While they talked, Karl was quietly using [Earth Manipulation] to add tables and benches to the labs outside the illusion, filling the workspaces, so that the new group could split up to work on the projects that they needed.
"That is magnificent. The level of versatility that your class and crafting skills give is beyond anything that I have come across before." Deve sighed as Karl let the portal close so that Remi could get to work with her students.
"It really is. When I was young, I used to hear the phrase ’Jack of all trades, master of none’. Normally, it was used as a derogatory for someone who couldn’t hold a job. But in a way, that is what my class is, except it’s good at nearly everything." Karl agreed.
Deve shrugged. "Every Guild Master has a little something that sets them apart. For you, it’s got to be the fact that you have an answer for every situation. Most of us protect our Guilds with pure brute force, but you pull them in by having something to offer everyone.
It’s brilliant, really. All the advantages of a larger Guild, but with that small guild family feeling.
When you’ve got two hundred official members in a branch, plus apprentices, employees and hang-arounds, it’s impossible to know everyone on that level.
So, the big Guilds feel more like an employment contract, even though technically, they all are."
Karl led Deve back up the stairs, followed by one of the Gargoyles. He hadn’t specifically limited them to the illusion, and the spell caused them to want to protect the property in general.
Lotus watched the small creature fly around the main floor, inspecting its territory for the first time.
"Did you make, tiny flying Gargoyles?" She asked, verifying what she was seeing.
"Cute, aren’t they? They’re set to guard the basement area, where I put a protective Illusion, but they’ll keep guard on the rest of the house as well." Karl agreed.
The Gryphon had perched on the banister at the top of the stairs on the third floor, where it could watch everything happening in the common areas of the house, and Lotus was giving Karl a suspicious look.
"You made them fly so that I can’t catch them, didn’t you?"
Karl put a hand over his heart. "I made them feathered and furry with fluffy tails and shiny beaks, and still, you’re suspicious of my motives."
Deve smirked as he watched their interactions. Karl really had mastered handling a Nature Cleric. His didn’t even look like she was high all the time, and Deve hadn’t even known it was possible to stop them from getting bored and stoned when they didn’t have anything to do.
Maybe that was the trick? Just plan far enough ahead, and you could keep them from getting sidetracked.
For example, Lotus had already gotten past her dismay and was creeping up the stairs to go inspect the Gargoyle, who was currently watching her with great interest.
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