Fia turns away from surveying the landscape and gives Alathea and Kodo an odd look "Unless he works for the shadow, as I suspect. If he thinks we're dangerous to the world, then keeping us here could well be his goal." She mutters quietly and leans against a boulder and closes her eyes.
Kodo considers the cliff's edge, his face troubled and pale. He could be right.... What if more rock crumbles beneath my touch as we climb? The others - Alathea - could fall, could die, because of me. I've run from my duty - my death - once before, and others died in my place. I don't know that I can face the possibility of that happening again.
Kodokura looks up at Alathea. "Maybe he's right. I could be the death of you all."
Alathea shakes her head. "After all that we have been through," she chides, "how can you think that I would leave you?"
Kodo shakes his head. "What you will or won't do isn't the point," he replies, perhaps more sharply than he'd intended. He releases a long breath. "If the earth decides to reject me once more while we're climbing this mountain, all of us could die." He stops abruptly and looks at the ground, reluctant to voice the obvious conclusion.
Alathea casts a critical eye at Kodokura and scowls slightly. "The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills, yes? If you are to die, then I can do nothing to change the weaving. But if you think that I will let you die alone, then I do not know you as well as I think, yes? Should you die, I will not be a foolish girl and die with you needlessly, but neither will I abandon you for what a madman says may happen."
Rhoekk gazes both up and down the steep slope of the cliff they stand upon.
"I can see a building up on the slopes, well above us. It is attached to a dock where water craft would be tied. There are many such things in the Spine in our world as well. The Wise Ones say they date from the time of the breaking. I do not know what would be served by climbing up to that ancient structure, but it is an option. Going down would be a greater challenge, as we lack the ropes and gear for climbing. Going up at least there are some rungs to secure ourselves to. However, that building was not built in this time, so there is nothing saying that there will be any other way down from there. If we make the climb, we run the risk of eventually just being forced to come back down this way..."
Alathea nods in agreement. "It may be a more difficult climb down, but I don't think that there is anything for us up there."
Kodo does his best to block his mind from the voice's continuing insinuations, opens his mouth to respond to Alathea, then blinks as she suddenly drops the topic and begins discussing travel plans with Rhoekk. Keeping his expression composed, he stands straight and waits on a decision. The direction will not matter if death seeks us out, if the Pattern rails against me.
Fia's eyes remain closed as she listens to the others discuss their options and grabs a few precious moments of rest. Her head was pounding fiercely, but she knew whichever way they went she would need her strength and focus.
"Who else has rope? I have a bit; not enough to get us down, but perhaps enough to help a bit if we can find clefts on which to rest."
Fia rouses herself at Rhoekk's inquiry. "I have a bit of rope we can use as well.Let me get it." The Aiel woman rumages in her pack for a second and draws out a length of silken rope.
Alathea shakes her head. "Even had all not been taken from me by those Children, I have no rope. Let us hope that there are ledges along the way, yes?"
Ryland unslings his pack and pulls out 50 feet of silk rope and a grappling hook. "This is all I have."
Kodo spreads his hands with a mildly apologetic expression.
Ryland looks at the others and shrugs, "Up. We have to go up."
Fia was pulling out a pack stuffed with rope and pitons and various climbing gear, but paused to blink up at Ryland. "Up? What is up there? Wouldn't it make more sense to go down and further into the valley?"
Kodo looks at Ryland too, squinting slightly in confusion. Up? Well, at least I can climb below everyone else to minimise their danger without having to lead the way - I'm likely to kill myself through sheer clumsiness if I have to lead a descent. He glances at Rhoekk and Alathea to gauge their responses to Ryland's unexpected imperative.
Ryland shakes his head like a dog shedding water. "The wolves. We go up."
"Do the wolves say why..?" Kodo inquires.
Ryland looks down and adjust his weapons as he answers. "No, they are not much for conversation. They mostly speak in emotion and....I guess you can call them pictures that move. I saw a wolf pup climbing a mountain of an ant mound and they told me "Come." So, up we go."
Fia looks up at the mountain face and then back to Ryland. At last she nods. They've not steered us wrong yet. Of course those were wolves on our own world.. She gives him a bemused smile.
"Well, up it is then."
"Let's get moving then. I am an acceptable climber, I will try to assist the others where I may."
Looking at the iron rungs, you see that they are 10 feet wide, and spaced apart at a distance of 8 feet. They stick out from the sheer rock face a full foot, and have a diameter of about 6 inches.
