Sign on a crew hand. Free seats get friends in the door — better berths cost a little. Every ship sails one species (Orc · Elf · Goblin · Human). Once a hand is yours, take it to Town Work to level its skills, gear it at the Store, and bring it to the Decks. One free seat per ship, per wallet.
Sit a hero down and give it water. The water becomes part of your hero and stays — it's their strength, locked in, and it grows their stats for the Decks. The more you pour, the stronger they get. This is plain Water, so it strengthens them all-round — a little to every stat.
Want to pump one stat hard? Send your hero to Town Work — each job pours its own water: 💪 haul cargo → Strength · 🛡️ stock rations → Stamina · 🏹 mend nets → Dexterity · 🔭 tend the lighthouse → Intellect · 🐚 sea-calling → Wisdom · 💰 barter at market → Charm