KKC Theory WikiThe Chandrian Are Skin Dancers Infected Through Contact with the Cthaeh
The Chandrian are body-stealing Skin Dancers, infected by speaking with the Cthaeh, which explains their signs and why the Sithe hunt them.
About: The Chandrian, Skin Dancer, The Cthaeh
Also involves: Haliax, Cinder, Felurian, Myr Tariniel, The Sithe
The theory§
This theory recasts the Chandrian as Skin Dancers—body-stealing creatures—which would explain why each bears a fixed telltale sign despite being able to wear different flesh: in a world without surgery, only an unchanging curse-mark could let anyone identify a being that changes bodies. It points to Cinder calmly pulling an arrow from his own leg as evidence of a body its wearer does not truly inhabit, and notes that the Sithe, who Haliax names among the Chandrian's hunters, are masters of hunting Skin Dancers and guard against them with holly. The infection is tied to the Cthaeh: Felurian's urgent fear of whether Kvothe was bitten, and the Cthaeh's admitted grudge against Cinder, suggest contact with it as the route by which the Chandrian were taken, with Haliax as a kind of inverted Skin Dancer who wears his corruption outwardly as shadow. The dominant counter-reading holds that the Sithe destroy everything that has had contact with the Cthaeh—Lanre spoke with it before Myr Tariniel burned—so the Chandrian are hunted for that contact, not for being Skin Dancers, which canon treats as an entirely separate kind of creature.
Evidence§
they are also masters of hunting Skin Dancers. Obviously this gives credence to the fact the holly crowns have some ability to stop Skin Dancers from hitching a ride. But the main point is - Are the Chandrian really Skin Dancers? Is this why they are targets of the Sithe?
OP's core claim: the Sithe hunt Skin Dancers, so the Chandrian may be Skin Dancers. — u/ohn0anywayzCould each of the Chandrian have come to the Cthaeh and been infected in this way.
Proposes the Cthaeh as the route of infection, tied to Felurian's fear of a bite. — u/ohn0anywayzI like the idea that Haliax is like a reverse Skin Dancer. For others the Skin Dancer lives inside them and is like a dark shadow. But Haliax has to wear his shame of being infected on the outside.
Casts Haliax as an inverted Skin Dancer wearing his corruption outwardly as shadow. — u/ohn0anywayzIt is also why when Kvothe met Cinder out in the Camp when Cinder took an arrow to the leg he just pulled it out without much of a care. Sounds similar to when the soldier who had something inside him didn't seem to care when he was heavily damaged because it wasn't his body just something he was using.
Cinder's indifference to injury suggests he doesn't truly inhabit the body. — u/ohn0anywayzIf the Chandrian are Skin Dancers and can change bodies then you really would need them to have their (curses) signs so you could identify them.
OP refines: fixed signs are needed to mark out beings who can swap bodies. — u/ohn0anywayzI'm pretty convinced they are Skin Dancers. One of the folk songs about them implies that: “When your bright sword turns to rust? ***Who to trust? Who to trust?”***
Comment adds a folk-song line as supporting hint of identity-stealing. — u/TinymetalThey seek to destroy everything that has had contact with the Cthaeh. Lanre spoke with the Cthaeh before the burning of Myr Tyriniel. The Sithe are against the Chandrian (including Haliax, he's not separate) because of that contact, not because they're skin dancers. Skin dancers are something entirely different altogether.
CounterCounter: Sithe hunt for Cthaeh-contact, not Skin Dancing; Skin Dancers are separate. — u/Not_InsightfulHaliax is one of the seven, and there’s no evidence at all that they’re skin dancers. If anything there’s evidence that they’re not.
CounterCounter: denies any evidence the Chandrian are Skin Dancers. — u/Aridius
Book refs: NOTW, WMF
Tier reasoning§
no merge; fringe correct, infection-via-Cthaeh is a speculative leap
Contributors§
- u/Not_Insightful — countered · 44 pts
- u/TheLastSock — clarified · 4 pts