As I watch the kids delve, I try to think about what the thieves guild could be up to. If they’re interested in the hold, the Earl must be, too. In fact, there’s a good chance it’s the other way around: the Earl is interested and is using the thieves to try to subtly get information about it. That makes a bit more sense to me, because I can’t imagine the thieves actually doing anything with the hold.
But if I think about it from the Earls perspective, it’s easy to come up with reasons for him to want to know more about the hold. It’s specifically designed to be as impregnable as possible, a final bastion against disaster, a Vault without the horrible social experiments. While it’s designed to shelter the whole town, I could easily see someone like the Earl wanting to take it for himself.
Someone used to scheming would definitely want to have a secure fallback position, which is what the hold is. Wait… does that make me a schemer? Eugh. Teemo chuckles at me as he gathers snacks from my enclaves, all the better to lure the kids to a talk. Oh no… I am a schemer! My Voice’s chuckles turn to a full on laugh at my expense, and I ham it up a bit with some mental wailing and gnashing of teeth before I get back to business.
Scheming can be for good, especially when you’re working to counter the schemes of actual schemers. I do my best to ignore Teemo’s continued snickering as I jot down a few questions and solidify what I actually want to achieve from the meeting, and what I would guess Tupul would want. If he’s being bullied by the thieves, protection is simple enough to offer him.
That doesn’t take me very long, so I return to redesigning the labyrinth while I wait for them to finish delving. I get a little distracted by remembering tensegrity and how designs featuring it look like they’re floating, and wondering what kind of shenanigans I could do by combining the design style with gravity affinity. In the middle of chasing forces and running numbers, I feel Teemo call for my attention.
Looks like the kids are done delving. It also looks like Larx has taken it upon himself to host the snacks and is relaxing in the lecture hall with some tea on and a plate piled high with fresh cookies. Teemo’s giving both a taste test, with his own cookie on a saucer and even a small teacup. Seems they’re both up to snuff, as he’s already eying the plate and pot for more of both. But duty calls, so he’ll have to come back for his treats with the kids in tow.
He quickly slips off through a shortcut and catches the party as they head for the porch to turn their aranea quests in. Fiona spots my Voice first, and pokes Freddie in the back of the head to get his attention. “Oh, hey Teemo. We’ve just about done for today, I think. Tupul and Tula did great today.”
I can see the indicated duo looking tired, with Tula looking accomplished and Tupul looking uncomfortable being pointed out. My Voice nods at that. “That’s why I’m here. The Boss was going to offer you guys the explanation on gravity, and there’s even going to be cookies and tea.”
Tupul doesn’t look tempted at all, except maybe to bolt. Tula looks intrigued, as does Rhonda, while Freddie doesn’t look too interested either. See, this is why I wanted snacks.
“You’ve gotta come! Larx makes the best cookies and tea in the dungeon! Even Cobblebread is trying to recreate his cookie recipe!” Freddie nods and Tula looks sold. Tupul, on the other hand, is looking even more reluctant, but peer pressure is a social force to rival gravity, so he reluctantly follows along.
Larx warmly greets everyone once they arrive, and Teemo repeats the lesson on gravity, this time with a background of crunching cookies and sipped tea, instead of bewildered murmurs and scribbling quills. Tupul is looking a lot more at ease by the end, looking almost normal as he enjoys the snacks, Tula and Rhonda blabbering about magical theory in the background. Hopefully we won’t harsh his mellow too badly.
I can feel Teemo considering how to broach the subject, eventually settling on the kind of directness he’s known for, without being cruel to the lad. “So Tupul… how long has the thieves guild been pressuring you?”
The elf freezes, cookie halfway to his lips, as the others process what Teemo said. Larx still sits back, looking like a happy grandpa, while the others simply look confused. Tupul’s eyes flick to the door before Teemo continues.
“If you want, you can just go, and the Boss won’t stop you. But we know they’re somehow subtly involved with you. Whatever leverage they think they have on you, we can stop it. You can head out that door and back into the arms that bear poisoned daggers, or you can stay here and we’ll figure out what to do about them.”
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Tupul’s hands shake as he puts the cookie down, and I can see the emotions warring across his face. Whatever the guild has, it’s a doozie. The real question is if they’ve convinced him he’s already drowned, or if he still holds out hope for a life preserver. He takes a deep breath and releases it before standing and walking for the door.
