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The Dresden Files => DF Spoilers => Topic started by: groinkick on April 29, 2021, 05:39:05 AM
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Do you think Eb will choose Harry? I suspect he might choose someone else like Carlos, setting up a showdown between Harry, and Carlos.
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It might not be Ebenezer's choice. Ordinarily, my guess is a select group within the Senior Council makes that decision, though it's possible they usually ask the current Blackstaff to make a recommendation in advance. However, in this case I doubt either Ebenezer or the Council will make that choice.
My guess is that Ebenezer falls in battle fright in front of Harry. It will probably occur when Eb is confronting Harry over something or he has dropped by to warn Harry about something; probably the rest of the Senior Council getting ready to move against Harry, when they both are attacked but only Harry survives. Harry picks up Mother Winter's walking stick and becomes the Blackstaff by default.
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It might not be Ebenezer's choice. Ordinarily, my guess is a select group within the Senior Council makes that decision, though it's possible they usually ask the current Blackstaff to make a recommendation in advance. However, in this case I doubt either Ebenezer or the Council will make that choice.
My guess is that Ebenezer falls in battle fright in front of Harry. It will probably occur when Eb is confronting Harry over something or he has dropped by to warn Harry about something; probably the rest of the Senior Council getting ready to move against Harry, when they both are attacked but only Harry survives. Harry picks up Mother Winter's walking stick and becomes the Blackstaff by default.
"Eb took up the Blackstaff in 1884-1885 somewhere in there. The Blackstaff chooses his successor." - Jim 2016 DF Reddit podcast Q&A
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He might have chosen Harry once. That trust is broken now.
Plus, assuming Ebenezar knows it's Mother Winter's staff, bequeathing it to someone beholden to obey an order from her to return her stolen property would be the end of the Blackstaff as an office of the council. And he believes that office needs to exist.
Furthermore, if he has any affection left for Harry, he'd know that passing the staff outside the Council would get him immediately marked for death to retrieve it.
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If Ebenezer is killed dresden files would take a giant turd in story telling. Ebenezer is just to good of a character to kill off...put his butt in the hospital 1st.
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If Ebenezer is killed dresden files would take a giant turd in story telling. Ebenezer is just to good of a character to kill off...put his butt in the hospital 1st.
Nah, he actually is a character that has to go in battle, to be killed. He is the overpowered tank that helps you feel like victory is assured. An example of this is the tiger in the TV show The Walking Dead. The tiger was badass, could take things out left and right. You felt that everything was going to be fine with it around.
But that makes for a boring story.
They killed the tiger.
Unless Eb is on the opposite side of Harry, Eb's character makes the tension of the battle not as great as it could be because you feel like his power alone could save the day. Then add in the staff and you feel like victory is assured.
So to amp up the tension, Eb should die.
But with my theory on this, Eb will die, with Harry either having already lost the WK mantle or Eb's death being the cause of the loss. Harry gets the Blackstaff, given to him by Eb because Eb knows that the council cannot have it anymore, that it truly cannot be trusted. Thus giving Harry power, separating him further from protective powers, and keeping the staff away from Mother Winter, whom Jim said would be a bad thing if Mother Winter got her walking stick back.
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Eb is becoming more of a problem than a help so he does not have to die. He will become even more unstable.
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Eb is becoming more of a problem than a help so he does not have to die. He will become even more unstable.
Him, and have to be put down by Harry? Thus, by defeating him, inheriting the staff?
Question, when Jim said the Blackstaff chooses it's successor, did he mean the person or the staff?
Might change the way we look at this if it's the staff that chooses
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Question, when Jim said the Blackstaff chooses it's successor, did he mean the person or the staff?
Might change the way we look at this if it's the staff that chooses
Now that's a good question. The blackstaff is both the role and the artifact itself. However Jim doesn't tend to mince words, and he did specifically say "Chooses HIS successor". So as cool as it would be if the staff did the choosing on its own I'm pretty sure it's the actual wizard in the role who picks the next wizard to fill that role.
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Now that's a good question. The blackstaff is both the role and the artifact itself. However Jim doesn't tend to mince words, and he did specifically say "Chooses HIS successor". So as cool as it would be if the staff did the choosing on its own I'm pretty sure it's the actual wizard in the role who picks the next wizard to fill that role.
