A DMs dilemma - to let the party loiter or not?

[strangebloke]

Historically, marauders were successful because they could move faster than the forces that could reliably engage them. So if they're staying in one place, they'll have some time... but not a month.

Give them a week, then they learn that the King's army is on the way. They have a week before they really have to leave. Spend time conveying that this is a big force.

If they wait the extra week, things are harder for them. Multiple large armies are hunting them and they have to dodge around them. Make it a hard exploration/navigation challenge. Loitering gives everyone who hates them time to organize and rally. This allows for a 'next level challenge' type of situation. They're riding high on power at the moment, time to rough them up a bit so that when they do win it's that much more satisfying.

If they don't get out of the way of the army, kill 'em. Murder them. Have them drawn and quartered. That's how I'd run it.