Ferret the lawful left-handed female human knight ascended and reached #30 on the high score list at https://www.alt.org/nethack with only one near-fatal accident, fulfilling Tom's prediction that I would survive my first attempt at Nethack 5.0.0.

My friends, any time you are near water or lava or any other potentially-lethal terrain, make sure that you are not confused or stunned before you move!

I failed to heed this advice upon arriving in the Elemental Plane of Water, thus accidentally verifying the adage that "you can lead a ki-rin to water, and murder them by flying straight into it" because Nethack is cruel.  Luckily, I was rescued by an amulet of life saving because Nethack is also full of neat trinkets like that.

Poor Ki-Rin-Tin-Tin.  We had been through so much together.  Once he was turned to stone by a cockatrice!  After I avenged him by destroying that creature and its entire genus, I went and learned the "stone to flesh" spell so that I could revive him!  His memory lives on in the successor with whom I ascended, Ki-Rin-Tin-Tin-Too.

While jousting along in the Astral Plane, I learned that nominally-peaceful characters like the High Priest of Lugh are extraordinarily sensitive, and will try to smite you if you accidentally cause someone else to bump into them.  Chill out, dude, and accept this Amulet of Yendor as my apology.

One more piece of advice:  If you feel the need to leave your bag of valuable and essential trinkets on the ground somewhere, do not let it leave your sight!  It is entirely possible for that stuff to vanish from existence if you are not careful about it.

A very long ascension log from the game itself follows:

Unix NetHack Version 5.0.0-0 post-release - last build Sep  3 2026 00:07:40 (a1a365d3a3a4fd51383af9736da917d091b8755f,branch:main).

Game began 2026-07-26 19:39:44, ended 2026-09-05 12:47:04.

Ferret, lawful female human Knight

                                      @A     A

                                         @
            ---                  @      B   @
       aa a  ..                         @                       A
    d---------..-     ---         @                             A
     |.......|.a.-- --....                                    A
     |...@AAa|aa.%---......       A                   & @     A @  @ D     A
     |@..A..a-a@@&.%........     A @ @@         A           @
     |..%aa..|A.A%---.a.%....           AV @      @   A @           @ @
     |@D.....|..@-- --.......                      @
     ---------a.-    ----A---                                  @
      @    a ..A       |%%%------  A  D                           @  A
            ---        |%.%......|     @ @ &
                       -------(..- A N     A
                             |..(.
                             ---..     D     @

Ferret the Paladin       St:25 Dx:18 Co:17 In:22 Wi:22 Ch:18  Lawful
Astral Plane $:0 HP:362(421) Pw:311(311) AC:-41 Xp:30/108636484 Blind Fly Ride T:85313

Latest messages:
 What do you want to use or apply? [bcfikmr-vABDGJNQRTW or ?*] W
 You produce a strange whistling sound.
 The guardian Angel of Lugh shifts location.
 The fire ant bites!
 The fire ant misses!
 The high priest of Lugh hits!
 The high priest of Lugh kicks!
 What do you want to use or apply? [bcfikmr-vABDGJNQRTW or ?*] J
 You can see again.
 The giant ant just misses!
 The giant beetle misses!
 The soldier ant misses!
 The soldier ant misses!
 The fire ant bites!
 The fire ant misses!
 The guardian Angel of Lugh swings her long sword at the fire ant.
 The guardian Angel of Lugh hits the fire ant.
 The fire ant is killed!
 The white dragon breathes frost!
 The giant beetle is killed by the blast of frost!
 The blast of frost whizzes by you!
 The blast of frost misses the guardian Angel of Lugh.
 The blast of frost misses the Angel of Lugh.
 The Angel of Lugh points at you, then curses.
 You hear a mumbled curse.
 The priestess of Manannan Mac Lir picks up a large shield.
 The high priest of Lugh swings his mace.
 The high priest of Lugh hits!
 The high priest of Lugh misses!
 The high priest of Lugh casts a spell at you!
 You stiffen briefly.
 The high priest of Lugh points all around, then curses.
 Keizo the invisible Necromancer zaps a wand of lightning!
 The bolt of lightning whizzes by you!
 You are blinded by the flash!
 The bolt of lightning hits the giant beetle!
 The bolt of lightning hits the giant beetle!
 You can move again.
 What do you want to sacrifice? [C or ?*] ?
 You offer the Amulet of Yendor to Lugh...
 An invisible choir sings, and you are bathed in radiance...
 The voice of Lugh thunders: "Mortal, thou hast done well!"
 "In return for thy service, I grant thee the gift of Immortality!"
 You ascend to the status of Demigoddess...
 Do you want your possessions identified? [ynq] (y) y
 Do you want to see your attributes? [ynq] (y) y
 Do you want an account of creatures vanquished? [ynaq] (y) y
 Do you want a list of species genocided and extinct? [ynaq] (y) y
 Do you want to see your conduct and achievements? [ynq] (y) y
 Do you want to see the dungeon overview? [ynq] (y) y

