Amanda and the Tree Trolls - A Raindancer World Adventure

The Tree Troll led Amanda out of the feast hall and up through the rest of Tree Troll Grand Palace. The place was a hive of activity and it was indeed grand. Great spiral stairs led through carpentry shops, rooms full of spinners and weavers of fine cloths, sleeping quarters, dining halls, kitchens and bakeries and a theatre. Unlike the forest floor, the Grand Palace was exposed to bright sunlight, since it was built upon the highest boughs of the tallest tree in the Tanglewood, and the Trolls had made good use of this unique (to them) lighting situation. All of the woodwork was ornately and beautifully carved, and the floors were covered with finely woven carpets.
Before ascending the last flight of stairs, Amanda's guide pulled two pairs of dark glasses down from hooks on the wall. It put one pair on itself and handed the other to Amanda. "You might need these," the Troll explained. "You have been a long time in the dark of the Tanglewood."
Amanda did as she was bidden, more out of a desire to keep the Troll happy than because she really thought she would need protection from sunlight. She was soon very glad that she had the glasses, however. At the top of the final flight of stairs, the Troll opened a door onto the roof of the Grand Palace. Even through the glasses, the full sunlight was an assault on Amanda's eyes. Amanda quickly realized that what she thought had been bright sunlight inside the Palace had actually been filtered through wide eaves of thick foliage. It was far brighter on the roof of the Palace.
As if it did this every day, the Troll nonchalantly strolled over to the edge of the roof, to which was attached a system of very long cables. The cables led down into the Tanglewood below and some covered distances of many miles. The Troll swung a loop attached to some sort of harness over one of the cables and indicated the Amanda that she should strap herself into the harness.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding!" exclaimed Amanda.
"Not at all," replied the Troll. "This is the fastest way to the Portal Cave."
Amanda still felt this plan was somewhat dubious, but she put on the harness.
The Troll inspected Amanda's harness (to ascertain that it was secure, she hoped!) and pushed Amanda off the roof of the Grand Palace with a great heave. Amanda screamed as she hurtled towards the Portal Cave with her Tree Troll guide not far behind.