Glimmer enters slowly behind Rhadama and says "Well then.  Here we are dear.  Would you like to accompany me on a little quest?  I do so love a good adventure.  I think we should also contact Atasatch, Lyrion, and Blisdon."

From behind Rhadama, Atasatch walks forth towards the den.  As he steps inside he notices both Rhadama and Glimmer. While walking Atasatch takes the fang and tucks it behind his undershirt for the peace of mind of everyone around him. He stands infront of the pair.  "I believe I heard my name?" Atasatch says with a slight smirk. Hiding the fear inside as to why two innocents would want to travel with one as cursed as he.

"Hello Ata!"  Glimmer walks to him and places a hand on his arm.  "There's no need for your confusion.  We trust you here.  My cousin is a Vampire.  I guess I like toeing the line.  I don't think you'll hurt me, even if you...change.  And I can defend myself if you do.  What we're here for is to have an adventure.  With Haven gone, we need to see if anything was left behind.  All users are welcome.  I thought it was an opportune time to do some adventuring together and get to know everyone."

As the three healers venture into the now-abandoned den, they find everything has been left neat and tidy. The shelves of medical supplies are well stocked and organized. The numerous beds are clean and neatly laid out, as if someone took great care to prepare it for those who would use it next.
 
In the back, sitting in a well-lit spot, the three healers can see a stack of goods, likewise neatly laid out. A stack of rolled parchments bound with twine sits atop them. Just like the den itself, the goods and note seem to be left out with the intention that someone find them.
 

Glimmer walks over to the corner and retrieves the parchments and attempts to read the note atttached.  She stands silently and sheds a tear for her lost friend, Haven.

Rhadama walks across the room to put a gentle hand on Glimmer's shoulder.  "She was a great lady. I came here to find her.  I'm sorry I mssed her, but  I hope we can live up to her example."

 Atasatch is slightly taken aback at his new companions friendliness. He smiles slightly and drops his hood he looks through the den attempting to find anything of use to him and his companions. "Haven sure liked to keep things clean" Atasatch wipes his hand on the table a very fine layer of dust collects on his hand. he closes his eyes and sees a memory of Haven standing with her mace high. Atasatch remembers taking a blow to the back by a long sword it opened him up pretty bad and Haven new somehow without even seeing him he remembers the weightless feeling. His body corsing with newfound energy and the wond closing on his back. A small tear falls from his face unto the dust on his hand.  "Thank you Haven, without you, I would have been lost months ago."

Upon reading the parchments, Glimmer begins flitting about the Healer's Den gathering up random items here and there.  She can be heard sobbing lightly.

 
Atasatch places a hand on Glimmers shoulder. He says nothing he just nods his head as if to comfort her. He then walks over to the stack of goods and picks up the note in an effort to read it.

Glimmer looks to Ata and Radama and says "Well friends, it appears we have a map that will be useful to us next maestrun.  I need to run for a bit to take some items to some other citizens in town.  I hope your salves help you both in your healing efforts in the town."  Glimmer flits quietly away from the Healer's Den towards the tavern.

Rhadama smiles wistfully after Glimmer as the fairy flits away.  She turns to Atasach.  "Do you think it will be a problem for me to look through these papers?  I think I might find some clues that will help me become a more efficient healer.  I promise to keep everything neat."

 ATasatch looks toward Rhadama. "I think it will be just fine. What ever was left here was meant to be found. If you need me I'll be right out side. I need some freash air." Atasatch wisps away to the outer edge of the den. He draws in a deep breath of full air. He closes his eyes a thinks deeply on his undetermined future.

 Atasatch whinces as its voice echos through his soul. "Its not you I need. It is the power of the werebeast You're just the baggage. I will break free of your hold. You shouldnt be so arragont. You assume too much of me. You dont know me, who I am, the things I've done." Atasatch darts farther away from the den. "You will never break me Gorepaw. Not this elf."
 
"You heard me wolf.  You will never break me, If I am to cleanse the Red MEadow it will not be with your taint, I did not seek your fragment out to gain power and become the alpha. I will cleanse the Red Meadow, but not until I have used you for knowledge and gain power and understanding of this curse, not until I can use it for my own, on my own. My friends will never leave me." As the las few words stumble out of Atasatch's lips he cast a glance in the direction of the tavern and then back to the den.

