The funeral pyre was lit and the fire engulfed the corpse of Rhythm of Drums. But this was a not send-off this was a security measure. Because the dead don’t stay dead very long in Chult and souls don’t get to the afterlife as long as the Death Curse reigns over Toril. At least that is what Velverin would say right now if you asked him. Truth to be told the death of another party member weighted heavily on his conscience. He had failed yet again. ‘By now, you should have realised that we are good at killing not saving!’ A familiar voice called out for him from behind. ‘It is what we were trained for, after all. But I must say those blasts are quite impressive and effective.’ Velverin barely believed his eye, as he turned around. He saw himself slowly coming closer out of the shadows. Not him as he was now, but as he was a century ago. The scar covering his blind right eye still fresh and his posture was way more confident. ‘What? How? Why?’ Velverin asked his younger version. ‘I don’t know and I don’t care. Maybe we need a reminder that we don’t care about others. That we don’t have friends or allies, only assets and resources! To remind ourselves that all non-drow are below us and should be treated that way’, the younger one answered. ‘I get why you want to keep the dwarf alive. He hits the enemy pretty hard and can take a beating. But that despicable fey or her drunken Eladrin pet? Come on, they’re the enemy! Deep down we know that they are to blame for the beasts. Not even in the Underdark beasts just pop up inside a city, unless being summoned. What else could those patches of grass and flowers be than summoning circles? And where were Drev’nae and Faelon? They left for the feywilds. By the Masked Lord open our eyes! They claim to be better than us but if that doesn’t proof that they are exactly like us than I don’t know.’ The younger drow’s voice rose in volume and anger with every word spoken only to be calm and composed again from one moment to the next. ‘But you alone aren’t to blame. I left you in the hands of “Hidey Hole” and “Drink till I Die” over there and I deeply apologize for that.’ Still lurking in the shadows Velverin saw two other versions of himself. One was sick of the world trying to hide away and the other was drinking some cheap booze to forget. ‘Don’t listen to him, son.’ Another voice sounding like him came out of nowhere. Only that it sounded older. Like the others out of nowhere and older version of Velverin walked up to him. ‘You are on the right path. Our sister will be saved and you will find your way into the moonlight and dance with the others. You just have lost faith in the gods and in yourself.’ ‘Bullshit. He has to remember, who he was and not becoming some make believe version of us.’ With this an intensive argument between the two versions began, giving Velverin a chance to look for his companions. However they were nowhere to be found. Even the funeral pyre was gone as well as everything else. Only darkness was surrounding him and his clones. Which didn’t help much with his confusion and he bellowed: ‘EVERYONE SHUT UP and tell me what in the abyss is going on?’ ‘You know what is going on! You have doubts about this shit. And we, me especially, are here to help you getting rid of them. “Make Believe” and I are the only one capable to actually do that. On the other hand…’ Faster than one eye could see the young Velverin drew his rapier and killed the old one. ‘I am the only one capable to rid ourselves of these doubts. “Hidey Hole” is too scared. “Drink till I Die” does not know what is real. “Anger Management” over there should never be let out of his cage and “Make Believe” is dead. Guess that proofs my point. Nice that we are agree on that.’ Before he could even get a glimpse of another version of him the young one pushed him away from the other versions and forced him to have a little walk. ‘Believe me, what I am going to tell you; is in our best interest. Think back when we entered the service of those Eilistraee gals. We successfully deceived them. We made them believe that we were changing. That we actually followed their teachings and rituals. Masked Lord be praised we even deceived a goddess. She gave us those spells and powers and we played along. It was fantastic, wasn’t it?’ The young Velverin was excited to linger in the past. ‘We got all the resources, contacts and so on to take the first steps towards our revenge against Tallrene and Ranaghar, our beloved siblings. Sadly you pushed me away just when we were getting stronger and stronger. Even worse, I did let this happen. I turned us over to “Hidey Hole” and “Drink till I Die”. But I am back now. You and me, like the good old times, when we were the drow we were born to be.’ ‘Do you really want to be that way again, Velverin Kilsek?’ It was a completely different voice this time coming from a floating silvery light. ‘Do you want to break our pact, already? It’s been barely a week and it looks like your already giving up. If you truly wish that, it will be arranged but then your little sister while be one of Lolth’s playthings for all eternity.’ Velverin did not know what the light itself was; he only knew it served Eilistraee, the Dark Maiden, matron of all the good drow. And back at Syndra Silvanes mansion it had offered him help to save his little sister’s soul. ‘Pah, saving our sister. We don’t care about her.’ The young one interfered. ‘Why would we care about someone we can’t remember? He is just lying to us about it. That is why I am here to remind him.’ The light didn’t respond to that. It was again another drow. This time it was a female one and she was beautiful. Also she didn’t wear any clothes. He long silver hair covered most of the body, around her neck was a holy symbol of the Dark Maiden made of silver and a scar like Velverin’s covered her right eye. Alas he didn’t hear her respond, because a way more familiar voice overruled everything. ‘HEY, Velv'rin, you’re comin’ or what? Pyre‘s gone and the river is calling.’ It was Borgen’s voice and from one moment to the next the darkness around him was gone. The smell of burned wood, bones and flesh filled the air; the painful light of the sun hit his eye. A few yards ahead his companions walked towards the river. He slowly followed them. Wondering what just had happened.
