Pentagram

In dNetHack, notdNetHack, and notnotdNetHack, the pentagram is a ward which scares some monsters when engraved on the floor. Pentagrams can be reinforced up to 7-fold, with each level of reinforcement taking 10 strokes to draw. With a fast engraving tool each reinforcement takes 1 turn, or 10 turns with a slow engraving tool. It gains no secondary effects at higher levels of reinforcement.

The following monsters are warded by pentagrams:

• E elemental
• demons, including:
  • all i minor demon
• other monsters:
  • g gargoyle
  • g winged gargoyle
  • & djinni
  • & sandestin
  • : salamander

Generation

Scrolls of pentagram make up ⁵⁄₃₆ (~13.9%) of all randomly generated scrolls of warding. Writing a scroll of pentagram with a magic marker costs 8 charges. Scrolls of pentagram can be wished for.

Rings engraved with a pentagram do not randomly generate. Rings have a base ¹⁄₁₂ chance of being generated with a ward-engraving. When wishing for a pentagram engraved ring, if that ring would be generated with an engraving, it will have its engraving changed to a pentagram.

Pentagrams only appear in spellbooks of level 5 and above.

The odds of a spellbook containing a pentagram ward are:

• Level 5 spellbooks: ¹⁄₈ chance
• Level 6 spellbooks: ¹⁄₉ chance
• Level 7 spellbooks: ¹⁄₁₂ chance

Maids have a ¹⁄₅ chance of drawing a pentagram on the floor when sending cursed items they come across to the vibrating square level. "U G I EI A" and a semi-permanent ink pentagram are drawn on the floor as part of the banishment ritual. These can then be used to learn the ward for yourself.

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

Description

Standing on a square with a pentagram engraved prevents Pale Night's seduction attack.

Pentagrams appear as "x-fold pentagram" on the floor.

Hallucinatory objects will sometimes appear as a "pentagram of protection". These items do not gain any warding effects.

Messages

The maid banishes the unholy object to hell.

You saw a maid sent a cursed object to the sanctum level.

Rumors

They say that demons and elementals cannot pass a pentagram.

All demons and E elementals are warded by pentagrams.

Encyclopedia entry

The pentagram was probably discovered as a result of
astronomical research in the Euphrates-Tigris region about
6,000 years ago. Isolated pentagrams have been found on broken
fragments of burned clay in Palestine, in layers dating from
around 4000 B.C. It was a common sign among the Sumerians around
2700 B.C. Some of those who have conducted research of symbols
believe the pentagram was used by the Sumerians as a cosmic
symbol representing the four corners of the earth and the vault
of the heavens. This, however, seems a bit far-fetched.

After the Sumerian time there is no clear evidence as to what
the pentagram might have meant until the sign appears in
Pythagorean mysticism, where it represents Hugieia ("health")
and the five hidden cavities.

The pentagram also symbolizes the five elements, and authority
over the same. King Solomon was given a ring with a pentagram
seal that gave him authority over demons and djinn.
[ Adapted from symbols.com, the online encyclopedia of
Western signs and ideograms;
and from Wikipedia ]

The pentagram is drawn with 10 strokes, and can be drawn
fairly quickly. It may be reinforced up to seven times.