Valkyrie quest

The Valkyrie quest sees you fighting Lord Surtur for The Orb of Fate. For more information on the quest branch in general, see the quest article.

Levels
Random monsters on this Quest are generated with the following frequencies:
 * 96/175	(55%)	fire ant
 * 24/175	(14%)	random a
 * 24/175	(14%)	fire giant
 * 6/175	(3%)	random H
 * 1/7	(14%)	normal random monster

The Shrine of Destiny
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The two-way magic portal back to the Dungeons of Doom is at the marked point. The Norn occupies the point marked 'x', with a chest next to her; there are eight warriors in the Shrine with her. Distributed fairly evenly across the level are ten fire ants, with two fire giants towards the left side; there are also six fire traps randomly placed. The entire level is no-teleport and has undiggable walls and floor.

Upper filler level
This is an ice-plain level, with five fire ants, a fire giant, and one random a; nine random objects; and seven random traps.

The Cave of Surtur
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The above core of the level is surrounded by empty ice plain, with the upstair off to the lower right; note that the only entrance to the cavern is at the left side. Randomly placed around the mapped area are seventeen fire ants, seven fire giants, two random H and one random a; fifteen random objects; four fire traps, and two other random traps. The level has undiggable walls and floor. Teleportation is permitted.

Lower filler level(s)
These are lava-plain levels, with three fire ants, three fire giants, and a random a; eleven random objects; five fire traps, and two other random traps.

The Fortress of Lord Surtur
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The above core of the level is surrounded by empty lava plain. Count Dracula, with the Bell of Opening and the Stake of Van Helsing, is at the point marked 'x'; also in the mapped area are six human mummies, four vampires, two random M, and three random V; seven random objects; twelve fire traps, and two other random traps. Teleportation is permitted.

Entry
First time: You materialize at the base of a snowy hill. Atop the hill sits a place you know well, the Shrine of Destiny. You immediately realize that something here is very wrong! In places, the snow and ice have been melted into steaming pools of water. Fumaroles and pools of bubbling lava surround the hill. The stench of sulphur is carried through the air, and you  creatures that should not be able to live in this environment moving towards you.

Next time: Once again, you are near the abode of the Norn.

If already rejected twice due to bad alignment: Again you materialize near the Norn's abode. You have a nagging feeling that this may be the last time you come here.

Quest guardians
If #chatting before the quest is complete: "Hail, and well met, brave Valkyrie." "May guide your steps, ." "The Norn weakens. Without the Orb of Fate, her foresight is dim." "You must hurry,, else Ragnarok may well come." "I would deal with this foul Lord Surtur myself, but the Norn forbids it."

If #chatting after the quest is complete: "Hail, and well met, brave Valkyrie." "May guide your steps, ." "The Norn told us you had succeeded!" "You recovered the Orb of Fate just in time, ." "Hail, for delivering the Orb of Fate back to us."

Quest leader
When you first meet your quest leader: "Ah,, my daughter. You have returned to the Shrine of Destiny at last.  We are in dire need of your aid, but I must determine if you are yet ready for such an undertaking. "Let me read your fate..."

When you return, having been rejected due to lack of experience: "Let me read the future for you now,, perhaps you have managed to change it enough..."

This message is not currently used: "Again, I shall read your fate, my daughter. Let us both hope that you have made changes to become ready for this task..."

When you are expelled from the quest for having failed the alignment test seven times: "No, . Your fate is sealed.  I must cast about for another champion.  Begone from my presence, and never return.  Know this, that you shall never succeed in this life, and Valhalla is denied to you."

When being rejected due to lack of experience: "I see you and Lord Surtur fighting, . But you are not prepared and shall die at Lord Surtur's hand if you proceed.  No.  This will not do. Go back out into the world, and grow more experienced at the ways of war.  Only when you have returned a Warrior will you be able to defeat Lord Surtur."

When being rejected due to having worse than pious alignment: "NO! This is terrible.  I see you becoming an ally of Lord Surtur, and leading his armies in the final great battles.  This must not come to pass!  You have strayed from the  path.  You must purge yourself, and return here only when you have regained a state of purity."

