Expedition The Urk Expedition

Upon hearing the invitation, Kaii stepped into the room. Stopping in respectful distance from the duke, nearby the platinum fox that just took an oath, and he preformed an appropriate bow to show his respect for his interlocutor. "Your highness, it is an honour to meet you." He said as soon as he stood up, behaving and looking like a young noblebeast should. His tail was swaying behind him while he maintained composure with a slight smile.

"Indeed I am here to sign up. I came here following the pamphlet I saw that called for those able and willing to work at the engine bay." He continued with a glint in his eye and ears perking at the mention of the engine, even if his posture and expression remained stoic as before. "I have my resume prepared and knowledge to confirm what comes from it." Kaii pulled out a nicely prepared envelope, sealed with wax that bore his family's sigil.

He placed it with lowered gaze upon Talinn's desk before stepping back to his place. Hoping now that his first impression was appropriate enough for the Duke.
 
Talinn studied the well-dressed fox who came into the office after Swifttail, once again pleased at the deference given to him after the defiance of Morgan and Greeneye. A marble fox, composed and trained in the proper way to address nobility, but seeking permission to sign up and work in the engine bay of all places? Interesting-while it was not unheard of for the lower members of the gentry to serve aboard ships, they were usually more interested in being officers, and the pamphlet had specified that they already had a chief engineer. That meant that this fox thought he had enough knowledge to displace them, or was willing to work as a mere seabeast. If it was the latter, he had to be something like the youngest son of some really desperate family who could not afford a proper officer’s commission.

Taking envelope sealed with wax, Talinn stared at the sigil for a few moments, seemingly thinking hard, his brow furrowing. He had spent quite a lot of time becoming familiar with the noble houses of the Imperium, particularly the vulpine ones, as part of his long-term plans and potential matches for his sons and daughters. This one…

Nashirou-I know it because of that pile of rubble in the Insanely Rich Area that I can see from my bedroom window. I had heard the plot was just about to be sold off and cleared before a surviving member fought through the courts to have it be restored to him. That was some time ago, though, and it appears nothing has to be done to fix it-they must have lost most of their house and assets for supporting the losing side, and likely only alive thanks to the amnesty given by the Empress at the end of the war.

He nodded, then broke the seal, read through the resume, then placed it down on his desk, sizing up the possibly last surviving Nashirou before him.

Well, I am sympathetic to a degree, after all, was not our own house reduced to something similar to his once? But even with the amnesty, letting in the son of a treasonous House to the Navy…*

Tapping his paw thoughtfully on the desk, he decided he would ask the marble fox a few questions.

“It is good to see that House Nashirou still survives, but may I ask why you wish to seek service in the engine bay? There is no officer’s commission available there, at least not yet, so you would have to be enlisted as a rating, and while the pay is competitive, it may be less than you may be expecting. For a beast of your standing, some might consider having to accept that as beneath them, or perhaps even a slight.”

*Talinn loves being a massive hypocrite, as if his own family was not treasonous but just happened to be on the winning side at the end of the day.
 
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Kaii listened to the words of the Duke, expecting this sort of question and simply answering with the truth as he practiced. "Well your highness, whilst I have fighting skills, bulk of my experience lies in machinery and working it. That is what I enjoy and would prefer to work with. I am not however shy of any work, as any beast that lived through the revolution, I had to do whatever I could to survive. Hence why I don't find any work beneath me, one at the bottom included, especially as I could learn from it."

Kaii turned his eyes to the platinum fox nearby for a moment, pondering about him. He wished to know more, but it had to wait for now.

"But I also won't deny ambition, one however, I believe, should be fulfilled by their hard work, which I intend to do." Kaii added with accordance to his beliefs. Even if he knew he denied a bit his own birthright and privilege. Mostly because he wasn't feeling like he had one yet.
 
