The power of many

After the age of restoration, there had been a common belief that meddling too deeply in the past - prior to the great purification - would do nobody no good.
The reason for this was that being exposed to the primitive mindset of the eternally power-struggling and heavily polarized Ancients would only drag your own mind back down to the same basic level of thought, and harm your own balance.
But Pi didn’t seem to have anything but the usual glowing enthusiasm in his eyes as he continued his speech at the gathering back in Lhasa before the trip started.
”Imagine if this opportunity really holds the key to obtain a deeper understanding of how the Ancients were able to build their structures, how they exchanged information, why they viewed the world with their brains split in half? It could tell us so much about who we have been and how we got to where we are today."
Njoro's senses seemed to try to tell her that seeking this knowledge could have awful consequences, and she raised her voice "How can this be of any good? The changes taking place in the Middle North these days seem to be re-emerging ideas from the old times. We all know that any return to this misunderstood worldview can only lead us to yet another disaster. Do you really believe that getting too far into this would give us any advantage at all?"
Njoro felt that she had posed her question quite sensibly, and with much clarity. She felt content about it.
"Dear sister Njoro. I believe the most valuable thing would be to understand their mindset, to begin with. If we knew how the Ancients could become so totally out of balance with this world, we could maybe use this knowledge to stop these ideas from spreading once again. And we need every advantage and insight we can get in order to handle the situation we're in.”
Of course this was very reasonable.
”Yes, but such a journey could cost us dearly, and already it seems we’re only able to keep things together with a full circle operating from within the House. On an everyday basis.” Sister Tsha-Tui had a vulnerable tint in her usually tranquil-beyond-words voice. ”And what if we overspend our energies on a task leading us nowhere? It would put both those part-taking in this quest in great danger, and at the same time weaken our strength back here. What then?”
”I see your point, Sister, but already the changes have brought upon us so many challenges that holding fort here can only keep us afloat for so long. I would strongly regret it if we waited here until this disease of thought had spread all over the planet once again, and all we can do is stay here and defend our last bastion.”
Pi seemed so eager to take on the journey that he would pick any reasonable (or even unreasonable) argument to convince the assembled circle of Brothers and Sisters of the House that the expedition was nothing but a good idea. He had an air of obsession about him, and obsession was something that was usually unwanted within the walls of the House.
But Pi being Pi, his radiant enthusiasm would leave you with the impression that this was the most wonderful of solutions, and that everyone would experience extreme happiness and joy if they were to share his positive view on the situation. He just had that quality.
"I believe you more than insist?", Sister Tsha-Tui said.
"I would never claim any authority that would allow insisting, but I ask the Circle of the House to consider my argument."
At this point Njoro knew he'd already won their faith, but said nothing.
”I see. But you would only bring a handful of companions?” Sister Tsha-Tui finally said. ”We can only follow our duties with the most experienced souls still in the circle of the House, so I will suggest that you choose only from among those young and eager enough to be willing to go, and who share your faith in the success of this journey. And not the least; willing to share your fate.”
"Let the Inner Circle fall to silence and look for the answer at the centre of the Wheel."
They all joined hands, took a deep breath and closed their eyes.
After a moment of eternity, they returned one by one, and as every pair of eyes had adjusted to the waking world, they sat up and were ready for a decision.
"What did we see?", Sister Tsha-Tui said.
"Ice.", one elder said.
"Ice.", Maya-Shi said.
"Darkness.", the Oldest said, in her slow, hoarse voice. "Darkness. And ice."
"Ice. And something very old." Sha-Ton said.
"And more ice.", Pi said. Smiling.
"Ice.", Njoro finally said.
"And a whole lot of fire", she thought.
"Then we have decided." Sister Tsha-Tui raised her voice as to make a conclusive air around the room.
"Who will you ask to join you in this task, Brother Pi?"
Pi let his eyes wander slowly around the room.
”Njoro!”, he looked right into her eyes and made her feel special. ”Will you follow me?”
”Yes.” She felt no resistance at all.
”Brother Sha-Ton!”
”As you wish.” The young man stepped forward into the midst of the circle.
He went on and carefully selected his small entourage, and as they closed the meeting with the usual ritual of gratitude, Sister Tsha-Tui added a special sequence at the end that she insisted would be of crucial importance to their success in their task.

Now, months later, as she pushed herself through the ruthless white landscape, she thought that the suspicion of trouble she had felt back then had only pointed to the tiniest tip of the massive iceberg that this task now had become.