[quote=Guilty Spark]
Point taken.A mild counter-point, it was less weathering and more warfare that eroded their fortress. After several take overs most of the original stone work was destroyed. In most cases in which they weren't constructed under severe conditions, however, Old Kingdom stonework was preternaturally resilient. A lake forming over it, though, would be effective weathering.
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[Just thinking along here if you guys don't mind]
What's the soil Othea or more specifically Amaryth like? Peat or moor for example is known to preserve even bodies in a great state, although it's rather hard to build on it except if you know how to (I'm sure the Orogassi who constructed the fort and the people of The Old Kingdom knew). However, those kinds of soils are really climate-bound so I'm not sure if it'd fit into the geography (Ellri, facts please lol). But a lake bottom (partially) of moor could perhaps explain why the ruins have been preserved in such a good state for so long, yet making it impossible to properly build a really large harbour. [hider=well...] The more I think about it, the less sense it starts to make. But I'm just throwing this idea out there, maybe it'll inspire someone :) [/hider]