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The Dresden Files => DF Spoilers => Topic started by: KurtinStGeorge on August 16, 2020, 02:24:56 AM

Title: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: KurtinStGeorge on August 16, 2020, 02:24:56 AM
I think the title pretty much says it all.  I can't see Mavra, Elaine or Drakul showing up, though I suppose anything is possible.  If Cowl is on the scene I hope he doesn't remain hidden during the entire story.  I recall Jim stating that Cowl had been hidden in background of other stories and I don't want to hear after the fact that it happened again.

I suppose that I'm not so much hoping that any of the characters that I named above show up, as much as I'm hoping there will be a place in Battle Ground for the Archive to do something interesting.  It was something of a letdown for Harry to see Ivy in Peace Talks and not have her be a part of the story.  If Ivy does start to play an important role I will start wondering if Kinkade will make an appearance, but first things first.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Conspiracy Theorist on August 16, 2020, 03:15:56 AM
WOJ has it that Drakul and where he is will feature in BG.

I am really waiting for Jim to tease a Jade Court scene, but it is only a swanky Chinese Restaurant that Harry takes the Wardens to having never been able to afford it previously. It would just annoy so many fans, especially those who keep asking Jim about them, which is a standard question at almost every con appearance and Q&A.

Oh, and the Ukrainian Shapeshifter Guru who was there all the time, shapeshifted into something innocuous, like Lara’s sofa.

“I looked around the Great Hall of my new home, “it just needs a basketball hoop there”, pointing at a piece of wall.

 Marcone's goons were removing the various delegations furniture, and as two of them picked up the White Court’s sofa, it shimmered and resolved into a pinch faced elderly man in a stained robe. The goons dropped him in surprise and he swore at them in an unknown language, not quite Russian. The man shook his fist at the goons and ran out.

I shrugged, someone spending several days pretending to be Lara Raith’s sofa for their sexual jollies was not even in the top ten of the weirdest things which had happened in the last couple of days.

I finished watching the goons remove the last of the furniture, and locked the door behind them “ good riddance” I said, before I went down to the basement, and the trapdoor to my lab. I curled up on the trapdoor and caressed the ring,  “My precioussss” I said before falling asleep for the for first nights sleep without nightmares since my apartment had burnt down.

Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: ClintACK on August 16, 2020, 09:54:47 AM
Mavra and the Genoskwa were both mentioned in Peace Talks, with the suggestion that they are around and might show up.

The Genoskwa actually feels like a cheat -- I wonder if instead we'll discover that the real Genoskwa/Ursiel did get squashed in Skin Game, there's a shapeshifter around pretending to be the Genoskwa.

Which brings us to my answer to "Character I'd like to see" -- Shagnasty, the Naagloshi.

I've been wanting to see a rematch with Shagnasty ever since Harry learned what Demonreach is -- and the end of Peace Talks showed us both Harry's increased power on the Island and his ability to put someone into a cell. A repeat battle on Demonreach itself would be over so fast Shagnasty's head would still be spinning an eon from now in its tiny little cell. And it would be so satisfying -- doubly so if Shagnasty's the one who hurt Thomas, again, and put him in his current predicament.


Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Regenbogen on August 16, 2020, 10:07:37 AM
The Merlin, Elaine, Cowl, Mortimer Lindquist, Agent Tilly, Fitz (from Ghost Story)

I curled up on the trapdoor and caressed the ring,  “My precioussss” I said before falling asleep for the for first nights sleep without nightmares since my apartment had burnt down.

LOL
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Conspiracy Theorist on August 16, 2020, 11:36:59 AM
WOJ is that Fitz unlikely to appear again, but I would like to think that Fitz finished his education, got his GED and apprenticed to Nick Angel, helping to find kids, meaning that he is now ready to work for Dresden Investigations and the Paranet as an investigator, specialist in ghosts, getting further training and honing his gifts with Mort and Harry.

