Set-Mod: Skeleton Warship

A little something I've been working on between creations. I'll probably use it in "So You Wanna Be An Adventurer?" at some point. First, upon buying the following LEGO set - 7029 Skeleton Ship Attack - I was a bit disappointed...

For some reason, the ship gave the distinct impression that it was merely half of a ship - like someone had chopped the back off of it. The obvious solution? Buy another ship and put the two of them together! This is the result...

At first I tried to work only with the contents of the two sets, but I simply couldn't get the masts to look right with the available parts, so I began drawing from my collection as well, mostly in order to build the platform at the back on which the second mast is standing.

Egad, is that a skele-ninja? Yes, indeed.

The captain here thinks he's in charge, but where would he be without the necromancer lich above, whose deathly magics keep them all unalive? The only magic the captain posesses is the ability to keep his beard somehow intact.

The ballistae were made from the little shooter-majigs attached to front of either ship. I just rearranged the parts a bit and added the glowing horns to make have something akin to a plausible firing mechanism. I mean, come on, LEGO company, how could a weapon like that really work?

Look! The ocean appeared! Or at least a reasonable facsimile.

The skeleton becomes confused when he discovers that the ballista lacks any type of cable between the bows. No need to worry - it's MAGIC! Duh.

"Get down from there, Rat, you moron." "But look, Captain! It's the edge of the world!"

Looks like the Williamses have found themselves in another predicament.
"I say, I believe I'm starting to get rather... ugh... seasick, Brother William."
"Considering that you lack the internal organs required for such a feeling, Sir William, I do not see how that is possible."
"Regardless, we have to escape this vessel! Do you think we could swim it? We don't have muscles to get tired or need nourishment!"
"Indeed, but, Sir William... when was the last time you saw a skeleton FLOAT?"

Unseen and unnoticed, the skele-ninjas priorities remain a mystery. Everyone knows pirates are his ancient enemies, so is he here on an assassination mission? Or has a ninja finally decided that a Pirate's Life is the Life For Him, now that he's dead anyway?

There are several advantages of a skeleton crew (pun intended). First, no need for provisions. Second, no sea-sickness. Third, you can cram as many on board as you like.

The necromancer adepts are responsible for the dark enchantments on the ballista bolts. Whether they cause some kind of burning acid damage or explode on deck, releasing a cloud of noxious gas remains a mystery until they have struck.

I kept the arches on the back of both ships and thus ended up with a sort of tunnel through the vessel's mid-section. It's now used for storing a row-boat, held aloft by chains until needed.

"Bloody hell, Sir William... you forgot the oars!"

A shot of the ship without its crew.

And finally, what is probably one of the best background images I have ever done. Somehow the lighting managed to match up really well, and I added a shadow beneath the ship to complete the effect. Click the image above to see the full-size version.