KKC Theory Wiki

The Lackless Lands Are the Red Strip Between Modeg and Tinue

plausible other · popularity 65 · 1 source thread

Map and text clues place the independent Lackless lands north of Severen, near Tinue, off the Great Stone Road.

Also involves: Meluan Lackless, Maer Lerand Alveron, Vintas, Severen, The University, The Lackless Box, Lackless Lands, Tinuë, Modeg

The theory§

This theory pins the location of the independent Lackless lands using converging textual clues and the map poster from Pat's website. Maer Alveron tells Kvothe the Lackless family is older than the house of Alveron, and that pieces of what are now Vintas, Modeg, and a large portion of the small kingdoms were once Lackless lands; these former holdings triangulate to a region between those three. Kvothe twice notes the Lackless lands lie about a thousand miles from the University, and Meluan's heir would not study 'so far from home,' while Alveron places the lands 'in the north.' The theory identifies the red strip between Modeg and Tinue, at the end of the Great Stone Road, as the surviving Lackless seat, noting it is colored differently from both Vintas and Modeg, consistent with Alveron's claim that Meluan is the one woman 'beyond the king's control.' The Maer's interest in scouting the lands around Tinue and the family's retained right to raise an army are taken as signs of a coming move against King Roderic.

Evidence§

  • Pieces of what are now ***Vintas, Modeg, and a large portion of the small kingdoms were all Lackless lands*** at one point.
    Former Lackless holdings triangulate the surviving lands to a region between Vintas, Modeg, and the small kingdoms. — u/czechancestry
  • If the Lackless lands weren’t ***a thousand miles*** away, I would have thought I knew her from the University. But that was ridiculous. The Lackless heir wouldn’t study ***so far from home***.
    Text places the Lackless lands about a thousand miles from the University. — u/czechancestry
  • “The **Lackless lands are in the north**, you know.”
    Alveron locates the lands in the north, i.e. north of Severen. — u/czechancestry
  • Marten told me they’d done other jobs for the Maer, the most recent of which involved scouting some of the lands around Tinuë.
    Maer's scouting near Tinue ties his interest to the proposed location. — u/czechancestry
  • The land is in a different color than either Vintas or Modeg, and therefore must be not under the control of either. Meluan is beyond King Roderic's control.
    Map's distinct coloring of the red strip matches Meluan being beyond the king's control. — u/czechancestry
  • The red strip of land between Modeg and Tinuë at the end of the Great Stone Road are the Lackless lands.
    The theory's conclusion: identifies the specific strip as the surviving Lackless seat. — u/czechancestry
  • based on [this map](https://kingkiller.fandom.com/wiki/Map:Map_from_Pat%27s_website) from Pat's site it seems to imply it's part of the Small Kingdoms based on the colour.
    Refines the map read: the strip's color suggests Small Kingdoms affiliation. — u/TacticalDo
  • 'The Lackless lands used to be a full earldom' confirms that they are not their own kingdom, so they should owe allegiance to *some* king. Maer Alveron saying that Meluan is the only daughter who is 'beyond the king's control' suggests that he isn't looking at every daughter in Modeg, Atur, Commonwealth, Small Kingdoms, Ceald, etc. She *must* be the only *Vint* daughter who is beyond the king's control.
    CounterCounter: an earldom owes allegiance, so the lands may belong within Vintas, not be unaffiliated. — u/chainsawx72
  • The Lackless door is in Severn. the clue is in the "pieces" of Vintas, that used to be in Lackless. So if you broaden your oval to include former Lackless lands, its right there.
    CounterCounter: places the Lackless lands in former Vintas (Severen), not the red northern strip. — u/Professional-Fee6914

Book refs: WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier confirmed: solid textual triangulation with map inference

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