Was reading the books again recently, and found a possible error. In AoS Bart says that djinn have good night vision; night or day, it's all the same to them. Check the book if you disagree. However, in PG, when Bart is encountering Faquarl in the body of Hopkins for the first time, in order to get away he turns of the lights. The rest of the paragraph is written as if he can't see. This is contradictary to book 1, where hitting the lights would have done nothing to impair the vision of djinn. Besides, wouldn't their auras light up the kitchen anyway? What's going on?

The only possibility is that he was boasting in AoS. Or maybe this is a little teensy mistake. I'm not getting my book out, I'm just taking your word for it.

mmm . . . it's possible that he was boasting. Don't worry, I know what I'm talking about. But I'm confused about auras . . . they are supposed to light up their surroundings on the higher planes, yes?

Maybe, but then there would be auras everywhere, and it would be very bright for spirits.

Only strong auras would be bright, like Nouda's or the staff etc.

Actually auras don't appear on the first plane, something to be taken into account.
The fight happened quickly, and it's possible Faquarl was using something to obscure Bart's vision.

I already said auras show on the higher planes, but what I mean is why would he turn off the lights if they could see perfectly without them?

It does actually say auras show on the first plane - but humans can't see them.
Barti's pretty weak by that point - maybe darkvision is a magical ability and he doesn't have the strength?

Mightbe. Or it could just be a mistake Stroud made.

Yes Sentynel, but Faquarl wasn't weak. Why then did Bartimaeus turn off the lights if he himself wouldn't be able to see but Faquarl would? Bartimaeus was the only weak djinni there. I think it's more likely now (after all this discussion) that JS made a mistake.

Maybe he can't use darkvision in a human body.

But Bart wouldn't have a clue about that, would he? So why hit the lights?

Anyway, I think demons retain their sight when they go inside a human body.

I'm sure Bart just used the lights as a last stand - ditch - attempt to escape.

As for the way it's written, I'll have to check that.

I'm sure Faquarl said he could easily see Bart like daylight.

Yes, so my point is: Why bother turning off the lights to escape if djinn have perfect night vision?

umbreo wrote:Yes, so my point is: Why bother turning off the lights to escape if djinn have perfect night vision?

Well in times of desperation you gotta try every option...

Plus Hodge, Mwamba and Co. had used their own distractions. Maybe Bartimaeus thought that the lights would somewhat help. Obviously staying on Earth for 2 years kinda messes your thinking.

That's pretty messed up thinking for a djinni as awesome as Bartimaeus.

Maybe he took a wild guess that Faquarl wouldn't be able to use darkvision in a human's body as a desperate attempt to escape..

Which is what I'm thinking now.
In a fight, you'll take any advantage, no matter how little.
Even though Faquarl could see perfectly fine, Barti didn't know this yet, and was the only one to figure out that Hopkins had become Faquarl of Troy.

Look, maybe, but it's very unlikely. You're saying he took a wild stab that Faquarl wouldn't be able to see in his human body? At that point he still wasn't altogether sure it was Faquarl, or what was going on.

Exactly, he wasn't sure who or what he was.
So, take the precaution of no lights.
Human - good for them.
Faquarl - no difference.
No downside, all's good.