Fia finishes laying out her equipment and then stands beside Rhoekk,staring up at the rungs and the rockface from which they sprout.
"We have eyebolts,spikes, hammer, and roughly 150 feet of rope. One of us can climb first with the rope, securing it at one of these rungs. Then the next can tie the rope to himself and follow after. Then the next and so on. The weakest climber among us should perhaps go last, since if they fall there will be more above to catch. Also, Alathea should be ready to catch with the one power if needed.
She glances over at Rhoekk, her gaze looking haggard. "If we proceed this way, it should be you who is first. I will follow you as I am lighter than Ryland. How does this sound to you?"
Normally you know the fiery aiel would be first up the slope, especially given that the plan was her own idea. However, she also knew her limits, however loathe she was to admit them. She suspected that even on a good day, Rhoekk was the better climber... and this could hardly be called one of her 'good' days. The events in the cavern had taken a lot out of her.
"Agreed. I will lead, and shout down when I have the rope well secured above."
Rhoekk begins the climb, scampering up with relative ease. He balances on the rungs easily, at times walking along them as though they were solid ground, and not a narrow band of metal, hundreds of feet above the ground. Once at the limit of his supply of rope, he sets up a climbing post, and readies the rope to assist his comrades to the top.
Alathea watches Rhoekk's ascent carefully, alert for any slips or bobbles. She holds saidar, prepared to wrap the Aielman in ropes of Air should he fall. As he climbs, she relaxes just a bit--he appears to have little trouble with the climb or with setting his post. She can only hope that his effort succeeds, as she knows that she could never make the climb without a rope.
Fia secures herself to the rope once Rhoekk signals his readiness and begins her ascent.
Despite the somewhat rocky start, she quickly gets her stride and soon is perched high above next to Rhoekk.
Alathea watches Fiallain climb, ready to catch her if she falls. Since her sister has Rhoekk's tied-off rope as a failsafe, she's less nervous than she was when watching Rhoekk's ascent. Still, she's relieved when Fiallain reaches the ledge safely.
"Who is next?"
"I will go last, Alathea Sedai," Kodo murmurs.
Alathea nods at Kodokura's words. "I suppose that it is my turn then, yes?" Trying to look brave, she smiles for Kodokura. "I will see you at the top, my heart. Do not do anything foolish, yes?"
Despite her fears, Alathea's ascent is far less difficult than she had imagined it would be. But as she reaches the top, her foot slips. She clutches at the rope, attempting to keep her hold and not plummet to the ledge below.
Climb:
Climb:
Climb:
Alathea nods at Kodokura's words. "I suppose that it is my turn then, yes?" Trying to look brave, she smiles for Kodokura. "I will see you at the top, my heart. Do not do anything foolish, yes?"
Kodo restrains himself from rolling his eyes at Alathea's final words - A man should never make mock of a woman in public, especially not if it is one he loves - and instead gives a quick, small smile in return, his eyes clear and full of confidence in her.
Nevertheless he forces himself to focus, not on her slender legs as she climbs, but on her security on the rope. He stays ready and alert for any misstep, prepared to catch her - or at least cushion her fall with his body - should she fall.
taking the better part of the day, you ascend into the heavens. the clouds begin to descend, making the iron rungs slippery when grasped, but Rhoekks excellent rope use makes everyone secure to the rails.
Cresting the final expanse of obscurity, you are suddenly taken aback by the clear view that you see in front of you.
You stand just below a pier, or what once was a pier, high up in the mountains. a ladder, embedded within the columns that support the ancient pier rises up another 80 feet up towards the top. Underneath, you see flecks of movement, as if something lives under the man-made awning. Suddenly several creatures take flight. It takes you a moment to realize that they are birds.
your heart, beating hard from the exerction of the climb, continues to beat fast, and you notice that you're breathing hard. Each lung full of air seems less than it should, a sort of vertigo touches upon your mind, making it difficult to reason quickly.
Struggling to catch your breath, you turn and look out upon a sight that few have gazed upon, The top of clouds...
Rhoekk notices his peers struggling with the exertion of the climb, and makes an offer to help them save face:
"We do not know what might be up here. If you are all right to remain here, I can scout ahead to see what we might be dealing with."
Fia was more winded than she would have thought possible. Events had not slowed much since she had faced the other channeler's weaves as he brought the mountain down on them, and she had pushed herself as hard if not harder than the others since.
