Secespita - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ copyedit

2026-01-14T17:01:39Z

‎Description: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: copyedit

2025-10-28T07:16:53Z

copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2024-03-29T14:56:35Z

word choice

Saltwaterterrapin: clarify bonus vs. whom

2024-03-29T13:33:18Z

clarify bonus vs. whom

Umbire the Phantom: copyedit + update pass

2024-03-29T11:41:45Z

copyedit + update pass

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ word choice

2024-03-27T10:21:34Z

‎Strategy: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ word choice

2024-03-27T10:21:02Z

‎Description: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: Hack'EM, word choice

2023-07-28T13:27:09Z

Hack'EM, word choice

Tomsod: /* Description / energy drain is "half again" (1.5x) monster level, actually [m_lev+1,m_lev2+1]

2023-05-02T04:30:21Z

‎Description: energy drain is "half again" (1.5x) monster level, actually [m_lev+1,m_lev*2+1]

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description /

2023-04-24T11:17:14Z

‎Description: *

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 ==Description==
-Secespita has a +1d8 [[to-hit]] bonus, and deals +1d8 damage versus any monster that is not [[nonliving]]: when killing such a monster with Secespita, a random amount of [[energy]] is restored equal to a value between one and two times its [[monster level]] plus one. While wielded, Secespita grants [[poison resistance]], and [[sacrificing]] a [[corpse]] on an altar with the weapon wielded improves its sacrifice value by {{frac|2}} rounded down (e.g., a [[unicorn]] corpse's value goes from 7 to 10).
+While wielded, Secespita grants [[poison resistance]], and [[sacrificing]] a [[corpse]] on an altar with the weapon wielded improves its sacrifice value by {{frac|2}} rounded down (e.g., a [[unicorn]] corpse's value goes from 7 to 10). As a weapon, Secespita has +1d8 [[to-hit]] and +1d8 damage bonuses against all monsters ''except'' [[nonliving]] ones, and when killing a live monster with Secespita, the [[hero]] regains a random amount of [[energy]] equal to a random value between 1 and (2*[[Monster level|ML]]) + 1.
 Secespita can be combined with [[Magicbane]] at a [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]] to create [[The Staff of the Archmagi]], an artifact quarterstaff.

