KKC Theory Wiki

Baron Greyfellow Could Learn Kvothe Lives From His Colors at Bredon's Party

fringe connection · popularity 55 · 1 source thread

Kvothe wearing Greyfellow's colors at a noble party could expose that he is alive and the son of Natalia Lackless.

About: Kvothe

Also involves: Laurian, Maer Lerand Alveron, The Eolian, The Cthaeh, Lord Greyfellow, Bredon

The theory§

At the close of his account, Kvothe returns to Imre, meets Bredon at the Eolian, and attends a party Bredon throws among many nobles, for which Kvothe has new clothes made in the colors of Baron Greyfellow, his troupe's old patron. This theory traces how that choice of colors could expose him: nobles at the party would notice a gifted young musician wearing Greyfellow's colors who now stands in the Maer's favor, and such gossip would in time reach Greyfellow himself. It further supposes that Greyfellow did not patronize Arliden's troupe by accident but knew Laurian's true identity as a runaway Lackless, so that on learning the boy lives he would broadcast Kvothe's Lackless heritage, beginning the chain that unmasks him. The premise that Greyfellow knowingly sponsored the troupe is contested, since a patron is unlikely to take on a troupe that ran off with a noble's daughter unless that patron's house was already hostile to the Lackless. The setting matters because the party follows Kvothe's encounter with the Cthaeh, whose influence bends events toward disaster, and Kvothe himself tells Chronicler that things "get dark again" if the story goes much further.

Evidence§

  • Kvothe has new clothes made for the party. They are in the colors of Baron Greyfellow, his old patron.
    Core observation: Kvothe deliberately wears his old patron's colors to the noble party. — u/MJ_ONC
  • At a party full of nobles, it is very likely that someone recognizes these colors. All it takes is one person to notice and talk about it later.
    First link: nobles would recognize the colors and gossip about them. — u/MJ_ONC
  • People would talk about how he is in the good graces of the Maer. He stayed at the Maer’s court, helped him, and earned his trust. That alone makes Kvothe interesting to the nobility.
    Kvothe's new Maer-favored status makes the gossip noteworthy and likely to spread. — u/MJ_ONC
  • If someone tells this to Baron Greyfellow, he would immediately pay attention. He once supported a gifted boy from a troupe.
    The gossip reaches Greyfellow, who connects it to the boy he once patronized. — u/MJ_ONC
  • My theory is that he already knew who Ilien really was, that she was Natalia Lackless. He did not become the troupe’s patron by accident. When he now hears that Kvothe is alive, he would want to make this known as well. He would tell people that this boy is the son of Natalia Lackless.
    Key claim: Greyfellow knowingly patroned the troupe and would broadcast Kvothe's Lackless heritage. — u/MJ_ONC
  • Rothfuss inclusions of Kvothe representing Greyfallows colors does seem oddly pointed. … It seems obvious to me like you believe that he would know Lauriens identity.
    Comment supports the deliberate-colors reading and that Greyfellow knew the family's identity. — u/ManofManyHills
  • This moment is after Kvothe speaks to Cthaeh. … now I think Kvothe wearing Greyfallow's colors around nobility and gaining in notoriety will somehow end in disaster for Kvothe.
    Supporting context: the Cthaeh-influenced timing suggests this thread ends in disaster. — u/chainsawx72
  • I seriously doubt if any patron would be willing to establish a new relationship with their troupe after they ran away with someone's daughter. It would almost have to be a family that was already antagonistic to the Lackless for that to happen.
    CounterCounter: contests that Greyfellow knowingly sponsored the troupe unless his house was anti-Lackless. — u/Zhorangi
  • I would sincerely doubt that Baron Greyfellow would even remember that there was a child in the troupe he sponsored.
    CounterCounter: Greyfellow may not even recall the child, weakening the recognition premise. — u/Merax75

Book refs: WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier confirmed: speculative chain resting on contested premise

Contributors§

Source threads§