Session C01 — The Key

Summary

Day 2 at Revel's End reaches its operational conclusion. The mission the party traveled north for — accessing Prisoner 13's tattoo to copy the Underdark key it encodes — is accomplished by mid-afternoon. Getting there takes nearly every waking hour: a sabotaged tea run, a failed dead drop, a visit from a Demon Prince, a fire genasi's fire pox examination, a therapy obligation with the most quietly terrifying prisoner in the facility, and a second direct visit to Prisoner 13's cell before the tattoo is finally, carefully, successfully copied onto a single sheet of paper. The session closes with the party in the mess hall, the key in Roland's inventory, and the question of what to do about Prisoner 218 left explicitly open.

Key Events

Opening — Othorion's Prior Cell Visit (Off-Screen)

The DM confirmed that Othorion had visited Prisoner 13 between B20 and C01: he had entered her cell under cover of a medical visit and made initial contact. She stated her demand clearly — the warden's ledger — before she would grant access to her arm. The terms were set. The rest of the session is the party delivering on them.

Pre-Yard — Haldak's Tea Incident

Haldak attempted to prepare the warden's herbal tea using Chronomancy. The application misfired: he sent the tea ingredients backward in time during the heating process, which boiled only the seeds instead of the herbs. The resulting brew was wrong in a way the warden might notice.

Kavu intercepted the botched tea before it reached the warden's quarters and prepared a replacement. He continued his established pattern of regular tea runs — keeping the warden bedridden and unable to reclaim her office.

Selene's Backstory

Selene revealed more of her history at the mess hall table: she was born an elf, became a tiefling (circumstances unstated), and grew up in Lonelywood. Her father eventually expelled her. She has not returned since.

She asked Roland to call her "Aurora" when they reached Lonelywood — a nickname from before her exile — and asked him to pass the word to the others. She repeated this to Kefkas (Robert Hidswell) in a later private courtyard scene, thanking him for an earlier talk that had helped her arrive at the name. Kefkas shared his pipe with her; she noted the tobacco was better than what her family had used.

Othorion's Investigation — Dead Drop Found

Othorion located Prisoner 13's dead drop in the courtyard: a loose slate in the northeast corner of the yard with a hollow space beneath it. Investigation DC 17, barely succeeded. He identified this as P13's exchange point and placed the warden's ledger inside.

Graz'zt's Vision

While in the courtyard, Othorion spotted a silhouette resembling Valera Vandree — the same figure that had appeared to him in the previous session. He followed it. The courtyard dissolved into a vision: snow, darkness, the suggestion of the deep Underdark.

He found himself in audience with Graz'zt, the Demon Prince of Pleasure, Decadence, and Self-Indulgence. Graz'zt appeared as obsidian-skinned with twin curved horns and emerald eyes, shifting through illusions of Valera Vandree, Lireal, and Eilistraee as he spoke.

His offer: restore Othorion's memories — poisoned or stripped by the waters of Lethe — in exchange for Othorion protecting a priestess during an Underdark ritual. The location is approximately two hours south of Revel's End, four days deep into the dark. Graz'zt's stated motivation: bar his rivals from interfering in what he considers his domain.

He gave Othorion one day to decide. Othorion recognized him from his uncle's stories and identified him correctly — including that Graz'zt's bitterest enemy is Iggwilv, his former lover. Graz'zt confirmed this and appeared pleased to be named. The vision ended when Othorion returned to the courtyard.

Othorion Places the Ledger

Having retrieved the warden's ledger from her office during B20 (Deception DC 10, succeeded), Othorion placed it in Prisoner 13's dead drop at the northeast slate during the yard period, waiting for her to retrieve it during exercise time.

Yard Time — Prisoner 48 and Kavu

Prisoners were led to the courtyard: Prisoner 13, Lireal (218), Nezznar (243), Prisoner 48, and others. Kavu entered the yard accompanied by guard Sienna Blount, who has an obvious attraction to Kefkas (Robert Hidswell).

Prisoner 48 approached Kavu. She is a fire genasi approximately six and a half feet tall with literal flame for hair. She reported she had fire pox — "burns and itches" — and asked that the doctor be sent to see her about a rash. She shrank to Kavu's height to speak with him directly. Her nickname is Wildfire. Kavu agreed to pass the message to Dr. Goldfeather.

As Kavu and Sienna Blount exited the courtyard, Sienna discharged a held fireball that she had apparently been building up throughout the visit. The table interpreted this as an involuntary effect of prolonged proximity to a celibate fire priest.

