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The Dresden Files => DF Spoilers => Topic started by: Oijl on December 22, 2017, 07:37:28 PM

Title: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Oijl on December 22, 2017, 07:37:28 PM
I have lurked among you for years, reading the theories, laughing at the silly ones, 'mmmMMMmmm....'-ing at the possible ones, never really finishing reading any of the PhD theses posted by a Duck, and throwing my hands up in frustration at any post attempting to explain what happened in Proven Guilty.  Now that the forums are fading from this world, I must speak.



Truth 1
Simon is NOT Cowl!  There is NO evidence - yes, I've heard all the arguments, and all of it is grasping at straws.  Maybe Cowl is someone we know, maybe Cowl is Cowl, but he is not not NOT Simon, and those of you who cling to this outrageous belief will feel quite silly indeed when Cowl's identity is revealed (in, like, fifty years).

Truth B
Molly and Harry?  "Oh but she's not a child now so why won't Harry bang her?"  Okay, okay, listen to me: Molly is still a little girl.  Small children never grow up - aren't any of you guys and gals here parents?  The little ones stay little forever, if you were a parent/guardian/close adult relative type of person to them when they were little.  Harry was an uncle-type to Molly for long enough that when he looks at her he sees the child.  And he'll always see the child - at least for like the next hundred years, by which time Charity will have been dead for long enough that he won't have to worry about her coming back and haunting him.

Next Truth
Karen Murphy will never be "irrelevant" due to her being a vanilla mortal.  That's what makes her relevant, you sillies!  She's a normal person against whom we can measure the relative strength of the monsters.  She helps us calibrate.  Harry the Super Saiyan goes toe-to-toe with MegaMonster - well, okay, that can be cool, but without someone like Karen we don't have a scale that tells us "Stars and stones, those dudes' power levels are OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!!11!!1"  Obviously she can't go hand-to-hand with a lot of the things Harry spends his time hobnobbing with these days, but she can show us the power in being smart, perceptive, and practical - she did manage to survive an encounter with Puck, after all.  And she can be - and has been - powerful and useful off the field.  She's a vanilla mortal, yeah, but so is the Baron of Chicago.  They're both intelligent, practical leaders, and this alone makes them very powerful.  But most of all, Karen keeps both Harry and the readers grounded.  Everyone else in Harry's orbit is a faerie or a wizard or a scion or a vampire or a god or being of pure intellect or a construct or bla de bla bla bla de bla...... even Butters is no longer vanilla-flavored.  We'll see how much more grounded Harry's become in the time since Skin Game, and I'm sure he has, but no vanilla character introduced now could compete with the character investment given to Karen.  Heck!  I'm pretty darn sure there's a WoJ saying just what I've said here.  Read it long ago, in a different life, so I have no idea where it was.



Please turn to the light and recognize that I speak Truth.  I cannot, morally, let this forum cease without turning as many as I can to the light.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on December 22, 2017, 07:59:32 PM
ugh, don 't worry, I cast a tall shadow indeed...
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: groinkick on December 22, 2017, 10:52:41 PM
Harry was an uncle-type to Molly for long enough that when he looks at her he sees the child.  And he'll always see the child
(https://media.giphy.com/media/ToMjGpx9F5ktZw8qPUQ/giphy.gif)

Quote
Please turn to the light and recognize that I speak Truth.  I cannot, morally, let this forum cease without turning as many as I can to the light.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/xUySTY9h75YsFLCc4U/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: groinkick on December 22, 2017, 11:02:04 PM
With regard to Molly, Harry, Murphy...  I see it in one of two ways, did Jim start out with an end game in mind, and will no waiver from it?  Or will he let the pen carry him to the final destination?  If it's predetermined then I think Murphy is most likely Harry's match by the end.  If he's willing to let things flow then I think there is a chance for Harry and Molly, even if it's not too likely. 

Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on December 22, 2017, 11:10:25 PM
Strong first post, dude. Reminds me of the new guy in that movie "Waiting" and what he does at the end.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Blaze on December 23, 2017, 02:15:17 AM
Word.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Oijl on December 23, 2017, 02:44:37 AM
With regard to Molly, Harry, Murphy...  I see it in one of two ways, did Jim start out with an end game in mind, and will no waiver from it?  Or will he let the pen carry him to the final destination?  If it's predetermined then I think Murphy is most likely Harry's match by the end.  If he's willing to let things flow then I think there is a chance for Harry and Molly, even if it's not too likely.

WoJ:
Quote
2009 Kansas City Q&A @39:35

Which character relationships did I want to keep going but had to kill through plot line?

I originally hadn't intended for things with Susan to work out the way they did.  But then I realized part way into book three that Susan Rodriguez was going to turn into Lois Lane, which I didn't want.  I didn't want Harry to be rampaging around rescuing her.  So I wound up "killing" her sort of.  In terms of what she had been in terms of the story before then she was certainly dead.  She deserved to be, but I got to give her some cool neat stuff that she could do later on.  That's the only time it's happened but that's because I haven't really scripted out Harry's love life.  I wanted it to be something that was organic, and what I found out is that [snark]apparently, if you love somebody, it can sometimes effect other portions of your life too.[/snark]
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: raidem on December 23, 2017, 02:50:50 AM
There is another woj about Molly that seems to suggest she is less of a primary character in the dresden files at least when he was starting out with respect to the grand scheme of things.  I really do agree that Murphy will go the distance till series end.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on December 23, 2017, 04:08:39 AM
I'm entirely on the hedges on who ends up with whom and when, mostly because I keep thinking, 'will that be relevant in our timeline?
I guess... you could say I don't think he actually ends up with either, but both will have their place in his story.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: groinkick on December 23, 2017, 04:47:41 AM
WoJ:
Quote
2009 Kansas City Q&A @39:35

Which character relationships did I want to keep going but had to kill through plot line?

I originally hadn't intended for things with Susan to work out the way they did.  But then I realized part way into book three that Susan Rodriguez was going to turn into Lois Lane, which I didn't want.  I didn't want Harry to be rampaging around rescuing her.  So I wound up "killing" her sort of.  In terms of what she had been in terms of the story before then she was certainly dead.  She deserved to be, but I got to give her some cool neat stuff that she could do later on.  That's the only time it's happened but that's because I haven't really scripted out Harry's love life.  I wanted it to be something that was organic, and what I found out is that [snark]apparently, if you love somebody, it can sometimes effect other portions of your life too.[/snark]

Thanks!  You should have been posting earlier!  Seem to be able to find stuff quick or know a lot.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on December 23, 2017, 06:35:12 AM
While the last chapter is being written on this forum book; there is hope that a new book is coming.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Mira on December 23, 2017, 11:26:01 AM
There is another woj about Molly that seems to suggest she is less of a primary character in the dresden files at least when he was starting out with respect to the grand scheme of things.  I really do agree that Murphy will go the distance till series end.

Depends, if Harry is 200 years old at the time of writing his files, then she is long dead, she may however be the last significant woman in his life..
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Avernite on December 23, 2017, 01:02:21 PM
Truth B
Molly and Harry?  "Oh but she's not a child now so why won't Harry bang her?"  Okay, okay, listen to me: Molly is still a little girl.  Small children never grow up - aren't any of you guys and gals here parents?  The little ones stay little forever, if you were a parent/guardian/close adult relative type of person to them when they were little.  Harry was an uncle-type to Molly for long enough that when he looks at her he sees the child.  And he'll always see the child - at least for like the next hundred years, by which time Charity will have been dead for long enough that he won't have to worry about her coming back and haunting him.
I would argue this kind of association is mostly subconcious. And Harry's subconcious has no problems at all with seeing Molly as a grown woman (as evidenced by Skin Game). So I am not sure how 'Truth' this is.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: groinkick on December 23, 2017, 07:27:50 PM
I would argue this kind of association is mostly subconcious. And Harry's subconcious has no problems at all with seeing Molly as a grown woman (as evidenced by Skin Game). So I am not sure how 'Truth' this is.

