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EcThelion
Learned Scribe
Norway
323 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 13:16:17
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I've heard alot about her (or it or whatever).
It was a Lich of some power, right?
I heard Morte (from PS:Torment) say alot about himself being the "Head of Vecna", and in BG2 you can aquire the "Robe of Vecna", and it also tells tales about two even more powerful items, that belonged to the legendary Lich.
Now... Who was Vecna?
You must excuse my ignorance on the point, but, living in Norway and all that, and the only place where I can aquire D&D/FR Books is in Avalon (waaaaaay down in our capital), or by mail (never trusted them... don't know why). So I'm fairly ignorant when concerning the go-abouts of creatures outside the shpere of influence of my favorite games; BG1, BG2, IWD1, IWD2, PS:T and NWN...
Could one of the many sages of this famed establishment increase my knowlege on the point?
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Ec'Thelion, formerly known as Forgotten One, now known as Ec'Thelion the Overpowered.
Currently not all that active. I'm preoccupied with Warcraft III for the moment. Bite me :P |
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Naroon Shimmerflow
Learned Scribe
Norway
104 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 13:26:02
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Actually Forgotten One there is a better store which have all the books Avalon has and more. it`s name is Outland and you can find it at Oslo S. At the first floor ( thats 2nd floor in norway) to the left of Mac Donalds (yes we have mac donalds in Norway to )
They are also working on a homepage now, it`s Outland.no.
They are actually cheaper than Avalon and not so "speciall" if you know what i mean.
if you dont live in Oslo, thay can mail youre order as well.
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Good dice rolls, beats good tactics anytime[/size=1] |
Edited by - Naroon Shimmerflow on 19 Jan 2004 13:27:14 |
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EcThelion
Learned Scribe
Norway
323 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 13:47:32
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| I live in Limbo. The neverending repetition of nothingness :P |
Ec'Thelion, formerly known as Forgotten One, now known as Ec'Thelion the Overpowered.
Currently not all that active. I'm preoccupied with Warcraft III for the moment. Bite me :P |
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Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 15:15:07
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| Vecna is listed as a deity in the 3e PHB. The Sword of Kas(in the DMG) provides more information. Deities and Demigods(3e) contains a full deity writeup on Vecna. Vecna does not exist in FR, his rough corresponding entity is Larloch. I'll post more when I have access to my books. |
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Cherrn
Learned Scribe
Denmark
323 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 16:19:22
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| Vecna was a necromancer from greyhawk turned deity in that world. Vecna was extremely powerful and was known to have travelled several worlds until he/she (can't remember) met his/her doom in the Greyhawk adventure module "Die Vecna, Die!" and thus was promoted to divinity by something or someone (can't remember details) |
A wise man from Calimport once told me: "If a merchant puts sand in the flask of oil he's trying to sell you, then he isn't trying to sell you sand..." |
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Dracandos the Spellsage
Senior Scribe
466 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 19:29:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Forgotten One
it also tells tales about two even more powerful items, that belonged to the legendary Lich.
Aye, the hand and eye of Vecna:
The Hand of Vecna
Seldom is the name Vecna spoken, and even then, only in the most hushed and terrified tones, for legends say the shade of this most supreme of all liches still roam the world. Little is known of this being except that he eventually met his doom in some awesome conflagration- or at least that his physical body was destroyed. Still rumors persist that one hand (and perhaps and eye) survived even this destruction.
These rumors ascribe strange and powerful abilities to the Hand of Vecna, still imbued with the unquenchable spirit of Vecna. The Hand is variously described as large and small, but all accounts agree that it is extremely withered and blackened, as if from a burned body.
The first recorded appearance of the Hand was during the Insurrection of the Yaheetes, 136 after the passing of Vecna. With the overthrow of Paddin the Vain, leader of the clan, the Hand apparently disappeared.
