The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Star Born (direct quotes compilation)
Conspiracy Theorist:
The other thing about Chicago is that it appears to have become the mortal base for a number of supernatural nations and powers, the Swartalves, White Court, Winter and Summer (both original knights were local and their replacements continue to be) a Knight of the Cross and the Twylyth Teg (poor Gwyn, he should have joined the Accords, perhaps the survivors will). This may have been in anticipation of the searchlight hitting Chicago during the witching hour and the appearance of Starborn in the City, jockeying for position to influence the Starborn and events for the benefit of their nations/causes.
The other thing thinking on Stars and Stones. Could the Stones refer to birthstones? Harry (and all other Starborn) have the birthstone of Opal, the same gem Molly used in the pinky ring simulacra for Harry in Peace Talks. coincidence?
From Wikipedia
“In the Middle Ages, opal was considered a stone that could provide great luck because it was believed to possess all the virtues of each gemstone whose color was represented in the color spectrum of the opal.[55] It was also said to grant invisibility if wrapped in a fresh bay leaf and held in the hand.[55][56] Following the publication of Sir Walter Scott's Anne of Geierstein in 1829, opal acquired a less auspicious reputation. In Scott's novel, the Baroness of Arnheim wears an opal talisman with supernatural powers. When a drop of holy water falls on the talisman, the opal turns into a colorless stone and the Baroness dies soon thereafter. Due to the popularity of Scott's novel, people began to associate opals with bad luck and death.[55] Within a year of the publishing of Scott's novel in April 1829, the sale of opals in Europe dropped by 50%, and remained low for the next 20 years or so.[57]
Even as recently as the beginning of the 20th century, it was believed that when a Russian saw an opal among other goods offered for sale, he or she should not buy anything more, as the opal was believed to embody the evil eye.[55]
Opal is considered the birthstone for people born in October.[58]”
I have remarked on other threads of the connection of the Dresden Files with Sir Walter Scott, here’s another one. Opal was very rare from Greco- Roman time until discoveries in Australia and Nevada, it was only found in Slovakia
Mira:
--- Quote from: Yuillegan on February 28, 2022, 11:47:28 PM ---The problem is that how do we reconcile the special circumstances of the star born creation with the fact that 40-50,000 were created in a single cycle.
Is this usual per cycle? Is it more? Less?
Hence why I think Chicago is the necessary location...rather than 50,000 different babies being prepared in different locations.
--- End quote ---
Or is that resolved by most of the babies born during that cycle don't make it to adulthood? Fifty thousand star born babies born around the world might work, but not all in Chicago, world wide there are only 350,000 kids born each day. Also apparently September through December are the highest birth months.. My own four grand-kids fit into that one, and they were all born in Chicago.
Also in centuries past, if you take into that number not just the rate of live births but infant mortality have to be taken into account. Accordingly at least half of the children born as star born would have died 666 years ago before reaching puberty, I did look it up, today only about 2.9% die before reaching puberty today. According to what I read, the birth rate hasn't changed that much, but the rate of survival has, that is why we now have a population problem.
Anyway, I go back to my original premise, if the birth rate for a star born is that high, even if it takes place only once every 666 years there is nothing really special about it in my opinion. On par perhaps with White Court Vampires. Also while fifty thousand were born under that light, how many of their parents went through the various rituals to make it an actual fact? As in fifty thousand potential star borns born, but out of that maybe five or only one actually are, because of how their conception and birth was brought about. That would solve why Justin adopted both Elaine and Harry, both had the potential, but so far unless we learn different, only one turned out to be one... Or it is Harry Potter and Nevil Longbottom all over again...
Conspiracy Theorist:
Where are we getting 50,000 from?
In novel only Listen, Harry and Drakul has been described as Starborn. To a certain extent Jim is making it up as he is going along (it’s fiction) and also Jim lies in WOJ (he even lied in novel in Christmas Eve on line, it’s not true until it’s on paper and bound and sold for less than $50.)
All Jim needs to retcon is that Elaine was required for another but related purpose, a vessel for Nemesis perhaps, a nice mortal but powerful wizard body, if Harry was scheduled for Kemmler. That kind of makes sense, Justin was building up their talent for others to benefit from when their bodies were taken over.
Yuillegan:
--- Quote from: Conspiracy Theorist on March 01, 2022, 12:39:56 AM ---The other thing about Chicago is that it appears to have become the mortal base for a number of supernatural nations and powers, the Swartalves, White Court, Winter and Summer (both original knights were local and their replacements continue to be) a Knight of the Cross and the Twylyth Teg (poor Gwyn, he should have joined the Accords, perhaps the survivors will). This may have been in anticipation of the searchlight hitting Chicago during the witching hour and the appearance of Starborn in the City, jockeying for position to influence the Starborn and events for the benefit of their nations/causes.
