The Grot Westflutt Goes Further West!

The men were almost immediately noticed by the local authorities and approached. After confirming their intentions and identity, they were brought to a government office. A certain Zhang, who was a minister, accepted them into the meeting room and offered tea and lao po bing (lit. ‘Sweetheart cakes’, small pastries). Minister Zhang attended to the guests and their interpreters:

“I understand you wish to begin a diplomatic dialogue involving trade, correct? You are in luck. You see, King Wutian Minghong of Liuqiu has arrived today to see the Empress, so I will be able to get you a proper audience with her majesty without much hassle. Alternatively, we can discuss things here, I’ll appeal to her majesty later and contact the appropriate merchant groups and officials.”

Outside, a number of ox-drawn carts and mounted guards were prepared. The court at Longdefangzi was not very far, only about 2 li away.

The Santa Catarina made its way North. It was a merchant navy schoolship, but due to the conflict with Duom, the crown had humbly asked that the Merchant Navy took over the exploration of the Eastern Landmass. It wasn't long before the ship began seeing sailboats of an alien design when they began sailing past what had already been scouted by the Royal Navy. Then, in the distance, near the coast and what seemed to be a harbor, the lookouts reported seeing warships. They flew Sadaler colors. Captain Augusto Alves ordered the crew to head that way, when they got close, the signalmen sent a message to the Sadaler Warships via mirror.


-- .- --. -.. .- .-.. .. .-.-.- / .-- . / -- . .- -. / -. --- / .... .- .-. -- .-.-.- / -- .- -.-- / .-- . / .- .--. .--. .-. --- .- -.-. .... ..--..

MAGDALI. WE MEAN NO HARM. MAY WE APPROACH?

Having received the reply, the signalmen relayed the information, and replied with

..- -. -.. . .-. ... - --- --- -.. --..-- / -- .- -. -.-- / - .... .- -. -.- ... .-.-.-

UNDERSTOOD, MANY THANKS.

The Santa Catarina then approached the harbor. When passing by the Sadaler ships, Captain Augusto, who was fluent in Sheenish, called out to the one of the warships.

"I am Captain Augusto Alves of the Magdali Merchant Navy, I would like to speak with one of your officers please."

Bowing before the formal ruler of the country and unveiling a portrait of the Hauhkuno, the diplomats began their great mission of peace.

'We wish to present our greetings and well wishes to Her Imperial Majesty on behalf of His Holy Majesty, sa Hauhkuno Haimfaðs, as well as compliments on her well appointed home. We also wish to present Her Imperial Majesty with gifts, in the hopes of commencing great trade with her realm and also in the hopes that an embassy might be accepted, so that we might further ease diplomatic and mercantile intercourse between our realms going forward through clear lines of communications and good relations with the Qin.' 

Having said this, the lead diplomat made a hand motion to have several boxes brought forward and received them without turning his back to the monarch. He then proceeded to approach slowly towards the Monarch and once properly before her, carefully kneel down and open the boxes, placing some of their contents on the carpet before her in display, before respectfully returning to his previous place without turning his back to her.

'We present these articles as a mere token of the gifts that we bring, with many more being off-loaded as we speak.'

In the first box was an assortment of good smelling incense and some vials of medicinal herbs and extracts, with papers at the bottom on their aspects and uses; the second box was filled beautiful toys, jewellery, and mechanical time pieces on top of some ells of good cloth, all of which was infused with radium and would glow resplendently with secret designs and outlines when left in darkness; the final box contained an assortment of cured meats, sausages, and cheeses, with two bottles of extremely high quality beer. The boxes were made of various nice woods, with some inlaid with ivory, gold, silver, others with jewels, and so on.

A bit put off by being told that they had meant to approach his ship rather than the more sensible option of heading directly into the port, the admiral was none the less pleased enough to get on the deck with his favourite speaking trumpet and reply to the captain.

'We are Fluttfaðs Tusk, of His Holy Majesty's Great Western Fleet, you may come abreast and be winched up or else we might continue this conversation from this great difference, it matters not. What do you wish to speak of with us?'

Having welcome aboard the foreigner and heard his questions, the admiral felt ever so slightly guilty about not being able to help him too greatly.

