Like the walls protecting the Old City, the Sea Lord’s Palace is a symbol of the Sea Lord’s strength. Having housed every Sea Lord since nearly the founding of the city, it looms large in the minds of Freeporters, who can only stare in wonder at the wealth and beauty contained within its walls.
History
One of the oldest structures in the city, the Sea Lord’s Palace is a physical symbol of the Sea Lord’s power and authority. Its construction was a costly undertaking that claimed numerous lives and incredible sums of gold. For years, work continued on this fortress-palace, and in the end, the lives lost and money spent proved worth it.
While structurally the same as it was when construction finished, the interior has undergone widespread renovation. Each new Sea Lord inspires a flurry of activity as city’s principal ruler makes his mark on this famous building. The extent of the changes varied with each Sea Lord’s taste—some being simple changes, light touches that improved upon the décor of the previous Sea Lord, and others gutting the place, pulling down walls, removing floors, and substituting gaudy or not-so-gaudy trappings. The place has lain empty since the death of Sea Lord Drac, giving it plenty of time to become shabby with neglect and disuse.
Description
The Sea Lord’s Palace stands at the heart of the Old City, by far the most impressive of all the administrative buildings in the area. Protected by a fifteen-foot-high stone wall topped with a row of sharpened iron spikes, the only access to the grounds is through the black iron gate that faces the street. A squad of four Sea Lord’s Guards prevents access to all but those on official business with the Sea Lord. Those who linger are encouraged to move along by the guardsmen’s stout cudgels.
Just beyond the gate are the palace grounds. It is immediately clear no expense has been spared, for the gardens are exquisite. Carefully manicured by a staff of a dozen gardeners, there are topiaries depicting sea dragons and other monsters all arranged around a large fountain of polished marble. Rows upon rows of aromatic flowers stand along the gravel pathways to reach hidden areas for private meetings or secret trysts. At the far end of the grounds behind the palace are the servants’ quarters where the household staff retires at the end of every day. There are dormitories for both men and women and larger quarters for married couples. In addition, there is a full kitchen and dining hall to accommodate the serving staff.
The gardens may be fine, but the palace is the wonder. At five stories tall, it towers over the walls, granting an impressive view of the district. The palace was constructed in an octagonal shape from white stone imported at great expense. The roof comes to a sharp point along which lightning rods rise. At each of the roof’s corners are massive gargoyles that spew rainwater away from the foundation. Numerous windows offer expansive views of the gardens below, as well as the rest of the Old City. Though constructed to be comfortable, make no mistake—the palace is as much a fortress as it is a home.
Inside, the décor is elaborate—walls covered in paper imported from the Continent, furniture shaped and crafted by the best woodworkers, and tapestries woven to capture the history of the city. In the halls are portraits of the past Sea Lords, presented in their best light, of course. The floors are all polished wood, except the ground floor, which is tiled in white-veined black marble. Even the doors are fine, made from stout oak but covered in gold leaf and ornate patterns.
The Grand Ballroom dominates the ground floor. The ceiling rises up through the first floor—an impressive spectacle perfect for impressing visiting dignitaries. At the far end is a dais that holds chairs enough for each member of the Captains’ Council. Like the entrance, the floor is black marble. The rest of the ground floor consists of a massive library, sitting rooms for guests, and a modest audience chamber for personal meetings with the Sea Lord.
The second and third floors contain the guest quarters, each a large and comfortable suite with a bedroom and sitting room. There are accommodations enough for twenty guests at a time. The fourth floor is the Sea Lord’s living quarters, featuring a dining hall, secondary kitchen, meeting rooms, and a small hall for private performances. Finally, the uppermost level has the sleeping quarters for important dignitaries and the Sea Lord’s family members.
Prominent NPCs
Captain Amos Shent: Amos is the head of the palace guard. He inherited that title after the death of Sea Lord Drac and his personal guards. He was formally awarded the title by the Captain's Council after he took a crossbow bolt in the chest while fending off rioters outside the Palace during the turmoil that followed Drac's death. His primary duties include commanding the palace guards, maintaining security, and protecting the Sea Lord. He makes regular circuits through the palace and randomly searches rooms, including those held by the servants.
Even though he is in his mid-fifties, Amos is a burly man with a thick, muscled frame. He’s short, just over five and a half feet tall, but he makes up for lack of height with his strength, determination, and no-nonsense disposition. His brown hair is graying, and he has bright blue eyes. He’s never without his breastplate—a piece of equipment he learned to appreciate when it took four hours to extract the bolt from his chest.
Carissa Fenwick: Joining the staff some twenty years ago, Carissa Fenwick is a force of nature. She is nominally in charge of the entire household and makes all decisions about hiring, firing, and assigning duties. Even the chamberlain, Tomas Fleetfoot, bows to her every command. Carissa does not judge the nature or actions of her employer, though she’s known to cluck her tongue with reproof when she learns of some wrongdoing.
Carissa is in her late forties, and the years show. She is thin and tall and has a narrow face and pinched features. She keeps her black hair pulled back in a bun. She’s never seen out of uniform—a black dress with white cuffs and hem.
Thomas Fleetfoot: The Fleetfoot family has been running things in the Sea Lord’s Palace since the construction of the building by Captain Cromey, the second Sea Lord of Freeport. Tomas grew up within the walls of the palace and took over the operation of the home from his father, who retired after Anton Drac’s assassination. Tomas’s place was uncertain in the wake of Drac’s fall. Fearing he would somehow be implicated in Drac’s corruption, Tomas was more than cooperative with the Sea Lord’s Guard and the Captains’ Council, spilling every filthy secret he could about his master. As an unexpected consequence, it became clear Tomas knew far more about Freeport’s high society than anyone would have expected. Such a font of useful information would be wasted in the Tombs, so he was allowed to keep his post.