Go with the gorup to Moun maybe numbers will intimidate the bandits
Note: I may have calc'd this wrong - a lot of the combat rules are vague and they've changed a lot. Even the best case rolls it would have turned out the same.
2 Ambush Basic Infantry Units
4 Units: (1 Disciplined, 1 Disciplined/Archer) 2 Regular Untrained
Flank + Conserve vs (Assumed Conserve for 'defend only' caravan orders)
(3+2+2) vs (3+2) Success Threshold
[4+1 Ambush] vs [4+0]
Double Fail (-2 to bandits, -1 to Caravan)
Round 1: FIGHT!
The bandits emerged in the middle of the night. Their attempts to ambush the caravan were met with failure do to a well-skilled nightwatch.
[5-2+2 vs 4-1+4] - Victory: Caravan - Lost: NPC Untrained Mercs, Killed: All the bandits
The battle was short, sweet and to the point. The alert from the watch set up for the archer crew to unload a steady stream of -unlit- arrows into the night, catching the bandits off guard. The first volley killed nearly half the bandits while the rest ran straight into the blades of the guardsmen.
[4] The caravan master comes out of his tent and applauds the lot of you - those that survived anyway. He feel generous and decides that the share of the payments to the dead will be split to the survivors. [5] The bandits had their own camp nearby that was found the next day by the smoke from campfires. Bandits had some various goods stashed away. The guards load up what they can safely carry.
Arrival in Moun:
[5] Despite the fight, and thanks to the quickness of the ending, good time was made to Moun. [1] Unfortunately, however, the goods brought in by the guards after looting the bandit camp apparently -left- Moun in the first place. Other traders noticed the markings and stamps on the crates and sacks. They're very thankful for the return of the goods, just not financially. [5] They do decide to give you an extra bit for the goods the caravan brought ((double inc gain from the sales roll))
((3incs profit margin, t3 goods. 4 Wagons, 2 space each = 8*.3*3 7.2 profit (halved by merchants before cuts) 3.6d/3 guards = 1.2d gain for all))
Welcome to Moun! [5] Your men are slightly curious why such a well-trained outfit of Archers are running around as caravan guards.
Status: -1 move, +1.2d