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
   |tohit = '''+1d8'''
   |bonusversus=living
-  |affiliation=<ul><li>[[chaotic]]</li><li>[[Infidel]]</li></ul>
+  |affiliation=<ul><li>[[chaotic]]</li><li>([[Infidel]])</li></ul>
-  |whenwielded=<ul><li>[[poison resistance]]</li><li>improved [[sacrifice]] value</li><li>drains [[energy]] when killing living monsters</li></ul>
+  |whenwielded=<ul><li>[[poison resistance]]</li><li>improved [[sacrifice]] value</li><li>drains [[energy]] when<br/>killing living monsters</li></ul>
   |cost=1000
   |weight=5
   |material=copper
 }}
-'''Secespita''' is an [[artifact weapon]] that appears in [[EvilHack]] and [[Hack'EM]]. It is [[chaotic]] for generation purposes, and its [[base item]] is a [[knife]] made of [[copper]].
+==Generation==
-==Generation==
+Secespita is the guaranteed first [[sacrifice gift]] for the unaligned [[Infidel]], and any chaotic hero may receive Secespita as a sacrifice gift.
 ==Description==
-Secespita has a +1d8 [[to-hit]] bonus, and deals +1d8 damage versus any monster that is not [[nonliving]] - when killing such a monster with Secespita, a random amount of [[energy]] is restored equal to a value between one and two times its [[monster level]] plus one. While wielded, Secespita confers [[poison resistance]], and [[sacrificing]] a [[corpse]] on an altar with the weapon wielded improves its sacrifice value by {{frac|2}} rounded down (e.g., a [[unicorn]] corpse's value goes from 7 to 10).
+Secespita has a +1d8 [[to-hit]] bonus, and deals +1d8 damage versus any monster that is not [[nonliving]]: when killing such a monster with Secespita, a random amount of [[energy]] is restored equal to a value between one and two times its [[monster level]] plus one. While wielded, Secespita grants [[poison resistance]], and [[sacrificing]] a [[corpse]] on an altar with the weapon wielded improves its sacrifice value by {{frac|2}} rounded down (e.g., a [[unicorn]] corpse's value goes from 7 to 10).
 Secespita can be combined with [[Magicbane]] at a [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]] to create [[The Staff of the Archmagi]], an artifact quarterstaff.
@@ Line 26: / Line 27: @@
 Secespita is primarily a "utility" artifact: though it can be adequate as a weapon due to its damage bonuses covering a majority of monsters you can encounter, and Infidels in particular can reach Expert [[skill]] in knives, some of the more deadly monsters such as the various [[Zombie (EvilHack)|zombies]] are non-living. With this in mind, Secespita is best used to finish off weakened enemies for the energy gain, including any potential sacrifices.
-While increasing sacrifice value has no effect on altar conversion, Secespita can make it far easier for an Infidel to pacify [[Moloch]] at an already-converted altar should he be [[anger]]ed: offering him a monster with a minimum difficulty of 10 while wielding it will pacify him, compared to a minimum difficulty of 15 otherwise.
+While increasing sacrifice value has no effect on altar conversion, Secespita can make it far easier for an Infidel to pacify [[Moloch]] at an already-converted altar should he be [[anger]]ed: offering him a monster with a minimum difficulty of 11 while wielding it will pacify him, compared to a minimum difficulty of 16 otherwise. It is not entirely unusual for an Infidel to seek out Magicbane (including even [[wishing]] for it) in order to create The Staff of the Archmagi and bolster their [[spellcasting]] capabilities, especially since after obtaining Secespita they are limited to artifact gifts that are unaligned.
 ==Origin==
-{{wikipedia|Secespita}}
+{{wikipedia}}
 As indicated by the Wikipedia article used for the encyclopedia entry, the ''secespita'' is a long sacrificial knife composed of brass and [[wikipedia:Cyprus|Cypriot]] copper (i.e., from Cyprus) that saw frequent use in the sacrificial rituals of the Roman priesthood. The root word is the Latin verb ''secō'', which means "to cut" or "to amputate". A secespita's specific purpose was most likely for opening the body of an already-slain sacrificial animal to extract its entrails, a task carried out by the higher order of priests; Secespita's functions in EvilHack mirror this, including the improved sacrifice value.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 ==Description==
-Secespita has a +1d8 [[to-hit]] bonus, and deals +1d8 damage versus all monsters that are not [[nonliving]] - if such a monster killed with Secespita, a random amount of [[energy]] between one and two times its [[monster level]] plus one is restored. While wielded, Secespita confers [[poison resistance]], and [[sacrificing]] a [[corpse]] on an altar with the weapon wielded improves its sacrifice value by {{frac|2}} rounded down (e.g., a [[unicorn]] corpse's value goes from 7 to 10).
+Secespita has a +1d8 [[to-hit]] bonus, and deals +1d8 damage versus any monster that is not [[nonliving]] - when killing such a monster with Secespita, a random amount of [[energy]] is restored equal to a value between one and two times its [[monster level]] plus one. While wielded, Secespita confers [[poison resistance]], and [[sacrificing]] a [[corpse]] on an altar with the weapon wielded improves its sacrifice value by {{frac|2}} rounded down (e.g., a [[unicorn]] corpse's value goes from 7 to 10).
 Secespita can be combined with [[Magicbane]] at a [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]] to create [[The Staff of the Archmagi]], an artifact quarterstaff.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 ==Description==
