion (left hand)
 y - an uncursed ring of see invisible
 E - a cursed +3,+2 ring of slaying (right hand)
 S - an uncursed ring of poison resistance
Potions
 i - a potion of restore abilities
 v - 3 potions of healing
 O - a potion of agility
 W - a potion of resistance
 Y - a potion of levitation
 Z - a potion of might
Books
 D - a hardcover book   
   
   Trog disapproves of the use of such an item.


   Skills:
 + Level 14 Fighting
 - Level 20 Short Blades
 - Level 3 Maces & Flails
 - Level 1 Slings
 + Level 10 Crossbows
 - Level 1 Throwing
 - Level 1 Armour
 + Level 15 Dodging
 + Level 9 Stealth
 - Level 1 Stabbing
 - Level 7 Shields
 + Level 8 Traps & Doors
 - Level 1 Spellcasting
 - Level 1 Evocations


You have 16 spell levels left.
You don't know any spells.

Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (12/27)               Orc (4/4) D:7             Elf (0/5) Orc:4
   Lair (8/8) D:10          Swamp (0/5) Lair:2       Shoals (0/5) Lair:5
Temple: D:4-7        Slime: Lair:6-8      Hive: D:11-16     

Altars:
Makhleb
Okawaru
Xom
Yredelemnul

Shops:
D:5: [  D:8: [  Orc:2: %  Orc:4: =([(

Portals:
Hell: Lair:8

Annotations
D:3 1 exclusion
D:9 exclusion: 2 doors
Lair:7 exclusions: lindwurm, oklob plant and 2 more exclusions


                    Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You recuperate from illness quickly.
You are small and have problems with some larger weapons.
You are carnivorous and can eat meat at any time.
You can eat rotten meat.


Message History

The scroll mimic is moderately damaged.
You hit the scroll mimic, but do no damage.
The scroll mimic is moderately damaged.
The scroll mimic completely misses you. You block the scroll mimic's attack.
The scroll mimic misses you.
You hit the scroll mimic.
The scroll mimic is heavily damaged.
You hit the scroll mimic.
The scroll mimic is severely damaged.
You puncture the scroll mimic!
You destroy the scroll mimic!
You see here a leather armour.
You see here a leather armour.
Save game and exit?
Welcome back, JoeBWan the Kobold Berserker.
Trog says: Kill them all!
Press ? for a list of commands and other information.
Fire/throw which item? (* to show all) (? for menu, Esc to quit)
Okay, then.
Search for what [? for help]? shop

......######.....
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...#.......####.#
...#.......#  #.#
...........#  #.#
...#..[....#  #.#
...#....@..#  #.#
..##.......#  #.#
##)........#   .
 #.........#
 #............
 ###.#####....#
   #..    ....+
   ####   ....
          .).


There are no monsters in sight!

Vanquished Creatures
  Donald (Orc:4)
  A frost giant (Port)
  2 dire elephants (Lair:8)
  Josephine (D:10)
  4 ogre magi
  Harold (Lair:5)
  3 hydras
  A wizard (Lair:8)
  9 death yaks
  2 lindwurms
  An ice statue (Port)
  3 orc sorcerers
  Joseph (D:11)
  A griffon (Lair:8)
  2 hill giants
  A spiny worm (Lair:7)
  Maurice (D:11)
  3 elephant slugs
  5 elephants
  A wolf spider (D:9)
  An orange demon (Orc:2)
  6 slime creatures (D:12)
  A giant toad zombie (D:10)
  A weapon mimic (D:12)
  2 black mambas
  A mermaid (Lair:5)
  10 spiny frogs
  A giant toad skeleton (D:10)
  Psyche (Orc:1)
  A smoke demon (Orc:4)
  A hill giant skeleton (D:10)
  7 komodo dragons
  A troll (D:11)
  17 polar bears
  14 two-headed ogres (Orc:4)
  19 giant toads
  3 basilisks
  A hairy devil (Orc:3)
  36 yaks
  2 fire drakes
  6 wyverns
  4 hippogriffs
  2 hungry ghosts
  2 manticores
  6 war dogs (Lair:2)
  A ynoxinul (Orc:3)
  2 necrophages
  3 sky beasts
  33 ogres
  3 phantoms
  2 ice beasts
  A yak zombie (D:10)
  2 centaurs (D:5)
  A yellow wasp (D:11)
  4 boring beetles
  9 orc warriors
  A swamp drake (D:10)
  The ghost of Chalize the Chiller, an average MfIE (D:6)
  Duvessa (D:5)
  16 wolves
  6 giant slugs
  6 crocodiles
  4 wargs
  8 giant frogs
  19 water moccasins
  6 agate snails
  A soldier ant zombie (D:11)
  A basilisk skeleton (D:9)
  A killer bee (D:5)
  A fire bat (D:9)
  A mottled dragon zombie (D:10)
  2 goliath beetles
  10 imps
  A hound zombie (D:5)
  Dowan (D:5)
  2 big kobold skeletons
  6 scorpions
  7 hounds
  20 orc priests
  7 worker ants
  2 hound skeletons
  9 iguanas
  32 orc wizards
  2 worker ant zombies
  10 porcupines
  Ijyb (D:2)
  23 sheep
  A worm zombie (D:5)
  2 jellies
  3 mummies
  3 gnolls (D:3)
  An iguana zombie (D:10)
  A scorpion zombie (D:6)
  4 giant centipedes
  16 snakes
  12 white imps (D:11)
  3 giant mites
  57 green rats
  2 snake zombies
  An iguana skeleton (D:8)
  6 worms
  A bat skeleton (D:7)
  2 giant eyeballs
  14 giant geckos
  2 oozes
  151 orcs
  26 bats
  20 goblins
  23 hobgoblins
  21 jackals
  10 quokkas
  3 small snakes
  11 giant cockroaches
  A giant gecko zombie (D:7)
  5 giant newts
  2 hobgoblin skeletons
  20 kobolds
  A kobold skeleton (D:9)
  A kobold zombie (D:8)
  An orc skeleton (D:3)
  25 rats
  2 fungi
  18 toadstools
931 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (collateral kills)
  Jozef (Orc:4)
  A death yak (Lair:6)
  A sun demon (Lair:8)
  An orange demon (Lair:8)
  6 hellwings (Lair:8)
  A smoke demon (Lair:8)
  A yak (Lair:6)
  3 rotting devils (Lair:8)
  An orc priest (Orc:4)
  An orc wizard (Orc:4)
  4 orcs (Orc:4)
21 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
  A slime creature (D:12)
  A polar bear (Port)
  7 wolves (Port)
  An orc priest (D:7)
  A porcupine (Lair:4)
  A green rat (Lair:8)
  3 orcs
  2 goblins
  A quokka skeleton (D:7)
  2 rats
  12 fungi
  4 plants
  22 toadstools
58 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 1010 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | JoeBWan, the Kobold Berserker, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 14/14 MP: 0/0
   151 | D:1      | Reached skill level 4 in Fighting
   217 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 15/20 MP: 1/1
   650 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Short Blades
   808 | D:1      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 24/24 MP: 2/2
  1156 | D:1      | Acquired Trog's second power
  1156 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Stealth
  1771 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 26/29 MP: 3/3
  2061 | D:2      | Noticed Ijyb
  2086 | D:2      | Defeated Ijyb
  2982 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 11/33 MP: 4/4
  3277 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Traps & Doors
  3278 | D:3      | Noticed a giant frog
  3300 | D:3      | Defeated a giant frog
  3300 | D:3      | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
  3300 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Throwing
  3300 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Stabbing
  3300 | D:3      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 17/39 MP: 5/5
  3475 | D:3      | Found a basalt altar of Yredelemnul.
  4094 | D:3      | Noticed Grinder
  4573 | D:3      | grinder here on L3
  5046 | D:4      | Found a burning altar of Makhleb.
  5090 | D:4      | Noticed Menkaure
  5091 | D:4      | Noticed Prince Ribbit
  5091 | D:4      | Menkaure (Mummy caster) and Prince Ribbit
  5099 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  5268 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
  5652 | D:5      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 40/44 MP: 6/6
  5785 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Short Blades
  6067 | D:5      | Found Adoy's Armour Emporium.
  6382 | D:5      | Reached skill level 6 in Short Blades
  6713 | D:5      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 49/49 MP: 7/7
  6926 | D:5      | Acquired Trog's third power
  7085 | D:5      | Reached skill level 7 in Short Blades
  7118 | D:5      | Noticed Duvessa
  7147 | D:5      | Defeated Duvessa
  7238 | D:5      | Noticed Dowan
  7253 | D:5      | Defeated Dowan
  8023 | D:5      | Gained mutation: You have a fast metabolism.
  8023 | D:5      | Gained mutation: Armour fits poorly on your unusually shaped body.
  8023 | D:5      | Lost mutation: You have a fast metabolism.
  8051 | D:6      | Noticed a yak
  8140 | D:5      | Defeated a yak
  8140 | D:5      | Reached skill level 8 in Short Blades
  8322 | D:6      | Noticed Chalize's ghost (average MfIE)
  8894 | D:6      | Defeated Chalize's ghost
  8894 | D:6      | Reached XP level 9. HP: 54/54 MP: 8/8
  9447 | D:6      | Reached skill level 1 in Spellcasting
  9962 | D:7      | Reached skill level 9 in Short Blades
 10235 | D:7      | Found a staircase to the Orcish Mines.
 10910 | D:7      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 11349 | D:8      | Reached skill level 1 in Slings
 11395 | D:8      | Found Hewat's Armour Shoppe.
 11646 | D:8      | Reached skill level 1 in Shields
 11974 | D:8      | Reached skill level 10 in Short Blades
 12115 | D:8      | Reached XP level 10. HP: 52/60 MP: 11/11
 12975 | D:10     | Entered Level 10 of the Dungeon
 13158 | D:9      | Reached skill level 11 in Short Blades
 13909 | D:10     | Noticed a giant toad skeleton
 13957 | D:10     | Defeated a giant toad skeleton
 14012 | D:10     | Noticed a hill giant skeleton
 14015 | D:10     | Noticed Josephine
 14056 | D:10     | Defeated Josephine
 14056 | D:10     | Reached skill level 12 in Short Blades
 14056 | D:10     | Reached XP level 11. HP: 41/67 MP: 12/12
 15253 | D:10     | Found a staircase to the Lair.
 15360 | D:10     | Reached skill level 13 in Short Blades
 15379 | D:10     | Defeated a hill giant skeleton
 15474 | D:10     | Reached skill level 10 in Dodging
 15608 | Lair:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Lair of Beasts
 16111 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 5 in Shields
 16255 | Lair:1   | Received a gift from Trog
 16441 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 1 in Evocations
 16662 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 10 in Fighting
 17183 | Lair:2   | Reached skill level 14 in Short Blades
 17539 | Lair:2   | Reached XP level 12. HP: 75/75 MP: 14/14
 17871 | Lair:2   | Found a staircase to the Swamp.
 19122 | Lair:3   | Reached skill level 15 in Short Blades
 20624 | Lair:4   | Got a faintly glowing quarterstaff
 20625 | Lair:4   | Identified the +4,+6 quarterstaff of Zorajeu (You found it on level 4 of the Lair of Beasts)
 20743 | Lair:5   | Noticed Harold
 20787 | Lair:5   | Defeated Harold
 21325 | Lair:5   | Found a crumbling entrance.
 21344 | Spider   | Entered a spider's nest
 21456 | Lair:5   | Received a gift from Trog
 21595 | Lair:5   | Found a staircase to the Shoals.
 22677 | Lair:6   | Got an ancient lajatang
 22713 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 16 in Short Blades
 22713 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 1 in Crossbows
 22788 | Lair:6   | HP: 3/76 [death yak (28)]
 23078 | Lair:6   | Reached XP level 13. HP: 68/80 MP: 15/15
 23704 | Lair:6   | Lost mutation: Armour fits poorly on your unusually shaped body.
 23781 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 17 in Short Blades
 24851 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 5 in Crossbows
 24931 | Lair:6   | Received a gift from Trog
 26231 | Lair:8   | Entered Level 8 of the Lair of Beasts
 26318 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 18 in Short Blades
 27479 | Lair:8   | Reached XP level 14. HP: 72/88 MP: 16/16
 31475 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 5 in Traps & Doors
 31492 | Lair:8   | Found a burning altar of Makhleb.
 31530 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 19 in Short Blades
 31535 | Lair:8   | Found a gateway to Hell.
 31764 | Lair:7   | Received a gift from Trog
 32153 | Lair:7   | Noticed a spiny worm
 32311 | Lair:7   | Defeated a spiny worm
 33114 | Orc:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Orcish Mines
 33114 | Orc:1    | Noticed Psyche
 33434 | Orc:1    | Defeated Psyche
 33788 | Orc:2    | Found Xoipaosu's Food Emporium.
 33799 | Orc:1    | Received a gift from Trog
 33968 | Orc:2    | Found an iron altar of Okawaru.
 34899 | Orc:4    | Entered Level 4 of the Orcish Mines
 35002 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 35014 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 35014 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 35014 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 35015 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 35015 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 35216 | Orc:3    | Defeated an ogre mage
 35836 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 35845 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 35895 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 35898 | Orc:4    | Noticed Donald
 35929 | Orc:4    | Defeated Donald
 36014 | Orc:4    | Reached XP level 15. HP: 64/95 MP: 17/17
 36047 | Orc:4    | Received a gift from Trog
 36048 | Orc:4    | Got a crystal quick blade {god gift}
 36060 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36079 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36087 | Orc:4    | Identified the quick blade of Miuso {god gift, holy, Hunger rC+ MR Dex+2} (Trog gifted it to you on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)
 36111 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36138 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36149 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36160 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36210 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36220 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36264 | Orc:4    | Defeated an ogre mage
 36390 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36402 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36531 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36533 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36550 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36556 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36609 | Orc:4    | Found Liblaj's Armour Shop.
 36609 | Orc:4    | Found Tytoidaera's Weapon Shoppe.
 36629 | Orc:4    | Found Biarphaum's Jewellery Emporium.
 36629 | Orc:4    | Found Ter Teah's Antique Weapon Shop.
 36636 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36652 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36730 | Orc:4    | Bought the +2 pair of Fencer's gloves {EV+3 Dex+3 Acc+5} for 753 gold pieces
 36753 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36765 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36885 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36885 | Orc:4    | Reached skill level 20 in Short Blades
 36896 | Orc:4    | Found a staircase to the Elven Halls.
 36896 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36906 | Orc:4    | Defeated an ogre mage
 36908 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 37689 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 37700 | Orc:4    | Noticed Jozef
 37709 | Orc:4    | Defeated an ogre mage
 37712 | Orc:4    | Defeated Jozef
 37764 | Orc:4    | Received a gift from Trog
 38153 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 38518 | Orc:3    | Reached skill level 5 in Stealth
 38942 | D:11     | Noticed Maurice
 38959 | D:11     | Defeated Maurice
 38981 | D:11     | Received a gift from Trog
 39003 | D:11     | Got a flaming crossbow {god gift}
 39004 | D:11     | Identified the crossbow "Hellfire" {god gift, flame, rF++ rC- MR} (Trog gifted it to you on level 11 of the Dungeon)
 39213 | D:11     | Found a frozen archway.
 39247 | IceCv    | Entered an ice cave
 39978 | IceCv    | Reached skill level 10 in Crossbows
 40254 | IceCv    | Reached skill level 15 in Dodging
 41366 | D:11     | Noticed Joseph
 41390 | D:11     | Defeated Joseph
 41785 | D:10     | Received a gift from Trog

