KKC Theory Wiki

Kvothe's Parents Visited the Fae to Research Their Song About Lanre

fringe connection · popularity 64 · 1 source thread

Arliden and Laurian may have entered the Fae at waystones to gather the scarce information for their song about Lanre.

About: Arliden, Laurian, Arliden's Lanre Song

Also involves: The Fae, Haliax, The Chandrian, The Cthaeh, Felurian, Waystone Inn

The theory§

This theory proposes that the troupe's custom of camping at waystones, explained in-text as tradition and good luck, conceals visits into the Fae, where a single night passes as months. The extra time would let Arliden and Laurian gather the otherwise scarce information needed for their dangerous song about Lanre, since the truth of Lanre and the Chandrian is desperately thin in the mortal world. Verse from the waystone rhyme, 'Standing stone by old road is the way / To lead you ever deeper into Fae,' is taken as confirmation that greystones are gateways. An extension supposes Arliden and Laurian may have consulted the Cthaeh, which would explain the tragedy that followed and seed the entire chain of events of the chronicle. The strongest objection is that the in-text explanation is explicit and mundane, and that a child would notice parents aging months of hair and face each night spent at a stone.

Evidence§

  • Arliden and the troupe inexplicably stop at every waystone because of "good luck", and It got me wondering about Kvothe's parents and their Lanre song. We know that information about Lanre is desperately thin, and at no point is it made clear where Arliden and Laurian get their information.
    OP's core observation: waystone habit plus unexplained sourcing of thin Lanre information. — u/kilmnmn
  • So, what if they were visiting the Fae each time the troupe stopped for a night at a waystone?
    OP's central claim: waystone stops are covert Fae visits. — u/kilmnmn
  • A night must be at least several months time in the fae, giving them a significant amount of time to hunt for information amongst old beings that would certainly know of Lanre.
    OP's mechanism: Fae time dilation grants months to research among ancient beings. — u/kilmnmn
  • *Standing stone by old road is the way* *To lead you ever deeper into fae*
    OP cites the waystone rhyme as evidence greystones are gateways to Fae. — u/kilmnmn
  • Given the tragedy that ensued it doesn't seem impossible they might've spoken to the Cthaeh. … everything that happens in KKC sort of starts with the Chandrian killing his parents. … it would make sense for the Cthaeh to be the catalyst.
    Extends theory: parents consulted the Cthaeh, seeding the whole chronicle's tragedy. — u/SlackEight
  • Given how Felurian reacted when Kvothe wanted to ask her about the Chandrian, I'd guess they would have as tough time finding someone willing to talk about Lanre and the Chandrian in the Fae as in the regular mortal world.
    Refines: even in Fae, finding willing informants about Lanre would be hard. — u/elihu
  • They don't "inexplicably" stop at every waystone. They stop at one, where it's explained that it's tradition to camp for the night at waystones, because they're commonly believed to bring good luck and be safe places for travelers.
    CounterCounter: the in-text explanation is explicit and mundane, not mysterious. — u/NoHopeOnlyDeath
  • Even as a kid I'm pretty sure you'd notice your parents aging 3-4 months every night they stopped at a waystone..... Theres also hair growth.
    CounterCounter: Fae time dilation would visibly age the parents, which Kvothe never noticed. — u/killtasticfever

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier correct: speculative, countered by in-text explanation

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