Some loot I shuttle up to the castle. DL41 turns out to be Orcus' level, with the town and the altar. (Score one wand of death from him, and a new place to bring items - I still don't have a bag of holding, which sometimes Stresses me out when walking! I hate that, too.) Also, learn that smoky potions are speed, when a monster quaffs one and creates a peaceful djinni in the little graveyard; feh, I lock it in. Entrance to Vlad's is just below, on DL42.

Noteworthy is that (I think on DL42), my little "quaff object detection potion" plan works! I see there's an amulet of some shape or description. Teleport over. Amulet of LIFE SAVING! (Previously IDed when some creature wouldn't die.) Well now! *big smile* Wouldn't want anyone ELSE to be wearing this! I put it on, and put the amulet of reflection into my sack. (Yes, I at least have a sack. Perseus had one at Medusa's level too, if I lose this one.)

Score another amulet of life saving at Vlad's (in the chest, natch), so I'm doubly saved. Also noteworthy around this time is a slip up. I occasionally walk around wearing a ring of invisibility (having found slow digestion too, ring/spell hunger isn't really a problem). Didn't take that ring off when I ate a stalker corpse. Became permanently invisible. *frown* Not the end of the world, but it's going to be a bit of an issue getting back into shops, if I ever want to do that. (That's part of the reason I don't go perma-invisible!)

DL43 has the Wizard's Tower. (Certainly won't go in there for a while!) Upstairs were on the right of his central area, and downstair on the left; the opposite to DL44 (the Wizard's zoo level). Most other stairways were reasonably close for me though. Another incubus on DL45 (they're so friendly *blush*). Large box on DL47 for misc. stuff. Finally find what turns out to be the portal tower on DL48. Another box on DL49, plus one dropped by a Quantum Mechanic (stairs REAL close on that level). Fake tower is on DL51.

Bottom is DL52... it doesn't get lower than that. Find the Vibrating Square (which I'll need for the Endgame). Leave a worm tooth on it, and continue to map the last maze level. (Still no bag of holding! I mean, what does it take? At least I'm getting stronger.) Playing almost by rote now. Start wailing on some red demon. Yeenoghu appears!

....

Whoa. Nuts. *pout* I hate when demons gate in other demons. Particularly stronger demons. *sigh*

Okay, time to start paying attention again. I happen to know Yeeno killed Sesshomaru (who had an amulet of life saving, but still). He's also a stairs teleporter. I start digging my way to the upstairs with a wand, because I'll never get there using a pickaxe. (Also my dig spell was 100% failure! For being a Wizard, I sure haven't been able to use spells that effectively. *sad face*) Yeeno keeps teleporting over, but three or four digs and I'm there. In the end, it's a bit anticlimactic - he took me down HP, but his missiles would bounce off, and I was never in a position of needing to invoke my Quest Amulet to get the hell away. I leave his flail behind as a reminder.

I investigate the towers on DL48 and DL51 now. Gain access to the lower Wizard's tower. Kill off everything there. (Aren't I just bloodthirsty? I rarely kill anything peaceful though. Aside from giants if I'm not Satiated, to keep my strength up.) Bring my loot back to Orcus' deserted town on DL41. Read more spellbooks (no longer concerned about IDing them first; I'm closing in on a finish, plus after several blessed potions of gain ability, all my stats except Strength are already at max). One is a spellbook of identify!

Well, ABOUT DARN TIME! It's only the 24th freaking one I've read (and 27th spellbook I've identified)! Ahem. However, with everything mapped out, and me now needing to ascend back to DL22 (my stash) to actually make use of IDing things without scrolls... I decide it's time for a holiday. On May 14th, after just over three weeks of toiling in the dungeon, I settle in for a long nap. Why?

Because there isn't really anywhere else to explore. So once someone else has ascended, and I have an idea of what awaits me up in the end game, only /then/ will I continue. I'm not stupid, after all. I'm HAYATE, the last of the ultimate Wiz-Hum-Fem's! *smile and wink*