Inventory:
 Amulets  ('"')
  h - an uncursed amulet of life saving (being worn)
 Weapons  (')')
  E - the blessed rustproof +2 Magicbane
  a - the blessed rustproof +7 Excalibur (wielded in left hand)
  b - a blessed rustproof +7 lance (wielded in right hand)
 Armor    ('[')
  q - an uncursed tempered +4 helm of brilliance (being worn)
  j - a blessed rustproof +4 pair of gauntlets of power named POWER (being worn)
  H - a blessed fireproof +4 pair of speed boots named SPEED (being worn)
  P - a blessed +4 cloak of protection named PROT (being worn)
  o - a blessed +5 Hawaiian shirt with a ukulele motif named TOURIST (being worn)
  d - a blessed +4 silver dragon scale mail (being worn)
 Comestibles  ('%')
  n - 2 uncursed K-rations
 Spellbooks  ('+')
  v - the uncursed Book of the Dead
 Rings    ('=')
  p - an uncursed ring of conflict named FIGHT
  F - an uncursed ring of free action named FREEBIRD (on right hand)
  L - an uncursed ring of levitation named UP
  O - an uncursed ring of protection from shape changers named NOPE
  y - an uncursed ring of regeneration named REGEN
  S - an uncursed ring of slow digestion named SLOW FOOD (on left hand)
  V - an uncursed ring of sustain ability named SUSTAIN
 Wands    ('/')
  A - a wand of death (1:5)
  f - a wand of fire (0:8)
  t - a wand of secret door detection named SECRETS (0:14)
  B - a wand of teleportation (0:8)
  R - a wand of teleportation (0:8)
  N - a wand of wishing (0:0)
  T - a wand of wishing (1:0)
 Tools    ('(')
  G - a blessed greased bag of holding named GOODIES containing 52 items
  c - an uncursed sack named EMERGENCY containing 2 items
  Q - the Bell of Opening (0:2)
  D - the uncursed Candelabrum of Invocation (7 of 7 candles attached)
  u - an expensive camera (0:81)
  i - an uncursed magic lamp named LIGHT (lit)
  k - the blessed Magic Mirror of Merlin
  W - an uncursed magic whistle named HERE BOY
  r - an uncursed skeleton key named UNLOCK
  s - a cursed stethoscope named INSPECT
  m - an uncursed wet towel named HOOPY
  J - a blessed +0 unicorn horn named HORNY
 Gems/Stones  ('*')
  Z - a blessed luckstone named LUCKY

Contents of the sack named EMERGENCY:
  a blessed scroll of remove curse
  a potion of holy water

Contents of the bag of holding named GOODIES:
  an uncursed amulet of life saving
  an uncursed amulet of magical breathing named BREATHE
  an uncursed amulet of reflection named REFLECT
  the rustproof +5 Mjollnir
  an uncursed fireproof +0 pair of water walking boots named JESUS
  an uncursed +0 cloak of magic resistance named MAGIC
  2 uncursed slime molds
  an uncursed candy bar labeled "Choco Nummer"
  an uncursed candy bar labeled "Nilla Crunchie"
  2 uncursed candy bars labeled "The Small Bar"
  an uncursed candy bar labeled "Wonka Bar"
  5 uncursed K-rations
  an uncursed lembas wafer
  an uncursed lump of royal jelly
  an uncursed pancake
  6 blessed scrolls of blank paper
  8 uncursed scrolls of blank paper
  a cursed scroll of blank paper
  a blessed scroll of remove curse
  an uncursed potion of full healing
  11 potions of holy water
  an uncursed ring of polymorph named POLY
  an uncursed ring of polymorph control named PC
  a wand of digging (0:8)
  a wand of digging (0:7)
  a wand of digging (0:7)
  a wand of undead turning named REVIVE (0:2)
  a can of grease (0:11)
  a magic marker (0:70)
  a magic marker (0:21)
  a +0 pick-axe named DIG IT
  4 uncursed agate stones
  4 uncursed amber stones
  9 uncursed amethyst stones
  7 uncursed aquamarine stones
  3 uncursed black opals
  4 uncursed chrysoberyl stones
  3 uncursed citrine stones
  6 uncursed diamonds
  6 uncursed dilithium crystals
  5 uncursed dilithium crystals
  9 uncursed emeralds
  8 uncursed fluorite stones
  an uncursed garnet stone
  an uncursed jacinth stone
  7 uncursed jade stones
  2 uncursed jasper stones
  3 uncursed jet stones
  2 uncursed obsidian stones
  3 uncursed opals
  an uncursed sapphire
  4 uncursed topaz stones

Ferret the Knight's attributes:

Background:
 You were a Paladin, a level 30 female human Knight.
 You were lawful, on a mission for Lugh
 who was opposed by Brigit (neutral) and Manannan Mac Lir (chaotic).
 You were left-handed.
 You were in the endgame, on the Astral Plane.
 You entered the dungeon 85313 turns ago.
 You had 108636484 experience points.

Basics:
 You had 362 out of 421 hit points.
 You had all 311 energy points (spell power).
 Your armor class was -41.
 Your wallet was empty.
 Autopickup was off.

Final Characteristics:
 Your strength was 25 (base:18/28, innate limit:18/100).
 Your dexterity was 18 (limit:18).
 Your constitution was 17 (peak:18, limit:18).
 Your intelligence was 22 (base:18, innate limit:18).
 Your wisdom was 22 (base:18, innate limit:18).
 Your charisma was 18 (limit:18).

Final Status:
 You were riding invisible Ki-Rin-Tin-Tin-Too.
 You and invisible Ki-Rin-Tin-Tin-Too were flying.
 You were temporarily blind.
 You weren't hungry.
 You were unencumbered.
 You were wielding two weapons at once.
 Your skill in long sword was limited by being skilled with two weapons.
 Your skill in lance was also limited by being skilled with two weapons.

Final Attributes:
 You were piously aligned.
 You were magic-protected.
 You were fire resistant.
 You were cold resistant.
 You were sleep resistant.
 You were disintegration resistant.
 You were shock resistant.
 You were poison resistant.
 You were level-drain resistant.
 You would have seen invisible when not blind.
 You were telepathic.
 You had automatic searching.
 You could jump.
 You could teleport.
 You had teleport control.
 You had slower digestion.
 You had a small bonus to hit (+2).
 You had a large defense bonus (+11).
 You were protected.
 You were very fast.
 You had reflection.
 You had free action.
 Your life would have been saved.
 You were extremely lucky.
 You had extra luck.
 Good luck did not time out for you.
 You survived after being killed once.

Miscellaneous:
 You encountered 2 bones levels.
 Total elapsed playing time was 2 days, 20 hours and 24 minutes.

