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The Stacked Coffer - Layout
11 years ago
General
Hey guys, I figured I'd go into some detail about how The Stacked Coffer is laid out. In my earlier stories I didn't really think about it, so it likely varies a good amount in those fics, but more recently I've been putting serious thoughts into what's where, and just how massive the ship must be to fit everything in there.
Now The Stacked Coffer has gone through a lot of renovations in it's time. Starting out as a simple merchant ship, it's been built upon and expanded to the point that it's become a truly immense vessel, perfect for it's utterly-colossal crew.
As I explain each room, I'll mention what it's like by default in the 'present'. Now the 'present' encapsulates the time most of my stories take place, so between Year 3 and Year 7, quite a big range, and while some expansions have been made through that time period, much more significant ones were made before and after, and so the ship remains 'pretty much' the same through that entire period. I'll mention any significant changes that are made after that time, so changes that have been made by the time Zixxle and Zohaar get together.
Ground Floor
The Deck - The entire 'ground' floor comprises pretty much of the deck. Essentially identical to any typical deck you'll have seen on pirate ships in any form of media. While mostly one large flat area, there is a raised area on one end where the wheel resides, and on the other end a small 'room' containing the stairway that leads down into the Hallway of 'B1'.
Basement 1 (B1)
Hallway - As you walk down the steps you enter a narrow hallway that leads straight on for a bit. After a while it hooks to the right. As you walk down it more there are large double-doors to your left, which lead into Baelek's Office. Carrying straight on it hooks to the right again after a bit. Walking down it further, you can see a door to your right that leads to the Guest Room. Carrying on past it leads to a set of stairs that lead down into the Kitchen of 'B2'.
Baelek's Office - Quite simply a huge office. In the middle of the room resides a solid, wooden desk and chair, which unsurprisingly is where Baelek works: planning excursions, holding interviews, etc. Shelves and cabinets fill much of the rest of the room, all filled with gems, jewellery and piles of gold coins. Clearly the captain likes to spend time with his spoils.
Guest Room – The Guest Room is pretty much a large bedroom, containing a huge king-sized bed, bedside tables, a desk and a chair. It's used almost exclusively as a place for Zohaar to stay while he's onboard, and for the first few years of the vindicator's visits, this is where he was 'detained' whenever -not- in a meeting with Baelek in his office. During this time he'd be 'guarded' by one or two of the other crewmen, usually Rin'ji and/or Takrin. On the rare occasion that the Bouldershots actually kidnap someone, this is where they'd go. Never let it be said the Bouldershots don't treat their hostages well.
Basement 2 (B2)
Kitchen – The stairs lead right into the kitchen area. Fairly spacious, this is where Rin'ji, one of the better cooks aboard the ship, prepares the crew's meals. Equipped with a stove, a sink and plenty of counter space, it's the perfect place to make a feast out at sea. There's a Pantry under the stairs, and a large 'Coldroom' at one end of the ship. If you walk through the Kitchen you'll find a large open doorway leading into the Dining Room/Meeting Room.
Dining Room/Meeting Room – One of the largest rooms on the ship, it consists of a huge open area filled with long wooden tables straddled by matching wooden benches. Quite simply it's where the men eat and/or hold meetings, with it being by far the most convenient place to house all the men at once. At one end of the room there's a ladder that leads down to the Cargo Hold of 'B4'. There's also another set of stairs that leads down to the Hallway of 'B3'.
Basement 3 (B3)
Hallway – At the bottom of the stairs you'd find yourself in a long, narrow hallway with many doors on either side. These leads into the crew-members Cabins. At the end of the corridor you'll find the door to Baelek's Cabin. Behind you, near the stairs, is the door leading into the Bathroom.
