The war chamber of the Black Bastion was vast and silent.
At its center stood a massive stone table carved from a single slab of dark granite. The surface had been etched with a detailed map of the Northern Sea. Coastlines were cut deep into the stone. Islands were raised slightly, giving the map texture and depth. At the far northern edge, a circular depression marked the projected location of the Gates of Atlantis.
Above the table, mana projections shimmered in the air.
Old records gathered from three centuries ago had been reconstructed through layered spells. Faint outlines of floating structures, broken pillars, and submerged districts hovered in pale blue light. The projections flickered occasionally, unstable and incomplete, but they provided enough detail to study patterns.
Around the chamber stood generals and advisors of the Iron Duchy.
No one spoke.
