On Mar 15, 2006, at 3:02 PM, Chris Olson wrote: > Howard Brazee wrote On 03/15/06 11:53,: >> When did The Cycle start? >> >> When were Dragaerans first aware of The Cycle? > > Good question. I suggest adding: When were the Gods first made > aware of > The Cycle? From the books, it sounds like it's been around a *very* > long time, and even the Gods are bound by it (to some extent). > > Dang, now you got me thinking and speculating. > > :) > Chris > The Cycle is linked to the Houses, and controls the control of the empire. The Houses resulted from genetic manipulation by the Jenoine, which antedates the Empire. The gods were created at the time of the destruction of the Jenoine by the amorphia, which rendered possible sorcery. The gods and amorphia were around before the orb, since the gods created the orb. The orb defines the Empire. Therefore the cycle and the orb must have been created at the same time, most likely by the gods. Perhaps, in order to enable the Empire and the Orb, the gods, like Sauron, were obligated to incorporate some of their substance into the controlling sorcerous device(s). It is not impossible for the cycle to antedate the gods and amorphia, but without an empire, what was it cycling? Perhaps it was the Jenoine version of a roulette wheel until their destruction by amorphia, whence the cycle acquired its controlling powers. Only speculation....