[solo]

That is sad that the game must end this way.

I was not about to cast Wish, but was just about ready to include Eternal Pyre among my group of globals.

I stayed busy forging magic items while claiming the seas with Living Statues. I had many of the uniques, and several copies of Wing of Wizardy, etc.

With magic items coming so cheaply, I forged about 20 pairs of Eyes of Aiming and Etheral Crossbows, while being besieged by the Jotun woodsmen. I also gave 20 of my Dwarven Smiths a pair of Earth Boots, allowing them all to cast Blade Wind.

When the Jotun decided to storm my castle, they were in for a bit of a surprise! Had they decided to do so many turns earlier, the outcome might have been in their favor as their bless made them very formidable opponents earlier in the game.

The trick for me was to survive long enough to make my gem income and forging advantage pay off. Other players were off to a much faster start, and I was very happy not to be one of their early neighbors!