The Dresden Files > DF Reference Collection
[CD spoilers] Mother Winter, the Blackstaff, Death and the Raven Banner
Vairelome:
Regarding the Raven Banner angle, consider the Stormcrow Banner that appears in the Codex Alera. In that case, it isn't directly tied to a Celtic legendary object, but I'd be shocked if it wasn't a deliberate callback. At a minimum, this should establish that JB is familiar with the right legends.
On a related note, "look for Celtic lore around 1065 AD"? Could that be related to Titania's comment that she has not spoken to Mab since "before Hastings"? Perhaps there was a significant amount of Faerie Queen family drama around that time, and the loss of Mother Winter's walking stick/Raven Banner/Blackstaff was tied up in the conflict. (For added insanity, I don't think we know exactly when the former Mother Summer retired....)
Elegast:
--- Quote from: Vairelome on December 07, 2012, 12:24:36 AM ---Regarding the Raven Banner angle, consider the Stormcrow Banner that appears in the Codex Alera. In that case, it isn't directly tied to a Celtic legendary object, but I'd be shocked if it wasn't a deliberate callback. At a minimum, this should establish that JB is familiar with the right legends.
--- End quote ---
That's a fascinating remark. Could you remind me what is the Stormcrow Banner in CA? (I read the serie only once, and I went really fast)
Vairelome:
I'm going to keep this somewhat indirect to avoid CA spoilers, but one of the Imperial military symbols on banners is an eagle. At a significant point, one of those banners ends up getting blasted by a gout of flame that chars the threads of the eagle, making the bird-shape all black. The legion associated with that banner decides the banner is lucky and refuses to repair it, and they are given the name "the Stormcrows."
Crows/ravens are a major symbolic element of death (possibly the biggest one) in CA, and they appear in considerable numbers over any battlefield. It's noted at one point that you can predict how major/bloody a particular battle will be by the size of the murder that appears in the skies. Also, "crows" is a common expletive used in the series. In context, adopting "Stormcrows" as your legion nickname is approximately as ballsy as picking "Legion of Death."
Orbweaver:
Interesting... the White Council acquired the Blackstaff sometime around 1065. The other important date mentioned in CD is 1066, when the battle of Hastings happened and Titania spoke one-on-one with Mab.
So Mother Winter lost her walking stick, and the Blackstaff changed hands in 1065. It may be that the year the 'walking stick' actually passed from Mother Winter to the Council was in 1066- which would put Mother Winter at Hastings.
If she was there- were the Outsiders there as well?
Elegast:
--- Quote from: Vairelome on December 07, 2012, 12:24:36 AM ---On a related note, "look for Celtic lore around 1065 AD"? Could that be related to Titania's comment that she has not spoken to Mab since "before Hastings"? Perhaps there was a significant amount of Faerie Queen family drama around that time, and the loss of Mother Winter's walking stick/Raven Banner/Blackstaff was tied up in the conflict. (For added insanity, I don't think we know exactly when the former Mother Summer retired....)
--- End quote ---
It's certainly linked to Hastings/Stamford Bridge. I suspect there was at least a fairie knight among them. My guess: that's when Mother Winter gave the Winter Knight Mantle to Mab:
--- Quote from: CS ---Once I have devoured your flesh, and your mantle with it, I will bestow it upon someone worthier of the name. I should never have given it to Mab.
--- End quote ---
Her knight was stupid enough to lose her stick, she was so disgusted by those mortals she subcontracted the whole thing to Mab.
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