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In in the [[Dungeons and Dragons]] campaign settings of [[Ravenloft (Setting)|Ravenloft]] and [[Greyhawk]], [[Vecna]], is a [[lich]] raised to godhood as the deity of [[secret]]s and [[magic]]. Vecna is also known variously as the Maimed Lord, the Chained God, the Whispered One, Master of the Spider Throne, the God of Secrets,<ref name="Die Vecna Die p. 149">[[Die Vecna Die!]] p. 149</ref> and the Master of All That is Secret and Hidden.
In in the [[Dungeons and Dragons]] campaign settings of [[Ravenloft (Setting)|Ravenloft]] and [[Greyhawk]], [[Vecna]], is a [[lich]] raised to godhood as the deity of [[secret]]s and [[magic]]. Vecna is also known variously as the Maimed Lord, the Chained God, the Whispered One, Master of the Spider Throne, the God of Secrets,<ref name="Die Vecna Die p. 149">[[Die Vecna Die!]] p. 149</ref> and the Master of All That is Secret and Hidden.


Vecna was formerly the darklord of [[Cavitius]], until his escape in [[Die Vecna Die]]. He was served by the [[The Church of Vecna]]. He is the eternal enemy of [[Kas]].<ref>[[History Check: Kas and Vecna]]</ref> and [[Iuz]].<ref name="Die Vecna Die p. 149">[[Die Vecna Die!]] p. 149</ref> Since Vecna's failure to take over the multiverse through seizing [[Sigil]], Vecna is also an enemy of the [[Lady of Pain]].<ref name="Die Vecna Die p. 149">[[Die Vecna Die!]] p. 149</ref> Two powerful [[artifact]]s, the [[Hand of Vecna]] and the [[Eye of Vecna]], were [[body part]]s cut from his mortal body by Kas prior to his rise to godhood. He created the [[Sword of Kas]] for his former lieutenant Kas.
Vecna was formerly the darklord of [[Cavitius]], until his escape in [[Die Vecna Die]]. He was served by the [[The Church of Vecna]]. He is the eternal enemy of [[Kas]].<ref>[[History Check: Kas and Vecna]]</ref> and [[Iuz]].<ref name="Die Vecna Die p. 149">[[Die Vecna Die!]] p. 149</ref> Since Vecna's failure to take over the multiverse through seizing [[Sigil]], Vecna is also an enemy of the [[Lady of Pain]].<ref name="Die Vecna Die p. 149">[[Die Vecna Die!]] p. 149</ref> Two powerful [[artifact]]s, the [[Hand of Vecna]] and the [[Eye of Vecna]], were [[body part]]s cut from his mortal body by Kas prior to his rise to godhood. He created the [[Sword of Kas]] for his former lieutenant Kas.<ref>The Hand and Eye of Vecna, as well as the Sword of Kas, receive detailed [[2nd Edition]] entries in the [[Book of Artifacts]] but also appear in [[Die Vecna Die!]] and in many Dungeon Master's Guides for various editions of D&D.</ref>


==History==
==History==
Born in the far [[ancient]] past of [[the Flaeness]] region of [[Oerth]], Vecna became a [[wizard]] unparalleled in power, at least within his own time. His [[evil]] was infinite too, for he mastered the vilest sorts of magical arts. He built a mighty [[empire]] and ruled with fear and oppression, purportedly laying waste to entire [[land]]s and breeding entire communities as stock for his magical research and [[necromancy]]. To forestall death of old age, Vecna became a lich and continued to rule.
Born in the far [[ancient]] past of [[the Flaeness]] region of [[Oerth]], Vecna became a [[wizard]] likely unparalleled in power within his own time.<ref name="Book of Artifacts p. 35">[[Book of Artifacts]] p. 35</ref> His [[evil]] was infinite too, for he mastered the vilest sorts of magical arts. He built a mighty [[empire]] and ruled with fear and oppression, purportedly laying waste to entire [[land]]s and breeding entire communities as stock for his magical research and [[necromancy]]. Although the exact extent may never be known, the havoc and tyranny wrought by Vecna and his forces extended to entire continents.<ref name="Domains of Dread p. 112-113</ref> To forestall death of old age, Vecna [[transformed]] himself not just into a lich but one of the most potent of all time. In [[undeath]], he continued to rule.
 
