The reasoning behind the Orb of Fate's level teleport?

[L]

The Quest Artifacts, despite having one or more of 1/2 spell damage,
1/2 physical damage and magic resistance assigned to them in a
completely arbitrary fashion (no, really, why does the Master Key of
Thievery double your physical defense?) generally have rational
invocation powers.

The Orb of Detection makes you "evade detection" (invisibility). The
Platinum Yendorian Express Card lets you "charge" an item. The Sceptre
of Might initiates war (conflict). The Staff of Aesculapius gives you
life (it is the "staff of life"). The Eye of the Aethiopica performs
Neferet the Green's signature magic (as per her data file description).
The Longbow of Diana gives ammunition (thus making it consistently
useful). The Master Key of Thievery untangles mechanisms (which is what
Masters of Thieves are good at).

The Mitre of Holiness ..hmm.. I suppose it lets you use your cleric
spells more.
The Eyes of the Overworld...umm.. well, monkhood is in some ways about
enlightenment, right?
The Heart of Ahriman... um.. well, Ahriman's Final Fantasy incarnation
had wings...? (Fine. I leave this one as an exercise to the Conan
reader.)

But the Orb of Fate...? "Level teleport."

Why? It has nothing to do with Norn-hood nor Valkyrie-hood nor
telling-the-future ...hood!

[Ian Stirling]

L <***@yahoo.com> wrote:
<snip>

Post by L
But the Orb of Fate...? "Level teleport."
Why? It has nothing to do with Norn-hood nor Valkyrie-hood nor
telling-the-future ...hood!

Valkyries have to arrive at the scenes of battles rapidly, to choose the slain.

[L]

Post by Ian Stirling
Valkyries have to arrive at the scenes of battles rapidly, to choose the slain.

That's a bit much of a stretch. Surely it should confer something like
levitation, or at least speed?

Note: I'm still open for calls explaining the Heart of Ahriman's
levitation.

[Matt Frisch]

Post by Ian Stirling
<snip>

Post by L
But the Orb of Fate...? "Level teleport."
Why? It has nothing to do with Norn-hood nor Valkyrie-hood nor
telling-the-future ...hood!

Valkyries have to arrive at the scenes of battles rapidly, to choose the slain.

But the orb is a tool of the Norns, not SOP Valkyrie equipment.

[L]

Post by Matt Frisch
But the orb is a tool of the Norns, not SOP Valkyrie equipment.

Well, in its defense, Skuld, (who is Norn of the future, and is
therefore most likely "The" Norn that NetHack uses) is also listed as a
Valkyrie in some of those old norse poems.

[Grey Knight]

Post by L

Post by Matt Frisch
But the orb is a tool of the Norns, not SOP Valkyrie equipment.

Well, in its defense, Skuld, (who is Norn of the future, and is
therefore most likely "The" Norn that NetHack uses) is also listed as a
Valkyrie in some of those old norse poems.

Ah, so *that's* what valkyries do after they retire!

[Gary Olson]

Post by L
The Eyes of the Overworld...umm.. well, monkhood is in some ways about
enlightenment, right?

I was thinking the same along the same lines....
Should not invoking the Mirror of Merlin do the enlightenment thing?
After all, what is knighthood without some self reflection?