My players are currently on their second and third characters, and they just suffered basically a TPK. This is the session after a player introduced their new character.

The party just had a parlay with some of Ras Nsi’s representatives as they’re about to close in on Omu. After traveling away from the meeting, I had them ambushed by a small pack of deinonychus which they made handy work of. Towards the end of initiative I had a T-Rex zombie burst in and I could tell they ate it up with a nice mix of fear and awe. The Barbarian went down, their spell caster sidekick went down, and finally it was the Hexblade’s turn. He went full glory for Great Weapon Master…and missed both attacks. They both said “lay it on me” as they could tell I felt bad and hesitant on the TPK. I ended the session with them being downed.

I truly don’t want a TPK—they’re so close to Omu, one character is brand new (this was his second fight), and it would just throw everything off the rails. I want to throw them a lifeline, but I’m don’t want it cheapened. I feel that “the t-Rex didn’t see you as a threat anymore and moved on” is too convenient. I thought about Artus Cimber but we haven’t really used him, I don’t want to add another dmpc, and I feel them waking safe with a note like “I saved your asses, stay frosty -A.C.” is another deus ex machina. Luckily none of them are outright dead—I’m just a little stuck creatively, and want to make something logical.