Watcher in the Water (dNetHack) - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: typo

2025-12-04T00:46:45Z

typo

Umbire the Phantom: wards, potholes

2025-12-04T00:46:33Z

wards, potholes

Umbire the Phantom: touch-ups

2025-08-16T08:45:26Z

touch-ups

Umbire the Phantom: lede

2025-03-23T05:14:57Z

lede

Umbire the Phantom: /* Origin */ copyedit

2025-03-21T02:23:20Z

‎Origin: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: /* Origin */ typo

2025-03-21T01:38:35Z

‎Origin: typo

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2025-03-21T01:37:09Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: lifelink

2025-03-21T01:36:59Z

lifelink

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ pothole

2025-03-21T01:35:49Z

‎Generation: pothole

Umbire the Phantom: create

2025-03-21T01:35:26Z

create

New page

{{monster
|name=Watcher in the Water
|symbol={{brightmagenta|;}}
|tile=
|difficulty=29
|level=24
|experience=1915
|speed=9
|AC=-2
|MR=125
|align=-3
|frequency=0
|genocidable=No
|attacks=Claw 2d8 [[Physical damage|physical]], Claw 2d8 physical, Bearhug 2d6 [[drowning]], Bite 5d6 physical, Single-target (active) [[gaze attack]] 0d0 [[special]]
|weight=4500
|nutr=1000
|size=huge
|resistances=[[disintegration resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[stoning resistance]], [[magic resistance]]
|resistances conveyed=
|attributes={{attributes|The Watcher in the Water|swim=1|amphibious=1|animal=1|carnivore=1|nopoly=1|neuter=1|hostile=1|strong=1|notame=1}}
|reference=
}}
{{monster
|name=swarm of snaking tentacles
|symbol={{magenta|;}}
|tile=
|difficulty=22
|level=20
|experience=0
|speed=12
|AC=6
|MR=125
|align=-3
|frequency=0
|genocidable=No
|attacks=Tentacle 2d6 physical, Tentacle 2d6 physical, Bearhug 2d6 [[drowning]]
|weight=4500
|nutr=1000
|size=huge
|resistances=[[sleep resistance]], [[disintegration resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[stoning resistance]]
|resistances conveyed=
|attributes={{attributes|A swarm of snaking tentacles|swim=1|amphibious=1|nohead=1|mindless=1|nopoly=1|neuter=1|hostile=1|strong=1|notame=1}}
|reference=
}}
{{monster
|name=long sinuous tentacle
|symbol={{brightmagenta|w}}
|tile=
|difficulty=22
|level=20
|experience=0
|speed=12
|AC=6
|MR=125
|align=-3
|frequency=0
|genocidable=No
|attacks=Reach 4d8 physical
|weight=4500
|nutr=1000
|size=huge
|resistances=[[sleep resistance]], [[disintegration resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[stoning resistance]]
|resistances conveyed=
|attributes={{attributes|A long sinuous tentacle|swim=1|amphibious=1|nohands=1|nolimbs=1|nohead=1|mindless=1|nopoly=1|neuter=1|hostile=1|strong=1|notame=1}}
|reference=
}}
{{for|the monster in UnNetHack|Watcher in the Water (UnNetHack)}}
The '''Watcher in the Water''', {{brightmagenta|;}}, is a [[unique]] [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The Watcher in the Water is a [[chaotic]] [[sea monster]] similar to a [[kraken]], with the same basic attributes as the monster in these variants. All 12 points of the Watcher's [[AC]] are in the natural category. The Watcher in the Water will keep its distance from the [[hero]] where possible, remaining no less than 4 squares worth of distance away, and will avoid moving in a direct line with the hero on {{frac|3|4}} of moves, though it will attack in melee if the hero closes in enough. It cannot be made [[tame]].

The Watcher in the Water has two claw attacks, a [[bearhug]] attack that can [[drown]] the [[hero]], a strong [[bite]] attack, and a special "[[gaze]]" attack that generates multiple tentacles. These tentacles consist of up to six '''swarms of snaking tentacles''', {{magenta|;}}, and two '''long sinuous tentacles''', {{brightmagenta|w}}—the attack will generate one tentacle per turn in that given order, and similarly replaces them at the same rate if any of them are "killed". The Watcher in the Water possesses [[disintegration resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[stoning resistance]], and [[magic resistance]].