I'm now sitting on top of 1600ish gold again, and using Ctrl-F as suggested I those stores I mentioned earlier. A few new interesting options jumped out at me:

a - the +4 scale mail "Lynoanil" {+Blink +Rage +Inv rPois rC++ MR} (1589 gold)
g - the +3 robe of Clouds {+Lev rElec} (735 gold
n - the +4 robe of Augmentation {Str+4 Dex+4 Int+4} (1283 gold)

I have enough money for either of those, or the crown I passed on earlier. The scale mail with Blink seems amazing but I'm not sure how painful the evasion penalty would be. The robes also seem nice and the levitate might be helpful for shoals?

[rebthor]

Robe of the clouds is an unrandart.

A +3 robe with +Lev and rElec. It trails fog behind you as you walk. This may leave puddles. They may deepen

Not worth it most of the time, unless you're an Mf, Te with permaflight or really plan on leaving flight up all the time as otherwise you'll find yourself blocked off at an inopportune time.

Robe of augmentations (also an unrandart) is also not worth it unless you really need the stats. Most of the time you don't. You don't (IMO).

+4 silk robe that gives +4 to all stats. Whoopee.

The scale mail will absolutely kill your EV. I'm sure you can find a regular scale mail in the dungeon to see how much.

None of them are good choices, in my opinion.

[JoeBWan]

So I suspect I'm being incredibly dense here, but why is the scale mail bad?

Blink seems like it could save your life, Rage is useless for a Be, I'm not sure when Invis would be helpful but doesn't seem downright bad. Then it has rP rC++ and MR.

Is "bad" all coming because scale mail itself sucks as armor for a Ko because of the Ev penalty. Or does it just suck for everyone because the AC doesn't make up for the Ev penalty?

[JoeBWan]

Thanks again for all of the great advice!

I'm so close to my first rune, that I can practically taste it. I've cleared out a metric ton of swamp dragons and hydras in Swamp:5 and was wandering in for what I assumed would be my first rune pickup when I saw The Lernaean Hydra. I lured him out and hit him with a few blasts from my cold wand, but it hardly scratched him before he was within striking distance and I had to take the stairs back up to Swamp:4 to avoid dead.

Any suggestions on how to go about taking him on with the tools at my disposal? Or is this a "come back later" moment?

  Code:

Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.9.0-27-g8a39726 character file.

JoeBWan the Swashbuckler (Kobold Berserker)        Turns: 56904, Time: 09:10:25

HP  83/116       AC 10     Str 17      XL: 18   Next: 36%
MP  19/19        EV 36     Int 10      God: Trog [******]
Gold 1818        SH 18     Dex 24      Spells:  0 memorised, 19 levels left

Res.Fire  : . . .   See Invis. : +    P - +7,+5 quick blade of Miuso {god gift, holy
Res.Cold  : + . .   Warding    : . .  X - +1 robe {MR}
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : +    q - +1 elf buckler
Res.Acid. : . . .   Res.Corr.  : .    A - +3 crown of Dyrovepreva {Hunger rElec Int+
Res.Poison: +       Clarity    : .    r - +0 cloak
Res.Elec. : +       Spirit.Shd : .    Q - +2 pair of Fencer's gloves {EV+3 Dex+3 Acc
Sust.Abil.: . .     Stasis     : .    (no boots)
Res.Mut.  : .       Ctrl.Telep.: .    a - amulet of conservation
Res.Rott. : .       Levitation : .    E - +3,+2 ring of slaying
Saprovore : + + .   Ctrl.Flight: .    S - ring of poison resistance

@: extraordinarily resistant to hostile enchantments, extraordinarily stealthy
A: disease resistance, carnivore 3, saprovore 2
a: Burn Spellbooks, Berserk, Trog's Hand, Brothers in Arms, Renounce Religion


You are on level 4 of the Swamp.
You worship Trog.
Trog is exalted by your worship.
You are very full.

You have visited 5 branches of the dungeon, and seen 35 of its levels.
You have visited 3 portal chambers: spiders nest, ice cave, bailey.

You have collected 3577 gold pieces.
You have spent 1779 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 C - a +2,+1 anti-magic sabre {god gift}
 H - a +2,+2 elven dagger of venom (quivered)
 J - a +2,+6 sabre of venom {god gift}
 P - the +7,+5 quick blade of Miuso (weapon) {god gift, holy, Hunger rC+ MR Dex+2}
   (Trog gifted it to you on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)   
   
   It has been blessed by the Shining One to cause great damage to the undead
   and demons.
   
   
   It affects your dexterity (+2).
   It protects you from cold.
   It increases your resistance to enchantments.
   It speeds your metabolism.
 R - the +6,+9 crossbow "Hellfire" {god gift, flame, rF++ rC- MR}
   (Trog gifted it to you on level 11 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It turns projectiles fired from it into bolts of flame.
   
