KKC Theory Wiki

The Edema Ruh Descend From the Fae and Carry Hidden Truths

fringe identity · popularity 62 · 1 source thread

The Edema Ruh may be of Fae origin, persecuted to suppress the stories and songs they were charged with keeping alive.

About: Edema Ruh, The Fae

Also involves: Kvothe, Haliax, Shaping, The Creation War

The theory§

This theory holds that the Edema Ruh descend from the Fae, or carry Fae blood, and were persecuted to suppress the stories and truths they were charged with preserving. It leans on the near-mythic reverence given to Illien, the greatest of the Ruh, who is supposed to have been sent to keep certain old stories alive on the principle that 'metal can rust, but words are forever.' It points to the Ruh's strange inherited customs, knowing to find and burn wood that gives off no smoke, always resting at standing stones, as faded traces of Fae practice, and reads their otherwise unexplained persecution as a deliberate campaign to destroy the singers Haliax fears. A connected line of reasoning ties the Edema Ruh etymologically to the Ademre and the Yllish, all descended from the scattered Ruach of the Creation War, with the Ruh as inheritors of the old See-ers' and singers' arts. If true, Kvothe would unite two ancient bloodlines through his Ruh father and his Lackless mother.

Evidence§

  • Illien His songs are given an otherworldly level of reverence. Kvothe says they are the best of the Ruh songs. I think he could have been a full Fae being. Sent to the other world after the shaping war to keep alive certain stories and truths since as Kvothe says "metal can rust, but words are forever".
    OP's opening claim: Illien's revered songs hint he was a Fae sent to preserve truths. — u/hereticjackwr
  • The Ruh have strange knowledge and traditions that could be linked to the Fae realm. They know to find and burn the special wood that gives off no smoke, and they always stop at standing stones to rest.
    OP cites inherited Ruh customs as faded traces of Fae practice. — u/hereticjackwr
  • They were hunted down, seemingly for little reason. I think this was more significant than them simply being undesirable. I think they could have been hunted as part of a plan to destroy the stories and songs that Illien has tried to spread. Haliax says in the beggiing of book 1 "who keeps you safe from the singers"
    OP reframes Ruh persecution as a campaign to destroy the singers Haliax fears. — u/hereticjackwr
  • If they are Fae, then Kvothe could be the confluence of two ancient Fae bloodlines. From his lackless mother and his ruh father.
    OP's payoff: Fae Ruh would make Kvothe a union of two ancient bloodlines. — u/hereticjackwr
  • I strongly believe that the non-human Ruach present in the ancient stories of the Creation War, (d)evolved and fractured into the Ademre, Adema Ruh, Yll … The Adema and Edema are easily connected by their similar names, EDEMa RUh and ADEMRE sound a lot like a shared origin has slightly changed over time.
    Adds etymological line: Ruh, Adem and Yll all descend from the Creation War Ruach. — u/Egggggggggggggggggge
  • I think that the Ruh (the true Ruh) are gifted See-ers and that's why their stories and songs are so particularly written and why they touch the heart so deeply. I feel like they may be the descendents of the original See-ers from the shaping war
    Refines origin claim: Ruh inherit the old See-ers' arts from the shaping war. — u/QuitzelNA
  • Kvothe's eyes are said to change color depending on his emotions. And he often gives in to his urges and emotions just like the Fae.
    Adds character evidence: Kvothe's shifting eyes and impulsiveness mirror Fae traits. — u/Competitive_Try4563
  • something has always bothered me about this idea, namely that Kvothe is unaffected by the presence of iron. Could it be that his Faen blood is diluted enough to not really be affected by iron?
    CounterCounter: Kvothe shows no Fae aversion to iron, weakening the bloodline claim. — u/SurroundedByGnomes
  • This ties back to the Fae, in that I don't believe the Fae exist. … She seems to be a Ruach, like every other sentient humanoid we're told about in the Creation War stories, who is misatributed as a Fae
    CounterCounter/refine: Fae may not exist; supposed Fae are really misattributed Ruach. — u/Egggggggggggggggggge

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier kept: circumstantial traditions, no direct textual Fae link

Contributors§

Source threads§