Norn
@ Norn 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 24 |
| Attacks |
Weapon 4d10, weapon 4d10 |
| Base level | 20 |
| Base experience | 588 |
| Speed | 15 |
| Base AC | 0 |
| Base MR | 90 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | Unique |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 1450 |
| Nutritional value | 400 |
| Size | Medium |
| Resistances | Cold |
| Resistances conveyed | None |
|
The Norn:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line3170 |
The Norn, @, is the Valkyrie quest leader. She is a strong, omnivorous human that can be seen via infravision. Unlike the warriors that serve as quest guardians, the Norn is neutral in alignment, though she will become lawful if the player Valkyrie starts as lawful herself.
The Norn has two weapon attacks. Like the player and player monster Valkyries, she possesses cold resistance.
Generation
The Norn is placed within the center of the Shrine of Destiny, the Valkyrie quest home level, with a chest on the adjacent square east of her. The Norn always generates with +5 banded mail and a +4 long sword.
Strategy
If the Norn begins moving before you are fully admitted to the Quest, which can occur if a character reaches a square adjacent to her with very fast and chats, it is possible (albeit unlikely) that she can step on a fire trap in the ice and drown. Prior to NetHack 5.0.0, this would render the game unwinnable due to the quest leader's death preventing entry into the quest; with the implementation of quest changes that open the way down if the leader dies, it's mostly amusing.
History
The Norn first appears with most other quest leaders in NetHack 3.1.0. NetHack 5.0.0 updates all quest leaders to be fiercer opponents, granting The Norn her more robust starting equipment.
Origin
The Norns (Old Norse norn, plural nornir) are deities in Norse folklore that are responsible for shaping the course of human destinies. The origin of the name is uncertain and may derive from a word meaning "to twine", which would refer to their twining the thread of fate; the name is also suggested to be related to the Swedish dialect word norna (nyrna), a verb that means "secretly communicate" - this relates to the perception of Norns as shadowy, background figures that only reveal their secrets to people whose fates come to pass.
In the Völuspá, the best known poem of the Poetic Edda, three particular Norns - Urðr (Wyrd) of the past, Verðandi of the present, and Skuld of the future - are described as powerful maiden jötnar whose arrival from Jötunheimr ended the golden age of the gods. The trio draws water from their sacred well to nourish Yggdrasil, the tree at the center of the cosmos, and prevent it from rotting. Pre-Christian Scandinavians also attested to additional Norns who visit a newborn child in order to determine the person's future; these Norns could be malevolent and cause tragic events in the world, or be benevolent and protective.
Messages
Variants
Some variants make the Norn and other quest leaders stronger to accommodate changes to the Quest and its entry mechanics, and these changes may be incorporated into upcoming versions of NetHack or else be borrowed from them.
SporkHack
In SporkHack, the Norn's difficulty is increased to 24. Her speed becomes 15, her MR score becomes 90, and she has two 4d10 weapon attacks. She also gains flight, sleep resistance, poison resistance, and stoning resistance.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, the Norn's 10 points of AC are all in the protection category.
xNetHack
In xNetHack, the Norn's stats and difficulty are improved as in SporkHack, minus the flight and resistances.
SpliceHack
In SpliceHack, the Norn's stats are improved as in xNetHack, excluding difficulty.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, the Norn's stats and resistances are improved as in SporkHack, minus the flight.
The Norn always generates with +4 banded mail and a +4 long sword. If Gjallar is successfully wished for by a non-Valkyrie, there is a x⁄x+1 chance (where x is the amount of previous artifact wishes) of a hostile Norn generating adjacent to the character with the artifact in her possession.
All of the above information also applies to Hack'EM.
Encyclopedia entry
The Norns were the three Norse Fates, or the goddesses of fate.
Female giants, they brought the wonderful Golden Age to an end.
They cast lots over the cradle of every child that was born,
and placed gifts in the cradle. Their names were Urda,
Verdandi, and Skuld, representing the past, the present, and
the future. Urda and Verdandi were kindly disposed, but Skuld
was cruel and savage. Their tasks were to sew the web of
fate, to water the sacred ash, Yggdrasil, and to keep it in
good condition by placing fresh earth around it daily. In her
fury, Skuld often spoiled the work of her sisters by tearing
the web to shreds.
Nations by Herbert Spencer Robinson and Knox
