> > On Tue, 5 Aug 2003, Mark A Mandel wrote: > > > On Mon, 4 Aug 2003, Philip Hart wrote: > > > > #On pg 30 [...] > > # This follows a paragraph in which it > > #seems to be implied that there can be more than one Emperor per reign. This is page 22 in the hardcover. I agree that it strongly implies that "one emperor per Reign" is not the default case, since it specificaly makes mention of this instance. > > Yeah, that seems to be the case. A reign lasts from 17^2 to 17^3 years > > = 289 to 4913.* The latter number is longer than the longest Dragaeran > > lifetime we have any evidence for. If things are stable and prosperous > > under, say, the first Chreotha Emperor of the Eighth Cycle, why > > shouldn't another Chreotha succeed gya? > > Please see elsewhere in this thread for my assertion that > 4.9k years is not in fact longer than Dragaeran lifetimes. 4.9k years *is* longer than a *natural* Dragaeran lifetime. Granted, your theory of the Orb prolonging the emperor's life is not entirely implausible. > Presumably the next House would have something to say about the > non-transfer. If nothing else they would have to go through a > series of heirs apparent, which would likely lead to tension. And said tension occasionally leads to rebellion, which occasionally leads to the turning of the Cycle. All part of the system :-) 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 "I went through the necessary ritual embarrassment of declaring myself to be a magician in November of 1993, almost like vaccinating yourself with a mild and controlled form of mental breakdown so that you'll hopefully have sufficient antibodies to fend off the greater madness when it comes." -- Alan Moore in correspondence with Dave Sim about _From Hell_