But still you leave the whole rest of them behind. I just see no point in getting all your forces to the cave and only take a few of them (or even none) with you.
Also, even if your companions don't like you that much. They join every battle but not on this one? When it comes to immersion this just make no sense to me. Why do they accompany you at all if this is the case?
I really enjoyed the dlc so far since I've purchased it only yesterday, although orm gave me really a beating here, but this single mission design makes no sense to me.
*edit*
You wont get more than 2-3 bots attacking you at time
Except the two archers and all the other guys who throw spears and javelins at you every time you lower your shield or face the wrong direction.. oh and the time you get attacked by 4 guys at the same time.
But even if it were just 3 in worst case, 3 is enough to make it impossible to place even a single hit as all your hits get interrupted or blocked before hitting anything.
And the fact that there is a huscarl and some trained troops won't help much.
I've tried this mission about 1 hour this morning and about two hours now and can't manage to complete it - even with orms chainmail.
After over 120 hours warband and about 60 hours of fire and sword - thats the worst mission I ever faced, gets me totally frustated -.-
*edit II*
How do I even raise aprovement? I spend the whole morning leveling up (kinda, as it takes ages) and raising moral for my troops, which is now excelent - as usual as I leave all the loot for my troops, have plenty of good food around while resting every night preferably in towns. But my companions not bothered the slightest. They stay between -9 and 0, except Egil who gets usually knocked out in the first battle even with chainmail. I guess without the huscarls it wouldn't be that bad but these trained meele guys with the javelin/throwing spear/bow support is just way to hard.
I can't spend 10th of thousands on every companion only to get him in this specific battle. Thats ridiculous.