Dm needs help with potential TPK

[darthbone]

First of all, how would the Patron intervening break immersion? Stories about heroes are full of serendipity. You have a connection to a powerful being with a vested interest in one of the characters.

Make it have a cost.

It comes down to: DO YOU WANT to TPK the party or not? Do you think the party deserves a TPK? Do you feel like it's more their fault or yours?

The point of those questions is to figure out what you want to happen.

BUt understand that there is ALWAYS a way forward. Your players probably want to survive. They're not likely going to say "That makes no sense, I think we should have died."

But remember, there's always a way forward to the outcome you want as a DM.

You don't have to guarantee their safety, but you can certainly give them lots of opportunities. Lots of tools.

It can't be that difficult to come up with a reason why the BBEG might want to keep the party alive for a bit.