Spoilers ahead, although why you'd be reading this message board if you're concerned about spoilers, I don't know.
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The Adventure Background for Three Faces of Evil says that the "Nethertome of Trask," quoting "Way of the Ebon Triad," claims that a great Overgod of evil will arise from the fusion of three gods: Hextor, Erythnul, and Vecna.
It's not clear from the text how old the Nethertome is supposed to be, but the Way of the Ebon Triad is described as "older," presumably hundreds of years old, at least.
But according to my understanding of the history of Oerth, Vecna did not actually ascend to godhood until 591 CY (in Die Vecna Die!).
So why does this ancient tome consider Vecna to be a full-fledged deity?
Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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The idea here is that the Nethertome of Trask and the Way of the Ebon Triad speak in allegory and riddles, so that they probably don't come out and say "Hextor, Erythnul, and Vecna are the ones to bind!" Rather, they might say "When the Herald of Hell binds himself to the Many, they await only the Whispering Tyrant" or something. Basically, don't think of the tomes as literal, but rather as a series of conditions that could be met by any number of entities, but whom learned men believe refer to Hextor, Erythnul, and Vecna.
--Erik
Curse you people who have #125 already!
:)
The idea here is that the Nethertome of Trask and the Way of the Ebon Triad speak in allegory and riddles, so that they probably don't come out and say "Hextor, Erythnul, and Vecna are the ones to bind!" Rather, they might say "When the Herald of Hell binds himself to the Many, they await only the Whispering Tyrant" or something. Basically, don't think of the tomes as literal, but rather as a series of conditions that could be met by any number of entities, but whom learned men believe refer to Hextor, Erythnul, and Vecna.
--Erik
Isn't the Nethertome a plant from Kyuss? The sidebar says in #124 (I don't have 125 yet) that Kyuss has been planning this little extravaganza for a millenia. Sounds like the guy has a mad-on for complicated plots.
Hey Erik,
Does it suck having only PH deities to work with? I mean outside the context of Greyhawk, it's feasible these deities could merge. But given the history of the three deities, it's not likely at all. You'd think Tharizdun or Incabulos would be part of that action.
Hey Erik,
Does it suck having only PH deities to work with? I mean outside the context of Greyhawk, it's feasible these deities could merge. But given the history of the three deities, it's not likely at all. You'd think Tharizdun or Incabulos would be part of that action.
There's no action to be part of -- it's all a ruse the misguided cultists are being jerked around with.
Not only is it unlikely, it's not happening in the campaign.
Jack
However, it is a possible outcome of the Realms variant of the campaign. The distinction between the two versions will (hopefully) be subtle, but be prepared for that outcome if the PCs don't "win" in the Realms version.
--Eric
If the Ebon Triad's doctrine is phony, where does the monster combining aspects of all three gods come from?
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Creative Director
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If the Ebon Triad's doctrine is phony, where does the monster combining aspects of all three gods come from?
Remember; you don't have to worship an actual real deity when you're a cleric; you can worship an idea or a philosophy and still gain spells. In addition, the fact that the cultists of the Ebon Triad still gain spells and haven't been struck down by the three deities they worship says something too... maybe Vecna and Hextor and Erythnul have other plans for them?
In any case, just because their whole cult is, at its root, a fabrication, doesn't mean it hasn't taken on a life of its own. The Ebon Aspect may just be the first actual manifestation of their faith made flesh. It may be a trick sent by Kyuss to further delude the cultists. It might just be the livng accidental result of the interactions between the otherworldly pool in the dark cathedral and the sacrifices the cultists have been offering to it in the name of the Overgod. Or it might just be a heretofore unknown type of otherplanar fiend who sensed the cultists and decided to play god and show up to get some worshipers.
What the Ebon Aspect is and what its existance implies is a minor part of the story arc of the Age of Worms... one that doesn't play heavilly into the ongoing plot of the Adventure Path but may have a larger impact on future Adventure Paths. (Of which we haven't done any actual work developing so don't take that as an advance hint!)