Difference between revisions of "Pandemonium"

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{{flavour|Pandemonium is an infinite realm of pain and suffering. While you can find a good deal of loot there, all these treasures are guarded by demons and even crueller demon lords. Many a hero, confusing confidence with megalomania, has died screaming in the barrage of torment and hellfire.
 
{{flavour|Pandemonium is an infinite realm of pain and suffering. While you can find a good deal of loot there, all these treasures are guarded by demons and even crueller demon lords. Many a hero, confusing confidence with megalomania, has died screaming in the barrage of torment and hellfire.
  
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• a dark rune in the shadowy abode of Gloorx Vloq
 
• a dark rune in the shadowy abode of Gloorx Vloq
  
• demonic runes exist in multiple copies, owned by less famous lords
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a demonic rune, owned by a less famous lord
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{flavour|This gate leads to the endless halls of Pandemonium. Tales about successful lootings of these netherworlds are rare. Even the strongest and most experienced characters can die there. On the other hand, these halls contain several runes and lots of valuable items. It is much easier to get in than to get out.}}
 
{{flavour|This gate leads to the endless halls of Pandemonium. Tales about successful lootings of these netherworlds are rare. Even the strongest and most experienced characters can die there. On the other hand, these halls contain several runes and lots of valuable items. It is much easier to get in than to get out.}}
  
[[File:Pandemonium entry.png]] '''Pandemonium''' is a vast wasteland of [[demon]]ic corruption. There are no set levels, and it's impossible to return to a level once you've left it. Pandemonium contains all types of [[demon]]s, and most levels will contain a [[Pandemonium lord]], possibly guarding a small [[vault]] with treasure or the demonic [[rune of Zot]]. There are also 4 levels that have a [[unique]] Pan lord and a guaranteed rune. Multiple portals to Pandemonium may be found on [[Dungeon]]: 20 or lower.
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'''Pandemonium''' (or '''Pan''') is an infinite demonic realm, populated by all manner of [[demon]]s and randomly littered with any kind of treasure imaginable. One of the final [[branch]]es of the game to explore (and a purely optional one), it contains endless treasure and experience, and five [[runes of Zot]]:
  
Like [[the Abyss]], random loot and food is scattered throughout Pandemonium, though with a much better likelihood of being high-quality. If you are strong enough (and possibly wear a [[ring of sustenance]], are undead, or are permanently in [[Necromutation|lich form]]), it is possible to wander around Pandemonium indefinitely, eventually finding any desired item. Note, however, that by the time you are ready to enter Pandemonium, you will likely already have everything you need to ascend with the Orb. Still, journeying through Pandemonium can be useful if you've run out of potions of cure mutation or scrolls of identify and remove curse, or as a stepping stone to [[Ziggurat]]s, which can be even more difficult.
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[[File:Demonic rune 1.png]]The demonic rune, lost somewhere in the endless halls of Pandemonium.
  
[[File:Pandemonium exit.png]] Pandemonium is hard to escape from, with a small chance that a gateway leading out will be generated on any given floor (often within a Pandemonium lord's treasure vault), so it's important to be fully prepared before entering. The best way to escape is often to find a [[portal]] to [[the Abyss]], which is comparatively easy to escape from. Note that self-[[banish]]ing via a [[distortion]] weapon is not an actual way out: after banishment, using the Abyssal escape portal simply returns you to the Pan level on which you were banished.
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[[File:Fiery rune.png]]The fiery rune, guarded by [[Cerebov]].
  
Warning: Since you cannot return to a specific Pandemonium floor once you've left it, you should enter Pandemonium only if you are prepared to deal with any of the four named Pandemonium lords, unless you are willing to never find the rune in question. When you enter a floor with one of the four named Pan lords, you will receive a warning that a mighty Pandemonium lord is on the level, and you must grab the rune before leaving if you don't want to miss it.
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[[File:Glowing rune.png]]The glowing rune, guarded by [[Mnoleg]].
  
