Difference between revisions of "Kikubaaqudgha"

From CrawlWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Strategy)
m (History: cba 1438d3d)
 
(89 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{version028}}
+
{{version031}}
 
[[File:Kikubaaqudgha altar.png]] "Spread unending torment and darkness!"''
 
[[File:Kikubaaqudgha altar.png]] "Spread unending torment and darkness!"''
  
{{flavour|Kikubaaqudgha is a terrible Demon-God, served by those who wish to indulge in the powers of death. An evil god, Kikubaaqudgha requires worshippers to cause the death and destruction of as many creatures as possible. In exchange, Kikubaaqudgha offers great assistance to the aspiring necromancer: knowledge of dark magic, protection against necromantic backlash, and an endless supply of bodies taken from Kikubaaqudgha's vast mausoleum.
+
{{flavour|Kikubaaqudgha is a terrible Demon-God, served by those who wish to indulge in the powers of death. An evil god, Kikubaaqudgha requires worshippers to cause the death and destruction of as many creatures as possible. In exchange, Kikubaaqudgha offers great assistance to the aspiring necromancer: a supply of useful bodies, knowledge of dark magic, and protection against necromantic backlash.
  
Kikubaaqudgha will send corpses to followers, and enhance servants' necromantic prowess with gifts of Necromancy spells. Kikubaaqudgha will protect followers from the effects of necromantic miscasts, death curses, and may even shield them from unholy torment. Especially fervent followers may invoke torment themselves by sacrificing a cadaver, and Kikubaaqudgha will eventually allow followers to either receive knowledge of the most powerful and forbidden necromantic magic, or to have their weapon imbued with pain.
+
Kikubaaqudgha will enhance servants' necromantic prowess with gifts of Necromancy spells. Kikubaaqudgha will protect followers from the effects of necromantic miscasts, death curses, and may even shield them from unholy torment. Followers can unearth dying wretches as necromantic fodder, and may invoke torment. Kikubaaqudgha will eventually allow followers to either receive knowledge of the most forbidden necromantic magic, or to have their weapon imbued with pain.
  
 
Kikubaaqudgha likes it when you kill living beings, you destroy the undead, you kill demons, you kill holy beings and you destroy nonliving beings.
 
Kikubaaqudgha likes it when you kill living beings, you destroy the undead, you kill demons, you kill holy beings and you destroy nonliving beings.
Line 11: Line 11:
  
 
==Restrictions==
 
==Restrictions==
[[Demigod]]s may not worship Kikubaaqudgha (or any other deity).
+
*[[Djinn]]'s unusual approach to magic renders them unable to worship Kikubaaqudgha.
 
+
*[[Demigod]]s may not worship Kikubaaqudgha (or any other deity).
[[Djinn]]'s unusual approach to magic renders them unable to worship Kikubaaqudgha.
 
  
 
==Appreciates==
 
==Appreciates==
 
*You or your undead slaves killing living, nonliving, holy, undead, or demonic creatures. (Chance of +1 [[Piety]], chance increases with the victim's [[HD]], but decreases with your level.)
 
*You or your undead slaves killing living, nonliving, holy, undead, or demonic creatures. (Chance of +1 [[Piety]], chance increases with the victim's [[HD]], but decreases with your level.)
**Note that the "Kikubaaqudgha accepts your kill" message does not mean your Piety has risen, just that it could have.
 
  
 
==Deprecates==
 
==Deprecates==
*1 piety lost every 340 turns on average, and you are excommunicated if it falls to 0.
+
*Inactivity: You lose 1 piety per 340 turns, on average (1/17 chance every 20 turns).
 
*Abandonment. (Penance)
 
*Abandonment. (Penance)
  
Line 27: Line 25:
 
*No abilities.
 
*No abilities.
 
'''[[Piety|Piety level *]]''': "Scholar of Death"
 
'''[[Piety|Piety level *]]''': "Scholar of Death"
*'''Receive Corpses''': Creates 1-9 reanimatable, branch-appropriate corpses near yourself. A high [[Necromancy]] skill gives more and better corpses, with freshness depending on your piety. (3 MP, 2-3 piety)
+
*'''Unearth Wretches''': Creates <code>1d2 + ([[Necromancy]] * 5/27) </code> (1-7) wretches, random Necromancy- and branch- dependent monsters. They are considered hostile, but are unable to act, have 1 HP, 0 [[willpower]], do not give XP, and will die in 2-3 turns. These monsters can be used to raise the dead. (3 MP, 3-4 piety)
 +
**When these monsters die "wretchedly", they will activate passive Necromancy effects (those of [[Fugue of the Fallen]], [[Animate Dead]] and [[Death Channel]]) even if you didn't attack them.
 
