Vecna’s Alliance comprises all the forces who have bent the knee to Vecna, whether out of obligation, fear, or a combination of the two.
There is no council, no meeting to be held; they all simply wait at the beck and call of Vecna’s divine commands. Vecna’s Alliance is nothing more than a dictatorship in which all members are united by their fear of Vecna.
Most members had little choice, only rallying behind his banner because they would sooner join the Archlich than fall to his power. An ambitious few, however, saw the turning tides and joined willingly, seizing the promises of power and overthrowing their enemies with Vecna’s aid.
No other faction can match the sheer numbers of Vecna’s Alliance.
Ultimately, Vecna’s Alliance is at his mercy. Vecna is early in his reign and still finds sadistic pleasure in toying with his servants. But should the Maker of All That Is Secret decide the Alliance has outlived its purpose, he’ll bring it to a swift and brutal end.
Notable Members
- Acererak:
- In forging the Soulmonger and using it to bring about the birth of Vecna and the coming era of darkness, Acererak proved to be Vecna’s most loyal servant. In exchange, Acererak’s powers vastly increased and all of Chult became his personal domain.
- In forging the Soulmonger and using it to bring about the birth of Vecna and the coming era of darkness, Acererak proved to be Vecna’s most loyal servant. In exchange, Acererak’s powers vastly increased and all of Chult became his personal domain.
- Arcane Brotherhood:
- From the comfort of their Host Tower of the Arcane in Luskan, the Arcane Brotherhood joined Vecna’s Alliance almost immediately. Between the faction’s collection of Netherese artifacts and its obsession with chasing forbidden knowledge, the Arcane Brotherhood’s goals align with Vecna’s own ambitions almost too perfectly.
- From the comfort of their Host Tower of the Arcane in Luskan, the Arcane Brotherhood joined Vecna’s Alliance almost immediately. Between the faction’s collection of Netherese artifacts and its obsession with chasing forbidden knowledge, the Arcane Brotherhood’s goals align with Vecna’s own ambitions almost too perfectly.
- Liches of Warlock's Crypt:
- Vecna gave the simplest of proposals to this undead city’s lich ruler, Larloch: join or be destroyed. Larloch found that little changed by joining the alliance: Vecna levitated the Warlock’s Crypt into the sky to better keep watch on it, but the outside world still leaves them alone.
- Vecna gave the simplest of proposals to this undead city’s lich ruler, Larloch: join or be destroyed. Larloch found that little changed by joining the alliance: Vecna levitated the Warlock’s Crypt into the sky to better keep watch on it, but the outside world still leaves them alone.
- The Twisted Rune:
- In the shadows of Calimshan lurk a cabal of liches known as the Twisted Rune. Vecna quickly uncovered how they pull the strings of the ruling families of that land to guide its development. Vecna saw fit to allow them to rule the cultured land of Calimshan—provided they worshiped him to his liking.
- In the shadows of Calimshan lurk a cabal of liches known as the Twisted Rune. Vecna quickly uncovered how they pull the strings of the ruling families of that land to guide its development. Vecna saw fit to allow them to rule the cultured land of Calimshan—provided they worshiped him to his liking.
- Orc Kingdom of Many-Arrows:
- Vecna’s plans for the dwarfholds didn’t include the dwarves. The orcs merely needed a nudge in the right direction, and with a bit of support from Vecna, they ransacked the dwarven strongholds in a matter of tendays. In exchange, the kingdom swore unwavering loyalty to Vecna.
- Vecna’s plans for the dwarfholds didn’t include the dwarves. The orcs merely needed a nudge in the right direction, and with a bit of support from Vecna, they ransacked the dwarven strongholds in a matter of tendays. In exchange, the kingdom swore unwavering loyalty to Vecna.
- Yuan-Ti:
- The snake-people of Najara fell into line when Vecna promised to revive the yuan-ti god Sseth—a promise that was nothing more than deception. Still, the yuan-ti benefit from more freedom than most.
