Editing Volume Two: The Adask War Wizard (section)

====<big>The Citadel of the South Wind</big>====

*'''Michael James Watson'''
Julian nods and transports and the first group which arrives in lush jungle before a huge stone door.  Pealing the door open looks out to a long greensward and dozens of towers made from giant hollowed trees.  Fort says, "Ironwood Trees... Hollowed out Ironwood..."  Between and among the towering trees the land if filled with battling Orcs and Adasks. Among them clusters of Humans and Fey, most firing arrows from balconies in the ironwood trees.  Looking among the battles below he sees Adask banner for the Bannerlords of the Trexcat and Solox Adask.  Carston says, "White Hand, Mauled Dog, Drumheads, and Broken Wheel Orc tribes."  Dorna draws her blade, "This wasn't the war I was sent to fight but it's the one I have."  Fort draws Wayfinder.  "Figures.. Hi, diddle diddle, straight up the middle."  Moments later the 5 Adagalasck Elites arrive.  Fort looks to Realmer... "Now what, Mon capitan?"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer looks sideways at Fort.  "Actually, it's 'Mon General'. But I'll forgive you this time... Corporal."  Realmer pauses for comic effect then turns his head to look at Fort full on and smiles and chuckles. Then he turns his attention back to the battlefield before him.  "We wait for the rest to arrive then we move out; fast and furious. Unless someone can provide an aerial view and find a less combat-filled path that doesn't take us too far afield... straight through, a running battle, attack only if needed, evade and defend until we are clear. This is not our fight... not now anyways; we have another objective."  He watches the battle a bit more, looking for not so obvious opportunities, as well as kill zones and ambushes to avoid.  "Fort, Gangdis; what do you think? One solid formation to drive our way through? Or.... smaller teams of five to ten, each weaving through where they can, but still keeping relatively close to the other teams and moving in the desired direction, if not the exact path of another team?"
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Fort says, "Send the Lullaby League ahead of us. They specialize in sleep music. If there is someone out here that can stay awake when nineteen 23rd degree Bards lead by a Thrice Crown Bard sing them to sleep, we should call in nukes." Carston nods his head in agreement.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Carston says, "Its considered a sin to Venki to kill someone in their sleep"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"So be it; the Bards in the lead. Adagalasck Elites; you will follow my team in a Reverse Spear Tip formation, covering our rear. No attacking unless needed. No killing or maiming for any reasons. Do not disturb the Sleeping Foes and certainly don't kill them."
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Venki and his band of drowsy desperados leads across the field of deadly battle. The field of sleeping foes is wide as the music rises.  Fort turns to Gangdis and Carston. "Lets collect banners. orc, Adask.. See if it makes them cooperative. That ok, mon admiral de la marine?"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer laughs. "Excellent idea. Good way to introduce myself and initiate talks when they come to retrieve them."  As they make their way, Realmer snatches up Banners that are near at hand, but he also tries to access his Fey Powers to 'get in tune' with this wooded environment and 'feel' the nature about him as they travel. He also keeps a wary eye for any not asleep, specifically those that might be Fey.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
The field has no Fey among it and seems to have been mainly an Orc/Adask battle.  Fort with Wayfinder shouts directions toward one of the middle ironwood trees.  Along the way several dozen banners and clan tokens are gathered. Reaching the ringed roots and stairs to the front door Fort sets the tip of the sword on the ironwood tree. Stepping closer he examines it.  "Locked from the inside." he says.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer smiles and releases a spell Hung upon the Sigil of Paragon; a High Order version of a Passwall targeted on the door.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
The door creaks open and the entrance is filled furniture from bottom to the distant top.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer looks to Fort.  "You sure that Sword knows where we're going?"  He looks the pile of furniture over and mumbles, "Fireball?" He chuckles lightly.  "I do have a spell that will 'animate' most anything, and it is designed for massive numbers of... targets. Once animated I could order them to clear out.... then guard the entrance."
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Fort looks in and up. "Someone's attic?"