Harry is the type of man who will let himself suffer because of what he believes is morally wrong, even if it's not.  For example he would not get with a woman who was married to a friend of his if that friend died.  Even if 10 years went by, and he loved her, and she loved him.  He'd still think it was "wrong" and not get with her.

So even if Molly is a grown woman who is smart, strong, and powerful, he'd deny himself the relationship because he felt he was some how taking advantage of her because she had a crush on him as a kid.  I hope he does get with her, but don't know if he would.  She might have to kick his ass for him to realize she's not that kid anymore.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: SerScot on December 23, 2017, 09:22:37 PM
I have lurked among you for years, reading the theories, laughing at the silly ones, 'mmmMMMmmm....'-ing at the possible ones, never really finishing reading any of the PhD theses posted by a Duck, and throwing my hands up in frustration at any post attempting to explain what happened in Proven Guilty.  Now that the forums are fading from this world, I must speak.



Truth 1
Simon is NOT Cowl!  There is NO evidence - yes, I've heard all the arguments, and all of it is grasping at straws.  Maybe Cowl is someone we know, maybe Cowl is Cowl, but he is not not NOT Simon, and those of you who cling to this outrageous belief will feel quite silly indeed when Cowl's identity is revealed (in, like, fifty years).

Truth B
Molly and Harry?  "Oh but she's not a child now so why won't Harry bang her?"  Okay, okay, listen to me: Molly is still a little girl.  Small children never grow up - aren't any of you guys and gals here parents?  The little ones stay little forever, if you were a parent/guardian/close adult relative type of person to them when they were little.  Harry was an uncle-type to Molly for long enough that when he looks at her he sees the child.  And he'll always see the child - at least for like the next hundred years, by which time Charity will have been dead for long enough that he won't have to worry about her coming back and haunting him.

Next Truth
Karen Murphy will never be "irrelevant" due to her being a vanilla mortal.  That's what makes her relevant, you sillies!  She's a normal person against whom we can measure the relative strength of the monsters.  She helps us calibrate.  Harry the Super Saiyan goes toe-to-toe with MegaMonster - well, okay, that can be cool, but without someone like Karen we don't have a scale that tells us "Stars and stones, those dudes' power levels are OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!!11!!1"  Obviously she can't go hand-to-hand with a lot of the things Harry spends his time hobnobbing with these days, but she can show us the power in being smart, perceptive, and practical - she did manage to survive an encounter with Puck, after all.  And she can be - and has been - powerful and useful off the field.  She's a vanilla mortal, yeah, but so is the Baron of Chicago.  They're both intelligent, practical leaders, and this alone makes them very powerful.  But most of all, Karen keeps both Harry and the readers grounded.  Everyone else in Harry's orbit is a faerie or a wizard or a scion or a vampire or a god or being of pure intellect or a construct or bla de bla bla bla de bla...... even Butters is no longer vanilla-flavored.  We'll see how much more grounded Harry's become in the time since Skin Game, and I'm sure he has, but no vanilla character introduced now could compete with the character investment given to Karen.  Heck!  I'm pretty darn sure there's a WoJ saying just what I've said here.  Read it long ago, in a different life, so I have no idea where it was.



Please turn to the light and recognize that I speak Truth.  I cannot, morally, let this forum cease without turning as many as I can to the light.

I agree on all points except the first one.  That said I am by no means certain that Simon is Cowl.  That is just my best guess based on circumstantial evidence.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: groinkick on December 24, 2017, 04:53:49 AM
Simon is NOT Cowl!  There is NO evidence - yes, I've heard all the arguments, and all of it is grasping at straws.  Maybe Cowl is someone we know, maybe Cowl is Cowl, but he is not not NOT Simon, and those of you who cling to this outrageous belief will feel quite silly indeed when Cowl's identity is revealed (in, like, fifty years).

What is the evidence that Cowl is NOT Simon?  If our belief is outrageous, could you please show what evidence he is not Cowl? 
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on December 24, 2017, 01:33:32 PM
What is the evidence that Cowl is NOT Simon?  If our belief is outrageous, could you please show what evidence he is not Cowl?
That's not really how the burden of proof works... Disproving things is an impracticality.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: groinkick on December 24, 2017, 06:57:04 PM
That's not really how the burden of proof works... Disproving things is an impracticality.

Disagree, and here is why. 

#1.  I did not ask poster to disprove that Simon was Cowl.  I asked what evidence they had to Simon not being Cowl.  There is a difference, even if a subtle one.   

#2.  The strong language used by poster
Quote
Maybe Cowl is someone we know, maybe Cowl is Cowl, but he is not not NOT Simon, and those of you who cling to this outrageous belief will feel quite silly indeed when Cowl's identity is revealed

Poster is not simply stating that they disagree, or that they see no evidence.  They are making a statement that the theory is 100% completely wrong.  To claim that a theory is 100% wrong, there is always a strong reason, or evidence to believe it is wrong. 

#3.  "That's not really how the burden of proof works... Disproving things is an impracticality."  This is usually the case for religious, philosophical, or mythological debate, not in the real world.  For example in a police investigation: 

Detective: We think you killed that girl
Suspect:  you will have to prove it
Detective: Where were you Thursday night between 6:00 pm and 8 pm

The burden of proof is now on the suspect to disprove the detective by citing evidence that they were somewhere that was not the crime scene.  The detective does not have to prove that the suspect was at the crime scene, the suspect must now prove they were not.  The suspect could make the claim "It's up to you to prove I was there", but in front of a jury if the suspect cannot disprove the theory that they were at the crime scene, the jury has a good chance of convicting.  In real world scenario's people often must disprove a claim. 

Cowl is a real character who's identity is hidden. 
Simon is a real character within the stories

Claim: Simon is Cowl, but admits there isn't evidence to prove it.
Poster claim:  Theory is 100% wrong.

Burden is now on poster to prove WHY it is 100% wrong, or admit that they don't have evidence, and simply disagree with claim.  Poster cannot possibly know if Simon is not Cowl without out of book information (Jim saying so), Foreknowledge (a beta reader who knows the identity), or strong in book evidence (which I requested because I want to know what it is).  If Jim didn't say so, if they don't have foreknowledge, and they have no evidence to deny the theory then they have no basis to claim that the belief Simon is Cowl is outrageous, and completely wrong.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on December 24, 2017, 07:37:25 PM
While I believe in the theory that Simon is Cowl; I am guessing the proof against the theory involves Simon being dead and Cowl being alive. Absent an on-page death and a body, I am chalking this up to an assumption.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on December 24, 2017, 07:40:54 PM
1 they actually said there is no proof simon is cowl, effectively chanllenging others for evidence. Not saying they have proof of the contrary, I saw no alternate theory?
2 I don't disagree but that's not the point.
3 ...... LMAO no, actually that's why it's innocent until proven guilty. The suspect would never say such a flimsy thing because no court would proceed to prosecute on the idea... also, why pleading the fifth is a thing, they don't have to make any claims at all, doing so looks bad, but by itself proves nothing.
Not saying your inherently wrong, but your example is too narrow into a law unto itself... shoulda went with scientific theorums(which by the way are hard to disprove too)
They are saying there is no proof for simon as cowl, which doesn't prove anything in and of itself either, but if your saying simon IS cowl surely the proof exists...

