Session B15 — Luskan Fight Night

Summary

The party regroups aboard the Ice Serpent following the confrontation at Kelvin's manor and recaps the situation for Othorion: Kelvin is High Admiral Kelvin Fairlight Tearl, went AWOL a decade ago, and his wife (Kerr) and daughters are now held as hostages by Throa Taerl with a six-month ultimatum. The party divides for the night — Kefkas and Kavu work the fighting pits to generate income; Othorion infiltrates the city via sewers to visit Dabney at One-Eyed Jacks and break into Jarlaxle's office; Roland and Haldak bet on the fights and visit Yagra at the Black Pearl.

The night produces two major revelations: Othorion learns from Dabney that a drow prophecy connected to him exists and was the reason Jarlaxle smuggled him out of Menzoberranzan as an infant — and he recovers a letter from Jarlaxle's desk addressed to him by name. Meanwhile, Kefkas and Kavu sweep all five fighting pits, culminating in a two-on-one bout against Borgast Starfang — a towering barbarian-bard described by the DM as a level 20 character and beloved former PC. The party wins. Borgas gifts his axe-guitar to Kefkas on retirement and casts Greater Restoration on Kavu, removing his madness condition. Combined fight winnings and bets leave the party significantly wealthier.

Key Events

Ship Debrief — Recapping for Othorion

Back aboard the Ice Serpent, the party brings Othorion up to speed on the manor confrontation. Robert Hidswell fills in the logistics: Kelvin's full name is High Admiral Kelvin Fairlight Tearl. He went absent without leave from his post approximately a decade ago. His wife Kerr and his daughters (including a young child referred to as Olga) are now in Throa Taerl's custody and will be harmed if the party cannot produce significant value within six months.

The options discussed: the golden tooth Kelvin surrendered as a tithe buys time but not resolution; the fighting pits are the fastest source of serious gold in Luskan that night; assassinating Throa outright is off the table — too many variables and too many people watching. Robert confirms that horses and the wagon cannot survive the journey north to Icewind Dale and suggests he arrange sled dogs and provisions at Revel's End before the party continues to Ten-Towns.

The plan divides: Kefkas and Kavu fight in the pits; Haldak visits Yagra at 10 PM; Othorion goes to One-Eyed Jacks through the sewers; Kelvin stays aboard the ship; Roland and Haldak watch the fights and bet before the Black Pearl appointment.

The Spider Letter — Opened at Last

With a moment of calm aboard the ship, Othorion, Kelvin, and Kavu attempt to open the spider-brooch letter that has been in the party's possession. Kavu speaks to the spider through his nature ability. The spider responds in a whisper:

"I open only for the blood of those this message is intended for. Give me the blood."

Othorion allows the spider to bite his thumb. It drinks, falls dead, and the scroll becomes accessible. The letter is from the Matron Mother of House Baenre — read aloud in full:

"It is time to come home. For too long you have wandered the surface world, surrounded by fleeting allies and fragile protections... I offer you something far greater than survival. I offer you liberation... Return to Menzo-Barranzen, not as a servant of Lolth, but as a leader in a new era. You will claim a position the likes of which no male has ever held... The old laws that bound us to fear and servitude are crumbling. The Dryders, cursed for ages as symbols of Lolth's cruelty, now walk free under my protection... But you must come to me, Othorion. Do not wait any longer."
— Gwenthell Baenre, Matron Mother of House Baenred

The DM confirms: "Quenthyl Baenreh of House Baenreh, enemy to Lal, also wants you." Othorion stores this letter alongside Valera Vandree's purple letter in his scroll case. He now carries two invitations from rival drow houses.

Haldak also delivers the Ocean's Whisper Ring — a gift from Vera Moonshade that allows the bearer to breathe underwater for approximately one hour. Othorion accepts it with warmth: "She's a good one, she is."

Othorion in the Sewers — One-Eyed Jacks

Othorion descends into Luskan's sewer network using Kavu's hand-drawn map. He fails his navigation check twice and is twice flushed out by water surges. On his third attempt he reaches the southwest corner of One-Eyed Jacks and climbs toward the upper level.

The climb requires a barrel, a ledge, and ultimately driving his razor dagger into the stonework as a foothold to clear the final DC 12 Acrobatics check. From the roof, he can see through a window: Valera Vandree and Zilnath inside, Zilnath with her back turned, Valera facepalming at the sight of him on the roof.

He dangles his rapier on a rope to get Dabney's attention. Dabney's initial response from below:

"You better show yourself. I'm going to split you in two."

She recognizes him: "Is that you, nephew? The fuck are you doing on the roof?"

