Move 335: Across the Ledgeways
Tunnels--Late, Day 35 (Marpenoth 20)Once a decision was made to stick with this tunnel and Arachne had a chance to check out the area Renn had seen, the group made use of the rope to secure themselves, or at least to make themselves feel better, as they made their way across the narrow ledge. As Renn had reported, there was an area about ten feet wide where the floor spanned the tunnel again, a natural landing. There was another ledge, this time on the opposite side of the tunnel.
The invisible gnome was apparently not as concerned about the crevices as some might be. (Being able to see well in low light as well as being able to teleport will do that for you.) Inclined to rely on her invisibility for protection, she secured herself to the rope only casually: She held onto it most of the time with the hand that wasn't holding her lightstone, but did not wrap it around herself since that would've made her location pretty obvious...as well as making the rope look disconcertingly broken (or oddly looped at the least).
They continued on as cautiously as they had before. This ledge was considerably longer than the first one they crossed. It eventually ended in another landing, although this time the floor did not go all the way across the tunnel. A narrow path snaked down the middle of the tunnel with deep drops on both sides. The security of having a tunnel wall on what side had been lost. It made those who were nervous about this even moreso, but they all made it across anyway.
The path through the tunnels continued in a like manner for some distance. Sometimes the ledge was on one side of the tunnel, sometimes the other, and sometimes down the middle, and the naturally occurring landings varied in size and intervals of occurrence. The ledges also varied in width, but they never became so narrow that they could not be crossed by walking along them carefully. By proceeding in the same manner they had started, using a scout secured with a rope to check a short distance ahead of them each time, the party eventually made it through several miles of crevice-filled tunnels.
Arachne volunteered to scout -- promising as usual not to pick any fights if she found anything nasty up ahead.
There were still no signs of inhabitants of this area. The terrain had slowed them considerably, and they felt it was getting late, although that could have been due in part to the stress of navigating the ledgeways. Through the area they had just passed, side caverns and tunnels had been nonexistent. The tunnel ahead of them looked much like the tunnels they were more used to.
As soon as the party had passed the latest crevice and then paused to consider the way ahead, the gnomelight settled on the ground close to one of the tunnel walls.
"We will rest awhile,
Yes, we'll rest awhile...
Because it feels very good..."
the gnome's voice sang softly. "Not that I mean to insist on us stopping _right_ now," her soft voice added quickly. "I just..." Her voice moved a little bit along the wall and got closer to the ground.
"Never mind..."Azrun kneeled down next to the glow and opened his arms, "Here, Arachne. Let me carry you for a bit so you can catch your breath. I don't mind."
"Umm..."
"Well ..." The voice shifted upward again. Most likely, the gnome was sitting up. "I didn't mean I was _that_ tired... Just... tired?" The voice shifted upward again, to about standing-up Arachne height. "I mean, if Jana wants us to move along further to find a more defensible campsite, then sure -- let's move it along. Let's go. I was just hoping that I wasn't the only one who was feeling a little too tense for a little too long and ..."OK. Um, I don't weigh nothing and I _am_ carrying _some_ stuff. I suppose this is a good time for you to find out if you're making a mistake..."
Azrun adjusted the straps on his pack and reset it on his back, "Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it works. It might work best if you climb up on my shoulders and ride like that. I think the tunnel is tall enough for that to work.....oops...I just remembered you're wearing your skirt thing.....maybe that's not the best way to do things." He blushed slightly, "Ummm...well...we could put you pack in mine probably and maybe I could carry you on my hip, with my arm holding you up. Let's try that.."
"And I can duck --"
"And I'm not visible anyway --"
"All right." The voice was placid; the gnome waited. There was a moment's pause and then Arachne's pint-sized (well, maybe more like gallon-sized) backpack appeared on the ground. "Here it is," Arachne said. "It'll fit in the space in your pack?"Azrun took the small pack and placed it within his carefully so not to break anything in either pack. He strapped it back on balanced himself against the wall while he kneeled, "Well, we can try you riding up on my shoulders, it would probably be easier for us. So climb on aboard."
Once she climbed on, he slowly stood balancing himself and his invisible rider carefully. Quarterstaff in hand he started down the tunnel, slowly, "Here we go, Arachne."
"That's right -- I've got the cottage in there," Arachne's voice acknowledged. "But I haven't broken it yet -- and I do have it wrapped up in some spare clothing."
"All right... You're a much easier climb than a tree," the voice remarked breathily. "More branches ... more cooperative ... softer bark.... Trees usually offer a better view, but that's not your fault..."
Azrun smiled, "Maybe I'll borrow Aloyius's boots some time and we'll get a better view. Oh, speaking of which, Aloysius, how about marking here so we know we've been this way."
"Hi-ho Puddlejumper! Sorry -- I guess you probably wouldn't appreciate even a favorable comparison to him. (I wonder how he's doing? I think he went off to join some brigands...?)
Azrun laughed, "Better to be compared to a horse than a jackass, I guess. The brave knight Arachne and her trusty steed Azrun. We shall vanquish evil and keep the peace!"
"Um... Do you need me to keep holding this --?" The gnomelight shifted around toward Azrun's face. "-- or can I put it away now?"
Azrun looked up, "I don't know. I guess you can put it away. Some guys walking down the tunnel with a light floating above his head might be a little suspicious."
Aloysius let out a relieved sigh as the group passed the last ledgeway. "Hopes have I that a swift retreat be not in order," he said with a glance back at the ground they had covered.
"Perhaps now would be a prudent time to rest?" he suggested.
"Okay. Is here a good place?" Echo asked.
"Let's keep going until we find a defensible place," Jana said. "The tunnels up ahead look more promising." She seemed to be feeling much better since finishing the very disturbing crevice-crossing.
"If Janathell believes we should seek a more suitable position, then we should do so," opined Aloysius. "Let us move forth and see what the tunnel brings."
"Yes, let's move forward." Olaf rumbled.
"Agreed am I, we should find a more suitable place to rest," Renn nodded and looked back over the way the group had come. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be," he smiled as he shook his head.
"Compared to someone falling," Jana muttered, "it wasn't 'so bad,' but it still pretty much sucked so far's I'm concerned." She tried to manage a brave smile but it came out more of a grimace.
"Maybe for those of you who are lithe as cats it wasn't. For someone with the grace of a stone it was considerably more painful." Blacky said with a nervous chuckle. "Yes let's move on, I don't like having a deep hole directly at our backs in case we're surprised."
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