Vecna Reborn in Ravenloft | D&D Lore

[@Jorphdan]

Vecna Merch! - teespring.com/die-vecna-die

[@brewticonmohiswarman1584]

My group has really wanted me to rerun them through Curse of Strahd and change it up somehow. This seems... like the best way to do it.

[@johnfunkhauser8201]

Look into the grand conjunction, it takes a lot of work, but it's wonderful if done right.

[@goolabbolshevish1t651]

Had a DM who split the vampires into two distinct types. Type one was nosferatu, they got nice resistances and greater physical ability but were really weak to the classic tropes and not very smart. Type two was highborn, they were much rarer and had to be created by another high born on purpose, were not nearly as weak to silver or holy water, (still hurt but not in an obvious physical way, which meant with good rolls they could pretend to be human) They also had magical ability and were smart. It allowed for the addition of subterfuge and the question of who is human & is that noble secretly a vampire just using me against rivals ?

[@gamercore5216]

Look into can Richten's guide

[@titheas125]

Thanks for all the lore man!

[@brewticonmohiswarman1584]

@@titheas125 I wish I knew what you said.... friend?

[@nicktauro1839]

Vecna "finally I'm a greater god! Time to go to the city of doors and-" The lady of pain "no"

[@fredericklapointe2524]

Actually, Vecna succeed in entering the city of doors and The Lady is powerless to throw him out. Thus enter the adventurer who goes into the HQ of Vecna in Sigil (The armory of the Doomguard) and fight him. A very epic quest I did a long time ago.

[@patrickdees5256]

@@fredericklapointe2524 I feel like she got nerfed there, if just looking at her could kill you, and gods need permission to enter her city.

[@marsneedstowels]

@@patrickdees5256 It was the final AD&D module and they wanted to go big AND go home. 3rd edition then blandified Planescape.

[@patrickdees5256]

@@marsneedstowels well that's dumb

[@theancientone7798]

Patrick Dees Well he was given advice by a part of the world serpent

[@ronanfel8191]

The "Serpent" sounds like Asmodeus, who's true form is one of the first 2 Couatl.

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

Cool history lesson and good information on the domains of dread. Good video

[@Jorphdan]

Much appreciated

[@chanciestfan2087]

I would really some more greyhawk lore!

[@AAron-gr3jk]

I think they'll do it. both Ravenloft and tomb of annihilation are well received. it's a big popular villain. and I think they want to get back to Ravenloft

[@Daleksaresupreme1]

I love Greyhawk, that is all

[@georgep.4145]

okay now Wizards of The Coast, make an adventure where we get to HELP Vecna, enough about being the "heroes". DARK POWERS BABYYYY

[@cruelldevil5407]

Anyone know where the pictures are from at 2:23?

[@thealchemist8514]

Third, and yay for my patron the lich lord!

[@archam777]

Is his appearance in critical role/Vox Machina(Tel Dori), DnD canon?

[@Jorphdan]

DnD canon is tricky. It's all tied to settings and storylines. Short answer, no. Long answer it is canon for vox machina and potentially the greater critical role setting

[@MetaMetallic]

It was 01 the entire time...

[@kenis77]

Where’s part 3 ?

[@Jorphdan]

here ya go kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJKcZ4GjgNOCj9U

[@Cucumber_Jones]

Wouldn't a wish spell do it, instead of the big cockamamie scheme? Or a simulacrum could go after Kas and probably still be plenty powerful for the job... Idk. Just curious about options Vecna likely already has readily available that would not require him to put himself in danger of a party of adventurers to stumble in and ruin. I haven't played in decades but the plot seems... Idk kinda silly and likely unnecessary. Anyone else think about this story along these lines?

