Corliss follows Kaul while Dingus prepares his lantern. Most of this makes little to no sound other than the subtle hiss as the lantern ignites and a slight scraping as Dingus messes with the hood. The activity however incites a rapid scurrying and chittering within the old wood of the ruined ships and Richard's head darts excitedly as he lets Dingus know that there are a lot of tasty rats about.
The indirect light from the hole in the larger chamber where the crew now crouch is enough to reveal Kaul's scowl as he points to the far end behind a half-wall of debris where he earlier heard voices.
Kaul pauses waiting for the others to consider their course of action.
His hand brushes the second rate hatchet at this belt, and Red-Claw opens and closes methodically as he mulls mayhem...
Dingus nods his head and silently tells Richard happy hunting without doing so loudly.
"Well... what are we waiting for"?
Dingus motions towards the opening with his lantern hand causing the light to flash across the area.
If they think I'm going in first they're looney.
At Dingus' affirmation the brute bosun flashes an angler-fish grin and moves slowly forward toward the voices...
Kaul creeps forward ever so softly as a thin voice calls from the debris ahead. "Hey, who's there? This is our claim." Kaul thinks this was in response to the light, not his approach.
Kaul freezes, then jerks his noggin toward the voices with a scowl...
"We parleyin' or butcherin'..?
"Wanna play Gramma a bit longer?" Corliss whispers to Dingus. "'Twould be a shame fer Kaulie to lose his element o' surprise."
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Corliss considers the limited options available. Opting to maintain a ruse for the moment, he calls out in reply, disguising his voice a bit: "Garn! Me granny had family on this ship when she went down--her hubby passed away. We be lookin' fer a locket that belonged to her drownded spouse--silver, a heart outlined in rope with their initials engraved on the back. Have ye found such an item? We'd be willin' to trade fer it...."
With that, he begins to lead Granny Dingus forward (with Kaul presumably right in their wake). The Besmaran hopes his use of the "Garn!" epithet (the closest thing he has to a catchphrase) will let Jim know his crew are coming in...assuming their mate is present with the thugs.
A head pops up from behind some debris ten feet away from Corliss. It looks like a short human with thin hair, large ears, and a squint. "Really? You expect us to believe you're bringing your granny into the Boneyard here. Who are you really and which gang you with? Not beefy enough to be with Zilcher's group."
"I'm Carl Black and this is Granny Black," Corliss replies. Changing to a whisper, he adds, "She's a bit senile but she's stubborn...and she'll leave me out of her will if I don't do what she tells me...even stupid endeavors like this one."
That bluff sounds weak even to Corliss's ears....
An annoyed voice behind the barrier is heard. "They are either as dumb as they look or spies. Either way, sounds like feeding time for the swamp barracudas." Big ears tuts, "You're a shetty liar. Last chance."
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As the thugs utter threats, Kaul's hacksaw chuckle emits and mulling that Corliss' bluff isn't holding water he steps forward - all scars, hatchet and claw.
"Hur-hur-hur... Ye lot feed Ol' Kauly to the fishies... Hur-hur-hur... Ol' Kauly would eat 'em... Maybes Ol' Kauly dine on them big ears... Now whose in charge o' ye feckin' wastrals?"
Another head pops up next to Ears. This one has a big schnoz and a tricorn hat that looks like it was fished out of the trash. "Z holds the keys far as it matters but I'll decide if you're worth the time. Which club you with or are you the lubbers you appear to be?"
Kaul eyes Schnoz, whilst keep a beady on Ears;
His scarred brow furrows, before a small cannon in his nugget fires a volley...
"Hur. You be workin' fir Ziphras... Hur-hur-hur..."
The brute bosun clacks his claw and turns to his companions - the granny and her guide with a nonchalance;
"Right then, reckons ears an' noses will be the trophies of the day?"