Garrison
~400
Commander
Captain Marlowe Seabrook
Distance
40 mi south
Purpose
Coastal defense & naval control
Overview
Perched atop towering cliffs, Highcliff Castle commands both respect and fear. Overlooking the perilous Serpent's Reach — a graveyard of ships with wrecked hulls littering the rocks below — this coastal stronghold is Fort Valiance's first line of maritime defense.
Ships approaching from the north must signal the castle to request passage. Failure invites swift retribution from coastal ballistae and trebuchets. Captain Marlowe Seabrook, a seasoned naval commander, has repelled numerous pirate raids.
Defenses & Armaments
Thick stone walls, towering battlements, coastal ballistae and trebuchets along the ramparts. Soldiers trained in both coastal defense and siege warfare. Barges deliver supplies via the Aldwyn River, with a winding coastal road connecting to Fort Valiance through bandit-haunted terrain.
Legend of the Serpent
Local folklore speaks of the Serpent of the Reach — a mythical sea creature dwelling beneath the churning waves. Legends claim the serpent guards sunken treasure, its presence both curse and blessing. Some say the castle itself was built to keep watch over the serpent's domain.