Expedition The Urk Expedition: Aggressive Negotiations

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan's eyes widened as the captain unknowingly threatened her with hanging. She knew this had been a mistake, but now she was in too deep and couldn't own up to her mistake. Everything moved so fast around her as she churned over her options, and before she could do anything, Silvie's precious hat was going overboard.

"Wait!" she exclaimed, leaping for it, but it was already falling overboard. She just hoped that the shrews caught it or that it was buoyant enough to be retrieved. She stepped back, turning to the captain, adopting an expression of utter contrition. "My apologies, captain, I think I just realized the error in my translation. I heard pinnguu, meaning a covering or hat, and qaati givigut, meaning 'the apex of the form', roughly speaking. In retrospect, I believe I misheard, sir. It seems they may have said pinngua qati givitiguut, meaning 'a coating upon the wholeness of sustenance'. Based on a few similar words, sir, I believe that they saw your colorful hat and, well, believed it to be a cake, sir. They were very disappointed to receive it and discover it was not what they had thought. I deeply apologize for my mistranslation."

 

[Duke Talinn Ryalor]

Talinn was just in earshot when Morgan called out to him, and he half-turned to listen to her explanation, Finnian walking excitedly next to him. He was not really as versed in languages like Silvertongue, Swifttail, or Morgan seemed to be, and Dusk was not here to help him, so he took her word for it. After all, she was doing so well with the little information that they had. He was really beginning to like her ability to improvise and inspire beasts, perhaps he might put her in for an officer’s training recommendation depending on how the rest of the adventure went.

“Belay that order, Mate Stowett! It appears we need a cake instead, and a way to lower it down to them without ruining it. Perhaps we could wrap it up and hoist it down, or have some beast deliver it…”

Walking back up to where Morgan, the now hatless Silvertongue, and Swifttail, he gave them all a pat on the shoulder, looking proud and positively beaming, having had his backed turned to them and assuming they had a very quick meeting to correct the mistake.

“The fact you all were able to figure out the error so quickly is very impressive!”

Meanwhile, Silvertongue’s hat fluttered down and was also caught by the Shrew leader, who looked baffled and increasingly incensed. He looked about to tear it apart before another shrew pointed upwards, directly at Silvertongue, then whispered something to him. After a moment of consideration, the Shrew leader smiled, and nodded, then shouted some more words to all the rest of the shrews in the canoes, who then all markedly pointed at Silvertongue specifically.

""taanna niaqunga simiksisimajuq. maannarataaq anigurataalauqtuq, tamanna pijumaluaqtavut piluaqtumik. inngirunnaqtuq, mumirunnaqtuq, amma ijurnarluni kunigutinut amma ilinniarluni takilittinnik amma iliqqusittinnik. isumagivavut guutivut ijurnarajarianga nirigiaqanginnirminik. taimailiuruvit, ammalu qulinik titaktinik tunisilutit, tunngasuktitauniaqputit sigjattinnut! kisiani taanna kingulliqpaangulluni manimatitavut!"

Actual translation: “This one has the headdress of a clown. Ours passed recently, we want that one in particular. He can sing, dance, and juggle for the kits and learn our tales and our culture. We also think our God would find him funny enough not to eat. If you do this, and also give us ten beasts to sacrifice, you will be welcome to land on our shore! But this is our final offer!”

Meanwhile, Talinn knelt down to Finnian, who had become more accustomed especially to the Galley, and gave him a nod.

“Find the best cake and wrap it up as best you can, Finnian.” He instructed, before standing up, then glancing at the shrews all pointing at Silvertongue, who, no matter where he walked, their paws followed.

“It seems they want you to deliver the cake personally, Silvertongue. Perhaps they took your hat in particular as a sign of authority or good will? They seem to be much more pleased with the translation error fixed.”

@FinnianBrightfur @Gyles @Morgan Liu @Silvertongue Songfox @SwifttailTheFox @Ralynn Waverunner

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Finn was entirely unflagged by the change in plans. Cake was just as good as hats, as far as he was concerned -- and still let him stop by the galley to briefly visit the cook.

