Beside a rock wall, Balin handed Renato a pot-shaped helmet with a fur pad inside.
"Put it on properly." The dwarf slipped into a harness covered in buckles. "If a falling rock hits your head, this thing could save your life."
Renato took off the Crown of Intellect and put it into his Bag of Holding, planning to wear it again once they reached the top.
The slowdown in his thinking felt a little uncomfortable, but he still put on the protective helmet Balin had given him. After all, he could hardly dodge falling rocks while climbing.
"Put this on too. The size should be about right..." The dwarf shook out a complicated harness. "Make sure you tighten it."
Copying the dwarf's movements, Renato brought the harness around from his back to his front, then pulled one strap around his upper thigh and another around his waist.
"Looks like you're good with your hands." Balin came over and tugged at it. "Nice and tight, too."
Finally, the dwarf handed him a pair of metal foot loops fitted with pedals. "Put your feet in these. They're much like human stirrups. Don't drop them."
"When you're climbing, they let you stand on the rope to catch your breath and take the weight off your arms."
Fully equipped, Balin threaded a thick rope already hanging against the rock wall through the buckles on his harness and the foot loops, then began climbing.
Renato secured himself the same way and followed behind the dwarf.
At first, Renato struggled to get used to pushing himself upward with the foot pedals, and his body spun in midair.
Gradually, however, he found the rhythm. His arms and legs worked together, and the climb took little effort.
The rock wall was not particularly high, and they soon reached