The Strange Crystal Caves are a new Dungeon Feature recently added in the Alpha of WazHack. They are located a few hundred feet down, and hold numerous crystals and enemies. There are "living" crystals that act much like molds, dropping an assortment of gems based on their color. These can be gemstones, worthless glass, or even deadly elemental gems! There's also a strange contraption in the depths of the caves.
The Strange Crystal Caves, and a shiny crystal!
The Grue[]
The Grue are the nefarious monsters that hate light, and hate you more. Should you decide to venture into the darkness, you'll quickly find that the Grue are very hungry, and have decided that you would be their meal. They will frequently damage you, with every iteration dealing more and more damage, as well as the message getting more and more severe:
"Something is nibbling at your toes."
"Something is eating your toes!"
"Something has eaten your left foot!"
"Something has eaten your right foot!"
"Something is eating you alive!"
The Grue can easily be stopped by lighting up the room that you're in (such as casting a light spell), carrying a light source (such as a lantern or even wielding a glowing wand) or by simply walking back into the light. However, be careful. The Grue damage does not reset when leaving a room or lighting one up. If you return to a darkened room, the Grue will continue right where they left off, quickly killing you.
Be careful using a lantern with a low level of oil, as it might fade out while you still are in the cave. Teleporting away might be no option, I only was able to teleport within the cave.
Oil lamp burning normal lasting 25 mins
Oil lamp burning bright lasting 6 minutes
Note, that a lamp might need to burn brighter within the cave. A lamp might last for 25 minutes outside the cave but last only 6 minutes burning brightly within the cave.
Colossal Crystal[]
If you find a colossal crystal within the crystal graves, be careful not to attack it with your best weapon or arrows. It might damage your weapon and for example decrease a +8 bastard sword back into a +7 one. Using a wand of striking will instantly destroy the crystal.
Strange Contraption[]
The strange contraption ready to be activated
Decoding the strange contraption
When you reach the bottom of the cave, you'll find a strange contraption. Placing the correct gemstones (note: gemstones, not worthless glass or elemental stones [i have had a clear piece of glass create a beam but was unable to complete the activation so i do not know if this was intended nor if it would produce an enchantment? using glass rather than gems may also reduce the enchantment, needs testing]), you'll create an array of light, with the perfect place to put a piece of gear. The order of the gemstones seems to be random each time, and the caves might not always have all the necessary requirements to fill the contraption. After placing all correct gemstones, and an object in the middle, the bonus will increase by +6, up to +12 (tested with a room with 7 gems, a +5 ornate robe turned to +11, all gems where identified gems. A previous run got to +12 from some other number dont remember). All gems and the contraption will be destroyed. The number of gems varies from 6 to 9, (unconfirmed, widest range I have seen). All gems must be loaded to activate the device, if any are missing when you place an item in the middle it will just point lasers at the item. To decode the device, first fill it with gems then replace gems starting in the first slot until it creates a beam of light, then move on to the next slot. If you do not have the gems identified you can just cycle through all the gems repeatedly until you get a hit. (I have gotten stuck on the last gem twice with this method, I do not know why because i died before the gems could get identified)
It seems the stat increase happens based on the number of gems in the contraption.
Also you can place an immutable armour or weapon in the center, once the blacksmith has upgraded it to a +8 item. The bonus will be added on top. I had a +8 immutable dragonscale armour and a 7 gem contraption and ended up with a +15.
Lucky +9 Strange Contraption on Full Moon[]
A Contraption containing nine places
In a day of full moon, you might be lucky to find a contraption containing nine places for gem stones instead of seven. If solved, it might improve your item by +9 instead of +7.
You may find extra difficulties while placing the gem stones.
First, certain positions may have more than one matching kind of gem stone, but only one of them will let you complete the contraption while the others will let you proceed a while but not finish. For example, you might find two different gem stones matching the very first position, an amethyst and an amber, but you might be able to complete the contraption only using the amber.
Matching amber at position 1
Matching amethyst at position 1
Second, two neighbored positions may have to be swapped in combination in order to proceed. For example, you might not be able to proceed the contraption at position three with whatever gem stone you try, until you place the correct gem stone in position four. I was able to find the emerald in position three only if I put the amber in position four.
Emerald in position 3 depends on amber in position 4
These extra difficulties drove me almost crazy. Being frustrated, I considered leaving the strange crystal caves, but I paused the game several times instead, in order not to give away that +9 chance. Luckily, I finally was able to finish the contraption and I improved a +7 short sword of regeneration into a +16 one.
Improved a +7 shortsword of regeneration into a +16 one
As I write these few lines I look forward to continue the game with this sword, which originally was a -2 short sword as I gave it to the blacksmith with a +3 ring of regeneration. I hope, the +3 ring of regeneration improved by +2 and then by +16.
Strange contraption with 10 gem stones
Eventually, if lucky enough, you might find a strange contraption with ten gem stones. If solved, you will be able to improve your weapon by +10.