Difference between revisions of "Aligned priest"

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{{otheruses|the monster|the role|Priest}}
 
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{{religion}}
 
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{{otheruses|the monster|the role|Priest}}
 
  
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'''Aligned priest[esse]s''', {{monsym|aligned_priest}}, tend the [[temple]]s of [[NetHack]]. They always appear as "priest[ess] of ([[deity]])". Priests tending temples are always [[peaceful]] (except for the [[high priest]] of [[Moloch]]); however several priests of Moloch appear in [[Moloch's Sanctum]] and several assorted hostile priests appear on the [[Astral Plane]].
+
The '''aligned priest''' and '''aligned priestess''', {{monsym|aligned_priest}}, are a type of [[monster]] that appear in ''[[NetHack]]''. They are servants of the [[god]]s that tend to their [[temple]]s, and are always referred to as "priest[ess] of <deity>".
 +
 
 +
An aligned priest has a strong weapon attack, a kick attack and will attempt to cast clerical [[monster spell]]s once per round of combat. Aligned priests have [[shock resistance]].
 +
 
 +
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Aligned priests are referred to as '''aligned clerics'''.}}
 +
 
 +
==Generation==
 +
Priests tending to temples are always generated [[peaceful]], and will always appear near the altar within their temples outside of [[bones]] files. Several hostile priests may appear in the locate level of the [[Priest]]'s [[quest]], and several assorted hostile priests are also generated on the [[Astral Plane]]; [[co-aligned]] hostile priests that generate this way are described as "renegade". Aligned priests can [[grow up]] into [[high priest]]s.{{refsrc|src/mondata.c|1008|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 +
 
 +
Aligned priests cannot be fully [[revive]]d in any way: using a revival methods on an aligned priest's corpse or [[stone-to-flesh]]ing a statue merely produces a [[human zombie]].{{refsrc|src/read.c|2418|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
  
−
Interestingly, aligned priests can [[grow up]] into [[high priest]]s.{{refsrc|mondata.c|962|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}
+
===Occurrence of temples with priests===
 +
{{main|Temple}}
 +
Every [[Minetown]] variant (with the exception of Orc Town) has a temple of a random alignment, and the [[Valley of the Dead]] has a temple of [[Moloch]]. There are also guaranteed temples with accompanying priests on locate level of the [[Knight quest]] (neutral), the locate level of the [[Priest quest]] (unaligned), and the home level of the [[Caveman quest]] (co-aligned).
  
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==Inventory==
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===Starting inventory===
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Aligned priests are [[Monster starting inventory|generated with]] a [[mace]], [[small shield]], 20-29 [[zorkmid]]s, 2-4 [[spellbook]]s, and with one of [[robe]] (6/7 chance), [[cloak of protection]] (2/21 chance), or [[cloak of magic resistance]] (1/21 chance).
+
Aligned priests are [[Monster starting inventory|always generated with]] a [[mace]] of an [[enchantment]] from +1 to +3, which has a {{frac|2}} chance to be made cursed.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|261|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} [[small shield]], 20&ndash;29 [[zorkmid]]s, and one of the following cloaks: a {{frac|6|7}} chance of a [[robe]], a {{frac|2|21}} chance of a [[cloak of protection]], and a {{frac|21}} chance of a [[cloak of magic resistance]].{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|689|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} Aligned priests generated within a temple additionally receive 2&ndash;4 [[spellbook]]s, and their cloaks are [[non-cursed]] if the temple is [[co-aligned]] with you, or cursed otherwise.{{refsrc|src/priest.c|259|nethack=3.6.7}}
  
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==Occurrence of temples with priests==
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==Donations==
−
{{main|Special room#Temples}}
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If you #[[chat]] to a temple's priest, you can donate gold for a variety of effects. If you have no gold in open inventory and are co-aligned, the priest will "give you two bits for an ale" (two [[zorkmid]]s) if they have any gold, or one bit if they only have that; they will "preach the virtues of poverty" if they have no gold. If you are cross-aligned, they will ignore you.
−
Besides random generation, there are two levels which always generate temples: [[Minetown]] has a temple of a random alignment, and the [[Valley of the Dead]] has a temple of [[Moloch]]. Depending on your [[role]], there may also be a temple in your [[Quest]]. However, as these levels are eligible to leave bones files (and the temple in [[Mine Town#Orcish Town|Orcish Town]] is abandoned), it is possible not to find a peaceful aligned priest in a given game. If the temple in Minetown bones file has been converted, the priest may be peaceful, and wandering about the level. However, #[[chat]]ting to a wandering priest makes one hostile; see the discussion of chatting below.
 
