Vaults of the Shrieking Sea

The Vaults of the Shrieking Sea serve as the primary storage facility for the wealth of Golden Cliff’s nobility, the Merchant Guild, and other influential figures. These vaults contain immense treasures, rare artifacts, valuable documents, and goods that require the highest level of security. The vaults are known for being nearly impossible to breach due to a combination of their natural defenses and heavy magical and physical fortifications.

Upon entering the Vaults of the Shrieking Sea, the first thing noticed is the damp chill of the air. The constant roar of the Shrieking Sea can be heard faintly through the thick stone walls, giving the vaults an ominous and ever-present reminder of the dangerous waters below. The hallways are dimly lit by magical blue orbs of light that hover near the ceiling, casting long shadows on the stone walls.   The deeper one goes, the more intricate and ornate the vaults become. Vault doors are made of reinforced Drakthorite, each one inscribed with magical sigils that glow faintly. Inside the vaults, there are rows of iron and stone chests, elaborate lockboxes, and massive crates, each protected by additional wards and traps. The smell of seawater permeates the air, and the walls glisten with moisture. Small rivulets of water occasionally run down the walls, contributing to the eerie sense that the sea is always present, waiting to reclaim the treasures within.

Sight: Dimly lit by blue magical orbs, the shadows are long and dark. The faint glow from the wards on the walls and vault doors adds to the mystical and unearthly feeling of the place. The metallic sheen of the Drakthorite doors contrasts sharply with the rough, wet stone of the vault’s walls. The distant roar of the sea is a constant presence, muffled by the stone but still noticeable. The occasional sound of dripping water echoes through the passageways, and footsteps seem to reverberate unnaturally in the silence. Making the air cool and damp, with the faint but unmistakable scent of seawater and brine. There is also the smell of cold stone and iron, adding to the oppressive atmosphere. The vaults are cold and slightly clammy to the touch, with the dampness of the sea constantly seeping into the stone. The pressure of being deep within the cliffs and the sheer weight of the ocean nearby adds a sense of unease and heaviness to the air.

Drakthorite Vault Doors: Reinforced with powerful wards, these massive doors protect the most valuable treasures stored within. Each door is engraved with runes and magical sigils.   Iron Catwalks and Bridges: These connect various levels of the vault and are suspended above deep chasms that drop into unknown depths within the cliffside.   Treasure Chests and Crates: Rows of locked chests and crates, each one sealed with intricate locks and guarded by protective wards. Some are rumored to hold priceless treasures, while others are filled with powerful magical artifacts.   Secret Archives: Deep within the vaults are secret rooms filled with ancient scrolls, ledgers, and records. Some are financial records, while others hold the knowledge of forgotten magical rites or forbidden lore.

The vaults are carved into the very rock of the cliffs, their entrance hidden deep within a labyrinthine system of tunnels accessible only through heavily guarded, secret passageways. The entrance is an ancient stone archway, reinforced with enchanted iron doors that can only be opened by a unique sequence of runes known only to the Vault Keepers, a small group of trusted guards and wizards assigned to protect the vaults.   Inside, the vaults are structured like a honeycomb, with numerous chambers stacked on top of one another, each more secure than the last. Iron catwalks connect the various levels, and the walls are inlaid with powerful wards designed to prevent magical intrusion and teleportation. There are hidden traps scattered throughout the vaults, including pressure plates, magical runes, and illusions meant to confuse would-be thieves.

Over the centuries, the vaults have gained a reputation as being impenetrable. The few attempts to breach them have all ended in failure, and the rumors of traps within the vaults have only grown over time. It is said that during a pirate siege in 157 AGW, the vaults became the key to the city’s survival as its most valuable assets were protected while the pirates plundered less defended areas of the coast.   The vaults are also rumored to hold some of the darkest secrets of Golden Cliff, including magical artifacts that are deemed too dangerous to be kept in the public eye. Some believe that ancient treasures from before the Great War are locked away here, hidden even from the king himself.