Gehinnom (Ga-hin-um)
Power Generation
Though not a mechanical creation, and therefore absent of the need for a more mundane power source, Gehinnom is a creation of Anima and foul Cryptic bindings. In essence alive itself, the bastard soul of the vessel fuels much of the ship's less... 'typical' abilities. From its sensitivity towards wounded ships to its ability to shift in form and travel the land, these gifts must be fed offerings to manifest. In the case of Gehinnom, the hunt must be had, prey must be found, and death delivered until only scant wreckage sinks beneath the waves.
Propulsion
Rigged with tattered sails and far too large to attain any speed through rowing, Gehinnom moves through the water by sheer will. A Cryptic beast of tortured hunger, dark magic fuels its hunt across the ocean waves. Dire is the fate of those who catch its shadow, for as its prey draws near, Gehinnom follows after with impatience, growing faster as it catches the scent of the terrible fate it will inflict. In the midst of battle, as thousands die and vessels burn, it is a truly haunting sight, for nothing so vast should be able to move with grace, nor turn like a shark at sea.
Weapons & Armament
Gehinnom is armed with a vast amount of firepower, possessing 168 cannons over four decks. A large mortar is chained at the rear of the vessel, capable of crippling vessels over a mile away, but the true might of Gehinnom lies not in its broadside or artillery. The prow of the ship, like all else, is broken and hybrid monster of a dozen ships forced together. When true battle takes place, rotten hands grow from between the cracks, peeling away the timber to reveal a truly vast device. This cannon bears the name Skuld, and it contains the power to sink even battleships with a single round. No shot of iron is used here, but rather shards of bone welded around a heart of Glint. When fired, the round penetrates deep, tearing through metal, flesh and wood with ease, before detonating outwards in a scream of foul energy that kills all magic in the area. A second later, the vacuum is restored and space implodes upon a single point, forcing bodies to bind with timber and metal as the pressure melts all. The mutilated remnants of this vessel are devoured by Gehinnom, and should any part of the dying vessel be left unharmed by the explosion, The Black Flag will bind it to its form, growing in size as always Gehinnom must.
Rarely is this weapon unveiled however, for the price of each round is exorbinant. Instead, the crew rely upon more traditional weaponry, and the fact that Gehinnom, being alive and able to shapeshift, has tendency to physically eat things that come too close. Even ships are not safe from the fangs of rotted wood and nails as they greedily devour and digest their target. Great claws will emerge from beneath the sea to grapple those near, and a long tongue of patchwork fabric will delight in every taste of screaming sailors caught upon its grasp.
Armor and defense
Gehinnom is a fabricated being without design or intent. Rather, it is a floating hulk of graven ships pulled from the depths and bound together through Anima and Cryptic bargain. This provides a level of protection, both in the forms of countless redundant sections left empty and abandoned, as well as multiple layers of armour procured from the corpse-ships bound to it.
In truth, however, these are but decorations to the true fortitude of the vessel. Being itself a Cryptic, it is entirely possible it cannot be sank by conventional weapons. Even broken and bloodied it will persevere in its hunt, devourings its foe even as pitch-blood seeps into the ocean around it. Alongside this, it possesses, like all natural creatures, an ability to repair itself. As it slumbers, the wounds in its side slowly seal, scabs of rotten bark and sail cover its injuries, and deep scars of twist nail and rope weave throughut the structure. In short, it is alive, defiant against a reality that wishes it were not.
Communication Tools & Systems
Aside from the usual flag systems employed by vessels at sea, Gehinnom is capable of communication through The Shade. Itself a Cryptic, it can speak to those that dwell on other vessels, nudging them to action either physically, or through subtler tactics. Through this method, Gehinnom can influence nearby captains to follow its lead, or even bring vessels entirely under its control, a fact that Galicia, aware of the mono-sighted hunger that devours the ship, is rarely pleased to hear.
Sensors
Gehinnom can read the waves, feel the life of other ships as they sing through The Shade. It can taste blood on the water, and blood yet spilt, sailing onwards, blind to the world around it, after the prey. This rather surreal ability aside, the ship is also possessed of tall crow's nest, and is well equipped with telescopes and lensing glass. For further aid, the crew sports more than a few Cyphers on board, whose arcane arts provide unearthly aid in scouting the distances. During foul weather and bleak storms, a Dyr'Fain is kept within the hold, capable of flying out into the lashing rain and reporting back on what it finds.
Hangars & docked vessels
Not so much docked vessels as embedded corpses, Gehinnom carries much in the way of auxilary craft. With a bit of work, portions of the vessel can be severed from the hull, and crewed during battle, allowing the ship to initiate boarding action, or 'rescue' abandoned crew. When returned however, Gehinnom happily devours itself, gorging without concern on its own cannibalised parts. There is no carrion too foul for The Black Flag in this world, and most probably in the next.
Class
Nickname
The Black Flag
Motto
As far as we ride, we ride to escape Death.
Manufacturer
Creation Date
Animated in 41/56/03
Owner
Owning Organization
Military Formation Usage
Current location
Price
Priceless
Rarity
Unique
Related Technologies
Beam
18m
Length
74m
Height
63m (To Mainmast)
Weight
2562t
Speed
Up to 28kmph
Complement / Crew
1050 Crew
Cargo & Passenger Capacity
1000t/50 Passengers
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