KKC Theory Wiki

Chronicler May Not Be Exactly Who He Claims to Be

plausible identity · popularity 129 · 1 source thread

Timeline inconsistencies and his reaction to his name suggest Chronicler is hiding his true identity.

About: Chronicler

Also involves: Kvothe, The University, Elodin, Naming

The theory§

This theory holds that Chronicler, the travelling scribe Devan Lochees, conceals more about himself than he admits. Its central knot is a timeline problem: Kvothe read Chronicler's book, The Mating Habits of the Common Draccus, while a student at the University, which seems to place Chronicler there well before Kvothe, yet Chronicler tells Kvothe that the iron-law brush was 'the first story I heard about you at the university', which reads as if he were the younger of the two. Chronicler's evasive reply when Kvothe greets him by his true name, Devan, adds to the unease. Mundane resolutions exist, and several hold: the University is for continuing education, so Chronicler may have written his book before enrolling, or returned to it years later, after Kvothe's trial in Imre had made the redheaded student notorious. Against a purely false identity stands his evident University grounding, since he knows the name of iron and speaks of Elodin with familiarity. The theory's bolder offshoots cast him as a Lackless, reading Kvothe's quip about lifelong bad luck as a pun on 'luckless', or as an iron-law enforcer working for the church or the Archives.

Evidence§

  • we know that Kvothe read his book (mating habits...) while he was at the university, so Devon would have gone to University way before Kvothe.
    OP's core timeline problem: Chronicler's book implies he predates Kvothe at University. — u/ddusty53
  • Devon says about Kvothe's brush with the iron law; "That is the first story I heard about you at the university", making him seem younger. This isn't the kind of mistake Pat would make.
    OP's key contradiction: the line makes Chronicler seem younger, contradicting the book timeline. — u/ddusty53
  • when we first meet him and Kvothe calls him Devon, he is initially confused by this and covers with "I haven't gone by that name in a long time".
    OP's second clue: Chronicler's evasive reaction to his own true name. — u/ddusty53
  • There's a theory that Chronicler is a Lackless. The evidence being his name, Devan Lochees, and one of the first things Kvothe ever says to him. … have you had bad luck your whole life … ie luckless
    Bolder offshoot: name and the 'luckless' pun cast him as a Lackless. — u/unnecessary_yams
  • Maybe Chronicler is some kind of enforcer/"Iron Namer" that comes from that side of things. … We also know that the church keeps fastidious records - perhaps thats what Chronicler is doing here - before he hands down punishment
    Alternative hidden role: an iron-law enforcer for the church, here to judge Kvothe. — u/Shadeun
  • First, is that Chronicler wrote Mating Habits before attending University. We are told that it is for continuing education rather than beginning it. … Second is that the first story he heard was when he went back to University looking for stories
    CounterCounter: mundane fixes resolve the timeline without a hidden identity. — u/WacDonald
  • its pretty clear that Chronicler went to the university as his Elodin knowledge is pretty on-point. … He also knows the name of Iron. So I think its pretty clear he studied at the university.
    CounterCounter: his genuine University grounding argues against a wholly false identity. — u/Shadeun
  • It's entirely possible Chronicler made that line up because he wanted to goad Kvothe into telling the story of his trial in Imre.
    CounterCounter: the suspicious line may be a deliberate ploy, not a timeline slip. — u/aerojockey

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier unchanged: reasonable flag of textual inconsistencies, top comment counters

Contributors§

Source threads§