Okay, here's the set up: We're trying to recover a sacred scroll (non-magical) stolen by the Drow.
We finally got to the island where they took it. There was no road or trail from the shore, so we scanned around for footprints or a sign that someone elde had been here.
We found a trail and followed it. They weren't humnoid tracks, so we figured that we were going to find someone who might offer us direction.
We found a cave opening with two guards outside, looking lile larger than average Satyr. The Bard (our diplomat) approached, empty handed, to say hello and open negotiations.
The guards charged and dropped her in one swing.
We fought and dropped the guards, after which we made certain that they didn't die. We didn't spend magic on them, just healing checks and bandages, but we didn't want to have our dealing with them start with murder.
With no other options, we entered the cave and navigated our way over a 15 foot wide pit bordered by low walls. (We slung a line and used the harness from a climber's kit.)
Three more attacked as we were straightening ourselves up on the other side.
Our big fighter faced em, but three to one dropped him in two rounds. Our Cleric is out of healing (he's he 1st level, so he spent both of his spells patching people up from the first fight. He managed to reach in with a Cure Minor to stabilize the fighter, but he's at the edge of dead.
Our Ranger/Druid got hit and they took him to zero in one hit. (Great axes, D12 +3, and ahead-butt, D6+1) He used one of two charges on a Cure Light wand to make himself functional, but he'll fall on the next hit.
The Cleric is 1st level and not a great melee hope. I'm running a Wizard and my one offensive spell is Color Spray. I can't use it without taking out my own people, and if even one of them makes his Save, I'm dead. (Their average damage drops me in one hit). The Bard is still down hit points from the first encounter.
So two of them to drain spells and hit points followed by three of them, no real retreat possible, and an enemy who won't parlay, they just attack.
These "CR 2" creatures are from MM III, so the CR rating is questionable, to say the least. By the book they get a +2 morale bonus to hit and damage if they're within 30 feet of another of their own race.
Simply put, this DM doesn't know how to balance an encounter. And the simplest solution at this point is to just play along, don't try to beg off the TPK in progress, then talk to him again.
I've had the conversation, explaining how encounter planning works, and pointing out that the later edition Monster Manuals need to have their CR numbers questioned. He always seems to understand, but then he goes right back to that book and over matches the party again. He sees "CR 2", says, "Well, the party's 2nd level, so a head-to-head matchup should be a fair fight.", and then doesn't understand why PCs keep dying.
Maybe he'll learn this time.
