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« on: July 17, 2020, 09:32:08 AM »
We get some nice exposition and theorising in book on the Sword of Faith, but there are a couple of points which may have been deliberately overlooked.
The renewed Sword is more in the spirit world, it can’t harm mortals, but is even more damaging to Monsters, at least the evil ones. It was speculated that it would harm genuinely evil mortals like Nicky, he reaction to Butters was extreme. But what if it wasn’t Nicky’s reaction but Anduriel’s? The previous effect of a Sword stroke on a Denarian was to injure or kill the mortal and release the coin. Could the renewed sword of faith injure or kill the Fallen Angel instead?
There has been speculation that if applied to Thomas it might kill his hunger but not Thomas, but in his weakened condition it would probably kill him anyway to remove the hunger. What would the Angel do in those circumstances? Thomas has as part of being imprisoned suffered the hurt he has inflicted on others, and genuinely does not want to do what he has had to do as a Whampire. He is not evil, but in this case killing the hunger will kill Thomas. Perhaps the Angel does something different, and changes the hunger, or does nothing at all. The wielders intention affects the operation of the swords (free will), and the knowledge of this by the wielder means they are a more flexible tool than they were previously.
This isn’t the only such issue raised in Peace Talks, the summoning of Molly and her Crossing the magic circle raises similar issues of separation of flesh and spirit, she could do so but what was left wouldn’t be Molly any more. The sword could probably cut away the Mantle, but what would be left wouldn’t be Molly. What would the Angel do? Probably nothing as it would harm an innocent mortal to affect the Mantle.
How would the Sword work on Goodman Gray?, he is a monster, and admits it, but does good deeds for a peppercorn as his ‘rent’. Would it harm him, do nothing at all or change him? He is half mortal. We know he is wary of the Carpenters Guardian Angels. Could it sever the evil Naagloshii part of his heritage, leaving him a mortal human?
How would it work on Fix a mortal changeling? His Mantle is not inherently evil, nor is his Fae heritage. probably nothing at all.
Harry was able to put his hand in the blade indicating that the Winter Mantle is not inherently evil, and affected by the sword, but would a blow to the head from the sword sever Harry from the Mantle?
We have seen something similar in Changes with the half Ramps, some had their vampire half excised and survived as being relatively newly turned. The unravelling from the Mothers would have achieved the same end, so there is in series precedent for some of the above speculation.
Oh, and Butters had better get a gun.