Session C04 — The Uncle Revealed

Summary

The party's first session entirely outside of Revel's End, traveling across the frozen tundra on dog sleds with Lireal and the "bodies" of the Doctor and Cook. Selene discovers a letter in the lead dog's collar addressed to Othorion from Elminster, warning that his memory loss was deliberate and the Weave let it go for a reason. Kavu's augury is intercepted by Auril — the bones simply laugh at winter's unpredictability. Then "Robert Hidswell" delivers an elaborate eulogy for Nezznar — before removing his disguise and revealing himself as Jarlaxle Baenre, legendary head of Bregan D'aerthe and Othorion's uncle, who has been in disguise the entire campaign. What follows is a remarkable campfire session: Jarlaxle sparring with Othorion (who levels to 7 and gains Drow Weapon Expertise), distributing a trove of gear to the party including the House Baenre Cloak and cursed Demon Armor, drinking Kefkas into speechless secrets with Lolithar's Kiss, and telling three stories of Othorion as a young assassin. Selene privately delivers the Elminster letter to Othorion at the fire's edge. The session closes with a tundra encounter: 14 Scent Wardens of Auril who tripped their own mammoth trap and found the party instead, offering a tracking totem to Selene that grants advantage on survival checks in exchange for Auril's passive observation of the party's journey.

Key Events

DM Recap — What Happened in C03

The DM opened with a summary of the unrecorded C03 session:

• Feign Death was cast on Othorion (Dr. Velvetina Goldfeather) and Haldak (Mr. Horton Gamzee), leaving them appearing dead
• Nezznar was framed for the murders and subsequently executed; his remains were scattered, making resurrection nearly impossible
• Lireal (Prisoner 218) was freed as part of the exit arrangement
• The warden paid 4,000 gold to the party to transport the "bodies" of the Doctor and Cook to Bryn Shander for resurrection
• Cover identities now used openly: Dr. Velvetina Goldfeather (Othorion), Mr. Horton Gamzee (Haldak)

The warden's one condition: secrecy about everything that occurred inside the prison.

Elminster's Letter

Selene, checking the sled dog harnesses before departure, found a sealed letter tucked in the lead dog's collar, addressed to Othorion personally. She read it — and kept it to herself to deliver privately.

The letter, signed "Elminster, Sage of Shadowdale, Chosen of Mystra," conveyed the following:

Othorion's memory loss was intentional. The Weave let it go for a reason. Forcing the memories back is dangerous and should not be attempted.

Selene waited until the short rest stop to approach Othorion away from the group:

"I found something. You were unconscious, playing dead under the spell, and I didn't want to bring this up in front of everybody, but... I found this. I think you might want to read it."

Othorion received the letter and tucked it away:

"That's alright, Selene. Everybody here seems to know a lot more about me than I know about myself since I've been picking up the pieces. But I appreciate this."

"I worry about you, Itharion. I really do." — Selene

Kavu's Augury — Intercepted

Kavu cast Augury during the early sled travel, seeking divine guidance on the road ahead.

The augury was intercepted by Auril, the Frostmaiden. The casting bones did not give a clean weal or woe — they laughed, tumbling erratically. The DM confirmed: winter is unpredictable. Auril answers nothing clearly; she simply finds the inquiry amusing.

Robert Hidswell's Eulogy for Nezznar

Still in full "Robert Hidswell" disguise, Kefkas delivered an elaborate mock-eulogy for Nezznar during the first sled stop — a comedic performance of false mourning that the table received enthusiastically.

"I was thinking of being full hard-ass: 'Your mother hated you. Your father's dead. Good riddance.' Ashes to ashes, dust to dust — that way we'll put you in the earth's crust." — Young (Kefkas's player, post-session)

The eulogy played the crowd for laughs. This was, as the table later noted, Robert Hidswell's last performance.

The Reveal — Jarlaxle Baenre

At the campfire stop, "Robert Hidswell" removed his hairpiece and disguise, revealing himself as Jarlaxle Baenre — legendary drow adventurer, head of Bregan D'aerthe, and Othorion's uncle — who has been embedded in the party under cover for the entirety of Arc B and Arc C.

He immediately engaged Othorion in sparring to assess his combat readiness. Othorion fired a harpoon — and intentionally missed (burning inspiration).

