KKC Theory Wiki

Elodin Will Be the One to Confront Kvothe in His Self-Imposed Exile

fringe prophecy · popularity 91 · 1 source thread

Elodin shows up at the Waystone to shake Kvothe out of the diminished name and self he has retreated into.

About: Elodin, Kvothe

Also involves: Abenthy, Alar, Folly, Newarre

The theory§

This theory holds that Elodin will be the one to find Kvothe in his Newarre exile and force him to reckon with what he has become, having locked away his name and dwindled into the innkeeper Kote. It draws on Elodin's particular sensitivity to the act of name-changing: when Kvothe casually asks him about a person who keeps changing their name, Elodin grows alarmed and insists that Fela is too clever to do such a thing, treating it as a grave and dangerous matter. The theory's underlying premise is that Kvothe has not merely concealed his true name but altered or broken his own sleeping-mind name, severing himself from his power. Rival readings hold that Abenthy, who first taught Kvothe Alar and warned him of its folly, is the more fitting figure to confront him, that music will be what draws him out of his stupor, or that his power is not locked away at all but rather his Alar and confidence have been shattered by grief. The Folly hung above the bar is read as a deliberate echo of Ben's old warning.

Evidence§

  • I think that it would be both hilarious and amazing if Elodin showed up and kicked Kvothe's ass for changing his name and becoming this shell of who he once was.
    OP's core claim: Elodin confronts Kvothe over his name-change and diminished self. — u/caffeineinsanity
  • Pretty sure Elodin is Abbe Leodin in Newarre.
    Supports OP by placing Elodin in Newarre as the priest Leodin. — u/MeleeCleric
  • Already did, that's why Kvothe is not in good terms with the local priest Leodin :D
    Refines: confrontation already happened, explaining Kvothe's strained ties to Leodin. — u/BlueVCoin
  • I’m still waiting for him to reconnect with Ben. He was the one to teach K about Alar and first one to warn of its dangers. I’m pretty sure sword’s name is a nod to Ben’s warning about folly.
    CounterCounter: Ben, who taught Alar and warned of folly, is the fitter confronter. — u/Substantial_Date_38
  • I think music is what will get him out of his current funk
    CounterCounter: music, not Elodin, will draw Kvothe out of his stupor. — u/Dosraki

Tier reasoning§

tier holds: unfalsifiable future-book speculation with no textual anchor

Contributors§

Source threads§