KKC Theory Wiki

Kvothe's Expulsion Could Stem From a Mundane Cause Like His Hidden Gram

fringe timeline · popularity 53 · 1 source thread

Kvothe may be expelled for 'stealing University secrets' simply because someone notices his illicit gram or his break-in to Lorren's library.

About: Kvothe

Also involves: The University, Master Hemme, Master Lorren, The Archives, Vintas, Gram

The theory§

This theory holds that Kvothe's eventual expulsion for "stealing University secrets" may rest on a cause far more mundane than the dramatic deeds his legend implies, in keeping with his own insistence that the real story is plainer than the tales told about him. Because the gram is contraband artificery whose schema Kilvin deliberately withheld—a disc that could let anyone burn a person from the inside with a drop of their blood—merely having one would be damning if a master noticed it, deduced its existence, or felt its guilder-like bite. With an enemy like Hemme holding authority and Kvothe never raised to El'the, exposure of the illicit gram could be enough on its own. Alternative triggers are offered: that breaking into Lorren's private collection in the Archives is the true "last straw," or that the gram conferred an unjust edge in the sympathy duels that drew an instructor's eye. A constraint on any gram-based theory is timing, since Kvothe loses the gram in a shipwreck on the way to Vintas, so any discovery must precede that.

Evidence§

  • getting Kvothe expelled for "stealing University secrets" would be much easier than it seems. I mean, with Hemme in charge, and Kvothe not a full El'the, all it would take would be for someone to see and notice (or maybe even deduce) his gram.
    OP's core claim: exposure of the illicit gram alone could justify expulsion. — u/Sgacity
  • it would be in keeping with the "real story is much more mundane than what you hear" nature of his tale.
    OP grounds the mundane-cause idea in Kvothe's own framing of his legend. — u/Sgacity
  • I think it’s that he ends up breaking into Lorrens private library. Like a this was your last straw type deal.
    Comment offers an alternative mundane trigger: breaking into Lorren's library. — u/Bearclawed81
  • I’m guessing he opens the four plate door and that’s both the secret knowledge and what sends the world into chaos.
    CounterComment counters with a grander cause: the four-plate door, not a mundane one. — u/PlaytheBoard
  • They would have to notice his gram before he lost it in his shipwreck on the way to Vintas.
    Comment refines: any gram discovery must occur before the shipwreck timing constraint. — u/CosmicOceanHorror
  • But they would have to know what a gram is in the first place. I would assume it's not that common knowledge. But it would definitely be pretty damning.
    CounterComment counters that recognizing the gram requires rare knowledge, yet concedes it would be damning. — u/novae_ampholyt
  • Obligatory "he was already expelled but then immediately readmitted" post
    Comment notes Kvothe was already expelled once and readmitted. — u/Truthseiyer

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

fringe: speculation about an unwritten future plot point

Contributors§

Source threads§