bah

  3.   900918  Matthew the High-Elf Mage, Level 35
               Killed by an Ancient gold dragon on dungeon level 40
               (User 1024, Date 2007-04-20, Gold 268106, Turn 3034800).

That's that, then. The diving strategy (5 levels lower than anyone else on the table) was, I think, working, but obviously more care should be taken with Ds whose breath attack I don't resist. Maybe the next character will get better luck with kit, too!