diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 9c1cf6676..ce6811ca9 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 DFHack future
 
-  Is not yet known.
+  Misc improvements:
+    - exterminate: renamed from slayrace, add help message
 
 DFHack v0.34.11-r3
 
diff --git a/scripts/slayrace.rb b/scripts/exterminate.rb
similarity index 77%
rename from scripts/slayrace.rb
rename to scripts/exterminate.rb
index 4844538d4..4d1047e11 100644
--- a/scripts/slayrace.rb
+++ b/scripts/exterminate.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# slay all creatures of a given race
+# exterminate creatures
 
 # race = name of the race to eradicate, use 'him' to target only the selected creature
 # use 'undead' to target all undeads
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ slayit = lambda { |u|
 	else
 		# it's getting hot around here
 		# !!WARNING!! do not call on a magma-safe creature
-		ouh = df.onupdate_register("slayrace ensure #{u.id}", 1) {
+		ouh = df.onupdate_register("exterminate ensure #{u.id}", 1) {
 			if u.flags1.dead
 				df.onupdate_unregister(ouh)
 			else
@@ -55,7 +55,23 @@ case race
 when nil
 	all_races.sort_by { |race, cnt| [cnt, race] }.each{ |race, cnt| puts " #{race} #{cnt}" }
 
-when 'him'
+when 'help', '?'
+	puts <<EOS
+Kills all creatures of a given race.
+With no argument, lists possible targets with their head count.
+With the special argument 'him' or 'her', kill only the currently selected creature.
+With the special argument 'undead', kill all undead creatures/thralls.
+
+The targets will bleed out, or if they are immune to that, will vanish in a puff of smoke.
+
+The special final argument 'magma' will make magma rain on the targets instead.
+
+Ex: exterminate gob
+    exterminate elf magma
+    exterminate him
+EOS
+
+when 'him', 'her'
 	if him = df.unit_find
 		slayit[him]
 	else