During the reign of Hamoch of Tyrus, the Hand was discovered by the fisherman Gisel. For several decades he kept it as a curiosity until he was slain by his brother who stole the artifact. The brother was waylaid en route to Tyrus and the Hand fell into the possession of the outlaw Mace. With a single gesture of the Hand, Mace is said to have struck down the gates of Tyrus and brought plague onto the royal house. Stories are told how he spent one night in the royal bedchamber where he was visited by the spirit of Vecna. Undoubtedly he changed, for the next day he ordered the execution of his former followers to appease the wrathful shade. In the 100 years of Mace's reign, the city of Tyrus grew in power, but it became ill famed as the Slaughterhouse of the Western Shore. Mace (now styled Vecna the Second) was struck down by a Yemish1te assassin when the power of the Hand inexplicably failed him.
Since that time the Hand has appeared briefly in a number of widely scattered lands. Most of these appearances are unsubstantiated, but the corruption of the Paladin-King of Miro is a well-documented case. Foolishly fixing the Hand onto his own arm, the Paladin-King discovered too late that he could not remove it and in the end it destroyed him.
For the Hand to function, it must be touched to the stump of an arm, to which it grafts instantly. The grip is immensely strong (19 Strength, no attack roll or damage bonuses however). At first the Hand seems useful and harmless enough, but within it resides some portion of Vecna's evil spirit. Gradually the owner comes to believe he is Vecna. Good characters becoming cruel and malevolent; evil characters become the embodiment of corruption, eventually turning on their friends and allies.
Suggested powers for the Hand include:
- Death Ray (no saving throw), 1/day
- Cause Disease (100-foot x 100-foot area), 2/day
- Animate Dead, 1/day
- Darkness, at will
- +2 Protection
- Web, 1/day
- Disintegrate, 1/day
- Regenerate 2 hit points/turn
- Lightning Bolt (12 dice), 1/day
- Time Stop, 1/week
Aside from the fact that the Hand is corruptive, its other major drawbacks include the fact that it cannot be removed short of chopping off the arm and the fact that those who see the Hand will covet it, attempting to take it from its current owner. Finally, the Hand foresees the moment of its owner's doom and its powers will fail just at that given time.
The Eye of Vecna (From Planescape Torment)
(Cursed Artifact)
Special:
Doubles all 1st Level Mage Spells
Doubles all 2nd Level Mage Spells
+35% Resistance to Magic
+4 Save vs. Death Magic
-3 to Wisdom
-3 to Intelligence
Weight: 0
Vecna is one of the most evil creatures that has ever lived on Ishka. Little is known of his history. It is known that as a mortal he was a renowned sorcerer and necromancer, who used his considerable powers to dominate and enslave the entirety of the East and South coasts of Ishka (the regions currently covered by the FarShore kingdom and the Dominion of the Inland Sea). Vecna's palace was on a massive spire of rock jutting out of the water in the center of the inland sea, and this region even today is turbulent and stormy, and avoided by sailors.
Power was of the utmost importance to Vecna, and when the end of his mortal life approached, he embraced lichdom freely, making the transformation and existing for several hundred years in that form before he ascended himself to become a demi-God.
Many tales are told of the arch-lich Vecna. It is said that Vecna was one of the Planes' mightiest sorcerers, able to draw life from dust and send it back again, extinguish lives with a glance, and make the earth shudder beneath his touch. He was said to be so powerful that when the end of his life drew near, death refused to take him into its kingdom.
And so Vecna died, yet lived on.
Abandoned by death, Vecna became the master of a vast kingdom on a prime world called Oerth. Neither kind nor just, Lord Vecna's rule was one of great horror and suffering, and it is said his reach was so great that even the Powers of Oerth feared to cross him for fearing of drawing his eye.
Yet, while Vecna's gaze traveled ever outward in search of new conquests, he failed to see his own end when it came for him...in the form of his lieutenant, Kas.
Kas, afraid for his master's sanity, attempted to stop him, attacking Vecna and managing to sever his hand and gouge out an eye before being slain. Draining the last of Kas' life force was the boost Vecna needed, and on that day he became a demigod, taking the aspects of Evil, Magic and Secrets. He quickly gained much power, as many necromancers and intelligent undead turned to worshipping Him, and today he sits as one of the mightiest of the demi-Gods.
As was fitting for Vecna's left hand servant, the arch-lich had fashioned a terrible weapon for his lieutenant as a symbol of his authority. Vecna made this weapon with such skill it is said that part of the sorcerer entered the blade, and it was this sliver of Vecna that gave the blade its life and its treacherous nature. Where once there was lifeless steel, there became thought, intent, and, perhaps most horrible of all, a voice.
