The Seawatch Estate – Fortress of Coin and Secrets

Perched on a sheer cliff at the southern edge of Port Manai, Seawatch Estate stands like a sentinel over the Sapphire Coast—its towers rising from ancient stone like the prows of a fleet of stone ships. The manor is a blend of noble elegance and defensive architecture, designed as much to impress as to endure.

The estate is surrounded by high, sea-weathered walls of grey-blue stone, streaked with salt and lichen from years of enduring ocean spray. Iron braziers burn low in watchtowers, their flames warding off both night and the prying eyes of smugglers, pirates, and political rivals. Decorative at a distance, the walls are reinforced with hidden arrow slits, magical wards, and a private garrison of loyal guards, known as the Sable Mantle.

Exterior Features

A great sea-facing balcony extends from the upper levels of the manor, where Baron Vann often holds private audiences, watching ships come and go like a general reviewing his army.

A sealed dock lies at the base of the cliffs, accessible by a narrow switchback staircase carved into the rock or a guarded elevator lift operated by arcane means. It’s used for private imports... and quiet exits.

The main gate is flanked by statues of lions with coin-pursed mouths—symbols of House Vann's motto: “Fortune Favors the Ruthless.”

Interior Highlights

The Grand Hall features a mosaic floor of trade routes and constellations, flanked by banners of allied houses and trade guilds. A massive fireplace is carved to resemble a dragon curled around a vault.

The Map Room holds enchanted charts that shift with the tides, marking ship movements, storms, and trade caravans in real time. Only the Baron and his closest advisors are allowed access.

The Glass Gallery, a long hallway with enchanted sea-glass windows, shows shifting underwater scenes from the nearby reef. Some claim the gallery is also used for secret meetings with aquatic emissaries or bound water spirits.

Atmosphere & Rumors

The air in Seawatch always carries the scent of salt and ink—of parchment, gold, and old sea magic.

Staff are loyal but fearful, speaking in hushed tones and glancing over shoulders. It is said that the estate “hears what it should not.”

At night, blue lanterns burn along the walls, a sign of an old pact with the spirits of the deep—though none in the port dare speak of it openly.