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Windhammer, Copyright Wayne Densley 2001 - 2007 All Rights Reserved
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9
 The lever is very stiff, its workings rusted and jammed by a century of neglect. After some effort however, you are able to fully depress the lever. At first nothing happens, but as you stand waiting you begin to feel a slight vibration in the floor that suggests some ancient mechanism is slowly returning to life. The tremor continues to grow until, with a major grinding sound, the tapestry covering the northern wall is lifted upwards by the movement of a hidden stone door behind. To your surprise you now stand before an entryway to a long stone tunnel.
Quickly gathering as many of the torches as you can reach you move cautiously into the darkness beyond. (Record that you now have 3 torches in your possession. For the purposes of determining your carry load these torches should be recorded as a single item.) Roughly hewn from the rock of the mountain the tunnel is circular in cross-section and very damp. Your torch is constantly in danger of being extinguished by the large amount of water dripping from the roof, however the tunnel presents you with greater difficulties than this. Dirt and rubbish is piled up against the sides of the passage, so much so that in some places the way ahead is almost blocked. Everywhere about you hangs the smell of death and decay, the stench a sickly fog that clings to your skin like grasping fingers.
Against these piles of refuse you push and climb your way forward, following the passage as it delves further into the mountain. When the way finally becomes clearer you notice also that you are slowly descending, the floor sloping slightly as you continue. Within this dark world of rotting garbage and overpowering stench you struggle onwards, sure that the tunnel is no dead end. It has been delved for a purpose but that purpose remains hidden from you. All you can be sure of is that you are traveling far deeper into the mountain than you would have ever expected. As the angle of the floor steepens you find keeping your footing becomes more and more difficult.
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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 2001 - 2007 All Rights Reserved
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