KKC Theory Wiki

Kvothe Defeats the Chandrian by Changing Their Deep Names

plausible mechanism · popularity 89 · 1 source thread

Kvothe will undo the Chandrian not by killing them but by altering their immortal deep names.

About: Kvothe, The Chandrian, Naming

Also involves: Elodin, Haliax, Selitos, Denna, The Doors of Stone, Skarpi, Myr Tariniel, Cinder, Felurian

The theory§

This theory holds that Kvothe will undo the Chandrian not by killing them but by altering their deep names—their true names, not their calling names. Its foundation is Selitos's curse on Lanre, that his own name be turned against him so he has no peace until the world ends, which establishes that a being's name can be weaponized against it. Naming lore supports the leap: Kvothe overcomes Felurian by grasping her deep name and believes he could kill her with it, and Haliax cripples Cinder simply by speaking 'Ferula,' showing that holding a deep name brings even a Chandrian to its knees. Crucially, Kvothe is given the deep names of the Chandrian in the latter chapters of WMF, and Bast's pointed reaction marks them as names of true power rather than narrative filler. The theory connects to Kvothe's own transformation—Elodin grows alarmed when Kvothe asks what he would make of a person who keeps changing his name, treated as a Chekhov's gun signalling that Kvothe himself changed his deep name, locking part of it away as Jax sealed part of the moon's name, and became the diminished Kote.

Evidence§

  • we discover that Lanre is immortal due to the knowledge of his own deep name, and that he was cursed by Selitos which he states, and I quote, "By your own name let you be accursed". He also exclaims, and I quote, "Your own name will be turned against you, that you shall have no peace".
    Establishes a being's own name can be weaponized against it. — u/GevousM4sterous
  • Kvothe asks Elodin about what he would say about someone who is constantly changing their name (referring to Denna), and Elodin mistakenly assumes Kvothe is referring to Deep names and not calling names, and he panics a little. This suggests that it is possible to change ones deep name, and it has some serious consequences.
    Argues deep names can be changed, with serious consequences. — u/GevousM4sterous
  • I believe that in A Wise Men's fear chapter 128 Kvothe is given the deep names of the Chandrian. We know this is their deep names based on Basts reaction … We are given these names for a reason, and I do not believe this is a red herring, thus they have some importance.
    Kvothe is handed the Chandrian's deep names; Bast's reaction marks their importance. — u/GevousM4sterous
  • We know from Kvothe's battle with felurian that he gets her deep name and he knew (or at least believed) he could use it to kill her with it. And later he gets all of the deep names of the Chandrian. We know from Haliax's crippling of Cinder, that having their deep names can bring them to their knees.
    Naming precedent: Felurian and Cinder show a deep name can subdue or kill. — u/mayotte2048
  • It seems possible to me that Denna may have learned their true names and sung them in her song. It would be amazing for Kvothe to kill all of them to try and protect or avenge her.
    Refines who wields the names: maybe Denna learned them via her song. — u/InternetComputerName
  • I'm not sure if Kvothe really *knows* their true names in the sense of having power over them.
    CounterCounter: doubts Kvothe truly holds power-giving knowledge of the names. — u/InternetComputerName
  • Personally I don't think the story will end with the defeat of the Chandrian. … The Chandrian are a rich background full of mystery he could explore in future books. … That's a lot to put in a third book just to kill them all off.
    CounterCounter: Chandrian likely survive for future books, not defeated in book 3. — u/the_spurring_platty

Book refs: NOTW ch 26, WMF ch 149, WMF ch 128, WMF ch 129

Tier reasoning§

tier holds: multiple textual threads converge on a name-based resolution

Contributors§

Source threads§