Cabins – Each of the crewmen, besides Zixxle, has their own cabin. Most cabins are the same size, and contain a huge king-sized bed and most contain milking machines. Some contain desks and chairs, and one or two contain large hammocks. Takrin's cabin is twice the size of his fellow crewmen's, due to having to also be home to his pair of huge lions. Rurik's cabin also has a ladder that leads down into the Cargo Hold of 'B4'.
Eventually another cabin is built, and Zixxle is able to have his own room.
Baelek's Cabin – Much larger than his men's cabins, the captain has an exceptionally large bed here. He also has random bundles of gold and similarly-valuable treasures dotted about, but there's not quite as much here as in his office. He decorates it with portraits of himself looking particularly-dashing, and one or two of his whole crew. He also has a couple of silk drapes hung about.
Bathroom – A large room equipped with a couple of large wooden bathtubs and a large private shower. Naturally it has a network of drains beneath it.
Eventually it's expanded upon quite a bit, fitted with a huge jacuzzi where most of the group-funtimes take place. A wall of showers is also put in, hidden from the rest of the room by a wall. More extensive drainage is put in as well, along with support beams for the jacuzzi.
Basement 4
Cargo Hold – A couple of ladders lead down into the Cargo Hold, which takes up roughly two-thirds of this level. It's a rather cluttered room. Along one wall are many crates and barrels, filled with food, water, alcohol, and other supplies. There's also another large Coldroom where milk from a few of the men is stored. Along the other wall are various machines that have been fitted by the Greased Rockets, a band of goblin engineers from Ratchet. These machines are maintained and tweaked by Rurik. One of these machines is a huge vat connected to each of the milking machines in the crewmen's cabins, and is where milk is gathered, before either drank, stored, or disposed of. There's a door into the Treasure Room, naturally it's covered in locks.
Treasure Room – The remainder of this floor is the Treasure Room. As it's name implies, the bulk of the men's spoils are kept here. Massive piles of gold coins fill this room, with the odd smattering of silver and platinum. Jewels, tiaras, bracelets and the like are also haphazardly dotted about. Various intricately-decorated weapons, robes, helmets and suits of armour can also be found here. There's a safe in the corner containing the most valuable of the Bouldershot's treasures, including the Medallion of Eterna.
Now The Stacked Coffer has gone through a lot of renovations in it's time. Starting out as a simple merchant ship, it's been built upon and expanded to the point that it's become a truly immense vessel, perfect for it's utterly-colossal crew.
As I explain each room, I'll mention what it's like by default in the 'present'. Now the 'present' encapsulates the time most of my stories take place, so between Year 3 and Year 7, quite a big range, and while some expansions have been made through that time period, much more significant ones were made before and after, and so the ship remains 'pretty much' the same through that entire period. I'll mention any significant changes that are made after that time, so changes that have been made by the time Zixxle and Zohaar get together.
Ground Floor
The Deck - The entire 'ground' floor comprises pretty much of the deck. Essentially identical to any typical deck you'll have seen on pirate ships in any form of media. While mostly one large flat area, there is a raised area on one end where the wheel resides, and on the other end a small 'room' containing the stairway that leads down into the Hallway of 'B1'.
Basement 1 (B1)
Hallway - As you walk down the steps you enter a narrow hallway that leads straight on for a bit. After a while it hooks to the right. As you walk down it more there are large double-doors to your left, which lead into Baelek's Office. Carrying straight on it hooks to the right again after a bit. Walking down it further, you can see a door to your right that leads to the Guest Room. Carrying on past it leads to a set of stairs that lead down into the Kitchen of 'B2'.
Baelek's Office - Quite simply a huge office. In the middle of the room resides a solid, wooden desk and chair, which unsurprisingly is where Baelek works: planning excursions, holding interviews, etc. Shelves and cabinets fill much of the rest of the room, all filled with gems, jewellery and piles of gold coins. Clearly the captain likes to spend time with his spoils.