'''[[Piety|Piety level **]]''': "Merchant of Misery"
 
'''[[Piety|Piety level **]]''': "Merchant of Misery"
*You may resist Necromancy [[miscast effect#Necromancy|miscast effects]] from spell miscasts or [[mummy (monster)|mummy]] [[death curse]]s. Your resist chance rises with piety. Spells that qualify for protection will have "Kikubaaqudgha supports the use of this spell." in the description.
+
*You have a <code>piety/160</code> chance to block Necromancy [[miscast effect#Necromancy|miscast effects]]. Spells that qualify for protection will have "Kikubaaqudgha supports the use of this spell." in the description.
 +
* Kikubaaqudgha will either completely protect you from [[mummy (monster)|mummy]] [[death curse]]s or reduce their severity by 50%. Complete protection or 50% reduction are equally likely.
 
'''[[Piety|Piety level ***]]''': "Artisan of Death"
 
'''[[Piety|Piety level ***]]''': "Artisan of Death"
 
*No new abilities.
 
*No new abilities.
 
'''[[Piety|Piety level ****]]''': "Dealer of Despair"
 
'''[[Piety|Piety level ****]]''': "Dealer of Despair"
*'''Protection From Torment''': You sometimes take reduced damage from [[torment]] and [[agony]]; there is a piety/600 chance of taking no damage, and failing that a piety/250 chance of taking a random amount of damage from 2 to the full amount rolled. The average damage is shown below.
+
*'''Protection From Torment''': You sometimes take reduced damage from [[torment]] and [[agony]]; there is a piety/600 chance of taking no damage, and failing that, a piety/250 chance to reduce a random amount of damage (at least 1). The average damage is shown below.
{| class="prettytable" cellpadding="3" border="1"
+
{| class="prettytable" style="text-align:center" cellpadding="3" border="1"
|- align="center"
+
|-  
 
! '''Piety'''
 
! '''Piety'''
 
! '''Unprotected'''
 
! '''Unprotected'''
! '''HP lost w/ Kiku Protection'''
+
! '''Kiku Protection'''
! '''HP lost w/ Kiku Protection & rN+++'''
+
! '''Kiku Protection & rN+++'''
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 80
 
| 80
| 50%
+
|rowspan=5| 50%
 
| 36.4%
 
| 36.4%
 
| 34.3%
 
| 34.3%
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 100
 
| 100
| 50%
 
 
| 33.35%
 
| 33.35%
 
| 30.85%
 
| 30.85%
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 120
 
| 120
| 50%
 
 
| 30.4%
 
| 30.4%
 
| 27.5%
 
| 27.5%
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 150
 
| 150
| 50%
 
 
| 26.25%
 
| 26.25%
 
| 23.9%
 
| 23.9%
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 200
 
| 200
| 50%
 
 
| 20%
 
| 20%
 
| 16%
 
| 16%
Line 68: Line 64:
 
|}
 
|}
 
'''[[Piety|Piety level *****]]''': "Black Sun"
 
'''[[Piety|Piety level *****]]''': "Black Sun"
*'''[[Torment]]''' - Use a corpse to torment everything in your [[LOS]], including yourself. (4 MP, 8-12 piety)
+
*'''[[Torment]]''' - Torment everything in your [[LOS]], including yourself. (4 MP, 6-10 piety)
  
 
'''[[Piety|Piety level ******]]''': "Lord of Darkness"
 
'''[[Piety|Piety level ******]]''': "Lord of Darkness"
 
*Once per game, you may choose to either:  
 
*Once per game, you may choose to either:  
**'''Receive Forbidden Knowledge''': Kikubaaqudgha will grant you [[Haunt]], [[Borgnjor's Revivification]], [[Infestation]], [[Necromutation]], and [[Death's Door]]
+
**'''Receive Forbidden Knowledge''': Kikubaaqudgha will grant you [[Haunt]], [[Borgnjor's Revivification]], [[Infestation]], [[Necromutation]], and [[Death's Door]].
**'''Brand Weapon With Pain''': Give a non-[[artefact]] weapon of your choice a permanent [[Pain (brand)|Pain brand]] and increase its enchantment level by 2. This splatters blood over the area, invokes torment, and overwrites the current brand on the weapon.
+
**'''Brand Weapon With Pain''': Give a non-[[artefact]] melee or ranged weapon of your choice a permanent [[Pain (brand)|Pain brand]] and increase its enchantment level by 2. This splatters blood over the area, invokes torment, and overwrites the current brand on the weapon.
  
