Entering the glade, Lord Lanifin Seashine and the Lady Serianne Iluvataar find Cetrok in trouble conversation with himself.  Entering into a debate concerning the sword Serenj and its present bane upon Cetrok”s mind the story continues as the vampire Rhyaad enters the glade…

Cetrok says “I suffer from a plaguing madness that looks to drive me completely insane.  Even now my thoughts are mottled inside my own head at this terrible burden bestowed by the accursed Adonia herself.”  Lanifin cast a cursory glance in the newcomer”s direction.  Rhyaad gasps in astonishment.  Rhyaad says “Adonia would never do such a thing!” Lanifin looks at Serianne.  Serianne blushes slightly and looks back to the other two. 

Lanifin says “Cetrok, perhaps it would have done you well to find a suitable target before you acquired the sword?”  Serianne looks at herself.  Rhyaad says “Accursed Adonia? How can anyone say that about the goddess of Hope?”  Cetrok glares at Rhyaad noticing his presence, stooping down he picks up the bloodied cloth. "See now that she has.  Here is the accursed blade once known as Sarenj, made of the blood of lost children by Adonia herself.  It drives me mad for I know not how to rid myself of its designs.” 

Serianne carefully folds her hands in front of her and frowns a little as she moves to stand by the Aerandiri General’s side.  Cetrok says to Rhyaad, “Goddess of hope or lost causes more likely.  For my quest is a lost cause and so was the design of the sword.”  Serianne whispers quietly to Lanifin. "I am very concerned for your kind, I love one myself, but.... this one, he is indeed strange. I see nothing can aid him."

Cetrok unfolds the cloth to reveal a sword dull in comparison to the bright red blood that drips form its tip.  Seeing the blood fall to the ground he shudders in convulsion and a blank look comes to his eyes, then passes again.  Lanifin shakes his head, a look of frustration passing over his face.  Rhyaad says “I do not believe it. I have seen Adonia twice. I used to worship her. She would do nothing evil.”  Lanifin says “Rhyaad, you are not helping matters” Serianne “s slender shoulders shrug sadly. Rhyaad says “I do not like to hear my former goddess maligned.”

Lanifin turns his attention again to Cetrok, “I beg of you, put that bloody mess away”  Serianne says “Aye, it is most disturbing”  Cetrok wipes a tear from his weary eyes and attempts to control his growing sadness, "I cannot Lanifin, it is designed by Faya that I carry it till I find suitable use for it, and bestow it upon one such as can use it. “Even so, my mind grows weak in its keeping, for those who can’t use it are driven mad by the dreams.” 

Serianne says “Maybe you should stick it into a tree.”  Lanifin mutters under his breath, “perhaps stick himself to a tree with it...” Serianne hands Lanifin a box wrapped in a silk kerchief. "There, all nicely baked. I hope they like it."  Cetrok says to Serianne, “Nay Lady, its gift is fertility to those who have lost it, madness to those who have not.  I learned much of the Uelma Faya just by the dreams it plagued me with, aye, much of her previous life that is.” Serianne gazes thoughtfully at Cetrok and says “Hmmm.”  Rhyaad says “I do not understand or know the things you speak of, But Adonia is a goddess of goodness and hope. That I know.”  Serianne says “Tis so? You can stick it into an old tree and it will grow new leaves again.”  Cetrok says “but alas, she no longer needs it, for her life is gone to the vampires and she is a different person now.”

Rhyaad raises an eyebrow at you.  Serianne plays with a lock of her flaxen hair and watches birds alight on the branches of the oak.  Cetrok with a look of frustration clouding his eyes turns towards Rhyaad. "You know little of it Lord, it would bring hope to the hopeless, and the opposite to me.  The Orc I took it from was completely mad.  I was no more than a passing shadow before its Orcish eyes.  Rhyaad asks you, “Then just what are you, Cetrok ?”

Serianne’s slender shoulders give another of her sad shrugs and she leans to whisper sideways to Lanifin. "One would almost think he is staging a show here. He could just stick it into an old tree and it will bud again." Serianne lifts a finger and wags it at an old birch halfway down the path.

