Hyptothetical question

[Pine Needle]

Here is the scenario. You are in a group that is certainly going to get annihilated, and you have an artifact and a couple mages casting guarded attack.

Unless they are killed by a kill leader/wizard spell, will they survive? And, if they do, will the artifact go with them?

Enquiring minds want to know.

Yes.  If you have an invisible wizard, nazgul or wraith/liche in your group, the patrol should almost always survive the destruction of all troops, and also keep the artifacts.

Invisible a wizard and you save your booty! Argghhhh.