Simimel Updated Microhero

 

Simimel

Also - Mister Gone!

Mister Gone

The Bank Job (Part One)

 

Shortly after the Dream Palace Incident was made public, the squad was approached by Reginald Vancaskerkin, who owns and operates Eyes on Absalom, a scandal-filled newspaper. The squad was interviewed about the gory details on the condition that they were cited as "confidential sources". News of the incident spread swiftly. 

Shortly thereafter, Lieutenant Lavarsus and Sgt Ollo summoned the squad to Lavarsus' office. Lavarsus was assigning them to investigate the bank robbery mentioned in Ralso's diary.

Ollo said "I followed up on your lead and narrowed it down to three potential targets.  I’ve got a bunch of files for you, so get reading and hit the streets. Start with those banks!”

All three of the banks were located in the Coins District. 

(From the Pathfinder Wiki) 

The Coins district in Absalom resides just north of the great city's docks,at the heart of the City at the Center of the World. This area is home to much of the trade, both legal and illegal, that occurs within Absalom. The transient nature of its primarily merchant population facilitates the illicit exchange of drugs and other contraband.

Despite its reputation, some areas of the district such as the Monger's Mart and the Grand Bazaar remain more respectable, and here the potential for profit outweighs the risk of unlawful dealings.

 Wherever money changes hands, however, tempers and greed can get the best of even the most civil, and the Coins reports more murders than any other district of Absalom save the Puddles. The Coin's District Guard is colloquially known as the "Token Guard", and takes a lenient view on crime. The guard only responds to offenses when paid to do so by a private concern or to avoid the attention of the primarch. The Token Guard's most typical response to a disturbance is to arrest everyone at the scene and hold them for disturbing the peace at Bail House until someone can pay for their release.

Ollo's notes contained the following: 

Orvington Moneychangers: Uthen Orvington is the owner and manager of Orvington Moneychangers in the east end of the Coins. The file indicates that Uthen’s bank has recently been subjected to vandalism and harassment by unknown parties. This is the oldest bank among the three possible targets and has been operated by the Orvingtons for several generations.

The Penny & Sphinx Trust: This is the largest of the three possible targets and is located in the Coins district. Its manager, a halfling named Bertram Softwhistle, reported a recent break‑in, although the Token Guard’s investigation was cursory and yielded no clues. The file contains a complaint about the thoroughness of the inquiry and copies of letters to the bank’s clients, assuring them that no funds were lost. The bank now seeks funds to hire a private investigator who can conduct a more thorough investigation than the Token Guard.

Stonesworn Savings and Loan: Rohka Stonesworn, a wealthy former adventurer, owns and operates this bank in the Coins District. The file contains the permit for her building, which required supplemental filings due to some sophisticated magical protections. A handwritten note from Rohka expresses concern that someone may be engaging in illegal excavating near her establishment, but the Token Guard apparently hasn’t followed up.

Gilel’s Tannery: This file includes a vandalism report from a tradesperson named Gilel Nallin, who is building a float for the Radiant Parade. Someone named Elsimara allegedly broke into Gilel’s to vandalize the float Gilel was storing there, nearly burning down the entire building. This paperwork has the words “Waste of time!” written at the bottom in Lavarsus’s crisp handwriting. Ollo wasn’t so sure it was irrelevant, as it pertains to the parade, so he slipped it into the files for the agents to investigate. If they bring it up with him in Lavarsus’s presence, Ollo sheepishly pretends its inclusion was a mistake.

Chadraxa’s Cheap Loans: Although the hobgoblin Chadraxa’s business isn’t a bank, and thus remains unlikely to be a target of the heist, Chadraxa knows so much about crime and banking in and around the Coins district that she’s likely a useful resource. Chadraxa’s file is as thick as an Abadaran holy text and contains as many complaints against the moneylender as from her. Chadraxa is currently under investigation for running an unpermitted business in the Puddles. She’s made requests to several of Absalom’s law enforcement agencies offering information on a criminal enterprise operating in the city in exchange for clemency and having her business permit reinstated.  

Chandraxa

Smuggler’s Lair: The last file is a request for help from one of the Puddles volunteer militia members named Ziraya al‑Shurati. Ziraya seeks formal aid in cracking down on a smuggling ring in the Puddles and, as an inducement, indicates that she believes the smugglers’ leader has valuable information about an upcoming heist in the Coins.

The squad decides to visit Chadraxa’s Cheap Loans, a ramshackle building held in place like a clothesline strung between the establishments on either side.  Chandraxa answers the knock, smiling at the squad. "Of course, respectable members of the constabulary such as yourselves should have spoken up sooner! Come in, come in, let’s have a nice chat and see if we can’t work matters out to everyone’s satisfaction, eh?”  

Chadraxa wants an approved business permit, and her record cleared of previous infractions, so she can do business openly. She discloses that the vandalism at Orvington Moneychangers might have something to do with the son of  Orvington carrying a debt with Chandraxus. The squad buys the debt, and Chandraxus assures them that the vandalism will stop.

While the squad doesn't have the authority to grant her other demands,  Ziraya al‑Shurati can, if the squad can help Ziraya with her smuggling case. She suggests that Ziraya looks into the business dealings of one Percen Droan. She also suggested that the squad examine the globed in Doan's office. 

Ziraya al‑Shurati

The squad goes to visit Ziraya, a member of the Muckruckers, an unofficial police force in the Puddles district of Absalom, who welcomes them with a smile,  claiming that Sgt. Ollo has given her permission to impress the squad into service. Ziraya is planning a raid on Droan's dockside textile sweatshop called the Stilt House and wants the squad to spearhead the raid.

Valcos does some scouting and finds three entrances - the front door, the back door, and a side door down a dark alleyway. After the day shift textile workers are released, a wagon shows up, and a group of thugs with two attack dogs start to unload empty containers at the front door. 

Simi tames the dogs (using a Speak With Animals scroll) and feeds them beef jerky while the squad rounds up the thugs and turns them over to the militia. Simi makes sure that the dogs will be treated well, and the squad prepares to enter the building.

(End of the game for the night)