In game - Nothing horrible, just memorable. AD&D Party of 6-8 1st level characters go out exploring and come upon a pit in the forest. Half the party fail on a save vs fear and take off running... the remainder decide it is a good idea to throw a rope down and see what that noise was that scared half the party away....
Needless to say that half of the party was eaten by a dragon, and the other half carried a section of bloody rope around as a reminder (carried by the character who most recently was being stupid, and was passed through-out the party). Side note the GM allowed the killed characters rename characters and have them join the party once we left the area never to return.
