Toubib wrote: > > A question and a statement. > > Question- Where does it say the Orb was improved while > it was in the Path of the Dead? Where am I missing > this little kernel of knowledge? Others have already answered this better than I could, but yes, given Paarfi's unreliable status, it might be wise not to read too much into it. > > Statement-I think Adron was just a little crazy/power > hungry. How could he lost count of the Cycle, > especially when Aliera told him it was the reign of a > decadent Phoenix and that only happens at the end of > the 17th Cycle. That's why I'm curious as to whether anything has been said about whether the Cycle was created, or by whom. For instance, if it's the equivalent of an astrological chart, the Dragons (or whoever) might not like that the star-equivalent say they'll have rotten luck if they try to overthrow the Emperor now, but they probably won't be thinking about moving a few planets around so they *will* have good luck in such endeavours, given what the star-equivalents now say. OTOH, say the Cycle has this rotating Emperor-ship thing for the same reason the Iraqi governing council does - because when Kieron set up his Alliance of All the Tribes, each of the tribes thought they were the ones most suited for leadership. In which case, the Cycle might have been set up at the same time the Orb was created, and by the same people. And if you can hack the Orb if you know what you're doing, why couldn't you think you could hack the Cycle as well if you thought you were good enough?