The locals turn out to have information, and they don't care who they give it to. Apparently, they're suffering from an attack by some local gnolls, and Sentinel Hill's militia is too thinly-pressed to stop the gnolls.
Luckily, you are a professional gnoll-killer. Free the locals from this menace. Alternatively, tell the Defias of this threat. Maybe they can help more than you can alone.