A swarm of snaking tentacles has two tentacle attacks, along with a bearhug attack that can drown the hero, and will remain in the water where possible while remaining withing roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. A long sinuous tentacle has a reach attack that extends two squares from its location and deals [[physical damage]], and can crawl onto land while approaching the hero, remaining withing roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. Both types of tentacles possess [[sleep resistance]] in addition to the same resistances as the Watcher in the Water.

==Generation==
The Watcher in the Water is always generated hostile, and is not a valid target for polymorph or genocide.

The Watcher in the Water is always generated on a specific square within the waters of the [[Dwarf Noble quest]] locate level at level creation, where it will remain immobile for 3 turns before moving towards the hero.

The Watcher in the Water is always generated with three times the maximum HP possible for a monster of its size.

==Origin==
{{wikipedia|Watcher in the Water}}
The Watcher in the Water is a fictional creature that appears in [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s Middle-earth setting, and debuts in ''The Fellowship of the Ring'', the first volume of ''The Lord of the Rings''.

The origins of the creature are not described in the setting itself, but critics have likened it to the legendary kraken and to Odysseus's passage between the devouring Scylla and the whirlpool Charybdis. Its presence in combination with the barrier lake and the formidable Doors of Durin have also been compared to the multiple obstacles often found in Norse mythology. In vanilla NetHack, the passage describing the Watcher is used as the encyclopedia entry for the kraken, implying that the Watcher is assumed to be representative of [[Wikipedia:kraken|that legendary creature]], which is usually portrayed as a giant cephalopod—UnNetHack changes the kraken's encyclopedia entry to an unrelated poem by [[Wikipedia:Alfred, Lord Tennyson|The Lord Tennyson]].

Lurking in a lake beneath the western walls of the dwarf-realm Moria, the Watcher in the Water it is said to have appeared after the damming of the river Sirannon, and its presence was first recorded by Balin's dwarf company 30 or so years before the beginning of ''The Fellowship of the Ring''. It makes its first appearance when the titular Fellowship is about to enter Moria, attacking them at the wester entrance. The encyclopedia entry for UnNetHack is a passage from the book that describes the creature as it grabs Frodo, the protagonist, and tries to drag him underwater. The Fellowship later learns the creature's moniker, "The Watcher in the Water", form a historical account which reveals that the monster also prevented Moria's defenders from escaping through that exit.

==Encyclopedia entry==
{{Encyclopedia|
'I felt that something horrible was near from the moment that
my foot first touched the water,' said Frodo. 'What was that
thing, or were there many of them?'

'I do not know,' answered Gandalf; 'but the arms were all
guided by one purpose. Something has crept, or has been
driven out of dark waters under the mountains. There are
older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of
the world.'
|[ The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien ]
}}
{{Encyclopedia|
Far, far below the deepest delvings of the Dwarves, the
world is gnawed by nameless things. Even Sauron knows
them not. They are older than he. Now I have walked
there, but I will bring no report to darken the light
of day.
|[ The Two Towers, by J.R.R. Tolkien ]
}}

===Long sinuous tentacle===
{{Encyclopedia|
Out from the water a long sinuous tentacle had crawled; it
was pale-green and luminous and wet. Its fingered end had
hold of Frodo's foot, and was dragging him into the water.
Sam on his knees was now slashing at it with a knife. The
arm let go of Frodo, and Sam pulled him away, crying out
for help. Twenty other arms came rippling out. The dark
water boiled, and there was a hideous stench.
|[ The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien ]
}}
{{variant-343}}
[[Category:dNetHack monsters]]
[[Category:notdNetHack monsters]]
[[Category:notnotdNetHack monsters]]

