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The Dresden Files => DF Spoilers => Topic started by: Bad Alias on February 09, 2026, 01:58:58 AM
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Harry only found out about the existence of the position of Blackstaff in Blood Rites. In Dead Beat, Harry says the position "did not officially exist." In White Night, Harry says that it's a secret position that he can't tell Carlos about.
I knew because my old mentor was the Blackstaff of the Council, their completely illegal, immoral, unethical, and secret assassin, free to break the Laws of Magic whenever he deemed it fit—such as the First Law, “Thou shalt not kill.” When Duke Ortega of the Red Court had challenged me to a formal duel and cheated, Ebenezar had taken it personally. He’d pulled an old Soviet satellite down onto the vamps’ heads, killing Ortega and his whole crew. But I couldn’t tell Carlos that.
In 12 Months, Ilyana and Carlos both threaten or warn Harry that he could face the Blackstaff if he violates the Council's will.
Harry and Ilyana have the following exchange.
I smiled again, not pleasantly. “One way or another,” I said, “it’s time for you to get off my roof.
Her eyes narrowed. “I will remind you,” she said in a low, hard voice, “that should I ever find you in breach of the Laws of Magic or Council policy, your already-signed death warrant will be withdrawn from suspension and handed over to the Blackstaff. And you will be executed.”
Carlos says the following when he's listing out Harry's problems.
Plus, Ilyana and everyone who is cheering her on ready to send the Blackstaff after you.
I can think of a few explanations for this. Knowledge of the Blackstaff wasn't as secret as Harry thought. The office became more well known during the battle of Chicago (Battle Ground quote below). Carlos and Ilyana were informed because they were dealing with the mad warlock Dresden. It's a continuity error.
The stocky old man vanished farther into shadow, raising the Blackstaff, the weapon’s darkness devouring the lightning, drinking and drinking endlessly—until I could see actinic fire gathering in the cracks of the old man’s skin. It did weird things to the shadow he cast, twisting and distorting it until it looked like a hideously twisted old woman, complete with the classic witch nose and chin, looking somehow darkly amused.
Thoughts?
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The blackstaff is an open secret, he does not exist and we do not talk about the blackstaff, acknowledge his existence, will deny his existence and everyone knows its McCoy. Its sort of like the CIA or MI6 shady operations that everyone in government knows about but they will all be shocked ,shocked , shocked I tell you that they are doing. What spying on our citizens outrageous I say. Spying on our allies impossible. I am insulted by the mere suggestion.
Or perhaps it's the an Israeli nuclear missiles thing, the blackstaff is not real but is you annoy us the blackstaff will kill you.
I sort of see the WC having the same approach to the blackstaff. If a new recruit asks about the blackstaff he does not exist, once trusted the blackstaff is real. Another nation threats the WC we will unleash the blackstaff. The nation so you admit he is real. WC looks them Dead in the eyes 'he does not exist'
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Seems to be a bit of Section 31 drift from Star Trek. In Deep Space Nine, it was a super secret black ops organization most people didn't know about. In Kurzman Star Trek, they have their own stylized com badges and everybody seems to have heard about them.