[@dragonkin877]

So I know it's been a year since you commented this but to answer your question. The dark Powers the dreadlords whatever you want to call. Are pretty much the most powerful things with in. Dungeons & dragons very little is known about them and what is understood is confusing and brings up more questions than anything else. Those Powers brought both of them to their current stat and they for want for what ever whether it be for punishment or some twisted game. Theywish for them to keep fighting each other for all of eternity. So even if one figure out a way around the mists and did succeed they most likely will just reset it to continue it again. Strahd has been killed several times but always comes back most likely the same would happened to those two.

[@LordBrittish]

So the serpent told Vecna to eat an apple... and he bit?

[@joshuaosiris]

I'm always puzzled why WOTC doesn't reintroduce these modules into 5th ed. It is a great source of lore and would be an easy way to make money while they work on newer modules. Then I remember what WOTC is doing to D&D by only focusing on being woke and not the actual game, then I get sad again.

[@nonnayerbusiness7704]

I'm sad that you attribute "wokeness" to a corporation when simply creating new material has a larger audience than reworking old material. It must be hard to think that your game of playing pretend is being taken away from you by your online enemies.

[@ldl1477]

"Wokeness" is burning itself out of society, and while its very annoying, every period has its trying times, and better Wokeness than, say, The Depression, or another world war, or maybe even the cold war?

[@joshuaosiris]

@@nonnayerbusiness7704 That's the exact mentality I am writing about. I guess its equally hard to be a victim all the time and believe that the only way to eases your make-believe trama by throwing a temper tantrum. I am sure you don't know there but if you want a game like try GURPS.

[@Enclave.]

Vecna wants to be the last greater deity. Yeah...maybe leave Mystra alone, I'd rather magic didn't go completely haywire yet again and when another tries to take over her domain nothing good ever comes of it to the weave or to that god themselves either.

[@dragonkin877]

Greyhawk and the forgotten realms are in different spheres they wouldn't affect one another.

[@Fleenoratttv]

666th viewer, Dark Power approved.

[@timjackmaster1385]

Fuck I don't live in the Future :(

[@TwoGnomes]

When I first looked at this it had 666 views

[@butlerteach7473]

It's at 777 likes right now

[@msoulforged]

Ah the book 'domains of dread'. It was one of my favorite books to read over and over again back in the high school days. I could not afford an original so I got a black and white copy, but it felt better than many aaa games of today.

[@tezmylife]

I'm a simple person, I see jorphdan(ph silent) I click

[@gustavk2977]

I was on the way to work when he posted it. Was like Jorphdan makes Wednesday the superior day of the week.

[@mattmaughan6871]

I think of the dark powers as the true counterpoints to the gods. The gods in d&d dwell in the astral sea natively, as they are expressions of thought. We worship or give will to the idea and ideal of duty and honor and the astral sea gives us torm. Mortals worship or give will to beauty and love, and sune is. The dark powers are similar expressions in the astral sea, but they have no names and cant really be described, they are secretive and unknowable because they are the darkest parts of mortals, the dark dark stuff deep within that we dont allow ourselves to acknowledge or even percieve. These powers are nihilistic, and interact with the universe to bring about its own destruction. Thats why they perpetuate and empower evil. They give those on self destructive courses, (like strahd) the power to multiply their evil and destruction. The dark powers are that impulse within us all to jump when we are near a precipice.

[@Lucca00000]

I hate that Wizards disregard the well crafted lore of Ravenloft from the 3.5 and ignore the other Darklords of Ravenloft and all the possibilities of using Ravenloft as a actual good campaign setting

[@JamiesonHorton]

The reissue of Curse of Strahd was a golden opportunity to sell us an additional campaign guide.

[@anthonylipira9526]

Instead, they keep doubling down on MtG crossovers.

[@benfawefwaeffwaefawfdekk2080]

With the recent spooky UA and the vistani changes I think theres a good chance we'll get a Ravenloft source book after Tasha's

[@joluoto]

Ravenloft lore is mostly 2E, and has thus been ignored for a loong time. But so has alot of the 2E lore, it's kinda cursed that way.

[@jameswhite3043]

I hate every old adventure and historic NPC being adapted into Forgotten Realms. I understand the reason, but, as an old Grognard, I won't buy or use them. Ive adapted old 1st and 2nd edition modules and material myself.