"Candles, or no candles?" he asked. Though, detecting a hint of strain on the captain's voice, and rising tension among the crew, he quickly added a respectful, "...sir?"

With an answer in hand, Finn would rush off to fetch the finest cake he could obtain. (Though, this being the first time he'd ever seen Silvie without a hat, he had to stop and gawk.)

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

The sudden and unexpected praise from the Duke himself gave Swifttail a large ego boost at just the time he needed it most. It seems his intrusion into the matter had indeed shifted the proceedings in a positive light. A chieftain looking for an exotic dessert as tribute to his people made WAY more sense! He knew Morgan was onto something with her translation efforts, and his remark had been enough to make her question her own ideas, and in doing so, helped her resolve the nearly catastrophic error she might have made! He only hoped it hadn't upset her too much in the process.

But the correction had come too late for poor Silvertongue, who's prized, and admittedly beautiful, hat had just been thrown to the pigmy shrews who had believed it to be cake! It was such a cruel and unnecessary sacrifice for him to have made.

Despite the tense atmosphere, Swifttail realized that any loss of morale came at a risk of losing the upper paw in a trade, and padded up close to Silvertongue, placing a comforting paw on his shoulder in comfort.

"You gonna be alright?" He asked softly.

 

[Silvertongue Songfox]

Silvertongue sort of gawked at the shrews, who seemed equally interested in him. "Oh, goodness, me?" He turned to Talinn. "Why would they possibly want me to deliver the tribute to them?" He then turned to Morgan. "I-I mean, I'm no one important." When Swifttail approached, Silvertongue sighed a bit. "Yes, of course, I'll be fine. Maybe they are just fascinated by my colorful clothing? I mean, I suppose I do stand out from everyone else dressed like I am."

 

[Greeneye]

When Greeneye saw the shrews point up at Silvertongue, his vision turned red. Abandoning his position by the weapons locker, he stormed over to the now small gathering at the rails. "Silvie, what der hell is goin' on? Why are dey pointin' at ye?"

He turned to Morgan. "What are dey sayin' about Silvie?"

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan leaned in to the group, lowering her voice. "Can you keep a secret?" she asked, her voice hushed. "I haven't a bloody clue. The captain just shoved a sheet in my face with a few phrases on it and told me to negotiate with them. It's frustrating because I can almost make out the outlines of something there. Maybe if he'd let me know on the trip up here, I coulda studied it and figured something out, but on the fly, I've got no clue. I'm just trying to work out what they want by trial and error. Apparently they like you, Silvie. That's about all I know. Hopefully they like cake as well."

 

[Captain Gyles F. Stowett]

Gyles stopped searching for hats. His own ... pinnguu, a less-decorated version of the Duke's, would surely be of little use. If Talinn's "covering" hadn't pleased the little buggers, well, surely his own would be insufficient a sacrifice. A chill went down his spine as he picked out something in the crowd. He spoke out the side of his mouth to Morgan with mounting curiosity. "Say, one of them bounders has got a hat on already, eh! See there."

One of the shrews in the back wore a tar hat, an all-black sort of affair with a short squat stovepipe circumnavigated by a length of red silk ribbon. A circular brim with not a few holes in it kept the sun out of a sailor's eyes ... but this was no sailor.

He clucked his tongue softly. "Demmed thing looks Imperium-made." The tradestuffs of a previously successful barter? Or the grim spoils of catastrophically failed negotiations? His paw instinctively rested on his swordhilt. At least one thing was certain: civilization had made landfall at this village before.

"I don't like it, Excellency," he said through gritted teeth. "Not one bit. We've no guarantee the spikefurs don't skewer our lad Songfox in a trice and make a quick retreat of it in time for a sundown fox fry." Eyes experienced by too many battles in too few seasons shifted from each end of the shore beyond the village. There were hill promontories tumbling down into broken rocks extending out into the water to either end of the shoreline that obscured the first officer's view. Any number of shrews might be gathered behind either, waiting for a word, a signal, the shake of a whisker to sweep out and pincer the Hide in more of the same dugouts the initial party had come in. If parlay went under, so to speak, or if the misbegotten creatures got so much as the whimsy, they could be overrun with shrews up the gunwales in an instant.

