VECNA and the Rod of Seven Parts

What will Vecna use the Rod of Seven Parts for? Is the Queen of Chaos gone?
More on Vecna - • Vecna Explained | D&D ...
Queen of Chaos and Miska the Wolfspyder - • The Queen of Chaos and...
Rod of Seven Parts Actual Play - • Rod of Seven Parts - D...
Best ways to support
✅ SHARE W/ FRIENDS ► / jorphdan
✅ PATREON ► / jorphdan
🎲 2nd Channel (The Junction) - / @jocularjunction
🚀 substack.com/@jorphdan
👾 Discord Server - bit.ly/Jorphdan
🐦 Twitter - / jorphdan
🔷 Bluesky - bsky.app/profile/jorphdan.bsk...
🕹️Twitch - / jorphdan
🎙️ Podcast! - podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... or / @smrpgshow
🐉 DMsGuild Adventures! bit.ly/PHsGuild
👕 Channel Merch! bit.ly/3gYzCCT
💳 Affiliate Links 🏦
Dungeon Masters Guild - bit.ly/PHsGuild
DriveThruRPG - bit.ly/33ZbP24
dScryb - dscryb.com/jorphdan
Amazon Store - amzn.to/3HLpiuU
itch.io - jorphdan.itch.io/?ac=tRH6cQqSZvG
Humble Bundle - www.humblebundle.com/store?pa...
Kobold Press - koboldpress.com/kpstore?raf=r...
Video Specific References:
I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. dig.ccmixter.org/files/grapes/... Ft: J Lang, Morusque
🎵 Other Music provided by Epidemic Sound -www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
Any links to products or services may be affiliate links that give me a small kickback at no cost to you, with no influence on the content. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to create videos for you each week!
#Jorphdan #vecna #DnDLore

[@ChristaxisAras]

The guy in Vecna's art cover really looks like he's wielding The Sword of Kass. I can't imagine them doing this campaign without him. I am so excited for this to be my next campaign though. Thanks for the history lesson as always.

[@JGemiknight]

They have to (read: I hope they) add the Sword of Kas, but I think that might be Kleef Kenric, the Chosen of Helm, and his sword, Watcher.

[@Cirex9000]

@@JGemiknight Nah, that's definitely the Sword of Kas. The sword shown is identical to it's 5th Edition art. Watcher is wider and bulkier.

[@IdiotinGlans]

Full cover splash art has a figure that appears to be sneaking behind Vecna in one of crystals, I think that's Kas.

[@ShinM.]

Have they depicted the Sword of Kas in official art since the 90s? Like.. I'm pretty sure the art of it that I've seen is at least 30 years old. So it's kinda hard to say what an official depiction would be, and therefore, who wields the sword and what sword it is.

[@Cirex9000]

@@ShinM. The Sword of Kas is illustrated in the 5E Dungeon Master's Guide, page 226. The illustration of the sword in the DMG matches the sword in the Eve of Ruin splash art.

[@David_Apollonius]

Die Vecna Die was mean to be this universe changing end for second edition, leading into third edition. It's kinda fitting that Vecna is coming back to put an end to 5e...

[@MrBaallard]

You're watching the Vecna channel...all Vecna...all the time.

[@samfowler2073]

Now featuring his rod

[@elliotbryant3459]

VECNN

[@duckmanguy8575]

10:52 Emirikol the Chaotic has the eye, he probably just owns it and hasn't put it in his socket since he's known to just collect artifacts, he'd also turn neutral evil if he used the eye and Emirikol the Chaotic is known for being chaotic neutral.

[@kedraroth]

I miss so much the dnd lore videos, so good to see you posting more

[@Jorphdan]

Thanks! Trying to get back on a regular schedule 😁

[@kedraroth]

@@Jorphdan this will make us very happy!

[@Grinnar]

@@kedraroth you're not wrong.

[@Dahaka-rd6tw]

@@Jorphdan Could you do video on ice-flavored one-headed demogorgogn, AKA Cryonax?

[@gasmonkey1000]

Vecna's Eye, Vecna's Hand, now Vecna's Rod? Damn, at this rate we're gonna get Vecna's Kidney and Vecna's Head

[@georgekaranikolove1830]

We don't talk about the Head of Vecna 😅

[@garhent]

@@georgekaranikolove1830 We really don't talk about the Genitalia of Vecna.