"They say only the mad talk to themselves", a baritone voice calls from the right of him. "The mad or the divine"  Or the madly divine," chuckles Tregard Maynard as he comes into the elf's view. " Like Eleutherios, you know Eleutherios correct?

Blisdon saw from a distance as the strange elf fled the den and hurried away to seclusion whilst muttering to himself. He felt that he could empathize well with the mans pain since often the wrong wild mushroom found in the deep bowels of his native dwarven kingdom or the wrong plants in the bowl of his his favorite pipe often had a way of leaving him with an evening full of nightmarish visions and hours of speaking to hellish voices that only seemed to reside inside his own mind. Empathetically Blisdon gave an awkward and uncertain but cheerful wave at the tormented figure when the druid turned back around to gaze at the tavern and Healers den which Blisdon was now casually entering.
 
The dwarf wasted no time to assess the condition or wellbeing of the den as he had always casually assumed that anything built by hands other than those of a dwarf true to his craft was never really intended to last to begin with as he quietly slipped into an aisle to search for the quarry of his hunt. 
 
"Hangover cures...hangover cures...Hangover cures..." He grumbled absentmindedly as his sharp eyes rapidly skimmed the faded labels which branded the spines of the many well worn tomes that resided upon the old shelves.

 Atasatch looks towards Tregard. His heavy breathing and darting eyes would do nothing to help his case. But he had to try.  "Tis not myself I am talking to  it is something much darker, much more sinister. A sentiant being which I have willingly bestowed upon my self in an effort to save my home. I believe you saw a bit of what I am talking previously. For your safety I suggest you and your friend state your business and leave as fast as the wind can carry you. I am not in full control yet." Atasatch had regained his senses by now and was standing straight, tall, and proud.

Ignoring the elf’s anixety, Tregard begins to lecture “Eleutherios, the Liberater, Dionysus, Bacchus, Shiva, Loki those are some of his names. He wears them and discards them as you and I would clothes. I believe on this shard he is known as Muralakrum.  He wanders the land shifting into different forms on some task that only the mad understand.  The bard paces deep in thought. “ There was this one time, when he came into a town and chan---” The man stops abruptly and trembles “ Oh merde” he says and then he chants
I broke a thousand hearts
Before I met you
I'll break a thousand more, baby
Before I am through
I wanna be yours pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I'm here to tell ya honey
That I'm bad to the bone
Tregard  traces the air with figure 8’s as he sings. Each symbol shines brightly as the song flows with reluctance and fervor from his mouth.
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
The last verse trails off, Tregard panting into his last  shimmering figure 8.

Rhadama nods companionably at the searching dwarf.  "I'm glad to see you here," she says with a smile.  "I had hoped we could collaborate on developing some of the more advanced healing I see here.  Perhaps Tregard would also be interested."

Atasatch stares blankly Tregard. He shakes his head. As he finishes shalking his head he looks around. "What in Orn was that?" He askes loudly

That is the thing that lives inside of my head. Sociable, isn’t it? Tregard regains his air and composure.  “ I saw your transformation the other day. I saw the hesitancy and pain in your eyes every time you struck down one of your friends. So I said to myself: There’s kindred spirit thats need some help.Thus, my little incident  and some advice “. Tregard taps the  flickering symbol in front of his face. It turns solid and falls into his hands. He holds it up tothe bewildered elf and asks “ Do you know what the lemniscate is?  Don’t worry I’m done being mad/bad for the moment”
 
patcegan.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/infinity-symbol.gif

 Atasatch stares at the object he looks it over and over before looking to Tregard.  "It looks familier, I've seen it before but as for its meaning it remains unseen to me. In the Red Meadow we had similar symbols. It stood for eternal life among nature, and infinate knowledge. What does it mean here?"

Looking like hell itself had just spit her out, Akon trudges by the two as they talk amongst themselves. She merely offers a passing glance as she continues into the healer's den, her armor and clothing still nothing more than bloodied and crusted shreds and tatters, their black remains blending in with her own black and crusted flesh. She pauses not, and disappears into the confines of the den.