@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 The Watcher in the Water has two [[Claw attack|'claw' attacks]], a [[bearhug]] attack that can [[drown]] the [[hero]], a strong [[bite attack]], and a special "[[gaze]]" attack that generates multiple tentacles. These tentacles consist of up to six '''swarms of snaking tentacles''', {{magenta|;}}, and two '''long sinuous tentacles''', {{brightmagenta|w}}&mdash;the attack will generate one tentacle in that given order during each of the Watcher's turns, and similarly replaces the tentacles at the same rate if any of them are "killed". The Watcher in the Water possesses [[disintegration resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[stoning resistance]], and [[magic resistance]].
-A swarm of snaking tentacles has two [[tentacle attacks]], along with a bearhug attack that can drown the hero, and will remain in the water whenever possible while staying within roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. A long sinuous tentacle has a reach attack that extends two squares from its location and deals [[physical damage]], and can crawl onto land while approaching the hero, remaining withing roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. Both types of tentacles possess [[sleep resistance]] in addition to the same resistances as the Watcher in the Water.
+A swarm of snaking tentacles has two [[tentacle attack]]s, along with a bearhug attack that can drown the hero, and will remain in the water whenever possible while staying within roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. A long sinuous tentacle has a reach attack that extends two squares from its location and deals [[physical damage]], and can crawl onto land while approaching the hero, remaining withing roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. Both types of tentacles possess [[sleep resistance]] in addition to the same resistances as the Watcher in the Water.
 The Watcher in the Water and its tentacles can be [[Ward (dNetHack)|warded]] by [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Elder Sign|the Elder Sign]] at any level of reinforcement.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
   |frequency=0
   |genocidable=No
-  |attacks=Claw 2d8 [[Physical damage|physical]], Claw 2d8 physical, Bearhug 2d6 [[drowning]], Bite 5d6 physical, Single-target (active) [[gaze attack]] 0d0 special
+  |attacks=[[Claw attack|Claw]] 2d8 [[Physical damage|physical]], Claw 2d8 physical, [[Bearhug]] 2d6 [[drowning]], [[Bite attack|Bite]] 5d6 physical, Single-target (active) [[gaze attack]] 0d0 special
   |weight=4500
   |nutr=1000
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 The '''Watcher in the Water''', {{brightmagenta|;}}, is a [[unique]] [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The Watcher in the Water is a [[chaotic]] [[sea monster]] similar to a [[kraken]], with the same [[physical size]] and basic attributes as the kraken in these variants. All 12 points of the Watcher's [[AC]] are in the natural category. The Watcher in the Water will try to keep no less than 4 squares worth of distance away from the [[hero]] where possible, and will seek to avoid being in a direct line with the hero on {{frac|3|4}} of moves, though it will attack in melee if the hero closes in enough. It cannot be made [[tame]].
-The Watcher in the Water has two claw attacks, a [[bearhug]] attack that can [[drown]] the [[hero]], a strong [[bite]] attack, and a special "[[gaze]]" attack that generates multiple tentacles. These tentacles consist of up to six '''swarms of snaking tentacles''', {{magenta|;}}, and two '''long sinuous tentacles''', {{brightmagenta|w}}&mdash;the attack will generate one tentacle in that given order during each of the Watcher's turns, and similarly replaces the tentacles at the same rate if any of them are "killed". The Watcher in the Water possesses [[disintegration resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[stoning resistance]], and [[magic resistance]].
+The Watcher in the Water has two [[Claw attack|'claw' attacks]], a [[bearhug]] attack that can [[drown]] the [[hero]], a strong [[bite attack]], and a special "[[gaze]]" attack that generates multiple tentacles. These tentacles consist of up to six '''swarms of snaking tentacles''', {{magenta|;}}, and two '''long sinuous tentacles''', {{brightmagenta|w}}&mdash;the attack will generate one tentacle in that given order during each of the Watcher's turns, and similarly replaces the tentacles at the same rate if any of them are "killed". The Watcher in the Water possesses [[disintegration resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[stoning resistance]], and [[magic resistance]].
-A swarm of snaking tentacles has two tentacle attacks, along with a bearhug attack that can drown the hero, and will remain in the water whenever possible while staying within roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. A long sinuous tentacle has a reach attack that extends two squares from its location and deals [[physical damage]], and can crawl onto land while approaching the hero, remaining withing roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. Both types of tentacles possess [[sleep resistance]] in addition to the same resistances as the Watcher in the Water.
+A swarm of snaking tentacles has two [[tentacle attacks]], along with a bearhug attack that can drown the hero, and will remain in the water whenever possible while staying within roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. A long sinuous tentacle has a reach attack that extends two squares from its location and deals [[physical damage]], and can crawl onto land while approaching the hero, remaining withing roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. Both types of tentacles possess [[sleep resistance]] in addition to the same resistances as the Watcher in the Water.
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 }}
 {{for|the monster in UnNetHack|Watcher in the Water (UnNetHack)}}
-The '''Watcher in the Water''', {{brightmagenta|;}}, is a [[unique]] [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The Watcher in the Water is a [[chaotic]] [[sea monster]] similar to a [[kraken]], with the same basic attributes as the monster in these variants. All 12 points of the Watcher's [[AC]] are in the natural category. The Watcher in the Water will try to keep no less than 4 squares worth of distance away from the [[hero]] where possible, and will seek to avoid being in a direct line with the hero on {{frac|3|4}} of moves, though it will attack in melee if the hero closes in enough. It cannot be made [[tame]].
+The '''Watcher in the Water''', {{brightmagenta|;}}, is a [[unique]] [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The Watcher in the Water is a [[chaotic]] [[sea monster]] similar to a [[kraken]], with the same [[physical size]] and basic attributes as the kraken in these variants. All 12 points of the Watcher's [[AC]] are in the natural category. The Watcher in the Water will try to keep no less than 4 squares worth of distance away from the [[hero]] where possible, and will seek to avoid being in a direct line with the hero on {{frac|3|4}} of moves, though it will attack in melee if the hero closes in enough. It cannot be made [[tame]].
-The Watcher in the Water has two claw attacks, a [[bearhug]] attack that can [[drown]] the [[hero]], a strong [[bite]] attack, and a special "[[gaze]]" attack that generates multiple tentacles. These tentacles consist of up to six '''swarms of snaking tentacles''', {{magenta|;}}, and two '''long sinuous tentacles''', {{brightmagenta|w}}&mdash;the attack will generate one tentacle per turn in that given order, and similarly replaces them at the same rate if any of them are "killed". The Watcher in the Water possesses [[disintegration resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[stoning resistance]], and [[magic resistance]].
+The Watcher in the Water has two claw attacks, a [[bearhug]] attack that can [[drown]] the [[hero]], a strong [[bite]] attack, and a special "[[gaze]]" attack that generates multiple tentacles. These tentacles consist of up to six '''swarms of snaking tentacles''', {{magenta|;}}, and two '''long sinuous tentacles''', {{brightmagenta|w}}&mdash;the attack will generate one tentacle in that given order during each of the Watcher's turns, and similarly replaces the tentacles at the same rate if any of them are "killed". The Watcher in the Water possesses [[disintegration resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[stoning resistance]], and [[magic resistance]].
-A swarm of snaking tentacles has two tentacle attacks, along with a bearhug attack that can drown the hero, and will remain in the water where possible while remaining withing roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. A long sinuous tentacle has a reach attack that extends two squares from its location and deals [[physical damage]], and can crawl onto land while approaching the hero, remaining withing roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. Both types of tentacles possess [[sleep resistance]] in addition to the same resistances as the Watcher in the Water.
+A swarm of snaking tentacles has two tentacle attacks, along with a bearhug attack that can drown the hero, and will remain in the water whenever possible while staying within roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. A long sinuous tentacle has a reach attack that extends two squares from its location and deals [[physical damage]], and can crawl onto land while approaching the hero, remaining withing roughly 5 squares of the Watcher. Both types of tentacles possess [[sleep resistance]] in addition to the same resistances as the Watcher in the Water.
 ==Generation==
-The Watcher in the Water is always generated hostile, and is not a valid target for polymorph or genocide.
+The Watcher in the Water is always generated hostile, and is not a valid polymorph form or genocide target.
 The Watcher in the Water is always generated on a specific square within the waters of the [[Dwarf Noble quest]] locate level at level creation, where it will remain immobile for 3 turns before moving towards the hero.

