Kek, the Reanimator

This page is a Diary of a Crawler, the journal of an individual character. This page probably contains spoilers.

Introduction

Hi there! Feel free to comment in any way - opinions, good or bad, and questions about the text, gameplay or anything else are welcomed!

Diary

This is (yet one more) Kek, a good character of mine. I played with him for almost (non-consecutive) 5 hours. This may not be a good character to some's standarts, but it is for me and could be for other new players. I'll tell his story below. You can read it if you're a curious Crawl player or if you're just a common nerd - if you like the sound of what you read, do check Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup on Sourceforge, it's the awesomest game there is.

This Kek got WAY lucky on the start, and you can see on his sheet down below that he found many nice treasures, which was no doubtly compensated by a very tough dungeon - I remember a bunch of orcs almost killing me on the first level! Orcs! On first level! His luck did tend to the sinister - I play with 100% random characters, and the game came up with a Sludge Elf Death Knight for me. No god, a nice selection of spells for the future and a race that's not that hungry made a good combination for starters.

And so the journey of a dark art's initiate would begin.

As I said, this Kek had quite some luck early on in the game (only thing that actually can get me farther in the quest for the Orb, actually...) and got some nice items soon: +3 gloves of strengh, rings of wizardry and sustenance (is there a best combination for a mage?), a ring of life protection (that could be easily put on for dealing with those damnable undead) and the +2 leather armour of Paranoia (quite a powerful artifact to be found on dungeon level 4!).

There were some very good throwable weapons too: a dagger of draining and a hand axe of chopping and another of venom - due to their magic, I used them for melee combat too for quite a while, until finding myself a vampiric lajatang! I don't remember seeing this weapon before, but it just seemed right to use it - besides being fairly powerful on it's own, Kek the Reanimator was already using it's dark powers for sucking life and causing others pain, so why not keep the theme with a vampiric weapon? It was even better for the fact that I could still throw my other powerful magic weapons, so choosing the lajatang wouldn't make my other weapons obsolete.

Many good books (so many I didn't use them all) also provided for the repertoire of spells: Vampiric Draining, Regeneration, Detect Curse.... Of course, any half-decent dark evil mage can't be seen on melee all of the time - it just looks too swashbuckly! So a staff of wizardry would help me keep the pose in-between close quarter fighting - while also taking my novice mage apprentice to the heights of the arcane realm, of course! With it, even the first level pain spell was devastating, which remained my default ranged attack thoughout the game.

I'm not a very priest-like player, so I just don't have much patience for gods. I usually just find an entrance to the Ecumenical Temple and adore the chaotic Xom. He's so so, as much a giver as a taker, but at least he does everything without me needing to intervene, which is nice enough as far as it goes for me as a player. But this Kek found an altar of the Loreminder, right on the first levels. I read its description and couldn't see why any mage wouldn't want a god like that, so I converted myself. Not that I used the powers very much, but the evocations to replenish mana and to forget spells (and regain their memorisation levels) did help once or twice.

But then I found it - a blueish tile icon on the map grid. I looked at it, draw by the enchantation of a miscellaneous item. I picked it up. The "a crystal ball" message on the screen was alone enough to take my breath away! The curiosity! Kek stared into it, only to know that it would be useless without a monster around. All right, I found a monster (duh!) and stared at it again, and I simply saw the monster. Hm, nothing really impressive here. I still don't think I know exactly how crystal balls work, but it never crossed my mind to identify it - I simply concluded that it would need to be used with a toughter monster. An illusionist, maybe, for the ball's power to see through the falseness. That's the dumb me writing.

I stepped down into the eleventh level without knowing it would be my last. I found an eight-headed hydra zombie just as I stepped down the stairs. Lucky it was far away. Being stealthy, I went up the stairs again, not ready to fight an enemy with unknown power. I descended again in a different place, only to find a REAL eight-headed hydra chasing me! But did I tremble? Yes I did, and started looking at my full pack to find a good strategy for eliminating the stunning beast (which, by the way, has a really beautiful medievesque rhyme poem in it's description, be sure to check it out). And there it was, on the my pack's bottom: the crystal ball. I picked it up, and I knew it would work this time. If it wouldn't work with a hydra, it would work with nothing else.