The BFS building is a big building, Harry needs staff, the Wardens are stretched too thin, so paranetters in support capacities would make sense.

You may get your wish on Cowl, we are near the time under WOJ that Cowl will be unmasked, although the split and additional books may have skewed that.

Elaine? No, I think if Harry pushes reform of the White Council and the Black Council becomes widely known, you may have hidden Wizard Level talents like Elaine and Mort step forward (Carlos once again betrayed by a woman), to avoid being associated with the Black Council.

I think it likely one or more of Harry’s Rogues gallery will turn up in BG, working for the Fomor.

As regards the whole trapdoor thing, Harry has been so homesick that of course he would spend the first night possible at home, and he deserves a nights sleep without nightmares, it has been indicated in both PT and in the Mister Microfiction that he suffers nightmares on a nightly basis.

You will almost certainly get the Merlin  I would think




Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Dina on August 17, 2020, 01:24:29 AM
Kincaid (and more Ivy)
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Conspiracy Theorist on August 17, 2020, 01:43:57 AM
Ivy definitely, but not sure about Kincaid, unless he is back to complete his contract with Harry, like the professional that he is.

He would be concerned if he found out Harry had beaten Eb is an out and out fight.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: vultur on August 17, 2020, 03:58:04 AM
The Genoskwa actually feels like a cheat -- I wonder if instead we'll discover that the real Genoskwa/Ursiel did get squashed in Skin Game, there's a shapeshifter around pretending to be the Genoskwa.

It's possible.

But I don't think it's that bizarre that being smashed might not be fatal for the Genoskwa. Given that Denarians in general have supernatural regeneration abilities, and Forest People have super-strong auras of life energy, a combination of the two having Wolverine-level "heal from a blood smear" regeneration might not be that out of scope... at least as long as the coin remained in contact with the blood smear.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Conspiracy Theorist on August 17, 2020, 10:19:46 AM
Healing yes, Harry smashes in Gen’s ribs and a minute or so later they are nearly healed, but Gen  still had to escape Hades domain, and may have had to give up the coin to do so. Hades is a collector, and powerful enough to counter a Fallen Angel so maybe he turned numismatic, and is now looking for the other 28.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: ClintACK on August 17, 2020, 01:50:07 PM
If LTW does die, I'll be sorry we didn't get a chance to learn more about Little Brother.

The idea of wizards having familiars is widespread, and Harry's now got a cat, a foo dog, a spirit of intellect, and a sanctum-invocation with a genius loci, as well as whatever you'd call his relationship with Toot-toot. It's almost weird that he never got a familiar.

(Of course, it's possible that Mister *is* his familiar, drawing power from the bond and simply not choosing to use it to communicate or assist Harry in any way. Harry might not even known it. That would be very much in keeping with the Dresden way.)
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Conspiracy Theorist on August 17, 2020, 03:48:03 PM

(Of course, it's possible that Mister *is* his familiar, drawing power from the bond and simply not choosing to use it to communicate or assist Harry in any way. Harry might not even known it. That would be very much in keeping with the Dresden way.)

You just defined a “cat” and not a familiar.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Dina on August 17, 2020, 05:32:18 PM
If LTW does die, I'll be sorry we didn't get a chance to learn more about Little Brother.

The idea of wizards having familiars is widespread, and Harry's now got a cat, a foo dog, a spirit of intellect, and a sanctum-invocation with a genius loci, as well as whatever you'd call his relationship with Toot-toot. It's almost weird that he never got a familiar.

(Of course, it's possible that Mister *is* his familiar, drawing power from the bond and simply not choosing to use it to communicate or assist Harry in any way. Harry might not even known it. That would be very much in keeping with the Dresden way.)