Tregard steps closer to elf after warrior stomps past “ Looks like the losing end of  some goblin ruttin’  he whispers, eyes following Akon. “Still, I wished she would have stop, what I’m about tell you she needs to hear.  You ask what the lemniscate means. Depends” Tregard pulls out another symbol that hangs from his neck. “ Turn it vertical 8 and to most its just the number that follows 7 and precedes 9.  Turn it back and its infinity, totality, wholeness and eternity. To me personally, its constant change.  The scholar’s voice drops and he looks at Atasatch with clear eyes. “Follow the loops, “ as he places his index finger on one end of the symbol. “ Lets say this is light, which eventfully has to turn darkness.” He follows the curve to to the other end. “Yet, darkness must turn back to light.” And he makes another path that returns to the orginal side. “I can go on and on--order to chaos, life to death, acorn to oak., elf to beast.” With the last statement he gives Astasatch a wink.  

 Atasatch stares at the symbol in a trance like state. His eyes flicker. Atasatch looks Tregard in the eyes. His breathing begins to get heavier and faster. "Are you saying, that with the lemniscate, my journy to control this...curse.. will be shorter?"

Returning the way she came, Akon now emerges from the healers den after a short time, several white linens tucked under her arm. She pauses a moment to let her burning red hues look over the two as they converse. Her eyes take a special glance over Atasatch, though her look is merely of observance, as if she was checking on him more than anything. She then glances to the bard as if to gather affirmation that all was alright.

 “O control, thy sweet tease” Tregard begins to orate and stops when he notices the return of Akon.  He nods at her unasked question. He stops her with a raised finger before she turns to go. “Yet, to control is to accept and to submit. The man capers back to the elf and stops with the elf’s face mere centimeters away. Madness flits in and out of the human eyes “ Do you, Atasatch of the Red Meadow, accept that you are the beast and the beast is you? Will you submit?

Akon keeps quick on her path then halts at the raised finger. She raises a brow at the bards request for her to wait, but does indeed stand by, watching the two at a small distance. Not meaning to intrude, but also waiting as requested,  she glances back and forth between them.

Atasatch looks to Tregard he says. "I will not allow Gorepaw to control me, I will not take the easy way out this is not something I can let by I---" Atasatch stops mid sentence and screams. "You will not control me! You will not control me! this is my heart, my mind, my body and my soul, you stupid mongrel get out of my head!"

 Tregard presses the symbol into the elf's immediate view.  "Accept. Submit. Control"  Find the balance where elf and beast are one. Accept. Submit. Control."

Atasatch grasps the symbol and looks into Tregard's eyes. "You promise me that I can have full control of this daemon. If there is any doubt in your mind that he can over take me. Tell me. Do you believe in me, if I falter will you be there to pick me up. Do not let him control me, I cant do it alone I need the help on my friends to do this Tregard I want Gorepaw to shudder at the sound of my name, the name of the one he shall call master. I must save the Red Meadow."

Akon's ember hues take on a slight firey burn to them as she narrows them, watching Atasatch carefully. She licks her lips, tensing slightly, defensively, and ready to intercept should Tregard find himself with more wolf than elf on his hands. But she waits, calmly waiting to see how Atasatch handles it, her ears tentatively listening to the conversation between them.

Taklinn walks out of the Warrior's Hall and walks toward the Healer's den to check on his Gnomish friend who he has just heard was waylaid on the road.  As he gets closer to the group he watches as Ata goes into his rant.  "Oh shave me beard, I should have brought a durned steak."  he says quietly as he gets closer to the group.  He walks behind Akon and puts a hand on her back plate of armor and says quietly "Githal, watch and protect her" (Repair).  "That way if he turns rabid, yer a more sturdy chew toy!" he smirks as he walks past the group and into the Healer's den.

Akon looks back at the touch, then down at her armor as the leather forms and shapes back to what it was before her date with hell. She then looks back and offers a small smile  that could almost be construed as shy towards the dwarf, her burning eyes cooling. She walks forward then to rest a hand on Atasatch's shoulder, her voice low, direct and calm. "Theese man cannot make those promises to you. The only one that can make that promise is you. Do -you- believe you can control theese? Do you promise yourself that you vill master theese? Ees there any doubt in your own mind that you cannot win theese battle? You must ask yourself theese questions." She makes sure her eyes are in contact with his own when she continues, peering deeply at him, and lowering her voice. "You must be brutally honest...for if -you- have any doubt..then either you must discover the source of theese doubt and how to conquor it, or theese path ees not for you." 
 
