KKC Theory WikiThe 'Seven and One' Pattern Maps Onto the Lunar Phases and Recurs Across the Lore
The motif of seven plus one - cities, betrayers, demons - mirrors the eight moon phases, with the new moon as the lone all-dark exception.
About: The Moon
Also involves: The Creation War, Myr Tariniel, Tehlu, Encanis, The Lethani, The Chandrian, The Eight Cities, Feyda Calanthis Coin
The theory§
Across Temerant the lore returns again and again to a structure of seven plus one, and this theory reads that structure as an echo of the eight lunar phases, of which only the new moon is wholly without light. The Adem account of the Creation War names seven cities and one city, the one being Tariniel, just as Tehlu's hunt of the demons leaves all driven out save one, Encanis, after seven years of wandering. Kilvin's workshop carries the same rhythm in the saying that disaster comes every seven years. On this reading the full moon and new moon stand for Tehlu and Encanis, two poles of light and total dark, while the grey intermediate phases stand for the poisoned, mixed Seven who fall to treachery. The pattern is held to be deliberate, woven through speech and story alike, with seven-word phrases recurring in moments of fear and love, and the term 'Chandrian' itself meaning 'seven of them' in Temic.
Evidence§
Of these eight phases, only one of them is entirely without light (from our pov), that being the new moon phase. It matches up with the Creation War story from the Adem perspective, the seven cities and one city
Core claim: eight lunar phases, one all-dark, map onto seven-and-one structure. — u/SmurphiliciousIn the empire there were seven cities and one city. The names of the seven cities are forgotten, for they are fallen to treachery and destroyed by time. The one city was destroyed as well, but its name remains. It was called Tariniel.
Adem Creation War source for the seven-and-one structure. — u/Smurphilicious“‘Expect disaster every seven years,’” he said. “It is an old saying, and true enough. This has been two years overdue.”
Kilvin's seven-year saying offered as another instance of the recurring rhythm. — u/SmurphiliciousAt the end of seven years, Tehlu’s feet had carried him all through the world. He had driven out the demons that plagued us. All but one. Encanis ran free
Tehlu and Encanis story gives the seven-year cycle and the lone exception. — u/SmurphiliciousThe clear cut ones are the full moon, all white, and the new moon, all black. That's our Tehlu and Encanis, right? But the other six... they're a mix of each. Light and dark. They're grey
Reading: full/new moon are Tehlu/Encanis; grey intermediate phases are the poisoned Seven. — u/SmurphiliciousThe enemy was not of the Lethani. He poisoned seven others against the empire, and they forgot the Lethani. Six of them betrayed the cities that trusted them. Six cities fell and their names are forgotten.
Refines structure: a poisoner plus seven, of whom six betray and one remembers. — u/Smurphiliciousthe shining city Myr Tariniel is described as a *warren*
Links Tariniel to rabbit imagery, tying the lone exception to the Moon Rabbit motif. — u/Smurphilicious
Book refs: WMF
Tier reasoning§
tier unchanged; numerological pattern-matching