10 Galena 248, in the Royal Throne Room:
King Sibrek: Gentledwarves, We have called this meeting because We have a serious crisis on Our hands. With the abrupt resignation of Migrant, We have no dwarves remaining who are qualified to assume the position of overseer. This situation has forced Us to personally take on the mundane trivia of running a fortress, which is entirely unacceptable.
Commander Taupe: Can't you just draft a random dwarf like we usually do, your majesty?
King Sibrek: It's too important a position to be given to just any peasant. We do, of course, maintain a list of qualified dwarves to whom the position may be assigned. However, it appears that the content of the list is no longer a secret. None of Our candidates has been seen in nearly a month. They must be punished for this dereliction of duty, of course, but the problem of selecting an overseer must take priority. Viscount HMetal, do you have any candidates to suggest?
Viscount HMetal: No, your majesty. I have not seen your list of qualified dwarves, but neither have I seen any of the dwarves that I would judge to be capable in the past month.
Aristotle: If I may, you majesty?
King Sibrek: We are listening.
Aristotle: My teacher, Plato, taught that philosophers make better overseers than do the sort of dwarves that are more typically selected by the nobility.
Viscount HMetal: In the absence of any more conventional candidates, Aristotle's suggestion does seem reasonable, sire.
King Sibrek: Ha! It's obviously a self-serving push for power. But We have no other candidates. Very well, the recommendation is accepted.
Aristotle: Thank you, your majesty.
King Sibrek: Not so fast. We did not say that you are appointed overseer. It happens that you are not the only philosopher in this fortress.