Dabney's Revelation — The Prophecy

Inside (or close enough to talk), Dabney shares what she and Jarlaxle have known for some time:

"There's something that your uncle and I have known for some time... It's part of the reason he smuggled you out of the city as a baby. There is a prophecy. We do not know what the details are. We don't know what it entails. And we don't know what is needed to fulfill the prophecy. But considering it's a drow prophecy, we assumed that it would entail some form of sacrifice. So you were smuggled out of the city. If Lolth is coming to you directly, then she is aware of the prophecy."

Jarlaxle left Luskan on an errand approximately ten days ago. Dabney suggests his office might contain more answers but adds: "I've never been stupid enough to snoop around in his room. That is just highly dumb."

They part warmly. Othorion hugs Dabney — she is approximately seven feet tall and dwarfs him in the embrace.

Jarlaxle's Office — The Letter and the Voice

Othorion makes his way to Jarlaxle's private chambers. The door is neither locked nor trapped; his investigation check confirms it clean. The inner room contains a naked human woman in Jarlaxle's sheets, thoroughly enjoying herself and audibly expressing appreciation for Jarlaxle's memory.

On the desk: a letter addressed to Othorion by name, Jarlaxle's emerald pen (a no-ink pen that casts Illusory Script at will), and a set of magical emerald-etched bone dice humming with enchantment.

Othorion takes only the letter. The moment he touches it, time stops — the woman freezes mid-moan. Jarlaxle's voice speaks directly into his mind:

"I had a feeling you'd skulk your way here. My office, of course. It's exactly where I'd go if I were you. Let me guess. You're rifling through my drawers, hoping to find secrets. Or perhaps an expensive bottle of rare surface brandy to lift. Kitzk, you never learn. Unfortunately for you, I'm already three steps ahead. The real treasures and the truly scintillating gossip are well hidden elsewhere. But please, by all means, rummage around. Might teach you a thing or two about resourcefulness if you survive the odd trick or trap. When you are quite done, be a dear nephew and make yourself scarce. I'll come find you when there's work to be done. Something suitably lucrative and dangerous, no doubt. And I do appreciate your gall, if not your manners. Be quick about it, Othorion. Perhaps next time you'll try to be a little less predictable."
— Uncle Jarlaxle Baenre

The signature confirms what the party has not previously had in writing: Jarlaxle is an exile of House Baenre.

Othorion drops from the window — DC 15 Acrobatics, rolled clean, no damage. He re-enters the sewers, gets flushed again, and swims the final 600 feet back to the Ice Serpent using the Ocean's Whisper Ring. Gum Gum is waiting on deck:

"Welcome back. I have a letter for you."

A second letter, this one from Zilnath (signed "Xioneth"), describes a fight happening that night at an arena built over the ruins of the old Lolth Temple. It includes a drawing — per the promise made when things went sideways. Othorion also realizes he has been holding the sewer map sideways for his first two attempts. He files that away.

Roland and Haldak — Black Pearl, 10 PM

Roland, Haldak, and Yagra share Dwarven Moss at the Black Pearl Merchantile. The conversation turns philosophical:

"You're my best friend. You know that?"

Yagra assesses Roland:

"You're awesome for a cop."

Roland protests. Yagra is unmoved:

"Bullshit. I know what that symbol means. You're a cop. But you're cool. Because you smoked."

They collect Zilnath's letter and head to the final fight.

The Fighting Pits — Five Venues, One Night

Kefkas and Kavu work through five consecutive fights across Luskan's underground circuit. Kavu operates as corner coach for each bout, repeatedly rolling natural 20s on Charisma, Persuasion, and Investigation to find tactical edges.

Fight 1 — Surly Gull Pit vs. Kashti Thornscale (lithe gold-scaled dragonborn)

The venue is a makeshift ring inside a dingy dockside tavern — stale ale, salt spray, and unwashed sailors. Kashti opens:

"Careful, friend. My fists pass more heat than a Luskan forge."

Kavu's nat-20 Charisma coaching gives Kefkas +8 temporary HP. Kefkas wins by points. The tipsy MC announces the winner as "Hotch Chotch." Earnings: Kefkas +40 gp; Roland and Haldak +20 gp each from bets.

Fight 2 — Cross Swords Arena vs. Marcel Stormwhisper (lanky human, curved dagger)

A repurposed warehouse with two crossed swords painted on the door. Marcel greets the audience:

"Welcome, challengers. Let's see if you have what it takes to help me impress this crowd tonight."

Kavu's nat-20 Persuasion coaching gives Kefkas advantage on a crucial roll. Kefkas wins convincingly with a styling finish move. Earnings: Kefkas and Kavu +50 gp each; Roland and Haldak +80 gp each.

Fight 3 — Bilgewater Barge vs. Nisa Blackwater (imposing half-orc, wave and tentacle tattoos covering her arms)

The venue is a half-sunken ship converted into an underground arena — torchlight reflecting off water-stained walls. Nisa:

"Don't slip on the wet floor, pretty boy. This ring has swallowed better fighters than you."