Quote
Every scientific theory starts as a hypothesis. A scientific hypothesis is a suggested solution for an unexplained occurrence that doesn't fit into a currently accepted scientific theory. In other words, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a hypothesis is an idea that hasn't been proven yet. If enough evidence accumulates to support a hypothesis, it moves to the next step — known as a theory — in the scientific method and becomes accepted as a valid explanation of a phenomenon.

Tanner further explained that a scientific theory is the framework for observations and facts. Theories may change, or the way that they are interpreted may change, but the facts themselves don't change. Tanner likens theories to a basket in which scientists keep facts and observations that they find. The shape of that basket may change as the scientists learn more and include more facts. "For example, we have ample evidence of traits in populations becoming more or less common over time (evolution), so evolution is a fact but the overarching theories about evolution, the way that we think all of the facts go together might change as new observations of evolution are made," Tanner told Live Science.
and now see.. the thing here is I could point at facts that seem to be left out of the simon is cowl theorum's basket.(my favorite being, Elaine showing up in the next chapter of SK, a fellow Dumorne apprentice who directly unworks Harry's wards as he was just accused of doing to Archangel... and yet, Simon becomes explicit when then?
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: groinkick on December 24, 2017, 08:37:58 PM
but your example is too narrow into a law unto itself... shoulda went with scientific theorums

In a mystery of identities the evidence will be much more closely related to a police investigation over scientific theory.  When Cowl was here, where were other characters as evidence to remove them as suspects for example.

I do have reasons to believe what I do, but it's not solid evidence like in a crime.  It's more about how stories are constructed, and my experience in decades of movies, tv shows, and books combined with reading a lot about creating stories.  So it's more about my instincts.

#1.  In stories where a villain has a hidden identity, they are almost always in the story under an unassuming persona.  For example Senator Palpatine in Star Wars being the Sith Lord.  So Cowl is probably a character we have seen, or at least a name being dropped.  That leads to a lot of possibilities, and Simon is a known character.

#2. One way that characters are eliminated as suspects is the belief they are dead.  They then pop up later, and it's explained why they aren't dead.  In a book of magic, body swapping, and necromancy it's not too far of a stretch to believe his death wasn't real.

#3.  Simon was Justin's teacher, giving him a direct connection to nefarious wizards, and everything Justin was involved in, including a Starborn being created, and Elaine (Kumori?)

#4.  As a personal friend of Eb it will make the betrayal that much more dramatic (story reason).


Quote
LMAO no, actually that's why it's innocent until proven guilty. The suspect would never say such a flimsy thing because no court would proceed to prosecute on the idea.

If you are someone with a motive, and cannot explain your whereabouts at the time of a murder you are in a lot of trouble.  It's on YOU to prove you weren't there.  A lot of people have went to prison because they could not disprove the prosecutions theory even if the prosecution couldn't prove they were there (dna, video, eye witness),  just proved you had a means, motive, and opportunity (you cannot explain where you were at the time of the crime).  They don't need DNA, video, or an eye witness.

Perfect example:

John had an altercation with victim the day before the murder, witnessed by 9 people.
John owns a colt 45, the same kind of gun that the victim was killed by, but has lost it.
John refuses to provide an alibi for the time of the murder.

If John wants to avoid prison he better prove that he didn't commit the crime.  The burden is now on John because his ass is going to prison if he doesn't prove the prosecution wrong.  Prosecution doesn't need to prove John was at the crime scene, or that his gun was the weapon.  John needs to prove it wasn't his gun, and or prove he wasn't there.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on December 24, 2017, 09:51:08 PM
All of legal understanding is fiction-based, TV, movies, and books. But, it seems to me, that a jury goes with the side that weaves the most convincing story.
My belief in the Simon is Cowl theory comes from many of the ideas that groinkick posted.
I am expecting a scene where Cowl is unmasked and telling Harry "I taught your teacher, boy, you don't have anything that is going to surprise me."
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on December 25, 2017, 03:21:58 AM
Quote
I do have reasons to believe what I do, but it's not solid evidence like in a crime.  It's more about how stories are constructed, and my experience in decades of movies, tv shows, and books combined with reading a lot about creating stories.  So it's more about my instincts.
Here, here!
Quote
But, it seems to me, that a jury goes with the side that weaves the most convincing story.
I wonder... does that mean if I weave a convincing story on why alternate Harry is responsible it would actually become more popular?
.... somehow, I do doubt it, though I might make a few people look twice.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on December 25, 2017, 12:42:56 PM
Here, here!I wonder... does that mean if I weave a convincing story on why alternate Harry is responsible it would actually become more popular?
.... somehow, I do doubt it, though I might make a few people look twice.
That is one of the goals of any theory.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Rasins on December 26, 2017, 07:25:56 PM
And alt-Harry has been proposed.  Evidence in the descriptions of Cowl suggest that it's not though.

I'm firmly in the Simon=Cowl camp.

Mostly because it makes sense.

Simon was the Council's vampire expert.  No reason to believe he couldn't have gone over (helping at Bianca's ball), then deciding he needed to be "free-er" to act so faked his own death.

The only thing that hangs me up a bit is the tenuous thought of him being a disciple of Kemmler.  I'm not sure how that worked, with him being an SC member.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on December 26, 2017, 08:20:38 PM
And alt-Harry has been proposed.  Evidence in the descriptions of Cowl suggest that it's not though.
not really, that's where I can find a lot of the evidence. Like in WN, the fiery bird Cowl summons is the Harry version of Lasciel manifest. each version of Cowl is from a current split, so finding the opposing actions/thematics isn't hard. in WN Harry is overcoming Lash and the Fallen, in opposition the cowl version has not. I could others... probably after we migrate so I know it won't get lost... though may also wait on PT too.

*cowls indirectly helping Harry's fate by effecting events around him and beings without will... think what the direct result of the Atheme was, Lea directly used the knife to save Harry, Harry under Mab's thumb instead, Lea rising up, Molly being saved, ect. It's a reverse domino effect. the results grow bigger.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Kindler on December 27, 2017, 02:11:03 PM
Good thread. I mostly agree, especially about Molly and Murphy. Molly/Harry is a pairing that I'm not a fan of. It's like hooking up with your high school chemistry teacher. Super weird, even after you graduated.

As for Cowl/Simon, I think there is some evidence pointing to him, but all of it is circumstantial. I'm honestly not even sure it would make sense narratively at this point, without putting in some more work. There is some meta stuff here, so bear with me. First, Simon is never seen on page—which is a point against him narratively, as he's not really a character, just a piece of background information—but he's mentioned way, way, way back in Summer Knight. Archangel is brought up at the end of Blood Rites, when Eb takes down Casse Verde, but I don't think Simon is even mentioned. Archangel and Simon's death IS mentioned in Turn Coat, because of the evidence for both being inside jobs.

Basically what I'm saying is that Simon isn't a character in this series as it stands right now; he's ancillary motivation for Ebenezer to actually take a spot on the Senior Council (that and saving Harry). He's brought up in two or three books out of fourteen.

Now, if Grave Peril goes down differently in Mirror, Mirror, I believe Simon may still be alive, and we can find out for certain, and actually give the guy some characterization before a reveal. Even if he's not alive, Peabody might be; Harry could interrogate that version to find out what happened at Archangel, and thus provide some answers. Hell, you might find out that Peabody was actually a fine thrall of Simon's the whole time...

