I'm pretty sure this is intentional.

Then i don't see logic behind it. EG is dead. Fully dead. Noone is guarding first way to lower CoC. Shadow of what exactly causes problems?

There's no way this is intentional because this isn't how it used to work. This is definitely a bug if the EG was killed on the stairs, and might be related to a fix to the casino shortcut.

http://ancardia.wikia.com/wiki/Eternal_guardian

Also, literally as long as I've been playing ADOM, not giving the RotHK to the EG has always prevented one from using the shortcut. If it's a bug, it's an old one.

"Bypassing the eternal guardian through this manner will not allow the PC to use the CoC surface shortcut to return to the lower CoC." refers to bypassing the EG w/o killing him while he is on the stairs -- as soon as you descend, a new EG is generated and this blocks the shortcut. The wiki page contains no information about what happens when you kill the EG on the stairs and thus no clones are generated -- as is the situation here. Though never trying it myself, the conventional wisdom (and thus I assume the correct information) is that killing the EG on the stairs means the shortcut can be used (unless I am very much misremembering here). I am fairly certain this is a bug & a new one.

Even if intentional, I'd vote for patching this out since it only adds up to unnecessary tedium that's playing the Chaos Knight. Fighting the Eternal Guardian without being able to show him the ring [even for converted CKs] is already a big obstacle, why would we pile up on that?

Kherab could have a special quest for CK's that would open the shortcut. I think it has already been suggested somewhere, but I can't find the post.

I'd like Kherab to offer a 'slay the eternal guardian' quest - which would open the shortcut for him, which he'd then reward the player for. Maybe with the Spear of Raw Steel.

But having to kill the guardian, then doing an additional job just for opening the shortcut seems a bit long winded.

I don't think we need "slay EG" quest, because killing EG on stairs is no trivial task. You need to dish a ton of damage and be able to take a lot of damage too. My CK had fluctuating Str of 42-55, PV of 50-smth,speed of 150, wielded executor, weapon skill almost constantly on 15, inflicted poison, had almost 500 hp and still had to pray ~4 times. I'm not sure when exactly i'll get a character this strong again. And i'm not sure we need quest for 1% of characters.

It could be available for every character, like all Kherab quests, but CKs would obviously gain the most from it [since they don't have many quest options as of now + they can't use the ring] - so they'd be always viable for the reward. I still agree that killing EG in itself should open the path automatically.

Also, as far as killing him goes, CKs can have a great advantage - he uses penetrating attack, which always triggers the acid blood splash. There's a great chance he'll blind himself while attacking you with that corruption, and blinded he takes a lot of free hits. I honestly suggest rerolling any CK that doesn't start with that corruption, since as of now, it's unquestionably the best one in the game.

Well, it would be only an option, and especially for CKs which are supposed to be a challenge class. Their situation would be better than now: now they can't use the shortcut at all, with the EG quest they would have the option to do that dangerous quest to do so, or they could just ignore it.

I suppose with disablers and treating the guardian like a game climax (i.e. not skimping on boosting potions, etc.) it should be doable.

It's been long since I faced the EG, but I remember killing him with a wizard by spamming acid ball (I had the ring but I inadvertently made him hostile, from hitting him in darkness or out of LOS or something). Ah, those were the times.

Would not blinding him let him stumble off the stairs? I've never tried this in the context of the EG on the stairs, but this seems like a very bad idea.

I agree w/ AlterAsc -- killing the EG on the stairs is fucking hard and there needn't be further complications.

blinding can cause a monster to stand still aswell, besides if he stumbles off in melee you get your turn to step on the stairs and if you want to proceed, he won't really be able to react while blinded. so it's usually a win-win - it made me really appreciate acid blood and name it my fav current corruption - my first winner CK killed like 3 EGs thanks to it, experience farming was real without any real danger.

Acid blood isn't that good when you are being attacked by a cat - it can kill itself with your blood and the kill will be on your account.
Goodbye cat ring; that pertains to all chars with that corruption, not just CKs.

r59 without Noteye - issue still present.
If not fix, then clarification please.