According to [[Menadora Zarovan]], Vecna's obsession with secrets came from a [[betrayal]] of one of his trusted underlings, the lich [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greyhawk_characters#Acererak Acerak], the creator of thee Tomb of Horrors. Acererak wrested the secret to lichdom from Vecna and, after gathering power behind Vecna's back, broke away. Vecna became determined never to let those in his command steal away his secrets again.<ref name="History Check p. 2">[[History Check: Kas and Vecna]] p. 2</ref>
 
Yet for all his power and paranoia, Vecna's reach eventually proved too far for him to reign unassisted. Another figure, a ruthless [[soldier]] by the name of Kas, rose to prominence among Vecna's followers, and Vecna rewarded the dread knight's service with the Sword of Kas, an artifact Vecna personally created.<ref name="Book of Artifacts p.100">[[Book of Artifacts]] p.100</ref> The blade equaled its creator's evil<ref name="Book of Artifacts p.100">[[Book of Artifacts]] p.100</ref> for Vecna infused it with a sliver of his own mind and soul<ref name="Die Vecna Die p.160">[[Die Vecna Die!]] p.160</ref><ref name="History Check p. 4">[[History Check: Kas and Vecna]] p. 4</ref> Although an apparent gift to Kas, the Sword of Kas served a second, secret function: to alert Vecna of Kas' thoughts. Vecna would not suffer another [[betrayer]]  like Acererak.<ref name="History Check p. 4">[[History Check: Kas and Vecna]] p. 4</ref>
 
.Vecna believed the Sword of Kas rendered Vecna immuned to unseen betrayal by his right-hand man. However, Vecna may have outdone himself in placing his ambition into the blade, for it began to sublely place thoughts of [[betrayal]] and [[rebellion]] into Kas' mind while masking Kas' thoughts to Vecna.<ref name="History Check p. 4">[[History Check: Kas and Vecna]] p. 4</ref> Kas eventually acted on the Sword's manipulation, violently attacking Vecna<ref name="Book of Artifacts p.100">[[Book of Artifacts]] p.100</ref><ref name="Die Vecna Die p.160">[[Die Vecna Die!]] p.160</ref><ref name="History Check p. 4">[[History Check: Kas and Vecna]] p. 4</ref> at the worst possible time: when Vecna was in the middle of arcane [[ritual]]s inteded to render him a god.<ref name="History Check p. 4">[[History Check: Kas and Vecna]] p. 4</ref> In the ensuing conflict, Kas cut out Vecna's [[eye]] and [[hand]], which were, along with the Sword, the only things seemingly spared in the ensuing cataclysm that claimed not only Kas and Vecna but also all of Vecna's tower.<ref name="Domains of Dread p.113">[[Domains of Dread]] p.113</ref>
 
Yet the [[legend]] of Vecna did not go peacefully to the grave, but rather festered over hundreds of years, to where he became venerated and prayed to as a [[god]]. Vecna eventually received enough worship to come back as a true god.<ref name="Domains of Dread p.113">[[Domains of Dread]] p.113</ref><ref name="History Check p. 5">[[History Check: Kas and Vecna]] p. 5</ref>
 
Yet Vecna's thirst for power stopped not at being a god, for he schemed for even more power.


==[[Alignment]]==
==[[Alignment]]==

Revision as of 18:40, 28 May 2019

In in the Dungeons and Dragons campaign settings of Ravenloft and Greyhawk, Vecna, is a lich raised to godhood as the deity of secrets and magic. Vecna is also known variously as the Maimed Lord, the Chained God, the Whispered One, Master of the Spider Throne, the God of Secrets,[1] and the Master of All That is Secret and Hidden.