Anyway, the point I'm making is that I'd be kind of disappointed if the next book just sort of dropped Cowl's identity reveal as Simon into its plot without making him a real character first, and Mirror, Mirror is a good opportunity to do that.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: WereElephant on December 27, 2017, 05:25:04 PM



Truth 1
Simon is NOT Cowl!  There is NO evidence - yes, I've heard all the arguments, and all of it is grasping at straws.  Maybe Cowl is someone we know, maybe Cowl is Cowl, but he is not not NOT Simon, and those of you who cling to this outrageous belief will feel quite silly indeed when Cowl's identity is revealed (in, like, fifty years).



I concur. In Dead Beat, Cowl's magic has a residual necromantic taint to it that Harry easily sensed, even when doing non-necromantic actions such as opening a Way if I recall correctly. Harry is far from the most sensitive to these auras. If Simon were really Cowl, the Senior Council would have sniffed him out, so to speak, ages ago.

That being said, I could see a convoluted plot wherein Simon becomes Cowl. Red Court attack Simon's tower, he uses Death Curse and dies. Brought back by necromancy. Goes back in time/to other dimension to learn from Kemmler. Becomes the Ringwraith we know and love.

Normally, I would dismiss that idea completely, except for there being a Law of Magic against time travel (laws are made to be broken, nicht wahr?), and the fact that Cowl used "Dorosh" as an incantation, an Eastern European name according to my googling and wikipedia'ing. Pietrovich was also Russian. It's not a great link, but it's something, and "Dorosh" has been driving me nuts trying to fathom why that was used.

Honestly, though, I'm hoping Cowl isn't Pietrovich. I'd like to be more surprised than that.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: groinkick on December 27, 2017, 07:14:55 PM
And alt-Harry has been proposed.  Evidence in the descriptions of Cowl suggest that it's not though.

I'm firmly in the Simon=Cowl camp.

Mostly because it makes sense.

Simon was the Council's vampire expert.  No reason to believe he couldn't have gone over (helping at Bianca's ball), then deciding he needed to be "free-er" to act so faked his own death.

The only thing that hangs me up a bit is the tenuous thought of him being a disciple of Kemmler.  I'm not sure how that worked, with him being an SC member.

He may not have been a disciple of Kemmler.  He may have hated Kemmler but feels that the Council has tied the hands of it's members with their laws.  He might even have felt that Kemmler would have been defeated more easily if the Council had not limited their own members from certain forms of magic. 
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: raidem on December 27, 2017, 10:21:22 PM
I think I had an epiphany in a dream about kumori desire to defeat death that it means something different than what we've talked about before but I forgot the epiphany lol.

Oh, now I remember, they wanted to capture mantels of immortals like they later try to do with cowl capturing godhood via darkhallow.  I think Maggie Sr, kumori, etc tried to defeat death by capturing mantels of immortality. That was their long term plans. They weren't trying to defeat mother winter or death personified etc.

It was ltw who said he knew some of those that wanted to live forever.  I wonder if there are some wizards that are aiming to capture some mantels to get the immortality that comes with it.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: potestas on December 28, 2017, 01:23:07 AM
While the last chapter is being written on this forum book; there is hope that a new book is coming.

Hope...there is no hope
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on December 28, 2017, 01:43:47 AM
Hope...there is no hope
Hope never dies... it get's murdered.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on December 28, 2017, 09:08:07 AM
Hope doesn't die; but sometimes it wants to take a coma-induced break. Slap hope and keep it awake.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Rasins on December 28, 2017, 04:26:15 PM
Hope...there is no hope
Hope never dies... it get's murdered.
Hope doesn't die; but sometimes it wants to take a coma-induced break. Slap hope and keep it awake.

POLKA WILL NEVER DIE!!

Or, if you prefer ...

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on December 28, 2017, 11:34:42 PM
POLKA WILL NEVER DIE!!

Or, if you prefer ...

(click to show/hide)
That is what 2 of my shirts say; so it must be true.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Rasins on December 29, 2017, 03:56:53 PM
I wonder if Butters will, in his new role, make it to Bohemia, the birth-place of Polka.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on December 29, 2017, 11:13:54 PM
Probably already been there.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: SintraEdrien on January 01, 2018, 03:45:42 PM
I am sorry, but I must disagree with certain parts of this post (specifically, point 3). In the USA, the burden of proof remains on the prosecutor despite the lack of evidence "proving" the innocence of the accused. Unless and until convinced beyond a reasonable doubt (in a criminal case), a jury must acknowledge the innocence of the defendant. Case in point, the 5th Amendment was explicitly designed to protect the rights of innocents who are accused (which is why you should never ever talk to law enforcement without a lawyer, even as a "witness"- it will be used against you).

Disagree, and here is why.   

#3.  "That's not really how the burden of proof works... Disproving things is an impracticality."  This is usually the case for religious, philosophical, or mythological debate, not in the real world.  For example in a police investigation: 

Detective: We think you killed that girl
Suspect:  you will have to prove it
Detective: Where were you Thursday night between 6:00 pm and 8 pm

The burden of proof is now on the suspect to disprove the detective by citing evidence that they were somewhere that was not the crime scene.  The detective does not have to prove that the suspect was at the crime scene, the suspect must now prove they were not.  The suspect could make the claim "It's up to you to prove I was there", but in front of a jury if the suspect cannot disprove the theory that they were at the crime scene, the jury has a good chance of convicting.  In real world scenario's people often must disprove a claim. 

In this case, the suspect is still to be regarded as innocent, and your line above: "The suspect could make the claim "It's up to you to prove I was there." is in fact true and correct- the prosecution must still, absolutely, beyond a reasonable doubt, prove that the suspect did indeed commit the crime, with actual evidence[/i], or else the jury is required to find the suspect to be innocent. NO further effort by the accused is necessary (granted, in the real world, this does not always hold true, but the efforts of the defense are needed because the accused may in fact be guilty (system working as intended), or the suspect needs to prove the prosecution has committed errors either willful, or malignant, or both (flaws in the operations of the system).

Otherwise, all the prosecution would need is to fling accusations, and then sit back and demand "evidence" of innocence.

Granted, there are a lot of problems when actual guilty parties evade justice under this rule of law, but I chalk that up to the problems of human nature- the system was designed in an attempt to hold back the excesses so frequent under, say, the Napoleonic Code.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Griffyn612 on January 03, 2018, 04:00:07 AM
The only relevant arguments from both sides boil down to these:

Prosecution: Simon is Cowl.
Defense: Simon is dead, and the experienced magical investigators that combed over Archangel will testify to that fact.
Prosecution: The same Council investigators that declared Kemmler dead half a dozen times?
Defense: The same investigators that learned from those mistakes and now know what to look for.
The Judge: <whispers to the Bailiff> Is it cold in here?
Bailiff: No, your Honor.
Prosecution: But it's hypothetically possible that Simon, being familiar with Kemmler's methods and one of the most powerful wizards alive, found a new way to fake his death.
Defense: ...Hypothetically, yes.
Prosecution: So you can't completely discount the possibility?
Defense: We can beyond reasonable doubt.
Prosecution: I don't think you understand the definition of *completely*.
Defense: I don't think you understand the definition of *reasonable*.
The Judge: These aren't my pants.
Defense: Exactly.
Prosecution: Your honor, is the use of that expression an admission of your barely veiled contempt for hypothetical reasoning and innovative interpretation of facts, therefore establishing your partiality in these proceedings and disqualifying your objectivity?
The Judge: <looks up> What?  No, these literally aren't my pants.
Defense: ...
Prosecution: ...
Bailiff: <looks over the desk> Your Honor is not, in fact, wearing *any* pants.
The Judge: I *knew* there was something wrong with them.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: groinkick on January 03, 2018, 04:31:28 AM
The Judge: These aren't my pants.