==Preparation==
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[[File:Magical rune.png]]The magical rune, guarded by [[Lom Lobon]].
It is strongly recommended you bring ''at least'' the following:
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*Mutation resistance, for neqoxecs and [[Mnoleg]]
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[[File:Dark rune.png]]The dark rune, guarded by [[Gloorx Vloq]].
*Electricity resistance, for [[Lom Lobon]]
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*Cold resistance, for Lom Lobon
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==Layout==
*Maximum fire resistance, for [[Cerebov]]
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Like [[the Abyss]], Pandemonium is an infinite space containing endless opponents and loot, and you may explore it for as long as you like. However, unlike the Abyss, Pandemonium is comprised of individual, randomly generated realms, rather than an unmappable and limitless plain. Each realm is the size of an ordinary Dungeon floor, can come in a wide variety of layouts, usually contains one [[Pandemonium lord]] [[vault]], and may contain a rune of Zot. In fact, the only items guaranteed not to generate here are [[unrandart]]s; apart from the [[sword of Cerebov]], no unrand will ever generate in Pandemonium.
*Poison resistance, for [[Gloorx Vloq]]
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*Ways to heal and teleport/blink, in case you get overwhelmed
+
You may enter Pandemonium through any Pandemonium entry portal, which can generate on [[Depths]]:1-5. Traveling from one realm of Pandemonium to the next can be accomplished through a transit portal, several of which can be found on each floor. Bear in mind that once you leave a particular realm, you will ''never'' be able to return to it again, potentially resulting in the permanent loss of runes of Zot. Exiting Pandemonium can be accomplished through either an exit portal, or by instead entering a portal to [[the Abyss]]. Actual exit portals are very rare, but they most commonly show up inside of a Pandemonium lord's vault, and each Pandemonium rune you collect increases the odds of finding an exit. Abyss portals are somewhat more common, but do require you to then escape the Abyss in order to return to the Dungeon. Note that self-[[banish]]ing via a [[distortion]] weapon is not an actual way out: after banishment, using the Abyssal escape portal simply returns you to the Pandemonium realm on which you were banished.
*Enough free inventory slots for Cerebov's loot, as well as anything else cool you find during exploration
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*Optional: a method of [[dig]]ging, or you might get stuck in this: [http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/4294/4e81d9fc4ab7422fac7b819.png]
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{| class="prettytable" style="border:none; margin:auto; padding:0; text-align: center"
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! '''Entry''' || '''Transit''' || '''Exit''' || '''Abyss'''
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|-
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| [[File:Pandemonium entry.png]] || [[File:Pandemonium transit.png]] || [[File:Pandemonium exit.png]] || [[File:Abyss entry.png]]
 +
|}
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 +
Be aware that each time you travel to a new realm in Pandemonium, you will be placed at an entirely random point. There is no guarantee that another portal will be anywhere near where you enter, or that you won't be dumped in the middle of a horde of powerful demons. If your character knows any buff spells, it is a good idea to cast them before entering any portal.
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==Monsters==
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Any given realm of Pandemonium is capable of throwing almost any [[demon]] above tier-4 at you, but each realm is inhabited by only a fraction of the possible demons you can encounter. This means that you will be encountering tier-1 and -2 demons as a regular occurence; don't even consider entering Pandemonium unless you are comfortable with this. Also, there are a wide variety of [[list of demonspawn|demonspawn]] opponents here, each of which has a unique type and occupation, much like the [[list of draconians|draconians]] of [[the Realm of Zot]]. Although less of a threat than the most dangerous demons, their abilities can range from aggravating to devastating, and they tend to appear in swarms. See [[list of demonspawn|this article]] for further details.
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 +
More dangerous than the demonspawn, [[hell sentinel]]s, and [[fiend]]s, however, are the [[Pandemonium lord]]s. These are essentially randomly generated [[unique]]s, each of which has its own resistances, attack brand, and spell set. They also tend to generate along with a very large horde of demons appropriate to the floor, making it a fairly common occurrence to come across multiple sources of [[torment]], heavy elemental damage, and a powerful [[unique]] all at once. Always e[[x]]amine a Pandemonium lord before engaging it in combat, and always act carefully; there's a chance that it'll be a pushover, but it's just as likely to be one of the deadliest opponents in the game.
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==The Runes==
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Although players can conceivably acquire unlimited [[experience]] and treasure by farming Pandemonium realms endlessly, doing so serves little purpose; it is dangerous enough that most players capable of handling it already have all they need to clear the rest of the game. Searching for [[potions of mutation]] or items to open a [[treasure trove]] may be rewarding, but bear in mind that there are plenty of sources of [[bad mutations]] here as well. The main reason for anyone to enter Pandemonium is to retrieve its five runes of Zot.
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 +
====The Demonic Rune====
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While exploring random Pandemonium realms, the demonic rune of Zot will occasionally generate lying on the ground within the vault of a [[Pandemonium lord]]. This means you will always have to deal with a powerful horde of demons to get it (or at least to [[Apportation|apport]] it and run). Not all Pandemonium lords will have it in their lair though; there is an 11.1% chance that any normal vault will contain it, and a 100% chance for five particular vaults:
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*'''Hellion Island''' - A square of terrain, surrounded by lava, populated by dozens of [[hellfire]]-flinging [[hellion]]s, all led by a single Pandemonium lord. ''Extremely dangerous'': one false move and you receive 5-8 hellfire bursts. Always be wary of lava pools as an indicator of this level.
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*'''Eyes of Draining''' - Eight carefully spaced [[eyes of draining]], locked away behind [[grate]]s, will devastate your [[MP]] as you deal with a Pandemonium lord and its cohorts. The rune is locked away in a ninth cage in the center.
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*'''Smiting''' - A hallway lined with [[smoke demon]]s, locked away behind grates. These will smite you repeatedly as you deal with the horde inside.
 +
*'''Frozen Over''' - An open area filled with multiple [[blizzard demon]]s, with an [[ice statue]] in the middle sitting on top of the rune. The statue is surrounded by [[deep water]], preventing easy access. Expect heavy [[cold]], [[electricity]], and [[Airstrike]] damage.
 +
*'''[[Pandemonium#The Shining One's Fortress|The Shining One's Fortress]]''' - see the section below.
 +
 
