KKC Theory Wiki

Chronicler's Cipher Is Yllish Knots and the Story Is Remaking Kvothe

plausible mechanism · popularity 270 · 1 source thread

The Chronicler's writing works like Yllish knots, so dictating his story progressively restores Kvothe's lost self.

About: Chronicler, Kvothe

Also involves: Denna, The Lackless Box, Waystone Inn

The theory§

This theory holds that Devan Lochees's shorthand cipher is functionally identical to Yllish knot writing, recorded sound made literally true, and that Kvothe did not merely 'break' it in under an hour but recognised it. Because Yllish knots are understood to make what is recorded true for those who perceive it, the act of Chronicler transcribing Kvothe's life is progressively restoring Kvothe to himself, taking effect as it is written rather than only once complete, which would explain the re-emergence of his old abilities across the three-day telling and his insistence that the story be set down exactly as he dictates. The mechanics fit the text: Kvothe sees the cipher uses all vertical lines, infers the consonants run horizontal and combine two or three to a word, and completes the table himself, exactly as Yllish is described. A secondary claim is that Chronicler's Lochees, and possibly Lackless, blood makes him an apt 'Listener' for such deep transcription, and that the trap of the Waystone, three days telling of the Chandrian in one place, is Kvothe's deliberate design to right a wrong. The strongest objection is that Kvothe's attempt to learn Yllish was a noted failure at the University, leaving open whether he could really read it, unless he is underselling his fluency.

Evidence§

  • He's slowly becoming Kvothe again over the course of both books. It's happening slowly but surely because the Chronicler's story is coming true *as he writes it*. It's not something that needs to be finished before it takes effect, it's progressive.
    Core claim: the telling progressively restores Kvothe as it is written. — u/Smurphilicious
  • Because it's not really his cipher. It's literally Yllish knots.
    Central mechanism: Chronicler's cipher is functionally Yllish knot recording. — u/Smurphilicious
  • “All vertical lines,” Kvothe said, looking intently at the page. … “The consonants would be horizontal then? And they would combine like this?” … “Clever. You’d never need more than two or three for a word.”
    Book quote OP cites: cipher structure matches how Yllish is described. — u/Smurphilicious
  • He didn't break apart the Chronicler's cipher, Kvothe already knew how to read it. It's the same system as Yllish knots, only penned on paper.
    OP infers Kvothe recognised rather than solved the cipher. — u/Smurphilicious
  • His blood and his ear. He is doing the exact same thing Denna did. He's writing a song where Kvothe is the hero.
    Secondary claim: Lochees/Lackless blood makes Chronicler an apt Listener. — u/Smurphilicious
  • Even the description of chroniclers language is how they described yllish being.
    Comment supports the textual parallel between cipher and Yllish. — u/Kaiser1a2b
  • also Kvothe was VERY particular that Chronicler write his story exactly as he dictated. Seems a relevant detail here.
    Comment adds support: Kvothe's insistence on exact transcription fits the theory. — u/tanye-west
  • learning Yllish was one of the several **failures** Kvothe had back at The University … unless Kvothe is being the unreliable narrator and is UNDERSELLING his knowledge and fluency in Yllish, he wouldn't have been able to use that as a basis for understanding the Chronicler's system.
    CounterStrongest counter: Kvothe failed to learn Yllish at University. — u/Toes14
  • for him to match them up perfectly is way beyond the scope of believable. … you want to add Yllish on top of that going in exactly the same order for both by chance?
    CounterCounter: Chronicler's invented cipher perfectly matching a dead language is implausible. — u/Whole_Lobster2171

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

no change

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