Rolith turns around and gives him an incredulous glare. "Shhh!" 

Yeah, Roy tends to feel the same way.

Elan shuts up though, hoping that he's gonna get higher than a four.

The bandits aren't listening out for approaching knights—which, it soon becomes apparent, is because they're focused on a softer target. 

"Well well well, what have we here? How foolish of you, Priestess, to travel through these woods—MY woods—with only a moglin for escort!" 

On the bright side, it sounds like they've found the bandits!

Elan rushes forward to get a better look.

A band of masked, leather-clad ruffians have surrounded Lady Celestia and are brandishing miscellaneous weapons threateningly at her. The guy doing the talking is the only one not wearing a mask; he also has a purple cape and a fancy sword, just in case Elan was in doubt about who the important characters are. 

"My men have you surrounded. You have nowhere to run, and no one is coming to save you. Now, hand over the Black Dragon Box." 

If Roy was here, he'd probably want to think about a plan for confronting these guys. But this isn't Roy's story.

"Not so fast, you big meanie!"

Elan steps into view, rapier in hand.

"You should leave the nice lady alone! Why do you want that box, anyway?"

Dramatic villain monologue: unlocked! 

"Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? I am Drakath, the rightful ruler of this land! The Black Dragon Box is the key to my throne, and there's no way I'm letting a peasant like you keep it from me. Stand down, or like the trash that you are, you will be blown away by the winds of my great destiny!" 

Oh good.

"I'm Elan! If you're so rightful, why are you banditing in the woods instead of ruling the land?"

"Do you know nothing, peasant? My father, the late King Slugwrath, was overthrown many years ago by the vile usurper Alteon." He spits to the side. "With that box and what's inside it, I will finally have the power to avenge my father and reclaim the throne!" 

(As Elan keeps Drakath monologuing, the knights are sneaking around to flanking positions, ready to turn the tables on the bandits.) 

"Oh, does your dad's ghost appear to you and tell you what to do? That happened a lot to my friend Roy. His ghost dad was a huge jerk."

Elan shakes his head.

"It's still mean to steal, though, even if it's what your jerky ghost dad wants! You should have asked Lady Celestia nicely instead!"

.....what??? 

"First you insult me, and now my father as well? Prepare to die for your words, you low-born simpleton!" 

Roll initiative. 

"Pfft, if I was gonna die for saying dumb stuff I wouldn't have made it to Bard Camp."

He gets into a ready position, prepared to parry.

And sticks out his tongue.

With a yell, Drakath attacks. 

He might have a big fancy sword, but it's clear that he isn't used to fighting opponents with any real skill. Shock flashes across his face when Elan successfully parries his powerful swings, and his own defence is clumsy. 

Around them, Rolith and his knights take their cue to engage the rest of Drakath's bandits, keeping them from coming to their leader's aid. 

Yay, being a distraction worked!

"Is this the part you blow me away with your destiny? 'Cause to be honest, I'm more worried about all that hot air."

Swordthrust!