“There are 4 steps to take when planning a heist. First, find your mark. For our needs, our mark is the hoard of treasure in the monster bee hive. Second, we need to case the joint. Our understanding of these woods and the surrounding area is sparse, but a lot of the adventurers here can serve as guides. Third, we need to do some preplanning. This involves including a quiet infiltration and speedy exit. The last step is to execute.”

  Ren was standing behind a tree stump like it were a podium. She is explaining how to pull off a heist for Lucia and everyone who would bother to listen to her after a while of fighting giant monsters. The sun is starting to sink and camp is being made. There were a handful of adventurers taking a break to listen to Ren explain how heisting works.

  “So how do you want to handle cutting the treasure, assuming we get any amount of it?” an adventurer asks.

  Ren remains silent when the topic of splitting the treasure from a heist is brought up. After an awkward silence, Guildmaster Crane speaks up.

  “I’ll award loot as I deem necessary.” Crane says.

  “Oh yeah, that works.” the adventurer says.

  “Mind you, not everyone here has a class like thief or rogue.” Bron says.

  “A heist isn’t all about being sneaky.” Ren says. “It’s about breaking systems with subtlety and exploiting weaknesses. This can include flaws in their honey comb structures or applying pressure in outside factors.”

  “Ah!” Bron clapped his hands together at those words. “The monster bees do have an occasional predator.”

  “An occasional predator?” Crane gave Bron a confused look.

  “It’s like a natural predator, but only on certain occasions.” Bron says. “Alabaster griffons hunt giant bee monsters in the spring. It’s like a mating thing they do as they prepare to lay clutches of eggs after they migrate. Unfortunately, we are in autumn with winter coming in a matter of weeks. They’ll mostly be migrating north for the winter.”

  “So what, they don’t hunt outside of spring?”

  “No, they’ll hunt ‘em on the occasion or if they see a free meal.” Bron says. “They can be convinced to go hunting for an end of autumn snack before they fly north, but it would take quite some convincing.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Guests should be greeted with a spot of tea.” Borp, Bron’s raven companion, says. “The maids and butlers must present an axe forged in a volcanic butter, the eye of a watermelon and the legs of a tap dancing zombie.”

  “What?” Ren asks.

  “What?” Lucia asks.

  “Give him a second.” Crane says.

  “Borp just said he can convince whatever alabaster griffons are still putting off their migration to pack some bee monsters for the trip north.” Bron says. “He also gave us a list of gifts to present to them during negotiations.”

  “Wait, so do we actually have to find a tap dancing zombie and cut off it’s legs?” Lucia asks.

  “No! Not at all.” Bron says. “He means the liver of a killer stone raccoon, the eye of a glutton toad and some butter. He also says that he needs us to find an alabaster griffon to negotiate with.”

  “I think we can find those.” Crane nods along. “Might take us a day, but it can be done.”

  “We’ll also need to case the place.” Ren says. “We can investigate and learn what we can. Also do research on the guards. Namely, the bees.”

  “That’s what bestiaries are for.” Crane says. “We know what they do as monsters, but not so much the geography or architecture.”

  “We can investigate that.” Ren says.

  “Then let’s get this done.” Crane says. “In the morning, whoever is still up for this will be tasked appropriately. Whoever is calling it quits here, get a letter to my wife while you’re back in Longcrest.”

  “Got it.” a distant adventurer says.

  “I’m going to take this time to look the place over.” Ren says. “It’ll be sneakier if I search the place in the dark.”

  “Isn’t that dangerous, Ren?” Lucia asks. “Can you even see in the dark?”

  Ren learned Night Vision Level 1.

  Ren learned Night Vision Level 3. Level capacity has been met. Level up to increase level capacity.

  “Yep.” Ren says. “I have a spell.”

  “Even so, you spent the morning marching and the afternoon fighting.” Lucia says. “You should just take this time to rest.”

  “Ren, even you have your limits and can get tired.” Lucia says.

  “I’m okay.” Ren says.

  Ren starts to head in the direction of giant bee monsters. Lucia gives her a concerned look, but doesn’t move or follow behind her. After a moment Crane pats Lucia on the back. Lucia looks up at him with a look of confusion and concern.

  “Go after her.” Crane says. “She’s bound to get herself into trouble. She’ll need you to pull her out.”

  “Ah! Right!” Lucia says.

  Lucia rushes off after Ren. As she leaves, Alliot returns to the slowly forming camp.

  “Is it safe for those two to be heading out this late at night?” Alliot asks.

  “Alliot! Get over here!” Crane shouts. “You need to work on starting camp fires! You’re not a proper outdoor adventurer without it!”

  “Uh, sure sir.” Alliot says. “But you’re a blazemane. You’re racially just good at fire stuff.”

  “DON’T YOU DARE PLAY THE RACE CARD!!!”

  “OKAY! YES, SIR!!!”

  As that camp side exchanges come to a close, the wind drake that Ren and Lucia lugs around is sitting on the ground. As Ren and Lucia go to leave, Borp the raven perches next to the drake. Borp then speaks to the young drake.

  “Ren and Lucia have an enormous ball of zombies that they plan on rolling down a hill after setting it on fire.” Borp says.

  The drake goes wide eyed at those words. It then scrambles to chase after Ren and Lucia. As it does, Borp shouts after the drake.

  “Forget about the economy and go into figure skating. That’s where the money is at.” Borp shouts.