The Library of Vecna

[Nebulous]

I would 100% use the incunabulam (sp?) from the Underdark sourcebook for 4e. I think they live in the Feydark or somewhere and they are loyal followers of Vecna, and they have the power to steal the secrets from another individual, usually killing them in the process.

 

[Dandu]

"I will know everything you see with your eyes and do with your left hand for one year and a day.", your friend and confidant, Vecna.

I unzip my pants, take a hold of my trouser titan with my left hand, and give Vecna much more than he bargained for.

 

[lin_fusan]

For every secret gained not only is a secret from the character written down elsewhere in the library but the character loses the memory and experience of the secret from their mind (in other words secrets are not gained so much as traded)

I like this one. The DM could simulate the "forgetting" by giving the player the caveat that if he chooses one of Vecna's secrets, the DM can add one (never subtract one) hidden piece of background to the player's character that he can use as a future story hook.

Basically, the player is giving the DM one free character-based plot hook per secret.

Example: Player trades a "secret", gets some info from Vecna's library. A couple of sessions later...

DM: "Make all the necessary Perception rolls. Oh no! You've been ambushed!"
Player: "Ambushed?! By who? We've already defeated the Crimson Dagger gang and no one knows we're heading toward the Maze of Thorns."
DM: "Yeah, but what about your mortal enemy, the Scion of Yggorl? He's been tracking you for, what, this whole campaign!"
Player: "What mortal enemy?"
DM: "You know... your mortal enemy... your secret mortal enemy... don't you remember? Did your character... forget?"
Player: "Oh, frell..."

 

[lin_fusan]

Ha ha! But Dandu, we're talking about Vecna, the undead god of secrets. This being of evil has knowledge of fetishes that even the people on 4chan would be too ashamed to post. I think a little self-love would be tame to what he knows.

 

[jmucchiello]

I like this one. The DM could simulate the "forgetting" by giving the player the caveat that if he chooses one of Vecna's secrets, the DM can add one (never subtract one) hidden piece of background to the player's character that he can use as a future story hook.

Damn, sniped. I was going to suggest the very same thing. That's what I get for reading the thread through to the end. Your example was better than mine.

 

[airwalkrr]

I unzip my pants, take a hold of my trouser titan with my left hand, and give Vecna much more than he bargained for.

You call it the "trouser titan?"

 

[Dandu]

You call it the "trouser titan?"

I feel that modesty is a virtue.

 

[TarionzCousin]

In order to add the Library of Vecna to your own demesne, you must first construct and then cut off* that library. Quickly replace the architectural stump with Vecna's building--and don't be too slow or it won't stick!



*With the Sword of Kas. Duh!

 

[Psychotic Jim]

Hmmm, here's one possible, unlikely twist, sort of a dark mirror predicament. For each secret you wish Vecna's library to reveal to you, Vecna also gets his choice of a secret to reveal to you. These secrets may be horrible, blasphemous lore that is unfit for mortals to know (ala Call of Cthulu) and may have a number of severe drawbacks in mechanical terms (driving you mad, nightmares, etc). A gamemaster who is especially creative in his fiendishness may reveal secrets that complicate the lives of the PCs more indirectly. Such knowledge can burden the group with knowledge that muddies the waters of the game or disturbs how they view the world, demanding new action be taken now that the veil has been lifted. Soothsayers often refer to their gifts of precognition as curses, so to speak, for this reason.

Another option is that for each secret they uncover, Vecna gets to reveal one of their secrets to their enemies or others to whom they conceal secrets from (or perhaps, in some cases, to everyone in the world). A skeleton in the closet of the necromantic mage? Not anymore, it’s as plain to see on him as the cut of his jib.

One final option is that for each secret they find, an eldritch abomination is unleashed upon the Material Plane (perhaps a material manifestation of the secret they “unlocked”?)

On another note, if you want to have a few combat challenges for them in the library, there are a few monsters that might fit thematically. One possible monster that fits the theme of secrets is the palimpsest. An intelligent magical scroll, it sits in wait for prey to come to it and then lashes out at them. Its cut drains blood that it absorbs. In some cases, it can absorb people whole into its pages. This creature was detailed in the 2e Monstrous Compendium annual volume 2.

Another hazard to fight in the library could be Eberron’s living spells. This would allow for a lot of unique and unpredictable encounters.

Perhaps to enter the library, one of the characters may have to bear one of Vecna's body parts (one of the famous ones like the Eye or Hand- or perhaps one of the lesser known ones like his relics from Die Vecna Die). Finding such artifacts could be quests in themselves (like infiltrating one of his priesthoods).

 

[ppaladin123]

Are you familiar with the Library of Babel? It seems like the exact sort of thing Vecna would devise: a library of infinite secrets and obfuscation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_babel

Consider the implications: every truth is written in one of those books but for every truth there are infinite permutations of language that falsify it. Without the true catalog, there is no way to tell the difference (assuming you can even find books that appear to pertain to your query). The library is totally useless because it contains too much.

You might consider organizing the inside of the library like this. Introduce the poor souls who have become trapped there:

Despite — indeed, because of — this glut of information, all books are totally useless to the reader, leaving the librarians in a state of suicidal despair. This leads some librarians to superstitions and cult-like behaviour, such as the "Purifiers", who arbitrarily destroy books they deem nonsense as they move through the library seeking the "Crimson Hexagon" and its illustrated, magical books. Another is the belief that since all books exist in the library, somewhere one of the books must be a perfect catalog of the library's contents; some even believe that a messianic figure known as the "Man of the Book" has read it, and they travel through the library seeking him.

Make the player sacrifice to get the catalog. Leave him in perpetual doubt that this is the true catalog and not one of the infinite possible incorrect facsimiles. Let the totally insane inhabitants of the library find out that he might have the key...