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Messages - dspringer1

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1
DF Spoilers / Re: Lashiel's distorted messages
« on: August 31, 2021, 03:03:56 PM »
I have to agree with Morriswalters, although Mira has a clear point.  For the most part, Bonea is going to be pretty worthless as an information source.   Perhaps a few useful bits mixed in with a lot of useless junk.

But it is clear that all the immortal powers are highly constrained on how they can interact with mortals - including by providing information.  Bonea is a loophole.  Immortal knowledge without immortal constraints.  Her nature makes it almost impossible to get that information, but the possibility for success is not zero.  At some point that loophole will become critical. 

However, I would argue that, from a literary standpoint, Bonea is a lot more than a information loophole or a valid reason to provide readers with an info-dump.  Just like Maggie or Molly, Bonea is going to be one of those individuals that helps define Dresden's character more clearly as well as providing emotional (funny, heartwarming, sad, etc) moments of emotional impact. 

2
DF Spoilers / Re: Lashiel's distorted messages
« on: August 30, 2021, 10:12:56 PM »
I was actually suggesting that Lashiel was deliberately distorting (subtly) what Harry heard when talking to other people.  For example, when Harry was getting information from his skull Friday perhaps a key details was not heard or subtly changed.  Alternatively she could have subtly changing what Harry perceives with his magic or the results of his divination spells.  She cannot interfere with his sight, but she clearly could fake his other magical senses - like when he tried to get a sense of the flavor of Cowl's magic.   Harry talks to a lot of people in these books collecting information and it would not take much illusion effort on Lashiel's part to hide or distort a key fact while leaving everything else alone.

I doubt she would try anything in front of a major power like the Merlin, Eb, Mab, etc.   But all else is game. 

3
DF Spoilers / Lashiel's distorted messages
« on: August 30, 2021, 03:14:30 PM »
We learned in Skin Game that Lashiel is perfectly willing to "adjust" the perceptions of her host to get that host to act in the desired way.   We learned in Dead Beat that Lashiel was able to deceive Dresden even though he had not formally accepted the coin. 

So key question, were there instances between Dead Beat and White Night where Lashiel deliberately deceived or hid things from Dresden (using her illusion power) to keep some important information from him - or perhaps to create false information from a trusted source. 

Some possibilities:  Information that might identify "Cowl", information about necromancers/necromancy that bite him in Battle Ground, Something about the White Court?    No idea, but there do seem to be some possibility here.

4
DF Spoilers / Re: Why was Ferrovax in GP
« on: May 12, 2021, 09:58:35 PM »
The guest list included key representatives of the major vampire factions AND key representatives of the many of the major supernatural factions. 

Mara and Ferrovax were probably too senior, but then again their factions have very small numbers.   So it is not that unusual.   Everyone else sent a representative which is probably normal business.   Given so many powerful factions were here, each representative had to be fairly senior.   From an "optics" standpoint, the attendee list mostly made sense. 

Of course, the political intrigue behind the scenes determined much.   Mara was already training Bianca and actively plotting with her.  Dresden was there as it was a trap.  Thomas as an assassination attempt by his father and Lea for many reasons (Harry, Thomas, Politics, etc). 

The real question is why no rep from summer?   Or Jade Vamps?  Or a warden from the White Council?  Those all seem suspicious oversights although Jade vamps are probably explainable due to simple isolationist tendencies.     The explanation is probably some variation of deliberate choice and/or misdirection.   For example, I suspect the warden that would probably have attended was "distracted" by the black council agents. 



5
DF Spoilers / Re: Dresden and Lara
« on: April 16, 2021, 10:43:15 PM »
Quote
Lara gains A real ally in Winter. The White Court is the weakest vampire court that we've seen.

I think it is fair to say that in a 1-1 battle, a white court vamp is weaker than a Red and definitely weaker than a Black.  The White vs Red match will be equal for a bit - until the white vamp runs out of energy and then it is killed.   The Black vs White will end quickly with a dead White.

HOWEVER, that is a long way from saying the White Court is the weakest vampire court.  Arguably they are the STRONGEST court if your focus is on the mortal world.   Which is why I think Mab wants them as allies.  The focus of the conflict is the mortal world going forward. 

6
DF Spoilers / Re: Mab Lying to Demonreach
« on: April 16, 2021, 10:32:37 PM »
Can mab lie to non-mortals? After all, demonreach is not a mortal. 

7
DF Spoilers / Re: Mirror Mirror character changes ideas
« on: April 16, 2021, 10:30:18 PM »
If you follow the classics, then Dresden will see three major changes --- all changes that make for a very painful realization for Dresden. 