 
==Gifts==
 
==Gifts==
Kikubaaqudgha grants a semi-random assortment of spells upon reaching 1* and 3* piety. Each set guarantees the player at least one corpse-using spell to complement the Receive Corpses ability<ref>{{source ref|0.28.0|religion.cc|1749}}</ref>. Kikubaaqudgha will never grant spells your species cannot cast.
+
Kikubaaqudgha grants a semi-random assortment of spells upon reaching 1* and 3* piety. Kikubaaqudgha will never grant spells your species cannot cast. The first set guarantees the player at least one spell to complement the Unearth Wretches ability.<ref>{{source ref|0.31.0|religion.cc|1560}}</ref>
  
At 1* piety, Kiku will gift [[Animate Skeleton]] and three randomly selected low-level [[Necromancy]] spells:
+
At 1* piety, Kiku will gift one of [[Animate Dead]] or [[Fugue of the Fallen]], then three randomly selected low-level [[Necromancy]] spells:
*[[Corpse Rot]]
+
*[[Necrotise]]
*[[Pain]]
+
*[[Kiss of Death]]
 
*[[Sublimation of Blood]]
 
*[[Sublimation of Blood]]
 +
*[[Cigotuvi's Dreadful Rot]]
 
*[[Vampiric Draining]]
 
*[[Vampiric Draining]]
*[[Agony]]
 
  
At 3* piety, Kiku will gift [[Animate Dead]] and four randomly selected mid-level Necromancy spells:
+
At 3* piety, Kiku will gift four randomly selected mid-level Necromancy spells:
 +
*[[Anguish]]
 
*[[Dispel Undead]]
 
*[[Dispel Undead]]
*[[Anguish]]
+
*[[Martyr's Knell]]
 +
*[[Curse of Agony]]
 
*[[Borgnjor's Vile Clutch]]
 
*[[Borgnjor's Vile Clutch]]
 
*[[Death Channel]]
 
*[[Death Channel]]
*[[Excruciating Wounds]]
 
*[[Simulacrum]]
 
  
 
==Punishments==
 
==Punishments==
 
{{flavour|Kikubaaqudgha does not appreciate abandonment, and will call down fearful punishments on disloyal followers!
 
{{flavour|Kikubaaqudgha does not appreciate abandonment, and will call down fearful punishments on disloyal followers!
  
Kikubaaqudgha's wrath brings forth all the dread powers of necromancy. Victims are wracked with torment, assailed by the undead, smothered in miasma, and afflicted with a host of other necromantic ailments. Further, Kikubaaqudgha's gifts become tainted; those that attempt to use necromantic magic to fend off wrath will find it backfiring on them when least expected.
+
Kikubaaqudgha's wrath brings forth all the dread powers of necromancy. Victims are wracked with screams of torment, and find their health and powers drained. Further, Kikubaaqudgha's gifts become tainted: the dead rise again as foes, and those that attempt to use necromantic magic to fend off wrath will find it backfiring on them when least expected.
  
 
Kikubaaqudgha's wrath lasts for a relatively short duration.}}
 
Kikubaaqudgha's wrath lasts for a relatively short duration.}}
  
When you abandon Kikubaaqudgha, all currently existing corpses will decay into skeletons in a few turns. While under penance, Kikubaaqudgha will occasionally inflict you with [[Torment]], as well perform other forms of [[divine retribution]]. Kikubaaqudgha will often combine these punishments:
+
When you abandon Kikubaaqudgha, all living, demonic or holy foes you slay will occasionally be reanimated as a zombie, spectre or simulacrum. This does not increment the [[penance]] counter. Additionally, the following actions will occasionally be taken:
*Receive Corpses is cast (using your [[XL]] in place of Necromancy skill), followed by a hostile [[Animate Dead]]. All corpses and skeletons in the vicinity will be affected.
+
*Symbol of [[Torment]] is cast at your location, tormenting both you and susceptible foes around you.
*[[Cloud]]s of [[miasma]] at your location and around you.
+
*A random stat between Strength, Intelligence or Dexterity is drained, with higher amounts of drain being more common at higher XP levels.
*[[Death curse]]s.
+
*[[Drain]] the player for a significant portion of their max HP (resisted by negative energy resistance).
 +
**This can be extremely dangerous. Characters with no rN+ who are unfortunate enough to receive HP drain a few times in a row can reach even a single remaining HP point, which is a death sentence for any ex-worshipper.
  
