[Purulent Carcass]

Yes and has been mentioned on the opposite side of the coin if it is in your character to play the bastard and bully and the person you are picking on decides to turn and leave (meaning the bully started it not the player being verbally attacked) they should be allowed to as by your verbal assasult they got the hint of your personality.

Yet this situation you describe hardly ever happens, got to wonder. Also, where in the evil adventurers rulebook does it say to let the victim get away?

In all seriousness, I myself do not go out of my way to pick on people they come to me in droves. Death is rarer here than most realize, it normally doesn't happen in groups. What I personally get a lot, is some guy will show up thinking he is amusing (and he very well might be) and says something completely off to one of my PCs. I'll normally give a verbal warning first and then someone is set on fire. If said (victim) wishes to run away at that point, I normally let them. Reality is diffrent, what usually happens, they come right back.