“Every moment that we stay here is less time that we have.”

—Briv

Watch God Maker | D&D Beyond Heroes Episode 8

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The cast of Beyond Heroes, currently level 9:

• Todd Kenreck as the Dungeon Master
• Keen Dayeprath - Eladrin Eldritch Knight Fighter played by TJ Storm
• Briv Steelmarrow - Half-Orc Oath of Heroism Paladin played by Adam Bradford
• Penelope Half-Pint - Halfling Circle of Land Druid played by Hope LaVelle
• Alyndra Alexandria Garanahil Sarrbarand, Lorekeeper of Rime Spiro, Kinscribe of Clan Monkeymouse, Daughter of Oblivion - High Elf Cleric 1/Wizard 8 played by Jen Kretchmer
• Orkira Illdrex - Dragonborn Light Domain Cleric played by Lauren Urban
• Freely - Halfling Lore Bard 3/Paladin 2/Sorcerer 2/Warlock 2 played by B. Dave Walters

Full Summary

On a rainy day in the city of Waterdeep four of our Heroes stand outside the entrance to the famous Yawning Portal. They have been invited to meet a mysterious ranger who claims to have a job for them to handle, and have paused to try and recall if they were ever given a name of someone to talk to. A Dungsweeper named Greg, used to adventurers hanging around outside the famous bar, encourages them to go inside. Despite self esteem issues he has a wealth of information and informs Briv why the city is called Waterdeep. Feeling guilty to once again be in Faerun without trying to contact her friends, Orkira gives Greg a few silver and asks him to deliver a message to Harold in Trollskull Alley that she’s okay and says hello. He’s happy to take the payment and heads off on his mission.

As Alyndra fills Briv in on more of the details about how Waterdeep was named, the group enter the Yawning Portal to search for their contact. Without a name the group flounder around looking for their ranger. Approaching the bar, Alyndra purchases some Goliath Whiskey for her friends and tries to ask Durnan if he knows who they are supposed to be meeting. As Penelope is quick to down a drink and get drunk, Durnan mentions that their day should be interesting and then heads out of the bar through the back without signing Alyndra’s autograph book. Eventually they find their contact, who knows them all by name and invites them to sit at the table. But shortly after the ranger shouts a command and the entire bar jumps to their feat with weapons pointed at the Heroes!

Two cloaked figures appear as Orkira quickly casts lesser restoration on Penelope to sober her up. The figures produce an officially sealed scroll and announce they are here to arrest the Heroes. They read the charges: speaking directly to the Lady of Pain, illegal transportation of a primordial (the Phoenix), seven counts of using wish spells to alter the tremulous fabric of reality, joyriding over Waterdeep in a stolen airship, reckless abandonment of a dinosaur, killing a god, building a time travel device over 700 years, and the wanton destruction of a world without filing the proper permits.

The Heroes are properly confused, and while they recognize the list as things related to their adventures context is missing and details have been left out. Briv demands to know who they are and what authority they have, but when he tries to leave dozens of others in the room prepare their weapons to attack. The cops are Sirka Stilbreath, an air genasi who is obviously the superior officer, and Artie, the handsome human assistant still new to the job. Pulling out badges they are identified as members of the Bureau of Extraplanar, Hells, Old gods, Lore, Demons, and Enemy Reform (B.E.H.O.L.D.E.R.), and have been tasked with either bringing them in for trial or enlisting them in a mission that will pay back their fines. The agents are searching for a cubic gate, an artifact that allows extraplanar travel, and they believe the infamous crime lord Xanathar has it in their possession. Since Xanathar is also a beholder this brings some confusion to the discussion. The agents insist it’s an unhappy coincidence, but are happy to hear the Heroes know where the Xanathar’s lair is located. While the group are annoyed at the implications involved, everyone is willing to help take a dangerous item away from the notorious crime boss and agree to help. When Orkira asks if that means they have joined the BEHOLDER organization, Artie is happy to give her a plastic deputy badge.

Just then Keen and Freely, both in chains, are brought inside and ordered upstairs. Sirka announces they are collateral to prevent the others from reneging on their deal. Orkira is upset that supposed law enforcement would hold hostages and how cagey the agents are with giving details on what they will do if this plan fails. The indication is that their friends will suffer dire consequences if things go wrong, but as the two agents are joining the party on their adventure the decision is made that Artie and Sirka will be their collateral as well.

