KKC Theory Wiki

The University Masters Secretly Know the Truth About the Chandrian

plausible connection · popularity 73 · 1 source thread

The Masters' warnings against researching the Chandrian suggest they secretly know the truth and may be Amyr.

About: The University, The Chandrian

Also involves: The Amyr, Kvothe, Master Lorren, The Cthaeh, Chronicler

The theory§

This theory asks why the masters of an institution devoted to open inquiry warn Kvothe so pointedly away from researching, or even openly discussing, the Chandrian, when the same archives hold treatises on dragons and far stranger subjects. It concludes the masters must be concealing real knowledge, perhaps being Amyr themselves, in league with the Chandrian, or sanctioned by them. The Cthaeh's words imply the masters know where the Amyr are and would not tell Kvothe even if asked, and Master Lorren in particular is read as knowing far more than he admits: he removes books on the subject from the stacks, resembles an Amyr, and knew Arliden. A competing reading holds that Lorren's warning is not to stop researching at all but to avoid the appearance of boyish fancy and to keep such work quiet, lest the Tehlin church take an interest and the archives be purged.

Evidence§

  • the university is a place for learning and exploration right? … So why did the masters so explicitly warn kvothe away from researching the chnadrian and speaking openly about them?
    OP's core puzzle: open-inquiry institution oddly forbids Chandrian research. — u/Firemage007
  • They’re either amyr or in league with the chandrian or smthn.
    OP's conclusion: the warning implies hidden knowledge or allegiance. — u/Firemage007
  • The Cthaeh also strongly implies the Masters know where the Amyr are, but wouldn't tell kvothe even if he asked them.
    Adds textual support that Masters knowingly withhold truth. — u/whoisthisnoonguy
  • Loren knows. Loren is the one hiding the books on the subject.
    Narrows the concealment to Lorren removing books. — u/Chance5e
  • Lorren, specifically, discouraged his research. Lorren who also resembles an Amyr … Knows Kvothe’s father !!!
    Refines case for Lorren as Amyr with personal Arliden link. — u/amity_
  • It could absolutely be that they don't want the entire university slaughtered because one kid is too curious for his own good
    CounterCounter: warning is protective, not evidence of secret allegiance. — u/CriticalFail01
  • I've never understood Lorren's warning as direction to stop researching the Chandrian or the Amyr. Just to keep it secret. He warns Kvothe to avoid the *appearance* of boyish fancy
    CounterCounter: Lorren wants discreet research, not to halt it. — u/Jandy777
  • Lorren doesn't want people looking for information about the Chandrian or the Amyr in the archives because if someone finds something like that, then someone might report it to the Tehlin church
    CounterCounter: secrecy protects archives from Tehlin purge, not concealment. — u/elihu

Book refs: NOTW, WMF

Tier reasoning§

reasonable inference from Masters' behavior and Cthaeh hint, plausible stands

Contributors§

Source threads§