"We must beat to quarters and prepare to ward off attack," he said more loudly, so Ralynn and the crew could hear. Rushing about chasing after the shrews' demands was one thing, and certainly the best conflict was conflict avoided, but they must make ready. "I've seen one demmed ambush too many, I'm afraid. I advise we bear in thought and deed the precarity of our present circumstance and prepare for battle, quiet the word and quick the action. That tar hat could well be the last testament in this world of an Imperial ship and crew and I daresay we treat it as such, sir."

@Morgan Liu @Duke Talinn Ryalor @Ralynn Waverunner @Silvertongue Songfox @Vihmastaja @SwifttailTheFox @FinnianBrightfur

 

[Silvertongue Songfox]

Silvertongue blanched. "You've been IMPROVISING?" He hissed. "Oh Hells-" This was, notably, the first time Morgan had ever heard Silvertongue actually curse. "Morgan, this is a serious matter, you should have just said you weren't ready-!" He wasn't able to say much more before Gyles expressed his own thoughts on the matter.

"An ambush...? I'm not sure about that, but I'm a bit loath about how they're staring at me..." He shivered a bit.

 

[Captain Gyles F. Stowett]

"Aye, an ambush," Gyles repeated, standing straight with his paws clasped behind his back as the wind off the sea buffeted his ears. The senior officer nodded grimly, though the junior's unabashed doubt forced a thin smile to his face as he counseled the youth. "You know, Mister Songfox ... most ambushes tend to be the sort the ambushed aren't sure about. You don't bloody well need six canoes to bandy a few words, mark me. That means they came prepared for a fight - to give or take one. Stars know we had best be prepared to give it to 'em should they be the taking kind. If nothin' happens, well, nothin' happens. If somethin' does, Her Imperial Highness' Navy ain't the types to be caught with their trousers down, by the Fur, eh?"

The dark eyes twinkled with just the smallest bit of that devil-may-care levity found among those Navy creatures who had seen Hellgates and come back to tell about it.

 

[Ralynn Waverunner]

Ralynn's keen ears twitch at the exchange between Morgan and Silvertongue, catching enough to make her whiskers quiver with alarm. The rabbit moves swiftly to the nearest hatch and moves quickly down, leaning over and bellowing down toward the galley as she passes it, her voice carrying a thick, rolling brogue that emerges only when she's truly stressed.

"FINNIAN! Git yer wee tail movin' wi' tha' cake! These beasties are gettin' restless!" Her shout echoes down the companionway, loud enough to rattle the pots in the galley below. "An' make it a bonnie one, laddie!"

She doesn't wait for a response before turning on her heel, her movements quick but measured as she circles the quarters belowdecks. The weathered boards creak beneath her footpaws.

"Ready yerselves," she murmurs to the small group of sailors not already above, "Get tae stations, quiet-like. Spread tha word as ye go. No sudden movements. If they come at us, it'll be fast."

The rabbit comes back into the cold air. It burns her lungs as she moves purposefully across the Golden Hide, her eyes constantly flicking between the canoes below and the tense faces of her crewmates. The metallic taste of fear coats her tongue, but her paws remain steady. She catches Vihmastaja's eye, giving a subtle nod of approval at the weasel's bow.

Ralynn brushes past Greeneye with a whispered, "Keep yer blade handy but hidden," before positioning herself near the starboard rail where any cake would likely be lowered down—and more importantly, where Silvertongue stands.

"First Mate's right as rain," she says in a low voice to Gyles, her brogue thick as molasses. "Tha' tar hat down there… Ah’ve seen exactly its sort ain merchants aboot Bully, er Ah'm a bilge rat." She glances at Silvertongue, her expression grim. "Ah've checked the weapons locker. We've enough crossbows and bolts, but if they want oor Songfox, Ah'm thinkin' they've got plans we wouldnae be likin'."

