Orcish idol
An idol of the orc god Beogh. Destroying it is likely to incur Beogh's wrath
Orcish idols are dungeon features associated with orcs and the worship of the orcish god Beogh. They can be found most often in the Orcish Mines (where they will often be found en masse) and anywhere else that orcs congregate to worship Beogh (e.g. near the entrance of the Orcish Mines in the Dungeon).
The are notable for being the only obvious statuary (non-altar) which is dedicated to a god. Also, and perhaps uniquely among dungeon features, they allow limited interaction with Beogh himself (albeit, an entirely negative exchange) through their destruction.
Destroying an orcish idol
The idol screams as its substance crumbles away!
Destroying an orcish idol is easily accomplished with a zap from a wand of disintegration. Doing so understandably angers Beogh, and will sometimes trigger his wrath. When destroying one, Beogh will smite you 100% of the time if you're one of his followers, 50% of the time if you're a hill orc, or 33% otherwise. As such, it is generally a good idea to look at the description of a statue before destroying it, just in case.
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A variety of acrimonious utterances accompany Beogh's smites, extending not only to the player, but to your species and deity as well:
Beogh utters a curse on your species. Beogh smites you!
Beogh swears eternal hatred toward Okawaru.
It is unclear what, if any effect these curses might have on further gameplay.
Divine protection
If you have the good fortune of worshiping a god other than Beogh as you despoil his idolatry, there is a chance your deity might shield you from harm (piety/4% chance).