'Unfortunately, we can only communicate with the woman-people through our interpreters. They are from the land of Jukh, which we have established good relations with. Sadly, all of our interpreters have gone with the embassy to see the empress of the woman-people and as such, we can not make any offer to facilitate your communications with the locals. Also, I must unfortunately refuse your kind offer, but we can not accept these goods entering into foreign hands.'

Hearing these suggestions, the party was quite happy to begin discussions on trade. They were most interested in securing land to establish factories in or near the major ports, so that they could avoid future issues with tariffs. To add to this, this undeveloped market was ideal for exporting many of the goods that they now competed with the Sheenish to sell, as they did not seem to have any form of manufacturing capacity for them yet.

'We would be more than happy to buy these goods, for we have many uses for them ourselves. In exchange for your monies, we could offer you more things like the gifts we have presented you, but also things of greater value in war making. Our fire-arms can fire many shots in a minute, with far greater accuracy and power than others. We also have larger cannons capable of shaking the earth and bringing low cities and fortresses. If the business of war is not of interest to your people, we also have many other things... Magical medicines that give men great vigour and energy, white like powdered bones, or draughts that can take away all but the most incurable pains and others that can bring men sleep without dreams nor nightmares. Our medicines are strong and varied, all ready to help ease and cure the many ills your people might have.'

As he said these things, the diplomat lifted his shirt to show the mangled scarring around his abdomen, likely caused by shrapnel earlier in his life.

'We also have many wonderous things, chariots that can fly, carriages that move without horse, large steel beasts that can plough your fields and eat only coal or oil, as well giant ones that run along special roads that can carry many thousands of goods and people long distances. As your people can confirm for us, we arrived on one such construct, a ship made of metal that can sail without wind and carries guns greater than any you might have seen, with great white clouds bellowing out from its bowels and its hunger sated by nothing more than black coal.'

He waited for one of their escorts to confirm what he said, before then continuing on.

'We could provide all of this and more, for we have great artisans and tireless workers of a wrought nature that can produce goods identical in nature and quality in vast numbers all hours of the day and night. All we ask, is that we be allowed lands to create factories from which to conduct our trade. If you were to also remove all tariffs with us and only us, we would be more than happy to treat you in an equivalent manner.'

Pleased with his sales pitch, the man tucked his shirt back in.

'Finally, we also wish that our realms have good relations and diplomatic channels. As such, we are here as an embassy to your court.'

Now, at the port, there was a small squadron of soldiers clad in cross-collared olive drab fatigues, with rifles slung on their shoulders. The prominent one among them, seemingly the team leader, was similar to the natives of this land, but with a more Mediterranean aspect about his complexion, the others were quite variable.

Now, because they were bored and slightly annoyed about having to go on patrol, they sang a cadence in their tongue, called Guchi-Yoma. While the native tongue of this land seemed tonal and soft, the words of the soldier’s cadence had sharp vowels and hard consonants.

As the soldiers walked past, their leader ordered a halt; “Tō!”

As the men approached, they attempted to ascertain the language of the Magdali men by giving many greetings. First the standard Hundisch greeting, followed by Haisai, Ni Hao, Hola, and Salvē.

The First Mate, who knew Hundisch, perked up when he heard the greeting. Though, at the sound of "Hola", the entire crew grew silent. Could this be... Old Northern? The Language spoken in the old Northern Province had been all but rooted out and replaced with Magdalese, after a Civil War that led to a lot of the indigenous population either assimilating, dying, or leaving. Some words had survived in the Nothern Province's slang, "Hola" being one of them.

"Quem vem aí?" ("Who goes there?") said the Captian, in the most unaccented Magdalese he could muster.

It was old Northern! Albeit it with a very... interesting accent. Understanding old would be mostly painless for the Magdali, once they got over the accent.

"Somos marinheiros da marinha mercante do Reino Unido de Magdalenum. Viemos em paz, pretendemos apenas conhecer esta terra e falar com o seu Líder, em nome do nosso." (We are sailors from the merchant navy of the United Kingdom of Magdalenum. We come in peace, and we pretend only to get to know this land and talk with its leader, in the name of ours.) The captain said. The Professor took notes profusely. How had Old Northern traveled this far east?