Logging village problem

[Flyboy]

Just started playing IWD2 after years of BG2 fun . . . so I get to the logging village, meet Kaitlin Silvertounge, sneak into the orc camp, open the gate, head over and kill all the orcs guarding the villagers, then clear out the orc camp and the cave, go back and bust the barrels trapping the villagers. . . but now I can't initiate dialog with either the villagers or Kaitlin . . . ?

There's narry an orc anywhere to be found on the map, but the villagers won't leave the barrel enclosure ("if the orcs see us talking they'll be angry") and I have only one dialog option with Kaitlin ("thank you, there's nothing you can do for me at the moment.")

Is the sequence important here?

i.e., should I talk to Kaitlin AFTER killing the orcs guarding the villagers, but BEFORE clearing out the main camp, and the cave, etc?

If I can't initiate dialog with her, I can't proceed with the game. Very frustrating.

[Aerich]

Yes, I do believe you have to talk to Kaitlin before clearing out the main camp - she may give you some XP. She doesn't say anything of interest after Torak is dead.

However, it should not affect proceeding through the game. When Torak dies, he drops a key to the gate north of where you found the villagers, which is where you need to go.

[Flyboy]

Thanks, much appreciated.

I didn't save wisely, so had to replay the prologue. I'll be more precise in the sequence this second time through!

[Thrasher91604]

I make perm saves all the time: after each quest completion, b4 talking to anyone for the first time, b4 and after level ups, etc...

If that's too much for you, a simple strategy is to make a perm save for each first time you go through an area transition. You'll never lose much if you need to backtrack.