KKC Theory Wiki

Haliax and the Chandrian Are Working to End the Cthaeh's Influence

plausible motive · popularity 80 · 1 source thread

The Chandrian's true endgame is destroying the world to permanently end the Cthaeh's malign influence over it.

About: Haliax, The Chandrian, The Cthaeh

Also involves: Cinder, Iax, The Doors of Stone, The Sithe

The theory§

This theory holds that Haliax and the Chandrian are not random agents of destruction but are working toward a single grim end: severing the Cthaeh's influence over the world, which only the world's destruction can permanently achieve. In Skarpi's account, Lanre-become-Haliax openly seeks oblivion and the unmaking of all things, and the theory reads this not as nihilistic grief alone but as the logical terminus of fighting a being whose every utterance is calculated toward the worst possible future. The Cthaeh's taint is described as a communicable contagion: the Sithe kill anything that touches the tree, and the Chandrian's habit of murdering everyone who learns of them is reframed as the same quarantine logic, stopping each new outbreak before it spreads. If Lanre himself spoke with the Cthaeh, then the entire chain of the Chandrian's atrocities may be an attempt to contain a plague they themselves carry. An extension proposes the Chandrian seek to free Iax from behind the Doors of Stone as an ally in unmaking the world, while the Cthaeh opposes them because tormenting people is its only entertainment.

Evidence§

  • In Skarpi's story, Haliax wants to destroy the world. I guess when you come down to it that's the only way to really end the Cthaeh's influence for good.
    Core claim: destroying the world is the only permanent way to end the Cthaeh's influence. — u/elihu
  • Pretty sure Haliax simply wants to destroy the world as to bring about what he believes would be oblivion since he apparently can’t die due to the power he obtained.
    CounterOffers an alternative motive: oblivion-seeking, not anti-Cthaeh strategy. — u/Paulverizr
  • Adding to this, Haliax claims to keep Cinder (and, presumably, the rest of the Seven) safe from The Sithe. The Sithe kill anything that comes into contact with The Cthaeh, which Bast claims Iax did.
    Links Haliax's protection of the Seven to the Sithe and Cthaeh contact. — u/Space_SkaBoom
  • We know of two groups that "kill everyone for doing X thing" (chandrian killing anybody spreading info on the chandrian, and the sithe killing anybody that comes into contact with the cthaeh) i like the idea that those motives are interrwined.
    Parallels Chandrian killings with Sithe quarantine logic around the Cthaeh. — u/Scippio-dem-lines
  • Haliax and the Chandrian may feel that he is the one that led them to their fate, and so want revenge. Simply killing anyone who had interactions with the Cthaeh is not enough. They would have an end game to kill the Cthaeh.
    Refines theory into a motive: revenge driving an endgame to kill the Cthaeh. — u/King_Esot3ric
  • I have a theory that the Chandrian want to release Iax from the doors of stone because they think he'll help them destroy the world and that the Cthaeh doesn't want them to succeed because messing with people is the Cthaeh's entertainment.
    Extension: frees Iax as an ally; Cthaeh opposes to preserve its entertainment. — u/elihu
  • I'm not sure killing people minimizes your impact. People talk about them like a natural disaster, real, but next to unavoidable.
    CounterCounter: mass killing doesn't fit a containment/quarantine rationale. — u/TheLastSock

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

distinct motive theory; ties Sithe/Cthaeh-protection text to motive, plausible holds

Contributors§

Source threads§