KKC Theory Wiki

Caesura

object · importance 68 · 9 theories

“Kvothe's Adem sword, whose name means a break in a line of poetry”

also known as Kaysara, Poet-Killer, Saicere

Appearance§

Caesura is a slender, light Adem fighting sword rather than a heavy weapon, grey-white in colour, with a dark handle. It is an elegant, agile blade, personified as female in Adem custom.

Description§

Caesura is the Adem sword Kvothe wins in Ademre, presented to him by Shehyn after Magwyn approves his bearing it. Its original Adem name is Saicere, meaning 'to break, to catch, and to fly'; Kvothe reshapes this into 'Caesura', the Eld Vintic term for a jarring break or pause in a line of verse. A young Adem man named Aaron later dubs it 'Kaysera, the poet killer', a name Kvothe recalls with warm amusement even as he finds the poet-killer label unpleasant. Like all Adem blades, Caesura carries an Atas, a recited roll of its past wielders; the bearer is required to memorise its history, which begins 'First came Chael, who shaped me in fire' and includes Finol, of the clear and shining eye, who slew two daruna before being killed by gremmen at the Blac of Drossen Tor. The blade is roughly two thousand years old and was wielded at the battle of Drossen Tor during the Creation War. Adem custom personifies shaped swords as female, and the Adem regard the destruction of such a blade with horror. Kvothe returns from Ademre carrying Caesura, marking him as more than a student, and later arranges for it to be returned to the Adem. In the frame story the sword displayed behind the bar is named Folly; when Chronicler notes that Folly does not match Caesura's description, Kote confirms it is not the same sword.

Relationships§

  • Wielded By Kvothe — the sword Kvothe wins in Ademre and carries; he reshapes its name
  • Used In The Creation War — wielded at Drossen Tor during the Creation War
  • Origin The Adem — an Adem sword carrying an Atas; Adem regard its destruction with horror
  • Won In Ademre — Kvothe wins it in Ademre and returns carrying it
  • Distinct From Folly — Kote confirms Folly behind the bar is not the same sword as Caesura
  • Presented By Shehyn — presented to Kvothe by Shehyn after Magwyn's approval
  • Wielded At Drossen Tor — roughly two thousand years old, wielded at the battle of Drossen Tor
  • Renamed By Aaron — Aaron dubs it 'Kaysera, the poet killer'
  • Named From Eld Vintic — Caesura is the Eld Vintic term for a break or pause in a line of verse
  • Past Wielder Finol — its history includes Finol, who slew two daruna before being killed at Drossen Tor

Established facts§

  • Caesura is the Adem sword Kvothe wins in Ademre, presented to him by Shehyn after Magwyn's approval.
  • Its original Adem name is Saicere, meaning 'to break, to catch, and to fly'.
  • Kvothe reshapes the name into 'Caesura', the Eld Vintic term for a break or pause in a line of verse.
  • A young Adem man named Aaron calls it 'Kaysera, the poet killer', which Kvothe recalls with warm amusement while finding the poet-killer label unpleasant.
  • Adem custom personifies shaped swords as female.
  • Adem blades carry an Atas, a recited roll of past wielders, which the bearer must memorise.
  • Caesura's history begins 'First came Chael, who shaped me in fire' and is written in the first person.
  • Its lineage includes Finol, of the clear and shining eye, much beloved of Dulcen, who slew two daruna before being killed by gremmen at the Blac of Drossen Tor.
  • Kvothe omits at least one verse before Finol when reciting the sword's history.
  • The blade is roughly two thousand years old and was wielded at the battle of Drossen Tor during the Creation War.
  • The Adem regard the destruction of such a sword with horror, treating it as something that ought not be possible.
  • Kvothe returns from Ademre carrying Caesura, marking him as more than a student.
  • Kvothe later arranges for Caesura to be returned to the Adem.
  • In the frame story the sword displayed behind the bar is named Folly.
  • When Chronicler notes that Folly does not match Caesura's description, Kote confirms it is not the same sword.

Theories§

Appears in theories§

Top contributors§

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