The Hand of Vecna (SLASH'EM)

%   The Hand of Vecna (SLASH'EM)
Base item	severed hand
Affiliation	chaotic
When carried	cold resistance half physical damage hungerless regeneration
When wielded	drain resistance
When invoked	see text
Base price	700 zm
Weight	1

The Hand of Vecna can be obtained by killing Vecna in the Chaotic Quest, provided you don't digest or disintegrate him. It is one of the most powerful Artifacts in SLASH'EM. Although it is guarded by an army of L, Z, V and Vecna himself, most adventurers go through the trouble of killing them to acquire it. Note, that you can't wish for it ("For a moment, you feel something in your hands, but it disappears!"). Same with the other two alignment quest artifacts.

If you eat the hand, you will take 150-199 damage, so this is a Bad idea. The game will have the courtesy to ask if you're sure you want to eat a severed hand, though("Are you sure you want to eat that? [ynq] (n)"). If you survive the Hand scrabbling around inside you, you gain all of 40 nutrition points("This Hand of Vecna is delicious! You feel the hand scrabbling around inside of you!"). Note that you can sacrifice the Hand at any time("You offer this evil thing to <your god>..."); this gets rid of it permanently, and thus is also a (somewhat less, admittedly) Bad Idea.

Carrying

Carried, the Hand provides cold resistance, half physical damage, and hungerless regeneration. Given that for many characters it will be the only possible source of the latter two properties, it is extremely desirable simply to have in one's inventory. Be sure not to eat or sacrifice it - a good idea is to set it to an inventory letter you are unlikely to accidentally press.

Wielding

While the Hand is certainly no weapon, for those who lack a source of drain resistance, it provides a handy way to gain it at the snap of a finger. It is quicker, in fact, than carrying an amulet of drain resistance, since you don't lose a turn (and thus possibly a level) taking anything off. While wielding it, you can then select an appropriate wand or other means to dispatch whatever monster is zapping his wand of draining at you.

Invoking

If your Luck is lower than -9 you get the following message:

"The Hand claws you with its icy nails!"

and receive 5-24 damage. Otherwise,

"Creatures from the grave surround you!"

and you summon 4-7 tame graveyard creatures. You also take a -3 penalty to Luck and alignment record.

Origin

The hand is an important artifact from Dungeons and Dragons. There too, is the severed hand of defeated Vecna. It's an original creation of D&D.

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