On Fri, 20 Jun 2003, Alexx S Kay wrote: > > But Paarfi has to know this, and tell us why the Breath of Fire > > brigade doesn't go boom at the end of _FHYA_. > > The Brigade was not attempting a military coup, or even obviously engaging > in any illegal behavior (IIRC). They obstruct Khaavren on Imperial business; and at the end of the novel they are in obvious rebellion. Here's part 2 of my anti-coup theory (which may just be my Tortaalik is an idiot theory) - couldn't the Emperor instead of the Instafry feature use a "delisting" figure and simply remove the Orb privileges of anyone in rebellion? > We've only been told of the "instafry" ability in the context of "Don't > bug the Emperor without a good cause". I dare say that there would be, > at the least, significant societal (legal?) repercussions against even > an emperor who used such an ability against a large number of noble > citizens without having *damn* good cause. Yes, even if they were rebels I think. > Now, "launching an army against the capitol" would certainly count as > good cause. If this has ever happened (I don't recall any, but that > doesn't rule them out), then that would suggest some sort of mass- > shielding was possible. See above for the newer, gentler Instafry. > But not all coups are military in nature (refer for example to Florida in > 2000, or Dallas in 1963). Ok, I'll give you Florida, though imho you need to give a time range starting in the 90s. I can't see how 1963 was a coup d'etat though.