Kiku may also punish you for casting Necromancy spells (5% probability).
+
Kiku may also punish you for casting Necromancy spells (5% probability). The spell succeeds, but you'll get a miscast effect anyways. This does not increment the [[penance]] counter.
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
Kikubaaqudgha offers three main features: a massive supply of corpses, protection from torment and mummy death curses, and knowledge of Necromancy.
+
Kikubaaqudgha offers three main features: a massive supply of undead allies, protection from torment and mummy death curses, and knowledge of Necromancy. Kiku's quick spell gifts are useful to [[Necromancer]]s and characters learning Necromancy from scratch alike. Torment Protection and the potential for [[Necromutation]] make Kiku good for the extended game, too.
 +
 
 +
When you find Kiku's altar doesn't matter as much - lucky D:1 [[faded altar]]s aren't as good, waiting for a deep overflow altar is less punishing. This is for two reasons: 1. Kiku tends to grant spells well before they can be used reliably, and 2. Unearth Wretches only starts to become impressive with spells like [[Animate Dead]]. By corollary, these facts make Kiku less ''immediately'' helpful than other gods, especially if you didn't start out as a Necromancer.
  
*The former is a fairly cheap, 1*, spammable ability, making Kiku great for the entire game. It requires some proactive play; it takes 2 turns and a bit of MP to get running, but surrounding yourself with allies is always powerful. This remains competitive even into the [[Pandemonium]] and [[Hell]].
+
===Final Gift===
*Kiku's quick and fitting spell gifts are especially useful to characters learning Necromancy from scratch, though it means Kiku is slightly less useful (comparatively) to [[Necromancer]]s early on.
 
*Kiku's torment protection is useful for the extended game. The [[Tomb]] is one of the deadliest branches of the whole game, but the addition of death curse protection eases up the challenge. Characters that receive [[Necromutation]] and other high level spells are even better off.
 
 
At 6*, you get the choice between a pain-branded weapon and the capstone Necromancy spells. This typically happens around the mid-game, and it can be a tricky decision.  
 
At 6*, you get the choice between a pain-branded weapon and the capstone Necromancy spells. This typically happens around the mid-game, and it can be a tricky decision.  
* The Pain brand deals absolutely devastating damage in the right hands. It deals flat, Necromancy-based damage; faster weapons like [[Short Blade]]s and [[demon whip]]s work great, even with little training. Pain only works on the living; which is not a concern in the mid-game, but iffy in [[Zot]] and useless in the demon and undead-infested extended game. Blessing also increases enchantment, so keep your weapon at or below +7.
+
*The pain brand deals absolutely devastating, flat damage; faster weapons like [[Short Blade]]s and [[demon whip]]s work great, even with little weapon skill. But pain only works on the living. This is not a concern immediately, but iffy in [[Zot]] and useless in the demon and undead-infested extended game. Also note that blessing increases enchantment by 2.
* The spells, on the other hand, are the inverse. Those spells are great for the endgame, but they won't help you one bit when you can't cast them. It's also entirely possible to luck across the [[Necronomicon]] as you explore.
+
*The spells, on the other hand, are the inverse. Those spells are great for the lategame, but they won't help you one bit when you can't cast them. It's also entirely possible to luck across the [[Necronomicon]] or other books as you explore. Of these spells, [[Haunt]] and [[Infestation]] are the most likely to be helpful before Zot.
 +
 
 +
In the end, the decision comes down to "Would I rather have something that will help me much later, or something that will help me survive ''right now''?" Further questions like "will pain ''actually'' help me?" can arise, depending on your character.
 +
 