   
   It greatly protects you from fire.
   It makes you vulnerable to cold.
   It increases your resistance to enchantments.
Missiles
 s - 38 poisoned +4 bolts {god gift}
 t - 32 +0 bolts of frost
Armour
 q - a +1 elven buckler (worn)
 r - a +0 cloak (worn)
 A - the +3 crown of Dyrovepreva (worn) {Hunger rElec Int+2 SInv}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)   
   
   
   It affects your intelligence (+2).
   It insulates you from electricity.
   It enhances your eyesight.
   It speeds your metabolism.
 K - a +0 troll leather armour {Snorg}
 Q - the +2 pair of Fencer's gloves (worn) {EV+3 Dex+3 Acc+5}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)   
   
   
   It affects your evasion (+3).
   It affects your dexterity (+3).
   It affects your accuracy (+5).
 X - a +1 robe of magic resistance (worn)
Magical devices
 b - a wand of lightning {zapped: 1}
 f - a wand of confusion
 g - a wand of disintegration (6)
 j - a wand of teleportation (8)
 k - a wand of digging (2)
 n - a wand of confusion {zapped: 2}
 p - a wand of cold {zapped: 4}
 x - a wand of disintegration
 y - a wand of enslavement
 L - a wand of polymorph other {zapped: 1}
 N - a wand of draining {zapped: 1}
 T - a wand of fireball {zapped: 3}
Comestibles
 c - 5 meat rations
 h - 6 royal jellies
Scrolls
 e - 2 scrolls of magic mapping
 l - 2 scrolls of fog
 m - a scroll of enchant weapon II
 w - 2 scrolls of fear
 z - 3 scrolls of enchant armour
 F - 5 scrolls of detect curse
 G - 2 scrolls of recharging
 M - a scroll of remove curse
 O - 3 scrolls of identify
 U - a scroll of enchant weapon I
 V - 3 scrolls of teleportation
Jewellery
 a - an amulet of conservation (around neck)
 u - a +4 ring of evasion
 D - an uncursed ring of teleport control
 E - a +3,+2 ring of slaying (right hand)
 I - an uncursed ring of fire
 S - a ring of poison resistance (left hand)
Potions
 i - 2 potions of restore abilities
 v - 8 potions of healing
 B - a potion of speed
 W - a potion of resistance
 Y - a potion of levitation


   Skills:
 + Level 15 Fighting
 - Level 20 Short Blades
 - Level 3 Maces & Flails
 - Level 1 Slings
 + Level 13 Crossbows
 - Level 1 Throwing
 - Level 1 Armour
 + Level 17 Dodging
 + Level 16 Stealth
 - Level 1 Stabbing
 - Level 7 Shields
 + Level 10 Traps & Doors
 - Level 1 Spellcasting
 + Level 5 Evocations


You have 19 spell levels left.
You don't know any spells.

Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (16/27)               Orc (4/4) D:7             Elf (0/5) Orc:4
   Lair (8/8) D:10          Swamp (5/5) Lair:2       Shoals (0/5) Lair:5
   Hive (2/2) D:16       
Temple: D:4-7        Slime: Lair:6-8     Vault: D:14-19     

Altars:
Elyvilon
Makhleb
Okawaru
Xom
Yredelemnul

Shops:
D:5: [  D:8: [  D:12: (  Orc:2: %  Orc:4: =([(

Portals:
Hell: Lair:8

Annotations
D:3 1 exclusion
D:9 exclusion: 2 doors
Lair:7 exclusions: lindwurm, oklob plant and 2 more exclusions
Hive:2 exclusion: 4 oklob plants


                    Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You recuperate from illness quickly.
You are small and have problems with some larger weapons.
You are carnivorous and can eat meat at any time.
You can eat rotten meat.


Message History

The 26-headed Lernaean hydra completely misses you.
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra bites you.
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra completely misses you.
You block the 26-headed Lernaean hydra's attack.
Helpless, you fail to dodge the 26-headed Lernaean hydra's attack.
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra bites you.
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra misses you.
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra completely misses you.
You block the 26-headed Lernaean hydra's attack.
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra misses you.
Helpless, you fail to dodge the 26-headed Lernaean hydra's attack.
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra bites you!
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra bites you but does no damage.
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra completely misses you.
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra bites you but does no damage.
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra bites you.
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra barely misses you.
The 26-headed Lernaean hydra completely misses you.
You climb upwards.
There is a stone staircase leading down here.

.≈≈≈.≈≈≈..≈≈≈..)≈
≈..≈.≈≈≈..≈≈....≈
≈§...≈........§§.
...≈.≈...≈≈≈≈.≈≈.
≈≈≈.....≈≈≈≈≈≈≈..
§.........≈≈≈≈≈.≈
.≈..≈≈≈.≈≈.....≈♣
≈≈≈≈≈≈..≈≈..≈≈♣♣♣
.≈≈.≈≈≈≈@...≈≈♣§♣
.≈≈≈≈♣♣♣≈≈≈♣♣≈♣♣≈
♣≈≈♣♣♣≈≈≈♣♣≈≈♣♣♣
≈≈♣≈≈≈≈≈♣≈♣♣♣≈♣≈♣
  ≈♣♣♣≈≈♣≈≈♣§♣≈≈≈
   ♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣
    ♣♣♣♣ ♣♣♣


There are no monsters in sight!

