Strange corpse - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ tweak

2026-02-20T16:05:48Z

‎Generation: tweak

Umbire the Phantom: tweaks

2026-02-20T16:05:17Z

tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: oops

2026-02-20T16:04:14Z

oops

Umbire the Phantom: copyedit 2

2026-02-20T16:03:07Z

copyedit 2

Umbire the Phantom: copyedit

2026-02-20T14:58:54Z

copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: almost forgot--

2024-07-20T03:05:09Z

almost forgot--

Umbire the Phantom: wordsmithing

2024-07-20T03:04:51Z

wordsmithing

Umbire the Phantom: cats

2024-04-16T08:06:45Z

cats

Umbire the Phantom: follow-up for details

2024-03-13T13:21:39Z

follow-up for details

ScienceBall: MG_RIDER

2024-03-13T03:39:32Z

MG_RIDER

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 The strange corpse is not a valid polymorph form or genocide target.
-The strange corpse is always generated on the home level of the [[Binder quest]], where it is placed in the center of the lost library on the square directly southeast of the down staircase.
+The strange corpse is always generated on the home level of the Binder quest, and it is placed on the square directly southeast of the down staircase in the center of the lost library during level creation.
 The strange corpse always leaves his corpse behind upon death.

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 The {{varquestmon|strange corpse|Binder|leader|dNetHack|notdNetHack|notnotdNetHack}}. It is a [[Mummy|mummified]] corpse belonging to a [[Human (monster attribute)|human]] man.
-The strange corpse is unique among quest leaders: it is completely [[sessile]], has no attacks and can always [[revive]] from its [[corpse]], similar to a [[Rider]]. The strange corpse will not speak to a [[hero]] directly if they [[chat]] with it: it instead acts as a mouthpiece through which [[Numina|something unnamed and unknown]] informs the hero of [[Acererak]], the [[Binder quest]] nemesis, once they fully qualify for the quest&mdash;they are given access to the down [[staircase]] afterward.
+The strange corpse is unique among quest leaders: it is completely [[sessile]], has no attacks and can always [[revive]] from its [[corpse]], similar to a [[Rider]]. The strange corpse will not speak to a [[hero]] directly if they [[chat]] with it: it instead acts as a mouthpiece through which [[Numina|something unnamed and unknown]] informs the hero of [[Acererak]], the [[Binder quest]] [[nemesis]], once they fully qualify for the quest&mdash;they are given access to the down [[staircase]] afterward.
-Once a hero gains entry to the quest, speaking to the strange corpse does not produce any further messages, including in situations where other quest leaders would have a specific response.
+Once a Binder hero gains entry to the quest, speaking to the strange corpse does not produce any further messages, including in situations where other quest leaders would have a specific response.
 The strange corpse has 65 points of natural [[AC]] and possesses [[poison resistance]] and [[stoning resistance]].

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
   |reference=
 }}
-The {{varquestmon|strange corpse|Binder|leader|dNetHack|notdNetHack|notnotdNetHack}}. It is a [[Mummy|mummified]] corpse belonging to a [[Human (monster attribute)|human]] [[man]].
+The {{varquestmon|strange corpse|Binder|leader|dNetHack|notdNetHack|notnotdNetHack}}. It is a [[Mummy|mummified]] corpse belonging to a [[Human (monster attribute)|human]] man.
 The strange corpse is unique among quest leaders: it is completely [[sessile]], has no attacks and can always [[revive]] from its [[corpse]], similar to a [[Rider]]. The strange corpse will not speak to a [[hero]] directly if they [[chat]] with it: it instead acts as a mouthpiece through which [[Numina|something unnamed and unknown]] informs the hero of [[Acererak]], the [[Binder quest]] nemesis, once they fully qualify for the quest&mdash;they are given access to the down [[staircase]] afterward.

