Question
So I was a lawful human Valkyrie...just picked up Excalibur a few floors prior, and had started working through the Gnomish Mines.
I hadn't done anything to anger Tyr, I was simply cutting away some rock in the mines to make it easier to get between staircases. I was stressed from just picking up some dwarvish gear, and all of a sudden I was blasted by Excalibur when I equipped it.
What what what happened?
Answer
Either you were not Lawful or you had a negative alignment record (from displeasing your god) at the time you attempted to equip the artifact. See the linked article for a list of the numerous ways you can piss off a deity.
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