And against me, it did work. Even with the inventory full of ways for victory or escape, Kek was lured by the gem's beauty and could not take his eyes off it even as the monster's eight heads tore his flesh apart...

Character sheet

 Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.4.5 (crawl-ref) character file.

9615 Kek the Reanimator (level 11, -6/63 (66) HPs)
             Began as a Sludge Elf Death Knight on Apr 29, 2009.
             Was an Elder of Sif Muna.
             Mangled by an eight-headed hydra (9 damage)
             ... on Level 13 of the Dungeon on May 4, 2009.
             The game lasted 04:45:03 (23441 turns).

Kek the Reanimator (Sludge Elf Death Knight)    Turns: 23441, Time: 04:45:03

HP  -6/63 (66)   AC  9     Str 16      Exp: 11/13328 (372), need: 5211
MP  24/24        EV  2     Int 15      God: Sif Muna ****
Gold 286         SH  0     Dex 15      Spells:  7 memorised,  0 levels left

Res.Fire  : . . .   See Invis. : .   L - crystal ball of fixation
Res.Cold  : . . .   Warding    : .   z - +2 leather armour of Paranoia
Life Prot.: . . .   Conserve   : .   (no shield)
Res.Poison: .       Res.Corr.  : .   P - +0 helmet
Res.Elec. : .       Clarity    : .   (no cloak)
                                     i - +1 pair of gloves {Str+3}
Sust.Abil.: .       Rnd.Telep. : .   U - +0 pair of boots
Res.Mut.  : .       Ctrl.Telep.: .   y - amulet of rage
Res.Slow  : .       Levitation : .   f - ring of sustenance
Saprovore : . . .   Ctrl.Flight: .   e - ring of wizardry

@: paralysed, slowed, somewhat resistant to magic, quite stealthy
A: carnivore 1
a: Channel Energy, Forget Spell, Renounce Religion, Evoke Berserk Rage


You were on level 13 of the Dungeon.
You worshipped Sif Muna.
Sif Muna was extremely pleased with you.
You were not hungry.

You visited 2 branches of the dungeon, and saw 14 of its levels.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
 a - a +2,+0 vampiric lajatang
 r - a +0,+3 orcish mace
 t - a +2,+0 dagger of draining
 D - a -1,+1 orcish hand axe
 E - a +0,+1 dagger
 G - a +2,+1 orcish dagger
 H - a +3,+0 elven dagger
 K - a +0,+1 orcish dagger
 M - a +0,+2 orcish dagger
 N - a +0,+2 orcish hand axe
 O - a +2,+2 orcish hand axe of chopping
 X - a +1,+2 orcish hand axe of venom (quivered)
Missiles
 s - 34 +0 darts
 v - 23 poisoned +0 needles
 w - 30 +0 elven darts of flame
 x - 21 +0 stones
Armour
 i - a +1 pair of gloves of strength (worn)
 j - a +0 elven buckler
 z - the +2 leather armour of Paranoia (worn)
   (You found it on level 4 of the Dungeon)   
   It affects your evasion (+5).
 P - a +0 helmet (worn)
 U - a +0 pair of boots (worn)
Magical devices
 Q - a wand of lightning (4)
 V - a wand of polymorph other (0)
Comestibles
 d - a bread ration
 l - 3 meat rations
Scrolls
 h - 3 scrolls of remove curse
 u - a scroll of teleportation
 J - 4 scrolls of detect curse
 S - 3 scrolls of identify
 T - a scroll of recharging
 W - 2 scrolls of fog
Jewellery
 e - a ring of wizardry (left hand)
 f - a ring of sustenance (right hand)
 k - an uncursed ring of life protection
 p - an uncursed ring of invisibility
 y - an amulet of rage (around neck)
 B - a +3,+1 ring of slaying
Potions
 g - a potion of resistance
 n - 3 potions of heal wounds
 o - a potion of levitation
 I - 8 potions of healing
Books
 c - a book of Necromancy
 m - a book of Fire
 q - a book of Death
 A - a book of Callings
Magical staves
 b - a staff of wizardry
Miscellaneous
 L - a crystal ball of fixation (in hand)


 You had 372 experience left.