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
   |reference=
 }}
-The {{varquestmon|strange corpse|Binder|leader|dNetHack|notdNetHack|notnotdNetHack}}. It is a [[Mummy|mummified]] [[human (monster attribute)|human]] [[corpse]].
+The {{varquestmon|strange corpse|Binder|leader|dNetHack|notdNetHack|notnotdNetHack}}. It is a [[Mummy|mummified]] corpse belonging to a [[Human (monster attribute)|human]] [[man]].
 The strange corpse is unique among quest leaders: it is completely [[sessile]], has no attacks and can always [[revive]] from its [[corpse]], similar to a [[Rider]]. The strange corpse will not speak to a [[hero]] directly if they [[chat]] with it: it instead acts as a mouthpiece through which [[Numina|something unnamed and unknown]] informs the hero of [[Acererak]], the [[Binder quest]] nemesis, once they fully qualify for the quest&mdash;they are given access to the down [[staircase]] afterward.
 Once a hero gains entry to the quest, speaking to the strange corpse does not produce any further messages, including in situations where other quest leaders would have a specific response.
 ==Generation==
 The strange corpse is always generated on the home level of the [[Binder quest]], where it is placed in the center of the lost library on the square directly southeast of the down staircase.
-The strange corpse is not a valid target for normal [[polymorph]] or [[genocide]].
+The strange corpse always leaves his corpse behind upon death.
 ==Strategy==
-As it is immobile and has no attacks, the strange corpse is unable to defend itself, but its very low natural [[AC]] and high [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] make it difficult to fight. This is mostly relevant for the case of hostile monsters generated on the home level, which have a mutual grudge against most quest leaders and guardians (with some exceptions), and makes it highly unlikely that any such monster will be able to destroy the strange corpse to begin with - in such an unlikely case, it will always leave behind a corpse that it eventually revives from.
+As it is immobile and has no attacks, the strange corpse is unable to defend itself, but its very powerful natural AC and impossibly high [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] make it incredibly difficult to fight. This is mostly relevant for the case of hostile monsters generated on the home level, which have a mutual grudge against most quest leaders and guardians (with some exceptions), and makes it highly unlikely that any such monster will be able to "destroy" the strange corpse to begin with&mdash;in such an unlikely case, it will always leave behind a corpse that it eventually revives from.
 ==As a spirit==
-A Binder that speaks to the strange corpse when they fully qualify for the Quest will learn that it belongs to '''Dahlver-Nar, the First Binder''', who became a binding spirit himself. Doing so upon qualifying for the Binder's quest automatically binds his spirit and teaches the hero his seal, at the same time they are given access to the down staircase&mdash;there is no message given when this occurs.
+A Binder that speaks to the strange corpse when they fully qualify for the Quest will learn that it belongs to '''Dahlver-Nar, the First Binder''', who became a binding spirit himself. Dahlver-Nar can naturally only be bound by a Binder: chatting to the strange corpse upon qualifying for the Binder's quest automatically binds his spirit and teaches the hero his seal, at the same time they are given access to the down staircase&mdash;there is no message given when this occurs.
-Dahlver-Nar can naturally only be bound by a Binder. Binding Acererak expels Dahlver-Nar if the hero has him bound; this does does not drain a level as with other broken spirit taboos, though the timeout still applies should they wish to re-bind Dahlver-Nar. Binding Dahlver-Nar will in turn expel Acererak, with the same conditions.
+Binding Acererak expels Dahlver-Nar if the hero has him bound, which does not drain a level as with other broken taboos, though the timeout still applies should they wish to re-bind Dahlver-Nar. Binding Dahlver-Nar will in turn expel Acererak, with the same conditions.
 A hero with Dahlver-Nar bound has teeth under their skin&mdash;taking damage renders these teeth visible, and they can be seen from a distance. The hero can conceal these teeth by healing their wounds and wearing concealing clothing.
 ===Benefits===
-Binding Dahlver-Nar grants the [[sustain ability]] property.
+While bound, Dahlver-Nar grants the [[sustain ability]] property.
-Dahlver-Nar's active powers are as follows:
+Dahlver-Nar's active power works as follows:
 * '''Moan''': The hero can use this to [[scare]], [[confuse]] and/or drive nearby monsters insane.
-Dahlver-Nar's passive powers are as follows:
+Dahlver-Nar's passive power works as follows:
 * '''Teeth of the Devoured''': The hero gains increased AC and unarmed attack damage as they lose HP.

