Editing Volume Two: The Adask War Wizard (section)

====<big>A Private Conversation with Donovan; Son of Julian</big>====

*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Very well. We will be traveling by Pattern Transport; I haven't made a Trump of the place yet."  Realmer brings the Pattern to mind, walks it to its center then focuses on the courtyard of his Castle in Adagaar. He reaches over and lays a hand on Donovan's shoulder and then Transports them both to Adagaar.  There is something in the air. Some worlds have clouds, just like those here. Some have a heavy heat, as this one does. It seems as if it is always night, even under the brightest sun. It has a touch of static that arcs every few moments. There is a sense of old blood. There is a feel of old feuds.   The courtyard is several terraced levels of trees and grass. The area they arrived in is covered in paving stones and has a large table with several chairs around it in the central area and several comfortable looking chairs and couches with smaller side tables around the edges of the courtyard. Spaced out around the paved area are magical light globes casting a dim light upon the walkways. When they arrive, the light globes in their vicinity brighten.  Realmer holds up a hand, giving the just a moment gesture, then he focuses for a moment on the dynamics of his personal shadow and increases the time flow to nearly as fast as it can go.  "I just sped up the time flow here, so even if my Trump call was to come within the next minute, we will have a least an hour here... probably more."  He touches a tiny bell on the table and a larger bell can be heard to ring within the castle.  "I just summoned my staff, if you would like some food or drink it will be brought soon. So, have a seat and get comfortable, we have much to discuss."   Realmer sits in a comfy looking chair near a small table off to one side, there are also two other chairs and a small couch in the sitting area.  "So... where to begin...." he ponders a moment. "Perhaps it is best to start with when Julian met Nina, and Caine met Emilie, over 5000 years ago, in Amber, when Oberon brought his two Adask Daughters to Amber. The Amberite men fell deeply in love with the Adask women, a love deeper and stronger than any had seen in them before. Now we know that they were both under a Love Binding laid upon them by the sisters. Then Oberon sent Nina and Emilie away, to Adagalasck, then sealed them in as he thought them too dangerous to deal with at the time."  "So we move forward in time about 5000 years or so, when I came to Adagalasck looking for answers to questions about my heritage. I know I look Human, but I am Adask Fey. After arriving here, I contacted Nina via a Trump card that Julian had given me and we traveled Adagalasck together headed to the North Stair and her seat of power, the North Wind. Along the way, Nina began reminiscing about her time with Julian, so I pulled out his Trump and contacted him and pulled him through. Their reunion was a happy one."  "Over the next year, Julian become involved, as did Caine, in the affairs of Adagalasck. After a mighty battle with my father, Hagalta, who intended to become King himself, Julian was victorious, he claimed the West Wind and was crowned the King of Adagalasck."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer pauses in his oration to pull out two thin cigars from his robe. He puts one of them in his mouth and lights it with a fire finger cantrip, inhales deeply than exhales multicolored smoke. He takes the second one and offers it to Donovan.  "It's Uhrula; very relaxing but kind of heady. But nothing an Amberite can't handle." He chuckles, puffs again then continues with his oration.  "I spent another five years here in Adagalasck as Amber's Ambassador. I got to know Julian and Nina fairly well and did all I could to assist with stabilizing their Kingdom while keeping an eye on things for the Crown of Amber."  "Moving forward in time again, about twenty years or so by Adagalasck time standards, I returned here to discover that the kingdom was still not stabilized and that Julian had concerns about his wife, his sister-in-law, and his daughter, Sadashi. He also talked about some of the problems he was having with the Royals of his kingdom, and told me that he wished to open a University of Fantalin Campus on the West Stair, so that he could educate the Royals of Adagalasck as well as his daughter. And that is when he made his daughter my Ward. That was just a few days ago by my time reckoning."  "Now, here is where things get rather dicey. I invited Aries Colbrese, the Dean of the University at Fantalin, to come here to confer with him about setting up a campus here. Nina seemed surprised that Aries was coming to visit and suddenly became very quiet. When Aries arrived Nina became very angry, accused him of sealing Adagalasck and trapping her and her sister away from their lovers for almost five thousand years, local time, and then banished him to a shadow Realm that was not very hospitable."  "Julian was enraged. He said she had broken a covenant by not talking to him about what she intended to do. She said she didn't care, and that Aries deserved it. She said to me that I could petition for his release the following morning but not sooner. Then she disappeared. Julian stated he was unable to determine where Aries was and so therefore stated he would have to go have an argument with his wife."  "Then I visited First Step, the realm where Julian wanted the university to be built. I discovered that the main Clan Halls for the Odaraxta, the Adask clans of this realm, we're located there and apparently they were waiting for me. The banner lord of the Odaraxta, a friend of mine named Xorit, offered me the Clan Blade and Leadership of Clan Kalota, the clan my father had once ruled. I accepted."  "Upon returning to Julian's estate later that night, I discovered that Aries had already been set free and he looked like utter hell. Apparently he had spent five hundred years in a very inhospitable shadow. He said that Nina was preventing him from being able to leave Adagalasck and that he needed to do something desperate to get out. That is when he summoned Dworkin and everything got very messy."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer draws deeply off his Uhrula cigar, holds the smoke for a few seconds, then blows out a large multicolored smoke cloud in a heavy exhale that sounds more like a heavy sigh.  "When Dworkin arrived he seemed caught off-guard, which was a sight in and of itself." Realmer chuckles but then his tone get serious once again. "Then Nina and Emily suddenly appear in the room and begin screaming at Dworkin to get out of their Realm. Emilie tried to attack him, and that is when she suddenly found herself duct taped to a wall and her mouth taped shut. Dworkin then called a mandatory Family Meeting and suddenly family members started appearing in the room. First Julian appeared, then Caine, then my mother Satura, who was just in the other room, then Arloxedra popped in, looking like he was on a mountain hike somewhere, and a then a man dressed in ninja gear, who we later found out was Hiroaki the son of Borlak. When Hiroaki attempted to attack Dworkin, he also found himself duct taped to a wall."  Realmer pauses again for a puff then continues.  "Hiroaki somehow snuck into the realm with about a dozen Ninja Assassins and was in the process of trying to assassinate King Julian when Dworkin called the family meeting. Julian had apparently dispatched the other ninja and was pursuing Hiroaki when the summonings began. Dworkin then told Nina that she had broken the rules by attacking Aries and that a price must be paid. That is when Dworkin removed the ancient Love Bindings from Julian and Caine and stripped both Nina and Emilie of their powers; he erased their Imprint of the Spiral of the Four Winds, a Squiggle of Power located here in Adagalasck. It also stripped them of their seats of power and left a power void in the regions known as the North and South Winds."  "Both Julian and Caine seemed confused for a moment, once the Love Binding was gone, but then once their head's cleared, Caine became very angry, pulled out Random's Trump, conferred with him for a moment and Trumped out of the room to Amber. Julian did not seem angry, but instead seem concerned for his wife. Nina was quite distraught at that moment, thinking she had lost her lover, but Julian went to her and reassured her that his love for her was stronger than any love binding she had laid upon him and that they would find a way to work things out. After Caine departed, Emilie's anger became so great it could literally be felt throughout the entire room. Nina commented to Julian that Emily had done something bad and may have cursed Caine. She begged Julian to put Emilie to sleep and send her somewhere safe, since she had lost her own powers to do so. Julian did so. He then said that he was taking Nina to The North Wind to help her reclaim her seat of power then disappeared."  He pauses for another couple of puffs while he reviews everything in his head to see if he missed anything that might be important to Donovan.  "The rest is mostly just political maneuvering and war tactics, but just for your information, I intend to claim the South Wind and do what I can to help stabilize this Kingdom before the war with Borlak and his Flowing Horde arrives."  "So... Any questions? Anything I can clarify or elaborate on for you?"
*'''Jill Pritts'''
Donovan declines any food with a polite thank you and shake is his head no. His eyes scan the area around them and he is alert but listens to Realmer’s story. As the Love Binding is mentioned, he frowns, but does not say anything.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
(A clearification on transporting. Even with Advanced pattern imprint he can't mindwalk and teleport using it. He can have Bob transport him because being a living trump he has been transporting people. So modify taking donovan to Adagar by Bob the Beholder transport)
*'''Michael James Watson'''
(Clearification on the timeline. Oberon brought Nina and Emilie-Ninartes and Emilisa-to Amber in the Kingdom of Amber year 440, and banished them in 4403. Caine and Julian would have been in their 30s. Patternfall occurred in 5201. Julian and Caine go to Adagalasck in 5285. The current year in Amber is 5286. so its not 500 years ago but closer to 5000 years ago)
*'''Michael James Watson'''
(Oberon didn't round up all the Adask Fey and Adask. Adagalasck was being populated by them since it was created and they had immigrated from their shadows of origins. Then once sealed they had 50k years to develop as a people)
*'''Michael James Watson'''
(Dworkin, in his own anger at being surprised, called a Family meeting and summoned everyone of his blood in Adagalask. Arlo just happened to be hiking in some frolicsome mountains at the time. )
*'''Michael James Watson'''
(I like how you didn't mention the reason why this sudden conference is being held at Star Fleet Medical in the Kingdom of Vulsara of all places. Why it included Caine, Benedict, Corwin, Julian and Benedict, with Vance observing from elsewhere in his kingdom
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Realmer feels a trump contact, and a close one.