  
−
==Chatting to a priest==
+
If you are carrying gold in open inventory, the priest will prompt you for a contribution to the temple, with the accompanying effect depending on the amount of gold you offer:{{reffunc|priest.c|priest_talk}}
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If you #[[chat]] to a priest, a variety of effects can result. If you have no gold in open inventory and are co-aligned, one will "give you two bits for an ale" (two [[zorkmid]]s) if one has at least two gold (or one bit if exactly one gold), and will "preach the virtues of poverty" if one has no gold; if you are cross-aligned, one will ignore you. If you are carrying gold in open inventory, one will prompt you for a contribution to the temple; depending on the amount of gold you offer one of several events will happen:{{reffunc|priest.c|priest_talk}}
 
 
{|style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0; width: 44em;" class="prettytable"
 
{|style="border:none; margin:0; padding:0; width: 44em;" class="prettytable"
 
!Offer
 
!Offer
 
!Effect
 
!Effect
 
|-
 
|-
−
|0 or lesser
+
|0 or less
−
|If the priest is [[co-aligned]], you lose one alignment point.
+
|If the priest is [[co-aligned]], you lose one [[alignment record|alignment point]].
  
 
''"Thou shalt regret thine action!"''
 
''"Thou shalt regret thine action!"''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Positive but less than 200 times current [[experience level]]
 
|Positive but less than 200 times current [[experience level]]
−
|If this is less than half your visible gold, nothing happens.
+
|If this is less than one third of your visible gold (before donation), nothing happens.
  
 
''"Cheapskate."''
 
''"Cheapskate."''
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|''"Thou art indeed a pious individual."''
 
|''"Thou art indeed a pious individual."''
  
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If this is more than half your visible gold, you are granted 500-999 (more) turns of [[clairvoyance]]. If additionally the priest is coaligned and you have sinned or worse, you gain one point of alignment.
+
If this is more than one third of your visible gold, you are granted 500&ndash;999 (more) turns of [[clairvoyance]]. If additionally the priest is coaligned and you have sinned or worse, you gain one point of alignment.
  
 
''"I bestow upon thee a blessing."''
 
''"I bestow upon thee a blessing."''
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|At least 400 but less than 600 times current [[experience level]]
 
|At least 400 but less than 600 times current [[experience level]]
 
|
 
|
−
If you have never bought [[intrinsic protection]], earn 2-4 points of protection. Otherwise if you have less than 9 protection, or less than 20 with a 1-in-current-protection chance, earn an additional point of protection; if not, fall through to next case. Note that these limits make no distinction between protection bought and protection granted as a [[prayer|favor]]. (This is the preferred way to obtain protection.) <!--Repeat this because newbies keep asking it-->For clarity: you can buy protection at any temple with a peaceful priest, be it to your god, a rival god, or to Moloch, but not at a desecrated temple.
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If you have never bought [[intrinsic protection]], earn 2&ndash;4 points of protection. Otherwise if you have less than 9 protection, or less than 20 with a 1-in-current-protection chance, earn an additional point of protection; if not, fall through to next case. Note that these limits make no distinction between protection bought and protection granted as a [[prayer|favor]]. (This is the preferred way to obtain protection.) <!--Repeat this because newbies keep asking it-->This can be done with a peaceful priest at a temple to any god, so long as it is not desecrated. (See also the article on [[protection racket]]s.)
  
 
''"Thy devotion has been rewarded."''
 
''"Thy devotion has been rewarded."''
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|''"Thy selfless generosity is deeply appreciated."''
 
|''"Thy selfless generosity is deeply appreciated."''
  
−
If this is more than half your gold and the temple is co-aligned:
+
If this is more than one third of your visible gold and the temple is co-aligned:
−
* If you have not performed this action in the last 5000 turns, and your alignment is lesser than 0, it is reset to 0
+
* If you have not performed this action in the last 5000 turns, and your alignment is less than 0, it is reset to 0.
 
* Otherwise, you gain 2 alignment points.
 
* Otherwise, you gain 2 alignment points.
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
However, in the following cases the effects described above shall not happen:
+
===Hostile priests===
 +
A hostile priest cannot be used for services, and there are several circumstances under which an otherwise peaceful priest will become hostile:
  
−
If a priest is hostile, it is useless to chat to one.
+
* If a priest is not in their temple or the temple has been desecrated, #chatting to the priest will make them hostile. This primarily occurs with temple priests in bones files and peaceful co-aligned priests on the Astral Plane; a temple's priest will become hostile if you have desecrated the temple yourself, even if you reconvert the temple's [[altar]] to the priest's religion and pacify them.
  