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Fort raises the sword and points it away, it swings around to the tower of Ikea
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Well then, I guess this is the way. I wonder if the Key Caine gave me might help" he says as he pulls out the Key to the South Wind. He holds it forth to the pile of furniture, hoping something will happen other than him looking like a fool.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Off to the left a high backed chair glows.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer points out the chair to Fort and asks, "Do you see that glow? I believe that might be the way."  Realmer moves to the glowing chair carefully and moves the Key in close proximity to it, but does not touch the chair itself. If nothing happens; he will touch the Key to the glowing chair.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
When he touches the chair he sees directly above him a sofa, end on, about 20' up in the tightly packed tower.
Fort chuckles, "Oh to be Lord of the South Wind....."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"It kind of looks like a path is being shown to me one piece of furniture at a time."  Realmer heads in carefully, and says: "Follow me. Carefully."
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Fort says, "Ah, Realmer, I can see they get more... ah... ya , ok..." He shrinks to a small fox shape and climbs behind Realmer.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"What was that, Fort? 'They get more...' what?"  Realmer moves to the couch then looks for the next glowing piece of furniture to tell him the path.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Fort, "Unbalanced. Have you been to Braldig's? Seen his machine? This looks like the inside of a Rube Goldberg machine. Somewhere up there this whole place is going to start spinning to life.”
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer stops a moment and says:  "The Sword says we have to go this way. The Key is showing the way through and I'm hoping that it is permitting safe passage as well and prevents the spinning to life thing."  Then he looks to Fort / the little fox and asks:  "So what do you advise? Have you an alternate plan?"
*'''Michael James Watson'''
The small fox says, "Short of pulling everything out, I'd say keep an eye out for swinging footstools."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"But of course. I AM an Adventuring Wizard; I am always wary of inanimate objects becoming animated... or actually turning out to be a Mimic or other camouflaged Shape Shifting creatures."  Realmer moves on, holding the Key out before him, touching each piece of furniture that it shows to him, then looks for the next. He keeps looking back to see if Fort and the others are following.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Carston didn't say anything but decided to guard the door.  Gangdis and Dorna look like bulls thinking about ballet.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer urges Light from the Yellow Mandalay Stone in Satura's Ring, lighting up his surrounding and allowing the others to see him and not get lost.  As he holds out the Key to see the next glowing furnishing, he calls out what each is to those following, so they know the path to follow.  He watches his environment carefully, but also allows his Psyche to feel for danger or threats... though his Ring, Robe and Staff should all warn him of danger if it comes from a living creature with a mind, no matter how crude.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Gangdis yells, "Are you sure you want us to climb behind you? It doesn't look like it will hold all three of us."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer realizes that is may not be the best way as he realizes something else.  “Everyone stop now. Back all the way out to the entrance. You too Fort; I'll be out soon as well.”  Realmer pauses before returning to the entrance and thinks a moment about his realization; that he may well be Attuned to the Key of the South Wind in some way already... that he did walk a Spiral of the Four Winds with the Key in his possession, though it was the West Wind... but perhaps it might still be enough to grant more than just access through actual doors and pointing the way through this maze. He carefully makes his way back out.  “I have a thought; another idea I want to try before any of us gets too deep into this maze of furnishings.”  Realmer holds up the Key before him, at eye height, then he brings up the Sigil of the Spiral and the looks through it at the Key of the South Wind and examines it carefully. Then he holds the Key out before him, towards the open door in the tree and the blockading housewares, looks through the center of the Sigil of the Spiral and focuses his Psyche on the Key and 'wills' a path to be cleared through the furnishings. Then, if needed, he verbally commands: “Clear the path.”
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Looking up into the pile of dozen IKEAs poured into the tower, he see through his lens a glowing series of furniture spiraling upwards, a path nailed in place to be surrounded afterwards.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer shrugs.  "Well, that didn't work the way I hoped. But now I can see a clear path of furniture nailed to the outer wall; the path forms a spiral. If we all follow the exact same path, and no more than one person on a nailed down piece of furniture at a time, it should hold. So, only crawl on the furniture the person in front of you is on once they have cleared it, and I will call out each safe piece as we are going along."   "I don't know what we are going to face once we get inside, so I'm asking for advice. Should I take just my team? Or should I take more? Should we leave anyone here to guard the entrance? Who should go and who should stay?"