Cetrok says “Rhyaad, and Lanifin, and kind lady, the Elder who told me of the blade told me much, and told me little.”  Cetrok says “The blade was forged when a worshipper of Adonia who lost her fertility for whatever reasons begged for it back.  The poor lass was murdered by foul forces before the blade came to her hands.”  Lanifin grins a little in Serianne’s direction, “you know the rashness of warriors...they think with their swords rather than their heads”  Rhyaad nods in agreement to Lanifin.

Lanifin says “Cetrok...if you use the sword on a woman as you’d like to, wouldn’t using it kill her?  And what then?  You still have the sword.” 

Cetrok says “For that reason the blade became a boon to those who carry the burden until one worthy of it can take it away.  I know not even how to use it, but I suspect it has to do with the blood but what am I but a warrior fighting a battle within.” 

Serianne taps her chin delicately. "He spins a story quite intricate for a warrior." She smiles gently at him. "You can try to stick it into that old birch. Maybe it will start leafing again." 

Rhyaad says “Forgive me. I am ignorant. I merely do not which to see the great goddess Adonia maligned. I would have perished long ago if not for her.”

Serianne shrugs helplessly when she gets ignored. She decides not to bother with it anymore and finds the grass at her feet more interesting.

Cetrok says, “As Rhyaad said Adonia wouldn’t truly create for evil so the sword wouldn’t be ‘stuck through’ anyone for sense of killing them.”  Lanifin says “When placed on a scale opposite madness and death, I think her suggestion makes sense”

Lanifin says to Rhyaad, “I’m sure you’re goddess is grateful for your gallant defense of her honor”  Rhyaad says to Lanifin, “She deserves it”

Cetrok sighs, turns smartly, walks to the tree, wheels and plunges the sword deep within its withering bark.  Walking back the blade still bleeds and the tree remains unchanged.  Cetrok says to Serianne, “A tree bereft of life cannot be made new again, but a life without the ability to create new is the reason for the sword Lady.”

Serianne crouches down, folding her thick robes about her slender frame and picks up a small fallen twig to poke at the ground.  Serianne does find the grass more interesting. Her twig breaks and she looks away to search for another one.  Rhyaad throws back his cloak, and lets the night breeze blow through his hair.  Rhyaad stares at the sky.

Lanifin speaks gently to Cetrok, “Still gripped by madness?”  Cetrok tears welling in his eyes, I know not old friend, my heart is still held by something but I know not what.  Lanifin says “Perhaps this has temporarily stayed the madness?”

Serianne breaks another twig and sits back on her heels in frustration.  Lanifin says “you can use this respite to do more research, and truly find the means for disposing of the sword...”

Rhyaad says to you, “Hold close to your center, Cetrok. I do not know of your sword or affairs, but that is the way to stave off madness.”  Rhyaad says to you, “and never give up hope, no matter what” Rhyaad gathers his cloak about him.  Rhyaad bows before you.

Cetrok nods to Rhyaad and Lanifin, and the beautiful lady and walks over to a tree and sits dolefully at its base.  Rhyaad dissolves into a cloud of glowing mist, then vanishes!

Lanifin glances towards Serianne.  Lanifin says to Serianne, “I think his episode is past for now” 

Cetrok stands quickly scratches his head and kicks the ground.  After doing so he walks back to the birch and looks at the trail of blood flowing down its trunk then turns back to his resting spot and sits down again.  Cetrok scrunches his mouth in thought looks to the lady and the sword then shakes his head again turning to inner thoughts.

After a short time Cetrok turns to Serianne and says, "I do thank you for troubling me with your time, I wish more could have been found of it, and I’m sorry I did not greet you more properly before, the madness seems to momentarily have left me somewhat more capable of being a gentleman.  Begging your pardon m’lady, I am Cetrok, Treste an’Aerandiri, both above your Heru in position, and below in both wisdom and grace.”  Cetrok bows before the Lady Serianne.

Lanifin turns to Serianne suddenly remembering the cookies in his hand, “Thank you mi’lady, for the gift” Serianne stands up slowly from her crouching position and beams at Lanifin. "Tis nothing, Heru Lanifin, my pleasure. I love to bake." Serianne nods lightly at the sea elf warrior. "Mae govannen. I be Serianne Iluvataar."

