Act 3: Doryani fight - diead AFTER boss - no dialogue forced to Cruel

I just beat Doryani on normal. And a residual lightning bolt killed me. I didn't get any loot, any dialogue - nothing. In fact, when I resurrected near the check point, neither he nor Alva had any options to speak to them.
I decided if I went back to camp, then back to the Black Chamber that might reset it.
It did not.
It took me directly to the shores in Act 1 and on Cruel difficulty.
sigh.