1. The Long Falls

Grim lends kind dwarven assistance to tying makeshift lines of safety.
Well now, I’m gonna suggest we put strong ones in front, Billie in the middle, n’ at least one more strong one in the rear. Just in case we need someone to catch folks falling backwards.

Put me where you want me; I do not care. Zacharias seems to have developed a bad case of apathy, given that a significant portion of his prime years were stolen by the ghost. I have fifty feet of silk rope we can use as well, if we need. It's not like I will need it for much longer, Zach says, pointing to his gray hairs.

Let me make a suggestion. Mules are very sure footed. Perhaps we let Billie go first. He can suss out safe footholds instinctively. We can use one rope to rope all of us together and then use another to doubly rope Billie to the two or three front people. Jacky, if we do this, I recommend you be near the front as well if Billie needs calming.

"An excellent plan, Zacharias."

The elf assisted in tying and securing the rope to herself and the others. She was generally sure-footed, but she wouldn’t mind being secured by her companions.

Jacky readily agrees with the grey-haired man.

Let me know when you're all happy with the order and roping configuration, and we'll commence the ascent.

Ellagel kept looking up the cliffside, examining the winding switch-back path ahead of the party.

The Long Stair
It takes you a turn to organise yourselves and rope-up before you begin the ascent. The climb is, predictably, hard going. As much as the incline, it’s the incessant need to concentrate on your footing and the ever-increasing height of the unguarded drop to your right that makes the journey particularly draining. However, your preparations were well made and it's only the relatively clumsy Jacky who has to be rescued from falling by his co-roped colleagues on a couple of occasions.

You complete the first two legs of the climb, up to the second switchback, in 1 hour and 40 minutes. At this point, you are roughly halfway up the 1,500’-tall cliff face, close to Arden’s left shoulder. There is an entrance into the cliff face here - a neatly excavated portal in the rock without decoration or ornamentation.

Do you wish to investigate the opening (or anything else), or continue with the climb?

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3:20 pm, Demmasday 1st Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’
Vasco, Thorcin Thief 1: 6/6, 120’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Zach is still extremely shaken up and is not interested in anything but getting to the top. Go and investigate if you want; I've learned my lesson.

We can stop here fer at rest, if anyone wishes. Otherwise, I say we keep moving.

Vasco looked at the rock entrance and said, "Could this be another entrance? We can check this one out, if everyone agrees."

"Rumours said it would be easier going from the pyramid up top. I say we heed that advice, and keep moving."

Ellagel worried that if they stopped here, they would not make it to the top before dark. She had hoped they would be able to see more from higher ground. Also, unlike the tower, if they were forced to retreat from some man-eating troll or demon possessed monstrosity, they would be in a very perilous position on the cliff-side.