1. We have been told that Nicodemus has a very specific target in mind, ostensibly kept in the Labyrinth of Daedalus.  What is Nic trying to get his hands on and why?

Primarily the Staff of Moses, aka the Spear of Destiny, Holy Lance, or about 10 other names, because of its ability to manufacture plagues (not just diseases like the shroud) and its symbolical significance to TWG and his followers. Secondarily, he wants the soul of Helen Beckitt's daughter both as payment to Marcone for lending him Gard (more on this later) and in an attempt to recruit Marcone.

2. Nicodemus apparently called in a marker from Mab to get Harry on the team.  Does he have a specific plan for using Harry or did Mab twist his request?  Which of Harry's capabilities will he admit to needing, and (given that this is Nicodemus after all), which abilities is he scheming for Harry to use?

I think he specifically requested Harry for multiple reasons (why do anything for only one after all?). The first being that the entrance to Tartarus lies on Demonreach (maybe even in the well, though I doubt it), without Harry's permission or assistance the plan is ruined almost before it began. The second being that as a mortal who has "died" and returned, Harry likely will be able to reveal things about the Underworld that "normal" mortals (or non-mortals) would miss. At the very least, he would be a good distraction for Hades while the rest of the group is getting the vault if it should come to that. I also suspect that he is scheming for Harry to use Soulfire and attract a lot of things attentions (not the least of all being Hades). 

3. Jim has mentioned that the book will be "Ocean's Eleven".  Who else did Nicodemus recruit?  How will they interact with Harry?

1. Nicodemus (brains)
2. Deirdre
3. Shagnasty (conman via shapeshifting)
4. Gard (guidance)
5. Mavra (stealth)
6. New Denarian (one of the church's coins, possibly Lasciel?)
7. Anna Valmont (vanilla mortal because some of the traps will require mortal blood as well as being an expert thief)
8. A necromancer, my money's on Kumori
9. New Denarian "Ratboy"
10. Harry (access, combat, and distraction)
11. Harry's +1 (See #4)

4. Harry's general method of operation is to call on his friends for help.  In this book, Harry is (initially) allowed one extra backup member on the crew.  Who will it be?  Which of Harry's other allies will "interfere" before the plot is over?

Harry's plus 1 will be Thomas because picking anyone else would leave Chicago "undefended". Besides which, he wants to show that he trusts his brother and make up for the whole, "you're a monster" thing from CD. Sanya will definitely interfere leading Mouse, Molly, Kincaid, and Murphy as a "rescue party" for Harry.

5. This is a Denarian book, so (unlike the last "end of the world" showdown), the Swords will almost certainly be present.  In fact, there have been various hints...  Which Sword wielders will appear in the next book and how will their interference/help affect the plot?

Sanya will show up, possibly at the beginning to try convincing Harry not to help Nico but definitely at the end to counter Nico's inevitable double cross during which he will die. They'll run into Shiro's shade who will convince Murphy to take up the Sword of Faith (I"m not even gonna try to spell it). 

6. Mab is apparently against Nicodemus succeeding in this heist.  In the Cold Days, we found that Mab had complex reasons for wanting Harry to kill Maeve.  What are Mab's reasons in this book?  Is it simple thwarting or is there something deeper?

Mab is smart enough to realize that Nico is a dangerous enemy and is still pissed off about his breaking of the accords. Besides which, she wants Harry to become experienced in double crosses, especially in surviving them.

7. At the end of Cold Days, Harry needs to stay on the island to keep his growing headaches at bay.  The start of Skin Games implies that those headaches will need to be resolved by the end of the book.  Who or what is causing those headaches, and how will the whole thing get resolved by the end of the book?

Lash, the "child" of Lasciel and Harry, who will be released from Harry's head by Molly and will exist as a spirit while in the Underworld before obtaining her own body (either by magic or possession) possibly Helen Beckitt's daughter.

8.  One of the key components of the "Ocean's Eleven" movie is that there is a final twist/reveal.  Given that we've got Nicodemus, Harry, Mab, and potentially Hades (and who knows who else) all trying to get the better of each other, if there's one thing you can count on it's some sort of last minute quintuple-cross.  What will be the nature of the twist and how will it all fall out?

Nico will attempt to con the rest of the team and take the loot by turning them against Harry and trying to get out when no-one's watching. This will be ruined by Sanya's rescue team who help Harry and by Tessa who will lead a team of denarians specifically to stop Nico (with Hades blessing). While this big clusterfuck of a fight is going on, Anna Valmont will steal the loot and escape to Earth, where she sells it to the highest bidder, Marcone and who knows what he'll do with it.