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Dorna speaks, possibly for the first time unbidden since Tesa abandoned her. "I should stand Guard to inform you if foes, including the flying ladies, arrive. I shal;l speak sternly to them.”   Venki say, "yon tower is bound wood empowered. What lays within leads above. Shall i see how the tower is topped?"  Fort, "If you have the path, thee and me should ascend it. Unless you want heroic theme music the bards are best below. Whatever magic makes the stair a pathway of furniture must fill the remaining space as well. It should go away when the Stair is secured."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Excellent idea, Venki. Dorna, Gangdis; if the young ladies arrive, I would like you to keep them occupied and keep them here at the entrance. Do your best to not let them enter. Carston, you're in command until I return. Fort, you're with me."  Realmer re-enters the Stair Tower of Furniture and quickly but carefully negotiates the spiral path, using his Robe of Flight when and where possible to make the trip quicker.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Fort climbs behind in the form of a miniature fox.  Up and around the tower many times across a huge collection of furniture from across Adagalasck. There seems to be little else in the tower then furniture.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Climbing the interior higher and higher Realmer seems to feel light headed. Something about the place is inscribing visions of realms of vast variety in his mind. He sees the small fox near him shaking its head, receiving similar visions.  Fort stops, says, "I need to stay here, let you go up alone for awhile.. I am being tempted to run ahead of you. Whoever gets to the top first owns the tower. Go."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"I'll call down to you, once I reach the top" Realmer says to Fort.  Realmer continues to move up the spiral of furniture, increasing his speed as he climbs. He knows that Fort said he would wait, but he also said he felt compelled to race ahead. So Realmer moves as quickly as he can in case that compulsion overtakes Fort and he decides to begin advancing before Realmer reaches the top.  Realmer is reminded of walking the Pattern, with all of these images of places being flooded into his head. He allows the images to wash over him as he continues up the spiral of furniture, focusing on forward movement, focusing on the climb, focusing on getting to the top.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
He climbs over an armoire, open, filled with clothes. Going past it the clothes erupt and move quickly around Relmopator trying to dislodge him. His dexterity is enough to move up regardless but he isn't sure it the clothes are trying to dislodge him or misguide him.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer shape-shifts his feet into hands so he can better grip the furniture and not be dislodged by the animated clothing. (Realmer never wears footgear; he prefers to go barefoot. Another Weirdness to add to his list. LoL)
Once he has a firm grip with his feet/hands, he pulls out the South Wind Key, gripping it tightly so he does not lose it, and says to the clothing surrounding him: "I am the Key Holder of the South Wind, I am supposed to be here. Stop bothering me and go fold yourself, or something!"  Whether this works or not, Realmer will then put the Key safely away and continue to climb. If the clothing still continues to assault him, he will do his best to ignore them and continue on. IF the clothing is hindering his passage, he will withdraw the Clan Blade and begin slicing the clothing into shreds.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Fort yells, "Venki tells me the Griffin with Tesa is outside. Landing on the top."  Continuing the climb the cloths sort themselves out and are trying to slide over arms, up legs.  Looking up the furniture gives way to gardening equipment suitable to the era; shovels, rakes, scythes, hoes, plows, and the like. The ones not on the path start spinning, bouncing off each other chaotically.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer stays on the path and does his best to continue upwards as quickly as possible, using his natural dexterity, his gymnastics skills, and his shape-shifting ability as needed to dodge the clothing and spinning farm implements as they get in his way. He does not leave the path, and does not touch anything other than the furnishings that are a part of the path. Knowing that Tesa is at the top of the tower already makes Realmer increase his speed as continues to climb.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
He continues up, muscles straining at the precarious balance required by the particulars of the stair. looking up he sees thousands of different archery items from slings to ballista.  As he climbs through the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune he climbs into a large open space with smooth mosaic covered walls.  As he enters he sees the trail behind him is shifting to stairs along the wall, and the archery and furniture fades away, the pathway comes out to a spiral on the floor ending in a center green spot.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
As Realmer sees the assorted missile weapons ahead he mutters to himself: "This could get messy... aaand painful."  He narrows his eyes, grits his teeth and strengthens his resolve as he continues on, keeping firm grip with his hands and hand-feet, never straying from the path, always moving onward and upward.  As he clears the weapons and enters the mosaic chamber, he smiles and sighs with relief, shifting his hand-feet to his normal feet... then he smiles again as he sees the Stair behind him become stairs and all other accouterments disappear.
