The trick is to steer the dialog so they get all riled up and attack. Then, run down the path in the opposite direction from the way they were traveling. The Thalmor will leave the prisoner and then you can stop and turn around and take care of business. Although, when doing this, sometimes the prisoner runs off. How they can run so fast with their hands tied is beyond me, they out run my Sprint.

DB Contracts are taken out by NPCs. Frequently, there is a note on the Assassin and it tells you who hired them. It would be nice if you could go back to the NPC who hired them and have a little chat. Perhaps to make amends, or not.

I once had DB after me for murdering one of the Battle-Borns in her own home while thieving.
That was all I did on that character, so I guess DB is triggered by murder/assault while Thugs are for thievery.

You can also talk to the Thalmor leading the patrol escorting the prisoner, and tell them you worship Talos, at which point they will attack you, as well. You can get a similar affect by saying that you think people have a right to worship whatever they choose to worship.

Kill 'Em All!!!!!!!!

Not for DB assassins, you're thinking of hired thugs. The notes on the assassin just says "someone has performed the black sacrament". No names listed.

I only did the Thalmors, so talking with the justiciar and asking him why whorshipping Talos is prohibited will make them hostile to you (I consider it taunting because you just know you'll get it handed to you when asking them that). You can still free the prisoner afterwards. Never had any prisoner die during these fights either.

Bringing Wuuthrad into the Thalmor embassy was the best idea ever.

brb, cleared out the whole embassy in under 15 minutes.

Srsly, when it said "especially deadly to elves", it really wasn't kidding. Wuuthrad is now my official Thalmor slaying weapon that I use to free any prisoners they escort.

i free prisoners but i never share items because they wont equip anything you give them.

This.

I've killed Thalmor patrols in the middle of nowhere, and I had no bounty afterwards.

I've killed Thalmor and Imperial patrols in sight of a Hold capital, but not really near it; no bounty.

I've killed both types of patrols within sprinting distance of a city; 2000 gold bounty...

I free all prisoners too BTW. I don't give any of them equipment, I just let them run off. Since I'm in the Dark Brotherhood, I don't get the DB assassins coming after me. I tend to get the Thalmor agents, or the band of three "Hired Thug"(s) that are there "to teach me a lesson..."

But guess who ends up getting schooled instead? heh heh heh

OT: I do think that the bounty directly relates to how close you are to either a Hold City/Guards. Like I said, when in the middle of nowhere, I tend to slaughter them at will with zero bounty.

since, the game mechanic is etchy i pre-save.

i like to hold up the line a bit and let the trooper in front move on, then, free him, run in the opposite direction and take em out. i usually can get back and kill the last troop before the prisoner is dead.

as well, bounty will be taken away when the last troop/witness is dead.

Yup me too. I was also wondering why I still keep getting assasins coming after me.

I have freed a lot of prisoners.

I did not give them stuff though as they never used it.

Only from the Thalmor. Just gives me an excuse to kill them.

It might have been a thug. They all look the same skewered on my sword.

Yeah, the DB notes are anonymous, but notes on hired thugs, say when you steal something, have the name of who hired them. Like when "Solitude Guard" sent some after me for stealing some arrows and an Amulet of Mara from him.

On my first character I tried to help the Stormcloak prisoners any time I saw one because that's who I had sided with. Unfortunately after the war and me becoming enemies with the empire on sight, they would execute the prisoner as soon as I came into range. Saving them was no longer an option although as an enemy of the Empire I still made sure all the soldiers died before I left the area. 3 for 1 isn't too bad afterall.