The other thing thinking on Stars and Stones. Could the Stones refer to birthstones? Harry (and all other Starborn) have the birthstone of Opal, the same gem Molly used in the pinky ring simulacra for Harry in Peace Talks. coincidence?
...
--- End quote ---
That's interesting about the birth stones. I am not so sure that is what Jim is planning re: stars and stones but it's intriguing in and of itself.
I have often been annoyed that Chicago seems to be the mortal base for so many supernatural nations until I started thinking there probably was a reason beyond Jim needing them there, and it will eventually come out that Chicago is extra-important.
--- Quote from: Mira on March 01, 2022, 12:02:39 PM ---Or is that resolved by most of the babies born during that cycle don't make it to adulthood? Fifty thousand star born babies born around the world might work, but not all in Chicago, world wide there are only 350,000 kids born each day. Also apparently September through December are the highest birth months.. My own four grand-kids fit into that one, and they were all born in Chicago.
Also in centuries past, if you take into that number not just the rate of live births but infant mortality have to be taken into account. Accordingly at least half of the children born as star born would have died 666 years ago before reaching puberty, I did look it up, today only about 2.9% die before reaching puberty today. According to what I read, the birth rate hasn't changed that much, but the rate of survival has, that is why we now have a population problem.
Anyway, I go back to my original premise, if the birth rate for a star born is that high, even if it takes place only once every 666 years there is nothing really special about it in my opinion. On par perhaps with White Court Vampires. Also while fifty thousand were born under that light, how many of their parents went through the various rituals to make it an actual fact? As in fifty thousand potential star borns born, but out of that maybe five or only one actually are, because of how their conception and birth was brought about. That would solve why Justin adopted both Elaine and Harry, both had the potential, but so far unless we learn different, only one turned out to be one... Or it is Harry Potter and Nevil Longbottom all over again...
--- End quote ---
Perhaps if we think of it more like radiation it might work better. Potentially anyone could have been affected in Chicago during the 666 conjunction but we don't know exactly who or when. Jim knows it's 50k or so...but how many others know?
I guarantee the Ethniu and Vadderung types know though. Does Cowl and the Council? Harder to say.
And who is eliminating these star born? Wizards? Black Council? Outsiders? Men in Black?
--- Quote from: Conspiracy Theorist on March 01, 2022, 12:25:35 PM ---Where are we getting 50,000 from?
In novel only Listen, Harry and Drakul has been described as Starborn. To a certain extent Jim is making it up as he is going along (it’s fiction) and also Jim lies in WOJ (he even lied in novel in Christmas Eve on line, it’s not true until it’s on paper and bound and sold for less than $50.)
All Jim needs to retcon is that Elaine was required for another but related purpose, a vessel for Nemesis perhaps, a nice mortal but powerful wizard body, if Harry was scheduled for Kemmler. That kind of makes sense, Justin was building up their talent for others to benefit from when their bodies were taken over.
--- End quote ---
It comes from a WOJ just after Battle Ground I believe. Jim was asked about how many were running around and he said 40-50, 000 this cycle which doesn't account for previous cycles. And he said the cycles have been going since the beginning of Creation. It's to do with Lucifer's messing around.
I'll find it for you if I can.
morriswalters:
I wouldn't worry too much about random numbers Butcher pulled out of his butt. Chicago didn't exist 666 years ago. Since he set the books in Chicago he therefore must center the story around that locale. The idea of Demonreach is the weakest because of that choice. It's 4000 miles from London. No one from the era of Hastings had any idea at that moment that 5 freshwater lakes existed in North America. And no one other than someone who walked here knew of North America. How Merlin figured this out is a mystery. The Caspian Sea is the largest lake and it isn't in Chicago. So if you needed a big lake and were in Europe you would have went East and not West to find your fresh water lake. In any sense where logic applies the fact that Demonreach exists in Chicago implies it exists because someone in Chicago today put it there for some reason.
Regarding Harry as Starborn as far as the text is concerned the genesis of the idea is exposed by Eb when he discusses a meeting where Margaret laid out a plan to do something that she thought the White Council might buy into. How's that for a run on sentence? There are two ways to look at her pregnancy. She was either pregnant when she ran or just randomly tripped over Malcolm while looking for a random sperm donor for her plan. Color me skeptical on the latter of those two possibilities.
The markings on Demonreach and the castle are interesting. That the Skin Walker isn't frightened suggests that he doesn't associate them with a prison capable of holding him. I'm thinking old ones or angels, someone from his other existence.
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