Allister

This article contains unmarked spoilers for Book 3.

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Allister is a former Crawler and author of the Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook (13th Edition).

Description

For Allister, the cookbook took the form of T'Ghee Cards. As T'Ghee was part of his meditation-based religion, he was able spend hours studying the cookbook's contents. He wrote a little bit in the cookbook about how T'Ghee works.^[1]

Story

Book 3

Carl uses Allister's entry on backpacks to come up with the idea to build a backpack for Katia Grim that can be equipped to increase her mass for her Doppelgänger race. ^[2]

Cookbook Entries

On Explosives

<Note added by Crawler Allister. 13th Edition> - Replying to Rosetta:

There is no longer a 15-second waiting period for removing items from inventory, so this advice is mostly moot. I can confirm that backpacks do still maintain stability. They weigh you down, however, and don’t work as well as inventory.^[3][4] <Further Notes added by Forkith#On Explosives>

From Book 4: The Gate of the Feral Gods

Marketplace Interface

<Note added by Crawler Allister, 13th Edition> - Replying to Batbilge#Final Entry:

I don't know if this is the cause, but this appears to be Batbilge's last entry into the Cookbook. I've been leaving the cards casually on my bed whenever I use the marketplace. Make sure you don't have it on you to be safe.^[1][5]

From Book 5: The Butcher's Masquerade

Vampires

<Note added by Crawler Allister. 13th Edition>

Vampires. We have vampires in my culture, but they are not the same as the ones here in the dungeon, though they are similar. My T’Ghee deck contains two vampiric forms. The Plague Bearer and the Blood Hunter. Both represent death. Both represent the end of days. But one is considered deliberate, thirst-based evil, and the other, the Plague Bearer, is a study on how one’s poor actions can ripple through time and become amplified and doom us all. The vampires here on this seventh floor are a combination of the two. It is strange that our traditions are so different yet the same.

I have not met any fellow crawlers cursed with vampirism, but I have met my fair share of vampire mobs and NPCs. The monster ones cannot be reasoned with. They are fast. Faster than you think. They are insatiable. They are strong. Yet they are not mindless. In fact, I believe the curse of vampirism greatly increases their intelligence. They cast spells. They wish to surround themselves with protectors. Do not underestimate them. Do not rely solely on your own mythology to defeat them. My best advice is to avoid them, and if they’ve moved into an area you occupy, move away as quickly as you can.^[6][7]

From Book 6: The Eye of the Bedlam Bride

Deities

<Note added by Crawler Allister, 13th Edition>

The Semeru Dwarves of the ninth floor all only worship a single goddess, who inevitably makes an appearance near the end of the battles as the final teams approach the gates of the castle of Larracos. She only has a single temple in the entire dungeon. I have never seen or heard of a crawler worshiping her. I don’t know if that’s even possible.

She is also, apparently, used as a foil during the Ascendency battles as well. She is hated by both the gods and the demons, and she’s said to be forever scheming, moving nations like pieces on a chessboard. Killing and resurrecting, all in her unknown cause. I’ve heard her described as a trickster. Insane. Jealous of mortals. The dwarves call her the Downward Spiral. An Earth and Water goddess who punishes those who abuse her world and the weakest within it. In my religion, we have a T’Ghee card that represents such a figure, called The Inevitable.

Some say she is the reason for Scolopendra’s nine-tier attack. I’ve heard one dwarf say she is the daughter of the great centipede. Another say she’s the sister. Another claimed she’s the mother. I doubt any of those are true.

Outside of Larracos, she is known by another name. She is called the Vinegar Bitch.^[8][9]

From Book 7: The Inevitable Ruin

Protection Spells & Invulnerability

<Note added by Crawler Allister, 13th Edition>

There are several types of protection spells. All have their pros and cons. Invulnerability is generally the best. It's most difficult to obtain, and there are a few varieties. There's one that heals you rapidly. That one is quite effective, but it won't protect you from decapitation or getting yourself blown into atoms or anything else that would generally induce instant death. Straight "Immortality," however, will protect you from such things. This is oftentimes a temporary boon from a god. it will toughen you and will protect you from losing health and dying. It is the same protection the gods themselves normally enjoy. It will save you from losing limbs. It will keep you alive in just about any circumstance. It prevents a health bar from forming at all.

What immortality does not do is protect you from pain. It does not protect you from some spell effects. And while you won't lose body parts, and your body is significantly more durable, you can still break things internally with enough force. I watched a group of Immortal Rats swarm another crawler's barge, and they had to crush them with hammers to keep them at bay. Their little demon heads were crushed, and yet they still struggled to attack. Those pained squeals still haunt me.

So, be warned. If you are immortal, any injuries you sustain will heal, but you need to make certain they heal before the immortality wears off, especially injuries that would be otherwise fatal. And if you can, you should couple your immortality with a Numb spell.

Pain with no respite takes its own toll. I have a card in my T'Ghee deck. The Open Wound. She teaches us that all suffering leaves scars. As such, the Immortality condition scares me.Dinniman, Matt. This Inevitable Ruin (Chapter 54)

References

ALL CHARACTERS
Royal Court	Carl • Donut • Mordecai • Mongo • Samantha • Sir Rendlegore
Aliens	All Aliens • Dungeon Admins • Former Crawlers • God Sponsors
Crawlers	Earth Crawlers • Former Crawlers • Former Cookbook Authors
Earth	All Earth Characters • Earth Crawlers
NPCs	All NPCs • Bosses • Deities • Demons • Desperado Club Employees • Pets

Mechanics: Bosses • Crawlers • Elites • NPCs

Keyword Definitions: Feral • Vorpal