The Road to Beggar's Hole

We are all assembled to leave on our mission. We are escorted part ways by another Harold Lorena.
 
She clarifies our mission is to find out the reason for the disappearances near Beggar's Hole and/or about the increase in travelers/refugees in the area. The local thieves guild should be the best source of intel in that regard.
 
Derach mentions that there is a shortcut to Beggar's Hole, so we naturally take it. I already anticipate complications, though he says it's just rougher terrain. But what's a shortcut without some unforeseen danger?
 
Next thing I know, we're getting woken up in the middle of the night by our champions. Tas apparently got himself charmed by harpies. I may have gotten charmed by them for a bit as well. In any case, not the best way to wake up.
 
They roughed us up a bit, since we weren't expecting them, but we gave them what for in the end. Tackled one to the ground and drove it through the neck. Burned a lot, but came out okay. Just goes to show that I'm going to need some more defensive options. More importantly, I need some reliable ranged attacks since flying enemies are a bitch to take down with melee weapons. Something to consider going forward...