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Codex Alera Spoilers / Is there a WoJ?
« on: April 22, 2025, 06:41:04 PM »
I just started a re-read of the Codex Alera, and a thought occurred. Is there a WoJ on how the Vord Queen wound up in hibernation in the first place?
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DF Books / Missed reference in Brief Cases/Big Foot on Campus
« on: March 27, 2025, 03:04:37 PM »
I'm in the middle of re-reading Brief Cases, and noticed something I missed previously:
...I nodded toward his goons. “Ghouls, right? It’s going to take more than two, Chuck. Hell, I like fighting ghouls. No matter what I do to them, I never feel bad about it afterward.”
Barrowill missed the reference, like the monsters usually do. ...
What is the reference here?
...I nodded toward his goons. “Ghouls, right? It’s going to take more than two, Chuck. Hell, I like fighting ghouls. No matter what I do to them, I never feel bad about it afterward.”
Barrowill missed the reference, like the monsters usually do. ...
What is the reference here?
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DF Spoilers / Re: Winter Lady Restrictions
« on: August 15, 2022, 06:41:10 PM »Cold Case, Mab to Molly: "Maiden, mother, and crone. You are the maiden, Lady Molly. And for you to be otherwise, to become a mother, would be to destroy the mantle of power you wear. The mantle protected itself—as it must."
This is the quote that inspired my initial question of this post. Mab doesn't just imply, but overtly states that the underlying source of the Winter Lady's enforced chastity is that the maiden cannot become a mother. If that's all of the factors involved, then there are a myriad of sexual outlets that have no chance of pregnancy that are outside of Winter Law's prohibition (e.g., the implied lesbian relationship between Maeve and Jenny Greenteeth).
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DF Spoilers / Re: Winter Lady Restrictions
« on: August 10, 2022, 09:28:16 PM »I don't think we know for sure yet, but I sort of doubt it'll allow much of that sort of activity.
It being a magic think make me believe that the requirements would be metaphysical rather than physical—after all, if its purpose was mere pregnancy prevention, it would be much more efficient to make her womb inaccessible or unsuitable than to fight off anyone who wants to give her a go.
My guess is that the mantle is keeping her an actual maiden, i.e. young, nubile, desirable, and unused.
I dunno about that... it was implied but never explicitly stated that Jenny Greenteeth was Maeve's lover. That could have been Maeve's way of sidestepping the chastity prohibition imposed by Winter Law.
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DF Spoilers / Winter Lady Restrictions
« on: August 09, 2022, 08:45:23 PM »
Just had a thought and figured it was worth posting. Apologies if the subject has been posted previously.
In Brief Cases Mab implies that the Winter Lady is forced to be chaste because becoming pregnant would disqualify her eligibility for the position. From that premise one could assume that non-vaginal and/or non-penetrative sexual activity would be outside of the Winter Law prohibition.
Thoughts?
In Brief Cases Mab implies that the Winter Lady is forced to be chaste because becoming pregnant would disqualify her eligibility for the position. From that premise one could assume that non-vaginal and/or non-penetrative sexual activity would be outside of the Winter Law prohibition.
Thoughts?
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DF Spoilers / Re: "Dog Men" questions
« on: July 29, 2022, 12:30:17 PM »Puck is the kind of entity Demonreach was made for, a being of pure chaos.
I have to disagree with you there... To me, at least, Alfred comes across as an embodiment of Order/Law. He's the locus genii of the most secure prison in the mortal world after all.
In D&D terms, his alignment would be lawful neutral. That is to say, follows the letter of the law (although maybe not the spirit), regardless of what the law says.
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DF Spoilers / Re: A Thought About The Items From Hades
« on: July 19, 2022, 09:29:07 PM »The closest parts of the NeverNever to the mortal world is Faerie. That’s why most of the Ways travel through it.
It’s a WOJ about the Previous Defenders but can be deduced from whose power they made the Mantles of Faerie the current Defenders.
I believe the White God has issued a proscription on god Level beings being active in the mortal world, the Queens are the most powerful tolerated, (and that I think was designed into the Mantles) the more powerful Mothers stay in the NeverNever, along with the likes of Hades, in their own realms, very deep within the NeverNever difficult for Wizards to reach.
Some gods took a demotion like Odin to stay in the mortal world, great Dragons like Mr Ferro manifest only part of their power. Ethnui was in breach of that Proscription, and ended up having two Knights and the White God’s Favourite Idiot sicced on her, leaving her in the one place in the Mortal World the White God accepts her presence, Demonreach.
As Mr Ferro said his full presence in the mortal world would break it, which is why the god level beings are not allowed there.
The only reason for this is to allow humanity to evolve, they will be the next Defenders, and given Jim’s age and reading habits humanity when it builds up its numbers and technology will create the Singularity AKA the White God.
Wow. Other than your first sentence, literally none of your statements are supported by the text. Your screen name fits you extremely well.
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DF Spoilers / Re: The Law
« on: July 15, 2022, 03:04:59 AM »
OK, I just got my monthly credit from Audible yesterday and listened to The Law last night into today, so I'm coming a bit late to this party.
I have to say that right off the bat, there were a few things that really struck me in terms of Harry's attitude/behavior:
First off, Harry goes on and on about Trip's epic stupidity in not bowing to Harry's intimidation techniques. There are a couple of flaws in this train of thought. Harry relied almost entirely on his reputation to intimidate Trip. This fails magnificently when Trip either hasn't heard or doesn't believe the stories about the Wizard of Chicago.
