The adventures with minor scrapes from the previous day's scuffle, find themselves in a new predicament. A thieves' operation that they must uncover and shut down before others lose valuables like the party. As the sun rises on the next day since arriving in the town of Kelop, Nero awakens to find his backpack missing. The only thing left is the rope that he carries in his backpack, and upon searching the room, he finds a burned patch with a symbol of a diamond with small clusters of rock in a circle placed in the middle of the diamond. In panic and confusion, Nero steps outside, noticing Vore in a disturbed state rushing down the stairs in search of Jadmir or Hambl. Finding them shortly, he questions the concerned tavern keepers on where Jessica is, as she has stolen something of value from Vore. Hearing from both Jadmir and Sunny, who have been eating breakfast for the past hour, that Jessica was not involved in this crime, see Stein coming down the stairs wondering where an important letter he carried went. Conversations about the connected events call for the adventurous to seek each other's room in search of more clues to find who did this heinous act. Investigating the rooms, they notice that another symbol of the diamond is hidden in the room, as well as footsteps coming straight to the robbed spot and out the front door. Grasping these uncovered secrets, the adventures go to Jadmir to learn more about the disappearing items, learning that the bandits have a secret hideout in the swamp that normally holds their meetings. Deciding their next action, they agree to go to Mr. and Mrs. Phenon in search of answers, as well as give the flowers they asked Sunny to retrieve to the kind couple. Arriving at a small home, they are invited in by the benevolent couple that listens to their recent misfortunes before getting saddened by the mention of the tavern. The adventurous learn that the tavern used to be run by the Phenons a decade or two ago but was taken by the bandits who now run the operation they are involved in. Telling them that the bandits' operation has been continuously increasing and the town has been in continuous debt because of the taxation from the city of Hamble. They tell the players to be careful as if they do go to the hideout, the place may be trapped, before departing them with a blessing and some apple pie. Stein, whose disposition changed from honored and grateful to a slightly frustrated expression, claims that he will try his best to help the town by talking to the leaders of Hamble and stopping their taxation on the towns. Leaving with the adventures, they take a quick pitstop at the Deep Dive where they buy some replacement parts for the carriage. Heading once more to the bandits hideout deciding a plan of infiltration on the way.
