>> Getting Steel to accept help is like getting Shiv to accept help. Both of them were told when they were too young to talk back, they are worthless, nobody ought to waste time or energy or resources treating their injuries or ailments, they'd be doing the world a favor if they died.<<

Nailed it. The only thing you can really do is demonstrate that you care about them ... for at least a couple years ... and hope that sinks in.

>> It occurs to me that in Terramagne elephants are people.<<

Yep. I've got at least one poem about an elephant there.