Yes, but also remember that Jim lies like the fae. So while it is probably true if those are his words, it's also possible that the staff chooses.
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Nah, he actually is a character that has to go in battle, to be killed. He is the overpowered tank that helps you feel like victory is assured. ... But that makes for a boring story.
He might not even be mobile for a long time after his injuries in Battle Ground.
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I wonder if Eb will give it to Dresden as a way to get out of being Winter Knight.... Mother Winter wants it real bad. Maybe he can make a trade?
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Now that's a good question. The blackstaff is both the role and the artifact itself. However Jim doesn't tend to mince words, and he did specifically say "Chooses HIS successor". So as cool as it would be if the staff did the choosing on its own I'm pretty sure it's the actual wizard in the role who picks the next wizard to fill that role.
Well we know what Elaine said about the shape of Harry's foci. If the blackstaff has any gender... ;)
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Anyone think of the ramifications of a winter knight getting Winters staff...i think it would have a different meaning if it was just another wizard...
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Well, if Mother Winter didn't immediately ask for it back, I'd assume that it would be a considerable upgrade.
It should have many times the storage capacitance of any staff Harry can make and there would be no need to worry about Harry overloading it. It could even be enough to let Harry use Demonreach's ley lines which would be a near equivalent or maybe better than a Darkhallow at least while Harry is on the island.
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Because of it's nature, the Blackstaff is a weapon Harry wouldn't want to use most of the time. So I don't think it would make him overpowered. Here's a quote from Changes that explains what I mean: "The Blackstaff itself pulsed and shimmered with shadowy power, and I got the sudden sense that the thing was alive, that it knew its purpose and wanted nothing more than to be used, as often and as spectacularly as possible."
This was moments after Eb had just killed about 200 mortal gunman with it. Harry wouldn't want to use the Blackstaff unless it was absolutely necessary.
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Because of it's nature, the Blackstaff is a weapon Harry wouldn't want to use most of the time. So I don't think it would make him overpowered. Here's a quote from Changes that explains what I mean: "The Blackstaff itself pulsed and shimmered with shadowy power, and I got the sudden sense that the thing was alive, that it knew its purpose and wanted nothing more than to be used, as often and as spectacularly as possible."
This was moments after Eb had just killed about 200 mortal gunman with it. Harry wouldn't want to use the Blackstaff unless it was absolutely necessary.
It also makes clear that not only does the holder have to have integrity and judgement to use it, but a strong will to resist using it.. The latter Harry has in spades if nothing else.
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I know this is a little off topic but what would happen if Harry used the Blackstaff as the shaft for the spear of Destiny? Do we get the Lance in it's original form or would Harry accidentally restart reality?
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I know this is a little off topic but what would happen if Harry used the Blackstaff as the shaft for the spear of Destiny? Do we get the Lance in it's original form or would Harry accidentally restart reality?
Seems to be a fun question to ask Jim in the next Q&A :)
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I know this is a little off topic but what would happen if Harry used the Blackstaff as the shaft for the spear of Destiny? Do we get the Lance in it's original form or would Harry accidentally restart reality?
Hard to get one's head around that, however if Harry continues to show he can be responsible when to use and not use something [the Spear] that makes him one of the most powerful beings on Earth, I'd say he could handle the Blackstaff.
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I just want to know if it intercepts black magic backlash, or removes the effect from the user.
Because the latter would change Harry by removing the existing taint on himself and his magic.
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I think it just eats it before it enters you.
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I just want to know if it intercepts black magic backlash, or removes the effect from the user.
Because the latter would change Harry by removing the existing taint on himself and his magic.
Well, looking at Eb at the later moments of BG, it might not be Eb's magic. It might be MW. Harry commented on a shadow of a hag enveloping him. So maybe either Eb pushes his magic into it and the staff turns it into MW's magic or the staff is the embodiment of her power and he channels it and pushes it out.
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Hard to get one's head around that, however if Harry continues to show he can be responsible when to use and not use something [the Spear] that makes him one of the most powerful beings on Earth, I'd say he could handle the Blackstaff.
