Throwbots and the I Ching (Book of Changes) For those who don't know what the I Ching is, it's one of the most famous works of Taoism. Taoism is both a philosophy and a religion: the religious side tends towards the fantastic demons, mages and gods of Chinese mythology, but it is the philosophical side which has largely been seized upon by popularizers in the West. The I Ching straddles the line between the two aspects, being both a divination tool (religious) and an aid to meditation and self-examination (philosophical). When Confucious formalized the I Ching, he established several ways to analyze the "changes" of the Book of Changes, all of which wrapped around the idea of yin and yang...complementary opposites. At the most complex were the trigrams (a set of three signs representing either yin or yang) and the hexagrams (two trigrams put together for more specific meaning). There are eight trigrams and sixty four hexagrams. Each trigram relates to some property of nature, as well as a property of humanity. Not quite as fundamental as elements, they're still pretty basic and primal. While contemplating the Throwbots, I realized that the eight of them mapped pretty well onto the eight Trigrams, and that got me on a roll. So, without further ado, I present the Throwbots interpreted according to the I Ching (as translated by Thomas Cleary...other translations exist, and may vary somewhat from the ones I use). The Original Eight On Planet Slizer, the eight Throwbots represent the natural forces of their world: Sky, Lake, Thunder, Fire, Earth, Mountain, Water and Wind. One might consider Sky, Fire, Earth and Water to be the primal elemental signs, with the other four being combinations (Lake is water bounded by earth, Thunder is fire in the sky, Mountain is earth rising into the sky, Wind is sky meeting earth), although all eight are equal in importance. As the sky encircles the entire planet, so too does the Throwbot of Sky watch over Planet Slizer. SKY: Jet is the Throwbot of the Sky, embodying the strength of his world as he rules over it. Without a single element to grow accustomed to, he is forced to think creatively as he judges the disputes between his fellows. Talking only when necessary, but always thinking, Jet is the ideal sage-king. LAKE: With his river-cut sector, Amazon best embodies the Lake principle (although it's a bit iffy). The boundless life of his sector is a source of joy to him, a joy which is infectious. He rarely initiates a conflict, but his sector is so attractive to others that they tend to try and carve out portions of it for themselves, forcing him to fight back. THUNDER: The barren, storm-swept plains of Electro epitomize the Thunder trigram. As impulsive as a lightning bolt, Electro is always quick to take action, but slow to think about the consequences. Full of energy but little else, Electro is perhaps the most likely Throwbot to try and enter another's sector. The fact that he flies makes it hard for them to keep him out. FIRE: Obviously, Torch fits this trigram. The hazards of his lava- strewn sector force him to be the most attentive and alert of the Throwbots, his eye is even keener than Jet's...because the moment your attention lapses, you die. Always on the lookout for invaders, he defends his territory because it is HIS. The rich minerals and forging heat of his lands make it attractive enough that his watchfulness is justified. EARTH: The rocky deserts of Granite fit the Earth principle, although without the lush fertility of Amazon's lands, it is also a weak fit. Surprisingly, Granite does not covet Amazon's sector, at least no more than anyone else does. A generally calm and placid Throwbot, Granite is open to compromise and more willing to forgive than most of his fellows. However, push him too far and he *will* strike back. MOUNTAIN: The alps of Ski's sector reach into the sky like icy needles, yet their strength also reinforces the Mountain principle. Even when moving downhill at insane speeds, Ski revels in the stillness and serenity of his mountains. Exuberant in action but quiet in speech, Ski radiates a sort of immovable power that makes others defer to him when he does choose to speak. It is this strength that leaves him the effective leader of the surviving Throwbots after the invasion. WATER: Scuba's undersea realm is an obvious choice here. These waters run deep, but they are far from still. Teeming with an explosion of life only matched by Amazon's sector, Scuba's territory is a dangerous place, full of sea monsters that can destroy an unwary Throwbot. Scuba, however, is the most dangerous thing living in these waters, his passion blazing hotter than the fires of Torch's lava plains. Some joke that Scuba needs to remain underwater or he would overheat from sheer emotion. WIND: Racing across the cityscape faster than any breeze, Turbo is the Throwbot of Wind. His is the only sector inhabited by intelligent organic life in large numbers, and he takes it as his responsibility to peer into every corner of the giant city to root out crime and protect his charges. He is also Jet's loyal follower, helping enforce any edicts of the master of the Sky. Turbo has no designs on any of his neighbors, being too busy with his own lands...although he sometimes longs to race in the wide open spaces of Granite's deserts. The Invasion! At the end of the first millennium of Jet's benevolent rule over Planet Slizer, the natural order was disrupted by the arrival of four newcomers in a blazing impact. These four bring the forces of their alien world with them, and each embodies two aspects of that world. They seek to crush the guttering flame of Slizer's natural order and impose their own...and they seem strong enough to do it, especially since the defenders only represent half a world now. Millennia brings Earth and Wind as she scours across the planet. Her personality is determined by the two hexagrams that can be generated by these trigrams. Earth over Wind is Rising, a great success in expeditions to the south. She is the main advance strike force of the invaders, driving south from Jet's abandoned palace. Wind over Earth is Observing, and she does gather useful intelligence in her forays. Overall, Millennia is the ultimate soldier/scout, able to travel great distances tirelessly and report what she has found...after destroying it. Blaster carries the forces of Sky and Mountain, leading through both outer strength and inner resolve. Sky on Mountain is "Great Buildup," strength with restraint. Mountain on Sky is "Withdrawal," the wisdom of knowing when to hold back. Blaster marshals his forces carefully, and is reluctant to use the mighty Fusion Super Throwbot casually. For now, his caution and restraint overwhelm other factors, and this is the only reason he hasn't conquered Planet Slizer yet. But as a result, once he does have victory, it will be total, with no chance of reversal. Spark embodies Thunder and Lake, a balance of the four elements. Thunder on the Lake symbolizes marriage or joining, and it is Spark's energy convertors that are vital to keeping Fusion from running out of power. Lake over Thunder is "Following," and Spark is indeed a loyal retainer. Somewhat scattered in purpose when left to his own devices, he is at his most effective under Blaster's direct command. Finally, Flare holds the seemingly contradictory trigrams of Fire and Water, and is something of a contradiction as a result. His hexagrams are "Unfinished" and "Finished," also opposite states. Flare does nothing halfway, it's either everything or nothing. Flare has very few shades of grey in his personality or in his actions. When he acts it is with all his will and skill...but when he balks, almost nothing can get him moving. Robo-Riders For a new sort of Throwbot, perhaps a new paradigm is needed? I'm going to wait for full interpretation until after I know more about the toys, but I'm leaning towards Musashi's Five Rings for these warriors. Frost - Icy winds of the Air ring. Lava - The Fire ring. Swamp - The flowing rivers of the Water ring. Dust - The stillness of the Earth ring. Onyx - The emptiness of the Void ring. Power - The unification of all five rings.