KKC Theory Wiki

Kvothe's Red-Haired Child Will Disprove the Adem's Theory of Conception

fringe prophecy · popularity 69 · 1 source thread

Kvothe returns to the Adem to find a red-haired child, proving fathers contribute to heredity and shaking Adem belief.

About: Kvothe, The Adem

Also involves: Ademre, Laurian, Arliden

The theory§

This theory predicts that Kvothe will one day return to Ademre and find a red-haired child fathered there, which would stand as proof that conception involves both parents and could overturn the Adem doctrine that men play no part in it. The Adem hold that fathers contribute nothing to a child and treat the very idea as a barbarian misunderstanding. The theory's force depends on red hair being a Kvothe trait that no Adem could otherwise produce. Several lines of reasoning weaken it: the Adem would likely absorb such a child by saying the mother had taken his 'fire' or 'anger,' a contraceptive plant is noted, and as skilled herders who breed chickens, goats, and sheep they plainly understand animal husbandry, suggesting their belief is cultural rather than ignorant, perhaps rooted in a physiology that is not fully human.

Evidence§

  • Kvothe will return to the Adem and discover a red haired child, this will be the proof that children are the product of both sexes, possibly fundamentally altering their sexual practices.
    OP's core claim: a red-haired child proves dual-parent heredity and could change Adem beliefs. — u/MildlyJovian
  • They might say that the woman has simply taken some of his "fire" or "anger," and that is all they will have to say about a child with red hair.
    CounterCounter: the Adem would reinterpret the child within their doctrine rather than abandon it. — u/Forward-Hamster
  • I think he said something about taking a contraceptive plant or something? But in any case they'd probably find another explanation even if someone had a Kvothey baby and not change their beliefs, it's too long gone for them imo
    CounterCounter: contraception noted, and they'd rationalize any such child, leaving beliefs intact. — u/quickwombat
  • it's funny that people have this take on the red haired child when it's specifically stated neither Laurian nor Arliden have red hair. … “But he didn’t have red hair. Couldn’t be him.”
    CounterCounter: red hair isn't strictly inherited from a red-haired parent, undermining the proof's premise. — u/Smurphilicious
  • The Adem raised chickens, goats, and sheep. There's no way they didn't understand the basics of animal husbandry.
    Context: skilled herders grasp animal heredity, so their belief is cultural not ignorant. — u/capilot
  • the Ademre physiology is different from the rest of the humans in the books, at least with regards to procreation. … I have a theory that the adem might have fae ancestry/blood and that’s why their concept of parenthood is different
    Context: their belief may reflect genuinely non-human physiology, not error. — u/Sad_Blacksmith_8919
  • No he won't, there are red-headed adem
    CounterCounter: red hair already exists among the Adem, so it would prove nothing. — u/Lawlcopt0r

Book refs: WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier downgraded: only evidence cited undercuts the claim (neither parent has red hair)

Contributors§

Source threads§