The Pen of the Void
) The Pen of the Void 
| |
|---|---|
| Base item | athame |
| Damage vs. small | 1d4 x2 + (special) |
| Damage vs. large | 1d3 x2 + (special) |
| To-hit bonus | +1d5 |
| Bonus versus | pen restored |
| Weapon skill | dagger |
| Size | one-handed |
| Affiliation | |
| When carried |
(none) |
| When wielded |
(special) |
| When invoked |
see article |
| Base price | 2500 zm |
| Weight | 10 |
| Material | iron |
The Pen of the Void is an artifact athame that appears in dNetHack. It is the guaranteed first sacrifice gift for the Binder, and is enhanced into their quest artifact.
Single-blade form
Before the quest nemesis is slain, the Pen is a normal athame, though it can only be enchanted to +5 and attempts to enchant the Pen beyond this point simply fail. In this form, the Pen can store one spirit (as detailed below) and has no #invoke effect. Reading the Pen will show that it was once a dual-bladed athame, but the second blade has been snapped off - for a non-Binder the Pen will always be single-bladed, as the double-bladed form can only be created by Binders that have killed Acererak, the nemesis of the Binder quest.
Dual-blade form
After the Binder slays their quest nemesis, the Pen deals double damage, can be enchanted to +10, and can store two spirits - the effects of each spirit also increase. In this form, the Pen can be #invoked to activate the Void Chime power, and reading the Pen will show that it now has both blades.
Void Chime
Invoking the restored Pen activates the Void Chime power: For the next 5 turns, any spirits stored in the blade count as being bound to the character as well, and all spirits bound to the player count as being in the Pen. While the Void Chime is sounding, breaking a spirit's taboo does not unbind it. The Void Chime also resets the cooldowns of all spirit powers.
Pen binding
If a Binder with no free slots attempts to bind a spirit while wielding the Pen of the Void, the spirit may instead be stored in the Pen. The spirit's binding timeout is set as normal, and its seal appears on the Pen. Spirits stored in the Pen modify the artifact in some way in lieu of their usual abilities, and the character is not subject to their taboos. If the Pen is single-bladed, a character may only bind one spirit inside it, while the dual-bladed Pen can store two spirits. Reading the Pen will reveal what spirits are inside it.
Spirit effects
| Spirit | Single-blade Pen effect | Dual-blade Pen effect | Ritual modifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahazu | 1⁄5 chance of subtracting 3 movement points and +1d4 damage | 1⁄5 chance of subtracting 3 movement points and +4d4 damage | |
| Amon | +1d4 fire damage | +4d4 fire damage | |
| Andrealphus | Can engrave teleport and teleport control wards | The Pen burns engravings | |
| Andromalius | Sneak attack, resist theft of weapon | Extra sneak attack damage | |
| Astaroth | +1d4 shock damage | +4d4 shock damage | The Pen must be eroded (rust or corrosion). |
| Balam | +1d4 cold damage | +4d4 cold damage | |
| Berith | Can joust, +1d4 damage to Blood Mercenary | Can shatter weapons, +4d4 damage to Blood Mercenary | |
| Buer | Heal 1d4 HP per hit | Heal 4d4 HP per hit | |
| Chupoclops | 1⁄10 chance of +1d4 damage and creating web | 1⁄10 chance of +4d4 damage and creating web | |
| Dantalion | 1⁄10 chance of +1d4 damage and probing | 1⁄10 chance of +4d4 damage and probing | |
| Echidna | +1d4 acid damage | +4d4 acid damage | |
| Eden | Damage is dealt as silver | Damage is dealt as double silver damage | |
| Enki | +1d4 water damage | +4d4 water damage | |
| Eurynome | 1⁄20 chance of counterattack | 1⁄10 chance of counterattack | |
| Eve | Pen can be launcher for any projectile | Pen has unlimited range with projectiles | |
| Fafnir | +2d4 damage versus golems, +1d4 damage versus nonliving | +8d4 damage versus golems, +4d4 damage versus nonliving | |
| Huginn and Muninn | +1d4 damage versus non-blind monsters + blinding for 1 turn | +4d4 damage versus non-blind monsters + blinding for 1 turn | |
| Iris | +1d4 wilting damage | +4d4 wilting damage | |
| Jack | Pen is a light source | Pen gains the "bright light" artifact property | |
| Malphas | 1⁄20 of killed enemies become pet crows | 1⁄10 of killed enemies become pet crows | |
| Marionette | Pen can be applied like a polearm | Pen gets 2x strength bonus | |
| Mother | 1⁄20 chance of paralysis | 1⁄5 chance of paralysis | |
| Naberius | +1d4 vs peaceful or frightened | +4d4 vs peaceful or frightened | |
| Orthos | 1⁄10 chance of +2d8 damage and knockback | 1⁄10 chance of +8d8 damage and knockback | |
| Ose | 1⁄5 chance of dealing +1d15 damage (always if target is telepathic) | 1⁄5 chance of dealing +4d15 damage (always if target is telepathic) | |
| Otiax | +1 damage and 1⁄20 chance of theft | +1d4 damage and 1⁄20 chance of theft | |
| Paimon | Gain 1 energy per hit | Gain 4 energy per hit | |
| Shiro | Throw rock at melee target | Throw boulder at melee target | |
| Simurgh | Stun target | +2d4 damage and stun target | |
| Tenebrous | 1⁄20 chance of draining level | 1⁄4 chance of draining level | |
| Ymir | Pen is poisoned | Set strength to 25 |