@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 }}
 {{for|the monster in UnNetHack|Watcher in the Water (UnNetHack)}}
-The '''Watcher in the Water''', {{brightmagenta|;}}, is a [[unique]] [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The Watcher in the Water is a [[chaotic]] [[sea monster]] similar to a [[kraken]], with the same basic attributes as the monster in these variants. All 12 points of the Watcher's [[AC]] are in the natural category. The Watcher in the Water will keep its distance from the [[hero]] where possible, remaining no less than 4 squares worth of distance away, and will avoid moving in a direct line with the hero on {{frac|3|4}} of moves, though it will attack in melee if the hero closes in enough. It cannot be made [[tame]].
+The '''Watcher in the Water''', {{brightmagenta|;}}, is a [[unique]] [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The Watcher in the Water is a [[chaotic]] [[sea monster]] similar to a [[kraken]], with the same basic attributes as the monster in these variants. All 12 points of the Watcher's [[AC]] are in the natural category. The Watcher in the Water will try to keep no less than 4 squares worth of distance away from the [[hero]] where possible, and will seek to avoid being in a direct line with the hero on {{frac|3|4}} of moves, though it will attack in melee if the hero closes in enough. It cannot be made [[tame]].
 The Watcher in the Water has two claw attacks, a [[bearhug]] attack that can [[drown]] the [[hero]], a strong [[bite]] attack, and a special "[[gaze]]" attack that generates multiple tentacles. These tentacles consist of up to six '''swarms of snaking tentacles''', {{magenta|;}}, and two '''long sinuous tentacles''', {{brightmagenta|w}}&mdash;the attack will generate one tentacle per turn in that given order, and similarly replaces them at the same rate if any of them are "killed". The Watcher in the Water possesses [[disintegration resistance]], [[poison resistance]], [[stoning resistance]], and [[magic resistance]].

