Vecna Mystery Defined! Did We Solve It?

[@TakaD20]

we had the rod end joke coming for some episodes now :D

[@gamemasters]

I see what you did there!

[@RyanZibell]

The party finally locates and secures the final part and it's... a fishing reel?

[@gamemasters]

but imagine the fish that sucker can catch! We're talking eldritch type fish! perhaps.. even Cthulhu himself!

[@surge123456789]

So it's the Rod of Vecna?

[@keiths81ca]

Definitely right about the symbols. Just a question of does Vecna need the Rod of Law? We know that the party needs the Rod to stop him.

[@gamemasters]

I theorize that once the players make the rod, vecna will steal it away. We pondered that because of the rod's ability to turn anyone holding it to shift towards a lawful alignment.. would that cause Vecna to change his alignment? Further, if that happened, would it cause him to still destroy the multiverse, not because he is evil, but because "balance" reasons - a - la Thanos. More of my musings on it can be found here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZeVhGCbjpmprdE

[@gamemasters]

and that's interesting too.. I had assumed that Vecna was the one putting thr Rod of 7 Parts together, but that isn't the case, it's US that will be heh

[@ChadHensley]

Preordered my book this past weekend! Definitely a sucker for the alternate covers.

[@gamemasters]

And supporting the local game store is always a good deed!

[@maatlock]

Great video!!! I'm all in on your theory

[@gamemasters]

I mean.. I've tried to debunk it, but the only alternate thing I can come up with is that the rod we see in this may be a different rod.. with... seven parts.

[@FoxMonkey]

Based on the initial start of your video I was gonna be like dude you stole this from other people... THEN you added so much more. GREAT JOB my dude.♥ I really think this has to do with some remaking of the wheel of the world cosmology and what vecna will make it

[@gamemasters]

Nah, nothing stolen, just looking at what's out there and putting 2 and 6 together to see what it might add up to.

[@talldarkstrangerpr]

oh that landing man. in the quiet words of sterling archer: phrasing!

[@gamemasters]

boom.

[@Darkwintre]

Not surprised they would change that. They aren't tied to the past like most of us would be. Just hope they don't mess this up!

[@gamemasters]

IF it is the Ro7P... I'm a touch disappointed of the size change... the overall look.. okay. but I guess I'm just nitpicky haha

[@graywolfdracon]

Is it possible that the seven symbols represent the seven schools of magic and that rod you showed is actually not the Rod of Seven Parts but a different rod ment to combat it?

[@gamemasters]

that's possible!

[@yurimolino5435]

Aren't the schools of magic 8 in Number? ​@@graywolfdracon

[@ConradRotho]

@@graywolfdraconThat would be so much interesting!

[@SoaresPatrick]

There are 7 symbols on the cover of the adventure book that contain an item called The Rod of Seven Parts. That wasn't that difficult.

[@gamemasters]

sure, it's not difficult but without proof it's just a theory. besides, 'c'mon, haven't you ever shot the bull with folks at the local game store? Talked about random things pertaining to games? That's what I do here, it's like being at the local game store, we BS about the games we enjoy playing.

[@GregWaller-t6c]

The spelljammer symbol is actually a Star Moth ship, known to be used extensively by the Xaryxian Armada and may have something to do with Xarxispace before (or after?) the events of Light of Xaryxis.

[@gamemasters]

hmm... Good catch! That's possible! hmm...!

[@okuraorca]

Gotta say, this is an adventure I'm **really** looking forward to!

[@gamemasters]

I just hope it has the big impactful "secrets" that they keep taunting about..

[@pescyn]

I didn't considering buying that module ... but now i am at least curious - rode, i mean rad theories and ideas about artefact

[@gamemasters]

I'm fairly excited for it.. but... once I get a review copy, I'll let everyone know for sure if it's "all that" or not.

[@heshtrotter6133]

I think you're spot on with what it is, but I don't think the picture you showed is the completed rod. They have now admitted the Rod of Seven Parts is part of the adventure.

[@gamemasters]

I dunno, it does appear rather short when you look at it, but.. there are clear 6 lines of "separation" showing this to be 7 parts. We shall find out in just a few days!

