Through the mindnumbing madness Ludolf senses Triäsas distressed presence and slowly turns his head to face her. "Salva me!"

(Was waiting to see if touching the book did anything to Dav, can follow up later on that)

The expression on Daventry's face is one that is a merger of emotions you never thought you'd see on the strong-willed woman. Panic. Horror. Tears welling up in her eyes. "Oh, gods, I don't know what happened! It all was so normal to me!" She locks away the tome in its case, stuffing it down into her pack, before turning to Ludolf and Triäsa. She breathes deeply for a moment as Ludolf quiets, getting her own nerves together.

Daventry takes Ludolf's face in her hands, staring down his gray eyes with her own, the lingering glow of magic still shining in her natural dark blue eyes. She tries to keep her voice calm and measured. "Ludolf. Come back to us. Gods, Ludolf, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked. Come back to us..."

Quote from Viper15E >>

(Was waiting to see if touching the book did anything to Dav, can follow up later on that)

Nothing happens when you touch the book.

Triäsa just watches as Daventry speaks to Ludolf. She notices as he seems to turn and look at her. "It seems like you are helping him Daventry."  Hearing the other woman's calm voice seems to calm her as well.

"I know, perhaps I can try a spell." She doesn't bother with her lute, simply reaching out to barely touch Ludolf's arm as she sings in her soft voice the words she had used before to cast Identify.

'Music and magic mingle,
Surround around this space.
Set vibrations within this entity
To reveal enchantment within.'

(Casting normally,  takes 1 minute.  Using it to identify any spells affecting Ludolf - if any of course.)

Finishing your ritual you do not sense spell or enchantment on Ludolf. It as if he simply went mad.

"Well, I do not detect any magic still at work," Triäsa replies to Klin.  

Triäsa gives Klin a quick glance. "Daventry was showing that tome of hers. Ludolf read a part of that and...  well, I am not sure what happened to him. At least he stopped murmuring those words over and over."  She then focuses her attention back to Ludolf and Daventry.

As Daventry takes his face in her hands, staring down his gray eyes with her own natural dark blue eyes Ludolf seems to calm, some measure of sanity returning to his eyes now. 
Then he hears the soft voice of Triäsa singing, and his mind is finally set free of insanity's grasp, returning to the present, feeling the warmth and compassion of his newfound friends.
A bit into the song Ludolf even starts humming along softly to it, but as Triäsa finishes her song Ludolf is released from the soothing entrancement her song brought him.
"I...I am sorry...that was reckless of me." He says, almost a whisper, looking to his friends in turn in apology. "This tome...I almost dare not to admit this now but it is very much what I've been searching for all these years. And now that I have read from it I see the folly of my life's ambition. Please Daventry, promise me to be careful with that, for all our sakes, for the sake of the realm of sanity even." Ludolf says slowly, his voice filled with sorrow, his eyes still filled with tears over the harrowing revelation.

A look of relief comes to Triäsa when Ludolf speaks.  She takes a step back from him and Daventry now that he has recovered.  She turns to Klin. "Well, it seems he is okay after all. Thankfully, whatever evil is within that book of hers did not claim him. I could feel it - I am glad I did not try to actually read it! I almost offered to." 

((Been a busy day…))

Pardot had been quiet in the corner watching as things happened, unsure how to act as his companion seemed to literally lose their mind. As things begin to calm down he walks over and puts his hand on Ludolf, giving him guidance to get through this ordeal, as well as placing a berry in his hands, only wishing he could do more.

Daventry sighs as she keeps breathing deeply, trying to keep her emotions in check. She looks to Triäsa and Ludolf, as Pardot and Klin attend to him. She takes a step away from the group, turning away from them and looking upward as she tries to wipe the tears away. She keys into a single word Triäsa said.

"Evil. I'm not a villain." She sounds hurt, a bit scared, but with determined undertones. "I'm... just me, and I've never seen anything like that happen before. But... obviously this was a mistake. I should have kept this to myself."

Daventry shoulders her pack and grabs her bow and blade, leaving her shield and bedroll in her spot. "I... I need to clear my head. I'll be back for second watch." From her pack she takes a torch and lights it in the fire, before walking away from camp.

