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Blue Flames Are Caused by Rapid Decay, Pointing to Usnea Not Cyphus

plausible mechanism · popularity 153 · 1 source thread

Chandrian blue flames come from firedamp released by unnaturally rapid decay, implicating Usnea rather than Cyphus.

About: Usnea, The Chandrian

Also involves: Cinder, Abenthy, Laurian, Arliden, Trebon, The Moon

The theory§

This theory reframes the blue flames that mark the Chandrian's presence not as the sole signature of Cyphus, who 'bears the blue flame' in Shehyn's song, but as a side effect of the unnaturally rapid decay that surrounds the Chandrian. Decaying plant matter releases methane, the flammable mine gas that Laurian identifies as 'firedamp,' which burns with a blue haze; the argument is that the same accelerated rot which crumbles iron and rots wood at Chandrian sites also liberates combustible gas that tints nearby fires blue. It points to the troupe massacre and the Mauthen farm, where the flames were blue while iron bands had crumbled to rust and wood was rotten as an old stump, as cases where decay and blue flame co-occur. The draccus, which stores combustible gas distilled from the plants it consumes, is offered as a natural parallel. Because Usnea is the Chandrian who 'lives in nothing but decay,' the theory assigns the blue-flame effect to her decay rather than to Cyphus directly. The wider claim is that Chandrian signs are accelerated versions of ordinary natural phenomena, scientifically real but magically intensified, which is why their aftermath is nearly undetectable.

Evidence§

  • It's common speculation in the four corners that blue flames are, among other things, a sign of the Chandrian. And given Shehyn's story makes specific mention of it on relation to one of the seven: … Cyphus bears the blue flame.
    Sets up the default reading that blue flame belongs to Cyphus. — u/TheLastSock
  • Laurian mentions "firedamp" … She nodded. "When a lamp burns with a blue haze you know there's firedamp in the air."
    Core textual hook: blue haze signals firedamp gas in mines. — u/TheLastSock
  • Firedamp gets it's name because the gases, notable methane, are flammable. … It seems as if the rapid (unnaturally so) release of methane from decaying plant matter could lead to blue flames or flames tinged with blue.
    Central mechanism: rapid decay liberates flammable methane that tints flames blue. — u/TheLastSock
  • the iron bands that reinforced the wheel crumbled in my hand, flaking away in gritty sheets of brown rust. … the wagon splintering as if its wood were rotten as an old stump. ~ NOTW:120
    Troupe site: blue flame co-occurs with unnatural rust and rot. — u/TheLastSock
  • the thick planking crumbled under my weight like a rotten stump. … "..The author suggested that the draccus just stores that gas in a bladder of some kind..."
    Mauthen farm decay plus the draccus as a natural plant-to-gas-to-fire parallel. — u/TheLastSock
  • Usnea, connected with decay, and not Cyphus might be responsible for **turning** the flames blue … Usnea lives in nothing but decay.
    Conclusion: assigns the blue-flame effect to Usnea's decay, not Cyphus. — u/TheLastSock
  • these signs are magical but they are utilizing real world natural phenomena just more focused and at higher intensities. The aftermath of their signs are nye undetectable because the only difference between their version of rot or decay, and natures own versions is how quickly it occurs.
    Refines the framework: signs are real phenomena magically accelerated. — u/Sandal-Hat
  • methane inhalation can cause dizziness and clumsiness, which could be a contributing factor as to why Kvothe felt dizzy as he peered around the wagon.
    Adds corroborating detail: methane explains Kvothe's dizziness at the scene. — u/TheDoctorFeelGood
  • Oxygen also burns blue, which would explain the rust or oxidization of metal.
    CounterCounter: offers oxygen, not methane, as the chemistry behind blue flame. — u/skirpnasty
  • In a fantasy world of magic there has to be a scientific reason for something... SMH. Maybe someone in the group simply knows the name of fire and commands it to change color.
    CounterCounter: dismisses the science, proposes Naming as the cause instead. — u/shinigurai

Book refs: NOTW ch 86, NOTW ch 120, NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

no change; co-occurrence of decay and blue flame is textual, plausible fits

Contributors§

Source threads§