The Lost Files (C:TL/Dresden Files) (CK2-ish)
- Thread starter The Laurent
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[X] The Laws of Magic.
[X] How is Human Defined?
[X] 'The other day, huh?'
[X] How is Human Defined?
[X] 'The other day, huh?'
Sworl
Sparky
[X] The Laws of Magic.
[X] How is Human Defined?
[X] 'The other day, huh?'
Also her talk of arrogance sounds very much like what the kettle would say to the pot. I mean yeesh, her voice in this chapter (both mental and actual) sounded like a mixture of Nicodemus and a female equivalent of the Ubermensch cliche.
For all the effort that she puts into her acts, I would not be surprised if people often walk away with impressions and insights about her that she really did not intend for them to have.
I doubt that Cora's behaviour is making Lillian or Gab feel at ease or in anyway inclined to talk.
She sounds like the kind of strong, justifiably arrogant supernatural being, of the ilk of Nicodemus or a high level DF fae, who knows more than you do, almost definely knows enough to screw you over and is only indulging in this charade of civility as a prelude to the unpleasantness to come, either because it wants something or it finds playing with its prey amusing.
Though I doubt she realises it, Cora is invoking a rather dangerous DF supernatural stereotype. The kind that makes trigger fingers itchy and people do foolish paniced things.
A soulgaze is a unsettlingly intimate and informative experience and Cora would not react well to anyone getting a deep insight into her true self be it intentionally or by accident. If not immediate violence, then at the very least she'd have Gab killed.
Worse still, even though the experience could inspire greater fear of her within Gab, it might also inspire a measure of genuine pity. I doubt that Cora is sort of being that could ever accept being pitied.
I do wonder what Cora looks like under Wizards Sight. It certainly sees through her mask but it should also provide some metaphorical insight into her nature and character, be it presented as a visual phenomenon, a smell, a taste, some sort of music, etc.
How long has it been since the Changelings showed up anyway? I'm rather surprised that other supernatural groups don't know a bit more about them at this point. Not all Changelings are isolationist or discrete and anybeing can be made to talk given the right incentives.
[X] How is Human Defined?
[X] 'The other day, huh?'
Cora is assuming a bit much here, both about the attitudes of wizards and their capabilities, considering she knows little about their magic and the sum total of her experience with their 'kind' involves less than a few minutes of interaction with the one standing in front of her.
Also her talk of arrogance sounds very much like what the kettle would say to the pot. I mean yeesh, her voice in this chapter (both mental and actual) sounded like a mixture of Nicodemus and a female equivalent of the Ubermensch cliche.
For all the effort that she puts into her acts, I would not be surprised if people often walk away with impressions and insights about her that she really did not intend for them to have.
I doubt that Cora's behaviour is making Lillian or Gab feel at ease or in anyway inclined to talk.
She sounds like the kind of strong, justifiably arrogant supernatural being, of the ilk of Nicodemus or a high level DF fae, who knows more than you do, almost definely knows enough to screw you over and is only indulging in this charade of civility as a prelude to the unpleasantness to come, either because it wants something or it finds playing with its prey amusing.
Though I doubt she realises it, Cora is invoking a rather dangerous DF supernatural stereotype. The kind that makes trigger fingers itchy and people do foolish paniced things.
That might be interesting but lets hope it doesn't happen between Gab and Cora.
A soulgaze is a unsettlingly intimate and informative experience and Cora would not react well to anyone getting a deep insight into her true self be it intentionally or by accident. If not immediate violence, then at the very least she'd have Gab killed.
Worse still, even though the experience could inspire greater fear of her within Gab, it might also inspire a measure of genuine pity. I doubt that Cora is sort of being that could ever accept being pitied.
I do wonder what Cora looks like under Wizards Sight. It certainly sees through her mask but it should also provide some metaphorical insight into her nature and character, be it presented as a visual phenomenon, a smell, a taste, some sort of music, etc.
