modest, weatherworn merchant vessel known more for reliability than grandeur. Built with a narrow hull and a slightly crooked keel that earned it its peculiar name, the ship has a distinctive rolling sway whenever it takes to the waves — unnerving for first-time passengers, but oddly comforting for seasoned sailors. The deck is cluttered but well-kept, with patched sails that carry the scars of many voyages. Its crew is small, a dozen hands at most, but they are a close-knit band who know how to wring every knot of speed out of their quirky vessel. The hold is usually filled with modest but valuable cargo — bolts of cloth, barrels of salted fish, bundles of herbs, and the occasional contraband tucked out of sight. Though hardly a warship, the Corkscrew is not defenseless. A rack of crossbows, sturdy spears, and barrels of stones for hurling at boarders are kept along the rail, more a deterrent than a true threat. Mehr sehen