KKC Theory Wiki

Bast May Be a Child by Faen Standards Despite His 150 Years

plausible identity · popularity 80 · 1 source thread

Bast's playful, impulsive, tantrum-prone behaviour suggests he is still a child among the very long-lived Fae.

About: Bast, The Fae

Also involves: Kvothe, The Cthaeh, Felurian

The theory§

This theory proposes that although Bast has an adult body and roughly 150 years of life, he may still be a child by the standards of the very long-lived Fae. Kvothe introduces him to Chronicler as 'Bastas, son of Remmen, Prince of Twilight and the Telwyth Mael,' noting a hundred and fifty years of life, yet time runs differently in the Fae and such a span need not equate to maturity for his kind. The theory marshals a list of childlike traits: a rag comfort blanket with a heart that he wraps himself in when sad, fascination with braiding grass and crafting small objects, fondness for rhymes and prancing, impulsiveness, showing off, tantrums, possessiveness over Kvothe, a sense that the world revolves around him, and a terror of the Cthaeh sharper than Felurian's mere wariness. A complementary reading frames the Fae generally as creatures of desire and of the now, who age only insofar as they worry about tomorrow, making them all somewhat like overgrown children rather than Bast being uniquely immature.

Evidence§

  • given that the fae is a lot different than humans, is it possible that he is very much at an age that is considered immature/children’s age among the fae?
    OP's core thesis: Bast may be a child by Fae standards. — u/kristalykiralyno
  • he has a rag blanket with a heart in the middle and wraps it around himself when he is sad
    Childlike comfort-object evidence cited by OP. — u/kristalykiralyno
  • he likes to mess around with small objects and craft new things from them (like braiding grass, etc.) … he likes rhymes and often uses “prancing” movements … he is very impulsive … he throws “tantrums” - the authors words, not mine … he thinks the world revolves around him
    Cluster of childlike traits OP marshals as evidence. — u/kristalykiralyno
  • he is terrified of the Cthaeh, while Felurian was just shocked/worried, and she did not freak out the same way at all
    OP contrasts Bast's fear with an adult Fae's composure. — u/kristalykiralyno
  • So it would appear that Bast is very old indeed. A hundred and fifty years. But which years? We know time passes differently in the Fae. … I would surmise that he is still a youngster *by the standards of the very long-lived Faen.*
    Top comment refines: 150 years need not mean maturity for Fae. — u/taborlyn13
  • His "prancing," however, is due to the fact that he's a glamoured satyr (or something very like it), possessed of hoofs rather than feet.
    CounterCounter: prancing explained by satyr anatomy, not childishness. — u/taborlyn13
  • Bast is of the fae, a creature of desire, of the now. Only when we worry about tomorrow do we age.
    Reframes: Fae age by responsibility, not years lived. — u/TheLastSock
  • in some ways they're overgrown children. They shape themselves and the world around them, and if they want something they just make it happen.
    CounterCounter-nuance: all Fae are childlike, so Bast isn't uniquely immature. — u/arvy_p

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

plausible correct: distinct from the parentage theory; reasonable behavioural reading

Contributors§

Source threads§