lore: update

data/des/des-main.des

@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ ability to resist hostile enchantments.
 
 % head_tiara_gold
 An elegant and lightweight golden crown. The gold is linked to a Necromancer's
-shrine, allowing the wearer to channel the Necromancer's power.
+shrine, allowing the wearer to channel the power of the unseen world.
 
 
 Unfortunately, wearing all that gold close to your head sharply curtails your
@@ -54,17 +54,18 @@ A mask made of green silus.
 A hood made of green silus chainmail.
 
 % sword
-A longsword, the razor-sharp edges glimmering reassuringly in the gloomy
-atmosphere of the Dungeon.
+A slightly-curve sword of cave-goblin craft. Although mostly intended for
+sporting and ceremonial purposes, it is still very much capable as a lethal
+weapon.
 
 % bone_sword
-A longsword of ancient bone. It is wound about with a curse to inflict more
-damage on the living, but less on the undead.
+A longsword of ancient bone, held together by an unseen power. It is wound
+about with spells to inflict more damage on the living, but less on the undead.
 
 % monk_spade
 A self-defense polearm, with a U-shaped piece of metal on one end and a blade
-on the other. Often used by travelers in these parts to deter bandits and wild
-animals.
+on the other. It is often used by travelers in these parts to deter bandits and
+wild animals.
 
 % martial_sword
 A strangely curved foreign longsword. You can attack enemies multiple times in a
@@ -74,21 +75,13 @@ turn with this, if you're skilled enough.
 An medium-sized double-edged knife, useful for stabbing foes.
 
 % bone_dagger
-A shortsword of ancient bone. It is wound about with a curse to inflict more
+A shortsword of ancient bone. It is wound about with spells to inflict more
 damage on the living, but less on the undead.
 
 % dagger_gold
 A ceremonial dagger of pure gold, layered in blue and black metal in intricate
 patterns. Its weight makes it highly impractical in combat.
 
-% stiletto
-A long dagger, ending in a razor-sharp point but with rather dull edges. It
-works very well for stabbing unaware enemies.
-
-% bone_stiletto
-A stiletto carved out of ancient bone. It is wound about with a curse to inflict
-more damage on the living, but less on the undead.
-
 % rapier
 A very long needle-like dagger, ending in an incredibly sharp edge, but with
 blunt edges. Its general design, especially the handle, is uncommonly elegant.
@@ -98,7 +91,7 @@ The leaden head on this heavy mace menaces with hardened steel flanges.
 
 % bone_mace
 A mace with a head of solid bone, unnaturally heavy. It is wound about with a
-curse to inflict more damage on the living, but less on the undead.
+spell to inflict more damage on the living, but less on the undead.
 
 % great_mace
 The leaden head on this heavy mace menaces with hardened steel flanges. Its
@@ -107,7 +100,7 @@ hits.
 
 % bone_great_mace
 An evil mace crafted for the bane of the Necromancer's enemies. It is wound
-about with a curse to inflict more damage on the living, but less on the undead.
+about with spells to inflict more damage on the living, but less on the undead.
 
 % shadow_maul
 This slade-shod maul seems curiously detached from your surroundings, as though
@@ -187,7 +180,7 @@ instead of through you.
 
 % aux_miners_map
 A metal device typically used by miners to navigate the widespread cave systems
-beneath Ir Traummisem and Ir Lehurenkrun.
+beneath Irtraummisem and Irlehurenkrun.
 
 % aux_dispel_undead
 A powerful and mysterious artifact, of which only a few were found when the
@@ -198,10 +191,12 @@ When worn, adjacent undead, both friendly and hostile, will take damage each
 turn.
 
 % aux_buckler
-A simple wooden buckler. Not much to say about it.
+A simple hill-goblin buckler overlaid with leather and a thin sheet of metal.
+Not much to say about it.
 
 % aux_shield
-An oval wooden shield, faced with leather. It is, unfortunately, unwieldy to use.
+An oval wooden shield, faced with leather. It is, unfortunately, unwieldy for
+you to use.
 
 % aux_shield_earthen1
 A large shield made of some black metal, exceedingly lightweight. In the
@@ -261,7 +256,7 @@ It will create an explosion with a radius of about 3 tiles.
 Could be useful.
 
