The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers

Grave Peril Questions

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Bad Alias:

--- Quote from: Yuillegan on August 13, 2019, 05:52:20 AM ---The Devil is often identified as the Serpent that tempted Eve and the Dragon of Revelation.

Mikhael and the Dragon (12:7–12)
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Book: Book of Revelation
Christian Bible part: New Testament

See this page for reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_in_Christianity

--- End quote ---

I'm quite familiar with the Devil as a serpent, have heard the devil referenced as a dragon, but have never heard the phrase "Blood of the Dragon" used outside of a modern fantasy reference. I don't think I've ever heard of a reference to the Devil's blood even more generally.


--- Quote from: Mira on August 13, 2019, 12:43:41 PM ---It gets rid of Harry.  It benefits those who are using the Red Court as a cat's paw and know he is star born.  Let's not forget that there were those on the Senior Council who were very willing to give up Harry to prevent
war.
Miscalculation in the timing and Harry's reaction to the threat sets off the war prematurely and
eventually leads to the Red Courts demise..

--- End quote ---

Isn't Ortega's proposition more as an intermediary between Bianca and Harry? Bianca had the right within the Red Court to force the issue. She was willing to let it slide if she could properly humiliate Harry. Bianca (and Ortega) expected Harry to acquiesce or die. The benefit to the Red Court is not appearing weak to the supernatural community. It didn't work out for them.

Yuillegan:

--- Quote from: Bad Alias on August 13, 2019, 10:06:31 PM ---I'm quite familiar with the Devil as a serpent, have heard the devil referenced as a dragon, but have never heard the phrase "Blood of the Dragon" used outside of a modern fantasy reference. I don't think I've ever heard of a reference to the Devil's blood even more generally.

--- End quote ---

Fair enough, can't always be sure how well versed people are in Christian theology. I suspect that the actual phrase is either one that Jim created specifically for Michael, or one that is quite uncommon and perhaps only exists in certain communities (such as the one Jim grew up in). I too found little reference to that exact phrase.

Although you will note that the full phrase that Michael uses is "Blood of the Dragon, that old Serpent" which is strikingly similar to 12:7-12 Book of Revelation. On balance of probabilities it is more likely that this is what is in reference to, as nowhere else does anyone ever use that phrase or discuss the connection between the Black Court and Dragons.

The thing is, it isn't to be taken literally. Otherwise why not use that phrase with Ferrovax in the earlier scene? Being that there is an actual capital-D Dragon in the room with them...wouldn't that make more sense?

Also if Michael really were referencing the connection to Drakul, assuming he actually knew of that connection (which only exists as WOJ, and a indirect connection that Ebenezar mentioned), why have he and Harry never discussed the origins of the Black Court before? Or Drakul for that matter? Harry (especially this early in the series) barely even knows who the Vampire Courts are (other than surface information - remember Thomas fills him in during the party). Let alone who Drakul is, which he doesn't even understand the difference between Dracula and Drakul until Ebenezar tells him 3 books later in Blood Rites.

Mira:

--- Quote ---Isn't Ortega's proposition more as an intermediary between Bianca and Harry? Bianca had the right within the Red Court to force the issue. She was willing to let it slide if she could properly humiliate Harry. Bianca (and Ortega) expected Harry to acquiesce or die. The benefit to the Red Court is not appearing weak to the supernatural community. It didn't work out for them.
--- End quote ---

However the duel was fought after Bianca died, it had nothing to do with appearing weak, it was all
about getting Harry gone, otherwise Ortega wouldn't have felt the need to cheat.. Bianca's party was all about the master players getting their chess pieces in place, like the gift of the Knife to Lea thus infecting the Winter Court..  Bianca was merely a pawn in a much larger game..  Think of Cowl as a knight or perhaps castle,  Mavra may turn out to be the queen, though that isn't all that clear as of yet.   I think Ortega thought he was a knight but when all is said and done I think he too like Bianca will turn out to be a mere pawn..

Bad Alias:
@Yuillegan: I think you're right.

@Mira: We're not talking about two books later, but I'll address why it doesn't matter. Things changed after Harry didn't acquiesce/die at Bianca's. Harry was a much bigger threat than Ortega and Bianca had deemed him, which is kind of a theme of every book. In Death Masks, Ortega's goal was to end the war, at least temporarily. If he died, the war would continue and, probably more importantly to him, he wouldn't survive, so it wouldn't matter to him that the war continued if he cheated, especially if that enabled him to survive.

As to appearing weak, that's why it was Ortega, and not some other vampire, challenging Harry. Bianca was Ortega's vassal. It is one's duty to protect one's vassals. If Harry could kill Ortega's vassal with impunity, he would be considered weak.

g33k:

--- Quote from: Yuillegan on August 14, 2019, 12:51:47 AM ---Fair enough, can't always be sure how well versed people are in Christian theology. I suspect that the actual phrase is either one that Jim created specifically for Michael, or one that is quite uncommon and perhaps only exists in certain communities (such as the one Jim grew up in). I too found little reference to that exact phrase.

Although you will note that the full phrase that Michael uses is "Blood of the Dragon, that old Serpent" which is strikingly similar to 12:7-12 Book of Revelation. On balance of probabilities it is more likely that this is what is in reference to, as nowhere else does anyone ever use that phrase or discuss the connection between the Black Court and Dragons.

The thing is, it isn't to be taken literally. Otherwise why not use that phrase with Ferrovax in the earlier scene? Being that there is an actual capital-D Dragon in the room with them...wouldn't that make more sense?

Also if Michael really were referencing the connection to Drakul, assuming he actually knew of that connection (which only exists as WOJ, and a indirect connection that Ebenezar mentioned), why have he and Harry never discussed the origins of the Black Court before? Or Drakul for that matter? Harry (especially this early in the series) barely even knows who the Vampire Courts are (other than surface information - remember Thomas fills him in during the party). Let alone who Drakul is, which he doesn't even understand the difference between Dracula and Drakul until Ebenezar tells him 3 books later in Blood Rites.
--- End quote ---

Remembering that "Harry is an imperfect narrator," I think we need to admit that ALL the characters will speak from their own POV's, based upon what they personally know and believe.  We can't count on Michael to be CORRECT, so trying to parse his allegories may be pointless.

That said:  "blood of..." is a clear reference to ancestry, and the rest of the phrase (as noted) seems to imply the Devil.

So... the antichrist?  Hm.  It's only a few centuries after the year 1000, which many presumed would be the apocalypse.
 Maybe the antichrist DID come, DID get embodied as a human (the way Christ did), but couldn't bring about the End Times and got trapped in their earthly form?

Maybe Drakul is the literal antichrist, still sticking around (stuck) from 1019 years ago...
 

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