>>--- Scott Schultz <scott at cjhunter.com> wrote: >> This includes the unusual circumstance of there >> being two sequential Phoenix emperors instead of the more usual single >> Phoenix emperor. >Do we know that? >-- Mark A. Mandel In general, I'd say the question of multiple emperors during a House's reign is an open one. There's nothing to preclude it, though it might be that Houses with reigns beyond the normal lifespan of a Dragaeran are ruled by emperors who are accomplished sorcerors/wizards or have access to such. Athyra or Dzur would be good candidates. In regards to the Phoenix in particular, we have Aliera's statement that all Phoenix emperors eventually become decadent. Morollan gives tacit agreement with this statement by virtue of not arguing with it. Courtesy of book search: " ...how immediate the problem was." "What problem?" "The decadence of the Emperor. Phoenix Emperors always become decadent at the end of their reign, except every seventeenth Cycle, when we have a reborn Phoenix..." Zerika is the exception. Generally speaking, a Phoenix reign consists of a single Emperor who becomes decadent and eventually become so ineffective that he has to be removed. Tortaalik's concerns about the subject make it clear that the change in power from Phoenix to Dragon is frequently a military coup of some sort, which doesn't normally leave room for a second Phoenix to take the Orb.