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
   |nutr=400
   |size=medium
-  |resistances=[[poison]], [[petrification]]
+  |resistances=[[poison resistance]], [[stoning resistance]]
   |resistances conveyed=none
   |attributes={{attributes|The strange corpse|humanoid=1|nopoly=1|human=1|male=1|peaceful=1|strong=1|notame=1|stationary=1}}
   |reference=
 }}
 The {{varquestmon|strange corpse|Binder|leader|dNetHack|notdNetHack|notnotdNetHack}}. It is a [[Mummy|mummified]] [[human (monster attribute)|human]] [[corpse]].
-The strange corpse is unique among quest leaders: it is completely [[sessile]], has no attacks and can always [[revive]] from its [[corpse]], similar to a [[Rider]]. The strange corpse will not speak to a [[hero]] directly if they [[chat]] with it: it instead acts as a mouthpiece through which [[Numina|something unnamed and unknown]] informs the hero of [[Acererak]], the [[Binder quest]] nemesis, once they fully qualify for the quest - they are given access to the down [[staircase]] afterward.
+The strange corpse is unique among quest leaders: it is completely [[sessile]], has no attacks and can always [[revive]] from its [[corpse]], similar to a [[Rider]]. The strange corpse will not speak to a [[hero]] directly if they [[chat]] with it: it instead acts as a mouthpiece through which [[Numina|something unnamed and unknown]] informs the hero of [[Acererak]], the [[Binder quest]] nemesis, once they fully qualify for the quest&mdash;they are given access to the down [[staircase]] afterward.
 Once a hero gains entry to the quest, speaking to the strange corpse does not produce any further messages, including in situations where other quest leaders would have a specific response.
@@ Line 37: / Line 36: @@
 ==As a spirit==
-A Binder that speaks to the strange corpse when they fully qualify for the Quest will learn that it belongs to '''Dahlver-Nar, the First Binder''', who became a binding spirit himself. Doing so automatically binds his spirit and teaches you his seal, at the same time you are given access to the down staircase - there is no message given when this occurs.
+A Binder that speaks to the strange corpse when they fully qualify for the Quest will learn that it belongs to '''Dahlver-Nar, the First Binder''', who became a binding spirit himself. Doing so upon qualifying for the Binder's quest automatically binds his spirit and teaches the hero his seal, at the same time they are given access to the down staircase&mdash;there is no message given when this occurs.
-Dahlver-Nar can naturally only be bound by a Binder. Binding Acererak expels Dahlver-Nar if you have him bound; this does does not drain a level as with other broken spirit taboos, though the timeout still applies should you wish to re-bind Dahlver-Nar. Binding Dahlver-Nar will in turn expel Acererak, with the same conditions.
+A hero with Dahlver-Nar bound has teeth under their skin&mdash;taking damage renders these teeth visible, and they can be seen from a distance. The hero can conceal these teeth by healing their wounds and wearing concealing clothing.
-While Dahlver-Nar is bound, your character has teeth under their skin - taking damage renders these teeth visible, and they can be seen from a distance. Healing your wounds and wearing concealing clothing will hide the teeth from view. Binding Dahlver-Nar confers the [[sustain ability]] property.
+===Benefits===
 Dahlver-Nar's active powers are as follows:
-* '''Moan''': Frighten, confuse and/or drive nearby monsters insane.
+* '''Moan''': The hero can use this to [[scare]], [[confuse]] and/or drive nearby monsters insane.
 Dahlver-Nar's passive powers are as follows:
-* '''Teeth of the Devoured''': You gain increased AC and unarmed attack damage as you lose HP.
+* '''Teeth of the Devoured''': The hero gains increased AC and unarmed attack damage as they lose HP.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
 {{encyclopedia|
 [...] Binder scholars know a different story—that Dahlver-Nar was a powerful cleric who forsook his deity to pursue the power of pact magic. The fabled teeth of Dahlver-Nar, to which all the legends attribute miraculous powers, were neither his own nor those of the dragon he battled. They were the teeth of beings that became vestiges after death, and they could grant abilities similar to those that the vestiges themselves imparted. Pact magic treatises relate that Dahlver-Nar pulled out his own teeth and replaced them with those of the vestiges, but that using them all drove him mad. What happened thereafter is a matter of debate, but the texts maintain that Dahlver-Nar eventually died, and the teeth were lost, divided up among the squabbling followers he had managed to gain and then spread across the world. Today, Dahlver-Nar exists as a vestige in his own right—perhaps brought to that state through his close association with so many others.
+|[ Tome of Magic, by Matthew Sernett et al. ]
-[ Tome of Magic, by Matthew Sernett et al. ]
+}}
+{{encyclopedia|
 Thirty-two horses on a red hill,
 First they champ,
 Then they stamp,
 Then they stand still.
+|[ Adapted from the Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien ]
 }}
 {{variant-343}}

