KKC Theory Wiki

Master Ash Is Grooming Denna to Become the Next Chandrian

fringe identity · popularity 72 · 1 source thread

Denna's patron Master Ash (likely Cinder) is testing and shaping her to join the Chandrian, foretold by the 'woman pale as snow' rhyme.

About: Denna, Master Ash, The Chandrian

Also involves: Cinder, Kvothe, Trebon

The theory§

This theory holds that Denna's patron Master Ash, widely identified with Cinder, is not merely employing Denna but shaping her toward membership in the Chandrian. Its support is threefold: Master Ash sent Denna to perform at the Trebon wedding and afterward interrogated her about who attended, how many, and what they looked like, which she herself reads as a test of how observant she was; Denna's repeatedly emphasized pallor, the striking contrast of her pale skin against her hair and the dark bruises along her temple; and the Chandrian nursery rhyme line 'See a woman pale as snow, silent come and silent go,' read as a prophecy of a pale female Chandrian. Against this, the pale woman of the rhyme is more naturally an existing Chandrian, whether the winter-associated Cinder or pale Alenta who brings the blight, and the count of seven Chandrian, rooted in the temic etymology meaning 'seven of them', leaves no obvious vacancy for Denna to fill. The likelier reading is that the Chandrian use Denna as a tool, employing her revisionist song to soften public perception of their former selves, rather than recruiting her.

Evidence§

  • we know that Denna's patron sends her to the wedding in Trebon to perform. We also "know" that Master Ash may be Cinder.
    OP's premise: Denna's patron Master Ash, possibly Cinder, sent her to Trebon. — u/ks1246
  • ...and he asked me questions. Who was there, how many people, what they looked like... Now that I'm thinking of it, I think that was the real test. He wanted to see how observant I was.
    Master Ash interrogated Denna after Trebon, which she reads as a test of observance. — u/ks1246
  • one of Denna's defining features is that she's very pale. Kvothe talks about the striking contrast between her hair and her skin … the bruises along her temple are starkly black and blue compared to her skin.
    Denna's emphasized pallor links her to the rhyme's pale woman. — u/ks1246
  • See a woman pale as snow Silent come and silent go What's their plan? What's their plan? Chandrian. Chandrian.
    The Chandrian rhyme read as foretelling a pale female member. — u/ks1246
  • A woman pale as snow, who arrives and leaves without warning? Sounds a lot like Denna. … Like a prophecy foretelling the arrival of their newest member: Denna.
    OP's conclusion: the rhyme is a prophecy of Denna joining the Chandrian. — u/ks1246
  • cinder is the "woman who is pale as snow" just because cinder is so tightly associated with winter that it would be strange for another of the seven to share that trait.
    CounterCounter: the pale woman is more likely winter-associated Cinder. — u/TheLastSock
  • Couldn't that woman pale as snow just be pale Alenta who brings the blight?
    CounterCounter: the rhyme may describe existing Chandrian pale Alenta. — u/Stenric
  • there are 7 chandrian because the temic etymology of the word means "seven of them" … who would denna be replacing at that point? Personally I think it's more likely the chandrian are using denna, over them trying to recruit her
    CounterCounter: seven Chandrian leaves no vacancy; Denna is a tool, not a recruit. — u/TheresNoAmosOnlyZuul
  • Through her new song and songs to come, she would work, unwittingly, to change the perception of the Chandrian … in the hearts and minds of the public.
    Refines tool reading: Denna's song reshapes public perception of the Chandrian. — u/Argine_

Book refs: NOTW

Tier reasoning§

tier kept fringe: speculative; commenters note the rhyme more likely fits an existing Chandrian

Contributors§

Source threads§