The sword whispered treacheries to the ambitious Kas, night upon night, month upon month, year upon year, until one night, the remains of Kas' discipline was seduced by the rippling edge of the blade. Convinced by his blade that he was Vecna's superior, Kas confronted his dread master upon his Desiccated Throne, and the two of them fought a terrible battle.
During the battle, Kas was killed, but before he fell, his blade had dismembered his former master, scattering his remains so that no one may draw them together again. And so it has come to pass that pieces of Vecna have made their way across the Planes...one of these is the Eye of Vecna. It carries with it a bloody, violent history, so much so that many scholars refuse to speak of its treacheries, for fear the eye will come to them, seeking to add another victim to its bloody chronology.
The Eye of Vecna was instrumental in the extermination of the House of Hyeric, once the ruling dynasty in Nyrond. It is said to have been behind the sundering of the Conclave of
Tyssis-on-the-Sea, which led to the three-cycle war that poisoned the seas of Malhatai and left the oceanic world barren of life. On the ashen Plane of Ghalentir, it possessed the gentle father of Sasaran, a baby with the potential to lead his suffering people from their shadowed lands to the Gates of Paradise...had not the eye drove Sasaran's father to murder his son as he lay sleeping in his crib. All these kingdoms, all these futures, the Eye of Vecna laid waste.
The Eye's powers are said to shift with each new owner, but one thing is certain: no good ever comes from whoever has the misfortune to possess it. It is destined to betray its wearer at a critical moment, failing him when he needs its power the most.
The Eye of Vecna is a large, purple veined eye that pulsates gently and reeks of (divine) evil magic. Any creature who places the eye in an empty (left) eye socket finds that he can see through it. The face of the creature distends to support the eye, and the skin surrounding it discolors and cracks, permanently lowering the Charisma of the creature by 2. However, the following benefits are gained: The creature has the permanent benefits of 120' darkvision and constant True Seeing, as the spell. The character may always recognize worshipers of Vecna. This is represented by a purple aura around targets, the size of which indicates how devout they are in their worship.
The alignment of the character may never change, except in the direction of Lawful Evil (see below) The character may rebuke or command undead as if he were 6 levels higher (if he's a cleric or paladin) The character casts necromantic spells as if he were 6 levels higher (if he's a cleric or necromancer) The character may Animate Dead (as the spell) once per day at 20th level of effect. At all times, the character may command up to double his character level in HD of undead (from all sources). Three times per day, the character may activate Eye Bite, as per the spell. This only lasts a single round per instance (thus allowing one gaze attack each time). The target must be able to see the eye. This ability is used at 20th level of effect.
The Eye of Vecna may never be removed while the possessor still lives. If the possessor is Good or Chaotic, he will die instantly on the insertion of the eye, and rise as a Lich under the direct control of Vecna. A non-Chaotic, non-Good character who inserts the eye must make a Will save (DC20) each week or move one step closer to Lawful Evil.
Worshipers of Vecna will always recognize the eye instantly, if seen. Their reaction will usually waver between a) groveling and bowing to the possessor and b) killing the possessor to get their hands on the eye.
It is said that the Eye of Vecna grants additional powers if the wearer is also in possession (and use) of the Hand of Vecna.
