The Remnants, as they call themselves, are secretive groups of cultists across Exandria that worship Vecna, the Whispered One. It was the Remnants that seized a number of ziggurats and corrupted them as part of a ritual to return Vecna to a physical form and raise him to godhood.
Description[]
Official art of Remnant cultist and chosen, by Biagio D'Alessandro from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 252.[art 2]
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Those who devote themselves to the Whispered One meditate silently for hours on end in hopes of hearing his commands, but only a few hear his whispers, which chase all other thoughts from their minds. To some, he issues commands that often involve using stolen secrets from the Shadowfell.[10] Those who do their part in his enigmatic plots are rewarded with powers and secret knowledge to see through society's supposed illusions (or the world's), which in turn only drives the faithful deeper into the cult. For some of his chosen, he grants words of power that take hold in the follower's blood, making them sorcerers with access to long-forgotten spells of the Age of Arcanum.[11]
As of early 812 PD, Remnant cultists sought to prepare the way for the Whispered One's rebirth, either by covertly shaping society or developing rituals to hasten the resurrection.[12] One paladin who had broken his oath and become a Remnant believed those who helped raise the Whispered One to sole lordship over Exandria would be rewarded with eternal life at his side.[13] The Remnants achieved their goal of bringing about his return and ascension to godhood, but when he was quickly banished, they were scattered, went back into hiding, and had to find new ways to elevate Vecna to unrivaled dominance. They infiltrate all manner of institutions, from the divine to the arcane, from criminal syndicates to political offices. Despite Vecna's momentous return, decades later the Remnants remained mostly unknown to outsiders, other than their committed enemies,[1][14] among them the Cobalt Soul[15] and the Grey Hunters.[16]
Many members of the Remnants, particularly higher-ranking members,[citation needed] remove their left eye as a symbol of their devotion to Vecna, and because cultists believe self-mutilation is necessary to see the hidden world behind the illusion.[17] One member described the practice as gifting their sight as the Whispered One had.[18] Some also remove their left hand.[citation needed]
Factions[]
As of 836 PD, the leadership of the Remnants is called the Circle of the Dismembered, each member of which leads a faction named after a part of Vecna's body and having a specialized function in the mission to re-establish contact with their god:
- The Insatiable Heart: Recruitment and conversion.
- The Mordant Voice: Infiltrates and subverts other factions of Tal'Dorei.
- The Unseen Touch: Uses enchantment to covertly control others.
- The Unveiled Sight: Seeks arcane lore across the planes.
- The Devouring Blood: Assassinates quietly and with necromancy.[19]
In an adventure hook in the original Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, set in early 812 PD, another sect, called the Punctured Eye, seeks to acquire a powerful artifact of the Whispered One by infiltrating and crushing the guilds of Stilben until they find which one has it.[20] At that time, there was also a sect called The Eyes of the Whispered One in Emon.[21]
Known members[]
Fan art of Blaine Kraverrogg, by PryingBlackbird.[art 3]
- Blaine Kraverrogg: Mercenary necromancer who does covert work for the League of Miracles and hopes to tap the power of Orcus in the Shadebarrow[22]
- Byron Anders
- Delilah Briarwood
- Hammond Kraith: Former Remnant cultist broken out of the Black Bastille by the League of Miracles (in an adventure hook)[23]
- Ixrattu Khar: Vampire, most infamous mass murderer in Tal'Dorei, and Master of the Devouring Blood.[19]
- Odell
- Quinton Puck: Organizing leader of The Eyes of the Whispered One as of 812 PD,[21] then leader of the Unveiled Sight as of 836 PD; works as a jeweler in Emon as a cover[19]
- Lord Riskel Daxio: A former Master of Commerce on the Tal'Dorei Council.
- Viskorad
History[]
Age of Arcanum[]
When Vecna's physical form was destroyed during the Age of Arcanum, his most devoted followers founded the Remnants, a collection of secretive sects dedicated to realizing Vecna's plan to ascend to godhood, despite his death.[1]
Campaign One[]
In late 810 PD, Vox Machina's mission to liberate Whitestone from the Briarwoods led to their discovery of a conspiracy by cultists of Vecna. They found evidence that a member of the Tal'Dorei Council, Riskel Daxio, was involved,[24] and they captured him.