She had hoped Rhoekk wouldn't have noticed her weariness, but when his gaze seemed to include her in his offer, she decided that she must be more transparent than she had hoped. Still, the man was clearly and deliberately making is offer in a way so as to not shaming her or any of their companions. He was an honorable man and she gave him a small nod of acknowledgment before answering. "It would be good to have an idea of what lies ahead before we stumble into it."
Kodo flops into a sitting position after cresting the edge, his face pale and his breathing laboured. Peace! Why are we climbing again..? His head fuzzy, he sits with his head between his knees for a moment, then raises his head as Rhoekk talks. As the Aielman finishes speaking he nods wearily, then lowers his head once more.
Fort Sv:
Ryland pulls him self over the ledge and assist the others up behind him. Light it is hard to breath! It feels as if I have ran all day!
The wolf lord pats Fia on the shoulder as he moves ahead to Rhoekk. "I will guard them while you scout. I can not imagine wolves living this high up, but if you would have said last year that wolves would talk to me I would not have believed that either."
Fia sluggishly looks up in surprise as she feels the warm hand briefly on her shoulder, but Ryland had already moved on to where Rhoekk stood. She found herself blushing at the intimate forwardness of the gesture and she secretively stole a glance at the two men as they conversed, then turned away before either could catch her looking.
A little flustered, she thrust thoughts of them away as she breathed deeply in the thin air, or as deeply as she could. It was difficult at this height. Still, the view made it worthwhile. A small smile broke over her lips as she drunk in the sight of the clouds shimmering below them. Clouds were a rare enough sight in the three-fold-land and now to see them from above - it was a sight she wished to remember and so she drunk it in, memorizing the view and grinning with a rare sense of child-like wonder.
Alathea clambers onto the ledge alongside the others, pale and shaking from her ordeal. Though her breathing is labored and her head is spinning from the thin air, her trembling is from her almost fall. But after a time huddled against the cliff wall as far from the precipice as possible, she begins to calm herself. By the time Kodokura hauls himself over the edge, she is able to force herself away from the cliff face and help pull him to safety.
After looking on Kodokura with a concerned eye, Alathea puts her arm around his shoulder. "Peace, my heart. We are safe for now, and you will adjust to this air."
Rhoekk nods to the others before setting off towards the ancient pier. His hands are free to help him with the difficult and treacherous terrain, but his weapons are never far from his grasp.
Rhoekk takes a wide circuit of the area, looking for possible dangers, signs of living creatures or threats, and investigating paths and structures atop the mountain, that might indicate what possible advantage their might have been in coming up here.
climbing the pier, you are amazed to see the sight before you. Large and small boxes, some open and shut, lay scattered about. The scene continues on until the end of the pier, and beyond. Boxes, wagons, nets full of containers, all are tumbled upon the side of the mountain. Some area's show scenes of distrotion, as if the mountainside was liquid and flowed around the containers.
Moving forward, using available cover, you move about, looking for signs of hostility. Instead, you find scenes of destruction. Beyond the pier and the immediate surroundings, you fins large, magnificent mansions, some sticking out of the mountainside, others looking like a toddler built them on mud. Viens of gold set within the walls glitter, catching your eye as you look around. A weird shape, sharp, pointed, sticks out of the side of the mountain. it takes you a long time to figure out that it is the prow of a ship. The dark brown which you thought to be mud is actually rust.
Looking up and beyond, you see that the top of this mountain, which you thought was a peak, is instead a large scaled plateau of various heights. A city, massive, larger than Cairhein, tarabon, or tar valon stretches before you. As the sun moves in the sky, you see it cause flickers and glitters of light off the distant walls.
Fia closes her eyes after a moment, trusting Ryland to guard them at watch as she tried to rest and attempted to recall the little training she had received from the wise ones before taking the journey that had led them here. There wasn't much to go on, truth be told. "Alathea, do you know anything of the dream world from your training? I know little, but with these rings, perhaps I can contact or find the Aiel in this world. Perhaps they would give us aid or know how to find a way back to our world. It could be that they are as backwards in this world as everything else seems to be. Yet, if we do not find any answers up here then perhaps it would be worth trying. Cauthon? What do you know of the Aiel? How far are they? What are they like?
Alathea shakes her head in response to Fiallain's question. "I do not think I can be of much help, yes? The dreamworld is not something that comes easily to me. I found the lessons I took difficult, and to tell the truth, I did not pay very much attention during my instruction." She shakes her head with a wistful smile and shrugs, almost apologetically. "There was a window in Korana Sedai's room, overlooking the training yard. It was more fun to watch the warders train than it was to listen to the lessons, yes?"