1. The Free Cities would welcome assistance in evacuation. They may discover that part of the issue is many of the workers don't want to be evacuated. They're highly dependent on the income that comes from their mining work and are thus hesitant to abandon operations. As a result, it is not actually the government they need to convince. They will have to convince the workers themselves, and may be able to aid the situation by offering compensation or food. Eventually, the miners will agree given the extreme threat, but they'll be reluctant.
Note that while the mines can be shut down while threats are ongoing, the workers will remain in the mining town, which houses approximately 500 or so people. There is no other place in the Free Cities for them to go. However, characters can remain on patrol in the mining towns to protect them. The government has sent soldiers to do the same task.
2. While mining conditions such as better food, better safety equipment, and less heavy machinery can be considered depending - and is something characters can propose - characters should note the important political and social context of the situation. They will rapidly learn that many of the children are orphans who have nowhere else to go or are supporting very poor families. To remove them from the mines would doom hundreds of them to a life on the streets or in already overcrowded orphanages. It may also cause families to lose a source of income for sickly grandparents and diminish their ability to put food on the table.
Therefore, attempting to remove the children, or worse, replace them with automated machinery that would take their jobs, would be highly controversial amongst the laborers themselves. Many would be angry at this suggestion and consider it an attempt to take away their incomes, livelihoods, and homes.
The government, of course, will "allow the people to speak" and will stand behind the prevailing attitude of the miners.
no subject
1. The Free Cities would welcome assistance in evacuation. They may discover that part of the issue is many of the workers don't want to be evacuated. They're highly dependent on the income that comes from their mining work and are thus hesitant to abandon operations. As a result, it is not actually the government they need to convince. They will have to convince the workers themselves, and may be able to aid the situation by offering compensation or food. Eventually, the miners will agree given the extreme threat, but they'll be reluctant.
Note that while the mines can be shut down while threats are ongoing, the workers will remain in the mining town, which houses approximately 500 or so people. There is no other place in the Free Cities for them to go. However, characters can remain on patrol in the mining towns to protect them. The government has sent soldiers to do the same task.
2. While mining conditions such as better food, better safety equipment, and less heavy machinery can be considered depending - and is something characters can propose - characters should note the important political and social context of the situation. They will rapidly learn that many of the children are orphans who have nowhere else to go or are supporting very poor families. To remove them from the mines would doom hundreds of them to a life on the streets or in already overcrowded orphanages. It may also cause families to lose a source of income for sickly grandparents and diminish their ability to put food on the table.
Therefore, attempting to remove the children, or worse, replace them with automated machinery that would take their jobs, would be highly controversial amongst the laborers themselves. Many would be angry at this suggestion and consider it an attempt to take away their incomes, livelihoods, and homes.
The government, of course, will "allow the people to speak" and will stand behind the prevailing attitude of the miners.