Erinys (dNetHack)

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In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, the erinys, &, is a much different type of monster from its incarnation in NetHack. As in NetHack, erinyes are strong, lawful and humanoid always-female major demons that can be seen via infravision, will collect items such as weapons and food that they come across, and can follow a hero to other levels if they are close enough. However, they differ from both the portrayal of erinyes in NetHack 3.4.3 (which dNetHack and its variants on based on) and their appearance in NetHack 5.0.0 and later versions in several aspects—the biggest difference is that erinyes are no longer limited to 3 being generated per game.

Erinyes are capable of flying using their wings, and can use their extramission to track the hero and other monsters. They are bold monsters that can quickly recover from being scared, and can reach level 30. Erinyes can be commanded by pit fiends and Nessian pit fiends, gaining boosts to damage and accuracy. Erinyes have 3 points of 'special' DR and 13 total points of effective AC: 3 points of AC each in the 'natural' and 'special' categories, and 7 in the 'dexterity' category.

An erinys has a weapon attack and an offhand weapon attack that each deal physical damage, and she gains the ability to cast one clerical monster spell per round of attacks at level 14, while gaining a second stronger set of weapon and offhand weapon attacks at level 30. Erinyes possess fire resistance, poison resistance, drain resistance, and death resistance, and they boast expert prowess in martial combat along with a full base attack bonus of +1 to-hit per level.

Erinyes are poisonous to consume, a situation which primarily comes up if they are digested by another monster or subjected to Ahazu (which ignores the negative effects of consuming certain monsters when using its active or passive abilities). They can be warded by a fully-reinforced Elder Elemental Eye.

Generation

Erinyes are only randomly generated in Gehennom, where they can appear in small groups, and normally-created erinyes are always hostile. They are not a valid polymorph form or genocide target.

An erinys has a 3⁄4 chance of being generated among the various 'prisoners' held within the Mordor Fortress level of the Mordor Ruins Quest during level creation.

Erinyes can appear among the default prisoners placed in a throne room, as well as those ruled by a titan, Aurumach Rilmani, or the Necromancer.

Erinyes can appear among the plague victims that are carried within sacks by hill giants on the Healer quest, as well as those encountered outside sacks.

Four erinyes are generated at specific locations within the lair of Dispater during level creation if it appears as the upper Hell level. Statues of erinyes can appear among the "crazed angel" statues found inside Dispater's lair, and casting stone to flesh on the statues or otherwise animating them will turn them into live crazed erinyes.

A hostile erinys is placed in the northwestern portion of the Sanctum during level creation.

Erinyes are generated with different inventories and qualities depending on their location.

  • An erinys that is generated within the Mordor Ruins quest on any floor beyond the forest areas during level creation (e.g. the one that may appear in the Mordor Fortress) will only be generated with a set of shackles restraining her. Erinyes generated this way will always be level 14 with 56 + 7d8 HP (i.e. anywhere from 64 to 112 HP).
  • Otherwise, if they are created in Gehennom or otherwise slated for "good" equipment, they have a chance of being given one of the following equipment sets:
  1. There is a 1⁄5 chance (20%) of an equipment set consisting of a helmet, plate mail, a kite shield, a pair of gauntlets, an uncursed +0 pair of iron armored boots, and a long sword. If the erinys is created in Gehennom or slated for "good" equipment, or with a 1⁄9 chance otherwise, she will also be given a set of bands.
  2. There is a 3⁄10 chance (30%) of a helmet, chain mail, a pair of gloves, a pair of high boots, and a two-handed sword. If the erinys is created in Gehennom or slated for "good" equipment, or with a 1⁄9 chance otherwise, she will also be given a rope of entangling.
  3. There is a 3⁄10 chance (30%) of a leather helm, leather armor, a pair of gloves, a pair of high boots, a rapier, a stiletto, and a bow paired with 10–29 arrows. If the erinys is created in Gehennom or slated for "good" equipment, or with a 1⁄9 chance otherwise, she will also be given a rope of entangling.
  4. There is a 1⁄5 chance (20%) of a band, a gentlewoman's dress, Victorian underwear, a golden pair of stilettos, a pair of crystal gauntlets, and a stiletto. If the erinys is created in Gehennom or slated for "good" equipment, or with a 1⁄9 chance otherwise, she will also be given razor wire.
  • An erinys that is not created in Gehennom or with "good" equipment will always be given the third equipment set listed above.

Erinyes never leave a corpse upon death.

Origin

The Erinyes, more commonly known as the Furies, are female chthonic deities of vengeance that appeared in ancient Greek religion and folklore, and the Romans also referred to them as "Furiae" in their earthly incarnations. The Erinyes play a major part in the "Oresteia" trilogy of tragedies, especially embodying their themes of justice and revenge.

The Erinyes are commonly associated with night and darkness, and dwelled in Erebus where they heard complaints of insolence brought to them by mortals, punishing such crimes by hounding the culprits relentlessly. They were depicted as crones, with varying sources giving them various traits such as snakes for hair, dog's heads, coal black bodies, bat's wings, and blood-shot eyes. While their number is usually left indeterminate, they were often described as three maiden goddesses: Virgil in particular would recognize three named Erinyes, a number and motif which would be carried on into later literature such as the Inferno of Dante Aligheri.

Encyclopedia entry

And more he said, but I hold it not in mind because my eye had
wholly attracted me toward the high tower with the ruddy
summit, where in an instant were uprisen suddenly three
infernal furies, stained with blood, who had the limbs of
women and their action, and were girt with greenest hydras.
Little serpents and cerastes they had for hair, wherewith
their savage brows were bound.

[ Inferno, by Dante ]

These female-seeming devils named after the Furies of mythology
attack hand to hand and poison their unwary victims as well.