I've graduated to the Stronghold, and was having an annoying time with the mastiffs; animals, even made of stone, can sniff you out of hiding. This is the usual course of events I was experiencing ...

>>A stone mastiff barrels in!
>stance defen
> hide
You are now in a defensive stance.
>
A stone mastiff notices your attempt to hide!
Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>stance defen
> hide
You are now in a defensive stance.
>
A stone mastiff notices your attempt to hide!
Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>stance defen
> hide
You are now in a defensive stance.
>
A stone mastiff notices your attempt to hide!
Roundtime: 3 sec.<<

Most annoying. But, then I realized the doggies, unlike the giants, mystics and shamans, have their heads within reach from round 1. So, if I hide in the next room and come in and bash them over the head with my first attack, before they can sniff me out, they become much less perceptive.

>>R>
A stone mastiff barrels in!
H>stance offen
> punch head
You are now in an offensive stance.
H>
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a stone mastiff!
You have good positioning against a stone mastiff.
UAF: 380 vs UDF: 341 = 1.114 * MM: 110 + d100: 74 = 196
... and hit for 33 points of damage!
Spinning backfist snaps the stone mastiff's head to the side!
The stone mastiff is stunned!
Strike leaves foe vulnerable to a followup jab attack!
Roundtime: 4 sec.
R>stance defen
> hide
A fierce growl rumbles from the chest of a stone mastiff as she shakes her head to regain her bearings!
>
You are now in a defensive stance.
>
Roundtime: 3 sec.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
HR>stance offen
> punch head
You are now in an offensive stance.
H>
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a stone mastiff!
You have good positioning against a stone mastiff.
UAF: 380 vs UDF: 310 = 1.225 * MM: 109 + d100: 18 = 151
... and hit for 27 points of damage!
Spinning backfist snaps the stone mastiff's head to the side!
The stone mastiff is stunned!
Roundtime: 4 sec.
R>stance offen
> punch head
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
You make a precise attempt to punch a stone mastiff!
You have good positioning against a stone mastiff.
UAF: 380 vs UDF: 342 = 1.111 * MM: 117 + d100: 40 = 170
... and hit for 35 points of damage!
Solid blow to the jaw leaves the stone mastiff spitting blood... and teeth!
The stone mastiff chokes, momentarily unable to speak!
Strike leaves foe vulnerable to a followup punch attack!
Roundtime: 4 sec.
R>
A stone mastiff shakes her head violently as she regains her bearings!

R>stance defen
> hide
You are now in a defensive stance.
>
Roundtime: 3 sec.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
HR>stance offen
> punch head
You are now in an offensive stance.
H>
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a stone mastiff!
You have excellent positioning against a stone mastiff.
UAF: 380 vs UDF: 272 = 1.397 * MM: 109 + d100: 60 = 212
... and hit for 51 points of damage!
Palm strike to face drives nose straight into brain!
The stone mastiff falls to the ground and dies.
Roundtime: 4 sec.<<

Much more satisfying :)

The Bells of Hell
go ding-a-ling-a-ling
for you but not for me!