 +
Once you have acquired the demonic rune, it will never appear again. If you fail to acquire it in a given realm before leaving, however, it will still appear in a future realm.
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 +
===Unique Realms===
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Along with the endless random realms of Pandemonium, traveling from realm to realm will eventually bring you to four unique realms, each of which is ruled over by a [[unique]] Pandemonium lord. Upon entering one of these, you will receive a message declaring whose realm you've entered. You can only enter each of these realms once per game; once you've left these realms, they are forever lost to you, taking any unclaimed runes with them. As such, it is best to delay entering Pandemonium until you are confident in your ability to take on all four challenges.
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 +
In addition to specific messages that appear in a Pandemonium realm with a unique rune, you will be prompted with the following message if you attempt to leave a unique realm before acquiring the rune, further reducing the risk of missing it:
 +
 
 +
{{crawlquote|An item of great power still resides in this realm, and once you leave you can never return. Are you sure you want to leave?}}
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 +
It is entirely possible to steal these runes without killing the unique Pandemonium lords which guard them. Clever use of fast movement speed, [[scrolls of magic mapping]], [[Lee's Rapid Deconstruction]], [[Shatter]], and [[Apportation]] can allow you to snag the rune quickly and (relatively) safely. However, be aware that the respective Pandemonium lord will reappear and chase you down on later floors, unless and until it is slain. Similarly, failure to kill a unique Pandemonium lord whose rune you've stolen will add that lord to the list of enemies which may attack you during your [[ascension]].
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 +
====The Fiery Rune: Cerebov's Realm====
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{{crawlquote|Searing heat pours from the floors and walls of this place. The mighty Pandemonium lord Cerebov resides here.}}
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 +
The fiery rune of Zot is guarded by [[Cerebov]], a powerful giant and master of [[Fire Magic]]. Its realm is primarily made up of long narrow hallways which intersect with small rectangular chambers, but roughly half of the map will consist of a massive metal fortress. Fully exploring the fortress will reveal several small treasure chambers, and killing Cerebov will reward you with the [[sword of Cerebov]]. Max out your [[fire]] resistance, and see the [[Cerebov]] article for further advice.
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 +
The following monsters are found in Cerebov's realm:
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 +
{{monsterlink|Orange demon}}.
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 +
{{monsterlink|Red devil}}.
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 +
{{monsterlink|Efreet}}.
 +
 
 +
{{monsterlink|Sun demon}}.
 +
 
 +
{{monsterlink|Balrug}}.
  
Of course, you don't necessarily have to conquer all preset levels of Pandemonium in one trip. However, when you do find yourself on a level with a demon lord, you will only have this one chance at his rune. Thus, you need to carry items and memorize spells that have the versatility to conquer any particular preset level. It bears mentioning that it isn't absolutely necessary to kill the Pan lords to obtain their runes. You can lure them away from the rune then circle back, or grab the rune with [[Apportation]] and flee.
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{{monsterlink|Brimstone fiend}}.
  
==Pandemonium Levels==
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{{monsterlink|Cerebov}}.
[[File:Pandemonium transit.png]] All gates on Pandemonium that don't lead to the Abyss or back to the Dungeon lead to "another region of Pandemonium." There are four preset floors of Pandemonium (identifiable by the table below), each containing a unique, named Pandemonium lord and his corresponding rune. Non-preset floors may have a Pandemonium lord with a random name, possibly guarding the demonic rune of Zot. The demonic rune will continually have the possibility of appearing with a Pan lord on a non-preset level, but only until you pick one up. If you do arrive at a level with a named Pan lord, you will receive the message:
 
  
 +
====The Glowing Rune: Mnoleg's Realm====
 
{{crawlquote|The air here is shimmering with an eerie glow. The mighty Pandemonium lord Mnoleg resides here.}}
 
