Just a guess about Peace Talks

[kazimmoinuddin]

Don't forget Irwing.

As a back up location, or high security location, why not demonreach. Attacking it or causing trouble on it will not end well for the bad guys.

[exartiem]

Also good incentive for parties to behave themselves, as Alfred could lock them up. 

However, there are likely members of the Accords that you probably wouldn't want to have access to that dark ley line.

[kazimmoinuddin]

Harry with his link to the genus loci, could likely deny access to the dark energies of the ley line nexus.

[groinkick]

There is no way anyone would agree to meet on DR.  That's nearly like immortals getting together for Peace Talks on Halloween, the only time of the year they can get killed.

[KurtinStGeorge]

I said this a few years back, but since it's been a while, I'll rehash it.

My prediction/hope was that the Talks would be held in a hotel in Chicago (maybe the one from Skin Game, maybe the Rothchild from Summer Knight).  Harry would be there as the Winter Knight (escorting the Winter Lady).  It would be hosted by Marcone, with the hotel closed off to the general public, and a bunch of wards protecting the place.

It'd start with the attendees being introduced, and one of the reveals would be the Eebs arriving with a small retinue of Ramps (either as the inheritors of the Red Court, or as Fomor members).

Things would really snap off when one of the Eebs ended up dead, which would trigger wards that would lock down the hotel, preventing anyone from coming or going.  A bunch of powerful beings would be trapped together, none of them trusting each other, and believing the others are trying something.

Harry will be accused of the murder (something on the nose, like the Eeb being found frozen and shattered, a known method of execution for Harry now) and he'll have to solve the murder to clear his name, find the real killer, uncover the plot, and release the wards.

The sealed-off hotel would allow for that Shining-feel of isolated desperation. 

And of course, despite Harry's efforts, the Talks will be a disaster, people and things will die, the war will continue, and everyone will blame him.

I don't know about the entire scenario you've constructed.  For example, I suppose the Eebs making a return could happen, but I'm not jumping on that train just yet.  Though I do like the idea that if the Eebs did return they would now be members of the Fomor.  That is a really cool idea because it would drive Harry absolutely nuts.

However, your basic premise of a murder mystery for Harry to unravel because his ass is on the line and seeing himself and everyone else trapped together is solid.  The only problems I have with it are minor.  I think Molly is going to have to come out to her parents or have them find out on their own about her new job and what it could potentially mean.  So I don't see that happening in a locked down environment.  Also, if someone like Cowl or Mavra shows up to make trouble it's much easier and safer to do that if the talks take place at a certain set time and at the end of each session the parties fall back to safe locations to plan for the next round.

However, I know there are workarounds to both the issues I mentioned.  Molly's issue could come to the fore near the beginning of the story before everyone gets locked down, or near the end of the story and Cowl or Mavra could end up getting locked in with everyone else.

I just had a thought about the location.  In Ghosts Story; I believe Harry was looking for Molly, and he ended up at the location where Splattercon was held, but it was now out of business.  I could see Marrcone buying this property and renovating it.  It's better than just a hotel or stand alone convention center because meetings could be held in the convention center and the members to the talks could retreat to their own rooms and likely their own floors at the end of each session of talks. 

[Griffyn612]

I don't know about the entire scenario you've constructed.  For example, I suppose the Eebs making a return could happen, but I'm not jumping on that train just yet.  Though I do like the idea that if the Eebs did return they would now be members of the Fomor.  That is a really cool idea because it would drive Harry absolutely nuts.

However, your basic premise of a murder mystery for Harry to unravel because his ass is on the line and seeing himself and everyone else trapped together is solid.  The only problems I have with it are minor.  I think Molly is going to have to come out to her parents or have them find out on their own about her new job and what it could potentially mean.  So I don't see that happening in a locked down environment.  Also, if someone like Cowl or Mavra shows up to make trouble it's much easier and safer to do that if the talks take place at a certain set time and at the end of each session the parties fall back to safe locations to plan for the next round.

However, I know there are workarounds to both the issues I mentioned.  Molly's issue could come to the fore near the beginning of the story before everyone gets locked down, or near the end of the story and Cowl or Mavra could end up getting locked in with everyone else.

I just had a thought about the location.  In Ghosts Story; I believe Harry was looking for Molly, and he ended up at the location where Splattercon was held, but it was now out of business.  I could see Marrcone buying this property and renovating it.  It's better than just a hotel or stand alone convention center because meetings could be held in the convention center and the members to the talks could retreat to their own rooms and likely their own floors at the end of each session of talks.

The benefit of it being at a hotel is that the facility can provide food, lodging, conference rooms for talks, and a ballroom for formal events.  A large hotel reserved just for the event would have plenty of floors for each faction to have their own, as well as empty floors between.  And it would lend itself to creepy hallway scenes.


As for the Eebs, they're a convenient plot tool.  Harry has every reason to hate them, and no-one would doubt that he'd want to kill them.  Which makes them the perfect victims to frame him.

I'm not sure that Molly's status has to be revealed in PT.  But if it was, it could easily be at the end.  There could be some circumstances that bring Michael to the hotel for the grand finale in time to see her using Winter magic.

