My second adventurer got assigned to kill the same bandit leader that killed my first adventurer, which the quest giver mentioned by name as a victim! Neat. This time, I hired a blinky swordsman to kill her for me, which worked. Then recruited two more soldiers to kill a second bandit leader. They did, plus a night spouse, without problems.
Found a shop, sold some GCS loot. But there didn't seem to be any new money in my inventory. Maybe it's in that chest? Ooh, coins! Argh, no, those weren't mine--I've become a criminal for taking them, even thought the trade screen said I bought out the shop's money supply and was "owed" a bunch above and beyond that. Wander to next town, but word spreads too fast: I'm already considered a criminal here. Can't get quests or turn them in since no one will talk to me, so my questing days seem over; attack a random shopkeeper for spite.
As I thrust my spear at the shopkeeper's hand (easiest target for some reason), first my axeman companion, then my swordsman companion, leap forward and announce themselves as the mighty slayers of their respective bandit leaders (yes I know guys, I saw you do it), and advise me to prepare for death! A crime too far for them, apparently. Now they're slashing and chopping, and bits of me are flying around the shop. This is probably going to be my all-time most enjoyable video game death ever.
I hope I can find and recruit these guys again with my third adventurer.
EDIT: Third adventurer fell to a night spouse, with mere hammermen at her side. Fourth adventurer sought the shop where the second died. The companions are indeed still there, but rather than being recruitable, they're hostile, and advise adventurer #4 to prepare for the type of death that they brought to adventurer #2! Talk about holding a grudge!