transtemporal
Explorer
Just let them spend it. 12k doesn't actually let them buy too much in terms of items anyway.
If you want to take it off them, do so in a way that'll fuel the story. For example, the local king/earl/whatever hears of their recent windfall and asks for a hefty donation. There is some historical precedent for this. In times of war, the king would levy a tax of men and equipment on the lords under his reign, but you could avoid this by paying money instead, called Scutage. The PCs probably aren't lords, but the King could hint if they ever intend on becoming such personages, they'd do well to pay early and often. This works especially well if you want to set up the greedy, a-hole King as a future enemy.
And putting their metagame hats on, the players will wonder whether thats the real reason you gave them a bunch of money in the first place...
If you want to take it off them, do so in a way that'll fuel the story. For example, the local king/earl/whatever hears of their recent windfall and asks for a hefty donation. There is some historical precedent for this. In times of war, the king would levy a tax of men and equipment on the lords under his reign, but you could avoid this by paying money instead, called Scutage. The PCs probably aren't lords, but the King could hint if they ever intend on becoming such personages, they'd do well to pay early and often. This works especially well if you want to set up the greedy, a-hole King as a future enemy.
And putting their metagame hats on, the players will wonder whether thats the real reason you gave them a bunch of money in the first place...