Long Lake stretched roughly fifty kilometers from north to south and twenty kilometers from east to west, set into the northern lands like a flawless emerald.
The Running River flowed down from the Lonely Mountain into the northern end of the lake, while the Forest River surged in from the west through the Woodland Realm, joining its waters.
Once the rivers filled Long Lake, which had originally been a gorge, the water flowed around a massive rock and plunged over the lake's southern end, forming a thunderous waterfall.
From there, the water continued south until it reached the distant Rhûn Inland Sea.
Allen's planned military harbor was being built downstream of this waterfall. Years of erosion had left an exceptionally broad river channel and a wide stretch of level bank, more than enough space for his plans.
Allen, who had arrived in Lake-town the day before, now stood on the harbor bank with his subordinates. Together with Ymira, he watched more than a hundred shipbuilders push a pure white, flat-bottomed riverboat into the water.
It was entirely different from a seagoing sailing ship. Rather than a keel running from bow to stern to support the hull, its ends were flat surfaces assembled from neatly fitted planks. Only beneath the hull was there a sharp, blade-shaped tip.
Protective parapets surrounded the vessel, and it had three levels in all, counting the deck.
Itariel, the Shipwright from Lindon, stood nearby, explaining the vessel's details.
"The flat-bottomed boat being launched now should meet your requirements. It isn't particularly fast, but it has a very spacious platform and a strong carrying capacity. The first deck can hold up to fifty fully armed soldiers, with enough room for them to shoot their bows. I also designed platforms at both the bow and stern, each capable