The House That Rabban Unbuilt [Morning 1]

[Efren Lanville]

Efren nodded, “Thank you for sharing of your experience and wisdom. We too aim for as little suffering as possible. To act with kindness and peace to those we can. Extend a hand of friendship and support to those in need. That includes you and your people.”

He gives a nod of respect to the sage.

“If there is anything we can do to help… please let us know. And if there is anything we should know to keep this land and its people from hardship… please let us know so we may act with caution and consideration.”

[Kannon]

The Sadhu took a moment to respond.

"We have come from Veritas, by the coast. Some of those with me here had family members die in the bombing of the whaling industry. they have the spiritual disposition not to begrudge you for it, for the suffering the Great Houses bring upon common folk is beyond their reach. But the same disposition makes us so reluctant to choose between greater and lesser evil because greater and lesser in moral matters is not apart from how each of us looks upon the world. If we have a choice, we'd rather choose condoning no evil whatsoever."

He sighed.

"I have long supposed Kova's role and hence I call him a killer. I don't know if any of you were on that raid so I don't call you that. Whatever injustice your lord addressed by bombing us, it made us suffer more. I don't know what other injustice you have come to address, and I don't ask. But I assume it may end in more suffering. You have words for it that can help you forget that you will have done harm or make it feel justified that you will. So I don't know what exactly you should know or what you should do. I can guess that if you ended your confrontation with the rulers of this planet that would help. But I guess you are neither able nor willing; we are not naive and we know what the Harkonnens are. Short of that, don't bomb this planet again?"

There was no desperation in his voice, no reproof, just honesty and acceptance.

[Efren Lanville]

Efren nodded, “I cannot atone for what others have done… but my heart weeps for your people’s suffering. I will try to respect your people’s wishes as much as I can. We are here on a mission we cannot disclose… but know it is one with the intent to save. If we end up entangling your people in a way that hurts them that will have been the furthest thing from our intent.”

His voice modulates to a serious tone, “The Harkonnen’s have intent of their own as well… And it is our intent to stop them… here and everywhere they are as they go about spreading that suffering across the cosmos.”

[Kannon]

"Who is worse then in your eyes, one who makes others suffer more despite their noble reasons or one who ends up not doing so, but for repugnant reasons?"

[Efren Lanville]

“To be honest with you sir… I’m not 100% sure. I’d have to know the details and still probably not be able to philosophically explain what it is I feel.”

He tried to be as sincere as possible, “What I feel I know is that we’re all connected together at the roots. Some people put nutrients into the soil for the rest of us to live on. Sometimes the soil we’re stuck with sucks and drains life because of the people who put poison in the soil through their choices. Someone who puts in nothing good or bad… I can’t imagine how that would happen unless one was completely alone from birth to death and immediately forgotten.”

He tilted his head, “Both action and inaction can taint the soil… or can make it better for other roots to grow from in the future.”

He looks around at the frozen surroundings, “I realize my analogy may not be the most relevant one here and now… But it’s the one I’m trying to work from. I’m trying to make ground suitable for others in the future to grow…”

[Kova]

Kova, for the most part, is fine with simply sitting and listening. He's spoken quite frequently with the Sadhu on different matters and is aware of how the people at the temple understand him. He doesn't even mind being called a killer or told his karma will suffer for his actions. He has, for a long time now, accepted the harm he brings into the universe. He doesn't like it. He was raised to be a relatively non-violent man, but he was also raised with practicality in mind. In fact, the conversation is bringing him back to the first time he killed a man... and even now, he still feels it was the right decision for him. And he sees what the Sadhu says about it hurting him, because each kill after was easier. But he knows that even if he shot a Harkonnen every minute for the rest of his life, he wouldn't be able to end them, and he would never run out. He understands that he is basically contributing to a group project intent on bringing a massive amount of harm to life in the universe.

And even seeing that in himself... he feels he's making the right decision for him, despite it not making him feel better or happy. Because he is gambling... gambling with lives... that he might have enough impact to save more of his people at the expense of Harkonnen lives. It's a cruel algebra, and he's choosing to do it anyway. Because for him... some lives have more value than others. It's not what he was taught, it's the rules that the Harkonnen play by, and he has chosen to fight fire with fire.

[Kannon]

Trygve stroked his beard with a solemn expression.

"My ideas come from this place, while your ideas come from a different place, with roots and soils. I could not be a Sadhu in that other place. You have taught me something important today."

The tall man put his hands together.

[Efren gets 5 XP for debating the Sadhu to an equivocal conclusion.]

[Efren Lanville]

Efren puts his hands together in a similar motion of respect.

“And you too have given me much to consider now and in the future. Thank you for your willingness to endure my clumsy efforts to understand.”

[Kannon]

At this point Leida reached them, rushing in with her usual beeline fervency.

"Sadhu, we have reached an insurmountable wall. The one that came with me claimed that it is very old and may lead to a place of secret. I rely on your wisdom in how to proceed."

"I would not know how to proceed before seeing the wall. And even then, I may be clueless. But I will travel there with you later. Where is your companion?"

"They remained behind for some reason." Leida shrugged.

[Efren Lanville]

“Is it a safe location?” Efren asked.

[Kannon]

"As much as any stonework here. Those were the tunnels built to last though."