When Vox Machina interrogated Riskel, he claimed that he would be reborn, that he was the blood of Vecna, and that other parts of Vecna were "everywhere".[25] Although he did not know the purpose of the black sphere beneath Whitestone, Riskel explained that his deal with Vecna would provide him "power through not knowing", and the fact that Vecna kept his followers in the dark meant that he trusted them.[26] Riskel also explained that the Briarwoods' ritual was part of the same effort that had been attempted before,[27] implying that this was another attempt to turn Vecna into a god. Since Riskel wasn't present for the Briarwoods' attempt, he wasn't sure if it was successful or not.[28]
In early 812 PD, Lionel Gayheart discovered another ziggurat beneath the strange Smouldercrown Mountains, and over a dozen Remnants moving treasure and creatures into the sphere there. He and his employer, who was secretly Scanlan Shorthalt, informed the rest of Vox Machina.[29] The party investigated and found Remnants still carrying artifacts through a siphon. They discovered Delilah Briarwood had returned from the dead just as she ordered the Remnants to kill the intruders.[30] Though Delilah escaped through the siphon, Pike Trickfoot was able to Speak with Dead to learn about the cult from a Remnant blackguard they had slain.[31]
When Vox Machina passed through a siphon to the outskirts of Thar Amphala, they saw three strands of ley energy being siphoned to the dark tower Entropis, implying that there was a third corrupted ziggurat.[32] As the party moved through the city, they encountered a number of Remnants.[33][34] High-ranking, ornately adorned Remnants sacrificed their lives in the ritual to bring about the resurrection of the Whispered One.[35]
When Vox Machina traveled to Sprigg's house in search of a key to the Knowing Mentor's realm, they inadvertently tipped off Vecna to the location.[36] Remnant assassins, with a shadowghast and two hulking horrors, swiftly attacked the house.[37] Among the assassins was a necromancer.[7]
Within the reanimated earth titan, Vox Machina encountered some Remnants who were using a Sphere of Annihilation to excavate the rocky interior. They surprised and killed one of the Remnants, but of those who remained, Viskorad told Odell to run and alert others of the visitors. The Remnants sent wraiths through the walls to attack Vox Machina.[38]
After Vecna's banishment[]
The bodies of Remnants, including necromancers with their armies of undead, were dragged away as part of the cleanup after the battle in Vasselheim.[39]
Following their god's defeat, the surviving Remnants were scattered and went back into hiding. As of 835–836 PD, they were seeking new ways to restore their god to the total dominion he had promised.[1] They had infiltrated a number of Tal'Dorei's institutions,[40] and many found employment in the League of Miracles.[41] Moreover, the Remnants were determined to undermine the mortal followings of the deities who aided Vox Machina in banishing Vecna: Sarenrae, Pelor, Ioun, and the Raven Queen.[42]
Trivia[]
- During Delilah Briarwood's ritual to activate the siphon beneath Whitestone, the walls seemed to be covered in writhing humanoid bodies that were each missing their left eye, left hand, or both.[43]
- Mistress Asharru, a member of the Scarbearers who wore Cabal's Ruin until her death, had lost her left eye.[44]
- An epic-level adventure hook in both the original Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting and Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn involves a supposed Remnant cultist who steals some of the Whispered One's knowledge and flees to Gatshadow Mountain to seek the tormented spirit of Acek Orattim. She is pursued by both the Remnants she betrayed and by heroes sent by the Arcana Pansophical.[45][46]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 57.
- ↑ One Remnant at the Smouldercrown Mountains ziggurat is a war priest, which is a cleric. See "Unfinished Business" (1x100) at 4:33:25.
- ↑ One Remnant at the Smouldercrown Mountains ziggurat is a blackguard, which is a paladin. See "Unfinished Business" (1x100) at 4:50:00.
- ↑ The assassins who attacked Sprigg had the Sneak Attack feature. See "The Fear of Isolation" (1x105) at 2:03:49.
- ↑ Remnant chosen are sorcerers. See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 251.
- ↑ Remnant cultists are wizards. See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 252.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 One Remnant who attacked Sprigg's house was a necromancer. See "The Fear of Isolation" (1x105) at 2:30:26.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 139.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, pp. 57–59. See also pp. 61 and 141, but also see p. 62.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 251.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, pp. 138–139.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 138.
- ↑ See "Unfinished Business" (1x100) at 5:37:26.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, pp. 61–62.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 59.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 75.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, pp. 251–252.
- ↑ See "Unfinished Business" (1x100) at 5:35:36.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 62.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 44.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 39.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 58.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 141.
- ↑ See "Reunions" (1x33), part 2, from 0:29:11 through 0:31:54.
- ↑ See "Echoes of the Past" (1x38) from 0:16:50 through 0:19:55.
- ↑ See "Echoes of the Past" (1x38) from 0:22:15 through 0:27:31.
- ↑ See "Echoes of the Past" (1x38) at 0:25:55.
- ↑ See "Echoes of the Past" (1x38) at 0:25:55.
- ↑ See "Masquerade" (1x99) at 1:42:52. See also from 2:28:47 through 2:33:46.
- ↑ See "Unfinished Business" (1x100) at 3:57:45.
- ↑ See "Unfinished Business" (1x100) at 5:32:37.
- ↑ See "Thar Amphala" (1x101) at 2:35:59.
- ↑ See "Thar Amphala" (1x101) at 3:04:47.
- ↑ See "Race to the Tower" (1x102) at 1:11:47.
- ↑ See "Race to the Tower" (1x102) at 2:32:39.
- ↑ See "The Fear of Isolation" (1x105) at 1:39:44.
- ↑ See "The Fear of Isolation" (1x105) at 2:12:41.
- ↑ See "Shadows of Thomara" (1x111) at 3:11:55. See also at 3:21:12.
- ↑ See "The Chapter Closes" (1x115) at 0:30:51.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 61.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, pp. 57–59.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 38.
- ↑ See "Race to the Ziggurat" (1x34) at 4:04:49.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 4:01:06.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 64.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 95.
Art:
- ↑ Symbol of the Remnants from Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 38. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Official art of Remnant cultist and chosen, by Biagio D'Alessandro from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 252. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Fan art of Blaine Kraverrogg, by PryingBlackbird (source). Used with permission.
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