Vanquished Creatures
  Nikola (D:14)
  Kirke (Swamp:5)
  Rupert (Swamp:2)
  Agnes (D:14)
  Aizul (D:14)
  Donald (Orc:4)
  A frost giant (Port)
  Louise (Swamp:3)
  Maud (Swamp:2)
  2 dire elephants (Lair:8)
  Snorg (Swamp:2)
  Josephine (D:10)
  4 ogre magi
  Harold (Lair:5)
  10 hydras
  A wizard (Lair:8)
  Nessos (D:13)
  9 death yaks
  3 alligators
  A rakshasa (D:15)
  2 centaur warriors
  An unseen horror (D:16)
  2 lindwurms
  3 swamp dragons (Swamp:5)
  An ice statue (Port)
  3 orc sorcerers
  3 orc knights
  Joseph (D:11)
  2 griffons
  3 hill giants
  A cyclops (D:15)
  A spiny worm (Lair:7)
  3 red wasps
  A giant amoeba (D:15)
  Maurice (D:11)
  3 elephant slugs
  A black mamba (shapeshifter) (D:16)
  5 elephants
  2 wolf spiders
  An orange demon (Orc:2)
  30 slime creatures
  A giant toad zombie (D:10)
  2 weapon mimics
  2 black mambas
  A mermaid (Lair:5)
  12 spiny frogs
  A giant toad skeleton (D:10)
  Psyche (Orc:1)
  A smoke demon (Orc:4)
  13 ugly things (D:15)
  2 hill giant skeletons
  A queen bee (Hive:2)
  7 komodo dragons
  6 trolls
  Sonja (D:14)
  17 polar bears
  5 bog mummies
  5 baby alligators
  15 two-headed ogres
  26 giant toads
  5 basilisks
  A hairy devil (Orc:3)
  51 yaks
  A hog (Swamp:5)
  2 fire drakes
  7 wyverns
  5 hippogriffs
  A merfolk (shapeshifter) (D:15)
  3 hungry ghosts
  10 vampire mosquitoes
  A soldier ant (D:14)
  3 manticores
  A wood golem (D:16)
  6 war dogs (Lair:2)
  A ynoxinul (Orc:3)
  A rock worm (D:14)
  A mottled dragon (D:13)
  2 necrophages
  14 swamp worms
  5 sky beasts
  33 ogres
  4 phantoms
  3 insubstantial wisps (Swamp:5)
  2 ice beasts
  A yak zombie (D:10)
  A troll zombie (D:12)
  10 centaurs
  2 yellow wasps
  4 boring beetles
  13 orc warriors
  8 swamp drakes
  The ghost of Chalize the Chiller, an average MfIE (D:6)
  A big kobold (D:12)
  Duvessa (D:5)
  16 wolves
  6 giant slugs
  7 crocodiles
  4 wargs
  A brain worm (D:14)
  3 giant leeches
  16 giant frogs
  21 water moccasins
  6 agate snails
  A soldier ant zombie (D:11)
  A basilisk skeleton (D:9)
  140 killer bees
  4 jellyfish
  An eye of draining (D:15)
  A brain worm zombie (D:13)
  5 electric eels
  A fire bat (D:9)
  A mottled dragon zombie (D:10)
  A big kobold zombie (D:15)
  2 goliath beetles
  12 imps
  A hound zombie (D:5)
  Dowan (D:5)
  2 big kobold skeletons
  6 scorpions
  12 hounds
  21 orc priests
  7 big fish
  9 worker ants
  2 hound skeletons
  11 iguanas
  35 orc wizards
  2 worker ant zombies
  10 porcupines
  Ijyb (D:2)
  26 sheep
  A worm zombie (D:5)
  6 jellies
  3 mummies
  4 gnolls
  An iguana zombie (D:10)
  A scorpion zombie (D:6)
  4 giant centipedes
  19 snakes
  12 white imps (D:11)
  3 giant mites
  57 green rats
  3 snake zombies
  An iguana skeleton (D:8)
  7 worms
  A bat skeleton (D:7)
  3 giant eyeballs
  15 giant geckos
  3 oozes
  165 orcs
  28 bats
  22 goblins
  24 hobgoblins
  21 jackals
  11 quokkas
  3 small snakes
  12 giant cockroaches
  A giant gecko zombie (D:7)
  7 giant newts
  2 hobgoblin skeletons
  4 killer bee larvae
  33 kobolds
  A kobold skeleton (D:9)
  A kobold zombie (D:8)
  An orc skeleton (D:3)
  An orc zombie (D:14)
  34 rats
  A butterfly (D:13)
  3 fungi
  A plant (Hive:1)
  23 toadstools
1376 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (collateral kills)
  Jozef (Orc:4)
  4 hydras (Swamp:5)
  A death yak (Lair:6)
  A sun demon (Lair:8)
  4 swamp dragons (Swamp:5)
  An orange demon (Lair:8)
  2 slime creatures (Swamp:4)
  6 hellwings (Lair:8)
  A smoke demon (Lair:8)
  A yak (Lair:6)
  A swamp worm (Swamp:5)
  4 insubstantial wisps
  4 swamp drakes (Swamp:5)
  3 rotting devils (Lair:8)
  An orc priest (Orc:4)
  An orc wizard (Orc:4)
  4 orcs (Orc:4)
40 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
  A troll (Swamp:5)
  2 hill giants (Swamp:5)
  14 slime creatures
  A rock troll (Swamp:5)
  A polar bear (Port)
  7 wolves (Port)
  A giant frog (Swamp:4)
  An orc priest (D:7)
  A porcupine (Lair:4)
  A green rat (Lair:8)
  2 humans (Swamp:5)
  3 orcs
  2 goblins
  A jackal (D:14)
  A quokka skeleton (D:7)
  2 rats
  12 fungi
  4 plants
  32 toadstools
89 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 1505 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | JoeBWan, the Kobold Berserker, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 14/14 MP: 0/0
   151 | D:1      | Reached skill level 4 in Fighting
   217 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 15/20 MP: 1/1
   650 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Short Blades
   808 | D:1      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 24/24 MP: 2/2
  1156 | D:1      | Acquired Trog's second power
  1156 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Stealth
  1771 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 26/29 MP: 3/3
  2061 | D:2      | Noticed Ijyb
  2086 | D:2      | Defeated Ijyb
  2982 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 11/33 MP: 4/4
  3277 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Traps & Doors
  3278 | D:3      | Noticed a giant frog
  3300 | D:3      | Defeated a giant frog
  3300 | D:3      | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
  3300 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Throwing
  3300 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Stabbing
  3300 | D:3      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 17/39 MP: 5/5
  3475 | D:3      | Found a basalt altar of Yredelemnul.
  4094 | D:3      | Noticed Grinder
  4573 | D:3      | grinder here on L3
  5046 | D:4      | Found a burning altar of Makhleb.
  5090 | D:4      | Noticed Menkaure
  5091 | D:4      | Noticed Prince Ribbit
  5091 | D:4      | Menkaure (Mummy caster) and Prince Ribbit
  5099 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  5268 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
  5652 | D:5      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 40/44 MP: 6/6
  5785 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Short Blades
  6067 | D:5      | Found Adoy's Armour Emporium.
  6382 | D:5      | Reached skill level 6 in Short Blades
  6713 | D:5      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 49/49 MP: 7/7
  6926 | D:5      | Acquired Trog's third power
  7085 | D:5      | Reached skill level 7 in Short Blades
  7118 | D:5      | Noticed Duvessa
  7147 | D:5      | Defeated Duvessa
  7238 | D:5      | Noticed Dowan
  7253 | D:5      | Defeated Dowan
  8023 | D:5      | Gained mutation: You have a fast metabolism.
  8023 | D:5      | Gained mutation: Armour fits poorly on your unusually shaped body.
  8023 | D:5      | Lost mutation: You have a fast metabolism.
  8051 | D:6      | Noticed a yak
  8140 | D:5      | Defeated a yak
  8140 | D:5      | Reached skill level 8 in Short Blades
  8322 | D:6      | Noticed Chalize's ghost (average MfIE)
  8894 | D:6      | Defeated Chalize's ghost
  8894 | D:6      | Reached XP level 9. HP: 54/54 MP: 8/8
  9447 | D:6      | Reached skill level 1 in Spellcasting
  9962 | D:7      | Reached skill level 9 in Short Blades
 10235 | D:7      | Found a staircase to the Orcish Mines.
 10910 | D:7      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 11349 | D:8      | Reached skill level 1 in Slings
 11395 | D:8      | Found Hewat's Armour Shoppe.
 11646 | D:8      | Reached skill level 1 in Shields
 11974 | D:8      | Reached skill level 10 in Short Blades
 12115 | D:8      | Reached XP level 10. HP: 52/60 MP: 11/11
 12975 | D:10     | Entered Level 10 of the Dungeon
 13158 | D:9      | Reached skill level 11 in Short Blades
 13909 | D:10     | Noticed a giant toad skeleton
 13957 | D:10     | Defeated a giant toad skeleton
 14012 | D:10     | Noticed a hill giant skeleton
 14015 | D:10     | Noticed Josephine
 14056 | D:10     | Defeated Josephine
 14056 | D:10     | Reached skill level 12 in Short Blades
 14056 | D:10     | Reached XP level 11. HP: 41/67 MP: 12/12
 15253 | D:10     | Found a staircase to the Lair.
 15360 | D:10     | Reached skill level 13 in Short Blades
 15379 | D:10     | Defeated a hill giant skeleton
 15474 | D:10     | Reached skill level 10 in Dodging
 15608 | Lair:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Lair of Beasts
 16111 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 5 in Shields
 16255 | Lair:1   | Received a gift from Trog
 16441 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 1 in Evocations
 16662 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 10 in Fighting
 17183 | Lair:2   | Reached skill level 14 in Short Blades
 17539 | Lair:2   | Reached XP level 12. HP: 75/75 MP: 14/14
 17871 | Lair:2   | Found a staircase to the Swamp.
 19122 | Lair:3   | Reached skill level 15 in Short Blades
 20624 | Lair:4   | Got a faintly glowing quarterstaff
 20625 | Lair:4   | Identified the +4,+6 quarterstaff of Zorajeu (You found it on level 4 of the Lair of Beasts)
 20743 | Lair:5   | Noticed Harold
 20787 | Lair:5   | Defeated Harold
 21325 | Lair:5   | Found a crumbling entrance.
 21344 | Spider   | Entered a spider's nest
 21456 | Lair:5   | Received a gift from Trog
 21595 | Lair:5   | Found a staircase to the Shoals.
 22677 | Lair:6   | Got an ancient lajatang
 22713 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 16 in Short Blades
 22713 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 1 in Crossbows
 22788 | Lair:6   | HP: 3/76 [death yak (28)]
 23078 | Lair:6   | Reached XP level 13. HP: 68/80 MP: 15/15
 23704 | Lair:6   | Lost mutation: Armour fits poorly on your unusually shaped body.
 23781 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 17 in Short Blades
 24851 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 5 in Crossbows
 24931 | Lair:6   | Received a gift from Trog
 26231 | Lair:8   | Entered Level 8 of the Lair of Beasts
 26318 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 18 in Short Blades
 27479 | Lair:8   | Reached XP level 14. HP: 72/88 MP: 16/16
 31475 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 5 in Traps & Doors
 31492 | Lair:8   | Found a burning altar of Makhleb.
 31530 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 19 in Short Blades
 31535 | Lair:8   | Found a gateway to Hell.
 31764 | Lair:7   | Received a gift from Trog
 32153 | Lair:7   | Noticed a spiny worm
 32311 | Lair:7   | Defeated a spiny worm
 33114 | Orc:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Orcish Mines
 33114 | Orc:1    | Noticed Psyche
 33434 | Orc:1    | Defeated Psyche
 33788 | Orc:2    | Found Xoipaosu's Food Emporium.
 33799 | Orc:1    | Received a gift from Trog
 33968 | Orc:2    | Found an iron altar of Okawaru.
 34899 | Orc:4    | Entered Level 4 of the Orcish Mines
 35002 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 35014 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 35014 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 35014 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 35015 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 35015 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 35216 | Orc:3    | Defeated an ogre mage
 35836 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 35845 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 35895 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 35898 | Orc:4    | Noticed Donald
 35929 | Orc:4    | Defeated Donald
 36014 | Orc:4    | Reached XP level 15. HP: 64/95 MP: 17/17
 36047 | Orc:4    | Received a gift from Trog
 36048 | Orc:4    | Got a crystal quick blade {god gift}
 36060 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36079 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36087 | Orc:4    | Identified the quick blade of Miuso {god gift, holy, Hunger rC+ MR Dex+2} (Trog gifted it to you on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)
 36111 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36138 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36149 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36160 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36210 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36220 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36264 | Orc:4    | Defeated an ogre mage
 36390 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36402 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36531 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36533 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36550 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36556 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36609 | Orc:4    | Found Liblaj's Armour Shop.
 36609 | Orc:4    | Found Tytoidaera's Weapon Shoppe.
 36629 | Orc:4    | Found Biarphaum's Jewellery Emporium.
 36629 | Orc:4    | Found Ter Teah's Antique Weapon Shop.
 36636 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36652 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36730 | Orc:4    | Bought the +2 pair of Fencer's gloves {EV+3 Dex+3 Acc+5} for 753 gold pieces
 36753 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36765 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36885 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36885 | Orc:4    | Reached skill level 20 in Short Blades
 36896 | Orc:4    | Found a staircase to the Elven Halls.
 36896 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36906 | Orc:4    | Defeated an ogre mage
 36908 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 37689 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 37700 | Orc:4    | Noticed Jozef
 37709 | Orc:4    | Defeated an ogre mage
 37712 | Orc:4    | Defeated Jozef
 37764 | Orc:4    | Received a gift from Trog
 38153 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 38518 | Orc:3    | Reached skill level 5 in Stealth
 38942 | D:11     | Noticed Maurice
 38959 | D:11     | Defeated Maurice
 38981 | D:11     | Received a gift from Trog
 39003 | D:11     | Got a flaming crossbow {god gift}
 39004 | D:11     | Identified the crossbow "Hellfire" {god gift, flame, rF++ rC- MR} (Trog gifted it to you on level 11 of the Dungeon)
 39213 | D:11     | Found a frozen archway.
 39247 | IceCv    | Entered an ice cave
 39978 | IceCv    | Reached skill level 10 in Crossbows
 40254 | IceCv    | Reached skill level 15 in Dodging
 41366 | D:11     | Noticed Joseph
 41390 | D:11     | Defeated Joseph
 41785 | D:10     | Received a gift from Trog
 42600 | Orc:4    | Bought the +3 crown of Dyrovepreva {Hunger rElec Int+2 SInv} for 1026 gold pieces
 42817 | D:12     | Found Exzoebis' Antique Weapon Shoppe.
 43559 | D:13     | Noticed Nessos
 43577 | D:13     | Defeated Nessos
 43577 | D:13     | Reached XP level 16. HP: 103/103 MP: 18/18
 43753 | D:13     | Found a white marble altar of Elyvilon.
 43874 | D:13     | Reached skill level 10 in Stealth
 44551 | D:14     | Noticed Agnes
 44565 | D:14     | Defeated Agnes
 44767 | D:14     | Noticed Sonja
 44767 | D:14     | Noticed Nikola
 44972 | D:14     | Defeated Nikola
 44972 | D:14     | Received a gift from Trog
 45023 | D:14     | Defeated Sonja
 45357 | D:14     | Found a flagged portal.
 45389 | bailey   | Entered the bailey
 45405 | bailey   | Received a gift from Trog
 45473 | bailey   | Found a burning altar of Makhleb.
 45504 | bailey   | Got a slimy sabre
 45514 | bailey   | Received a gift from Trog
 45716 | D:14     | Identified the -4,-1 sabre of Termination (You found it in the bailey)
 45818 | D:14     | Noticed Aizul
 45845 | D:14     | Defeated Aizul
 46525 | D:15     | Entered Level 15 of the Dungeon
 46764 | D:15     | Received a gift from Trog
 47674 | D:15     | Reached skill level 15 in Fighting
 48099 | D:16     | Reached XP level 17. HP: 92/109 MP: 19/19
 48237 | D:15     | Received a gift from Trog
 48384 | D:16     | Found a staircase to the Hive.
 48839 | Hive:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Hive
 49385 | Hive:1   | Found a dark tunnel.
 49465 | Hive:2   | Entered Level 2 of the Hive
 49753 | Hive:2   | Reached skill level 10 in Traps & Doors
 49894 | Hive:2   | Received a gift from Trog
 50323 | Hive:2   | Received a gift from Trog
 51632 | Swamp:1  | Entered Level 1 of the Swamp
 52038 | Swamp:1  | Received a gift from Trog
 53377 | Swamp:2  | Noticed Rupert
 53397 | Swamp:2  | Defeated Rupert
 53424 | Swamp:2  | Noticed Maud
 53469 | Swamp:2  | Defeated Maud
 53673 | Swamp:2  | Received a gift from Trog
 53768 | Swamp:2  | Noticed Snorg
 53794 | Swamp:2  | Defeated Snorg
 53794 | Swamp:2  | Reached skill level 15 in Stealth
 54360 | Swamp:3  | Noticed Louise
 54402 | Swamp:3  | Defeated Louise
 55361 | Swamp:5  | Entered Level 5 of the Swamp
 55398 | Swamp:5  | Reached XP level 18. HP: 116/116 MP: 19/19
 55456 | Swamp:5  | Noticed Kirke
 55481 | Swamp:5  | Defeated Kirke
 56338 | Swamp:5  | Reached skill level 5 in Evocations
 56627 | Swamp:5  | Noticed the 27-headed Lernaean hydra


