Umm, what kind of choice is "coward" as compared to running away? In my dictionary that doesn't show up as a verb, and it seems to me that
a coward would
run... or stand paralyzed and get killed, but I don't think anyone would actively choose that option (who knows, however, how frightening those dragons will be).
Anyway, I guess with my first characters I'll probably run. I like to play weak thief-characters, and they know when to be brave and when to run away.