Subject: Re: The hole; Letters to home

Mission's mind is a blank as he makes his way down the western tunnel. Listen for the click of a trap, listen for the whisper of bodies moving, for voices, yes, that is the way to stay alive in this damp darkness. Listen, listen. But all he hears is the sputtering of his torch.

The tunnel continues west for a good ways, then abrubtly ends in a dam.

A dam. What a metaphorically convenient way to describe his current situation. Darkness, then a dam. "I'll be dammed," he whispers. But he doesn't laugh.

Mission pauses. It looks like the tunnel narrows beyond the dam-- he waves his torch around to get a good sense of what lies in front of him-- and then the water falls through a metal grate at the end of the tunnel.

Standing there on the dam, alone, in the dark, the reality of their situation crushes in on him. Anileth, about to bear his son as a sacrifice to a Pathless god; his companions, divided, conflicted, and one contemplating the Promise's murder; and himself, alone.

He tightens his grip on the torch. Blood and Stone, he'd not despair. Promise was still a promise. Let the Path turn as it may, the way to his redemption was clear-- find his son, and return him to the Mossground. Or die.

What to do about Rennick, and the rest of them? Mission turns his back toward the dam, and makes his way back to the group.

"The western tunnel goes on for about 100 yards, then is stopped by another small dam. The tunnel beyond that narrows considerably, and then stops at a metal grate," Missions says, without greeting, as he emerges from the darkness.

Why was everyone looking at him so sharply?

He nods at Rennick, and says, "Rennick, I've thought about what you've said. And come to the conclusion that you STILL make no sense. Anileth said that the Path protects my Promise. He is full of Blood and Stone. Such power can't be subverted-- no, let me explain before you burst an artery."

Mission takes off his pack and shirt, revealing the tatoos that cross his bare arms and back. "When I forsook the Path, my tatoos were taken from me. My feet were Pathless, and so became my body. I lost both Blood and Stone, and did not get them back until I took an oath to regain my child.

"Anileth said she leeches off that power. That may be so, though I think it more likely that her dark god gives her strength. But you all saw what happened when she touched me-- beyond me being thrown into a wall, I mean-- her hand withered. The Path protects me-- and it will protect my son.

"I will not give your conscience leave to murder," Mission swallows. "And that is what you're contemplating, Rennick. Dress it how you like, in terms of sacrificing for the greater good-- a very convenient excuse that every Pathless god uses to justify the blood it spills.

"I will not let my child be slain, not by Anileth's dark god, not by Anileth, and not by you. Especially not when we have no idea, beyond what you've imagined, of why exactly he needs to die. You realize that is ALL you've come up with? Shadows and sand. Tales to frighten children. Blood and Stone, Rennick. . ."

He pauses. Enough. Any more and he'd fall to the temptation of attacking Rennick's character, which would do nothing to get Promise back. He bows to the halfling stiffly. "My words are hasty. All I ask, Rennick, is that you give my boy a chance to live. I swear, on the Blood that writes my veins, and on the Stone that holds them, I will not let him fall to Anileth's god. Even if I have to take his life. But you must give him a chance to live."

Mission falls silent. And prays to his Ancestors that what he said, of Anileth and Promise, is true.

Subject: Re: The hole; Letters to home

Rennik fixedly stares at Mission, unblinking.

"I never said I would not give the child a chance. I have come up with possibilities, but I do not know what we face. Neither do you."

"It is possible that this child is untainted by the corruption of its mother, but then it is possible he is the cause of that corruption. We don't know."

He pauses and tightens his jaw, determined to finish his thought.

"I do not seek to kill the boy, but if the boy is so important to our enemy, I would rather see him dead than taken by them out of our reach. The rotting woman disappeared into the air, and the warrior woman appeared out of the air. Who is to say the child, once born, will not be taken away the same way, then twisted and corrupted into some force for vileness and evil?"

"It seems you do not see that possibility. You can't see the possibility that the boy might need to die. Your human shortsightedness and foolish arrogance blinds you and ties your hands. Open your eyes! This woman could be birthing their dark god into flesh, unleashing a terror the world has never seen, and you would coddle it and feed it human blood while you rocked its cradle."

"Or, you could be right, and the child could be a pure and powerful boy that we must save from their dark god's corruption. He could be a shining star in the heavens our enemies wish to turn to their purposes, in dire need of rescue."

"I prepare for both possibilities - you can face our enemies with one eye closed if you choose."

Subject: Re: The hole; Letters to home

Mission struggles to contain the anger that is rising in his throat.

[INTERNAL DIALOGUE]My need for you, little savage, is greater than my anger, or my desire to point out your faults. My need to keep this group united is greater than my need to debate moral superiority.[/INTERNAL DIALOGUE]

Mission inclines his head. "It is as you say, Rennick. I am arrogant and shortsighted." But he grins as he says it. "And you are instructing me daily on the errors of these particular faults. I thank you for your wisdom."

He turns to Garyth. "The water flows west, over a small dam-- I think I mentioned that-- and then down through a grate. From the sound of it, it falls a long, long way. I do not think there is a connecting tunnel that might lead us east."

He winks at Rennick, "But I may be wrong."

Subject: Re: The hole; Letters to home

Rennik narrows his eyes at mission, the insult about his own arrogance not lost. He would have to watch the monk closely. There is nothing so dangerous as a man with a single purpose. It was something the elves used to tell him, that only now he begins to understand.

Mission would allow them all to die if it meant saving his son, Rennik thought. The group is useful to him only as a means to his goal, and are easily discarded once they fulfill their usefulness. An image comes to him of Mission fleeing from the mountain, carrying his child in his arms and cooing, while the rest of them screamed in agony and torment at the hands of their enemies. He shook it off.

"We will have to go back up the rope. I will go back up with my bow to make sure the Hrug'da has passed on. If it has stopped to dig roots in the clearing, I may be able to frighten it off. They are strong willed creatures, but likely to move on if harrassed or annoyed. Hrug'da turn on open threats with anger and tusks, but a hidden archer can make them think twice about staying in the open."

Rennik wonders why he still travels with the party. He left once and almost died. But then, he had run into the forest, rather than away. Would Elise have come for him if he had headed back the way they had come?

Mission is so set on the child, and the others seem to follow his lead, having no specific direction of their own. What can six do? The halfling toys with the idea of leaving, heading back to the tribes to raise an army and bring reinforcements. Perhaps with fifty experienced trackers and warriors, some impact could be made.

As he makes his way toward the rope, bow on his back and string secured safe from the water in a tight pouch, he wonders whether he'd even survive a trek back to seek more warriors.