Major events:
 Turn
    1: Ferret the lawful female human Knight entered the dungeon
 1843: attained the rank of Esquire (level 3)
 1914: entered the Gnomish Mines
 3195: was given Excalibur by the Lady of the Lake
 4263: attained the rank of Bachelor (level 6)
 5019: reached Mine Town
 8197: attained the rank of Sergeant (level 10)
 9211: acquired the Mines' End luckstone
12932: entered Sokoban
13088: completed 1st Sokoban level
13595: completed 2nd Sokoban level
13803: completed 3rd Sokoban level
14263: completed 4th Sokoban level
14856: acquired the Sokoban amulet of reflection
20118: entered Home 1, the Quest
20296: entered the Bigroom
25821: attained the rank of Knight (level 14)
26934: King Arthur has granted access to proceed deeper into the quest
26961: entered Home 2, the Quest
27143: entered Home 3, the Quest
32799: entered Home 4, the Quest
34596: was bestowed with Sunsword by Lugh
36430: entered Home 5, the Quest
36532: killed Ixoth
36532: found the Magic Mirror of Merlin carried by a monster
36595: acquired the Bell of Opening
39872: consulted the Oracle
41811: killed Croesus
43449: was bestowed with Trollsbane by Lugh
45959: killed Medusa
46819: made her first wish - "blessed greased +2 silver dragon scale mail", got "a greased silver dragon scale mail"
47278: wished for "blessed fireproof +2 pair of speed boots", got "a pair of buckled boots"
47291: performed her first genocide (black dragons)
52285: found Magicbane on the floor
53454: wished for "blessed figurine of a ki-rin", got "a figurine of a ki-rin"
54495: wished for "2 blessed scrolls of genocide", got "2 scrolls labeled VAS CORP BET MANI"
54498: genocided class L
56162: entered Gehennom
56327: attained the rank of Banneret (level 18)
59491: killed Juiblex
60254: genocided class R
60359: killed Asmodeus
61168: genocided class m
62446: killed Baalzebub
66549: genocided class h
66999: killed Orcus
67868: attained the rank of Chevalier (level 22)
69090: genocided energy vortices
69092: genocided class e
69093: genocided gelatinous cubes
70884: destroyed Vlad the Impaler
70887: acquired the Candelabrum of Invocation
71033: attained the rank of Dame (level 26)
72761: genocided class c
73410: genocided class w
77251: attained the rank of Paladin (level 30)
80053: genocided class ;
80054: genocided green slimes
80055: genocided class t
82548: killed the Wizard of Yendor
82578: acquired the Book of the Dead
82726: performed the invocation
82964: killed the Wizard of Yendor (2nd time)
82967: killed the Wizard of Yendor (3rd time)
83183: killed the high priestess of Moloch
83186: acquired The Amulet of Yendor
83187: wished for "blessed figurine of a ki-rin", got "a figurine of a ki-rin"
84986: entered the Elemental Planes
84986: entered Plane of Earth
84987: killed the Wizard of Yendor (5th time)
85079: entered Plane of Air
85157: entered Plane of Fire
85227: entered Plane of Water
85231: averted death (drowned in limitless water)
85242: entered the Astral Plane
85245: wished for "blessed saddle", got "a saddle"
85264: found Mjollnir carried by a monster
85267: killed Famine
85281: killed Famine (2nd time)
85310: wished for "3 dilithium crystals", got "3 gems"
85310: wished for "3 dilithium crystals", got "3 gems"
85313: ascended

Spells:
 Name                 Level Category     Fail Retention
 force bolt             1   attack        66%    (gone)
 detect food            2   divination    66%    (gone)
 remove curse           3   clerical       0%  91%-100%
 identify               3   divination    66%  76%-100%
 stone to flesh         3   healing       66%   26%-50%

Skills:
 Fighting Skills
   bare handed combat [Unskilled]
   two weapon combat  [Skilled]
   riding             [Expert]
 Weapon Skills
   dagger             [Unskilled]
   knife              [Unskilled]
   axe                [Unskilled]
   pick-axe           [Unskilled]
   short sword        [Unskilled]
   broadsword         [Unskilled]
   long sword         [Expert]
   two-handed sword   [Unskilled]
   saber              [Unskilled]
   club               [Unskilled]
   mace               [Unskilled]
   morning star       [Unskilled]
   flail              [Unskilled]
   hammer             [Unskilled]
   polearms           [Unskilled]
   spear              [Unskilled]
   trident            [Unskilled]
   lance              [Expert]
   bow                [Unskilled]
   crossbow           [Unskilled]
 Spellcasting Skills
   attack spells      [Unskilled]
   healing spells     [Unskilled]
   clerical spells    [Basic]

Voluntary challenges:
 Character rerolling was not enabled.
 You genocided 40 types of monsters.
 You used 8 wishes.
 You did not wish for any artifacts.
 You did not violate any of the special Sokoban rules.
Achievements:
 You entered a shop.
 You attained the rank of Esquire.
 You entered the Gnomish Mines.
 You attained the rank of Bachelor.
 You entered Minetown.
 You entered a temple.
 You attained the rank of Sergeant.
 You completed the Gnomish Mines.
 You entered Sokoban.
 You completed Sokoban.
 You entered the Big Room.
 You attained the rank of Knight.
 You had the Bell of Opening.
 You consulted the Oracle of Delphi.
 You defeated Medusa.
 You entered Gehennom.
 You attained the rank of Banneret.
 You attained the rank of Chevalier.
 You had the Candelabrum of Invocation.
 You attained the rank of Dame.
 You attained the rank of Paladin.
 You had the Book of the Dead.
 You gained access to Moloch's Sanctum.
 You reached the Elemental Planes.
 You reached the Astral Plane.
 You delivered the Amulet of Yendor.
 You ascended!