Between Bonnie, Bob, the Artefacts, Demonreach, the Mantle, and his pixie army you could argue he's one of the most powerful humans with free will. Part of what makes the White Council's paranoia of Harry hilarious to me is that he already has the knowledge to trigger some class of apocalypse if he wanted and likely before they could respond. Harry is just actually a good guy who likes the world as it is.
Well, looking at Eb at the later moments of BG, it might not be Eb's magic. It might be MW. Harry commented on a shadow of a hag enveloping him. So maybe either Eb pushes his magic into it and the staff turns it into MW's magic or the staff is the embodiment of her power and he channels it and pushes it out.
Maybe MW takes the brunt of the black magic? She's already ruthless so it doesn't make a difference to her. It still looked like Eb actually had to put some weight into it to do anything (in Changes, PT, and BG).
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I don't think McCoy is going to be around much longer. Jim laid a lot of hints that McCoy is slowing down and having trouble -- breathing hard, face turning red and purple, liver spots, birthdays in four centuries.
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The Blackstaff is really an idiot stick, a long piece of wood with an idiot on the end.
I think we are going to see And Eb v Harry rematch, but Blackstaff v Spear of Destiny this time. Neither drew on these reserves in their previous battle, but The Spear would prevail, especially in using the Blackstaff against The Winter Knight.
I wonder though, could you use the Eye with the Blackstaff. A wizards Staff Has a Knob On The End after all, could PT and BG JUST been Jim setting that gag up? Eb dies using the eye on the Blackstaff fuelled by his hate of Vampires.
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I wonder though, could you use the Eye with the Blackstaff. A wizards Staff Has a Knob On The End after all, could PT and BG JUST been Jim setting that gag up? Eb dies using the eye on the Blackstaff fuelled by his hate of Vampires.
Interesting theory but he would somehow have to infiltrate Demonreach to do it. Harry's not going to be taking it out of the island's vault any time soon. I doubt old Ebenezar is stronger or more skilled than Merlin - the Original Merlin - himself, so it would have to be a pretty unique blind spot that would allow him access to the prison itself instead of simply standing on the island's surface.
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Interesting theory but he would somehow have to infiltrate Demonreach to do it. Harry's not going to be taking it out of the island's vault any time soon. I doubt old Ebenezar is stronger or more skilled than Merlin - the Original Merlin - himself, so it would have to be a pretty unique blind spot that would allow him access to the prison itself instead of simply standing on the island's surface.
Eb has the journals though. There may be details of a Way into Demonreach's vault or a way to access the vaults remotely hidden deep in there. (Unlikely, but possible).
That said, if you were to put the Eye on the Blackstaff it would probably help protect the wearer from the awful side effects of a hate-based radiation machine (or it could draw on Mother Winter's which may be worse?)
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Eb has the journals though. There may be details of a Way into Demonreach's vault or a way to access the vaults remotely hidden deep in there. (Unlikely, but possible).
That said, if you were to put the Eye on the Blackstaff it would probably help protect the wearer from the awful side effects of a hate-based radiation machine (or it could draw on Mother Winter's which may be worse?)
True, he does have the original Merlin's journals.
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True, he does have the original Merlin's journals.
If they are still readable and he can read the old language.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Aneirin
Still difficult to translate by modern professionals and then you have to find out what is actually ment because a lot of context is gone. And this is not a seventh century original and it was carefully written down.
Now the cursive notes of a wizard in the seventh century.
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If they are still readable and he can read the old language.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Aneirin
Still difficult to translate by modern professionals and then you have to find out what is actually ment because a lot of context is gone. And this is not a seventh century original and it was carefully written down.
Now the cursive notes of a wizard in the seventh century.
But do you really think if Merlin meant for Deamonreach to be the ultimate supernatural supermax, he'd write down the escape instructions in his journal?
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If they are still readable and he can read the old language.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Aneirin
Still difficult to translate by modern professionals and then you have to find out what is actually ment because a lot of context is gone. And this is not a seventh century original and it was carefully written down.
Now the cursive notes of a wizard in the seventh century.
Fair argument but Eb's over 300 years old. He's maybe three of four generations of wizards removed from Merlin so he may have a series of "commentaries" to add context as well.
