The Unfulfilled Saga of D&D's Black Obelisks

The long-standing mystery of the black obelisks scattered throughout Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition's published adventures has finally been unraveled, yet not in the grand narrative conclusion many players anticipated. What began as a carefully planted series of clues, hinting at an overarching storyline involving time travel and an epic confrontation with the ancient Netherese Empire, ultimately dissolved due to shifts in creative leadership. This decision left the community with a sense of missed opportunity, transforming a potentially monumental finale into an unfulfilled narrative.

The Unfolding of a Narrative Disappointment

In a recent interview, Chris Perkins, the former creative director for D&D, shed light on the abrupt end to the obelisk storyline. These mysterious artifacts, first appearing in adventures such as Princes of the Apocalypse in 2015 and later in Rime of the Frostmaiden, were initially designed by a race known as the Weavers. Imbued with potent time magic, their purpose was to reverse calamitous events. The extinct Netherese Empire had once attempted to harness their power, and later, the formidable lich Vecna was even said to have purloined one, suggesting a pivotal role in his ultimate quest for power.

However, when Vecna: Eve of Ruin, the final adventure before D&D's 2024 revamp, was released, the obelisks were conspicuously absent. Vecna's elaborate scheme had been replaced with a more generic plot concerning secrets and the multiverse. Perkins attributed this narrative pivot to a change in the development team. He explained that as he transitioned away from day-to-day adventure creation, the central plot thread was lost. This revelation has been met with disappointment, as Vecna: Eve of Ruin, intended to be 5e's crowning achievement, instead became a source of frustration for many.

Perkins' original vision for the obelisks involved a sprawling time-travel adventure, culminating in players journeying back to the zenith of the Netherese Empire. This concept, briefly teased at the conclusion of Rime of the Frostmaiden, promised a unique and thrilling campaign, drawing inspiration from classics like Gary Gygax's Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, where players would encounter bizarre, almost technological magic. Such an adventure could have served as a triumphant farewell to 5e, akin to an "Avengers: Endgame" for D&D, fulfilling the promise of a long-running mystery that had captivated players for nearly a decade.

Despite some preliminary concept artwork for Netheril, the project never fully materialized. Perkins' departure from Wizards of the Coast for Darrington Press marked a significant shift. While D&D did eventually revisit Netheril in 2025 with the digital-only adventure Netheril’s Fall, it was structured as a series of preset encounters, a stark contrast to the epic, player-driven time-travel narrative Perkins had envisioned. The black obelisks, therefore, symbolize not just a lost storyline, but the conclusion of an era, illustrating the delicate nature of shared storytelling within the intricate machinery of a major corporate entity.

Reflections on Narrative Evolution in Gaming

The saga of D&D's black obelisks serves as a potent reminder of the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of creative development within large-scale gaming franchises. It underscores the challenges faced when initial creative visions encounter shifts in leadership and strategic direction. For players, it highlights the bittersweet reality that carefully crafted long-term narrative arcs can be subject to unforeseen changes, sometimes leading to resolutions that feel less impactful than originally intended. This incident invites us to ponder the balance between maintaining a consistent narrative vision and adapting to evolving team structures and business priorities, ultimately shaping the ongoing evolution of beloved fantasy worlds.