 The Elemental Planes:
    Astral Plane: <- You are here.
       A temple and an altar to Lugh.
    Plane of Water:
    Plane of Fire:
    Plane of Air:
    Plane of Earth:
 The Dungeons of Doom: levels 1 to 27
    Level 1:
       One way stairs up to The Elemental Planes.
    Level 2:
       An armor shop, a sink.
    Level 3:
       A general store, a fountain.
    Level 4:
       A general store.
       Stairs down to The Gnomish Mines.
    Level 5:
       Many fountains.
       Oracle of Delphi.
       Final resting place for
          qete-Wiz-Elf-Fem-Cha, killed by a jaguar.
    Level 6:
       A fountain.
       Stairs up to Sokoban, level 5.
    Level 7:
       A fountain.
    Level 8:
       A fountain.
    Level 9:
    Level 10:
    Level 11:
       Some fountains, a grave.
       Portal to The Quest.
    Level 12:
       A very big room.
    Level 13:
       A temple and an altar to Lugh, a fountain.
    Level 14:
       A fountain, a grave.
    Level 15:
       Some fountains, a grave.
    Level 16:
       A primitive area.
    Level 17:
       Some fountains, a grave.
    Level 18:
       An altar to Lugh, a grave.
    Level 19:
       Some fountains.
       Portal to Fort Ludios.
    Level 20:
       A fountain.
    Level 21:
    Level 22:
       A sink.
    Level 23:
    Level 24:
    Level 25:
       Some shops, a fountain, a grave.
       Final resting place for
          Nestorix-Wiz-Hum-Fem-Neu, killed by a fire elemental.
    Level 26:
    Level 27:
       A fountain.
       The castle.
       Connection to Gehennom.
 Gehennom: levels 28 to 49
    Level 28:
       A temple and an altar, many graves.
       Valley of the Dead.
    Level 29:
    Level 30:
    Level 31:
    Level 32:
    Level 33:
       A fountain.
    Level 34:
    Level 35:
    Level 36:
    Level 37:
    Level 38:
    Level 39:
       Some shops, an altar.
       Stairs up to Vlad's Tower, level 38.
    Level 40:
    Level 41:
    Level 42:
    Level 43:
    Level 44:
    Level 45:
    Level 46:
    Level 47:
    Level 48:
    Level 49:
       A temple and an altar, many graves.
       Moloch's Sanctum.
 The Gnomish Mines: levels 5 to 12
    Level 5:
    Level 6:
    Level 7:
    Level 8:
       Many shops, a temple and an altar, some fountains.
    Level 9:
    Level 10:
    Level 11:
    Level 12:
       A fountain.
 The Quest: levels 1 to 5
    Level 1:
       A throne.
       Completed quest for King Arthur.
    Level 2:
    Level 3:
       A temple and an altar.
    Level 4:
    Level 5:
 Sokoban: levels 5 up to 2
    Level 2:
       Solved.
    Level 3:
       Solved.
    Level 4:
       Solved.
    Level 5:
       Solved.
 Fort Ludios:
    Level 1:
       Fort Ludios.
 Vlad's Tower: levels 38 up to 36
    Level 36:
       A throne.
    Level 37:
    Level 38:

