Difference between revisions of "The Eye of the Beholder"

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{{artifact
 
{{artifact
|color=white
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|color=white
|base=eyeball
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|base=eyeball
|glyph=%
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|glyph=%
|affiliation=[[neutral]]
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|affiliation=<ul><li>[[neutral]]</li><li>[[alignment quest]] [[artifact]]s</li><li>[[Beholder (SLASH'EM)|Beholder]]</li></ul>
|whencarried=''(none)''
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|used=wielded
|wheninvoked=see text
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|whenused=[[warning]] (Hack'EM only)
|cost=500
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|wheninvoked=<ul><li>severely damage non-[[undead]]</li><li>[[Instadeath|kills you]] at -10 [[luck]] or lower</li><li>-3 luck and -3 to [[alignment record]],<br>regardless of outcome</li></ul>
|weight=1
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|cost=500
 +
|weight=1
 
}}
 
}}
  
''The Eye of the Beholder'' is the reward for the [[Neutral Quest]] in [[SLASH'EM]], along with the Key of Neutrality. It provides no effects when carried or wielded, but has some (rather nasty) effects when invoked.
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'''The Eye of the Beholder''' is an [[artifact]] that appears in [[SLASH'EM]], [[SlashTHEM]] and [[Hack'EM]]. It is [[neutral]]-aligned, and its [[base item]] is the disembodied [[eyeball]] of the [[Beholder (SLASH'EM)|Beholder]]. The Eye of the Beholder is one of the rewards for completing the [[Neutral Quest]].
  
If you [[eat]] the eye, you will take 150-199 damage, so this is a [[Bad idea]] ("This Eye of the Beholder is delicious!  You feel a burning inside!"). If you should survive eating the Eye, it provides 10 nutrition. The game will ask for confirmation, though("Are you sure you want to eat that? [ynq] (n)").
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==Generation==
 
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The Eye of the Beholder is only generated upon killing the Beholder in a way that would normally leave a [[corpse]] (i.e. any method minus [[disintegration]] or [[digest]]ing).{{refsrc|mon.c|282|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2|name=leftover}} Since the Beholder is always generated in the Neutral Quest, its Eye cannot be [[wish]]ed for and will always revert to its base item if left in [[bones]].
Note that you can sacrifice the eye at any time("You offer this evil thing to <your god>..."); this gets rid of it permanently.
 
  
==Generation==
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==Description==
As with the other two alignment quest artifacts, you must kill the [[Beholder (SLASH'EM)|Beholder]] in such a manner as to leave a corpse to obtain the Eye. Note, that you can't wish for it ("For a moment, you feel something in your hands, but it disappears!").  
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[[Invoking]] The Eye of the Beholder has different effects dependent on your current [[luck]]: if invoked at -10 luck or lower, you are subjected to an [[instadeath]], and otherwise the Eye gazes upon all non-[[undead]] monsters in the character's line of sight, reducing them to {{frac|3}} of their current [[hit points]], and a -3 penalty to luck and [[alignment record]] is applied regardless of outcome.{{refsrc|artifact.c|1614|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}{{refsrc|artifact.c|1621|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}{{refsrc|artifact.c|1632|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}} In Hack'EM, the Eye of the Beholder functions similarly to [[The Eye of Vecna]] in [[EvilHack]], and casts death magic upon all monsters in your line of sight: this significantly reduces the HP of monsters that do not resist it, and has a {{frac|3|20}} chance of killing them outright unless they have magic resistance. This effect does not anger peaceful monsters or reduce tameness in [[pet]]s, and cannot ever kill monsters directly. In Hack'EM, The Eye of the Beholder also grants [[warning]] while wielded.
  
