Spheres of Influence: Chapter Seven...

[seawasp]

... is now up! Our friends had to bring those in the Arena up to date and decide their next moves...

Comments

[kpreid.livejournal.com]

By the way, something which confuses me about the Arena and which was mentioned in this chapter:

I get the impression that any member of a Faction can issue or accept Challenge. Furthermore, such actions can be extremely detrimental to the Faction. Therefore, any human out in the Arena is a risk to all of humanity if they have bad judgement here, and similarly for other factions. But if this were so, then there would surely not be so many “ordinary people” (nonhuman, I mean) habitually around in the Arena as I get the impression there are.

So, what's the trick?

1. Are challenges and acceptances not binding until confirmed by the Faction Leader?
   
2. Do the original explorers (besides Ariane, obviously) have privileges recognized by the Arena above Leader but below anyone else following? (I doubt this.)
   
3. Is the scope of the prize of challenges constrained by who issues or accepts the challenge?
   

[seawasp]

This is described more in a later chapter. Basically, all the initial people in the Arena are considered representatives of Humanity. Appointed Ambassadors (recognized by the Leader) would also be representatives. Some conditions can require the Leader to confirm, but in general any of the Representatives can get involved in a challenge.

So for purposes of Spheres, that's the Holy Grail crew and any Ambassadors that Ariane accepts.

[kpreid.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I can see that even though this would be a problem one could think of just having read GCA, it isn't relevant until a second mission, as in Spheres.