−
If a priest is not in one's temple or the temple has been desecrated, #chatting to the priest makes whom hostile. The message you get when entering the [[temple]] indicates the state of affairs. This usually applies only to priests in bones files and the peaceful coaligned priests on the [[Astral Plane]], as the priest will already be hostile if you have desecrated the temple yourself. Even if you reconvert the temple's altar to the priest's religion and pacify whom, who still gets angry on chatting.
+
* If the priest is sleeping or cannot move, #chatting to the priest wakes them up from sleep or paralysis and makes them hostile.
  
−
If the priest is sleeping or cannot move, #chatting to the priest wakes whom up from sleep or paralysis and again makes whom hostile.
+
* Chatting to a scared priest (e.g. you are standing on a [[scroll of scare monster]]) will also make them hostile.
  
−
Also, chatting to a scared priest (e.g. you are standing on scroll of scare monster) also make one hostile. Note that a scroll of scare monster can not save you from one's attack.
+
==Strategy==
 +
Despite lacking in armor, aligned priests are deceptively strong with their weapon attack and an arsenal of highly dangerous clerical spells - this includes the ability to [[confuse]], [[blind]] or even [[paralyze]] an unfortunate player, as well as [[Summon insects|swarming them with insects]]. Accidentally angering a peaceful priest may be a game-ending mistake, especially since a scroll of scare monster cannot save you from their attack. Furthermore, since aligned priests cannot be "properly" revived, be sure to keep any strong pets away and not activate [[conflict]] anywhere near the priest if you want to obtain their services.
  
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==Killing a temple priest safely==
+
As the earliest a hostile priest can possibly generate is the locate level of the [[Priest quest]], the player should ideally have at least one means to address some of the status spells (e.g. a [[unicorn horn]]) by then, as well as [[poison resistance]] to avoid dying at the hands of [[Team Ant]] and the other {{mcsl|a}} they create. A source of [[magic resistance]] or a [[ring of free action]] is one of the better options to have, as even an otherwise-capable player character can be decimated if the priest paralyzes them at a bad time.
−
Attempting to convert the [[temple|temple's]] [[altar]] angers the priest. Directly attacking a peaceful priest is a bad idea, as one's god will strike you with lightning; however, the bolt can be deflected if you have [[reflection]]. Thus, one of the better ways is to let your pet kill the priest, if who's powerful enough.
 
  
−
A good way to convert a temple is to get a [[scroll of earth]].  Two are guaranteed to be generated on the first level of [[Sokoban]]): get reflection (also possibly from Sokoban), stand in the temple so that the priest(ess) is not adjacent to you, then read the scroll. Optionally, push the boulders to confine the priest to one particular square. Engrave or burn an [[Elbereth]] on your fighting spot to protect you from the [[Summon insects|summoned ants]]. Now you can [[blind]] yourself (be sure to have [[telepathy]]) and [[zap]] or [[fire]] things at the priest without the risk of being paralyzed or getting hit with the mace. You still get the god's lightning strikes! If you lack reflection and shock resistance, but have a [[ray]] attack, you might want to bring the temple's walls between you and the altar, and use bounces instead. Once the priest is killed, you can start sacrificing. If you are playing a [[chaotic]] human, you should try to #[[offer]] the priest's corpse, since it will have a 100% chance of converting the altar.
+
One of the quickest ways to deal with a hostile priest is to [[petrify]] them with a [[wield]]ed [[cockatrice]] corpse. A strong pet can also aid in killing the priest, but can just as easily be killed by a powerful swing from their mace unless the pet has good AC and/or HP.
  
−
Alternatively, you can petrify the priest with a [[wield]]ed [[cockatrice]] corpse.
+
===Killing a temple priest safely===
 +
For those looking to convert a temple's altar, in addition to the above information, there are a few major obstacles:
  
−
Still another way is to poison the priest with a [[stinking cloud]]. Be careful, you need to see the center spot, but you want shelter from the god's lightning, which may originate from positions other than the altar.{{reffunc|priest.c|ghod_hitsu}}
+
#Directly attacking a priest is a [[Bad Idea]], as their god will strike you with lightning (which can be deflected if you have [[reflection]]).
 +
#Attempting to convert the temple's altar will anger the priest.
 +
#Killing a priest that was initially peaceful carries the standard [[Luck]] and alignment penalty for [[murder]].
  
−
If you wish to kill a priest yourself and avoid the penalty for [[murder]], polymorphing the priest to a non-human lets you do so, though whose god will still strike you with lightning.
+
A good way to convert a temple is to use a [[scroll of earth]] (which can be obtained from [[Sokoban]]); you will also need a form of reflection (which ''can'' also be found in Sokoban). Stand in the temple so that the priest is not adjacent to you, then read the scroll; optionally, push the boulders to confine the priest to one particular square. Then, drop a [[scroll of scare monster]] on your fighting spot to protect you from any summoned ants.
  
