in in in fo fo fo dump dump dumping a lot lot lot

I just don't see how to avoid the infodump right here. Because actually I think this is exactly the conversation they would be having right now.

So I'm doing what I can to leaven the conversation, and not to report it all, and to have other struff happen. But really, they see the guy for the first time in his life, and he has responsibilities they're eager for him to take up, and a huge family history they want him to learn, and so, even though they're not going to tell him all of it right now at this one particular afternoon meal, they are going to tell him a lot of it. And to make him tell his own story too.

Another issue I have is that right about now the story would like to threaten to turn into Shangri-La, which is so far from the truth of things that it just makes me shake my head when I see this happening. No stupid elitist utopia in the mountains here, okay? Just a bunch of regular people some of whom happen to have an attachment to earth spirits.