The Dresden-verse is extensive and detailed, and contradicts other universes - especially the White Wolf roleplaying setting, i.e. "Vampire: The Masquerade", and Buffy the Vampire Slayer immensely.

Jim Butcher's vampires, faeries, Sidhe, werewolves, wizards etc. are his variations of the common myths, and while that's certainly interesting, it's also confusing as hell.

Since I've ended up with three different plotbunnies and even gave in to one of the persistent little buggers, I've been research girl (and yes, you needn't tell me I'm overdoing it. Again. Being a perfectionist sucks. Gah.). Anyway, I've posted twice to dresdenfic:

#1: What is the Senior Council, how does it try wizards suspected of having violated one or several of the Seven Laws of Magic? What are the Sidhe?

#2: Are the Dresden-verse vampires free to feed and kill at their own discretion?

Plus, my characters insist on being Captain Exposition, and are taking turns. Gah again. I want to the to the sexing. Pronto.

(further research links: Wikipedia: The Dresden Files and Wikidot: The Dresden Files)

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Addendum as of 09 May 2007:

#3: How long ago did Bob die and was bound to his skull? And what about Winifred?

Interminable Google searches later, I've discovered the following:

ROBERT means "bright fame", derived from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements hrod "fame, renown" and beraht "bright, famous". A native Old English predecessor of similar form, Hreodbeorht, was found occasionally in England before the Conquest in 1066. It was supplanted by the form of Robert that was introduced into England by the Normans and quickly became popular among all classes of society. It was the name of two dukes of Normandy in the 11^th century: the father of William the Conqueror (sometimes identified with the legendary Robert the Devil), and his eldest son. It was borne by three kings of Scotland, notably Robert the Bruce (1274–1329), who freed Scotland from English domination. The altered short form Bob is very common.

Meaning, Bob lived most likely before 1066 and is therefore older than the mere 600 years he is believed to be.

According to Robert Hewitt Wolfe, WINIFRED seems to be the spelling used on the show. However, according to Wikipedia, that is Modern English, and the older form is Winefride, in Welsh Gwenfrewi. The latter is derived from the Welsh elements gwen "white, fair, blessed" and frewi "reconciliation, peace". Winifred was the name of a 7th-century Welsh saint and martyr. (And yes, thoughts of the "Brother Cadfael" books pop up in my head right now, thanks.)

I'm guessing that "Winefride" used to be pronounced not that differently from the modern "Winifred", meaning when Bob speaks her name, he thinks of the old version of her name while his audience only hears "Winifred". Due to the Welsh origin of the name, she would have to either have lived in Wales or close to it on the other side of Offa's Dyke. An English village closeby that is old enough to have been mentioned in the Domesday Book is Oswestry (old name: Luvre). So that is where my Winifred will have come from.

(sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9)

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Addendum as of 14 May 2007:

The Pagan Library: Rituals & Spells looks like a good basic Wiccan spellcraft resource.