When finally assigned the quest: "It is not clear,, for my sight is limited without the Orb of Fate. But it is now likely that you can defeat Lord Surtur, and recover the Orb of Fate. "A short time ago, Lord Surtur and his minions attacked this place. They opened the huge volcanic vents you  about the hill, and attacked. I knew that this was to come to pass, and had asked for a group of warriors to help defend this place. The few you  here are the mightiest of Valhalla's own, and are all that are left of one hundred sent. "Despite the great and glorious battle we fought, Lord Surtur managed at last to steal the Orb of Fate. This has upset the balance of the universe, and unless the Orb of Fate is returned into my care, Lord Surtur may start Ragnarok. "You must find the entrance to the cave of Surtur. Travel downward from there and you will find Lord Surtur's lair. Defeat him and return %o to me."

Encouragement
If you subsequently chat to your quest leader, you are encouraged: "Go with the blessings of ." "Call upon when you are in need." "Use the Orb of Fate if you can. It will protect you." "Magical cold is very effective against Lord Surtur." "To face Lord Surtur, you will need to be immune to fire." "May strengthen your sword-arm." "It becomes more likely that Ragnarok will come with every passing moment. You must hurry, ." "If Lord Surtur can master the Orb of Fate, he will be powerful enough to face far earlier than is fated. This must not be!" "Remember your training, . You can succeed."

Locate and goal levels
When first entering the locate level: The ice and snow gives way to a valley floor. You  ahead of you a huge round hill surrounded by pools of lava. This then is the entrance to the cave of Surtur. It looks like you're not going to get in without a fight though.

When returning: Once again, you stand before the entrance to the cave of Surtur.

When first entering the goal level: Through clouds of sulphurous gasses, you  a rock palisade surrounded with a moat of bubbling lava. You remember the description from something that the Norn said. This is the lair of Lord Surtur.

When returning: Once again, you stand in sight of Lord Surtur's lair.

Quest nemesis
When first encountering the quest nemesis: "So! The Norn has finally sent a Valkyrie to challenge me! "I thought that mastering the Orb of Fate would enable me to challenge , but it has shown me that first I must kill you! So come, little sister. Once I defeat you, I can at last begin the final battle with ."

Upon further meetings: "Again you challenge me, . Good.  I will kill you now."

And on the 4th and subsequent meetings: "Have you not learned yet? You cannot defeat Lord Surtur!"

When you have the Orb of Fate, but Lord Surtur is still alive: "I will kill you, Valkyrie, and wrest the Orb of Fate from your mangled hands."

Discouragement
Lord Surtur will occasionally utter maledictions: "I am your death, Valkyrie." "You cannot prevail, . I have foreseen your every move." "With you out of the way, Valhalla will be mine for the taking." "I killed scores of 's best when I took the Orb of Fate. Do you really think that one Valkyrie can stand against me?" "Who bears the souls of Valkyries to Valhalla, ?" "No, cannot help you here." "Some instrument of you are, . You are a weakling!" "Never have I seen a Valkyrie so clumsy in battle." "You die now, little sister." "Your body I destroy now, your soul when my hordes overrun Valhalla!"

Victory
When picking up your quest artifact: As you pick up the Orb of Fate, your mind is suddenly filled with images, and you perceive all of the possibilities of each potential choice you could make. As you begin to control and channel your thoughts, you realize that you must return the Orb of Fate to The Norn immediately.

When killing the nemesis: A look of surprise and horror appears on Lord Surtur's face. No!!! The Orb of Fate has lied to me! I have been misled! Suddenly, Lord Surtur grasps his head and screams in agony, then dies.

When returning to your quest leader: As you approach, The Norn rises and touches the Orb of Fate. "You may take the Orb of Fate with you, . I have removed from it the power to foretell the future, for that power no mortal should have.  Its other abilities, however, you have at your disposal. "You must now begin in 's name to search for the Amulet of Yendor. May your steps be guided by, my daughter."

When subsequently #chatting to the Norn with the Orb of Fate: "Careful, ! The Orb of Fate might break, and that would be a tragic loss.  You are its keeper now, and the time has come to resume your search for the Amulet.  The Dungeons of Doom await your return through the magic portal that brought you here."

Post-quest
When talking to the Norn after the quest: "Greetings, . I have not been able to pay as much attention to your search for the Amulet as I have wished.  How do you fare?"

When talking to the Norn after getting the Amulet: "Excellent, . I see you have recovered the Amulet! "You must take the Amulet to the Great Temple of, on the Astral plane. There you must offer the Amulet to. "Go now, my daughter. I cannot tell you your fate, as the power of the Amulet interferes with mine.  I hope for your success."