[@CloneShockTrooper]

I am truly a fan of second edition Ravenloft and I never will let go of this.. too much great lore. Favorite domains, Barovia (Strahd Von Zarovich), Darkon (Azalin) and Sithicus (Lord Soth)

[@ChooseLoveToday316]

Me too i also read all the books multiple times. If you live near Tampa let me know. Unfortunately i've never met another true fan irl

[@thespeedkingomega6357]

Wait. vecna tried to go to sigil? wouldnt the lady of pain beat his ass if he even tried? its pretty much stated that even greater gods cant really do shit in her territory.

[@Jorphdan]

Yep! He cheats his way in. It's interesting

[@vertical3life]

I have to ask this... is "ph is silent" just a branding or is this your actual name?

[@mrl9418]

Being a demigod isn't enough to escape the mists ?

[@ChrisMoneymakerDHRG]

nope

[@That80sGuy1972]

Not only is that a "no", but being in the mists actually reduces your divinity because of the isolation from worshipper energy... both ways. So, his pre-demigod status stopped him from becoming a fallen (dead) god.

[@TerrariaGolem]

Writing my own domain, needed lore on neighbors. This is truly a Jor(ph)dan Pro(ph)ecy moment.

[@mikeymcchoas3511]

I wish Vecna and Azalin could have met. Or Vecna and Strahd.

[@unbreakablelag]

That’s weird. KZbin unsubscribed me. Time to rectify that immediately!

[@Jorphdan]

Welcome back!

[@JCResDoc94]

*the vecna, the?*

[@lockskelington314]

Their are very few non-deities that you don't want to F*** with in all of D&D 1) Titania, Summer Queen and leader of the Seelie Court. 2) The Lady of Pain

[@Nykademos]

Mok'slyk, the Serpent, is rumored to be Asmodeus, not Orcus.

[@Jorphdan]

Oh where did you see that? Everything I read pointed to Orcus.

[@Nykademos]

@@Jorphdan ghwiki.greyparticle.com/index.php/The_Serpent Specifically the last print issue of Dragon, #375, addresses it out in the greatest D&D mystery section.

[@Nykademos]

Dragon #359, not 375.

[@o_double_t_o]

1:11 Wait wait wait… the Domains of Dread are from the ethereal plane? Not Shadowfell?? I seriously need to read up more on pervious editions of D&D because that’s rad! Or just watch more Jordphan videos 😅

[@Ash-qp2yw]

Jordan, are we going to get lore outside of Forgotten Realms? I'd love to have an "intro to" type of video for some of the other settings (Ravenloft, Greyhawk etc) as someone who doesn't play, but mostly learns lore through your videos!

[@Jorphdan]

Yeah that's a great idea. I have something just like this in the works! Stay tuned for October :D

[@Ash-qp2yw]

@@Jorphdan Awesome! I look forward to your coming videos

[@gabrieladerre2862]

I've visited all the lands of Ravenloft. Barovia is pretty cool. But, it, and Strahd, are far from the coolest things there! Ravenloft is awesome! Its my absolute favorite campaign setting! With Kara-Tur, including the info found in Oriental Adventures, being my second favorite.

[@mikeymcchoas3511]

Got bitten by the Ravenloft bug back in 1990. Own just about every product and love it all.

[@gabrieladerre2862]

@@mikeymcchoas3511 I have had to re-buy most of my 2nd edition Ravenloft stuff. Happens when you move about 10 or more times, some times cross-country, in a 20-plus year period! I was lucky enough to get another unopened Ravenloft box set, set. Tarokka Deck included! But my new one has misprints that my original didn't! I also wamt to find, or just re-purchase, the Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium, Vol 1 & 2! I have the original, loose leaf versions.

