Draft:HellWell Volcano
HellWell Volcano is the twenty-level dungeon at (30, 58) in southern LOCUS. Its final level contains the Demon Emperor, whose death advances the Oracle's sequence and whose Regalia is sought by the Legion.[1]
Entrance and descent
The volcano initially appears as mountains. Search near its true location to reveal the crater. Entering releases a ridden horse and descends to the first level; it does not require the Oracle's permission.[2]
Levels use generated 64 by 64 cavern, room or maze layouts. HellWell adds twenty monsters to its ordinary level population, and its selection includes dangerous common creatures alongside fire- and demon-themed encounters. It is not a dungeon made safe by fire immunity alone.[3]
The Emperor and rewards
| Outcome | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Normal death of the Emperor | Records volcano completion for the Oracle |
| Emperor's Regalia | Unique remains required for the Legion's final promotion |
| Amulet of the Planes | Separate fixed possession dropped on normal death |
The Legion requires Colonel rank and a character level above the current Commandant's record. Delivering the Regalia consumes it, grants the Commandant office, regeneration, 20,000 Au, and two current and maximum Strength and Constitution. The amulet is not the submitted trophy.[4]
The Oracle mentions the volcano after the Astral stage. Her order of advice does not prevent entering earlier; returning to her still checks any unfinished earlier stages first.[5]
Return and re-entry
Return through the dungeon's stairs. Levels can persist while HellWell remains the current dungeon; entering another dungeon discards them. Preserve both the Regalia and any desired possessions before abandoning the dungeon.[6]
There is a 0.90.4 regeneration exception: room- and maze-style final levels omit the Emperor after recorded completion, while the cavern-style final-level placement does not check that flag. Thus a rebuilt cavern bottom can produce another Emperor; it is incorrect to promise that every completed volcano is permanently boss-free.[7]
Strategy
Prepare for varied damage, invisible and incorporeal enemies, and life drain before attempting the final level. The Emperor himself is invisible, has spirit melee and carries broad magical immunities. A method that merely banishes him does not provide the normal death flag, Regalia or dropped amulet; choose a victory method that matches the actual quest goal.[8]
For ordinary population sizes, the reachable depth-indexed selections and later wandering arrivals, see Monster generation. The first population branch can select ordinary level-4–9 creatures even on early floors; the separate indexed table does not make every entry in its source reachable within this dungeon's twenty levels.[9]
References
- ↑ lib/country.dat in Omega 0.90.4; defs.h in Omega 0.90.4, line 156; gen1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 432–443; gen2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 318–329; mon.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 344–354.
- ↑ country.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 39–46; aux3.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 709–727; aux2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 1067–1089.
- ↑ gen1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 109–125; lev.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 83–95; lev.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 166–195.
- ↑ minit.h in Omega 0.90.4, line 295; mon.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 134–203; guild1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 85–117.
- ↑ site2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 838–885; aux2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 767–784.
- ↑ gen1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 8–26; gen1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 60–129; aux2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 1043–1152.
- ↑ gen1.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 432–443; gen2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 318–329; gen2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 434–447.
- ↑ minit.h in Omega 0.90.4, line 295; itemf2.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 237–282; mmove.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 228–241.
- ↑ lev.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 78–89; lev.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 166–196; lev.c in Omega 0.90.4, lines 246–257; defs.h in Omega 0.90.4, line 156.