1. We have been told that Nicodemus has a very specific target in mind, ostensibly kept in the Labyrinth of Daedalus. What is Nic trying to get his hands on and why? The blurb for SG had some info on this, and all answers that hit on what the blurb indicates as the target have been recorded before anyone could edit their answer to reflect its contents. -Serack
2. Nicodemus apparently called in a marker from Mab to get Harry on the team. Does he have a specific plan for using Harry or did Mab twist his request? Which of Harry's capabilities will he admit to needing, and (given that this is Nicodemus after all), which abilities is he scheming for Harry to use? Nicodemus has a specific plan with expectation of Mab twisting the request. As far as the plan goes I see him needing most, if not all, of Harry’s abilities, especially Harry’s ability to think on his feet. It wouldn’t be surprising to find out Nic wants Harry to carry out, or at a minimum plan, the intrusion on the mortal vault. He knows Harry will come up with something inventive with a high probability of success. I also think Nic is counting on Harry brining his allies along as well. It isn’t just Harry he wants, but the people Harry knows and counts on.
3. Jim has mentioned that the book will be "Ocean's Eleven". Who else did Nicodemus recruit? How will they interact with Harry? I think we can count on seeing some of the Nicodemus faction of the Nickleheads, as well as a couple of those who aren’t as close to him. Lasciel would be one, possibly with a new bearer. All concerned will be suspicious and waiting for the real party to start. Depending if Lasciel shows up with a new host that aspect would likely be trying for Harry because he would almost be guaranteed to be shocked and try to talk the holder into giving up the coin.
Harry's general method of operation is to call on his friends for help. In this book, Harry is (initially) allowed one extra backup member on the crew. Who will it be? Which of Harry's other allies will "interfere" before the plot is over? 9/10/13 an interview was published that answers the first half of this question. (edit: Sort of) Those that guessed what he said in that interview (at least partially) have been logged by the curators, but this will probably go down as some kind of extra credit or something, so keep Predictin! (edit: And things might not be binary simple...)-Serack
I’ve mentioned before Nic is counting on all of Harry’s allies. At one point or another we are going to see Thomas, Butters, Andi in a break in (haha see what I did there.) role , possibly the alphas.
5. This is a Denarian book, so (unlike the last "end of the world" showdown), the Swords will almost certainly be present. In fact, there have been various hints... Which Sword wielders will appear in the next book and how will their interference/help affect the plot?
Sanya will wander in and attach himself to Harry. He won’t be asked, but just be directed that way and Harry will accept his offer of help. Nic won’t like it, but will go along because Harry will insist Sanya is needed, what Harry will not say is only after Nic steals what he is really after and it is time to skin him alive. Murphy will wield Fid., but the sword of love will have a temporary wielder - not I think Michael he’ll come into it thinking he has to talk sense into Harry and and protect the temporary wielder - Charity. Michael will survive, but Charity won’t.
6. Mab is apparently against Nicodemus succeeding in this heist. In the Cold Days, we found that Mab had complex reasons for wanting Harry to kill Maeve. What are Mab's reasons in this book? Is it simple thwarting or is there something deeper? She wants him to steal what ever he really wants to, not what he has outright said he is after, but she doesn’t want him to keep it. I think Mab is running a game on Nic, she wants what he is really after possibly to pay back another debt or to bargain with a third party. I see it ultimately being of importance, possibly come the BAT. Mab also sees Nic as a dangerous being who could upset her plans she wants to neutralize him in the worst case, but best case is to make use of him because he is a dangerous being. She would be content with the fallen inside of Nic, but she would dearly love to have the combination of Nic and Anduriel working for her. I see it as something similar to her plans for Molly, the Mantle of Winter Lady wasn’t her first choice for Molly, but it was an acceptable outcome. Anduriel with a new host - one beholden to Mab and maybe even with something like a wizard’s lifespan would be a fine addition for her. I don’t think she would order Harry to take up the coin, but who knows who else she could con into it.
