"I'm not squeamish, I was just trying to get a sense of what we're dealing with here. These people are kidnapping, stealing, enslaving, and they might have my friend. They need to stop, or be stopped." Swin says, hopping back into Brodi's head to observe.

Alton gives a mischievous grin, "Balassar and I can make a really big distraction. Though, it might draw everyone out of their hideout."

Balassar just smiles clearly knowing what Alton means by his statement "Oh yeah...I'm down to start off with that, or we can save it for when they are all out and scare them."

Brodi remains on guard, observing.

Alton thinks for a moment and grins, "Let's save it then. If they all stay inside, the trick wouldn't be much fun. Also, we should probably think up a name for it at some point, but we can do that later." He stands and dusts himself off, "Well, shall we go knock on their door and see what happens then? It doesn't look like there is any other way in other than the front gate and I'd hate to keep your friend waiting on their daring rescue."

Is Alton approaching the main gate openly?

Is anyone else going with?

Balassar just looks around at the party "So what's the plan, we assaulting or we doing this with stealth? Alton, we could use that trick to maybe draw them out. Giant monster causing problems would typically get people to come out."

To give you a sense of scale, here is the map. I imagine Brodi is perched in one of the trees. The two guards on the platforms by the gate are stationary; the other guard is patrolling.

You are off the left/west of the map.

Is there any sign of regular or sporadic activity outside the walls?

Balassar takes a moment to look down at the drawing  "Seems like only the front gate is guarded. We could try and sneak through the back gate, into the house. Gonna require some climbing though."

No sign of activity outside the walls.

"I'll climb if I have to, but I'll have to look around for a spell one of these days that can help with that kind of thing," Swin says, dipping back into Brodi's head to check for any changes inside, and asking the owl if he's seen anything notable. Her eyes clear and then says, "sneaking in would be better at night, wouldn't it? Come to think of it, assault would, too. If I have a vote, I'd vote sneaky, because then if it fails, it's an assault, and at least we're closer to inside. I can make someone invisible, or go myself. Third option's trying to fool them, pretending to be someone we're not, and bluffing our way inside. More attention, but maybe they'd fall for it."

How soon till dark?

Perhaps thirty minutes until sunset. 

"Why not try the deception to sneak in. Hopefully, once it is dark they'll have a hard time seeing who is at the gate." Alton says.

Balassar just shrugs "If you have a plan you think will work."

Alton shrugs, "Maybe. Our plans don't really plan out very well, but things have worked out so far. At the very least, I can distract the two at the gate while the rest of you sneak in elsewhere."

Balassar just thinks for a second "Might work. Worst that could happen is they take you captive and we free you along with their friend."

Darren looks at the crossbows hanging off his new companions side, “Why don’t we try taking one of them out while the other isn’t looking.” He says referring to the two guards on the watchtowers and not the one patrolling the encampment. 

(Assuming the wall(s) look difficult to climb/scale Darren likes his idea. If no one goes for it. He’ll walk up to the gate openly. Hoping to draw the lookouts attention long enough for the rest of the group to get the drop on them)

Is anyone going to stop Darren or join him?

Swin checks in one more time with her familiar, and when she comes back to herself, assuming no more updates from inside, she says, "I still think sneaking in is better, but if someone's distracting the front gate, does anyone want to be invisible?"