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“Your grace, Mister Nashirou, highness is exclusively reserved for the Empress,” Talinn corrected, although not harshly, while emphasizing “Mister”, as was Kaii’s proper station. If he wanted to regain the dignity of being called Sir by the nobility and gentry proper, he would have to get his way back up to the knighthood, although he did still command a basic level of respect above the average commoner, even in his disgraced state “but your answer seems satisfactory, and, given your station, if you do not find it beneath you, I will accept you into the ratings, and specifically the department in which you wish to serve. The current contract being offered by her Majesty is binding for one year, with the option to renew, if that is satisfactory to you.”

Putting aside Kaii’s letter, he took out a form, and then looked up at the disgraced young noblebeast expectantly.

@Kaii Nashirou @SwifttailTheFox
 
Kaii bit himself in the tongue. Of course he must've messed something up. To his defence last time he spoke to a nobility member this high was a good few years ago... back when he would be also called like this. And back then Highness sufficed simply because duke would be measly two or three gradations over him, meaning in this mess of jumbled feudal system it wouldn't exactly mean he was more significant. He didn't however mind being called per Mister, such was a right of a Duke considering Kaii's current state. Even if he wasn't fond of it, he was smarter than to pick trouble over nominally meaningless nomenclature with your potential employer.

But there was much more important things on the agenda now. Kaii nodded and took a look at the form, reading out the service terms and conditions before lowering his head slightly. "Of course your... grace." He took a moment to realign the connection of titles to names in his mind. "I thank you for your generousness to consider my humble request positively. I find the terms satisfactory and I have no objections to serve with my blade, mind and life."

He pulled out his pen, the only one he had but also one that was of good craftsmanship. He was poor by any standards, while he didn't care for how he would be perceived by most, he knew that looking well and speaking eloquently opened many doors. Then he moved to get the form from the paws of the duke with a curtsy and put all the necessary signatures as well as using his pin with Dynastic crest, putting a drop of ink on it, to stamp it by his elegant signature.

Putting the form onto the desk, he moved back and stood by the other todd again.
"I've overheard earlier the vow one must take to swear themselves into the service. I am ready to say it at your command."
 
Swifttail nodded to the Duke and stepped off to the side, and watched the proceeding events unfold. He shifted awkwardly as Talinn interviewed the marble fox. Just like himself, Kaii was also here to rebuild his life, but he began as nobility. What was Swift but a vagrant who scraped enough coin together to clean himself up enough for this interview. Could he even compete aboard this ship? Something he had previously told himself he'd never step paw onto ever again?

Swifttail let out a nervous sigh. He really hope he wasn't condemning himself to a similar fate he had escaped from half a decade ago.
 
Talinn nodded at Kaii as he put the paperwork to the side, and spoke, although Kaii being a member of the gentry and former nobility, no matter how disgraced he was, required things be handled a little bit differently. He still had a few questions for the young todd, and although he suspected he already knew the answers, he had to be sure, in order to modify the oath of allegiance properly.

“In light of your station, just a few more questions. Are you the present head of House Nashirou? Do you command any bannerbeasts or servants still sworn to your family, capable of wielding arms or otherwise? Any notable assets as behooves your station, such as lands?”
 
Kaii’s smile slightly faltered. He wasn’t ashamed of truth but it hurt nonetheless. Also it fell a bit too inquisitive for his taste to be a normal question. Nonetheless he answered with straight muzzle and calm voice. "I am indeed a present head of my house. Should any beasts use banners or seals of it, they do so with no permission of mine as my last sworn servant died few years ago." He paused for a second remembering Seylene. He owed her life and his mental fortitude. His smile became more confident as he considered he was putting her teachings to work.

"I own a plot of around thirty-thousand, three-hundred and seventy-five square meters or..." He took a short second to recalculate to Imperial units that most non-engineers used. "...sixty-seven thousand and five-hundred imperial paws. Set by the northern edge of Insanely Rich Area of Bouillabaisse Harbor. I also own about one-hundred and twenty-five acres of what is now forest at the eastern edge of the town. Both of them have however no meaningful infrastructure nor notable buildings. Just ruins left from the Revolution." He ever so slightly winced. A rather astonishing feat considering his admission to abject poverty for someone born to rather wealthy and influential family. Beast with land and title but with no money nor connections. A pariah really, even among the gentry. One also too focused on restoring his position. Unwilling to sell or trade this land no matter what because that would mean abandoning his promise.