These can also be found on pg 240 of the DM guide |
Death strips away the masks men don to hide their true nature - The Slayer's Guide to Undead
The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage - So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo
Whenever magic one doth weave, 'tis never ever wise to deceive - Elminster
Strength and power come from knowing and controlling what others do not, but never reveal all that you know - Vecna
I have been known to cast a blue mage spell now and again - Dracandos the Spellsage |
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Shadowlord
Master of Realmslore
USA
1298 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 19:53:09
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| Wow, quite the tale Dracandos... |
The Chosen of Vhaeraun
"Nature is governed by certain immutable rules. By virtue of claw and fang, the lion will always triumph over the goat.Given time, the pounding of the sea will wear away the stone. And when dark elves mingle with the lighter races, the offspring invariably take after the dark parent. It is all much the same. That which is greater shall prevail. Our numbers increase steadily, both through birth and conquest. The dark elves are the dominant race, so ordained by the gods." Ka'Narlist of the Ilythiiri. |
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Cherrn
Learned Scribe
Denmark
323 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 22:04:03
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| Well all good artifacts should come with a nice story attached to them shouldn't they ? |
A wise man from Calimport once told me: "If a merchant puts sand in the flask of oil he's trying to sell you, then he isn't trying to sell you sand..." |
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Shadowlord
Master of Realmslore
USA
1298 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 22:15:16
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But Cherrn, this story took up 3/4 of a page!!! |
The Chosen of Vhaeraun
"Nature is governed by certain immutable rules. By virtue of claw and fang, the lion will always triumph over the goat.Given time, the pounding of the sea will wear away the stone. And when dark elves mingle with the lighter races, the offspring invariably take after the dark parent. It is all much the same. That which is greater shall prevail. Our numbers increase steadily, both through birth and conquest. The dark elves are the dominant race, so ordained by the gods." Ka'Narlist of the Ilythiiri. |
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Cherrn
Learned Scribe
Denmark
323 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 22:21:31
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Now that's what I call a pair of artifacts!  |
A wise man from Calimport once told me: "If a merchant puts sand in the flask of oil he's trying to sell you, then he isn't trying to sell you sand..." |
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Shadowlord
Master of Realmslore
USA
1298 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 22:26:18
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To each his own, I suppose...... |
The Chosen of Vhaeraun
"Nature is governed by certain immutable rules. By virtue of claw and fang, the lion will always triumph over the goat.Given time, the pounding of the sea will wear away the stone. And when dark elves mingle with the lighter races, the offspring invariably take after the dark parent. It is all much the same. That which is greater shall prevail. Our numbers increase steadily, both through birth and conquest. The dark elves are the dominant race, so ordained by the gods." Ka'Narlist of the Ilythiiri. |
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EcThelion
Learned Scribe
Norway
323 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 22:56:22
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| They shall both be mine! Tho... I would die upon using them, as I am Chaotic Good... hmm... |
Ec'Thelion, formerly known as Forgotten One, now known as Ec'Thelion the Overpowered.
Currently not all that active. I'm preoccupied with Warcraft III for the moment. Bite me :P |
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Shadowlord
Master of Realmslore
USA
1298 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 23:10:04
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| I would be transformed into a lich, since I am CE alignment..... |
The Chosen of Vhaeraun
"Nature is governed by certain immutable rules. By virtue of claw and fang, the lion will always triumph over the goat.Given time, the pounding of the sea will wear away the stone. And when dark elves mingle with the lighter races, the offspring invariably take after the dark parent. It is all much the same. That which is greater shall prevail. Our numbers increase steadily, both through birth and conquest. The dark elves are the dominant race, so ordained by the gods." Ka'Narlist of the Ilythiiri. |
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EcThelion
Learned Scribe
Norway
323 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 23:15:22
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| A Shadowdancer Lich? Interesting... might even be worth tryign out |
Ec'Thelion, formerly known as Forgotten One, now known as Ec'Thelion the Overpowered.
Currently not all that active. I'm preoccupied with Warcraft III for the moment. Bite me :P |
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Cherrn
Learned Scribe
Denmark
323 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 23:21:48
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But then if you go to a party and nobody likes you Shadowlord then the clerics can just start turning you  |
A wise man from Calimport once told me: "If a merchant puts sand in the flask of oil he's trying to sell you, then he isn't trying to sell you sand..." |
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Shadowlord
Master of Realmslore
USA
1298 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 23:36:53
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| Eh true, I think I'll just stay a shadowdancer.... |
The Chosen of Vhaeraun
"Nature is governed by certain immutable rules. By virtue of claw and fang, the lion will always triumph over the goat.Given time, the pounding of the sea will wear away the stone. And when dark elves mingle with the lighter races, the offspring invariably take after the dark parent. It is all much the same. That which is greater shall prevail. Our numbers increase steadily, both through birth and conquest. The dark elves are the dominant race, so ordained by the gods." Ka'Narlist of the Ilythiiri. |
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EcThelion
Learned Scribe
Norway
323 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 23:51:06
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| Bah! What puny cleric would be powerful enough to turn the posessor of the hand and eye or Vecna!? |
Ec'Thelion, formerly known as Forgotten One, now known as Ec'Thelion the Overpowered.