==Invoking==
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Attempting to [[eat]] The Eye of the Beholder (or any eyeball) will bring up a prompt asking if you are sure you want to do so.{{refsrc|eat.c|2390|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}} If a character eats The Eye of the Beholder, they take {{rn1|50|150}} damage;{{refsrc|eat.c|2118|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}} in Hack'EM, the damage is increased to {{rn1|150|250}} if The Eye is cursed. You can also [[sacrifice]] The Eye of the Beholder at an altar for maximum value.{{refsrc|pray.c|1303|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
Invoking the Eye has two possible effects:
 
If your luck is less than -9, then
 
;'''"The Eye turns on you!"'''
 
and you [[instadeath|die instantly]].{{refsrc|artifact.c|1613|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}} Else,
 
;'''"The Eye looks around with its icy gaze!"'''
 
and all non-undead monsters in lit area in line of sight are reduced to 1/3 of their remaining hitpoints{{refsrc|artifact.c|1621|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}.  This will never kill any monsters directly.  Note that this affects pets, peaceful monsters, and hostile monsters equally.  Surprisingly, it will not reduce tameness or anger peacefuls.  Invoking the Eye has the further effect of reducing your [[alignment record]] and [[Luck]] by 3 each.
 
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
In general, this is the weakest of the alignment quest artifacts, given that it has no use other than its invocation, which is a somewhat mixed effect at best. You can as well just [[sacrifice]] it. Still, it could be useful for clearing out special rooms such as zoos and throne rooms, although one should make sure to [[spellbook of light|light up]] the room beforehand.  
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The Eye of the Beholder is generally the weakest of the alignment quest artifacts: it lacks any effects outside of being invoked, and the invocation effect is of mixed viability. It can be worth keeping around to trivialize clearing out monster-filled levels and rooms such as [[zoo]]s and [[throne room]]s, though you should light up the room beforehand, e.g. with a [[scroll of light]], [[wand of light]] or [[spell of light]].
  
==Origin==
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In Hack'EM, the Eye of the Beholder can be wielded to detect hidden hostile monsters that [[telepathy]] cannot reveal, such as [[trapper]]s and [[lurkers above]].
  
From the famous literary quote: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". "Beholder" is a less frequent English word for "observer".
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==History==
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The Eye of the Beholder is partly based on [[The Eye of Vecna#History|The Eye of Vecna]], which appears in [[SLASH 6]], an ancestor variant to [[SLASH'EM]]. The Eye of Vecna has the same effects when invoked: it turns its icy gaze on all monsters within the character's line of sight, reducing their health to a fraction of its current amount, and attempting to invoke it with a Luck of −9 or less would instead kill the character instantly; a −3 penalty to both Luck and alignment record occurs regardless. The Eye of the Beholder retains this invoke effect, though it does not have any of the Eye of Vecna's other properties.
  
Also an obvious inspiration for the [[Beholder (SLASH'EM)|Beholder]] itself.
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==Origin==
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The name of the artifact and perhaps its entire concept are based on the aphorism, [[Wikipedia:Eye of the Beholder|"beauty is in the eye of the beholder"]].
  
==History==
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==Messages==
The Eye's "icy gaze" appeared in [[SLASH 6]], a precursor to [[SLASH'EM]], as the invocation effect of the [[The Hand of Vecna#History|Eye of Vecna]], a defunct [[artifact]] which was an alternate [[death drop]] for [[Vecna]].
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{{message|All that remains is a single eye...|The Beholder was killed and dropped The Eye of the Beholder.<ref name="leftover"/>}}
  
==Encyclopedia entry==
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{{message|The Eye turns on you!|The Eye killed you upon invoking it.}}
No entry.
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{{message|The Eye looks around with its icy gaze!|The Eye cast its gaze upon invoking it.}}
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{{message|You feel a deep burning inside!|You took damage from eating The Eye of the Beholder.}}
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{{message|You offer this evil thing to <your god>...|You sacrificed The Eye of the Beholder.}}
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
*[[the Hand of Vecna]]
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*[[The Hand of Vecna (SLASH'EM)]]
 
*[[Nighthorn]]
 
