View source for White Council

{{Icon|WC}}
{{Infobox:Organization
|purpose = Wizards' international professional association
|members = *[[Ancient Mai]] ([[Senior Council]])
*[[Gregori Cristos]] (Senior Council)
*[[Aleron LaFortier]] (Senior Council)
*[[Arthur Langtry]] (Senior Council)
*[[Martha Liberty]] (Senior Council)
*[[Ebenezar McCoy]] (Senior Council, [[Blackstaff]])
*[[Minor practitioners#Simon Pietrovich|Simon Pietrovich]] (Senior Council)
*[[Rashid]] (Senior Council)
*[[Minor practitioners#Bjork|Bjork]] ([[Warden]])
*[[Minor practitioners#Canuck|Canuck]] (Warden)
*[[Minor practitioners#Chandler|Chandler]] (Warden)
*[[Harry Dresden]] (Warden)
*[[Justin DuMorne]] (Warden)
*[[Minor practitioners#Gomez|Gomez]] (Warden)
*[[Minor practitioners#Ilyana|Ilyana]] (Warden)
*[[Minor practitioners#Kostikos|Kostikos]] (Warden)
*[[Minor practitioners#Kowalski|Kowalski]] (Warden)
*[[Joseph Listens-to-Wind]] (Senior Council)
*[[Anastasia Luccio]] (Warden)
*[[Minor practitioners#Lucky|Lucky]] (Warden)
*[[Minor practitioners#McKenzie|McKenzie]] (Warden)
*[[Bill Meyers]] (Warden)
*[[Donald Morgan]] (Warden)
*[[Samuel Peabody]] (Warden)
*[[Carlos Ramirez]] (Warden)
*[[Minor practitioners#Simmons|Simmons]] (Warden)
*[[Minor practitioners#Thorsen|Thorsen]] (Warden)
*[[Minor practitioners#Trailman Twins|Trailman Twins]] (Wardens)
*[[Minor practitioners#Warden from Bremen|Warden from Bremen]] (Warden)
*[[Yuki Yoshimo]] (Warden)
*[[Minor practitioners#Bluebeard|Bluebeard]]
*[[Minor practitioners#Luciozzi|Luciozzi]]
*[[Minor practitioners#MacFee|MacFee]]
*[[Minor practitioners#Montjoy|Montjoy]]
*[[The Original Merlin]]
*[[Klaus Schneider]]
}}
{{About|the wizard council|its headquarters|White Council headquarters|White Council headquarters|other uses|Council|Council (disambiguation)}}
The '''White Council of Wizardry''',<ref name="DF04ch04"/><ref name="DF-AFoW">"[[A Fistful of Warlocks]]"</ref> sometimes called the '''White Council of Wizards''',<ref name="DF13ch02">''[[Ghost Story]]'', ch. 2</ref> but more commonly known as the '''White Council''', is a large worldwide organization of human [[wizard]]s, and is seen as their governing body.
<!--
No doubt these references are valid, but the respective stories should have their appropriate paragraph. I might decide to buy the anthologies and do it myself, if someone does not beat me to it.
<ref name="DF11ch14"/><ref name="DF-EH">"[[Even Hand]]"</ref><ref name="DF-CC">"[[Cold Case]]"</ref>
<ref name="DF-IMBT">"[[It's My Birthday, Too]]"</ref><ref name="DF-LH">"[[Love Hurts]]"</ref>
-->
==Description==
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|Laws of Magic]],<ref name="DF11ch02">''[[Turn Coat]]'', ch. 2</ref> thus it exists in order to limit the power of wizards. These days, it’s mostly about keeping wizards out of [[black magic]]—but in the past, it was also to keep wizards out of politics. That’s mainly because if the Council threw its weight in anywhere, it was all but guaranteeing a civil war among its own members.<ref name="JBF">[[Jim Butcher]] [http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,15416.msg728651.html#msg728651 forum post] about the limitations of wizards</ref>

A number of formal roles exist within the Council, some of which are more secretive than others. These roles were assigned as the Council grew, in order to fulfill a particular need.<ref name="YT-BS"/>

==History==
The White Council has existed in one form or another since pre-Roman times.<ref name="DF11ch14">''[[Turn Coat]]'', ch. 14</ref> The Council began as an advisory body to the Roman Senate until the Fall of Rome, when the Original Merlin founded it during the chaos,<ref name="DF14ch16">''[[Cold Days]]'', ch. 16</ref> in order to prevent a situation where multiple wizard kings would fight each other constantly.<ref name="YT-BS">[https://youtu.be/ODOhEdiFwW0?t=1733 Question about Blackstaff and Gatekeeper roles][[Jim Butcher]] 2018 Okemos, MI Q&A</ref>

