PIPSPROCKET VALVEHEART
GnomesSteam Pressure Inspector
"Pressure doesn't discriminate. It doesn't care if you're rich or poor, owner or worker. It just needs respect, maintenance, and proper safety protocols. Ignore any of those, and people die.""
Identity
- Residence
- Industrial Quarter, Gearhaven
- Civilization
- Gnomes
Appearance
• Physical: Pipsprocket has the weathered look of someone who spends her days in hot, dangerous environments. Her red hair is streaked with gray and always tied back in a practical bun. She has a muscular build unusual for gnomes, developed from wrestling with heavy pressure valves. Her eyes are protected by custom-fitted goggles with multiple lenses for different inspection needs. • Clothing: She wears a heavy leather coat with heat-resistant lining, reinforced gloves that extend to her elbows, and boots with steel toes and insulated soles. Her belt holds pressure gauges, emergency release tools, and a whistle for signaling danger. • Distinguishing Marks: Burn scars on her hands and forearms (considered badges of honor in her profession), a tattoo of a pressure gauge at maximum reading on her shoulder, and a brass earring shaped like a safety valve.
Relationships
- Family - Widowed (husband also died in an industrial accident), estranged from her parents who blame her for "rocking the boat"
- Allies - The Workers' Safety Coalition, a few sympathetic factory managers, her inspection team
- Rivals - Factory owners who see her as a threat to profits, corrupt inspectors who take bribes to overlook violations
Personality
- Traits: Obsessively safety-conscious, genuinely cares about workers' wellbeing, frustrated by corner-cutting management, surprisingly artistic in her off hours
- Mannerisms: Checks pressure gauges compulsively even when off duty, taps her foot in rhythm with nearby steam systems, speaks in pressure-related metaphors
- Voice: Loud and commanding (necessary for shouting warnings in noisy environments), but softens considerably when discussing safety protocols
Backstory
Pipsprocket became a safety inspector after her brother died in a steam explosion caused by neglected maintenance. She's dedicated her life to preventing similar tragedies, often clashing with factory owners who see safety as an expense rather than an investment. Her thoroughness has saved countless lives but made her unpopular in certain circles.
Daily Life
Her days are spent inspecting steam systems throughout the Industrial Quarter—checking pressure readings, testing safety valves, and writing detailed reports. She often works overtime to follow up on problem areas, and her evenings are dedicated to reviewing incident reports and advocating for stricter safety standards.
Secret
Pipsprocket has been quietly collecting evidence of systematic safety violations by the city's most powerful industrialists, planning to present it to the authorities. She knows this will make powerful enemies and has prepared for the possibility that she won't survive to see justice done.
Story Hooks
- 1 Pipsprocket needs protection while gathering final evidence against corrupt industrialists, offering her technical knowledge in exchange.
- 2 A factory she's been investigating has suffered a suspicious "accident"; she needs investigators to determine if it was sabotage to destroy evidence.
Narrative Value
Moral compass and source of industrial information. Provides access to factories, safety expertise, and connections to workers. Her crusade adds urgency and moral stakes. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════