The rabbit's practiced eye sweeps across the bay, noting the rocky promontories Gyles had observed. Her experience with sailing vessels tells her exactly how vulnerable they are—the Golden Hide's precious steam pipes exposed along the gunwales, the marines positioned well but still outnumbered if those dugouts were just the first wave.

"They're watchin' us tae close," she observes, shifting her weight to stand protectively close to Silvertongue while making a show of adjusting her jacket. "Like pike sizin' up perch."

The memory of her mother's words about market traders suddenly seems painfully relevant: “Always watch their eyes, Emily. If they look at yer goods more than yer face, they're fixin' tae rob ye blind.” These seem to be looking more at the beasts aboard, which the looks on their faces make somehow seem worse.

"Whatever cake the wee kit brings up," she says with quiet pragmatism, planting her sturdy frame firmly beside Silvertongue, "oor fox stays aboard, aye? Ah’m all fer diplomacy, bu’ I trust yon beasties aboot as far as Greeneye’d let me throw ‘im." She winks slightly to let the stoat know she is kidding, trying to use a bit of humor to ease the tensions

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail stayed near Silvertongue, his eyes scanning the tense exchange at the gangplank. He shifted uneasily as the shrew leader's harsh tongue scraped against his ears.

He swallowed, his throat dry. "Ralynn’s right. This ain’t about sugar or hats. They want something else.”

He didn’t speak loudly, just enough for Silvertongue and Ralynn to hear, if they were listening. His voice was low, careful, but carried that thread of certainty that came from instinct, not logic.

His tail curled close, brushing his own leg. The vibe was wrong. He glanced at Silvertongue beside him.

“Best stay close t’ your mates,” he added, even softer. “I don’t trust the look in their eyes.”

 

[Morgan Liu]

As Ralynn approached, Morgan felt a swell of panic, wondering if the officer had heard her confession about not actually understanding the language. She didn't say anything about it, though, and if she had, well... Morgan pushed that thought out of her head, choosing to nod instead. "It's kinda hard to tell if someone's lying in another language," she admitted. "The intonation can be all different, and I'll admit, it's not the easiest language. I definitely have a bad feeling about this, though. There's a hunger in their eyes, and I'm not sure it's for cake."

 

[Duke Talinn Ryalor]

Talinn looked at Finnian thoughtfully and took seriously the issue of whether or not to add the candles. In all honesty, he had no idea, but he had to at least pretend like he did, and he wished he had taken Dusk’s suggestion to read more world history books more seriously. Who the hell knows what those shrews could take the candles as? Best not to have any.

“No candles, Finnian, just to be on the safe side.” He replied authoritatively.

Responding to Silvertongue, he nodded at him.

“I think, due to your colorful clothing and your impressive hat, they believe that you are the true power on the ship, and, in some kind of show of dominance, they want you to be the one to hand over the tribute. This, apparently, is rather something common from what Dusk has told me.”

Talinn agreed with both Gyles and Ralynn, that it was good to take precautions, just in case the situation went awry. They were in a perfect position to bombard the village with a rolling broadside if things went seriously wrong, and they had enough marines to deal with the beasts in the canoes they could see if tried anything, but those promontories and little inlets...they could hide a lot. He gave both of them a nod.

“Prepare the crew as you see fit to repel any potential boarders. We need to be ready in the event negotiations break down.”

Talinn watched the shrews closely, who continued to watch Silvertongue like a hawk. Then, the leader started to do something odd, doing some kind of erratic motion, and swinging his body from side to side, with the other 11 shrews on the dugouts doing the same as well, then they all pointed at the Songfox again, before the leader shouted up.

What the ‘Gates...are they...dancing?

“quviasuutigijaujumajugut utaqqinittinni upigijauningani! mumirlutit aturniaqtattinnut!*”

*“We wish to be entertained while we wait for the tribute! Make the clown dance for our amusement!”

Talinn glanced over at Morgan, visibly confused at all of this.

"What is it that they want now Morgan?"

@FinnianBrightfur @Ralynn Waverunner @Silvertongue Songfox @Gyles @Morgan Liu @Vihmastaja @SwifttailTheFox

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Finn nodded aggressively, his playfulness ebbing away as the situation continued to degrade.

