Hypotrochian Transquaestiation

Hypotrochian Transquaestiation is a labeled debate move: the speaker shifts to a new topic in a way that suggests the previous point has been resolved on their terms, without actually addressing it. The effect is to claim a win by implication while moving the conversation forward.

First Appearance and Context

The term is invoked when Fraa Lio changes the topic during a riverside discussion with Fraa Erasmas. Erasmas names the maneuver and glosses it as a subject‑change that carries the implication that the open question has already been settled against his side.

Usage and Response

• Purpose: to steer the conversation away from a live question while leaving the impression that the intervenor has prevailed on it.
• Typical counter: the listener explicitly calls it out—rendered in the account as the rejoinder, "Hey, not so fast!"—to pull the dialog back to the unsettled point.

Example (as described)

In the cited exchange, the talk turns on what the Ita choose to relay to hierarchs. At that moment Lio redirects with a fresh question about behavior visible on a rooftop recording, effectively treating the prior point as decided. The narrator identifies this as Hypotrochian Transquaestiation; the new topic concerns whether Sammann was signaling awareness of being recorded.

Further example

During the Plurality of Worlds messal at Avrachon's Dowment, the host is described as using Hypotrochian Transquaestiation by shifting to an assertion that pure metatheorics would be the sole focus of the table, treating that premise as settled while others were still contesting it. The observer notes the move but does not interject.

Notes

• The text provides no origin or formal definition beyond the observed usage and gloss. It appears as informal debate jargon among avout.

Current Status

Attested as a named rhetorical tactic in active use; further scope and variants (if any) are not described.