*'''Jill Pritts'''
Donovan was going to ask that next but thought his question about Borlak might be leading to it. But Realmer is getting a trump contact
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer takes another puff off of his cigar and grimaces slightly as he exhales.
"Well, I'm sure just about anyone in Amber could give you a better history of Borlak and his Flowing Horde, but as it stands today, we believe the Flowing Horde will be descending upon Adagalasck shortly. If Borlak sending his son, Hiroaki, and a small Cadre of Ninja Assassins to kill Julian didn't start the war, then my actions certainly did."  Realmer feels the Trump Contact coming in, but he holds it off for a few moments to finish telling Donovan what he wants to know.  "I know I mentioned that Dworkin duct-taped Hiroaki to the wall, but what I may have neglected to tell you was what happened afterwards. Julian had every intent on slitting his throat and asked everyone in the room if anyone had a better idea. Arlo stepped forward and said he would take care of it, I assumed he meant he was going to kill Hiroaki so that Julian it didn't have to. And my Partner Tesa and my Elite Bodyguard Gangdis also had blades at the ready to do the job should no one in the room want to. So I stepped forward and gave him an opportunity to swear off all hostilities against Amber and the Royal Family... he laughed in my face and told me that Julian would kneel before The Horde or die before The Horde. So I slit his throat and stabbed him in the heart."  Realmer takes another puff off of his cigar then finishes by saying, "Then Arlo Trumped Hiroaki out of the room and then himself. A bit later I contacted King Random, he pulled me through to Vulsara Base and showed me that Hiroaki was currently in a regeneration tank... They said he will live. I was told not to kill anymore family members, regardless of how much they deserved it."
Realmer sighs. "And that Trump call I told you about before we came here... Well I think it's coming in now. If you'll give me just a moment please."  Realmer focuses on the Trump contact and allows it in. "Yes? Who is calling?"
*'''Michael James Watson'''
"Julian.  Aaah... do you know where Tesa and my daughter are? I found Gangdis stonebound and Tesa and Sadashi gone. I can't reach either on Trump. I don't have time for either of their crap."
*'''Jill Pritts'''
Donovan finishes his cigarette and wonders how much of his father he is like and shudders just a bit while he waits for Realmer to finish
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer speaks aloud so Donovan can hear.  "What?! Gangdis is Stone Bound? Tesa and Sadashi are missing? Where in all the hells is Dorna?! Frakkin Bugbear Bladders!! Why is it that every time I leave those two alone something happens? Hang on a moment Julian."  Realmer turns to Donovan.  "It seems trouble is afoot. Care to join me? I'm going to have Julian pull me through."
*'''Jill Pritts'''
Donovan declines the cigarette, pulling out one of his own. He sits back, but he is not relaxed. "Tell me more of this war and what is happening?"
*'''Jill Pritts'''
"Where?" Donovan asks before blindly jumping into who knows what with these crazy people.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"At Julian's Estate on the West Stair in the main Realm of Adagalasck; it was where I left my team and last saw them... and most likely where Julian is now. I don't blame you if you don't want to get involved; you don't know me or my team, this is not your problem or your fight... and I can tell your relationship with your father is strained at best. But it could be an opportunity to get to know your father and your sister, if you are inclined. And to be honest, I could use some help finding out what happened to my team; a new pair of eyes and a fresh perspective might prove efficacious and would be appreciated."
*'''Jill Pritts'''
"There is and has been no relationship with my father by his choice," Donovan states simply. "Helping you will not rectify that."  He stands, "I will go with you as long as I can trump away when I so desire and as long as the time patterns are not against me compared to Amber or Mandalay."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"The Time Flow of the main Realm of Adagalasck is 10 to 1 in Amber and the majority of the Stair Realms, like mine here, are usually the same time or faster, so you should have plenty of time to get back to your companions and your own activities. And unless something beyond my control prevents you from leaving when you want, you are always free to leave as you desire."  Realmer bows his head respectfully to Donovan then stands and moves within arms reach of him, then turns his full attention back to Julian's Trump contact.
