Summary
Dungeons and Dragons' next big adventure,Vecna: Eve of Ruin, will be arriving May 21—serving as a sendoff for a decade of 5e. Though this module will still be compatible with the rules update coming late 2024, the lich god Vecna’s plot to reshape the multiverse still carries an air of finality for this era ofDungeons and Dragons.
Vecna is an incredibly popularD&Dvillain, first mentioned all the way back in 1976 (2 years afterD&D’s inception). The lich-turned-god is known inD&Dfor owning the Book of Vile Darkness, being the namesake of the Eye and Hand of Vecna, killing off the Circle of Eight, and being the reason behind the switch in edition from 2e to 3e.D&D 5e, which began in 2014, has seen a massive surge in Vecna’s popularity. A villain sharing his name appearedin the hit showStranger Things, and he was the final boss of the hugely popular live-play showCritical Role’s first campaign.
What D&D Fans Can Expect From Vecna: Eve of Ruin
A Multiversal Collectathon Adventure
The upcoming level 10-20 adventureVecna: Eve of Ruinwill see Vecna try to achieve something greater than godhood in an attempt to reshape the multiverse. To thwart thisapocalyptic threat toD&D’s worlds, players will have to assemble the Rod of Seven Parts. This magical artifact, split across different realities after it was used long ago to imprison the demon prince Miska, must be reassembled if players want to stand a chance against Vecna.
To find these seven parts,players must travel throughD&D’s multiverse—a concept 5e has really pivoted towards in its more recent releases. This adventure will see fans travel to some of the TTRPG’s most iconic settings, including Ravenloft, Spelljammer, Eberron, Dragonlance, Planescape, and more. As part of this, players will be able to meet characters from other adventures—including Count Strahd Von Zarovich, the eponymous vampire from beloved moduleCurse of Strahd.
Changes To Vecna’s Original Greyhawk Lore
Vecna’s lore and identityhave been changed somewhat in 5e, stemming from theVecna Dossier—a D&D Beyond-exclusive pamphlet that is no longer available to claim. The dossier’s lore has been preserved, however, and its simplified version of Vecna’s backstory is the same as that which is found in statements by theD&Dteam aboutEve of Ruin. 5e’s lore for the archlich removes some specifics of Greyhawk lore and references to his mother’s execution via burning at the stake. Instead, his mother is exiled and Vecna massacres the order of wizards that ordered the punishment (as opposed to their descendants almost a millennium later, as is the case in the original lore).
New Monsters, Old Allies
Vecna: Eve of Ruinwill give DMs over 30 new monsters, with many set to compete withsome ofD&D’s deadliest creatures, including converted monsters from old editions and entirely new foes. Highlights revealed so far are spider fiends (minions of Miska the Wolf-Spider) and granite juggernauts (updated from the stone juggernauts that roam theTomb of Annihilation). These creatures and more are all made to fit the different universes players will be exploring while paying homage toD&D’s 50-year history.
In addition to villains fromsome ofD&D 5e’s most renowned modulesreturning, such as Strahd and Acererak, players can count on some old allies too. This will include the witch Tasha and the wizard Mordenkainen, both of whom have had books named after them in 5e, as well as Alustriel Silverhand. Daughter of Mystra (the goddess of magic in the Forgotten Realms) and a force for good across the multiverse,Eve of Ruinwill be her first appearance inD&D 5e.
Dungeons and Dragons
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
