The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
What does the Merlin want out of Peace Talks
Froklsnt:
The Fomor are signatories, that's established in the Marcone short story, "Even Hand." RobReece is correct that the meeting was called by the Fomor about the struggles over the Red's power vacuum. I also question the premise a bit here, I don't think its quite so binary. There could be up to 20 different parties at these talks (maybe more if we've never heard of them before), with wildly varying interests. While on some issues you might get a split down the middle, it's hard to imagine it would be the norm.
The 20 members, if you're curious (counts added by me for math's sake):
--- Quote from: Unseelie Accords, Dresden Files wikia ---(1) The Archive (both an emissary and a Freeholding Lord)
(1, maybe) The Denarians - Nicodemus Archleone no longer a signatory as of Skin Game
(1) Donar Vadderung, CEO of Monoc Securities
(2) Both Faerie Courts
(1) John Marcone (the first non-supernatural to sign onto the Accords)
(7, but likely only 3 or 4 present) Vampire Courts
(1) The White Council
(1) The Svartalves
(1) Drakul
(1) A semi-immortal shapshifter guru in Ukraine
(2) Two Dragons
(1) The Fomor
--- End quote ---
As for the Merlin's agenda, I think wardenferry419 got the shape of the strategy dead-on:
--- Quote from: wardenferry419 on September 26, 2017, 09:33:05 AM ---The Merlin will have his public plan, his SC-arranged plan, and his ace-in-the-hole plan that involves Harry.
--- End quote ---
The Merlin doesn't seem to care much about vanilla mortals or even low-level talents, but he does care about not being noticed by mortal authorities. I bet he'd be will to sell the mortals down the river to a degree, as long as things calm down.
Snark Knight:
--- Quote from: RobReece on September 26, 2017, 03:26:29 PM ---I think that part of your premise in in error. It's been a while since I saw the 1st chapter, but I don't think its about ending the war with the RCV, Harry did that fairly convincingly in Changes. If I remember correctly, these Talks were requested by the Fomor and are about the battles being fought in the vacuum of the Reds departure. I believe that even normals have started to notice the impact of the war and the abductions that the Formor have been conducting.
I don't think that currently the Formor are signatories to the Accords and they want to be, at least I believe that's the reason they're stating for the talks. Personally, I think they are wanting to bring a bunch of leaders together, kill them and create even more confusion and opportunity for them to expand. I also think that there might be representatives from the government showing up(Tilly).
--- End quote ---
I think you're right that it's about the Fomor. Nobody seems to have a great deal of appetite for continuing hostilities with either the Black or White Courts with the Reds down and out. They were basically drawn in on the Reds' side through the equivalent of mutual defense treaties, but they weren't exactly enthusiastic contributors (let alone friendly to each other, given the whole genocide thing). I don't see the Sidhe blaming them for the Reds' territorial trespasses, so their involvement would end with the Reds' destruction. And, sure, Harry knows that Lara's long-term intentions in promoting the ceasefire were malignant, but most of the Council doesn't seem to - Mai and company were wary of the Raiths in TC, but hardly in open enmity.
Incidentally, the Fomor definitely are Accords signatories. It's first confirmed in Even Hand.
Rasins:
I'm pretty sure the Merlin wants peace. I think he'd like nothing more than to get a 80 or 100 year breather to recoup his losses.
dspringer1:
--- Quote ---The Merlin will have his public plan, his SC-arranged plan, and his ace-in-the-hole plan that involves Harry.
--- End quote ---
I think it would be very interesting indeed if the Merlin had Harry as his ace in the hole. That implies all sorts of changes in the council and the Merlin. I would argue that up to this point the Merlin has never looked at Harry as anything more than a annoyance, a dangerous warlock or a lever to use against other senior council members. The Merlin has certainly been petty with regards to Harry, he has not devoted much energy to opposing Harry beyond petty political games. While the books are harry centric, the Merlin has shown no indication of being harry centric.