In the Dresdenverse, wizards apparently don't have familiars. But now I am thinking in Little Brother, hopefully he is back to the wild and does not die with LTW.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Conspiracy Theorist on August 17, 2020, 06:10:52 PM
A bit of hope, whilst LTW might be nearly done on his journey, this is from River Shoulders who is a millennia old and going through his mid-life crisis (Irwin and his mother). Nearly done might mean a decade or more (unless he dies in combat). Of the Senior Council members, only really Eb is a combat specialist, Christos is politician and diplomat, Martha Liberty is the intelligence specialist (she’s been caught flat-footed by both the Fomor and Harry ) LTW is a healer, you would expect him to be setting up and defending a field hospital. I think maybe LTW will die between BG and the BAT, and we will get the funeral scene.

I think there will be at least one senior Council vacancy created through death or Demonreach, to promote Luccio to the Senior Council, clearing the way for Harry to be The Warden, but I think perhaps Martha Liberty and Eb having to give up the Blackstaff to Harry, who would give it back to its proper owner.

Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: vultur on August 17, 2020, 11:48:33 PM
Healing yes, Harry smashes in Gen’s ribs and a minute or so later they are nearly healed, but Gen  still had to escape Hades domain, and may have had to give up the coin to do so.

Yeah, I'm not sure how he got out of Hades.

On the other hand, the Forest People have magic of their own, and we don't know much about it. They could be able to open Ways.

Quote
Hades is a collector, and powerful enough to counter a Fallen Angel so maybe he turned numismatic, and is now looking for the other 28.

Wouldn't that mess up the balance? I think if the Coins were permanently taken "out of circulation" the Swords might lose their power (their angels would leave?) or at least the Knights wouldn't get their special mission-from-God boosts anymore.

Given that Hades recognizes that it's time for the Spearhead/Athame, Grail, etc. to be "back in circulation" I don't think he would do that.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: ClintACK on August 18, 2020, 01:00:38 AM
I'm sure Lasciel could teach Hannah Ascher how to open up a portal in no time flat.

We've only seen Ursiel in bestial control mode, but it makes sense that he'd be able to do the same. All of the angels would know enough magic for that, and the genoskwa could do some magic -- at least enough to have a serious veil and some kind of counterspell.

It's the "nothing left but ketchup" part that troubles me. It doesn't make sense to think it was just an illusion that got splattered, because if the genoskwa was still active at that point, he could have easily killed Harry and gotten all five weapons for the win. So something hinky is going on, but we don't have enough information to narrow it down. (Do all Denarians regenerate even from goo if you don't take the coin? Does the genoskwa know Kemmler/Corpsetaker style ghost-eating self-resurrection magic? Is it a fake genoskwa walking around -- perhaps Shagnasty in disguise?)
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: TheCuriousFan on August 18, 2020, 01:14:41 AM
On the other hand, the Forest People have magic of their own, and we don't know much about it. They could be able to open Ways.
They've certainly got the raw power for it, even Irwin as a scion got more raw magical muscle than Harry.
I'm sure Lasciel could teach Hannah Ascher how to open up a portal in no time flat.

We've only seen Ursiel in bestial control mode, but it makes sense that he'd be able to do the same. All of the angels would know enough magic for that, and the genoskwa could do some magic -- at least enough to have a serious veil and some kind of counterspell.
Ursiel could do magic too, he was countering Harry's spells after the first sucker punch back in Death Masks IIRC.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Conspiracy Theorist on August 18, 2020, 01:21:41 AM
Maybe the worry was that going in a Fallen tinged portal would alert Hades, and having Harry do it made him the fall guy.

Hannah’s talents may not have run to portals, the same with Gen’s raw power isn’t everything.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Mira on August 18, 2020, 04:28:17 AM


Rashid, know he is busy at the Gates, but I'd like to see Rashid.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: ClintACK on August 18, 2020, 01:13:17 PM
If we see Rashid, I think it means Mab's plan comes to full fruition in Battle Ground -- after the Accords members come together to defeat Ethniu and the fomor attack on Chicago, she rallies them to come to the Outer Gates to help defend reality. (Or at least to see first hand what Winter is facing on their behalf.)

