: Re: Plot devices for the climax of an adventure story Setting aside the specifics of my particular plot for a moment, I have need of plot inspiration: how do I set up an escape from a death

@Berumen699

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The classic method is to have the villain over-gloat. Written badly, it will fail, unless you are being purposely campy. But it can be done believably -- at least, believably enough to not destroy suspension-of-disbelief.

Example: Lord of the Rings (books, not movie). [spoilers] At the Black Gate, Sauron can't help but gloat, via his emissary, the Mouth of Sauron. But his gloating reveals that he does NOT have the One Ring, that at least one of the hobbits is still alive, and that he fears both Aragorn and Gandalf. That info gives the heroes the extra courage they need to fight just a little bit harder and longer (against impossible odds), which gives the hobbits the time they need to destroy the Ring. Also, Sauron's pride and confidence prevented him from assassinating Aragorn during the parley. [p.s.: Aragorn assassinating the Mouth in the movie version = unforgiveable "artistic license", totally out of character.]

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