She straightens up again, rolling her shoulders back to stretch herself tall and sturdy. "But, as for help, I vill help you. I vill stand when you struggle, a block to lean upon. And should any injury come to me if you need quelling, consider it already forgiven." She smiles a bit at him assuredly. She then turns to Tregard and nods. "And I shall help you in quelling him should you need my assistance. Merely call, and I shall come. There are more ways than by a blade to quell a beast..." She looks back to Atasatch. "But the only one that can prevent theese Gorepaw from controlling you is you."

 As Atasatch fights the urge to give in to the power he thinks back to the Red Meadow back to Amariel. his memories race. for a moment atasatch seriously considered giving in to Gorepaw. As Atasatch went to take the amulet from the scholars grasp he stops and slams his fist into the ground at his feet. "Try as hard as you can but I will kill myself before I give in to you. I have embraced the power of the beast but I will never embrace you. Once I have control I will cast you aside in the blackness of Oblivion so no soul will ever have to endure your reign of tyranny ever again." Atasatch stands slowly grasping a nearby branch for stability. He looks to Fancy and the scholar. "If I shall falter, if it takes control of me I expect you two to beat him into his place. He will learn that this is my body I only need his knowledge. Each time he breaks free and takes me over I learn more. Each time I feel my own self growing stronger, more in control. He wont last much longer. A few more months and I wiont need him anymore. Will you two help me?" 

At Atasatch's mild outbreak, Akon reachs out a hand protectively to Tregard, putting herself between them and watching the elf with hard eyes, but not moving to subdue him. She waits until he regains his composure, then nods at him. "I vill."

 Atasatch smirks and nods to the pair infront of him. "Justice will be served but not by your hand, not by your rage, nor your bloodlust. I will never give in Gorepaw. Power will not satisfy me." Atasatch finishes speaking to the daemon and looks to his companions. "What shall be done now?"

Akon watches him quietly a moment, letting the silence hang in the air at his question, before she lowers her protective arm from guarding Tregarde. She continues with tone as calm as ever. "Vell...that vould be up to you. How strong do you feel now? Does he still temp you? You must learn to control theese, and it seems in your case that only pratice is vhat is needed."
 
She furrows her brow in hard thought before continuing on. "Perhaps you vould like to explore theese powar in a place you know you vill not hurt another. Under the vatch of a guardian to make sure you return to your senses should you get out of hand? Avay from theese people, not in the vwild. When you are free, theese powar is dangerous, but perhaps in confines vhere you are safe to fully explore theese would be best? A place vhere you can fully confront it, learn it, then control it? I vould volunteer to be your guardian, and vatch over you should you choose to do this. I have confidence I can subdue you should it be required. But know also that I understand theese curse of deamons. All my life I haff studied them. My clan grew up listening to them vhisper in our ears. Know also I vill not stop you. I vill not break vhen you suffer, I vill not quell your pain. I vill let you feel it fully, suffer it fully, so that you may become stronger. Broken bones heal as steel. Theese is vhat I offer."
 
She glances to the bard before continuing to Atasatch. "Besides, it is for the greater good of theese town that you control theese sooner rather than later. It is less for me to vorry about....vhat do you think?" She asks Atasatch.
 
 
 

 Atasatch stands in the silence contemplating what Akon has offered him. Perhapes she is right, that maybe the only way to control the beast is to give in. Give in to it in a confined area where he can be stopped if the power is to strong for him to stop. atasatch thinks for a moment. "We'd need a healer just in case." Atasatch stares nervously at the lycanthrope's fang that hangs so lightly at his neck. It was becoming a part of him. Whether a good or bad part still remained to be decided. He thought back to Gorepaw's words what he had said. One word stood out "Justice" Atasatch looked to Akon. He extended his hand. "Very well i will do itbut Akon please, realize the risk here. Remember what happend when I-- it, attacked the town. I dont want that to happen again. It nearly killed all of you. Do not hesitate to show me the blade of your sword if the beast should gain control. I need that security."