The second time Harry threatens him, Trip hits the nail on the head when he says that he asked around about Harry, and everyone agrees that Harry is known for being a guy trying to be a White Hat, and that Harry doesn't have the stones to do anything more than rough him up a bit.
Secondly, for various reasons (PTSD, ethical conflict, battle fatigue, or whatever), Harry threatens Trip but has no intention of actually enforcing the consequences. The is either enormous stupidity or arrogance on Harry's part. Trip might not be the brightest bulb in the knife drawer, but he's cunning enough to recognize that Harry is bluffing.
In the same vein as the old saying "Never give an order that you know won't be obeyed," one should never make a threat without being willing to follow through on it. If someone calls your bluff, it makes you look weak and reduces your credibility.
I have to say that right off the bat, there were a few things that really struck me in terms of Harry's attitude/behavior:
First off, Harry goes on and on about Trip's epic stupidity in not bowing to Harry's intimidation techniques. There are a couple of flaws in this train of thought. Harry relied almost entirely on his reputation to intimidate Trip. This fails magnificently when Trip either hasn't heard or doesn't believe the stories about the Wizard of Chicago.
The second time Harry threatens him, Trip hits the nail on the head when he says that he asked around about Harry, and everyone agrees that Harry is known for being a guy trying to be a White Hat, and that Harry doesn't have the stones to do anything more than rough him up a bit.
Secondly, for various reasons (PTSD, ethical conflict, battle fatigue, or whatever), Harry threatens Trip but has no intention of actually enforcing the consequences. The is either enormous stupidity or arrogance on Harry's part. Trip might not be the brightest bulb in the knife drawer, but he's cunning enough to recognize that Harry is bluffing.
In the same vein as the old saying "Never give an order that you know won't be obeyed," one should never make a threat without being willing to follow through on it. If someone calls your bluff, it makes you look weak and reduces your credibility.
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DF Spoilers / Re: Something That Has Always Bugged Me
« on: June 30, 2022, 09:07:00 PM »All I am saying is that Harry’s constant grasp on his magic stick and his exertions with it may have resulted in certain inevitable physiological changes leaving him less limber than he was before he started. His practice match with Lara in Peace Talks is a case in point, that exercise left him quite stiff afterwards.
And perhaps during.
To paraphrase what Hannah Ascher said to Harry in Skin Game:
"Wow. You left me nowhere to go on that one."
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DF Spoilers / Something That Has Always Bugged Me
« on: June 24, 2022, 09:28:24 PM »
Several times throughout the series (pre-Winter mantle), Harry uses his staff one-handed resulting in significant damage to his target. A staff is a two-handed weapon. Have you ever tried to swing a six-foot length of wood "as thick as two thumbs together" with one hand? It's awkward as hell and you can't really get any real force behind it unless you have the space and momentum to twirl it.
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DF Spoilers / Re: Oversight or a bit twisted?
« on: June 24, 2022, 09:17:23 PM »
It's been a while since I've re-read Cold Days, but off the cuff, I'd guess that Maeve pretending not to know Sarissa was part of her effort to conceal or obfuscate their relationship.
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DF Spoilers / Re: Adaptation Do's and Don'ts
« on: May 17, 2022, 09:30:06 PM »Don't introduce a heavy-hitter (like a naagloshii) in episode frigging #1, where it should rip Harry apart.
The creature in episode 1 was referred to as a skin-walker, not specifically a naagloshi. There are several different kinds of skin-walkers in Native American lore.
Per Wikipedia:
"While perhaps the most common variety seen in horror fiction by non-Navajo people, the yee naaldlooshii is one of several varieties of skin-walkers in Navajo culture; specifically, they are a type of 'ánti'įhnii."
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DF Spoilers / Re: Demonreach's spells and Turn Coat
« on: March 05, 2022, 12:36:47 AM »Naagloshinare semi divine, would these wards work against Angels, even Mr Sunshine.
Only Jim knows...
As I said, my assumption was that Merlin's wards incorporated elements of Native American shamanic magic specifically targeted against Naagloshi. If that's the case, they probably wouldn't affect angels of The White God.
However, it's also possible that Merlin incorporated Judeo-Christian symbology capable of thwarting angels as well (one would assume with the intention of protection against the Fallen rather than Mr Sunshine and his brethren).
*Edit* Scratch that - Nicky and/or the Nickelheads had no problem entering the tower in order to set up or repurpose the circle designed to contain Ivy.
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DF Spoilers / Re: Demonreach's spells and Turn Coat
« on: March 04, 2022, 11:31:36 PM »This appears to say that Shagnasty has seen spells like this before, AKA Merlin's work. So where else could he have seen this work? We know that the Naagloshii are based in the American Southwest, and typically Merlin lore comes out of Europe, so did Merlin do more spell work in America, or did the Naagloshii travel across the pond to Europe sometime. Also, any ideas what else would require this complex level of spell work to be laid down?
I interpreted that from the opposite direction than you did... I made the assumption that the creator of the wards (didn't know it was Merlin at the time) had incorporated elements of Native American magic that were effective against Naagloshi.
So it's not that Shagnasty was familiar with Merlin's works, it's that Merlin was familiar with Naagloshi and included protections against them that were recognizable to Shagnasty.
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DF Spoilers / Re: Really Stupid Foreshadowing
« on: January 26, 2022, 03:05:04 PM »
IIRC I think it was mentioned or implied in "Day One" that that Butters had been sparring with the Einherjahren as part of his training regimen with Michael.
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