-----
If thy wand hath run out of charges, thou mayst zap it again and again; though
naught will happen at first, verily, thy persistence shall be rewarded, as
one last charge may yet be wrested from it!
-----
Though the shopkeepers be wary, thieves have nevertheless stolen much by using
their digging wands to hasten exits through the pavement.
-----
If thou hast had trouble with rust on thine armor or weapons, thou shouldst
know that thou canst prevent this by, while in a confused state, reading the
magical parchments which normally are used to cause their enchantment.
Unguents of lubrication may provide similar protection, albeit of a
transitory nature.
-----
Behold the cockatrice, whose diminutive stature belies its hidden might.  The
cockatrice can petrify any ordinary being it contacts--save those wise
adventurers who eat a dead lizard or blob of acid when they feel themselves
slowly turning to stone.
-----
While some wayfarers rely on scrounging whatever armour the dungeon provides,
the resourceful know the mystical means by which scales from a dragon's hide may
be used to transform a modest armor piece into a superb one.
-----
It is customarily known among travelers that extra-healing draughts may clear
thy senses when thou art addled by delusory visions.  But never forget, the
lowly potion which makes one sick may be used for the same purpose.
-----
While the consumption of lizard flesh or water beloved of the gods may clear
the muddled head, the application of the horn of a creature of utmost purity
can alleviate many other afflictions as well.
-----
If thou wouldst travel quickly between distant locations, thou must be
able to control thy teleports, and in a confused state misread the scroll
which usually teleports thyself locally.  Daring adventurers have also
performed the same feat sans need for scrolls or potions by stepping into
a particular ambuscade.
-----
Almost all adventurers who come this way hope to pass the dread Medusa.  To
do this, the best advice is to keep thine eyes blindfolded and to cause the
creature to espy its own reflection in a mirror.
-----
And where it is written "ad aerarium", diligent searching will often reveal
the way to a trap which sends one to the Magic Memory Vault, where the riches
of Croesus are stored; however, escaping from the vault with its gold is much
harder than getting in.
-----
It is well known that wily shopkeepers raise their prices whene'er they
espy the garish apparel of the approaching tourist or the countenance of a
disfavored patron.  They favor the gentle of manner and the fair of face.
The boor may expect unprofitable transactions.
-----
The cliche of the kitchen sink swallowing any unfortunate rings that contact
its pernicious surface reflecteth greater truth than many homilies, yet
even so, few have developed the skill to identify enchanted rings by the
transfigurations effected upon the voracious device's frame.
-----
The meat of enchanted creatures ofttimes conveyeth magical properties
unto the consumer.  A fresh corpse of floating eye doth fetch a high
price among wizards for its utility in conferring Telepathy, by which
the sightless may locate surrounding minds.
-----
The detection of blessings and curses is in the domain of the gods.  They will
make this information available to mortals who request it at their places of
worship, or elsewhere for those mortals who devote themselves to the service
of the gods.
-----
At times, the gods may favor worthy supplicants with named blades whose
powers echo throughout legend.  Learned wayfarers can reproduce blades of
elven lineage, hated of the orcs, without the need for such intervention.
-----
There are many stories of a mighty amulet, the origins of which are said
to be ancient Yendor.  This amulet doth have awesome power, and the gods
desire it greatly.  Mortals mayst tap only portions of its terrible
abilities.  The stories tell of mortals seeing what their eyes cannot
see and seeking places of magical transportation, while having this
amulet in their possession.  Others say a mortal must wear the amulet to
obtain these powers.  But verily, such power comes at great cost, to
preserve the balance.
-----
It is said that thou mayst gain entry to Moloch's sanctuary, if thou
darest, from a place where the ground vibrateth in the deepest depths of
Gehennom.  Thou needs must have the aid of three magical items.  The
pure sound of a silver bell shall announce thee.  The light of an enchanted
candelabrum shall show thee the way.  The terrible runes,
read from Moloch's book, shall cause the earth to tremble mightily.
-----
In the deepest recesses of the Dungeons of Doom, guarding access to the
nether regions, there standeth a castle, wherein lieth a wand of wishes.
