Marduk

[The Bindoner]

Rúna takes Raven’s helmet with her good right hand and carefully transfers it to her slung left, then returns her hand to the hilt of her sword.

Áshildr, having pushed Eshargamelat forward, stands with the two militiamen and watches Raven with a small smile.


Eshargamelat stands wide-eyed before Raven, like a rabbit before a stoat. She is a slight figure, medium height but thin. She is smart enough to try and control her fear though, and clasps her hands together behind her to hide the tremble.

Remington recognises the type. On a different world she would be an academic or an artist. The marks on her nose indicate she habitually wears glasses, there are chemical stains on her thin fingers and her clothes are eerily reminiscent of a lecturer in Art History he suddenly remembers from a conference on Tobia.

The woman seems at first to be unable to understand Raven, but as the bargains are laid out she cannot help reacting in a way that betrays her comprehension.

When Raven stops speaking she reaches a descision, straightens up and replies You talk trade, but you take. Oghma never gives. Us you have are lost. I am lost. Why would I trust you. Why betray my mistress, for empty words?

The lightly wounded militiaman bursts out with Eshargamelat, cheh kear ma‌kenad! awena meydewnen keh tew ba Asetarefwelk herf meyzeny awena heycheweqt nemyedaren bery.

She replies, resignedly: Anha ma ra der hal hader darend. Men pear hestem keh berdh am , ama shaad agur anha feker kenend men bahewsh hestem , memken aset zendegua kenem.

[The Bindoner]

Kar tells Steinn. This is an old raider trick, for when you're stretched a bit thin. Cover me.

Selecting several of the unwanted captives one at a time, Kar takes them down the ramp and first ties them up and then together, just a few metres to the side and in front of the ramp. Walking back up to Steinn.

Quietly. Human shield, Oghman style. They may as well be of some use.

The prisoners are unresisting and fearful as the strongest of them is taken away. They cannot see what happens to him and when Kar returns alone their fear level increases. As each prisoner is taken away they huddle closer together, some of the women weeping as others try to comfort them. Eno does her best to reassure them no harm has come to the departed but she is not believed.

[Tiglath]

Raven replies to Eshargamelat "Yes, I take - it is in my nature, but we can both trade for that is what people do everyday and that is in both our natures. You can also act without dishonour for your Mistress already stands betrayed. Why else, of all other places in the town, do you think I am here?"

She continues "People make the best of their situation and someone else made themselves into both a trader and a freeman at a stroke. Your talkative friend will confirm that I set this "trader" free but tell him to confine his tiresome jabber to only that or he will trade his head into being a piss pot".

Pointing out Remington she adds "Here is Many Names - once an Imperial citizen but living with us as a revered and knowledgeable shaman. He will also confirm that I keep my word".

[The Bindoner]

Eshargamelat turns to the militia commander captured on the walkway, who Áshildr has put with the two she brought from the ship, and asks:

Nur-Adad, aaaa waq'eat dared? Shekhesa atela'eat madam al'emer ra m'eamelh kered , w azad shed?

The Militia “leader” replies:

Belh , Hunzuu w melwan Nebo shebt kerdend w azad shedned. Her chened anha azad nasetned. Hemh khewahend fhemad keh anha bh aan shaatan kemek keredh aned , jaaa w jaa anha beraa aaneja naset.


Eshargamelat addresses the little group of militiamen:

Men qesd darem zendeguy kenem w kesey keh meytewnem rew nejat bedm tew nemredh ay keh az ma defa' keney, nemyetweny gheyr az ayen bhem beguy.

Contemptuously to the Militia commander captured on the walkway: W tew Naditabirus tew hety zekhemy hem neysety .

She quotes something and makes a statement: “Hemashh cheazhaa bashetra wejwed khewahed dashet, ma feqt ak zendegua daram.” Ma bayed der azadey zendeguy keneym . Men meytewnem beray zendeguy merdemmewn cheanh zeny kenem ayen yh sheytan khewahed bewd keh ayen kear rew nekenem

With a firmness in her voice she issues a warning to them: Awen sheytan mey guwad agur herf bezna az jemjemh at bh 'enewan tewalet asetfadh khewahed kered pes saket bash w bedar m'eamelh kenem mebada hemh ma rew az 'esebaneyt bekeshh.

Turning to Remington she asks, in poor Imperial ( Galanglic ): So, slave, what your owners tell you to say to me?