−
Killing a co-aligned priest does not give you a [[Luck]] penalty beyond that imposed for [[murder]], but it removes all your [[protection]]. But that's generally a [[bad idea]] anyway. A better approach is to [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/bb2908af1355815f/6b171b7823ef7245?lnk=gst&q=priest#6b171b7823ef7245 trap one]. (Just make sure one can see you; mummy wrapping if need be shall do fine.) Killing an aligned priest who is not coaligned with you does not remove your intrinsic [[protection]].
+
Now you can [[blind]] yourself and [[zap]] or [[Firing|fire]] things at the priest without the risk of being paralyzed or getting hit with the mace; be sure to have [[telepathy]] so you can aim properly, and remember to have reflection for the god's lightning strikes! If you lack reflection and/or [[shock resistance]], but have a [[ray]] attack, you might want to bounce them off the temple's walls towards the priest from outside instead - keeping the walls between you and the altar will help avoid the lightning.{{reffunc|priest.c|ghod_hitsu}} Once the priest is killed, you can start sacrificing. If you are playing a [[chaotic]] human, you should try to #[[offer]] the priest's corpse, since it will have a 100% chance of converting the altar.
  
−
Aligned priests cannot be fully revived in any way: zapping [[turn undead]] at an aligned priest corpse merely produces a [[human zombie]],{{refsrc|read.c|2321|version=NetHack 3.6.0}} while casting [[stone-to-flesh]] on a statue of one produces a generic "aligned priest" who only gets angry when #chatted to. Therefore, if you want [[protection]], be sure to lock any strong pets away and not be causing [[conflict]].
+
If you wish to kill a temple's priest yourself and avoid the penalty for murder, polymorphing the priest into a non-human is an option, although it is quite risky - their god will still strike you with lightning, and their decent [[Magic resistance (monster)|monster magic resistance]] may foul the attempt and simply leave you with an angry priest. Also note that you will lose any protection obtained from donations if you directly murder a co-aligned priest.
  
−
==Trapping an aligned priest with boulders==
+
Still another way is to poison the priest with a [[scroll of stinking cloud]] - the rub is that you need to be able to see the center spot you are targeting the cloud on, but you will also want shelter from the god's lightning, which may originate from positions other than the altar.{{reffunc|priest.c|ghod_hitsu}}
−
You can trap a temple priest with a [[scroll of earth]] as follows.<ref>According to RGRN postings [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/bb2908af1355815f/6b171b7823ef7245?lnk=gst&q=priest#6b171b7823ef7245 RGRN Priest trapping thread]</ref> This lets you convert the [[altar]] safely without committing [[murder]] or dealing with lightning strikes. Beware if a dwarf or other digging monster frees the priest, but one will usually stay inside the temple area including the diggable walls. You can read a [[Confusion|confused]] [[Scroll of taming|scroll of taming]] for a chance of [[pacify|pacifying]] the priest (still behind the boulder) after converting the altar, or you can cast {{spell of|sleep}} at whom to make it safe to approach and [[spellbook of charm monster|charm]] whom. You can't [[Intrinsic protection|buy protection]] from that priest after you convert the altar: chatting with whom merely angers him.
 
  
−
To understand why the step-by-step instructions work, keep in mind a priest (still tending an altar) will
+
===Trapping an aligned priest with boulders===
−
# pick a random spot on a 3x3 grid centered on the altar, and try to move there, and will
+
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|As of {{commit|200cc21fb3a31452c4448fa835ca595fcabfc488|commit 200cc21}}, priests gain the ability to break boulders that block their path, and can no longer be trapped.}}
−
# not move into your [[line of fire]] unless one is already in it.
 
−
The last part is how you steer the priest around.
 
  
−
Step onto the altar.
+
In some temples, depending on the temple size and the location of the altar, you can trap a temple priest using a scroll of earth, so you can convert the altar safely without committing murder or dealing with lightning strikes<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/bb2908af1355815f/6b171b7823ef7245?lnk=gst&q=priest#6b171b7823ef7245 RGRN Priest trapping thread]</ref>. The priest needs to see you, so wear a [[mummy wrapping]] if you are invisible. Beware that a dwarf or other digging monster may free the priest, though the priest will usually stay inside the temple area including the diggable walls.
 +
 
 +
Once you have converted the altar, you can read a [[confused]] [[scroll of taming]] for a chance of [[pacify]]ing the priest (still behind the boulders) after converting the altar, or you can cast {{spell of|sleep}} at them to make it safe to approach and [[spellbook of charm monster|charm]] them. Remember that you cannot buy protection from that priest afterward, as chatting with them will merely anger them.
 +
 
 +
To understand why these step-by-step instructions work, keep in mind that a priest tending to an altar moves according to two rules:
 +
# When the priest wants to move, they will pick a random adjacent spot on a 3×3 grid centered on the altar.
 +
# A priest will not move into your [[line of fire]] unless they are already in it.
 +
By taking advantage of the second rule, you can try to steer the priest around.
 +
 
 +
====Step 1====
 +
To trap the priest, first step onto the altar. (In the images below, you are green and the priest is white.)
 
