alright let me add my savage tide near TPK.... party consists of 5 characters and have progressed to the lightless depths. after struggling thru the begining and destroying the tear the party assaulted the ziggaraut with wounds and lack of spells. (real smart guys!) since i have the "book of vile darkness" i tweaked the kopru thrall of demogorgons spells giving him "stop heart" and my all time favorite "morality undone" (best evil genius spell ever... try it!) Having twisted the barbarians morals (turning him CE) and planning with him to destroy the party led them into battle with Ulioth. bwaahaahaa ;) stopped the heart of the rogue and critted the priest of pelor with the unholy spear IN THE SAME ROUND and had the barbarian rampaging at the back of the party! it took the mage teleporting out with the psychic warrior and the body of the priest (unraisable) to prevent a TPK.... so
Kawika - lvl 11 barbarian enslaved by the kopru
Thalder Masterson - lvl 11 priest of pelor critted by Ulioth
Alton Underburogh - lvl 11 rogue halfling stop heart spell by Ulioth
May they rest in pieces LOL