After a little more silence and a lot more thought a light suddenly comes into Cetrok’s eyes who turns and runs towards the tree.  "But a moment, I think I have the answer." Gripping the sword Cetrok pulls at it but for some reason it wont give.  Cetrok turning towards Lanifin, "Lord might I use your hand a moment?"  Lanifin replies “I would rather not dirty my hands with your foul blade.  Perhaps a book would be of more use to you than brute force?  I have several in my library, and some have pictures...”

Cetrok sprints back to Lanifin, "Awe, come on, I think I understand the riddle now.  Yes I have wounded the tree with the sword but wounds heal when the blade which causes them are removed, As with infertility, tis but a wound that the sword is still deep within.  Cetrok says, “If I can but gather your strength with mine a moment, maybe together this puzzle can be solved.”  Cetrok turns back to the tree and strains against the strength of his own will to pull the sword from it.

Lanifin says “Cetrok, a few minutes before you were a raving lunatic, because of holding on to that sword...and now you want me to touch it?  I say again, I would rather not” Cetrok frowning a bit turns again towards the Aerandiri General, "If you will not help me then there is yet no hope.  This burden I’ve carried far.  I ask you but a moment to assist me in the burden.  If not released from it I will continue to carry it."

Lanifin shakes his head in frustration, “Your aversion to research is disturbing, and your willingness to play guessing games in the realm of magic, at the risk of your own sanity even more so” Lanifin walks towards the tree with a sigh.  Lanifin begins toeing a shoddy rune into the dirt directly in front of where the sword protrudes from the tree.  Pulling a green vial from one of his robe pockets he pops the cork and pours a single drop from the vial into the center of the makeshift rune.  Pointing a finger at the rune and muttering a few words and it’s edges begin to glow.

Cetrok walks over and peers that the rune and at the General.  “I am not familiar with this sigil Lanifin, what is its purpose, or shall I go run, duck, and cover?"

Lanifin says “It is a simple rune of strength, stand on the rune, and pull out your sword, it should be easier now” Cetrok says to Lanifin, “You know I do not always trust the ways of magic but I shall not shirk the help now.  Magic has been useful to me before.”

Cetrok steps upon the rune and places one hand on the sword.  Swelling with strength unknown to him before he begins pulling at Serenj with a simple but determined purpose.  Cetrok pulls harder as the rune grows stronger and brighter.  Suddenly with a flash of blinding light the sword comes free of its hold and Cetrok falls upon the ground stunned with a gleaming blade in his hand. 

 Lanifin steps quickly towards the rune and scuffs it out with a quick movement of his foot.  Cetrok covers his eyes as the whole of the glade is suddenly filled with light that pierces through even the thick rain clouds overhead.  The tree seems almost to visibly stretch its branches towards the heavens startling all present in the room.  Lanifin jumps back, absently throwing up a ward of protection with his hands as he does so.

Cetrok listens intently as a voice barely audible as a soft whisper washes over all in the glade bringing peace and blessings.  As the light fades all notice that the tree is now full of budding blossoms and seething with new life again. 

Lanifin claps his hands in slow applause, “it appears that you have succeeded, congratulations” Cetrok stands up momentarily brushing dust from his leggings.  A peace seems to surround him and he turns towards Lanifin.  "It seems that more than just one wound was healed today.  I feel at peace and rested more than I have been in a long time."  Lanifin nods solemnly. 

Cetrok looks at the blade unsurprised that not a drop of blood remains on the handle or sword of Serenj.  "Tis a beautiful blade despite all the trouble it caused.  I think I shall go sit and think in retrospect, my mind is very clear now."  Lanifin replies, “Yes, you do that, I myself must go” Cetrok says to Lanifin, “I have no been myself lately old friend.  I hope that you can forgive any ill words said in my growing madness.”  Lanifin bows before Cetrok and says “Of course.  Fair tides.”  Cetrok bows before Lanifin who walks away to the south.  Cetrok turns and walks from the glade singing a new song and blessing to the goddess Adonia leaving behind a simple white cloth once stained by blood which is said to bring continual health and peace to any who afterwards found it.