“Can I tell you guys, this is the most planning we’ve ever done for anything ever, and it’s just an ooze!”

—Penelope

Watch Beyond Heroes: Wildemount | Episode 6: The Pact

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The cast of Beyond Heroes, currently level 10:

• 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 9 played by Jen Kretchmer
• Orkira Illdrex - Dragonborn Light Domain Cleric played by Lauren Urban
• Freely - Halfling Lore Bard 3/Oath of Heroism Paladin 3/Sorcerer 2/Warlock 2 played by B. Dave Walters

Full Summary

With frantic speed our Heroes rush through the tunnels away from the dangerous fey creature that had attacked them in the lake. Penelope still feels bad for the lonely creature, but the others have no desire to hang around an entity that wants to eat some of them. As they are fleeing the fingernails embedded in Keen’s leg are worming their way deeper into his flesh, so the group pauses so Orkira can remove them despite the great pain the eladrin is in. As she pulls them out they squirm on the ground like living things, so Freely blasts them with eldritch blast while the cleric casts cure wounds to heal the damage. Before they can continue to flee the lights suddenly go out, and when new lights are cast everyone is startled to see the hag now standing directly behind Penelope! Alyndra is quick to cast hypnotic pattern and stun the creature, giving the halfling a moment to offer the hag some goodberries before moving to safety. Freely threatens the stunned hag, warning her not to follow, while his fellow halfling uses stone shape to imprison her in a block of stone as if she is a statue. The group resumes their retreat, though the hag whispers in Penelope’s mind that they are still friends and they’ll be back soon.

Eventually they catch back up with Rend, Avren, Hugo and the children and are relieved to find everyone safe. Alyndra casts light on a rock to give to Freely so he can once again take point, Keen checks in with the two older kids with improvised weapons, and Penelope shepherds the kids while casting pass without trace to help them move without leaving tracks. Further down the tunnel they come across a section with thousands of tiny eggs, and Freely uses the telepathic connection they have to warn the group. Taking a moment to examine the eggs Freely finds them filled with spiders, so he casts thunderwave to destroy a chunk of the clutch. But still there are thousands more black spiders that hatch and swarm towards the halfling to bite him! As Freely dashes through the swarm to get out of the way, Alyndra sends Grif with a bottle of alchemist fire to burn the rest of the spiders to ash.

As the spiders are destroyed, Keen takes a moment to observe the drow children. The eladrin only know of drow as the evil children of Lolth the Spider Queen, but the young drow seems not to react at all to the death of the spiders. Ahead in the tunnel Freely discovers that the dirt comes to an end and there’s an opening into a grey stone dungeon filled with mold and decay. The room has a strange body covered in a black ooze, with a great sword lying nearby. He can feel the stale, damp air indicates that the hallways in this complex goes on for quite a while. Back in the tunnel the group discuss if they should continue forward or try to burrow up to the surface, though no one is sure if above them is safer than the dungeon complex. Keen is distracted for a moment examining Rend, trying to understand the collection of magic items that has formed this being. The warforged intuits the wrong impression at this examination and opens up to surround the eladrin for a moment as if wearing a suit of armor, before disassembling and returning to his normal form. Alyndra manages to notice the symbol of Strahd von Zarovich on the chest plate, and when she inquires about it Rend says he got it from the Shadowfell where he lived in a castle for many years. He relays that he has no other people, he is the only one of his kind, and declares he is a pile of junk. When Orkira announces he is her friend, he is overjoyed and gives her a massive hug.

The group request Freely come back, but the halfling is confident in his stealth skills and sneaks forward to get more information. Using the telepathic bond he keeps a running commentary on what he is seeing while examining the room. Near the body covered in a black pudding is an orcish sword, as well as some gold and gems, and a hallway leading off into darkness. Picking up the sword he can sense the magic coming off of it, but with only one arm it’s difficult to lift and remain quiet. Alyndra takes a few minutes to cast unseen servant to retrieve the weapon, while the rest quietly discuss digging to the surface to bring the children to a safer location where they can all rest. As the servant brings the sword out, Freely continues to pillage the gold and gems as he hopes to use it to help the kids get set up in a new town. Meanwhile Briv examines the great sword and discovers it’s made of the same metal that is coating his bones. When he picks it up there’s a ringing noise, as if it harmonizes with the half-orc. As Freely sneaks back out of the room he notices the skeleton hand is also made of that same metal. This inspires Briv to want to take a look for himself, but everyone agrees they need to get the children to safety first before engaging with the ooze.