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

I think you're spot on Ugh, ya that was set up on a tee for you.

[@gamemasters]

haha

[@DavidsonMoslak]

This managed to somehow hype me up more about this book. Bitchin video, thanks guys.

[@gamemasters]

For ME it's all lore driven. I mean, I get that things are different and it's not the exact same lore as from AD&D days, but the fact that this character, the item, and settings have been around for soooo long, it's easy to get excited about. I'm hyped for sure.

[@DavidsonMoslak]

@@gamemasters yeah I was really excited when they said the rod of seven parts was also gonna be in it in addition to everything else: Vecna, greyhawk, mordenkainen, etc. I guess they must've had this sort of planned for at least a little while for the 50th anniversary.

[@noid1978]

I thought the symbols were also used to stop the evil creature that the rod had been connected to.

[@gamemasters]

hmm... possibly? I don't recall seeing that when researching the Rod of Seven Parts, but there is A LOT of material out there so it's possible that there is something hidden in the lore somwhere.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZeVhGCbjpmprdE

[@rendarcrow]

I believe theirs an obelisk in curse of strahd

[@gamemasters]

there are some obelisks in several adventures, Rime of the Frost Maiden features one as well.

[@thactotum]

wonder if the 3 greyed are meant as the methods of transportation between worlds or if they're going for outer plane, ethereal realms, and space. If they hadn't deleted the Phlogiston for the astral sailing I'd say it was a map of the transitive planes. I was hoping the symbols might be representative of the 7 locations/worlds. It was too much to hope they would use the emerald tablets of alchemy with it's stage of the great work, with the 7 metals/7planets. to inform the aspects of the fragmented rod and fragmented first world with archetypal aspects. I briefly entertained the idea that it might be something like the strixhaven subdivisions but that's based on the 5 color wheel of MTG. so much opportunity to use, and I suspect they'll use one of it.

[@gamemasters]

It's going to be a book full of secrets and evidently a lot of different connections. I would be pleased if we were to "revisit" some old scenarios.

[@thactotum]

@@gamemasters I kind of hope they skip Athas, but I can usually enjoy a reimagining/reboot. I do think there was mention of an anthology of 'revisits' of adventures. I'd be curious to take saltmarsh, yawning portal and the new one and see if they give examples of translating old to new that enable translating 50 years of previous adventures to modern editions.

[@mrpiratedancer4rrr]

It could be a rod of 10 parts. With three more pieces having the centre ring runes (there are three more rod pieces depicted there - likely to be introduced in the module itself) Update: *facepalm* - the final three pieces could simply be the hand, eye, and... sword of vecna(maybe?) but they still could come together to make the 10 parts... of Vecna or Vecna's plan. I still wouldn't be surprised if there's a piece previously untalked about until this module that would need to be introduced before it's possible for Vecna to undertake this plan.

[@gamemasters]

heh rod of 8 part or rod of 10 parts.. ya know... at this point.. that would not surprise me.

[@johngilbert8168]

I thought of this also, but I didn't delve into the promo material........ im very intrigued.

[@gamemasters]

yep, I think several folks are coming to the same conclusion. It just makes sense. PLUS if you count the golden "sticks" there are 7.. which I think would represent the rod's 7 parts.

[@johngilbert8168]

@gamemasters personally, im happy to see Greyhawk come back. That was my 2e setting of choice. The guys I played with in high school, Greyhawk, were our choice along with occasional trips to Ravenloft.

[@rodrigobastosmello1184]

Stradh has one of the seven rod part, is show in a art

[@gamemasters]

aye, it does appear to be him.