But do you really think if Merlin meant for Deamonreach to be the ultimate supernatural supermax, he'd write down the escape instructions in his journal?
I don't think it's written in plain text but I would be astounded if he didn't have some form of magical invisible ink or something like that. Most people would read the book, only those in the know could read the book. As the Librarians in Girl Genius say: "no I don't think you've read this book at all"
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More likely he used some obscure hints that only made sense to him or maybe his direct pupils. If he did not use some sort of code.
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More likely he used some obscure hints that only made sense to him or maybe his direct pupils. If he did not use some sort of code.
Maybe. I think there's some info in those journals that would really help Harry out.
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Best way to do it is put something in the journals that only makes sense to someone who is already Warden- that the key command to unlock Demonreach once it's accepted you is in the journal, but you have to pass its assessment first.
It would be very Dresden files if the journals say "Whatever you do, don't name the avatar of the island."
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Do you think Eb will choose Harry? I suspect he might choose someone else like Carlos, setting up a showdown between Harry, and Carlos.
If it didn't go to Harry, I would like to see it go either get claimed by Mother Winter (in which she then might get more active...) or be claimed by someone like Cowl. I think it wouldn't be interesting for Carlos to get it, and as others point out he isn't quite senior enough. A new threat, perhaps even a neutral one, might be interesting. A new character that isn't on the Council or the bad guys or even Harry's team.
In terms of Council candidates there are hardly any. Morgan would have been the obvious choice, I think. But now most of the old guard are dead or debilitated. Luccio could use a boost but considering how easy it was to compromise her I don't think Eb would pick her. I don't see him picking anyone else on the Council either, most because they either would become too powerful or because it would be a terrible burden to give to one of his friends.
Harry still seems the best and obvious choice of course, as it gives him another way of standing up to both the Council and many otherwise much more scary foes. But we'll see. Jim isn't always predictable. And he normally if Harry gets a power up it's either half-useless without causing more pain to regular people OR it just means Harry has an even worse time. So if Harry does get the Blackstaff I don't expect Harry's life to get easier. Jim also might choose to give it to another character, perhaps an antagonist of Harry's, because it allows him to create more story problems and makes Dresden's life worse. He does love doing that.
Eb has the journals though. There may be details of a Way into Demonreach's vault or a way to access the vaults remotely hidden deep in there. (Unlikely, but possible).
That said, if you were to put the Eye on the Blackstaff it would probably help protect the wearer from the awful side effects of a hate-based radiation machine (or it could draw on Mother Winter's which may be worse?)
As interesting as that sounds, it might just kill Dresden to attempt to use the Eye. It's not just the corruption effect. It's also the sheer power. It would be like handling nuclear energy.
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It's all in the timing of things now. This is all my opinion based on how much time is left in the books before the BAT. If Eb kicks it before the BAT, I could see Harry losing the WKnight mantle in the wrestling book only to pick up a bigger one in the next book, plus we might see the return of Thomas in that book to become the WKnight.
I could also see, since we are to believe Harry and Eb's relationship is strained to the point of breaking, that Eb doesn't have a replacement in mind and the council sticks there nose in it, making Carlos take it and having control over him and how he uses it.
If Eb survives to the BAT, Harry might be given the staff because by then, Eb might be reconciled with Harry and realizes that the staff needs to be separated from the WCouncil, that the council is too far gone to be saved and needs to be replaced.
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As interesting as that sounds, it might just kill Dresden to attempt to use the Eye. It's not just the corruption effect. It's also the sheer power. It would be like handling nuclear energy.
Millions of people handle nuclear energy, through the system of protection known as the power grid. Who says the Blackstaff can't do the same? ;)
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Millions of people handle nuclear energy, through the system of protection known as the power grid. Who says the Blackstaff can't do the same? ;)
Well, so far as we have seen the Blackstaff only staves off corruption from Blackmagic. I get your point though.
I think it's worth considering though that even Ethniu, while fully armoured in Titanic Bronze, still occasionally was injured by the Eye itself when it had feedback. And she was a Titan. Can you really see Dresden getting to use that much power without consequence?
