Hidden Stat Upgrades (Tree of Life spoiler)
 

Is there a list of items or actions that will raise stats beyond the usual ways - leveling up, clicking on shrines, etc?

I just noticed this the other day - when completing the Tree of Life quest, you get a plant bulb/seed that you need to plant in the Undead world. If you right-click this item, you have an option to eat part of the plant. Doing this gives you +1 intellect.

I know of the ring which gives you +3 int after 30 battles (and I think there may be other such equipment.) But is there anything else like this Tree of Life quest item? It is easily missed so I'm wondering about how many stats I've missed out on!

There is a gladiator sword which gives 10 might runes after 50 battles, it can be found as random loot, or (I think) given as a reward for finishing all the combat challenges at the temple next to the starting castle. The sword also give +4 attack and +15 rage, so it's not too bad as a weapon itself.
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website design

If you are not mage and remember spell right when you cure zombie miller you get one int.

Dwarven rats.

Each time you speak to a dwarven miner there is a slight chance they'll offer to sell you a Fried Rat for a few gold (50 or 70, depending on where you are).

Each Fried Rat permanently adds 2 mana and rage, but drains 50 leadership.

You can repeatedly speak to the same miner to get multiple rats. You can manually click on the dwarf then the 'goodbye' conversation option, but it's a lot quicker to use the Escape key to dismiss the dialog.
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volcano vaporizers

I believe you can buy max 6 rats from dwarves. Can anyone confirm? I always eat 6. They are just great way to gain 12 mana and rage. :)

Hehe, these rats are awesome. I wouldn't mind trading 250 leadership for 10 mana and 10 rage. I did buy one actually, from the dude in the whale which swallows you when sailing in the underground sea. I did not know speaking to the miners give you them though - good tip. Obviously this makes it much better to pick leadership upgrade over mana/rage when leveling up, especially during the latter levels.

By the way, which miners are these - the mines, lower hadder?

You should try to 'use' many quest items found in the game, I can't remember which ones but there are many stat bonuses to be gained that way. One I can remember is using the herb or whatever it is you have to use to get the missing polar bear back to its owner (it's in the first area). You get +2 max rage for doing that.

I'm still exploring upper/lower hadder, I know I bought a bunch of rats from the slaves in the mines for 50 gold each. Pretty sure I bought a couple later on for 70 gold each.

I may be remembering wrong, but I can't remember any miners in lower hadder? Is there somewhere between the slave mines and upper hadder?

Where is it that you get attacked by a female dwarf hero as soon as you enter the mines? Might have been there.
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Harley-Davidson UA

Earliest place I believe you can buy rats is from mines lucky john castle is in, in freedom isles. I have also received rats as a drop.

is that a bug ? if the dwarf has given me the rat they wont give me anymore :(