Run Away

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During every combat adventure you have the option to run away. If successful, you will escape the fight. The penalty, however, is that you do not receive any of the stats, loot or Meat you would have received at the end of that adventure, though you do get to keep anything gained before then, such as from Pickpocket or a Meat vortex. Running away typically takes an adventure, but not always; see the chance of free runaways, below.

Running away forfeits any Meat you gained during the fight, with the message:

In your hurry to get away, you drop all the Meat you gained during the fight!

You lose some Meat.

Failing to escape will give the enemy a free chance to attack, and you will not be able to perform any other actions that round. Furthermore, familiars will not be able to attack or otherwise act.

The percentage chance of running away is

( 100 + Player Initiative Modifiers - Monster Initiative )

• Successful attempt to run away:

You run away, like a sissy little coward.

• Failed attempt to run away:

You attempt to run away like a sissy little coward, but you don't quite make it.

• Running away from a possessed silverware drawer will also result in the following once per ascension:

As you run out the door of the Haunted Kitchen, a butcherknife flies out of the drawer and sticks in the doorjamb next to you. You grab it as you flee.

You acquire an item: shiny butcherknife

• Running away when on The Sea Floor with antique greaves equipped will also result in the following:

As you're trying to get away, you sink in the silty muck on the sea floor. You manage to get yourself unmired, but your greaves seem to have gotten instantly rusty in the process...

You acquire an item: rusty metal greaves

Escape modifiers

Several items and factors in the game aid in escaping.

(Note: The "Free Runaway" chance is the chance that, on a successful use, you do not lose an adventure. This mostly applies to equipment and familiars which have a limited number/chance of free runaways, but which will still guarantee a runaway.)

Source	Type	Free runaway?	Turns banned	Notes
ball	Combat item
bargain flash powder	Combat item
buckyball	Combat item
cocktail napkin	Combat item	100%	20	Works against clingy pirates only.
Creepy Grin	Skill	100%	10	Can be cast once per day while wearing a V for Vivala mask
crystal skull	Combat item		20
divine champagne popper	Combat item	100%	5
Entangling Noodles	Skill			100% chance to flee while opponent is entangled.
fancy dress ball	Combat item
fish-oil smoke bomb	Combat item	100%		Can only be obtained/used by Accordion Thieves
French slippers	Accessory			100% chance to flee while worn.
Frumious Bandersnatch	Familiar	100% (limited per day)		Only when starting combat with Ode to Booze. Can only be used if the number of Bandersnatch runaways for that day is greater than or equal to 1/5th of the Bandersnatch's weight that round (turn?). Uses the same counter as the Pair of Stomping Boots.
glob of Blank-Out	Combat item	100%		Consumed after five uses.
golden plastic oyster egg	Combat item	???		Either a free runaway or ???
GOTO	Combat item	100%		30% chance of success when used. Will stagger opponent otherwise
Greatest American Pants	Pants	100/80/50/20%		Fleeing always succeeds. Chance of free runaway decreases every three free runaways a day, stacking with navel ring and peppermint parasol.
green smoke bomb	Combat item	100%		90% chance of success when used.
Give Your Opponent the Stinkeye	Skill	100%	10	Can be cast once per day while wearing a stinky cheese eye
Harold's bell	Combat item		20
Mer-kin pinkslip	Combat item	100%		Works against Mer-kin enemies only.
navel ring of navel gazing	Accessory	100/80/50/20%		Fleeing always succeeds. Chance of free runaway decreases every three free runaways a day, stacking with Greatest American Pants and peppermint parasol.
Pair of Stomping Boots	Familiar	100% (limited per day)		Can only be used if the number of Boots runaways for that day is greater than or equal to 1/5th of the Boots' weight that round (turn?). Uses the same counter as the Frumious Bandersnatch.
peppermint parasol	Combat item	100/80/50/20%		Fleeing always succeeds. Chance of free runaway decreases every three free runaways a day, stacking with Greatest American Pants and navel ring of navel gazing. Consumed upon its 10th use (regardless of how many days)
short writ of habeas corpus	Combat item	100%		Works against Hidden City pygmy enemies only.
Summon Mayfly Swarm	Skill	100%		Limit of 30 uses per day. Must have mayfly bait necklace equipped Works against Hole in the Sky monsters, giving a star or line Works against certain 8-Bit monsters, giving a pixel Works against the BASIC Elemental, bugged bugbear, swarm of killer bees, and whiny pirate
tattered scrap of paper	Combat item	100%		50% chance of success when used.
Winifred's whistle	Combat item	?		Unknown chance of success. If success, the runaway is free.
wumpus-hair bolo	Combat item	100%		Unknown chance of success. If success, the runaway is free.
Superhero Reboots	Accessory			100% chance to flee while worn (apparently).

Notes

• Running away from a monster that initiates multiple combats (e.g., the Naughty Sorceress or Ed the Undying) will force you to start again at the first form.
• Cunctatitis sets your initiative to 0, making running away nearly impossible.
• Running away from a monster with 0 initiative is always successful.
• Running away 100 times qualifies you for the Brave Sir Robin trophy. Running away with the navel ring or French slippers equipped does not count toward this trophy. Items which end combat do not count towards this trophy either.
• Free runaways do not decrease banish timers.

See Also

• Combat Initiative