KKC Theory Wiki

Chronicler Is Older Than Kvothe and Attended the University Before Him

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Chronicler predates Kvothe at the University, writing his Draccus book before Kvothe enrolled and returning only after he left.

About: Chronicler, Kvothe

Also involves: The University

The theory§

This theory reconstructs Devan Lochees, called Chronicler, as older than Kvothe and a University man who studied there before him, never overlapping with Kvothe's own time. Its anchor is that Kvothe read Chronicler's book 'The Mating Habits of the Common Draccus' soon after enrolling at fifteen, meaning the book already had standing currency and could not have been written by a younger Chronicler. The likeliest reconstruction has Chronicler enroll and advance at the University, leave to 'chase the wind' and write and publish his book while travelling, all before Kvothe arrived; he then returns much later, after Kvothe has gone, to research the rumors swelling around the famous student. This fits Chronicler's own statement that he and Kvothe were never at the University at the same time, and his remark that he was a very different, 'little' person in his school days. The pattern of an older man returning to study is already established in the character of Manet.

Evidence§

  • Kvothe read the book when he just entered the uni, which means the book was already there for a relatively long time before he got in at the age of 15, it doesn't make sense for the chronicler to write a book like that when he isn't even 15
    OP's core argument: the Draccus book predates Kvothe's enrollment, so Chronicler must be older. — u/FreeAd6935
  • chronicler did go to university before Kvothe and left to chase the wind before kvothe enrolled, he then stayed out of university, for quite a long time … and came back after Kvothe left
    Refined reconstruction: Chronicler attended first, left, returned after Kvothe. — u/FreeAd6935
  • I checked the [kingkiller wiki](https://kingkiller.fandom.com/f) and it quotes chronicle [himself](https://kingkiller.fandom.com/wiki/Devan_Lochees) that "he and Kvothe were never there at the same time"
    Cites Chronicler's own statement that their University times never overlapped. — u/FreeAd6935
  • chronicler suggests he was a very different person when he was at school and he and Kvothe probably wouldn't have been friends, I think one of the adjectives he uses is little also, my guess is that he attended and graduated a few years before Kvothe did.
    Supports older-and-earlier Chronicler using his 'little' school-days self-description. — u/savage_switchguy
  • it's also possible that the Chronicler went to university and got educated before Kvothe did, but after making Re'lar went to chase the wind. At that point while on the road, he could have written his book and had it published.
    Adds mechanism: Chronicler advanced to Re'lar, left, then wrote book while travelling. — u/vonbauernfeind
  • Chronicler left the University long ago, and came there second time doing his research about Kvothe. I believe he collects all the rumors and other available info on his subjects.
    Explains the late return: Chronicler comes back to research the rumors about Kvothe. — u/fat_crocodile
  • this trait, attending the University at a later age, is already illustrated via Manet.
    Precedent: older students returning is already established through Manet. — u/Kit-Carson
  • Wasn't "The Chronicler" a title that he got from the last Chronicler. It could be possible that it was the old one who wrote The Mating Habits of the Common Drachus, and the new one went to The University after Kvothe.
    CounterCounter: the book may belong to a prior Chronicler, not the older-first one. — u/pyrgmr

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier upgraded: published-book timing and Chronicler's own statements give strong textual support

Contributors§

Source threads§