D&D: PPK, maybe

Unlucky omens for a D&D session: for an imminent fight against two very powerful opponents, both our cleric/crusader and our druid canceled on short notice, and our rogue left the campaign altogether because of a break-up with another player. Our DM's policy is that PCs of absent players don't participate in fights. That left us with a sorcerer, a psionic, and an NPC dragon paladin as our only fighters, and a factotum as, well, not very useful support. (The player missed a few sessions and is now trying to redesign his character to make her more useful in combat.)
It did not end well.

( Not well at all. )