The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
What's Odin's stake in things?
vultur:
I noticed something re-reading Changes. Odin demonstrates the "crushing will" power on Harry, and tells Harry that "in the Lords of Outer Night, even the remnants of that power are more than you can face as you are". With the very strong implication that Harry needs to get an external power boost to resist the LoON's will.
But, in the actual confrontation, Harry's Winter Knight powers don't really seem to be involved in resisting the will of the Red King and LoON. In the first confrontation, after Harry kills Arianna, it's Bob's spiritual defense and then Murphy drawing the Sword (or maybe the archangel's pronouncement that happens then). And in the second confrontation at the very end, Harry is starting to push back - but what actually frees him is Lea killing a couple of them and distracting the others.
Also, Odin strongly hints that he can't help Harry - he says that he's no longer strong enough, and that this has to be handled by mortals. But then he shows up and fights anyway.
I mean, Harry ends up needing the Winter Knight Mantle anyway to fix his broken back. But Odin's big on foresight... if Odin had instead told Harry that Bob and the Swords could protect him from the Lords of Outer Night's will, would events have played out differently? Maybe Harry wouldn't have ended up breaking his back...
But, why does Odin want Harry to be Winter Knight? He's tied to Winter as Kringle, but that doesn't seem like enough by itself.
groinkick:
Odin is a master strategist. He can see the pieces arranging themselves on the chess board, and he's acting accordingly.
vultur:
--- Quote from: groinkick on June 30, 2018, 05:36:31 AM ---Odin is a master strategist. He can see the pieces arranging themselves on the chess board, and he's acting accordingly.
--- End quote ---
Oh, I agree. But acting to achieve what goal? Why does he push Harry in that direction?
With the level of foresight he presumably has, he could have steered Harry in a direction that wouldn't have had him get his back broken, in which case he likely wouldn't have absolutely needed the Winter Knight's Mantle.
And what about Molly? Did Odin already expect her to be Winter Lady? I'm thinking not, as Mab herself apparently didn't see it coming, but it is suspicious. If his only stake in it was to get the Red Court destroyed, he could have told Harry that taking Molly to Chichen Itza was a really bad idea.
Mira:
In a perverse way I think Odin was testing Harry, not only testing but nudging him as well into the position they need him to be in in the coming ACT. Think about it, mortal kids are murdered all of the time in the world and Odin doesn't do much about it. It went on even when he supposedly had more power. So I don't think it is about lack of power on Odin's part, it is just he never has concerned himself all that much in such matters. However testing a star child who may be the leader and lynch pin in the coming war would be. The Powers agree I think, that Harry needs to be Winter Knight for the best future outcome.. Harry up until that point absolutely refuses to become Knight.. So Odin claims he cannot help, but "suggests"... Still not an option as far as Harry is concerned, it is also a test because Harry's decision making under such pressure can and will be critical. Then he breaks his back, calls on Uriel, who happens to be working with Odin on deep background, who also says he cannot help Harry but suggests he listen to Odin at the same time assuring him if he does what he has to do out of love, his soul has a chance of not being lost. Harry decides of the least worst of really no realistic options for himself. They got him where they want him and in the end they all pitch in so that the battle is won..
exartiem:
It could be that Odin lost a good deal of power to move to the mortal realm. He probably couldn't take on the LOONs directly anymore, they'd gang up on him and kill him. But he could show up and fight their minions.
Or, it could also be that the White Court aren't the only ones who like to use cat's paws.
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