When is a Story not a Story?

[dspringer1]

Sometimes a short story is just a fun story the author wished to tell.   And sometimes a short story is a sneaky way for the author to introduce factoids and back story that will become important in a later “main” story.  For this thread, I am going to assume JB is being sneaky.

JB has written several short stories since Skin Game and I am guessing he is using these stories to lay some groundwork.  This thread is devoted to guessing what those clues and factoids are.   If I remember correctly, we have the following short stories
•   Molly story where she travels to Alaska as Winter Lady
•   Luccio story set in the wild west
•   Butters story about a visit to the Zoo

While I have not yet read the last two, I have read the first.  It introduced several interesting factoids
1)   The Winter Lady Mantle protects winter secrets, forcing Molly to speak sexy banter instead of speaking plainly or revealing winter secrets
2)   The Winter Lady cannot have intercourse – not clear if this is pregnancy or if she must remain a virgin (technically). The Mantle will protect this.
3)   The WL is tasked, among other things, with ensuring the supply of Winter soldiers continues so that the outer gates are properly defended.   As such she is in communication with many wild fae groups that have agreements with Winter. 
4)   Carlos’ area of responsibility is very wide if he covers LA to Alaska.  That implies very few wardens in America. 
5)   Carlos was badly injured – and thus may not be present during Peace Talks. 
6)   Old gods keep trying to get back into our world (not a new factoid)

I can see #1 or #3 applying (potentially) to events in Peace Talks either in the sexualized banter Molly will surprise Harry with and/or the contacts Molly will have with attendees.   Conceivably #2 could be a path to attack the winter lady as well, if the White or Red Court vamps were attacking her.  #4 probably explains why there will be relatively few wardens at the peace talks. 

Other hints and foreshadowing that might come from the short stories?

[wardenferry419]

Jury Duty, also, takes place after Skin Game. Young Luccio acted very much like Harry does.

[KurtinStGeorge]

Your wrong about Warden Ramirez. 

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From the first chapter of Peace Talks we know Ramirez  ...  I'm not saying any more than that.  I don't want to spoil anything for those who don't want to know more, but he's in the first chapter which means he's in the story.

[Quantus]

Butter's story is about a mission to a hospital. The upcoming Harry/maggie story is the one about the Zoo (which might  be happening more or less at the same time).

A few big detail take-aways from Day One with Butters:

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-Michael more or less confirms that the Knights are guided/managed directly by TWG and not by Archangel intermediaries. 
-If enough people Believe in something (children being particularly good fo this) it can Both a)create a new being from scratch, or b)come close enough that an existing NN creature can slip into the new image and use it as a foothold. 
-TWG is not opposed to MMO's, despite how many Soul's they have devoured over the years... ()

[dspringer1]

TWG?  MMO?  Not familiar with these abbreviations. 

[Smaug with OCD]

TWG?  MMO?  Not familiar with these abbreviations.

TWG: The White God (The Abrahamic God or Christianity, etc...)

MMO: Short-hand for MMORPG, meaning massively multiplayer online roleplaying game.

[Snark Knight]

JB has written several short stories since Skin Game and I am guessing he is using these stories to lay some groundwork.  This thread is devoted to guessing what those clues and factoids are.   If I remember correctly, we have the following short stories
•   Molly story where she travels to Alaska as Winter Lady
•   Luccio story set in the wild west
•   Butters story about a visit to the Zoo

Molly's story (Cold Case) was released after SG because the anthology it was in got delayed, but it was written earlier and set just about a week after CD.

So Carlos has had about 17 months more than just the SG-PT interval to recover from his injuries. He won't likely be back to fit for hand to hand combat yet, basic mobility is probably reasonable.

[Quantus]

TWG?  MMO?  Not familiar with these abbreviations.

sorry 

[Rasins]

TWG?  MMO?  Not familiar with these abbreviations.

There are several, but antoher you may not know, for future reference ....

TWC - the white Christ

[jonas]

Butter's story is about a mission to a hospital. The upcoming Harry/maggie story is the one about the Zoo (which might  be happening more or less at the same time).

A few big detail take-aways from Day One with Butters:

(click to show/hide)

-Michael more or less confirms that the Knights are guided/managed directly by TWG and not by Archangel intermediaries. 
-If enough people Believe in something (children being particularly good fo this) it can Both a)create a new being from scratch, or b)come close enough that an existing NN creature can slip into the new image and use it as a foothold. 
-TWG is not opposed to MMO's, despite how many Soul's they have devoured over the years... ()

Those are actually two really big reveals in the grand scheme of things. though now

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I'm confuse on just what Uriel does, thought that WAS his job so?

[Quantus]

Those are actually two really big reveals in the grand scheme of things. though now

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I'm confuse on just what Uriel does, thought that WAS his job so?

Different Branch?

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He doesnt manage the Knights directly, thought he (and the other Archangels) do sometimes get involved in the early recruiting activities (THE Michael delivered Esperacchius to Sanya, etc).  The rest of the time I think he's running his own Ghost-cop department, similar function if less specialized and/or Overt.  Probably far more limited in how they are allowed to Act.  I wonder if the Ghost-cop division is the cosmic balance for the Chauncy-level demons?  As opposed to the Knights that Balance the actual Fallen. 

[Rasins]

You know, the Chauncy thing is a good point.

[isoycrazy]

TWG?  MMO?  Not familiar with these abbreviations.

In order to not directly offend any person's religious views, on this board when talking about the Dresden character(s) of G-D, and Jesus, we use the in-universe name Mab calls them, the White God (TWG) and the White Christ (TWC), respectively.

About the topic, I would add in that Molly is now looking for a means to supplant the need for children soldiers to fight in the war for reality.

[jonas]

In order to not directly offend any person's religious views, on this board when talking about the Dresden character(s) of G-D, and Jesus, we use the in-universe name Mab calls them, the White God (TWG) and the White Christ (TWC), respectively.

About the topic, I would add in that Molly is now looking for a means to supplant the need for children soldiers to fight in the war for reality.

Not just that but as a fae she made the assertion she would fine a better way. Granted she can continually fail or not manage it..

[Quantus]

Not just that but as a fae she made the assertion she would fine a better way. Granted she can continually fail or not manage it..

true, but until that happens I think it's now a permanent Drive of the Lady (whomever is wearing the Mantle).  Fae Mantles are very Obligation Based, it's entirely possibly that failing or neglecting that promise will have a very tangible effect on the Court's Power.