That would be pretty epic, but it seems premature. (And possibly anticlimactic -- without Vanilla Mortals being included, the raw numbers that Accorded Nations other than Winter can bring to the battle will look like a drop in the bucket out there.)
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Conspiracy Theorist on August 18, 2020, 01:42:31 PM
That is likely the BAT.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: ClintACK on August 18, 2020, 02:49:57 PM
Yep. So I'd be surprised if we see Rashid at all in Battle Ground, unless there's an "aftermath" meeting of the White Council at the end of it, where Rashid shows up late to give us one of his special "How do you vote?" "With deliberation." moments.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Direwolf513 on August 19, 2020, 06:35:13 PM
I'm always up for more screen time for the Gatekeeper.

It'd be neat to see how big Toot-Toot has gotten by now.

Regarding the Genoskwa, I hate the thought of him being alive. Harry beat him, fair and square, and to go from flattened into two dimensions to alive and well really does seem like cheating.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: vultur on August 20, 2020, 07:33:30 AM
Regarding the Genoskwa, I hate the thought of him being alive. Harry beat him, fair and square, and to go from flattened into two dimensions to alive and well really does seem like cheating.

It does seem really weird, but IMO that's more because of the Hades' vault aspect.

Actually surviving being squished is pretty extreme, but not unprecedented in the series. Any Immortal could do that, but that's arguably not really comparable. Nicodemus could certainly do it. The "uber-ghouls" from WN might well be able to; I don't think any of them were actually confirmed to be killed by anything.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: vultur on August 20, 2020, 07:36:45 AM
It's the "nothing left but ketchup" part that troubles me. It doesn't make sense to think it was just an illusion that got splattered, because if the genoskwa was still active at that point, he could have easily killed Harry and gotten all five weapons for the win. So something hinky is going on, but we don't have enough information to narrow it down. (Do all Denarians regenerate even from goo if you don't take the coin?

I don't think all Denarians do, because Kincaid, Harry, and Luccio killed some in SmF and the coins seemed to be "seeking a new owner" afterward.

But given the strength of "life aura" Forest People are shown to have in the Bigfoot stories, regenerating from goo doesn't seem that implausible of an upgrade from what Tessa has been shown to do (when Harry blasts through her with a spell and she survives by dissolving into a swarm of bugs and re-forming).
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: Direwolf513 on August 20, 2020, 12:22:46 PM
It does seem really weird, but IMO that's more because of the Hades' vault aspect.

Actually surviving being squished is pretty extreme, but not unprecedented in the series. Any Immortal could do that, but that's arguably not really comparable. Nicodemus could certainly do it. The "uber-ghouls" from WN might well be able to; I don't think any of them were actually confirmed to be killed by anything.

I suppose I meant cheating from a writing standpoint. I'm willing to suspend disbelief to allow for damned near anything in the books as long as there's some framework for it that makes sense - the "fact" of him regenerating, I can deal with. But bringing back the character seems pointless. He wasn't that interesting a character in Skin Game and Harry and Goodman Grey won a pretty decisive victory over him ("splat" is pretty definitive). Having him pop back up just seems kind of lazy to me. I suspect we're going to get a Harry and River Shoulders vs. Genoskwa throw-down which isn't something we needed. Meh.
Title: Re: Is there any character who didn't show up in PT that you'd like to see in BG?
Post by: KurtinStGeorge on August 20, 2020, 09:41:03 PM
I'm always up for more screen time for the Gatekeeper.

It'd be neat to see how big Toot-Toot has gotten by now.

Regarding the Genoskwa, I hate the thought of him being alive. Harry beat him, fair and square, and to go from flattened into two dimensions to alive and well really does seem like cheating.

I agree, especially as the Genoskwa isn't an immortal.  This revival seems like something Cowl could do; seeing as he is a necromancer, but I don't know how he could have done it without getting inside of Hades vault himself.