[@gabrieladerre2862]

Some people are able to link my name, to my being a Ravenloft fan boy! I haven't actually played D&D for years! But I am something of a writer. So, I have created my own original, home brew, Domains and Dark Lords. My favorite being a sort of coven, or sorcerous Chromatic Dragons. With another being a Gold Dragon Dracolich, who was, at one point, a Chosen of Bahamut! He was an Ancient Wyrmm, in life. A Paladin turned Blackguard, with some sorcerer levels.

[@gabrieladerre2862]

My Great Wyrm Red Dragon Darklord is a sorcerer too. But, the gag is, that he is very well versed in ice magics, A nifty little suprise for parties that prepared by getting fire resistant gear, potions, etc.!

[@SincerelyToxic]

Will Eddie be brought back by Vecna in Stranger Things?

[@mrl9418]

0:36 When you first get to the domains of dread they give you that as a guide

[@yanaleigh]

I really enjoyed this series. Are you planning to continue it? I enjoy learning about any of the domains but selfishly I hope that you at least cover Darkon. I'm going to be playing an Undead patron warlock in a Strahd campaign in January and my patron is going to be Azalin Rex. Should be fun.

[@joshuacaban1160]

I love dungeons and dragons best fantasy game ever made love it can't wait for the new movie comes out on March 3 2023 can't wait for it love it 😍😀❤🙌♥😊😍😀❤🙌♥😊😍😀❤

[@kittydaddy2023]

This takes me back to my Ravenloft Vecna campaign. I think the first player character died after shooting Vecna with an arrow during the Vecna monster reveal parley. You have to establish boundaries, ok. We ran it to actually complete Vecna's rebirth because, you know, Vecna makes magic items.

[@VengefulJarl]

The world serpent I believe is the original God of the Yuan-Ti before it splintered to the multiple deities like Murshulk, Sseth, etc.

[@jonsumner5899]

Is there anywhere I can find Becca in 5e cuz I'm trying to find him he does sound like a care try might like to run but I can't find him even in the 5e ravenloff campaign setting book

[@emanuelcamuglia5984]

pretty sure the serpent is Ahriman. the coolest bit of discarded old D&D lore ever. Ahriman is the prime deity of evil order, living at the bottom of the 9 hells devouring the souls of atheist and others that reject the gods. this dude is so badass that it's rumored Asmodeus is his simply his Avatar. i think Ahriman is empowering vecna so that when his ultimate demise comes he has the most powerful soul in the multiverse to power up and just devour everything

[@Harrison11106]

Well he/it DOES want armageddon to happen.

[@SirKaibel]

OMG, the serpent could very well be Ahriman!

[@Harrison11106]

That's what I think, especially after seeing MrRhexxs Asmodeus video.

[@SirKaibel]

@@Harrison11106 Exactly. Wasn't there an interview where wizards' employees made a comment about how the lore surrounding Asmodeus was deeper than what they were letting on?

[@cracyguy4ever]

Im gonna do this, but vecna doesn't have his hand and arkhan and krull are hunting him in ravenloft looking for the eye

[@bigbangerz5856]

Sounds a lot like a replay of Strahd vs. Azalin to me

[@theheavymetalhillbilly7152]

Can be easy to get into but hard to get out of...are those kids in the D&D cartoon really in the Ravenloft realm...Venger seems like he would fit in there lol

[@lostkrusader4495]

What I do know about this adventure is if you get an original copy, boy does it cost you. Cha-Ching! Oh and I also want to see Vecna vs Azalin. Epic!!!

[@Jorphdan]

PDF copy is reasonable though. 😊

[@danielbishop6743]

I always thought that book was German. The Venca The.

[@Pendragon78]

Would to see your take on when Lord Soth was taken to Ravenloft until the gods of Krynn took him back.

