The Antlantean culture required the use of aqueducts to allow for the transport of merchant goods from the ports to the markets. The series of underground water passages networked beneath the city to allow barges, guided by punters who progressed from duct to duct.
The majority of these tunnels were at sea level and unseen underneath the city itself, with the exception of the central hub area. An open, stonewalled area of approximately one kilometer in diameter, and 500 meters below the ground level, at that point, it allowed for the flow of air to the barge attendants, as well as a major cross over spot for most of the aqueducts. By locking off the aqueducts at night and flooding the pit, it allowed the punters a chance to move amongst the central market as well as flush out the aqueducts, each morning.
When The Disaster befell Atlantis, a vast majority of these workers were unfortunate enough to be under the surface of the city and were crushed by the deluge that filled the tunnels. Those that were in the lucky position to have their rafts in the correct placements(still at harbour or in the central hub of the network) were able to lash their rafts together.
It was through these initial survivors that the Floating Empire was to begin its fifty year reign of supremacy over the sea.
