I happen to think this was a sufficiently powerful toy that it should count.
- PG Harry creates "Little Chicago" (later destroyed)
Is it a power up when he learns to do veils as an invocation?
He'd been using Force magic for a while, in the form of those rings, since SF.
Offhand:
WK - Learns of and uses his connection to Outsiders for the first time
FM - Saves Marcone (gains "ally")
GP - Meets/Names Ivy the Archive
GP - Meets Kincaid the Hellhound
DB - Meets NecroBob
DB - Uses Necromancy for the first time
Changes - Meets Vadderrung
SK - Saves the crap out of the new Summer Lady and Knight
Serack, i had an idea about this too. I was thinking of doing a re-read and picking up how Harry's descriptions of using his power change.
For example ( i am at work and don't have the books, so this is just my trying to expalin what i mean)
He may describe in an early book how doing a particular spell takes all his energy and concentration.
In a later book he may say the same or a differnt spell is easy or second nature.
This to me is also part of his power ups. How things are hard in the begginning and become easier or take less concentration or the spell itself has so much more power in it.
Plus i tend to read fast and not soak in details and it would force me to pay attention. ;D
I'd say those can all probably qualify. It's just a question of demonstrating that Harry gaining or losing the ability to do something.
I'd also say that, since the list is already in a sort of time-line type format, we might put power increases and decreases on the list. Perhaps gain in black and loss in red? So, (going off memory here)
- SK Harry gains a favor from the Summer Court
- SF Harry uses up his favor to get a delicious donut
- BR Harry's left hand is burned, leaving it largely useless. Harry also loses the ability to channel fire
- DB Harry becomes a warden. This grants him some authority and greater legitimacy withing the White Council, and effectively ends 'poverty' as a plot point
FM - Meets the Alphas and Tera West
SK - Gains Mouse
DM - Is given custodianship of Fidelacchius
WK - Establishes Paranet
SF - Is given custodianship of Amoracchius
GP: Ate Kravos's power RP
Wasn't this only a temporary power up, or does it still count for the purpose of your list?
Also "Word of Kemmler" might be worth considering.
I'm not sure exactly where this might fit, but I think some of his development of political skill would be a power up. For instance calling in Summer at the end of PG was a master stroke of political manuvering.
Also, would gaining knowledge (proof?) of a Black Council, and that of the Gray Council also be considered power-up?
I would also say that his use of the favors owed to him by Marcone and by Lara Wraith at the end of Changes were power-downs.(click to show/hide)
I'd say those can all probably qualify. It's just a question of demonstrating that Harry gaining or losing the ability to do something.
I'd also say that, since the list is already in a sort of time-line type format, we might put power increases and decreases on the list. Perhaps gain in black and loss in red? So, (going off memory here)
- SF Harry uses up his favor to get a delicious donut
If you are talking about the Gruff, I thought the donut was to keep him from getting killed. I didn't see the Gruff promising to defend Harry against all comers or give Harry the ability to fly. I thought the donut was to maintain the status quo, keeping Harry alive.Red indicated power downs. This would need to be included to counter the line for the favor he when he was given it.
That remains to be seen. Could go in the other direction, based on some things Lash told him.(click to show/hide)
- BR: Burn trauma stuns Harry's ability to use Fire Magic PD
And to be fair that was a psychological block having as much to do with a fear of Hellfire as the actual injury, if not more so.
I actually considered this a power up. Not necessarily the stun in his ability to use fire magic (which came back the next book), but the triggering event itself. Afterwards, his defenses skyrocketed- before this event he could really only stop physical force; afterwards he rebuilt his shield to be able to stop fire and various other forms of energy attack. To me that event's a Knowledge, instead of a power down (bad guys can do more than just push you!)
That remains to be seen. Could go in the other direction, based on some things Lash told him.
I actually considered this a power up. Not necessarily the stun in his ability to use fire magic (which came back the next book), but the triggering event itself. Afterwards, his defenses skyrocketed- before this event he could really only stop physical force; afterwards he rebuilt his shield to be able to stop fire and various other forms of energy attack. To me that event's a Knowledge, instead of a power down (bad guys can do more than just push you!)