 % drain
-Crawling into this will make you teleport to another place. Hopefully.
+Crawling into this will let you escape to another opening. Hopefully.
 
 % candle
 A massive, ornate altar of pure gold. Engraved on its glittering surface are
@@ -272,15 +267,11 @@ on the surface.
 A pressure plate with some copper connected to it.
 
 % evoc_symbol
-A plain staff carved of some light-colored wood, but unnaturally heavy.
-A maddening low-pitched hum emanates from the center when you lift it.
+A plain staff carved of some light-colored but unnaturally heavy wood. A
+maddening low-pitched hum emanates from the center when you lift it. Gold
+rivets adorn both sides.
 
-% cons_coal
-You can cauterise your wounds with this coal. Only useful if you have fire
-resistance (rFire).
-
-
-The damage from this item is never lethal.
+% Yes, it was bored through and filled with gold, which is why it's so heavy.
 
 % cons_spectral_orb
 An ethereal orb, a web of shimmering patterns glowing eerily within.
@@ -300,10 +291,6 @@ Creates a sparkling trap, which releases a pack of allied sparkling when
 triggered. Be careful: the sparklings are not mindful of what they may
 electrocute.
 
-% torturer_necromancer
-A particularly sadistic death mage. His features are perpetually twisted into a
-leer of cruel contempt.
-
 % potion_blind
 Upon opening, the reddish liquid will immediately vaporize into noxious smoke
 that inflame and irritate the eyes.
@@ -419,9 +406,6 @@ besides its gruesome hobby.
 % watcher
 A unarmed guard.
 
-% warden
-The Dungeon warden. It will call for help with its warning horn if it spots you.
-
 % guard
 He seems to fear no danger, or he would be wielding something better than his
 bludgeon.
@@ -443,8 +427,8 @@ hired from the villages surrounding the hill-goblin's central forest city. He's
 been outfitted with the cave-goblin's shock prods and enforcer chains.
 
 % lead_turtle
-A monstrous contraption, no doubt the latest invention of the Laboratory
-alchemists. Its heavy shell shines dully in the dim light.
+A monstrous contraption of mechanical drums, gears, and copper wires. Its heavy
+shell shines dully in the dim light.
 
 % iron_wasp
 A tiny buzzing insect, seemingly forged out of thin metal sheets. It's almost as
@@ -465,9 +449,10 @@ Always remember that you are completely unique. Just like everyone else.
 A cave-goblin prisoner.
 
 % convult
-A foul apprentice mage, specializing in the manipulation of emotions. His craft,
-however, has caused him to lose control over his own, and now his features
-writhe and contort with irrepressible hatred.
+An strange mage newly come from far in the North, specializing in the
+manipulation of emotions. His craft, however, has caused him to lose control
+over his own, and now his features writhe and contort with irrepressible
+hatred.
 
 % vapour_mage
 He does not appear particularly resilient on his own.
@@ -503,10 +488,11 @@ A learned hill-goblin tasked with studying, manipulating, and duplicating the
 arcane cave-goblin arts that fill this city.
 
 % cleaner
-This slave is tasked with keeping the floor of the Dungeon spotless.
+This inexperienced hill-goblin is tasked with keeping the floor of the Dungeon
+spotless.
 
 % hauler
-A very ordinary Dungeon slave, doing very ordinary hauling work.
+A very ordinary goblin, doing very ordinary hauling work.
 
 % ancient_mage
 Even the most powerful of human mages cannot hope to wield the full might of the
@@ -529,10 +515,7 @@ A rather stocky hill-goblin, wearing a maroon tunic. He is tasked with leading
 a band of emberlings, and can release more from the wooden cases he carries.
 
 % brimstone_mage
-This unassuming human is a dreaded Brimstone Mages, one of the many powerful
-mages who led the initial assault on this city. Learned in the ways of the
-Necromancer's command over fire, the ornate lettering on their armor testifies
-to the power they have been allowed to wield.
+A powerful human mage, specializing in the manipulations of fire and heat.
 
 % stalker
 A small flying creature, its four wings humming ominously as it follows you at
@@ -545,10 +528,6 @@ The necromancy experiment of some apprentice bone mage.
 % bloat
 A bloated, rotting corpse.
 
