Unfogging the Future|Malagard | Khelek

[Darastrix]

Crawford walked the grounds of Lucifer's estate with a air of preoccupation. He was not one who usually received visions out of the blue, regardless of what he let the people around him believe. He favoured Etaf, as much as being a man of his cold practicality allowed, but he was not a priest of the Force. So why had he received a vision of Morilanta's high priestess? The question had been puzzling him for some time. All he felt reasonably sure of was that it must be of some importance.

He had, of course, already mentioned the vision to Lucifer and his "team" of Minds. It ensured that his employer would continue to see him as a valuable asset for a bit longer at the very least. What to do beyond that, he was uncertain of. He hated uncertainty. It meant he was not in full control.

He'd toyed with the thought of using his Foresight in regards to Morilanta, but it was extremely tiring and with the limited time frame he was privy to, Crawford had doubted it would be of much use. But it had been some time since the lord of their former home had darkened their doorstep, and all had been seemingly quiet to the south. With the proposal Nissar had offered, he doubted it would stay quiet for much longer. Then there was that damn demon.

Crawford removed his glasses and rubbed at his eyes, sighing in irritation. He needed answers, not questions. He suspected they would need to step up their own timetable, but for the moment, he needed more than he'd been given. He put his glasses back on and passed through the gate, setting a course for Etaf's temple. He would start there.

[Kender Bard]

The section of the Forces' Temple dedicated to Etaf was not a large one. In the past, Khelek had not favored the Starry Lady - a greater portion of the temple was dedicated to Worg and Taed - Worg for the desperate prayers of people who must live in a hard land and for being one of her favored elementals. Taed, for when Worg failed them in the long, hard winters.

But the Etaf temple was not barren. An extremely elderly woman tended the temple here. Helpers had been hard to find, though, so she still did much of the work herself. Spotting Crawford, she set down the cloth she used to dust around the place and bowed to him. "Welcome."

[Darastrix]

Crawford bowed in response, more out of an ingrained sense of self-preservation than real respect for the priestess. Old habits were hard to break. "I hope to obtain some insight from the servants of Etaf," he stated. "I 'specialize' in the discipline of Foresight, but I lately received a vision that did not come at my own bidding."

[Kender Bard]

The priestess's eyes widened slightly and she moved with a quickness that belied her age. Like magic, she suddenly had procured a quill, ink, and parchment. "Please tell me in as much detail as you can exactly what you saw."

[Darastrix]

Crawford eyed the parchment with a slight frown. The Mind did not relish the idea of a written record existing outside of his sphere of influence. Then again, he could have Schuldig erase the knowledge from the woman's mind and destroy the record later.

"There is very little to say. I Saw Rajani, Morilanta's high priestess of Evil, scribing something into a book."

[Kender Bard]

The priestess looked puzzled. "That's odd," she agreed, but wrote it down dutifully anyway. "Generally books are symbolic of knowledge, though, or something to do with Thuoth. My offhand guess would be she either knows something that you should find out or Thuoth has plans for the woman and has enlisted your aid. But I will meditate deeper on the matter and approach you if something comes up."

[Darastrix]

The only way I would aid Thuoth regarding that woman would be to kill her, Crawford thought to himself. Privately, he thought Rajani knowing something might be closer to the truth. They already knew not to trust Morilanta or its agents. Maybe they needed to be wary of some specific plan.

"It is appreciated," he replied, bowing again. "I can be reached at King Lucifer's estate if needed. Ask for Oracle."