SubetaLodge says that it gives a blessing with defensive icons for 10 turns, I used it against Mechalag and it doesn't appear to have done anything. Am I missing something, is it not 100% or something?

There are challengers with special effects, eg. no steal/no freeze/no curses/no blessings. If I remember correctly, Mechalag is no blessings/curses :)

- ah, I see, and that explains why my cursed hand spot thing wasn't working either. Thanks!

all shrines (except Porin which seems to do nothing) always work 100 per cent when they can work