KKC Theory Wiki

Kvothe's Arrow Catch Will Play a Pivotal Role in Doors of Stone

fringe other · popularity 58 · 1 source thread

The arrow catch Kvothe invents is too emphasised to be filler and will matter in book three.

About: The Arrow Catch, Kvothe

Also involves: Ambrose Jakis, Cinder, Master Kilvin, The Cthaeh

The theory§

This theory argues that Kvothe's arrow-catch invention is too heavily emphasized to be incidental and is set up to pay off in The Doors of Stone. The device earns a full chapter, Kilvin's pointed remark that 'it does not catch the arrow, precisely,' and a naming exchange in which Kvothe leaves before christening it, after which Kilvin formalizes the schema into the Fishery records. Proposed payoffs include the catch preventing Kvothe from killing an enemy such as Ambrose or Cinder and so helping spark a war, an arrow-catch warding an approach to the Cthaeh against the Sithe who shoot from a mile off, or mass production of the cheap, mold-cast device as a battlefield shield whose negation of arrows provokes conflict. A widely favored extension ties the mechanism to the thrice-locked chest in the frame story: Bast's hammering produces a dull thud 'like it was coming from another room,' echoing the arrow-catch chapter, and when a thug swings a bottle at Kote there is a confused reaction and a faint metallic ringing, as of a far-off pin settling into its next slot. A counter cautions that not every detail must pay off, and that some episodes simply ground Kvothe's everyday life.

Evidence§

  • It takes up a good chapter and is mentioned a few times outside of said chapter. Its meant to be remembered. Ill bet it serves a more important role in the third book.
    OP's core claim: the arrow catch is too emphasized to be filler and will matter in book three. — u/Rivendellowo
  • Imagine if his own creation is a part of why he couldn’t kill one of his enemies, and a another reason as to why war started.
    OP's proposed payoff: the catch stops Kvothe killing an enemy, helping spark war. — u/Rivendellowo
  • “Hmmph,” Kilvin grunted. “It does not catch the arrow, precisely.” … Kvothe doesn’t want to call it ‘The Kvothe’ but that’s what Elodin named it. **[Kvothe] The Bloodless.**
    Comment ties the naming exchange to Kvothe's title 'The Bloodless,' hinting deeper significance. — u/nIBLIB
  • It's already served an important purpose, remember when that thug tried to hit kote with a bottle? The thug seemed confused about the reaction and there was a metallic ringing.
    Comment offers frame-story evidence: a metallic ringing when a thug attacks Kote. — u/TheLastSock
  • I feel like the biggest purpose of the arrow catch in book 3 will have to do with the thrice locked chest. … Something like "he heard a dull thud that sounded like it was coming from another room".
    Comment links the chapter's wording to the thrice-locked chest in the frame story. — u/c-park
  • My pet theory is that a mass quantity of them end up being used in a war. They're priced to move, they're easy to make (with molds), they're an extremely good shield, and history has shown us that anything that negates an adversary's "sword" can be seen as a provocation.
    Comment refines war angle: cheap mold-cast shields negate arrows and provoke conflict. — u/bluesy22
  • I imagine an Arrowcatch will help someone approach the Cthaeh, warding of the archers arrows.
    Comment adds alternate payoff: warding the Sithe archers guarding the Cthaeh. — u/crimiusXIII
  • there's definitely stuff in these books that just serve to show Kvothe's every day life to make him more relatable. Expecting *everything* to pay off is not realistic.
    CounterCounter: not every detail must pay off; some episodes just ground everyday life. — u/Lawlcopt0r

Book refs: WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier downgraded: Chekhov's-gun prediction with thin single-quote evidence

Contributors§

Source threads§