Heralds of the Rain

In Tifira, found in all cities and settlements, is a group called the monsoon watchers. Some refer to them as the heralds of the rain because of their near fanatical interest in the rain. Monsoons can bear heavy consequences if underestimated, and the monsoon watchers take it upon themselves to ensure that cities and citizens are prepared for the rain. They carefully track weather patterns and have been able to predict many meteorological events with some accuracy.
In addition to these everyday functions, monsoon watchers believe that the Great Rain is coming. An event of unfathomable magnitude, the Great Rain is believed to be a monsoon of such strength that it could change the shape of the Tifira desert forever. The monsoon watchers say that such an event has happened in the past, but predates historical records. The lack of concrete proof of this great rain has led many to take their predictions with a grain of sand.
Every major settlement in Tifira has an office where the monsoon watchers reside. Here, they keep up with local weather, providing advice and predictions to citizens. Messages are often passed between offices and settlements to compare and compile data from around the regions. Exactly what the monsoon watchers do with this information is a mystery to most, and one that few care to solve. However, the organization holds none of this as secret, and will gladly share their information and what it means to anyone who cares to learn.
Though their behavior borders on worship, the monsoon watchers do not consider their interesting and respect for the power of the rains to be a religion. In fact, most of them are devout believers in Hilim, believing that the coming rains are His will. They consider their actions to be in strictly tied to their worship of Hilim, an act of faith that He has called them to perform.
Some believe the Great Rain to be an ultimate test of faith. The rain will cause a flood of the desert, cleansing the land of impure spirits. Those who have proved themselves to Hilim with their deeds and worth of heart will be spared, and they will be the ones to rebuild Tifiran society in this new fertile land. This theory is based only on scripture, not science or gathered data. While some monsoon watchers hold this belief personally, it is not a main tenet of their organization.