Thief of the Pie

Type: Investigate, side quest

Playtime: 15-20 minutes

NPCs: The Baker, Leek (Guard), Darg (Guard)

In Thief of the Pie, the player goes on a quest to find a thief who’s stealing the baker’s pies. The thief turns out to be closer than expected.

Goals

  • Introduce the player to the baker.
  • Give the player a feel for the state of Hodgeland – times are tough.
  • Set the baker up as an untrustworthy person for the main quest.

Summary

This quest begins when the player speaks to the baker in Hodgeland. The player will speak to the baker in the main quest but can speak to them beforehand.

Before entering the bakery, a guard, Leek (who’s standing outside the bakery door), stops the player and interrogates them. Apparently, pies have been disappearing from the bakery. During the player’s initial conversation with the baker, they also mention the disappearing pies. The player can either continue this conversation thread, continue the main quest (if they’re at the point), or end the conversation.

The baker says they had to request a guard to guard the bakery 24/7 since the ingredients are so expensive and they’re losing a lot of gold. They come in two shifts, one in the day and one at night. The player tells the baker that they’ll investigate and stake out the bakery to try and catch the thief.

An optional objective is added to the quest to investigate the bakery’s entry points. If the player investigates the window to the west, they’ll discover a broken latch. If they report this finding to the baker, they’ll fix the window.

The player goes to a nearby secluded area (designated by a quest marker) and waits. The player must wait for 90 seconds during the night. The on-duty guard (Darg) falls asleep during this wait.

The off-duty guard (Leek) will try to sneak into the west window. If the player repaired the latch, Leek won’t be able to get in. If the player did not repair the latch, Leek will get in.

If Leek can’t get in, the player will be prompted to confront them. This results in a combat encounter. Leek will give up before they die, and they’ll be arrested.

If Leek does get in, the player will be prompted to enter the bakery and confront Leek with the on-duty guard (Darg). This will result in the guard being arrested without a combat encounter.

If the player completes this quest before the main quest that requires them to enter Hodgeland’s jail, they will see Leek in the jail during the main quest.

After Leek is arrested, the baker will enter the bakery or the outside depending on the path that the player took. They’ll ask Leek why they did it and they will respond that their family is starving and the baker is holding too much food and charging too much when they could be feeding their fellow citizens. Leek will then say that they’ve been taking food to their family. Leek is then taken to the town’s jail.

The baker thanks the player. The player has the option to interrogate the baker about hoarding food and charging high prices.

If the player interrogates the baker, they’ll walk back inside and won’t speak to the player about the event anymore. Darg will reward the player with gold.

If the player doesn’t interrogate the baker, they’ll reward the player with gold. The baker will thank them for their help the next time they speak in the bakery.

Dialogue and sequence

[Player attempts to enter the bakery. Bakery is only open during the day. If night, the door will be locked.]

1.1 Leek, the Guard (Only occurs on first entry): Stop there. We’ve had pies stolen from this bakery. And not just pies, but pie ingredients too. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?

1.2 Player (Multiple options):

  1. Nope. Haven’t heard a thing.
  2. Are you accusing me of something?

1.3 Leek, the Guard (Depending on player response):

  1. Don’t get excited now.
  2. Maybe I am. You seem awfully defensive.

1.4 Player: This is a bit much for a bakery, don’t you think?

1.5 Leek, the Guard: Maybe. But food is a precious commodity around here. Can’t be too careful. Go on in. [Ends conversation]

[Player enters the bakery]

1.6 The Baker: Welcome to Hodgeland Bakery. The finest pies from here to Martha. Well, when we have any.

1.7 Player (Multiple options):

  1. The guard mentioned that pies have been disappearing. [Start Thief of the Pie]
  2. I want to help with your pie problem. [Only an option when returning after not starting the quest, skips to 2.0]
  3. Venison is in high demand these days. [Main quest]
  4. Goodbye. [End conversation]

1.8 The Baker (Depending on player response):

  1. Not just pies, but pie ingredients too.
  2. [Main quest]
  3. [Ends conversation]

1.9 Player (Assuming the first option is chosen): Right, ingredients too.

2.0 The Baker: And they’re expensive! I’m losing a lot of gold. Meat, flour, butter, salt, you name it! These things don’t come cheap. Say…you look capable. These guards are totally useless. They haven’t found the thief after a week of being posted outside the bakery all day and night. Would you be willing to help me catch the thief?

2.1 Player (Multiple options):

  1. This thief must be brought to justice.
  2. Not now. [Returns to 1.7]

2.2 The Baker (If player agrees to help): Great! There’s a reward in it too. The guards are stationed both day and night, but the pie and pie ingredients are only disappearing at night. I’m suspicious of that guard…Darg I think his name is? I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the one taking them.