As the group leave the Yawning Portal the four Heroes take a moment to talk privately. It’s obvious to them that the whole thing is a farce and that the two agents are lying about arresting them. However they also agree that removing the artifact from the possession of the Xanathar is important. So they decide to deal with one problem at a time; first the Xanathar, then free their friends, and then possibly clear their names. They rejoin the agents in time to receive some healing potions and bags of sand, and then Briv leads everyone back through the tunnels under the city. Penelope casts pass without trace to help everyone keep stealthy, and they manage to slip past all of the guards until they reach the door to the lair.

As they approach Orkira casts death ward on Penelope, having grown accustomed to giving that bit of protection to both halflings before entering a dangerous situation, but awkwardly flounders as their other halfling friend is not there. Despite the deception, it’s obvious Artie is still new and learning, so Orkira gives him a death ward as well. Impatient and ignoring the need for stealth Briv pounds on the entrance door, setting off alarms and forcing the group to dart inside looking for cover. They run into the same flameskull from the last time they arrived in the Xanathar’s lair. The group try to negotiate with the flaming skull, trying to convince it to lead them to the Cubic Gate. It says it has been dead for many years, and Orkira sadly admits she cannot help anyone who’s been dead for more than ten days. The rest of the group is willing to help it reconnect with its body, and so the flaming skull leads it through back tunnels to the door leading into the room where the Xanathar’s vault is located.

Alyndra casts clairvoyance to peer beyond the door, and finds it to be mostly empty, with just two goblins guarding the entrance. Also inside is the magically sealed vault and Sylgar the goldfish asleep in its bowl. Suddenly her vision is filled with a man in black robes covered in runes with steel grey hair and a long beard, and as the figure evaporates into mist she hears someone whisper, “Alyndra...find them…” She’s surprised and filled with dread, but still manages to describe the room and the figure that she saw before casting storm sphere to destroy the two goblin guards. Entering the room the wizard casts knock to open the vault, and as the door swings open everyone can see that inside is completely empty.

From above a bright light appears as the Xanathar descends from the ceiling laughing. He is overjoyed to spring his trap and gloat, taking time to sign Alyndra’s autograph book before beginning to turn Briv to stone! Orkira begins to ask the beholder questions, baiting it to reveal his evil plan and find out details. The Xanathar is more than happy to explain how it was the one that filed all the reports with B.E.H.O.L.D.E.R., causing the organization to arrest the Heroes and then use them to track to the crime lords lair where he could kill them all. Taking a quick glance at the reports, Artie and Sirka can now see the typos and oddities in their documents, and begin to write up citations against the Xanathar. When Orkira asks about the location of the flameskull's body, they do see one of the stone status nearby is missing a head.

A slight air flow change in the stone wall nearby alerts Alyndra that there’s a secret door, and as the conversation continues, she is able to use clairvoyance again to take a look. The hidden room is the actual vault filled with treasures, most importantly the cubic gate prominently displayed on a pedestal. Off in the corner is a collection of old books with black leather covers, and she is drawn to the magical tomes even if she doesn’t recognize them. 

All this discussion gives Briv enough time to overpower the effects of the petrification ray and break free, and he requests from the agents that they call in their reinforcements. Catching the sidelong glances that Artie and Sirka give each other, the Heroes figure out those in the Yawning Portal were illusions. Everyone seems to realize that everything has fallen apart at the same time and a flurry of activity takes place. Using misty step Alyndra enters the secret chamber to grab the cubic gate and the mysterious books. Sirka calls out to Artie that things aren’t working out as planned, and the two turn ethereal and flee! Orkira casts wall of fire between her friends and the Xanathar, blocking the beholder’s view, while Penelope uses stone shape to open a passage to where their friend has gone. Dashing forward Briv quickly presses one of the buttons on the device to activate it, and the four Heroes disappear!

They appear in another place, surrounded by fog close to the sea shore, but unsure exactly where their new location might be...

EPILOGUE: Sitting on a stone throne is a black cloaked figure with short white hair and a long beard, appearing deathly ill. A shadowy figure kneels before him and says “The Daughter of Oblivion now has the books. Soon your plan will take fruit and she will become one of us. Like he did before, Fistandantilus.”

 Thank you TK Johnson and Hadeel al-Massari for joining us as guests this episode! Our next episode is January 22nd at 2pm PT and our viewers have picked 'World of Wildemount" for the Heroes next adventure!

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Lauren "Oboe" Urban is the Community Manager for D&D Beyond, as well as a professional classical musician on oboe and English Horn. When she's not playing a Bard in real life she's a prolific Dungeon Master and player on a variety of livestreams and podcasts. She lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband Luke where they spend their free time playing video games and drinking tea. The best way to keep up with Lauren's busy schedule is to follow her on Twitter at @OboeLauren