What Does The Name Vecna Mean

Stranger Things season 4, volume 1 introduces a new villain from the Upside Down called Vecna, and the origin and meaning of his name should be familiar to anyone who has played Dungeons & Dragons. The Stranger Things characters previously survived scary encounters with the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer, and in season 4, they face Vecna, who has a personal connection to Eleven. The latest monstrous adversary of the Hawkins gang has a name that is popular amongst Dungeons & Dragons circles, but what exactly is the meaning behind it?

The beloved 1980s-set horror and sci-fi series is more terrifying than ever in season 4, thanks in part to its antagonist, Vecna. Like his predecessors, the villainous creature is named in-story by the Stranger Things characters, who are inspired by a similar figure from the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. The Dungeons & Dragons version of Vecna is revealed by Eddie Munson (Joesph Quinn) during a campaign of the game with his friends in the Hellfire Club. It has been common for Stranger Things to reference Dungeons & Dragons monsters and use their monikers for the names of the show's primary villains. However, unlike the Demogorgon and the Mindflayer, the Upside Down's Vecna was once human, adding an intriguing layer to the character in the first volume of Stranger Things season 4.

In Dungeons & Dragons circles, Vecna is a powerful lich, a spellcaster who defies death by magical means. The name Vecna is actually an anagram for Vance, an ode to fantasy author Jack Vance, whose works were the inspiration behind the magic system used in Dungeons & Dragons. Vecna is mentioned in early iterations of Dungeons & Dragons but is introduced formally in the 3rd Edition of the game. The epithet for the character is "god of destructive and evil secrets." The Dungeons & Dragons description is very much in line with Stranger Things' version of Vecna, revealed to be the Mind Flayer's general. The connection to Jack Vance and the character's Dungeons & Dragons biography were major hints at his role in season 4.

Henry Creel looking furious in season 4 of Stranger Things

Of all the Stranger Things villains revealed so far, Vecna seems to be the most like his Dungeons & Dragons counterpart. Toward the end of season 4, volume 1, Vecna is revealed to be Henry Creel, a boy with telepathic gifts and powers similar to Eleven. In fact, Henry Creel was the original child experiment, Number One, studied in Dr. Brenner's lab. After his battle with Eleven, he was sent to the Upside Down, where his human form was ripped to shreds, and he became a monster. Vecna's Stranger Things origin and powers are essentially identical to his game counterpart's description in Dungeons & Dragons. Henry Creel was a powerful human sorcerer who cheated death to become an even more powerful lich-like creature. Dungeons & Dragons lore's Vecna was also called the betrayed god due to him being attacked by his own lieutenant. This betrayal draws comparisons to Eleven refusing to join Henry Creel and her banishing him to the Upside Down.

An interesting part of Creel/Vecna's story in Stranger Things is that while the character is human, he doesn't identify as one. When conversing with Eleven, he pontificates that they are more than human and can shape the world as they see fit. This grandiose view of self parallels the Vecna of Dungeons & Dragons lore, who as a human sorcerer is striving to become a demigod. Both versions of the magic-wielding lich seemingly fall short of their lofty goals, becoming lesser, albeit powerful, beings.

Stranger Things season 4, volume 1 gives more depth to Upside Down. Vecna's appearance in the mysterious universe marks the first time in the series that a human transforms into a creature like this. The Mind Flayer, like its namesake, which is known as an Illithid in Dungeons & Dragons language, is distinctly its own being, as are the individual Demogorgons. As of yet, there are no explanations as to why the Upside Down had the effect it did on Vecna. It could have something to do with the mysterious powers granted to certain individuals throughout the series. Hopefully, these questions can be answered as the series continues.

Next: Stranger Things: Why Vecna Waited Seven Years To Start Killing Again

Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 releases on Netflix on July 1.

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