A New Spring's Dawning

[Olvelsper]

"Did you bring them here?" Jan asked Viki, assuming the weirdness was related to the slim mage. It typically was.

[Dracos]

"Bring what here?" She asked a bit dreamily, glancing after his arm. "Oh...no."

[Shukuen]

It was a sad state of affairs when spear toting walruses didn't even rate on the weirdness scale. On the contrary, Leets wondered if they were from a village brought over by whatever pull the Demon had over this world--though the reasons for snatching walrus village was thankfully stymying his acceptance of reality.

As it was, he leaned a little over the rail, though just out of their range--they were armed and probably proficient after all--and tried to see if he could catch snippets of any language.

[Dracos]

The passage of the ship and the noise of the waves drowned out any communications they may have been doing.  But his eyes were sharp enough to tell they  were definitely encircling the ship.

[Shukuen]

There wasn't much that could be done despite the threatening movements from the walruses. Of all the times to be short a mage. Leets had little faith that the ship's hull would stand against the spears, but maybe they were misinterpreting things and the walruses were simply warning them off?

It was possible, though the thought wasn't entirely reassuring.

[Dracos]

OOC: Sorry, just noticed this.
IC:
The thud of SOMETHING smashing into the front of the haul was not reassuring.  The fact that the ship briefly stopped moving, sending most of them to the floor wasn't either.

[Olvelsper]

The negotiator had braced himself, snatching an arm out to catch Viki before she landed on the ground. "Hey, easy there." He gestured for Leets.

"Get the noncombatants into the deck, Leets!"

"We're under attack! Anyone with long range weapons, get out here!"

He pulled out a handgun, and began moving towards the front of the ship to see what was going on up there.

[Shukuen]

Leets boggled, pushing himself back to his feet as Jan took command of the situation. "I don't recall signing up for the navy," groused the Thief, but followed Jan's advice and helped the injured and unarmed down to the bowels of the ship away from the fighting.

[Dracos]

The archers fired once, twice...  their arrows slashing into their heavy hides as they hauled themselves aboard, still, a full dozen slaming into the crew as they roared battle cries in some strange foreign tongue, their hides marked with what looked like tattoos.  Up close they seemed more man than walrus, though it was hard to say.  Especially with them so violent.  The noncombatants followed the invisible leets into the inner decks.

[Olvelsper]

"...I suppose I can't pursuade all of you to stop your attack?" Jan tried.

[Dracos]

Strange grunts and noises passed between them, the others, smacking back their opposition before a rather large one stepped forward, making a loud series of clicked that caused them to stop.  He pointed a spear at Jan, and returned in horrifically accented and muttled english "You enter territory... you our prey.  You surrender?"

[Olvelsper]

"We didn't come here to attack. We mean your people no harm. We merely wish to pass through."

[Shukuen]

Once everyone was settled into their hiding places, Leets returned to the deck, stopping just short of the entrance when he heard the harsh, unfamiliar language of the walrus-like invaders. Pressing up against the wall, he focused on his ability before carefully slipping onto the deck. A quick look at his surroundings made it obvious that there was no way to catch them by surprise if he tried to fight directly, so he let Jan do what he did best while he searched for an ambush position if negotiations failed and something needed sniping.

[Dracos]

The walrusman snorted, seeming not impressed with that. "You enter our waters.  We beat you.  Your ship ours.  Your treasure ours.  We not fight cowards though.  We will let you live."

[Olvelsper]

"I'm sorry, but that just won't do. It is not a balanced deal since we did not seek to invade your waters purposefully." Jan replied with as much certainty.

"We're on a mission of exploration, but we won't hesistate in defending ourselves, either."