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 
<replacecharsblock>
 
<replacecharsblock>
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</div>
 
</div>
  
−
Step off and wait for priest to go to the x.
+
====Step 2====
 +
Pick a spot where you want to priest to go two spaces from the altar, marked with an x below. Wait on the altar by pressing '.' until the priest moves to a spot one diagonal step from the x. Then step off the altar onto a spot a knight's move away from both the x and from the priest.
 
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 
<replacecharsblock>
 
<replacecharsblock>
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</replacecharsblock>
 
</replacecharsblock>
 
</div>
 
</div>
−
Move onto the altar. If the priest stays put then read an uncursed or preferably blessed [[scroll of earth]]. Otherwise, start over.
+
====Step 3====
 +
Wait until the priest moves to the x. If they move somewhere else, start over with step 1. With the priest on the x, move back onto the altar. If the priest doesn't move, then read an uncursed (or preferably blessed) [[scroll of earth]]. Otherwise, start over with step 1.
 
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 
<replacecharsblock>
 
<replacecharsblock>
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</div>
 
</div>
  
−
Move boulders here and here.
+
====Step 4====
 +
Now you probably want to trap the priest in a corner. Move the boulder as shown in the left image, and then as shown in the right image.
 
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 
<replacecharsblock>
 
<replacecharsblock>
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newline=<br>
 
newline=<br>
  
−
-+----  -+----
+
-+----
−
|..`.|  |..`.|
+
|..`.|
−
|.`@^`|  |`@^.`|
+
|.`@^`|
−
|@`_`|  |@`_`|
+
|@`_`|
−
|.```|  |.```|
+
|.```|
−
------  ------
+
------
 
</replacecharsblock>
 
</replacecharsblock>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
−
Then, when the priest moves back, here and here. Priest is now trapped.
 
 
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 
<replacecharsblock>
 
<replacecharsblock>
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newline=<br>
 
newline=<br>
  
−
-+----  -+----
+
-+----
−
|@^.`.|  |..`.|
+
|..`.|
−
|`..`|  |@^..`|
+
|`@^.`|
−
|.`_`|  |``_`|
+
|@`_`|
−
|@```|  |@```|
+
|.```|
−
------  ------
+
------
 
</replacecharsblock>
 
</replacecharsblock>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
−
==SLASH'EM==
+
====Step 5====
−
In [[SLASH'EM]], it is not possible to buy protection at a priest of [[Moloch]].
+
Then, wait until the priest moves away from you. Then move as shown in the left image, and then push the boulder as shown in the right image. The priest is now trapped.
 +
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 +
<replacecharsblock>
 +
@={{white|@}}
 +
@^={{green|@}}
 +
`={{lightgray|0}}
 +
|={{lightgray|&#124;}}
 +
_=[[altar|{{lightgray|_}}]]
 +
bar=[[foo|{{yellow|foo}}]]
 +
default={{lightgray|$1}}
 +
newline=<br>
  
−
The [[Lawful Quest]] contains a coaligned priest in a room with a coaligned altar, but it is not a temple. #Chatting with one is a [[Bad Idea]], as it makes one hostile.
+
-+----
 +
|@^.`.|
 +
|`..`|
 +
|.`_`|
 +
|@```|
 +
------
 +
</replacecharsblock>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
<div class='ttyscreen'>
 +
<replacecharsblock>
 +
@={{white|@}}
 +
@^={{green|@}}
 +
`={{lightgray|0}}
 +
|={{lightgray|&#124;}}
 +
_=[[altar|{{lightgray|_}}]]
 +
bar=[[foo|{{yellow|foo}}]]
 +
default={{lightgray|$1}}
 +
newline=<br>
 +
 
 +
-+----
 +
|..`.|
 +
|@^..`|
 +
|``_`|
 +
|@```|
 +
------
 +
</replacecharsblock>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
You may be able to use this method in larger temples if you first place walls of boulders two or three steps from the altar, with additional scrolls of earth.
 +
 
 +
==Variants==
 +
===SLASH'EM===
 +
In [[SLASH'EM]], it is not possible to buy protection from a priest of [[Moloch]].
 +
 
 +
The [[Lawful Quest]] contains a coaligned priest in a room with a coaligned altar, but it is ''not'' a temple - this is a trap designed to trick you into chatting with the priest, which will make them hostile.
 +
 
 +
===SpliceHack===
 +
In [[SpliceHack]], donating an amount greater than (but ''not'' equal to) 900 times your experience level will teach you the [[blessing (technique)|blessing]] [[technique]] if you do not already know it.
  
