Kaelen reports what he sees to the others. The farmhands appear to be cultists as well, so he doubts convincing them to leave their posts peacefully will be an option.

"Then let's not reveal our position early," Brekka agrees.

"The last thing we want is them somehow signalling to the others at the keep that we're coming."

With the farm issue resolved, you make your way to the keep as described earlier.

Arista watches the lazy lizardfolk on the battlements, then eases back behind the rocks. “We’ve spotted their guards, seen both gates, and know they’ve got farmland and goblin caravans for supplies. That’s plenty for the Duke’s planners. At most we could get accurate numbers of the defenders,” she murmurs. “but if we edge closer, one sharp-eyed sentry spots us and every advantage is gone. I say we slip out now, keep our tracks light, and let Threshold come back with a force that’s ready for what we’ve found.”

Asariel looks carefully at the keep, committing the details to memory. "I agree with the first part of that. But I don't think threshold has a force ready for this. So I feel like they will pick an 'elite task force' to infiltrate and diminish the threat. Probably a group of people who have had some experience working together and have also seen the threats at the keep. Maybe a group who are willing to work for a reward rather than just the 'good will of Threshold'. Does a group like that sound familiar to anyone else?"

Arista raises a brow, shifts her staff to the crook of her arm, and with a mock-thoughtful flourish taps the air in the kobolds’ direction—eyes wide with staged innocence while the corners of her mouth curl into the faintest conspiratorial grin.

Kaelen glances up as he finishes writing down the details of the keep and area around it that they have noticed so far. "So...we are sneaking in?" He asks, unsure if he is understanding Asariel's implication. "I can cast Disguise Self to blend in if necessary, but if anyone talks to me...I am not skilled in deception."

"I'm not sure of the wisdom of that plan." Mathias offers to the suggestion of sneaking in.  "While you can disguise yourself and I can take the form of an animal to disguise myself to get a better approximation of their numbers, but I would warn against actions that would almost certainly get us into a fight that we are not likely to win."

"Oh definitely not sneaking in. Not yet at least. We have done enough to report back. But I'm just saying don't be surprised if we are sent back again."

"Is this the only approach to the keep?" Brekka asks their guides, his draconic eyes peering across the mountain pass.

"Without climbing up in to the high mountains and back down I suppose, yes."

Does anyone else have anything they want to do before heading back to the wagons?

[[Ready to head back.]]

((Kaelen is ready as well.))

(Asariel is ready) 

Arista squints at the cliffs rising behind the keep and runs a thumb along the chipped edge of her shield. “Those ridges look ugly, but I grew up on worse,” she mutters. “If we scale a shoulder of the mountain and drop down the far side, we might spot a goat trail or scree chute the sentries don’t watch—an approach worth mapping before we report back. No fighting, just a high perch, a quick sketch, and out again. If nothing promising shows, we turn around and still reach the wagons soon enough.”

[[Okay, that is a very good idea. I will state in advance how I will adjudicate that.
I would want a roll for the difficult terrain, a roll for stealth, and a roll for finding a path.

Terrain: DC: 15; Athletics, Acrobatics, or Survival. A failure gives disadvantage to the stealth roll. Less than 5 means a stuck of injured character and we will play that out.
Stealth: DC: 10; Just straight up stealth. Failure means there is some chance you are detected.
Path: DC: 15; Advantage from Arglen if she comes along, as she's flown over this mountain many times.]]

[Arista has proficiency in Survival and has lived in mountains. Can she help with the first roll? Who would be the best guide? Mathias? Or do you want group rolls?]

I would want group checks for whomever is investigating the possibility of an over mountain path.

Kaelen checks: Terrain (Acrobatics) 12, Stealth with disadvantage 14, Path (Survival) with advantage 23