 +
===Tips & Tricks===
 +
*Unearth Wretches is incredibly powerful: it can create a swarm of allies after a few turns. There's no limit (beyond MP), so don't be afraid to use Wretches multiple times in a fight. And since it costs little piety, use it early and often. Note that UW requires quite a bit of MP and ''at least'' 2 turns of prep time, so it isn't great as an emergency button.
 +
**[[Death Channel]]'s spectres can be used with any other spell; however [[Animate Dead]] and [[Infestation]] do not stack.
 +
**Wretches spawn within a 5x5 area of yourself, last for min. 2 turns, and activate any of your Necromancy effects on death.
 +
***If using Animate Dead, you can cast the spell before or after you summon Wretches.
 +
***If using Infestation, you can do the following: have Death Channel up, use Wretches twice, cast Infestation on your tile (covering the 5x5 area), then repeat if desired. You don't want to cast Wretches more than twice in a row, or the 1st set can die before you can infest them.
 +
***Their deaths will also count towards [[Fugue of the Fallen]]'s slaying bonus.
 +
**Wretches are seen as hostile monsters, so other hostile monsters will usually avoid harming them. They can used as a (short-lived) blocker. Be wary of dangerous interactions, however, such as a [[necromancer (monster)|necromancer]] using your own Wretches against you with their [[Bind Souls]] spell.
 +
*Undead and [[Tree Form]] characters benefit the most from invoked torment, though that doesn't mean that living characters shouldn't use it at all! Kiku's protection will often reduce and even prevent damage, but living monsters take the full 50%. Plus, your torment-immune undead can mop up what remains.
 +
*Kiku has no objection towards weapons of [[holy wrath]].
 +
*Undead minions do not turn hostile when you attack or [[scroll of immolation|immolate]] them.
  
In the end, the decision comes down to "Would I rather have something that will help me much later, or something that will help me survive ''right now''?"
+
===Branch Strategy===
 +
Worshippers are equipped with particularly effective tools for clearing a few branches in the game. The sole fact of worshipping Kikubaaqudgha is no reason to venture into these places without the proper resistances or XL, but it certainly helps.
  
In the case you decide to pick the spells, the [[Excruciating Wounds]] spell, if you've found it, can substitute for a permanent pain weapon in a pinch. However, Excruciating Wounds is a noisy spell that makes other spells somewhat harder to cast.  
+
*'''[[Slime Pits]]''': While [[Borgnjor's Vile Clutch]] is ineffective against its gooey horrors, it's easy to create undead due to how many slimes there are. Using a [[scroll of immolation]] when combined with the sheer mass of your non-spectre allies and [[The Royal Jelly]]'s allies (potentially after Torment) is strikingly effective.
  
===Tips and Tricks===
+
*'''[[Crypt]]''': Kikubaaqudgha followers will find the torment and death curse protection to be immensely helpful. [[Haunt]] and [[Infestation]] still work against undead enemies, while [[Dispel Undead]] is effective against single undead targets in the Crypt.
*Undead and [[tree form]] characters benefit the most from invoked torment, though that doesn't mean that living characters can't use it! Kiku's protection will often reduce and even prevent damage, but living monsters take the full 50%. Plus, your torment-immune undead can mop up what remains.
 
*Don't be stingy in the art of corpses! Receive Corpses is a very cheap ability. Kiku piety isn't very meaningful; passives have little impact on a 3-rune game, while Torment still remains niche for living characters. The swarm of zombies are easy to underestimate.
 
**[[Corpse Rot]] is a more unorthodox spell; it creates a protective ring of miasma. It then leaves behind a skeleton, which still can be animated.
 
*Kiku has no objection to you [[wield]]ing weapons of [[holy wrath]].
 
*In spite of Kiku's punishments, Kiku's divine retribution is one of the easiest to survive. Stair-dancing lets you run from the monsters Kiku sends. Expect to receive Torment every time Kiku's wrath occurs, however. Undead minions turn hostile when you leave, meaning you can't just surround yourself with corpses.
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 +
{{CBA|0.32|Kiku's Torment ability will be replaced with Sign of Ruin, a smite-targeted ability, which debuffs a group of enemies. When the targets receive melee damage, they will suffer draining and will get the [[slow]], [[weak]], or [[blind]] status.}}
 +
*Prior to [[0.31]], Kiku's wrath had [[death curse]]s instead of [[drain]]ing the player. Also, the gift list was different.
 +
*Prior to [[0.30]], Kiku's Undead Wretches was stronger (<code>2 + (Necro * 6/27)</code> wretches) and cost less piety, while Torment cost more piety. Also, spell gifts were different; most notably, the second spell gift had 5 spells.
 +
*In [[0.29]], Kiku was changed to accommodate the Necromancy overhaul and removal of useful [[corpse]]s. Prior to this version:
 +
**Receive Corpses was the 1* ability instead of Unearth Wretches, which created 1-9 corpses rather than "live" monsters.
 +
**The Torment ability required a corpse to use.
 +
**Kiku gifted [[Animate Skeleton]] instead of Necrotise at 1*, and could gift [[Pain]] (1*) and [[Excruciating Wounds]] (3*). Gifting logic was changed overall. Most notably, [[Animate Dead]] was guaranteed at 3* to make use of Receive Corpses.
 +
**The [[pain (brand)]] gift did not work with ranged weapons.
 +
**If you received partial torment protection, the minimum reduction was 0 instead of 1.
 
