On Sun, 14 Mar 2004 23:02:18 +0000, you wrote: >However, I have no idea where to go to get to Tsalmoth, and none from there >to Vallista and from there back to Jhereg. I just don't know enough about >them. But nonetheless, I'm sure I've made my point. While I could be >overanalyzing, it could very easily have been thought out by Steve in the >beginning. If so, good job :P A few years ago, I was at a con in Mississippi and had the opportunity to hang out with Steve. It was a small con, affording the fans great access. His description, at the time, of a Tsalmoth was of a giant land oyster. Its entire life would consist of climbing a tree, and climbing out on a tree limb. This could take years. It would patiently wait until prey would walk under it, then drop. If it missed, time to start climbing again. I suggested a parallel might be that a Tsalmoth reign would bankrupt the Empire by turning all its focus to one extreme goal, like a moon launch or eliminating the Overcast or something like. Steve agreed, at the time, but this is in no way canon, because this was one summer afternoon smoking outside in Mississippi, not in a book. This concept, though, does tie in nicely with allowing Vallista to rebuild, if Tsalmoth basically spends the Empire into ruins. And Vallista gets the money, in part, from loan sharks, giving the Jhereg increasing power.....