When you first travel the moonpath, you're stopped by a bunch of bandits. Your companions, despite being capable fighters, opt to chill out by the caravan while you single-handedly combat a large gang of well-armed highwaymen.

If you try to kite them out into the rocky area between the caravan and the roadblock, they will get very hung up on the geometry.

Also, it seems that you are able to yield to the gang leader. I didn't try talking to him afterward. Maybe that was intentional, or maybe he doesn't say anything useful. I should give it a shot.