KKC Theory Wiki

The Edema Ruh Waystone Tradition Preserves a Fae Bloodline

fringe connection · popularity 364 · 1 source thread

The Ruh custom of stopping at waystones may conceive fae-touched children like Kvothe, hinting at Fae ancestry.

About: Edema Ruh, The Fae

Also involves: Kvothe, Laurian, Arliden, Myr Tariniel

The theory§

This theory reads the Edema Rue custom of stopping at waystones, which Laurian jokingly attributes to laziness and men's desire, as a tradition that conceives fae-touched children near portals to the Fae. It connects this to the recurring 'fae around the eyes' description of Kvothe and to his innate magical aptitude, proposing that children conceived beside waystones inherit a touch of the Fae. An extension holds that the Edema Rue are themselves descended from the Fae and that stopping at waystones is an unconscious tribute to a lost home, with Arliden recalling that waystones once led to Myr Tariniel. The strongest counter-argument is textual: Kvothe is repeatedly noted to be 'fae around the eyes' only after returning from his extended stay with Felurian, suggesting the trait is acquired in the Fae rather than inherited at conception. Laurian's exchange with Arliden about bedding a 'wandering God' is variously read as literal fae parentage or as flirtatious banter confirming Arliden himself.

Evidence§

  • the Edema Rue have a tradition to "stop" … at waystones. Kvothe's mother even jokes it's a bit of a tradition, driven by men's desire (she claims laziness but she is in front of her child).
    OP's starting observation: the Ruh waystone-stopping custom is for conception. — u/White667
  • Waystone's are a doorway to the fey, would children conceived nearby waystones have the 'fey around the eyes' description so often used to describe Kvothe?
    Core claim: waystones are Fae portals, so conception there marks children fae-touched. — u/White667
  • Are the Edema Rue in particular attempting to maintain a bit of fey in the world, even if they do so without realizing it? A tradition remains, even if the reason is not known
    Extends claim: the custom unconsciously preserves Fae lineage. — u/White667
  • Maybe those conceived around waystones have more of an aptitude towards magic. More likely to have a knack
    Predicts inherited magical aptitude as evidence of the Fae touch. — u/White667
  • Well, Kvothe’s mom jokes about bedding down with a fae god. Since my second or third read through I’ve always taken that to have a more literal meaning than not.
    Comment adds Laurian's 'fae god' joke as literal support for Fae parentage. — u/Sdavis2911
  • It seems possible, but I think it more likely that the Ruh are descended from Fae. … the waystones led to Myr Tariniel.. Which was probably their their home before it was destroyed. Make senses for them to stop to pay tribute to where they came from..
    Refines theory: Ruh are Fae-descended; stopping honors a lost home. — u/Zhorangi
  • I like the theory but I thought the first time Kvothe was described as being a little fae around the eyes was when he first returned from the fae.
    CounterCounter: the fae-eyed trait appears only after Kvothe's Fae visit, not at birth. — u/wetgear
  • Being “fae” are the eyes while is used when he comes back from the fae, is also just a common saying for Temerant. … I don’t think that just because there is magic involved means that it’s just seeping into everything.
    CounterCounter: 'fae around the eyes' is a common idiom, not proof of ancestry. — u/dconley01

Book refs: NOTW

Tier reasoning§

tier downgraded: speculative leap from a joke line to fae conception

Contributors§

Source threads§