| True Strength ( [ ) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Item Type | Girdle |
| Artifact? | Yes |
| Weight | 20s |
| Danger Level | N/A |
| Material | Iron |
True Strength is one of the three artifact girdles in the game. In its unidentified form it appears as a platinum girdle.
The girdle provides tremendous defensive capabilities (+18 DV and +9 PV), gives the lucky and Fate Smiles intrinsics, and directly increases the PC's Luck. It grants regeneration and provides death ray, poison, and confusion resistances. Finally, the girdle increases both speed and Willpower by 15 points.
True Strength can only be received when the PC first arrives on D:50 and only if the PC in question is a Paragon of Order — a crowned champion of Law who has never committed a chaotic act.
The girdle not only requires the PC to be a Paragon of Order to appear, but demands that the PC stays so. Committing a chaotic act triggers drastic consequences when the girdle is equipped, even if it was not equipped when committing said act.
The following effects are applied to the PC when the girdle is equipped on a fallen Paragon of Order or the PC becomes a fallen Paragon while the girdle is equipped:
- True Strength becomes permanently attached to the PC's body. This effect is similar but not the same as autocursing. There is no way to remove the girdle afterwards.
- The PC receives a -1000 melee to-hit penalty, which prevents him/her from hitting anything at all, save for the occasional automatic hit. Curiously, this penalty also applies if the girdle is wielded as a melee weapon (which doesn't trigger any of the other effects).
- Each turn True Strength will squeeze the PC for around 20-30 damage.
- Each turn True Strength will reduce the PC's Dexterity by 1 point.
The PC may be able to survive the damage with continuous healing, but the disadvantages of such a situation are obvious. If the PC dies from the squeezing damage, a unique death message (was squished by the mark of the fallen paragon) is generated. If the PC manages to exit the Drakalor Chain, the extra score for achieving Paragon of Order status is obviously forfeited.
Since True Strength gives the PC regenerative abilities, it is possible to survive indefinitely while traveling in the wilderness, since the squeezing damage (unlike healing) doesn't seem to be extended.
Desirability[]
It's the best girdle in terms of stats and special properties, but it can only be generated at the very end of the game. The challenge of avoiding any chaotic action is usually greater than the challenge of clearing D:50 without it.
Guaranteed/Common sources[]
Only granted to Paragons of Order as soon as they first enter D:50.
Greater Identify information[]
--- platinum girdle "True Strength" (+3, +0) [+18, +9] {Wi+15} (+15 spd) ---
Weight: 20s
The blessed platinum girdle is actually a blessed platinum girdle "True
Strength" (+3, +0) [+18, +9] {Wi+15} (+15 spd).
When worn it modifies DV by +18 and PV by +9.
When used in melee combat it grants a +3 bonus to hit and causes 1d2+3
points of damage. When used as a missile it grants a +0 bonus to hit and
causes 1d2 points of damage.
It increases your luck.
It causes your wounds to regenerate.
It modifies your willpower attribute by +15.
It modifies your speed by +15.
It grants resistance to poison.
It grants luck.
It makes Fate smile upon you.
It grants resistance to death attacks.
It grants resistance to confusion attacks.