> > My second party just killed the Leviathan for the first time in their life. Of 6 warriors, a whole 2 survived! But when I looked at the item lists, the item the Leviathan was guarding was nowhere to be found!
> > I dropped one item from both survivors, went outside the door and back again. Nothing happened.
> > Then I went outside the door again. This time I was met with a group of monsters who killed my remaining characters.
> > Now I have to do all that again before I can progress to the "public" half of level 9! GRRRRR!!!
>
> Yeah, I've noticed that too. From Perinn With Love was in the habit of not opening chests, because he was fully equipped, loaded with cash, and couldn't spare the HP. The first time I took out the Leviathan, I instinctively didn't open the chest. The Item of Specialness was nowhere to be found, and I had to kill the Leviathan again. The next two times, his chest was guarded by a teleport trap, which was even more annoying. It seems only Murkon himself leaves his stuff lying around.

I made one more excursion to kill the Leviathan. Then I found out that I still managed to lose the item. So I had to make yet one more excursion. ARGH! My party has now killed the Leviathan three times and only now are they ready to continue their journey.

To think I still have to do all this in two more places...