“I will do whatever I gotta do to get us out of this! Let’s just get out of this! Whatever I gotta do, wherever I gotta go, whatever I gotta offer, just show me how to save my friends from this!”
— Freely
Watch Beyond Heroes: Wildemount | Episode 11: The Pact
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The cast of Beyond Heroes, Penelope is level 11 while the rest are 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 10/Warlock Pact of the Archfey 1 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
A sickening crunch echoes from Avren's body as it falls to the floor of the boat and melts away into a puddle of sea water. His final word—Uk'otoa—still echo in the ears of the Heroes. Both Penelope and Orkira are freaked out, spending a moment to check the other dead bodies to see if they will also suddenly animate, but nothing else moves. Penelope collects Avren’s mechanical arm, the only piece of his body that remains intact, and the two head back up to warn their friends. On the deck of the ship everyone is confused about what this final word means. Penelope gives Alyndra the mechanical arm, not sure why but convinced the wizard is the right person to hold onto it. As Alyndra examines the arm, as well as the other various magical items she took from Avren’s body, a strange feeling washes over everyone and suddenly their memories of Avren from before arriving in Wildemount completely return!
As the Heroes ponder their restored memories, they also start to discuss where to head next. The ship is currently pointed towards the invisible island on the map, but the children had told Alyndra that they were in Rumblecusp. Keen and Briv think that going to where the kids are will just lead the hag to them and cause more suffering, but Orkira insists that if Hugo asked her to keep the children safe that he must have believed they were still in danger. She points out that they left the kids in Hupperdook in order to keep them safe, and the hag still tracked them down. When Briv suggests they go after the hag directly, the foul creature suddenly appears on the deck of the ship with a laugh! Next to her an apparition forms, a specter that appears related to Fell the hag, but with her throat torn out deep enough to reveal her spine.
The three men rush into melee as Alyndra attempts a banishment, but the hag resists her spell. Freely launches into a vicious smite on the hag, with Keen right behind with his green flame glaive. The undead sister attempts to instill the group with fear, but Briv’s paladin aura prevents anyone from being affected. Then the half orc unleashes his own massive greatsword, also smiting the wounds and completely severing the head of the hag! As her head rolls onto the deck of the ship the hag continues to laugh, chiding the Heroes for believing the fight was over even as a geyser of blood and seawater pour out of her open wounds. The ghost of the sister smiles and floats over to Briv, “Thank you, you have released me!” She caresses his face with a spectral hand before fading away.
Snatching up the still gushing hag head, Keen holds it over the side of the ship and calls out to offer it to the spirits of the sisters the hag consumed. Glowing purple lights appear in the ocean surrounding the ship and slowly begin to rise to the surface. Freely senses they are undead and evil, and beseeches Alyndra to get the teleportation circle at the bottom of the boat working so they can all escape. Fell’s disembodied head is still laughing as water and blood continue to pour from its wounds, and Orkira doesn’t want to leave until they’ve finished it off for sure. Penelope asks her to set it on fire, and the dragonborn is happy to cast burning hands and set the head aflame. While the hag is burnt she still calls out taunts, saying how surprised Orkira is to have survived and claims that it will be the last time. The cleric is unbothered by these threats, but Keen retaliates by smashing the head violently against the railing to get it to be silent. As Orkira tries again with a sacred flame, hoping radiant fire will work better, the rest can see the several dozen spectral sisters slowly floating up out of the water and heading towards Keen.
Alyndra knows she will need time to activate the teleportation circle, so Briv joins her in the hold while Penelope takes a position at the top of the stairs so they can protect the wizard while she works. Keen holds he head up to the sisters as he calls for them to take their revenge, while Orkira moves close to the eladrin prepared to turn undead if needed. The sisters swirl around Keen as he offers the hag as a gesture of goodwill, and the specters whisper their acceptance. Fell frantically threatens Keen with death but then begins to bargain, first by saying that she can save everyone, then that she can keep Furian alive. No one believes her deals, and Keen insists that having the hag destroyed is worth the sacrifice. She offers to revoke her curse and allow Briv to see his family again but Orkira repeats her words from the first time they met the hag, that they have friends and she has a God and they don’t need the hag. Fell warns that one day the cleric will be without diamonds to save her friends, and to think of how she gave up this offer when that moment happens. Over the telepathic bond, Alyndra reminds everyone that the hag does nothing but lie. No one is tempted, and Keen gives the Fell over to her family. As the sisters take the head and begin to carry her over the ocean, Fell tries to entice her family by offering to bring them back to life, but they are unmoved.
