ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

So I recently upgraded to beta 37.
This isn't an 'I did this and now I can't access my characters' post, as I'm aware characters are usually inaccessible between versions. I just started a new character, eventually lost all lives, and then started a Summoner, as I'd unlocked the class recently.

I was playing this character earlier today. After some dungeon delving I decided to return to Derth to sell stuff and take a break. Saved, quit, nothing apparently wrong.
Cue opening the game later on in the day to find I have no save files listed. The character's still listed as alive on the website, albeit having died once, and I'm still on the same computer. Have I missed or forgotten something perfectly obvious?
Where are save files normally kept?

The exact location of the savefiles depend on your OS. Look at this page for the approximate location, but instead of the settings folder you should find a tome/saves one.

I am running into the same situation but I am sure it has nothing to do with not knowing where the saves are. The saves simply have disappeared.

It's an intermittent problem but this time it actually cost me my best character ( and about 8 more ) who is listed as alive on the website but no save exists.

I've searched both my hard drives, my recycle bin ( win 7 64 bit system ) and nothing. I'm using no add ons.

I had deleted all my under level 10 characters friday and kept playing my good character but once I saved and closed the game ( the entire game not just back to the main menu ) and reopened it, the only character alive was a level one character from feb 5th who should have been dead if he'd been on my list when I purged. I don't believe he was but cannot guarantee this.

All my over level 10 characters are gone though. Also, my keybindings and settings had reverted to the old settings from the 5th as well.

Now, I created a new character and saved him, exited the game and restarted and his save appears and is found on the hard drive where expected. As I said, this has happened before and I redownloaded the game the last time it happened, it's like something is deleting the files but it doesn't happen all the time. I haven't seen any other threads on this so it could be something I'm doing as opposed to a bug but it's very frustrating.

I will start backing up my save files before I quit if needed but I wonder if anyone has any ideas what is happening?