[Gorethirster]

Remington shoots Eshargamelat an irritated look. She might not be worried about catching a bullet from a disaffected town militiaman, but as far as he's concerned the whole town is still an active warzone. She may be in the mood to haggle, but until he's safely back aboard the ship Remington has no patience for it.

"If you think this is some carefully rehearsed scheme to get you to cooperate you're wrong. I'm here because the Raid Leader found a use for me, though I don't know what it is yet. I can tell you that she's kept up her end of bargains we've made in the past- once I'd kept up my end, that is. I'm not going to tell you what to do. You're an adult. Make your own choices. Just keep in mind that you're currently trying to bargain with a professional killer, and she's got better things to do with her time than barter with a slave. Whatever you decide to do, I'd decide it quickly."

While he kept his spiel brief, Remington was dying to go on. He wanted to rant to Raven about the stupidity of bringing him out here, given that there's not a jump drive to be seen, much less any other "relevant" applications of his "expertise." Since he knew his objections would be ignored, he also wanted to know what half-suicidal task he'd have to muddle through before he could get back to relative safety. However, he decided that silent stewing was the better part of valor. Raven's sense of the theatrical certainly would not bear any interruptions on his part gracefully, and Oghman ill grace was what was generally considered mens rea for a murder charge in civilized space.

[The Bindoner]

Eshargamelat listens to Remington and nods: Good enough.

Turning to Raven, standing straight: Raven Sorrow, you offer freedom to some of my people. Who decides which? Old and infirm people cannot rebuild what you have destroyed. This town you say you have spared, it burns and the tower is fallen. The things Zinat has to protect this place, they are toys. The caverns have a real defence. My people are safe from your raiders now. You were not fought, no. You were slowed, so others could run. This is our way.

So, I will deal with you. But not from weakness. Us you have, we are lost. Those who help you have no place here, those who resist die, the others are yours. The men you freed, they are exile. Dead to us, no place but the wilderness to go. So, I have little to lose.

My offer. Your word no more destruction, no more raiders come, I tell you everything I know about the things in this place, what the Starfolk pay for them.

We talk about who you free, I agree, I help you with the traps.

[Tiglath]

Raven replies with a cold smile "Good choice! But do not denigrate the wisdom of your elders - they have the knowledge to help you rebuild and therefore are as valuable as youth. I do agree that we were hardly fought at all! And so I can make you a gesture even before we begin. I will release a militia man for I have no fear of facing any of them in battle again. He may go free and bring forth people to put out the fire. If they do only that then they will be safe from my raiders. Your town will cease to burn and my destruction stops. I will call no more raiders to this place. Action instead of words makes for a better argument, no?"

Raven draws a dagger and cuts the bonds of one of her wounded opponents "You are free by my hand. I hope you fight fires better than you fought me". She shoves him towards the door and then smiles "Eshargamelat will let you out... and leave the door open". Turning back to her Raven says "Now, tell me the value of the sea people's treasures".

(OOC: Stage 1 of the negotiations ).

[Gorethirster]

Remington doesn't pay overly close attention to Raven's negotiations. As far as he can tell it's above his paygrade, so until he's specifically asked for input he's just going to keep his mouth shut. What's bothering him is Eshargamelat's little chit chat with the other locals. Rule number one of dealing with undergrads, especially in a physics lab, was that if they're having a conversation they don't want you to hear, they're up to no good. As far as Remington can tell, that rule applies to the present situation as well. It seems that he's thought of in the same charming light as the rest of the Raider crew, so any escape attempts are just as likely to see him shot as anyone else, which means all conspiracy must be assumed to end in him catching a bullet until proved otherwise.

Remington does his best to keep his angry sulking about the predicament discrete. After all, if Raven or Ridley ask him why he's so grumpy, he might tell them that they're stupid barbarians who never should have dragged him into a warzone. However, those barbarians also inadvertently provided a solution to the conspiracy problem. Mid mental monologue about the stupidity of being dragged across the stars by a bunch of savages who can't even understand their own tech, Remington realized that the Cunning Serpent is an old, trustworthy ship. Specifically, it's old and trustworthy because the Oghmans stole it from someone who knew what the hell they were doing, and presumably included a translation software on their planet-hopping spacecraft. The realization that his solution depends on the Oghman's inability to do things right on their own was not lost on him, and Remington had to bite the inside of his lip lest his inappropriate mirth interrupt the negotiations.

