Narwhal Manor was a customs office and the main customs warehouse for the city of Ravens Bluff in the 14th century DR.[1][2][3][5]
Location[]
A map of Seaglimpse, with Narwhal Manor labeled as building #27.
This building was located in the city's Harbor District, in the neighborhood of Seaglimpse[2][4] or what may have once been a part of "Old Town",[1][6][note 1] in a block of buildings known unofficially as "Gimble's Elbow", facing the waters of the Dragon Coast.[2]
Structure[]
The floor plan for Narwhal Manor; first floor on the left, second floor on the right.
Narwhal Manor was a fortress-like[2] stone building, standing two stories tall[2][3][5] and measuring 50 ft (15 m) x 30 ft (9.1 m),[3] with a watch tower atop its roof.[3][5]
The exterior had a small patio with chairs, enclosed by a 6 feet (1.8 meters) high gated wrought-iron fence.[1] A pair of heavy, wooden doors closable with beams from outside, granted entry into the front and rear of the building. The ground floor had sparse windows, measuring a narrow 2 ft (0.61 m) width, with exterior iron bars. The second floor also had narrow windows, though they were far more numerous, offering views from all four directions.[3]
Interior[]
The ground floor largely comprised the building's warehouse, with rooms off to the side housing the records room and the custom officer's office. Connected to the office was a safety-deposit room, guarded by a massive iron door and lock. A staircase in the main room lead up to the second floor, which served as a residential space.[3]
The second-floor housed the custom officer's quarters, the servant's quarters, a guest room, a small library, a parlor, and a spiral staircase that led up to the roof and watch tower. In the hallway of the second floor was a weapon case, displaying Draco Elass's +2 long bow. The parlor had a shield hung on the wall, a globe of Toril, and a display case showing off mementos from Draco's past life as a sea captain, including an enchanted ship's spyglass.[3]
The watch tower of Narwhal Manor was once home to the legendary Calvan's bell. This came to an end 1343 DR, when the bell was moved to the newly constructed Ladyrock Lighthouse.[7][note 2]
Activities[]
Narwhal Manor primarily served as the main warehouse for Ravenian customs. All manner of valuable exports and imports were stored in the safety-deposit room while they were either waiting to be examined and cleared by customs[2][3] or for any duties or taxes levied on them to be paid off. Less valuable goods were stored in the central warehouse room.[3] Narwhal Manor also stored all cargo confiscated by customs until they were ready for disposition,[3] as well as all records concerning exports & imports.[1][3]
Beyond customs business, the chief customs inspector was well known for receiving and lavishly entertaining guests. These were most often visiting sea captains.[1][3]
Inhabitants[]
The building was inhabited by Draco Elass,[1][2][3] Ravens Bluff's chief customs inspector[3][2] and one of the six Harbormasters under the command of Calvin Longbottle,[5] alongside his adopted daughter Docara, who masqueraded as his manservant.[1][3] Docara started living there in 1353 DR, after Draco found her washed up on the beach from a shipwreck and nursed her back to health.[3][note 3] She was rarely found far from Narwhal Manor and seldom talked to visitors.[1][3]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The descriptions and map given in Nightwatch in the Living City (1991) place Narwhal Manor as being in "Old Town", what would later come to be known as the neighborhood of Silverscales. However, the map, which is taken from Gateway to Ravens Bluff, the Living City (1989), labels a building that does not match the description given in Gateway to Ravens Bluff. Later sources retcon its location as being in the neighborhood directly west of Old Town, Seaglimpse or "the Warehouse District" as it was referred to in Nightwatch in the Living City.
- ↑ Port of Ravens Bluff (pp. 42, 45) states that Charles O'Kane became Mayor 20 years ago. As his inauguration was in 1341 DR, this would set current events in the book in 1361 DR and from there we can work backwards to derive other past events given therein.
- ↑ Gateway to Ravens Bluff (p. 7) states that Charles O'Kane has been Mayor for 14 years, which tracks with the later article "Pillars of Ravens Bluff" in Polyhedron #147, which places his inauguration as 1341 DR. It also states he is 48 years old, which conflicts with the "Pillars" article and is assumed to be an error. From this we can derive a date of 1355 DR for current events in Gateway to Ravens Bluff and work backwards to derive past events given therein.
Appearances[]
Adventures
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
The Stroke of Midnight
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Walter M. Baas, Kira Glass (March 1991). Nightwatch in the Living City. Edited by John A. Nephew. (TSR, Inc.), p. 22. ISBN 1-56076-068-0.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 105. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 Richard Rydberg, et al. (August 1989). Gateway to Ravens Bluff, the Living City. Edited by Jean Rabe, Skip Williams, Ed Sollers. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 42–43.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 ProFantasy Software Ltd. (1999). Forgotten Realms Interactive Atlas. TSR, Inc.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Stephen Glasgow (July 1993). False Prophecy. Living City (RPGA), p. 28.
- ↑ Map included in Walter M. Baas, Kira Glass (March 1991). Nightwatch in the Living City. Edited by John A. Nephew. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 1-56076-068-0.
- ↑ Phillip A. Dyer, et al. (August 1991). Port of Ravens Bluff. Edited by Jean Rabe, Skip Williams, David Wise. (TSR, Inc.), p. 54. ISBN 1-56076-120-2.