KKC Theory Wiki

Masters Hemme and Brandeur Are Secret Amyr, Along With the Jakis Family

fringe identity · popularity 53 · 1 source thread

An overheard exchange about wearing a 'Gram' suggests Hemme and Brandeur are covert Amyr allied with the Jakis line.

About: Master Hemme, Master Brandeur, The Amyr

Also involves: Ambrose Jakis, The Archives, The University

The theory§

This theory reads a private exchange overheard by Kvothe in 'On the Horns' as evidence that Masters Hemme and Brandeur are bound by more than a shared clique. After Kvothe's first appearance before the masters, Brandeur asks Hemme whether he was wearing a gram, and Hemme bristles, 'You might as well blame someone stabbed in an alley for not wearing armor', to which Brandeur replies, 'We should all take precautions, you know as well as-'. The theory asks why masters of the University should need such protective precautions, and behind closed doors, and concludes the pair are covert Amyr. It draws in the censoring of Amyr material from the Archives, Hemme's bond with Ambrose Jakis, and the rapid rise of Baron Jakis to argue that the Jakis family is allied with this hidden order. The University is cast as the Amyr's playground, with Hemme, Brandeur, and the Jakis line among its concealed agents.

Evidence§

  • After Kvothe's first time on the horns is dismissed Master Brandeur approaches Master Hemme and Kvothe eavesdrops the exchange: Brandeur: "Weren't you wearing a Gram?" Hemme: "No, I wasn't. And don't take that tone with me. As if this was my fault. You might as well blame someone stabbed in an alley for not wearing armor." B: "We should all take precautions, you know as well as-"...
    The overheard exchange that is the foundation of the whole theory. — u/Crossedpens
  • Why would Masters of the University need to be taking precautions? Why was this conversation behind closed doors? What does Hemme know as well as who?...
    OP frames the suspicious questions the exchange raises. — u/Crossedpens
  • Maybe Brandeur and Hemme are a little more closely allied than a simple clique among the Masters. Maybe Hemme's association with Ambrose is more than just a rich and powerful father and a shared disdain for Kvothe.
    Core claim: the pair are more than a clique, linked to Ambrose Jakis. — u/Crossedpens
  • we are led to believe later on that the Amyr are 1, not as benevolent as the stories. 2, very much active to date, only in secret... and 3, their number has included men of learning as well as Nobility...
    Supports that secret, active Amyr could plausibly be masters and nobles. — u/Crossedpens
  • someone with free reign of the archives (possibly multiple people through the years) have been censoring the archive of all things amyr... Plus Baron Jakis's swift rise in power...
    Folds in Archive censoring and Jakis rise as corroborating evidence. — u/Crossedpens
  • they know or maybe even are part of the Amyr (evidence is the Cthaeh stating that Kvothe could get help from them if he just asked.) So there are likely more realistic threats than just crazy students to warrant wearing a gram.
    Comment adds Cthaeh evidence that masters may be Amyr. — u/ertgbnm
  • The simplest explanation is that he taught a sympathy course and we know that grams help prevent slippage (if I remember correctly). Alternatively, Hemme also teaches advanced sympathy as well and they actually duel sometimes so a gram is a good piece of equipment to have.
    CounterCounter: a gram is just routine equipment for a sympathy master. — u/WandererNearby
  • Everyone is always reaching for deep conspiracies. He is a teacher in a school for magical angsty teens and young adults, that has its own insane asylum. In real life the school would have metal detectors. In story they wear metal grams.
    CounterCounter: mundane safety in a dangerous school, no conspiracy needed. — u/zmayes

Book refs: NOTW ch 40

Tier reasoning§

fringe: single overheard line, unanimously countered

Contributors§

Source threads§