The Secret of Hexador House

The Secret of Hexador House is a mini-series set in the world of Ylos, also known as Generic Fantasy Setting #17735. It features a new cast and setting and focuses on mystery and intrigue, rather than adventure.

Its Dungeon Master is Kelly Clark and stars Kelle Belle, Grace Eccleston, Amy Godfrey, Robin Holford, and Christine Rattray.

The series first broadcast on April 4, 2020 over distance to accommodate Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing measures. It broadcasts on a bi-weekly schedule, but has had a large number of delays due to player illness and complications. It resumed on January 16, 2021.

Premise
The story follows a party of adventurers who inherit a strange legacy and a mystery.

Cast and characters
Kelly Clark as Dungeonmaster

Main Characters

 * Kelle Belle as Pipi Riverstone, a gnome bard from the College of Glamour
 * Grace Eccleston as Saffiya "Blue", a human hexblade warlock sworn to a mysterious known as Blackbrand
 * Amy Godfrey as Lucky Sixpence, a tabaxi eldritch knight
 * Robin Holford as Yesfine Blaize, a half-elf inquisitive rogue and member of the Diamond Anchor
 * Christine Rattray as Caelynn, a drow dragon-blooded sorcerer

Development
Over 2019-2020, Christine had been running Storm King's Thunder off camera for Kelly, Amy, Kelle, and Dork Tales alum Christa. When scheduling issues forced the game into permanent hiatus, Kelly offered to run another game for the channel. Inspired by Victorian mysteries and 1980s college comedies, Kelly decided to run a game where the players had to do the narrative equivalent of saving an orphanage from greedy 1980s land developers.

Casting
The cast of Christine's Storm King's Thunder joined the game. As Christa was unable to continue, Kelly reached out to his friend Grace Eccleston, who had been interested in mutual collaboration. The group assembled and built their characters that night.

In late 2020, scheduling difficulties led to Grace Eccleston requiring time off from the series. Robin Holford, who previously played Vistra Dankill in Rime of the Frostmaiden, joined the cast as the fourth party member. With luck, Grace's schedule will allow her to return by the end of the story.

Filming
Broadcasting began on April 4th of 2020 over Twitch, with the episodes being uploaded to YouTube in August 2020. The game was created roughly a week prior to social distancing measures were introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, but was able to pivot to filming via teleconferencing software.

The Secret of Hexador House 's1 design and frames were created by Michael Ilott, who plays in several other Dork Tales games.