In one final act Fell glares at those on top of the ship and manages to lock eyes with Keen. The eladrin tries to resist the whirlpools in the hags eyes, but she overpowers him and he falls limp to the deck, unconscious and dying. Orkira is quickly by his side to cast spare the dying before anything worse can happen, then begins to heal him with cure wounds. Meanwhile the hag is lifted high above the ocean waves and devoured by the spectral forms of her own sisters, who fade away once the head is consumed. Bothered by the words of the hag, Freely take a moment to reach out to his own Patron. He apologizes for not trying to talk to his Patron sooner, but after most of his friends have almost died and with the lingering curse of the hag he is feeling desperate. The warlock pleads with his patron, offering to do whatever is necessary or asked to save his friends.
At the bottom of the ship as Alyndra works on the teleportation circle, Briv notices a large grandfather clock has appeared nearby. The arms are spinning quickly forwards and everyone on the ship can hear its deep, repetitive chime. As all the Heroes gather near the teleportation circle, everyone is bothered by the clock that has suddenly appeared except for Freely, who seems to know exactly what it is and what it will do. He pulls Penelope aside and quietly admits that he thinks everything is bad, and is afraid that they are running out of luck for bringing people back to life. However he says he has cut a deal that is going to make everything okay. Penelope is bothered by his demeanor and this information, worried that he’s done something rash, and says she doesn’t want to lose him. He replies with some advice, that she should be very precise in her language when dealing with the Traveler, and then gives her a hug. The druid insists that everything will be fine, that they are lucky, and the two share a celebratory chest bump before rejoining everyone.
Keen thanks everyone for their actions in helping defeat the hag and save his life. He reaffirms they are a family, just as Alyndra completes work on the teleportation circle. Orkira says that she’ll be the last to leave as she wants to set the boat on fire and cremate the bodies on board in a proper burial, but Freely insists she is too important to risk going last and that he’ll take care of everything. The dragonborn gives in to her friend's desires, but is then pulled aside by Alyndra who asks if she has a scale she can offer. While confused, Orkira once again is happy to do as asked, and finding a loose scale caused by the lightning strike earlier she pulls it off to give to her friend. Alyndra takes the scale with thanks, her mind searching through all the streams of time as she begins to realize what might happen. Pulling Freely aside she gives him the golden dragonborn scale, and talks about how her other family believes that if you have a piece of home with you that you’re never really far from that home. She says that while the scale isn’t really a piece of home, as long as Freely has it then he has a piece of his family. Opening up a hidden compartment in the palm of his mechanical hand, Freely tucks the scale inside and then hugs Alyndra. Then turning to Briv he thanks him for his help with the hag, complimenting him on his paladin might. Briv returns the compliment, admitting he has grown fond of the halfling. Sensing the conversation is turning into something maudlin, Freely announces he’s going to start sinking the ship and everyone better leave. Orkira calls out with worry, asking what Freely is doing with the clock, but the halfling lies and says he doesn’t know anything about it then starts to cast eldritch blast to poke holes in the ship as he heads up to the deck.
The rest of the Heroes begin to enter the teleportation circle, but Penelope is upset at leaving Freely behind and begins to cry as she believes something awful is about to happen. Alyndra and Keen talk about how powerful Freely is, how he has saved them countless times, and there is nothing to worry about. However there is a prevailing sense of dread, and the druid is angry that her friends believe she is too dumb to understand what might be happening. Orkira explains with a sad smile that she believes and trusts whatever her family tells her, and Penelope agrees to join in that trust. Alyndra honors her friend's decision and activates the teleportation circle.
Just as the bright light of the transport surrounds them, Orkira notices Furian step out of the shadows towards Freely!
