In some sense, the high-level Death Council priest's decision to abandon his captured men was clever indeed. After news of them scheming to open the gates of the death Plane had broken out, any group of living people became their arch-enemy in an instant. They wouldn't just let them get what they want.
The Northern Trio immediately reported it to their boss. One of the requirements in their worker's manual was to seek help from above when they were faced with more than they could handle. Only if they tried to save face by waiting until things went south would they be in trouble. However, considering just how far they were, there was no way to confirm the quality and headcount of the backup troops. Perhaps their luck would be so good they'd meet a veteran strolling about on the nearby streets.. (As the northerners sent quite a few freelance teams, this was not an impossibility). If they were unlucky, no backup troops would be arriving in time.