*Prior to [[0.28]], Kiku's 1* and 3* spell gifts guaranteed a corpse ''using'' spell instead of Animate Skeleton and Animate Dead; book logic was also different.
 
*Prior to [[0.28]], Kiku's 1* and 3* spell gifts guaranteed a corpse ''using'' spell instead of Animate Skeleton and Animate Dead; book logic was also different.
 
*Prior to [[0.27]], Kiku would gift randart spellbooks and the [[Necronomicon]], instead of gifting spells directly.
 
*Prior to [[0.27]], Kiku would gift randart spellbooks and the [[Necronomicon]], instead of gifting spells directly.
Line 135: Line 151:
 
*Prior to [[0.19]], Kiku gave a piety-dependent bonus to final HP when casting [[Death's Door]]. Also, Kiku did not grant piety for killing undead creatures, and the torment protection did not reduce damage from [[agony]]. In addition, Kiku worshippers had to [[pray]] over a corpse to invoke the [[Torment]] ability.  
 
*Prior to [[0.19]], Kiku gave a piety-dependent bonus to final HP when casting [[Death's Door]]. Also, Kiku did not grant piety for killing undead creatures, and the torment protection did not reduce damage from [[agony]]. In addition, Kiku worshippers had to [[pray]] over a corpse to invoke the [[Torment]] ability.  
 
*Prior to [[0.17]], Kiku helped at [[Piety]] level **** to resist the [[Haunt]] inflicted [[sickness]] on the caster (resist rate rose with piety). Kiku worshippers also had to [[pray]] at an [[altar]] to receive the Necronomicon/Pain brand gifts.
 
*Prior to [[0.17]], Kiku helped at [[Piety]] level **** to resist the [[Haunt]] inflicted [[sickness]] on the caster (resist rate rose with piety). Kiku worshippers also had to [[pray]] at an [[altar]] to receive the Necronomicon/Pain brand gifts.
 +
*Prior to [[0.8]], Kiku used Invocations instead of Necromancy;  [[victory dancing]] was required to train the former.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Latest revision as of 00:27, 27 June 2024

Version 0.31: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
Kikubaaqudgha altar.png "Spread unending torment and darkness!"
Kikubaaqudgha is a terrible Demon-God, served by those who wish to indulge in the powers of death. An evil god, Kikubaaqudgha requires worshippers to cause the death and destruction of as many creatures as possible. In exchange, Kikubaaqudgha offers great assistance to the aspiring necromancer: a supply of useful bodies, knowledge of dark magic, and protection against necromantic backlash.

Kikubaaqudgha will enhance servants' necromantic prowess with gifts of Necromancy spells. Kikubaaqudgha will protect followers from the effects of necromantic miscasts, death curses, and may even shield them from unholy torment. Followers can unearth dying wretches as necromantic fodder, and may invoke torment. Kikubaaqudgha will eventually allow followers to either receive knowledge of the most forbidden necromantic magic, or to have their weapon imbued with pain.

Kikubaaqudgha likes it when you kill living beings, you destroy the undead, you kill demons, you kill holy beings and you destroy nonliving beings.

Kikubaaqudgha's powers are based on Necromancy instead of Invocations skill.

Restrictions

  • Djinn's unusual approach to magic renders them unable to worship Kikubaaqudgha.
  • Demigods may not worship Kikubaaqudgha (or any other deity).

Appreciates

  • You or your undead slaves killing living, nonliving, holy, undead, or demonic creatures. (Chance of +1 Piety, chance increases with the victim's HD, but decreases with your level.)

Deprecates

  • Inactivity: You lose 1 piety per 340 turns, on average (1/17 chance every 20 turns).
  • Abandonment. (Penance)

Given Abilities

Piety level -: "Purveyor of Pain"

  • No abilities.

Piety level *: "Scholar of Death"

  • Unearth Wretches: Creates 1d2 + (Necromancy * 5/27) (1-7) wretches, random Necromancy- and branch- dependent monsters. They are considered hostile, but are unable to act, have 1 HP, 0 willpower, do not give XP, and will die in 2-3 turns. These monsters can be used to raise the dead. (3 MP, 3-4 piety)

Piety level **: "Merchant of Misery"

  • You have a piety/160 chance to block Necromancy miscast effects. Spells that qualify for protection will have "Kikubaaqudgha supports the use of this spell." in the description.
  • Kikubaaqudgha will either completely protect you from mummy death curses or reduce their severity by 50%. Complete protection or 50% reduction are equally likely.