-% thrashing_sculptor
-A hideous mass of writhing bones and sundry body parts, created by some
-braindamaged death mage.
-
 % skeleton
 A mouldering skeleton, imbued with a parody of life.
 
@@ -570,14 +549,17 @@ A competent and highly trained infantry-goblin wearing a battle cuirass.
 He is tasked with liquidating escaped prisoners, like you.
 
 % bone_mage
-Although not as experienced as the dreaded Death Mages they are apprenticed to,
+Although not as experienced as the feared Death Mages they are apprenticed to,
 they are quite capable of killing you all the same.
 
 % death_knight
 His bone longsword is inscribed with crude engravings of torment and death.
 
 % death_mage
-A human mage, specializing in the manipulations of undead skeletons.
+This unassuming human is one of the dreaded Death Mages, who led the initial
+assault on this city. Learned in the Necromancer's command over life and death,
+the ornate lettering on their armor testifies to the power they have been
+permitted to wield.
 
 % skeletal_blademaster
 A vicious and surprisingly durable skeleton, decked in royal robes and armed to
@@ -586,8 +568,8 @@ enemy morale during battles. Battles are slow in coming, however, so you'll just
 have to do for now...
 
 % necromancer
-An unusually sadistic death mage, his features perpetually twisted into a leer
-of cruel contempt.
+A particularly sadistic death mage. His features are perpetually twisted into a
+leer of cruel contempt.
 
 % burning_brute
 A raging winged demon composed of boiling basalt, feared even by its peers for
@@ -606,8 +588,8 @@ Engraved on this deathly white spire are the words: "Gyil gimboredru
 Gyilthor-drauglâ".
 
 % sentry_spire
-A segmented wooden spire, resting on cast iron supports. A single black pupil,
-fashioned out of ceramic, rests on its top.
+A segmented wooden spire, resting on cast iron supports. A single unmoving
+pupil, crafted out of black ceramic, rests on its top.
 
 % spec_totem
 You cannot tell whether it is a living being, or if its functions are purely
@@ -621,10 +603,18 @@ An invisible Presence that stalks the dungeon, clothed in unapproachable
 darkness.
 
 % slinking_terror
-It was awake even before the first breaking of the primordial silence.
+It was awake, lord of the most desolate and hidden parts of the earth, even
+before the first breaking of the primordial silence.
 
 % creeping_death
 If you're seeing this message, please tell kiedtl.
+% An apparition of indescribable likeness and proportions, seeming both
+% hideously enormous and diminutive at once. Although its overall shape
+% might resemble that of a four-legged beast, the more you strain to see its
+% individual features, the more it withers and dissipates into maddening
+% illusions, only to reform just outside of your direct vision. Seeing it, you
+% dimly recall strange legends of it from your homeland, and the terror it
+% wrecked on impious trespassers and would-be worshippers alike.
 
 % sp_hasten_undead
 Hasten a nearby undead ally, making them twice as fast.

data/des/des-old.des

@@ -11,6 +11,14 @@ The silver pole is topped with a solid piece of bone, carved into an axe-head.
 It is wound about with a curse to inflict more damage on the living, but less on
 the undead.
 
+% stiletto
+A long dagger, ending in a razor-sharp point but with rather dull edges. It
+works very well for stabbing unaware enemies.
+
+% bone_stiletto
+A stiletto carved out of ancient bone. It is wound about with a curse to inflict
+more damage on the living, but less on the undead.
+
 % evoc_brazier_wand
 This wand can fire a beam of electricity at a light source, disabling it.
 
@@ -62,3 +70,16 @@ A sphere of pure electricity, encased in a shell of burning sulfur. It will seek
 out nearby conductive creatures, hostile or not, before exploding in a blast of
 fire and lightning.
 
+% cons_coal
+You can cauterise your wounds with this coal. Only useful if you have fire
+resistance (rFire).
+
+
+The damage from this item is never lethal.
+
+% warden
+The Dungeon warden. It will call for help with its warning horn if it spots you.
+
+% thrashing_sculptor
+A hideous mass of writhing bones and sundry body parts, created by some
+braindamaged death mage.