So the latest thing I don't understand about _TPotD_ is: what's Sethra's reasoning behind her decisions? If I understand the timing, she sent Sethra the Younger to pick up Zivra, then a few days later sent Kytraan to pick up Piro - why not send one expedition, except to have the advantage of a separation and a reunion scene? Could this be the heavy hand of Paarfi? Then Sethra sends Zerika et al. off to get the Orb - but if we believe Paarfi, the gods had at the time (whatever that means in this context) hardly decided whether or not to relinquish it. In fact, they were then supposedly calling up the Necromancer, who only appears several months later. Is there any reason why Sethra picks this moment - Piro's old enough? Tazendra has blown up her guest room again? - and why she doesn't coordinate with the Gods? As an aside, we get another typical Paarfian intro to Sennya's region - settled in the 8th Cycle. We ought to be able to track Dragaeran expansion - 100k years seems a long time to settle a continent...