KKC Theory Wiki

Scrael

creature · importance 55 · 2 theories

“Deadly spider-like creatures whose arrival opens the frame story”

also known as Scraeling

Appearance§

Scrael are small, fast, and numerous black creatures of dark stone, low and spider-like in form, scuttling on sharp legs into the firelight. They move and attack in packs, leaving deep gashes and slashes capable of breaking ribs. They are vulnerable to iron and fire; when struck with iron they burn, releasing the sweet acrid smell of rotting flowers and burning hair.

Description§

The scrael, singular scrael and also called scraeling, are deadly otherworldly creatures whose arrival near the town of Newarre opens the frame story. A pack of them is capable of slaughtering the entire population of Newarre, yet Kvothe, living as the innkeeper Kote, kills them all single-handedly. He prepares deliberately, fetching gloves and an old apron from the blacksmith, testing his iron and rejecting a drab because it is almost steel, then waiting by the fire. Iron harms them; a struck scrael gives off the sweet acrid smell of rotting flowers and burning hair. The fight leaves Kote badly slashed and in need of stitches, prompting Bast's astonished remark that he should be dead twice. Bast notes the scrael have not been seen in the region for a long time and is surprised they have reached Newarre so soon.

Relationships§

  • Slain By Kvothe — Kvothe as Kote kills the whole pack single-handedly
  • Astonished Bast — Bast regards killing them as nearly impossible and stitches Kote's wounds
  • Otherworldly Kin The Fae — described as otherworldly creatures harmed by iron
  • Threat To Chronicler — Kvothe fights them to save Chronicler
  • Threatens Newarre — their arrival near Newarre opens the frame story, a lethal threat to the town

Established facts§

  • Scrael are dangerous, spider-like creatures of dark stone that appear in the frame story near Newarre, posing a lethal threat to the town.
  • Kvothe, as Kote, fights and kills a pack of them single-handedly to save Chronicler, a feat Bast regards as nearly impossible, telling him he 'should be dead twice.'
  • Before the fight, Kote goes to the blacksmith for gloves and an old apron, then waits by the fire; he tests the iron and rejects a 'drab' because it has too much carbon and is 'almost steel.'
  • When a scrael is struck with iron, it gives off 'the sweet acrid smell of rotting flowers and burning hair.'
  • Iron is effective against the scrael, consistent with their nature as an otherworldly threat.
  • Kote is left covered in gashes and slashes that Bast stitches up after the fight.
  • Kvothe breaks off a piece of one scrael, which serves as a sympathetic link to the others.
  • The scrael crossed a great distance to reach Newarre.
  • Bast indicates the scrael have not been seen in the area for a long time and is surprised they have reached Newarre so soon; Kote too is surprised only that they have reached so far so fast, not that they exist.

Theories§

Appears in theories§

Top contributors§

People on r/KingkillerChronicle who built the theories above.