I was assuming that this was an as-of-now thread. Of course we all know he'll gain more, but how and when ...
I was assuming that this was an as-of-now thread. Of course we all know he'll gain more, but how and when ...I was referring to this from White Night, which implies that by
“Now and always,” she replied. “I mean no insult by it, but you should know that your ability to comprehend your environment is very strongly defined by your belief in a number of illusions. Time. Truth. Love. That kind of thing. It isn’t your fault, of course—but it does impose limits upon your ability to perceive and understand some matters.”
“I’m only human,” I said. “So enlighten me.”
“To do so, you would have to.”(click to show/hide)
I blinked and said, “I’d have to?”(click to show/hide)
She sighed. “Again, you have only a partial understanding. But in the interest of expediency, yes. You would have to.”(click to show/hide)
(Btw I put changes spoilers in the header)
I know,the mystery of the(click to show/hide), like the(click to show/hide)(click to show/hide)
I did it as a response to your post btw.
WK - Learns of and uses his connection to Outsiders for the first time
Actually the first time was when he defeated HHWB
I would argue that while he may have used his connection to the Outsiders when defeating HHWB, he was not aware of it (he probably just thought he got REALLY lucky or that Lea had done more to help him that she actually did, in fact I don't think he even knew, at the time, that HHWB was an Outsider). He did not learn or gain the knowledge until Lash mentioned it. As far as this goes I would say:
birth- he gained the innate ability
battle with HHWB- first unknowingly used the ability (and therefor perhaps the Outsiders became aware that he had this ability)
conversation with Lash- gained the knowledge of the ability (IIRC Lash directed his use of it at this point)
some unknown event- gains the skill of using the ability and/or fuller knowledge about it
I would argue that while he may have used his connection to the Outsiders when defeating HHWB, he was not aware of it (he probably just thought he got REALLY lucky or that Lea had done more to help him that she actually did, in fact I don't think he even knew, at the time, that HHWB was an Outsider). He did not learn or gain the knowledge until Lash mentioned it. As far as this goes I would say:
birth- he gained the innate ability
battle with HHWB- first unknowingly used the ability (and therefor perhaps the Outsiders became aware that he had this ability)
conversation with Lash- gained the knowledge of the ability (IIRC Lash directed his use of it at this point)
some unknown event- gains the skill of using the ability and/or fuller knowledge about it
Ok, your saying that he gains the skill threw me off, because he has already used it effectively, but other than the demonstration of the skill that Lash did, Harry hasn't had any apparent benefit from any knowledge of his power greater than what he already had without the knowledge. However if he reacted to that knowledge by taking his head out of the sand WRT his mom and started investigating his own whereabouts, I would say that this knowledge did some good.
Can at some point expose BOB to mccoy book collection, including the merlin journals, over a thousand years of magic from powerful senior council magicans. bob could translate them all, and teach harry their secrets,
Ok I wrote up a reply to all the suggestions, but now I'm rewriting it in a different structure.Makes sense, just gunna toss a few things out there.
I am going to catagorize most of these suggestions and reply to the categories.
Necromancy
I spent some time thinking about this. I almost feel like he may have had necromantic forays when he imbeued the spirits to attack Bianca in GP, but the definition of Necromantic magic might include enslavement to the casters will, whereas he just gave those spirits power and set them about their own way. With all these grey lines clouding the necromantic power question, I came to the conclusion that the reading of the Word was something concrete that I could list as a "Power Up." Short term, he used the info to disrupt Cowl's ascension, and long term he has used that knowledge as a threat or barganing tatic against 2 other powerful beings. I'm letting that one entry also (imperfectly) represent any other necromantic strength he may have gained, because lets face it: anything he might have been able to do before must have been seriously augmented by what he learned there.
Allies (and the swords)
This is a tough one. I'd rather not make this into a list crouded with every person and being that has influenced Harry in a remotely positive manor. That said, there are plenty of instances where Harry is stronger because of an association, and some of those are so significant that I think they are the equivalent of eating a magic power up mushroom, and that the loss of which should be accompanied by the sound effect you get when big mario runs into a goomba and shrinks.