{{crawlquote|The air here is shimmering with an eerie glow. The mighty Pandemonium lord Mnoleg resides here.}}
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 +
The glowing rune of Zot is guarded by [[Mnoleg]], a chaotic jester who delights in [[mutation|mutating]] its foes. Mnoleg's realm offers wide hallways and occasional [[door]]s, while its vault is made up of several wide diagonally crossing hallways. Apart from the rune, there is no guaranteed treasure to be found here. Breaking line of sight from monsters with [[Malmutate]] is difficult due to [[Cacodemon|Cacodemons's]] [[Dig]] spell. Bring [[Potion of mutation|potions of mutation]] to remove any particularly bad mutations and see the [[Mnoleg]] article for further advice.
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 +
The following monsters are found in Mnoleg's realm:
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{{monsterlink|Hellwing}}.
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{{monsterlink|Ugly thing}}.
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{{monsterlink|Large abomination}}.
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{{monsterlink|Tentacled monstrosity}}.
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 +
{{monsterlink|Chaos spawn}}.
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 +
{{monsterlink|Neqoxec}}.
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{{monsterlink|Cacodemon}}.
 +
 +
{{monsterlink|Mnoleg}}.
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 +
====The Magical Rune: Lom Lobon's Realm====
 
{{crawlquote|You sense a powerful magical presence. It is not pleased. The mighty Pandemonium lord Lom Lobon resides here.}}
 
{{crawlquote|You sense a powerful magical presence. It is not pleased. The mighty Pandemonium lord Lom Lobon resides here.}}
{{crawlquote|Searing heat pours from the floors and walls of this place. The mighty Pandemonium lord Cerebov resides here.}}
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The magical rune of Zot is guarded by [[Lom Lobon]], a powerful archmage demon who can inflict devastating amounts of [[electricity]] and [[cold]] damage. The realm is made up of crossing vertical and horizontal hallways and small chambers, while the rune vault is a massive green crystal structure, much of which is submerged in [[deep water]]. Both Lom Lobon and the rune reside in the large chamber in the center of this structure. Apart from the rune, there is no guaranteed treasure to be found here. Bring some [[electricity]], [[poison]], [[cold]], and [[magic resistance]], and see the [[Lom Lobon]] article for further advice.
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The following monsters are found in Lom Lobon's realm:
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{{monsterlink|Wizard (monster)}}.
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{{monsterlink|Deep elf annihilator}}.
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{{monsterlink|Draconian annihilator}}.
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{{monsterlink|Hellwing}}.
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{{monsterlink|Rakshasa}}.
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{{monsterlink|Blizzard demon}}.
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{{monsterlink|Green death}}.
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{{monsterlink|Lom Lobon}}.
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 +
====The Dark Rune: Gloorx Vloq's Realm====
 
{{crawlquote|Shadowy figures dance across your vision. The mighty Pandemonium lord Gloorx Vloq resides here.}}
 
{{crawlquote|Shadowy figures dance across your vision. The mighty Pandemonium lord Gloorx Vloq resides here.}}
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The dark rune of Zot is guarded by [[Gloorx Vloq]], a hooded demon with spectacular speed and access to all manner of devastating [[Necromancy]]. The floor is filled with open chambers and wide hallways, while Gloorx Vloq's vault is a large chamber filled with pillars, Executioners, and a back chamber containing the rune. Apart from the rune, there is no guaranteed treasure here. See the [[Gloorx Vloq]] article for further advice.
  
Floor/Wall colors of the preset levels may vary depending on the terminal palette. The palette used here is the "official" one included in the tiles version. Walls on left are for the ASCII charset, and walls on right for the Unicode charset. The walls and floors for the unique Pan lord levels are random in the tiles charset. Note that if you worship [[The Shining One]] your halo can hide the floor color except at the edges of LOS.
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The following monsters are found in Gloorx Vloq's realm:
  