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Well, so far as we have seen the Blackstaff only staves off corruption from Blackmagic. I get your point though.
I think it's worth considering though that even Ethniu, while fully armoured in Titanic Bronze, still occasionally was injured by the Eye itself when it had feedback. And she was a Titan. Can you really see Dresden getting to use that much power without consequence?
Redirecting all that harmful energy back into Mother Winter would be a consequence I'd say. She'd not be too happy about it and there may be some grander universal repercussions with her getting singed by feedback.
I mean the obvious answer to how Harry wields the eye and the rest of his arsenal at the BAT is simple: Giant Wizard Mecha :P
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Redirecting all that harmful energy back into Mother Winter would be a consequence I'd say. She'd not be too happy about it and there may be some grander universal repercussions with her getting singed by feedback.
I mean the obvious answer to how Harry wields the eye and the rest of his arsenal at the BAT is simple: Giant Wizard Mecha :P
One possible solution is Mother Winter actually agrees that Harry needs her staff for the BAT. Why? We know the bad energy that goes along with wielding the Eye, perhaps the one thing that could protect the wielder from that energy like it does black magic, is the staff? And why would Mother go
along with this? If Harry and company lose, she loses too.
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One possible solution is Mother Winter actually agrees that Harry needs her staff for the BAT. Why? We know the bad energy that goes along with wielding the Eye, perhaps the one thing that could protect the wielder from that energy like it does black magic, is the staff? And why would Mother go
along with this? If Harry and company lose, she loses too.
Balor made it for some reason and Fate wants it with Harry. Given that MW is one of the Fates you may be on to something.
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Redirecting all that harmful energy back into Mother Winter would be a consequence I'd say. She'd not be too happy about it and there may be some grander universal repercussions with her getting singed by feedback.
I mean the obvious answer to how Harry wields the eye and the rest of his arsenal at the BAT is simple: Giant Wizard Mecha :P
It definitely would be a possible consequence, but I am not sure that the Blackstaff actually CAN redirect that energy. I suspect Mother Winter herself could, based on what Jim said about how Uriel would tackle being fired upon by the Eye. I mean, if the Blackstaff were capable of redirecting the energy surely Eb would have tried to do just that a lot earlier.
I would love to see a giant Wizard mecha. Not sure how they would do it with all their technology issues, but still. Maybe if made by the Svartalves. You know, I wouldn't put it past Jim to put Mecha in. He is putting Kaiju in after all...
Balor made it for some reason and Fate wants it with Harry. Given that MW is one of the Fates you may be on to something.
We know why Balor made it: to destroy anything and everything he hated. That's as much implied as almost said in Battle Ground. But it wouldn't surprise me if the Powers That Be like Mother Winter etc did want Harry to have it, or rather allowed for the possibility for Harry to have it. Nothing that significant just happens.
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It definitely would be a possible consequence, but I am not sure that the Blackstaff actually CAN redirect that energy. I suspect Mother Winter herself could, based on what Jim said about how Uriel would tackle being fired upon by the Eye. I mean, if the Blackstaff were capable of redirecting the energy surely Eb would have tried to do just that a lot earlier.
I would love to see a giant Wizard mecha. Not sure how they would do it with all their technology issues, but still. Maybe if made by the Svartalves. You know, I wouldn't put it past Jim to put Mecha in. He is putting Kaiju in after all...
We know why Balor made it: to destroy anything and everything he hated. That's as much implied as almost said in Battle Ground. But it wouldn't surprise me if the Powers That Be like Mother Winter etc did want Harry to have it, or rather allowed for the possibility for Harry to have it. Nothing that significant just happens.
I don't think the Blackstaff can tank a direct hit from the eye without someone incredibly logical holding it. My point was more referring to the hate radiation it would give off were Harry to try and use the eye. I don't know how else Harry would be able to use it, though maybe Harry has it to take it off the field as he's the one person you can trust not to use it.
I wonder if Balor really didn't like the Outsiders for some reason or if he was corrupted and that's why the Twyleth Teg (?) had to take him down.
And if Jim is putting in Kaiju we are absolutely getting a Mecha of some form.
