KKC Theory Wiki

Bast Might Secretly Be Kvothe's Son

fringe identity · popularity 88 · 1 source thread

A reader wonders whether Bast is the Fae-born son Kvothe unknowingly fathered during his time in the Fae.

About: Bast, Kvothe

Also involves: The Fae, Felurian, Chronicler

The theory§

This speculation wonders whether Bast is secretly Kvothe's son, conceived during Kvothe's sojourn in the Fae, which would explain the fierce devotion behind Bast's scheme to restore the old Kvothe. The reading leans on the slowed and strange passage of time in the Fae, on Bast's standing as a prince of the Twilight, and on the notion that 'Reshi' might carry the sense of father. The text contradicts it plainly: Kvothe introduces Bast as Bastas, son of Remmen, Prince of Twilight and the Telwyth Mael, and describes him as having a hundred and fifty years of life, far older than Kvothe himself. A more grounded explanation of Bast's motives is that he wants the formidable Kvothe back for his own reasons, and that Kvothe is feigning his diminishment to keep Bast believing he is broken. The name Bast invites a pun on 'bastard,' but the established lineage and age leave little room for him to be Kvothe's child.

Evidence§

  • Could it be a logical theory that Bast is Kvothe's son? … it dawned on me that Bast could be, unknown to Kvothe, the son of our red haired man. I remember Kvothe went to the fae and made love and made it back.
    OP's core claim: Bast conceived during Kvothe's Fae sojourn. — u/Creepthepeep
  • But where is best from and why is he so hell bent on getting the old Kvothe back?
    OP cites Bast's fierce devotion as motive for the theory. — u/Creepthepeep
  • a lot of people think "Reshi" means "Father"
    Supporting linguistic clue: Bast's name for Kvothe may mean father. — u/LadyOfTheWind
  • Accelerated aging in the fae too, so mayyyybe it’s possible.
    Fae's strange time could make the father-son timeline work. — u/JRockThumper
  • Is bast a play on Bastard? A nod to the issues he would face being a fae court prince but born of man?
    Name pun suggests Bast is a half-mortal illegitimate child. — u/necronicone
  • “Chronicler, I would like you to meet Bastas, **son of Remmen**, Prince of Twilight and the Telwyth Mael.“Who, over the course of a **hundred and fifty years of life** … It is a common theory, but one which requires you to ignore direct statements about the matter.
    CounterCounter: text names Bast son of Remmen and 150 years old. — u/Zhorangi
  • I tend to assume Bast actually wants some sort of revenge against Kvothe … I don't really believe Kvothe has lost any of his abilities. Every one of his fails has been directly for the benefit of keeping Bast thinking he has.
    CounterCounter: alternate motive; Kvothe feigns diminishment, not paternity. — u/Zhorangi
  • But there are some very key loose ends still. For that to work, Bast would have to have spent the entire 150 years in the fae, including the two years he's been under Kvothe's tutelage. And we know he hasn't spent the entire time in the Fae … So while it would be a nice plot twist, I really don't think it to be the case.
    CounterCounter: time-math loose ends make the father-son timeline fail. — u/elericksote

Book refs: WMF, NOTW

Tier reasoning§

directly contradicted by text, fringe stands

Contributors§

Source threads§