Healer quest/dNetHack - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: lede

2026-02-03T12:37:10Z

lede

Umbire the Phantom: tweak

2025-03-23T05:08:21Z

tweak

Umbire the Phantom: /* Monsters */ detailing

2025-03-20T20:31:10Z

‎Monsters: detailing

Umbire the Phantom: and the messages are 1:1 so that should do it!

2025-03-16T00:13:29Z

and the messages are 1:1 so that should do it!

Show changes

Umbire the Phantom: /* Plague victims */ pothole

2025-03-16T00:04:19Z

‎Plague victims: pothole

Umbire the Phantom: lay the baseline for the maps and such

2025-03-16T00:04:03Z

lay the baseline for the maps and such

New page

{{for|more information on the quest [[branch]] in general|Quest}}
In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], the '''[[Healer quest]]''' pits a [[Healer/dNetHack|Healer]] [[hero]] against the [[Cyclops]] for the [[Bell of Opening]] and [[The Staff of Aesculapius]]. [[Drow Healer]]s are given a separate quest, the [[Drow Healer quest]], to go with the other differentiations made between them and Healers of other starting [[race]]s.
<div class="thumb tright">
{|class="wikitable"
!Home level
|The Temple of Epidaurus
|-
!Locate level
|The Temple of Coeus
|-
!Goal level
|The Isle of the Cyclops
|-
!Leader
|[[Hippocrates]]
|-
!Guardians
|[[attendant]]s
|-
!Nemesis
|The [[Cyclops]]
|-
!Quest Artifact
|[[The Staff of Aesculapius]]
|}
</div>

==Monsters==
Random monsters on this Quest are generated with the following frequencies:
* {{frac|96|175}} (55%) [[giant rat]]
* {{frac|24|175}} (14%) random {{mcsl|r}}
* {{frac|24|175}} (14%) [[snake]]
* {{frac|6|175}} (3%) random {{mcsl|Y}}
* {{frac|7}} (14%) normal random monster

In addition, the following changes to monsters are applied in comparison to the ''NetHack'' quest.

===Plague victims===
[[Plague victims|Victims of the plague]] can be encountered throughout the quest branch, as described in the quest's text: Plague victims are always generated as peaceful, and will be unable to move or attack due to their illness. The hero can cure plague victims either by casting the {{+ of|full healing}} spell or by [[applying]] the Staff of Aesculapius at them. Cured plague victims will become [[tame]]—a player should be mindful of the [[Pet (dNetHack)|pet limit]] when healing plague victims in order to avoid un-taming any desired pets.

Several plague victims can be found inside the temple on the home level, as well as on the Isle of the Cyclops, and each level also has a number of plague victims scattered around randomly—hostile [[hill giant]]s created during level generation carry [[sack]]s with plague victims inside, and opening the sack will release them.

===Cyclops===
Similar to the presence of plague victims, the quest text is also the basis for changes to the quest nemesis: if the [[Cyclops]] is killed while carrying The Staff of Aesculapius, he will drain the life of a plague victim on the level, including any trapped in sacks, and kill them in order to save himself. Curing the plague is thus also instrumental in ensuring the Cyclops meets a permanent end without prolonging his life at his victims' expense.

==Levels==
The following level layouts are encountered in the Healer quest.

===The Temple of Epidaurus===
<div class="ttymap"><replacecharsblock rules="ttymap">
@={{msl|attendant}}
N={{msl|nurse}}
b=[[Bedroll|{{green|\}}]]

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
PPPP........PPPP.....PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP.P..PPPPP......PPPPPPPP
PPP..........PPPP...PPPPP.........................PPPP..PPPPP........PPPPPPP
PP............PPPPPPPP..............................PPP...PPPP......PPPPPPPP
P.....PPPPPPPPPPPPPPP................................PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
PPPP....PPPPPPPPPPPP...................................PPPPP.PPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
PPPP........PPPPP.........-----------------------........PP...PPPPPPP.....PP
PPP............PPPPP....--|.|N.....S..........S.|--.....PPPP.PPPPPPP.......P
PPPP..........PPPPP.....|.S.|@bbbbb|----------|S|.|......PPPPPP.PPP.......PP
PPPPPP......PPPPPP......|.|.|@.._..|.>.|@b.b.b|.|.|.....PPPPPP...PP.......PP
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP.....+.|.|@.....S.\.S@b.b.b|.|.+......PPPPPP.PPPP.......P
PPP...PPPPP...PPPP......|.|.|@bbbbb|...|@b.b.b|.|.|.......PPPPPPPPPPP.....PP
PP..^..PPP.....PPP......|.|S|----------|@b.b.b|.S.|......PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
PPP..PPPPP...PPPP.......--|.S..........SN....b|.|--.....PPPPPPPPP....PPPPPPP
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP..........-----------------------..........PPPPP..........PP
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP........................................PPPPPP............P
PPP.............PPPP...................................PPP..PPPP..........PP
PP...............PPPPP................................PPPP...PPPP........PPP
PPP.............PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP....PPPPPP
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
</replacecharsblock></div>