7. At the end of Cold Days, Harry needs to stay on the island to keep his growing headaches at bay. The start of Skin Games implies that those headaches will need to be resolved by the end of the book. Who or what is causing those headaches, and how will the whole thing get resolved by the end of the book? I think it is Lash. She will take over the new home Harry has constructed for Bob. Molly will ease the transition out of Harry and into her new existence.
8. One of the key components of the "Ocean's Eleven" movie is that there is a final twist/reveal. Given that we've got Nicodemus, Harry, Mab, and potentially Hades (and who knows who else) all trying to get the better of each other, if there's one thing you can count on it's some sort of last minute quintuple-cross. What will be the nature of the twist and how will it all fall out? We see a new host for Lasciel, but Harry won’t tumble to it until later in the book - at least he won’t let on he knows, but will figure it out early on and use it to get out alive and successful. Of course it will be revealed what Nic is really after - Harry joining with Nicodemus among other things - as well, then
Harry jumps it all off by clipping Didre(sp?) for her actions in SmF. I even think it possible for him to finish the job and put Nic on the ark for keeps as well, although he won’t actually be the one to do it. For that I have my money on Murphy pulling a Connor McCloud on him although I think it unlikely. Nicodemus will continue to try to recruit Harry, right up until the end both because it would be expected and because Nic STILL wants Harry on his team as evidenced by him accepting Harry’s services as payment for Mab’s debt.
9. (Extra Credit) There are many WAG ("Wild A$$ Guess") theories on the boards, some crazier than others. Write up to three WAG theories (or make up your own) you believe are correct that will be confirmed (or at least have evidence in favor of) in Skin Games.
We could find out who fixed LC. Here is my answer, taken from this post :
http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,40467.30.html I've never really cared much for the time traveling theories, especially where LC is concerned. I've posted before I think it was Lash and sub Harry who fixed it. Both had motive, neither of them wanted to be the confetti raining down on Chicago if the thing went boom, and the opportunity to fix it. Just before Harry uses LC to find Molly.
Lash starts messing with him, trying to convince him not to use LC. She says she wants him to take up Lasciel's coin, and she does. The thing about it is by this point she knows it won't happen then, if it ever does. She knows Harry well enough and is aware enough of the situation to realize a couple things. One, Harry doesn't have to have LC work in order to find Molly; a variation of a tracking spell would get the same results. Two, Harry using LC is just Harry showing off. Sub Harry knows this as well, and I think he has seen the flaw in the design. He might not know how to fix it, but Lash does. She can't actually do the work herself, but Sub Harry can. She distracts Harry while Sub Harry takes over the body and does the work fixing LC. Bob knows what is going on, and Sub Harry orders him to dummy up about how it got fixed.
Mab fixing could work as well, but I find that to be a stretch. She generally doesn't take such direct action, instead preferring to let some on she is testing (and that is exactly one thing she has going on in PG, she is testing Harry.) do on their own. True she sees Harry as important to her future plans. Her attitude is Boba Fett "He's no use to me dead." The thing about it, and I think Harry has mentioned this himself, she doesn't babysit. Could she have sent some one, yeah, she could have. I don't think Lea done the deed either, being a Sidhecicle would have made it kind of hard to pull off. Come to think of it depending on how involved Mab was in healing Lea - she was one of the frozen Sidhe Harry saw, she couldn't have fixed LC.
Other characters seem less likely to me as well. First they would have to know LC existed in the first place, and I find it highly unlikely for that to have happened. Remember secrets are the Wizards heroin. Could they have been informed. Possible, but then again I don't see that as likely.
The only ones I see as having a more than enough motive and opportunity and the means to accomplish the task are Lash and Sub Harry. Lash distracts Harry while Sub Harry drives the bus.
(Extra Credit) This is that "free form" question where you can come up with anything else you think will be in this book. Specific quotes Harry might say (will he actually quote Ocean's Eleven? The movie will have come out already in Harry's timeline)? Tidbits about the White Council? The fate of Molly? Write down anything you want. Note that whatever you write must be specifically mentioned or hinted at in Skin Games in order to be worth credit.
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