   Skills:
 + Level 4 Fighting
 + Level 2 Short Blades
 + Level 5 Axes
 + Level 1 Staves
 + Level 5 Throwing
 + Level 9 Dodging
 + Level 5 Stealth
 + Level 1 Stabbing
 + Level 2 Shields
 + Level 1 Traps & Doors
 + Level 6 Spellcasting
 + Level 2 Enchantments
 + Level 13 Necromancy


You couldn't memorise any spells.
You knew the following spells:

 Your Spells              Type           Power          Success   Level
a - Vampiric Draining     Necr           ######....     Excellent   3
c - Projected Noise       Ench           N/A            Excellent   2
d - Detect Curse          Divn           N/A            Good        3
s - Animate Dead          Necr           N/A            Excellent   4
v - Regeneration          Ench/Necr      #####.....     Excellent   3
z - Pain                  Necr           ####           Excellent   1
Z - Bolt of Draining      Conj/Necr      #####.....     Bad         6


Overview of the Dungeon

Branches:
Temple: D:4       Orc   : D:7       

Altars:
Sif Muna: D:4

Shops:
D:9: *  D:11: [


                    Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

Your digestive system is specialised to digest meat.


Message History

* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
The eight-headed hydra bites you!
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
The eight-headed hydra bites you!
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
The eight-headed hydra bites you but doesn't do any damage.
The eight-headed hydra bites you!

Z.    #J# 
      #.# 
      #.# 
      #.# 
      #.# 
      #.# 
      #.# 
      #D# 
      #@### 
      #...# 
      ###.#######
        #........
        #########


You could see a slime creature, and an eight-headed hydra.

