White Council
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The White Council is a large worldwide organization of human wizards, and is seen as their governing body. It is controlled by the Senior Council. The goal of the White Council is to protect mankind from the abuses of magic as outlined in the Seven Laws of Magic.
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Senior Council Edit
- Main article: Senior Council
The Senior Council is the ruling body of the White Council. In theory the Senior Council is comprised of seven of the oldest wizards in the White Council. When a member dies the next several eldest members of the White Council are put forth as candidates and one is selected to join. In practice this tenent is not always held to. Gregori Cristos was selected as replacement to the deceased Aleron LaFortier even though it is implied he is far from the appropriate age to be normally considered. This selection implies that political skill and personal connections among the White Council might also be an important and unwritten requirement.
Merlin Edit
The Merlin is the leader of the Senior Council. When members of the Senior Council are absent, the Merlin is endowed with their votes
The position is named after the wizard who founded the Council.
The current Merlin is Arthur Langtry.
Gatekeeper Edit
The Gatekeeper is a position in the White Council. The Gatekeepers job is to scan warriors returing through the Outer Gates for infection with Nemesis or similar influences. In this position he works closely with the Fae. The details of the position are not widely known in the Council. Most consider the Outer Gates a metaphor.
The current Gatekeeper is Rashid.
Blackstaff Edit
The Blackstaff is an unofficial position in the White Council.
Not a ranking in the Senior Council, nor an official position within the White Council, the Blackstaff is the sole person in the world who can violate any of the Seven Laws of Magic if he deems necessary and be clear of any consequences from the Council. The Blackstaff is also the keeper and wielder of a special staff, the Blackstaff, after which the position is named.
The position is currently held by Ebenezar McCoy, who has held it since before his appointment to the Senior Council.[1] One such example of this is how McCoy used his magic to bring a decommissioned U.S.S.R. Communications satellite down on Duke Ortega's castle in Honduras, killing not only Red Court vampires, but also mortal villagers. [2]
The WardensEdit
The Council's police force for wizards and Practitioners. And, during The War they have also become a military branch.
The Council at LargeEdit
A Wizard has to have a certain level of power and ability to become a member of the Council.
History Edit
The White Council has existed in one form or another since pre-Roman times.[3]
Its headquarters have been moved several times. Among its place of location have been Alexandria, Carthage, Rome, the Vatican in the early days of the Christian Church, Constantinople and Madrid. Since the end of the Middle Ages, for a little under five hundred years, the White Council's headquarters have been the Hidden Halls of Edinburgh; the complex is located beneath the city, with its main part occupying the space under Castle Edinburgh.[3]
The War between White Council of Wizards and the Red Court of Vampires has been going on since the events of Grave Peril.
In the Series NotesEdit
In Summer Knight, the White Council is holding a conclave in Chicago about The War. The Merlin and others on the Council are about to bring allegations against Harry Dresden accusing him of intentionally starting the War with the Red Court and placing the responsibility of the subsequent deaths on Harry. Ebenezar McCoy gathers his friends on the Senior Council to stand up for Harry. One of his friends is Simon Pietrovich was recently killed when his fortress, Archangel, was attacked by the Reds. Martha Liberty and Joseph Listens-to-Wind are now one vote short to block The Merlin. [4]
During the Conclave, Ebenezar McCoy got around the Merlin and was voted into the Senior Council, replacing Simon Pietrovich.[1] Duke Paolo Ortega wrote, wanting Dresden extradited for trial by the Red Court as a criminal. The Merlin, along with Aleron LaFortier and Ancient Mai, tried to hang the full weight of The War on Harry Dresden's shoulders and tried to strip Harry of his status as a Council wizard. If succesful, they could ship him to Ortega. Ebenezar got the vote restricted to the Senior Council, which was split, three to three. It came down to Rashid, the Gatekeeper, who voted to have Harry pass a test by fulfulling the Winter Queen's request and thereby securing safe passage through the Ways through the Nevernever for the White Council in The War.[5]
In Proven Guilty, there is a small trial held to condemn and execute a warlock. The Merlin chose Chicago to send a message to Harry to toe the line.[6] At the end, there was another warlock trial for Molly Carpenter. She was eventually freed and made Harry's apprentice under the Doom of Damocles. [7]
RobesEdit
Formal robes were flowing black with stoles of satin and silk in one of the various colors and pattern of trim that denoted status. [8]
Stole Colors & Trim Patterns of Status [8]Edit
| Color or Trim Pattern | Status Meaning |
|---|---|
| Purple Stole | Senior Council |
| Blue Stole | Member |
| Red Stole | Member with a Century of Service |
| Braided Silver Cord | Master Alchemists |
| Gold Stitched Caduceus | Master Healers |
| Copper Chevron | Doctorate in Scholarly Discipline |
| Seal of Solomon | Master Exorcist |
PublicationsEdit
- Elementary Magic — by Ebenezar McCoy
- Die Lied der Erlking — by Wizard Peabody
- Necronomicon: intended purpose was to make certain the ritual in question isn't going to work due to supply and demand. If too many people use a rite, such as in Necromancy, then that depletes the source of energy needed to make it work. [9]
See AlsoEdit
- The War
- List of Battles in The War
- Laws of Magic
- Wardens
- Senior Council
- Grey Council
- Black Council
- Magic
- Wizards
- Black magic
References Edit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Summer Knight, ch. 5
- ↑ Blood Rites, ch. 35
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Turn Coat, ch. 14
- ↑ Summer Knight, ch. 4
- ↑ Summer Knight, ch. 6
- ↑ Proven Guilty, ch. 1
- ↑ Proven Guilty, ch. 45-47
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Turn Coat, ch. 47
- ↑ Blood Rites, ch. 34