Also, if the Merlin's plans involved Harry in some significant way, then the Merlin plans to disrupt the peace talks in some significant way. The Merlin has always seen harry as a force of destruction/chaos/disruption. If the Merlin sees benefit in Harry's involvement, then he wants the Peace talks disrupted. Otherwise the Merlin's plans for Harry would all be about how to keep Harry away from the Peace Talks. Why do you imagine the Merlin wants the talks to fail?
--- Quote --- I think that part of your premise in in error. It's been a while since I saw the 1st chapter, but I don't think its about ending the war with the RCV, Harry did that fairly convincingly in Changes. If I remember correctly, these Talks were requested by the Fomor and are about the battles being fought in the vacuum of the Reds departure.
--- End quote ---
The peace talks are about resolving the war with the Red Court, Black Court and White court. I agree with you that this war is effectively over, but it is NOT actually over. The black and white courts were active participants in the war and they are not destroyed.
I do agree that the primary focus of the peace talks themselves are the spoils/territory to be divided and managing the conflicts already happening as supernatural races fight over the spoils. Simply ending the war would be fairly easy as the Black and Red would just keep what they got and return to the status quo. It is all the red territory that is now up for grabs that is the problem -- especially as the White Council is not capable/willing of taking it for themselves and defend it against all comers -- and winter/summer do not want it.
Froklsnt:
--- Quote from: dspringer1 on September 27, 2017, 03:59:59 PM ---I think it would be very interesting indeed if the Merlin had Harry as his ace in the hole. That implies all sorts of changes in the council and the Merlin. I would argue that up to this point the Merlin has never looked at Harry as anything more than a annoyance, a dangerous warlock or a lever to use against other senior council members. The Merlin has certainly been petty with regards to Harry, he has not devoted much energy to opposing Harry beyond petty political games. While the books are harry centric, the Merlin has shown no indication of being harry centric.
Also, if the Merlin's plans involved Harry in some significant way, then the Merlin plans to disrupt the peace talks in some significant way. The Merlin has always seen harry as a force of destruction/chaos/disruption. If the Merlin sees benefit in Harry's involvement, then he wants the Peace talks disrupted. Otherwise the Merlin's plans for Harry would all be about how to keep Harry away from the Peace Talks. Why do you imagine the Merlin wants the talks to fail?
--- End quote ---
I think the argument for Harry being the Merlin's ace-in-the-hole is primarily Doylist. From Jim's perspective, the reason to build a book around a concept like a summit is to play with Harry's now divided loyalties. It's rich with compelling story options which force Harry to choose sides in uncomfortable ways that may have serious consequences. As for an in-universe rationale, Harry has been accruing power at an alarming rate. Remember, the last time we heard anything out of the Merlin was the beginning of Changes, before Harry's Winter Knighthood, before the fall of the Reds, and before Harry had any understanding of what it meant to take Demonreach as his sanctum. He's not the small fry he was last time we checked in with the WCW.
--- Quote from: dspringer1 on September 27, 2017, 03:59:59 PM ---The peace talks are about resolving the war with the Red Court, Black Court and White court. I agree with you that this war is effectively over, but it is NOT actually over. The black and white courts were active participants in the war and they are not destroyed.
I do agree that the primary focus of the peace talks themselves are the spoils/territory to be divided and managing the conflicts already happening as supernatural races fight over the spoils. Simply ending the war would be fairly easy as the Black and Red would just keep what they got and return to the status quo. It is all the red territory that is now up for grabs that is the problem -- especially as the White Council is not capable/willing of taking it for themselves and defend it against all comers -- and winter/summer do not want it.
--- End quote ---
The WCW's inability to defend all of this now-exposed territory is why I feel like the Merlin might be willing to trade away the safety of some portion of the vanilla mortals and lower talents for peace. The Merlin is nothing if not a cold, political pragmatist, a lot like Mab in that way. The Merlin needs time to rebuilt his ranks, and he needs safety for his membership first and foremost. They simply aren't strong enough to properly defend mankind right now, and everyone knows it. Best to retreat, cede some territory, and rebuilt their strength. And besides, that stance is a great way to put more tension between him and Harry right from the start, and Jim just loves that sort of thing.
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