Kavu's nat-20 Investigation locates a loose metal plate buried under the arena sand, giving Kefkas a key tactical advantage (+2 to a decisive roll). The fight is close. Kavu expends a spell slot to heal Kefkas between rounds. Kefkas wins by decision. After the fight, Nisa acknowledges him:

"I've fought sea monsters and lived to tell the tale."

Earnings: Kefkas and Kavu +50 gp each.

Fight 4 — Storm's Eye Showdown vs. Captain Seraph (towering tiefling, icy blue skin, elegant horns, frost-magic cutlass)

A clandestine subterranean chamber, audience composed of pirate captains, shady nobles, and crime lords. Seraph:

"I heard rumors of a flamboyant fighter vesting every ring in a single night. Let's see if you can stand against the storm."

Kavu casts Warding Bond (ring on Kefkas's finger, sharing damage) and Enhance Ability on himself. Kefkas wins by countering Seraph's Frost with a dramatic echo shift — Blazing Flare — that causes Seraph to overextend. Earnings: Kefkas and Kavu +200 gp each.

Fight 5 (Final) — Ship Kurth Arena vs. Borgast Starfang

The venue is built over the ruins of the old Lolth Temple, under the aegis of Ship Kurth — allied with Bregan D'aerthe. Zilnath announces. The prize: 1,200 gp each. The odds: five-to-one against. The fight: potentially lethal, two-on-one. The opponent: Borgast Starfang, a towering barbarian-bard whose weapon is an axe that doubles as a guitar.

Borgas opens with sportsmanship — giving Kefkas bardic inspiration as a gesture before the fight begins:

"I hope for this to be a wonderful, excellent battle."

Kavu casts Warding Bond and Enhance Ability. Kefkas has Silvery Barbs prepared and uses it multiple times. The fight unfolds across multiple brutal rounds:

• Kavu opens with a Fireball for 36 damage, halved by Borgas's resistance
• Borgas polymorphs Kefkas into a rat; Kefkas fights blind and in poly
• Kavu, running out of options, produces invisible bagpipes and plays — the assembled crowd of drow women begins to swoon
• Borgas triggers his Final Performance: 12d10 + level psychic damage, Constitution save required; the party barely survives
• Kavu is knocked unconscious
• Kefkas, at 4 hit points, faces Borgas, at 3 hit points

Kefkas wins — driving Borgas into the ground with the flat of his blade, knocking him unconscious without killing him.

After the fight, Borgas casts Greater Restoration on Kavu, removing the madness condition that has been afflicting him. Then he presents his axe-guitar to Kefkas:

"This axe and I have traveled the multiverse and seen things you can only believe. There's no better person than I can think of to continue using it and take it to the next level. It's yours."

Borgas announces his retirement:

"And with that, gentlemen, I retire. Until next time."

The DM's aside: "Two of your players just beat a level 20 character. Congratulations."

Earnings: Kefkas and Kavu +1,200 gp each; Roland and Haldak +5,000 gp each (bet 1,000 gp at 5:1 odds).

NPCs Encountered

Loot / Discoveries

Threads Opened / Advanced

• The Drow Prophecy: Dabney confirms its existence. Jarlaxle smuggled Othorion out of Menzoberranzan as an infant specifically because of this prophecy. Neither Dabney nor Jarlaxle knows the details — only that it likely involves sacrifice, and that Lolth's direct attention to Othorion confirms she is aware of it. The contents of Jarlaxle's desk letter are unknown.
• Jarlaxle Baenre — Confirmed: The desk letter is signed "Uncle Jarlaxle Baenre," canonically establishing Jarlaxle as an exile of House Baenre. His whereabouts: unknown errand, left ~10 days ago. He anticipated Othorion's visit and left a voice trap.
• Matron Mother Baenre's Invitation: The spider-brooch letter offers Othorion a leadership role in Menzoberranzan — outside Lolth's service, under Baenre's protection. The Matron claims the old laws are crumbling and driders walk free under her. This is the second drow faction actively recruiting Othorion.
• Valera Vandree's Continued Presence: She is in Luskan, at One-Eyed Jacks, with Zilnath. She saw Othorion on the roof. No direct interaction occurred.
• Kefkas — Borgas's Axe-Guitar: A weapon from a character described as having "traveled the multiverse." Its full properties are unknown; it functions as both a battle axe and an instrument. The DM's comment implies personal history with the item.
• Kavu's Madness — Removed: Greater Restoration from Borgas clears the madness condition. Kavu returns to baseline.
• Kelvin's Family Hostage Crisis: Still unresolved; six-month deadline from Throa Taerl. Party now has significantly more gold to work with.
• Revel's End — Next Stop: Robert Hidswell is arranging sled dogs and provisions. The party will stable horses/wagon there before continuing to Icewind Dale and Ten-Towns.