And I nearly get wiped out by Or-fuckin-cus and his merry band of smackies. (Orcus likes to summon. A lot of monsters. I had to pin him down in narrow corridors to minimize the gangbang when he summoned, and then camp on the up staircase so he wouldn't run.)
Three potions of full heal and a lot of sweating later, Orcus falls. Good.
I get down near Rodney's little tower and I realize I don't have the candelabra yet. So it's a quick exploratory session back thru some of the Gene-howeveryouspellit mazes and I find the staircase to Vlad's hidden by a boulder. Vlad goes down like a smooth beer and I have the candelabra.
Only I forgot to get the candles. Oops.
Trudge back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back back up to the Gnomish Mines. Yeah, the store in mine town's the only place I can find candles. I don't have the heart to murder Ichzak, though, so I kindly bought all my candles and then slaughtered the other shopkeepers in the place. (Chaotic barbarian is fun.)
Now we're heading back down to Rodney's little sanctum sanctorum. I'm surprised I haven't had a stupid death yet, so I'm eagerly awaiting the next few down staircases.