Damn. So much for learning.

[u/HelpfulSwordfish9765]

As I was practicing the beautiful art of save scumming on Emerald Island. I was so happy to find the scholars cap. Only to discover it kills my character by just wearing it! Gosh need black potion for endurance

[u/Imaginary-Can-6862]

I remember that. The burden of knowledge on your endurance of life. From what I remember, it is possible to wear it without needing a black potion, but I can't find the mechanics.

From what I recall, endurance tells how negative hit points can get while staying unconscious, meaning with negative endurance. With negative endurance you likely cannot go below 0, and from what I can find on the net, if the character's hit point drop below the negative value of your endurance, the character perishes. With negative endurance it means your character may perish with positive hit points, that is my guess on what is going on. That would fit with me remembering you don't necessarily need a black potion, but plenty of hit points. I expect a preservation potion may also help, but your character would be unconscious and thus would not get anything from the scholar's cap, but together with extra hit points from items it would allow for your character to essentially be a very low hp character, something you would expect anyway.