KKC Theory Wiki

A Candle Is the Hidden Key That Opens the Four-Plate Door

plausible mechanism · popularity 56 · 1 source thread

Lorren's anger over Kvothe's candle hints that a candle is the lost tool needed to open the four-plate door.

About: The Four-Plate Door

Also involves: The Archives, Master Lorren, Auri, The Slow Regard of Silent Things, The Lackless Box, Taborlin the Great

The theory§

This theory proposes that the four-plate door in the Archives is opened with a candle, which is why Master Lorren reacts so sharply when he finds Kvothe carrying one inside the Stacks. It draws on Taborlin the Great's legendary kit of key, coin, and candle, and on Auri, who in The Slow Regard of Silent Things fashions Kvothe a candle using arcane means alongside a key 'to unlock the moon' and a coin to keep him safe. Both versions of the Lackless rhyme place a candle beside a handle-less door, and the moment Kvothe first finds the four-plate door he is peering through its copper plates by the light of a single candle. The reasoning chain treats Lorren's outburst as the tell, though the mundane reading, that a librarian forbids open flame near priceless books, remains the obvious counter.

Evidence§

  • Kvothe is carrying a candle in the Archives. Loren gets mad because he knows that a candle is necessary to open the four-plate door.
    OP's core claim: Lorren's anger reveals the candle is the door's key. — u/East-Cap-7653
  • Auri gives Kvothe a key that can "unlock the moon" and a coin "that'll keep him safe." The candle is the missing tool of Taborlin.
    Ties candle to Taborlin's key-coin-candle kit via Auri's gifts. — u/East-Cap-7653
  • Auri makes him a candle in A Slow Regard of Silent Things. She prepares it using arcane magics as well. Taborlin's candle, baby.
    Adds evidence: Auri crafts the candle arcanely, completing Taborlin's set. — u/Premium333
  • Definitely checks out, since both versions of the lackless rhyme reference there being a candle there.
    Supports via Lackless rhyme placing a candle at the door. — u/Danger_Breakfast
  • maybe they decided to build a library around whatever is in the archives for the express purpose of having a cover story for the candle. So, why not, maybe that is it.
    Refines: library may exist as a cover story justifying the candle. — u/aerojockey
  • I was about to say that a librarian really would get that upset about a candle, and there's nothing odd about Lorren's outburst that would need to be explained.
    CounterCounter: Lorren's anger is unremarkable for a librarian, needs no theory. — u/aerojockey
  • the way way more logical normal answer, because it's unprotected fire in a library on the hands of teenagers
    CounterCounter: mundane explanation is open flame near priceless books. — u/carlos_6m

Book refs: NOTW, WMF, Slow Regard

Tier reasoning§

plausible confirmed: Lorren's reaction plus Taborlin/Lackless candle motif make a reasonable fit

Contributors§

Source threads§