A compilation of questions on using items

[shard]

Hello, i've been playing around with SCs and thugs and a few things came to mind...

1) How risky are using items that curse or horror-mark you? For example the dimensional rod or forbidden light. Is it worth using these items in battle, or is it better off to use them for forging/rituals? Can these items be taken from you during battle or will they just 'disappear' to be reforgeable?

2) Whats the best use of the ark? Can you place them on your pretender/sc and rely on it to kill everything on the battlefield?

3) When using the armor of virtue or ritual of returning, what happens when the caster/the wearer gets hit with something that can 1-shot him? Does it provide protection against remote rituals like seeking arrow, mind hunt, votd? Is there any point stacking the armor of virtue with ritual of returning?

4) Is the 'trollification' effect of the pebble skin suit 'bad'? Or is it just more hp, regen etc?

5) Are the autospells cast by nethgul completely random? Or is it situational; ie buffs when with allies and offensive spells when surrounded with enemies?