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
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{{monsterlink|Demonic crawler}}.
! Unique
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! Rune
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{{monsterlink|Shadow wraith}}.
! Color
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! Floor
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{{monsterlink|Soul eater}}.
! Walls
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! Notes
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{{monsterlink|Executioner}}.
|--
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! [[Mnoleg]]
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{{monsterlink|Gloorx Vloq}}.
| glowing rune
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| style="background:black"| <code style="background:black"><span style="color:#FF3000">##</span><span style="color:#FFFF52">..</span><span style="color:#FF3000">&#x2592;&#x2592;</span></code>
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====The Shining One's Fortress====
| yellow
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[[File:PanAngels018.png|Agelic Fortress minimap]]
| dark red
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{{crawlquote|The tension of great conflict fills the air!}}
| Will try to mutate you and has lots of neqoxec buddies.
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Along with the four unique panlord realms, you may come across this realm in your travels. Populated only with [[:Category:Holy holiness|holy]] opponents, [[the Shining One]]'s Fortress contains significant amounts of treasure, three exit portals located in a corner far from where you spawn, and the demonic rune of Zot (if you haven't found it yet elsewhere). [[Undead]] and [[demonspawn]] characters should proceed with extreme caution. The rune can be found in the treasure vault at the center of the fortress, guarded by the [[seraph]] and his allies.
|--
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! [[Lom Lobon]]
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The following monsters are found in the Shining One's Fortress:
| magical rune
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| style="background:black"| <code style="background:black"><span style="color:#FFFFFF">##</span><span style="color:#A2A2A2">..</span><span style="color:#FFFFFF">&#x2592;&#x2592;</span></code>
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{{monsterlink|Angel}}
| grey
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| white
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{{monsterlink|Daeva}}
| Spellcaster with wizard buddies. Also summons ball lightnings which will hit you with electricity.
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|--
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{{monsterlink|Cherub}}
! [[Cerebov]]
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| fiery rune
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{{monsterlink|Ophan}}
| style="background:black"| <code style="background:black"><span style="color:#FF3000">##</span><span style="color:#FF3000">..</span><span style="color:#FF3000">&#x2592;&#x2592;</span></code>
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| dark red
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{{monsterlink|Apis}}
| dark red
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| Attacks with the Sword of Cerebov, negating one level of fire resistance.
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{{monsterlink|Pearl dragon}}
|--
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! [[Gloorx Vloq]]
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{{monsterlink|Seraph}}
| dark rune
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| style="background:black"| <code style="background:black"><span style="color:#525252">##</span><span style="color:#525252">..</span><span style="color:#525252">&#x2592;&#x2592;</span></code>
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====Mennas & Ignacio====
| dark grey
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Along with the endless stream of Pandemonium lords, there are also two [[unique]] non-boss enemies found here: [[Mennas]] the Voice of [[Zin]], and [[Ignacio]] the [[executioner]] of [[Makhleb]]. Mennas is a fast and competent melee fighter who has a tendency to [[silence]] everything around him (except for the resident demons, of course). Ignacio, meanwhile, is even faster and carries a well-enchanted [[executioner's axe]] of [[pain (brand)|pain]]. Either can very rarely be found wandering any of the realms of Pandemonium. If you encounter one and fail to kill it, it may still show up in later realms.
| dark grey
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| Poisons you and has Executioner buddies. Casts Dispel Undead.
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{{monsterlink|Mennas}}
|}
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 +
{{monsterlink|Ignacio}}
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 +
==Preparation==
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Due to the very diverse monster set you will face in Pandemonium, you should try to be ready for a little bit of everything before entering. The more powerful you are in every field, the better your chance of survival. That being said, it is strongly recommended you bring ''at least'' the following:
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*[[Fire]] resistance, preferably rF+++ when facing [[Cerebov]].
 +
*[[Cold]] resistance, preferably rC+++ when facing [[Lom Lobon]].
 +
*A source of [[electricity]] resistance when facing Lom Lobon.
 +
*A source of [[poison]] resistance when facing [[Gloorx Vloq]] or [[green death]]s.
 +
*Any source of [[torment]] resistance for dealing with [[fiend]]s, [[tormentor]]s, and Gloorx Vloq.
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*Some inventory space for the loot you come across.
 +
*A [[wand of digging]], or spells that destroy walls. Some exits (along with pan lord) lie just behind a rockwall.
  
Warning: it is possible to enter a new Pandemonium level next to a Pandemonium lord [http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4130/f76bbf1f92ef4dfe980a17c.png].
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Of course, you don't necessarily have to gather all five runes in a single trip. Leaving Pandemonium and then returning after you've resupplied or levelled up has no punishment, and any of the preset realms you have not yet visited will still be waiting for you when you return. Just be aware that you do not get to choose when you find any given preset realm, or even an exit.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
The named Pan lord warning message was introduced in [[0.6]]. Magic mapping and Lugonu's self-banishment functioning in Pandemonium were introduced in [[0.7]]. Before [[0.9]], there were limitless demonic runes of Zot, with the record collected being over 250.
+
In [[0.21]], the rate at which unique pandemonium floors appeared was increased.
 +
 
 +
Prior to [[0.18]], Pan did occasionally offer a [[Ziggurat]] to conquer, but no more.
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 +
Prior to [[0.17]], Pandemonium didn't spawn primarily tier 3 and above demons.
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 +
Prior to [[0.16]], Mennas could not be found in Pandemonium.
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 +
Prior to [[0.14]], Pandemonium runes carried did not increase your odds of finding an exit. Pandemonium did not feature a set of [[List_of_demonspawn|demonspawn monsters]].
  
 
Prior to [[0.10]], self-banishing via a distortion weapon was an effective way to escape, equivalent to using a portal to the Abyss.  
 
Prior to [[0.10]], self-banishing via a distortion weapon was an effective way to escape, equivalent to using a portal to the Abyss.  
 +
 +
Prior to [[0.9]], there were infinite demonic runes of Zot. The record for most collected came in at over 250.
 +
 +
Prior to [[0.7]], [[scrolls of magic mapping]] and [[Lugonu]]'s Gate yourself to the Abyss ability were both disabled in Pandemonium.
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Prior to [[0.6]], you received no warning message upon entering the realm of a unique Pandemonium lord.
  
