Well, at least he didn't lie to them.

The Guide watched John's interview, and a sense of eager anticipation grew within him. A manic smile began to split his face. "Oh yes, I like that. You're playing a dangerous game John. One wrong step, and your mask of honesty will do far more damage than any lie ever could." An iridescent smoke began to pour out of the eyes of The Guide, and gather in his hands. He held up the ball of raw Power, and considered how best to stack the odds against John. "You may have dodged the immediate trap, but don't think you're safe. I have plenty of ways to drown you in suffering."

XXX

In a crumbling, rodent infested home, a couple sit at the table, staring at the dull gray bricks before them. The man looks at the woman, and takes in the thinness of her face, and the weary lines under her eyes. He remembers how she was once full of life, back when they could pay their taxes and still afford quality food. A sense of shame washes over him, as they are reduced to relying on the mercy of others for anything to eat. His gaze falls to the bricks sitting on their plates, and a strange mixture of gratitude and anger wash over him. He raises it to his mouth, and takes a bite. The sheer blandness of the meal nearly makes him ****. But, when he remembers that his options are to eat this, or beg for yet more from his neighbors, he swallows it down.

When the woman begins to eat the brick, her eyes begin to tear up. There is no joy found in eating this. It's only function is to keep those who eat it alive for one more day. Still, it is more than they had before, and with the money they save, the two of them could afford to restore their house, and look for work. The couple looks up to meet each other's gaze, and a tentative hope sparks within them.

XXX

Far away, lesbian couple looks at their adopted daughter, and worry for her future. "What's going to happen now? The lord outright said he's only doing this on a whim. What happens when he changes his mind?" The other woman frowns, and gives her partner a hug. "Hey, remember that it's not just a whim. He's doing this because he wants us to succeed, so he can get richer off of our work." The first woman scowls, and clenches her fist. "So, he wants to lay back and mooch off our work? He's just like all the rest." The second woman tightens her hug. "No, I don't think he is. He's takin the effort to feed us out of his own pocket. Have you ever heard of a lord doing anything like that?" A silence falls, as both women look to their daughter, sleeping on a worn mattress, with a threadbare blanket. They retreat to their room, and fall into a troubled sleep.