So my main campaign is currently sidelined due to the virus. I tried to see if people wanted to play online but only 3 of the 7 players were able to. So what I did was take those 3, added one new player who wanted to join and we are doing a shortened campaign on roll 20.

Essentially one of my players in the main game joined late and we made his backstory that he tried to take on Strahd with a group but everyone but him died. This mini campaign follows him and that group. The plan is to have them bypass most of the campaign and essentially march right up to Castle Ravenloft to take on Strahd. I started them all as level 5 and will probably get to 6 for the final battle. Right now they are in the village of Barovia. They found out the priests son has left with a group and a wizard the day before. I'll either have them catch up to the group and join them or have them come just in time to see Mordenkainen thrown off a cliff.

To facilitate things I've created an NPC to act as the party leader to push the story towards Ravenloft. He is also a massive douche and I anticipate the party killing him eventually. I also want to sow distrust by making it seem like he has lead the group here at Strahds command. In actuality they have been lured here by the helpful npc cleric Brad Bradson who "died" in the first session. I made him as likeable as possible so when in the woods when he was killed by a shambling mound people were really sad. He even said some motivational shit as he was dying. I hope to bring him back in the last session and reveal he is an agent of Strahd sent to lure adventurers to Barovia for Strahd.

Any tips or ideas for running a game like this are much appreciated. I also intend for the new player who joined to somehow not die and instead be kidnapped by Strahd so she can possibly play in the main game if she wants. I figured I can bring her on during the dinner at Ravenloft.