(https://media.giphy.com/media/qMqjZkmMi8wFO/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on January 03, 2018, 09:03:35 AM
Yeah, that does kinda sum up it. I am with the prosecution. Which means the burden of proof is on me. But, Griffyn, are you the sensible baliff or the judge that forgot his pants?
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Griffyn612 on January 03, 2018, 11:08:40 PM
Yeah, that does kinda sum up it. I am with the prosecution. Which means the burden of proof is on me. But, Griffyn, are you the sensible baliff or the judge that forgot his pants?
I'm the Court Reporter making sure everything is recorded for posterity.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Independent George on January 04, 2018, 12:06:06 AM
Um, we're not 'proving' 'Cowl=Simon' in a court of law. We're fans posing theories based on textual evidence. The case for 'Cowl=Simon' has been made numerous times, and its proponents (including myself) all concede it is purely circumstantial. It's a fan theory, not an indictment.

The OP stated definitively that Simon is NOT Cowl, and... offered no basis for his own conjecture other than to make ad hominum attacks on other fans.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on January 04, 2018, 12:09:46 AM
Quote
Um, we're not 'proving' 'Cowl=Simon' in a court of law.
Well... looks like we are now?
Quote
We're fans posing theories based on textual evidence.
I scoff at the idea of limiting myself to the letter of the book lol
Quote
I'm the Court Reporter making sure everything is recorded for posterity.
If we're gonna do this then i'm on the Defense's side, cause I want this done right lol.(Sintra's my second)
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on January 04, 2018, 10:02:35 AM
No reason to get so serious. It is merely an idea. And ideas are fluid. I like the idea and find it plausible. But, I am not married to it.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on January 04, 2018, 01:23:57 PM
No reason to get so serious. It is merely an idea. And ideas are fluid. I like the idea and find it plausible. But, I am not married to it.
yep, you sound like a prosecutor ;p
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Rasins on January 04, 2018, 06:54:52 PM
#3.  "That's not really how the burden of proof works... Disproving things is an impracticality."  This is usually the case for religious, philosophical, or mythological debate, not in the real world.  For example in a police investigation: 

Detective: We think you killed that girl
Suspect:  you will have to prove it
Detective: Where were you Thursday night between 6:00 pm and 8 pm

The burden of proof is now on the suspect to disprove the detective by citing evidence that they were somewhere that was not the crime scene.  The detective does not have to prove that the suspect was at the crime scene, the suspect must now prove they were not.  The suspect could make the claim "It's up to you to prove I was there", but in front of a jury if the suspect cannot disprove the theory that they were at the crime scene, the jury has a good chance of convicting.  In real world scenario's people often must disprove a claim. 

Cowl is a real character who's identity is hidden. 
Simon is a real character within the stories

Claim: Simon is Cowl, but admits there isn't evidence to prove it.
Poster claim:  Theory is 100% wrong.

Burden is now on poster to prove WHY it is 100% wrong, or admit that they don't have evidence, and simply disagree with claim.  Poster cannot possibly know if Simon is not Cowl without out of book information (Jim saying so), Foreknowledge (a beta reader who knows the identity), or strong in book evidence (which I requested because I want to know what it is).  If Jim didn't say so, if they don't have foreknowledge, and they have no evidence to deny the theory then they have no basis to claim that the belief Simon is Cowl is outrageous, and completely wrong.
I am sorry, but I must disagree with certain parts of this post (specifically, point 3). In the USA, the burden of proof remains on the prosecutor despite the lack of evidence "proving" the innocence of the accused. Unless and until convinced beyond a reasonable doubt (in a criminal case), a jury must acknowledge the innocence of the defendant. Case in point, the 5th Amendment was explicitly designed to protect the rights of innocents who are accused (which is why you should never ever talk to law enforcement without a lawyer, even as a "witness"- it will be used against you).

In this case, the suspect is still to be regarded as innocent, and your line above: "The suspect could make the claim "It's up to you to prove I was there." is in fact true and correct- the prosecution must still, absolutely, beyond a reasonable doubt, prove that the suspect did indeed commit the crime, with actual evidence[/i], or else the jury is required to find the suspect to be innocent. NO further effort by the accused is necessary (granted, in the real world, this does not always hold true, but the efforts of the defense are needed because the accused may in fact be guilty (system working as intended), or the suspect needs to prove the prosecution has committed errors either willful, or malignant, or both (flaws in the operations of the system).

Otherwise, all the prosecution would need is to fling accusations, and then sit back and demand "evidence" of innocence.

Granted, there are a lot of problems when actual guilty parties evade justice under this rule of law, but I chalk that up to the problems of human nature- the system was designed in an attempt to hold back the excesses so frequent under, say, the Napoleonic Code.

Point of order ... While yes, the burden of proof is on the prosecutor, claiming something and requiring someone to prove a negative is not possible.  Rather, they are providing evidence of an alternative ...

Now, looking at the bolded "conversation", the burden of proof that it was not them IS on the defendant.  The way they do that is to prove that they were somewhere else.  This is NOT the same thing as proving that they didn't do it.  Rather it's proof that they couldn't have done it, operating under the current laws of physics we currently live under and understand.


Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on January 05, 2018, 12:08:20 AM
yep, you sound like a prosecutor ;p
I can't be a lawyer; I still have a soul. Granted, it is a little soiled and warped.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on January 05, 2018, 03:15:39 AM
I can't be a lawyer; I still have a soul. Granted, it is a little soiled and warped.
How do you know you still have a soul? Molly thinks she still does after all..
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Griffyn612 on January 05, 2018, 04:28:34 AM
Detective: We think you killed that girl
Suspect:  you will have to prove it
Detective: Where were you Thursday night between 6:00 pm and 8 pm

The burden of proof is now on the suspect to disprove the detective by citing evidence that they were somewhere that was not the crime scene.  The detective does not have to prove that the suspect was at the crime scene, the suspect must now prove they were not.  The suspect could make the claim "It's up to you to prove I was there", but in front of a jury if the suspect cannot disprove the theory that they were at the crime scene, the jury has a good chance of convicting.  In real world scenario's people often must disprove a claim. 
You know this is almost entirely wrong, right?  The questions a prosecutor asks do not put the burden on the accused.  If they ask where I was, and I say at home alone, the burden is still on the prosecution to not only prove that I wasn't at home alone, but that I was at the crime scene. I don't have to prove where I was, because I have the presumption of innocence in my favor.

Now, I can provide proof to help my defense.  But if I left it at, "sorry, I was alone", it's not going to get me convicted.  The evidence proving I was there (assuming there was any) would have to do that.  That's the whole point of innocent-until-proven-guilty.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on January 05, 2018, 10:01:47 AM
How do you know you still have a soul? Molly thinks she still does after all..
Because I listen to alot of Motown!
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Rasins on January 05, 2018, 04:21:39 PM
How do you know you still have a soul? Molly thinks she still does after all..

Yes she does.  Just like Mab.  They both still have souls, but they are tending to be turning more and more on the Dark side.

The Soul doesn't go away, it's just, like, on a spectrum ... dark to light, or good to evil, or demonic to saintly.