 
==Encyclopaedia entry==
 
==Encyclopaedia entry==
 
{{encyclopedia|
 
{{encyclopedia|
−
[...]  For the two priests were talking exactly like priests,
+
[...]  For the two priests were talking exactly like priests, piously, with learning and leisure, about the most aerial enigmas of theology.  The little Essex priest spoke the more simply, with his round face turned to the strengthening stars; the other talked with his head bowed, as if he were not even worthy to look at them.  But no more innocently clerical conversation could have been heard in any white Italian cloister or black Spanish cathedral.  The first he heard was the tail of one of Father Brown's sentences, which ended:  "... what they really meant in the Middle Ages by the heavens being incorruptible."  The taller priest nodded his bowed head and said:  "Ah, yes, these modern infidels appeal to their reason; but who can look at those millions of worlds and not feel that there may well be wonderful universes above us where reason is utterly unreasonable?"
−
piously, with learning and leisure, about the most aerial
 
−
enigmas of theology.  The little Essex priest spoke the more
 
−
simply, with his round face turned to the strengthening stars;
 
−
the other talked with his head bowed, as if he were not even
 
−
worthy to look at them.  But no more innocently clerical
 
−
conversation could have been heard in any white Italian cloister
 
−
or black Spanish cathedral.  The first he heard was the tail of
 
−
one of Father Brown's sentences, which ended:  "... what they
 
−
really meant in the Middle Ages by the heavens being
 
−
incorruptible."  The taller priest nodded his bowed head and
 
−
said:  "Ah, yes, these modern infidels appeal to their reason;
 
−
but who can look at those millions of worlds and not feel that
 
−
there may well be wonderful universes above us where reason is
 
−
utterly unreasonable?"
 
 
|[ The Innocence of Father Brown, by G.K. Chesterton ]
 
|[ The Innocence of Father Brown, by G.K. Chesterton ]
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
<references />
+
<references/>
−
 
+
{{nethack-367}}
−
{{nethack-360}}
 
 
[[Category:Monsters]]
 
[[Category:Monsters]]

Latest revision as of 21:03, 21 February 2024

This article is about the monster. For the role, see Priest.
@ aligned priest Aligned priest.png
Difficulty 15
Attacks

Weapon 4d10, kick 1d4, spell-casting (clerical)

Base level 12
Base experience 294
Speed 12
Base AC 10
Base MR 50
Alignment 0 (neutral)
Frequency (by normal means) 0 (Not randomly generated)
Genocidable No
Weight 1450
Nutritional value 400
Size Human
Resistances Shock
Resistances conveyed

None

An aligned priest:

Reference monst.c#line2213
Religion in NetHack


The aligned priest and aligned priestess, @, are a type of monster that appear in NetHack. They are servants of the gods that tend to their temples, and are always referred to as "priest[ess] of <deity>".

An aligned priest has a strong weapon attack, a kick attack and will attempt to cast clerical monster spells once per round of combat. Aligned priests have shock resistance.

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

Aligned priests are referred to as aligned clerics.

Generation

Priests tending to temples are always generated peaceful, and will always appear near the altar within their temples outside of bones files. Several hostile priests may appear in the locate level of the Priest's quest, and several assorted hostile priests are also generated on the Astral Plane; co-aligned hostile priests that generate this way are described as "renegade". Aligned priests can grow up into high priests.[1]

Aligned priests cannot be fully revived in any way: using a revival methods on an aligned priest's corpse or stone-to-fleshing a statue merely produces a human zombie.[2]

Occurrence of temples with priests

Main article: Temple

Every Minetown variant (with the exception of Orc Town) has a temple of a random alignment, and the Valley of the Dead has a temple of Moloch. There are also guaranteed temples with accompanying priests on locate level of the Knight quest (neutral), the locate level of the Priest quest (unaligned), and the home level of the Caveman quest (co-aligned).

Starting inventory

Aligned priests are always generated with a mace of an enchantment from +1 to +3, which has a 1⁄2 chance to be made cursed.[3] small shield, 20–29 zorkmids, and one of the following cloaks: a 6⁄7 chance of a robe, a 2⁄21 chance of a cloak of protection, and a 1⁄21 chance of a cloak of magic resistance.[4] Aligned priests generated within a temple additionally receive 2–4 spellbooks, and their cloaks are non-cursed if the temple is co-aligned with you, or cursed otherwise.[5]

Donations

If you #chat to a temple's priest, you can donate gold for a variety of effects. If you have no gold in open inventory and are co-aligned, the priest will "give you two bits for an ale" (two zorkmids) if they have any gold, or one bit if they only have that; they will "preach the virtues of poverty" if they have no gold. If you are cross-aligned, they will ignore you.