So things I think about when I consider adding an ally (or marker) are... What is this person/being's own "power" level? How strong is the bond? Has emphasis been placed on the alliance in the narration or by other characters (the little people!!!)? In the case of some, this is also complicated by the fact that the relationships and the allies themselves are growing throughout the series, so when would I point to the alliance as becoming a significant power up?
In the case of adding (and detracting) the Knights/swords, this is complicated by the custodianships to the point that I don't even really want to go into those any farther than I already have.
Enchanted Items
This is similar to the allies in that it can get crouded with things that become less and less significant. Mostly, I have only included the ones that Jim put screen time into talking up how they were significant in how Harry had to seriously up his game when he made them. The shield crystal might fit there, but it feels more like a plot device than an illustration of Harry's increased magical prowess... Kinda like the bear buckle.
As to the placement of the shield bracelet in a subcategory... I can't check the book right now, but I seem to remember emphasis in the text being that the motivation for his revamping the design was a directy tied to the trauma he had to endure due to the defficiency of the old design.
Didn't Lash teach Harry a better mode for handling pain under pressure. I'd say that was a skill worth having in Harry's line of work.Ya, definitely. Especially since he used it again in SmF, which did not go unnoticed by the nickleheads.
Okay, and I know it only had a bit-part, but I personally think his development of that rope used to tie Susan up (and set up for Maggie Jr.) was really cool. Was it a power-up, no. But still, the magic rope is still cool.
Shield bracelet. WK page 96 (novel)
If there hadn't been a war on, and if i hadn't been spending so much time drilling Molly in the fundamentals- and therefore getting in all kinds of extra practice myself- I would never have considered attempting to create such a complex focus. it was far more complicated than anything i'd done before. five years ago, it would have been beyond me completely. more to the point, five years ago, i wouldn't have been as experienced or as strongly motivated.
yes the fire pointed out a flaw in his bracelet that his enemies had started to figure out. but if he hadn't gained Molly as an apprentice he would never had increased his skill up enough to created it at this time. so yes fire gave him the idea but his time with Molly gave him the ability to create it. so if i had to decide, i would say this goes under the Molly sub-section. i mean he had the broken bracelet for awhile and didn't remake it until after he had taken Molly as apprentice.
But at that point every increase in his base magical usage (as opposed to soulfire, mantles, etc) from here on out would go under the Molly Subsection. Gaining an apprentice was a major turning point in his magical education, but really has nothing to do with molly herself.
[snip]
Ask yourself why Mab had Molly brought in. What chain of events did that set in motion? What secondary effects came about because of it? Ultimately, Mab can always go to the Wyld and draw in more muscle to replace fallen thugs. If worst comes to worst, with just a few "seed" fae, she could rear up enough Changelings to repopulate her cadre within a human generation or two--nothing, to a being thousands of years old.
[/snip]
The bolded part allows me to say that both are important, but your right that Molly's education plays a very (maybe the most) important part. My battleship reasoning is still taking time to turn to port though, so I haven't decided to change places... yet...fair enough I suppose, though with those particular events you could argue just as easily that it was Lily/Summer or the WG or the Gatekeeper
However, one of the main points of this list is to examine things in terms of how players behind the scenes may be manipulating events so that Harry is getting stronger, and Molly becoming his apprentice does seem to be something that Harry was manipulated into by Mab
fair enough I suppose, though with those particular events you could argue just as easily that it was Lily/Summer or the WG or the Gatekeeper
Oh, for sure. I think it's almost as likely that there is as much of a conspiracy to help Harry get strong enough to combat The Bad Things to Come as is likely there is a conspiracy to bring about The Bad Things to Come. I'm not even certain they are 2 different groups.
Serack - I LOVE this!
One thing to possibly consider... We have WOJ that one of Harry's primary 'character powers' (exclusive of in-story powers) is his ability to act as a catalyst to make *others* more that they were or (extrapolating a bit) perhaps more than they could have been before. Does that impact or change how we look at / think about Harry's allies?
Toot may be a good example, I think. Something about his interactions with Harry have changed him from simple dew-drop fairy to a creature with some sense of loyalty and ambition - which is sort of odd behavior, at least from what we've seen.