Piety level ***: "Artisan of Death"

  • No new abilities.

Piety level ****: "Dealer of Despair"

  • Protection From Torment: You sometimes take reduced damage from torment and agony; there is a piety/600 chance of taking no damage, and failing that, a piety/250 chance to reduce a random amount of damage (at least 1). The average damage is shown below.
Piety Unprotected Kiku Protection Kiku Protection & rN+++
80 50% 36.4% 34.3%
100 33.35% 30.85%
120 30.4% 27.5%
150 26.25% 23.9%
200 20% 16%

Piety level *****: "Black Sun"

  • Torment - Torment everything in your LOS, including yourself. (4 MP, 6-10 piety)

Piety level ******: "Lord of Darkness"

  • Once per game, you may choose to either:

Gifts

Kikubaaqudgha grants a semi-random assortment of spells upon reaching 1* and 3* piety. Kikubaaqudgha will never grant spells your species cannot cast. The first set guarantees the player at least one spell to complement the Unearth Wretches ability.[1]

At 1* piety, Kiku will gift one of Animate Dead or Fugue of the Fallen, then three randomly selected low-level Necromancy spells:

At 3* piety, Kiku will gift four randomly selected mid-level Necromancy spells:

Punishments

Kikubaaqudgha does not appreciate abandonment, and will call down fearful punishments on disloyal followers!

Kikubaaqudgha's wrath brings forth all the dread powers of necromancy. Victims are wracked with screams of torment, and find their health and powers drained. Further, Kikubaaqudgha's gifts become tainted: the dead rise again as foes, and those that attempt to use necromantic magic to fend off wrath will find it backfiring on them when least expected.

Kikubaaqudgha's wrath lasts for a relatively short duration.

When you abandon Kikubaaqudgha, all living, demonic or holy foes you slay will occasionally be reanimated as a zombie, spectre or simulacrum. This does not increment the penance counter. Additionally, the following actions will occasionally be taken:

  • Symbol of Torment is cast at your location, tormenting both you and susceptible foes around you.
  • A random stat between Strength, Intelligence or Dexterity is drained, with higher amounts of drain being more common at higher XP levels.
  • Drain the player for a significant portion of their max HP (resisted by negative energy resistance).
    • This can be extremely dangerous. Characters with no rN+ who are unfortunate enough to receive HP drain a few times in a row can reach even a single remaining HP point, which is a death sentence for any ex-worshipper.

Kiku may also punish you for casting Necromancy spells (5% probability). The spell succeeds, but you'll get a miscast effect anyways. This does not increment the penance counter.

Strategy

Kikubaaqudgha offers three main features: a massive supply of undead allies, protection from torment and mummy death curses, and knowledge of Necromancy. Kiku's quick spell gifts are useful to Necromancers and characters learning Necromancy from scratch alike. Torment Protection and the potential for Necromutation make Kiku good for the extended game, too.

When you find Kiku's altar doesn't matter as much - lucky D:1 faded altars aren't as good, waiting for a deep overflow altar is less punishing. This is for two reasons: 1. Kiku tends to grant spells well before they can be used reliably, and 2. Unearth Wretches only starts to become impressive with spells like Animate Dead. By corollary, these facts make Kiku less immediately helpful than other gods, especially if you didn't start out as a Necromancer.

Final Gift

At 6*, you get the choice between a pain-branded weapon and the capstone Necromancy spells. This typically happens around the mid-game, and it can be a tricky decision.

  • The pain brand deals absolutely devastating, flat damage; faster weapons like Short Blades and demon whips work great, even with little weapon skill. But pain only works on the living. This is not a concern immediately, but iffy in Zot and useless in the demon and undead-infested extended game. Also note that blessing increases enchantment by 2.
  • The spells, on the other hand, are the inverse. Those spells are great for the lategame, but they won't help you one bit when you can't cast them. It's also entirely possible to luck across the Necronomicon or other books as you explore. Of these spells, Haunt and Infestation are the most likely to be helpful before Zot.

In the end, the decision comes down to "Would I rather have something that will help me much later, or something that will help me survive right now?" Further questions like "will pain actually help me?" can arise, depending on your character.

