KKC Theory Wiki

Master Lorren May Be a Lackless and Kvothe's Uncle

fringe identity · popularity 83 · 1 source thread

Lorren's pallor, composure, and reaction to Arliden's name hint he is a Lackless relative, possibly Kvothe's uncle.

About: Master Lorren, The Lackless Family

Also involves: Meluan Lackless, Laurian, Arliden, Kvothe, The University

The theory§

Master Lorren, the University's tall, pale, rigidly composed archivist, is proposed here to be a member of the Lackless family and possibly Kvothe's uncle. The reasoning leans on his physical resemblance to Meluan Lackless, herself pale, cultured and court-savvy, and on Kvothe's flicker of recognition that Meluan looks like someone he has seen at the University. The strongest beat is that the famously unshakable Lorren, on hearing that Arliden the bard was Kvothe's father, 'looks up and blinks.' The leap to Lorren being the brother of Kvothe's mother, Netalia Lackless, is the most speculative element; a more grounded reading holds simply that Lorren, keeper of the most dangerous histories, has just deduced Kvothe's hidden Lackless heritage from the notorious scandal of Netalia running off with a trouper.

Evidence§

  • He’s very tall, pale, and in control of his face. It’s a bit of a stretch, but Meluan Lackless is described as TWMF as being very well cultured and very savvy in a court setting. She is also described as very pale.
    OP's opening claim: Lorren's pallor and composure mirror the Lackless Meluan. — u/MirkManEA
  • A great amount of stress is put on how unshakable Lorren is. Yet, at the mention of Arliden as Kvothe’s father he, “looks up and blinks.”
    Core beat: the unshakable Lorren reacts to Arliden's name, hinting personal connection. — u/MirkManEA
  • I was trying to see if there was a family resemblance while re-reading about Meluan in TWMF and Kvothe’s initial reaction to her was interesting. His first thought is that she looks familiar.
    Refines resemblance argument: Kvothe finds Meluan familiar, like someone at the University. — u/MirkManEA
  • But Kvothe’s most recent thought is that she looks like someone at The University. Someone pale, very well cultured, and—if even just b/c he likes books (and isn’t part of the Amyr)—has a very good reason to be at the University so far from home.
    Ties the familiar face directly to Lorren at the University. — u/MirkManEA
  • if you weren’t certain Kvothe was your nephew, wouldn’t that make Kvothe’s antics just that much more awkward and frustrating to deal with? Yep. Speculation four: Is Lorren Kvothe’s UNCLE‽
    OP's furthest leap: Lorren as Kvothe's uncle, brother of Netalia Lackless. — u/MirkManEA
  • I always thought the familiar look of Meluan was her resemblance to his mother.
    CounterCounter to the resemblance proof: the familiar face is Kvothe's mother, not Lorren. — u/BaronGrayFallow
  • I assume he is a bit old to be Meluan's brother, but maybe an uncle to her or a cousin.
    Refines the kinship: Lorren too old to be sibling, perhaps uncle or cousin. — u/BaronGrayFallow
  • Does the text say that Loren is pale? I honestly don’t recall. If anything, some secondary sources … depict him as having rather dark skin.
    CounterCounter to the foundational pallor claim underpinning the resemblance. — u/scowlbear

Book refs: WMF

Tier reasoning§

fringe: rests on two thin gestures, commenters skeptical

Contributors§

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