quest.txt format

quest.txt is a text data file residing in the NetHack source dat-directory. It contains text messages for the quest leaders, nemeses and guardians to say, and other texts related to the quests. It also contains angelic and demonic maledictions.

List of quest messages

Number	In-code name	Description
00001	QT_FIRSTTIME	The message that is displayed the first time you pass through the magic portal to the quest branch.
00002	QT_NEXTTIME	The message that is subsequently displayed each time you reenter the quest branch, until you obtain the quest artifact, or are expelled.
00003	QT_OTHERTIME	The message that is displayed if you enter the quest after having failed the alignment test too many times. This is an indication that the next time you meet your quest leader, you will be expelled from the quest and the portal to the branch will disappear.
00005 - 00009	QT_GUARDTALK	"5 random things guards say before quest". The five messages that quest guardians can say if you #chat to them before you have retrieved the quest artifact.
00010 - 00014	QT_GUARDTALK2	"5 random things guards say after quest". The five messages that quest guardians can say after you have obtained the quest artifact.
00015	QT_FIRSTLEADER	This message appears the first time you meet your quest leader. It is followed by a second one indicating if you have permission to embark on the quest, and, if not, the reason for your rejection.
00016	QT_NEXTLEADER	Later greetings from your quest leader. As with #00015, this is followed up by a second message indicating whether you are ready to go on the quest or not.
00017	QT_OTHERLEADER	This message is not used in the current version of NetHack. It appears to be an alternative to #00016, perhaps used if the player has enough experience but has not passed the alignment test. At present, #00016 is used regardless of the reason for not allowing the player to proceed.
00018	QT_LASTLEADER	This is what your quest leader says when you are permanently expelled from the quest for failing the alignment test too many times. It is immediately followed by your expulsion to the Dungeons of Doom and the removal of the portal leading to the quest branch.
00019	QT_BADLEVEL	This is what your quest leader says when you are rejected due to inexperience. The quest leader says that you are not experienced enough to face the nemesis, and sends you back to the Dungeons of Doom to continue your training. In some quests the leader is helpful enough to tell you the name of the minimum rank you need (always corresponding to levels 14–17) to embark on the quest.
00020	QT_BADALIGN	This is what your quest leader says when you are rejected due to less than pious alignment. Often includes a reference to your starting alignment to hint at what monsters you should kill or what actions you can take to reach an acceptable alignment. Following this, you are sent back to the Dungeons of Doom, but the portal to the quest branch is not removed, so you can return and try again.
00021	QT_ASSIGNQUEST	This is what your leader says when finally assigning you the quest. One of the longer pieces of text, this tends to provide some backstory to the quest and gives the names of the quest artifact, the quest nemesis, and often the nemesis's in-story place of residence.
00025 - 00034	QT_ENCOURAGE	Until you complete the quest, chatting with or standing beside your quest leader will return one of these ten messages. Often these are just for flavor, but sometimes these include hints about how to find or defeat the quest nemesis.
00035	QT_FIRSTLOCATE	This message is displayed the first time you reach the intermediate or "locate" level of the quest. Often it just provides flavor, but sometimes it hints at special dangers on the level.
00036	QT_NEXTLOCATE	This is the message that is displayed each time you return to the locate level, until the nemesis is killed.
00040	QT_FIRSTACQUIRE	This message is displayed the first time you reach the final level of the quest branch, the one on which you first meet the quest nemesis.
00041	QT_NEXTACQUIRE	This message is displayed each time you return to the goal level, until the nemesis is killed.
00050	QT_FIRSTNEMESIS	This message is displayed the first time you attract the nemesis's attention.
00051	QT_NEXTNEMESIS	This message is displayed on the second and third times you meet the nemesis.
00052	QT_OTHERNEMESIS	This message is displayed on subsequent encounters with the nemesis.
00053	QT_NEMWANTSIT	If you have somehow obtained the quest artifact without killing the nemesis, this is what the nemesis will say while the item is in your possession.
00060 - 00069	QT_DISCOURAGE	"1-10 random maledictive messages" from the quest nemesis. Some of these messages may be displayed as the nemesis attacks you, similar to angelic and demonic maledictions.
00070	QT_GOTIT	This message is displayed the first time the artifact enters your possession, whether the nemesis has been destroyed or not.
00080	QT_KILLEDNEM	This message is displayed when the nemesis is destroyed.
00081	QT_OFFEREDIT	Your quest leader greets you with this message when #chatted to after you obtain the quest artifact. Often this includes a statement that you are permitted to keep the artifact.
00082	QT_OFFEREDIT2	This message is displayed if you throw the quest artifact at your quest leader. The artifact will immediately return to your inventory.
00090	QT_POSTHANKS	This is what your quest leader says if #chatted to after acknowledging that you have the artifact and before you have the Amulet. Often this makes reference to your mission to get the Amulet.
00091	QT_HASAMULET	This is what your quest leader says if #chatted to while the Amulet is in your possession. Often this includes instructions on how to reach the Astral Plane and offer the Amulet to your deity.

Text replacement formatting

The messages can contain special characters that will be replaced at run-time with some other data. For example in a string "Hello, %p" the "%p" would be replaced by the player's name.

Code	Explanation
%p	Player's name
%c	Player's role, e.g. "Archeologist"
%r	Player's current rank title, e.g. "Field Worker"
%R	Rank title required to get on the quest.
%s	"sister" or "brother"
%S	"daughter" or "son"
%l	Name of the quest leader
%i	Name of the intermediate level, e.g. "the Tomb of the Toltec Kings"
%o	Name of the quest artifact
%n	Name of the quest nemesis
%g	Name of the quest guardians
%G	"god" or "goddess", depending on player's original alignment
%H	Name of the quest home level
%a	Player's original alignment
%A	Player's current alignment
%d	Player's original god
%D	Name of the lawful god
%C	"chaotic"
%L	"lawful"
%N	"neutral"
%x	"see", or "sense" if player is blind
%Z	Name of the first dungeon ("Dungeons of Doom")
%%	"%"

The special replacement codes above can be immediately followed by some modifiers. For example "%NC" would show "Neutral" - %N shows normally "neutral", but the modifier C capitalizes the first letter.

Formatting code modifiers
Code	Explanation
A	Prefix with "A " or "An "
a	Prefix with "a " or "an "
C	Capitalize the first letter
p	Pluralize
P	Pluralize and capitalize the first letter
s	Append possessive suffix
S	Append possessive suffix and capitalize the first letter
t	Remove "the " prefix

• Source:NetHack_3.6.0/dat/quest.txt

This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.

It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.4.3. Information on this page may be out of date.

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