KKC Theory Wiki

Folly

object · importance 60 · 6 theories

“The dull grey sword mounted behind the Waystone Inn's bar”

also known as Kvothe's sword, the sword behind the bar

Appearance§

Folly is a dull, burnished grey sword that reflects little light, in keeping with an Adem-style blade. The light it does reflect is ages old, and where the light touches it there are no beginnings to be seen. It is described as a sword distilled into its pure form, as if a dozen swords had been reduced in a crucible. It hangs on a mounting board built by Graham, between copper barrels behind the bar of the Waystone Inn.

Description§

Folly is the dull grey sword Kvothe keeps mounted behind the bar of the Waystone Inn in the frame story, displayed on a board built for him by Graham. Kvothe named the sword 'Folly' himself, and it is explicitly not Caesura, the named Adem poet-killer of his backstory: when Chronicler notes the displayed sword does not match Caesura's description, Kote confirms it is a different blade. The name echoes Abenthy's inscription in Kvothe's copy of Rhetoric and Logic: 'Remember your father's song. Be wary of folly.' Kote handles the sword with conspicuous reverence. When Graham delivers the mounting board, Kote remarks that it has been so long, though Graham notes it has only been four months.

Relationships§

  • Owned By Kvothe — Kvothe keeps it mounted behind the bar and named it himself
  • Displayed At Waystone Inn — hangs between copper barrels behind the bar of the Waystone Inn
  • Examined By Chronicler — Chronicler notes it does not match Caesura's description
  • Not Caesura — explicitly not Caesura, Kvothe's named Adem sword from his backstory
  • Named After Abenthy — its name echoes Abenthy's inscription 'Be wary of folly'
  • Mounted By Graham — Graham built the mounting board to display it
  • Echoes Rhetoric — name echoes the inscription in Kvothe's copy of Rhetoric and Logic
  • Mounted On Roah — mounting board made from unburnable roah wood

Established facts§

  • Folly is the sword Kvothe keeps mounted behind the bar of the Waystone Inn in the frame story.
  • It is a dull, burnished grey sword, not bright or reflective, resembling Adem-style blades.
  • Kvothe explicitly tells Chronicler that Folly is not Caesura, his named Adem sword from his backstory.
  • Kvothe named the sword 'Folly' himself.
  • The name echoes Abenthy's inscription in Kvothe's copy of Rhetoric and Logic: 'Remember your father's song. Be wary of folly.'
  • Graham builds the mounting board to display Folly, ordered roughly four months before Chronicler's arrival.
  • When Graham delivers the board, Kote remarks 'It's been so long,' though Graham notes it has only been four months.
  • Folly is described as a sword distilled into its pure form, as if a dozen swords had been reduced in a crucible.
  • The light Folly reflects is ages old, and where it touches the blade there are no beginnings to be seen.
  • The sword hangs between copper barrels behind the bar of the Waystone Inn.
  • Kote handles the sword with conspicuous reverence.
  • A smith makes the mounting board from the same unburnable roah wood as Taborlin's chest in the tale, shaped with very hot iron.

Theories§

Appears in theories§

Top contributors§

People on r/KingkillerChronicle who built the theories above.