The Jolly Dodger was a refurbished merchant vessel purchased in Cliffsunder by Captain Jolly after his long career as an overland and coastal trader. The sailing ship had been well worn when acquired, its hull scarred by years of service, but it was reinforced with careful craftsmanship and fitted with durable fittings suited to steady commercial work. Though the ship itself was made piecemeal, Jolorlun used his merchant wealth to line its rails with gold and fit it with bright white lateen sails, and commissioned a stone Angel's skull at its bow as a superstition to ward off danger. So named after its captain, the Jolly Dodger was intended to completely avoid pirates, monsters, or storms.
Under Jolorlun’s command, the Jolly Dodger carried a crew of twenty and specialized in transport and merchant contracts across the inner reaches of the Shifting Blue. It routinely sailed out of the Grandport, hauling passengers, raw materials, finished goods, and correspondence to coastal destinations; however, the ship avoided the outer seas, where unpredictable currents and violent storms made regular commerce untenable, instead maintaining reliable regional routes.
Though modest in size, it was known for its solid construction and dependable handling in rough coastal waters. The Jolly Dodger was not the fastest ship in harbor, nor the most impressive, but it arrived when promised and returned intact, which was a fate better than most sailing Somnum's waters.