[@justincredible8184]

Vecna probably running ravenloft

[@jason-sp8nb]

It's literally brilliant on how he explains all about ravensloft I loved it I cannot say in words how fantastic it was to understand all about ravensloft I'll be listening and watching these again 👍

[@jamesnought7489]

Isn't Ravenloft in the Shadowfell? That's what I thought. (Not challenging, just trying to understand)

[@Jorphdan]

in 4th edition they wrapped the domains of dread into the shadowfell! The exact canon mythology is up in the air for 5th edition. I think they're keeping it ambiguous for 5e so that you can decide. The books I leveraged for this video were all 2nd edition, this was before the Shadowfell was narratively created for 4e. The shadowfell might have always been the negative energy plane, or wrapped up with the negative energy plane. Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey.

[@sergersgerhersh6594]

@@Jorphdan I think that's still the case in 5e, but I'm not 100% sure.

[@shaclown7721]

How's you come up with a name like jorphdan when the ph part is silent? In no textbook ever, has the ph been silent. Am i missing some wordplay joke or something?

[@Jorphdan]

nope no word play. It's just weird.

[@zach5539]

Jorphdan your videos have gotten so much better, your reading is amazing and your information is fantastic :)

[@Jorphdan]

Thanks! 🤩 Working harder every week 😁

[@zach5539]

@@Jorphdan I can tell! ☺️ The hard work is paying off!

[@DMtheDM93]

Could Vecna be the one that gave Strahd his power?

[@wallycastagnir]

cant wait. for. the most. hilarious title

[@KujakuDM]

What is the source on the Serpent possibly being Orcus?

[@Jorphdan]

5e Dungeon Masters Guide

[@junebug4004]

And here i thought he was a god.

[@ismael8391]

1:43 who is the artist?

[@victorbazan2676]

***uh, SPOILERS!🙄

[@capealio]

Where are the captions

[@maggintons]

If I made domains of dread, Id approach it as more than a mere top down map and as a 3D space with the domains being bubbles. Because of this it would be possible for the surrounding oceans to not have a bottom and just fade into mist as you enter another domain underneath, or fly into a big cloud in the sky that eventually causes you to wake up in a domain above.

[@mdrnsprtn554]

Any lore in the serpent

[@airsheeps]

I imagine running a game of Mork Borg set in the Burning Peaks would be a peanut-butter-and-chocolate level RPG combo.

[@IcsulX]

I hate this timeline :(

[@dragonchr15]

Oh lord...the mists are still kidnapping powerful undead creatures from various realms in 2020??? I remember this back in the mid 90s...lol

[@Wayne3]

I'm running COS and by coincidence made Vecna one of the vestiges to a player that was brought back as a vampire..

[@jprp999]

Ravenloft is actually a holding ground where Tharizdun keeps potential champions for when he is freed. :)

[@franciscop631]

Idk if your realise but you use so much magic the gathering imagery xDD and i can name every card's image you put in a video by heart, so i got my eye on you Ò.Ó

[@digunder14]

wonder if a changeling lich would only be able to change their bone structure?

[@odd435]

Love this video, Keep up the awesome work 👏 But also, is Kas pronounced Kaws and not KAs

[@rellicproduction]

In our current campaign we have Vecnas head with us, after he was defeated by others a pc found him, hes currently in a diving helmet, my druid just found the aether cape making me undead, so i think me and ol Vecy are about to get much closer

[@stevenvanderbor4330]

When you say “serpent” I think of Dendar

[@itzybitzyspyder]

0:35 rectal probes?!

[@Jorphdan]

wait, what?

[@benjoe1993]

Canonically there was so much wrong with that CriticalRole image xD But sure, they fought "a" Vecna.

[@Jorphdan]

They're an adventuring party 😀

[@benjoe1993]

@@Jorphdan Technically true. I meant that Exandria wasn't part of the canon mutiverse when Matt wrote the Vecna story and the picture is from the second campaign promo. Knowing the connection between CR and Vecna made me think you were trying to point out something specific there instead of just using them as a very random example.

[@yoelbendavid1711]

Hey Jorphdan, do you know anything about the Nelanther Isles and Asavir's Channel or why it is called that?