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 The {{varquestmon|strange corpse|Binder|leader|dNetHack|notdNetHack}}. It is a [[Mummy|mummified]] [[human (monster attribute)|human]] [[corpse]].
-The strange corpse is unique among quest leaders: it is completely [[sessile]], has no attacks and can always [[revive]] from its [[corpse]], similar to a [[Rider]]. The strange corpse will not speak to you directly if you [[chat]] with it: it instead acts as a mouthpiece through which [[Numina|something unnamed and unknown]] informs you about [[Acererak]], the [[Binder quest]] nemesis, once you fully qualify for the quest - you are given access to the down [[staircase]] afterward.
+The strange corpse is unique among quest leaders: it is completely [[sessile]], has no attacks and can always [[revive]] from its [[corpse]], similar to a [[Rider]]. The strange corpse will not speak to a [[hero]] directly if they [[chat]] with it: it instead acts as a mouthpiece through which [[Numina|something unnamed and unknown]] informs the hero of [[Acererak]], the [[Binder quest]] nemesis, once they fully qualify for the quest - they are given access to the down [[staircase]] afterward.
-Once you gain entry to the quest, speaking to the strange corpse does not produce any further messages, including in situations where other quest leaders would have a specific response.
+Once a hero gains entry to the quest, speaking to the strange corpse does not produce any further messages, including in situations where other quest leaders would have a specific response.
 ==Generation==
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 ==Strategy==
-As it is immobile and has no attacks, the strange corpse is unable to defend itself, but its very low natural [[AC]] and high [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] make it difficult to fight - this is mostly relevant for the case of hostile monsters generated on the home level, which have a mutual grudge against most quest leaders and guardians (with some exceptions), and makes it highly unlikely that any such monster will be able to destroy the strange corpse to begin with - in such an unlikely case, it will always leave behind a corpse that it eventually revives from.
+As it is immobile and has no attacks, the strange corpse is unable to defend itself, but its very low natural [[AC]] and high [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] make it difficult to fight. This is mostly relevant for the case of hostile monsters generated on the home level, which have a mutual grudge against most quest leaders and guardians (with some exceptions), and makes it highly unlikely that any such monster will be able to destroy the strange corpse to begin with - in such an unlikely case, it will always leave behind a corpse that it eventually revives from.
 ==As a spirit==
@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 [[Category:dNetHack spirits|Dahlver-Nar]]
 [[Category:notdNetHack spirits|Dahlver-Nar]]