Beyond Heroes: Wildemount | Episode 8: Snow Fall

Tags Beyond Heroes

“We’re going to take a couple of days and we’re going to find the body, and I’m going to resurrect myself. How many people get to say that?”

—Orkira Too

 

Watch Beyond Heroes: Wildemount | Episode 8: Snow Fall

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The cast of Beyond Heroes, Penelope is level 11 while the rest are level 10:

Full Summary

As she processes the information she received from casting identify, Alyndra stammers out that she needs some more time and rushes off, leaving a startled Orkira behind. Around a corner the elf casts sending and tries to contact the real Orkira but does not receive a reply, so she recasts the telepathic bond to include everyone but the dragonborn, and sadly informs the group that the being they have with them is not the real Orkira. When Briv blurts out loud his surprised response, Freely quickly moves to stand next to the figure that looks like their cleric friend and keeps her distracted with talk about a surprise party. 

In the telepathic bond, Alyndra explains that who they thought was Orkira is actually a simulacrum; an almost exact duplicate made of enchanted ice and snow that can be controlled by the person who created it. She explains that the simulacrum could cast the same spells and have the same abilities, but could not recover anything from a long rest and would be unable to learn new skills. Briv suggests they kill the duplicate, wondering if it even has a soul, though everyone is hesitant to jump straight to that action. Keen does realize this might explain why the door was left open to her jail cell for them to easily escape.

As he listens in on the telepathic conversation, Freely continues to keep the simulacrum distracted, first by asking for healing for his hangover. While the duplicate says she can help she admits she is running low on the ability to cast spells. When asked where she thinks they should go next she is unsure, and when Freely suggests the Bright Queen, the duplicate repeats how she doesn’t want to feel disconnected and strange anymore but they’re all worried that it is some kind of trap. The halfling thinks she might be telling the truth, and in the telepathic call the Heroes begin to believe the duplicate might not even know she’s a simulacrum. When consensus is reached that they should at least tell her, Freely asks the simulacrum not to freak out just as he uses his superior strength to grapple her and pin her to the ground.

Everyone comes over to inform the duplicate about what kind of creature she really is, reassuring her that they want to help and not cause any harm. The duplicate Orkira is surprised and confused, bothered to be made out of ice and snow, while Penelope remembers that the cleric had a nightmare about being frozen. The duplicate insists she remembers her whole life and feels like herself, but when Alyndra asks how long it’s been since she’s been able to really rest or heal she confirms it's been since they were in Rexxentrum, and that there’s still many hours while incarcerated that she does not remember. The wizard goes on to warn that the one who created her will be able to control her, but that they must move quickly to find the real Orkira as the simulacrum might be the only one who can save their friend. In despair the simulacrum realizes this is why the Phoenix won’t respond to her, and wonders how anyone can trust her if she can’t even trust herself. When asked why she ran the other night she admits she doesn’t really understand why, that she suddenly panicked and was too scared to remain.

As the simulacrum continues to grapple with what she really is, Freely activates the ring given to them by the dark elves and uses it to contact Toma. After apologizing for his behavior while under the influence of a cursed sword, Freely fills the drow in on their situation and asks for help in rescuing the real Orkira Illdrex. Toma is concerned that there is a peace treaty currently between the two empires, and that if this simulacrum was being used to be sent to the Bright Queen that it could be a spy. While they can’t be directly involved, they can provide horses and supplies to get them back to Rexxentrum quickly. After a short debate on if they should bring the duplicate or not, the group agrees they can’t just leave her behind, and Penelope gives her the name Orkira Too to distinguish between both dragonborn. Considering how dangerous the situation is, how potentially dangerous Orkira Too could be, and how powerful the magic involved is, Toma advises they not come to Xhorhas and be very careful if they go to Rexxentrum. Before ending the call he promises to speak to his brother to see if they can come up with any additional information.

With gentle encouragement, Penelope asks Orkira Too if she will remain calm and trust them, hoping she will not try and run away. The duplicate has been limp in Freely’s grapple, and sadly nods as she promises to do whatever they need. With that Freely not only releases her but helps her to her feet, while Penelope produces a pebble to offer the duplicate. With a wistful smile Orkira Too pulls out the first pebble Penelope gave her so many years ago, and holds both stones in her hands for comfort. Meanwhile around a corner Keen slips into his winter form as he consults with Briv, remembering that the simulacrum is controlled by an enemy and they must be prepared to dispatch it if necessary. Both warriors resolve to do what must be done when the time comes. A worrying thought comes to Alyndra that she relays in the telepathic bond; that the wish spell is being used to make the being before them appear to be a simulacrum when she is actually the real Orkira, but the only way to know for sure is to cast dispel magic, and that would destroy the simulacrum if that thought is incorrect. Everyone agrees that there is something of the real Orkira in the simulacrum as she fought to save them from the hag and keep the kids safe, but that the potential for her to be forced to attack them must be considered.