[@TheJohtunnBandit]

Vecna's Gallstone

[@Mr_Welch]

Dibs on his spleen

[@johngilbert8168]

What about The Liver of Vecna?

[@williamragsdale8611]

The book of vile darkness is also in Planescape and he holds that in his ribcage in his new design.

[@Qedhup]

Ohhh the Rod of 7 parts? That's a classic! I remember that being a thing back in my AD&D days. Interesting.

[@superpheemy]

Between the Rod and Blackrazor, D&D has woven the Runestaff and Stormbringer into it's deep lore from the very beginning.

[@cameronpearce5943]

Miska’s new art is sick!! He looks like GranDracmon

[@chuvarova6052]

I'm pretty sure it doesn't work this way, but assembling the full rod with all of its pieces, and using it to cast True Ressurection on Vecna to turn him mortal somehow and finally be able to kill him somehow would be a really cool way to do it.

[@Neverfate]

While not a full Greyhawk setting the Ghosts of Saltmarsh adventure is seemingly set there. I've been running it, but I've done extensive conversions to set it in Eberron's Lhazaar Principalities, so offhand I cannot recall what Greyhawk elements it has.

[@TopTierKnees]

Yep, Saltmarsh is in Greyhawk. Though the book doesn't explore the realm much beyond the town, a brief overview of the gods, and one or two other locations. If you players wanted to head to the capital you were either improving or digging up 2nd edition books. It also gave a lot of text to setting it in other realms, so I imagine a lot of players experienced Saltmarsh but not Greyhawk.

[@samsampier7147]

The Scarlett Brotherhood is the biggest hook. The Keoland and Sea Princes seem minor in comparison. In my FR Salt Marsh I struggled to really make Zhentarim as sinister as Scarlett Brotherhood. I ended up making Faithful Quartermasters of Iuz into Thayan spies (rivals to Skerrin).

[@ROY0BOY0]

A Wendean wind duke called Qadeej killed Mishka apparently. One of the seven wandering dukes after icosiol and zosiel beefed it. Age of Worms ftw.

[@sir.rettfordiii8824]

I'm running that adventure as of writing, and my group just got to Icosiol's Tomb.

[@ChilleBruh]

🫶

[@ROY0BOY0]

Sweet! It was my first campaign, my friend was running those dungeon magazine modules for 3.5e. You running a 5e adaption?@@sir.rettfordiii8824

[@MathewsonMedia]

The Age of Worms was set in Greyhawk with the location of one part of the Seven in the Whispering Cairn. Also The "plains" of Perth were in Greyhawk according to the Dungeon Magazine 12 issue adventure.

[@maskrising8484]

the last location of the eye of vekna was in spelljammers when dnd's channel did a spell jammer campaign. a certian githyanki got ahold of it...

[@seekthevisceral]

Jorphdan, your hair looks fantastic. Thanks for showing us the mad world of Vecna!

[@Moleje1337]

Hey, yeah, so true.

[@theeuda]

Interesting. A comedy podcast called D&D minus dealt with the wand of 7 parts and the chaos queen. I didn't know it tied to old 2nd ED.

[@jefferyjenkins6518]

oh shit! you did what ive been pondering doing for about 4 yrs now, Rod of Seven Parts in 5e! may just find myself watching that campaign :D

[@golfpants]

Jorphdan…not sure how long you’ve had the new intro up…but I LOVE IT. Made me laugh. At first I wondered if you changed your name….but then the PH and a subtle “shhhh” played: well done. Oh,ya….and Verna and the Rod7…Ty. Love your monologue and deep dives.

[@skyebrandon5]

The free adventure that comes with the digital purchase is called Nest of the Eldritch Eye, so I’m thinking that’s our tie-in to where the eye might be.

[@Hyodorio]

I'm honestly excited for this and hopefully the Great Modron March can come back soon!

[@Grinnar]

Vecna lives, you say? Or unlives. Or something. Hey notification gang!

[@urDM2nite]

I was waiting for this video. You are the guy that brought me to this amazing story. I have ran two campaigns from the old adventure. Looking forward to the new book.