Kavu Passes Intelligence to Lireal

During yard time, Kavu attempted to relay information to Lireal using the awkward pretense of talking to guard Sienna Blount about orphans. Lireal came up behind them and pointed out that the guards on the wall couldn't hear a word over the wind and they could simply talk.

Kavu had received a Sending response from a contact in Neverwinter (Brother Marklin, referenced obliquely): the Manan child refugees — aquatic elf orphans Lireal had helped smuggle out of the kingdom — are no longer in Neverwinter. They are on a caravan to Bryn Shander, apparently sent north by the Regent High Lord. Lireal's response:

"Thank you, Kabu. It's not good news, but it's better than no news. I appreciate it."

Kavu greeted Nezznar (Prisoner 243) cheerfully in passing. Nezznar did not respond.

Dead Drop Failure — Ledger Untouched

After yard time ended and prisoners were returned to their cells, Othorion checked the dead drop. The ledger had not been touched. Prisoner 13 either did not know about the drop, did not locate it, or chose not to retrieve it during the yard period.

Kefkas (Hidswell) found Othorion at the courtyard entrance and advised him in the corridor:

"Sometimes you need to be more direct, methinks. If we don't want to spend another night and a day here, you're going to have to find another way to get that to her."

He also warned that if Othorion were caught, he might need to use the prison warrant. Othorion retrieved the ledger from the dead drop and held it on his person.

Warden Check-In

Othorion visited the warden's quarters for rounds. The guard confirmed: "No one's been in or out aside from Master Codley." The warden was still bedridden — "I feel like a tapeworm. And I'm leaving little pieces of myself behind." She confirmed Kavu's tea had been helping. She asked Othorion to report any complications and to change her bedpan. Othorion complied. A small amount spilled on his fingers.

Kavu Meets Jil Torbo (Absolution Council)

In the mess hall at lunch, a short dark-skinned halfling woman in fine noble clothing — small bib, pearl accessories — sat at the far end of the bench and waited for her meal. Selene identified her quietly as Jil Torbo, one of the Absolution Council members. From prior intelligence (B20): she votes yes on commutations because she tends to defer to others' recommendations.

Kavu approached her and introduced himself as an adventurer who came in through the front door escorting a prisoner. He informed her that Prisoner 243 had "tricked Gertie into coming and stomping on a town" — the giant attack on Phandalin. Jil had not read the file. She asked where the giants were now.

"In the dao," Kavu said, meaning dead. Jil concluded that a no vote was likely warranted and noted it would be 364 days before she had to deal with that number anyway. She thanked Kavu and excused herself: "What a strange little fellow."

Prisoner 48 — Fire Pox Examination

Othorion, Roland, and Kavu attended Prisoner 48's cell in the afternoon. Protocol required two witnesses. Kavu held a privacy curtain outside the cell opening.

Inside: Prisoner 48 (clothes already burned off; her garments are self-generated from flame and she had not yet reformed them). She confirmed the fire pox had spread from her lower back down into the left leg. Othorion applied balm. An initial incorrect placement caused a minor flare-up; he pulled back in time, reassessed via Intelligence check, and applied the treatment correctly without rupturing the pustules.

The cells are anti-magic zones. When Kavu attempted Lesser Restoration, it failed immediately upon crossing the cell threshold. The party improvised: Prisoner 48 backed toward the cell doorway until she was close enough to the threshold for a spell cast from outside to reach her. Roland held the privacy curtain over her — it began smoldering from her hair. Kavu cast from just outside the anti-magic boundary.

"Oh, I haven't felt such relief."
"Well, that's a gentler touch than I'm used to."

Fire pox: completely cured. Kavu took 2 fire damage (fire resistant). Prisoner 48 snapped her fingers and manifested new clothing — she generates her own garments from fire and does not require prison issue. She gave Kavu poutiest puppy dog eyes when he declined to stay; Othorion escaped before she could deploy them further.

Prisoner 66 — Salmeros

As Othorion and Kavu moved through the cell block, Prisoner 66 put his hands through the cell bars and addressed the doctor. The guards looked at him — and then looked away, as if afraid. He gave his name unprompted:

"You can call me Salmeros."

Guards pretended not to have heard. He is the prisoner scheduled for weekly therapy sessions — the one Othorion had noted he should be a "reasonably good listener" for. He demanded the doctor come talk about his feelings immediately.

"Fuck the numbers. Come talk to me about my feelings now."

Othorion agreed to come this evening. Salmeros's parting warning, delivered before stepping back into the darkness of his cell:

"Do you know what it sounds like when a weasel is crushed?... Then I do not need to make any further threats, as you know very well what it will sound like if you fail to make me understand my feelings."

