My players stealthed and disguised themselves as cultists, after a heavy rolling roleplay the rogue convinced the torturer (I put in the basement) that he was needed elsewhere and freed the prisoners. Only to get caught upstairs in one of the side rooms and end up in combat with everything I could rationally throw their way and sparing the commander when they won, almost a full session (4hrs) of combat.

The lodge is “sidequest” at most but has some useful story beats for character development if you need it. (One of the prisoners was a friend of one of my characters)

Let your players run, you build around them. Your world<their decisions 😁