The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Black Magic - Intent, Fact & Knowledge
wardenferry419:
That is one of those areas that makes me wonder. He was more troubled by the zeal with which he attacked the fetch then with the cold shooting of Corpsetaker in Luccio's body the book before.
huangjimmy108:
--- Quote from: wardenferry419 on October 28, 2017, 11:08:29 PM --- That is one of those areas that makes me wonder. He was more troubled by the zeal with which he attacked the fetch then with the cold shooting of Corpsetaker in Luccio's body the book before.
--- End quote ---
The point is, Harry shoot Luccio's body with a shotgun, while the fetch he use magic. That should be the difference.
Actually, when Harry shot Luccio's body, he is not even sure corpsetaker is inside. He is not sure the action is correct and right. If Harry use magic with that kind of a mindset, his magic will fail.
If Harry can still call up power when he is not certain that Luccio is not Luccio, it meant that Harry believes that it is better to kill 1000 wrongly rather than letter one escape. He will be like Cao Cao of the 3 kingdoms, and after he casted that kind of magic, he'll become one step closer to becoming something like Cao Cao. A shotgun does not need that kind of a mindset. Harry could be as uncertain and full of doubt, and the shotgun will still fire the bullet as long as Harry pull the trigger. Harry can kill, and there is no taint.
It would explain why the warden swords could work. When Luccio enchanted those swords, her intent is to cut dark magic and break enchantment, not killing people.
When Harry use force magic to attack the fetch, his magic is casted by drawing power from his battle lust. It is drawn from his desire to take revenge, to slate his anger, and to dominate. He wanted to save people, but his power is drawn from those dark emotions and desires whether he consciously realize it or not, so much so he is lost in the act and fail to see that a victim is lying there bleeding to death, and might need help.
I think all magic, black or not, left a mark on it's caster. If you cast magic with a pure benevolent heart, to heal people for example, you'll become more benevolent. It reinforce your benevolent nature. For some reason, perhaps due to the law of "Free will" in this universe, using magic to kill people or invading people's minds resulted in a amplified mark which we call "taint". The wizard does not just cast magic believing that killing their fellow humans is right and proper, the wizard also use arcane forces to rob another free will being from their life and thus their ability to further make choices. That is why black magic makes you go insane fast, while casting magic in anger like Harry did in book 8 and book 9 has a relatively minimal repercussion.
wardenferry419:
A passionate misuse of magic is more tolerable than a deliberate misuse of magic?
Vivictus:
--- Quote from: huangjimmy108 on October 28, 2017, 01:03:18 PM ---From what Harry explain in book 9, it is simply a natural consequences of believing that killing is right. Magic only works when one truly believes in something. So when a wizard kill someone with magic, the wizard beleves that the kill is right, that it should be done, that it is right and proper.
Apparently, such a thing reinforces itself. Unless the wizard actively make choices against this belief, the beliefs will change the wizard.
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This is the root of my discomfort with how I perceive things to work. It would make lots of sense to me if believing it was right to kill/destroy with magic resulted in corruption of the wizard. My impression from the books, which a couple people have indicated is supported by WoJ is that it's the simple fact of the taking of a mortal human life, regardless of intent or even knowledge.
A possible mechanic I could imagine for this would be active magic connecting the victim and the wizard at the moment of death causing some kind of mentally damaging feedback loop. No moral considerations are required if that's the case. It would also explain why killing with a magical weapon doesn't have the same issue since no actively cast magic is involved. Lastly it could also cover why killing a good and noble non-human doesn't have the same effect. They wouldn't necessarily be on the right "wavelength" to result in the taint.
wardenferry419:
So, you think killing someone with magic kills the caster a little due to a magical link?
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