No need to get fresh, Prince.  We could easily have an encounter with a bandit group at the start of the Reclaimerss' mission, and get attacked, thinking we're easy pickings.  As we turn the tables, we beat them, and a several of the brigands are captured.  Since we don't want to run back to the capitol, we keep the captured brigands (really the more morally doubtful of the characters) and press them into watchful service for the kingdom as penance.

Sound good?