She'll find a fallen log to sit on, one that has as close to a clear view of the night sky as she can manage, while still keeping the light of the group's campfire in sight. She stares upwards for an hour, maybe two, wondering what her place in this world might be shaping up to be. At some point during this, she takes the tome out of its case again, not opening it but just holding it like a child might hold onto a doll.

She whispers the haunting words that Ludolf said, her eyes closed, eyebrows furrowed in thought. "That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die."

"Thank you my friend." Ludolf says to Pardot as he hands him the good berry, savoring it's taste of life and nourishment.
Ludolf sits in silence, contemplating, digesting, absorbing the mind wracking insights the black tome had brought him. He would think that his many years of studying this subject would have mitigated the strain on his mind but the maddening message of those runes had proved overwhelming. He was grateful to his friends, he would likely not had withstand the assault on his mind if it not were for their joint efforts and the song, the song of life. After a while in his own thoughts he realizes Daventry has left them. 

Fearing for what dark thoughts may weigh on her mind Ludolf sets out to find Daventry, searching the nearby woods. After a while he notices the embers of her torch in the darkness and moves closer, cautiously to not frighten her. He finds her holding the black tome, looking upwards, having just whispered something to herself.

"It is not your fault Daventry, you couldn't know the terrible message the black tome held. In fact I am glad that you weren't the one deciphering them. It is like it was meant for me to discover the horrible truth about your tome, possibly saving you. I'd like to think so." Ludolf says as he appears in the moonlight standing in front of Daventry. "Please don't dwell on what you witnessed tonight, if any of us eventually will walk down that dark path it must not be you Daventry. You are still young and have a lot to live for, you must go on living, enjoying a life in the light to the fullest."

"You are not evil Daventry..." Triäsa starts to say as the other woman starts to head out gettin the camp. She just watches her go in silence.  Then she does the same as Ludolf follows.

"Well, I think I should get some sleep." She slips into her tent to rest until morning.

You lay down and get a thankfully restful sleep that first night. In the morning you continue your travel in an awkward silence that lessens as you travel closer to Baulder's Gate. As you set up camp on the last night you feel a bit hope as your destination is just beyond the sunset.

The first two watches pass without trouble, however, as Triäsa is about half way through her watch she catches a glimpse of movement just ahead and off the road. It is very dark and there is a little bit of light rain starting to fall.

Quote from Oberon99 >>

 

"It is not your fault Daventry, you couldn't know the terrible message the black tome held. In fact I am glad that you weren't the one deciphering them. It is like it was meant for me to discover the horrible truth about your tome, possibly saving you. I'd like to think so." Ludolf says as he appears in the moonlight standing in front of Daventry. "Please don't dwell on what you witnessed tonight, if any of us eventually will walk down that dark path it must not be you Daventry. You are still young and have a lot to live for, you must go on living, enjoying a life in the light to the fullest."

Daventry seems surprised as Ludolf followed her. She shuffles the book back into her pack.

"I... Thank you, Ludolf... I hope you are feeling better after that... episode. But..."

She looks hesitant for what she was going to say, then changes her tone. "I appreciate you coming out to check on me. I'll be back to camp soon. Go get some rest."

The next two days and nights she seems sheepish around the group, and does not study the tome in front of them again. 

Ludolf nods. "Remember Daventry, you are a good person, nothing will cange that. Take care of yourself." He says and leaves for the camp. 
"Convenient, must get one of those in Baldur's gate." Ludolfs says to no one in particular as he returns and sees Triäsa's tent.
He moves is bedroll slightly, positioning it near the entrance to the tent in an irrational effort to protect its inhabitant.

The next couple of days he is thoughtful and observant of Daventry, walking mostly in silence, although trying to keep up practicing his social skills by the camp fire.
Anyone paying attention would see him before going to sleep, standing at the edge of their camp with a 3 foot branch, suddenly disappearing and then reappearing a bit later seeming not wholly satisfied. The last night before reaching Baldur's gate he sleeps uneasily again, waking up occasionally during the night, having some trouble to go back to sleep, dreaming of unspeakable horrors from the Far Realm.