And while logic was main motivator of his, Kaii held his promises one level above it.
 
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Talinn, although careful to hide his true feelings behind a careful veneer of neutrality honed by decades of experience, internally winced. The climb for this young Nashirou was going to be as brutal, or even more brutal, than it had been for his own family. No one left but him, holding that ruined estate and land, probably with a truly ludicrous amount of back taxes, on the salary of a rating. There was still a very slight chance that an up and coming family might marry off a daughter to him for the titles, but these days, it was often easier to buy such from other disgraced nobles rather than invite a member of a former traitorous house in and try to scrub out the dishonor themselves. And, of course, even if he did get that offer, they would almost certainly force him to forfeit his lands and estate rather than pay to rebuild them. He also knew from bitter personal experience that the only way to remove that stain on the poor young fox’s name was going to be through a major victory, or possibly, multiple major victories.

Poor bastard, well, at least I can give him the honor due his station to encourage him for his oath, even if he has fallen so far.

Nodding at the young heir of House Nashirou, he stood, and drew his Auldarnian steel blade, the beautiful rippling pattern gleaming in the afternoon sun through the windows. Heading over to the other side of the desk, he spoke.

“Kaii of House Nashirou, if you would, kneel to swear your oath of allegiance.” Talinn announced formally.
 
Kaii nodded and knelt before his superior. He was glad that his position wasn't a barrier. Honestly, to him that was the only metric by which he could've failed and he didn't. He felt as if he won this time with overwhelming hopelessness of his life. Logic again led him and he whispered "ut venenatis in logica duce me." Before lowering his head in reverence to hear the oath.

Placing his one paw on his heart, the other one upon the hilt of his blade, Kaii managed to fully still his body. Even his tail, one last appendage that liked to betray his emotions, was still as stone awaiting the moment to come.
 
Nodding, Talinn spoke formally,

“First, your own personal oath. Place your dominant paw above your heart, and repeat the following, inserting your full name when appropriate,

I, insert your full name here, under the banner of her Majesty’s ship The Golden Hide, swear, in order of priority, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Amélie I and her heirs and successors. I swear that I will defend her or them to the uttermost of my power, against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever, which shall be made against her or their persons, their crown and dignity, by reason or color of any such sentence or declaration or otherwise, and will do my best endeavor to disclose and make known unto her Majesty, her heirs and successors, all treasons and traitorous conspiracies, which I shall know or hear of to be against her or any of them. I further swear that I will obey the laws of the Imperium, and her duly appointed ministers and officials. And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear by sacred oath to my God or gods, according to these express words by me spoken, and according to the plain and common sense understanding of the same words, without any equivocation, or mental evasion, or secret reservation whatsoever.”


Waiting for the young Nashirou to finish, Talinn paused, letting the oath hang heavily in the air. Then, placing the flat of his blade on the young todd’s right shoulder, he spoke, voice formal, but kind.

“Do you wish to have a chance to regain your family’s honor, Kaii of House Nashirou? I offer you this one opportunity in my capacity as the Duke of Westisle to swear your house’s allegiance to the throne. Think carefully.”
 
Kaii spoke in even, emotionless tone, gazing upon his benefactor while holding every single movement or unnecessary emotion at bay. He did however took a second to ponder which paw was his dominant. He decided to continue with the left one he already had on the heart. That was the one he used for writing and sketching at least.


