Breaching the Handrail Descent

The stairwell drop looked sheer and unforgiving, exactly the kind of descent a warrior doesn't walk around. Instead of marching down the cement steps like a civilian, I locked my sights onto the thick yellow steel banister rail. I lunged forward, hooked my knee over the round pipe, and wedged the shaft of my blue cocktail umbrella directly beneath the mounting bracket to act as a friction brake. The plunge was fast and violent. Cold steel screamed beneath my boots as I slid down the curve. The sudden jolt rattled my shoulders and left a fresh scuff across my knee guard when I hit the next concrete landing, but I absorbed the impact in a solid crouch. Ground secured.