"Julian, I Donovan with me. Pull us through."  Realmer places a hand on Donovan's shoulder, then extends a hand to Julian.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Julian pulls you through. He is in the royal chambers in a large area with tables and maps. Present are several military looking men in a mixtures of armor styles.  Also present are Gangdis and Dorna.  Gangdis steps over, "Ol' son, Tesa is on her way to the South Wind. She has about two hours on us. I have a Dorna by the leash but just barely."  She stands erect and stern looking. "Lord Relmapator, Sir Gangdis has convinced me not to transport to Tesa for the moment unlit you had a chance to speak with her. Do so directly, please."  Julian says, "Realmer. We have secured the North Wind and Nina's Stair. There wasn't really any serious challengers. She has not assayed the sigil yet but we hold it. The south is yours if you want it. I spoke briefly to Xorit. He says he has forces to attach to the Kalota at your need. He has openly disavowed the Shaxta and expelled them from the Odaraxta. Krelet of the Shaxta is on the way south but Trualta has told me he will spare no horse in detaining him. Trualta blocked Krelet from going North. Tesa is heading south. She ditched her Elite to get there fast and Sadashi knows the way. You have the key. But she is a hell of a adventuring thief so i wouldn't put her figuring it out on her own. See to your effort, General.  He steps over to Donovan, putting a hand on his shoulder. " Donovan, its good to see you. I hereby grant you the rank Prince of Adagalasck. My seneschal can help you find lodgings. We are officially on a war footing but nothing is pressing. We are gathering intel for the moment. Feel free to look around. Did Random assign you an Elite? If so he has the rank of Lieutenant. If you can, come have dinner with Nina and I. She is calmer now.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer's eyes narrow and his lips purse, a slight growl can be heard by all present.  "It is possible she is trying to secure the South Wind for me, as she knows my intentions. But, she did once tell me that she was only using her association with me to gain power." Slight pause. "Little sneak-thief." he says with both anger and admiration in his voice and on his face.  "Julian; is it possible for you to use your Power to transport me to the South Wind, or close to it? I recall you sending me to a nasty realm to demonstrate that power and I saw you use it to send Emilie away and take Nina to the North Stair. It would certainly help to get ahead of everyone vying for that seat of power."
*'''Michael James Watson'''
"I can. I have a place in what was Emilie's stair. Its a high up. So the dynamics are exciting. The time is 30 to 1 in Adagalasck. It has a a line of sight the the Fortress of the South Wind. Mind you, Emilie's people will be there. No adask. But War Trolls. Fairies. Sprites. Her army was mostly human and will probably be recovering from her glamour over them. I can't say how willing to fight they will be. Everyone bound to her through her Wind will be set free the moment Dworkin removed her imprint. Nina, Trualta and Hagalta never used their Wind to bind people. Makes them loyal but unproductive and lacking initiative. Trualta says he can send 100 horseman and 500 horse. Not the ryhnyn but good wild grass horses.. Once you get the to Fortress of the South go deep. The Chamber of the Wind is at the bottom. The Key is needed to get through about 100 doors. Terrible architecture.. Once there, it will accept you or toss you. I can't help with that. As for the Spiral of the stair, thats a whole different trouble. Its beneath the base of the stair in the south wall of the Fortress of the Wind. Once you are there, walk the Spiral. It should accept you. You are in a race to get there and may have to choose which to take first. I suggest the Wind. Its rulership. The Stair is power. Its your call which to do first."
*'''Jill Pritts'''
(You realize to an outsider this sounds like an Alice in Wonderland drug trip from the outside)
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
(Who says it isn't?)
*'''Jill Pritts'''
“Thank you for the honor Julian, however I am here to help Realmer for a moment and then must be on the way.”
*'''Jill Pritts'''
“I take it that the race is on to claim these sigils to claim a power void here?”
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"A race for two Sigils to fill two power voids with many participants. Having a Fey Lord like yourself with me might be helpful and present a better image for me, but I won't ask you to accompany me any further, Donovan. Now that I know that Tesa and Sadashi were not abducted but simply pursuing their own agendas, I'm not so willing to get you involved any further, unless it is your own desire to do so."  Realmer turns to Gangdis, "I want you at my side every step of the way, of course. Dorna..." he turns to her, "teleport to Tesa and keep her and Sadashi safe, do not interfere with their plans... I think Tesa knows I am going for the Wind and she is going for the Stair."  He turns to Julian, "Tell Xorit and Trualta I graciously accept their offers of soldier and horse. Tell Datarik, Kalota's Seneschal, he is in command of the Clan in my absence and to send the Clan south to the South Wind and intercept Krelat and Shaxta if needed... I personally want to move fast and light and get to that Spiral post haste... I can deal with the peoples of the land and politics and loyalties after."  He looks like he is about to say something else, then stops and looks around the room.  "Where's Bob? I left him here to keep an eye on everyone, especially Tesa and Sadashi... Bob?"  Realmer reaches out with his Psyche to find his Familiar.
