Deck of Many Things

The Deck of Many Things is a massive merchant vessel that travels in slow, ambling loops around the world’s many seas, stopping at major population centers. Though the ship and its proprietors spend most of their time in the south, around Kea Racha, the Gulf of Timakal, Tarkuus, Laniobriga, and the Laqto Jungle, the Deck of Many Things voyages as far afield as Tirione, Khapesh, Viridia, and Meklaw. The rulers and administrators of most ports are happy to accept their trade, though the Deck of Many Things does not frequently venture into the Phiora Sea due to the mercantilism and restrictions of both Viridia and Koritan.

Appearance

The Deck of Many Things is a visually striking ship. At its core clearly a Kea Rachan junk, the 700 ft long ship has many characteristics common to these ships, yet it has also been modified by its owners to fit their own specialized purposes. A compartmentalized hull ensures the ship can remain afloat even when highly damaged, if the hull plating of a steel-adamantine alloy can even be pierced. The interior of the ship contains living spaces, large rooms for secure storage of trade goods, stockrooms, and all the facilities required for a comfortable life on the sea.  Various magical effects protect the contents and passengers of the ship.

The ship is large enough that a number of pests can easily hide and propagate in its many corridors and cabins. A recent rope dragon infestation has proven particularly troublesome.

Immense in scale, the Deck of Many Things is too large to dock in many ports of the world - even docks in many major trade cities are not designed to accommodate a vessel of its size. Because of this, the Deck of Many Things often drops anchor a distance offshore, using the smaller boats it carries with it to ferry passengers and goods to land and back.

History

The origin of the ship itself is not definitively known, but it would prove quite difficult to construct such a massive vessel without attracting any attention. Some suspect the Deck of Many Things to actually be built around the salvaged remains of the Vua Battuan flagship Thunder of Hei Feng, which sank in the battle to oust the umbral dragon Vararyx from the half-sunken Spires of Kar Rah. Recent dives near the Spires have certainly noted the remains of the wreck have disappeared.

The first recorded appearance of the Deck of Many Things was in the ports of Pela Huban in Y9822^*. It has regularly wandered the oceanic trade winds since.

Crew

Despite its size, the Deck of Many Things has a relatively small crew. Much of the regular day-to-day functions of managing a naval vessel are magically controlled, eliminating the need for a large number of permanent workers. The crew that does travel with the Deck of Many Things includes individuals of many ancestries and cultures, most of whom joined the ship in its regular travels.

The Deck of Many Things is jointly owned by Apyaar Konsi and Xahar Rsphed, two enterprising traders. Together they operate a bustling trade in rare and uncommon goods and items, including many that are difficult to source outside of particular locales. Pencari is the long-time captain of the ship. The proprietors of the Deck of Many Things maintain ties with trade networks and merchants around the world, and keep in constant communication to acquire goods and items that pique their interests. They have been known to hire adventurers to locate specific items that have proved difficult to obtain.