Vicar Esta prays.

He doesn't deliberately try to steer his thoughts away from the shattered Bag and lost contents, for that would be heresy; it is not forbidden to try to get the better of Asmodeus by concealing information from Him when you trade, but it is heresy to think that you can.  There is also the fact that he hasn't used Locate Object or Extended Locate Object today, as would usually result in those spells being dropped.  For Esta to deliberately expend those spells, hoping to lead Asmodeus to believe he was still searching -- it does not on the whole seem wise.

There is enough desperation in him that he prays for two Conditional Curses, to take the place of two Extended Locate Objects.  If Esta can only get one new species of spell, he needs a curse and curse-removal combined.  It may be that treating with Merrin on a completely Lawful Neutral basis is affecting his standing with Asmodeus, which now concerns Esta more than ever; and maybe one subtle curse, cast on Merrin in her sleep when she will get no Will save about it, would be a good start at beginning to act like a real Asmodean again.  (Though he may perhaps first offer her the sort of curse that can serve as light entertainment, given by him and accepted by her openly, to see if anything unexpected happens there.)

But most of all, Esta prays about radio, instant communication potentially across great distances without the cost and limitations of Sending, as would provide an advantage to Cheliax in war and a far greater advantage in administrating the Empire.  How many counties could gain real control of their baronies for the first time, if their ears and tongues were not limited to twenty-five words exchanged every other week?  If Taldor had possessed such an art, it would never have disintegrated.

Esta is making progress on whatever inscrutable purpose has brought him here, he does think; and perhaps once that purpose is discharged, he will be able to find a way home, to Cheliax's grand advantage; or perhaps then Asmodeus will see fit to instruct Aspexia Rugatonn about a Gate...

Esta is very certain that his knowledge will have great value to Cheliax.  By the time he prays, there is no uncertainty left in him; it would not be to Esta's advantage to be uncertain about that.

Vicar Esta prays.

He doesn't deliberately try to steer his thoughts away from the shattered Bag and lost contents, for that would be heresy; it is not forbidden to try to get the better of Asmodeus by concealing information from Him when you trade, but it is heresy to think that you can.  There is also the fact that he hasn't used Locate Object or Extended Locate Object today, as would usually result in those spells being dropped.  For Esta to deliberately expend those spells, hoping to lead Asmodeus to believe he was still searching -- it does not on the whole seem wise.

There is enough desperation in him that he prays for two Conditional Curses, to take the place of two Extended Locate Objects.  If Esta can only get one new species of spell, he needs a curse and curse-removal combined.  It may be that treating with Merrin on a completely Lawful Neutral basis is affecting his standing with Asmodeus, which now concerns Esta unusually sharply; and maybe one subtle curse, cast on Merrin in her sleep when she will get no Will save about it, would be a good start at beginning to act like a real Asmodean again.  (Though he may perhaps first offer Merrin the sort of curse that can serve as light entertainment, given by him and accepted by her openly, to see if anything unexpected happens there.)

But most of all, Esta prays about radio, instant communication potentially across great distances without the cost and limitations of Sending, as would provide an advantage to Cheliax in war and a far greater advantage in administrating the Empire.  How many counties could gain real control of their baronies for the first time, if their ears and tongues were not limited to twenty-five words exchanged every other week?  If Taldor had possessed such an art, it would never have disintegrated.

Esta is making progress on whatever inscrutable purpose has brought him here, he does think; and perhaps once that purpose is discharged, he will be able to find a way home, to Cheliax's grand advantage; or perhaps then Asmodeus will see fit to instruct Aspexia Rugatonn about a Gate...

Esta is very certain that his knowledge will have great value to Cheliax.  By the time he prays, there is no uncertainty left in him; it would not be to Esta's advantage to be uncertain about that.