*'''Jill Pritts'''
Donovan waits to see what is going on with Bob. “I’ll see the next steps play out and then I shall leave.”  Donovan figures the intel alone is worth plenty for the time loss.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
“Hey Boss! I was wondering when you would get back! Isn't Tesa great? I'm with her now. Sadashi borrowed one of the pegasus of Julian's and we are over Seize now. Isn't Tesa's voice magical? I can't be sure she even knows she's talking like that.. But, I'm doing what you told me-Protect Tesara and Always Warn her of Danger. We had some trouble crossing the Alagasa Sea but that's done now. Sadashi says we will skirt land and come around to Codupia and the Fortress of the Southern Wind in about 6 hours. Sadashi and I argued. She tried giving me a magical command but it failed. I told her your commands came first and that was that Relmopator and Tesara are the ONLY Beings that can use my Powers, Magics and Spells. She was angry but Tesa calmed her down. Isn't she great? We are in South Wind waters near Schon. I'll keep you informed and don't worry. I feel safe when i'm with Tesara and less safe when I'm away from Tesara.”  "Oh hey...I'm having trouble transporting... Not sure why....Tesa doesn't know either....." 
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer looks through Bob's Eye to see what he sees.  But, he doesn't want Bob to know anything is wrong so he shields his own deeper thoughts from his Familiar and says to him mentally, to keep those around him from hearing.  ~Good job, Bob. Keep up the great work and keep me informed. Make hourly reports to me. Watch Tesa carefully; her new powers are manifesting and you need to observe and track them and their progress for all of us. Make sure she is not going to hurt herself. Remember, we are also supposed to be training our new Partner. And I'm looking into the problem with transporting... I'll contact you later once I know more.~
Realmer breaks the contact and turns his attention back to those in the room.  
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer has that familiar look of a silent Trump conversation on his face for a few moments, then his eyes focus back on the room and he sighs gently.  "Slight change of plans: Donovan, I know I just asked you to join me, but I retract that request. Things are getting messier by the moment and I can't have someone with me that could bail out at an inopportune moment; no disrespect, but you did say you have other plans and a time table. I wish you Good Fortunes, Lord Donovan."  Realmer bows his head respectfully to Donovan, turns to Gangdis, Dorna and Julian, takes a deep breath and continues quickly.  "Bob is with Tesa and Sadashi who are currently flying on a Pegasus over the sea along the coast of Seize, near Schon. I believe Tesa's new Powers are manifesting... Bob appears to be Charmed by her and is acting as though he is HER Familiar as well as mine. He indicated that she many not even be aware she is doing it... something to do with her voice. Bob said that Sadashi stated they were going to skirt land and should be at the Fortress of the South Wind in near to six hours.""Dorna, you're coming with me and Gangdis until the pair reach land, then you can teleport to Tesa; don't defy her in anyway, just agree and go along with what she is doing... maybe she won't use her powers on you... and protect her, of course. I want you to observe her and those around her with a clear head."  "Gangdis, once King Julian answers my question, advise me on this: do you think just the three of us will be sufficient to make a fast strike team that can get to that Wind?"  "Julian, tell me about the arrival point. How far to the Spiral from there? And how many can you transport with your Power?"
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Julian says, "Sadashi took Sota...Figures. I should have seen that coming. its a might creature.. a cross breed of a fine Pegasus and Morgenstern. Fast.. I can transfer 5 or so people at a time. Nina was better at it. The spot has a entrance that is a line of sight to the base to enter the Fortress from there the Spiral and the Chamber of the Wind are about the same distance."
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Gangdis says, "You need a warrior with magical skills. Bleys? You made a friend at Rasak...a CHAD member... Carston is probably around here someplace"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer looks to Gangdis. "Not Bleys; I really don't like that man. But Carston and Fortunadas would be excellent additions, especially since we have trained and fought together."  Realmer turns to Julian. "I know Carston works for you, but do I mind if I borrow him for this mission?"  Realmer is already pulling out his Dragonskin Trumps of both Carston and Fort.
*'''Jill Pritts'''
Donovan recognizes the dismissal for what it is. His face is neutrally polite as he returns the bow to Realmer.  “Another time then. Best wishes on your endeavors here. Father, let us connect when you have the time,” he briefly considers making a run for the sigil but realizes he is very underprepared to contest for it. He pulls out a trump of Desri.