[@Jorphdan]

I do! Not off the top of my head, but it sounds like a great video topic :D

[@markusnavergard2387]

Isnt the serpent Dendar?

[@Jorphdan]

Some believe so!

[@O4C209]

I am from the future, but I do not see a link.

[@tagabundok1]

Way too many ads for such a short video 😞

[@rickward9322]

The knight of the black rose

[@jameswhite3043]

I hope Jorphdan pronounces "Sigil" correctly in the next video...

[@Jorphdan]

Hope again! 😅

[@Shcyhqer]

JoRFDAn best dan

[@sambro6657]

Season 3 of critical role

[@johnnyscifi]

I love Ravenloft!!!

[@TheBayzent]

Lord Soth next!

[@tomkerruish2982]

This should be added to your Ravenloft playlist.

[@Jorphdan]

Oh! You're right!

[@argentpuck]

0:36 ...TF?

[@Auriorium]

My personal head cannon is that The Domains of Dread and the Dark Powers are the creators of DnD but only there dark and twisted counterparts. So If Ao is the creator of the Forgotten Realms aka Ed Greenwood one of the Dark Powers is in fact him, tormenting one of his major villains in The Domains of Dread.

[@Arvaniz]

Gary Gygax with the mindset he had when he created The Tomb of Horrors? ;-)

[@Auriorium]

@@Arvaniz yes.

[@yseson_]

Another great video! Thanks JorfDan

[@Jorphdan]

Np 👍

[@ChrisMoneymakerDHRG]

Great video! Keep up the good work.

[@Jorphdan]

Thanks!

[@joshreynolds8417]

Secondo 😩

[@patrickdees5256]

Is there a way to convert these campaign settings into 5e? I'd love to play/run this campaign

[@Jorphdan]

For sure. I converted Rod of Seven Parts to 5e. You just need to read and find equivalent monsters.

[@patrickdees5256]

@@Jorphdan okay. Wait... how hard would that be?

[@happygoluka9367]

can you please add a link for the Orcus and Mindflayer art your keep using, it's so epic and I can't find it

[@Jorphdan]

1.bp.blogspot.com/-FyRxXTWqX1c/WoHjrPG4-TI/AAAAAAAAI1Y/Axu6WAw8MXw3V7cW5FgilAonyg5eeUj5gCLcBGAs/s640/tumblr_inline_o0jylgNCIW1se1irp_540.jpg

[@happygoluka9367]

Thank you so much! Love your stuff

[@JamiesonHorton]

So... was Barovia originally part of Oerth or Faerûn?

[@Jorphdan]

Nobody knows. The people only know they are fr Barovia

[@JamiesonHorton]

Cool... that's basically what I went with when I DM'd Curse of Strahd... but when one of the PCs assumed that the Morninglord and Lythander were the same deity, I had to basically brush that subject under the rug because I didn't know much about the Forgotten Realms setting, haha

[@embodying8moth82]

@@JamiesonHorton Is the worship of both deities the same or close enough? If so I would just go yeas, but I to know little of Forgotten Relms lore aside from R.A Salvators Drizzt books

[@wysegalloway4546]

Seven adds on an 8 minute video? Gross dude

[@Jorphdan]

Ouch, yeah I don't control the ads.

[@robertherek4020]

I personally think KZbin is overwhelming us with Add to subtly force us to pay for subscriptions. I seriously doubt many creators are fans of a ton of adds interrupting what they put out. I am sure it negatively affects the number of views and how many watch the whole thing

[@Jorphdan]

Robert I also think this is true. A lot of companies have lowered their advertising budget because of COVID. KZbin seems to be trying to make up losses with more ads 😐

[@JaeLim1121]

Not sure if this has been mentioned before but i don't think you're pronouncing Oerth correctly. I used to pronounce it like Urth, but I have been corrected by an old school contemporary of Gygax, he told me that it's pronounced Oyth with the beginning Oy sounding like the Yiddish exclamation. this is a minor quibble and may totally be apocryphal, but I trust the source who told me.