Cornuthaum
[ cornuthaum 
| |
|---|---|
| Appearance | conical hat |
| Slot | helm |
| AC | 0 |
| Special |
|
| Base price | 80 zm |
| Weight | 4 |
| Material | cloth |
A cornuthaum is a type of helm. It provides MC2, and gives special benefits for Wizards. Specifically, Wizards wearing a cornuthaum gain 1 point of charisma and the clairvoyance extrinsic, while non-Wizards lose 1 point of charisma, have all instances of clairvoyance blocked (whether by intrinsic or by spell), and can only safely enchant it to +5.
Cornuthaums are one of the best helmets for a wizard to use, since they can be safely enchanted up to +7, and the clairvoyance property is quite useful and can't be permanently gained via any other method besides the Amulet of Yendor itself.
Although a very powerful helm, cornuthaum is not worth wishing for by powerful wizards. If you can polymorph items, consider polypiling instead.
Identification
The cornuthaum and dunce cap are both conical hats. They can be distinguished by price or wearing (obviously dangerous), but are otherwise identical until identified.
Encyclopaedia entry
He was dressed in a flowing gown with fur tippets which had
the signs of the zodiac embroidered over it, with various
cabalistic signs, such as triangles with eyes in them, queer
crosses, leaves of trees, bones of birds and animals, and a
planetarium whose stars shone like bits of looking-glass with
the sun on them. He had a pointed hat like a dunce's cap, or
like the headgear worn by ladies of that time, except that
the ladies were accustomed to have a bit of veil floating
from the top of it.
[ The Once and Future King, by T.H. White ]
"A wizard!" Dooley exclaimed, astounded.
"At your service, sirs," said the wizard. "How
perceptive of you to notice. I suppose my hat rather gives me
away. Something of a beacon, I don't doubt." His hat was
pretty much that, tall and cone-shaped with stars and crescent
moons all over it. All in all, it couldn't have been more
wizardish.
[ The Elfin Ship, James P. Blaylock ]