How long has it been since the Changelings showed up anyway? I'm rather surprised that other supernatural groups don't know a bit more about them at this point. Not all Changelings are isolationist or discrete and anybeing can be made to talk given the right incentives.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Yes, there is something hypocritical about Cora telling someone off for arrogance.
And it's been less than three weeks. Considering just how secretive everyone is, yeah. Like, remember, the White Council somehow makes it so that the average practitioner doesn't even fucking know about the three vampire courts.
Multiple times Harry's like, "Oh, obvious thing that everyone should know."
Other Person: "Wait, there are multiple courts? Since when?"
There's clearly a lot of censorship going on.
Also, she's making the assumption that Dresden Files Wizards are in some way similar to nwod Mages, which is wrong in many ways, but it can't be said that either group has a policy of humility and assuming that they aren't usually right.
Neither does Cora, but--it's her POV.
*****
Remember, from her perspective a meeting to discuss something relatively routine turned into, "Her danger senses are literally telling her death death, fire and brimstone."
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- They/Them
They wouldn't. They honestly don't even seem to bother trying before the Paranet does it for them.
One of the many flaws Butcher, IC, basically states the White Council has. Like, this is an in-series problem that people note, not me just nitpicking things.
So of course people are putting the pieces together. It's just that nobody bothers to share the same goddamn puzzle and compare results, at least thus far.
The White Court of St. Louis (or at least one of its members) currently knows that Cora isn't a black court vampire.
A wizard of St. Louis now knows that Cora isn't a black court vampire and that there is a place, a new place, in the Nevernever called the Hedge.
Dresden, who literally doesn't tell jack-shit to his superiors, knows rather more than either of them, but is not passing it up the line because why would he?
Lillian, by default, knows what the wizard now knows.
*****
Basically, as Cora points out, any and all secrets will *eventually* be leaking. Right now it's a matter of how and when and what lies and so on to use in the mean-time.
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- Location
- Somewhere!
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] The Laws of Magic.
[X] How is Human Defined?
[X] 'The other day, huh?'
How long until the paranet shows up? I remember it was fairly established by Ghost Story, but I can't remember what book it shows up in.
[X] How is Human Defined?
[X] 'The other day, huh?'
How long until the paranet shows up? I remember it was fairly established by Ghost Story, but I can't remember what book it shows up in.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Pretty damn late, if it ever happens. I mean, it could happen earlier, but it's the better part of a decade away at this point.
Alright, done responding to criticisms/questions/comments for now, feel free to leave more, will be back later tonight.
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Sworl
Sparky
Fair enough.
The problem I think is that there seems to be a disconnect between how the Cora behaves and how other characters react to her behaviour within the narrative context.
Quests tend to put successful rolls, ahead of whether it makes sense for a character to succeed in whatever they find themselves doing in story.
Gab and Lillian could suspect Cora to be the Devil himself and still be charmed by her if she got a good roll.
Well she might want to consider refraining from playing at/letting people assume that she is a BC vampire and maybe find out what that actually is.
Even if it means tipping her hand slightly, being repeatedly mistaken for something that everyone else seems to revile cannot be a good thing.
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dpara
slightly confused ascendant
I have a different expectation, I think of this Gab will make the way worse deal, Cora's stay with the Gentry for example alone should not be for the faint of heart, so I'd expect her to somewhat more out of it.
Dunno, but Cora strikes me as not impulsive, (if she has any say in the matter she wont let a soulgaze happen at all), but then initializing hostilities with a unknown groups of wizards does not seem to be a good plan.
Actually, note that this is EXACTLY how many high level wizards behave as well. Observe the Merlin, Ancient Mai, Gatekeeper, etc.
Naw, she knows the secret would be out anyway. No point trying to stop the tide coming in by bodyblocking it.
More importantly, it gives her a full dump on the wizard, and I'm PRETTY sure Cora gets the better of the deal there.
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- They/Them
To note, she hasn't really been all that successful, honestly. If you look at her rolls (somewhat successful, but hardly astounding anyways), and how they're reacting: well, Gab isn't opening fire, and she's taking the advice that is being given, but it's hardly as if they're declaring her the best person ever or anything.