They appear in the safe house in Hupperdook, and Orkira frantically announces who she saw through the telepathic bond so everyone including Freely is warned. As Alyndra quickly starts to reactivate the teleporter, Freely is stabbed by the drow's spear. The warlock burns him back with a hellish rebuke, but then the two separate to glare at each other. Freely takes a moment to reply through the telepathic bond that he was aware, this was what he needed to do to free his friends. Then he turns to Furian and begs him once again to give up on the path of murder and death, that he doesn’t want to destroy their former charge but he will if necessary. Furian admits that his issues are with Keen, that he has spent his entire life training to kill the eladrin, and without that revenge he has no other purpose. Freely explains that Keen was not at fault for what the hag did, and implores the drow to take advantage of the hag's death to forge a new path in life, one where he is free to do whatever his heart desires.
The teleportation circle reactivates, but Freely asks his friends to not come through and have the chance to keep talking calmly. While the urge to rush through and help is strong, Keen advises they wait another moment as Furian is young and rash but can still be swayed by the halfling’s words. If they go through now the young drow will be pushed into action. Alyndra reminds Freely of the story they told the children when they first began their journey, the tale they told to calm the kids as well as remind them of who they were and why the trip was important. Freely talks about that story, about how so many people gave up so much to keep the kids safe, but that all the hag ever did was lie. With great sadness Furian says he has spent ten years learning how to murder, that he has nothing else and can be nothing else. But the halfling talks about how he can offer the drow an escape, a trip anywhere to go be anyone he wants to be. He can choose to forget all about Wildemount and everything that happened and start fresh, go to dozens of different planes, explore wherever his heart desires.
Despite his pain and confusion there is something enticing and hopeful that speaks to Furian. He agrees that he has nothing left but to try something new, but wants to talk with Keen before he leaves and promises to stay calm. There’s a brief discussion when the whole group wants to return, tenuous though the situation might be, but Freely insists that they cannot be on the ship when the clock activates. He struck a deal to save them and there is only minutes left. Keen insists he will be fine, Orkira casts another cure wounds to help him be steady, and Penelope asks him to bring Freely back.
Arriving back on the ship, Keen heads onto the deck and greets Furian. The drow asks why he was not saved, and Keen apologizes for not knowing he was in danger. The eladrin insisted if he knew Furian was in trouble he would have come, and had believed the child he last saw had much promise and potential. When Furian asks where he should go from here, Keen echos what Freely had said; to go where his heart leads him. He says that even if Furian takes his revenge, life will go on beyond this moment. He has killed many, but he feels no different and it has gained him nothing. If he must die as the price for failing the drow child, then he accepts that, but reminds him of the music box he gifted and how that was meant to show that there are things beyond the blade out in the world. “You have many seasons before you. Winter is not here yet. Autumn is beautiful. And Spring...you need to see spring.”
After a long moment to think Furian agrees to leave, and in a final act of acceptance drops his spear. Keen wishes him safe travels and promises once again to be there if needed. Pulling out the acorn that Avren gave him many years ago, he offers it to Furian as the last memory of an old friend and as a final way to apologize. He instructs Furian to plant it somewhere he will call home, but not to stand close by after planting as Avren was known to be a trickster. Furian quickly hugs Keen, calling him brother, before fading away as he goes back to the Feywild.
Freely relays through the telepathic bond that the deal he made with his Patron has broken the curse of the hag, helping to free all of them including Furian, and should allow Briv to return to his family. But his time is almost up, insisting he will be fine and just needs to pay his Patron back. More than anything he’s grateful to have become everyone’s friend, and requests they find a way home or make a home in Wildemount. Keen tells him the same thing he told Furian, that they will come if needed, and the two share a hug. Orkira reminds Freely that she promised to fix his arm, and insists that as soon as she knows how they will find each other so she can fulfill that promise. This prompts the halfling to look for Avren’s mechanical arm, but the limb is missing. Freely warns about the missing arm, then requests they look in on the kids and make sure they are safe. As Freely works on activating the teleportation circle, Keen asks who Freely’s Patron is. The halfling admits that while he doesn’t know the being’s name, it actually sounds a lot like Avren. Then the circle activates and Keen is teleported away, but instead of arriving in the safe house he finds himself lying on his back, surrounded by wood and dirt. As everyone frantically exchanges information over the telepathic bond to figure out what went wrong, Keen pulls out his dagger and lights it up with his green flame. This catches the wood on fire, and those in the safe house quickly realize Keen is just under the floorboards. Briv pulls away the wood and hauls Keen out from under the floor, though that destroys the teleportation circle.
