On the sea, the glittering spray revealed the ocean's charming side. In the glow of sunset, pearl-like foam carried bits of wood to and fro, wandering without a care, drifting merrily along. Few people visited the shore, and at this hour, the sea's charm was on full, unreserved display. Wave after wave rolled slowly toward the shore in succession, forming beautiful folds in the ocean's fabric. Spray danced along rows of crests, adorning the sea's garments. The rhythmic roar of the surf was the sea's lovely song. What a magnificent picture of rolling waves!
A large, three-masted sailing ship sailed across the Great Sea.
In the reflected sunlight, its distinctive features stood out: high sides, a tall sterncastle, a low foredeck, and a flat stern. A projection at the bow resembled the ram of an oared vessel, and a separate gun emplacement stood there.
A large cannon lay silently in that emplacement.
Its gleaming muzzle was as black as ink, like the ravenous maw of some primordial beast, ready to devour anyone in its path.
The warship had ports built into its sides, with covers opened by hinges. These allowed cargo to be loaded and unloaded easily through the openings rather than hoisted over the sides. Rows of cannons also lined both sides of the ship. Although their caliber was smaller than that of the heavy cannon, they were still exceptionally formidable. These were the broadside guns, their weight safely distributed below the ship's center of gravity.
Its hull was long and narrow, with a low ram above the waterline for striking enemy ships. This type of warship had three masts carrying square sails. Castles stood at both bow and stern, and many light cannons were mounted along the hull above the waterline.
The hull formed a pronounced isosceles trapezoid,