[@randallbestrcb]

As always, love the Vecna-related content! Where do you think the eye might be, maybe locked in a vault under the City of Brass or maybe Sazz Tam is holding on to it for a special occasion... Also, what's the close out music on your videos? A track from someone or just a little ditty. Would love a 1hr loop of that, it's got a great beat :)

[@superpheemy]

Ghosts of Saltmarsh gives 5th edition a glimpse into the Greyhawk setting. So that campaign might have some relevance. Also, the Mordenkainen books (Tome of Foes, Monsters of the Multiverse) and Tasha's Cauldron also have some nods to Greyhawk. I'd like to see a callback to Blackmoor, should the adventure want to give a tour of the various campaigns of D&D over the past 50 years. I wonder if there will be a small detour to Athas, or the Birthright universe?

[@nerdaccount]

I love the way you explain stuff!

[@cbear3476]

Wild how that dude from Critical Role is canon in DnD

[@PilotSun-rg9bh]

Such a great fun video!

[@matthewwhelehan5185]

One of those symbols (Baldur's Gate adventure) is the icon for Bhaal. Perhaps Vecna is revealed as the god of murder in Faerun? Perhaps the bottom one is for Miska the Wolf Spider?

[@FoxItAll]

I have a 2nd edition Wind Elf Monk who hunted down all the rods and wields the staff. He was level 14 when we stopped playing. Love that character to death.

[@DorsonKieffer]

Ghost of Saltmarsh is set in Greyhawk.

[@anthonyvitale5350]

Running a 4E adventure called deaths reach, and the eye of Vecna shows up there! My players don’t realize they have have it yet 😂

[@darriandalangini377]

This is great!

[@roninanwar]

Not sure if this was said, but the skull with tear drops around it is the symbol for Bhaal and is on the cover of Baldur's Gate 1.

[@NetoD20]

Loved the Testament of the Suns cameo ^^ When are we getting a video on Invisible Sun beyond the unboxing?

[@Jorphdan]

Oh maybe, I've been trying to find the right players for it beyond a one-shot I ran. The world is so cool~

[@darjr]

New WotC video about it just dropped too.

[@MarkLongland]

The 7 glyphs each have a number hidden in them, so assume match each part of the rod

[@chillychew8123]

In new art for the book / miniature models, they confirmed Miska the Wolfspider will be in the book :)

[@meikahidenori]

Looking forward to a setting hopping adventure!

[@criminalmatrix6]

The man in armor at 6:25ish looks like Sturm Brightblade from Dragonlance.

[@robodad1]

I’m really excited for this book. I’m curious about why they cut the first ten levels, but I imagine it’s so you can go from Curse Of Strahd or Avernus or Spelljammer etc and then do Vecna. That’s pretty cool if true.

[@PrestonThorpe]

I dropped the Eye into Tomb of Annihilation and had Withers tormenting the party with it

[@markusnavergard2387]

bet the Greyhawk one is where you confront Vecna. Back where it started

[@donkeyfly43]

I love the set!

[@MilieuGames]

I'm running ToA. Hopefully, I can easily lead that into this adventure. Seems like it should work. Acererak is in both and the Aarakocra being directly connected to the rod of seven parts.

[@dogfromotgw]

rod of seven parts is what they call my ding dong only the "parts" are millimeters 😎🔥

[@joshuaharmon6684]

I spent the past three years designing my own adaptation of the 2nd edition Rod of Many Parts campaign in the 5th edition Sword Coast, and then finally got a play group to try it out three weeks ago. And then they announce this, and as I listened to the interview video I kept hearing them mention things that I had come up with on my own. Fortunately their version is still quite different from mine, but, I hope my players don't think I was trying to copy this brand new book. Mine is a sandbox similar to Curse of Strahd, but it begins at character level 1 rather than level 10, and uses my variation of the balancing system from the Sword Coast Legends video game.

[@micahinnerarity9563]

What's the balancing system! Do tell more

[@Unch0sen1]

Vecna?! On this channel?! It's more likely than you think!

[@rodrigobastosmello1184]

That just anounce a introdutory adventure with the Eye of Vecna

[@TheOneandPrime]

I think the man with a sword is one of the Knights of Solomonia from Dragonlance

[@swguygardner]

With Wizards being how they are lately, I wouldn't be surprised if this adventure only has you collect 3 peices. You'll have to buy the next installment for the remaining 4 (-ish)!

[@JamesAdams-nd1td]

Shame they don’t also take you to Mystara, Dark Sun, and Birthright (and Blackmoor), but this is really cool. I know some people were concerned about 5e hyping up the multiverse in recent modules, but this seems like the proper way to do it: a big celebration of DnD’s legacy.

