A raging underground river barred their path, its swift current churning with white foam.
The river was about twenty feet wide, with steep rock walls on both banks and no shallows where they could wade across.
Balin unfolded the map, studied it for a moment, and sighed.
"I know where we are." The old Dwarf tugged irritably at his beard. "Moradin's teeth, we've been heading the wrong way. We're getting farther and farther from New Rolling Stone City. We'll have to make a huge detour to get back on track..."
Tristana poked her head out from behind Renato and glanced over the map in his hands.
"Let me see... couldn't we just follow this river, then turn into the cavern beside it? Or is there some monster in there that we have to go around?"
"Boy, isn't it marked on your map?"
Balin took the map from Renato and said impatiently,
"That's because we can't follow the riverbank." The old Dwarf pointed at a mark on the map. "Can't you read this? There's a sheer rock face ahead, and we only have enough Climbing Gear for two people. Unless you're willing to stay here and wait to die..."
The Drow stared at the Dwarf as though he were an idiot, leaving Balin momentarily taken aback.
"Do you know Levitate?" The old Dwarf frowned. "Then why didn't you say so..."
"Don't question a Priestess of Lolth's ability to climb."
"We don't need Levitate. We are Lolth's favored children. Even the most treacherous terrain is as easy for us as level ground."
Tristana turned to Renato and extended a slender hand, a faint smile curling her lips.
"Come with me, Renato. Let me show you what the Ring of Spider Climbing can do."
None of the three suggested anything as foolish