In which we kinda have a TPK

 or perhaps have a kinda TPK.  I'm delaying this post for a bit so the party can "move on" from these decisions.  

So .... The party was at the brink of a lost shrine seeking to retrieve a powerful artifact for the Cartographers Guild who would compensate them with some info they'd been seeking.  They enter the shrine, dispatch a few random encounters, move deeper into the complex, locate a hidden secret exit from the shrine. find the McGuffin, outwit the traps and obtain it. They're down to about 50% HP.  There's been a countdown die on the table.  It's gone from 10 to 1 while looking for the McGuffin.  Instead of leaving asap they opt to "explore the rest of the complex."  I keep the countdown die at 1 but their next encounter is with a modified Yuan-ti Night Talker who gives them a vision.  The Barbarian and the Champion see a panorama of the earth opening up, demons spewing across the earth as the party leads Yuan-ti, humans, elves and dwarves in an epic battle against the BBEG.  The Druid sees cultists pouring forth from this shrine, heading through the woods to locate the Druid's mentor in order to kill him.  And The Bard sees that this IS the McGuffin they've been sent to find but that it's also the 2nd part of the three-part weapon needed to slay the BBG.  A tough choice awaits.  

I figured seeing all this would result in them heading out to find the third part of the Dingus.  Nope.  "Let's explore more of the dungeon."  Turned the countdown clock to 0 and the resident BBG found them.  They coulda taken him at 75% but not at 50.  Rather than killing them blindly here I opted to capture them.  They found themselves stripped naked and tied together.  After freeing themselves they set about ... exploring the shrine - hoping to find weapons, clothing, equipment ... before setting out into the below freezing weather for the 5-8 day trek back to civilization.  And that's where we left it.

In the week off I reached out to each character and offered them safe passage to civilization IF they'd swear fealty to their dragon lich demon lord. leave the continent and never return.  None of them have accepted it .... yet.  We'll see what happens Tuesday night.