 
[[Category:Dungeon_Branches]]
 
[[Category:Dungeon_Branches]]

Revision as of 21:05, 29 April 2019

Version 0.21: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
Pandemonium is an infinite realm of pain and suffering. While you can find a good deal of loot there, all these treasures are guarded by demons and even crueller demon lords. Many a hero, confusing confidence with megalomania, has died screaming in the barrage of torment and hellfire.

Pandemonium is endless. Portals there are found abundantly in the deeper parts of the main dungeon. Note that getting back might be more difficult.

No fewer than five runes can be found in Pandemonium:

• a fiery rune in the well-heated realm of Cerebov

• a glowing rune in the contaminated domain of Mnoleg

• a magical rune guarded by the arcane powers of Lom Lobon and his minions

• a dark rune in the shadowy abode of Gloorx Vloq

• a demonic rune, owned by a less famous lord

This gate leads to the endless halls of Pandemonium. Tales about successful lootings of these netherworlds are rare. Even the strongest and most experienced characters can die there. On the other hand, these halls contain several runes and lots of valuable items. It is much easier to get in than to get out.

Pandemonium (or Pan) is an infinite demonic realm, populated by all manner of demons and randomly littered with any kind of treasure imaginable. One of the final branches of the game to explore (and a purely optional one), it contains endless treasure and experience, and five runes of Zot:

Demonic rune 1.pngThe demonic rune, lost somewhere in the endless halls of Pandemonium.

Fiery rune.pngThe fiery rune, guarded by Cerebov.

Glowing rune.pngThe glowing rune, guarded by Mnoleg.

Magical rune.pngThe magical rune, guarded by Lom Lobon.

Dark rune.pngThe dark rune, guarded by Gloorx Vloq.

Layout

Like the Abyss, Pandemonium is an infinite space containing endless opponents and loot, and you may explore it for as long as you like. However, unlike the Abyss, Pandemonium is comprised of individual, randomly generated realms, rather than an unmappable and limitless plain. Each realm is the size of an ordinary Dungeon floor, can come in a wide variety of layouts, usually contains one Pandemonium lord vault, and may contain a rune of Zot. In fact, the only items guaranteed not to generate here are unrandarts; apart from the sword of Cerebov, no unrand will ever generate in Pandemonium.

You may enter Pandemonium through any Pandemonium entry portal, which can generate on Depths:1-5. Traveling from one realm of Pandemonium to the next can be accomplished through a transit portal, several of which can be found on each floor. Bear in mind that once you leave a particular realm, you will never be able to return to it again, potentially resulting in the permanent loss of runes of Zot. Exiting Pandemonium can be accomplished through either an exit portal, or by instead entering a portal to the Abyss. Actual exit portals are very rare, but they most commonly show up inside of a Pandemonium lord's vault, and each Pandemonium rune you collect increases the odds of finding an exit. Abyss portals are somewhat more common, but do require you to then escape the Abyss in order to return to the Dungeon. Note that self-banishing via a distortion weapon is not an actual way out: after banishment, using the Abyssal escape portal simply returns you to the Pandemonium realm on which you were banished.

Entry Transit Exit Abyss
Pandemonium entry.png Pandemonium transit.png Pandemonium exit.png Abyss entry.png

Be aware that each time you travel to a new realm in Pandemonium, you will be placed at an entirely random point. There is no guarantee that another portal will be anywhere near where you enter, or that you won't be dumped in the middle of a horde of powerful demons. If your character knows any buff spells, it is a good idea to cast them before entering any portal.

Monsters

Any given realm of Pandemonium is capable of throwing almost any demon above tier-4 at you, but each realm is inhabited by only a fraction of the possible demons you can encounter. This means that you will be encountering tier-1 and -2 demons as a regular occurence; don't even consider entering Pandemonium unless you are comfortable with this. Also, there are a wide variety of demonspawn opponents here, each of which has a unique type and occupation, much like the draconians of the Realm of Zot. Although less of a threat than the most dangerous demons, their abilities can range from aggravating to devastating, and they tend to appear in swarms. See this article for further details.

More dangerous than the demonspawn, hell sentinels, and fiends, however, are the Pandemonium lords. These are essentially randomly generated uniques, each of which has its own resistances, attack brand, and spell set. They also tend to generate along with a very large horde of demons appropriate to the floor, making it a fairly common occurrence to come across multiple sources of torment, heavy elemental damage, and a powerful unique all at once. Always examine a Pandemonium lord before engaging it in combat, and always act carefully; there's a chance that it'll be a pushover, but it's just as likely to be one of the deadliest opponents in the game.