Lives depended on this cake. "Sir!" he barked smartly, before tearing off towards the kitchen with all the speed of a street urchin who'd just pinched a bundle of sausage from the butcher's cart.

The foxkit came screeching to a halt in the galley, desperately calling out for the cook's attention, or even anyone working. "HEY! HEY! I need a cake!"

"Haw haw, yeh kit, and I need a hole in the head! And asides! All I got is this here 'nana bread, and y'ain't taking it!"

"Nooo! You don't understand!" pleaded Finn desperately. "It's the captains orders! People could die!"

"Ahaw haw haw kid, what, do y'think I was born yesterday? There's no way I'm stupid enough to--HEY!! GET BACK HERE!! OY, OY HE'S PINCHED MY 'NANA BREAD!"

"Sorrysorryipromiseillmakeituptoyoulater!!"

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan was caught by surprise by the shrews' antics as much as anyone. She blurted out the first thought that entered her mind, not even thinking. "They want Silvie to dance." She blushed, then looked up, a touch guilty. "Sorry," she apologized. "Honestly, the words didn't even fully enter my brain before they came back out again. It makes sense, though. Where I was born, there were beasts who came to trade sometimes, beasts from icy islands. Dancing is a sacred ritual of sorts among these tribes, used to honor their gods. Personally, I think it's just a good way to keep warm. From what I hear, they want Silvie to honor their gods with a song and dance. Can't really dance well without music, after all."

 

[Silvertongue Songfox]

"Well, a dance is something I can do easy enough." Silvertongue said, as he started to sway his hips in the same matter the shrews did, and for the first time in a while Silvertongue felt self-conscious. Of course, he was used to being jeered at and mocked while he performed, but this instance was getting to him. This could be the difference between a peaceful encounter and a violent clash. He had to up the ante. Silvertongue climbed up onto the rails of the ship. he raised his arms and started twirling about, doing a pirouette and then cartwheeling along the length of the rail before balancing on one paw momentarily. He hoped that his dance would impress the shrews, or at least keep them entertained.

 

[Duke Talinn Ryalor]

Talinn just looked quizzically at Morgan, the Shrews, and Silvertongue as the demand to dance was given and was met. He really was at a loss for words for this particular situation, but, if it made the encounter with the shrews end peacefully, at least long enough for them to meet and steal their “god”, it was worth this whole charade. Dusk might even he was cultured enough to do things without it inevitably resulting in massive bloodshed if he could pull off this journey correctly. So he was willing to tolerate all of this. Perhaps he could slowly get his moniker changed to Talinn the Tolerant? That would be a massive improvement.

As Finnian came rushing back with the banana bread, Talinn smiled. The little foxkit was just so cute that even his cold heart melted when he saw him with it. What a helpful, good little lad, and he had already heard reports that he was becoming something of a medic down in the infirmary. Taking the lighter method of dealing with stowaways had certainly paid off this time.

As Finnian handed him the cake and Silvertongue’s performance for the Shrews ended, he handed the banana bread over to his aide, and nodded. At the same time, the shrews, who had been laughing raucously, began to gesture at Silvertongue, their spears pointed at him first, and then turned around and pointed at them and the canoes, along with similar pointing with their free paws. The Shrew leader in the headdress shouted up.

“tamanna piujummariulauqtuq! akpasingniqsami ammugiarlutit uvattinnut, tunivalliajunnaqsillugillu qulit tuqsugait mikłititaulutik attarnanngittukkut aqqutiginiaqtarnut qikiqtattinni!”


That was a great performance! Now lower down the clown to us, and then you can begin to hand over the ten beasts to be sacrificed for your safe passage on our island.

Talinn glanced once more at Morgan.

"What do they want now? For him to hand them the cake over personally?"