Jarlaxle worked with Othorion personally, teaching him drow weapon techniques. By the session's end, Othorion leveled to 7 and gained the Drow Weapon Expertise feature.

Jarlaxle outlined his departure plan: he will travel ahead to Bryn Shander to deliver the tattoo key to the party's contact there, then must depart. He cannot be seen with Othorion due to a covenant within Bregan D'aerthe.

Gear Distribution from Jarlaxle

Jarlaxle distributed equipment from his stash — items appropriate for each party member:

Kefkas and Lolithar's Kiss: Jarlaxle offered Kefkas a drink from his flask. Kefkas accepted and failed his Constitution save — 10 minutes of speech impairment followed, during which he was prone to blurting personal secrets and unable to perform reliable deception. His face subsequently froze to the Demon Armor from the cold.

Lireal recovered her own confiscated equipment on departure from the prison: a moon-touched scimitar and a dagger (property unknown). She also provided the party temporary hit points from her short rest ability (all except Haldak benefited).

Jarlaxle's Childhood Stories

Around the campfire (while Selene stepped aside to deliver Elminster's letter to Othorion), Jarlaxle told three stories of Othorion as a young operative — to the delight of the party:

Story 1 — The Boots (and the Laxative)

"Let me tell you about the first time young Atorian tried to kill me... He was barely into his third murder, he still had the baby fangs, he slipped a little dreamlily into my wine — just a touch, not enough to kill, just enough to make me take a nap so he could steal my boots — my boots! But what he did not know is that I had already poisoned the wine with a laxative. I had planned to drink it later as part of my routine cleanse. We both woke up two hours later in different rooms of the same brothel, covered in glitter. Mutual respect and light shame. That was the day I knew: oh, this boy has potential."

Story 2 — The Cat (Whisper)

"Atorian was sent to steal a ledger from a Luscan noble with very questionable taste in curtains and cousins. But instead, the boy gets attached — emotionally, mind you — to the man's cat. He returns with no ledger, no gold, but a cat named Whisper, wearing a stolen amulet and a vendetta against dogs. Whisper slept on his face for a month. Atorian nearly died three times, but I respected the commitment."

Story 3 — Timmy Bones and the Devil's Sandwich

"A devil — a real contracty one, name like Mahazath or Blurt, it doesn't matter — offered Atorian a deal. Souls, power, whatever devils peddle their bored. But Atorian pretended to be an illiterate surface waif named Timmy Bones and convinced the devil he'd already sold his soul to a merchant in Waterdeep for a sandwich. The devil left in a huff and bought him the sandwich."

The Serious Story — Memory Loss

"When Atorian lost his memories and needed to flee from Luskan, I watched him change, like a spider molting in reverse. He did not cry, no. He sharpened his blade, he put on his hood, and he asked me for a map. But not one that led to vengeance. He asked me for a map that led to choice — and it seems he found you in taking that journey."

Jarlaxle also mentioned giving Othorion "a very nice hat" at the time of the map — which Othorion refuses to wear because he got one from "that woman." Othorion confirmed he still has Jarlaxle's hat.

Othorion (returning from speaking with Selene):

"Yes, uncle, I still have the hat."

Sled Dog Commands and Lireal's Driving

Selene briefed the party on the correct commands for the sled dogs (who know Common):

"Mush" is incorrect — Lireal attempted to command the dogs and was required to make an Animal Handling check as a consequence of the wrong command.

Encounter — The Scent Wardens of Auril

Traveling east-southeast across the tundra (light snow, good visibility), those rolling 18+ on Perception spotted 14 humanoid figures traveling perpendicular (roughly north) to the party's course, half a mile to a mile distant:

• Moving in staggered single-file column on snowshoes
• Hooded, masked, no heraldry
• Each carrying a bow and blade with a small pack
• The leader wearing a dark metal circlet, holding something to his eyes

The party initially moved to skirt south. As they did, the column stopped and the leader looked directly at them. Selene was asked to make a Perception check with disadvantage (distance) to perceive what the leader did.

Selene prayed to Auril — invoking group inspiration — and the DM granted advantage because Selene had prayed to Auril on the ice during the sled ride. With the advantage roll:

"Your vision suddenly changed as if magnified, not through glass, but through ice — a blurry, chilling image of the leader up close, masked. Every single one of the individuals has a symbol of Auril on their chest. And you see the individual place a long bone shard planted upright in the snow, pointed facing skyward."