The Runes

Although players can conceivably acquire unlimited experience and treasure by farming Pandemonium realms endlessly, doing so serves little purpose; it is dangerous enough that most players capable of handling it already have all they need to clear the rest of the game. Searching for potions of mutation or items to open a treasure trove may be rewarding, but bear in mind that there are plenty of sources of bad mutations here as well. The main reason for anyone to enter Pandemonium is to retrieve its five runes of Zot.

The Demonic Rune

While exploring random Pandemonium realms, the demonic rune of Zot will occasionally generate lying on the ground within the vault of a Pandemonium lord. This means you will always have to deal with a powerful horde of demons to get it (or at least to apport it and run). Not all Pandemonium lords will have it in their lair though; there is an 11.1% chance that any normal vault will contain it, and a 100% chance for five particular vaults:

  • Hellion Island - A square of terrain, surrounded by lava, populated by dozens of hellfire-flinging hellions, all led by a single Pandemonium lord. Extremely dangerous: one false move and you receive 5-8 hellfire bursts. Always be wary of lava pools as an indicator of this level.
  • Eyes of Draining - Eight carefully spaced eyes of draining, locked away behind grates, will devastate your MP as you deal with a Pandemonium lord and its cohorts. The rune is locked away in a ninth cage in the center.
  • Smiting - A hallway lined with smoke demons, locked away behind grates. These will smite you repeatedly as you deal with the horde inside.
  • Frozen Over - An open area filled with multiple blizzard demons, with an ice statue in the middle sitting on top of the rune. The statue is surrounded by deep water, preventing easy access. Expect heavy cold, electricity, and Airstrike damage.
  • The Shining One's Fortress - see the section below.

Once you have acquired the demonic rune, it will never appear again. If you fail to acquire it in a given realm before leaving, however, it will still appear in a future realm.

Unique Realms

Along with the endless random realms of Pandemonium, traveling from realm to realm will eventually bring you to four unique realms, each of which is ruled over by a unique Pandemonium lord. Upon entering one of these, you will receive a message declaring whose realm you've entered. You can only enter each of these realms once per game; once you've left these realms, they are forever lost to you, taking any unclaimed runes with them. As such, it is best to delay entering Pandemonium until you are confident in your ability to take on all four challenges.

In addition to specific messages that appear in a Pandemonium realm with a unique rune, you will be prompted with the following message if you attempt to leave a unique realm before acquiring the rune, further reducing the risk of missing it:

An item of great power still resides in this realm, and once you leave you can never return. Are you sure you want to leave?

It is entirely possible to steal these runes without killing the unique Pandemonium lords which guard them. Clever use of fast movement speed, scrolls of magic mapping, Lee's Rapid Deconstruction, Shatter, and Apportation can allow you to snag the rune quickly and (relatively) safely. However, be aware that the respective Pandemonium lord will reappear and chase you down on later floors, unless and until it is slain. Similarly, failure to kill a unique Pandemonium lord whose rune you've stolen will add that lord to the list of enemies which may attack you during your ascension.

The Fiery Rune: Cerebov's Realm

Searing heat pours from the floors and walls of this place. The mighty Pandemonium lord Cerebov resides here.

The fiery rune of Zot is guarded by Cerebov, a powerful giant and master of Fire Magic. Its realm is primarily made up of long narrow hallways which intersect with small rectangular chambers, but roughly half of the map will consist of a massive metal fortress. Fully exploring the fortress will reveal several small treasure chambers, and killing Cerebov will reward you with the sword of Cerebov. Max out your fire resistance, and see the Cerebov article for further advice.

The following monsters are found in Cerebov's realm:

4 Orange demon.png Orange demon.

4 Red devil.png Red devil.

R Efreet.png Efreet.

3 Sun demon.png Sun demon.

2 Balrug.png Balrug.

1 Brimstone fiend.png Brimstone fiend.

& Cerebov.png Cerebov.

The Glowing Rune: Mnoleg's Realm

The air here is shimmering with an eerie glow. The mighty Pandemonium lord Mnoleg resides here.

The glowing rune of Zot is guarded by Mnoleg, a chaotic jester who delights in mutating its foes. Mnoleg's realm offers wide hallways and occasional doors, while its vault is made up of several wide diagonally crossing hallways. Apart from the rune, there is no guaranteed treasure to be found here. Breaking line of sight from monsters with Malmutate is difficult due to Cacodemons's Dig spell. Bring potions of mutation to remove any particularly bad mutations and see the Mnoleg article for further advice.

The following monsters are found in Mnoleg's realm:

4 Hellwing.png Hellwing.

u Ugly thing.png Ugly thing.

X Large abomination.png Large abomination.

X Tentacled monstrosity.png Tentacled monstrosity.

