KKC Theory Wiki

Kvothe Split Himself Into Kote and Bast Using Creation Magic

fringe identity · popularity 272 · 1 source thread

Kvothe used Fae-learned creation magic to externalise part of his own name into Bast, leaving Kote as the remainder.

About: Kvothe, Bast

Also involves: Felurian, Shaping, Naming, The Lackless Box, The Fae

The theory§

This theory proposes that after returning to Felurian, Kvothe learned to create, a craft closely bound to Naming, and used it to externalise part of his own name into a made being, Bast, leaving the diminished Kote as the remainder. The split is offered to explain the pair's complementary natures: Bast is the impulsive, boyish, passionate maker of love, while Kote is dutiful, mature, and worn down. It would account for Bast's singular devotion to restoring his Reshi, and for the moment when Kvothe asks Bast how he would open the Lackless box and neither can, as if the box requires both halves of one person. The reading draws on Kvothe's demonstrated ability to compartmentalise his mind, to 'play hide and seek with himself' within his arcane brain, and on the Fae's elastic relationship with time, since Kvothe and Bast could spend long stretches together in the Fae within a short span of mortal months. The chief objections are that Kvothe addresses Bast as 'son of Remmen' and a Prince of Twilight, naming a separate parentage, and that Bast's own arc, especially his compassion toward Rike, reads as that of an autonomous person rather than an offshoot of Kvothe.

Evidence§

  • Kvothe has to revisit Felurian. There he learns to create, which is closely related to naming. … he puts part of his name in a creation called Bast. One being to escape the Fae.
    OP's core claim: Kvothe used Fae-learned creation to externalise part of his name into Bast. — u/forwantoftheprice
  • It's not far fetched, considering Kvothe can play hide and seek with himself, in his arcane brain.
    Supports plausibility via Kvothe's demonstrated mental compartmentalisation. — u/forwantoftheprice
  • Bast and Kvothe could spend 150 years in the Fae and have all sorts of adventures in a few months.
    Fae's elastic time gives a window for the split to occur. — u/forwantoftheprice
  • Bast is the impulsive boyish love maker. Kote is dutiful and mature.
    Complementary natures read as two halves of one person. — u/forwantoftheprice
  • Kvothe asks Bast how he would open the chest. Neither of them can figure it out because it takes both
    The Lackless box scene suggests it requires both halves of one person. — u/TemporaryOk4143
  • he refers to him as "MY Reshi" and is so obsessed with this end goal. he's literally trying to join back with himself and return to a complete being by awakening his other half.
    Bast's singular devotion explained as the half trying to reunify. — u/todivelostmind
  • we know the name of Bast's father. When introducing him to Chronicler, he says "Bastus, son of Remmin"
    CounterCounter: Bast is given a separate named parentage. — u/GuardianMjolnir
  • Bast knows stuff about the Cthaeh that Kvothe didn't know so that unfortunately throws this theory out
    CounterCounter: Bast holds knowledge Kvothe lacks, implying autonomy. — u/RealityOk5471

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

distinct theory; fringe fits — contradicts Bast's established backstory, evidence is thin

Contributors§

Source threads§