[njvack]

Come back later!

As you've seen, meleeing the hydra is not a winning proposition (unless you have huge AC, which you never will). Congratulations on surviving a round with it!

You might take it down with potions of speed and a strong ranged attack. A better idea is to use speed and steal the rune, teleporting if necessary.

Maybe you could polymorph it? I'm having a hard time thinking of anything nastier it might turn into.

In any case, you don't need the rune until you're ready to hit Zot.

[Dustbin]

Either use levitation to avoid water and a speed pot, and blow through some strong ranged options (5-10 shots with cold/fire wands or something similar) or come back a lot later when you're beefy enough to melee him. You could probably Brothers in Arms mob him too, although I've never tried this on the lernaean specifically, but it works for almost everything.


Also did you go up the stairs NEXT to the hydra?! You're lucky to be alive

[JoeBWan]

I considered using a few BIA and praying they could soak a few rounds, but I suspect they would have been in the way of my cold wand. I already had to blow through a 3-4 BIA just handing the sheer number of swamp dragons and 5,6 and 7 headed hydras that I ran into first.

Sounds like the safest thing to do is come back, even if I blow all my consumables I might come up short (and dead).

In the webtiles he looked to be 2 squares away from me when I hit the < button to go up the stairs, but he clearly got a round of combat off on me in the process, so I'm not sure. The entry in learndb doesn't indicate he has reach. It is possible I misjudged which square he was in as his graphic is pretty big (the head seems to stretch an additional tile up). He didn't follow up back up the stairs, or I'm sure that would have been the end of this character

[rebthor]

If he was in water, he has a speed boost, so that may have been what allowed him to move twice and attack.

[JoeBWan]

Small update:

I explored a chunk of Shoals, but was a little scared to drop down into the final level.
Went back to the dungeon, cleared down to vaults. Somewhere along the way, or perhaps early in Vaults I found a scroll of acquirement which netted me a Rod of Venom.
Explored vaults down to 7 (avoiding Mara and Mennas on the way), peeked down into level 8 and brought 4 vault guards back up with me. I had a heck of a time killing them, probably because I don't hit very hard against folks with high AC. Had to berserk and pray it lasted long enough to get through all four, which it did but just barely. Not sure I'm ready to repeat that several more times to clear out the rest of the guards.
Then I decided it was about time to get my first rune for real, so I trucked back to Swamp 5, put on my teleport control ring, and read teleport scrolls to pop in near the back of the vault. Took me a few minutes to find the rune (and to clear out the couple swamp dragons still back there). Once I had the run in my grubby newbie hands, I read the scroll and ported back out again!

So major milestone for me, and one I'm quite excited about!

That said, I'm not sure what do next. Perhaps check out the bottom level of shoals?

  Code:

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.9.0-27-g8a39726 character file.

JoeBWan the Swashbuckler (Kobold Berserker)        Turns: 73593, Time: 12:29:07

HP 132/132       AC 10     Str 18      XL: 20   Next: 93%
MP  21/21        EV 37     Int 10      God: Trog [*****.]
Gold 2224        SH 15     Dex 24      Spells:  0 memorised, 21 levels left

Res.Fire  : . . .   See Invis. : +    P - +7,+5 quick blade of Miuso {god gift, holy
Res.Cold  : + . .   Warding    : . .  X - +1 robe {MR}
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : .    q - -2 elf buckler
Res.Acid. : . . .   Res.Corr.  : .    A - +3 crown of Dyrovepreva {Hunger rElec Int+
Res.Poison: +       Clarity    : .    (no cloak)
Res.Elec. : +       Spirit.Shd : +    Q - +2 pair of Fencer's gloves {EV+3 Dex+3 Acc
Sust.Abil.: . .     Stasis     : .    Y - +0 pair of boots
Res.Mut.  : .       Ctrl.Telep.: +    N - amulet of guardian spirit
Res.Rott. : .       Levitation : .    S - ring of poison resistance
Saprovore : + + .   Ctrl.Flight: .    D - ring of teleport control

@: very slightly glowing, extraordinarily resistant to hostile enchantments,
incredibly stealthy
A: disease resistance, carnivore 3, saprovore 2
a: Burn Spellbooks, Berserk, Trog's Hand, Brothers in Arms, Renounce Religion
}: 1/15 runes: decaying


You are on level 4 of the Swamp.
You worship Trog.
Trog is exalted by your worship.
You are very full.

You have visited 7 branches of the dungeon, and seen 47 of its levels.
You have visited 3 portal chambers: spiders nest, ice cave, bailey.

You have collected 4568 gold pieces.
You have spent 2364 gold pieces at shops.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 C - a +2,+1 anti-magic sabre {god gift}
 H - a +2,+2 elven dagger of venom (quivered)
 J - a +3,+6 sabre of venom {god gift}
 P - the +7,+5 quick blade of Miuso (weapon) {god gift, holy, Hunger rC+ MR Dex+2}
   (Trog gifted it to you on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)   
   
   It has been blessed by the Shining One to cause great damage to the undead
   and demons.
   
   
   It affects your dexterity (+2).
   It protects you from cold.
   It increases your resistance to enchantments.
   It speeds your metabolism.
 R - the +6,+9 crossbow "Hellfire" {god gift, flame, rF++ rC- MR}
   (Trog gifted it to you on level 11 of the Dungeon)   
   
   It turns projectiles fired from it into bolts of flame.
   
   
   It greatly protects you from fire.
   It makes you vulnerable to cold.
   It increases your resistance to enchantments.
Missiles
 s - 26 poisoned +4 bolts {god gift}
 t - 20 +0 bolts of frost
Armour
 q - a -2 elven buckler (worn)
 A - the +3 crown of Dyrovepreva (worn) {Hunger rElec Int+2 SInv}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)   
   
   
   It affects your intelligence (+2).
   It insulates you from electricity.
   It enhances your eyesight.
   It speeds your metabolism.
 Q - the +2 pair of Fencer's gloves (worn) {EV+3 Dex+3 Acc+5}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)   
   
   
   It affects your evasion (+3).
   It affects your dexterity (+3).
   It affects your accuracy (+5).
 X - a +1 robe of magic resistance (worn)
 Y - a +0 pair of boots (worn)
Magical devices
 b - a wand of lightning {zapped: 1}
 f - a wand of confusion
 g - a wand of disintegration (5)
 h - a gold wand {zapped: 1} {tried}
 j - a wand of teleportation (8)
 p - a wand of cold (6)
 x - a wand of disintegration
 y - a wand of enslavement
 L - a wand of polymorph other {zapped: 2}
 T - a wand of fireball {zapped: 3}
Comestibles
 c - 5 meat rations
Scrolls
 e - 3 scrolls of magic mapping
 l - 2 scrolls of fog
 o - 2 scrolls of blinking
 w - 2 scrolls of fear
 z - 4 scrolls of enchant armour
 F - 3 scrolls of detect curse
 G - 4 scrolls of recharging
 M - 2 scrolls of remove curse
 O - 4 scrolls of identify
Jewellery
 a - an uncursed amulet of conservation
 u - a +4 ring of evasion
 D - a ring of teleport control (left hand)
 E - a +3,+2 ring of slaying
 I - the ring "Gohil" {Fire +Lev}
   (You bought it in a shop on level 3 of the Vaults)   
   
   [ring of fire]
   
   It lets you levitate.
 N - an amulet of guardian spirit (around neck)
 S - a ring of poison resistance (right hand)
 U - an uncursed ring of life protection
 Z - an uncursed ring of ice
Potions
 i - 2 potions of restore abilities
 k - 2 potions of brilliance
 m - a potion of might
 v - 6 potions of healing
 B - a potion of speed
 K - a potion of heal wounds
 W - 3 potions of resistance
Books
 d - a metal-bound book   
   
   Trog disapproves of the use of such an item.
Magical staves
 n - a +9 rod of venom (17/17)
   (You acquired it on level 1 of the Vaults)


   Skills:
 + Level 17 Fighting
 - Level 20 Short Blades
 - Level 3 Maces & Flails
 - Level 1 Slings
 + Level 15 Crossbows
 - Level 1 Throwing
 - Level 1 Armour
 + Level 18 Dodging
 + Level 19 Stealth
 - Level 1 Stabbing
 - Level 7 Shields
 + Level 12 Traps & Doors
 - Level 1 Spellcasting
 + Level 10 Evocations


You have 21 spell levels left.
You don't know any spells.

Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (17/27)               Orc (4/4) D:7             Elf (0/5) Orc:4
   Lair (8/8) D:10          Swamp (5/5) Lair:2       Shoals (3/5) Lair:5
   Hive (2/2) D:16          Vault (8/8) D:17          Blade (0/1) Vault:4
  Crypt (0/5) Vault:2     
Temple: D:4-7        Slime: Lair:6-8   

Altars:
Elyvilon
Kikubaaqudgha
Makhleb
Okawaru
Xom
Yredelemnul

Shops:
D:5: [  D:8: [  D:12: (  Orc:2: %  Orc:4: =([(  Vault:1: ?  Vault:3: ?=
Vault:5: %+  Vault:6: /

Portals:
Hell: Lair:8
Trove: Vault:5 (show slimy rune of Zot)

Annotations
D:3 1 exclusion
D:9 exclusion: 2 doors
Lair:7 exclusions: lindwurm, oklob plant and 2 more exclusions
Shoals:2 1 exclusion
Hive:2 exclusion: 4 oklob plants
Vault:2 exclusions: Mara and rock troll
Vault:3 exclusions: Mennas and yaktaur
Vault:4 exclusions: rock troll and stone giant


                    Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You recuperate from illness quickly.
You are small and have problems with some larger weapons.
You are carnivorous and can eat meat at any time.
You can eat rotten meat.


Message History

There is some shallow water here.
There is some shallow water here.
There is some shallow water here.
There is some shallow water here.
There is some shallow water here.
Found a decaying rune of Zot.
There is some shallow water here.
There is some shallow water here.
There is some shallow water here.
You see here a decaying rune of Zot.
You pick up the decaying rune and feel its power.
Press } to see all the runes you have collected.
Read which item? (? for menu, Esc to quit)
As you read the scroll of teleportation, it crumbles to dust.
You feel strangely unstable.
You may choose your destination (press '.' or delete to select).
Expect minor deviation.
There is a stone staircase leading up here.
You climb upwards.
There is a stone staircase leading down here.

   ♣ ♣♣♣ ♣♣
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♣♣≈♣≈≈♣≈≈≈≈≈♣≈≈♣♣
♣≈♣♣♣♣≈≈§≈♣♣≈♣♣♣♣
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≈≈≈≈.≈≈.@≈≈≈≈≈≈.≈
≈≈≈≈.≈..≈..≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈..≈≈≈..≈♣≈....≈
≈..§§♣≈≈♣≈♣≈≈.≈.≈
.≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣♣≈≈.≈≈.
.≈≈♣♣≈≈♣♣♣≈♣≈.≈..
≈..≈≈≈≈♣≈≈♣≈≈≈♣≈♣
.≈≈.≈≈≈≈≈....≈♣♣≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈.≈≈≈≈♣≈≈


There are no monsters in sight!

