All PC dead, what to do?

[Brennin Magalus]

Quick recovery - It was all a dream. Now, one of the characters wakes up from a nightmare where they're all killed in their sleep, only to see a shadowy figure with a knife.

I think that is a good idea. Also, if they have any friends/allies in high places they might come to the rescue.

 

[Nightfall]

I think you need to talk to your insurance agent about "Party refund".

 

[Brennin Magalus]

I think you need to talk to your insurance agent about "Party refund".

I am surprised you didn't say, "Take this opportunity to start a Scarred Lands campaign!"

 

[Nightfall]

I am surprised you didn't say, "Take this opportunity to start a Scarred Lands campaign!"

Chalk it up to getting old and not having my SL bible done yet.

 

[greymist]

As far as the Listen checks go, I would have had the PCs make one for the door opening (unless the oil on the hinges was magical, I would only allow a bonus, not automatic success in removing the hinge squeaks), and one for the thief sneaking across the floor.

I would have also rolled to see if a PC was awake for other reasons (could not sleep, reading, doing a Sudoku) and not allow the thief to know, for sure, with a simple Listen check...lots of people sleep without making any noise.

But the question was what to do now? Assuming that the PCs were sleeping in an inn in some sort of town or city, then their bodies will be discovered in the morning. The next game session could start with one of the PCs being questioned by a cleric using Speak with Dead. Once the authorities discover that a mass murderer in on the loose in their town, they may want to hunt him down. But their militia leaders are off somewhere else on official business, who could we get? Hmmmm. Why not make a deal with the dead PCs, cast raise dead on them, in exchange for a quest? A quest that is over and above finding their murderer. This gives the DM the chance to have the PCs take revenge, and sets them up for the next adventure.

 

[Nightfall]

Greymist,

OR (thanks Brennin!), have the guy run a completely different game at the same level only in the Scarred Lands!

 

[blargney the second]

Turn it into a capture scenario. The coup de grace was with a sap, not a shortsword, and each of the PCs was knocked out. They wake up in the prison of the guy who hired the rogue to get them, due to be questioned in a few days time. They then have the opportunity to escape from the prison, find their stuff, kick off the adventure in a new direction (and with a new enemy that they can really hate).

This one gets my vote as the best suggestion so far.
-blarg

 

[Nightfall]

Blarg,

No love for my idea(s)?

 

[The Thayan Menace]

RBDM Mayhem: Scarred Lands Style!

OR (thanks Brennin!), have the guy run a completely different game at the same level only in the Scarred Lands!

I wholeheartedly agree with you Nightfal, but I'd spice it up a bit.

Here's what I suggest:

Arrange for an overnight stay in another inn, send in another 4th level rogue NPC (a disciple of Belsameth should do nicely) ... and see if the players have actually learned from their past mistakes.

-Samir

 

[pawsplay]

Well, a soul knows the deity of a cleric of someone who tries to raise them... let them receive a call from a cleric of an evil deity, and decide if they want to come back, knowing they may be in a sticky situation.