[@michaelnesci6677]

With the obelisks being tied to schools of magic (if I’m remembering correctly) is it possible that the rod of seven parts lore be changed so that each part reflects a specific school of magic, and the spell you get would be tied to that school. Combining would give you access to a spell that has both scrolls maybe. Maybe the runes are representing the various schools. And maybe the rod is an all powerful arcane object that will allow vecna to reclaim his godhood once more. Or increase it even more not sure on the lore and his deity status for 5e.

[@jamescrawford8538]

These are so interesting

[@daviddoesntsucc]

man, poor day for this to be posted, DND just posted a video that adds some more info to this!!

[@johnstuartkeller5244]

5:45 "We don’t have a good Greyhawk ..." We do. You just have to convert stats from the AD&D source material.

[@Jorphdan]

Well I should have said 5e. This will be a 5e adventure so I was referencing the 5e settings.

[@johnstuartkeller5244]

@@Jorphdan I figured, hence the conversion suggestion 🤘

[@fisherguy45]

As a guy whos been playing since the mid-70s this is fun stuff!!

[@UltimaGabe]

IIRC the hero that stabbed Miska with the rod was a Wind Duke named Icosiel

[@D--FENS]

Was his title "the Captain of Law?" I know I've heard that somewhere.

[@UltimaGabe]

@D--FENS I'm not sure, but the history of the Rod of Seven Parts was involved in the Age of Worms adventure path (the players visit the tombs of two of the Wind dukes, including Icosiel's). When I get home I'll try to find the issues and see what it says in there!

[@doublea125]

And then after you collect all seven parts of the rod, it summons Shenron.

[@Jorphdan]

The logical next step.

[@CapnSnackbeard]

Hasboro Lich: "Who the hell is gonna buy all these old books?" Future Marketing Superstar: "I have an idea..."

[@ErkoSalo]

Nice intro!

[@LaggyLoke]

Pretty sure The Shattered Obelisk explains what the obelisks are.

[@shawnott5503]

Eve of Ruin has me very excited! My entire homebrew campaign setting is inspired by events in Descent into Avernus where my PC, actually killed Arkhan the Cruel and took the Hand of Vecna for themselves. Hopefully I can maybe place this someone in my timeline~

[@cryptking6283]

The Rod of Seven Parts is also in the 3rd edition Arms and Equipment Guides supplement

[@ReadingDave]

In first edition, we ran the rod with Dispater, Bezubul, various Efreeti, and a Type V demon ruling a nation as the big bads.

[@ReadingDave]

For Greyhawk there is Ghosts of the Saltmarsh or perhaps Tales from the Yawning portal?

[@shanegordon4060]

I think the man with the sword might be domains of dread Kas.

[@LordDarque]

this is very similar to the campaign I've been running for about a year now.

[@Sylrieth]

Anyone else think this one shot "nest of the eldritch eye" might perhaps be how they introduce the eye of vecna

[@johngleeman8347]

Ooh. Hoping for new statblocks and lore on the Queen of Chaos and Miska the Wolf Spider.

[@TxSonofLiberty]

I can read the symbols: Ruat, Coelum, Fiat, Justicia, Ecce, Lex, and Rex... it is right there... they're not just the ruins to bind the piece, they're the command words. You show each one.

[@KnicKnac]

I’ll be interested in your review or tin foil hat ideas about the module with Vecna when they release that book this year.

[@wminster]

As you said, there isn’t much from Greyhawk already, but Vecna is FROM Greyhawk, isn’t he? Surely we’re going to get a good setting now.

[@tatsuvoid]

W00t, Invisible Sun... and of course Vecna 😄.

[@redemption101caleb]

I’m gonna show no mercy in DMing this for my players. I love Vecna, my current wizard is a Vecna cultist. I want to see him win 😂

[@PaulGuy]

I think the knight guy in the crystal might be Kas the Betrayer.

[@TheLordWinter]

I'd be willing to bet dollars-to-donuts that the "fighter" we are seeing on the cover is Kas himself, wielding his iconic sword.

[@thiseffingm]

hey how many obelisks have there been again?

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

This is the only book WotC has coming out that really interests me but I’ll wait to buy it second hand.

