So, I have two characters who are going to be crossing some mountains in my WIP, in a secondary world fantasy setting loosely modeled on T'ang China. One of the characters is a local swordsman, the other is a magician from the modern world, who thus has at least some cultural exposure to modern rock climbing, and has (if I want) possibly actually done it (in the modern world). The modern character is a must more cosmopolitan, adventuresome and competent person than I am IRL -- a figure of heroic statue.
They don't have nice modern climbing supplies, though they can improvise.
The scene is more about what they find, and what they fight, while crossing the mountains, than the actual ordeal of crossing, but it occured to me that I could ratchet the tension by adding in the climb itself as a secondary threat.
So I'm wondering if anyone here has been rock climbing IRL, what would you do to make a climb safer without supplies? What are the "ground rules"? The modern character is very level-headed and sharp, and it would be instructive of her character for her to approach this challenge with modern insight.
Anyone care to recommend a short book or movie that would provide a good intro to rock climbing? I'm open to some background reading of a reasonable length here, but it's just one scene so I don't want to get too bogged down.
I can also define the mountains and terrain pretty much any way I want for the sake of drama, save that they have to be fairly substantial in size. I can decide, in other words, how much and where paths already exist, and how well they're maintained.
They don't have nice modern climbing supplies, though they can improvise.
The scene is more about what they find, and what they fight, while crossing the mountains, than the actual ordeal of crossing, but it occured to me that I could ratchet the tension by adding in the climb itself as a secondary threat.
So I'm wondering if anyone here has been rock climbing IRL, what would you do to make a climb safer without supplies? What are the "ground rules"? The modern character is very level-headed and sharp, and it would be instructive of her character for her to approach this challenge with modern insight.
Anyone care to recommend a short book or movie that would provide a good intro to rock climbing? I'm open to some background reading of a reasonable length here, but it's just one scene so I don't want to get too bogged down.
I can also define the mountains and terrain pretty much any way I want for the sake of drama, save that they have to be fairly substantial in size. I can decide, in other words, how much and where paths already exist, and how well they're maintained.
