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The Watcher’s Spire

The Watcher’s Spire rises above Zvervinka’s upper city, a fortress‑tower of rune‑scribed stone serving the Watchers. More than a symbol, the Spire functions as a seat of training and oversight for those who guard Ursk against supernatural threats. Its wards glow faintly by night, and its halls are said to contain a modest archive of reports, maps, and occult references relevant to frontier defense.

Visitors—when admitted—are required to deposit detectable magic in sealed chests at the entry vestibule, a practice intended to keep the tower’s inner sanctums free of stray enchantments. Formal hospitality within the Spire is austere but precise: tea is served, interviews are structured, and business is conducted with attention to the safety of the city beyond the tower’s doors.

From the market quarters along the Ket to the gatehouses of the lower city, the Spire’s presence is a constant reminder that Zvervinka stands where civilization meets the wild. While many citizens view the Watchers with respect, a few grumble at their secrets and influence; nonetheless, in winters when ice‑spawn and worse press downriver, the Spire’s wards and messengers are decisive.