"I, Kaii Nashirou of the Nashirou family, under the banner of her Majesty’s ship The Golden Hide, swear, in order of priority, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Amélie I and her heirs and successors. I swear that I will defend her or them to the uttermost of my power, against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever, which shall be made against her or their persons, their crown and dignity, by reason or colour of any such sentence or declaration or otherwise, and will do my best endeavour to disclose and make known unto her Majesty, her heirs and successors, all treasons and traitorous conspiracies, which I shall know or hear of to be against her or any of them. I further swear that I will obey the laws of the Imperium, and her duly appointed ministers and officials. And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear by sacred oath to my God or gods, according to these express words by me spoken, and according to the plain and common sense understanding of the same words, without any equivocation, or mental evasion, or secret reservation whatsoever.”


He did the full oath in one go without wincing or stopping. A bit of shame raised within him to serve the absolutists but he knew in the end it was just for a year or two. Just enough to get money he needs. Dropping his head and looking at the floor again, he didn't feel anything had changed. Which was both good and bad thing. He wished to feel something, but, at the same time, he knew he would only feel disgrace.

Fortunately Duke continued afterwards. That was the words he exactly needed to hear. A chance, one that came from someone who could really give it to him. A wariness followed. "What does it entail Your Grace?" He spoke his thought and cursed himself inside for this. Inadequacy like this was bad. Still he truly needed to know that before accepting. He wouldn't sell the last things that grounded him to this world, after all.
 
Still keeping the flat of his sword on Kaii’s right shoulder, Talinn replied to the young todd’s question.

“A similar oath of allegiance, but this time one for your house and its heirs, including all your holdings, titles, offices which you may be appointed to, and all beasts who are sworn to you or otherwise under your command. In effect, an oath of vassalage to the Empress. Your enemies become her enemies, your struggles become her struggles, and you are afforded numerous rights and privileges as befitting of your rank and station. She will look out for you, any spouse you may marry, and her heirs, in perpetuity, and in return, you are expected to provide the same loyalty to her.”


Talinn paused, voice still firm, but kind.

“It the same oath I have sworn. Given the circumstances of your House and its recent history, I can only offer you the rank of gentlebeast at this time, the right to officially bear your coat of arms and to prosecute those who might use it without your permission, which is conferred to all of your descendants. You have the right to apply for and receive loans you might not otherwise receive for the purposes of rebuilding your primary estate as befitting of a gentlebeast, though you are obligated to pay such back over time. It is a benefit to seeking certain positions such as commissions to various positions or professional schooling in more advanced professions. You may apply for certain opportunities to ensure that you and your descendants shall always have food and a place to stay, whether that be through the generosity of her Majesty, or in return for service."
 
Kaii listened and considered this offer. It was... difficult choice but one he had to make quickly. He made sure to hide his consternation in that short second he took to think, only his ears flicking and betraying his slight nervousness. On one hand... that was exactly what he wanted. On the other? To bow down before the ones who brought ruin upon his family? Shortly after, he decided that foolish disdain won't get him far while working within the structure would already give him some ability to start his arduous journey upstairs.

"I shall pledge this oath your grace." Kaii simply said with his head still lowered. "I am honoured to even receive such offer, considering the side, my family chose during the Revolution, was not one you represent." He added with no malice nor disdain. Just plainly admitting the fact.
 
Lifting the blade from Kaii’s right shoulder, he then placed it on his left. Then, he nodded.

“Very well then. Now, for the oath of your house, after which you have sworn, I will officially repeat the Empress's reciprocal vows in Her name,

We, the House of Nashirou, swear homage to Empress Amélie I and her heirs and successors as their vassal. We swear to pledge ourselves, our holdings, offices, and all the beasts which we have power to them, to serve and to conduct ourselves with honor, dignity, and justice in her name. We do swear this from now until the end of line or the end of the world, whichever shall occur first.”
 
Kaii swallowed slightly, realizing he forgot doing so for a moment, and spoke as plainly as before, repeating the oath with head lifted at his benefactor.

