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Windhammer, Copyright Wayne Densley 2008 All Rights Reserved
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574
 Within the darkness of the pit you dig both boots into the unstable wall and begin the slow climb back to safety. Above you the hole is a morass of old roots and vinery, loosely held against the crumbling earth that must somehow support your full weight as you climb. One handhold at a time you find each new purchase and steadily make your way out of the pit. It is only with a measure of good luck that you find the upper edges of the trap and slowly haul yourself out of its lethal embrace. Exhausted from the climb, you lay upon the ground and try and recover your breath. You cannot tell whether it is the weight of your equipment, or just the fatigue of the past days, but those fifteen metres have left you unable to stand, and for a time you remain still.
(The climb has been exhausting and one that will take time to recover from fully. Reduce your endurance level by two points before continuing.)
When you can move, you raise yourself and move over to the lip of the pit. At its edge you peer into the abyss below and hear clearly the movement of a large number of creatures in the shadows. Once again you thank Providence for your deliverance from yet another nasty end, but as with many other close calls on this expedition you have little time to ponder your good fortune. Upon regaining your torch you spend a short time organising your equipment, then look carefully to the long passage ahead.
Moving steadily forward it takes only a few minutes to reach the passage's end. A quick but careful search confirms your growing suspicion that it is a dead end. Where the tunnel should have continued there has been set an enormous slab of dull grey metal. You can find no mechanism that will move the barrier and no other way around it. Discouraged you turn back down the passage and make your way back to the Lesser Hall.
Standing behind the tapestry that covers the opening you listen for any sounds that might betray the presence of a patrol or lone guard in the chamber beyond. For some time you stand silent in the darkness. At first you can make out the muffled movement of something quietly crossing the floor of the hall before all is again still. The minutes pass, but hearing nothing else you edge your way from behind the heavy cloth hanging and decide your next move.
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If you have not already done so you can try and open the double doors in the east wall. If this is your choice turn to section 153. If you believe that a better course will be to investigate the open passage in the south wall turn to section 70.
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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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