“This one cannot help with the cold; Do’Karth knows how to mend a wound, not brew a potion of warmth or cast a spell.” The khajiit responded when prompted by Keegan. He involuntarily shuddered, reflecting on what had happened to the Breton man, and while he was gladdened to see the man  saved from drowning, hypothermia was still a very real threat, although not one of the worst ways to go. He watched as a Redguard he was unacquainted with, but knew to be Almad, both from Keegan’s inquiry and from listening to the others in the company talk to the dark-toned man with long, semi-kempt hair and no beard. After living amongst the Nords for long enough, it was becoming strange to see anyone without facial hair. Skyrim’s climate all but demanded it. The khajiit watched as Almad, evidently a mage, work his literal magic to try and comfort the now stripped down Breton. Do’Karth imaged the women of the company were rather enjoying themselves.

Ice tumbled down, striking the ground with enough force that Do’Karth’s ears shot backwards out of reflex. The faces around Do’Karth suggested that very few, if anyone, were willing, to attempt the climb. He set his staff against the wall, shed his heavy coat, and stood in his budi and foot wraps, clawed toes protruding. “This one will climb.” Do’Karth said, looking up the harrowing shaft. It was perhaps about 12 meters? The khajiit had never really climbed on ice before, but he was an accomplished climber; it was, after all, how he infiltrated the Mane’s palace, and much of his youth bad been spent climbing rock faces and trees to enjoy a natural view of the surroundings. He reached out to the ice and tested to see how well he could dig his claws into the ice; as it turned out, not much. It would be enough to keep him from sliding somewhat, but not enough to stop himself if he slipped. 

Do’Karth approached the climbing kit, looking for anything that would help. Settling on a single crampon that strapped somewhat securely to his bare foot, the iron spikes giving some reassuring traction along with a crudely made ice axe, which simply looked like a hatchet that had been filed down to the point where it could break into the ice and stick with a leather lanyard hanging off of the bottom. All in all, not the most reassuring thing. 

The khajiit approached the rope, gave it a solid tug, half expecting to be blinded from the falling grapple.  When it didn’t come loose, he let out an annoyed sigh and wrapped the rope around his one leg, and let the bare one provide the friction necessary to hold himself in place as he ascended, Do’Karth began to pull himself upwards, allowing the rope to slide between his legs as he inched ever upwards, clamping down in his position as needed to break, or reached the end of his pull. The ice creaked menacingly above, and Do’Karth was fully expecting it to give out on him.

After ascending nearly half the distance, the khajiit swung somewhat, trying to grapple his foot onto one of the wooden struts to test its strength. After applying more and more pressure to it, the spike holding it into the wall came loose, and one side slid down, being caught by the other one. He slid down somewhat, wrapping an arm around the rope and using the ice axe’s lanyard to hook around the metal strut, pulling on it until the other strut, already weakened from his weight moments ago, and it came freely a moment later. The plank of wood might prove to be useful for securing the line, if he made it to the top. 

[I]If.[/I]

Sliding the length of wood into his waist sash, Do’Karth continued his climb, his muscles screaming at the exertion when a sudden crack above his head caused the khajiit to have a minor heart attack as he scrambled to dig the climbing axe into ice and to kick the crampon hard into the ice surface. Moments later, the grapple came loose, narrowly scraping his arm and the sudden stop of the rope still tied to his leg threatened to pull him free. Grabbing one of the wooden struts with his free hand, Do’Karth held on for dear life and dared not breathe, his eyes as wide as saucers.

As luck would have it, he didn’t fall, but he had to try and make the remaining two meters with one axe, one leg, all while carrying the increasingly horrible weight on his tangled leg that he needed to bring up with him if anyone else hoped to reach the top. And so, using struts that dared to break free at a moment’s notice and what equipment he brought with him, Do’Karth struggled with every foot he gained, his muscles threatening to give out with each pull. When his axe reached over the top, his heart soared and with heavy exertion, Do’Karth pulled himself over the ledge and  he landed with a heavy thunk on his back, his muscles screaming and his lungs burning for oxygen, but he was safe. Letting out a relieved and nervous laugh, Do’Karth laid on his back, catching his breath. When a voice  carried up to him, asking if he were alright.

“Fine! This one has made it. Give him a moment to secure the rope.” He called back. Do’Karth labourously sat up, freeing his leg of the grapple, and he dragged it down the tunnel, surprised to see a door with a torch scone, a very frosted over scone, affixed to the stone next to it. Wrapping the rope around the scone before anchoring it with the grapple, Do’Karth also produced the strut he’d saved and tested the door to see if it creaked open. The seams were frozen shut, prompting the khajiit to curse and bash the pick near the lock until a reassuring crack gave him the confidence to try and pry the door open by sliding the strut in the door handle and using it to pry. It started to flex, but there was progress. Returning to the lip of the ledge, Do’Karth checked the rope again, hoping the scone was firmly anchored itself. “Watch your heads! Do’Karth is dropping the equipment!” he  called, checking to see if people were stepping back. Tying the axe and the crampon to the length of rope by the leathers to  control their descent, Do’Karth dropped the climbing equipment down, where seconds later they landed with a thunk. “Do’Karth sees a door and has secured the rope. Should he proceed and try to find something to use as a ladder?” he called.