KKC Theory Wiki

Chronicler Is Tehlu the Kingkiller and the Cthaeh's Voice

fringe identity · popularity 152 · 1 source thread

Devan Lochees is secretly Tehlu, bound to the iron-wheeled Cthaeh, whose writing-magic makes whatever it says become true.

About: Chronicler, Tehlu, The Cthaeh

Also involves: Encanis, Kvothe, Iax, Naming, Stercus, Abenthy, The Doors of Stone

The theory§

Reading 'The Kingkiller Chronicle' as a complete sentence, this theory identifies Chronicler, Devan Lochees, as Tehlu, the Kingkiller, and casts the Cthaeh as Encanis, the demon Tehlu bound to himself upon an iron wheel. It leans on Chronicler's rare command of the name of iron, his impossibly long timeline (Mating Habits of the Common Draccus had gone through enough editions that Devi owned a newer one before Kvothe reached the University), and the wheel of spokes encircling the Cthaeh's tree, echoing the wheel Tehlu forged. From there it reinterprets the Cthaeh: rather than being bound to truth or seeing the future, the Cthaeh wields Chronicler's writing-down magic so that whatever it says becomes true, reshaping pasts and futures. The High King who hides his name in a book of glass within a box of copper within an iron chest is read as a mirror of Kvothe's own thrice-locked chest, and the swordsman Sheave's paper-thin blade as a shaving razor. The chain of identifications is widely regarded as overreaching, but the High King tale's resemblance to the legend of Beren and Luthien and their stolen Silmaril is granted.

Evidence§

  • The Chronicler is Tehlu, the Kingkiller. … We know that Chronicler knows the name of iron, which is rare. We know that Tehlu forged an iron wheel, which he bound himself and Encanis (the Cthaeh) to. The Cthaeh tree has a 6-spoked wheel around it.
    OP's core claim plus the iron-name and iron-wheel links between Chronicler, Tehlu, and the Cthaeh. — u/Ohheyliz
  • We know that Chronicler is much older than Kvothe (Mating Habits of the Common Draccus was published long enough before Kvothe started at the University that Devi had a new edition of it), but the timeline of Chronicler at the university makes zero sense.
    Timeline evidence: Chronicler is implausibly old for his University story. — u/Ohheyliz
  • the Cthaeh isn’t bound to the truth and can’t see the future. The Cthaeh uses Chronicler’s writing down magic so that he can say anything and it *becomes* true.
    Reinterprets the Cthaeh: writing-down magic makes its words become true rather than prophecy. — u/Ohheyliz
  • he carries around a great book, and whatever he writes down in that book comes true.” … “They call him Lord of Stories, and if he learns one of your secrets he can write whatever he wants about you in his book.
    In-text Waystone tale OP cites as evidence of Chronicler's writing-makes-true magic. — u/Ohheyliz
  • he knows Chronicler can’t control you if you have your name hidden away somewhere safe. The high king’s name is written in a book of glass, hidden in a box of copper. And that box is locked away in a great iron chest where nobody can touch it.
    High King's glass-copper-iron chest mirrors Kvothe's thrice-locked chest. — u/Ohheyliz
  • I think the High King and Princess story is inspired by Beren and Luthien and the Silmaril they steal. So parts of this track
    Comment grants the High King tale's resemblance to Beren and Luthien. — u/ohohook
  • His sword is called Shaeve its paper thin and you bleed before you feel its cut. Thats a description of a razor used to sha(e)ve a beard.
    Refines OP: Sheave the paper blade reads as a shaving razor. — u/Bow-before-the-Cats
  • Throwing away the Cthae's inability to lie makes the whole thing a little shaky. Its likely the Cthae really doesn't lie, as Felurian tells him. … Kvothe has referred to himself as the Kingkiller, so it'd be weird if Chronicler was.
    CounterCounter: Cthaeh genuinely cannot lie, and Kvothe, not Chronicler, is the Kingkiller. — u/finalgamer1992
  • The Cthaeh tree actually literally doesn’t have a 6 spoke wheel of iron around it. Fan theory with absolutely no basis in the actual writing of the book.
    CounterCounter: denies the iron-wheel premise has any textual basis. — u/FitYouth3031

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier unchanged: highly speculative identity leap, commenters call core leap speculative

Contributors§

Source threads§