Fish and birds, [he says, gesturing to the lightweight metal forming the outer hull.] You wouldn't be able to tell by looking at it, but it's lighter than an ocean-faring ship.

[He speaks with a midshipman to let him know who he is, and he shows a little bit of paper as proof. The man nods and lets them aboard. In that way, it's not too much different than boarding a boat. There are ropes and anchors, wood forming ramps-- but that's where the resemblance ends.

The massive, massive envelope like construction above them is held in place by metal clamps, but there's plenty of wood in its construction too. It comes together to make something that looks both rustic and timeless, and it's beautiful in its own way, even with the whir of machinery and the clunk-clunk-clunk of gears beneath the deck. There are plenty of places to watch and the intricate railing is certainly high enough to discourage anyone from jumping.]

There's usually three decks in a ship like this. The middle one has the rooms and the kitchen, and there's cargo below that.