Avalanche in the High Pass

Mountain Pass Ascent

The footing on this moist and crumbling slope continues to be treacherous. The mists that give these mountains their name are clammy and clinging in the thick fog of day.

The pass splits into three directions here, one climbing higher, one leading down the western slope, and one which cuts straight through a divide in the peaks before you. The upper path leads up through the clouds, almost to the fringe of the mountains snowy caps. Heading west will take you down into the mist enshrouded lower reaches of the pass, and southwest leads around a jumble of rocks and along the foothills adjacent to the mountains.

Between the western and southwestern passes a steep mountain with sheer faces rises, split in the middle as if by a giant\'s ax. The rising slopes of the mountain overlook this deep bay between high cliffs, and close it off from view. Only a narrow trail penetrates the cliff face where the two halves of the mountain join, passing between two upraised crags through a crack only thirty feet wide.

A thick blanket of heavy clouds covers the sky, casting a gray pall over the landscape. The mid afternoon summer air is hot and very humid.

Contents:

Breefolk Campsite(#17632VaeM)

Nob

Mogishi

Obvious exits:

Narrow Trail leads to Sheltered Canyon.

West leads to Mountain Pass Ascent.

Southwest leads to Ascent to the Pass.

East leads to High Pass, Twisting Trail.

[Nob(#16122)] The afternoon sun is warming, though the air is cold. Brev has just left Gidon to go to the lead wagon, and the boy is looking after him with a troubled face. The icy wind howls through the rocks, carrying a multitude of various sounds - some sound like sniggering, others like snatches of voices, though there are no words nor any sight of movement.

Eilian walks beside the wagons, which leave deep tracks in the muddy snow. Her feet are quick and sure, though her mien is worried. As she passes Gidon, she reaches out a hand to reassure, though perhaps it is not very reassuring.

[Nob(#16122)] The boy looks at the elf and his expression deepens. His concern, oddly enough, seems to be directed partly at her...

There is a sudden gust of wind, and the boy rocks off-balance before catching himself. A grinding sort of noise sounds from somewhere up in the peaks.

And a soft sound follows, like bouncing pillows.

Eilian looks up, her hood falling from dark hair blue eyes widen, and she steps off the slippery path a moment, murmuring a Sindarin word to another Elf.

[Nob(#16122)] Gidon looks up too, as the air seems to rush around him. \"What\'s that?\" he asks nervously, his hand tightening on his spear cum walking stick. \"Ain\'t more goblins...?\"

\"No!\" cries the elleth, who claims a better view of the slope. \"It is...\"

A few of the dwarves have begun to look up as well, and some of the wagons slow, grinding into a more treacherously laid path.

[Nob(#16122)] Some rocks bounce down, clattering on the cliffs and sinking into the muddy snow of the track. One dwarf cracks a whip, urging his ponies to greater speed, and Gidon, after a moment of gawking, begins to run towards the front. Brev is up there somewhere...

\"Stay!\" calls Eilian, who dashes forward as well. More rocks skitter down the slope, though a heavier sound is following. The first few clumps of snow fly from the cliffside, glittering in the afternoon sun.

[Nob(#16122)] The boy looks back over his shoulder and slows a little, \"What is it?\" he calls, his voice high and thin with nervousness.

\"Don\'t go further,\" Eilian says, lifting her arm to shield from a smaller cascade of pebbles and snow. \"You must take cover! Anything may happen now.\"

Above the rumble is the shrill whistle of laughing wind. Is it wind?

[Nob(#16122)] \"But... Brev\'s up there!\" Gidon says, and takes a few steps farther, before a clump of snow lands directly in front of him and stops him. The nearer wagons seem to be trying to back up now, and the farthest on ones to go faster to hopefully get through in time.

\"He\'s an able lad,\" Eilian answers quickly. \"I\'m sure he will be safe. We should go back.\"

The sound has increased to boulder-sized pillows.

