Hamsa

In dNetHack, notdNetHack, and notnotdNetHack, hamsa, sometimes also hamsa mark, is a ward which scares eye-like monsters when engraved on the floor. The hamsa is a 6-fold ward reinforced in 4 steps: The first two levels of reinforcement take 10 strokes to draw, while the third and final reinforcements take 20 and add twice as many hamsa marks. With a fast engraving tool the first and second reinforcements take 1 turn while the third and final reinforcements take 2 turns. A slow engraving tool instead takes 10 turns for the first two reinforcements, and 20 for the final two. Three-fold and five-fold wards cannot be drawn directly, but may be reinforced with 10 strokes. A hero standing on a square engraved with a hamsa ward gains gaze resistance, and additionally becomes invisible while standing on a 6-fold hamsa.

Hamsa

Hamsa

The following monsters are warded by hamsa:

• e eye or sphere
  • all e auton
  • e floating eye
  • e beholder
  • e aphanactonan assessor
  • e eye of doom
  • e many-eyed seeker
  • g grotesque peeper
  • e Jrt Netjer
  • & yochlol
  • v truth-seer
  • v dream-eater
  • ' parasitized doll

Generation

Scrolls of hamsa mark make up ⁵⁄₃₆ (~13.8%) of all randomly generated scrolls of warding. Writing a scroll of hamsa mark with a magic marker costs 8 charges. Scrolls of hamsa mark can be wished for.

Rings have a base ¹⁄₁₂ (~8.33%) chance of being generated with a ward-engraving. ¹⁄₂₄ (~4.17%) of those rings will be generated with a hamsa ward engraving. When wishing for a hamsa engraved ring, if that ring would be generated with an engraving, it will have its engraving changed to a hamsa.

The hamsa appears in spellbooks of fifth level and above. The odds of a spellbook containing a hamsa ward are:

• Level 5 spellbooks: ¹⁄₈ chance (12.5%)
• Level 6 spellbooks: ¹⁄₉ chance (~11.1%)
• Level 7 spellbooks: ¹⁄₁₂ chance (~8.33%)

Successfull prayer has a chance to teach the hamsa. If a prayer would grant an intrinsic and the hero already has intrinsic telepathy, speed, and stealth, the hamsa ward is taught.

The hamsa, along with many other wards, can be learned from the Necronomicon's option to "Study up on ancient warding signs".

Troubadours start the game with knowledge of the hamsa.

Description

The appearance of a hamsa ward have differing descriptions based on its level of reinforcement:

• single: a hamsa mark
• two-fold: a pair of hamsa marks
• four-fold: a four-handed hamsa mark
• six-fold: a six-handed hamsa mark

Three-fold (a three-handed hamsa mark) and five-fold (a five-handed hamsa mark) wards cannot normally be drawn, but may appear as a result of the ward becoming scuffed.

Both the hero and monsters benefit from gaze resistance when standing on a hamsa ward, even your own while polymorphed into a monster with a gaze attack.

Messages

Rumors

They say that the eyed palm blocks the sight of any evil creature.

The hamsa ward protects against gazes

Encyclopedia entry

Depicting the open right hand, an image recognized and used
as a sign of protection in many societies throughout history,
the hamsa is believed to provide defense against the evil eye.
The symbol predates Christianity and Islam. In Islam, is also
known as the hand of Fatima, so named to commemorate
Muhammad's daughter Fatima Zahra. Levantine Christians call it
the hand of Mary, for the mother of Jesus.
[ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ]

A hamsa mark may be drawn in 10 strokes, making it fairly quick
to engrave; however, additional pairs after the first must be
drawn togther. Up to six hamsas may be drawn in one square.