To know how much more powerful *Harry* gets we might need to consider how his *allies* get more powerful/knowledgeable as well...
Thoughts?
To know how much more powerful *Harry* gets we might need to consider how his *allies* get more powerful/knowledgeable as well...Except Murphy. She's been offered power, yes, but she declines it. She can take up a Sword any time she wants, but she won't. Harry has to push and prod her to take it up any time he needs her to.
Serack - I LOVE this!wow yes this is true also P1600. not only Toot. i would add in a few others tbh. Mouse, i mean apparently he shouldn't be as powerful away from his place of power. yet as he tells Lea he cheats because he has Harry.
One thing to possibly consider... We have WOJ that one of Harry's primary 'character powers' (exclusive of in-story powers) is his ability to act as a catalyst to make *others* more that they were or (extrapolating a bit) perhaps more than they could have been before. Does that impact or change how we look at / think about Harry's allies?
Toot may be a good example, I think. Something about his interactions with Harry have changed him from simple dew-drop fairy to a creature with some sense of loyalty and ambition - which is sort of odd behavior, at least from what we've seen.
To know how much more powerful *Harry* gets we might need to consider how his *allies* get more powerful/knowledgeable as well...
Thoughts?
wow yes this is true also P1600. not only Toot. i would add in a few others tbh. Mouse, i mean apparently he shouldn't be as powerful away from his place of power. yet as he tells Lea he cheats because he has Harry.
Butters even. he now walks around w/ chalk and has a bp vest waitin for when Harry calls. he goesa from snivelling nervous to just shakey. Morty too, he gives him a boost in confidence after his first talk w/ him in GP.
and yes Murphy, she has gained more confidence facing supernatural. than add in what she has picked up from Harry, knowledge. the inheritted silver for the Loup, her knowledge about the magic dispelling when the sun rises. she has picked up things along the way that makes her far more formidable.
Molly, yes in magic it is obvious, but he also is giving her a stronger moral balance to help her and guide her. he also reunited her w/ her family to help ground her. so she has gained more control over herself which has made her stronger.
Alphas, he gave them a goal which in turn made them focus and become stronger. i mean Billy can even partially self heal now. they push to get better.
Except Murphy. She's been offered power, yes, but she declines it. She can take up a Sword any time she wants, but she won't. Harry has to push and prod her to take it up any time he needs her to.Agreed, but with some caveats...
Murphy Started out in Storm Front in charge of Special Investigations. So, not as important as Homicide or Vice or anything, but it was her own department and she was in charge. Then she lost that and became a mere grunt, and now she has lost that too.
Gard even offered her a shot at working for Monoc, where she might have gained special supernatural training, access to large resources, and who knows what else. (Yes, that last sentence was pure speculation on my part)
Power and influence in the mortal world? Lost. Supernatural power. Declined, repeatedly. Murphy is on a downward slope. In a series that has Free Will vs. Power as one of its themes, Murphy has chosen Free Will.
EDIT: I just read what I wrote. Holy crap, the only time she does take power (the sword) is when Harry influences her. He really does influence people to become stronger.
Even when it costs them a little Free Will and an angel turns them into a sock puppet.
I remember reading some word of jim. The empowering is not only for his friends.
His enemies gain power influenced by him as well. Bianca, Lara, Marcone
Agreed, but with some caveats...Murphy and Susan, Molly and Toot - they each contributed to Harry's additional growth/wisdom (thus more power) in one way we often have only touched on obliquely.
Murphy-as-standard-vanilla-cop was relatively powerless vs. supernatural threats so long as she stayed within the current legal (and mental!) world-view.
She only got to be able to be effective when Harry changed her worldview (essentially educating her about the real supernatural)
Maybe he gained a slightly stronger "alliance" with Marcone? Or just fighting experience and werewolf knowledge. I haven't read FM in a while.
One of the interesting things about Ghost Story was that it was marked by enormous Power Ups for several of Harry's allies -- especially Butters, Mort, and Molly.
I'd give Harry an "A" for Mort, for certain, and probably an "M" as well -- he just saved Mort's life in a really big way.