The Tale of Vecna the Dark

The Tale of Vecna the Dark is an ancient legend, passed down by generations of wizards to serve as a warning. The legend is known mostly among students of the University of Ezreich, as well as to members of the Necromancers. The legend has largely gone unnoticed among commonfolk, as most would see it as a boring piece of history. Even those who live immediately around the Obsidian Keep know not the tale, though they are well aware the keep has a dark past.
Vecna the Dark was once a wizard of great talent. In the time of the Circle of Eight, numerous wizards were vying to join the organization, and Vecna was among them. He was one of the greatest of his time, a master necromancer. Necromancy, was seen in an extraordinarily negative light, even more so than by today's standards. Some called it twisted, dark magic that should never be unearthed. Vecna, on the other hand, was coninced he needed to show everyone the usefulness of Necromancy. He attempted to bring his case before the Circle, showing them numerous spells of his own invention which he thought could be used to great benefit.
The circle rejected his ideas, and branded him a fool. To them, Necromancy was a tool of evil, not to be touched or meddled with by the pure-hearted. The idea of toying with life, or more accurately - unlife, seemed too unnatural to them. They worried that Necromancy opened the door for darker powers to take root, and that the temptation of immortality via Undeath would drive many wizards evil. The idea of liches committing atrocities was too much for them, and thus they rejected Vecna immediately.
Vecna was outraged; he had spent his life learning the intricacies of a school of magic that was rejected. He warned the Circle that they would pay for what they had done. The Circle openly mocked and ridiculed Vecna in response. Vecna then left, claiming he would give up Necromancy and move on to other pursuits in the field of magic. All the time he studied and perfected his craft, his embarassment at the hands of the Circle remained at the forefront of his mind. It further fueled and motivated him.
Nearly a decade later, Vecna's reckoning came. He arrived back in Eunia, with an army of undead in tow. His very appearance had changed immensely. His face looked gaunt, almost skeletal. His very eyes had become pure white with glowing golden slits for pupils. His hands appeared withered and ancient. With a great staff and spellbook, he marched towards the Obsidian Keep with his army.
Vecna razed the countryside as his army marched onward. Guardians of rock and stone rose from the earth, machinations of the Circle designed to protect the denizens of the land in the event of an assault. The Circle requested aid from Ezreich, and a portion of the Legion was dispatched. The Legionnaires were dwarfed by the undead horde, but they stood their ground at the Obsidian Keep. They also had the direct support of the Circle of Eight, who continued to cast great spells upon their attackers. Vecna appeared at the gates, with his chief lieutenant, Kas. Vecna challenged the Circle to a duel, of sorts. If they accepted, the undead would sieze all action, allowing for the Legion to retreat.
The Circle accepted, and prepared to fight at the top of the central tower of the Keep. Kas immediately charged at them, screaming in some sort of unearthly rage. No amount of wards or prepared spellwork could have saved them; he ripped and tore through each wizard swiftly and mercilessly. Otis, Serten, and Yragg were immediately felled. Tenser trapped Kas within a forcecage, and the remaining wizards, excepting Mordenkainen, focused on Vecna. Mordenkainen's attention was upon the keep; he swiftly and furiously began casting incantation upon incantation.
Riggs, Robilar, and Bigby all launched an onslaught of spells at Vecna. Bolts of lightning and fireballs flew at him in unison. Vecna was not visible beneath the destruction. A great storm had been summoned forth, which enhanced each lightning strike. Tenser remained focused and concentrated; he would not allow Kas to break free. The three senior wizards stopped their onslaught, to survey Vecna's condition.
The dust and smoke cleared, and Vecna still stood, completely unfazed. He raised a hand, and a purpleish sort of energy sprung from his fingertips. It hit all three wizards simultaneously, and they begun to scream in agony. As the energy made contact, it seared and burned into its victims. Before long, they were smoldering husks on the ground. Only Tenser and Mordenkainen remained. Mordenkainen turned towards the fight, in time to see Vecna dispel the forcecage holding Kas.
The speed at which Mordenkainen and Tenser moved seemed inhuman. Kas was blown back, and barraged with a number of magic missiles, which hardly seemed to affect him. Vecna watched in excitement. Mordenkainen summoned his fabled sword, which began cutting into Kas. Though Kas was being assaulted, he still focused on Tenser. Tenser attempted to maintain distance and continue casting, but his efforts were fruitless. Skeletal grasping hands erupted from the earth, holding him in place as Kas butchered him.
Mordenkainen drew forth an Ancient Scroll, and focused on Kas as he read. Kas stood merely feet away, then stopped suddenly. Mordenkainen's sword had disappeared. Kas attempted to swing his sword at Mordenkainen, but it stopped midair. Mordenkainen appeared extremely drained, and his the runes on his scroll glowed bright and intense. The scroll crumbled. He raised a hand towards Kas and muttered a single word. A command, containing all of his remaining power. "Betray."
Kas looked confused, seeing his sword still floating. He laughed, hearing the old man's attempt to divide him from his master. He took his sword in hand. Immediately, it felt different. His sword hummed with a newfound energy. The greatsword felt weightless, but more importantly; it felt alive. As soon as he touched it, he heard a fanatical voice: "Kill the Necromancer!". Kas suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of anger and hatred. He had been used. A mere pawn, by the very thing he was created to destroy; a wizard. He was manipulated, and trained to perform to his master's every whim. No longer. He turned, raising his sword, and brought it against Vecna.
Vecna stared in horror, as his champion charged towards him. He raised his hands, the daemonic energy once more flowing from him. Regardless of where he willed it, the energy flowed directly to the sword. Kas brutally massacred Vecna, cutting him to pieces. Vecna's spirit left his body, and he watched as Mordenkainen gave a brief smile before falling. The undead army crumbled, leaving Kas there alone in the field. Kas looked to the distance, as if seeing something only known to him. He walked away, drawn to a sound that could not be heard. Vecna's remains sunk into the earth, and his spirit cast a curse upon the Obsidian Keep.