On Mar 16, 2004, at 6:15 PM, Philip Hart wrote: > [chorus of speculation about multi-emperor reigns snipped] > > Just one bite at the apple or chaos ensues (except for the end of Great > Cycles). As we learn in FHYA, do not events manifest themselves in a precipitous way so that all involved "feel" or "know" that the cycle is going to change? Is not a change in the cycle marked by changes that the ruling Emperor cannot control? Thus, as we learn from Sethra, the Emperor powerless in the situation either controls the situation, meaning the cycle supports him, or a usurper takes the orb, meaning the cycle has turned, and the usurper did not usurp, but succeeded the throne.