KKC Theory Wiki

Master Kilvin

character · importance 55 · 3 theories

“Cealdish Master Artificer hunting the legend of an ever-burning lamp”

also known as Kilvin

Appearance§

Kilvin is a very large, powerfully built Cealdish man, strong enough that his strength is repeatedly remarked upon, yet noted for gentleness; he tells Kvothe it took a long time to make his hands skilled and gentle. He has a deep chuckle and eyes that smile a little in lighter moments, and is associated with the soot, coalsmoke and seared-iron atmosphere of the Fishery.

Description§

Master Kilvin is the University's Master Artificer, a large, immensely strong Cealdish man who runs the Fishery workshop and sits at the masters' table. Despite his strength he is gentle, possessed of a deep chuckle, and fond of Kvothe, formalizing the name of Kvothe's 'arrow catch' device after Kvothe leaves it unnamed. His defining pursuit is a roughly decade-long search for a legendary ever-burning lamp; he has produced many very long-burning lamps but never a truly eternal one, believing such a thing was once within the scope of the craft. He keeps a personal library where advanced or dangerous schemata are stored, along with a collection of ancient, unexplained artefacts. After the bone-tar fire he speaks the Siaru saying 'Chan Vaen edan Kote,' which he renders as 'Expect disaster every seven years.'

Relationships§

  • Mentor Kvothe — likes and values Kvothe, formalizes the name of his 'arrow catch' device
  • Master At The University — the University's Master Artificer who sits at the masters' table
  • Runs The Fishery — runs the Fishery, the artificery workshop
  • Mocked By Manet — Manet mocks his 'exothermic cascade' as 'a big goddamn fire'
  • Master Of Artificing — the University's Master Artificer
  • Seeks Ever-Burning Lamp — spent roughly ten years searching for an ever-burning lamp
  • Keeps Warding Stones — keeps a collection of artefacts including warding stones
  • From Ceald — Kilvin is Cealdish
  • Member Of Cealdish — a Cealdish man inspired by Cealdish legend
  • Says Chan Vaen edan Kote — speaks the Siaru saying 'Chan Vaen edan Kote' after the bone-tar fire

Established facts§

  • Kilvin is the University's Master Artificer and runs the Fishery, the artificery workshop.
  • He is Cealdish, physically large and immensely strong, yet gentle, with a deep chuckle; he made his hands skilled and gentle over a long time.
  • He sits at the masters' table and takes part in University proceedings such as admissions and disciplinary hearings.
  • He likes and values Kvothe, and formalizes the name of Kvothe's 'arrow catch' device after Kvothe leaves it unnamed.
  • He has spent roughly ten years searching for an ever-burning lamp, inspired by Cealdish legend, producing only very long-burning lamps.
  • He poses the standing problem of designing a lamp that would burn forever without an exhaustible fuel source.
  • He coins the technical phrase 'exothermic cascade' for a runaway reaction, which Manet mocks as 'a big goddamn fire.'
  • He keeps a personal library where advanced or dangerous schemata are stored.
  • He keeps a collection of ancient, unexplained artefacts, including warding stones, a device that absorbs angular momentum, an unmarrable heat-absorbing metal, and black glass with one frictionless side.
  • After the bone-tar fire he speaks the Siaru saying 'Chan Vaen edan Kote,' which he renders 'Expect disaster every seven years.'
  • He swears 'Kist, crayle, en kote' when furious.
  • He describes bone-tar as highly corrosive and, in gaseous state, flammable, burning on contact with air once warm enough.
  • He quizzes Kvothe about the arrow-catch with knowledge of bone- and obsidian-tipped raider arrows, loading and firing it easily, yet is averse to weapons.
  • He speaks of old magics and arts now lost, acknowledging that powerful crafts have faded from the present age.

Theories§

Appears in theories§

Top contributors§

People on r/KingkillerChronicle who built the theories above.