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 [[White Council headquarters|Hidden Halls]] of Edinburgh; the complex is located beneath the city, with its main part occupying the space under Castle Edinburgh.<ref name="DF11ch14"/>

The second or third Merlin engineered the tradition of costumes on [[Halloween]], the reason being that, with people wearing masks, any hungry immortals might think twice before attacking innocents, as they could never be sure that their prey was not another immortal in disguise seeking to kill them on the one night they are vulnerable.<ref name="DF14ch11">''[[Cold Days]]'', ch. 11</ref>

The [[Venatori]] have been longtime allies of the White Council, while the [[Thule Society]] has been a longtime foe.<ref name="DF-AFoW"/>

Over its long existence, the White Council has been involved in numerous conflicts. In the 15th century, the Wardens were fighting the Lapland witches.<ref name="DF-TLch10">''[[The Law (novella)|The Law]]'', ch. 10</ref> For decades, the Council was at war with the necromancer [[Heinrich Kemmler]],<ref name="DF07ch03">''[[Dead Beat]]'', ch. 3</ref><ref name="DF-AFoW"/> who engineered World War I and later reappeared in World War II animating mass graves and rampaging through Eastern Europe.<ref name="DF07ch03"/> The White Council killed him seven times,<ref name="DF13ch17">''[[Ghost Story]]'', ch. 17</ref> first killing him at the start of the 19th century, and then for a final time in 1961, in a battle that involved the Merlin, the whole Senior Council, the brute squad out of Archangel, the Wardens, and every wizard and ally the wizards could get their hands on.<ref name="DF07ch03"/> In 1945, after the end of WWII, the White Council was busy mitigating the bad mojo from all the artifacts the Nazis stockpiled.<ref name="DF-C">''[[Curses]]''</ref> Another major war the Council was part of was [[the War]] between the White Council and the [[Red Court]] of [[vampire]]s, which occurred between ''[[Grave Peril]]'' and ''[[Changes]]'', started when [[Harry Dresden]] killed [[Bianca St. Claire]]<ref name="DF03ch38">''[[Grave Peril]]'', ch. 38</ref> and ending with the complete extermination of the entire Red Court at [[Chichén Itzá]].<ref name="DF12ch49">''[[Changes]]'', ch. 49</ref>

==Order==
===Senior Council===
{{main|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.<ref name="DF04ch04">''[[Summer Knight (novel)|Summer Knight]]'', ch. 4</ref>

In practice this tenet 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.  When Ebenezar McCoy joined the Senior Council, there were several, if not dozens, of older wizards in contention, but he was appointed anyway because all of them either had reasons they couldn't accept the position or outright declined it.<ref name="DF04ch05" />

===Merlin===
The '''Merlin''' is the leader of the [[Senior Council]].<ref name="DF08ch47">''[[Proven Guilty]]'', ch. 47</ref> When members of the Senior Council are absent without declaring a proxy, the Merlin is endowed with their votes.<ref name="DF08ch44">''[[Proven Guilty]]'', ch. 44</ref> The position is named after the wizard who founded the Council.<ref name="DF11ch14">''[[Turn Coat]]'', ch. 14</ref>

The current Merlin is [[Arthur Langtry]].

===Gatekeeper===
The '''Gatekeeper''' is a position in the White Council. The Gatekeeper's job is to scan warriors returning through the [[Outer Gates]] for infection with [[Nemesis]] or other influences. In this position, he works closely with the [[Faerie (creatures)|Faerie]]. The details of the position are not widely known in the Council; most wizards consider the Outer Gates to be a metaphor.<ref name="DF14ch34">''[[Cold Days]]'', ch. 34</ref>

The current Gatekeeper is [[Rashid]].

===Blackstaff===
{{AboutSection|the Blackstaff position|the physical object|Blackstaff|Blackstaff (item)}}
The '''Blackstaff''' is an unofficial position in the White Council.

Neither a ranking in the [[Senior Council]], nor an official position within the White Council, the Blackstaff is the sole person who can violate at his own judgement any of the [[Seven Laws of Magic|Laws of Magic]] without retribution. The Blackstaff is also the keeper and wielder of a special [[staff]], the [[Blackstaff (item)|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.<ref name="DF04ch05">''[[Summer Knight (novel)|Summer Knight]]'', ch. 5</ref> One such example of this is how McCoy used his magic to bring a decommissioned U.S.S.R. Communications satellite down on [[Paolo Ortega|Duke Ortega]]'s castle in Honduras, killing not only [[Red Court vampire]]s, but also mortal villagers.<ref name="DF06ch35">''[[Blood Rites]]'', ch. 35</ref>

===The Wardens===
{{main|Warden}}
The Council's police force for [[wizard]]s and [[Magic#Practitioners|practitioners]]. And, during [[The War]], they have also become a military branch.