Vecna was formerly the darklord of Cavitius, until his escape in Die Vecna Die. He was served by the The Church of Vecna. He is the eternal enemy of Kas.[2] and Iuz.[1] Since Vecna's failure to take over the multiverse through seizing Sigil, Vecna is also an enemy of the Lady of Pain.[1] Two powerful artifacts, the Hand of Vecna and the Eye of Vecna, were body parts cut from his mortal body by Kas prior to his rise to godhood. He created the Sword of Kas for his former lieutenant Kas.[3]

History

Born in the far ancient past of the Flaeness region of Oerth, Vecna became a wizard likely unparalleled in power within his own time.[4] His evil was infinite too, for he mastered the vilest sorts of magical arts. He built a mighty empire and ruled with fear and oppression, purportedly laying waste to entire lands and breeding entire communities as stock for his magical research and necromancy. Although the exact extent may never be known, the havoc and tyranny wrought by Vecna and his forces extended to entire continents.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

Yet for all his power and paranoia, Vecna's reach eventually proved too far for him to reign unassisted. Another figure, a ruthless soldier by the name of Kas, rose to prominence among Vecna's followers, and Vecna rewarded the dread knight's service with the Sword of Kas, an artifact Vecna personally created.[5] The blade equaled its creator's evil[5] for Vecna infused it with a sliver of his own mind and soul[6][7] Although an apparent gift to Kas, the Sword of Kas served a second, secret function: to alert Vecna of Kas' thoughts. Vecna would not suffer another betrayer like Acererak.[7]

.Vecna believed the Sword of Kas rendered Vecna immuned to unseen betrayal by his right-hand man. However, Vecna may have outdone himself in placing his ambition into the blade, for it began to sublely place thoughts of betrayal and rebellion into Kas' mind while masking Kas' thoughts to Vecna.[7] Kas eventually acted on the Sword's manipulation, violently attacking Vecna[5][6][7] at the worst possible time: when Vecna was in the middle of arcane rituals inteded to render him a god.[7] In the ensuing conflict, Kas cut out Vecna's eye and hand, which were, along with the Sword, the only things seemingly spared in the ensuing cataclysm that claimed not only Kas and Vecna but also all of Vecna's tower.[8]

Yet the legend of Vecna did not go peacefully to the grave, but rather festered over hundreds of years, to where he became venerated and prayed to as a god. Vecna eventually received enough worship to come back as a true god.[8][9]

Yet Vecna's thirst for power stopped not at being a god, for he schemed for even more power.

Alignment

2nd Edition sources, which include Ravenloft sources detailing him, list Vecna as Lawful Evil. 3rd Edition sources list him as Neutral Evil.[10][11]

Holy Symbol

Favored Weapon

Spell Domains

NPC Game Statistics

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Die Vecna Die! p. 149
  2. ↑ History Check: Kas and Vecna
  3. ↑ The Hand and Eye of Vecna, as well as the Sword of Kas, receive detailed 2nd Edition entries in the Book of Artifacts but also appear in Die Vecna Die! and in many Dungeon Master's Guides for various editions of D&D.
  4. ↑ Book of Artifacts p. 35
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Book of Artifacts p.100
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Die Vecna Die! p.160
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 History Check: Kas and Vecna p. 4
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Domains of Dread p.113
  9. ↑ History Check: Kas and Vecna p. 5
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Player's Handbook (3.5) p.89
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Deities and Demigods (3.5) p.95
  12. ↑ Complete Divine p. 109
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Complete Divine p. 118
  14. ↑ Domains of Dread p. 112-114

Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

Domains of Dread
Die Vecna Die

Domains of Dread - p112
Vecna Reborn - cover, p55
Die Vecna Die - cover, p119, p148

Domains of Dread - pp112-114
Die Vecna Die - p149, p158

Domains of Dread - pp112-114
Die Vecna Die - p119

The Maimed Lord


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