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Windhammer, Copyright Wayne Densley 2008 All Rights Reserved
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162
 Cautiously you press the stone into the wall. Deep within the rock beneath your feet there comes the slight rumbling vibration of ancient mechanisms slowly grinding into action. Almost by magic a thin slit of darkness appears in the stone wall before you. It is just wide enough for you to squeeze through but you have to take off your pack and weapons to do so. Throwing them into the gloom beyond you slip through and then search the dust covered floor to retrieve them. As soon as you are beyond its theshold the secret door closes silently behind you. It is pitch black. Using your weapon as a prod, you move forward carefully, feeling out every centimetre of the way ahead. Even though it is too dark to see you can feel the slight shift of the air around you. It appears that the tunnel extends far into the distance, though how far you cannot judge.
Minutes turn into hours as you make your way slowly down the dark passage. Sweating heavily you wait with each step you take for the telltale click of a trap mechanism, or the harsh call of some creature of the Horde heralding that you have been discovered. As time passes however, the passage becomes less threatening. It is only narrow and there is not much leeway for getting lost in the darkness. To the touch the walls on either side feel roughly hewn and with each step you take there comes a thin cloud of choking dust that slows your progress even further.
After what seems an eternity of dry dust and darkness as black as a Dreya'dim's pit you come abruptly to the end of the passage. Feeling around the edges of the wall you can sense the same slight breeze blowing from thin cracks in the stonework. The air here is slightly different though. On the breeze there is the distinct smell of ash, as if someone or something is burning wood nearby. With this new situation to ponder, you straighten up in the passage and think about your next move. The rock before you appears solid, and there seems to be no lever or other mechanism that will move it. You are at a loss as to what to do next.
Fate however, decides to take the choice of your next move from you. Throwing your pack up onto your left shoulder it catches upon a lever protruding high on that side of the passage. Instantly the wall before you drops into the floor revealing a large opening into a passage beyond. Straight into the hole you have opened topples a Mutan sentry, caught completely off guard and probably asleep against the wall. It is as surprised as you are.
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This book, and its associated books and other documents in the Chronicles of Arborell series are the intellectual property of the author, Wayne F Densley, and all rights are reserved by him. Windhammer is best viewed at 1024 x 768 resolution. Any questions regarding the Chronicles of Arborell can be answered by emailing the author at densleyw@shoal.net.au
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Windhammer, Copyright Wayne Densley 2008 All Rights Reserved
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