Paolo Ortega
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Paolo Ortega was a Red Court vampire and Duke of the Red Court of Vampires. He first appeared in the novel Grave Peril.
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Description
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Paolo Ortega was a Duke and warlord[1] of the Red Court Vampires, ancient and deadly. He said that Chicago will become neutral territory and those living in the city will be free from attack.[2]
He appeared on the Larry Fowler show as Dr. Paolo Ortega, from the University of Brazil at Rio de Janeiro as a world renowned debunker of the supernatural and haven disproven many hoaxes. However this was a cover for his real motive for being there: to challenge Harry to a duel.[2]
Paolo was definitely no slouch in hand-to-hand combat and a highly skilled strategist, as one would expect from a Red Court Warlord. He was also officially employed as a professor of mythology. [2]
His stronghold was in Casaverde in Honduras.[3]
Ebenezar McCoy said that Ortega was the Red Court's wet works man, an assassin, like himself and Kincaid.[4]
AppearanceEdit
Ortega was about of average height, medium sized, had dark hair, a wide chest and shoulders, a sturdy jaw and strong features. He wore a well-tailored stylish grey and silver suit.[2]
Biography and Backstory Edit
Ortega was born in Spain at the end of the 15th century and one of Cortez's conquistadors. During his time in South America, he fell in love with a local princess, Arianna Ortega, and married her. She turned out to be a Red Court vampire, and turned Paolo into a vampire. Paolo's abilites allowed him to rise through the ranks, and he became a Warlord of the Red Court.
He was quite devoted to Arianna. Arianna was equally devoted to making his life miserable.
During the war, Ortega killed more Council members than any enemy in their history at Archangel, including Simon Pietrovich, a friend of Ebenezar McCoy.[5]
In the SeriesEdit
In Grave Peril, he claimed he was monitoring the situation as a representative of the Red King and that Bianca did not break the Unseelie Accords. He and Biance said that Dresnden's treachery in her home will mean War between the White Council and the Red Court.[6]
In Death Masks, he arrived in Chicago to challenge Harry Dresden to a duel under the pretense of wanting to end The War—which he did during the commercial break while both are on the Larry Fowler Show. Harry agreed, being sure that had he refused, Ortega would kill his friends and loved ones, as well as him probably ambushing him in some alley at a time of Ortega's choosing.[2] It is later revealed by Susan that Ortega has killed half a dozen of the White Council Wardens in South America since The War started and that he had planned and executed the attack on Archangel.[1] Bob reported that Ortega is holed up at the Rothchild Hotel with half a dozen vampires plus humans.[7]
Harry's second, Shiro Yoshimo, later told Harry that The War is not his fault. He explained that the Red Court has been quietly building their resources for years, explaining how they were able to lauch an attack mere days after Harry defeated Bianca. Harry's not the casuse, he's the excuse. Paolo Ortega and the Red Court intended to end the White Council in one stroke and the duel was just a means to delay for time since they lost the element of surprise.[8] Ortega chose civilized means because he thought it was the best way to get to Harry. But he intended to kill Harry by any means, before, during or after the duel.[8]
The negotiations between the seconds and the emissary were held at McAnally's Pub. Ortega's second was Thomas Raith and Harry's was Shiro Yoshimo. Harry asked Ortega to drop the Duel. Ortega said that Harry would have to willingly agree to become a vampire and join his stable for him to do so. Harry refused, thus the duel was still on.[3] Thomas warned Harry that Ortega means to kill him, hinting that the Duel is a ruse and that he will cheat.[8]
During the duel at Wrigley Field, Ortega was concealing a handgun under his flesh mask and attempted to shoot Harry, violating the Code Duello rules. He was willing to risk the consequences. A distant rifle shot hit Ortega in the chest and leg. Susan tried to stop him from shooting Harry, yet he threw her across the field into the stands where she collapsed, unconcious. Red Court vampires poured into the field beginning a battle which Ivy ended. Kincaid told Ivy that Harry was winning.[9] Martin came across the field with a rifle, revealing that he was the shooter. The Fellowship knew Ortega was going to kill Harry to halt the war so they can attack later on their own terms. Martin was sent to make sure Ortega didn't kill Harry and and if possible, take down Ortega. Hever Ortega was not dead and was carried off and returned to Casaverde.[10]
At the end of Death Masks, Susan told Harry that Ortega was recovering at Casaverde. He had called in his strongest knights and let it be widely known that he was coming after Harry to kill him.
Later, at a nearby diner, Harry sees on the news that an old satellite fell on Casaverde in Honduras, destroying Ortega, his base and several other vampires. Harry knows it was Ebenezar, as he had advised him to keep an eye on the news the last time they talked.[11]
In Blood Rites, it's revealed that many innocents died as well when the Blackstaff, Ebenezar McCoy, had dropped a decommissioned satellite on Ortega. McCoy did it because Ortega killed so many at Archangel, he killed Simon Pietrovich, and he still intended to kill Harry Dresden even after the duel. [5]
References Edit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Death Masks, ch. 4
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Death Masks, ch. 1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Death Masks, ch. 17
- ↑ Death Masks, ch. 35
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Blood Rites, ch. 35
- ↑ Grave Peril, ch. 38
- ↑ Death Masks, ch. 9
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Death Masks, ch. 18
- ↑ Death Masks, ch. 29-30
- ↑ Blood Rites, ch. 30
- ↑ Death Masks, ch. 33