As to WF - I'm not so sure ... he may have lost his.  He should check behind the couch, or in the dryer.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on January 05, 2018, 06:34:38 PM
Yes she does.  Just like Mab.  They both still have souls, but they are tending to be turning more and more on the Dark side.

The Soul doesn't go away, it's just, like, on a spectrum ... dark to light, or good to evil, or demonic to saintly.

As to WF - I'm not so sure ... he may have lost his.  He should check behind the couch, or in the dryer.
Prove it, soul gaze Mab, Have molly blast a cell phone by accident? Sure it's a spectrum, the same spectrum that still gives it to Reds that, iirc you refuted O.o lol.(after looking through 30+ pages I gave up on finding that convo, insisting Susan was not just 'gone')
Besides, I said A Soul, not soul itself. Fairies have some soul built into their design. But that doesn't make it the Host's pure alloy anymore.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Rasins on January 05, 2018, 07:15:01 PM
Prove it, soul gaze Mab, Have molly blast a cell phone by accident? Sure it's a spectrum, the same spectrum that still gives it to Reds that, iirc you refuted O.o lol.(after looking through 30+ pages I gave up on finding that convo, insisting Susan was not just 'gone')
Besides, I said A Soul, not soul itself. Fairies have some soul built into their design. But that doesn't make it the Host's pure alloy anymore.

From Jim himself ... (By the way, I asked this question of him at the signing.)
KC Signing Transcript - Part 1-1 (http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,36681.msg1761547.html#msg1761547)
Quote
The other question I had is, **unintelligible**…when a human takes on the mantle of a Fae, do they automatically become Fae? Do they lose their soul?

Ok, do they automatically become Fae, do they lose their soul? The answer to that question is “sort of”. Um, it’s automatic, but not necessarily instant. Mab herself was human once, and she eventually became the, uh, the fun-loving Mab that we all know. So, a lot of it has to do with who you are when you go into it, because most of the Fae were human once. A lot were born as half-bloods and decided to become Fae and sort of automatically got their **unintelligible**. But a lot of the other Fae who were there, including the Erl and several others, who were at one point humans….So, a lot of this is going to depend on who they  might end up being, a lot of it depends on who they are going into it and what kind of will they have to maintain who they are. That’s going to be a big deal. I’m really looking forward to writing the next books so I can see what happens with Molly, ‘cause I’m really not sure yet, I have a vague idea of what’s gonna happen, because basically she just got handed the largest, unruliest crowd of little brothers and sisters to deal with ever.

**Audience laughter**

But on the other hand, she’s kinda cool with that. She’s used to that role. So anyway, we’ll have to see what happens to her, but, uh, there’s a lot of choice involved **unintelligible** as far as soul goes. Everybody always talks about souls as if it’s something you can have a receipt for, that if you lose it, then it’s just gone, and I don’t think souls work that way, I think that there’s too much attached to them, I think that there are too many things that consist of what your soul is, so I don’t think this is kinda trying to figure “did you lose your soul?”, because I think you can lose your soul without bothering to stop by any kind of supernatural beings whatsoever. You know, if you watch the news, you’ll see people who do that all the time. But yeah, as far as The Dresden Files goes, as far as eternal damnation, etc., goes, no I don’t think that’s as much an issue for Molly as yet, it could sometime though. Whether Mab has some kind of spark of a soul left or not, that’s one of those questions that would be very difficult to answer, and I’m probably not smart enough to answer it. Probably, when you’ve gone so far down the road, just pure power is madness, it’s hard to hang on to your soul. And it depends on how people who have been handed all this extra stuff deal with it, and what that’s going to do for them in the long run. And it’s one of those long run kind of things, meaning you’re going to be stuck like that for 2,000 years, you don’t really have to go bad tomorrow, you have plenty of time yet to start growing mold on your conscience.

In the 2nd bolded part, Jim clearly is referring to the spectrum of Saved to Damned.  And in the first bolded part he is saying that you never LOSE your soul, like no longer have one.  So that would mean that Mab (who he actually refers to) still has Body, Spirit, AND Soul.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: raidem on January 05, 2018, 07:43:55 PM
He is using different definitions of soul in that passage.  So, I agree with Raisins.

There is a soul that is eternal I believe, which you never lose.
There is a soul that is about maintaining oneself, one's identity, one's conscience even while wearing a mantle.
There is a soul where doing bad acts causes you to lose it.

Mab ability to maintain her soul "depends on who [she] is going into it and what kind of will [she] has to maintain who [she] is", but her mantle has warped it to such a degree that Jim himself can't really tell if she has a "conscience" left which is I believe the test case if she has lost her soul, her identity separate from the mantle.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Rasins on January 05, 2018, 07:57:14 PM
He is using different definitions of soul in that passage.  So, I agree with Raisins.

There is a soul that is eternal I believe, which you never lose.
There is a soul that is about maintaining oneself, one's identity, one's conscience even while wearing a mantle.
There is a soul where doing bad acts causes you to lose it.

Mab ability to maintain her soul "depends on who [she] is going into it and what kind of will [she] has to maintain who [she] is", but her mantle has warped it to such a degree that Jim himself can't really tell if she has a "conscience" left which is I believe the test case if she has lost her soul, her identity separate from the mantle.

That's well put.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on January 05, 2018, 08:53:00 PM
That's well put.
So... you now agreeing Susan had soul or are you trying to double standardize a fact into a statistic?

Going back to the well accepted Soul of Human= Freedom of Will, no, Molly doesn't have it anymore, she might think she does, she might continue on and behave in the same way she would have, but she's not going to change in that behavior. Her Humanity has fled her.
*which jives with Woj Lily was simply deluded into thinking she was still human.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on January 05, 2018, 11:32:08 PM
Yes she does.  Just like Mab.  They both still have souls, but they are tending to be turning more and more on the Dark side.

The Soul doesn't go away, it's just, like, on a spectrum ... dark to light, or good to evil, or demonic to saintly.

As to WF - I'm not so sure ... he may have lost his.  He should check behind the couch, or in the dryer.
I got soul; I just don't have rhythm.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on January 05, 2018, 11:55:17 PM
I got soul; I just don't have rhythm.
Yep, I'm white and nerdy and not an once of rhythm at all... But I can do an occasional melody lol. My wife insists I'm tone def but I've repeatedly proved I'm just tone stupid.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: wardenferry419 on January 06, 2018, 08:04:14 PM
Yep, we are both members of that "Weird Al" club.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Kindler on January 08, 2018, 02:46:03 PM
So... you now agreeing Susan had soul or are you trying to double standardize a fact into a statistic?

Going back to the well accepted Soul of Human= Freedom of Will, no, Molly doesn't have it anymore, she might think she does, she might continue on and behave in the same way she would have, but she's not going to change in that behavior. Her Humanity has fled her.
*which jives with Woj Lily was simply deluded into thinking she was still human.

I don't think we know enough about the process of turning into a Red Court vampire. I think it's possible that turning kills the person, and they're replaced by something else with the same memories. So I think Susan didn't lose her soul; she died with it. But the Red Court vampire who burst from her skeleton didn't have one. I think the same thing about Black Court vamps.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on January 08, 2018, 04:22:21 PM
I don't think we know enough about the process of turning into a Red Court vampire. I think it's possible that turning kills the person, and they're replaced by something else with the same memories. So I think Susan didn't lose her soul; she died with it. But the Red Court vampire who burst from her skeleton didn't have one. I think the same thing about Black Court vamps.
That's said mainly and directly about the black court in  comparison to the other two. I don't think Red's change more than the superficial outer layer, directly impacting their literal food/ hunger) but as it's a transmogrification it slowly becomes more permanent, with the end result being a blood slave. So all those whom maintain themselves, remain themselves.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Kindler on January 08, 2018, 04:46:10 PM
That's said mainly and directly about the black court in  comparison to the other two. I don't think Red's change more than the superficial outer layer, directly impacting their literal food/ hunger) but as it's a transmogrification it slowly becomes more permanent, with the end result being a blood slave. So all those whom maintain themselves, remain themselves.