He turns back to the mosaic room and focuses his attention upon the Spiral pattern in the tile-work on the floor before him as he continues his spiraling journey that started at the base of the Tower and will end when he reaches the center of the spiral on the floor. He does not stop his forward movement but continues onto and along the spiral until he reached its center.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
As he walks the tightening spiral he feels the elements swirling around him though no outbursts seem visible.. He starts seeing cities and villages and hamlets and mountain dwellings. He sees an Army on the march hours away in the south. Seeing the clan banner of the Shaxta he thinks he arrived just in time.  As he nears the center he sees Fort and Tesara at the entrance to the floor. Fort holds Tesara's shoulder as if she had intended to start the spiral and he made her wait.  Getting to the center he feels a snap. Painful, but not distracting.. He hears a scream and recognizes Emilie. In the east he sees Trualta stop in a battle and look south, then directly in Realmer's eye. He salutes with his sword and returns to battling orcs. He feels the cold regard of Nina in the north, angry but quiet. Lastly Julian standing on a balcony looking south. He looks in Realmer's eyes and waves his trump deck.  Then it all goes away and he stands in the center of the Spiral Chamber.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer looks to Fort and Tesa and gives them a Hand Sign for 'wait', then he draws out his Trump of Julian from his left sleeve and focuses on the image to make contact.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Julian responds. "I felt the final passage. Congratulations, South Wind. Fair warning, Emilie broke loose and is pissed. I suspect Hagalta in the Dungeons of Amber felt it. You have 3 major stairs and two minor ones. The one in Codupia is yours essentially sine it is next to the spiral and it belonged to Emile. She can't get there to contest it. You'll have a South Stair holder in Clitford that is a astrologist of some kind and not a concern. The stair at Coimbia changes hands often so it isn't very stable. There is some problem about there being thousands of loose keys to it. Its a mess but its mostly a local one. Solungia is a small one and rather stable. Sort of a postcard vacation kingdom with its own amusement part. The other is a tiny one. Sort of a fluke I'm told."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer communicates with Julian mentally so that neither Fort nor Tesa can hear what he says.  ~"I felt Emilie's rage... and Nina's anger; I'm not making many friends, am I?" Realmer chuckles mentally~  ~"When you say the Stair in Codupia is 'essentially' mine, does that mean I already hold the Stair? Or must I still walk it's Spiral? And could someone else claim it now that I have claimed the South Wind? And what more do you know about the Tiny Stair, its location and its Master?"~
*'''Michael James Watson'''
"Well, I dare say Emile hates you about as much as she is able except that she hates Dworkin more, so a win for you. She is certainly on her way to see what kind of mileage she can get out of her death curse. Nina probably hates you to at the moment but she is pragmatic about it. She didn't lose her Stair, Wind, or Husband, and Emilie lost all three."  "As for the South Stair at Codupia, well, you are in a copse of hollow ironwood tree. Some are musical instruments. One is the Tower of the Spiral you just climbed. One of the others is the South Stair. You have the key, use it. Climb the Stair. It won't fight you. Open the door and its yours. Unless someone else with a key gets there first. According to Nina there are about a dozen keys to the stair but Emile has most of them somewhere. Probably in the tower you are in now. As for the Tiny stair, Nina says the sorcerer who holds it has the only key and went into the Stair worlds a thousand years or more ago and has not returned. Still, its a stair and a city grew up around it. More of a fishing village with a massive out of scale monument. "
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
~"Thank you for the information, Julian. As always, your help and support are greatly appreciated. Tesara is here, in the Tower with me and Fort; I haven't had the opportunity to speak with her yet and I have yet to see your daughter, Sadashi. I'll contact you again once I've secured the South Stair. Any final words of wisdom?"~
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Tesara says, "Sadashi is in Amber."  Julian says, "What?!?!?!"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Without breaking contact with Julian, Realmer walks over to Fort and Tesa, then touches Tesara on the shoulder and says, "Explain; please."
