> >Vernor Vinge fans will ask, Is the Empire heading for a sorcerous > >Singularity? (I.e., will there be general Orb-building then Orb-building > >Orbs or Orb-assisted Elder Sorcery learning and boom everyone's godlike?) > > That might happen if Orb construction wasn't severely circumscribed to the > point where it appears that no additional Orbs can be made. As I recall, the Orb is made out of Trellanstone<sp> which, according to Aliera and Morollan is only found as a gift from the gods. Given this, I find it very improbable that there would be mass production of Orbs around the Empire. (Though, as a lark, I'd find it amusing to see a bunch of Athyra on an Orb-building assembly line, grumbling about low wages and work-house conditions....) Chris "Blind man's night is music to the deaf, and everyone has *two* paths, not one, whence comes tragedy and comedy, forsooth and damn straight, son." - "The Gypsy" - Brust & Lindholm