Akon looks at him directly in his eyes. Her tone is deadly serious and everything about her aura would penetrate deep into those that heard it. With her voice low, she speaks with strength and a touch of resentment. "I have taken eternal damnation upon myself to protect this town....a power and curse I did not vant." She hisses slightly. "Power I took so that this town vould not have it run rampant, power I knew I vould be able to master...power that vould destroy all those that sought it. The rogue, Steirs, the Prince. I was offered this power since birth, had it within my fingertips for decades. Power vhich I refused. I did it protect them, and you, and all those that dwell here." She looks down from him now, closing her eyes as she makes her resentment pass. She then continues quieter, softer. "If I can accept so much so soon for theese people, accepting injury is nothing to me. The Pit itself could not kill me, try as it might..." She looks back up to him again. "After returning from a week in hell with fiends innumerable felled by my blade, and just as many wounds to account for it, one wolf plagued elf does not intimidate me. Risk is risk, I'll take it.
 
"As I've already said,  I vill help you, and any injury I sustain in keeping that pledge is already forgiven." She takes his hand in a sturdy clasp, shaking it once with a confident nod. "And rest assured, you vill be brought down swiftly should the need arise. I am more concerned for you than I. It is you that may be lost...are you sure you vish to do theese? You are bound fo suffer great agony to break theese grasp...if you can even break it." She looks him over, still holding his hand in hers, then straightens her posture erect, standing tall, and pats his hand with her other. "But I believe you can. And you shall. Are you ready?"

 Atasatch stares deeply into Akon's eyes an livid fire burning within his black pupils.  Atasatch takes his other hand and pats her in the same manner that she did. "I am ready, I will protect Jastrey with my life for the time being I will use this power to keep good wherever I may go, not only the Red Meadow but here as well. I am well aware of the risk, I have nothing left to lose, everything is gone to me now. this is my last hope at reclaiming any dignity or honor that I have left. If destinay shall deal me a hand so cruel that i will lose my self to the beast then so be it. But we never got anywhere without risks now have we?" 

Akon bows her head to him, hands still clasped. "So be it." She then releases her grasp and gives him some distance. "Ready yourself. Find yourself. And I shall prepare for what I must." She shares one more sincere sharing of glances and a nod, then retucks her linens under her arm. "I shall seek you out soon."
 
She readies to depart but pauses briefly to turn to the bard. "We may be needing your hand in this if you are willing to give it. Though I vill say, theese is not for the weak of heart."
 
 

 Tregard inches alway from the uordeq and elf, stomach churning in fear.  By the Ageless One, did he really try call forth the elf’s demon. Why?
You just call on me brother when you need a hand.
We all need somebody to lean on.
I just might have a problem that you'll understand.
We all need somebody to lean on.
“Stifle.”gasps Tregards,gripping the ∞ in his hand. He tries to remember where he stash his gear and the quickest way out of town.
And I ran, I ran so far away.
I just ran, I ran all night and day.
I couldn't get away.
“O, sweet mercy, shut up” The Rezzik dogma was worst part. How could he spout such drivel after what they did to him.
Now testify
Now testify
It's right outside your door
Now testify
Yes testify
Its right outside your door
Tregard’s hand involuntarily touches the crown-like scar on his head. The lawgivers had tried to open his head. To see what makes one of Muralakrum’s mad men tick.  But the Immortal of Changes protects his own and all they found was bad dreams.
One way or another I'm gonna find ya
I'm gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha
One way or another I'm gonna win ya
I'll getcha, I'll getcha
The bard slumps against a tree and lets the madness take over.
Poor unfortunate souls
In pain, in need
It's alright, ''cause I'm saved by the bell
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
Well that's alright because I love the way you lie
People movin' out
People movin' in

Akon blinks as she watches the bard's marbles slowly fall out of his head. She then slowly shakes her head and mumbles after a sigh. "Ees there anyone in this town that is sane?" Tching her tongue, she turns on her path to the gates of Jastrey, calling back to Atasatch as she departs. "Ve vill find another healer. Prepare yourself. I shall return vhen I myself am ready."
 

Atasatch nods his head in response. Turning back to the woods Atasatch pauses and thinks. "I hope this works" With a final turn to Akon and Tregard Atasatch walks slowly into the confines of the woods where maybe he can make sense of this situation.