Maybe not every big bad...but I'd assume a fair amount of them. Particularly the earlier case files.
Also, SA, we have confirmation I believe of Sells and Kravos being infected. I agree they seem odd choices but I suspect the reasons for them won't be revealed until we find out a bit more about Nemesis.
I suspect Ariana but not Ortega. I wouldn't be surprised if Mavra was infected. Nemesis has few limits about what it can affect other than Archangels and it seems to have a set amount of beings it can reside in at any one time. But maybe part of the game is having lots of hosts prepared. So you only have active the maximum amount but if one is found out another host is activated. Which means there are potentially many more possible candidates than actual hosts, but every possible candidate that has been given a contagion vector could well be a host.
Like Vashta Nerada. Not every shadow, but any shadow.
Of all the candidates, I think the Red King is the least likely. He seemed to just be succumbing from the Thirst too much, which apparently does happen to older vamps eventually.
Theory on Order of Infection
- Young Lord Raith infects himself; becomes anchor for Beside
- Lord Raith infects Kemmler
- Kemmler branch begins and ends
- Lord Raith infects Margaret Lefay
- Margaret Lefay breaks free
- Lord Raith infects Justin DuMorne
- Justin DuMorne infects Elaine Mallory
- Lord Raith infects Cowl
- Cowl infects Peabody
- Cowl infects Victor Sells
- Cowl infects Denton & the Feebs
- Cowl infects Bianca
- Cowl infects Leonid Kravos
- Cowl infects Lea
- Cowl infects Ferrovax
- Elaine infects Aurora
- Lea infects Maeve
- Lord Rath infects Madge
- Maeve infects Scarecrow
- Cowl infects Madrigal Raith
- Cowl infects Vitto Malvora
- Nemesis-controlled Lord Rath infects Justine
- Cowl infects Namshiel's Host
- Cowl infects Madeline Raith
- Cowl infects Arianna Ortega
- Maeve infects Cat Sith
I like the list, and the other one about the possible vectors and sources.
Considering Last Call, does there need to be a host anchor? Or could you just operate spread across the many hosts. Reminds me a bit of Agents in the Matrix or something, potentially able to take over any program. It's not every program, but potentially any of them. Obviously the exceptions are those who are awakened like the crew of the Nebuchadnezzar. Maybe star born are a bit like that.
I keep thinking I should write a comparison thread between the Matrix and the Dresden Files. There are certainly some similarities.