Instead of leaving, though, he closes it, and returns to the table. He still looks like his nerves are going to vibrate him apart, but he’s made his decision. “Please…” he starts, though he doesn’t know how to continue.
“Do you want to talk about whatever they have on you, or about what their plans are at the hold?”
He leans back in his chair, closing his eyes as he tries to calm himself. “The second’s easy, at least. I don’t know what they want. They just want information, but I don't know why. I tell my handler at the bunkhouse what I see and hear, he tells someone else, and it gets back to the Boss.”
“How many have infiltrated the workforce?” asks Teemo, earning another shrug from Tupul.
“A couple dozen? The schism was fake, just an excuse to get some of the guild far enough away to be able to sneak back in as laborers. I only really know the ones in my bunkhouse.”
Teemo nods at that for me as I poke Poe and Leo to send a few rockslides and wyrms to keep a better eye on the hold and the laborers camped out around it. They might be difficult to sneak in and around the thieves guild territory, but around the hold is a different matter altogether. There’s no sewers or basements around to accidentally burrow into, and who’s going to notice some extra rocks around?
My Voice smiles. “So what do they have to keep you in line? If they were going to just beat you up, that’s simple enough to put a stop to.”
Tupul snorts, though it’s more full of bitterness than humor. “I wish it was that simple. They… they’re after my parent’s shop. They’re butchers, just dealing in meat and fish. Times got tight, and they approached the guild for a loan, after being turned down by the banks. I think the guild is only interested in the shop, but that’s probably even worse than if they wanted my folks. … they’re expendable to the guild. No, worse: they’re an obstacle. So… when the payments became too much for my parents to afford, I offered to join the guild as payment instead.”
Rhonda looks shocked as he explains, while Freddie frowns at the injustice. Tula reaches over and pats his hand, earning a flinch before Tupul continues. “So… yeah. If you’re going to help me, you have to help them. I’m not worried about me. I… I can figure something out for me. But mom and dad… they never wanted anything .”
“You could adventure with us,” offers Rhonda, with Freddie nodding and looking supportive.
“I don’t think I’m going to be on your level any time soon…” Tupul sighs, only for Freddie to shake his head.
“We’ve only been adventuring for a year,” he points out.
“But you two are nobles or something, right? You’ve been given a lot to get ahead. I’m the press-ganged son of a couple butchers.”
“No,” starts Freddie, only to get cut off.
“I am! I have to scrape and save to get anything, bow and kneel to the stupid guild! I just want my parents to be happy!” shouts Tupul, but Rhonda and Freddie aren’t done talking.
“We’re not nobles,” says Rhonda.
“We’re orphans,” clarifies Freddie, though Tupul looks like he’s having trouble believing that.
“But… but you’re strong! And your clothes! Your gear!”
“Earned from delving. I apprenticed with Old Staiven, and Freddie joined the Crystal Shield church. We were some of Thedeim’s first delvers. We worked hard to get where we are.”
Tupul stammers for a few seconds, more complex emotions clearly flying through his head, before Larx speaks up.
“You’re overthinking things, lad. Don’t get caught up in what others have, what others do. Concentrate on what you can do. Strive for the strength to change what you can’t accept, the patience to accept what you can’t change, and the wisdom to know the difference. You can’t change the past, but you can shape your present and aim for the future you desire.”
“It’s not that easy!” counters Tupul, fighting back frustrated tears.
“Only because that first step is so hard. Misery lies, lad. Whispers how much worse things could be. Just lay low, don’t attract attention, and wait for the golden opportunity.” Larx shakes his head. “It blinds you to the opportunities all around you.”
The elf stares for a few moments at the elderly ratkin who clearly struck a nerve. Larx gives him a gentle smile and motions to the last cookie on the plate. “Take the last cookie, and take some time to think about what you want to do. And do remember: Lord Thedeim is the god of Change. He’s offering you help, without demanding you follow Him. Don’t let misery trick you into thinking there’s going to be a better opportunity coming later.”
Tupul slowly nods and takes the cookie, and the others walk with him to the gates and beyond. He hasn’t had an easy life, that’s for sure. I hope he decides to trust me and all of us, and accept some help. Sometimes, people just get it in their head that everything will get better if they just keep digging, even when people are trying to throw down a rope. I hope he takes it before the walls collapse in on him.