They explicitly form flesh masks, though; they are the flabby bat-things, but make a mask to hide that. They all make attractive ones, too, and I find it unlikely that every turned Red Court vamp was attractive. Didn't one of the Eebs make one that looked like Susan in Changes to hire that hitter to kill Dresden in the Church?

Also, "remaining themselves" is subjective; is that like ghosts, as explained by Mort? They have that person's memories and think they're that person, only changed, but are something else entirely?
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on January 08, 2018, 05:36:15 PM
They explicitly form flesh masks, though; they are the flabby bat-things, but make a mask to hide that. They all make attractive ones, too, and I find it unlikely that every turned Red Court vamp was attractive. Didn't one of the Eebs make one that looked like Susan in Changes to hire that hitter to kill Dresden in the Church?

Also, "remaining themselves" is subjective; is that like ghosts, as explained by Mort? They have that person's memories and think they're that person, only changed, but are something else entirely?
They form flesh masks, over their true form, they specifically change into gigantic bat creatures. Of course it's subjective, everything's subjective. however we have direct woj dealing with the differences which do not say they simply become something else like BCV's do. The de evolution through transmogrification theory has only to compare the slow degradation into the mindset of the physical form, and the ability to resist this effect through strong willpower.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Rasins on January 09, 2018, 06:25:43 PM
So... you now agreeing Susan had soul or are you trying to double standardize a fact into a statistic?

Going back to the well accepted Soul of Human= Freedom of Will, no, Molly doesn't have it anymore, she might think she does, she might continue on and behave in the same way she would have, but she's not going to change in that behavior. Her Humanity has fled her.
*which jives with Woj Lily was simply deluded into thinking she was still human.

Of course Susan had a soul.  I don't believe that the Rampire that took over has a soul though.  Once Susan killed Martin, that effectively killed her too and the Rampire demon took over.

They explicitly form flesh masks, though; they are the flabby bat-things, but make a mask to hide that. They all make attractive ones, too, and I find it unlikely that every turned Red Court vamp was attractive. Didn't one of the Eebs make one that looked like Susan in Changes to hire that hitter to kill Dresden in the Church?

Also, "remaining themselves" is subjective; is that like ghosts, as explained by Mort? They have that person's memories and think they're that person, only changed, but are something else entirely?
They form flesh masks, over their true form, they specifically change into gigantic bat creatures. Of course it's subjective, everything's subjective. however we have direct woj dealing with the differences which do not say they simply become something else like BCV's do. The de evolution through transmogrification theory has only to compare the slow degradation into the mindset of the physical form, and the ability to resist this effect through strong willpower.

AND they can change the way they appear.  Ariana in Edinburgh did not appear the same as she did in Chichen Itza.  Harry even comments on it.  So a Full Rampire can change their flesh mask.  They are not stuck in one shape, like us mere humans.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on January 09, 2018, 07:01:39 PM
Quote
AND they can change the way they appear.  Ariana in Edinburgh did not appear the same as she did in Chichen Itza.  Harry even comments on it.  So a Full Rampire can change their flesh mask.  They are not stuck in one shape, like us mere humans.
It's a flesh mask, not a full transformation into a human duplicate. Hell having gained partial transmutation ability is actually more in line with them being the result of breaking shapeshifting laws of magic, as it's clearly a direct result of the transformation and its inherent qualities.
Quote
Of course Susan had a soul.  I don't believe that the Rampire that took over has a soul though.  Once Susan killed Martin, that effectively killed her too and the Rampire demon took over.
Then of course Molly had a soul, and then she got a Mantle and that took over, effectively stopping her ability to choose and use Mortal magic. can't hypocritically be both. (cause that means there IS a disconnect where the ego wants to be right instead of correct, and I don't abide easily by such logical fallicy -.- statisticalizing facts...)
the degradation of self between Rampire and that as ascribed to Queen Mab are pretty much the same experience with the same end, loss of self into what you've become. As is who they are going into it dictating who they become afterwards as Susan is a prime example of.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Kindler on January 09, 2018, 08:35:14 PM
But you're equating mantle acquisition with transfiguration. They're objectively different processes.

And flesh masks isn't shapeshifting, they're created separately from the body—elder Red Court vamps can hide from the sun in the shadow of their flesh masks, which they wouldn't be able to do if they were turning into something else.

I'm stating that the transformation process of turning into a Red Court vampire isn't a gradual process; it's one that has a definable beginning and end. Half-vampires are the middle of that. Once they turn, their human self is destroyed and supplanted by the vampire. It's represented by their physical body changing. There is simply no way their human self could survive the stress of turning, aside from the implications of the vampire consuming it. Because they die, their soul remains intact. Again, when you see a vampire, "you aren't seeing your friend; you're seeing the thing that killed them."
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on January 09, 2018, 09:50:08 PM
But you're equating mantle acquisition with transfiguration. They're objectively different processes.
And subjectively the same, it's the same world mechanics acting in a streamlined fashion, on the jim butcher appreciation community on FB Jim wojed recently to someone asking about if Archangeldom was a mantle his reply was to the effect of,"it's almost like the rules work consistently in the DF" I can point out these consistencies and the why forth of it usually. Mantles and angels being similar, even other ranks of angels we are unfamiliar with all aligns with the beacon/possession/replacement process as seen in Rasmussen. Possession being the most damaging in it's relation to free will. But the original beacon is always at work, even Kravos came in through the Dream realm, through the mind.
Moving on from some things I've explained before, Rampires work the same but manifest differently. Instead of a shadowy hunger being born through you in your mind/soul, the damage is used to create the mirror directly through said transmogrification effect. they don't directly replace said person, but the mirroring in form and in hunger allow the continued assault by their personal demon/shadow mirror. Where as Blamps simply invert the mirror along the lines of an angelic choice. They are as they are because the penumbral focus is very precisely one person lving person wide, and they appear in a dark mirroring of life as undeath that consumes life directly because of this, also why they grow in strength with every feed/kill, they are true immortals in their own rite.

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And flesh masks isn't shapeshifting, they're created separately from the body—elder Red Court vamps can hide from the sun in the shadow of their flesh masks, which they wouldn't be able to do if they were turning into something else.
Causing manifestation of a foreign body part that is not actually of the self(ergo the ability to hide in it's shadow) is actually quite the same as the transformatives done by grey, expand your concept of shapeshifting.