The two-way [[magic portal]] back to the Dungeons of Doom is at the marked point. The entire level is [[no-teleport]], and has [[undiggable]] walls and floor. The water in the level is entirely composed of [[pool]] squares, and the islands consist of soil squares.

[[Hippocrates]] occupies the throne in the center of the "temple" structure, which also has a [[chest]] on its square that contains an [[amulet of life saving]] and three [[scrolls of resistance]]. There are four [[attendant]]s and a peaceful [[Nurse (dNetHack)|nurse]] in each of the larger rooms, with a neutral [[altar]] in the center of the left room—both rooms also have [[bedroll]]s with a plague victim monster occupying each one. Scattered across the level are ten [[rabid rat]]s, a [[giant eel]], a [[shark]], five random {{mcsl|D}}, five random {{mcsl|S}}, and a random {{mcsl|;}}, along with a {{frac|2}} chance of a hostile [[hill giant]]. Six random [[trap]]s are also placed randomly around the level. Note that as with normal level generation, each snake generated when creating quest levels is given a random object at its location for it to potentially [[hide]] under.

===Upper filler level===
The upper filler level is an island level whose map is created [[Gnomish Mines]]-style with pools instead of stone walls. A rabid rat, two giant eels, an [[electric eel]], two random {{mcsl|r}}, four random {{mcsl|D}}, and three random {{mcsl|S}} are scattered at level creation, along with eight other random [[item]]s, four random traps, a {{frac|3|4}} chance of a hostile hill giant, and a separate {{frac|4}} chance of another hostile hill giant.

===The Temple of Coeus===
<div class="ttymap"><replacecharsblock rules="ttymap">
M=[[Magic chest (dNetHack)|{{brightmagenta|(}}]]
7=[[Statue|{{white|7}}]]
8=[[Statue|{{gray|7}}]]
9=[[Statue|{{darkgray|7}}]]

PPPPPPPPPPPPP.......PPPPPPPPPPP
PPPPPPPP...............PPPPPPPP
PPPP.....-------------...PPPPPP
PPPPP....|.S.........|....PPPPP
PPP.<....+.|.M.......|...PPPPPP
PPP......+.|._.....8.|..PPPPPPP
PPPP.....|.S......7.9|..PPPPPPP
PPPPP....-------------....PPPPP
PPPPPPPP...............PPPPPPPP
PPPPPPPPPPP........PPPPPPPPPPPP
</replacecharsblock></div>

The island mapped above is surrounded by other islands and pools that are empty and generated Mines-style. The entire level has an undiggable floor, and the temple chamber itself has undiggable walls. Teleportation is permitted.

The two-room temple structure has an actual chaotic [[temple]] with an [[aligned priest]] tending to the altar in the larger room—a [[Magic chest (dNetHack)|magic chest]] is adjacent to the article at the marked square, and three [[statue]]s are placed at the marked locations in the southeast corner: a statue of an [[Iasoian Archon]] (marked by {{white|7}}), a statue of a [[Panakeian Archon]] (marked by {{gray|7}}), and a statue of a [[Hygieian Archon]] that occupies the down [[stair]] square (marked by {{darkgray|7}}). Within the mapped area, eight rabid rats, five giant eels, two electric eels, a [[kraken]], two sharks, a hostile hill giant, a random {{mcsl|r}}, five random {{mcsl|D}}, nine random {{mcsl|S}}, and two random {{mcsl|;}} are scattered at level creation, along with fifteen other random items, six random traps and a {{frac|2}} chance of a second hostile hill giant.

===Lower filler level(s)===
Each lower filler level is an island level whose map is created Mines-style. Two rabid rats, five giant eels, two electric eels, a hostile hill giant, two random {{mcsl|r}}, four random {{mcsl|D}}, and three random {{mcsl|S}} are scattered at level creation, along with eleven other random items, four random traps and a {{frac|2}} chance each of a second and third hostile hill giant.

