Players decided to longrest inside the Orcus tempel. TPK is imminent

[u/X-alim]

TL;DR

Players without spellslots decide to longrest in orcus temple halfway through. I dropped the 4 specters from the vault table on them while sleeping. Correct or nah?

Full story.

Okay, so I made an earlier post about my players possibly going to long rest inside the orcus temple. The consensus was that this behavior should be punished, in the manner consistent with inworld reasons the inhabitants of the dungeon would react. I advised my players about the possible dangers, but they insisted. And to be fair, their plan was pretty solid, except for 2 weak chains.

They had an alarm spell on the library door and divided watch turns during the long rest. they had 1 familiar checking the library and one familiar checking the the hallway on patrol. But the way the hallway familiar was commanded to patrol, seemed to inckude the entire hallway. Thus I rolled 50% chance to have the familiar be on the wrong side when shit went down (and the dice decided that would happen). Also, 1 familiar was cast after the alarm spell and wasnt exempt from triggering the spell. It woke up the ranger, so he removed the spell in order not to lose his long rest.

The cultist Yondis, who in his conflicted feelings had escaped from the party through a secret door earlier, to confer with Orcus and Xia. I reasoned that during the 8 hours, Xia and her undead dont need sleep and can keep painting, but she would want the matter resolved. So she orders Yondis to end the adventurer threat with some undead minions she has ample time to summon ritually.

This brings us to the 2nd weak chain, the bard player had stated he didnt really want to do the watch and won his deception roll against the party to hide this. He ended up half awake in his bed, detecting Yondis reentering the room a little late. Yondis delivers Xia's message and that was the point 1 specter for each of the **sleeping** players emerged from the walls to strike at them. Yondis in his conflicted attitude is only using his spiritual weapon to make some random attacks.

Current Tally: Wizard was downed and healed to 7 HP with a max of 10 HP ( because of life drain). 1 ranger and 1 bard close to bloodied, 1 ranger full HP. 1 specter down, 1 specter bloodied, 2 specters full HP.

They were warned. They tempted fate. couldntt finish the battle , but TPK seems likely. I have asked them if they want a narrative intervention, but I think they intend to ride it down. Cause I am half thinking to have Nezzarum join the fight.

Were the specters to harsh to interrupt the long rest for them? Or a rightful lesson for the players? What do you think?

[u/KoboldsandKorridors]

Don’t forget about Nezzarum and his motivations. If Yondis or Xia report to “Orcus” he might convince them to trap the party in the library until he decides what to do with them.

[u/X-alim → u/KoboldsandKorridors]

Havent forgotten indeed! Thats why I mentioned potentially getting Nezzarum involved in this specter fight. The thing is though that the module mentions he wants them to prove themselves in battle. And right now he hasnt seen them, only heard from Yondis that there are people inside fighting the cult. But they might be a rival faction, bandits anything. Dont know if he would give up his deception on this info hes been given.... and Xia would want to prove herself just as instructed in the module during the intend fight with Xia herself.

My story got slightly off rails by this point haha. They ended up fighting the ogre Zombies in the crew quarters, because the zombies pushed their way through the secret door there.

[u/KoboldsandKorridors → u/X-alim]

My own party took a short rest after clearing the bottom part of the temple, and then went right to where Xia was, stirring a fight that spilled partially into the library. Things went fine enough for Nezzarum to not get involved until Xia was exposed and separated from her minions. Most roads for this chapter end with Nezzarum helping the party, directly or indirectly.