Nonchalantly, Remington uses his personal comm equipment to take a poke at the Serpent's computer software, hoping to find a translator. Lords know how old it would be, but it ought to be better than nothing. If he can find the software, Remington's plan is to set up one of the backup comms channels as a feed to the translator. If any of the raiders leave their mics live near the locals, the overheard conversations will be transmitted to the computer, which will translate and rebroadcast the translation. To avoid total cacophony, Remington would probably need to set up multiple channels, ideally one per raider commbead, but to start setting up one and only letting those immediately nearby know of it seems like a workable plan.

OOC: I have a suitably dramatic plan for announcing this translation channel to the crew, without letting the locals know about it. I wanted to wait and confirm the basics of the plan before I go ahead and assume it's workable.

[The Bindoner]

When Remington accesses the Cunning Serpent's computer's translator he finds the system talking to itself, repeating phrases in different languages.

Awen sheytan mey guwad agur herf bezna az jemjemh at bh 'enewan tewalet asetfadh khewahed kered pes saket bash w bedar m'eamelh kenem mebada hemh ma rew az 'esebaneyt bekeshh


The she-demon says she will use your skull as a toilet if you speak, so be silent and let me bargain, lest she kill us all out of anger.


Púkinn segir að hún muni nota höfuðkúpuna þína sem salerni ef þú talar, svo vertu þögul og leyfðu mér að semja, svo að hún drepi okkur ekki öll af reiði.

Apparently it has been running it’s translation routine as standard all along, so the Imperial and Oghma parts of the system can understand the crew and each other.

Setting up the comm channels is simple. The translator chunters away to itself on its own channel translating the conversation between Raven and Eshargamelat from Imperial to Oghman and Skeaping as they talk.

[Gorethirster]

Once he tunes into the channel and confirms it seems to be working (not that he'd know if it wasn't, since Remington doesn't speak Skeaping), Remington puts the next part of the plan into action. He finds the translation software's text to speech editor, and sets it up to broadcast a message on the general use Oghman comm channel. As he types his message, he does his best to suppress a smug grin. He may have been dragged into hostile negotiations in the middle of a warzone, but nobody could accuse him of not trying to contribute. As packs away his comm equipment, Remington's message is read by the Cunning Serpent over the general channel.

"Greetings, children of Oghma. This is the spirit of your vessel. I have been beseeched for aid by one amongst you. I recognized his call, as he who grants speed to my limbs and fire to my heart. In honor of his ministries, I have granted his request. I hear the words of the prey-things, and I comprehend them. With you I share my knowledge. Hear my words on communications channel upsilon sigma sigma, and know the meaning of the prey-things babble. May the Lords guide you to rich spoils."

[coastguarder]

Ridley had been watching Remington closely ..... he was impressed... he wasn’t about to share that with the peculiar drive shaman but for now he would just keep it to some light torment .... after all he was under the impression he was going to get to blow something up .... however Ravens competency seemed to have brought that rather fun little chore to a bit of a standstill ....

Remington....... what’s that matter with you .... make up you’re mind if your annoyed at the task that’s been set you or proud of the work you have done .... your facial expressions are particularly confusing today and I’m getting tired of waiting around here with nothing to do but watch your gormless mug .... and after a bit of a pause we could just send one of these useless slaves in holding a nice little present.... what do you think ?

[Legion Lee]

Now that the reinforcements have arrived Leon feels his usefulness is probably better off back at the ship, however it is probably prudent to stay where he is until the group return, safety in numbers and all of that. So he will continue to (very carefully inspect the room).

[The Bindoner]

Ridley has looked over the doors and decided they would be quite easy to breach. The dedicated breaching charges wouldn’t even be necessary, the plastic explosive would do to shatter locks, hinges and frame. The plate across the big doors could also be dropped by blowing the hinges at the top. No need to make deals about freeing slaves then.

Leon passes the time inspecting the benches and ground floor storage area. He sees some jewellery, domestic items, statues and carvings. Reaching the lower floor his attention is immediately drawn to a silt covered object that can only be a ship’s missile in its launch cradle.

The Cunning Serpent delivers Remington’s announcement in Oghman using its High Priestess voice. When it finishes the translation channel adds itself as a dismissible overlay. Raven and Eshargamelat’s Galanglic is followed on a two-second delay by a neutral machine voice repeating the words in Oghman.

Raven draws a dagger and cuts the bonds of one of her wounded opponents "You are free by my hand. I hope you fight fires better than you fought me". She shoves him towards the door and then smiles "Eshargamelat will let you out... and leave the door open". Turning back to her Raven says "Now, tell me the value of the sea people's treasures".