Cowl should absolutely be there.  It'd be even better if his identity were revealed at the end, as he drops pretenses and leads an attack on some of the attendees while working with others.  Same for Mavra.

[groinkick]

Does anyone else think that Mac may make an appearance

[peregrine]

In the story?  Almost certainly.  In the talks? Probably not.

[groinkick]

In the story?  Almost certainly.  In the talks? Probably not.

Well of everyone in the story so far he's the only one I can think of declared "neutral" territory.  I could see him being some kind of arbiter

[peregrine]

For peace talks, you don't actually need an arbiter or moderator.  Just two (or more) sides willing to talk.  Plenty of times they've just been between the different sides and nothing else.

And as for neutral territory, I doubt his pub is actually large enough to fit enough people, nor would it have the dignity of the occasion.

[groinkick]

For peace talks, you don't actually need an arbiter or moderator.  Just two (or more) sides willing to talk.  Plenty of times they've just been between the different sides and nothing else.

And as for neutral territory, I doubt his pub is actually large enough to fit enough people, nor would it have the dignity of the occasion.

I didn't think his pub would be used.  When 2 or more sides have a dispute there is often an arbiter who acts to keep things..... civil.

[KurtinStGeorge]

The benefit of it being at a hotel is that the facility can provide food, lodging, conference rooms for talks, and a ballroom for formal events.  A large hotel reserved just for the event would have plenty of floors for each faction to have their own, as well as empty floors between.  And it would lend itself to creepy hallway scenes.

Maybe I didn't make myself understood.  The reason the place where Splattercon was held would be a good location is because the convention center could hold all the delegates from every supernatural power that showed up, plus any staff and security they brought with them, and it has a hotel attached to it.  So the action could move from a large hall; which might be useful for open discussions or even fighting duels, to the more intimate and claustrophobic setting of hotel corridors, elevator cars, and the rooms themselves, where most of the murder, treachery and backstabbing could occur.  Plus, such a large facility would make it more plausible for Cowl or Marva to set up shop, do whatever they're going to do, and remain undetected. 

Imagine a scene where most or all of the delegates are meeting downstairs in the convention area, and while Harry is doing whatever his security work involves; let's say he's facing off against Fomor security, and he receives a message from Lara Raith that says something like this, "I need to see you in my room after this session ends.  There is a plot that concerns us both of us that you need to know about and I need to speak to the Winter Knight.  I need to know what Winter's position is on (fill in the blank)."  (Of course Lara would throw some sexual innuendo in any note she wrote to Harry.) So if Harry decides to take Lara up on her offer he has to go from one type of dangerous situation and environment into a different type of dangerous situation and environment and yet it's all contained in the same facility.

[KurtinStGeorge]

For peace talks, you don't actually need an arbiter or moderator. Just two (or more) sides willing to talk.  Plenty of times they've just been between the different sides and nothing else.

And as for neutral territory, I doubt his pub is actually large enough to fit enough people, nor would it have the dignity of the occasion.

Actually, I think it has already been announced by Jim that Ivy; and presumably Kincaid, will be on hand for the talks.

[Kindler]

Does anyone else think that Mac may make an appearance

Someone has to cater it. Mac is kind of the perfect person to bring in on that; he's known to be neutral enough that he won't poison the entire conference. He wouldn't really make sense to me as an arbitrator, but I could see everyone trusting him enough to handle their food; every person who has entered Mac's seems to know him, and has given him some sign of respect—even Maeve.

But has Marcone ever set foot in Mac's? I don't know that we've seen that on page. I'm sure he knows about it. Would he think to use him? Or would that be Harry saying "Damn it, people have to eat. Believe me, you don't want a bunch of hungry predators in a closed room with only humans to eat. I've cleared Mac for security already, and we can trust him."

Imagine a scene where most or all of the delegates are meeting downstairs in the convention area, and while Harry is doing whatever his security work involves; let's say he's facing off against Fomor security, and he receives a message from Lara Raith that says something like this, "I need to see you in my room after this session ends.  There is a plot that concerns us both of us that you need to know about and I need to speak to the Winter Knight.  I need to know what Winter's position is on (fill in the blank)."  (Of course Lara would throw some sexual innuendo in any note she wrote to Harry.) So if Harry decides to take Lara up on her offer he has to go from one type of dangerous situation and environment into a different type of dangerous situation and environment and yet it's all contained in the same facility.

I agree. Splattercon!!!!'s location is a good fit. Though didn't Harry say something about bad juju hanging around places like that permanently? But he's also frequently commented on how often the same locations seem to crop up (like the Full Moon Garage), so that'd be a perfect segue into revealing where it'll be held, and can explain Harry's heightening anxiety beforehand.

Hotels are awesome locations for stories, because it's insanely convenient to have everyone in your story all in the same place, but separated. With magic involved, you might even have each occupant's room changing dramatically from one to the next. Also, it'll give Harry too many freaking stairs to climb, and you just know he'll be complaining about it the whole time.

[Talby16]

Actually, I think it has already been announced by Jim that Ivy; and presumably Kincaid, will be on hand for the talks.

It is my understanding that Ivy is a member of the Accords in her own right. She is often used as an Arbiter because she is neutral, but I do not think she is actually a full time Arbiter. She could be present as just another Accords member and someone else may serve as an Arbiter if one is needed.