The following contains spoilers for Secret Level season 1’s “Dungeons & Dragons: The Queen’s Cradle,” now streaming on Prime VideoSecret Level‘s Dungeons & Dragons-inspired episode boasts some impressive connections to the lore of the beloved RPG. Secret Level brings several video game properties to life, with the anthology series hopping between setting and premise between episodes. This includes a storyline focused on the world of Dungeons & Dragons, the iconic tabletop role-playing game. “The Queen’s Cradle” is centered on a small group of heroes who are trying to save the life of a young man trapped by a terrible curse.
The episode is a fantasy adventure that feels right at home alongside the more fantastical elements of the genre, pitting the heroes against a horde of villainous warriors, a dangerous sorcerer, and one of the franchise’s most powerful villains. It’s a good showcase of Secret Level‘s approach to game adaptation. The short also fits neatly into the world of Dungeons & Dragons, recreating certain spells and common tropes of the experience. Here’s how “The Queen’s Cradle” reflects the real game.
Who Is Tiamat (And How Important Is She To Dungeons & Dragons Lore)?
Tiamat Is A Big Deal In the World Of Dunegons & Dragons
Tiamat is the ultimate threat of Secret Level‘s Dungeons & Dragons’ episode, “The Queen’s Cradle,” and one of Dungeons & Dragons‘ most powerful villains. Much of “The Queen’s Cradle” is spent focused on a group of adventurers trying to save Solon from being sacrificed by cultits serving Tiamat. Although the mighty gold dragon Oriel is able to pull the influence of Tiamat from Solon, the aged dragon is overwhelmed and seemingly killed when Tiamat forms within him. This sets up the fiery conclusion of “The Queen’s Cradle,” with the party standing their ground against the five-headed dragon.
Tiamat appears as a central focus in the Dunegons & Dragons campaigns “Hoard of the Dragon Queen” (2014) and “Rise of Tiamat” (2014), which were later collected as a single volume titled Tyranny of Dragons (2019).
Tiamat is a remarkably powerful being known as the Dragon Queen in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. A draconic goddess who debuted into the first official D&D expansion Greyhawk, the five-headed deity is a legendary evil force seeking to corrupt the world in her image. Although she was banished from the corporeal world eons ago, the efforts of her cultists to appease her and potentially restore her to the corporeal world through sacrifice. Despite the party successfully saving Solon and holding back Tiamt’s forces, “The Queen’s Cradle” ends with the cult’s success and the return of Tiamat.
Why Oriel Is So Important In “The Queen’s Cradle?”
The Gold Dragons Are Major Forces Of Good In Dungeons & Dragons
Oriel is treated with a deep sense of reverence by Mora and the rest of the heroes in “The Queen’s Cradle,” and with good reason. Within the lore of Dungeons & Dragons, gold dragons are considered an important and noble race of guardians. Whereas many variants of dragons in that fantasy universe are villainous forces of nature, the gold dragons are a largely good species. Figures like Oriel may refrain from overt combat and war, but they remain vital enemies of evil within the universe. Their sheer power makes them important allies in many Dungeons & Dragons campaigns.
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Notably, the gold dragons are directly opposed to Tiamat. Bahamut is the ruler of the Gold Dragons, and is actually the ancient Tiamat’s brother. This gives Tiamat’s hatred for Oriel all the more meaningful and increases the terrible tragedy of Oriel’s death as the result of her restoration. Oriel’s vast power is a good showcase for how powerful the gold dragons are within the world of Dungeons & Dragons, and underscores how dangerous Tiamat is for being able to simply burst out of one.
Who Is The Ice Lich In Secret Level’s Dungeons & Dragons Episode?
The Powerful Minor Villain Comes Close To Overwhelming The Heroes
One of the minor villains in “The Queen’s Cradle” is an unnamed lich sorcerer who leads the attack against the main party. Seemingly serving under the command of Tiamat, the villain proves a dangerous figure who almost gets the better of Tally before being bested by the wizard. The lich might be (or at least somewhat inspired by) Lossarwyn, an undead spellcaster who specializes in ice magic. His apparent servitude in the cult of Tiamat suggests this figure is also one of the Wyrmkeepers.
Tiamat’s cult are consistent foes for players who embark on missions where Tiamat is the ultimate threat, making their presence in “The Queen’s Cradle” all the more fitting. This also gives the heroes a more straightforward threat to contend with, allowing most of the party something to fight even while the primary plot of the story occurs within Oriel’s presence. The ice lich in “The Queen’s Cradle” is a dangerous figure, but one that can’t quite keep up with the heroes of the story.
How Secret Level’s Dungeons & Dragons Story Reflects Real D&D Gameplay
Secret Level‘s D&D Episode Features Actual Spells From The Show
One of the more entertaining elements of “The Queen’s Cradle” is the way the short adheres to the mechanics and unspoken tropes of many Dungeons & Dragons adventures. Much of the plot focuses on a group of varied and unique adventurers, each with a different race and class type. This includes a gnome wizard, a dwarf monk, an orc druid, and a drow paladin, each capable of bringing their own impressive abilities to the conflict. Some techniques are directly pulled from the game, such as Ahokal using Wild Shape to change form or Tally casting a massive Fireball spell.
|
Secret Level‘s Party Of Heroes |
Race/Class |
Played By |
|
Solon |
Human Cleric |
Noah Manzoor |
|
Mora |
Drow Paladin |
Madeline Knight |
|
Tally |
Gnome Wizard |
Laura Wohlwend |
|
Luzum |
Dwarf Monk |
Delroy Atkinson |
|
Ahokal |
Orc Druid |
Umulisa Gahiga |
The episode even pokes fun at the typical make-up of Dungeons & Dragons parties, with Tally commenting at one point about how the group needs a Cleric. When Solon reveals that he’s capable of that in the episode’s final stretch, Tally notes with a smile that they finally found one. This makes the heroes a party of five, which is the typical player number in Dungeons & Dragons groups. Their differing origins and personalities also highlight one of the draws of the game, which allows players to step fully into their roles and explore the natural dynamics of the group.
The True Meaning Of Secret Level’s Dungeons & Dragon Episode
Every Choice Matters, Especially The Noble Ones
“The Queen’s Cradle” is an exciting adventure set within a massive fantasy realm, but the emotional arc of the story is very character-driven. At the center of the tale is the story of Solon and Mora. While Solon fears his fate and the damage he might cause, Mora is far more restrained and hopeful. Having overcome a dark past herself to become a hero, Mora’s faith in Solon is rewarded when he willingly stands up to fight Tiamat. The story’s themes are rooted in the choices made by the characters, making noble ones even more important.
This underscores the importance of choice in that world of D&D…
Mora overcame her dark past, actively seeking to redeem herself for her harsh actions in the past. Tally is initially suspicious of Solon, but becomes more defensive of him when he chooses to risk his life to save her from a barrage of razor-sharp icicles. Even the party’s decision to stand together in defiance of Tiamat speaks to a potentially fatal but necessary decision to fight the forces of evil regardless of the risk. This underscores the importance of choice in that world of D&D, and gives Secret Level‘s take on Dungeons & Dragons a powerful secondary meaning.
Secret Level
- Release Date
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December 10, 2024