Vanquished Creatures
  Nikola (D:14)
  A lich (Vault:4)
  Kirke (Swamp:5)
  Rupert (Swamp:2)
  Agnes (D:14)
  Aizul (D:14)
  Donald (Orc:4)
  A frost giant (Port)
  Louise (Swamp:3)
  Maud (Swamp:2)
  3 stone giants
  Azrael (Vault:2)
  2 dire elephants (Lair:8)
  3 ettins
  Snorg (Swamp:2)
  2 dragons
  4 vault guards (Vault:7)
  6 yaktaur captains
  Josephine (D:10)
  8 ogre magi
  Harold (Lair:5)
  11 hydras
  A wizard (Lair:8)
  Polyphemus (Shoals:2)
  Nessos (D:13)
  11 death yaks
  3 alligators
  2 stone giant zombies (Vault:5)
  2 rakshasas
  9 centaur warriors
  A sphinx skeleton (Vault:3)
  3 very ugly things
  7 stone giant skeletons
  A sun demon (Vault:2)
  A frost giant skeleton (Vault:4)
  An unseen horror (D:16)
  An iron troll (Vault:7)
  9 skeletal warriors
  A sea snake (Shoals:1)
  An ice devil (Vault:4)
  A deep elf knight (Vault:5)
  2 lindwurms
  A flayed ghost (Vault:4)
  3 swamp dragons (Swamp:5)
  An ice statue (Port)
  6 orc sorcerers
  11 orc knights
  Joseph (D:11)
  2 griffons
  2 iron troll skeletons
  Urug (Shoals:1)
  6 hill giants
  5 cyclopes
  3 spiny worms
  4 red wasps
  A giant amoeba (D:15)
  A stone golem (Vault:2)
  Maurice (D:11)
  9 yaktaurs
  A stone giant simulacrum (Vault:4)
  A trapdoor spider (Vault:2)
  An ettin zombie (Vault:4)
  A slime creature (shapeshifter) (Vault:2)
  A griffon zombie (Vault:1)
  3 elephant slugs
  A black mamba (shapeshifter) (D:16)
  5 elephants
  3 wolf spiders
  2 orange demons
  51 slime creatures
  A giant toad zombie (D:10)
  An ettin skeleton (Vault:6)
  2 weapon mimics
  2 black mambas
  A spiny frog (shapeshifter) (Vault:2)
  A dragon skeleton (Vault:5)
  6 mermaids
  12 spiny frogs
  A giant toad skeleton (D:10)
  Psyche (Orc:1)
  A smoke demon (Orc:4)
  51 ugly things
  7 rock trolls
  3 hill giant skeletons
  A queen bee (Hive:2)
  7 komodo dragons
  4 snapping turtles
  6 trolls
  Sonja (D:14)
  A redback (shapeshifter) (Vault:2)
  3 redbacks
  17 polar bears
  2 spriggans (shapeshifter)
  A deep troll zombie (Vault:4)
  A troll (shapeshifter) (Vault:1)
  5 bog mummies
  A rock troll skeleton (Vault:4)
  7 baby alligators
  A deep troll skeleton (Vault:7)
  19 two-headed ogres
  26 giant toads
  6 basilisks
  A hairy devil (Orc:3)
  57 yaks
  A hog (Swamp:5)
  2 fire drakes
  7 wyverns
  11 hippogriffs
  A merfolk (shapeshifter) (D:15)
  7 merfolk
  3 hungry ghosts
  16 vampire mosquitoes
  2 clay golems (Vault:1)
  A deep elf fighter (Vault:5)
  A soldier ant (D:14)
  4 manticores
  A wood golem (D:16)
  6 war dogs (Lair:2)
  2 yaktaur zombies
  A ynoxinul (Orc:3)
  A war dog (shapeshifter) (Vault:4)
  2 rock worms
  3 cyclops zombies
  A mottled dragon (D:13)
  2 necrophages
  4 hell hounds (Vault:2)
  14 swamp worms
  4 freezing wraiths
  A deep dwarf (shapeshifter) (Vault:3)
  5 sky beasts
  48 ogres
  4 phantoms
  13 insubstantial wisps
  2 ice beasts
  A yak zombie (D:10)
  A troll zombie (D:12)
  31 centaurs
  3 kobold demonologists (Vault:2)
  2 yellow wasps
  4 boring beetles
  25 orc warriors
  8 swamp drakes
  The ghost of Chalize the Chiller, an average MfIE (D:6)
  4 big kobolds
  Duvessa (D:5)
  16 wolves
  7 giant slugs
  8 crocodiles
  5 wargs
  A brain worm (D:14)
  4 giant leeches
  A giant slug simulacrum (Vault:2)
  16 giant frogs
  21 water moccasins
  7 agate snails
  A soldier ant zombie (D:11)
  A basilisk skeleton (D:9)
  140 killer bees
  5 jellyfish
  An eye of draining (D:15)
  A brain worm zombie (D:13)
  5 electric eels
  A fire bat (D:9)
  2 boulder beetles
  A mottled dragon zombie (D:10)
  An ogre zombie (Vault:4)
  A big kobold zombie (D:15)
  2 goliath beetles
  12 imps
  A hound zombie (D:5)
  Dowan (D:5)
  2 big kobold skeletons
  6 scorpions
  A pulsating lump (shapeshifter) (Vault:1)
  12 hounds
  27 orc priests
  7 big fish
  2 iron imps (Vault:2)
  9 worker ants
  2 hound skeletons
  11 iguanas
  37 orc wizards
  2 worker ant zombies
  10 porcupines
  Ijyb (D:2)
  32 sheep
  A worm zombie (D:5)
  4 boggarts (Vault:1)
  6 jellies
  3 mummies
  4 gnolls
  An iguana zombie (D:10)
  A scorpion zombie (D:6)
  4 giant centipedes
  19 snakes
  13 white imps
  3 giant mites
  57 green rats
  3 snake zombies
  An iguana skeleton (D:8)
  7 worms
  A bat skeleton (D:7)
  3 giant eyeballs
  15 giant geckos
  3 oozes
  172 orcs
  30 bats
  22 goblins
  24 hobgoblins
  21 jackals
  11 quokkas
  3 small snakes
  12 giant cockroaches
  A giant gecko zombie (D:7)
  7 giant newts
  2 hobgoblin skeletons
  3 illusory rakshasas (Vault:1)
  4 killer bee larvae
  34 kobolds
  A kobold (shapeshifter) (Vault:1)
  A kobold skeleton (D:9)
  A kobold zombie (D:8)
  An orc skeleton (D:3)
  4 orc zombies
  34 rats
  A butterfly (D:13)
  3 fungi
  2 plants
  32 toadstools
1746 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (collateral kills)
  Jozef (Orc:4)
  5 hydras (Swamp:5)
  A death yak (Lair:6)
  A sun demon (Lair:8)
  6 swamp dragons (Swamp:5)
  An orange demon (Lair:8)
  2 slime creatures (Swamp:4)
  6 hellwings (Lair:8)
  A smoke demon (Lair:8)
  A yak (Lair:6)
  A swamp worm (Swamp:5)
  4 insubstantial wisps
  4 swamp drakes (Swamp:5)
  3 rotting devils (Lair:8)
  An orc priest (Orc:4)
  An orc wizard (Orc:4)
  4 orcs (Orc:4)
43 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
  A troll (Swamp:5)
  2 hill giants (Swamp:5)
  A cyclops (Vault:1)
  21 slime creatures
  A rock troll (Swamp:5)
  A polar bear (Port)
  3 two-headed ogres
  3 ogres
  7 wolves (Port)
  A warg (Vault:5)
  A giant frog (Swamp:4)
  An orc priest (D:7)
  A porcupine (Lair:4)
  A green rat (Lair:8)
  2 humans (Swamp:5)
  5 orcs
  2 goblins
  A jackal (D:14)
  A quokka skeleton (D:7)
  2 rats
  12 fungi
  4 plants
  4 tentacles (Shoals:2)
  4 tentacle segments (Shoals:2)
  43 toadstools
125 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 1914 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place    | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1      | JoeBWan, the Kobold Berserker, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1      | Reached XP level 1. HP: 14/14 MP: 0/0
   151 | D:1      | Reached skill level 4 in Fighting
   217 | D:1      | Reached XP level 2. HP: 15/20 MP: 1/1
   650 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Short Blades
   808 | D:1      | Reached XP level 3. HP: 24/24 MP: 2/2
  1156 | D:1      | Acquired Trog's second power
  1156 | D:1      | Reached skill level 1 in Stealth
  1771 | D:2      | Reached XP level 4. HP: 26/29 MP: 3/3
  2061 | D:2      | Noticed Ijyb
  2086 | D:2      | Defeated Ijyb
  2982 | D:3      | Reached XP level 5. HP: 11/33 MP: 4/4
  3277 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Traps & Doors
  3278 | D:3      | Noticed a giant frog
  3300 | D:3      | Defeated a giant frog
  3300 | D:3      | Reached skill level 5 in Fighting
  3300 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Throwing
  3300 | D:3      | Reached skill level 1 in Stabbing
  3300 | D:3      | Reached XP level 6. HP: 17/39 MP: 5/5
  3475 | D:3      | Found a basalt altar of Yredelemnul.
  4094 | D:3      | Noticed Grinder
  4573 | D:3      | grinder here on L3
  5046 | D:4      | Found a burning altar of Makhleb.
  5090 | D:4      | Noticed Menkaure
  5091 | D:4      | Noticed Prince Ribbit
  5091 | D:4      | Menkaure (Mummy caster) and Prince Ribbit
  5099 | D:5      | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  5268 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Dodging
  5652 | D:5      | Reached XP level 7. HP: 40/44 MP: 6/6
  5785 | D:5      | Reached skill level 5 in Short Blades
  6067 | D:5      | Found Adoy's Armour Emporium.
  6382 | D:5      | Reached skill level 6 in Short Blades
  6713 | D:5      | Reached XP level 8. HP: 49/49 MP: 7/7
  6926 | D:5      | Acquired Trog's third power
  7085 | D:5      | Reached skill level 7 in Short Blades
  7118 | D:5      | Noticed Duvessa
  7147 | D:5      | Defeated Duvessa
  7238 | D:5      | Noticed Dowan
  7253 | D:5      | Defeated Dowan
  8023 | D:5      | Gained mutation: You have a fast metabolism.
  8023 | D:5      | Gained mutation: Armour fits poorly on your unusually shaped body.
  8023 | D:5      | Lost mutation: You have a fast metabolism.
  8051 | D:6      | Noticed a yak
  8140 | D:5      | Defeated a yak
  8140 | D:5      | Reached skill level 8 in Short Blades
  8322 | D:6      | Noticed Chalize's ghost (average MfIE)
  8894 | D:6      | Defeated Chalize's ghost
  8894 | D:6      | Reached XP level 9. HP: 54/54 MP: 8/8
  9447 | D:6      | Reached skill level 1 in Spellcasting
  9962 | D:7      | Reached skill level 9 in Short Blades
 10235 | D:7      | Found a staircase to the Orcish Mines.
 10910 | D:7      | Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
 11349 | D:8      | Reached skill level 1 in Slings
 11395 | D:8      | Found Hewat's Armour Shoppe.
 11646 | D:8      | Reached skill level 1 in Shields
 11974 | D:8      | Reached skill level 10 in Short Blades
 12115 | D:8      | Reached XP level 10. HP: 52/60 MP: 11/11
 12975 | D:10     | Entered Level 10 of the Dungeon
 13158 | D:9      | Reached skill level 11 in Short Blades
 13909 | D:10     | Noticed a giant toad skeleton
 13957 | D:10     | Defeated a giant toad skeleton
 14012 | D:10     | Noticed a hill giant skeleton
 14015 | D:10     | Noticed Josephine
 14056 | D:10     | Defeated Josephine
 14056 | D:10     | Reached skill level 12 in Short Blades
 14056 | D:10     | Reached XP level 11. HP: 41/67 MP: 12/12
 15253 | D:10     | Found a staircase to the Lair.
 15360 | D:10     | Reached skill level 13 in Short Blades
 15379 | D:10     | Defeated a hill giant skeleton
 15474 | D:10     | Reached skill level 10 in Dodging
 15608 | Lair:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Lair of Beasts
 16111 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 5 in Shields
 16255 | Lair:1   | Received a gift from Trog
 16441 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 1 in Evocations
 16662 | Lair:1   | Reached skill level 10 in Fighting
 17183 | Lair:2   | Reached skill level 14 in Short Blades
 17539 | Lair:2   | Reached XP level 12. HP: 75/75 MP: 14/14
 17871 | Lair:2   | Found a staircase to the Swamp.
 19122 | Lair:3   | Reached skill level 15 in Short Blades
 20624 | Lair:4   | Got a faintly glowing quarterstaff
 20625 | Lair:4   | Identified the +4,+6 quarterstaff of Zorajeu (You found it on level 4 of the Lair of Beasts)
 20743 | Lair:5   | Noticed Harold
 20787 | Lair:5   | Defeated Harold
 21325 | Lair:5   | Found a crumbling entrance.
 21344 | Spider   | Entered a spider's nest
 21456 | Lair:5   | Received a gift from Trog
 21595 | Lair:5   | Found a staircase to the Shoals.
 22677 | Lair:6   | Got an ancient lajatang
 22713 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 16 in Short Blades
 22713 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 1 in Crossbows
 22788 | Lair:6   | HP: 3/76 [death yak (28)]
 23078 | Lair:6   | Reached XP level 13. HP: 68/80 MP: 15/15
 23704 | Lair:6   | Lost mutation: Armour fits poorly on your unusually shaped body.
 23781 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 17 in Short Blades
 24851 | Lair:6   | Reached skill level 5 in Crossbows
 24931 | Lair:6   | Received a gift from Trog
 26231 | Lair:8   | Entered Level 8 of the Lair of Beasts
 26318 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 18 in Short Blades
 27479 | Lair:8   | Reached XP level 14. HP: 72/88 MP: 16/16
 31475 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 5 in Traps & Doors
 31492 | Lair:8   | Found a burning altar of Makhleb.
 31530 | Lair:8   | Reached skill level 19 in Short Blades
 31535 | Lair:8   | Found a gateway to Hell.
 31764 | Lair:7   | Received a gift from Trog
 32153 | Lair:7   | Noticed a spiny worm
 32311 | Lair:7   | Defeated a spiny worm
 33114 | Orc:1    | Entered Level 1 of the Orcish Mines
 33114 | Orc:1    | Noticed Psyche
 33434 | Orc:1    | Defeated Psyche
 33788 | Orc:2    | Found Xoipaosu's Food Emporium.
 33799 | Orc:1    | Received a gift from Trog
 33968 | Orc:2    | Found an iron altar of Okawaru.
 34899 | Orc:4    | Entered Level 4 of the Orcish Mines
 35002 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 35014 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 35014 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 35014 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 35015 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 35015 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 35216 | Orc:3    | Defeated an ogre mage
 35836 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 35845 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 35895 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 35898 | Orc:4    | Noticed Donald
 35929 | Orc:4    | Defeated Donald
 36014 | Orc:4    | Reached XP level 15. HP: 64/95 MP: 17/17
 36047 | Orc:4    | Received a gift from Trog
 36048 | Orc:4    | Got a crystal quick blade {god gift}
 36060 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36079 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36087 | Orc:4    | Identified the quick blade of Miuso {god gift, holy, Hunger rC+ MR Dex+2} (Trog gifted it to you on level 4 of the Orcish Mines)
 36111 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36138 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36149 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36160 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36210 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36220 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36264 | Orc:4    | Defeated an ogre mage
 36390 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36402 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36531 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36533 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36550 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36556 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36609 | Orc:4    | Found Liblaj's Armour Shop.
 36609 | Orc:4    | Found Tytoidaera's Weapon Shoppe.
 36629 | Orc:4    | Found Biarphaum's Jewellery Emporium.
 36629 | Orc:4    | Found Ter Teah's Antique Weapon Shop.
 36636 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36652 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36730 | Orc:4    | Bought the +2 pair of Fencer's gloves {EV+3 Dex+3 Acc+5} for 753 gold pieces
 36753 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36765 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36885 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 36885 | Orc:4    | Reached skill level 20 in Short Blades
 36896 | Orc:4    | Found a staircase to the Elven Halls.
 36896 | Orc:4    | Noticed a two-headed ogre
 36906 | Orc:4    | Defeated an ogre mage
 36908 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 37689 | Orc:4    | Noticed an ogre mage
 37700 | Orc:4    | Noticed Jozef
 37709 | Orc:4    | Defeated an ogre mage
 37712 | Orc:4    | Defeated Jozef
 37764 | Orc:4    | Received a gift from Trog
 38153 | Orc:4    | Defeated a two-headed ogre
 38518 | Orc:3    | Reached skill level 5 in Stealth
 38942 | D:11     | Noticed Maurice
 38959 | D:11     | Defeated Maurice
 38981 | D:11     | Received a gift from Trog
 39003 | D:11     | Got a flaming crossbow {god gift}
 39004 | D:11     | Identified the crossbow "Hellfire" {god gift, flame, rF++ rC- MR} (Trog gifted it to you on level 11 of the Dungeon)
 39213 | D:11     | Found a frozen archway.
 39247 | IceCv    | Entered an ice cave
 39978 | IceCv    | Reached skill level 10 in Crossbows
 40254 | IceCv    | Reached skill level 15 in Dodging
 41366 | D:11     | Noticed Joseph
 41390 | D:11     | Defeated Joseph
 41785 | D:10     | Received a gift from Trog
 42600 | Orc:4    | Bought the +3 crown of Dyrovepreva {Hunger rElec Int+2 SInv} for 1026 gold pieces
 42817 | D:12     | Found Exzoebis' Antique Weapon Shoppe.
 43559 | D:13     | Noticed Nessos
 43577 | D:13     | Defeated Nessos
 43577 | D:13     | Reached XP level 16. HP: 103/103 MP: 18/18
 43753 | D:13     | Found a white marble altar of Elyvilon.
 43874 | D:13     | Reached skill level 10 in Stealth
 44551 | D:14     | Noticed Agnes
 44565 | D:14     | Defeated Agnes
 44767 | D:14     | Noticed Sonja
 44767 | D:14     | Noticed Nikola
 44972 | D:14     | Defeated Nikola
 44972 | D:14     | Received a gift from Trog
 45023 | D:14     | Defeated Sonja
 45357 | D:14     | Found a flagged portal.
 45389 | bailey   | Entered the bailey
 45405 | bailey   | Received a gift from Trog
 45473 | bailey   | Found a burning altar of Makhleb.
 45504 | bailey   | Got a slimy sabre
 45514 | bailey   | Received a gift from Trog
 45716 | D:14     | Identified the -4,-1 sabre of Termination (You found it in the bailey)
 45818 | D:14     | Noticed Aizul
 45845 | D:14     | Defeated Aizul
 46525 | D:15     | Entered Level 15 of the Dungeon
 46764 | D:15     | Received a gift from Trog
 47674 | D:15     | Reached skill level 15 in Fighting
 48099 | D:16     | Reached XP level 17. HP: 92/109 MP: 19/19
 48237 | D:15     | Received a gift from Trog
 48384 | D:16     | Found a staircase to the Hive.
 48839 | Hive:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Hive
 49385 | Hive:1   | Found a dark tunnel.
 49465 | Hive:2   | Entered Level 2 of the Hive
 49753 | Hive:2   | Reached skill level 10 in Traps & Doors
 49894 | Hive:2   | Received a gift from Trog
 50323 | Hive:2   | Received a gift from Trog
 51632 | Swamp:1  | Entered Level 1 of the Swamp
 52038 | Swamp:1  | Received a gift from Trog
 53377 | Swamp:2  | Noticed Rupert
 53397 | Swamp:2  | Defeated Rupert
 53424 | Swamp:2  | Noticed Maud
 53469 | Swamp:2  | Defeated Maud
 53673 | Swamp:2  | Received a gift from Trog
 53768 | Swamp:2  | Noticed Snorg
 53794 | Swamp:2  | Defeated Snorg
 53794 | Swamp:2  | Reached skill level 15 in Stealth
 54360 | Swamp:3  | Noticed Louise
 54402 | Swamp:3  | Defeated Louise
 55361 | Swamp:5  | Entered Level 5 of the Swamp
 55398 | Swamp:5  | Reached XP level 18. HP: 116/116 MP: 19/19
 55456 | Swamp:5  | Noticed Kirke
 55481 | Swamp:5  | Defeated Kirke
 56338 | Swamp:5  | Reached skill level 5 in Evocations
 56627 | Swamp:5  | Noticed the 27-headed Lernaean hydra
 57055 | Swamp:1  | Received a gift from Trog
 57172 | Shoals:1 | Entered Level 1 of the Shoals
 57566 | Shoals:1 | Noticed Urug
 57607 | Shoals:1 | Defeated Urug
 57880 | Shoals:2 | Noticed Polyphemus
 57931 | Shoals:2 | Defeated Polyphemus
 58353 | Shoals:2 | Received a gift from Trog
 58419 | Shoals:2 | Kraken, very scary
 58699 | Shoals:2 | Noticed Wiglaf
 58736 | Shoals:2 | wiglaf as well
 59560 | D:17     | Found a staircase to the Vaults.
 59568 | Vault:1  | Entered Level 1 of the Vaults
 59597 | Vault:1  | Found Bome's Magic Scroll Shop.
 59611 | Vault:1  | Bought a scroll of teleportation for 39 gold pieces
 59611 | Vault:1  | Bought a scroll of teleportation for 39 gold pieces
 59748 | Vault:1  | A cyclops changed into a pulsating lump
 59756 | Vault:1  | Defeated a pulsating lump
 60445 | Vault:1  | Identified a scroll of acquirement
 60448 | Vault:1  | Identified a +5 rod of venom (13/13) (You acquired it on level 1 of the Vaults)
 61082 | Vault:1  | Received a gift from Trog
 61306 | Vault:2  | Noticed Azrael
 61340 | Vault:2  | Defeated Azrael
 61671 | Vault:2  | Reached XP level 19. HP: 119/124 MP: 20/20
 61855 | Vault:2  | Noticed Mara
 61861 | Vault:2  | Mara
 62095 | Vault:2  | Received a gift from Trog
 62826 | Vault:2  | Found a staircase to the Crypt.
 62827 | Vault:2  | Found a basalt altar of Yredelemnul.
 62827 | Vault:2  | Found an ancient bone altar of Kikubaaqudgha.
 62938 | Vault:3  | Found Cexa's Jewellery Shoppe.
 62946 | Vault:3  | Bought the ring "Gohil" {Fire +Lev} for 436 gold pieces
 63009 | Vault:3  | Noticed Mennas
 63015 | Vault:3  | Mennas
 63653 | Vault:3  | Found Ommoivuc's Magic Scroll Emporium.
 63665 | Vault:3  | Bought a scroll of blinking for 71 gold pieces
 64313 | Vault:4  | Found a staircase to the Hall of Blades.
 64377 | Vault:4  | rock troll
 64941 | Vault:4  | Received a gift from Trog
 65507 | Vault:4  | Received a gift from Trog
 65561 | Vault:4  | Got an iridescent sabre {god gift}
 65562 | Vault:4  | Identified the -3,+1 sabre "Withyur" {god gift} (Trog gifted it to you on level 4 of the Vaults)
 66748 | Vault:5  | Found a white marble altar of Elyvilon.
 66914 | Vault:5  | Found Pepeisiorikh's Book Emporium.
 67134 | Vault:5  | Found Femneas' Food Emporium.
 67164 | Vault:5  | Reached XP level 20. HP: 130/130 MP: 21/21
 67733 | Vault:5  | Received a gift from Trog
 68904 | Vault:5  | Found a portal to a secret trove of treasure.
 69271 | Vault:6  | Found Fuurhic's Magical Wand Shoppe.
 69734 | Vault:6  | Reached skill level 10 in Evocations
 71649 | Vault:7  | Reached skill level 15 in Crossbows
 72563 | Vault:8  | Entered Level 8 of the Vaults
 73202 | Swamp:1  | Received a gift from Trog
 73584 | Swamp:5  | Got a decaying rune of Zot