*'''Michael James Watson'''
"While we were flying down here I got a trump contact from Fiona. I don't remember exactly why but it seemed like a really, really good idea, a really good idea for Sadashi to go stay in Amber till the War was over. Sadashi thought it was a great idea too so she went.. Then it was a really, really good idea for me to come here and wait on the Tower for Realmer. Then Fort came up and he told me it would be a really, really good idea for me to stay with him till we found Realmer. So we came up that bizarre pile of furniture till we got here. It really was a good idea i followed Fort, right? And really good idea that Sadashi went to Amber with Fiona."  Fort rubs his lips and steps out of Realmer's weapon range.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Julian says, "Realmer, good luck with your war. I have a trump call to make. Keep me informed"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Good luck to you as well, Julian. I'll be in contact soon."  Realmer breaks contact and looks to Tesara, tilting his head slightly to one side, then he glances over at Fort with a quizzical expression on his face, then back to Tesara. He brings up the Sigil of the Spiral and looks through it like a Lens and examines Tesara.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Fort says, "Once I realized what happened it seemed like the wisest course was to just put her on strings and bring her here."
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Tesa seems to have had her psyche pinched like an oil press.  Tesa says, "OH HEY!!! Dorna is here., Hi Dorna!!!! Did you see me flying on that horse?"  Dorna is not amused. Though, she rarely is.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
As Realmer stares at the dichotomy of facial expressions before him; the soft smiling Tesara and the hard dour Dorna, he takes a step back from the pair, drops the Sigil of the Spiral and he remembers why he never wanted to be a Leader of any of sort. He never accepted Leadership of any of his former Adventuring Parties, he never encouraged anyone to be his 'follower' or 'henchman', and he never usurped, claimed or accepted as payment, Title and Lands... all because Realmer never wanted the responsibility of being a Leader. He didn't want to have to deal with the difficulty of dealing with people and their respective differences and points' of view, the hard choices he would have to make, the loss of people under his command or care, the heartache of that loss and the headache of having to take the blame. Realmer was happy to be a follower or advisor, but never the Leader.
But that time was over now, it was over the moment he made the decision to attend Benedict's Personal Military Course on Rasak. It was over long before that, technically; he was not completely new to being a Leader. Realmer did it once before, before coming to Amber, near the end of his Adventuring Years when he was a Vampyr and he ruled an Island Castle that he and his Adventuring Party took from a powerful Evil Vampire Lord... though most of the Castle ran itself as the previous personnel remained to keep operations running smoothly. Plus, Realmer does have more experience than he did back then... and he had received Leadership Training and actual Combat Leadership, as well as Ambassadorial work since that time... Yes; that time of not being a Leader was long over, even though this new role of being a Leader had only just begun, relatively speaking.  Realmer sighs heavily as his head drops and his shoulders hunch slightly. He holds up a hand gesturing to wait a moment... he closes his eyes and he inhales slowly and deeply in a calming way, his head rising and his posture improving as he does so. He keeps his eyes closed and he ponders in that moment.
