ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

my first playthrough too... I didn't think I would be able to do it. I was only 24 when the trigger happened, but the gear from the bear event helped

Congratulations!
Frankly speaking, I usually skip the event (Melinda, not the Bearscape, of course)

I always hope to avoid that event until the last second because it's caused me more deaths than even Dreadfell or the Prides.

That being said, getting to Melinda is the hard part for me, saving her is easy… if you cheese it a little.

For one, the stair case is always on the far east of the screen. Thus, I just tunnel all the way to the edge of the map and work my way all the way back east. Then, I tunnel back towards northeast or southeast corner. Just tunnel back towards the actual dungeon until you can see the edge of the rooms… you can actually SEE the staircase.

That's what I do...