D&D: How Vecna Ended An Entire Edition

screenrant.com:

Vecna is one of the most powerful beings in the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse and he managed to perform one of the most notable deeds in the history of the game, as he was responsible in-universe for the changes that led to the end of one edition and the beginning of another. D&D's Greyhawk setting is the home of Vecna, where he resides as the god of secrets, yet his name is feared throughout the multiverse, both due to his wicked deeds, and the reputation of some of his missing limbs. In D&D, the most powerful magical items are referred to as artifacts, and the Hand and Eye of Vecna are two of the strongest in the game.

Before Vecna ascended to godhood, he was once a powerful lich. Vecna was betrayed by his lieutenant, Kas the Bloody-Handed, who used his powerful sword to remove Vecna's hand and one of his eyes. These missing limbs have since made their way across the multiverse, causing chaos wherever they go. In D&D, the Hand and Eye of Vecna can be used in the place of a missing limb, granting a portion of Vecna's power to their new wielder. This incredible power comes with a cost, as using the magical abilities of these items will eventually cause the user to lose their soul to Vecna.

Related: Dungeons & Dragons Game Will Add D&D Characters From The 80s Cartoon

Vecna dates back to some of the earliest D&D books, but he performed his greatest deed during the 2e era when the game was known as Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, or AD&D for short. When the time came for AD&D to end its run, it was Vecna who was responsible for causing the universe to transform, heralding the D&D 3e era.

The AD&D era of the game was produced by a company called TSR, which was run for many years by D&D co-creator Gary Gygax. The company would