@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 The Watcher in the Water is a fictional creature that appears in [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s Middle-earth setting, and debuts in ''The Fellowship of the Ring'', the first volume of ''The Lord of the Rings''.
-The origins of the creature are not described in the setting itself, but critics have likened it to the legendary kraken and to Odysseus's passage between the devouring Scylla and the whirlpool Charybdis. Its presence in combination with the barrier lake and the formidable Doors of Durin have also been compared to the multiple obstacles often found in Norse mythology. In vanilla NetHack, the passage describing the Watcher is used as the encyclopedia entry for the kraken, implying that the Watcher is assumed to be representative of [[Wikipedia:kraken|that legendary creature]], which is usually portrayed as a giant cephalopod&mdash;UnNetHack changes the kraken's encyclopedia entry to an unrelated poem by [[Wikipedia:Alfred, Lord Tennyson|The Lord Tennyson]].
+The origins of the creature are not described in the setting itself, but critics have likened it to the legendary kraken and to Odysseus's passage between the devouring Scylla and the whirlpool Charybdis. Its presence in combination with the barrier lake and the formidable Doors of Durin have also been compared to the multiple obstacles often found in Norse mythology. In vanilla NetHack, the passage describing the Watcher is used as the encyclopedia entry for the kraken, implying that the Watcher is assumed to be representative of [[Wikipedia:kraken|that legendary creature]], which is usually portrayed as a giant cephalopod.
-Lurking in a lake beneath the western walls of the dwarf-realm Moria, the Watcher in the Water is said to have appeared after the damming of the river Sirannon, and its presence was first recorded by Balin's dwarf company 30 or so years before the beginning of ''The Fellowship of the Ring''. It makes its first appearance when the titular Fellowship is about to enter Moria, attacking them at the wester entrance. The encyclopedia entry for UnNetHack is a passage from the book that describes the creature as it grabs Frodo, the protagonist, and tries to drag him underwater. The Fellowship later learns the creature's moniker, "The Watcher in the Water", form a historical account which reveals that the monster also prevented Moria's defenders from escaping through that exit.
+Lurking in a lake beneath the western walls of the dwarf-realm Moria, the Watcher in the Water is said to have appeared after the damming of the river Sirannon, and its presence was first recorded by Balin's dwarf company 30 or so years before the beginning of ''The Fellowship of the Ring''. It makes its first appearance when the titular Fellowship is about to enter Moria, attacking them at the western entrance&mdash;the encyclopedia entries are passages from the book that describes the creature as it grabs Frodo, the protagonist, and tries to drag him underwater. The Fellowship later learns the creature's moniker, "The Watcher in the Water", form a historical account which reveals that the monster also prevented Moria's defenders from escaping through that exit.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:36, 21 March 2025
Line 78:		Line 78:

	The Watcher in the Water is always generated with three times the maximum [[HP]] possible for a monster of its size.		The Watcher in the Water is always generated with three times the maximum [[HP]] possible for a monster of its size.
		+
		+	Killing the Watcher in the Water will kill all of the tentacles present as well.

	==Origin==		==Origin==

@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 The Watcher in the Water is always generated on a specific square within the waters of the [[Dwarf Noble quest]] locate level at level creation, where it will remain immobile for 3 turns before moving towards the hero.
-The Watcher in the Water is always generated with three times the maximum HP possible for a monster of its size.
+The Watcher in the Water is always generated with three times the maximum [[HP]] possible for a monster of its size.
 ==Origin==