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I don't think the Blackstaff can tank a direct hit from the eye without someone incredibly logical holding it. My point was more referring to the hate radiation it would give off were Harry to try and use the eye. I don't know how else Harry would be able to use it, though maybe Harry has it to take it off the field as he's the one person you can trust not to use it.
I wonder if Balor really didn't like the Outsiders for some reason or if he was corrupted and that's why the Twyleth Teg (?) had to take him down.
And if Jim is putting in Kaiju we are absolutely getting a Mecha of some form.
Apparently the Blackstaff cannot ward off that kind of attack, Eb did end up in surgery at the end of Battlefield. However it might protect the wielder of the Eye from it's hate, just as it protects it's wielder from black magic.
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Apparently the Blackstaff cannot ward off that kind of attack, Eb did end up in surgery at the end of Battlefield. However it might protect the wielder of the Eye from it's hate, just as it protects it's wielder from black magic.
That was mostly a physical beatdown though. I don't necessarily think old man Eb could tank it using the Blackstaff but a prime Ivey might be able to do it (being knowledge made manifest similar to Mab being Logic)
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I think it requires a lot of hate to wield it or you develop a lot of hate as a side effect.
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That was mostly a physical beatdown though. I don't necessarily think old man Eb could tank it using the Blackstaff but a prime Ivey might be able to do it (being knowledge made manifest similar to Mab being Logic)
But that was my point, the Black Staff protects from some things, but not everything. One can still be injured or I imagine, even killed while wielding it.
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Nahh, we aren't going to see a mech. We will see a conjuritis created Godzilla. And King Kong.
Ok, maybe we will see a mech, as in classic Mecha Godzilla created the same way.
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Well. if Harry is allowed a one time exemption for necromancy, he can always go get Siriothrax's corpse. And have Einerjhar Murphy as his drummer.
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Apparently the Blackstaff cannot ward off that kind of attack, Eb did end up in surgery at the end of Battlefield. However it might protect the wielder of the Eye from it's hate, just as it protects it's wielder from black magic.
That's fair. I think he was in surgery because of the roundhouse kick that Ethniu gave him. He did survive Gungnir's attack, which I thought was quite impressive. But I do agree I think a shot from the Eye might have been too much.
I don't think the Blackstaff can tank a direct hit from the eye without someone incredibly logical holding it. My point was more referring to the hate radiation it would give off were Harry to try and use the eye. I don't know how else Harry would be able to use it, though maybe Harry has it to take it off the field as he's the one person you can trust not to use it.
I wonder if Balor really didn't like the Outsiders for some reason or if he was corrupted and that's why the Twyleth Teg (?) had to take him down.
And if Jim is putting in Kaiju we are absolutely getting a Mecha of some form.
My reading of how Mab survived (and it's mostly just me speculating here) is that whatever Mab's defensive spell(s) were, it at least partially allowed her to redirect the energy somewhere else. Obviously not all of it as she still got fried. But she literally worked out the math of how much energy would be fired at her and how much she would need to block/redirect in order for her body not to be destroyed, and then figured out an appropriate defence. She didn't need to just have faith her shield would work, or just hope that it would do the trick, she literally had worked it out and held onto that reasoning. Which is how her logic overcame irrational hate and rage. If Ethniu had been a bit more logical, she might have guessed Mab would prepare such a counter. In fact, she probably should have just kicked her again. Clearly in physical combat she had no equal on the field. And I'd say in sorcerous might (perhaps not skill) and raw connection to magic, she also was unequalled. She might have actually killed Mab if she had just fought her physically or with her own magic. I mean, she even had proof Mab was vulnerable to that because of how well her kick worked in Peace Talks. Instead she opted for maximum carnage, as Mab likely guessed she would, and Mab had a very excellent counter for it. As Marcone pointed out, Ethniu's predictability is what made her vulnerable.
I agree, he might not be "tainted" by the hate in that sense. His soul might be less affected. Or his mind for that matter. But the hate was given form in a sort of heat energy that generally destroyed everything it touched. I don't think even the Blackstaff would save you from that.