===The Council at Large===
A Wizard has to have a certain level of power and ability to become a member of the Council. Notably, they have to be versatile in multiple forms of magic.<ref name="RT-AMA">[[Jim Butcher]] [https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/8ntzo3/comment/dzyi945/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 2018 Reddit AMA]</ref>

==Other details==
The '''Old School of Wizardry''' originated from the Old World—Western Europe—and maintains an attitude of: "maintain secrecy and don't attract attention".<ref name="DF04ch05">''[[Summer Knight (novel)|Summer Knight]]'', ch. 5</ref>

'''Mind Magic Defense Training''': Every wizard receives training in defence against mental assaults, though scant at best. Following the [[Seven Laws of Magic|Laws of Magic]], the Wardens kill whoever they catch practicing mind magic. They believe that there is no such thing as an expert in mind magic, or [[psychomancy]]. The Defense Training is devised by amateurs.<ref name="DF07ch17">''[[Dead Beat]]'', ch. 17</ref> After [[Samuel Peabody]] had mind-controlled most of the Senior Council and many of the Wardens and other Council members, the White Council institutes better defense training.<ref name="DF11ch49">''[[Turn Coat]]'', ch. 49</ref>

==Robes==
[[File:Sencourob.jpg|thumb|Robes of Senior Council members are dark robes with purple stoles.]]
Formal robes were flowing black with stoles of satin and silk in one of the various colors and pattern of trim that denoted status.<ref name="DF11ch47">''[[Turn Coat]]'', ch. 47</ref> Apprentices wear muddy-brown robes.<ref name="DF04ch05">''[[Summer Knight (novel)|Summer Knight]]'', ch. 5</ref>

{| class="article-table" style="width: 500px; " border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"
|-
! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" |Color or Trim Pattern
! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" |Status Meaning
|-
|Purple stole
|[[Senior Council]]
|-
|Blue stole
|Member 
|-
|Red stole
|Member with a Century of Service
|-
|Braided silver cord
|Master [[Alchemy|Alchemists]]
|-
|Gold stitched [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus Caduceus]
|Master Healers
|-
|Copper chevron 
|Doctorate in Scholarly Discipline
|-
|Seal of Solomon
|Master Exorcist
|}

==Publications==
*'''[[Elementary Magic]]''' — by [[Ebenezar McCoy]]
*'''[[Die Lied der Erlking]]''' — by [[Samuel Peabody|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.<ref name="DF06ch34">''[[Blood Rites]]'', ch. 34</ref>

==In the series==
===''Summer Knight''===

{{Main|Summer Knight (novel)}}
In ''Summer Knight'', the White Council is holding a conclave in [[Chicago]] about [[The War]]. The [[White Council#Merlin|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 Dresden. [[Ebenezar McCoy]] gathers his friends—[[Joseph Listens-to-Wind]] and [[Martha Liberty]]—on the [[Senior Council]] to stand up for Dresden. One of his friends is [[Minor practitioners#Pietrovich, Pietrovich|Simon Pietrovich]] was recently killed when his fortress, [[Archangel (spirit being)|Archangel]], was attacked by the Reds. [[Martha Liberty]] and Listens-to-Wind are now one vote short to block The Merlin.<ref name="DF04ch04">''[[Summer Knight (novel)|Summer Knight]]'', ch. 4</ref>

During the Conclave, Ebenezar McCoy got around the Merlin and was voted into the [[Senior Council]], replacing Simon Pietrovich.<ref name="DF04ch05">''[[Summer Knight (novel)|Summer Knight]]'', ch. 5</ref> 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 Dresden's shoulders and tried to strip Dresden of his status as a Council wizard. If successful, 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 Dresden pass a test by fulfilling the [[Winter Court#Winter Queen|Winter Queen]]'s request and thereby securing safe passage through the [[Ways]] through the [[Nevernever]] for the White Council in The War.<ref name="DF04ch06">''[[Summer Knight (novel)|Summer Knight]]'', ch. 6</ref>