- The snake-people of Najara fell into line when Vecna promised to revive the yuan-ti god Sseth—a promise that was nothing more than deception. Still, the yuan-ti benefit from more freedom than most.
- Red Wizards of Thay:
- The lich Szass Tam’s power paled in comparison to Vecna’s. Rather than watch tireless years of work crumble in seconds, the Red Wizards vowed allegiance to Vecna. The Red Wizards continue their machinations, though they are occasionally summoned to conjure up teleportation circles or unbreakable arcane defenses.
- The lich Szass Tam’s power paled in comparison to Vecna’s. Rather than watch tireless years of work crumble in seconds, the Red Wizards vowed allegiance to Vecna. The Red Wizards continue their machinations, though they are occasionally summoned to conjure up teleportation circles or unbreakable arcane defenses.
Goals & Ambitions
- Maintain an unquestioned rule over the Forgotten Realms.
- Expand control to all the multiverse.
- Squash all hopes of rebellion and destroy any remaining bastions of faith.
Leader: Vecna
Joining the Faction
Vecna doesn’t value strong minions, as all pale in comparison to his power. However, those who willingly accept Vecna’s torments and offer up the darkest secrets of their being are permitted to join the alliance. In truth, because of Vecna’s belief in his “unquestioned” rule, the God-King assumes all mortals are members of his alliance; any who openly refuse are simply waiting to die.
The quickest way to join Vecna’s Alliance is to accept him as a patron , walking the path of a warlock and binding your soul with him.
Wizards resourceful enough to be invited to Vecna’s School of Secrets find themselves carrying out the God-King’s wishes as mandatory assignments. The cost is dear, but wielding a mere fraction of Vecna’s power is said to be a sensation unlike any other.
Vecna freely grants the secrets of life and death to those who vow to use each and every life they live in his service.
Renown
Characters who willingly choose to join Vecna’s Alliance are rotten to the core. They put their own lives above all others, and in a desperate grasp for power, align themselves with the embodiment of evil.
Earning a promotion is difficult and often requires bringing the Whispered One earth-shaking, long-forgotten secrets and lore. Vecna finds secrets delicious and collects the skulls of giants, dragons, and traitors, so spies and assassins climb his ranks the fastest.
Vecna prevents the Forgotten Realms from ever finding peace, and to join him is to abandon all hope and choke out the last breath of hope in others.
Ranks
- Spawn: The insignificant mortals of the Forgotten Realm make up the ranks of Vecna’s Spawn. With little agency, they are expected to sacrifice their lives at the drop of a copper piece—and some even view this as the greatest of honors.
- Tooth, Finger, and Blood: Teeth, Fingers, and Blood of Vecna are specialists who truly believe Vecna is the only authority over life and death.
- The Teeth of Vecna are arcane spellcasters who toil away on necromantic projects and reinforce his undead armies.
- The Fingers of Vecna are wealthy nobles and scholars who put themselves in many proverbial pies, rooting out secrets.
- Lastly, the Blood of Vecna takes up arms against his enemies, either serving a Hand or commanding lesser Spawn.
- Hand: As the name might suggest, the Hands are trusted individuals who carry out Vecna’s will across the Forgotten Realms. They must be as cold and ruthless as the Archlich.
- Eye: The Eyes of Vecna become the Whispered One’s confidants, and they scour the lands in search of secrets to deliver to their master. These truly vile souls share Vecna’s every ideal.
- Voice: The rare Voices are empowered to make binding promises on behalf of the evil god of secrets. He exerts the most control over his most powerful followers because he’s never forgotten the betrayal of his trusted lieutenant, Kas.
Benefits
Vecna’s Alliance support comes in these ways:
- If you die serving Vecna, you’ll likely get a second chance as a loyal undead.
- You gain access to long-forgotten, ancient secrets of arcane power.
- Vecna sends a nothic to travel with you (but of course, he can spy on you through the creature’s giant eye).