[@drop_that_bass]

Did anyone else notice that Miska was shown in the Vecna video that D&D put out today?

[@TimeLapsePrints]

You're one of very few creators in the 5e space I still watch. 5e still makes me mad for what could have been, but your lore dives draw from all over the history of the IP and the game and some how trigger my nostalgia more than my 5e bitterness.

[@user-ep4ps3hn5w]

Joe DiMaggio, Centerfielder for the NEEEEW YORK YANKEEEES, up to bat. Huh....well Arch, what do you suppose that new leathery glove is he is using...Mel, I don't think that is a glove.

[@tooslow4065]

how exactly do you get in and out of ravenloft when that was supposed to be a one way trip? and what if you built a teleport-proof room, would the rods still teleport out?

[@Mr_Welch]

They dont acknowledge Greyhawk even with Saltmarsh but decide to go add it as the last setting for Vecna. Would have been great to see new GH on the Guilds first

[@DoctorCJDM]

Strongly considering parlaying Eve of Ruin with my current campaign. Currently running Lost Mines, while leads to Phandelver & Below, which could lead to Eve of Ruin. Thoughts?

[@louis1372]

How are Stellar Dragons (Spelljammer) and especially Mikado, the Leader, with his crystal horn growing from his forehead connected to the Rod?

[@EugeneGM1]

No Dragonlance. Interesting. Also thought they'd do more to incorporate the Radiant Citadel into the D&D 'verse.

[@thewe1rdw1zard65]

The hand of vecna is found into DIA? maybe the eye is in spelljammer and book of vile darkness is in ravenloft?

[@HmmBearGrr]

This video is timed like perfectly with the one that the D&D channel released today. Do you have an inside source or something? (/j)

[@Jorphdan]

WotC is always one step ahead of me!

[@jebgordon6608]

We don't have a good Greyhawk setting yet? Maybe not a 5E specific one, but there is a ton of great Greyhawk material out there.

[@nobody342]

If you want to play in Greyhawk, whyt not just play either 1e or basic and play in the world with all of its 1e content! You can not do a good Greyhawk setting using 5e, it just doesnt work!

[@chaosincarna]

When I saw the thumbnail I read it as "Vacina," and kept asking myself who tf is Vecna and what does that have to do with DnD. Sometimes the brain doesn't want to make things easy.

[@minimoose7890]

Shhh! Vecna is listening

[@Unabonger420]

6:20 or a Solamnic knight...

[@kiruppert]

Its okay, I know what happened to the Eye (in my campaign anyway) it has been found by an orcish priest of Vecna who is a former Eye of Gruumsh.

[@R2-DPOO]

Am I the only person distracted by the early 2000’s fat-back TV in the background?!? 😮

[@Jorphdan]

The best way to play my SNES.

[@TheAsteroth]

The man with the sword could be kas. Looks like the sword of kas

[@davidbadillomirete8226]

I have a theory that the hag eye in curse of strahd is not a hag eye but the eye of Vecna, and that after Vecna was betrayed by Kas some part of vecna was trap on Barovia inside one of the amber blocks, the one wich is broke and surrounded by mimics, somehow the eye was smugled by the hags to Barovia and they came to break the amber block after Vecna was free he hide on Barovia, not because he feared Strahd but because he didn't want to reveal his location and waited for the heroes to defeat Strahd on his own to make his scape from Barovia, maybe the dark powers who can teach lichdom and Vampirism are the entities who showed Vecna and Kas how to become a Lich and a Vampire on 5e lore(I know it's another entity in older lore but they change more important things)

[@robmccoy332]

How does this adventure stand up to the Doomed FR Vecna adventures? They both feel epic. Can they both be used together for an even more epic campaign?

[@Jorphdan]

Well it's not out yet, but I would think it could be a fun way to use both! Maybe players have to "end game" travel through time to stop their Doomed FR.

[@VengefulJarl]

I'm probably going too nerd with it but those 7 sigils look based on Enochian, the biblical language of angels. What I would say would be representative of celestial or Supernal, the language of the gods. If that tracks then it might mean something to do with the heavens, maybe the 7 heavens of mount Celestia. Just my thoughts.

[@davidpalumbo9009]

Vecna - created the sword of KAS and KAS was a vampire lord if my WOGH history is correct.

[@lancearmada]

I wonder how much of this lore they will change…