9.  (Extra Credit) There are many WAG ("Wild A$$ Guess") theories on the boards, some crazier than others.  Write up to three WAG theories (or make up your own) you believe are correct that will be confirmed (or at least have evidence in favor of) in Skin Games.

1. Lasciel will show up in a new host and reveal that she and Harry are Lash's progenitors and attempt to get Lash on her side.
2. After the group is unsuccessful at finding Amanda Beckitt's soul, Lash will possess her so she doesn't feel guilty about robbing someone of her newly discovered free will.
3. Harry will be captured by Hades and will be rescued by Odin/Gard having a prior claim to his soul (because Harry ate in Odin's hall)

10. (Extra Credit) This is that "free form" question where you can come up with anything else you think will be in this book.  Specific quotes Harry might say (will he actually quote Ocean's Eleven?  The movie will have come out already in Harry's timeline)? Tidbits about the White Council? The fate of Molly? Write down anything you want.  Note that whatever you write must be specifically mentioned or hinted at in Skin Games in order to be worth credit. 

Harry will officially appear before the WC to show he isn't dead.
Mother Winter will be mentioned, specifically in relation to being Death (or perhaps as being similar to Thanatos)
Mavra will be after a sample of the river Lethe to make the world forget about the Black Court and their weaknesses.
One of the (church) Denarians will be rat themed.
Michael will be involved but not take up a sword.
Harry will use Soulfire, either to talk to one of the shades (Shiro maybe?) or to create a body for Lash.


On a side note, is anyone else really curious to find out what it was Nicodemus and Deirdre did to help Mab out originally? Any theories?

"You are no true Knight of Winter, manling. Once I have decoured you flesh, and your manyle with it, I will bestow it upon someone worthier of the name. I should never have given it to Mab."

I want to discuss this quote from Mother Winter. Do we think MW means that she made Mab the WK and Mab than "worked up" to being Winter Queen? Or, did she just mean letting Mab pick the new one. I'm inclined toward the latter, but I've seen it mentioned in a theory that Mab became the Knight when MW lost her walking stick. Also, what do we know about who picks whom the mantle goes to? IIRC Maeve picked Slate, then Mab picked Harry, and MW implies that she would pick the next (although that could just be because she was going to kill him herself). Is it purely whoever the closest queen to the Knight when they die, or is there an order to it (ie Lady, Queen, Mother, Lady, etc.)?

See, here's the problem with this situation: If you have free will, you also have the power to surrender it, by agreement or simply by painting yourself into a corner with your own actions.

I have to reject the entire premise of your response, I don't think you can surrender/give up your free will. If you'll recall, we're told in SK that mortals have no real penalty for breaking their word, beyond reputation (and power if they make a vow on it). This means that even if Harry vowed to do everything Mab told him to, he could theoretically disobey. Now, due to the mantle, she can force him to do whatever she says, but that would (as Harry points out) make him no better than a thug. You said earlier that she could command Harry to "act to his full abilities" or some such but with the Fae wording matters. Do you really think Mab wants to take the time to have to close all the loop holes every time she asks Harry to do anything? Beyond which, there's a certain amount of evidence that Harry could choose to remove/incapacitate the mantle at least temporarily. It obviously wouldn't be practical to walk around with a nail in him, but an iron/steel earring or something might work. Or, he was able to disable it temporarily by breaking Winter Law, which also shows that he still has free will although if he doesn't do Mabs will it "cancels out" his bargain with her. At least that's how I saw it, since Harry wouldn't be holding up his end, it's like Mab doesn't have to hold up hers (ie giving him the mantle). Now, I don't think that could be anything but a temporary measure since there was a big quality of ritual going on when the mantle passed to Harry. On the other hand, who knows if there's ever been such an antagonistic/rebellious knight, Slate comes to mind but he never really had the chance to break Winter Law/disobey Mab when she was torturing him.

 If the mantle is out of the picture Mab can't "make" Harry do anything. She can still put him in a situation where doing anything but her will would mean his own death or, more likely, the pain/deaths of his friends/family. Or she could just call it a lost cause and kill him outright.  Like Harry says, even if your choices are crap, they are always there (if only technically). For example, the obvious downside to that "solution" (removing the mantle) is that Harry would end up paralyzed and next to useless in most conflicts.

That's the whole point of free will. True, your choices might be suicidal, world dooming, whatever, they are still your choices. I agree that you have to deal with the consequences of your choices, but unless those consequences kill you, they don't take away your ability to make choices in the future. They might limit your options, but there will still be a choice of some sort.