"We, the House of Nashirou, swear homage to Empress Amélie I and her heirs and successors as their vassal. We swear to pledge ourselves, our holdings, offices, and all the beasts which we have power to them, to serve and to conduct ourselves with honor, dignity, and justice in her name. We do swear this from now until the end of line or the end of the world, whichever shall occur first.”

Kaii once more lowered his head. This time he wasn't considering his words anymore. His tail curled under him as he thought only of his own future he now bound to the empire whether he liked it or not.
 
Solemnly, Talinn repeated the reciprocal oath to the young Nashirou.

“I, Duke Talinn Ryalor, in the name of Her Empress Amélie I, do hereby accept the vassalage of the House of Nashirou, in front of gods and to all those present and to come, that We accept them as our vassals. We guarantee them their rights and their titles against every power and every creature on Earth will all of Our power, until our line or the world ends, whichever happens first.”

Pausing, and taking a deep breath, Talinn lifted his sword, and sheathed it in his scabbard.

“Rise, Gentlebeast Kaii of House Nashirou. You are now a vassal of her Empress, free of any prior shame or dishonor, and may her blessings pour down upon you like a golden fog.”

He let the young fox take a few moments to take it all in, before glancing over to Crewbeast Fairpaws, who had witnessed the whole thing. Nodding at him, and at Kaii, he spoke, voice firm with authority.

“Per the request of Gentlebeast Kaii, and seeing as we need additional paws in the engine room, I think it is best for the two of you go there to introduce yourselves to the chief engineer and make sure everything is in working order.”

Giving them another nod, he saluted Kaii as befitting his rank, then Swifttail.

“Dismissed!”

OOC: Kaii has been promoted from Gentry: Disgraced to Gentry: Gentlebeast.
 
Tread with respect, the ship warned. Good beasts have bled on my decks.

The ship shined red, that’s how Darragh had found her at the docks. Her decorative stern was painted a jaunty crimson, embellished by gilded floral trimmings, flashing defiance at anyone foolish enough to chase her. Come a bit closer, that red stern said. Get a good look before you die. Darragh could sense her other redness, too. The syrupy muck that slopped in the bilge, the dripping between loose planks, the stains on the infirmary’s operating table. The blood of over forty year’s fighting was ingrained in her very timbers.

Darragh could tell she was the one. There were plenty of mistresses he might have taken in Bully Harbor. A snub-nosed coal barge, or perhaps the fleetest and prettiest sloop at Fishminster’s Wharf. He might have taken a job on a small cutter as a pilot, guiding the packet ships and tea clippers to safety, or signed on for a life of coastal ferrying. Poets don’t lead such easy lives, Darragh reflected. He could have a comfortable job on the coast, a peeled-paint tenement and a local pub serving Life Regrets as a nightly specialty. He wouldn’t bleed on the decks of a coal barge. He wouldn’t take an arrow for a friend on a tea clipper. He would live long, lazy, and soaked in rum. But as far as Art was concerned, he would already be dead.

That was why he was standing on the deck of the Golden Hide. He needed a mistress like her to slap him in the face, grab his wrist and drag him to the very ends of the world. She would be nurturing and unforgiving, cruel but always loyal. She would train him in knots and night watches, politicking and pain. That was how he would hone his true calling - Poetry! That, and naval warfare, he supposed. He would have to serve as a kind of… Combat Poet, ready to dispatch Her Majesty’s enemies with fire, sword, and inflammatory invective!

Darragh steadied his breathing, his senses attuning to the rhythm of the ship. The skilled paw that stitched a damaged sail, and the expert tap-tap of the carpenter’s hammer. The confident tread of a burly seabeast carrying supplies below, unable to see her own footpaws past the crate in her arms, but knowing every step of the way. They were the living manifestation of the ship’s very soul. He could almost hear the ship itself, calling to him.

Find my captain. Sign what he gives you. Then, our destinies will be bound together. It’ll be like a marriage.

