The Illiterate
by Dr. Zed

Class: While primarily a Sorcerer variant, any class would be allowed. It just won't be as challenging for the other classes as it is for the Sorcerer.
Tag: Ilit

Introduction

Main Entry: il·lit·er·ate
Pronunciation: i·lit'er·it
Function: Adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin illiteratus, from in- + litteratus literate
Date: 15th century

1) Having little or no education; especially : unable to read or write
2a) Showing or marked by a lack of familiarity with language and literature
2b) Violating approved patterns of speaking or writing
3) Showing or marked by a lack of acquaintance with the fundamentals of a particular field of knowledge

Synonym: see IGNORANT
- il·lit·er·ate noun
- il·lit·er·ate·ly adverb
- il·lit·er·ate·ness noun

Rules

The rules are simple: You can't read books or scrolls.

Anything else is acceptable.

Since a Sorcerer starts with Fire Bolt, they can use it. This doesn't give them the ability to read books to increase it.

However, they are free to hit any shrine, so it is possible for them to learn Charged Bolt, Fire Bolt and Holy Bolt. If they manage to learn all three, they will be able to use enchanted shrines to increase their spell levels. Nothing is preventing them from using enchanted shrines without knowing all three spells, but with only one or two spells, the shrine will be of little use.

Of course, they may use spell staves. A staff of town portal would be a very nice find.

Quests

Primary Ranks
Hoofer: A Hoofer is any Illiterate that doesn't have a staff of Town Portal. A starting Illiterate is a Hoofer.
Portalist: An Illiterate who owns a staff of Town Portal is a Portalist. If they lose the staff, they go back to being a Hoofer.

Secondary Ranks
of the first circle: An Illiterate with only one known spell (Fire Bolt) is an Illiterate of the first circle. (e.g. A starting Illiterate would be a Hoofer of the first circle.)
of the second circle: An Illiterate with only two known spells is an Illiterate of the second circle.
of the fifth circle: All Illiterate with all of the spells (fire bolt, charged bolt and holy bolt) is an Illiterate of the fifth circle.

Master Ranks
All of the Master Ranks require solo combat. To qualify as solo combat, no other player is allowed to activate, distract fight, or otherwise affect any of the monsters involved in achieving the rank, up to the point where the rank has been gained. A solo game is, of course, ideal.

Also, to achieve a Master Rank, the combat must be performed without casting a spell from a staff. Using a staff for melee purposes is fine. The restriction on not casting from a staff starts when the first monster involved is activated and ends when the rank is achieved.

Hi-Mage
To become a high-mage, an Illiterate must fight and kill King Leoric and his followers in solo combat. Once King Leoric is dead, the Illiterate becomes a Hi-mage. Hi-mage supersedes the other primary ranks, so a Hi-Mage with a staff of town portal and only two known spells is a Hi-Mage of the Second Circle.

(e.g. An Illiterate is co-oping when he asks another player to open a town portal. If they respond, "Are you a Hoofer?", the Illiterate can feel free to respond, "No, I'm a Hi-Mage. Now can you please open a portal....").

Arc-Mage
To become an Arc-Mage, an Illiterate must fight Lazarus and company (the other monsters which start in his room) in solo combat. Once Lazarus is dead, the Illiterate becomes an Arc-Mage. The rank of Arc-Mage supersedes both primary and secondary ranks. Therefore, an Arc-Mage's full rank will always be Arc-Mage.