The only way I can see Harry being able to use the Eye would be as a big battery for a spell. I doubt he will ever just be able to point it like a gun at anyone. Could help him in a fight against Demonreach though if they have a falling out. I agree though that Harry mostly just wants to remove it from the field, and Marcone let him because he doesn't want that weapon in the hands of enemies that could use it like Ethniu, but also probably will use it as part of a case to undermine Dresden and say "Dresden is the bad guy, not me" while pointing Harry's worst enemies in his direction.
As for Balor, I don't think he hates Outsiders. What's your theory there? My guess is he actually is connected to the Outsiders, he is somehow on their team. Maybe they even helped him with his Eye. Assuming that the Outsiders are not merely the forgotten/fallen gods etc. (which sometimes I think might be true, and sometimes I think it's probably not). Balor might well have been corrupted...but then again the Fomor in Irish mythology/legend were always pretty much the bad guys. They might have just started out as evil.
I suspect the Mecha will be human (not Wizard) created and controlled should they appear, but we'll see.
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Well. if Harry is allowed a one time exemption for necromancy, he can always go get Siriothrax's corpse. And have Einerjhar Murphy as his drummer.
I hope we get this during the BAT.
That's fair. I think he was in surgery because of the roundhouse kick that Ethniu gave him. He did survive Gungnir's attack, which I thought was quite impressive. But I do agree I think a shot from the Eye might have been too much.
My reading of how Mab survived (and it's mostly just me speculating here) is that whatever Mab's defensive spell(s) were, it at least partially allowed her to redirect the energy somewhere else. Obviously not all of it as she still got fried. But she literally worked out the math of how much energy would be fired at her and how much she would need to block/redirect in order for her body not to be destroyed, and then figured out an appropriate defence. She didn't need to just have faith her shield would work, or just hope that it would do the trick, she literally had worked it out and held onto that reasoning. Which is how her logic overcame irrational hate and rage. If Ethniu had been a bit more logical, she might have guessed Mab would prepare such a counter. In fact, she probably should have just kicked her again. Clearly in physical combat she had no equal on the field. And I'd say in sorcerous might (perhaps not skill) and raw connection to magic, she also was unequalled. She might have actually killed Mab if she had just fought her physically or with her own magic. I mean, she even had proof Mab was vulnerable to that because of how well her kick worked in Peace Talks. Instead she opted for maximum carnage, as Mab likely guessed she would, and Mab had a very excellent counter for it. As Marcone pointed out, Ethniu's predictability is what made her vulnerable.
I agree, he might not be "tainted" by the hate in that sense. His soul might be less affected. Or his mind for that matter. But the hate was given form in a sort of heat energy that generally destroyed everything it touched. I don't think even the Blackstaff would save you from that.
The only way I can see Harry being able to use the Eye would be as a big battery for a spell. I doubt he will ever just be able to point it like a gun at anyone. Could help him in a fight against Demonreach though if they have a falling out. I agree though that Harry mostly just wants to remove it from the field, and Marcone let him because he doesn't want that weapon in the hands of enemies that could use it like Ethniu, but also probably will use it as part of a case to undermine Dresden and say "Dresden is the bad guy, not me" while pointing Harry's worst enemies in his direction.
As for Balor, I don't think he hates Outsiders. What's your theory there? My guess is he actually is connected to the Outsiders, he is somehow on their team. Maybe they even helped him with his Eye. Assuming that the Outsiders are not merely the forgotten/fallen gods etc. (which sometimes I think might be true, and sometimes I think it's probably not). Balor might well have been corrupted...but then again the Fomor in Irish mythology/legend were always pretty much the bad guys. They might have just started out as evil.
I suspect the Mecha will be human (not Wizard) created and controlled should they appear, but we'll see.
I was mistaken, I thought Balor was a half decent guy. I had him and his grandson mixed up.
All of Peace Talks and Battle Ground happened because Nemesis wanted to attack Demonreach. The tactical and strategic errors the Fomor made only make sense when you look at it from that lens. If they'd launched a surprise attack on Chicago with Ethniu, the Jotuns, and the Huntsman it's over in a few hours.
As for Mab tanking the Eye: Magic is built on belief. If you don't think your shields can hold they won't. So while Mab ran the numbers she also needed to believe she could do it. Anyone less logical than her and maybe Ivy would likely breakdown mentally under the strain of resisting the eye.
