On a whim I gave the bandit 50 gold as a "toll" and now, everytime I walk by there, she just keeps on cooking her stew and might give me a pleasant greeting. The only way she and the others turn aggro is if I walk through the tower doors.

I do, it raises speech skill every time you persuade her to take 50 gold instead of 200. She stops me every time I run by too, not just once.

Never have paid it! Their all worth quite some coin and there is a great bow on the chiefs table. Also if you wait a few days the ore body respawns.

I intimidated them.
Which failed, so I killed them.

I tend to just press b and do the first move as the person is stilll talking.

I never thought of paying it, I just kick that snotty bandit back into her tower and then deal with the rest of her gang.

I paid her once. Otherwise I usually snipe her crew with a long range bow and then refuse to pay her. Which is cool cause she gets an attitude that I made a mistake, thinking her crew will back her up. Sorry las but they are all dead.

I've never paid a toll in any video game I played. I'm the hero, right? No puny bandit will take my money.

Never. Once I even managed to put her head in the cooking pot, as a reminder.

questioning minds want to know... did you help yourself to some stew after?

I would pay the toll if there was any indication the money went towards maintenance of the road, or at least if you got a tour of the towers and a note saying your donation will help with their upkeep. However, they obviously just pocket the money... the place is a shambles and the road is patchy at best.

Besides, it's too much fun pinging the extortionate freeloaders off the connecting bridge.

Do you mean that place where I train my fury spells?

I actually cooked it myself in the same pot with her head inside. So glorious and full of aww yeeeah.