The House That Rabban Unbuilt [Morning 1]

[Kannon]

They would reach the ruins at the break of dawn. In the fiery oranges of the rising Kornephoros, the snow was both dazzling and dazing, the eyes screaming from protection, the ruins blurring in the squint into a wobbly black crags and teeth and broken eggshells of domes, carved artlessly with long blemishes of lasgun fire. The tube of a fallen, mostly snowed-in by now, constituted a symbolic threshold on approach. This may have been a glorious place once, but now its engineered dilapidation stripped all hope for renewal from anyone but the most faithful.

[Ambrose Pantazis]

Ambrose took in their surroundings. A reminder of why they fought against everything the Harkonnen stood for.

Another train of thought went to strategic value, a hiding place during their operations, a landmark for reference, a fallback for some of the worst cases.

Yet another thought was spared for treachery, cowardice, ambush. Hawat was certain of Kova's trustworthiness, but who had Kova trusted? What might be waiting for them amongst these ruins.

[Kova]

Looking back at the gathered. "If you're comfortable with it, you'd probably be better received with your arms holstered out of sight. But I would urge slung at a minimum. It's how I walk around sometimes, but they also know me so they're more comfortable with it. You don't have to share details, but if you're honest about intentions and let them know you don't intend to share certain things, that's going to be taken better than deception or obfuscation. Nobody here will raise arms against you. I am trusting you to not do the same. These people are our religious leaders, and they abhor violence, so I am driven to help you because your mission may keep them alive. Although, they will probably never admit that your assistance against the Harkonnen would be a good thing, and most would likely choose to let someone kill them rather than fight back."

[Efren Lanville]

Efren nodded, “That sounds very familiar… my mother is a similar religious leader to her people and shares a very similar philosophy.”

[Ambrose Pantazis]

Ambrose complied, holstering his firearm and covering it under his cloak, but kept his arm not far from it or his shield. Trust but verify.

"How long have you lived among them?"

[Kannon]

One white robe moved through the ruins, toward where the courtyard should be.

[Efren Lanville]

Efren looked towards the movement. More concerned locals… More convincing to let Efren help them.

He hoped he was right about the need.

[Kannon]

He might or might not be, but the figure disappeared behind the rubble. Not in any haste; the winding ways among the ruins must have led them there.

[Efren Lanville]

After watching the robed individual disappear, Efren asked Kova, “Who should we talk to first?”

[Kova]

"We'll head to a spot that you can set your packs down, then go find Sadhu Trygve. He may be there right now anyway. The monks and nuns are probably getting started with their day and may be working on clearing old tunnels already. Depends on how long their waking devotions and tasks took," Kova replies, leading the way.

"There are also other spots in the Eyrie if you prefer to keep separate, but you should sit and have a rest after our trek, and doing so in conversation will make things go quicker and smoother. I promise, your calves and thighs will appreciate a short break even if the adrenaline makes them feel fine for now."

[Efren Lanville]

Efren nodded and looked around the group for common approval.

“That sounds great. Let’s do that.”

[Kannon]

Trudging through the snow for the past few hours had been exhausting indeed. Despite the thermal wear, the cold of this environment was not something Caladan had ever prepared them for. If they asked their bodies whether they would like a hot drink, there would be a resounding yes.

[Kova]

Kova leads the way to the living area he's been residing in, peeking first to see if anyone is present or if they're off clearing tunnels already.

[Kannon]

The person they may have noticed before was Leida, moving in the morning toward continuing her work on the old, promising tunnel she had found. She seemed so focused on the task that she didn't even look around to notice their appearance among the ruins.

[Kova]

Kova got her attention, waving and calling her name, "Leida. Visitors. Travelers passing through for a few days."

[Kannon]

Leida indeed stopped, startled. She looked at the unfamiliar people, darker-skinned than she was used to seeing.

"...Have you brought them to help us remove the rubble?"

[Kova]

Kova begins walking towards Leida, stopping a comfortable distance. He's kind of demonstrating local norms and being a bit more proper and hoping that it helps everyone get a decent first impression. "No, unfortunately not. They are traveling through on their own business and they need somewhere to rest. I am going to be their guide. We'll need some space for a few days. I will see to their care while they are here so that there is no extra imposition on your work in the tunnels. But I believe some of them are also interested in speaking with Sadhu Trygve and the rest of the monks if they would like to come speak with us at their convenience."

[Kannon]

"If they want to take some of our time off our work, and they are making you go back on your promise to help me today, should I understand these are people like the Harkonnen, who take without giving?" Leida started rolling her braids into practical buns.

[Kiran Alsahar]

"If they want to take some of our time off our work, and they are making you go back on your promise to help me today, should I understand these are people like the Harkonnen, who take without giving?" Leida started rolling her braids into practical buns.

Kiran stepped forward. "May I take his place in helping out? My colleagues need his help, but I am here to meet and learn about your people, as well, as my own come from similar origins."

[Kannon]

"Yes. Come. Days are short." Leida nodded, ready to depart, breaking off from any further introductions or assurances. "I've hit a wall. It is a strange one." She said to Kiran once they picked up pace. Her Galach was weird, to say the least. Like a chant.