In the final few moments they have, Orkira asks Freely why he lied about what was happening. Freely insists that they wouldn’t have left if he told them earlier, that she should understand about being called on by a God for tasks, and he trusts that his Patron wants him to survive. Briv wishes Freely well and admits that he was his favorite, which touches Freely deeply though makes everyone else feel a bit awkward. As the clock reaches midnight, Freely tells his friends he loves them, and that he is not afraid. Then placing his biological hand on the clock he calls out to his Patron that he’s ready to go to work. As the body of the grandfather clock cracks open to reveal a portal, Freely casts every last spell he has towards the end of the boat to help it sink. The gunpowder and whiskey barrels explode in an epic fireball as Freely steps into the portal and teleports away.
As the remaining Heroes process Freely’s departure, Penelope sadly wonders if and when their friend will return. Everyone agrees that he will return someday, or they will find him. Keen reminds the halfling that she has her own Patron who might demand a similar price, so she should be careful in her dealings with the Traveler. He relays how they were asked to protect the children, and they all agree that’s their next mission. Penelope is sad but resolved to believe Freely will return. Briv comes over to offer comfort, giving her wink and tussling her hair, and that warms her heart.
It’s agreed that everyone will rest for the evening and leave in the morning. The paladin doesn’t want to be alone with his thoughts, and having missed the gnomish party the last time they were in Hupperdook he heads to a nearby bar to enjoy some drinks and arm wrestling. However the half-orc has left behind his usual brashness and is enjoying more gentle banter. Orkira thinks that the best way to honor Freely is to participate in at least some of the Hupperdook revelry, and asks if the others want to join. Keen is too tired from the day and wishes to rest and commune with his elders through his dreams, Alyndra just wants to enjoy a quiet drink in the safe house before bed, and Penelope simply declines with a small smile. The cleric follows Briv to the bar, content to enjoy a relaxing evening watching the party so her friend is not alone, and replacing the memories she has from the last time with better ones. Not long after getting a drink a familiar gnome drunkenly comes over to hug the dragonborn’s leg and profusely apologizes. He was the gnome who convinced her to participate in the party on her previous visit, and believes he was responsible for her panic attack. She reassures him that it wasn’t his fault, and offers a toast of a flaming whiskey. Eventually Briv calls her over and tries to tell her a story but is too drunk to remember enough of it, so she suggests they just pretend the next day that he told the story so they can share a laugh over it. Briv raises a glass, admiring her ever present optimism, and Orkira joins him in the toast, “Friends and optimism are sometimes all we got.”
On the roof of the safe house, Keen has settled into revelry but keeps his eyes half open. His instincts warn him that Penelope may leave to go talk with her Patron and he wants to watch out for his friend. While he is absolutely correct, the halfling is too stealthy even for his observant gaze. She sneaks past him and many intoxicated gnomes to spider climb up to the roof and enjoy some quiet time gazing out over the city. Eventually she prays to the Traveler, telling him about Freely and the deal he made to protect his friends. She thinks that sounds nice, and wants to have a similar option to be able to follow in his footsteps. As a warm wind blows around her, she notices a cloaked figure with a mass of curly red hair in the alley, as well as a group of gnomes who are standing around the metal sculpture of the Traveler she inspired the last time they were in the city. They are chanting, calling out to the Traveler in worship, and with a grin Penelope joins in their celebrations.
It's with much love that we wish B. Dave Walters good luck as he takes Freely to a new show! Silver and Steel starts Tuesday April 14th at 6pm PT so tune in then to see what happens when Freely arrives through the portal! Meanwhile the Beyond Heroes adventures continue on Wednesday April 15th 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!
It's times like these where I want to state the old adage of "Don't split the party." but I'm being selfish.
My brain can keep track of one story line at a time. ...and referring to time, I have to pick and choose which stories to follow in the time I have. I'd love to be able to follow them all at all times wherever their paths go, though. Maybe that's a skill I can try to develop during this isolation since I have a total of 30 minutes of travel time I no longer waste each day. :D
NOOOOOOOOOOO FREELYYYYYYYYYYYY! :(
Spotted a typo:
Also, "on board" should be two words:
And:
This should be "on".
Interesting episode and ending! :)
W
HAT ABOUT UK'otoa
Love this!
Question: is silver and steel working with D&D Beyond like Beyond Heroes is?
Yes they are, and the video will probably be posted on the main page in a few days.