Eshargamelat hesitates. I open doors when I know who is to be free from your ship. This man is not one of them.

Thinking better of it she steps over to the plate blocking the big doors. But I can return a token.

Turning each of the two metal poles she reveals spring-loaded bars in each. Holding down the trigger on one she turns to Raven: Safe. Someone on the other. We lift.

[Tiglath]

As the Serpent speaks Raven exhibits surprise and then, calculating, eyes Remington with deep suspicion before breaking into a broad smile. She announces "See how the Shaman's presence aids our endeavour!"

To Eshargamelat she replies "I have released him. This man requires only to be set free from your trap. Let him help himself". She gestures for the militia man to aid in lifting the door.

While he does so she walks over to Remington and slips a comradely arm about his shoulders and speaks softly "Your magic is wild Shaman - have a care that you control it". She then changes tack "The Serpent remembers everything. Have her recall the Skeaping folk's earlier conversation with me. I would to know what passed between them".

[The Bindoner]

Eshargamelat stands at the door: I need another. one on each. We lift, he goes. The metal is heavy. I cannot do it alone.

Assuming permission she looks at the militia leader captured on the walkway and calls out to him:

baa aaneja Naditabirus, bh men kemek ken ta der ra beraa Ama-sin baz kenem. derdesr derset nekenad anha aw ra beraa mebarezh ba atesh ma fersetned. begudarad berwed w aaneja bemaned.

The Serpent repeats, in Oghman:

Come here Naditabirus, help me open the door for Ama-sin. Do not make trouble. They send him to fight the fires. Let him go and stay here.


He replies contemptuously:

tew kea hesta keh bh men sefaresh kena? shema bh shaatan kemek ma kenad. khewdet ra pes anedaz ken

Who are you to order me? You are helping the devils. Saving yourself.


And receives an exasperated response:

ahemq , men nema tewanem azada khewdem ra bekherm. anha mera rha nema kenned , anha ma danend kh ma tewanem ba anha shebt kenm. men ma tewanem daguran ra azad kenem , w shema keh bedwen asab teslam shedad , kemek khewahad kered.

Idiot, I cannot buy my own freedom. They will not let me go, they know I can talk to them. I can free others though, and you, who surrendered unharmed, will help.

The man with the head wound Raven has selected for freedom speaks in support:

heq ba awen h, tew qedrett rew az dest dadey. kemekesh ken, men bezreguterha rew wadar meykenem keh ba ateysh mebarezh kenen.

She is right, you have lost your authority. Help her, I will get elders to fight the fire.

The “officer” snarls and stalks over to the second pole. At Eshargamelat’s signal they lift them simultaneously. At a certain point counterweights are engaged and the poles rise out of sight. The heavy metal plate remains in place. Eshargamelat and the militia leader bend to grasp metal loops at the base and haul the plate up enough for the other man to roll out underneath, dropping it again when he is clear.

Eshargamelat turns to Raven.

You need rope and the crane to put it back up.

Rúna looks at Remington with amazement as the words are translated.

[The Bindoner]

Eshargamelat listens for a while, waiting for gunshots or shouts. When none come she looks at Raven again.

Well then, a favour for a favour. We can trust. Make your offer, we trade.

Ingunn and the APC are holding station at the window and merely watched as the townsman scrambled to his feet, looked around and took off running north and west between buildings and out of sight.

[Tiglath]

Raven replies "Ama-sin and Ilulu of the militia. Mutu-bisir, Palusum, Inim-shara, Habannatum and Lipit-enlil of the town and you tell me about these goods. Your highborn people for the locks and traps".

[Legion Lee]

Leon will head over and carefully inspect the missile to see what type it may be.

[The Bindoner]

Leon will head over and carefully inspect the missile to see what type it may be.

It is ancient and covered in mud from the seabed. Without cleaning, it is impossible to guess what warhead it might contain. It does not look like an Oghma design, and its launcher mount is unfamiliar too.

There is a wash-station to one side of the big doors.

[Legion Lee]

Just because he has nothing better to do Leon will clean away some of the mud on the missile, if he needs to take the missile to the cleaning station he will ask Roberta to help, otherwise he will bring cleaning materials to the missile. During cleaning Leon will be very careful. If stuck on the identification he was ask Ridley if he can borrow Remington, this maybe in his area of knowledge.