The Black Council was a hypothesis to explain the organized and atypical behavior of a wide number of members of the supernatural. The term was coined by Harry Dresden, Carlos Ramirez called them the Black Hats.

Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 See Also 4 References

DescriptionEdit

Herry describes them as: "mostly a hypothetical organization. They consisted of mysterious figures in black robes with delusions of Ringwraith-hood. They liked to call up deadly dangerous demons from outside of reality, the Outsiders, and to infiltrate and corrupt every supernatural nation they could get to. Their motivations were mysterious, but they'd been causing trouble for the Coundil and everyone else for quite a while." ^[1]

Any cautions of their existence had been met with derision and accusations of paranoia. After the traitor was discovered, only the possibility of its existence was accepted among some Council members. The Merlin refused to admit that the Black Council existed, thus escalating the paranoia and fear instead of "throwing the cold light of truth on the situation". 

In Cold Days, most events associated with the Black Council were revealed as being the influence of Nemesis aka The Adversary, a mind-altering sentient contagion or possession, originating with the Outsiders, to help them get in. (Cold Days Chap 30, 31, 36, 48, 49)

History Edit

Harry has run afoul of what he suspects to be Black Council involvement, listed below chronologically as they occurred.

• In Fool Moon, Harry first suspects that someone is operating behind the scenes, wondering who taught Victor Sells the advanced magic he used in Storm Front, and how the FBI agents got their hands on the cursed belts^[2][3].

• In Grave Peril, suspected Black Council operatives Cowl and Kumori were aligned with Bianca, and made cameos at her party. They supplied her with the athame given to the Leanansidhe in exchange for Amoracchius, and perhaps the unknown object given to Ferrovax. As they were involved in the party, it's assumed that they had at least some role in the aftermath; mainly, the vampire war with the Council. In the words of Cowl himself: "A great many things of significance happened that night. Most of which you are not yet aware." ^{[4] [5]}

They may have also arranged for Mavra training Bianca in sorcery. ^[6]

Harry posits that Leonid Kravos was helped by Bianca and Mavra, as well. ^{[7] [8]}

• In Summer Knight, they are suspected of influencing Aurora's descent into madness. ^[9]

They are presumed to have played a role in the attack on Archangel (city), and the death of Simon Petrovich.

• In Death Masks, Harry discovers that Paolo Ortega was the one who orchestrated the attack at Archangel. As he was also at Bianca's Grave Peril party, it's likely that he was also a Black Council member. ^[10][11]

• In Dead Beat, Black Council relationships with Mavra appear to have destabilised. Mavra tipped Harry Dresden off to the activities of the Heirs of Kemmler, one of whom was a Black Council operative in league with the Red Court. Her actions go directly against the Black Council plan of a Rite of Ascension, the end of the war, and the devastation of the Senior Council stronghold at Edinburgh.

The Red Court use Outsiders in battle, which can only be called up by a mortal wizard. Harry suspects the Black Council. ^[12]

• In Proven Guilty, Harry coins the term "Black Council" for the first time, and discusses it with Ebenezar McCoy. ^[13]

There is a Black Council attack on Mab's stronghold, Arctis Tor, for an as of yet unknown purpose. ^[14]

• In White Night, it's discovered that the prominent Outsider He Who Walks Behind was the power behind Lord Raith's hold on the White Court's throne for centuries, supplying him with invunerability to magic and the energy for a entropic death magic ritual responsible for the death of Margaret LeFay and a number of other known victims. Lord Raith's Hunger demon had unique capabilites which may have come from his arrangement with the Walker, or the "Lord of Slowest Terror" referenced in the entropy ritual.

Vitto Malvora's attempted Coup d'état in the White Court was a front for Cowl's manipulations. Vitto's "Master" (not superior in what Cowl reffered to as "the Circle") was revealed to be an Outsider who possessed Madrigal and amplified the Malvora's psychic fear compulsions into a mind-paralyzing and brain damaging attack. Cowl may have used a similar attack which Harry Dresden survived due to his use of Little Chicago as a focus and defense. Ghouls of varying power have been employed by Cowl, Vitto and their puppet Madrigal Raith, a vampire Mab once tried to use as a patsy.

• In Small Favor, it's discovered that Thorned Namshiel was involved in the Black Council attack on Arctis Tor.^[15] Tessa and Rosanna are also likely members.

• In Turn Coat, Samuel Peabody, wizard and head clerk of the White Council, and Secretary to the Senior Council was revealed as a member of the Black Council. Before his death at the hands of Warden Morgan, he had engaged in mass psychic influence and tampering of White Council personnel and the assassination of Aleron LaFortier by brainwashing Anastasia Luccio. The ascension of Gregori Cristos to the Senior Council and his subsequent acquisces to the Red Court interests heavily suggests his membership of the Black Council, his manipulation by them, or perhaps intense selfish stupidity and ignorance.

Ebenezar and Harry found a group in order to counteract the Black Council, called the Grey Council, as the Merlin will not officially confirm its existence.^[16]

• In Ghost Story, within hours of the fall of the Red Court, groups like the Fomor began to try to seize power and engage in genocidal tactics similar to those employed by Vittorio Malvora. They are likely also allies of the Black Council.(Chapter refs?)

• In Cold Days, it's revealed (by Mab) that the athame Cowl and Kumori gave the Leanansidhe was infected by Nemesis and infected her and Maeve, among others. Mab's anger and pain at the apparently permanent infection and insanity of her daughter are the cause of her later inability to speak to mortals without causing them harm. It is hinted that Nemesis may be an alternate explanation for some, or all, of the Black Council evidence above. (Chapter refs?)

See AlsoEdit

• The War
• List of Battles in The War
• Grey Council
• Outsiders
• Fomor
• Samuel Peabody
• Cowl
• Vittorio Malvora
• Gregori Cristos
• Thorned Namshiel
• Nemesis

References Edit

1. ↑ Changes, ch. 19
2. ↑ Fool Moon, ch. 24
3. ↑ Proven Guilty, ch. 47
4. ↑ Dead Beat, ch. 8
5. ↑ Grave Peril, ch. 25
6. ↑ Proven Guilty, ch. 47
7. ↑ Grave Peril, ch. 32
8. ↑ Proven Guilty, ch. 47
9. ↑ Proven Guilty, ch. 47
10. ↑ Death Masks, ch. 4
11. ↑ Grave Peril, ch. 38
12. ↑ Dead Beat, ch. 31
13. ↑ Proven Guilty, ch. 47
14. ↑ Proven Guilty, ch. 47
15. ↑ Small Favor, ch. 30
16. ↑ Turn Coat, ch. 48-49