View source for Randsford (prime)/Vignette: A Threat Hides in Plain Sight

{{creative-work
|title = A Threat Hides in Plain Sight
|type = vignette
|author = Randsford
|author-displayed = [[Randsford (prime)]]
|date = Volnes, the 11th day of Charlatos, in the year 5124. (2024-03-11)
}}
<blockquote>
The brisk cold air of the night permeates the surroundings outside of the Temple of Hope. The stillness of the night briefly interrupted by the rustling of the occasional passersby making their way to and from the building. Those that approach can be categorized as curious adventurers eagerly seeking the next thrill or those masquerading as the same. If it were not for the cautious approach some take to cover their tracks it would be difficult to tell which of the two any given adventurer is. 

It is easy to judge those cloaked head-to-toe in robes as plausible members of the Dusk Coven but that is a fool's bias. For every concealed figure with only piercing eyes there is also a jubilant hero donning a suede hat adorned with some manner of trinket, or some other trademark identifying them as a would-be hero. The Dusk Coven has become brazen in their new found refuge and the unsettling stillness only grows with each new opportunist that attempts to secretly enter.

The hour grows late as the snow gently falls in the night, it feels like hours since the last person approached the Temple and nothing else is visible except for a half asleep figure all clad in white attempting to hide among the snow. At long last the rustling returns jostling the figure to become alert; alas nothing of significance again except for yet another glimpse of a pair of piercing eyes that quickly dart into the building.

The figure quietly grumbles to himself forcing himself up and out of the mound of snow that had become his bed. He shakes his head for failing to find any new clues and sighs at the thought of Talliver's last words, "Northwatch's wrath will not be stayed". The figure stares at the temple with a concerned expression and speaks in a low whisper, "The 'inevitable' is coming; the more these things change the more they stay the same. It is a fool's chance to think any of it all will be different this time but I'll gladly be the fool every time."

The figure dusts the caked on snow and works his way down a trail heading back towards Icemule's warm. He leaves nothing behind except for a crater where his giant-sized body had laid 'hidden' and a small seedling ever so slightly pushing its way through the snow.
</blockquote>