KKC Theory Wiki

Chronicler's Surname Lochees Means 'Lock-Key', Tying Him to the Lackless Line

fringe identity · popularity 161 · 1 source thread

Devan Lochees' name reads as 'lock-key', marking Chronicler as the key to the thrice-locked box and the Lackless family.

About: Chronicler, The Lackless Box

Also involves: Kvothe, Meluan Lackless, Laurian, Bredon

The theory§

Chronicler's full name, Devan Lochees, can be read as 'lock-key', marking him as the key to the thrice-locked chest in Kvothe's room at the Waystone, or to unlocking Kvothe's story itself. The reading rests on the documented decay of the Lackless name: the family was once called Loeclos, Loklos, or Loeloes, all translating as 'Lockless', which in Atur became 'Lack-key' (the root of the word 'lackey') and elsewhere 'Lacliths', as Bredon recounts the line branching across the map under altered names. If Lochees is one such splinter, Chronicler would be a distant relation of the Lackless line and thus of Kvothe himself. The reading is reinforced by the first words Kvothe speaks to Chronicler, asking whether he has 'had bad luck' his whole life, an echo of 'luckless', another sense the Lackless name is said to carry. Taken further, 'Devan' is glossed as the act of unloading the contents of a container, so 'Devan Lochees' becomes the one who opens the lock and unloads what is inside.

Evidence§

  • Chronicler's name is Devan Lochess. His literal last name could be pronounced <<LOCK - KEY>>. Indicating that Chronicler is indeed the <key> to the thrice locked chest... or key to unlocking Kvothe.
    OP's core claim: Lochees pronounced 'lock-key', making Chronicler the key. — u/Euzebe
  • It seems like a variation of Lackless. Isn’t it interesting that the first thing Kvothe asks Chronicler is “have you had **bad luck** your whole life...?
    Ties name to Lackless line; Kvothe's 'bad luck' greeting echoes 'Luckless'. — u/PlaytheBoard
  • The family was called **Loeclos or Loklos, or Loeloes.** They all translate the same, **Lockless.** … So the **Lockless** family became the **Lackless** family? … In Atur they became the **Lack-key** family. … That’s where the word ‘lackey’ comes from
    Book quote documenting name decay Lockless to Lack-key, supporting the splinter reading. — u/PlaytheBoard
  • Small wonder they are often called the **“Luckless”** by their detractors.
    Book quote: Lackless also called 'Luckless', backing the 'bad luck' echo. — u/PlaytheBoard
  • I remember Bredon explaining that the lockless family branched out throughout the map claiming a different variation of the lockless name. And with that theory the name Lochess does seem to fit.
    Refines theory: Bredon's branching-name lore makes Lochees a plausible variant. — u/sivakarthik330
  • So is the Chronicler a part of the Lackless family, thereby, a relative of Kvothe?
    Draws the conclusion: Chronicler would be a Lackless relation of Kvothe. — u/sreenandan
  • to "devan" something is to open and unload it... So "devan lochees" open the lock
    Extends reading: 'Devan' means unload, so full name is 'open the lock'. — u/JimDeFist
  • This is what you'd call a "stretch," which this sub provides an almost endless supply of.
    CounterCounter: dismisses the name reading as an unfounded stretch. — u/spankymuffin

Book refs: WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier unchanged: name-pun speculation, though grounded in canon name variants

Contributors§

Source threads§