2.3 Player: I’ll stake out the bakery at night and catch this thief!

2.4 The Baker: I’m not sure how they’re getting in. The building has several entry points.

2.5 Player: I’ll look around.

[Two objectives are added to the player’s journal: stake out the bakery at night, (optional) investigate the doors and windows of the bakery. If the player investigates and finds the broken latch on the west window, they’ll start on Path A. If they don’t find the broken latch, they’ll start on Path B.]

Path A

[After the player finds the broken latch, they’ll be instructed to tell the baker.]

2.6 The Baker: Did you find anything?

2.7 Player: The west window’s latch is broken.

2.8 The Baker: That must be how the thief is getting in. I’ll fix it before nightfall.

[The player’s objectives are updated. They must now go and stake out the bakery at night, when Darg is guarding the bakery. After waiting for 90 seconds in the designated zone, Leek, the guard from the day shift, will sneak over and attempt to open the window. The player must then confront them. Leek immediately attacks, caught off guard. Before they die, they surrender to the player.]

2.9 Leek, the Guard: Wait, wait! Have mercy! I have a family. This wretched baker has been hoarding and overpricing their food for too long. I was only doing what’s right.

[The Baker runs around the corner]

3.0 The Baker: You slimy bastard! Resorting to stealing. I have no respect for this low.

3.1 Leek, the Guard: You would know a lot about stealing wouldn’t you. You’re basically robbing your neighbors of food with the prices you’re charging. Keeping food from a struggling town to keep yourself full and rich. I’m only trying to provide for my family.

3.2 Darg, the Guard: Even so, I’ll have to take you in.

3.3 Leek, the Guard: I know, I won’t hold this against you, Darg. But I won’t forget this, traveler.

3.4 The Baker (Speaking to the player now): Thank you for catching that wretched thief.

3.5 Player (Multiple choices):

  1. You shouldn’t charge so much for your goods. You’re starving your fellow citizens.
  2. Glad I could help. I don’t have patience for thieves.

3.6 The Baker (Depending on player response):

  1. Siding with a thief, huh? Figured you were smarter than that. [Ends conversation]
  2. Then we have that in common. You’re always welcome at my bakery. [Ends conversation and rewards gold]

3.7 Darg, the Guard (Depending on player response):

  1. Thanks for standing up to the baker. Here, take this. It’s not much but I hope it helps you on your journey, wherever it takes you. Leek isn’t a bad person. They’re right about the baker, I just hope more people see it and do something about it before we’re all starving. [Ends conversation and rewards gold]
  2. [Says nothing]

Path B

[They must now go and stake out the bakery at night, when Darg is guarding the bakery. After waiting for 90 seconds in the designated zone, Leek, the guard from the day shift, will sneak over and open the window. The player must run to tell Darg and get inside. Once inside, they will confront Leek.]

3.8 Darg, the Guard: Leek, stop. We’ve caught you.

3.9 Leek, the Guard: I…I had to do this, Darg. I have a family. This wretched baker has been hoarding and overpricing their food for too long. I was only doing what’s right.

[The Baker enters the room]

4.0 The Baker: You slimy bastard! Resorting to stealing. I have no respect for this low.

4.1 Leek, the Guard: You would know a lot about stealing wouldn’t you. You’re basically robbing your neighbors of food with the prices you’re charging. Keeping food from a struggling town to keep yourself full and rich. I’m only trying to provide for my family.

4.2 Darg, the Guard: Even so, I’ll have to take you in.

4.3 Leek, the Guard: I know, I won’t hold this against you, Darg. But I won’t forget this, traveler.

4.4 The Baker (Speaking to the player now): Thank you for catching that wretched thief.

4.5 Player (Multiple choices):

  1. You shouldn’t charge so much for your goods. You’re starving your fellow citizens.
  2. Glad I could help. I don’t have patience for thieves.

4.6 The Baker (Depending on player response):

  1. Siding with a thief, huh? Figured you were smarter than that. [Ends conversation]
  2. Then we have that in common. You’re always welcome at my bakery. [Ends conversation and rewards gold]

4.7 Darg, the Guard (Depending on player response):

  1. Thanks for standing up to the baker. Here, take this. It’s not much but I hope it helps you on your journey, wherever it takes you. Leek isn’t a bad person. They’re right about the baker, I just hope more people see it and do something about it before we’re all starving. [Ends conversation and rewards gold]
  2. [Says nothing]

[Depending on the option chosen, Darg and the baker will say positive or negative things to you in future interactions.]

End quest.