Guest Room – The Guest Room is pretty much a large bedroom, containing a huge king-sized bed, bedside tables, a desk and a chair. It's used almost exclusively as a place for Zohaar to stay while he's onboard, and for the first few years of the vindicator's visits, this is where he was 'detained' whenever -not- in a meeting with Baelek in his office. During this time he'd be 'guarded' by one or two of the other crewmen, usually Rin'ji and/or Takrin. On the rare occasion that the Bouldershots actually kidnap someone, this is where they'd go. Never let it be said the Bouldershots don't treat their hostages well.
Basement 2 (B2)
Kitchen – The stairs lead right into the kitchen area. Fairly spacious, this is where Rin'ji, one of the better cooks aboard the ship, prepares the crew's meals. Equipped with a stove, a sink and plenty of counter space, it's the perfect place to make a feast out at sea. There's a Pantry under the stairs, and a large 'Coldroom' at one end of the ship. If you walk through the Kitchen you'll find a large open doorway leading into the Dining Room/Meeting Room.
Dining Room/Meeting Room – One of the largest rooms on the ship, it consists of a huge open area filled with long wooden tables straddled by matching wooden benches. Quite simply it's where the men eat and/or hold meetings, with it being by far the most convenient place to house all the men at once. At one end of the room there's a ladder that leads down to the Cargo Hold of 'B4'. There's also another set of stairs that leads down to the Hallway of 'B3'.
Basement 3 (B3)
Hallway – At the bottom of the stairs you'd find yourself in a long, narrow hallway with many doors on either side. These leads into the crew-members Cabins. At the end of the corridor you'll find the door to Baelek's Cabin. Behind you, near the stairs, is the door leading into the Bathroom.
Cabins – Each of the crewmen, besides Zixxle, has their own cabin. Most cabins are the same size, and contain a huge king-sized bed and most contain milking machines. Some contain desks and chairs, and one or two contain large hammocks. Takrin's cabin is twice the size of his fellow crewmen's, due to having to also be home to his pair of huge lions. Rurik's cabin also has a ladder that leads down into the Cargo Hold of 'B4'.
Eventually another cabin is built, and Zixxle is able to have his own room.
Baelek's Cabin – Much larger than his men's cabins, the captain has an exceptionally large bed here. He also has random bundles of gold and similarly-valuable treasures dotted about, but there's not quite as much here as in his office. He decorates it with portraits of himself looking particularly-dashing, and one or two of his whole crew. He also has a couple of silk drapes hung about.
Bathroom – A large room equipped with a couple of large wooden bathtubs and a large private shower. Naturally it has a network of drains beneath it.
Eventually it's expanded upon quite a bit, fitted with a huge jacuzzi where most of the group-funtimes take place. A wall of showers is also put in, hidden from the rest of the room by a wall. More extensive drainage is put in as well, along with support beams for the jacuzzi.
Basement 4
Cargo Hold – A couple of ladders lead down into the Cargo Hold, which takes up roughly two-thirds of this level. It's a rather cluttered room. Along one wall are many crates and barrels, filled with food, water, alcohol, and other supplies. There's also another large Coldroom where milk from a few of the men is stored. Along the other wall are various machines that have been fitted by the Greased Rockets, a band of goblin engineers from Ratchet. These machines are maintained and tweaked by Rurik. One of these machines is a huge vat connected to each of the milking machines in the crewmen's cabins, and is where milk is gathered, before either drank, stored, or disposed of. There's a door into the Treasure Room, naturally it's covered in locks.
Treasure Room – The remainder of this floor is the Treasure Room. As it's name implies, the bulk of the men's spoils are kept here. Massive piles of gold coins fill this room, with the odd smattering of silver and platinum. Jewels, tiaras, bracelets and the like are also haphazardly dotted about. Various intricately-decorated weapons, robes, helmets and suits of armour can also be found here. There's a safe in the corner containing the most valuable of the Bouldershot's treasures, including the Medallion of Eterna.
Also, sorry for not talking to you for so long.