[cerebovssquire]

I would go elsewhere (D 17-21 or so) and raise Stabbing to about 14, first.
Shoals:5 is a level made up of many rooms on islands. One contains the barnacled rune. If you have some form of evocable invisibility, it will be very easy; just turn invisible before opening any doors and stab everyone to death. Potions can do the job too.
If all fails, three brothers will usually be enough to kill everyone in the vault (as long as they are good ones like stone giants, deep trolls, iron trolls).
Also, if you don't have any source of invisibility, you can just drop a Poisonous Cloud in and stand in front of the doorway so only one enemy can attack you. It'll be over soon.

If you have a demon blade or double sword somewhere, you should definitely consider training Long Blades (you will receive a bonus to your aptitude because it "crosstrains" with Short Blades). Quickblade damage, without a good brand not dependent on base damage (elec, pain), isn't very high.

[JoeBWan]

Wanted to provide my final update, and thank everyone again for all of the advice.

I did clear down the dungeon to around 21, then did cleared some of elf before going for the rune in Shoals:5. I managed (barely) to make it out with the rune, but had several close calls and a bit of luck.

I then went down to D27, avoiding some nasty stuff along the way, and died to a combination of stupidity and hubris. Got in a small hallway against some very nasty creatures, and failed several teleport wands attempts to get loose. I then got even stupider and used Berserk when I probably should have seen if a BIA / scroll of fog could have covered my escape. I died to parting shots from a yaktaur captain.

http://crawl.develz.org/morgues/0.9/Joe ... 012813.txt

All in all I'm pretty happy. My first rune ever (and picked up a second), the first time I've hit XL > 20, and the first time I've seen the L27 of the dungeon and the bottom of 3 rune holding branches.

I think I may try it again, but go for Maces/Whip instead of short swords, Slingshots instead of crossbow, and train stealth/evocations a lot earlier in the game.

[Mattchew]

Congrats on the milestones. If you got this far, you'll make it eventually. My first win was with a KoBe, great starter kit.

If you get curious or want a break, try a spellcaster. They're a lot of fun too, although it's much harder to pick your skills (ooh, I want to cast *that*, oh wait I could cast *that*, oh, *that* would be sooo coool....).