Prisoner 13 — Second Direct Visit and Ledger Exchange

Othorion made a second medical visit to Prisoner 13's cell. Using Thieves' Cant:

Othorion: "I believe I have what you asked for."
P13: "Flash the silver, no need to dance." — hand it over, then.

Too many eyes: Panopticon and guards. Othorion could not pass the ledger openly. P13 told him to put up the sheet and have "your little god friend go through the rigmarole." He summoned guard Erdo Thornbloom, had the cell opened with a second present, and raised the privacy curtain.

With the curtain up, Prisoner 13 rifled through the ledger for 20 minutes while Othorion made noise cover — rummaging through his bag, clinking bottles. After 20 minutes:

"That's what I needed it for."

Now she held up her arm: the tattoo. It is the key — the encoded sigil that is the party's primary mission objective for Arc B/C. To copy it accurately, Othorion would need Disguise Self, Minor Illusion, or a DC 15 Arcana check (10 minutes required). Anti-magic field inside the cell blocks all magical approaches.

Before the problem was solved, P13 delivered her assessment of Othorion:

"Don't worry, Doctor. You're not my type. You're a little dark for me. I like them paler. That way I can see where I've left my mark."

Roland Called In — Tattoo Copied

Othorion asked guard Erdo Thornbloom to fetch Roland — "the paladin that came in on the boat." Roland arrived. He consulted Imbarion, the spirit residing in his M.A.P., which he calls "the fairy in the lamp." Imbarion confirmed she could guide the transcription and correct errors in real time. She noted the anti-magic field had "blacked her out" while Roland was near the cell and complained that Roland never talks to her anymore.

Roland made an Arcana check with advantage, guided by Imbarion. Kavu, watching from outside the cell, prayed to Kossuth and rolled a Religion check to provide additional divine assistance:

"Kossuth always comes through."

The check succeeded. The tattoo was perfectly transcribed onto a single sheet of paper.

Prisoner 13: "It's about bloody time. Get the fuck out of my cell."

Item added to Roland's inventory: Paper — perfect copy of Prisoner 13's tattoo key. The party has what they came for.

Mess Hall Debrief — Lireal and the Regent

Afternoon mess hall. Kavu briefed the group on what his Sending-based intelligence had gathered:

The Manan orphan refugees — aquatic elf children Lireal had helped smuggle out of the kingdom — are on a caravan to Bryn Shander, sent north by Renaer Neverember, apparently the new Regent High Lord of Neverwinter, identified as "the other Neverember son." The old High Lord has been replaced. Lireal knew none of this.

Kefkas asked Kavu directly: "Are you trying to hint at the want or need to break that young lady out of here?" Kavu confirmed he had done everything short of that — including the forged prison record — and raised two remaining options:

• Call in the favor owed to them by Renaer Neverember. Roland's counter: "We might need that for Phandalin."
• Invoke "a certain name that carries some weight" — Kefkas's phrasing, implying the Blackstaff connection (Vajra Safahr), whose involvement in the party's mission is not supposed to be known at Revel's End.

The DM's closing statement for the session:

"At 3:47 in the afternoon on day two at Revel's End, you have completed your mission, and now you just need to learn how to expel and whether or not you're going to do something about Prisoner 218. And someone needs to debate whether they need to say a certain name as well."

NPCs Encountered

Loot / Discoveries

Threads Opened / Advanced

• Mission Accomplished — Tattoo Key Copied: The party has a perfect paper copy of Prisoner 13's tattoo key. The stated reason for infiltrating Revel's End is complete. Now they must extract cleanly.
• Graz'zt's Offer: Othorion has one day to decide — memory restoration for protecting a priestess 4 days deep into the Underdark. The ritual's nature and the priestess's identity are unknown.
• Lireal (Prisoner 218) — Rescue Debate: The party actively discussed options: the Regent's favor, the Blackstaff/Vajra connection, a physical break-out. Not resolved. DM flagged it explicitly as a remaining open question.
• Salmeros (Prisoner 66) — Evening Therapy Session: Othorion promised to visit this evening. Salmeros is clearly dangerous; guards fear him. Species and crimes unspecified.
• Neverember Succession: The old High Lord has been replaced by Renaer Neverember ("the other Neverember son"). This is new political intelligence relevant to Neverwinter threads. The party is owed a favor by the new Regent.
• Manan Orphan Refugees: Aquatic elf children en route to Bryn Shander / Ten Towns, sent by Renaer Neverember. No one is currently watching over them — which was the core of Lireal's treason charge.
• Prison Extraction: No clean exit plan yet. Discussion about whether to simply walk out and let the weather cover their trail.
• Prisoner 48 ("Wildfire"): Fire pox cured. A patient now owed something.