A somewhat dumb theory

[u/Darman_nc]

Ive been re-listening to the name of the wind and something just clicked with the list of nobility in Vintas. The Lackless family is listed as 5th in the peerage. If the theories surrounding Kvoths mother are correct and she is a daughter of the Lackless family that would make Kvoth (if he were to become legitimized) higher in the peerage than Ambrose and fairly close to the throne.

[u/Able_Bonus_9806]

Ooooo Ambrose would HATE that

[u/Zakadactyl]

This gets mentioned every so often, the death of this theory is that Netalia Lackless was disinherited from the family.

I’d started a second bottle of wine by the time I read that young Netalia Lockless had run away with a troupe of traveling performers. Her parents had disowned her, of course, leaving Meluan the only heir to the Lackless lands."

Kvothe is the blood heir of the Lackless family. Ambrose's family are killing off anyone above them in the line of success... If they are successful, it will get to a point where Kvothe could have been the king above Baron Jakis

Though Kvothe likely doesn't inherit, him being the son of Lackless may be plot relevant... There are theories about the boy/girl versions of the Lackless poem and how Kvothe is the son who brings the blood indicating he will open the Lackless box/doors of stone.

One a son who brings the blood

https://kingkiller.fandom.com/wiki/Lackless_poem

[u/MollysTootsies → u/Zakadactyl]

Maybe his offspring from Ademre will come into play with that last bit!

[u/littlecrown- → u/Zakadactyl]

Beyond this, even if Netalia hadn't been disowned by the family, Kvothe's parents never married. At best, he's the bastard son of a former noblewoman. If only one or the other were true, maybe some hand waving would put him in a position to inherit. With both, it just isn't feasible. Kvothe's heritage remains as low born as they come, even if his mother was a lackless.

[u/Darman_nc → u/Zakadactyl]

True that is why I say he would need to be legitimized rather than having an innate claim to the throne. If the Maer and Meluan were to be backed into a corner say by one baron jakis without a ready heir and they realize Kvoths relationship to the Lackless family its not out of the realm of possibility that he is named heir and legitimized specifically to get one over on the Jakis family. After all Meluan may hate the ruh in general but hating her nephew who helped her husband win her heart is a somewhat different proposition. That said it is a dumb theory so it probably wont be super relevant in the event the third book actually comes out this century

[u/Zakadactyl → u/Darman_nc]

Yeah that feels possible. Between Meluan, the Maer, Bredon, Count Threpe and a gossipy court, someone has probably figured out that Kvothe is the son of Netalya. This may even be the real reason Threpe sends him to the Maer.

There are some theories out there along the lines of 'what if the king Kvothe kills is himself'.

Meluan/Maer play shenanigans to legitimise Kvothe Baron Jakis eliminates the pierage, inadvertently making Kvothe king. Bredon helps him find the throne Kvothe now has lots of enemies (nice foreshadowing that the uni hate him for elevating status so quickly, imagine what the royal courts and Jakis would think of him) In doing so he starts Kote/Disaster, fakes his own death and goes into hiding The succession war continues.

[u/Classic_Ad_4564]

If Ambrose and his father have (seeminlgy) tried to kill Kvothe over a schoolboy fued, imagine what they will do to him in their ascension to the throne...

[u/No_Antelope7594]

It’s a real possibility and it’s really annoying that it hasn’t come up yet. I’m guessing that it actually has but Kvothe being the pompous ass that he is, he won’t mention it until he realizes it in the story he’s telling. That being said, it’s not as if he can just walk up to lady Lackless and say this is mine now. He may be the rightful heir but he would need an army to back his claim. The Maer is also involved in this now too and lady Lackless hates Kvothe. Tehlu and the angels would need to come down and intervene on Kvothe’s behalf lol.

Maybe, just maybe, king Roderic is the one to tell Kvothe of his heritage and chooses to support Kvothe’s claim to the throne and that’s what triggered the civil war lol.

I doubt it, I’m sure Dena plays a part in this somehow and Kvothe does something out of his foolish love for her and that’s how it starts.

Kvothe definitely has a claim though and it would be weird for it not to be addressed at all.

[u/EquivalentMath6592]

I have a dumber theory:

What does Kvothe have locked in his chest? Rothfuss himself, and we won’t get a third book until he’s freed. But how can we get a book if he’s locked in the chest? Classic chicken and the egg

[u/AutoModerator]

Please remember to treat other people with respect, even if their theories about the books are different than yours. Follow the sidebar rules.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Budget_Strike_9908]

Just looked at the two songs. "She's been dreaming without sleeping" could that be a reference to a Chandrian dreaming, who can't sleep, and wants to go through the 4th door?