NetHack · GorillaSapiens · Feb 7, 2026 · Feb 7, 2026
diff --git a/Files b/Files
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ medusa-3.lua  medusa-4.lua  minefill.lua  minend-1.lua  minend-2.lua
 minend-3.lua  minetn-1.lua  minetn-2.lua  minetn-3.lua  minetn-4.lua
 minetn-5.lua  minetn-6.lua  minetn-7.lua  nhcore.lua    nhlib.lua
 opthelp       optmenu       oracle.lua    oracles.txt   orcus.lua
-quest.lua     rumors.fal    rumors.tru    sanctum.lua   soko1-1.lua
+quest.lua     rumors_f.txt  rumors_t.txt  sanctum.lua   soko1-1.lua
 soko1-2.lua   soko2-1.lua   soko2-2.lua   soko3-1.lua   soko3-2.lua
 soko4-1.lua   soko4-2.lua   symbols       themerms.lua  tower1.lua
 tower2.lua    tower3.lua    tribute       tut-1.lua     tut-2.lua
@@ -670,7 +670,8 @@ regenerated from the files in the distribution.
 
 dat:
 (files generated by makedefs at playground creation time)
-data     options  oracles  rumors
+data options oracles rumors_t rumors_t.idx rumors_f rumors_f.idx
+epitaphs epitaphs.idx engrave engrave.idx bogusmon bogusmon.idx
 
 (files generated for Qt interface on macOS)
 Info.plist    nethack.icns

diff --git a/dat/.gitignore b/dat/.gitignore
@@ -5,10 +5,16 @@ rip.xpm
 pet_mark.xbm
 pilemark.xbm
 quest.dat
-rumors
+rumors_t
+rumors_t.idx
+rumors_f
+rumors_f.idx
 bogusmon
+bogusmon.idx
 engrave
+engrave.idx
 epitaph
+epitaph.idx
 x11tiles
 nhtiles.bmp
 *.lev

diff --git a/dat/epitaph.txt b/dat/epitaph.txt
@@ -279,8 +279,7 @@ I died laughing
 I disbelieved in reincarnation in my last life, too.
 I hacked myself to death
 I have all the time in the world
-#"reached Mine's End": not necessarily true; sounds like "reached my end"
-I have reached Mine's End
+I have reached Mine's End ## not necessarily true; sounds like "reached my end"
 I knew I'd find a use for this gravestone!
 I know my mind.  And it's around here someplace.
 I lied!  I'll never be alright!

diff --git a/dat/rumors.fal → dat/rumors_f.txt b/dat/rumors.fal → dat/rumors_f.txt
diff --git a/dat/rumors.tru → dat/rumors_t.txt b/dat/rumors.tru → dat/rumors_t.txt
diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
@@ -2772,8 +2772,7 @@ extern int genl_player_setup(int);
 /* ### rumors.c ### */
 
 extern char *getrumor(int, char *, boolean) NONNULLARG2;
-extern char *get_rnd_text(const char *, char *, int(*)(int),
-                          unsigned) NONNULLPTRS;
+extern char *get_rnd_text(const char *, char *, int(*)(int)) NONNULLPTRS;
 extern void outrumor(int, int);
 extern void outoracle(boolean, boolean);
 extern void save_oracles(NHFILE *) NONNULLARG1;

diff --git a/include/global.h b/include/global.h
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@
 #define SHELP "hh"              /* abbreviated form of the same */
 #define KEYHELP "keyhelp"       /* explanatory text for 'whatdoes' command */
 #define DEBUGHELP "wizhelp"     /* file containing debug mode cmds */
-#define RUMORFILE "rumors"      /* file with fortune cookies */
+#define RUMORSTFILE "rumors_t"  /* file with true fortune cookies */
+#define RUMORSFFILE "rumors_f"  /* file with false fortune cookies */
 #define ORACLEFILE "oracles"    /* file with oracular information */
 #define DATAFILE "data"         /* file giving the meaning of symbols used */
 #define CMDHELPFILE "cmdhelp"   /* file telling what commands do */
@@ -33,14 +34,6 @@
 #define TRIBUTEFILE "tribute"   /* 3.6 tribute to Terry Pratchett */
 #define LEV_EXT ".lua"          /* extension for special level files */
 
-/* padding amounts for files that have lines chosen by fseek to random spot,
-   advancing to the next line, and using that line; makedefs forces shorter
-   lines to be padded to these lengths; value of 0 will inhibit any padding,
-   avoiding an increase in files' sizes, but resulting in biased selection;
-   used by makedefs while building and by core's callers of get_rnd_text() */
-#define MD_PAD_RUMORS 60u /* for RUMORFILE, EPITAPHFILE, and ENGRAVEFILE */
-#define MD_PAD_BOGONS 20u /* for BOGUSMONFILE */
-
 /* Assorted definitions that may depend on selections in config.h. */
 
 /*

diff --git a/src/do_name.c b/src/do_name.c
@@ -1373,7 +1373,7 @@ bogusmon(char *buf, char *code)
     if (code)
         *code = '\0';
     /* might fail (return empty buf[]) if the file isn't available */
-    get_rnd_text(BOGUSMONFILE, buf, rn2_on_display_rng, MD_PAD_BOGONS);
+    get_rnd_text(BOGUSMONFILE, buf, rn2_on_display_rng);
     if (!*mnam) {
         Strcpy(buf, "bogon");
     } else if (strchr(bogon_codes, *mnam)) { /* strip prefix if present */

diff --git a/src/engrave.c b/src/engrave.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ random_engraving(char *outbuf, char *pristine_copy)
     /* a random engraving may come from the "rumors" file,
        or from the "engrave" file (formerly in an array here) */
     if (!rn2(4) || !(rumor = getrumor(0, pristine_copy, TRUE)) || !*rumor)
-        (void) get_rnd_text(ENGRAVEFILE, pristine_copy, rn2, MD_PAD_RUMORS);
+        (void) get_rnd_text(ENGRAVEFILE, pristine_copy, rn2);
 
     Strcpy(outbuf, pristine_copy);
     wipeout_text(outbuf, (int) (strlen(outbuf) / 4), 0);
@@ -1696,7 +1696,7 @@ make_grave(coordxy x, coordxy y, const char *str)
     /* Engrave the headstone */
     del_engr_at(x, y);
     if (!str)
-        str = get_rnd_text(EPITAPHFILE, buf, rn2, MD_PAD_RUMORS);
+        str = get_rnd_text(EPITAPHFILE, buf, rn2);
     make_engr_at(x, y, str, NULL, 0L, HEADSTONE);
     return;
 }