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I'm stating that the transformation process of turning into a Red Court vampire isn't a gradual process; it's one that has a definable beginning and end. Half-vampires are the middle of that. Once they turn, their human self is destroyed and supplanted by the vampire. It's represented by their physical body changing. There is simply no way their human self could survive the stress of turning, aside from the implications of the vampire consuming it. Because they die, their soul remains intact. Again, when you see a vampire, "you aren't seeing your friend; you're seeing the thing that killed them."
Nope, Blood slaves are the end of the transformation process, the ability to hold onto your own will, ergo resisting this complete deevlolution into the thing you came to embody is their key to 'royalty'/position. Also how Mab is said to maintain any of who she is, Who you are going in is directly culpable in both regards, ergo Susan's continued love for her child so as to Sacrifice herself for her. Makes her mortal enough for me, as it does my Lawyer Mab ;)
*also directly contradictory to woj on Blamps vs whites and reds. Blamps aren't what used to be human.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Rasins on January 09, 2018, 11:46:04 PM
Then of course Molly had a soul, and then she got a Mantle and that took over, effectively stopping her ability to choose and use Mortal magic. can't hypocritically be both. (cause that means there IS a disconnect where the ego wants to be right instead of correct, and I don't abide easily by such logical fallicy -.- statisticalizing facts...)
the degradation of self between Rampire and that as ascribed to Queen Mab are pretty much the same experience with the same end, loss of self into what you've become. As is who they are going into it dictating who they become afterwards as Susan is a prime example of.

I never suggested that Molly didn't lose her Free-Will.  That was evidenced in her Short Story.  But loss of free will does not mean loss of soul.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: forumghost on January 10, 2018, 12:35:04 AM
From how I understand it, they're two different things.

Ramps are something that murders you and runs around wearing you like a suit, Faerie Mantles are something that slowly mindrapes you into the shape it wants. Neither are the kind of thing that you want to invite to sunday brunch.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on January 10, 2018, 12:55:50 AM
From how I understand it, they're two different things.

Ramps are something that murders you and runs around wearing you like a suit, Faerie Mantles are something that slowly mindrapes you into the shape it wants. Neither are the kind of thing that you want to invite to sunday brunch.
The spirit being the main component of the mantles vs soul being angelic is key, the greater force acts directly upon your will and conscious mind, where as Fae mantles all seem to overflow the underlying id making the subconscious overpower conscious will, as it did when Molly tried to say something too direct. The main difference is the layer of conscious ability the invading force has itself. Angelic forces being most sentient with Outsiders as Fearbringer are pure ego, only a mental perspective of overriding willpower that needs to collect to itself the disparate parts of those things that make a composite insider, body, spirit, soul, ect.

*I somehow got the feeling Jim's been reading people complaints about holes in his system as they see them from their perspective... and he wasn't any happier about them then I've been. So if I seem slightly defensive in insisting on seeing a pattern, it's because I DO, even if it's fan crack patterns, they still exist.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Kindler on January 10, 2018, 06:48:33 PM
The spirit being the main component of the mantles vs soul being angelic is key, the greater force acts directly upon your will and conscious mind, where as Fae mantles all seem to overflow the underlying id making the subconscious overpower conscious will, as it did when Molly tried to say something too direct. The main difference is the layer of conscious ability the invading force has itself. Angelic forces being most sentient with Outsiders as Fearbringer are pure ego, only a mental perspective of overriding willpower that needs to collect to itself the disparate parts of those things that make a composite insider, body, spirit, soul, ect.

*I somehow got the feeling Jim's been reading people complaints about holes in his system as they see them from their perspective... and he wasn't any happier about them then I've been. So if I seem slightly defensive in insisting on seeing a pattern, it's because I DO, even if it's fan crack patterns, they still exist.

I don't see these things as the same in any regard. One affects the body and mind, the other the mind and soul. I'd like to know how you got the sense of Jim's disappointment, because maybe that will help convince me.

And be as defensive as you like; patterns are everywhere, even if not everyone sees them. I'd never dream of discouraging you; that's not my intent by disagreeing.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Cozarkian on January 10, 2018, 07:01:58 PM
You know this is almost entirely wrong, right?  The questions a prosecutor asks do not put the burden on the accused.  If they ask where I was, and I say at home alone, the burden is still on the prosecution to not only prove that I wasn't at home alone, but that I was at the crime scene. I don't have to prove where I was, because I have the presumption of innocence in my favor.

Now, I can provide proof to help my defense.  But if I left it at, "sorry, I was alone", it's not going to get me convicted.  The evidence proving I was there (assuming there was any) would have to do that.  That's the whole point of innocent-until-proven-guilty.

Also, in the U.S. you can just answer "talk to my lawyer" who will inform them you plead the 5th and they will not be allowed to tell the jury that you refused to give an alibi.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: groinkick on January 10, 2018, 07:17:17 PM
Also, in the U.S. you can just answer "talk to my lawyer" who will inform them you plead the 5th and they will not be allowed to tell the jury that you refused to give an alibi.

They can still claim the defendant was unable to prove their whereabouts at the time of the crime.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Kindler on January 10, 2018, 07:38:21 PM
They can still claim the defendant was unable to prove their whereabouts at the time of the crime.

Alibis are just part of a negative defense (outright denial of the crime). To prove, for example, a murder case beyond a reasonable doubt, the prosecution relies on the old three elements: means, motive, and opportunity (which aren't actually enough in and of themselves; you need evidence that the opportunity was seized, for example). Lacking an alibi only means that they had an opportunity to commit the crime; it does nothing to establish means or motive, and not having an alibi does not mean that the opportunity was taken. A defendant doesn't have to prove that they weren't there, because the prosecutor still has to provide evidence that they were—a witness, security footage, bank transaction records, or, scarily, cellphone GPS data, for instance. The only witness providing a statement otherwise is the one who says he was where he was.

A good prosecutor will try to get the defendant to slip up and contradict their previous statements; if they said they were home all night watching TV, and later on they say they ran out to pick up milk, that's a different story altogether. That's evidence that they may have acted on the opportunity.

It doesn't always shake out that way; juries are people, after all. But that's not what the law is for.
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: jonas on January 11, 2018, 12:26:40 AM
I don't see these things as the same in any regard. One affects the body and mind, the other the mind and soul. I'd like to know how you got the sense of Jim's disappointment, because maybe that will help convince me.

And be as defensive as you like; patterns are everywhere, even if not everyone sees them. I'd never dream of discouraging you; that's not my intent by disagreeing.
i'm not even sure that makes enough sense for me to answer, what does the mind and body, mind and soul? Fae vs angels?
(same way I pull details from books and read peoples intention, my intuition, which I can't share. I mean honestly I've read 20k+ pages written and drafted by him... I certainly couldn't have gotten ANY insights into his mind from that...)

*your technically right I suppose, See again my comment on how they are composed of the disparate things outsiders are seeking to gather to themselves to 'exist'. The way the Mantles were broken off were to effect Spirit, which is tied to the body and Angels are soul, which is tied on the other side to the spirit.. But Archangels... FM gave the dibs on them, the exist in all 3 dimensions simultaneously, that's why Uriel is able to transubstantiate. He didn't create a physical form, he separated a physical form from the spirit and soul aspects, the grace. I theorize some of those pure intellects we've seen from outside actually had their pieces taken from them via the stone table, which is why they are so connected to the fae courts. as wholes they would be akin to Archangels. I think that's near the state most true 'gods' are at. The starborn, are the body of that break down in a way...
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: In This, The End of All Things, I Come Out of Lurking
Post by: Cozarkian on January 11, 2018, 04:31:00 PM
They can still claim the defendant was unable to prove their whereabouts at the time of the crime.

I'm pretty sure they cant, IF the suspect was careful enough to invoke the 5th Amendment at the start of an interrogation.

It is when the suspect answers the first questions, e.g. "I was home alone. Nobody else was with me that confirms that.," that they can make that claim, because the 5th Amendment doesn't protect you from things you already said, only those things you refuse to say.

But if the suspect pleads the 5th from the start, the best a cop could say is that they were unable to find any evidence indicating the defendant was somewhere other than the crime scene. They could not testify that they asked the defendant where he/she was or that the defendant failed to give an alibi.