A Quiet Investigation
One of the bank vaults has recently been breached, resulting in a significant theft of gold. Lord Isaac Steinworth wants the matter investigated quietly. News of the break-in could cause a disastrous run on the bank.
Players are tasked with determining how the heist took place, locating the thieves, and recovering as much of the gold as possible. Steinworth, who is wealthy and well-connected, is prepared to offer a substantial reward to anyone who can resolve the issue before word spreads.
The mastermind behind the heist is Emely Wilder. She enlisted the help of Professor Daniel Jenks, a wizard who had been hired along with a few others from the local Wizard University to install the bank's magical protection. With a substantial 1,500 gp bribe, Daniel secretly added a flaw to the protection enchantments, allowing them to be disabled for 30 minutes with the secret keyword. She also obtained specialized lockpicks from Ira Beasley, owner of Beasley's Locksmiths. Then she recruited Victor Hastings and Jake Chapman to help her with the actual heist. Although the magical protection was disabled, the thieves still had to overcome the vault's physical protection. They didn't quite manage to escape before setting off the magical alerts, but by the time anyone arrived they were long gone. All in all, they made away with slightly over 20,000 gp. 10,000 gp for Emely and 5,000 gp each for the two others.
Making their Escape
The crew will lay low for a few days in Schaffer's Inn, then attempt to make their escape one-by-one on horseback.
- First, Emely Wilder will depart for Port Licaby.
- Victor Hastings will then head to Port Appden.
- Finally, Jake Chapman will make way for Waelon.
- Professor Daniel Jenks remains at the Wizard University, convinced that he has gotten away with his part of the plan.
The conspirators may betray each other under coercion or if offered favorable terms.
Investigations
Stienworth will reluctantly allow the party to investigate the scene of the crime under his strict supervision and strict secrecy. Savvy investigators could discover the following:
- A successful investigation check from a character proficient with thief's tools reveals that specialized lockpicks were used. Following this lead up with local locksmiths may yield a description of the buyer.
- A successful Arcana check from a spellcaster reveals that the magical protection spells were tampered with during their casting.
- A successful Survival check reveals the thieves headed deeper in to the city after the heist, suggesting they are still somewhere in Abingend.
A Run on the Bank
It is vitally important that the party conduct their investigation secretly. As GM, you should take note of how much information they reveal and to who. Failure to maintain discretion may trigger a run on the bank. In such a scenario, Steinworth will withhold any rewards, regardless of the investigation's outcome.