While the other members of the monastery your age spend the day off by the river or sleeping, you decide to visit Issar Roon. His study is not as cool as fresh water in the shade or as comfortable as the grass outside, but you have grown accustomed to the old man’s study. You find the old man’s stories relaxing, and as long as you pay attention and are careful with your actions he will not get upset.

The familiar hall is warm, but the feeling of coolness pervades your senses. The sun beyond the large bay windows is far hotter, and a cool breeze keeps your skin from overheating. You reach the old man’s study with only a few beads of sweat upon your unshaven face. You grasp the cool metal knob and push open the heavy oak door with force.

Hello! I am surprised to see my young pupil. I believed you would be with your compatriots, jumping in the water on such a summer’s day. I suppose I could interrupt my current work for a brief tale. I have one that I have wanted to tell you. Take a seat and I shall begin.

The old man closes a weathered book on his desk as you sit on the rug. As the pages lift up to meet, you catch alien symbols and patterns drawn within.

I have mentioned him in previous tales, but you have yet to hear his full story. Today I shall tell you of Volrath, Evincar of Rath. Like many in the Multiverse, Volrath had humble beginnings. In fact, he was born with another name on another plane.

Volrath was born Vuel, son of Sidar Kondo, leader of a north Jamuraan warclan. As an only son, Vuel enjoyed many privileges, and often bent them to his desires. Still, his father was strict and kept the young Vuel on a moral path.

Vuel’s course toward manhood was tested many times, but his biggest challenge was the appearance of Gerrard Capashen. Sidar Kondo took the young Gerrard as a son after his family was murdered, and held him in the same regard as he did Vuel. The young Vuel took exception to a sibling at first, but eventually the two became brothers in all but blood. Along the way, Gerrard helped Vuel become a man worthy of one day being the warclan’s leader.

Sadly, it was all for naught. The time for Vuel’s rite of passage arrived, and tragedy came along with it. A man working on the side of the Phyrexians—named Starke il-Vec—poisoned Vuel’s ceremonial paint that would be put on his body. When Vuel attempted to climb a dangerous plateau as part of the trial, he grew weak and fell. Caring about his brother, Gerrard saved Vuel’s life without a thought toward the consequences.

When the brothers returned to their clan, Vuel was cast out for not completing his rite of passage alone. Even his father disowned him, causing Vuel to become a wanderer among the plains. Vuel swore against Gerrard for not allowing him to die, and Starke helped to fuel his anger.

As time passed, Vuel’s hatred grew. He despised Gerrard for unknowingly sending him on a path of solitude and pain, and resented his clan for abandoning him. A plan of revenge slowly grew in the back of his mind. After planning and the recruitment of barbarians from surrounding tribes, Vuel attacked his former clan. Though Gerrard survived, Vuel killed his father and stole Gerrard’s pieces of the Legacy before fleeing.

Vuel had satisfied his desire for revenge, but hatred still boiled within him. With no other path available, Vuel followed Starke deeper into Phyrexia’s teachings. He arrived on the Phyrexian plane of Rath, and gave up his mind, body, and soul. Vuel died with that decision, but a new creature rose in his place: Volrath, Evincar of Rath.

Vuel vanished, but his memories and hatred still lived on. When Volrath took on the task of destroying the Legacy years later, he greedily laid a trap for Gerrard on his new plane. He kidnapped the Weatherlight’s captain, Sisay, and waited for her friends to rescue her. When they arrived on Rath, Volrath commanded the Predator to pounce.

Ah, but you know that tale already.

The old man’s eyes twinkle as they look into yours. This time you remember his story, and return his gaze with confidence.

When Gerrard finally confronted Volrath, he was forced to face two others, Sisay and a rebel named Takara, under the control of the Phyrexian evincar. Before Gerrard could worry about harming his friend, he was overtaken by a series of visions of his childhood with Vuel. Realizing the truth, Gerrard lashed out at his former brother. With the aid of his allies, the two females were subdued unharmed, and Gerrard drove his blade into the Phyrexian monster before him.

One might think that that is the end of my tale, but it was not Volrath that Gerrard had killed. The Volrath before him was a simple shapeshifter. The true Volrath had disguised himself as the rebel Takara, and played the part well. Using the situation to his advantage, Volrath traveled with the Weatherlight crew for a time, causing trouble among them when he could.

Eventually, Volrath returned to Rath to prepare for the coming invasion of Dominaria, but he was not welcomed back. Other Phyrexians, former members of the Weatherlight’s crew among them, took Volrath’s absence as a sign of abdication. Volrath was required to vie for his former title against the others before he could reclaim the position.

After arguments, backstabbing, and shows of power were dispensed with, there were two who were worthy of leading Rath: Volrath, and Crovax, former lord of Urborg and member of the Weatherlight. The two fought a prolonged duel, but eventually Volrath gained the upper hand. However, just before he delivered the killing blow, Ertai, a member of the Weatherlight’s crew alongside Crovax, intervened, unbalancing Volrath. In that instant, Crovax gained an advantage, and struck the former evincar.

That, my pupil, is the end of Volrath, formerly known as Vuel, brother of Gerrard. It is sad to see such a strong young man turn to such principles, but not all can be saved. You would do well to remember how easy it is to slip and fall.

Now be out with you! I refuse to allow you inside my study on such a beautiful day. There will be time enough for you to study when your body grows old and decrepit like mine.

Wondering why the old man is so keen on allowing you to ignore your studies, you take your leave. A breath of fresh air through the open door reminds you of what you are missing, and you head straight toward the river from the old man’s stuffy study.