Selene recognized this without a roll: "We are not hunting you" — a request for safe contact. The bone shard was carved from red mammoth bone with Auril's sigils.

Parley:

Kavu and Selene (with Roland following) approached the leader, who unmasked to reveal ice-blue, magically-affected eyes.

"In Orl's name — preserve and destroy."

The leader identified their group as Scent Wardens of Auril — trackers of living creatures that survive in Auril's Eternal Rhyme. They had been responding to an ancestral hunting trap set for mammoths and yeti — which the party's passage had tripped instead.

Their request: to observe the party's survival across the tundra using a magical tracking method.

"What is in it for us?" — Kavu (turning back to negotiate after conferring with the party)

"It is wise of you to ask this question. Who among you is your eyes — they who set your course across her ride?"

Kavu pointed to Selene. The leader bowed:

"May your warmth be brief. Leave no breath behind. Selene, warden of this group."

He produced an ice-carved totem, six inches long, bearing Auril's symbols — cold to the touch, almost painfully so at first contact:

Terms of the totem:

• Selene carries it
• The party remains impartial to Auril's ongoing plans
• In return: advantage on survival checks throughout the Icewind Dale tundra
• The Scent Wardens will track the party remotely and not interfere; they simply observe

Selene accepted.

"Then go in peace, Selene Icewarden. May you return as Snow returns — unexpected and in silence."

The leader turned and the Scent Wardens resumed their northward course.

Note: The totem's benefit does not apply in the Underdark.

Kavu's Primal Awareness

During the sled journey, Kavu used Primal Awareness to detect creature types within 6 miles. Results:

• Two celestials detected — one confirmed as Roland (half-celestial); one identified as Kavu himself (something celestial within his spiritual constitution, per the DM's ruling)
• No aberrations, fiends, undead, or other flagged types in the area

Lireal — Recovery and Odd Question

Lireal recovered her scimitar (moon-touched) and dagger from confiscated effects. She showed Kavu a sketch made of her before her imprisonment — a bystander had drawn it; she paid three silver and kept it as a prized possession, now returned to her.

Kavu — observing Lireal — asked:

"Do any of your kids have red hair?"

Lireal: "Those aren't my children — they are children I rescued as refugees!"

One of them, apparently, has red hair and freckles — which the party immediately attributed to Kelvin Fairlight. This was not resolved.

Session Close

The DM confirmed the party will reach the Underdark entrance next session (C05 — July 26th).

A new player, Mel, was announced as joining for the Underdark arc as a guest PC named Cass — noted by the DM as someone who hates the Underdark. Mel will enter once the party has traveled sufficiently deep underground. She may become a permanent addition if scheduling and party dynamics allow.

NPCs Encountered

Loot / Discoveries

Threads Opened / Advanced

• Jarlaxle's Departure: Jarlaxle is traveling to Bryn Shander to deliver the tattoo key to the party's contact. He will then disappear — unable to be publicly associated with Othorion due to Bregan D'aerthe covenant. His mentorship of Othorion has concluded for now; Othorion is level 7 with Drow Weapon Expertise.
• Elminster's Warning: Elminster's letter confirms Othorion's memory loss was intentional and warns against forcing restoration. The implication is that someone or something in the Weave made a choice. Othorion has the letter. The "Archie Carmelton" red dot from C02 and this letter are now connected threads pointing toward Othorion's true identity.
• Demon Armor (Cursed): Kefkas now has the Demon Armor. He was told not to put it on; he was also drunk. The armor is cursed — it will eventually attune him. Party will need to handle this.
• Scent Wardens' Observation: The party is now being passively tracked by Auril's Scent Wardens. The condition of "impartiality to Auril's plans" is vague and potentially costly later. Totem grants survival advantage in tundra only.
• Underdark Entry — Next Session: C05 opens with the party reaching the Underdark entrance. Selene loses her survival advantage, and new player Mel / PC Cass joins.
• Lireal's Red-Haired Refugee: One of the children Lireal rescued has red hair and freckles — strongly implied to be Kelvin's. Unresolved.
• Jarlaxle's Hat: Othorion still has the "very nice hat" Jarlaxle gave him when he left Luskan. He refuses to wear it because of "that woman." Unresolved thread about the hat and the woman.