Jag <agrajag at dragaera.net> writes: > On Sat, 2003-11-01 at 20:54, David Silberstein wrote: > > > I find myself wondering exactly *how* the Orb protects the Emperor. > > Why *is* it necessary for people to defend her against Kana's forces? > > > > One possibility is that she is not well versed in using the Orb > > offensively. Another is that the Orb only *has* defensive > > capabilities, and would allow her to be captured if a more active > > defense was not mounted, and direct threats to her life were not being > > made. A third, and more subtle possibility, is that the Orb "defends > > the Emperor" by manipulating the minds of those who are connected to > > it so that they will be willing to give their lives (with the caveat > > that some can perhaps resist this manipulation, e.g., Adron). Hmm. > > Kana is a Dragon. Zerika is a Phoenix. One way for the Cycle to change > from Phoenix to Dragon is for a Dragon-led army to lead a rebellion > against the Emperor. Thus, I do not think the Orb can completely defend > a Phoenix Emperor(ess) against an attacking Dragon army as that might > disrupt the Cycle. Perhaps it can do so *except* when it's time for the cycle to change? -- David Dyer-Bennet, <dd-b at dd-b.net>, <www.dd-b.net/dd-b/> RKBA: <noguns-nomoney.com> <www.dd-b.net/carry/> Photos: <dd-b.lighthunters.net> Snapshots: <www.dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/> Dragaera/Steven Brust: <dragaera.info/>