As she awkwardly watches her friends have a silent conversation in front of her, Orkira Too tries to avoid reaching for the Book of the Phoenix in her bag. Suddenly a feeling washes over her, like something just tried to look in on her but her natural willpower prevented it from happening. She warns her friends that she thinks something just tried scrying on her, and is afraid this is akin to when she was dominated by the Elder Brain and forced to attack her friends. Briv reassures her that if she were to turn on them he would dispatch her quickly and cleanly, and while her friends are horrified by this blunt statement Orkira Too agrees that she’d rather be stopped then hurt anyone. Freely asks for the Book, and Orkira Too allows him to reach into her bag of mementos and personal items to retrieve her holy symbol, placing it in the portable hole before it burns him too badly.

Everyone heads downstairs as they are preparing to leave, and Briv pauses to order a large stock of bacon from the innkeeper for breakfast. They mull over the experience with the hag, wondering if the prophecies she gave were actually to blame, or if she might have cast the wish spell. However Orkira Too’s disconnected feelings and inability to contact her God started before the hag, just after being freed from prison. While Penelope’s prophecy came true, and Orkira’s was descriptive of her situation, Briv’s mentioned how he would never see his family again. The paladin insists that will not be his fate, and dismisses the hag’s words as inconsequential. Orkira Too wonders if there is a way to remember what happened while captured by Killian, hoping that by recovering those memories they can settle once and for all when she becomes a simulacrum..

Hoping to find some help, Freely asks the bartender if he knows of any clerical services. The gnome behind the bar seems happy to serve both bacon and holy assistance, though Orkira Too trusts Penelope more than a stranger. After some negotiation Freely is able to purchase the required diamond dust, and he hands it off to his fellow halfling. Taking the duplicate’s hand, Penelope uses the dust and casts greater restoration, and for a moment panic washes over Orkira Too though she grips her friend’s hand tightly and does not run. In the corner of the room she can see Killian, the red eyes and sunken features staring right at her as he sits in his wheelchair. In fear she tells everyone that she can see her former interrogator but this memory only appears in her mind, not even Freely can see it when he tries to share her senses. Orkira Too is paralyzed as the figure comes forward, once again apologizing for what has been done to her, and asks his final and fifth question, “What is it like to be dead?”

The memory ends, and in despair the simulacrum confirms that the real Orkira died in the cell in Rexxentrum and her friends rescued one that was not real. She begins to cry as she recounts the final question Killian asked, and goes on to exclaim how she would have accepted death if it meant that it saved her friends. The whole point of all of her actions was to keep her family safe. However now she is trapped in a body that she’s afraid will betray them, and returning to Rexxentrum will just place everyone in danger again.

The gravity of the situation brings resolve to the Heroes, as they stoically agree to head to Rexxentrum and find the body of Orkira Illdrex in time for the simulacrum to be able to bring her back to life. Freely activates the drow ring once again and fills Toma in on the latest information. The drow thanks Freely for being so transparent with his situation, and the two agree to hopefully share a drink one day. As they start to leave the inn a delivery gnome arrives with two packages from Avren, one for Alyndra and one for Orkira. The box for the wizard contains a homunculus clockwork owl which perches happily on the other shoulder from where Grif is. When Orkira Too tries to open the other box it flares with protective magic and will not open, so she sadly hands it over to Penelope and says when they resurrect the real Orkira then they’ll have a present waiting.

As the group moves towards the edge of the city Alyndra uses sending to Hugo asking for any help from contacts he still has in Rexxentrum, and he replies that Marius will leave something in the bushes outside the gates of the city. Then she contacts Avren to thank him for the gifts and find out if he knows anything about Killian. He’s never heard of that person before, but warns that anyone who is that unknown but can cast such powerful magic must be extremely dangerous, and wishes her luck. There is a brief discussion about taking a trip to the dungeon complex to scavenge for money or items to help finance anything needed in Rexxentrum, but it’s agreed that time is more valuable than anything they might find in the ruins. A strange feeling washes over Alyndra as someone attempts to scry on her but she is also able to prevent the spell from taking hold, and she warns her friends of the second attempt to spy on them. They consider allowing the next scry to happen and then feeding the person watching false information, though no one knows who is casting the spell.