Currently not all that active. I'm preoccupied with Warcraft III for the moment. Bite me :P |
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Shadowlord
Master of Realmslore
USA
1298 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 23:52:52
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| A Chosen of a certain god perhaps..... |
The Chosen of Vhaeraun
"Nature is governed by certain immutable rules. By virtue of claw and fang, the lion will always triumph over the goat.Given time, the pounding of the sea will wear away the stone. And when dark elves mingle with the lighter races, the offspring invariably take after the dark parent. It is all much the same. That which is greater shall prevail. Our numbers increase steadily, both through birth and conquest. The dark elves are the dominant race, so ordained by the gods." Ka'Narlist of the Ilythiiri. |
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Dracandos the Spellsage
Senior Scribe
466 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 23:57:16
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| im pleased my fellow scribes enjoyed my tale on the artifacts of Vecna. however, in the DM guide it also describes the benefits of possesing both artifacts at once. but Arivia, what is the PHB? and on what pg does it discuss Vecna? also, on what pg in dieties and demigods? i thank u |
Death strips away the masks men don to hide their true nature - The Slayer's Guide to Undead
The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage - So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo
Whenever magic one doth weave, 'tis never ever wise to deceive - Elminster
Strength and power come from knowing and controlling what others do not, but never reveal all that you know - Vecna
I have been known to cast a blue mage spell now and again - Dracandos the Spellsage |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2004 : 01:28:30
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Vecna's description in Deities and Demigods starts on pg. 94 Dracandos.
As for Vecna's decription in the PHB...well, in the 3.0e version it is listed on pg. 92. In the 3.5e of the PHB...pg. 108.
I hope that helps...
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2004 : 01:34:54
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Vecna also appeared (for a brief time anyway) in the RL setting. His domain was named Cavitius, and was part of the Burning Peaks cluster along with Kas's domain Tovag. However Vecna was severly 'de-powered' in RL. The Dark Powers sought to constrain much of his great power, trapping him in only one physical form. They also prevented him from becoming incorporeal and completely severed his ties to his collected avatar forms...
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2004 : 01:58:53
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| I was referring to the 3e Player's Handbook(PHB). Page 92(3.0), and page 108(3.5). Pages 94-96 in Deities and Demigods. It's a library, and the knowledge flows freely... |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
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Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2004 : 05:14:25
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Yes, you had, Sage. I had that response window open for about forty minutes, though, so it's no surprise I didn't see your response.
Sorry about that. |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2004 : 15:33:21
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| The Vecna artifacts were created by Brian Blume (Vecna as an anagram of 'Vance'), and though TSR added Vecna to the World of Greyhawk after Gygax was expelled from the company, that was never his intent. |
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Dracandos the Spellsage
Senior Scribe
466 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2004 : 01:07:38
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whats the Vance reference?
and also, since Vecna is a Greyhawk thing, how did the Robe of Vecna find its way all the way 2 Faerun in BG2? |
Death strips away the masks men don to hide their true nature - The Slayer's Guide to Undead
The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage - So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo
Whenever magic one doth weave, 'tis never ever wise to deceive - Elminster
Strength and power come from knowing and controlling what others do not, but never reveal all that you know - Vecna
I have been known to cast a blue mage spell now and again - Dracandos the Spellsage |
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Dracandos the Spellsage
Senior Scribe
466 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2004 : 01:12:48
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oh and thank u Sage, and Arivia 4 the pg #s.
if any1 has any aditional info on Vecna, please let me know |
Death strips away the masks men don to hide their true nature - The Slayer's Guide to Undead
The Lord of Murder shall perish, but in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos shall be sown from their passage - So Sayeth the Wise Alaundo
Whenever magic one doth weave, 'tis never ever wise to deceive - Elminster
Strength and power come from knowing and controlling what others do not, but never reveal all that you know - Vecna
I have been known to cast a blue mage spell now and again - Dracandos the Spellsage |
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Pardon my ignorance, but... who was Vecna?