Vanquished creatures:
    Asmodeus
    Baalzebub
    Orcus
    Juiblex
 an erinys
the Wizard of Yendor (6 times)
    Famine (twice)
    Vlad the Impaler
  a high cleric
  3 mastodons
    Medusa
    Croesus
  8 krakens
 11 iron golems
  3 ki-rin
 10 storm giants
  6 glass golems
 12 balrogs
  6 purple worms
  2 gold dragons
  5 silver dragons
 13 red dragons
  2 white dragons
  2 orange dragons
  a black dragon
  5 blue dragons
  5 green dragons
  4 yellow dragons
 33 minotaurs
 10 jabberwocks
    Ixoth
  5 baluchitheria
  3 Angels
  a demilich
  9 stone golems
  a master mind flayer
 22 Olog-hai
  4 Nazgul
 10 pit fiends
  5 sandestins
 14 hell hounds
 10 displacer beasts
  9 titanotheres
 12 trappers
  a baby gold dragon
  4 baby red dragons
  2 guardian nagas
  6 genetic engineers
  a disenchanter
 34 vampire leaders
  6 skeletons
 16 aligned clerics
  3 captains
  6 shades
  5 liches
  4 clay golems
 10 nurses
 22 ice devils
 18 nalfeshnees
 10 lurkers above
  2 Aleaxes
  7 frost giants
 10 ettins
 33 black puddings
 34 vampires
 14 lieutenants
 46 ghosts
  a valkyrie
  5 queen bees
  8 winged gargoyles
  8 mind flayers
 12 giant mimics
  8 long worms
  9 zruties
  3 fire giants
 16 ogre tyrants
 an ice troll
 12 rock trolls
 18 umber hulks
 14 flesh golems
  8 elven monarchs
 12 doppelgangers
 28 hezrous
 23 bone devils
  7 large mimics
 11 wumpuses
 16 fire vortices
  a baby purple worm
  2 couatls
 19 stalkers
 14 air elementals
 22 fire elementals
 20 earth elementals
 10 water elementals
  8 hill giants
  a giant mummy
  2 black nagas
 19 xorns
 21 giant zombies
 14 elf-nobles
 18 sergeants
  a water demon
 12 barbed devils
 23 vrocks
 13 salamanders
 11 wargs
  a winter wolf
 23 hell hound pups
 10 small mimics
  3 glass piercers
 13 warhorses
 17 steam vortices
 20 xans
  7 ettin mummies
  9 ogre leaders
 22 quantum mechanics
 25 trolls
  a sasquatch
  5 wood golems
 12 mariliths
  4 sharks
  6 electric eels
 13 gelatinous cubes
 11 pyrolisks
  4 large dogs
  8 freezing spheres
 17 flaming spheres
  6 shocking spheres
  6 large cats
 15 tigers
 13 gargoyles
  3 dwarf rulers
  4 tengu
 42 ochre jellies
 10 leocrottas
  4 energy vortices
  8 mountain centaurs
  5 stone giants
  5 elf mummies
  5 human mummies
  9 red nagas
  2 green slimes
  4 pythons
 13 pit vipers
  6 cobras
 46 wraiths
  6 carnivorous apes
 23 ettin zombies
  3 leather golems
 17 Grey-elves
120 soldiers
  a watchman
 13 amorous demons
  6 horned devils
 14 chameleons
  4 crocodiles
 98 giant beetles
 11 quivering blobs
 28 cockatrices
 27 wolves
 19 winter wolf cubs
  4 lynxes
  6 panthers
 51 gremlins
  5 spotted jellies
 63 leprechauns
 13 orc-captains
  7 iron piercers
  5 mumakil
 17 giant spiders
 16 scorpions
 12 horses
  5 ice vortices
 22 black lights
 18 vampire bats
  7 forest centaurs
 11 gnome rulers
  9 orc mummies
  7 dwarf mummies
  4 ogres
 20 brown puddings
 15 rust monsters
 17 owlbears
 10 yetis
  6 gold golems
  8 werewolves
 32 Green-elves
  3 piranha
 14 giant eels
 19 lizards
  9 chickatrices
  7 dingoes
  4 dogs
  5 housecats
 12 jaguars
  5 dwarf leaders
  6 blue jellies
  5 gray unicorns
  a black unicorn
 15 dust vortices
  6 ravens
  6 plains centaurs
  4 gnome mummies
  9 snakes
 10 apes
 27 human zombies
  5 rope golems
 32 Woodland-elves
 79 soldier ants
 53 fire ants
 18 bugbears
  5 imps
  3 lemures
 92 quasits
  9 wood nymphs
  7 water nymphs
  9 mountain nymphs
 13 Mordor orcs
 19 Uruk-hai
  4 orc shamans
 14 rock piercers
  4 rock moles
 11 ponies
  3 fog clouds
 23 yellow lights
  3 shriekers
  9 violet fungi
 24 gnome leaders
 11 gnomish wizards
 12 kobold mummies
  a red naga hatchling
 17 gray oozes
 14 barrow wights
 35 elf zombies
 18 ghouls
  5 straw golems
  4 paper golems
  5 jellyfish
104 giant ants
 11 floating eyes
  3 kittens
 18 dwarves
  8 homunculi
  4 kobold leaders
  8 kobold shamans
 33 hill orcs
 26 rothes
  8 rabid rats
  3 centipedes
  9 giant bats
  a monkey
 14 orc zombies
 18 dwarf zombies
  5 wererats
  2 werejackals
 13 iguanas
126 killer bees
  3 acid blobs
  4 coyotes
  2 gas spores
  6 hobbits
 10 manes
  3 large kobolds
 18 hobgoblins
  8 giant rats
  6 cave spiders
  3 brown molds
  6 yellow molds
  a green mold
  4 red molds
 63 gnomes
 14 garter snakes
 10 gnome zombies
 21 geckos
  9 jackals
  6 foxes
  a kobold
  3 goblins
  7 sewer rats
 13 grid bugs
  6 bats
 13 lichens
 20 kobold zombies
 10 newts
3638 creatures vanquished.

Genocided or extinct species:
 arch-liches
 krakens
 master liches
 purple worms
 black dragons
 demiliches
 master mind flayers
 trappers
 disenchanters
 liches
 lurkers above
 mind flayers
 giant mimics
 long worms
 large mimics
 baby purple worms
 small mimics
 sharks
 electric eels
 gelatinous cubes
 pyrolisks
 freezing spheres
 flaming spheres
 shocking spheres
 dwarf rulers
 energy vortices
 green slimes
 soldiers (extinct)
 cockatrices
 baby long worms
 rust monsters
 piranha
 giant eels
 chickatrices
 dwarf leaders
 bugbears
 jellyfish
 floating eyes
 dwarves
 killer bees (extinct)
 gas spores
 hobbits
40 species genocided.
2 species extinct.

Fare thee well Ferret the Demigoddess...

You and the guardian Angel of Lugh and the invisible Ki-Rin-Tin-Tin-Too
went to your reward with 4547329 points,
Excalibur (worth 4000 zorkmids and 10000 points)
The Magic Mirror of Merlin (worth 1500 zorkmids and 3750 points)
The Book of the Dead (worth 10000 zorkmids and 25000 points)
The Candelabrum of Invocation (worth 5000 zorkmids and 12500 points)
Magicbane (worth 3500 zorkmids and 8750 points)
Mjollnir (worth 4000 zorkmids and 10000 points)
The Bell of Opening (worth 5000 zorkmids and 12500 points)
      11 dilithium crystals (worth 49500 zorkmids),
       9 emeralds (worth 22500 zorkmids),
       9 amethyst stones (worth 5400 zorkmids),
       8 fluorite stones (worth 3200 zorkmids),
       7 aquamarine stones (worth 10500 zorkmids),
       7 jade stones (worth 2100 zorkmids),
       6 diamonds (worth 24000 zorkmids),
       4 amber stones (worth 4000 zorkmids),
       4 topaz stones (worth 3600 zorkmids),
       4 chrysoberyl stones (worth 2800 zorkmids),
       4 agate stones (worth 800 zorkmids),
       3 black opals (worth 7500 zorkmids),
       3 citrine stones (worth 4500 zorkmids),
       3 jet stones (worth 2550 zorkmids),
       3 opals (worth 2400 zorkmids),
       2 jasper stones (worth 1000 zorkmids),
       2 obsidian stones (worth 400 zorkmids),
       1 jacinth stone (worth 3250 zorkmids),
       1 sapphire (worth 3000 zorkmids),
       1 garnet stone (worth 700 zorkmids),
       2 amulets of life saving (worth 300 zorkmids),
       1 amulet of reflection (worth 150 zorkmids),
       1 amulet of magical breathing (worth 150 zorkmids),
and 0 pieces of gold, after 85313 moves.
You were level 30 with a maximum of 421 hit points when you ascended.