-Secespita has a +1d8 [[to-hit]] bonus, and deals +1d8 damage versus all monsters - if a monster killed with Secespita was not a [[nonliving]] monster, a random amount of [[energy]] between one and two times its [[monster level]] plus one is restored. While wielded, Secespita confers [[poison resistance]], and [[sacrificing]] a [[corpse]] on an altar with the weapon wielded improves its sacrifice value by {{frac|2}} rounded down (e.g., a [[unicorn]] corpse's value goes from 7 to 10).
+Secespita has a +1d8 [[to-hit]] bonus, and deals +1d8 damage versus all monsters that are not [[nonliving]] - if such a monster killed with Secespita, a random amount of [[energy]] between one and two times its [[monster level]] plus one is restored. While wielded, Secespita confers [[poison resistance]], and [[sacrificing]] a [[corpse]] on an altar with the weapon wielded improves its sacrifice value by {{frac|2}} rounded down (e.g., a [[unicorn]] corpse's value goes from 7 to 10).
 Secespita can be combined with [[Magicbane]] at a [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]] to create [[The Staff of the Archmagi]], an artifact quarterstaff.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
   |bonusversus=living
   |affiliation=<ul><li>[[chaotic]]</li><li>[[Infidel]]</li></ul>
-  |whenwielded=<ul><li>improved [[sacrifice]]</li><li>drains [[energy]] on kill</li></ul>
+  |whenwielded=<ul><li>[[poison resistance]]</li><li>improved [[sacrifice]] value</li><li>drains [[energy]] when killing living monsters</li></ul>
   |cost=1000
   |weight=5
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 }}
-'''Secespita''' is an [[artifact weapon]] that appears in [[EvilHack]] and [[Hack'EM]]. It is [[chaotic]] for wishing purposes, and its [[base item]] is a [[knife]] made of [[copper]].
+'''Secespita''' is an [[artifact weapon]] that appears in [[EvilHack]] and [[Hack'EM]]. It is [[chaotic]] for generation purposes, and its [[base item]] is a [[knife]] made of [[copper]].
 ==Generation==
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 ==Description==
-Secespita has a +1d8 [[to-hit]] bonus, and a +1d8 damage bonus against targets unless they are [[nonliving]] monsters; killing a living monster with the knife restores a random amount of [[energy]] between one and two times its [[monster level]], plus an extra point. [[Sacrificing]] a [[corpse]] on an altar while [[wield]]ing Secespita improves its sacrifice value by {{frac|2}} rounded down (e.g., a [[unicorn]] corpse's value would go from 7 to 10).
+Secespita has a +1d8 [[to-hit]] bonus, and deals +1d8 damage versus all monsters - if a monster killed with Secespita was not a [[nonliving]] monster, a random amount of [[energy]] between one and two times its [[monster level]] plus one is restored. While wielded, Secespita confers [[poison resistance]], and [[sacrificing]] a [[corpse]] on an altar with the weapon wielded improves its sacrifice value by {{frac|2}} rounded down (e.g., a [[unicorn]] corpse's value goes from 7 to 10).
 Secespita can be combined with [[Magicbane]] at a [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]] to create [[The Staff of the Archmagi]], an artifact quarterstaff.
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 As indicated by the Wikipedia article used for the encyclopedia entry, the ''secespita'' is a long sacrificial knife composed of brass and [[wikipedia:Cyprus|Cypriot]] copper (i.e., from Cyprus) that saw frequent use in the sacrificial rituals of the Roman priesthood. The root word is the Latin verb ''secō'', which means "to cut" or "to amputate". A secespita's specific purpose was most likely for opening the body of an already-slain sacrificial animal to extract its entrails, a task carried out by the higher order of priests; Secespita's functions in EvilHack mirror this, including the improved sacrifice value.
-While writers of the era such as the Roman historian [[wikipedia:Suetonius|Suetonius]] describe the secespita as a knife, some modern writers also interpret it as an axe, a cleaver or a [[wikipedia:dolabra|dolabra]] (a type of axe that could double as a pick or mattock), based on an unconfirmed description originating from a summary of Roman grammarian [[wikipedia:Sextus Pompeius Festus|Festus's]] work, written by historian and monk [[wikipedia:Paul the Deacon|Paul the Deacon]]. Some Roman coins representing sacrificial emblems do appear to depict an axe as well.
+While writers of the era such as the Roman historian [[wikipedia:Suetonius|Suetonius]] describe the secespita as a knife, some modern writers also interpret it as an axe, a cleaver or a [[wikipedia:dolabra|dolabra]] (a type of axe that could double as a pick or mattock); this is based on an unconfirmed description originating from a summary of Roman grammarian [[wikipedia:Sextus Pompeius Festus|Festus's]] work, with the summary written by historian and monk [[wikipedia:Paul the Deacon|Paul the Deacon]]. Some Roman coins representing sacrificial emblems do appear to depict an axe as well.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 Secespita has a +1d8 [[to-hit]] bonus, and a +1d8 damage bonus against targets unless they are [[nonliving]] monsters; killing a living monster with the knife restores a random amount of [[energy]] between one and two times its [[monster level]], plus an extra point. [[Sacrificing]] a [[corpse]] on an altar while [[wield]]ing Secespita improves its sacrifice value by {{frac|2}} rounded down (e.g., a [[unicorn]] corpse's value would go from 7 to 10).
-You can [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]] Secespita together with [[Magicbane]] to create [[EvilHack#Forged Artifacts|The Staff of the Archmagi]], an artifact quarterstaff.
+Secespita can be combined with [[Magicbane]] at a [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]] to create [[The Staff of the Archmagi]], an artifact quarterstaff.
 ==Strategy==