This page is dedicated to all those heroes and zeros who died in the dark mines of Moria.
Moria is a true rogue-like game, it was directly inspired by the game known as Rogue.
Moria was written in VMS Pascal which ran on the VAX-11/780 superminicomputer. After a few years, the creators Robert Alan Koeneke and Jimmey Wayne Todd Jr. open sourced the code in 1986.
This gave rise to many other ports of the game, including to the C language. This variant, known as Umoria, is the version I play.
(in chronological order)
I thought I had made progress, until I fell through a trap-door down into the level below. Woefully unprepared for this difficult place, I was assaulted by a mage, a rogue, and finally a warrior, who cut me into the dirt. My character's bones are still down there, somewhere ...
I had very good luck today. On level 2 of the mines I encountered a white worm mass, these breed explosively, which it did profusely! If you are blocked from reaching any exits then you will surely die, either from their poison as they overwhelm you, or worse, from starvation! I gained a fair amount of experience slaying many white worms.
Dear journal. I did not die today. That's good. I fought with a Novice Mage and a Giant Green Frog.
I ran into a green worm mass, it excretes a corrosive slime and ruined most of my armour — my AC was at -5 by the end of the encounter. It would be foolish to fight with this handicap. I surfaced in town and bought all new gear ~100 gold of the 300 I have. The shop keeper shouted at me when I tried to sell the damaged gear to them. I dumped it outside in the street. One of the roaming vagrants are bound to find it.
(as of Sat Apr 18 19:18:59 2026)
Name : Dante Dark Age : 16 STR : 12
Race : Human Height : 80 INT : 16
Sex : Male Weight : 194 WIS : 11
Class : Ranger Social Class : 33 DEX : 18
Title : Scout (4th) CON : 9
CHR : 13
+ To Hit : 3 Level : 10 Max Hit Points : 81
+ To Damage : 0 Experience : 535 Cur Hit Points : 81
+ To AC : 2 Max Exp : 535 Max Mana : 9
Total AC : 10 Exp to Adv : 700 Cur Mana : 9
Gold : 469
(Miscellaneous Abilities)
Fighting : Excellent Stealth : Fair Perception : Good
Bows/Throw : Superb Disarming : Very Good Searching : Fair
Saving Throw: Very Good Magic Device: Excellent Infra-Vision: 0 feet
Character Background
You are one of several children of a Yeoman. You are a
credit to the family. You have blue eyes, straight auburn
hair, and a very dark complexion.
[Character's Equipment List]
a) You are wielding : a Dagger (Stiletto) (1d4) (+0,+0) {1}.
b) Worn on head : a Metal Cap [3,+0].
c) Worn on shield arm : a Small Leather Shield [2,+0].
d) Worn on hands : a Set of Leather Gloves [1].
e) Worn on feet : a Pair of Soft Leather Shoes [1].
f) Worn about body : a Cloak [1].
g) Light source is : a Wooden Torch with 1242 turns of light.
h) Secondary weapon : a Long Bow (x3) (+0,+0) {1}.
[General Inventory List]
a) a Book of Magic Spells [Beginners-Magick].
b) 5 Rations of Food.
c) a Pint of Fine Ale.
d) 2 Flasks of Oil.
e) an Orange Potion.
f) 5 Potions of Cure Light Wounds.
g) a Potion of Haste Self.
h) a Scroll of Blessing.
i) a Scroll titled "orgwah re".
j) a Wand of Light.
k) a Chromium Wand {tried}.
l) a Pair of Soft Leather Shoes [1].
m) a Pick (3d3) (+0,+0) (+1) {2}.
n) a Shovel (2d2) (+0,+0) (+0) {2}.
o) 3 Wooden Torches with 4000 turns of light.
p) a Brass Lantern with 7500 turns of light.
q) 27 Arrows (1d4) (+0,+0) {5}.
r) 2 Arrows (1d4) (+0,+0) {5}.
_______________________
/ \ ___
/ \ ___ / \ ___
/ RIP \ \ : : / \
/ \ : _;,,,;_ : :
/ Dante Dark \,;_ _;,,,;_
| the | ___
| Runner (3rd) | / \
| | : :
| Ranger | _;,,,;_ ____
| Level : 3 | / \
| 54 Exp | : :
| 0 Au | : :
| Died on Level : 2 | _;,,,,;_
| killed by |
| a Novice Warrior |
| Wed Apr 15 |
*| * * * * * * | *
________)/\\_)_/___(\/___(//_\)/_\//__\\(/_|_)_______
_______________________
/ \ ___
/ \ ___ / \ ___
/ RIP \ \ : : / \
/ \ : _;,,,;_ : :
/ Dante Dark \,;_ _;,,,;_
| the | ___
| Runner (2nd) | / \
| | : :
| Ranger | _;,,,;_ ____
| Level : 2 | / \
| 34 Exp | : :
| 21 Au | : :
| Died on Level : 1 | _;,,,,;_
| killed by |
| poison |
| Thu Apr 16 |
*| * * * * * * | *
________)/\\_)_/___(\/___(//_\)/_\//__\\(/_|_)_______