*[[Nighthorn]]
*[[eyeball]]
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 
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{{slashem-7E7|offset=1}}
[[Category:SLASH'EM|Eye of the Beholder]]
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{{variant-343}}<!--{{variant-36X}}-->
[[Category:SLASH'EM Artifacts|Eye of the Beholder]]
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[[Category:SLASH'EM artifacts|Eye of the Beholder]]
[[Category:SLASH'EM items|Eye of the Beholder]]
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[[Category:SlashTHEM artifacts|Eye of the Beholder]]
{{slashem-7E7}}
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[[Category:Hack'EM artifacts|Eye of the Beholder]]

Latest revision as of 10:25, 11 March 2024

%   The Eye of the Beholder   Eyeball.png
Base item eyeball
Affiliation
When carried (none)
When wielded warning (Hack'EM only)
When invoked
Base price 500 zm
Weight 1

The Eye of the Beholder is an artifact that appears in SLASH'EM, SlashTHEM and Hack'EM. It is neutral-aligned, and its base item is the disembodied eyeball of the Beholder. The Eye of the Beholder is one of the rewards for completing the Neutral Quest.

Generation

The Eye of the Beholder is only generated upon killing the Beholder in a way that would normally leave a corpse (i.e. any method minus disintegration or digesting).[1] Since the Beholder is always generated in the Neutral Quest, its Eye cannot be wished for and will always revert to its base item if left in bones.

Description

Invoking The Eye of the Beholder has different effects dependent on your current luck: if invoked at -10 luck or lower, you are subjected to an instadeath, and otherwise the Eye gazes upon all non-undead monsters in the character's line of sight, reducing them to 13 of their current hit points, and a -3 penalty to luck and alignment record is applied regardless of outcome.[2][3][4] In Hack'EM, the Eye of the Beholder functions similarly to The Eye of Vecna in EvilHack, and casts death magic upon all monsters in your line of sight: this significantly reduces the HP of monsters that do not resist it, and has a 320 chance of killing them outright unless they have magic resistance. This effect does not anger peaceful monsters or reduce tameness in pets, and cannot ever kill monsters directly. In Hack'EM, The Eye of the Beholder also grants warning while wielded.

Attempting to eat The Eye of the Beholder (or any eyeball) will bring up a prompt asking if you are sure you want to do so.[5] If a character eats The Eye of the Beholder, they take 150–199 damage;[6] in Hack'EM, the damage is increased to 250–399 if The Eye is cursed. You can also sacrifice The Eye of the Beholder at an altar for maximum value.[7]

Strategy

The Eye of the Beholder is generally the weakest of the alignment quest artifacts: it lacks any effects outside of being invoked, and the invocation effect is of mixed viability. It can be worth keeping around to trivialize clearing out monster-filled levels and rooms such as zoos and throne rooms, though you should light up the room beforehand, e.g. with a scroll of light, wand of light or spell of light.

In Hack'EM, the Eye of the Beholder can be wielded to detect hidden hostile monsters that telepathy cannot reveal, such as trappers and lurkers above.

History

The Eye of the Beholder is partly based on The Eye of Vecna, which appears in SLASH 6, an ancestor variant to SLASH'EM. The Eye of Vecna has the same effects when invoked: it turns its icy gaze on all monsters within the character's line of sight, reducing their health to a fraction of its current amount, and attempting to invoke it with a Luck of −9 or less would instead kill the character instantly; a −3 penalty to both Luck and alignment record occurs regardless. The Eye of the Beholder retains this invoke effect, though it does not have any of the Eye of Vecna's other properties.

Origin

The name of the artifact and perhaps its entire concept are based on the aphorism, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

Messages

All that remains is a single eye...
The Beholder was killed and dropped The Eye of the Beholder.[1]
The Eye turns on you!
The Eye killed you upon invoking it.
The Eye looks around with its icy gaze!
The Eye cast its gaze upon invoking it.
You feel a deep burning inside!
You took damage from eating The Eye of the Beholder.
You offer this evil thing to <your god>...
You sacrificed The Eye of the Beholder.

See also

References