Ronan was nudged again by Huxley. He gave the word for his fellow bandits to get ready and waited just a few more seconds for the caravan to get closer. He made sure that his equipment was strapped to his body securely, that his face was in as grizzled a position as he could force it into, and that his teeth had been picked clean. Then, the stage set, he leapt from the tree and landed with an earth 'thud' a couple of metres in front of the noble's caravan, his bow at the ready. He held up a hand for the travellers to halt, and gave them a warm, if slightly intimidating, smile.

[b]"Hold! I say hold, there! I'm terribly sorry to tell you that you've stumbled into unfriendly waters, and you are now presented with a choice."[/b] Ronan brandished his bow like a club, pointing to Lady Alianor. [b]"Dear lady - your money, or your life? Which will also lead us to take your money!"[/b]

As he rattled of his clichéd catchphrase, the other bandits also emerged from the trees surrounding the group. They were not particularly well-armed, mostly relying on old hunting bows, woodcutting axes and other such improvised weapons, but their numbers were probably a little too much to fight. Huxley was the last one out of the trees- scrambling down rather than jumping, due to a bad knee. He panted slightly as he reached Ronan's side. Ronan ignored him and tried to look menacing. But as Huxley raised his head to look at their latest quarry, he breathed in sharply.

[b]"Ronan - that's Lady Alianor. She's related to the King."[/b] he looked quite shocked. [b]"Now we've done it. She'll tell him we're here, you know, and we'll have the heroes burning down the whole bloody forest to find us."[/b]

Ronan considered this for a moment.

[b]"Alright - dear lady, I'm sorry to say that the choice you have to make is not the choice you probably chose before. Which is... hold on, what?"[/b] Ronan looked mightily confused for a moment, his stumbling speech taking the wind out of the display for just a moment. He then shook his head and continued. [b]"Anyway. Let us tie you up and take you back with us, or I'll have to put arrows in you and your fellas here."[/b]