Lantern of shadows

Type	Miscellaneous item
Name	lantern of shadows
Icon

An unholy device which calls on the powers of darkness to assist its user, with a small cost attached.

Operation

Unlike most of the miscellaneous items, the lantern of shadows is not evoked; it is activated whenever it is wielded as a "weapon." When wielded, this sinister device will dim the natural light of the dungeon around the user, erasing all colours and reducing his or her line of sight (and the monsters' as well) by 2 tiles. This gives you 6 tiles from the usual 8 tiles. If one has the nightstalker demonspawn mutation, this reduces it even further.

As well, friendly shadows will begin to spawn from the lantern, and be attracted to flutter around it like moths until they expire. The good gods take this as Necromancy. Okawaru does not like it when they are destroyed. The shadows will remain (and stay friendly) for a while after the Lantern is unwielded. The shadows follow you around levels, making this item ideal for exploring new stairs.

The lantern also works as a double negative spell enhancer ("extremely numb sensation" if unenhanced). That is to say, it would cancel the effects of two rings of fire if you tried to cast a fire spell while wielding it. (Obviously, you can't combine it with a staff!)

Stealth is set to 0 (extremely unstealthy) if you're wielding a Lantern of Shadows.

Strategy

This item is finnicky, to say the least. In exchange for reduced LOS and friendly shadows constantly surrounding you, you will have impeded melee combat, impeded spellcasting, and no ability to sneak up on monsters. Mostly these lanterns can be useful for escape: the reduced LOS will help you leave monsters behind (remember, they can't see you if they're beyond your LOS), while the shadows can help cover your retreat. But don't expect the shadows to kill much - they're outclassed by the later levels of Lair.

History

Prior 0.9, an unidentified lantern of shadows always appeared as a bone lantern.