Improbable Stair
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The Improbable Stair is a fictional place from Garth Nix's work The Keys to the Kingdom Series, the Stair can take the traveler wherever they wish to go within the The House or the Secondary Realms, however there are certain risks when using it.
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[edit] Origins
The Improbable Stair was originaly created by the Architect so that She could visit Her work.
[edit] Usage
To access the Stair, you must believe that it is there,and focus on something around you that looks like a staircase, be it a grass stem broken in three places, or a peculiar step-shaped object, and if you believe that it is there, it will be. You must have an object of power to use the Stair, such as a Key. However, it is said in the books that Nithlings occasionally make their way onto the Stair. The only characters so far to use the Stair without a Key is The Piper and the Architect, although the latter only by mention.
[edit] Risks
There are also many dangers in using the Improbable Stair. There are Landings to the Stair, which deposit you at random places in creation. You must quickly find the Stair, or you may be stuck on the landing. The risks increase when the destination is close to Nothing.
[edit] Appearances
In the The Keys to the Kingdom Series the Improbable Stair has been used 3 times as of Lady Friday.
- Arthur Penhaligon uses the Stair in Mister Monday to get from the Old One's liar to Mister Monday's Dayroom, he also travels with Suzy.
- Sir Thursday uses the Stair in Sir Thursday to reach square 500/500 to destroy a giant spike of Nothing which was built by the Piper to freeze the squares in the Great Maze. Thursday travels the Stair taking Arthur, Suzie, Fred and 4 other Piper's children with him.
- The Piper uses the Stair in Lady Friday to get himself to a safe place when a trap disguised as the Fifth Key opens into the Void of Nothing.
