In the vast expanse of the Estes Sea, power is not measured in crowns or borders but in the ship a captain stands upon and the pearlbound heart that drives it. Every vessel carries a distinct identity, shaped by the pearls it can bear, the crew it shelters, and the storms it survives.
The ships of this world fall into broad classes, each shaped by centuries of tradition, innovation, and the brutal pragmatism of the sea.
These are the sovereigns of the water—massive, fortress-like vessels that form the pinnacle of pearlwrighting craft. Their hulls are thick as cliffs, their masts tower like city spires, and their figureheads bristle with dormant elemental might.
Titanic Flagships are built for dominance and survival. They are the floating capitals of great pirate fleets, carrying enough crew, supplies, and pearlbinding infrastructure to support campaigns across entire regions of the Estes Sea.
They are the only class capable of housing two Giant Pearls, and even then only the most stable hull designs can endure such power.
Most Flagships carry a single Giant Pearl as their elemental core, with additional smaller pearls powering auxiliary systems.
These ships shape the political landscape. Their presence can claim islands, intimidate nations, or divide seas among rival pirate lords. Every Titanic Flagship carries with it a legend—of the captain who commands it and the crew that calls it home.
Often mistaken for flagships by those who have never seen the true giants of the sea, these ships embody mastery through refinement rather than sheer size. They may take the form of galleons, frigates, heavy raiders, or other designs handed down by famous shipwrights.
Grand Vessels focus on specialization. Some are built for impossible speed, others for endurance through storms, others for devastating broadside dominance. The pearlbinding within these ships defines their reputation—each Grand Vessel carries one signature element around which its entire identity forms.
They can anchor one Large Pearl as their primary core.
They often use several Medium or Small pearls for specialized systems.
They cannot withstand the raw force of Giant Pearls; hulls of this size would tear apart under the strain.
These vessels are the calling cards of famous captains. They can challenge ships far larger than themselves through cunning, expertise, and the focused power of their pearlcraft. Some pirates say that true mastery is measured not by the size of your ship, but how perfectly its pearl sings.
The lifeblood of the Estes Sea is found in these humble, steadfast vessels. Cutters, sloops, caravels, barks, schooners—compact ships that rely on grit, skill, and adaptable crews.
These ships are lightweight, flexible, and easy to maintain. They form the fleets of traders, fledgling pirates, explorers, pearl hunters, and every soul bold enough to set sail in search of something greater.
They are limited to Medium and Small pearls, depending on hull strength and construction.
A single Medium Pearl is often the most a common ship can safely house without risking catastrophic pearl overload.
Tiny pearls are used to reinforce sails, hulls, lanterns, tools, and weapons.
Though humble, these ships are the birthplace of legends. Many of the greatest captains began their journey aboard weather-beaten cutters or small caravels, driven by ambition and anchored by a single precious pearl.
In the Estes Sea, a ship is only as strong as the pearls it carries. Every vessel has a fixed number of pearl slots, determined by its hull size, construction, and reinforcement. These slots can be filled by pearls of varying size, with larger pearls occupying multiple slots.
Tiny Pearl: 1 slot
Small Pearl: 2 slots
Medium Pearl: 4 slots
Large Pearl: 8 slots
Giant Pearl: 16 slots
This system allows captains and shipwrights to make choices: prioritize one enormous core for overwhelming power, or distribute smaller pearls for flexibility and redundancy. The total number of slots depends on the ship’s class:
Titanic Flagships have the most generous hulls and the strongest reinforcements. A typical Titanic has 32 pearl slots, though legendary hulls may push to 40 or more.
Giant Pearls: Each occupies 16 slots. Most Titans can carry one Giant Pearl safely, and only mythic or specially designed hulls can handle two.
Large Pearls: Each occupies 8 slots. If no Giant Pearl is installed, a Titanic can carry up to four Large Pearls, or fewer if combined with other pearls.
Medium Pearls: Each occupies 4 slots. A Titanic with no Large or Giant Pearls can carry up to eight Medium Pearls, or fewer if some slots are taken by other sizes.
Small Pearls: Each occupies 2 slots. A Titanic with empty space can carry up to sixteen Small Pearls, or fewer if larger pearls occupy some slots.
Tiny Pearls: 1 slot each. These are used for minor enhancements and can fill any remaining slots not taken by larger pearls.
Example Configurations:
1 Giant Pearl (16) + 2 Large Pearls (16) = fully filled 32 slots
1 Giant Pearl (16) + 4 Medium Pearls (16) = fully filled 32 slots
1 Giant Pearl (16) + 8 Small Pearls (16) = fully filled 32 slots
This system allows full flexibility while maintaining the weight and energy constraints of the hull.
Grand Vessels are more limited, with 16 pearl slots standard.
Large Pearl: 8 slots. Only one Large Pearl can usually be installed; a second is possible only with extraordinary hull reinforcement.
Medium Pearls: 4 slots each. A Grand Vessel without a Large Pearl can carry up to four Medium Pearls, or fewer if combined with smaller pearls.
Small Pearls: 2 slots each. A vessel can carry up to eight Small Pearls, or fewer if Medium or Large pearls are installed.
Tiny Pearls: 1 slot each. Used for auxiliary enhancements in any remaining empty slots.
Example Configurations:
1 Large Pearl (8) + 2 Medium Pearls (8) = 16 slots
4 Medium Pearls (16) = 16 slots
8 Small Pearls (16) = 16 slots
This allows Grand Vessels to specialize: one overwhelming core, or a distributed system of smaller cores for adaptability.
Common Ships are modest, with 8 pearl slots.
Medium Pearl: 4 slots. One can be installed as a primary core.
Small Pearls: 2 slots each. A ship can carry up to two Small Pearls alongside a Medium Pearl.
Tiny Pearls: 1 slot each. Can occupy any leftover slots for minor enhancements.
Example Configurations:
1 Medium Pearl (4) + 2 Small Pearls (4) = 8 slots
4 Small Pearls (8) = 8 slots
8 Tiny Pearls (8) = 8 slots
This keeps smaller ships versatile without overloading the hull with dangerous energy.
Slot Hierarchy: Larger pearls occupy more slots; captains must choose between raw power or distributed utility.
Slot Flexibility: Slots can be shifted between different sizes if the hull is specially reinforced, but each ship has a strict upper limit.
Elemental Placement: Pearls of conflicting elements must be separated by hull space; clustering incompatible pearls can result in surges.
Hull and Crew Limitations: The total number of slots is fixed by hull size, but the crew’s skill determines how effectively pearls can be maintained. Overloaded slots risk elemental backlash or hull damage.
Maintenance: Pearls must be cleaned, attuned, and occasionally rotated. Even Titanic Flagships with dozens of slots can be crippled by neglected pearls.
This version is fully consistent with your flexible configuration idea: Titanic Flagships, Grand Vessels, and Common Ships all have slot totals, and each pearl size occupies a set number of slots. You can mix and match freely, so one Titanic could carry 1 Giant + 2 Large + 4 Medium + 2 Small + 2 Tiny if you want, as long as it doesn’t exceed the 32-slot limit.