Arriving at the glade that Toma described they discover several horses, a cart filled with supplies to make it look like a shipment, some paperwork, several Crownsguard uniforms, and a gold ring with a note attached that says “For your friend”. It’s a ring of invisibility and Freely gives it to Orkira Too as he jokes about how he is naturally stealthy but this will help her stay hidden. With a day to travel and the chance to rest in the cart, Alyndra asks for suggestions on what spells to prepare. Some non-detection magic is recommended in case they want to avoid being scryed on again, and then Orkira Too offers a more morbid suggestion to prepare locate object since the simulacrum is unable to change her own spell list. However she’s familiar with the spell, and thinks if the body of the real Orkira is buried somewhere they could use that spell to find it directly. Bothered by how she keeps calling herself not real, Freely takes the duplicate’s head in his hands and insists that until something changes she is real and also their friend. Briv chimes in to remind her that he will not hesitate to kill her if she turns evil, and while Freely admonishes the half-orc for his blunt statement, Orkira Too insists that it’s reassuring. The last thing she wants is to be turned against her friends and harm anyone. This conversation inspires Alyndra to quietly ask Penelope to have dispel magic at the ready just in case, and while the druid doesn’t like the idea she agrees that it is necessary. She then borrows an ink pen and finds out the name of the person in charge of the city before taking the paperwork they received into a corner of the wagon and casting illusory script, a plan forming.

As they approach the city walls most of the group have put on the Crownsguard uniforms, with Orkira Too hiding under some bags in the back ready to activate the ring of invisibility. Close to the drawbridge entrance they find a homeless man in the bushes rambling about dragons, and picking up that this might be their contact Freely heads over to talk quietly with the man. The ramblings end as the man passes along some information about the city; both the jail cell and the Broken Buttress have been destroyed, and many Crownsguard have been reported missing who usually work off-duty jobs. Thanking him for the information and tossing him some coins, Freely returns to the cart so the group can head through the entrance. As Orkira Too uses the ring to turn invisible, the group are stopped for inspection by the guards. Pulling out the altered paperwork, Penelope does an expert job of pretending to be a special group of Crownsguard invited by the Emperor himself to look for dark elves still lurking inside the city. Her deception is flawless and the group are allowed to enter Rexxentrum.

Using their map to find the largest cemetery nearby, the group are relieved to find it relatively empty. As Keen keeps a lookout, Alyndra casts locate object and is able to sense the body of Orkira Illdrex. As she leads Briv and Penelope to the unmarked grave that contains the body, Freely stays in the cart with the still invisible Orkira Too. The group spend a moment checking to see if this is some sort of trap, though Keen cannot see anyone watching them and Alyndra’s detect magic does not ping anything magical near the body. Assured they are safe, Briv pulls metal out of his hands to turn into spades and begins to dig. Eventually he uncovers the desiccated body, scales flaking, eyes white, wings shriveled, but thankfully still intact. The spell to bring her back from the dead takes an hour, so the group discuss options of where to go that might be safe and secluded. Using his divine sense Freely cannot feel any undead nearby, so they take over a mausoleum and seal off the entrance to get as much privacy as possible.

Retrieving her Book and the diamond, Orkira Too begins the hour long casting of raise dead on the body. She straightens and mends what she can and cleans off the dirt, humming under her breath a tune she learned from her mother long ago. Finally placing the diamond on the chest and moving to take hold of the head, the duplicate reaches out one last time to the Phoenix, acknowledging that she is just a copy of the real cleric but hoping that means her God will assist in bringing Orkira back to life. She pours whatever she has left into this moment as she’s afraid she won’t survive to try again. With the spell cast, aided by a successful divine intervention, fire erupts from the body and turns it to ash that swirls around before pouring into the simulacrum. Her wings erupt in flames, lighting up the halls of the dead but not causing any harm, as life and warmth pour into Orkira’s body for the first time in days. With all of her memories intact and once again fully alive she looks up at her friends with a bright smile to say hello!

Overjoyed to have their friend returned and whole, Briv rushes in for a massive hug, quickly followed by everyone else. The package that Penelope is holding for her magically unlocks and pops open. Inside is a musical instrument suffused with magic, and while the dragonborn is doubtful she has the talent to be a bard she’s grateful for the gift. But for the moment she’s happy to hug her family, thanking them for saving her a second time!

Orkira is saved! Again! Now to escape Rexxentrum! Again! And then what? Find out March 25th at 2pm PT on twitch.tv/dndbeyond for episode 9!

Special thanks to Twitch chat for suggesting nicknames for the simulacrum Orkira:

Orkira JF, Sno-rkira, Orkira Beta, Icekira, Orkiran’t, Orkir-B, Fauxkira, Or-Kira, Not-Kira, Urkira, XOr-Kira, NORkira, Not Yourkira, Ourkira, Friendkira or Foekira, Not Orkira, FeauKira, Orkira Reilly

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 @OboeLauren!

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