Through an unfortunate comedy of errors our party stands on the verge of a possible TPK. We have breached the Staglords fort, the Owlbear and Auchs are down as well as many mook archers. One of our party has been dropped by the Staglord and we find ourselves in a tight spot, it really could go either way at this point based on a few die rolls.
Naturally, we consider what to do if we TPK. Reroll or what.
My suggestion is to take on the roll of the Staglord's captains and continue the campaign. Of course, we shall have to find a way to eliminate the Staglord eventually.
Think that is doable?
Sure, why not.
Enough of his lieutenants aren't irredeemably evil; see: Akiros, that given the right impetus, they could turn.
Perhaps Akiros is confronted by another PC, essentially a female Kesten, who is in charge of a group of soldiers or explorers who are ambushed... then Akiros decides to redeem himself by freeing "Kesten", overthrowing the Staglord, and you start the campaign there- with a jailbreak of the female Kesten, any PCs there... or start with Akiros planning with other bandits (the PCs) on how to overthrow the Stag Lord.
In my Kingmaker, a few of the bandits are in high levels in the PC's governing structure. Of course, Auchs is dead, but Akiros is around, as are some of the lower-level fellows.
Those characters who don't actually die outright, could be stabilised and held prisoner. That would give them a chance to work on Akiros, or any of the other NPCs you thought might make suitable replacements.
With enough recruits they could make a break out - or even meet a Robin-hood style rogue who is breaking in to steal from the bandits.
Even a TPK might be party salvageable.
We survived as it turns out, poor Akiros was down already when an acid splash finished him. I don't think we were supposed to fight the whole fort at once but that is how it turned out.
My guys did it the hard way as well. barely got away with their lives the first time they tried - then went back again a couple of nights later and cleaned up (just). Although the Owl Bear attacking Akiros when he was the only one left it its range helped a bit. Well a lot actually, but then they engineered it that way (eventually).
Perhaps use the opening from Skulls and Shackles as a way to find friends and earn 'trust' and eventually confront the Staglord eventually?
Hell, why didn't I think of that...
Bad Rick!