[@saraphys5555]

You asked why Im not doing video's on D&D... ...because I dont get promo images to be able to examine and compare their lore to past editions... especially 2E. I mean, you saw my commentary on your Discord...Im convinced this whole EoR will be their excuse to "Execute Order 66" and make the next "edition"s default setting become Nentir Vale; their attempted "mish-mash" of Greyhawk & Forgotten Realms settings from 4E. Only time will tell on that, though... As for the back symbol on the deluxe edition... Something occur's to me... The imagery has the 7 pieces with these "rod" icons seperating each one, right? But...so does the middle 3 greyed ones... Avernus had Arkhan in it, who has the Hand of Vecna... did Strahd have any characters who had a suspicious Eye? (I dont own it) ...as for Spelljammer, well, due to the changes to Wildspace and the Phlogiston, we know its part of a space where Dead Gods lay... Maybe the Rod is a step in the adventure, and reforming his hand and eye with a new body made of dead Gods is the objective? And the Ro7P's is part of how he intends to supersize his power to destroy the multiverse? I mean, it sounds like the lame-ass writing I would expect from nowadays...

[@gamemasters]

If we look at the regular cover, it's got a "spirted" hand and eye back onto Vecna.. so it's possible that he has already retrieved those?

[@DavidsonMoslak]

I see you have fallout on your wishlist. As far as I know the library I donated my digital code to did not use it. I'd be happy to give you it. It's a really good core book and system i think.

[@gamemasters]

That is very kind of you, but I have word that a physical copy may be in my near future :)

[@DavidsonMoslak]

@@gamemasters well if that falls through let me know. I also have a couple other codes laying around. VtM and L5R and maybe one other.

[@DavidsonMoslak]

@@gamemasters one thing I will say about fallout is they made deathclaws way too weak compared to the video games. They should've made variant templates for them they have them for other creatures in the bestiary section but they need more. Another good Sci Fi RPG that I've thoroughly enjoyed that isn't a big IP is Eldritch Century. It has some of the neatest classes.

[@Parmandur]

Yup, think that's it.

[@gamemasters]

I mean.. it makes perfect sense.

[@alisterkold]

Well you're probably right and I'll do u one better where they are on the back of the book is where we will find the parts 2 in avernus 2 spelljamer 2 in ravenloft and I wouldn't be shocked if we find the hand and eye of venca in this plus get the sword of kas

[@gamemasters]

I cannot recall.. but I think it was in Vecna Lives! that the players go to Ravenloft to try to talk Kas into helping them, I think in that he gives them his sword but also tells them that it won't do any good. I forget what exactly happened to it after that..

[@alisterkold]

@gamemasters you're right but doesn't mean they won't bring it into the story again since there is alot of newer players that never played venca lies,venca reborn, or die venca die like we have

[@Kooster69]

If your guess is right, then that gives me another reason not to trust Mordenkainen.

[@gamemasters]

no kidding!

[@Satori2046]

haha great analysis

[@gamemasters]

just following the bread crumbs :)

[@fleetcenturion]

It's time to stop treating 5e like it's D&D anymore.

[@gamemasters]

lol I get it now.

[@fleetcenturion]

Seriously? You're treating a campaign in Critical Role like it's canon?

[@lucid1934]

A few years after Joe played Arkhan in Critical Role, WotC worked with him to put Arkhan (with the Hand of Vecna) into Descent into Avernus. WotC's decision makes it canon, not what happened on Critical Role.

[@fleetcenturion]

@@lucid1934 - I respect WotC even less. It's sure to be retconned, when the Chinese finally buy them out.

[@gamemasters]

are you familiar with what canon is? It's in Descent into Avernus, an official D&D book.. If being in an official book doesn't make it canon.. I dunno what else would? I mean, I get it, you may not be a fan of critical role (I'm certainly not) but if the folks that put the book together decided to include it, then there it is.

[@fleetcenturion]

@@gamemasters - So, everybody just knows where the Hand of Vecna is now? Seems legit to me. So if they were to, I don't know... say that all the Darklords of Ravenloft are women now, I guess that's just how it always was then. Or that if mind flayers are just misunderstood, retain all their memories after killing the host, and are s*xually attracted to humanoids, then that's all cool too, right? Nothing weird about that. No need to question anything, I guess, so long as some 20-something editor at WotC rubber stamps it.

[@fleetcenturion]

@@gamemasters - As much as despise how Weis & Hickman butchered DragonLance after their original series, and turned it into a Mormon-ized version of Warhammer Fantasy, they at least had a legitimate claim to be able to alter the story. I can grant no such respect to the D&D campaign of a few D-list celebs.