KKC Theory Wiki

Abenthy

character · importance 58 · 6 theories

“The traveling arcanist who first taught Kvothe sympathy and naming”

also known as Ben

Appearance§

Abenthy is an aging traveling arcanist and alchemist, balding and somewhat heavyset, with an expressive face. His eyebrows are perpetually burned off from his alchemical work. His warmth and quick temper both register strongly on Kvothe, and his presence is conveyed as much through the careful weighing of words and sudden flares of feeling as through his looks.

Description§

Abenthy, called Ben, is the traveling arcanist who joins Kvothe's family troupe and becomes his first real teacher, grounding him in sympathy, the Alar, the prime fallacies, and the foundations that later carry him into the University. His painted wagon billboard, advertising 'Arcanist Extraordinary' alongside 'No Love Potions. No Malefaction,' is one of the books' first glimpses of magic. An accomplished arcanist and alchemist whose eyebrows are perpetually singed from his work, he teaches Kvothe to identify chemicals and distil liquor and uses blue candles for showmanship during performances. He treats the Chandrian as a genuine danger where Arliden sees only legend, refuses to speak their names, and teaches Kvothe that 'Chaen' means seven and 'Chaen-dian' means 'seven of them,' the root of the name Chandrian. He saves Kvothe's life by speaking the name of the wind after the boy binds the air of his lungs to the atmosphere and nearly suffocates. He believes strongly in Kvothe's potential, telling his parents the boy could become the next Illien, and inscribes his parting gift, a copy of Rhetoric and Logic, with 'Remember your father's song. Be wary of folly.' He leaves the troupe to settle with a brewer's widow before its massacre, but remains a moral lodestar for Kvothe.

Relationships§

  • First Teacher Kvothe — first true teacher grounding Kvothe in sympathy, the Alar, and the sciences; saves his life
  • Fears The Chandrian — treats the Chandrian as a real threat and refuses to say their names
  • Practices Naming — speaks the name of the wind to save Kvothe's life
  • Teaches Sympathy — grounds Kvothe in sympathy and the prime fallacies
  • Teaches Alar — first teaches Kvothe the Alar with the dropped stone
  • Praised Ear Laurian — corrects Laurian's guess of 'Teema' to 'Temic,' praising her ear for languages
  • Troupe Bard Arliden — unlike Arliden, who regards the Chandrian as legend; advised on Kvothe's potential
  • Compared Kvothe To Illien — tells Kvothe's parents the boy could become the next Illien
  • Practices Alchemy — accomplished alchemist whose eyebrows are perpetually burned off
  • Gifted Book Rhetoric — inscribes Kvothe's copy of Rhetoric and Logic as a parting gift

Established facts§

  • Abenthy, called Ben, is an arcanist who travels with Kvothe's family troupe and becomes his first true teacher in sympathy, the Alar, and the sciences.
  • His painted wagon advertised 'ABENTHY: ARCANIST EXTRAORDINARY' along with 'No Horoscopes. No Love Potions. No Malefaction.'
  • He teaches Kvothe that 'Chaen' means seven and 'Chaen-dian' means 'seven of them,' the root of the name Chandrian.
  • He first teaches Kvothe the Alar by dropping a stone and having him hold the belief that it would not fall despite the evidence.
  • He teaches Kvothe the prime fallacies, including one they privately nicknamed 'Nalt' after Emperor Nalto.
  • He speaks the name of the wind to save Kvothe's life after the boy binds the air of his lungs to the atmosphere and nearly suffocates.
  • He inscribes Kvothe's copy of Rhetoric and Logic with 'Remember your father's song. Be wary of folly.'
  • He treats the Chandrian as a real threat and refuses to say their names, unlike Arliden, who regards them as legend.
  • He believes in Kvothe's potential, telling his parents the boy could become the next Illien.
  • He is an accomplished alchemist whose eyebrows are perpetually burned off from his work; he teaches Kvothe to identify chemicals and distil liquor.
  • He uses blue candles for theatrical showmanship during performances with the troupe.
  • He addresses Kvothe as 'E'lir' and is a full arcanist with a gilthe who can call the name of the wind.
  • After Kvothe nearly kills himself binding the wind, Ben raises his arm to strike him in fury, then stops and lowers his hand.
  • He owns two draft animals named Alpha and Beta.
  • He leaves the troupe to settle with a brewer's widow, his departure preceding the troupe's massacre; he had tutored Kvothe for roughly a year.
  • He corrects Laurian's guess of 'Teema' to 'Temic,' praising her ear for languages.
  • He guides the wagons to the far side of a greystone and asks to be left alone shortly before he is lured away from the troupe.

Theories§

Appears in theories§

Top contributors§

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