I thought it was a reference to the D&D Eye of Vecna, especially after the left leg of Vance was mentioned (Vecna is a powerful D&D villain who left behind an eye and a hand, and if—as expected—somebody tries to get both and succeeds, something bad happens, although I don’t remember what exactly).
Yes, that’s what it is referencing, but there’s another level of reference, “Vecna” was an anagram of “Vance” the last name of writer “Jack Vance” whose magic system influenced D&D magic. So Eliezer has used the unanagrammed version.
I thought it was a reference to the D&D Eye of Vecna, especially after the left leg of Vance was mentioned (Vecna is a powerful D&D villain who left behind an eye and a hand, and if—as expected—somebody tries to get both and succeeds, something bad happens, although I don’t remember what exactly).
Yes, that’s what it is referencing, but there’s another level of reference, “Vecna” was an anagram of “Vance” the last name of writer “Jack Vance” whose magic system influenced D&D magic. So Eliezer has used the unanagrammed version.
Then of course, there’s the fabled Head of Vecna.
http://www.blindpanic.com/humor/vecna.htm
After losing one player to decapitation, they quickly realised their mistake: they hadn’t attatched the new head fast enough.