Klaus the Toymaker

[Feral Plum]

Waiting, I've been listening to interviews. Mr. Butcher often mentions Klaus the Toy Maker. Well, several times. But I don't remember him being mentioned in the books more than maybe once or twice in passing.
Is Klaus a real thing? Or just a red herring. Should we consider him a potential influence? Cowl?

What gives?

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Jim has trouble fitting him into the narrative, ideally Klaus glory days were during WW2 and an incident involving a toy duck and lots of dead Nazi’s (I figure it is something he made for Eb). Jim also has an Eb /Merlin story about the Indian War he wants to do but doesn’t fit within the narrative either.

The idea is how to fit Klaus into the current narrative. He certainly might appear as a new senior Council Member, but that really doesn’t satisfy.

What I think might  work would be a contemporary Klaus/Kringle short story set just before The Good People, which shows Vadderung working behind the scenes to undercut the White Council in their attacks on Harry by approaching influential wizards like Klaus and in this case heading off a plot to kill Harry through a deadly toy aimed at Maggie or the Carpenter kids. The Night Before, The Night Before Christmas.You have got to figure Vadderung is in the know about such plots and Little Things was only the first of many.

[g33k]

IIRC, there is also WoJ that Klaus was in on the final Kemmler battle.

But... "Klaus the Toymaker," seriously?  If he's a "red herring," it's likely red-furred with white trim, and meant to make people think he's another alt!Kringle...

Maybe even a wizard who is (or was) trying to frame his identity to be able to take on the Kringle Mantle?

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Klaus is supposed to be THE maker of magical artifacts just with a rather bizarre twist. If the White Council had gotten the Eye then the likely would have headed the team investigating it. The closest to a human Swartalf in ability.

He isn’t an Alt Kringle, more a blend of Gepetto and Robert Oppenheimer, which is why Jim wants to write him, but why there is little opportunity in the narrative to do so. That why I suggest a Kringle pov story, they must know each other professionally, and we have not had many non-human pov stories and some insight into Vadderung would be nice.

[g33k]

... That why I suggest a Kringle pov story, they must know each other professionally, and we have not had many non-human pov stories and some insight into Vadderung would be nice.

I'm pretty sure I have read WoJ that he can't write Vaderrung-POV or give us that "insight" -- the All-Father's Eye sees too much, knows too much of what is really going on behind the scenes.  It would ruin too many mysteries of the Casefiles of one Harry Dresden, PI, formerly Wizard of the White Council & now Wizard of Chicago.

[Ed0517]

Klaus is supposed to be THE maker of magical artifacts just with a rather bizarre twist. If the White Council had gotten the Eye then the likely would have headed the team investigating it. The closest to a human Swartalf in ability.

He isn’t an Alt Kringle, more a blend of Gepetto and Robert Oppenheimer, which is why Jim wants to write him, but why there is little opportunity in the narrative to do so. That why I suggest a Kringle pov story, they must know each other professionally, and we have not had many non-human pov stories and some insight into Vadderung would be nice.

Maybe their "Q" ... Harry could try it... and come up with the Cone of Silence, magic edition....

[Conspiracy Theorist]

I'm pretty sure I have read WoJ that he can't write Vaderrung-POV or give us that "insight" -- the All-Father's Eye sees too much, knows too much of what is really going on behind the scenes.  It would ruin too many mysteries of the Casefiles of one Harry Dresden, PI, formerly Wizard of the White Council & now Wizard of Chicago.

Then have it from Klaus POV to get limited insight into Vadderung/Kringle. Show him eliminating one plot against Harry and hint at much more, let the readers imagination fill in the rest. Jim would get to describe Klaus Lab/workshop, and some of his deadly “toys”

[Con]

We do now Vadderung likes to change his name personality and motif. We have 4 confirmed: vadderung kringle Beowulf Odin. Not to mention Odin's various monikers in myth. I could see him wanting a presence in white council as well.

[g33k]

Then have it from Klaus POV to get limited insight into Vadderung/Kringle...
Jim would get to describe Klaus Lab/workshop, and some of his deadly “toys”

That could work, I expect!

[Conspiracy Theorist]

We do now Vadderung likes to change his name personality and motif. We have 4 confirmed: vadderung kringle Beowulf Odin. Not to mention Odin's various monikers in myth. I could see him wanting a presence in white council as well.

Klaus did turn down the senior Council, too much scrutiny? Vadderung likes senior but not not in the spotlight all the time (Kringle in the Winter Court) when infiltrating a body.

[g33k]

Klaus did turn down the senior Council, too much scrutiny?

I think a great many wizards are like, "too busy with my own work, tyvm!  No time be on the Council doing the Council's work!"

[Con]

Klaus did turn down the senior Council, too much scrutiny? Vadderung likes senior but not not in the spotlight all the time (Kringle in the Winter Court) when infiltrating a body.

Yeah I get the feeling Vadderung would love to be more like Dresden or the hero of the story. Maybe lead a small elite platoon and go into battle. Only reluctantly accepted the Mantle of leadership.

[Conspiracy Theorist]

I think a great many wizards are like, "too busy with my own work, tyvm!  No time be on the Council doing the Council's work!"

This was Peabody era, the paperwork was soul destroying.

Literally.

[Con]

This was Peabody era, the paperwork was soul destroying.

Literally.

*ba dum ching* well done.

[Ed0517]

German toymaker.... what old TV series character was supposed to have the best toy factory in Germany at the start of WWII ? Got it nationalized and he got drafted.... was Vadderrung ever Sgt. Schultz?