===The Isle of the Cyclops===
<div class="ttymap"><replacecharsblock rules="ttymap">
x={{monsymlink|Cyclops|only}}

.P....................................PP.
PP.......PPPPPPP....PPPPPPP....PPPP...PP.
...PPPPPPP....PPPPPPP.....PPPPPP..PPP...P
...PP..............................PPP...
..PP..............................PP.....
..PP..............................PPP....
..PPP...............x..............PP....
.PPP..............................PPPP...
...PP............................PPP...PP
..PPPP...PPPPP..PPPP...PPPPP.....PP...PP.
P....PPPPP...PPPP..PPPPP...PPPPPPP...PP<.
PPP..................................PPP.
</replacecharsblock></div>

The island mapped above is surrounded by other islands and pools that are empty and generated Mines-style. The entire level has an undiggable floor, and teleportation is permitted.

The [[Cyclops]] is generated at the marked point, with the Bell of Opening in his inventory and The Staff of Aesculapius and a [[wand of lightning]] on his square. Ten plague victims are generated at random locations within the mapped area, and are tethered in place by [[iron chain]]. Within the mapped area, three rabid rats, six giant eels, two electric eels, three sharks, three hostile hill giants, two random {{mcsl|r}}, five random {{mcsl|D}}, ten random {{mcsl|S}}, and one random {{mcsl|;}} are scattered at level creation, along with a [[trephination kit]], fourteen other random items and six random traps.
{{variant-343}}
[[Category:dNetHack quests]]
[[Category:notdNetHack quests]]
[[Category:notnotdNetHack quests]]

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 ===Plague victims===
-[[Plague victims|Victims of the plague]] can be encountered throughout the quest branch, as described in the quest's text: Plague victims are always generated as peaceful, and will be unable to move or attack due to their illness. The hero can cure plague victims either by casting the {{+ of|full healing}} spell or by [[applying]] the Staff of Aesculapius at them. Cured plague victims will become [[tame]]&mdash;a player should be mindful of the [[Pet (dNetHack)|pet limit]] when healing plague victims in order to avoid un-taming any desired pets.
+[[Plague victim|Victims of the plague]] can be encountered throughout the quest branch, as described in the quest's text: Plague victims are always generated as peaceful, and will be unable to move or attack due to their illness. The hero can cure plague victims either by casting the {{+ of|full healing}} spell or by [[applying]] the Staff of Aesculapius at them. Cured plague victims will become [[tame]]&mdash;a player should be mindful of the [[Pet (dNetHack)|pet limit]] when healing plague victims in order to avoid un-taming any desired pets.
 Several plague victims can be found inside the temple on the home level, as well as on the Isle of the Cyclops, and each level also has a number of plague victims scattered around randomly&mdash;hostile [[hill giant]]s created during level generation carry [[sack]]s with plague victims inside, and opening the sack will release them.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{for|more information on the quest [[branch]] in general|Quest}}
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], the '''[[Healer quest]]''' pits a [[Healer/dNetHack|Healer]] [[hero]] against the [[Cyclops]] for the [[Bell of Opening]] and [[The Staff of Aesculapius]]. [[Drow Healer]]s are given a separate quest, the [[Drow Healer quest]], to go with the other differentiations made between them and Healers of other starting [[race]]s.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], the '''[[Healer quest]]''' pits a [[Healer/dNetHack|Healer]] [[hero]] against the [[Cyclops]] for the [[Bell of Opening]] and [[The Staff of Aesculapius]].
 <div class="thumb tright">
 {|class="wikitable"

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 |The [[Cyclops]]
 |-
-!Quest Artifact
+!Quest artifact
 |[[The Staff of Aesculapius]]
 |}

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 * {{frac|7}} (14%) normal random monster
-In addition, the following changes to monsters are applied in comparison to the ''NetHack'' quest.
+[[Sea monster]]s can be randomly generated in the waters of the quest branch after level creation, and the following changes to monsters are also applied in comparison to the ''NetHack'' quest.
 ===Plague victims===
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 ===Cyclops===
-Similar to the presence of plague victims, the quest text is also the basis for changes to the quest nemesis: if the [[Cyclops]] is killed while carrying The Staff of Aesculapius, he will drain the life of a plague victim on the level, including any trapped in sacks, and kill them in order to save himself. Curing the plague is thus also instrumental in ensuring the Cyclops meets a permanent end without prolonging his life at his victims' expense.
+Similar to the presence of plague victims, the quest text is also the basis for changes to the quest nemesis: if the [[Cyclops]] is killed while carrying The Staff of Aesculapius, he will drain the life of a plague victim on the level, including any trapped in sacks, and kill them in order to save himself. Curing the plague is thus also instrumental in ensuring the Cyclops meets a permanent end without him prolonging his life at his victims' expense.
 ==Levels==