[Nob(#16122)] And there is a distant roaring, as well. A few smaller rocks come whizzing down - almost as if they were thrown, and one hits Gidon on the shoulder. He yelps, and backs up, reluctantly, still looking back down the path. And it is then, if one were to look up, that a crack runs the length of the overhanging cornice of snow. Above it, there seems to be a mist over the sun...

Somewhere in the line of ponies, which seems to be dividing in two -- one rushing forward and the other backing up -- someone shrieks, \"Avalanche!\"

A fistful of snow bounces off Eilian\'s hood and crumbles gasping, the elleth attempts to grab Gidon\'s shoulder and hurl him towards the nearest overhang of rock.

[Nob(#16122)] A hand closes around Gidon\'s shoulder, shoving him off-balance towards the cliffside. He stumbles, flinging both hands out for balance (though only one goes far enough: the other is caught short) and falls, landing against the rock under a slight overhang. Snow rains down over and around him. Ponies snort and whinny and try to bolt in a panic...

And when it quiets, there is not much to be seen but a huge white mound of smooth, pristine snow. One wagon was far behind and missed the avalanche entirely. Its driver is hobbling his ponies as fast as he can and running towards the snow, axe in hand. Another is stuck on the edges, partly in and partly out. The snow rises up too far to see what has happened to those on the other side.

The corner of Eilian\'s grey cloak pokes through a mound of snow, and the top of the pile shifts slightly, a slither of snow protesting the silence.

[Nob(#16122)] In the unnatural quiet of his prison, Gidon shivers and groans. He sits up, shaking his head, and looking around himself at the thick walls of rock behind and snow before. Then, he pushes at the snow, finding that near the top, it is soft and not too thick and it is only a minute before he has shoved a fairsized hole and is trying to crawl out of it.

Shouts ring out from the other side of the drift - there are people alive over there, too, it seems - and then there is a cry of pain. The dwarves are chopping at the icy mound, pushing the loosened snow behind them at a furious rate, and soon the first wagon is freed.

A slow, scraping sound is coming from Eilian\'s hill, and the side seems to be weakening quickly. Above, there is still the high, squeaky wind, laughing.

[Nob(#16122)] Another few rocks come down, hurled from on high, and almost it seems they are aimed... they plunk off the top of the wagon, bouncing harmlessly aside. One of the dwarves shakes his fist at the heights.

Gidon finally breaks loose, and stops, panting, to look around. There is a scraping noise nearby, and he scoots over to it, digging at the outside with red, chapped fingers.

The glittering point of a dagger pokes angrily through the side of the slope, pauses, and retreats. After a few more minutes of digging, Eilian\'s gloved hand reaches through, uncertainly breaking off the icy crust about the narrow tunnel.

[Nob(#16122)] It is only when he sees the dagger point, near enough his fingers to cut them off, that Gidon remembers his spear. He looks around for it, seeing the butt sticking out of some loose snow where he as just come from, and slithers back to get it. Carefully, he stands, poking the butt end near the hole Eilian has dug, and using the leverage to try and break off a larger piece of the snow wall.

As a wider gap opens, a short, halting breath is taken. Both arms reach out -- one is still holding the knife -- and spread, trying to break apart the mound. \"I am assuming,\" Eilian\'s voice, somewhat muffled, \"you are not hurt.\"

[Nob(#16122)] Gidon shakes his head, then realizes he can\'t be seen, and says, \"No.\" It is true. Mostly. He is scraped and bruised, and his injured arm aches at the pummeling it has received. But he has, for the most part, escaped serious injury. \"But I dunno \'bout..\" The boy\'s voice wavers a little as he looks at the dwarves still furiously digging. \"Them as is under there.\"

Eilian\'s dark head, frosted with snow, bursts through the top of the mound (which seems to be considerably lighter than the pile fallen upon the wagons). \"I see,\" she says wearily, pulling herself from the snow, limb by limb. \"Then we should help them.\" Wobbling, the elleth holds a hand to the rock face for support, and glares up at the cliffs.

[Nob(#16122)] The boy reaches out a hand to help the elf, looking towards the wagons himself and nodding.