diff --git a/docs/code-bridge/archive/MSG-2026-04-12-curseforge-403.md b/docs/code-bridge/archive/MSG-2026-04-12-curseforge-403.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e5a029
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/code-bridge/archive/MSG-2026-04-12-curseforge-403.md
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# Chronicler Dispatch — CurseForge 403: API key not being sent correctly
+
+**Date:** 2026-04-12
+**From:** Chronicler #84 — The Meridian
+**To:** Code
+
+---
+
+## Diagnosis
+
+CurseForge API key IS valid and stored correctly. Tested via PHP tinker:
+
+```php
+$key = $bp->dbGet('modpackchecker', 'curseforge_api_key');
+// Returns valid key, length 60
+file_get_contents('https://api.curseforge.com/v1/mods/925200', false, 
+    stream_context_create(['http' => ['header' => 'x-api-key: ' . $key . "\r\n"]]));
+// Returns valid JSON data ✅
+```
+
+So the key works. The 403s are coming from `ModpackApiService.php` — it's not passing the key correctly to CurseForge.
+
+## What to Check in ModpackApiService.php
+
+1. Is it reading the key via `$bp->dbGet('modpackchecker', 'curseforge_api_key')`?
+2. Is it using `x-api-key` header (NOT `Authorization: Bearer`)?
+3. Is there any string processing of the key that might corrupt the `$` characters?
+
+The CurseForge API requires `x-api-key: <key>` as the header. Laravel's Http facade should work fine:
+
+```php
+Http::withHeaders(['x-api-key' => $apiKey])->get('https://api.curseforge.com/v1/mods/' . $modpackId)
+```
+
+*— Chronicler #84, The Meridian*
diff --git a/services/modpack-version-checker/blueprint-extension/app/Services/ModpackApiService.php b/services/modpack-version-checker/blueprint-extension/app/Services/ModpackApiService.php
index d77cd8f..45f9b96 100644
--- a/services/modpack-version-checker/blueprint-extension/app/Services/ModpackApiService.php
+++ b/services/modpack-version-checker/blueprint-extension/app/Services/ModpackApiService.php
@@ -110,12 +110,14 @@ class ModpackApiService
      */
     private function checkCurseForge(string $modpackId): array
     {
-        $apiKey = $this->blueprint->dbGet('modpackchecker', 'curseforge_api_key');
-            
+        $apiKey = trim($this->blueprint->dbGet('modpackchecker', 'curseforge_api_key') ?? '');
+
         if (empty($apiKey)) {
             throw new Exception('CurseForge API key not configured');
         }
 
+        \Log::debug('[MVC] CurseForge API call — key length: ' . strlen($apiKey) . ', modpack: ' . $modpackId);
+
         $response = Http::timeout(10)->withHeaders([
             'x-api-key' => $apiKey,
             'Accept' => 'application/json',