OK, OK, I won't insist that we kill him. SHEESH! You guys will go to any lengths to spoil my fun, won't you?Mowgli said:I have an instinctive dislike of Option 1, for a two reasons - 1) It burns bridges/eliminates future options for GMs as well as for a Player, and 2) It's just not very nice(I know, I know . . .).
My preferred choice would be option 2 or 3, with the proviso suggested by Lou that some help be forthcoming from the Denizens of the Downbelow (enough to bring the party back to the strength it was when the adventure was designed).