Big fight in dire straits, but the group has been having a session that's helped you flesh it all out more and they've been doing deeds in alignment with the cleric's deity? Shenanigan. Maybe you pass a note to the cleric later to entice them with a quest. Troubling dreams, seek out a shrine, the whole party has the same dream.

Same situation but they earned a bit of a walloping and should have the resources to win or the intellect to run? Shenanigannot.