> > > > On Tue, 14 Jan 2003, Alexx S Kay wrote: > > > > > > > PotD spoiler space: > > > > > > Don't hate John Edwards for being beautifulDon't hate John Edwards for > > > being beautifulDon't hate John Edwards for being beautifulDon't hate John > > > Edwards for being beautifulDon't hate John Edwards for beingbeautifulDon't > > > hate John Edwards for being beautifulDon't hate John Edwards for being > > > beautifulDon't hate John Edwards for being beautifulDon't hate JohnEdwards > > > for being beautifulDon't hate John Edwards for being beautifulDon't hate > > > John Edwards for being beautifulDon't hate John Edwards forbeing > > > beautifulDon't hate John Edwards for being beautifulDon't hate JohnEdwards > > > for being beautifulDon't hate John Edwards for being beautifulDon't hate > > > John Edwards for being beautifulDon't hate John Edwards for being > > > beautifulDon't hate John Edwards for being beautifulDon't hate John > > > Edwards for being beautiful > > > > > > > > > > > How certain is the info from FHYA (I'm AFB at work at the moment)? Might > > it be a misinterpretation by Adron, Aerich (the only surviving witness) > > or Paarfi? If the Orb really *did* think Adron should be emperor, that > > would seem to indicate that the Cycle had turned, and then "backslid". > > But there's no other indications that such retrograde motion of the Cycle > > is even possible, so I'm reluctant to believe in it. > > Ok, here's FHYA, Paarfi speaking of course (based on Aerich, Sethra, > Khaarven?) for what it's worth: > > Tazendra to Adron: "You are now the very Emperor that your spell is > attempting to win control away from..." > > Adron: "I believe I shall be remembered as the Emperor with the shortest > reign in history." > > Sethra to Adron: "... Your Highness". > > Adron and the musketeers: "Remember me, Duke." "I will not forget Your > Highness." "And you others, do not fail to tell what happened to any > who ask." "We shall not--Your Majesty." Hokay, it seems like Adron (and the "musketeers") all believed that he was, at least briefly, emperor. But the Musketeers are pretty much just taking Adron's word for it. Adron himself is certainly capable of misinterpreting the effects of his (unprecedented) spell. Perhaps it just succeeded in its stated purpose of convincing the Orb he was emperor, but earlier than he had expected, due to Tortaalik's assassination; Adron optimistically took this to mean that the Cycle had actually turned, rather than being (slightly) unexpected behaviour of his spell. [This would invalidate the given explanation for the cause of the Disaster, but it's quite simple to come up with minor tweaks to that explanation that still result in the observed Disaster.] The term "Highness" is properly applied to a Prince, which Adron is. So I don't think Sethra believed him to be Emperor (compare her delightful conversation with Pel in TPotD). And while "you others" refer to him as "Majesty", it seems that Aerich is still at least hedging his bets by using "Highness". > Split decision? There's more related info (Aliera claiming the Orb, > the Orb interrogating the Cycle) but also ambiguous. Still, seems > like there's more than the Lyorn rep's "no reason". Lyorns are notably conservative. I expect that his "no reason" is a close equivalent to "no reason which is convincing beyond a reasonable doubt". If Adron had actually managed to take and hold the Orb, that would be a significant indication that the Cycle had turned. But he never actually possessed the Orb, and his attempt failed in the most dramatic possible manner. If the Cycle *had* turned, shouldn't he have succeeded? Alexx Alexx Kay Opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily those of my employers alexx at world.std.com http://world.std.com/~alexx A dollar's a bad boss, and dying's a bad fear. [Seen on a Nancy Button, nancy at genie.slhs.udel.edu]