The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Has Eb already chosen his successor? If he has, who?
kazimmoinuddin:
An item that can freely break the seven laws has to be highly desired, while we argue about if Harry will get it, we should be wondering if the bad guy need it for their plans as well?
dspringer1:
The item does not allow you to break the seven laws freely. The Position of Blackstaff allows you to break the 7 laws (within some organizational limits) without the White Council Wardens hunting you down.
The item known as the Blackstaff protects you from the taint of a variety of black magic use cases. Maybe not all black magic, but certainly some very useful types of black magic like death magic.
In any case, there is certainly a succession plan for the staff and there is certainly a succession plan for the office. I wonder what would happen if the two diverged. Could Harry (for example) get the Blackstaff item while some other "more trusted" wizard get appointed the blackstaff by the senior council. I suspect it would be unprecedented, but it would be interesting if it happens. Certainly in this instance, harry would be intensely pressured to give up the staff to the new office holder.
Griffyn612:
--- Quote from: dspringer1 on September 19, 2017, 10:43:17 PM ---I wonder what would happen if the two diverged. Could Harry (for example) get the Blackstaff item while some other "more trusted" wizard get appointed the blackstaff by the senior council. I suspect it would be unprecedented, but it would be interesting if it happens. Certainly in this instance, harry would be intensely pressured to give up the staff to the new office holder.
--- End quote ---
The latter wouldn't exist without the former. The Council wouldn't let someone become tainted on a regular basis. There's no point in naming someone else. They'd either fight him for it, accept him, or discontinue the position.
Snark Knight:
--- Quote from: DonBugen on September 18, 2017, 01:40:30 AM ---On a slightly more on-topic note... is there any WOJ, anywhere at all, in which Jim confirms that the Blackstaff is what Eb says that it is: a secret role assigned by the White Court with carte blanche to break any of the laws? I mean, no one talks about the Blackstaff other than Eb and Kincaid. Kincaid, for about ten seconds, before Harry shuts him up. And yes, Ebenezer's assembled band of gray-cloaked wizards whose identities are kept hidden from Harry do see it Eb using the Blackstaff... but the Gray Council's knowledge does not necessarily prove the White Council's approval.
--- End quote ---
He's answered questions about the office of the Blackstaff without any indication that Eb was exaggerating his unilateral authority, albeit never explicitly addressed that as a possibility. And there was also the Eebs reference to how the "wizard of the black stick" slew Ortega to corroborate.
dspringer1:
--- Quote ---The latter wouldn't exist without the former. The Council wouldn't let someone become tainted on a regular basis. There's no point in naming someone else. They'd either fight him for it, accept him, or discontinue the position.
--- End quote ---
This is not true. Not every action that breaks the laws of magic is black magic (example - time travel) and not every use of tainted magic breaks a magical law.
As described in the books, the purpose of the Blackstaff job is to protect the council against foes who would use the White Council's own laws against the White Council.
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