I'll try to be brief.
But first: *SPOILER ALERT*
My group have been doing exceptionally well. Last session they succeeded in killing the Myrdthroth in 'Harrower of Thanes' - using all the traps they could muster - and some lucky hits from the rank 3 Ironbreaker.
As part of our running story - the Ironbreaker is from Karak Dranor and is trying to salvage his homeland. Unfortunately (or not
), they have been dogged by the Necromancer from Gathering Storm - as they have taken an item of his he wants back.
This has resulted in the Necromancer showing up at Karak Dranor, just as the party have dispatched the Myrdthroth - the necromancer has the added benefit of previously dead PC's to help him and a keep full of bones!
My party have fled with the intent of returning with a dwarven army to ransake the place and recover ownership of the hold. (and with the hope of also finally taking care of the necromancer.... again).
My question is this: How do I make this enganging without making it a slog of encounter after encounter.
I was planning to allow them to pick up a handful of Dwarven allies from various Dwarven holds that they have helped in the recent campaigns - but I am unsure of how to make it.. meaningful.
I don't want the party to show up and get x number of dwarves by passing a fellowship check - then simply use those dwarves to deal with the wider undead. I want there to be real risk/reward. I want them to have to plan out a way to attack and (eventually) succeed or not. The reason I chose Karak Dranor, is that for the most part it is pretty well fleshed out so the party now know much of how it looks inside - but I also mentioned that it is also much larger as we only explored the immediate areas. (This allows for the possibility of expanding upon the design to offer them multiple avenues in.)
Any suggestions?
How do I enable them to get help in a meaningful way?
How do I layout the encounter to make it... engaging and fun, without being a long grind?
I have access to all WFRP3 stuff, aside from Player.GM guide and Hero's Call.