4 Chaos spawn.png Chaos spawn.

3 Neqoxec.png Neqoxec.

2 Cacodemon.png Cacodemon.

& Mnoleg.png Mnoleg.

The Magical Rune: Lom Lobon's Realm

You sense a powerful magical presence. It is not pleased. The mighty Pandemonium lord Lom Lobon resides here.

The magical rune of Zot is guarded by Lom Lobon, a powerful archmage demon who can inflict devastating amounts of electricity and cold damage. The realm is made up of crossing vertical and horizontal hallways and small chambers, while the rune vault is a massive green crystal structure, much of which is submerged in deep water. Both Lom Lobon and the rune reside in the large chamber in the center of this structure. Apart from the rune, there is no guaranteed treasure to be found here. Bring some electricity, poison, cold, and magic resistance, and see the Lom Lobon article for further advice.

The following monsters are found in Lom Lobon's realm:

p Wizard.png Wizard (monster).

e Deep elf annihilator.png Deep elf annihilator.

q Draconian annihilator.png Draconian annihilator.

4 Hellwing.png Hellwing.

R Rakshasa.png Rakshasa.

2 Blizzard demon.png Blizzard demon.

2 Green death.png Green death.

& Lom Lobon.png Lom Lobon.

The Dark Rune: Gloorx Vloq's Realm

Shadowy figures dance across your vision. The mighty Pandemonium lord Gloorx Vloq resides here.

The dark rune of Zot is guarded by Gloorx Vloq, a hooded demon with spectacular speed and access to all manner of devastating Necromancy. The floor is filled with open chambers and wide hallways, while Gloorx Vloq's vault is a large chamber filled with pillars, Executioners, and a back chamber containing the rune. Apart from the rune, there is no guaranteed treasure here. See the Gloorx Vloq article for further advice.

The following monsters are found in Gloorx Vloq's realm:

s Demonic crawler.png Demonic crawler.

W Shadow wraith.png Shadow wraith.

3 Soul eater.png Soul eater.

1 Executioner.png Executioner.

& Gloorx Vloq.png Gloorx Vloq.

The Shining One's Fortress

Agelic Fortress minimap

The tension of great conflict fills the air!

Along with the four unique panlord realms, you may come across this realm in your travels. Populated only with holy opponents, the Shining One's Fortress contains significant amounts of treasure, three exit portals located in a corner far from where you spawn, and the demonic rune of Zot (if you haven't found it yet elsewhere). Undead and demonspawn characters should proceed with extreme caution. The rune can be found in the treasure vault at the center of the fortress, guarded by the seraph and his allies.

The following monsters are found in the Shining One's Fortress:

A Angel.png Angel

A Daeva.png Daeva

A Cherub.png Cherub

G Ophan.png Ophan

Y Apis.png Apis

D Pearl dragon.png Pearl dragon

A Seraph.png Seraph

Mennas & Ignacio

Along with the endless stream of Pandemonium lords, there are also two unique non-boss enemies found here: Mennas the Voice of Zin, and Ignacio the executioner of Makhleb. Mennas is a fast and competent melee fighter who has a tendency to silence everything around him (except for the resident demons, of course). Ignacio, meanwhile, is even faster and carries a well-enchanted executioner's axe of pain. Either can very rarely be found wandering any of the realms of Pandemonium. If you encounter one and fail to kill it, it may still show up in later realms.

A Mennas.png Mennas

1 Ignacio.png Ignacio

Preparation

Due to the very diverse monster set you will face in Pandemonium, you should try to be ready for a little bit of everything before entering. The more powerful you are in every field, the better your chance of survival. That being said, it is strongly recommended you bring at least the following:

Of course, you don't necessarily have to gather all five runes in a single trip. Leaving Pandemonium and then returning after you've resupplied or levelled up has no punishment, and any of the preset realms you have not yet visited will still be waiting for you when you return. Just be aware that you do not get to choose when you find any given preset realm, or even an exit.

History

In 0.21, the rate at which unique pandemonium floors appeared was increased.

Prior to 0.18, Pan did occasionally offer a Ziggurat to conquer, but no more.

Prior to 0.17, Pandemonium didn't spawn primarily tier 3 and above demons.

Prior to 0.16, Mennas could not be found in Pandemonium.

Prior to 0.14, Pandemonium runes carried did not increase your odds of finding an exit. Pandemonium did not feature a set of demonspawn monsters.

Prior to 0.10, self-banishing via a distortion weapon was an effective way to escape, equivalent to using a portal to the Abyss.

Prior to 0.9, there were infinite demonic runes of Zot. The record for most collected came in at over 250.

Prior to 0.7, scrolls of magic mapping and Lugonu's Gate yourself to the Abyss ability were both disabled in Pandemonium.

Prior to 0.6, you received no warning message upon entering the realm of a unique Pandemonium lord.