Shedu

Obsolete: This article refers to an aspect of the game which has been removed. It is retained for historical reference only.

shedu H
HP	92-130
HD	13
XP	1285
Speed	10
AC	2
EV	10
Will	52
Attack¹	19 (kick: holy)
Attack²	23 (kick: holy)
Resistances	rPois+, rN+++, rRot, rDrown, rHoly
Vulnerabilities	None
Habitat	Land
Intelligence	Normal
Uses	Uses nothing
Holiness	Holy
Size	Medium
Type	shedu, shedu
Flags	Always corpse Flying Hybrid Warm-blooded Silence immune

These boviform divine beings are always found in pairs, often protecting some sacred shrine. They can heal and even resurrect each other, doubling their effectiveness as guardians.

“May my god stand at my right hand!
May my goddess stand at my left hand!
May the favourable Shedu, the favourable Lamassu...with me!”
-Assyrian prayer. 2nd millennium B.C.

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

Useful Info

Shedus are holy, flying beasts which are always generated in pairs. When you wound (or kill) one, the remaining shedu will heal (or resurrect!) its partner.

Once you kill a shedu, its partner senses this and will always wake up. When a shedu has line of sight to its partner's corpse, it attempts a resurrection (this takes several turns). It even affects shedu corpses that you are carrying in your inventory. This special ability is not a spell and cannot be negated in any way so long as the second shedu lives.

Since shedus are holy beings, you risk suffering a player-centered cleansing flame, care of The Shining One, should you kill one. The probability of this occurring varies according to which type of god you worship. If you worship a good god, there is no risk (although if you worship TSO, you'll suffer penance). If you are atheistic, there's a 12.5% risk. If you worship an evil god, the risk is 27.1%.

Spells

Spell set
Slot¹	Heal Other (2d6)
Slot²	none
Slot³	Heal Other (2d6)
Slot⁴	none
Slot⁵	none
Slot⁶	none

Tips & Tricks

To prevent shedu resurrection, always butcher or sacrifice shedu corpses after you kill them.
Don't kill a shedu over deep water. Unless you are a merfolk, octopode, or gray draconian, you won't be able to reach the corpse and the shedu may get a free resurrection.
If you worship an evil god and are low on HP, retreat rather than finish off a shedu; TSO's wrath may finish you off.

Trivia

The shedu and the lamassu are Mesopotamian protective deities which served as gatekeepers, defending the homes of commoners and kings alike. Their images were engraved on tablets which were buried at each side of a home's entryway, or they were cast in metal as statues and placed in similar positions near a door.

History

Shedus were removed in 0.15.