Again, so much has happened in such a short time, as it usually seems to be for Realmer since coming to Amber all those decades ago. Conf's surprise visit and brief conversation about Tesa before Realmer and she left for Rasak, the Crown's concern over Tesa and Alexandir upon his return from Rasak, the secret visit from Tolknor and learning Tesara's lineage while visiting Tesa in Sanctuary, Tesa walking the Pattern of Ambir on Realmer's 'permission'... and Finndo's, Finndo's trickery, information and advice, Realmer's sudden return to Adagalasck and Julian's plans for a University of Fantalin Campus, Ninaaratres' betrayal and the ambush imprisonment of Aries, the visit to First Step and the sudden offer of Leadership of Clan Kalota and his decision to accept, the sudden release of Aries and the surprise intervention of Dworkin... and the resulting fallout, Realmer's out of character decision to kill Hiroaki in cold blood even though it was justified in Realmer's mind and King Julian's as well, King Random ensuring Satura's safety in Amber despite his anger at Realmer for taking Tesa to Ambir and for killing Hiroaki thus ensuring a reprisal from Borlak and the Flowing Horde, Realmer's sudden elevation to General without Portfolio by King Julian, the odd and extreme behavior made by Tesara while Realmer was briefly in Vulsara, the apparent re-writing of Bob's Directives to include Tesara as a 'Master', Fort's loyalty to King Julian in order to become The Crowned Bard of Adagalasck... which would make it his fourth 'Bard Crowning'. And now, Realmer's walking of the Spiral of the South Wind and the claiming of the title of Master of the South Wind and Lord of Fire, and all the responsibilities that go with it... and soon...hopefully, the walking of the Spiral of the South Stair.  Realmer stops his deep inhale, his lungs filled to capacity; he holds his breath for a few seconds, his eyes still closed.  There are many choices Realmer must make and an order in which he must enact them. He is fairly confident he can restore Tesa's mind, but not knowing why she was put into this state and by whom makes him want to wait and leave her 'as is' for the time being... at least until he has secured the South Stair and walked its Spiral. He also wants to examine her with the Pattern Lens, but certainly not here, in the Chamber of the Spiral of the South Wind. He considers contacting Fiona to find out what she might have done to Tesa during their Trump conversation. He also needs to investigate Bob's 'new' and/or revised Directives and attempt to figure out how to undo what was done, restore the previous directives and prevent it from happening again.  Realmer exhales slowly, controlling his breathing and heart rate, maintaining perfect posture, his eyes remain closed.  He takes a moment to consider who should walk the Spiral of the South Wind next, if anyone. Though Fort would be a logical first choice, Realmer is still a bit unsure about him, his agendas and his loyalties. But based on past loyalty alone, Tesa, Carston or Gangdis should be first... but Tesa was problematic for several reasons, especially at the moment... Carston had just walked the West Wind, his reward from King Julian, and still needed to learn Sorcery, so an additional Imprint would currently be superfluous. So it would fall to Gangdis, should he be able, willing and interested; he has certainly earned it, even though he was 'assigned' by the Crown and did sneak off for awhile... but Realmer did ditch him as well, though not intentionally. And even if Gangdis doesn't learn Sorcery or Magery, the Imprint will still be useful, but only IF he is able... another thing to investigate soon. And perhaps he could also use the offer of an Imprint as a pre-reward to earn loyalty within Clan Kalota... Datarik would be the logical first choice there... and maybe one or two of the Sorcerers from the Clan as well, as a start. And he was quite sure there would be those already here in the South that he would need to pre-reward to ensure their loyalty to him as the new South Wind.
Realmer finishes the deep exhale, draining his lungs of air, he holds his breath for a few seconds, still his eyes remain closed.  He knows his first priority is to secure the South Stair Spiral and he knows he must do it soon... everything else can wait until afterwards. He will have to deal with Tesa and Bob soon after that, assuming another bigger problem doesn't manifest first. Perhaps talking to Fiona before dealing with Tesa might be more helpful. Then the matter of securing and keeping the two Towers, meeting with the local officials of the South, gathering local forces for the coming battle with Shaxta, then preparations for the coming of the Flowing Horde. And still he needs to train Tesara in her Powers and/or get her an Instructor more suited to her newly emerging Powers. And he promised to train Julian in the further use of Magic and the Powers of his Imprint of the Spiral of the Four Winds. Plus, he still needs to get some training of his own, in his newly unlocked Fey Powers... though some of them have already seemed to have manifested, he needs to know more about them and how to control and use them.  Realmer breathes in deeply but more normally, exhales normally, then inhales in that way that signifies he is about to speak. He opens his eyes and first glances to Fort then looks at Dorna and Tesa... time to be a Leader and make some of those hard choices.   He looks Tesara directly in the eyes, deeply into her eyes, and says: “Tesa, it would be a really good idea for you to stay with Dorna. And a really, really good idea for you to do what she tells you. OK?”   Then he looks Dorna in the eyes, though not so intently. “Dorna; keep Tesara by your side and keep her safe until I get a couple more things sorted out, then we will get her sorted out. Take her outside the Tower and meet up with Carston and Gangdis, I'll be out shortly.”  Realmer waits until Dorna and Tesara have left the Mosaic Chamber and are on their way down the Stair before speaking with Fort.