Darragh locked eyes with one of the seabeasts. He received a look of confusion at a new face. Then exasperation, at a lost recruit. The stoat grimaced in an approximation of a friendly smile, the universally recognised expression of somebeast about to ask a total stranger for directions. Mercifully, he was soon on his way at a hurried scamper. There was no time for second thoughts. He couldn’t be late to his own marriage, after all.
 
Before the two foxes before him could even leave, he heard even more pawsteps approaching his cabin-he did not even need to look up to see the small stoat come in, and, internally, he was pleased, if beginning to become a bit exhausted. So many new recruits these days-truly, something had to be working to get this many beasts to willingly sign up of their own free will. The Empress’s reforms, notably encouraging a smaller, but more professional and better budgeted Navy, seemed to be paying off. Impressment had been reduced to an all-time low, which had also helped keep things more orderly in the Harbor...or, well, as well as they could be. Nodding at the two foxes to leave, he addressed the stoat.

“Greetings, here to sign up for her Majesty’s illustrious Navy?
” Talinn asked, voice professional and neutral, if a bit tired.

More beasts were always needed in the Navy, even if this one was a bit small. Small beasts were good-they could be quicker than expected, and fit into the many small cracks and crevices aboard a ship such as the Hide to fix problems as not one inch of the ship was wasted.
 
The Captain. He was the ship’s radiant father-figure, the glow of his authority touching the highest halliard. The esteemed gentletod had barely glanced at him, but it was to Darragh as though the Captain had known of his presence the moment he’d set a footpaw on the gangplank. His voice was filled with calm assurance, an effortless knowing that everything in his world was in its proper place.

He must be a distinguished noble. Beasts have been bowing and scraping knock-kneed before him since before you were born. Manners and etiquette, elaborate ritual performance, deference to tradition. It’s a complicated dance, but it keeps the aristocrats from eating each other in naked power struggles. Do something fancy, he’ll like that.

Darragh reached up and took the hat off his head. His headfur was a mess, but the gesture itself was a perfect replication of the genteel characters from the books he was fond of reading, whenever he could get his paws on them. He bowed low, sweeping the hat down with a flourish, before straightening his back, puffing out his skinny chest, and holding his hat to his heart.

Sound humble. Humble, but with Important Business. Be confident, but not arrogant. Reserved, but keenly alert. You know, military-like.

“M-M’lud…” Darragh began. His mouth was suddenly dry and full of two-month-old biscuit crumbs. He faltered.

What was that?! You can’t stop there, he asked you a question! Say something! Say something unforgettably smooth, or else walk out that door in shame!

Darragh took a calming breath, allowing his hesitation to pass for a deliberate pause. Then he spoke, his accented lilt coming out stronger as the pace of his words quickened. “M’lud, sure as she’s a fine ship, so I am. I’m called Darragh, sir, Darragh Harper, after me great-uncle or so I’m told. I don’t expect you’ve heard of me t’ough, as I’m yet to be published."

…Alright, smooth enough. Could have been smoother. Could have complimented him more. Nicely humble though. Humble but ambitious. Sprawled in the gutter, but gazing at the stars.

Darragh tried to stop visualising himself sprawled in a gutter. It had happened often enough already, and wasn’t something he wanted to bring up in a job interview.

"If it pleases you so, M'lud, I do have schoolin' in the written word, and a fledgling trade in rhymin' composition," Darragh hurried on, eager to prove his worth. "More besides, I've decent experience wieldin' me own arms an' accoutrements, should all them great shinin' cutlasses be otherwise entrusted to the paws of more capable beasts than I, sir."

Darragh held up his fists, rags wrapped around his knuckles, to show the Captain his 'arms and accoutrements' - and accidentally crumpling his beaten old hat even more in the process. Uttering the phrase if it pleases you so had been a rare delight to him - it sounded courtly and exceedingly polite. Even better, accoutrements had made him sound downright educated! He would have to remember that new word the captain had uttered before though, 'illustrious'. Such additions to his vocabulary were vital gifts, if he was to ply his trade with excellence.
 
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