Mac is not the White God.  Mac is a retired member of Merlin's inner circle.  He's the Beeromancer of the group.  Used to be a big partier, but now just likes to watch others have fun.

I just assumed it was a response to an earlier comment, and that wasn't posted.

Couple of points Q ...

The DH in DB would only have taken out 2 or 3 square miles of life.  I know, that's still a lot, but not the entire population of Chicago.

One theory that I believe to be true is that Cowl was seeking the power to fulfill a deal with the Reds, that when he got the power he'd break through the wards at the Wouncil's headquarters.

Now that's not to say that him with the power wouldn't be like hitting a fly with a sledgehammer, but I'm not so sure he'd be THAT much more powerful.

Another theory was that the blood sacrifices were empowering a spell that COULD punch through the wards. 

Again, all that being said, I believe that DR is FAR more impregnable than Edinburgh. 

*cough* AmandaCarpenter *coughcough*.

Second.

Third. I like it.

I could totally live with this.

Back to Daniel, I don't think he's disqualified himself. I think he's young and just needs some seasoning.

I just want one to turn out to be Smaug.  That would be cool.

That's not how I read that.

Differing takes.

The Ebbs were not nobles.  They even complained that they would never be welcomed into the inner circle, because they were not "of the blood".

LordDresden2,

I'm of the opinion that the dinner party was to get the Vampires and the Wouncil to become allies and take over the Outer Gates.  We know she traveled the Ways extensively.  That would suggest that she knew about the Outer Gates, and who was defending it.  I think she saw the need for shock troops (that the Vampires could produce fairly quickly) and the need for Magic (which the Wouncil would bring to the table.)

I think Eb KNEW that the Vampires couldn't be trusted, and didn't want to be part of the scheme.