On Tue, 28 Sep 2004, Joshua Kronengold wrote: > Philip Hart writes: > > >Sethra wrote a history? (Actually I think she did - the Paarfiad.) > > *giggle*. She made statements. Reported by Paarfi or Vlad... > I wouldn't put it past her (to be Paarfi), but I'm skeptical anyway. > And, of course, she wouldn't scruple to lie even if she -was- Paarfi. I don't think she's Paarfi - I think she fed him the info she wanted him to publish. He nearly says as much on a couple of occasions. This stovepiping enabled her to e.g. support the Empress's claim to the throne and complete the coverup of T's murder by Aliera and herself. > >Anyway, it's not correct that the previous reign was shorter than minimum > >- the White Goblet scandal did occur before 17**2 but that was hundreds of > >years past by the time of _FHYA_. > > Quite. Which backs up my point, of course -- the White Goblet scandal > would make no sense if a reign never outlived its first Emperor or > Empress. I believe I have previously posted a sufficiency of possible scenarios under which the WG scandal makes sense in a one-bite universe less than 17**2 years into Tortaalik's reign. For example, they might have intended to disable T resulting in a regency; or planned on enraging him and provoking reactions they could take advantage of; or the 17**2 rule might be an urban legend which Vlad has bought into or found amusing.