My stab at seven titles of Merlin Emrys that have been disseminated.
- Blackstaff - 1st Law - Eb kills those at Casaverde.
- Beastmaster - 2nd Law - Listens uses incredible shifting magic.
- Mindkeeper - 3rd Law - Langtry uses incredible mind magic in Turn Coat.
- Warden - 4th Law - Warden can command inmates on work release.
- Lifeguard - 5th Law -
- Timelord - 6th Law -
- Gatekeeper - 7th Law - Rashid oversees the Gates.
Most of that stacks up, I think. But I seem to remember Jim saying the Merlin was actually using advanced air magic to do his communication spell in Turn Coat. Because using mind magic would presumably break the laws of magic.
I would probably choose Langtry is the Time Lord, who governs the 6th law. So for me it would be:
- Blackstaff - 1st Law (Murder) - Eb kills those at Casaverde.
- Beastmaster - 2nd Law (Polymorphing) - Listens uses incredible shifting magic.
- Mindkeeper - 3rd Law (Mind Invasion) - La Fortier's specialty was illusions. As he is dead, Cristos goes here despite being an Earth mage.
- Warden - 4th Law (Enthrallment) - Warden can command inmates on work release. Previously Simon perhaps, depending on his speciality and possibly as a candidate for being a Warden after Kemmler. Maybe Ancient Mai takes this role being the most skilled enchanter on the Council.
- Lifeguard - 5th Law (Necromancy) - Martha Liberty's use of the loa and spirits
- Timelord - 6th Law (Time Travel) - The OG Merlin used TT to create Demonreach, maybe that knowledge is part of being the Merlin now (like Presidential "Eyes Only")
- Gatekeeper - 7th Law (Gateing) - Rashid oversees the Gates.
I think though, all things considered, that only the Gatekeeper (Rashid) and the Merlin (Langtry) are in the roles of old. At one point there was only the OG Merlin Emrys doing it all. The Blackstaff came after he left/died because the Council's enemies were exploiting their limitations. Which I originally took to mean using mortals to attack the Council...but perhaps also meaning using things like Time Travel, Necromancy (like in Dead Beat where the Council couldn't have got close enough to the Darkhallow without using Necromancy to shield themselves), being unable to contend with mind mages and enthralments and transmogrifiers (polymorphers), and of course course whatever advantage the Outside provides. I wouldn't at all be surprised to learn that the Gatekeeper has to break the 7th Law in order to do his job. Maybe not all the time, but probably a lot of the time.
So perhaps the OG Merlin appointed his Council leaders based on their specialty against the Seven Laws. On thinking about it some more, it would have made more sense for there to be 13 Senior Council members, considering that's the maximum that can be used in a spell. So it seems that it's very deliberate that there is only 7. Which is a point in favor of it being in related to the Laws of Magic.
We don't know, and we don't know before that, but before that was Kemmler.
I tend to think the Warden was the original, and some Warden down the line founded the wardens as assistants/potential replacements. Part of the Merlin wanting Harry off the Council may be because if the Warden, he's in charge, not Luccio.
Great theory btw.
Jim knows who the two previous two are. I am pretty sure it's Simon and either Justin or Margaret Le Fay. Considering all three are "dead" it's hard to get any more information at this stage. Being random wizards doesn't feel right...and I can't really see it being anyone we've met like McCoy or Rashid. We know it isn't any of the Senior Council per Jim as that would set the others upon whoever took up the mantle. So that only really leaves significant wizards in the last century that are no longer hanging around i.e. dead, missing, or keeping a low profile.
I agree though that the original Warden was just Merlin, and then the concept of the Wardens grew out of that.
To be honest, I doubt the Council was very big originally. Maybe less than a hundred wizards globally. Maybe not even twenty who signed on. I can imagine there would have been plenty of resistance too. But by being organised and resourceful, I suspect Merlin overcame significant adversaries (and the fact he himself was a complete badass). So he effectively conquered the wizarding world. In many ways not all that different to Voldemort or Grindelwald. Just happened to be to write the history books (or his supporters did), and so comes off as the good guy. Any bastard who conquers their neighbours to form a larger group is not going to be all that "good". Look at the formation of any country from smaller states and cities. It's normally fairly bloody yet often the conqueror comes off as a hero of sorts. Sure, people band together to take on big threats. I don't doubt that's often the case - and indeed likely the case in the Dresden Files. But it doesn't mean they didn't end up absorbing some less-than-willing elements through might.
To the OP - Definitely could see Dresden signing on...although he hardly needs to as Winter Knight, already being of Winter. Then again, Kringle is a vassal of Winter yet Vadderung is not so perhaps it might work something like that. A matter of what hat Harry is wearing (despite almost never wearing hats). He would need the signing of two current members of the Accords. I could see Vadderung signing off, and perhaps Molly or Mab (unless they don't want him to...). Another possibility is River Shoulders should he become and Accords member, or the Archive, or even Lara. Even Marcone might agree for a deal, but I can't see Harry asking. I suspect the main reason Dresden would sign on is to get the protections for Chicago both from external threats and internal threats. As a secondary reason, to protect himself from the White Council (and to a lesser extent, Mab). The real question is when he would do it. Now (as in Twelve Months)? Or perhaps after some sort of ascension or power-up?
