TallIan
Explorer
If Herosmith is up for that sure. I see the late baron as mostly good, but not willing to risk much, so when theI imagine Sothor knew someone reliable in Bedegar, possibly hoping that the Baron would take him in. When that does not happen, because of not wanting to be associated with a fugitive, Sothor and his soldiers may have been working underground as a sort of resistance movement, using a secret hideout somewhere. (That may tie Saarthax to [MENTION=6886148]Herosmith14[/MENTION]'s character, if he's up for it. Frostbite may have been/still is one of Sothor's men.) In that case they would have rushed to the Baron's defense when the orcs came.
dragonborn arrived wanting help, he wouldn't take them on, but happily looked the other way as they set up a homestead for themselves, even when some of the local farmers started selling their wares there too.
I'm not sure how many men were in that squad, but I don't think it would've been very many. Ten at the very most. Now, Saarthax is convinced it's just him and Bernold who survived, but he can't be sure.
Oh, and you may have guessed Bernold is my retainer / follower.
That should work and yes I did