KKC Theory Wiki

Hemme May Be Fae Because the Wax-and-Hair Binding Affected Him

fringe identity · popularity 57 · 1 source thread

Hemme's strong reaction to a wax-and-hair sympathetic binding hints he is Fae, perhaps a skin-changer.

About: Master Hemme, The Fae

Also involves: Kvothe, Sympathy, Master Kilvin, Elodin, Skin-changer

The theory§

During Kvothe's first hearing on the horns for malfeasance, Master Hemme claims to suffer sharp pain from a wax-and-hair mommet, even though Kvothe's own calculations expected the binding to do little and Kilvin treats it as feeble. This theory reasons from the established fact that clay and blood make a superior simulacrum for binding humans: if wax and hair binds humans poorly yet affected Hemme strongly, perhaps it binds something other than human, such as a Fae skin-changer, and Hemme is not what he appears. Counter-arguments dominate the reasoning. Hemme had clear motive to exaggerate his injury and see Kvothe punished, being a petty and vindictive man. A skin-changer, judging by the one encountered later, could not plausibly teach classes or possess Hemme's scholarship, and Elodin's familiarity with the Fae makes it unlikely such a creature could hide among the masters unnoticed. The strength of the binding is better explained mundanely: Kvothe doubled the binding to a bellows-fed brazier for heat, and the class of twenty sympathists guided through the working may have lent collective will that strengthened the link.

Evidence§

  • Wax and hair. Kvothe's calculations figured it wouldn't do much. Kilvin seems to imply that it would do much of anything.
    OP's premise: the wax-and-hair binding should have been feeble per Kvothe and Kilvin. — u/Shmeeggeggy
  • Clay and blood. We know clay and blood makes a better simulacrum. Its been stated a few times just in this one scene. I would ask you though, for whom does this make a better binding for? The answer is pretty simple. Its humans, why would it be anything else?
    Establishes that clay and blood is the superior binding for humans. — u/Shmeeggeggy
  • What if wax and hair does make for a good binding for Fae? Let me get a little more specific. What if wax and hair makes a good binding for something like a skin changer.
    Core claim: wax and hair binds Fae well, so Hemme may be a skin-changer. — u/Shmeeggeggy
  • so we would need motivation and a reason that Hemme is not who he says he is… let's see… hmm… ahh… how about the fact that in Book 2 Herma falls I'll and who takes his place? Oh yeah it's Hemme … oh yeah the Archives! Wait what is in the archives…. That door…
    Adds motive: Hemme replaces Herma and gains access to the Archives. — u/Frydog42
  • I should have gotten ten percent transference at best. It shouldn't have been enough to blister Master Hemme, let alone burn him. … I think Kilven isn't being told by Hemme or Kvothe that the brazier was heated by bellows, had alcohol added, and the candle used its hottest part.
    CounterCounter: the strong effect is explained mundanely by the optimized, bellows-fed heat source. — u/Sandal-Hat
  • Hemme was quite likely exaggerating his injury to get Kvothe in bigger trouble. … A skindancer wouldn't know all the things Hemme knows or be able to teach classes. … If Hemme was a skindancer, it's likely that at least Elodin would be able to tell, considering his familiarity with the Fae.
    CounterCounter: Hemme exaggerated; a skindancer couldn't teach, and Elodin would detect Fae. — u/MilleniumFlounder
  • My assumption has been that the guided explanation Kvothe gave the class acted as a group cooperation boost. 20 other budding sympathists focusing on making the mommet Hemme made the link stronger.
    CounterCounter/refinement: collective will from the class strengthened the link, not Fae nature. — u/Ormendahl84
  • There is a pattern of Kvothe getting more than expected out of some bindings, particularly ones involving heat. The Bone Tar incident is another example.
    Context: Kvothe repeatedly exceeds expected output on heat bindings, suggesting another cause. — u/Zhorangi

Book refs: NOTW, NOTW CH 39

Tier reasoning§

speculative leap rebutted in comments; fringe correct

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