“Fort; for the time being, I want to leave Tesara 'as is'; I'm not sure what happened to her between the time I left for Vulsara and now, other than her Trump conversation with Fiona, and I'd hate to undo the 'pinch' on her Psyche, which I believe to be Fiona's work, just to find out she has been 'programmed' by someone to do something nefarious. And also for the time being, I don't want anybody else walking this Spiral and this Chamber is off limits to everyone; we will discuss why later. First, I need you to use Wayfinder to find the South Stair; according to Julian, it's nearby in another hollow Ironwood and since I have the Key, he said it shouldn't fight me like this one did. Take half the Bards and Venki with you, leave the other half of the Bards here to guard this Tower for the time being, I'll be leaving Carston and the Adagalasck Elites as well; I'll get some replacements for all of them soon. Once I secure the South Stair and walk its Spiral, I will want to confer with you regarding the current issues of Tesa and Bob and may want your help in the fixing of those things, as it were.”  He sighs deeply then nods his head. “Go find me that Tower, Fort; I'll be along very soon.”  Once Fort is on his way down the Stair, Realmer will bring up the Spiral of the Four Winds and look around the Chamber for anything out of the ordinary; secret or hidden doors, magical auras, etc., before leaving. Once on the Stair, Realmer will attempt to seal the Chamber by concentrating on the Sigil before him and willing the chamber to seal.  Then he will examine the inside of the Tower and the Steps through the Sigil Lens as he makes his way down to the bottom, gathering whatever information he can as he goes. Once outside, Realmer will attempt to 'set the defenses' of the Tower Stair and seal the door, all with the Sigil still up and by force of will.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
The Spiral seems accepting of its new master.. It seems to want to talk about the wide lands is sends its breezes over. Understanding its method of communication will take time though. So much of it is imagery, lighting, angle.. It does not seem conversational, yet. Time seems slow when talking to it somehow and its a curious feeling.. He feels the forces outside as part of nature like a wave or a hard rain. Part of him feels that an hour passes but the Spiral is busy greeting him.  A trump come and Fort looks out, "I have the Stair. The lullaby league has split up to pursue different target groups. I've dispatched three tailed Dragonkin among the Orcs.  There are a collection of Trolls. Other then that we have fields of sleeping Orcs. The Fey are trying to surrender to me, and sadly that will make them worship me.. I have connections to Fey back home and its effecting these. We can sort that out later. I feel my mate in the realm. Not near, but here. Dorna and Tesa are in the mix somewhere. Clusters of the Dragonkin must be immune to sleep magics. Other then all that, all goes well on the southern front, le Généralissime."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Good to hear, better than I expected. Hold on for a moment, Fort... and don't let the Fey surrender to you; I'll be there shortly and they can surrender to me" Realmer says.  Then he turns his attention back to the Spiral and he attempts to communicate via mental images of him leaving the Tower via Trump Transport, then the interior of the Tower returning to its previous furniture cluttered state and the door closing and sealing. And then an image of Realmer returning after a passage of time. "Thank you. I will return later" he says to the Spiral.  "Fort, pull me through" Realmer says as he focuses his attention back on the Trump Contact. Upon arrival he makes a quick assessment of the surroundings.