>I'm not sure which of these cases would apply, because I am not >totally clear on Vlad's status within the empire. Would he be >eligible for Emperor if the timing was right? The obstacles and >reasons against are strong -- the orb would have to prolong his >life or would quickly be passed on. However, if Vlad is ineligible >for the orb, I would argue that he is not "Dragearan." Hmmm... Ineligible for the Orb is a bit too restrictive. The only people eligible for the Orb are the Heir's of each House. (In the case of a Tekla republic, the duly elected leader of the government.) Now, if the Cycle happened to turn to the Jhereg and Vlad was the last living Jhereg, would the Orb go to him? That's probably the question you're really asking. Actually, a more realistic example would be the Tekla. While extremely unlikely, it's conceivable that a Tekla Republic could end up electing a charismatic Easterner like Kelly who had joined the House. I can't imagine the Orb going against the will of the people. In any case, the definition of a citizen is that one has a link to the Orb. Vlad certainly has that, as can any Easterner who joins one of the Houses. Not to mention that Vlad is an aristocrat twice over. Baronet via the Jhereg and Count via the Imperium. Countries like Elde and Greenaire would have some more conventional measure of citizenship. >Population could also have something to do with this limited contact. >Since the Empire is hardly busting at the seams, there is little reason >for the Dragearans to expand into the far reaches of the East. I also >wonder if the orb is limited at all by proximity... Well, we know that it can reach at least as far as Fenario. The connection is psychic in nature so it seem safe to posit it as being unlimited by mere spatial difference.