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All of Peace Talks and Battle Ground happened because Nemesis wanted to attack Demonreach. The tactical and strategic errors the Fomor made only make sense when you look at it from that lens. If they'd launched a surprise attack on Chicago with Ethniu, the Jotuns, and the Huntsman it's over in a few hours.
Yes, it should have been over in a few hours, the reason it wasn't perhaps. was poor leadership. Yes, the Fomor had supposedly the ultimate weapon, the Eye, but their generals sucked. Even Listen, supposedly a star born is playing a very minor part, and he was fooled by Molly. I don't minimize the importance of taking out Harry's child and Molly's family, but still couldn't his talents have been better used? The Ethinu, herself, was totally out maneuvered and fooled, that is why she lost the Eye and was defeated. And it just wasn't Mab who calculated how much she could take from the Eye, she had a lot of help from Vadderung/Odin who allowed himself to be "humiliated" so his spear could get into position to do the most damage, Lara, with her team who delivered the blow that dislodged the Eye from her head, the Holy Knights running interference and doing crippling damage with great risk to themselves, and yes, in the end, what ever his long term motives are, Marcone/Namshiel aiding Harry to get what he needed to finally put Ethinu away.
One has to ask, just was Drakul's and Mavra's real goals in all of this? Who's side are they on? Are they working with Nemesis towards a greater goal? Or mere opportunists taking advantage of a chaotic situation? But then what is their goal? Their targeting of the Wardens was no accident, was the whole thing preplanned to gain new powerful recruits for the coming BAT? Did they know that Chandler would never be an undead team player so he was sent to another dimension? Or do they have long term plans for him? Plans we will learn about in Mirror Mirror, that is when he will make his return, that is the only thing that makes any sense in that story line.
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I think the black court is mainly opportunistic and they don’t like taking risks. They saw the whole affair as an excellent opportunity to get something but they did not stay longer than necessary. I don’t think they were in there to help the fomor.
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I think the black court is mainly opportunistic and they don’t like taking risks. They saw the whole affair as an excellent opportunity to get something but they did not stay longer than necessary. I don’t think they were in there to help the fomor.
I agree with that, it is also a misdirect to introduce a new character, Drakul, and set things up for a future confrontation between Wardens, i.e. mainly Carlos and his former friends.. And I still think to hook up Harry with Chandler as a future ally..
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I agree with that, it is also a misdirect to introduce a new character, Drakul, and set things up for a future confrontation between Wardens, i.e. mainly Carlos and his former friends.. And I still think to hook up Harry with Chandler as a future ally..
Maybe Chandler did something completely forbidden to escape like short period time travel. It seems to be his speciality.
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Maybe Chandler did something completely forbidden to escape like short period time travel. It seems to be his speciality.
Perhaps, I still stand by the idea of this is the purpose for Jim writing Mirror Mirror.. Harry either gets to rescue Chandler or Chandler, Harry, between them they will also answer a lot of questions about inside politics on the Senior Council. I further predict that Chandler turning up with Harry will totally unhinge Carlos for a bit, he won't know who to believe or what to believe in.
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I hope we get this during the BAT.
I was mistaken, I thought Balor was a half decent guy. I had him and his grandson mixed up.
All of Peace Talks and Battle Ground happened because Nemesis wanted to attack Demonreach. The tactical and strategic errors the Fomor made only make sense when you look at it from that lens. If they'd launched a surprise attack on Chicago with Ethniu, the Jotuns, and the Huntsman it's over in a few hours.
As for Mab tanking the Eye: Magic is built on belief. If you don't think your shields can hold they won't. So while Mab ran the numbers she also needed to believe she could do it. Anyone less logical than her and maybe Ivy would likely breakdown mentally under the strain of resisting the eye.
Yes agreed, it's hard to see how else the Fomor were so tactically unimaginative.
I think it's probably a combination of a few things when it came to how Mab survived. Harry guesses she made all sorts of terrible deals to survive something like that. Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if she actually knew that was in her future and prepared accordingly. Logic and faith are opposites though, so the yes she had to believe in her logic but she couldn't just believe her shields were going to hold. She had to know they were strong enough.