"I am Todd Kenreck. I am taking over the Dungeon Master's duties for Mike Mearls. In truth, I destroyed Mike Mearls. I wanted this job so much, I've gotten rid of [him], and now that I'm in charge, it's going to be a TPK right off the top, everyone. Sorry. I just can't wait to destroy the world."

—Todd Kenreck, Heroes of the Vale, Episode 3

Watch Heroes of the Vale: Episode 3!

Dramatis Personae

Level 3 Characters

• Keen, Eladrin Eldritch Knight Fighter played by TJ Storm
• Briv, Half-Orc Cavalier Fighter played by Adam Bradford
• Orkira, Dragonborn Light Domain Cleric played by Lauren Urban
• Penelope, Halfling Circle of Land Druid played by Hope LaVelle
• Alyndra Alexandria Garanahil Sarrbarand, Lorekeeper of Rime Spiro, Kinscribe of Clan Monkeymouse, multiclassed High ElfCleric / Wizard played by Jen Kretchmer

Full Summary

Previously, an old man dressed as a beggar stepped from the Shadowfell into the Material Plane, with a long beard almost touching the ground and in an tattered shawl with a bowl. This being was known as Ruin, and he was prepared to kill.

This week, Ruin attacks the party with increasing fury, causing black caustic ooze to seep up from the ground while calling out how the party is nothing to him. Fla’apper quakes in fear, and apologizes as she flees the battlefield. Things are looking grim, but extraplanar help arrived to combat the extraplanar threat. Keen, high elf cleric-and-wizard bursts from a tear in space, doing a double backflip with a half twist to land and join in the fight! From the side of the battle, another figure arrives, having foreseen this moment, and commanding the stone golem to “COLLAPSE!”. As it crumbles to the ground, Briv dodges out of the way of the falling debris with ease!

As the group converges on Ruin, the creature grows more desperate. It causes the rest of the buildings to come to life, and scrapes its claws along Briv’s shield. A whirlwind of glass shards spray at Briv, but he gets away with mere scratches. Avren is not so lucky. A powerful spell bursts from Ruin and annihilates Avren.

The battle rages on, and Ruin begins to show signs of fatigue. Orkira uses the magical card to trap Ruin, sucking him into the magic item and ending the battle. The card falls to the ground, and Keen strides towards it. He raises his green-flame blade and declares, "This card has seen its end," and burns the card to cinders.

Despite Orkira's best efforts, her healing is not enough to restore Avren to life. He was too far beyond the gates death, and the group sorrowfully carries Avren's body outside the town. They lay him beside the spot where he buried his gold, and sift through his buried treasure. They find some strange objects among the gold; a pistol, a small glass orb, and a locket with a gnome woman with red hair. Penelope collects these things and puts them in her pack in hopes of finding this woman one day and delivering them to her. The group conducts a solemn ceremony and bury their fallen friend.

The person who had joined the fight introduces herself as Alyndra Alexandria Garanahil Sarrbarand, Lorekeeper of Rime Spiro, Kinscribe of Clan Monkeymouse. She adds that she is fine being addressed as a woman –  as "she" – or as nonbinary – as "they." With her is an owl named Griff, though she indicates that Griff might not actually be an owl but something else. Alyndra is searching for knowledge and decided to aid in their battle. Back in the town Briv finds a strange body under the rubble, a creature he does not recognize. Alyndra is able to identify it as a gith, an enslaved race normally under the control of horrible Illithids. Keen is impressed by the gith's weapons and armor and takes them.

With Ruin gone, the Shadowfell creatures begin to return, first as ethereal voices that celebrate the group, “They are the heroes. The heroes of the Vale!”. Orkira is disturbed by the creatures, and Keen and Briv just want to leave. Penelope and Alyndra, however, try to talk to the creatures, letting them know they are free to leave if they want. But as the Shadowfell being coalesce into their physical forms once more, the beings express confusion and sorrow, and implore the group to stay. Tired and sad, they leave town to camp in the field near where Avren was buried.

Penelope and Briv quickly fall asleep. Alyndra and Orkira share prayer rituals, Alyndra with an elaborate evening meditation to Oghma that ends by asking what they have learned that day. When Alyndra has a hard time coming up with something, Orkira sadly muses, “Today I have learned that sometimes I am not able to save everyone. But that it is important that I go on.”  Keen takes a position near Avren’s grave to think, and the sorrowful Eladrin morphs from Summer form to Winter form as he meditates upon the loss of his friend.

The next morning, after Orkira makes breakfast while completing her relatively quick prayers to Pelor, the group head back through the Cloakwood to return to town. Briv tries to carve his name into trees and begins banging against his shield, calling out to the demon that chased them the last trip through. This alerts a group of bizarre, jellyfish-like creatures that float down from the canopy, but Briv is familiar with them and knows they are flumphs. They warn the party that the Cloakwood is filled with fiends, including a pool that is in the direction they are traveling. They also recognize the armor Keen has taken from the Gith, and cautions him that there are more of them ahead.

Something startles the Flumphs and they suddenly flee, calling out to run! Keen, Penelope and Alyndra take a defensive position near a tree, while Briv strides forward with Orkira following. Some strange charm washes over the group, causing Briv to suddenly rush forward and dive into the pool! He feels content, seeing the face of the one that he loves the most as he sinks into the water.

Can Briv be saved from this mysterious pool? What fiends wait in the Cloakwood? Tune in January 30th for Episode 4!

A post credits scene back in Kiris Dahn…

As the sun sets the creatures of the Shadowfell lament the group who have left. “Why did they leave? But we can leave now! The heroes of the Vale said that we can now leave! We can go into the Vale! But how? Who will tell us? We need a King.”

The ghostly form of Avern floats out of his grave, haggard and devoid of color and carrying his great sword. He walks into the city where the Shadowfell creatures place rocks on the ground for him to sit on, “I am Avren. I am a King. A King is Avren.”

Lauren "OboeCrazy" 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 @OboeCrazy.