Mennas

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

For a list of all holy monsters, see list of holy monsters.

Mennas A
HP	100-203
HD	19
XP	4384
Speed	15
AC	15
EV	26
Will	160
Attack1	30 (hit: plain)
Attack2	20 (hit: plain)
Resistances	rElec rPois+ rMiasma rN+++ rHoly+++
Vulnerabilities	None
Habitat	Land
Intelligence	Human
Uses	Weapons & armour Starting equipment Open doors
Holiness	Holy
Size	Medium
Type	angel, angel
Flags	Fighter Flying Speaks Unique Male

There was once a human priest named Mennas. He travelled far and wide as a missionary of Zin, often venturing even into Orcish lands. He beseeched the orcs to abandon their false tribes and return to the peoples of their birth; only Zin's light could truly cleanse the weight of sin that had twisted their bodies. By all accounts the orcs were not happy with Mennas. Eventually, a group of them demanded he recant his words and when Mennas remained silent, they cut out his tongue. Whether or not this angel is that same Mennas is something of a mystery, as he seems to have difficulty speaking.

Useful Info

Mennas, the Voice of Zin is an incredibly dangerous unique angel, the only one who normally appears in the main Dungeon not locked behind a wall. He is fast, extremely durable, and disables many player abilities with Silence, making him a notorious menace to spellcasters.

Location

• The Depths:3-5
• The Vaults:2-5
• The Crypt
• The Tomb
• Pandemonium

Spells

Tile	Name	Damage	Range	Flags
	Mass Confusion	—	—	Wizard flag
	Silence	—	—	Wizard flag
	Minor Healing	2d9+3	—	Wizard flag

Tips & Tricks

• Mennas is a nasty foe. With the speed of a hasted human, it's very difficult for most species to escape once he casts Silence. Under silence, scrolls, god abilities, and all spells are unable to be used. Due to his weapon of holy wrath, Mennas is even more deadly to undead, demonspawn, and lichform players. For any character, his high durability makes him tough to kill.
  • If you see Mennas and don't think you can handle him, act immediately. You can initiate a scroll of teleport, and even if you're silenced afterwards, it will still activate. Using Haste before he's in melee range allows you to run to a nearby stairs.
  • Wands and other evocables work during silence. A wand of quicksilver, if it hits, will end the Silence spell. A phial of floods prevents him from casting Silence for a short while. Other items, such as a condenser vane or phantom mirror, can help you fight.
  • His willpower is usually too high for a wand of paralysis or the like to work, but a scroll of vulnerability with a high Evocations wand can disable him.
  • Shafts, if you happen to find one (or be a Formicid) can let you escape and adjacent Mennas.
• If you notice him without waking him up, remember that you can just walk away. Returning later with more experience and better equipment can make a huge difference (alternatively, just avoid him entirely -- you are under no obligation to kill every enemy you see).
• If you do try to fight Mennas, plan accordingly. A mid-level "tank" character should be able to overcome Mennas with haste and might. Berserk gives both effects, but if it runs out, the silence puts you in even more danger than usual. Casters have a much harder time, for rather obvious reasons.
  • Mennas' guaranteed tower shield makes him significantly more durable in combat. Use attacks that bypass shields, such as piercing, area-of-effect, or smite-targeted attacks.
  • Casters can use spells that have duration effects, such as Summoning spells (Malign Gateway, Dragon's Call) or Polar Vortex.
• Remember that he can use Mass Confusion if not currently under silence. Good willpower is important to avoid getting trapped by the silence.

Trivia

Mennas was a Catholic saint of the early Christian church. He lived in the 6th century, and was excommunicated twice (and pardoned both times).

History

• Prior to 0.28, Mennas could see invisible.
• Prior to 0.16, Mennas could not spawn in Pandemonium and knew Confusion instead of Mass Confusion.
• Prior to 0.15, worshipers of good gods would have a piety-based chance of turning Mennas neutral when they encountered him.
• Mennas was added in version 0.8.