KKC Theory Wiki

Kvothe Is Taborlin the Great, a Premonition the Cthaeh Seeded Into Legend

fringe identity · popularity 115 · 1 source thread

Taborlin isn't a past figure but a future vision the Cthaeh planted as a story so its telling makes Kvothe real.

About: Kvothe, Taborlin the Great, The Cthaeh

Also involves: Auri, Felurian

The theory§

The legends of Taborlin the Great share many traits with Kvothe, yet the timelines plainly do not allow them to be the same historical man. This theory reconciles the parallels by proposing that Taborlin is not a figure of the past at all but a premonition of Kvothe's future, one the Cthaeh, who sees all possible futures, once gave to a long-ago visitor. Knowing that a story grows more likely to come true the more it is told, the Cthaeh seeded the tale into the world so its repetition would help bring Kvothe to pass, and perhaps salted it with clues to steer him. Supporting parallels include Taborlin's signature key, coin, and candle, items Auri gives Kvothe, and his fabled command 'break' and the chest that opens at his word, echoed by Elodin breaking out of Haven and by Kvothe commanding a chest. That Felurian had never heard of Taborlin places his tales after the Creation War, leaving room for him to be a forward-looking vision rather than ancient history. A simpler counter-reading holds Kvothe merely fashions his own legend after Taborlin's, or is the new Taborlin of his age rather than literally the same person.

Evidence§

  • We all know that the Cthaeh can see all possible futures. We also know that the Cthaeh can influence those it ‘infects’ and manipulates.
    OP grounds the theory in the Cthaeh's established precognition and manipulation. — u/Serious_Permission25
  • I think that Taborlin isn’t someone from the past/a legend, but rather a premonition of the future that the Ctheah had a long time ago. It gave the story of Taborlin to someone that visited it ages ago, sending that story out into the world knowing that the more it is told, the more it is likely to come to fruition.
    OP's core claim: Taborlin is a Cthaeh-seeded premonition of Kvothe's future. — u/Serious_Permission25
  • I feel this is why there are so many similarities between Kvothe and Taborlin, because they are one in the same person.
    OP explains the Kvothe-Taborlin parallels as identity. — u/Serious_Permission25
  • this is definitely a viable theory since we know of a few precognitive beings. It really depends on how old the tales of Taborlin the Great actually are. And since Felurian had never heard of him, we can assume his tales are some time post-Creation War.
    Commenter supports mechanism and dates Taborlin post-Creation War via Felurian. — u/Haiyichshmir
  • Pretty sure Auri gives him key, coin, and candle also.
    Adds concrete parallel: Auri gives Kvothe Taborlin's signature items. — u/RealNumberSix
  • the Cthae might have hidden a ton of clues for Kvothe to help him get where the Cthae wants, and the fact that the story is so famous will make sure that the right person knows them without even knowing that they're clues yet.
    Refines mechanism: the famous story carries hidden Cthaeh clues to steer Kvothe. — u/Cirrque
  • I personally think it’s less about how Kvothe is literally Taborlin, and more about how Kvothe is the *new* Taborlin. Taborlin was the greatest arcanist of his time, just like how Kvothe is now the greatest arcanist of *his* time. He is taking on the mantle of the new Taborlin.
    CounterCounter: Kvothe is the new Taborlin of his age, not literally the same person. — u/Little_hunt3r
  • I always assumed he was massaging his story to show parallels and fashion himself after taborlin
    CounterCounter: Kvothe simply fashions his own legend after Taborlin's. — u/Mobile_Net2155

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier verified: the time-loop/seeded-premonition mechanism is speculative, fringe is correct

Contributors§

Source threads§