I resisted trying Nethack 5.0 for a while, but there is some good news:

"You finish eating the xorn corpse.  You feel less concerned about becoming petrified."

There's also a tutorial mode which should help anyone who wants to start playing Nethack after 40+ years of development.

Everything went according to plan for this, the last character class on my list of ascensions.  In fact, it directly followed my Rogue ascension from back in April.  Why did it take so long?  Perhaps the title gave that away.  This tourist came, and saw. and killed absolutely everything.  After acquiring the quest artifact ("Don't Leave Home Without It") and a bag of tricks, he realized that he could camp out at the altar on dungeon level 6 and sacrifice monsters to his heart's content.  Okay, maybe strictly longer than anyone would be content to sacrifice monsters.  To be clear, I do not recommend this play style unless you wish to get over your nethack addiction for a while.

Create monster stopped working on DL6 at about turn 293,400.  He descended into Gehennom to create tougher monsters.  Demons and such stopped appearing on DL27 at about turn 313,900.  Back upstairs to check some more non-Gehennom levels.  On Oracle level DL8, baby dragons, naga hatchlings, baby worms, baby crocodiles, and angels (putti?) were exhausted around turn 335,200.  In the castle on DL25 there were archons, ki-rin, and titans, which are themselves able to cast "summon nasties".  This can someties be annoying, particularly when they summon each other along with their nasty friends.  But create monster stopped working for them too around turn 342,000.  That was the last of the randomly-generated monsters!

I made a decent effort to clean up all the remaining monsters so the dungeon is as safe as possible.  It actually is quite eerie to walk around without seeing a wandering monster every once in a while.  I did leave the shopkeepers and temple priests alive since they're always peaceful no matter what the player's alignment.  I also left behind some of the less-valuable artifact weapons and gems on DL1, along with 64,655 zorkmids, because I didn't want my encumbrance level to be more than Burdened.  That probably wasn't a real danger, but oh well.

30136 creatures vanquished.
59 species genocided.
222 species extinct.

Aloha Ferret the Demigod...

You went to your reward with 46439376 points,
Magicbane (worth 3500 zorkmids and 8750 points)
Sting (worth 800 zorkmids and 2000 points)
Mjollnir (worth 4000 zorkmids and 10000 points)
Vorpal Blade (worth 4000 zorkmids and 10000 points)
The Bell of Opening (worth 5000 zorkmids and 12500 points)
Fire Brand (worth 3000 zorkmids and 7500 points)
The Book of the Dead (worth 10000 zorkmids and 25000 points)
The Candelabrum of Invocation (worth 5000 zorkmids and 12500 points)
The Platinum Yendorian Express Card (worth 7000 zorkmids and 17500 points)
     205 aquamarine stones (worth 307500 zorkmids),
     164 fluorite stones (worth 65600 zorkmids),
     149 amber stones (worth 149000 zorkmids),
     145 garnet stones (worth 101500 zorkmids),
     126 chrysoberyl stones (worth 88200 zorkmids),
     117 turquoise stones (worth 234000 zorkmids),
     112 opals (worth 89600 zorkmids),
     110 amethyst stones (worth 66000 zorkmids),
     101 citrine stones (worth 151500 zorkmids),
      98 jet stones (worth 83300 zorkmids),
      96 jade stones (worth 28800 zorkmids),
      94 topaz stones (worth 84600 zorkmids),
      93 rubies (worth 325500 zorkmids),
      75 black opals (worth 187500 zorkmids),
      71 emeralds (worth 177500 zorkmids),
      61 diamonds (worth 244000 zorkmids),
      56 jasper stones (worth 28000 zorkmids),
      55 dilithium crystals (worth 247500 zorkmids),
      47 jacinth stones (worth 152750 zorkmids),
      29 sapphires (worth 87000 zorkmids),
      29 agate stones (worth 5800 zorkmids),
      27 obsidian stones (worth 5400 zorkmids),
       5 amulets of life saving (worth 750 zorkmids),
       1 amulet of change (worth 150 zorkmids),
and 3170 pieces of gold, after 364070 moves.
You were level 30 with a maximum of 7140 hit points when you ascended.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/altorg/dumplog/Ferret/1680964958.nh367.txt

Samurai Cat in the Real World (1989), by Mark E. Rogers (1952-2014)

Alas, my streak of consecutive ascensions stopped at two.  Rogue #1 was doing reasonably well, but but a titan surrounded him with nasties and on my last turn I typoed myself to death.  Rogue #2 killed by a gnome lord with a wand of magic missile.  But Rogue #3 was lucky enough to find FIVE magic lamps along the way, and that was plenty of magic lamps.  He also found a katana on the second dungeon level, and that ended up serving as a fine companion to Stormbringer for the rest of the game.

As for interesting mistakes:  he foolishly buried some speed boots under a boulder, but when he came back to dig them up, they had rotted away entirely.  Stormy killed a few things he might not have wanted to kill, including co-aligned unicorns.  And some things were forgotten while ascending, including a magic whistle.  Not a big deal all things considered, but it's probably worth double-checking your entire kit before making that final run.

Ferret the Magsman and the invisible Archie the Archon went to their reward with 4050028 points and 140370 pieces of gold, after 78618 moves.
He was level 27 with a maximum of 793 hit points when he ascended.

On to the Tourist, hoping to finish before they release version 3.7 and make things trickier.

I actually wasn't wild about the idea of being chaotic, but I had yet to ascend an elf in this sequence, so away we go on a quest for Mars.

The first notable thing that happened in the Gnomish Mines was that I fell down a trap door in the middle of a narrow passage and landed on the wrong side of the up stairs.  Without a pick-axe to dig around the trap, I was unable to (reliably) get back to my dog Sirius.  Just as I was bemoaning this misfortune, I happened upon... a wand of wishing!  Always test out your wands, folks.  A stroke of luck like this is usually sufficient to preserve your life.