Using mold earth, Penelope carves a hole straight up until she reaches the surface, and then climbs up with spider climb and takes a look around outside. She finds they are in a forest with an impressive mountain range nearby, and the area looks relatively safe. As the group takes a short rest, Orkira flies the children one by one up through the hole to the safety of the surface, indulging in their joy at riding a “dragon” and pleased they’re not scared of her. Taking that time to attune to the new blade, Briv confirms it’s the same magic metal as his own bones though he cannot pull it into his own body, and it has the ability to absorb other magic. Alyndra casts banishment on the black pudding, giving her friends time to pull the full orc metal body out of the room. Briv stashes the body in his bag of holding while Alyndra recognizes a ring on the skeletons hand shows a symbol for a place called Eiselcross. Everyone moves out of the tunnel, and Alyndra creates a tiny hut to shelter the youngest children while the rest camp nearby under the stars. Watches are set up, and everyone settles down for the night.

Penelope finds herself in a dream alone, covered in leaves among a massive forest, and a strange voice calls out a greeting. A figure in a green cloak with long curly red hair coming out from under his hood appears with a smile. The two have a friendly chat, the halfling curious and happy to gain a new friend, the being saying that he has been watching her for a while. He thinks they are kindred souls, and he has watched the adversity and hardship she and her friends have experienced. He says he would love to offer her assistance, and all he asks in return is that she tell more people about him along with occasional other requests for aid. This delights Penelope, who is happy for the help, and accepts this new partnership with glee. The figure holds out a glowing green light as a gift to cement their new friendship, a piece of himself she can keep, and it dances and circles Penelope’s hand. The druid suddenly realizes that she has yet to get her new friends name, and the figure introduces himself as the Traveler just as she wakes up.

Not all dreams are as pleasant. Freely tosses and turns, wracked with nightmares over his lost limb and disturbed by phantom pains. Orkira discovers herself covered in snow, alone and cold. As she shakes off the snow and starts looking for her friends, the Phoenix flies overhead and past her as it heads north. Unfurling her own wings Orkira flies up and after her God, calling out a greeting, but moments after rising into the air her wings turn to ice and snap off as she plummets back to the ground! Picking one wing off the ground she tries to warm it with her hands, only to have her hand also turn to ice and crumble, then her teeth break off as shards of ice, before she finally wakes up from the nightmare.

As everyone rises in the morning it’s obvious that Orkira is exhausted. She admits to having a nightmare though figures after the last few days it’s not a surprise. As she talks about it being bad and cold Freely comes up to hug her, worried he hasn’t woken up from his own nightmare. They offer each other some comfort, though Orkira still feels tired and disconnected and has not regained any of her energy from their rest. She wants to sit by the fire and warm up while everyone decides where to go next, and Hugo pulls out his map to show they have surfaced near the gnomish city of Hupperdook. 

Freely asks Avren about his promise to replace his missing arm, but it’s Rend that produces an ornate brass and steel hand. It’s perfectly sized for the halfling, and once attached the magic in the artificial limb starts to work, allowing Freely to use the fingers and feel through it like it’s a regular limb. There’s even a retractable blade in the wrist he can activate! The halfling is pleased with his upgrade and feeling fixed, and so turns his attention to fixing his friend. He suggests heading to see the Bright Queen about reversing what has been done to Orkira. Looking into information about Xhorhas where the Bright Queen rules, Keen discovers from his atlas that it’s made up of mostly drow who long ago turned their backs to Lolth and now live above ground. Orkira is still worried that this is some sort of setup or trap, and is unsure how they are supposed to see the ruler of an entire nation, but Freely announces he’d rather spring a trap than lose a friend. Keen suggests they use the ring that Toma gave to the dragonborn to try and contact someone for assistance.

Realizing her new friend might be able to help, Penelope relays the details of her dream about the Traveler. As she talks about how this being offered her assistance and power, Freely starts to recognize the circumstances. With a little coaching she produces a witch bolt, and he sadly hugs his fellow halfling as he announcing that she’s made a pact and is now a warlock. The druid seams pleased and excited, though Keen is worried and searches the area for signs that someone came into their camp during the night. He doesn’t discover any footprints, but notices Avren has stolen a bottle of his wine and is drinking near a tree. His eyes are completely black as he announces they are all screwed.

Who is this Traveler, and is he being honest or has Penelope fallen under the sway of something sinister? Find out more Wednesday March 11th at 2pm PT on twitch.tv/dndbeyond!

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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 @OboeLauren!