You assume the bandits are going to kill you when they realize no one is going to pay an Adventurer’s ransom, but for now they leave you tied up in the cellar of an old farmhouse. They took your weapon. Worst of all they took your pride...but they did not take your uncanny ability to wiggle out of ropes!
Free at last, you scan the old cellar for something useful. That’s when you spot a Kite Shield in the corner. The dust suggests that it’s been there for a while, but upon inspection you can see that the wood and metal rim are still good. The grip is solid in your hand and for the first time you have a small hope that with this added defense you might be able to muscle your way out of this situation after all!