Their reaction is more positive than one might expect, but on the other hand compared to her act before, Cora Graves is actually opening up with pertinent information. Sure, she's still being sketchy as all hell, but she's told them a number of things they didn't know before.
It remains to be seen where it goes from here, but Cora Graves isn't the choice if you want someone to unwind and talk about their kids and their favorite movie.
Mayor Booster's a much better diplomat, Cora just out-thinks and out-intimidates everyone, and relies on mystery and obfuscation to hide any deficits. And magic.
Their reaction is more positive than one might expect, but on the other hand compared to her act before, Cora Graves is actually opening up with pertinent information. Sure, she's still being sketchy as all hell, but she's told them a number of things they didn't know before.
It remains to be seen where it goes from here, but Cora Graves isn't the choice if you want someone to unwind and talk about their kids and their favorite movie.
Mayor Booster's a much better diplomat, Cora just out-thinks and out-intimidates everyone, and relies on mystery and obfuscation to hide any deficits. And magic.
Sworl
Sparky
In this case I was talking about her character, the sort of person she really is and what makes her tick. That is not something she wants known by anyone for a number of reasons, not least of which are that her character flaws and frailties would also be made apparent and she would be that bit easier to predict.
As a matter of interest what would she do if she had to deal with one of those powerful beings that she cannot out-think, out-intimidate and/or hoodwink through means magical or mundane? I really can't see her as being capable of acting sincerely polite or if needs be outright submissive, even if it were in her own best interest to do so.
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- They/Them
Well, she can act sincerly polite...but not really with a powerful being who's not being polite back. Like, she's capable of sincerity and politeness with her friends and allies, but that's not the same as with her enemies. She has pretty inhuman composure, so she could probably manage a sort of chilly politeness, probably. Like, very formal and dead, but the form of politeness is often enough for certain people.
God knows, for instance, most DF Fae are only ever polite in the most formal, technical sense.
So she can be technically polite to an emey, I'd think, it's just not the thing that wins friends or makes people walk away with warm feelings.
I mean, she did *alright* (though no better than that) in dealing with Yvonne Gardiner.
*****
But, in general, yes, an inability to get on the ground and beg submissively is one of the traits she shares with Harry Dresden.
There aren't many, but there are some.
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- They/Them
Vote closes tomorrow at noonish.
- Location
- Daybreak
Plans dpara and Malady are at 1 vote each.
Plan veekie is at 7 Votes.
Plan veekie is at 7 Votes.
So, 9 Votes for:
8 Votes for:
7 Votes for:
2 for:
And 1 for:
8 Votes for:
7 Votes for:
2 for:
And 1 for:
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Sworl
Sparky
I was more thinking from the point of view of how such a character trait would effect others besides herself.
The few times that Harry was willing to sacrafice his pride/attitude (and indeed some of his principles) were when those that he cared about and/or felt he had a duty to were in danger, such as with the fiasco involving his daughter. For the most part though, Harry had no responsibility to anyone but himself and the consequences of his actions good and bad all fell upon his own head.
Cora though has alot of responsibilities and a good measure of such a character is not just what they will do for themselves, but what they will do for those to whom they bear a duty.
For example in a scenario where she had to choose between losing her pride & dignity and something like seeing her son suffer, seeing her Court destroyed, potentially having her son grow up without a mother, etc what would she choose?
Really, it is interesting how often characters that view others as childish and irrational will behave perhaps the most idiotically if their personal emotional/psychological hot button (pride, honor, predjudice, etc) is pushed.
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- They/Them
Thus far she...hasn't behaved idiotically?
Sworl
Sparky
Yes, but I was speaking conditionally about possibly scenarios that might challenge the psychological and emotional values and fortitude of Cora, with nature, necessity, reason and conflicting intrinsic desires clashing against one another.
Such challenges might never come up but it is interesting to speculate.