If you are carrying gold in open inventory, the priest will prompt you for a contribution to the temple, with the accompanying effect depending on the amount of gold you offer:[6]

Offer Effect
0 or less If the priest is co-aligned, you lose one alignment point.

"Thou shalt regret thine action!"

Positive but less than 200 times current experience level If this is less than one third of your visible gold (before donation), nothing happens.

"Cheapskate."

Otherwise, exercises wisdom.

"I thank thee for thy contribution."

At least 200 but less than 400 times current experience level "Thou art indeed a pious individual."

If this is more than one third of your visible gold, you are granted 500–999 (more) turns of clairvoyance. If additionally the priest is coaligned and you have sinned or worse, you gain one point of alignment.

"I bestow upon thee a blessing."

At least 400 but less than 600 times current experience level

If you have never bought intrinsic protection, earn 2–4 points of protection. Otherwise if you have less than 9 protection, or less than 20 with a 1-in-current-protection chance, earn an additional point of protection; if not, fall through to next case. Note that these limits make no distinction between protection bought and protection granted as a favor. (This is the preferred way to obtain protection.) This can be done with a peaceful priest at a temple to any god, so long as it is not desecrated. (See also the article on protection rackets.)

"Thy devotion has been rewarded."

At least 600 times current experience level "Thy selfless generosity is deeply appreciated."

If this is more than one third of your visible gold and the temple is co-aligned:

  • If you have not performed this action in the last 5000 turns, and your alignment is less than 0, it is reset to 0.
  • Otherwise, you gain 2 alignment points.

Hostile priests

A hostile priest cannot be used for services, and there are several circumstances under which an otherwise peaceful priest will become hostile:

  • If a priest is not in their temple or the temple has been desecrated, #chatting to the priest will make them hostile. This primarily occurs with temple priests in bones files and peaceful co-aligned priests on the Astral Plane; a temple's priest will become hostile if you have desecrated the temple yourself, even if you reconvert the temple's altar to the priest's religion and pacify them.
  • If the priest is sleeping or cannot move, #chatting to the priest wakes them up from sleep or paralysis and makes them hostile.

Strategy

Despite lacking in armor, aligned priests are deceptively strong with their weapon attack and an arsenal of highly dangerous clerical spells - this includes the ability to confuse, blind or even paralyze an unfortunate player, as well as swarming them with insects. Accidentally angering a peaceful priest may be a game-ending mistake, especially since a scroll of scare monster cannot save you from their attack. Furthermore, since aligned priests cannot be "properly" revived, be sure to keep any strong pets away and not activate conflict anywhere near the priest if you want to obtain their services.

As the earliest a hostile priest can possibly generate is the locate level of the Priest quest, the player should ideally have at least one means to address some of the status spells (e.g. a unicorn horn) by then, as well as poison resistance to avoid dying at the hands of Team Ant and the other a they create. A source of magic resistance or a ring of free action is one of the better options to have, as even an otherwise-capable player character can be decimated if the priest paralyzes them at a bad time.

One of the quickest ways to deal with a hostile priest is to petrify them with a wielded cockatrice corpse. A strong pet can also aid in killing the priest, but can just as easily be killed by a powerful swing from their mace unless the pet has good AC and/or HP.

Killing a temple priest safely

For those looking to convert a temple's altar, in addition to the above information, there are a few major obstacles:

  1. Directly attacking a priest is a Bad Idea, as their god will strike you with lightning (which can be deflected if you have reflection).
  2. Attempting to convert the temple's altar will anger the priest.
  3. Killing a priest that was initially peaceful carries the standard Luck and alignment penalty for murder.

A good way to convert a temple is to use a scroll of earth (which can be obtained from Sokoban); you will also need a form of reflection (which can also be found in Sokoban). Stand in the temple so that the priest is not adjacent to you, then read the scroll; optionally, push the boulders to confine the priest to one particular square. Then, drop a scroll of scare monster on your fighting spot to protect you from any summoned ants.

Now you can blind yourself and zap or fire things at the priest without the risk of being paralyzed or getting hit with the mace; be sure to have telepathy so you can aim properly, and remember to have reflection for the god's lightning strikes! If you lack reflection and/or shock resistance, but have a ray attack, you might want to bounce them off the temple's walls towards the priest from outside instead - keeping the walls between you and the altar will help avoid the lightning.[7] Once the priest is killed, you can start sacrificing. If you are playing a chaotic human, you should try to #offer the priest's corpse, since it will have a 100% chance of converting the altar.