Tips & Tricks

  • Unearth Wretches is incredibly powerful: it can create a swarm of allies after a few turns. There's no limit (beyond MP), so don't be afraid to use Wretches multiple times in a fight. And since it costs little piety, use it early and often. Note that UW requires quite a bit of MP and at least 2 turns of prep time, so it isn't great as an emergency button.
    • Death Channel's spectres can be used with any other spell; however Animate Dead and Infestation do not stack.
    • Wretches spawn within a 5x5 area of yourself, last for min. 2 turns, and activate any of your Necromancy effects on death.
      • If using Animate Dead, you can cast the spell before or after you summon Wretches.
      • If using Infestation, you can do the following: have Death Channel up, use Wretches twice, cast Infestation on your tile (covering the 5x5 area), then repeat if desired. You don't want to cast Wretches more than twice in a row, or the 1st set can die before you can infest them.
      • Their deaths will also count towards Fugue of the Fallen's slaying bonus.
    • Wretches are seen as hostile monsters, so other hostile monsters will usually avoid harming them. They can used as a (short-lived) blocker. Be wary of dangerous interactions, however, such as a necromancer using your own Wretches against you with their Bind Souls spell.
  • Undead and Tree Form characters benefit the most from invoked torment, though that doesn't mean that living characters shouldn't use it at all! Kiku's protection will often reduce and even prevent damage, but living monsters take the full 50%. Plus, your torment-immune undead can mop up what remains.
  • Kiku has no objection towards weapons of holy wrath.
  • Undead minions do not turn hostile when you attack or immolate them.

Branch Strategy

Worshippers are equipped with particularly effective tools for clearing a few branches in the game. The sole fact of worshipping Kikubaaqudgha is no reason to venture into these places without the proper resistances or XL, but it certainly helps.

  • Crypt: Kikubaaqudgha followers will find the torment and death curse protection to be immensely helpful. Haunt and Infestation still work against undead enemies, while Dispel Undead is effective against single undead targets in the Crypt.

History

  • In 0.32, Kiku's Torment ability will be replaced with Sign of Ruin, a smite-targeted ability, which debuffs a group of enemies. When the targets receive melee damage, they will suffer draining and will get the slow, weak, or blind status.
  • Prior to 0.31, Kiku's wrath had death curses instead of draining the player. Also, the gift list was different.
  • Prior to 0.30, Kiku's Undead Wretches was stronger (2 + (Necro * 6/27) wretches) and cost less piety, while Torment cost more piety. Also, spell gifts were different; most notably, the second spell gift had 5 spells.
  • In 0.29, Kiku was changed to accommodate the Necromancy overhaul and removal of useful corpses. Prior to this version:
    • Receive Corpses was the 1* ability instead of Unearth Wretches, which created 1-9 corpses rather than "live" monsters.
    • The Torment ability required a corpse to use.
    • Kiku gifted Animate Skeleton instead of Necrotise at 1*, and could gift Pain (1*) and Excruciating Wounds (3*). Gifting logic was changed overall. Most notably, Animate Dead was guaranteed at 3* to make use of Receive Corpses.
    • The pain (brand) gift did not work with ranged weapons.
    • If you received partial torment protection, the minimum reduction was 0 instead of 1.
  • Prior to 0.28, Kiku's 1* and 3* spell gifts guaranteed a corpse using spell instead of Animate Skeleton and Animate Dead; book logic was also different.
  • Prior to 0.27, Kiku would gift randart spellbooks and the Necronomicon, instead of gifting spells directly.
  • Prior to 0.25, Kiku's wrath included Necromancy miscast effects instead of death curses.
  • Prior to 0.20, Kiku's 1* spellbook gift had a guaranteed Corpse Rot rather than a guaranteed Pain spell.
  • Prior to 0.19, Kiku gave a piety-dependent bonus to final HP when casting Death's Door. Also, Kiku did not grant piety for killing undead creatures, and the torment protection did not reduce damage from agony. In addition, Kiku worshippers had to pray over a corpse to invoke the Torment ability.
  • Prior to 0.17, Kiku helped at Piety level **** to resist the Haunt inflicted sickness on the caster (resist rate rose with piety). Kiku worshippers also had to pray at an altar to receive the Necronomicon/Pain brand gifts.
  • Prior to 0.8, Kiku used Invocations instead of Necromancy; victory dancing was required to train the former.

References

Gods
Good ElyvilonZinThe Shining One
Neutral AshenzariCheibriadosDithmenosFedhas MadashGozag Ym SagozHepliaklqanaIgnisOkawaruQazlalRuSif MunaTrogUskayawVehumetWu Jian
Chaotic JiyvaNemelex XobehXom
Evil BeoghKikubaaqudghaLugonu *Makhleb *Yredelemnul
* Chaotic & Evil