Troyas chuckles a bit. "We still don't know everything, but I'll tell you what I can." He grows solemn again, and continues: "Last night, about 100 assorted goblins and hobgoblins attacked the city, along with a pair of ogres. They seemed to be led by a large hobgoblin called 'Sinruth'. We don't know where they came from. The only reason the attack had any success was the element of surprise - they shot down the gate guards, and used the ogres to breach the gates. Brindol maintains an armed force of 400 soldiers, with 200 under active duty and 200 off-duty at any time. Naturally, then, once they mustered we drove the hobgoblins off with heavy casualties - both ogres are dead, one thanks to all of you, and not much more than a score of hobgoblins seem to have escaped. We're keeping the entire militia on active duty for the foreseeable future, with patrols outside of the town to catch any further attacks ahead of time. The gates are already being repaired."
"Now, if that answers your questions, the Council may have some tasks for you. This Sinruth seems to have wanted to 'avenge' the Red Hand. Their main column drove to, and sacked, the Hall of Great Valor - which as you know housed the relics and trophies from the last war. We would like those back. More than that, however, we would like the return of our citizens; at least half a dozen were captured and carried off alive. There is some debate in the council about how to proceed. I believe that a small group of adventurers MAY be able to succeed in a rescue where a column of soldiers would only cause them to be killed. Unfortunately, our two resident adventuring parties - the Freeriders and the Farstriders - left for Overlook a few weeks ago to help with the orc threat. Is this something that all of you would undertake - and, more importantly, is this something that you COULD undertake? I must admit I am not used to entrusting important tasks to strangers."