Engage him, but focus on defense.

You move forward cautiously, spear held at the ready. The big man turns and snarls at you as he sees you approaching.

"Stupid princeling," he spits. "Are you the leader of these fools?"

"That's right," you say, gripping your spear in both hands as you square off with him. "Your time is up."

"We shall see," he says with a leer. With a sudden yell, he charges toward you, whirling a massive maul. You barely manage to dodge out of the way, striking back with your sword - but you land only a glancing blow, cutting his shoulder, and he just spits onto the floor. He sweeps the maul around toward you again and you stagger slightly as he catches you in the side. Your armor absorbs the worst of the blow, but it still sends you reeling. As you stumble he swings again, and snaps the haft of your spear in two like a twig.

Suddenly you hear a great yell, and the huge man staggers backward. Adolphus has leaped onto his back, plunging his sword into the man's side. The two stagger backwards as the bandit hurls himself back, crushing Adolphus against the wall and shaking him loose. Adolphus collapses to the ground with a sickening crunch, and the bandit swings his hammer down toward him with a bellow.

With a **** yell, you take advantage of the momentary distraction and charge across the open space, leaping toward him and plunging the head of your broken spear into his neck near the shoulder. He groans and collapses as you stagger backwards, blood oozing from his wound, before he finally closes his eyes and lies still. You catch your breath for a few seconds - around you, you can hear the moans of the injured, but it appears that your group carried the day.

Adolphus, though, does not stir, and it's clear he won't again. You feel a deep, throbbing pain in your chest as you think of what you'll have to tell his family. He was a good and faithful man.