Peace talks excerpt indications

[Yuillegan]

So this is a very interesting excerpt.

!!!SPOILER WARNING!!!

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So we know in the excerpt that Ebeneezer and Harry fight an Outsider, which someone (Black Council perhaps) summons during the Peace Talks, which they theorise that the Fomor (who may or may not actually be responsible) would get the blame and derail the talks.

What is interesting is that Eb is afraid of the Outsider (the Cornerhound). Harry calls him the most dangerous wizard on the Council (which has been said several times in the series, but which Jim has said is the Gatekeeper but which isn't the same as the most powerful - I assume this is because of the same reasons Harry is dangerous as the Warden of Demonreach, mostly because they could unleash a huge amount of horror and violence upon the world and probably end it).

Why is this?

He is the Blackstaff - which the current theory is that it is Mother Winter's walking stick, which according to that theory should give him at least some advantage against them. Even despite that he is still the heavy weight champion when it comes to duelling on the Council.

Perhaps it is because the Blackstaff isn't actually Mother Winter's walking stick, and is just a very dangerous staff belonging to some other nasty being.

But I don't think so. I think the real reason is because the Blackstaff, despite probably being Mother Winter's walking stick, it doesn't give that much of an advantage any more than Winter does (i.e. the savagery instincts and cold power) and because of what Jim has said previously - all the Blackstaff really does is provide insulation for using black magic without the horrible supernatural mind-warping side effects. Which might mean that those powers are not any more effective against Outsiders than regular magic. Unless black magic DOES come from the Outside...but that theory is much more contentious.

The other possible reason is that Cornerhounds are an especially dangerous type of Outsider...but I don't think so. Probably because Eb's magic has had trouble with Outsiders on several occasions in previous books and because it definitely isn't a Walker or a Mistfiend (which may or may not be an Outsider, the information is conflicting) or a Shoggoth.

Also - why is it that Outsiders have such a strange relationship with magic in the first place? Magic apparently doesn't work well against them (although in the series, there are many occasions where magic has worked fine against them and not just with Harry. The Merlin and the Gatekeeper seem to be effective against them, as does Amoracchius etc. Perhaps it has to do with the protection the Lord Raith has from magic too (one wonders if it would protect him from a Sword of the Cross) or the psychic attacks that always come with Outsiders. Further thought is required on this I think.

Final thing - interesting that Harry and Ebeneezar DON'T immediately think it is the Fomor summoning the Outsiders, rather think they are being set up. Lot's of evidence points to strong connections between them and the Outsiders so far, so what has convinced them otherwise?

[Dina]

Well, someone please reminds me if Harry still has soulfire? I bet it would be a strong weapon in that situation.

[Yuillegan]

He has, but it didn't prove particularly effective against HWWBefore. In saying that, I mostly think that is because Harry hasn't figured out how best to use it in that situation.

[Dina]

I agree

[Mira]

   That there are some big nasty things out there that even Eb fears...

[Yuillegan]

Yeah, like Drakul. But not some basic monster.

[g33k]

... But not some basic monster.

It's an Outsider.

Even if it's not one of their Walkers or other major figures, it's still an unreasonably-tough target for magic; not a "basic monster."

[Yuillegan]

Well, I am pretty sure Drakul is also an Outsider but anyway - it might no be a 'basic' monster, but it seems like a relatively low-level Outsider, which Goblins and other Fae seemed to be able to kill.

And from what Jim has said about Eb, he was even wilder and more gung-ho than Harry!

Unless the Cornerhound is specifically deadly in a certain way to Wizards or something, I don't really see why Eb would be more afraid in this situation than taking on Vampires or Demons or Faeries etc.

EDIT:

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The Cornerhound when googled comes up with "Hounds of Tindalos". This is highly interesting. Hounds of Tindalos are Lovecraftian beasts that are too foul to be described, but vaguely hound-like. Interestingly, they inhabit the angles of time, whereas humans inhabit the curves. Once a human is known to one of these creatures, they will pursue it through anything. A person risks attracting their attention by travelling through time. Corners have angles. I would be willing to bet these are the same creatures. Which WOULD make them more deadly than a regular Outsider. And they are terrifying. But if they are interested in Dresden or Eb, one of them might have time-travelled this book! We might see evidence of Time Travel this book! And its does materialise in a sever angle; a corner - which is how the Hounds of Tindalos appear.

[Snark Knight]

Well, I am pretty sure Drakul is also an Outsider but anyway - it might no be a 'basic' monster, but it seems like a relatively low-level Outsider, which Goblins and other Fae seemed to be able to kill.

Physically. By throwing a ton of expendable cannon fodder at them.

Ebenezar or any non-Starborn wizard are going to have a different issue there. And even Harry has had more practice resisting their mental attacks from the Walkers than sticking evocations to goon outsiders up to this book.

[Yuillegan]

SK - see my edit above. I have revised my position somewhat.

[Bad Alias]

The "most feared wizard on the planet" is the quote. Not most powerful or dangerous. Jim has said the Gatekeeper is the most dangerous and the Merlin is the most powerful.

I wonder if Harry is underestimating himself when he thinks that other guy is the most feared wizard.

Only mortal magic can summon Outsiders. What connects the Fomor to Outsiders? Is it just emerging from the murky depths thing?

[Dina]

SK - see my edit above. I have revised my position somewhat.

That edit is very, very interesting.

[g33k]

... it might no be a 'basic' monster, but it seems like a relatively low-level Outsider, which Goblins and other Fae seemed to be able to kill.

And from what Jim has said about Eb, he was even wilder and more gung-ho than Harry!

Unless the Cornerhound is specifically deadly in a certain way to Wizards or something...

They are specifically deadly to wizards, yes.  ALL the Outsiders are -- specifically -- very nearly immune immune to all mortal magic, except the Starborns' magic.

The faerie Hunters didn't use magic to take out the Oustiders ... They physically ripped the Oustiders to shreds, .

[Mira]

   What I am wondering....

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Is who is the mortal calling these bad boys up?  Could it be Marcone?   He might be thinking he needs some real muscle for leverage.

[RobReece]

Mira

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I really don't think it would be John. For one, he couldn'tdo it himself, we've seen inside him enough to know he's no practitioner and even if he wanted to bring in a heavy, he wouldn't want something so dangerous to "his" town/universe.
And two, I'm pretty sure his contract with Monoc Securities would preclude them summoning of Outsiders on his behalf, it might even nullify his contract if he tried.  Wasn't,  Odin and company one of the previous forces defending the Gates?

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