Prince of Spires
Istar
That's a good question. I can see both being possible. The safest approach for the bandits is of course to just half-ass it. Try to be imposing and bluff the knight into submission. If he puts up more than token resistance, run for the hills.This is hilarious and amazing and really creative, but do the bandits risk their lives in this scenario? Or does everyone give a half hearted attempt at combat, shake hands, and hand the DID over?
I remember reading somewhere that several cultures in history fought wars like this. Basically, lifes were too precious to actual lose to fighting. So instead they'd make a kind of ceremony of the fight. And whoever could be the most imposing would win. It could have been some island nations.
That could work here too. Until of course, you get an outsider, who tries to actually fight and ruins the whole system.
Sage