KKC Theory Wiki

Disproving That the Chandrian Erase All Mention of Their Names

plausible motive · popularity 129 · 1 source thread

If the Chandrian truly hunted every mention of their names, Arliden wouldn't have found Ben's caution merely superstitious.

About: The Chandrian, Arliden

Also involves: Abenthy, Kvothe, Denna, Cinder, Haliax, Selitos

The theory§

This argument challenges the popular claim that the Chandrian kill chiefly to suppress any mention of their names, building its case on the chapter 12 conversation between Kvothe's parents and Abenthy. Arliden, who tells Ben he believes he has worked out why the Chandrian do what they do, presses Ben for their names and meets only refusal; both parents are surprised that the educated arcanist should be so superstitious. The reasoning runs: if name-suppression were the true danger, and if Arliden's theory is correct, he would not dismiss Ben's caution as superstition. The strongest rebuttal is that Arliden almost certainly does not believe the Chandrian are real — to him they are a faded story he is merely collecting — so his lack of fear says nothing about the actual risk. A further counter points to the Mauthen farm massacre, where the killers came after nothing more than a painted vase depicting them, suggesting the trigger is concrete evidence and belief about them rather than spoken names alone. Denna's commissioned song reframing Lanre sympathetically further suggests their concern is controlling the narrative, not erasing it.

Evidence§

  • This theory basically stems from the conversation between Kvothe’s parents and Ben in chapter 12. During the conversation Kvothe’s father mentions that he thinks he knows why the Chandrian do what they do.
    OP grounds the argument in the chapter 12 conversation where Arliden claims to know the Chandrian's purpose. — u/LordDunn
  • Now let’s assume his theory is correct (which I think it might be else why would be in the book?). Later on in the conversation Kvothe’s father tries to question Ben about the Chandrian’s names but Ben refuses to discuss it and both of Kvothe’s parent are surprised he’s so superstitious.
    Sets up the premise: Arliden's theory is likely right, yet he finds Ben's name-caution superstitious. — u/LordDunn
  • Now, if the theory that that the Chandrian are trying remove all mentioning of their names is correct, Kvothe’s father wouldn’t consider it superstitious at all because he knows it’s true and Ben is right to be scared.
    Core deduction: if name-suppression were the real danger, Arliden wouldn't dismiss Ben's fear as superstition. — u/LordDunn
  • While you might have a good point there, I'm not sure Arliden actually believed the chandrian to be real himself. Which would explain his reaction when Ben seems to treat them as a real threat.
    CounterTop counter: Arliden's lack of fear reflects disbelief in the Chandrian, not the absence of real danger. — u/Haunsboerg
  • Arliden quite obviously does NOT. He thinks he just collecting pieces of an old story, and scoffs at Ben's "superstition". … I don't believe in God, but I'm afraid of Him.
    CounterReinforces counter: Arliden treats it as old story; Ben simply avoids tempting fate. — u/Bovey
  • There is the farm massacre, too. I don’t think any of the names were spoken or even written down by anyone there. They saw the vase and that was enough for the Chandrian to come and kill everyone.
    CounterCounter-evidence: Mauthen farm trigger was a painted vase, not spoken names. — u/apresmodes
  • Mainly because Denna is writing song for Cinder about Lanre and Selitos. … So Arliden might be very wrong of not being afraid of Chandrian's names.
    Denna's commissioned song suggests the Chandrian control the narrative rather than erase their names. — u/MikeMaxM
  • Were they singing the wrong sort of songs because it mentions the names of the Chandrian, or because it tells a story they don't want known. Did they murder that whole wedding at the Mauthen farm because they saw a painted vase that depicted the Chandrian, or because it depicted them in a certain way?
    Reframes the trigger as narrative control over depiction, not mention of names. — u/VersaceRubbers

Book refs: NOTW, NOTW ch 12

Tier reasoning§

tier verified: grounded in specific ch12 text, plausible holds

Contributors§

Source threads§