My two cp worth:
You don't have to actually talk to them - have somebody tough and fast (i.e. able to get out of range of those [insert nasty descriptions here] and all their cheesy lead off attacks) zap one with an arrow or whatnot from the bridge while everyone else hangs out at Waukeen's rest, and drag them round to the party. If you do this while the whole crowd of Flaming Fist are there, you've got some pretty decent help. Some of the FF end up dead, but better them than you. This approach and variants thereof works well in a fair number of places where enemies will come to you, enabling you to pick a more favorable location