Vanquished Creatures
  2 hill giants
  A wolf spider (D:11)
  2 slime creatures (D:12)
  2 cyclopes
  An ugly thing (D:10)
  A troll (D:10)
  2 hippogriffs
  A hungry ghost (D:9)
  5 yaks
  2 manticores
  2 ice beasts
  2 big kobolds
  7 ogres
  2 phantoms
  2 necrophages
  14 centaurs
  5 orc warriors
  6 giant frogs
  18 killer bees
  10 imps
  2 orc priests (D:8)
  2 giant beetles
  8 hounds
  A quasit (D:8)
  4 wights
  8 giant ants
  9 orc wizards
  A hippogriff zombie (D:12)
  3 giant iguanas
  5 scorpions
  A shadow (D:12)
  A soldier ant zombie (D:11)
  9 gnolls
  7 worms
  A big kobold zombie (D:10)
  A giant centipede (D:11)
  A giant lizard zombie (D:7)
  A worm zombie (D:7)
  A giant mite (D:6)
  9 snakes
  3 oozes
  4 giant eyeballs
  A hound zombie (D:9)
  A scorpion zombie (D:8)
  8 giant cockroaches
  6 giant geckos
  24 hobgoblins
  4 jackals (D:1)
  26 kobolds
  37 orcs
  25 giant bats
  A giant mite zombie (D:11)
  4 giant newts
  28 goblins
  A hobgoblin zombie (D:6)
  An orc zombie (D:7)
  A quokka (D:9)
  14 rats
  2 small snakes
  A snake zombie (D:12)
354 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
  A wight (D:8)
  A gnoll (D:8)
  2 hobgoblins (D:11)
  An orc (D:7)
  A giant bat zombie (D:6)
  A giant cockroach zombie (D:6)
  A rat (D:5)
8 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 362 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn   | Place   | Note
--------------------------------------------------------------
     0 | D:1     | Kek, the Sludge Elf Death Knight, began the quest for the Orb.
     0 | D:1     | Reached XP level 1. HP: 13/13 MP: 1/1
     2 | D:1     | Learned a level 1 spell: Animate Skeleton
   425 | D:1     | Reached XP level 2. HP: 16/16 MP: 2/2
   742 | D:1     | Reached skill 3 in Necromancy
  1223 | D:1     | Reached XP level 3. HP: 16/21 MP: 2/5
  2708 | D:2     | Learned a level 3 spell: Vampiric Draining
  2725 | D:2     | Reached skill 1 in Stealth
  2832 | D:2     | Reached skill 4 in Necromancy
  3021 | D:2     | Reached XP level 4. HP: 23/25 MP: 3/7
  3689 | D:2     | Reached skill 5 in Necromancy
  4224 | D:2     | Reached XP level 5. HP: 19/30 MP: 8/8
  5192 | D:1     | Reached skill 6 in Necromancy
  5622 | D:3     | Learned a level 3 spell: Regeneration
  5630 | D:4     | Got an encrusted chain mail
  6503 | D:4     | Reached skill 7 in Necromancy
  6763 | D:4     | Reached XP level 6. HP: 34/36 MP: 8/11
  6802 | D:4     | Got an encrusted leather armour
  6860 | D:4     | Identified the +1 chain mail of Agoraphobia (You found it on level 4 of the Dungeon)
  7259 | D:4     | Reached skill 1 in Throwing
  7431 | D:4     | Became a worshipper of Sif Muna the Loreminder
  7581 | D:5     | Entered Level 5 of the Dungeon
  7990 | D:5     | Identified the +2 leather armour of Paranoia (You found it on level 4 of the Dungeon)
  8037 | D:5     | Reached XP level 7. HP: 41/41 MP: 12/14
  8239 | D:5     | HP: 2/41 [ogre/giant club (25)]
  8841 | D:5     | Reached skill 8 in Necromancy
  9207 | D:5     | Reached skill 1 in Axes
  9230 | D:5     | Learned a level 4 spell: Animate Dead
 10172 | D:6     | Acquired Sif Muna's first power
 10187 | D:6     | Reached XP level 8. HP: 14/48 MP: 6/16
 10667 | D:6     | Reached skill 5 in Dodging
 10850 | D:7     | Reached skill 9 in Necromancy
 11427 | D:7     | Gained mutation: You have a slow metabolism.
 11427 | D:7     | Gained mutation: You are covered in fur.
 11427 | D:7     | Gained mutation: Your digestive system is specialised to digest meat.
 11810 | Orc:1   | Entered Level 1 of the Orcish Mines
 12085 | D:7     | Gained mutation: You are agile (Dex +1).
 12864 | D:8     | Identified a scroll of acquirement
 13081 | D:8     | Reached XP level 9. HP: 26/53 MP: 7/19
 13341 | D:8     | Reached skill 10 in Necromancy
 13660 | D:8     | Acquired Sif Muna's second power
 13965 | D:8     | Lost mutation: You have a slow metabolism.
 13965 | D:8     | Lost mutation: You are covered in fur.
 13965 | D:8     | Lost mutation: You are agile (Dex +1).
 15075 | D:9     | Reached skill 11 in Necromancy
 15618 | D:9     | Reached XP level 10. HP: 51/59 MP: 10/20
 15618 | D:9     | Reached skill 5 in Spellcasting
 15741 | D:8     | Reached skill 1 in Enchantments
 15744 | D:8     | Reached skill 1 in Shields
 15810 | D:9     | Reached skill 1 in Traps & Doors
 17162 | D:10    | Entered Level 10 of the Dungeon
 18177 | D:10    | Reached skill 12 in Necromancy
 18474 | D:10    | Noticed an ugly thing
 18508 | D:10    | Defeated an ugly thing
 19062 | D:10    | Reached XP level 11. HP: 66/66 MP: 10/24
 19070 | D:10    | Learned a level 6 spell: Bolt of Draining
 19665 | D:11    | Reached skill 5 in Throwing
 20079 | D:11    | Learned a level 2 spell: Projected Noise
 20083 | D:11    | Learned a level 3 spell: Detect Curse
 20149 | D:11    | Reached XP level 10. HP: 57/62 MP: 21/23
 20158 | D:11    | Reached XP level 11. HP: 62/66 MP: 17/24
 20543 | D:11    | Reached skill 5 in Stealth
 21124 | D:11    | Acquired Sif Muna's third power
 21261 | D:11    | Reached skill 13 in Necromancy
 21694 | D:12    | Reached skill 5 in Axes
 21741 | D:12    | Reached skill 1 in Stabbing
 23273 | D:13    | Reached skill 1 in Staves
 23441 | D:13    | HP: 3/63 [eight-headed hydra (15)]
 23441 | D:13    | Mangled by an eight-headed hydra