===''Blood Rites''===
{{Main|Blood Rites}}
In ''Blood Rites'', {{StubSection}}

===''Dead Beat''===
{{Main|Dead Beat}}
In ''Dead Beat'', [[Harry Dresden]] decides to wait to call the Council about the [[Heirs of Kemmler]] because: 1: Marvra is holding something over Murphy if Dresden Calls for help, 2: The Council doesn't like Dresden and probably wouldn't come, and 3: they're busy with [[The War]].<ref name="DF07ch06">''[[Dead Beat]]'', ch. 6</ref> Corpsetaker nearly kills Dresden with some powerful [[Psychomancy]] because of the rudimentary mind defense training the Council still uses even after a century.<ref name="DF07ch17"/> Dresden Calls the Council for help because he's way out of his league with the [[Necromancy|necromancers]] and Captain [[Anastasia Luccio]] answers the phone herself.<ref name="DF07ch27">''[[Dead Beat]]'', ch. 27</ref> Luccio brings some [[Warden]]s to a meeting at [[McAnally's Pub]]: [[Donald Morgan]], [[Carlos Ramirez]], and two trainees in brown robes, [[Yuki Yoshimo]] and [[Minor practitioners#Kowalski|Kowalski]]. Luccio enlists Dresden into the Wardens because the [[The War]] is going badly—They've just lost about three-quarters of their Wardens. She and Morgan inform Dresden about the latest battles.

==="War Cry"===
{{Main|War Cry}}
In "War Cry", the Merlin and the Gatekeeper help evacuating the [[Battle of Palermo|wounded in Palermo]] to a [[Minor locations#Congo hospital|hospital in Congo]].<ref name="DF-WC">"[[War Cry]]"</ref>

===''Proven Guilty''===
{{Main|Proven Guilty}}
In ''Proven Guilty'', there is a small trial held to condemn and execute a [[warlock]]. The [[White Council#Merlin|Merlin]] chose [[Chicago]] to send a message to [[Harry Dresden]] to toe the line.<ref name="DF08ch01">''[[Proven Guilty]]'', ch. 1</ref> At the end, there was another warlock trial for Molly Carpenter. She was eventually freed and made Dresden's apprentice under the [[Doom of Damocles]].<ref name="DF08ch45-47">''[[Proven Guilty]]'', ch. 45-47</ref> The Council holds a trial for [[Molly Carpenter]] charging her with being a [[Warlock]]. She is nearly executed just because the Merlin doesn't like Dresden, until her father, [[Michael Carpenter]] enters with several [[Senior Council]] members he just saved in a battle in [[the War]].<ref name="DF08ch46">''[[Proven Guilty]]'', ch. 46</ref>

===''Small Favor''===
{{Main|Small Favor}}
In ''Small Favor'', {{StubSection}}

===''Turn Coat''===
{{Main|Turn Coat}}
In ''Turn Coat'', the White Council is in turmoil due to the assassination of Senior Councilor [[Aleron LaFortier]], seemingly at the hands of [[Donald Morgan]]. The close association between Morgan and the Merlin threatens to destabilise the Merlin's authority and therefore the whole Council, especially among members who saw LaFortier as their only senior voice.<ref name="DF11ch15">''[[Turn Coat]]'', ch. 15</ref> With the Council gathered to pass judgement, the real culprit is exposed as [[Samuel Peabody]], who is revealed to have been tampering with the minds of many Council members. The ensuing violence claims the life of around 40-50 wizards and causes political upheaval: [[Gregori Cristos]] is appointed to the empty seat on the Senior Council, partly to appease the faction of the White Council who had been displeased with a perceived focus on Europe and North America to the detriment of other members. While the Merlin manages to resolve the situation neatly through politics and deceit, the events result in increased paranoia within the Council, and Dresden and Ebenezar McCoy theorize that it was all instigated by [[Black Council]] infiltrators.<ref name="DF11ch47-49">''[[Turn Coat]]'', ch. 47-49</ref>

===''Ghost Story''===
{{Main|Ghost Story}}
In ''Ghost Story'', with the [[Red Court]] eradicated, they have been very busy chasing down supernatural threats all over. They consider [[Molly Carpenter]] to be a criminal now that [[Harry Dresden]] is dead—the [[Warden]]s are hunting her to pass sentence on her—though [[Carlos Ramirez]] hasn't been trying that hard to find her.<ref name="DF13ch10">''[[Ghost Story]]'', ch. 10</ref>

===''Cold Days''===
{{Main|Cold Days}}
In ''Cold Days'', they are busy fighting the [[Fomor]]. The word is that they are operating around the coasts of Europe, especially the Mediterranean. [[Lara Raith]]'s operation shares some information with them, but they are not an alliance. [[Carlos Ramirez]] had been hurt really bad the previous year, he's not back in action yet. [[Warden]] [[Bill Meyers]] in Texas is giving the Fomor hell. The Wardens in Baltimore<ref name="WP-B" group="Footnote">[[wikipedia:Baltimore|Baltimore - wikipedia]]</ref> and San Diego<ref name="WP-S" group="Footnote">[[wikipedia:San Diego|San Diego - wikipedia]]</ref> are holding their own.<ref name="DF14ch19">''[[Cold Days]]'', ch. 19</ref>

