Vecna's Domain

Vecna's Domain is a dungeon branch that appears in EvilHack. It is made up of three levels: a forest of dead trees filled with graveyards, a stronghold ruled by his lieutenant, and the lair of Vecna himself, who prevents alhoons and all types of liches from being genocided until he is defeated.

The entire branch is non-diggable, no-teleport, and dark.

Generation

Vecna's Domain is accessible via a magic portal that appears on the level directly below the Valley of the Dead.

First level

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The first level is a withered forest, filled with six graveyards - three are situated on each side of the portal. Three of the four marked staircases (chosen at random) are giant mimics mimicking staircases. Of the marked L, two will be standard liches, and two will be demiliches, chosen at random. Scattered around the level are six random V, eight random Z, eight random M, four random  , and ten random traps.

Second level

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The second level is a stronghold surrounded by lava, with the stairway up placed at the far east of the level; flanking it are two cells containing a marilith each. Both mariliths are generated with an uncursed orcish bow and 50 uncursed orcish arrows. Placed in the courtyard are six random V, four random Z, seven random M, four random  , four revenants, and two beholders.

The north and south ends of the central section contain two master liches each. Placed nearby are two random zombies and two random mummies. Guarding the bridge to Kas's chamber is another marilith in a cell, generated with an uncursed orcish bow and 100 uncursed orcish arrows, and four salamanders are placed in the lava near the drawbridge.

Kas is generated at the east end of his chamber, and stands directly on the down stairs. He is generated with his cursed sword, plate mail, a helmet, gauntlets, dwarvish boots, and a ring of slow digestion. Accompanying him are a weredemon, a balrog, two demiliches, five vampire royals and a vampire mage. Adjacent to the stairs are an iron safe and a chest, containing random loot.

Third level

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The third level is Vecna's lair, and is inhabited by various liches and other powerful monsters. The stairs up are placed at the southeast corner of the map. To the northeast, there is a small room inhabited by an alhoon; this room is considered a graveyard. Four salamanders inhabit the lava river, and there is a ¹⁄₄ chance of a forge being placed far north of the stairs. Farther to the north, a singular master lich sits on a small island. Randomly scattered throughout the level are four random Z, four random M, two random V, two random &, two random  , twelve revenants, four liches, two demiliches, and a beholder. There is also a ⁷⁄₂₀ chance of a random alhoon being created. Additionally, there are eight random objects, twelve random traps, an axe, and a corpse of every type of player monster, excluding monks.

Past the lava river is Vecna's lair proper. There is a ¹⁄₂ chance of the secret door to the north being generated; otherwise the only way in is through the drawbridge to the east. Past the drawbridge is a shambling horror, two skeletons and an elder minotaur. Near the middle of the building is a storeroom that contains an iron safe and two chests, all containing random loot, with a demilich stationed atop the safe. Guarding Vecna are four liches and an arch-lich, with Vecna himself occupying a throne directly past them. He is always generated with a cursed, rotted robe of drain resistance and a ring of slow digestion.

Behind Vecna's throne is a crystal chest containing 20000 zorkmids, four uncursed gems, two uncursed scrolls, one blessed scroll, a single ring of each beatitude, an uncursed amulet, a blessed amulet, a cursed potion, a blessed potion, three uncursed spellbooks, one cursed spellbook, and one blessed spellbook. This chest also has a ¹⁄₅ chance of containing a magic marker.

Strategy

The abundance of covetous monster spellcasters makes boulder fort tactics attractive to prevent being swarmed: a single lich casting aggravate can easily alert many dangerous monsters to your location at once. Cursed potions of invisibility can attract the various master liches, arch-liches and alhoons, but will not wake up Vecna. A drum of earthquake can reach Vecna if the player is high enough level, but the pits it creates can make creating a boulder fort more difficult.

Nearly every monster in Vecna's Domain is either demonic or undead, so weapons such as Sunsword or Demonbane work well - the Hammer of the Gods in particular, created by fusing Sunsword and Demonbane, will make quick work of most threats and works as a very strong ranged option. In addition to the Hammer of the Gods, spells such as magic missile are also powerful ranged options - be aware that high-level spell-casters can cast reflection, so ray-type attacks will not always be effective. Due to the high number of zombies present and the as well as one or more alhoons, it is prudent to grease your headwear to avoid forgetting spells or skills.

History

Vecna's Domain is introduced in EvilHack 0.7.0.

Messages

You hear a mysterious chanting.
You hear the tortured cries of the damned.

There is a portal to Vecna's Domain on the level.

You enter a desolate landscape, completely devoid of life.
Every fiber of your being tells you to leave this evil place, now.

These messages are displayed upon entering the branch for the first time.