If you wish to kill a temple's priest yourself and avoid the penalty for murder, polymorphing the priest into a non-human is an option, although it is quite risky - their god will still strike you with lightning, and their decent monster magic resistance may foul the attempt and simply leave you with an angry priest. Also note that you will lose any protection obtained from donations if you directly murder a co-aligned priest.

Still another way is to poison the priest with a scroll of stinking cloud - the rub is that you need to be able to see the center spot you are targeting the cloud on, but you will also want shelter from the god's lightning, which may originate from positions other than the altar.[8]

Trapping an aligned priest with boulders

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

As of commit 200cc21, priests gain the ability to break boulders that block their path, and can no longer be trapped.

In some temples, depending on the temple size and the location of the altar, you can trap a temple priest using a scroll of earth, so you can convert the altar safely without committing murder or dealing with lightning strikes[9]. The priest needs to see you, so wear a mummy wrapping if you are invisible. Beware that a dwarf or other digging monster may free the priest, though the priest will usually stay inside the temple area including the diggable walls.

Once you have converted the altar, you can read a confused scroll of taming for a chance of pacifying the priest (still behind the boulders) after converting the altar, or you can cast sleep at them to make it safe to approach and charm them. Remember that you cannot buy protection from that priest afterward, as chatting with them will merely anger them.

To understand why these step-by-step instructions work, keep in mind that a priest tending to an altar moves according to two rules:

  1. When the priest wants to move, they will pick a random adjacent spot on a 3×3 grid centered on the altar.
  2. A priest will not move into your line of fire unless they are already in it.

By taking advantage of the second rule, you can try to steer the priest around.

Step 1

To trap the priest, first step onto the altar. (In the images below, you are green and the priest is white.)

-+----
|....|
|....|
|..@.|
|.@..|
------

Step 2

Pick a spot where you want to priest to go two spaces from the altar, marked with an x below. Wait on the altar by pressing '.' until the priest moves to a spot one diagonal step from the x. Then step off the altar onto a spot a knight's move away from both the x and from the priest.

-+----
|....|
|..@.|
|x._.|
|.@..|
------

Step 3

Wait until the priest moves to the x. If they move somewhere else, start over with step 1. With the priest on the x, move back onto the altar. If the priest doesn't move, then read an uncursed (or preferably blessed) scroll of earth. Otherwise, start over with step 1.

-+----
|....|
|.000|
|@0@0|
|.000|
------

Step 4

Now you probably want to trap the priest in a corner. Move the boulder as shown in the left image, and then as shown in the right image.

-+----
|..0.|
|.0@0|
|@0_0|
|.000|
------

-+----
|..0.|
|0@.0|
|@0_0|
|.000|
------

Step 5

Then, wait until the priest moves away from you. Then move as shown in the left image, and then push the boulder as shown in the right image. The priest is now trapped.

-+----
|@.0.|
|0..0|
|.0_0|
|@000|
------

-+----
|..0.|
|@..0|
|00_0|
|@000|
------

You may be able to use this method in larger temples if you first place walls of boulders two or three steps from the altar, with additional scrolls of earth.

Variants

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, it is not possible to buy protection from a priest of Moloch.

The Lawful Quest contains a coaligned priest in a room with a coaligned altar, but it is not a temple - this is a trap designed to trick you into chatting with the priest, which will make them hostile.

SpliceHack

In SpliceHack, donating an amount greater than (but not equal to) 900 times your experience level will teach you the blessing technique if you do not already know it.

Encyclopaedia entry

[...] For the two priests were talking exactly like priests, piously, with learning and leisure, about the most aerial enigmas of theology. The little Essex priest spoke the more simply, with his round face turned to the strengthening stars; the other talked with his head bowed, as if he were not even worthy to look at them. But no more innocently clerical conversation could have been heard in any white Italian cloister or black Spanish cathedral. The first he heard was the tail of one of Father Brown's sentences, which ended: "... what they really meant in the Middle Ages by the heavens being incorruptible." The taller priest nodded his bowed head and said: "Ah, yes, these modern infidels appeal to their reason; but who can look at those millions of worlds and not feel that there may well be wonderful universes above us where reason is utterly unreasonable?"

[ The Innocence of Father Brown, by G.K. Chesterton ]

References

  1. ↑ src/mondata.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1008
  2. ↑ src/read.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 2418
  3. ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 261
  4. ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 689
  5. ↑ src/priest.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 259
  6. ↑ priest_talk in priest.c
  7. ↑ ghod_hitsu in priest.c
  8. ↑ ghod_hitsu in priest.c
  9. ↑ RGRN Priest trapping thread
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