KKC Theory Wiki

Count Threpe Is Secretly Maneuvering to Obtain Kvothe's Blood

fringe motive · popularity 78 · 1 source thread

Threpe's apparent generosity masks a campaign to isolate Kvothe and acquire his blood, possibly to open the Lackless box.

About: Count Threpe, Kvothe

Also involves: Ambrose Jakis, Devi, The Lackless Box, The Amyr, Iax, Severen, Illien

The theory§

Count Threpe presents himself as Kvothe's delighted patron and friend, pressing seven talents into his hand at the Eolian and championing his music. This theory recasts that generosity as a long manipulation: Threpe blocks Kvothe from securing a true patron, an inn position, and tips; stokes the feud with Ambrose; sees him dosed with plum bob; sends him to Severen; and ultimately maneuvers to acquire his blood, even reporting him dead so the purchase can go through. The tinfoil endpoint holds that Kvothe's blood can open the Lackless box because he descends from both Iax and Illien, two bloodlines the Amyr deliberately kept apart to keep the Lackless door sealed, which would also explain why Threpe collects musicians. The suspicion of Threpe is treated as plausible, but the structure strains where it requires Devi's complicity, since Devi already refuses to sell Kvothe's blood and would have no need for the mommet subterfuge if she were Threpe's accomplice, and the plum-bob and malfeasance threads point cleanly at Ambrose, who can be a genuine villain alongside any scheme of Threpe's.

Evidence§

  • The explanation provided within the story is simpler... but I believe this is the darker truth happening behind the scenes, that won't be revealed until book three.
    OP frames the theory: a hidden darker truth beneath the simpler in-story explanation. — u/chainsawx72
  • Threpe prevents Kvothe from getting a patron, a job at an inn, and tips. * Threpe stirs up conflict between Kvothe and Ambrose. * Threpe hires men to try to take Kvothe's blood.
    Core claim: Threpe isolates Kvothe and engineers attempts to obtain his blood. — u/chainsawx72
  • He sorted seven talents out of the mess and pushed them into my surprised hand.
    Threpe's signature generosity, which the theory recasts as a manipulation to earn trust. — u/chainsawx72
  • I actually had someone come here, looking to buy your blood. Fifty-five talents. I turned him away.
    Devi reports a buyer for Kvothe's blood; OP reads the buyer as Threpe. — u/chainsawx72
  • TINFOIL: Threpe wants Kvothe's blood because it can open the Lackless box, because he is a descendant of Iax and of Illien, two bloodlines intentionally kept separate by the Amyr to keep the Lackless door locked.
    The endpoint motive: blood opens the Lackless box via Kvothe's dual bloodline. — u/chainsawx72
  • Could also explain why he’s been collecting musicians he’s looking for the right blood line.
    Comment adds support: Threpe's patronage of musicians is a search for the right bloodline. — u/Janglysack
  • It was Ambrose. I didn’t know how he’d done it, but I knew it was him.
    Quoted as Kvothe's unreliable vendetta, explaining why he wrongly blames Ambrose not Threpe. — u/chainsawx72
  • if she were complicit with Threpe, there would be no need to do this, she could just hand him the blood.
    CounterCounter: Devi already refused to sell the blood, so her complicity makes no sense. — u/majestic_tapir
  • I think the malfeasance plot line is definitely Ambrose -- there can be more than one person out to get Kvothe.
    CounterCounter: malfeasance is genuinely Ambrose; Threpe need not be behind everything. — u/walking_moons

Book refs: NOTW ch 56, NOTW ch 60, NOTW ch 61

Tier reasoning§

distinct theory; self-labelled tinfoil, reads benign acts as sinister, fringe holds

Contributors§

Source threads§