>>5388955“Yes, that sounds like Noelle,” agrees her Father, when you relay the gist of this tête-à-tête to him.
He does not look up from the curious monocular spyglass, which he uses for his work. Before him are small flakes, shavings, and broken fragments of various metals and ores. Most of them being samples of iron; by their black colour and curious lustre, you can tell that they are in varying parts orichalcum-alloyed, infused with the bled-out magic of the Red Dragon King who ruled the Bloodrise eons hence.
“If she will not work on the projectss we ask, then by what right does she have freedom?” you demand, perhaps a touch impetuously—at least, that’s how it sounds to your ear, after you say the words.
“Among our people, freedom is considered the default state,” he replies casually, apparently cool-headed even when faced with the implicit threat of his daughter’s enslavement. “It is not regarded as a special privilege, to be earned. We motivate primarily with carrot, not stick.”
“Carrot?” you ask, lost. “What?”
The Geologist pauses in his work for a moment, then returns to it, clarifying: “Steak, then. A reward, not a punishment.”
“Freedom comess with ressponsibilities and dutiess,” you affirm, unwilling to humour this nonsensical ‘advice’ from a being who is VERY NEARLY your slave. “Make her ssee ssenssse.”
The old dwarf unrolls a grubby-looking fabric handkerchief, and gently sets his monocle upon it, then turns his chilly gaze upon you at long last.
“I can be your chief geological alchemist OR I can mind Noelle,” he says, smiling ruefully and perhaps a bit wearily, “but I cannot possibly muster the energy to do both.”
This family is too defiant by half! You begin to question the wisom of their ‘employment’.
“If you will not reward my daughter, challenge her,” the geologist suggests, after a time.
He picks up his monocle and turning away once again, moving to the next set of samples down the line—this time, chips and flecks of red and greyish gemstones.
“She need not like you—Mountain King knows I don’t much care for you or your lot myself, as only makes sense—but that just makes it all the more likely she’ll go above and beyond to prove you wrong.”
The Geologist seems to have little else to offer you in regards to wrangling his uncooperative progeny. He doesn’t dismiss you—even this altogether-too-confident dwarf wouldn’t dare—but you get the distinct feeling he has little else to offer.
What do you do?
>You’ve had enough of this farcical arrangement—punish them both brutally, and enslave them for their hubris>Offer a reward beyond mere freedom to sweeten the pot, if the Engineer should produce a suitable prosthetic for the Throat-singer>Attempt to goad the Engineer into action with reverse psychology>You know, you’ve had some success with SEDUCING cooperation out of female dwarves in the past…>Write-in 