@Morgan Liu @Gyles @Ralynn Waverunner @SwifttailTheFox @Vihmastaja @FinnianBrightfur @Silvertongue Songfox

 

[Captain Gyles F. Stowett]

Though he couldn't stop a smile up his face at the young Silvertongue's antics, plenty was eating Gyles Stowett. He eyed Morgan. What the deuce was she about? First hats, then cake, now bloody dancing? Either she was mad, or the shrews were. At this rate, we're as liable to smoke the old peace pipe as smoke them shrews out of demmed house and home...
The smile faded from his face. He swallowed, looking to Morgan all the same for some hint of understanding. She was the best they had to keep this from all going skew-whiff. Nothing for it, old son. We've got to trust her.

"All right, Tultow," he said, turning to the big weasel Lieutenant of Marines. "Looks like the demmed iron's in the fire, old friend. Now 's just a matter of time an' heat, I'm afraid, unless Seabeast Morgan has somethin' to say about it."

Marines tramped in drilled lock-step to the gunwales, lining the shoreward side of the Hide from stem to stern in a show of force. Each pair of seasoned arms bore a loaded light crossbow, iron stirrup to the deck between their boots, just out of sight of the shrews. A pawful waited beside the larger mounted swivel ballistae, a word from Duke or officers their only stay. While the stoat was inclined to believe the Duke would make any first move - if there was to be one at all - if there was to be any such nonsense, Her Imperial Highness' Navy would be ready.

Gyles paced back and forth up and down the amidships rail, white silk neckerchief ends coming loose from his vest and catching a breeze, eyes never leaving the headlands. "Your lads any good up a mast, Tultow?"
Steely eyes met his for a brief moment. "Aye, we can have a few keep Bosun Waverunner's sharp-eyes company in the tops."
"That'd be best."
"You 'eard the officer. You three. Up the ratlines, quick as you like."
Three marines broke away and scurried up the rigging, longbows slung over their shoulders. Crossbows were useless for long range and wind.
Gyles chewed his lip. "Now's the worst bit."
Tultow stared out toward the shore with a knowing nod. "The waitin' bit?"
Gyles felt a rush in his chest, looking once again to Morgan's fateful translation to be announced. "Just so."

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail didn’t need to understand the shrill barking of the shrew chieftain to know things had soured. The spears were pointed too precisely now, the laughter too hollow. Whatever message Morgan was trying to spin, it wasn’t working.

And Silvertongue was still standing far too close to the edge.

With no orders and no place in the spotlight, Swifttail quietly slipped below deck.

He passed Finn on the ladder, tossing the younger fox a quick nod. What a brave little kit. Then he slipped into the belly of the ship, winding through cramped halls toward the armory and the engineers’ quarters. His place. His duty.

The ship's bowels were thick with steam and the low growl of the engine, a world away from the chaos outside. He passed the storage lockers and infirmary, paws light on the metal steps as he approached the engine room.

Inside, Engineer Rugg, an aging badger with half his face singed from some long-ago boiler accident, was hunched over a valve housing, tapping it with the back of a spanner. His assistant, a nervous pine marten named Kip, was feeding coal into the firebox of the locomotive turned marine auxiliary steam engine and muttering something under his breath that sounded like prayer or song.

Near the bulkhead door stood the Master at Arms, a sleek fox named Verrin, polished boots and fur as tidy as his regulation cuffs. He looked like he’d just cleaned his claws and was hoping for an excuse to dirty them again.

Swifttail cleared his throat. “You lot hear anything from topside?”

Rugg snorted without looking up. “Only thing I heard was the pressure relief kicking in. If that wasn’t what you meant, then no.”

"The guests are gettin’... toothy.”

Swifttail checked the emergency lockers, where slings, crossbows, and other small armaments were kept for just such uneasy landings. He didn’t draw anything. Not yet. But he wanted to be ready.

“Ralynn’s called for arms. Thought it best someone came to warn you. Just in case.”

Verrin’s eyes narrowed, cold and calculating.

“Good fox,” he said, already reaching for a crossbow. “Let’s not wait for the welcome party to start knocking to prepare.”

Rugg grumbled and waved Kip toward the vent levers.

"Kip, seal that vent. I’ll get the hatch locks primed.”

Swifttail stayed near the door, tension prickling under his fur.

“Better safe than sacrificed, aye?”