Sirius eventually died from falling into a pit, and my pet giant ant Auntie (whom I hatched from an egg!) was murdered by monsters at Mines' End.  Soon after that I made the terrible mistake of picking up a loadstone.  Don't do that, folks.  Trying to deal with the encumbrance nearly cost me this beautifully equipped Ranger.

Mars didn't help me get rid of the loadstone, and I then made the awful mistake of walking far away from my entire stash of rations.  I didn't notice my predicament until it was almost too late.  Crawling back while fainting, I just barely made it to the food in time.

When I finally got Stormbringer, I was both pleased and apprehensive.  "Stormy" is a life-draining sword (from Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné stories) that doesn't much care whom it attacks.  So it's risky to use around pets or other peaceful creatures whom you don't want to anger.  Keep that in mind for later, but for now I had no pets and resolved to be extra careful around shopkeepers and temple priests.

During my descent to the Wizard of Yendor's lair, I somehow missed finding the ladder to Vlad's.  When Rodney then woke up before I was ready, I had to deal with constant harrassment up and down the depths of Gehennom.  And then I forgot my candles and had to go back for them.  I forgot several things, really, in my haste to get stuff done before the Wizard hassled me even more.  But I shambled forward to the Amulet, and made my way back without a lot of dilly-dallying.

3 mysterious forces, ah ha ha.  At the Valley again, I decided to dilly-dally by equipping a pet Archon named Archie.  And then I remembered that Stormbringer is a big risk for me to wield near a pet Archon.  Oh dear.  But the goodie-goodie won't wield it himself, so I hang onto Stormy and give him my backup:  "The invisible Archie wields the rustproof +7 Fire Brand!"

At one point when my bloodthirsty blade attacks, I hear "Gasp!"  I think Archie is offended that I'm using Stormbringer.  And I've already poked him with it once within four dungeon levels.  Luckily he forgave both that and another tap much later.  He was a very good friend indeed.

I and the invisible Archie the Archon and the guardian Angel of Mars went to our reward with 3307830 points, Stormbringer, The Longbow of Diana, Sunsword, The Book of the Dead, Orcrist, Demonbane, Sting, The Bell of Opening, The Candelabrum of Invocation, The Master Key of Thievery, 12 rubies, 10 emeralds, 9 black opals, 9 amethyst stones, 9 agate stones, 8 diamonds, 7 chrysoberyl stones, 7 jasper stones, 6 jet stones, 4 dilithium crystals, 4 topaz stones, 4 fluorite stones, 3 obsidian stones, 3 jade stones, 2 turquoise stones, 2 aquamarine stones, 2 opals, 2 garnet stones, 1 sapphire , 1 citrine stone, 1 amber stone, 4 amulets of life saving, and 146513 pieces of gold, after 77256 moves.  I was level 29 with a maximum of 685 hit points when I ascended.

This puts me on a streak of 2 ascensions in a row, but I've saved two of the toughest for last:  the Rogue and the Tourist.

To the victors go the one post wonders, but let's remember the guys who weren't so fortunate:
Priest #1 acquired Magicbane, but was promptly instakilled by a rabid rat.
Priest #2 was pincushioned by a gnome lord in the Gnomish Mines.
Priest #3 was killed by an ape while blinded by a yellow light.
Priest #4 was killed by a chameleon imitating a warg.
Priest #5 was killed by a touch of death from an ARCH-LICH on level 7???  That was probably a chameleon, too.

But the sixth one stayed up!  He was gifted Vorpal Blade and used it throughout the dungeon, also acquiring the means of reflection, levitation, conflict, and teleport control.  It was at this point that he stumbled into a level teleporter and was presented with a fateful choice: 

"To what level do you want to teleport?"

Answering "99" gets you underneath the Castle, so he sneaked in the back door and allowed the trolls in the throne room to finish off most of the other monsters.  From there, it was back to the Quest and some great dining experiences.  "Welcome to experience level 20.  You feel cool!"  Indeed.

Vorpal Blade has its disadvantages, like "Somehow, you miss the invisible black light wildly" but it is fun to decapitate demon lords instead of just wounding them.  Here's a scary moment:  "The bullwhip wraps around Vorpal Blade you're wielding!  The horned devil yanks Vorpal Blade from your hand!"  Oh, fudge.  Luckily it was cursed to wield that bullwhip instead of turning the beheading tables.

Later our heroic priest became the Envoy of Balance and cut down some shades with a silver saber, but for the most part it was Vorpy all the way.  While trying to find everything else on his shopping list, he got one last treat:  "You unleash a water demon!  Grateful for her release, she grants you a wish!"

He went to his reward with 4769988 points and 105737 pieces of gold, after 81735 moves.

It would be interesting if I could make my way through the dungeon by healing everyone I meet.  "The werejackal thanks you for removing his curse and departs rejoicing!"  But no, it's mostly slaying things as usual.  The vast majority of the healing I performed was vampiric in nature:  "The Staff of Aesculapius draws the life from the <Alas Poor Yorick>".  I established base camps at altars on levels 7, 17, 27, and 37.  Lucky 7s!  "This ring of teleport control is delicious!"  My pet giant zombie named Zorba kept picking up things I was trying to sort, so I locked him on the other side of a door, which he promptly smashed down.  "Master I love you so much!  Why did you lock the door?"  I really have no idea what became of him shortly after that.  He and Stoney the stone golem and Vlad the vampire didn't make it to the altar with me.  I stumbled a bit in the Plane of Air and the Astral Plane, but eventually turned things around.  Keeping spare wishes in your back pocket is sometimes a very good idea.

