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Caudicus the Court Arcanist Is Secretly the Chandrian Cyphus

fringe identity · popularity 93 · 1 source thread

The Maer's poisoner Caudicus may be the Chandrian Cyphus, hiding in plain sight to undermine Alveron.

About: Caudicus, Cyphus

Also involves: The Chandrian, Maer Lerand Alveron, Cinder, Haliax, The Cthaeh, Kvothe

The theory§

This theory suggests that Caudicus, the court arcanist of Maer Alveron, is secretly the Chandrian Cyphus, who 'bears the blue flame.' The link rests on Kvothe noticing blue flame in Caudicus's chambers when they first meet, and on the premise that the Chandrian live ordinary lives furthering Haliax's ends rather than acting like the obviously inhuman Cinder. Caudicus slowly poisoning the Maer, and the Chandrian raiding Alveron's taxmen, fit a pattern of an agent destabilising a royal line to set a chosen heir on the throne. The Cthaeh's remark that the Chandrian 'have a lot of experience hiding those tell-tale signs' is offered as a nuanced clue that such concealment is possible. The strongest counter is practical: Cyphus's sign turns nearby fires blue, which would be near-impossible to conceal at a candlelit court or a dinner party; in canon Caudicus simply lights blueflame candles 'just for show,' and Kvothe notes they are merely theatrical, undercutting the sign. Critics also hold the Chandrian are Fae whose nature a Namer such as Kvothe would perceive, and that Caudicus reads as a vain, mercenary hack rather than one of the Seven.

Evidence§

  • Kavoth did see a blue flame when he first met Caudicus. *Cyphus bears the blue flame.*
    OP's core observation linking Caudicus's blue flame to Cyphus's sign. — u/___Laramie
  • The chandrian are "people' and not all are as crazy as Cinder, so I think it is very likely The Chandrian are living "normal" lives that further Haliax's goal and Messing around with Alveron is something that is going on.
    OP's premise: Chandrian live ordinary lives advancing Haliax's ends. — u/___Laramie
  • The Cthaeh says something to the effect of “they have a lot of experience hiding those tell tale signs…” so it does seem like this might be a nuanced clue.
    Supports concealment of signs as a deliberate Chandrian skill. — u/jcubed31
  • With the Chandrian raiding the Maer's taxmen, I get the impression that Caudicus was working for them ... to eliminate the Maer as part of the line of royal succession
    Refines motive: destabilising royal succession to set a chosen heir. — u/Liesmith424
  • with Cyphus, hiding blue flame when in a castle or other noble’s estates seems difficult. I mean seems like it would be difficult to hide the hearth fire and all the torches at a dinner party turning blue.
    CounterCounter: Cyphus's sign would be near-impossible to conceal at court. — u/jcubed31
  • Caudicus has 'blueflame' candles that he lit in front of him...I don't think that necessarily makes him a Chandrian. ... I knew they were just for show.
    CounterCounter: the blue flame is theatrical candles, not Cyphus's sign. — u/the_spurring_platty
  • I just feel like Caudicus was too eager to impress and haughty to be a Chandrian. He seems more like what he is, a hack paid off arcanist with no morals.
    CounterCounter: Caudicus reads as a vain mercenary hack, not one of the Seven. — u/DothrakAndRoll
  • the Chandrian and Amyr are not people. They are fay. Fairy people can hide their nature with a glamour, but Namers or more specifically Kvothe would notice.
    CounterCounter: Chandrian are Fae a Namer like Kvothe would perceive. — u/Imaterd005

Book refs: WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier kept: speculative identity, blue-flame-at-court objection noted

Contributors§

Source threads§