===''Peace Talks''===
{{Main|Peace Talks}}
In ''Peace Talks'', a delegation of [[Senior Council]] members and [[Warden]]s represents the [[White Council]] in the gathering of supernatural nations in [[Chicago]].<ref name="DF16ch19">''[[Peace Talks]]'', ch. 19</ref> There is tension between [[Harry Dresden]] and the other Wardens, who mistrust him and are unsure of his allegiance.<ref name="DF16ch15">''[[Peace Talks]]'', ch. 15</ref> [[Gregori Cristos]] is asked by [[Lara Raith]] to intervene in order to ease tensions between the [[White Court]] and [[Svartalfheim]], but is unsuccessful. After the [[Fomor]] attack the event, the Senior Council agree to contribute some Wardens to the newly-organised defense efforts, and are also asked to offer magical assistance, specifically looking into ways of hurting [[Ethniu]].<ref name="DF16ch30">''[[Peace Talks]]'', ch. 30</ref>

In parallel, a meeting of the White Council is convened, where members will vote on whether Harry Dresden should remain in the Council or be expelled. The fact that most of Dresden's supporters, as well as Dresden himself, will be unable to attend due to being at the peace summit raises suspicions that the vote is deliberately timed and part of an agenda, perhaps by the Black Council.<ref name="DF16ch03">''[[Peace Talks]]'', ch. 3</ref>

===''Battle Ground''===
{{Main|Battle Ground}}
In ''Battle Ground'', [[Harry Dresden]] is voted off the [[White Council]] and expelled following the Battle of Chicago.<ref name="DF17ch36">''[[Battle Ground]]'', ch. 36</ref> Wardens [[Bill Meyers]] and [[Yuki Yoshimo]] were killed by [[Drakul]] and were likely turned into [[Black Court vampire|Black Court Vampires]]. Warden [[Chandler]]'s current whereabouts are completely unknown.<ref name="DF17ch13">''[[Battle Ground]]'', ch. 13</ref> Senior Council Members [[Joseph Listens-to-Wind]] and [[Ebenezar McCoy]] were critically wounded and in surgery due to their wounds suffered during the battle,<ref name="DF17ch35">''[[Battle Ground]]'', ch. 35</ref> and [[Gregori Cristos]] is likely killed by [[Ethniu]].<ref name="DF17ch32">''[[Battle Ground]]'', ch. 32</ref> Dresden's disgust with the Council's ineffectiveness is in full force here, with it being implied that he is planning on properly strengthening the [[Paranet]] into becoming a replacement organization for the White Council when it (seems to, at least) inevitably collapses.{{ref}} Mab also implies that the primary instigator for the Council's involvement in the battle was that they also wanted access to the [[Eye of Balor]].<ref name="DF17ch24">''[[Battle Ground]]'', ch. 24</ref>

==Notes==
<references group="Footnote"/>

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

==See also==
*[[Grey Council]]
*[[Black Council]]
*[[Doom of Damocles]]
*[[Arthur Langtry]]
*[[Minor practitioners#Bluebeard|Bluebeard]]
*[[Minor practitioners#Gomez|Gomez]]
*[[Minor practitioners#Luciozzi|Luciozzi]]
*[[Justin DuMorne]]
*[[Donald Morgan]]
*[[Klaus Schneider]]

==External links==
*[[wikipedia:Caduceus|Caduceus - Wikipedia]]
*[[wikipedia:Chevron (insignia)|Chevron (insignia) - Wikipedia]]
*[[wikipedia:Stole (vestment)|Stole (vestment) - Wikipedia]]
*[[wikipedia:Academic stole|Academic stole - Wikipedia]]
*[[wikipedia:Seal of Solomon|Seal of Solomon - Wikipedia]]
*[[wikipedia:Alchemy|Alchemy - Wikipedia]]
*[[wikipedia:Wizard (fantasy)|Wizard (fantasy) - Wikipedia]]

{{Organizations|supernatural}}
{{DFS|}}
[[Category:Summer Knight]]
[[Category:Blood Rites]]
[[Category:Dead Beat]]
[[Category:War Cry]]
[[Category:Proven Guilty]]
[[Category:Small Favor]]
[[Category:Turn Coat]]
[[Category:Ghost Story]]
[[Category:Cold Days]]
[[Category:Peace Talks]]
[[Category:Battle Ground]]