If thou wouldst gain entry, bear with thee an instrument of music, for the
pontlevis may be charmed down with the proper melody.  What notes comprise
it only the gods know, but a musical mastermind may yet succeed by witful
improvisation.  However, the less perspicacious are not without recourse,
should they be prepared to circumambulate the castle to the postern.
-----
The gods are said to be pleased when offerings are given to the
priests who attend their temples, and they may grant various favors to
those who do so.  But beware!  To be young and frugal is better than to
be old and miserly.
-----
The name of Elbereth may strike fear into the hearts of thine enemies, if
thou dost write it upon the ground at thy feet.  If thou maintainest the
utmost calm, thy safety will be aided greatly, but beware lest thy clumsy
feet scuff the inscription, cancelling its potence, or thy wayward
sword-arm break the truce.
-----
It is said that the great hero Jason, when he passed through this very
dungeon, was wont to master even the most devastating whims of fate and take
from them whatever was necessary for his quest.  On one occasion, having
stumbled upon a powerful magical scroll that promised to rid him of some kind
of beast forever, he chose to rid himself of dragons, fearing their breath;
but lo, upon reading the scroll, he discovered to his horror that there had
been a curse upon it, and the hero soon found himself surrounded by dragons.
It is said that he slew them all and fashioned powerful armor from their
scales, which he wore ever after.
-----
The greatest of the dwarvish armor smiths have keenly guarded the secret of
making a magical metal with remarkable properties.  Since the fall of their
great stronghold, coats of armor made of this fantastic metal, never cheap
even at the best of times, have become a rare treasure indeed.  Stronger than
iron but light enough to be comfortable even when worn over most of the body,
these mithril coats are also the equal of even the best enchanted travelers'
cloaks in terms of protection against the bites and stings of pests and the
ravages of the undead children of the night. It is said that some of the
greatest elvish smiths also learned from the dwarves of old the secret of
making these vestments.
-----
Many moons ago, a mage decided to stow her magical treasure.  Near this very
location, she cast a mighty spell, carving a space upwards through the stone.
This she filled with a labyrinth of treacherous pits, holes, monsters, and
boulders to guard her possessions against the less capable.  It is not known
what exactly she wished to protect, but she was known for her wealth in magical
rings and wands, and rumored to have come into possession of a powerful amulet
or unrivaled magical bag.
-----
Thou hast mayhaps visited the great mines on thy quest already.  Dost thou know
what the gnomes and dwarves strive for in their great labor?  The rock yields up
many glittering gems and seams of lustrous gold, the proceeds of which flow
through their subterranean town.  But thou shouldst know that there is a greater
treasure still, and a truer.  If thou shouldst chance thyself to venture into
the greater danger beneath the town, thou mayst there discover an unassuming
gray stone, light and easily hidden, the name of which is Luck in the ancient
tongue.
-----
Hast thou gained the knowledge of brewing potent tinctures and tonics?
It is an ancient and methodical art. Though many esoteric recipes prove
difficult to master, some simple potions may be crafted by means of
immersing mold into fruit extract, and thereafter allowing it to
ferment.
-----
When the great hero Diodorus sought the forge of Hephaestus, in order
to remake his father's sword, the path of his journey passed through
the land of the fire dragons.  Fearing that his father's instructions
for remaking the sword, being written on a parchment scroll, might be
burnt up in the flames of a dragon's breath, he held the scroll aloft
in his hand, pretending that it was his sword, and performed a ritual
for making a weapon proof against fire and rust.  They say that even
the god Hephaestus was confused by this gesture, and found himself
unable or unwilling to burn the scroll thereafter.
-----
If thou findst thy belongings abducted by a pernicious gray stone, hearken now
and heed the lesson of the mage who learned how to master it.  First thou must
find the location to which the stone has absconded, and retrieve it there, for
it will not vanish from its own home.  Then, thou must remove the curse that
lies on the stone, for that is the source of its mischief.  Thence forward, the
stone will only transport items of magic that are rubbed on it, without itself
vanishing. But the mage sought further, and discovered a method to befuddle the
stone into believing its home lay in a different location, so it would transport
objects there instead.  To accomplish this, thou must treat the stone with
powerful cancellation magics, and afterward dip it in the magical tonic that
heals and corrects the abilities of its its drinker to their former prowess.