1) One close ally who is now an enemy

2) One deadly enemy who must be an ally

3) One treasured companion was dead is now alive

4) One friend who is changed for the worse

5) Someone new who he learns a great deal about --- so that he can show off in a later book :)


The ally that is an enemy is almost certainly Michael, but honestly that is probably too simple as a Knight of the Cross would be able to tell that this Dresden is now their Dresden.  I would argue that the ally who is now an enemy is Murphy - which also nicely ties up #3 as well.  And Murphy would be a very dangerous foe for Dresden for many reasons.   You can make the case that a Susan as Red Court vamp would make a good enemy as well, but it feels weaker. 

The enemy who may be an ally.  Again the obvious answer is Marcone, but also again that is too simple.  To really make this hurt, the ally has to be a serious enemy.   That means you are looking at Lashiel or Nickodemus - both would make very painful allies.   Other possibilities (Maeve, Lily, Merlin, Red King -- simply do not have the emotional connection to make this alliance BURN Dresden's soul. 

Treasured companion now alive is obviously Susan or Murphy - and you have already read why I think it would be Murphy. 

Friend changed for the worse is most obviously Molly, except the author has already put Dresden through a lot of heartache related to Molly.  A case can be made that Charity could be the one that turned in a dark direction if the change resulted in Michael's death, especially if Dresden is at fault.     

Somebody new is pure speculation, but I think this would be a great book to tell us a lot about the federal agency focused on the supernatural.  And the payback in later books when Dresden shows off would be golden.   

8
DF Spoilers / Re: The Red Court vs. The Fomor
« on: January 25, 2021, 04:59:01 PM »
The Formor were always a weak supernatural nation, protected mostly by the fact that they lived in water (a potent defense vs most supernatural) and because prime territory had humans in it - which the ocean did not.  So basically a supernatural power made up of supernatural refugees and renegades living in territory nobody wants and where attacking them delivers little value.   Additionally their leadership probably has little real understanding of what the modern world is really like or how things changed in the last few hundred years.  Yes they understand cell phones and cars -- but the "meaning" and "impact" of 7 billion people armed with modern weapons and information technology is beyond their leadership which has stayed beneath the seas. 

However, what made them legitimately dangerous was a combination of events
1) The White Council being weak and divided and unable to protect gifted humans.  Add to this that the other supernatural races are probably fine with gifted humans being culled.  So they are picking targets that nearly all supernatural nations do not care about -- and the only one that does is heavily weakened.  This allowed them to build up a significant army. 

2) Insane god with Balor's eye.   Hard to argue that any of the events in Chicago could have happened without the Eye. 

3) They ignored the rules.   In this case the rules of behavior that guide supernatural interaction from breaking guest rights to showing off in front of humans to picking fights that should be impossible to win.  It is often the case that individuals can achieve the impossible if they only refuse to believe it is impossible. This can lead to great goodness or horrible tragedy.  The classic example is Hitler's Germany.  Hitler's entire rise to power and much of their initial success had to do with Hitler's eagerness to make huge gambles by breaking the rules while using bluster, lies and legitimate grievances to stall or prevent the normal consequences.   A house of cards of course - but if he have enough momentum it can be quite successful for a long time.   

9
DF Spoilers / Dresden and Lara
« on: January 22, 2021, 12:07:35 AM »
This is an interesting plot twist that can go so many ways

Pluses
1) Dresden and Lara have a great deal of respect for each other.   
2) They are also clearly attracted to each other in a way that has nothing to do with magic or inner demon beings
3) This ties Lara even more tightly to Mab -- a very strong political alliance for Mab.  After all, the White Court has a great deal of power in the mortal world - where Mab is fairly weak (relatively speaking).
4) It demonstrates Mabs power over Dresden in a very public way right after he was just super scary
5) It provides another layer of protection for Dresden vis-a-vis the white council.  I am sure there are other allies of the White court that would not hesitate to target Dresden before but would hesitate after a marriage.
6) Does this give Dresden access to white court resources?  Aka - cash and favors? 


Negatives
1) Lara feeds on souls -- so hard to see how they can have a marriage without that being a pretty strong barrier
2) Dresden is going to resent the hell out of a political marriage and that will create a lot of issues.  And if it becomes a real marriage then either Mab loses a lot of control over Harry to Lara (aka - she feeds on him scenario) or it turns to love and this becomes very damaging to Lara. 
3) A lot of worry that Lara is infected by outsiders based on odd behavior.  That could have been Justine distorting things-- or it could be a real sign that Justine infected Lara (or visa-versa as her father was probably associated with outsiders as well.
4) A distraction for Dresden. Normally that would be a good thing for Mab, but things are very ugly right now and having her winter knight be off his game would be dangerous. 
5) A political marriage involves obligations on both sides.  What would Mab promise Lara to make this happen?  Or does Lara already owe Mab too much to say no. 
6) Kids - enough said
7) Lara is the responsible type -- and a soul eating vampire.   Relations with Maggie will be complicated.....  of course, this might explain why Maggie goes to boarding school.... 
8.) Dresden will have obligations to Lara that might conflict with his obligations to Mab.  And Mab cannot just override such obligations as winter law applies. 
9) Lara's family are mostly a bunch of monsters.   Her extended family/court even more so.   That cannot end well when Dresden walks into the room.  And they are unlikely to take a few random deaths as well as the winter court did. 

