Message-Id: <3.0.32.19970225203219.006be300@world.std.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1997 20:47:34 -0500
To: leeNOTSPAM@networks.bgs.com
Subject: The Head of Vecna
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>Sender: agstsNOTSPAM@geocities.com
>Date: Mon, 24 Feb 1997 16:34:01 -0500
>From: Gnashing Teeth <qpmNOTSPAM@geocities.com>
>Organization: Roosting Place of the Mirrorbirds
>Subject: The Head of Vecna
>
>Posting this story here because SOMEONE hasn't read it yet... 
>
>    An Important Safety Tip!
>    
>   Mark Steuer <steuermNOTSPAM@nichols.com> recounts this tale:
>   
>     Many years ago (back when we all were still playing D & D), I ran a
>     game where I pitted two groups against each other.
>     
>     Several members of Group One came up with the idea of luring Group
>     Two into a trap. You remember the Hand of Vecna and the Eye of
>     Vecna that were artifacts in the old D&D world where if you cut off
>     your hand (or your eye) and replaced it with the Hand of Vecna (or
>     the Eye) you'd get new awesome powers? Well, Group One thought up
>     The Head of Vecna.
>     
>     Group One spread rumors all over the countryside (even paying Bards
>     to spread the word about this artifact rumored to exist nearby).
>     They even went so far as to get a real head and place it under some
>     weak traps to help with the illusion. Unfortunately, they forgot to
>     let ALL the members of their group in on the secret plan (I suspect
>     it was because they didn't want the Druid to get caught and tell
>     the enemy about this trap of theirs, or maybe because they didn't
>     want him messing with things).
>     
>     The Druid in group One heard about this new artifact and went off
>     in search of it himself (I believe to help prove himself to the
>     party members...) Well, after much trial and tribulation, he found
>     it; deactivated (or set off) all the traps; and took his "prize"
>     off into the woods for examination. He discovered that it did not
>     radiate magic (a well known trait of artifacts) and smiled
>     gleefully.
>     
>     I wasn't really worried since he was alone and I knew that there
>     was no way he could CUT HIS OWN HEAD OFF. Alas I was mistaken as
>     the Druid promptly summoned some carnivorous apes and instructed
>     them to use his own scimitar and cut his head off (and of course
>     quickly replacing it with the Head of Vecna...)
>     
>     Some time later, Group one decided to find the Druid and to check
>     on the trap. They found the headless body (and the two heads) and
>     realized that they had erred in their plan (besides laughing at the
>     character who had played the Druid)...The Head of Vecna still had
>     BOTH eyes! They corrected this mistake and reset their traps and
>     the Head for it's real intended victims...
>     
>     Group Two, by this time, had heard of the powerful artifact and
>     decided that it bore investigating since, if true, they could use
>     it to destroy Group One. After much trial and tribulation, they
>     found the resting place of The Head of Vecna! The were particularly
>     impressed with the cunning traps surrounding the site (one almost
>     missed his save against the weakest poison known to man). They
>     recovered the Head and made off to a safe area.
>     
>     Group Two actually CAME TO BLOWS (several rounds of fighting)
>     against each other argueing over WHO WOULD GET THEIR HEAD CUT OFF!
>     Several greedy players had to be hurt and restrained before it was
>     decided who would be the recipient of the great powers bestowed by
>     the Head... The magician was selected and one of them promptly cut
>     his head off. As the player was lifting The Head of Vecna to
>     emplace it on it's new body, another argument broke out and they
>     spent several minutes shouting and yelling. Then, finally, they put
>     the Head onto the character.
>     
>     Well, of course, the Head simply fell off the lifeless body. All
>     members of Group Two began yelling and screaming at each other (and
>     at me) and then, on their own, decided that they had let too much
>     time pass between cutting off the head of a hopeful recipient and
>     put the Head of Vecna onto the body.
>     
>     SO THEY DID IT AGAIN!... [killing another PC]
>     
>     In closing, it should be said that I never even cracked a smile as
>     all this was going on. After the second PC was slaughtered, I had
>     to give in (my side was hurting)...
>     
>     And Group Two blamed ME for all of that...
>     
>   So let that be a warning to you - don't let your head get cut off
>   unless you really know what you're doing.
>
>
>
>-- 
>Thistle "Aquaman" Kachunk    *   agstsNOTSPAM@aq.org
>http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/3216	 (617) 782-4235
>Ask not for whom the quail strolls. He strolls for thee!
>
>
Lee Sonko   
---------   -----------
I should like to create a substance or a machine with such
horrific capacity for annihilation that wars would become
impossible forever. (and I would sell one to every man
woman and child on the planet for only $19.95)
 - Alfred (Ronco) Nobel 1887