I have found many items throughout the game that have special abilities: heartseeker, rings of earth, animal, & fire control, cloak of sewer, swords that cast silence, etc. I don't know how to use any of the special abilities. No ability comes up in the special ability button. There is no casting option. How do I use these abilities?

Are you trying to access the abilities by pressing the button farthest right, that resembles a four-pointed star?

If you are, try using the button with an icon that looks sort of like a satchel (for some reason, I can't think of the name of this button right now...)

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trux

Trux, "satchel" is very matching word http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

JimJ, the button needed is on the lower panel between button for casting and three buttons for using quick-items. It looks exactly as Trux said http://www.tgeweb.com/cgi-bin/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif.
Hope this helps.

Tanda