KKC Theory Wiki

Devi Is Ambrose Jakis's Estranged Sister

fringe identity · popularity 142 · 1 source thread

Devi may be the disgraced daughter of Baron Jakis, making her Ambrose's sister and explaining their mutual loathing.

About: Devi, Ambrose Jakis

Also involves: The University, The Archives, Mola, Maer Lerand Alveron

The theory§

This theory proposes that the moneylender Devi is the estranged, disgraced daughter of Baron Jakis and therefore Ambrose Jakis's sister. It rests on a cluster of coincidences: Devi vanishes from the University, on what Mola calls a holiday, during the single term Kvothe cannot find her, which is the same term Ambrose is forced to take off; at the Maer's court Kvothe hears that Baron Jakis paid to bury a scandal when his youngest daughter was found in a brothel; and Devi's bitter remark that Ambrose beats his whores hints at personal history. Family wealth would also explain how an expelled student amassed enough capital to set up as a gaelet. The reading is widely rejected, however: when Kvothe returns from Severen, Devi is astonished he survived and speaks of 'the baron of the Pirate Isles' as an outsider would of someone else's family; Devi says even her own mother does not know her business, while Baron Jakis is a widower whose wife is dead; and the author has stated Ambrose was created later than Devi, as an antagonist the early drafts lacked, making a planned sibling bond unlikely.

Evidence§

  • This is the only time that Kvothe is unable to find Devi and Mola says she is on a holiday.
    OP's opening coincidence: Devi vanishes the same term Ambrose is forced off. — u/Alternative_End3751
  • Later at the Maer's estate, Kvothe is told a story that Baron Jakis' daughter was caught in a brothel either for pleasure or work. I believe that Devi was in love with one of the ladies of the night and Ambrose does something, hence Devi's comment about him beating his Whore's.
    OP links the buried brothel scandal and Devi's whore remark to Devi being the daughter. — u/Alternative_End3751
  • It also makes sense how Devi could have become a Gaelet in the first place, by having enough cash flow to lend and wait on the interest.
    OP: family wealth would explain how Devi funded becoming a moneylender. — u/Alternative_End3751
  • Baron Jakis had paid several officials to avoid scandal when his youngest daughter was discovered in a brothel. … The phrasing suggests that Baron Jakis has more than one daughter.
    Refines the scandal evidence: 'youngest daughter' implies multiple daughters. — u/elihu
  • In book 2 after Kvothe comes back from Severen he visits Devi. She is astonished to see him. … I would submit that if it were HER family she would have phrased that differently.
    CounterTop counter: Devi speaks of the baron as an outsider, not her own family. — u/Frydog42
  • Cant be , she said that even her mother does'nt know about her buisines , and if im not wrong it is stated that Ambrose mother is dead
    CounterCounter: Devi references a living mother; Baron Jakis is a widower. — u/Crepesupreme303
  • Ambrose as a character was created because at the time the books didn't have an antagonist. Devi was already in the story.
    CounterCounter from author lore: Ambrose was invented later, making a planned sibling bond unlikely. — u/_realitycheck_
  • I think it isn't supported by the story in that it would be something people would have known previously about Devi and it would be unnatural for Kvothe to keep it out of his retelling because of it.
    CounterCounter: such a relationship would be too notable for Kvothe to omit. — u/Premium333

Book refs: WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier kept: largely countered in-text, coincidental support

Contributors§

Source threads§