KKC Theory Wiki

Count Threpe Is the Chandrian Usnea, Aided by Devi

fringe identity · popularity 56 · 1 source thread

The persistent smell of decay near Devi's points to Threpe being the Chandrian Usnea, who surveils Kvothe.

About: Count Threpe, Usnea

Also involves: Devi, Denna, The Eolian, The Chandrian, Kvothe, Trebon

The theory§

This theory identifies Count Threpe, Kvothe's patron in Imre, as the Chandrian Usnea. The reasoning starts from the lichen called usnea, also known as 'old man's beard,' which grows only on sick or dying trees; if the Chandrian Usnea shares the plant's nature, the name implies an old, bearded man who dwells amid decay, which fits the grey-bearded count. From this it argues that the recurring smell of rancid fat on the stairway to Devi's flat is Usnea's sign rather than the butcher's shop below, noting an occasion when the stairwell does not smell of rot, supposedly when Threpe is away from town. It further casts Devi as Threpe's assistant and proposes that Threpe feeds information to Denna's patron so Kvothe can be surveilled, beginning at Trebon. The reading runs into several objections: Threpe spends nearly every evening at the Eolian without the place reeking of decay; Threpe and Devi each appear elsewhere with no accompanying smell, so the smell's absence proves nothing; Denna was watching Kvothe at Trebon before Devi could have passed word of his journey; and the Chandrian, if they saw Kvothe as a threat, would more plausibly kill him than mount an elaborate long con.

Evidence§

  • Usnea (plant) **grows on sick or dying trees** just like Usnea (chandrian) who **lives in nothing but decay.** … the name suggests that Usnea should be an **old bearded man, who lives in decay.**
    Core premise: the plant's nature implies the Chandrian Usnea is an old bearded man amid decay. — u/Fresh_Persimmon2
  • This indicates that Usnea may live in or near the alleyway leading to Devi's door, and Kvothe mistakenly attributes the smell to the butcher's shop. A convenient cover for a chandrian looking to hide their sign.
    Recurring rancid-fat smell by Devi's is reframed as Usnea's sign, not the butcher. — u/Fresh_Persimmon2
  • **It was the first time I could remember the stairway not smelling of rancid fat.** … Usnea must also have been out of town when Kvothe goes to visit Devi on that day where there is no smell of rot.
    The one rot-free visit is taken as evidence Usnea was absent that day. — u/Fresh_Persimmon2
  • Threpe is old and bearded, and a nobleman. … the **gray-bearded man** tuned his lyre. 'Threpe,' Simmon whispered back at me, 'Count Threpe actually. He plays here all the time, has for years. Great patron of the arts.'
    Identifies the grey-bearded Count Threpe as fitting the old-bearded-man profile. — u/Fresh_Persimmon2
  • Kvothe doesn't tell anyone he is leaving town on a horse for Trebon except Devi. … Devi would be well positioned to provide them this information assuming that she is collaborating in some way with Usnea.
    Casts Devi as the conduit feeding Kvothe's Trebon trip to the Chandrian for surveillance. — u/Fresh_Persimmon2
  • but how does Threpe hide his smell at the Eolian?
    CounterCounter: Threpe attends the Eolian constantly, yet it never reeks of decay. — u/awmountain52
  • Threpe has appear numerous times without any accompanying small of decay.. And for that matter Devi appears when they stage the assault on Ambrose's room, also with no smell of decay.. So the absence of the smell can't conclusively tell you they weren't around.
    CounterCounter: both appear elsewhere with no smell, so absence of smell proves nothing. — u/Zhorangi
  • Both Denna and her patron were in Trebon well before Kvothe.. What means of communication are you proposing that Devi could have that would have arrived prior to Kvothe? AFAIK Temerant doesn't have the Clacks.
    CounterCounter: Denna was already watching before Devi could have relayed word, breaking the timeline. — u/Zhorangi
  • the chandrian wouldn't need some long con to try and spy on kvothe, they would just kill him if they perceived a threat. I also think that kvothe would've mentioned dead flowers or plant life at Threpe's estate when he visited in WMF
    CounterCounter: Chandrian would kill rather than surveil, and Threpe's estate showed no decay. — u/skarbomir

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier kept fringe: etymology-driven identity built on a chain of speculative inferences

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