10
DF Spoilers / So what is next
« on: January 15, 2021, 05:07:56 PM »
is the next book Butcher writes going to be another Dresden, his alternate series (with the flying ships) or the strongly hinted YA series focused on Maggie. 

11
DF Spoilers / Re: Why imprison Thomas in Demonreach
« on: January 15, 2021, 05:00:41 PM »
Quote
He didn't try and take Justine to Demonreach and imprison her because between the battle itself and the effort required to bind Ethniu, he was running on fumes. He could barely stand, let alone throw his Will against a Walker.

This makes no sense because he was willing to confront the outsider on the boat where he had access to none of the resources of Demonreach.  If he was too weak, then he should have made up some excuse to stash Justine somewhere else.  Not confront her on the boat. 

Quote
The shield bracelet and stuff made life easier..  The island has a lot of stuff but it isn't exactly the local
magical Ace Hardware store, Harry made due with what was at hand. 

This also makes no sense.  He had a number of visits from Thomas and Murphy while on the island.  He could easily have asked Thomas to acquire a set of tools and some raw materials.    Yet he scratched his staff out with a nail or something instead.     I get that after skin game he was highly distracted and seemed reluctant to get back in the game which may be a natural human reaction, but the time between cold days and skin game is inexcusable. 


12
DF Spoilers / Why imprison Thomas in Demonreach
« on: January 14, 2021, 11:27:56 PM »
I get why Harry hid Thomas on the island.   But I do not get why Dresden put him into the prison as opposed to just stranding him on the island.   Especially as that gave him the opportunity to question Thomas.   Even if he had to imprison him initially, why not release him as soon as he identified Justine as the culprit. 

I am also puzzled why Dresden confronted possessed Justine while on the waters.   He could easily have docked, stepped on the island while having Justine stay aboard.   He then consults with Demonreach and arranges mentally to have Justine imprisoned as soon as she steps on the island.    Probably not good for Justine's body or the body of the baby, but leaving he possessed by the outsider is probably equally bad for both. 

It just feels like the author is deliberately making demonreach less useful to Dresden.  For the same reason, Dresden's reasons for not having his normal foci by this point are also pretty weak.  While I can get it that the author does not want Dresden to be too overpowered to be challenged, peace talks and battleground seemed to be stories where overpowered was not a problem as the enemy was so greatly overpowered to begin with.   

13
DF Spoilers / Re: What happened to Carlos Ramirez?
« on: January 14, 2021, 11:18:36 PM »
I wonder why Dresden burned Carlos during the meeting.    Yes he had to create a distraction, but why target Ramirez (aka - a friend) rather than some warden or other attendee at the meet and greet. 


14
DF Spoilers / Re: Power Creep
« on: July 01, 2020, 05:05:18 PM »
Certainly since the events in Changes destroyed or lost so many of his foci, Harry's foci in later books have been clearly inferior in number and quality.  Many reasons - time, resources, being a ghost, etc -- have explained the gap.   But it feels like there is another reason as Harry could have gotten tools as they are not that expensive and he had plenty of time on the island before cold days. 

Part of me thinks the author has just been deliberately handicapping Harry, perhaps to make the contrast more dramatic when Harry is fully back on his game.    Part of me thinks the author has been shifting the focus away from foci and towards Harry's ability as a wizard.  Similar to how Harry's reliance on potions in book 1-2 mostly fell by the wayside in later books as his spells and foci became more effective.   There have been a lot of improvements in Harry's spellcasting after all in the last few books. 

15
DF Spoilers / Re: Power Creep
« on: June 25, 2020, 11:21:43 PM »
Other enhancements are just as powerful.  In no particular order as I cannot remember which book provides which.
*  After training molly, he can do veils a lot more easily
*  In ghost watching molly, he sees the power of illusion
*  As winter knight, he starts to effectively use cold magic -- first in Changes with mixed fire/cold attack, but I would argue more effectively in cold days
*  Reputation is power in the supernatural world - and Harry both builds reputation and leverages his reputation to get things done
*  His resistance to outsiders realized in cold days
*  His ability to block pain learned in Dead Beat from Lasciel
*  His summoning in book 1 that he used again a bit later in book 4 or 5, but not much since
*  Necromancy knowedge gained in Dead Beat.  he does not use much, but he did use
*  the ability to understand and speak multiple langues (and access to magical theory/history) gained from Lasciel and lost when he gave up the coin
*  He picked up mind magic in a much more effective way (defensively at least) after Turn Coat
*  Bear power belt showed up in book 2 and never came back* 




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