I and Quatro the Coatl and invisible Archie the Archon went to our reward with 3182509 points,
The Staff of Aesculapius (worth 5000 zorkmids and 12500 points)
The Bell of Opening (worth 5000 zorkmids and 12500 points)
The Book of the Dead (worth 10000 zorkmids and 25000 points)
The Candelabrum of Invocation (worth 5000 zorkmids and 12500 points)
Trollsbane (worth 200 zorkmids and 500 points)
Sunsword (worth 1500 zorkmids and 3750 points)
Excalibur (worth 4000 zorkmids and 10000 points)
Cleaver (worth 1500 zorkmids and 3750 points)
Frost Brand (worth 3000 zorkmids and 7500 points)
      11 amethyst stones (worth 6600 zorkmids),
      10 diamonds (worth 40000 zorkmids),
      10 rubies (worth 35000 zorkmids),
       8 turquoise stones (worth 16000 zorkmids),
       8 amber stones (worth 8000 zorkmids),
       8 topaz stones (worth 7200 zorkmids),
       7 emeralds (worth 17500 zorkmids),
       7 jasper stones (worth 3500 zorkmids),
       5 aquamarine stones (worth 7500 zorkmids),
       5 agate stones (worth 1000 zorkmids),
       4 jet stones (worth 3400 zorkmids),
       3 chrysoberyl stones (worth 2100 zorkmids),
       3 fluorite stones (worth 1200 zorkmids),
       2 black opals (worth 5000 zorkmids),
       2 opals (worth 1600 zorkmids),
       2 garnet stones (worth 1400 zorkmids),
       2 jade stones (worth 600 zorkmids),
       1 dilithium crystal (worth 4500 zorkmids),
       1 jacinth stone (worth 3250 zorkmids),
       1 sapphire (worth 3000 zorkmids),
       1 citrine stone (worth 1500 zorkmids),
       1 obsidian stone (worth 200 zorkmids),
       6 amulets of life saving (worth 900 zorkmids),
       1 amulet of magical breathing (worth 150 zorkmids),
and 95231 pieces of gold, after 64647 moves.
I was level 22 with a maximum of 376 hit points when I ascended.

Exploring dungeons isn't easy, what with all the rolling boulder traps.  Some creatures even enjoy being hit with a +2 bullwhip.  Not snakes, though.  "The pit viper falls into a pit!  How pitiful.  Isn't that the pits?"

If you need to hide from enemies in a bookstore, always remember to pick up a book and look like you're thinking about buying it.  Stay in there for as long as you need to.  The shopkeeper will keep those ruffians away from his customer.

If you have something you want to get rid of, find someone who will take it from you.  But first make sure that you've nothing else left for them to take.

I and Celeborn the elf-lord went to our reward with 4798200 points and 115592 pieces of gold, after 81116 moves.  I was level 29 with a maximum of 593 hit points when I ascended.

In need of some good feelings, I finished up the ascension run of a Valkyrie who had been vanquishing things without difficulty for some time.  I'm certain that I've ascended a Valkyrie before, but not within the memory of alt.org's version 3.6.x records.  Dwarven Valkyries are a good "easy" choice, and this one's natural 20 Constitution was nice.  One complication arose:  I never found an unguarded altar (7% chance?) so I never found occasion to pray to Tyr.  I did consult with Loki occasionally, at his temple in Minetown.

I and the guardian Angel of Tyr and Olaf and Olga and Ollie the Olog-hai and Frosty the Ice Troll and an unnamed fire ant went to our reward with 11672727 points, and 112111 pieces of gold, after 142972 moves.  I was level 30 with a maximum of 1845 hit points (!)

As an aside, does anyone have unusual favorite inventory slot letters?  Some of mine make sense, like "L" for a ring of levitation and "S" for a ring of slow digestion.  My pick-axe is "w" so I end up alternating "wield primary weapon a" with "apply w".  Then there are the odd ones, like "G" for my primary bag of goodies and "J" for a unicorn horn, which may date from the very first time I randomly got used to a particular letter and just decided to stick with it.

What's the opposite of a Wizard?  A Barbarian!  Two promising barbarians were killed by things they shouldn't have angered, but eventually one became buff enough that he could SURVIVE angering things he shouldn't have.  Once he got that far without happening to genocide anything, he took that on as a voluntary challenge and succeeded!  There were many times when he regretted choosing that option, though.  Another challenge he completed was not changing form, which is not much of a problem if it doesn't happen accidentally.  Time to rest...

Goodbye Ferret the Demigod...

You went to your reward with 3496590 points,
Frost Brand (worth 3000 zorkmids and 7500 points)
The Book of the Dead (worth 10000 zorkmids and 25000 points)
The Candelabrum of Invocation (worth 5000 zorkmids and 12500 points)
Grimtooth (worth 300 zorkmids and 750 points)
Magicbane (worth 3500 zorkmids and 8750 points)
Cleaver (worth 1500 zorkmids and 3750 points)
The Bell of Opening (worth 5000 zorkmids and 12500 points)
The Heart of Ahriman (worth 2500 zorkmids and 6250 points)
      14 dilithium crystals (worth 63000 zorkmids),
      10 amethyst stones (worth 6000 zorkmids),
       8 emeralds (worth 20000 zorkmids),
       7 rubies (worth 24500 zorkmids),
       7 opals (worth 5600 zorkmids),
       5 turquoise stones (worth 10000 zorkmids),
       5 obsidian stones (worth 1000 zorkmids),
       4 diamonds (worth 16000 zorkmids),
       4 citrine stones (worth 6000 zorkmids),
       3 jet stones (worth 2550 zorkmids),
       3 chrysoberyl stones (worth 2100 zorkmids),
       3 garnet stones (worth 2100 zorkmids),
       2 jacinth stones (worth 6500 zorkmids),
       2 black opals (worth 5000 zorkmids),
       2 jasper stones (worth 1000 zorkmids),
       1 topaz stone (worth 900 zorkmids),
       1 agate stone (worth 200 zorkmids),
       1 jade stone (worth 300 zorkmids),
       1 amulet of reflection (worth 150 zorkmids),
       1 amulet of magical breathing (worth 150 zorkmids),
and 10002 pieces of gold, after 57152 moves.
You were level 25 with a maximum of 449 hit points when you ascended.