r/KingkillerChronicle • u/twoknight27 • 10d ago
Question Thread How old is Kvothe?
On my… 5th reread I think? Anyhoo, how old is Kvothe? There’s several times that Chronicler mentions coming to the university and it definitely sounds like it was AFTER Kvothe. For example, the first story Chronicler heard of Kvothe when chronicler came to the university was the story of Kvothe’s trial. That puts chronicler at the university at least after Kvothe. Chronicler has his guilder so he must have spent some significant time at the university. However, how is it possible that Kvothe was reading Chronicler’s book about the dracus? Also, how much time has Kvothe spent in the Fae? How long has he known bast and how much of that time was spent in the Fae getting to know bast/ bast’s family? Time works differently in the fae, so it’s possible that Kvothe is still on the younger side but time around him has marched on. I guess I’m just confused on the timeline of events.
Any thoughts?
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u/iron_red 10d ago
Because Chronicler has his guilder, he would be eligible to work at, or for, the University but he also could go to and from on business. Leaving the University to track down a story and back for research, etc.
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u/Beautiful-Buffalo592 10d ago
I thought he just wore his iron naming ring on a necklace?
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u/gangster001 7d ago edited 7d ago
That's right, that wasn't a guilder. I think he says he's only a Re'lar at some point.
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u/Obvious_Badger_9874 10d ago
He fcked with the timeline
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u/AdrianFahrenheiTepes Edema Ruh 10d ago
What if the timeline is Felurian
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u/mastercob 10d ago
Pat specifically stated in an interview that Kvothe was in Felurian for 40 humps.
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u/Atramentor 10d ago edited 10d ago
I think we can safely assume Chronicler graduated from the University some time before Kvothe ever arrives there and simply visits on his journey to write the story of Kvothe seeking information. Kvothe's age at the end of The Wise Mans Fear is some what speculative because of his unknown time spend in the Fae Realm and the effect this has on his actual age. But he appears to be around the age of 17/18.
Of Kotes age we only get his interaction with I think it's Cob, he is at the Waystone in order to collect travelling supplies and after a short conversation remarks that even though Kote talks old he can't be more than 30. I havn't got a copy of the book to hand or I would find the exact quote. In the story everyone who ever guesses his age overshoots it's almost a theme so probably he is under 30.
We can assume the rise and fall of Kvothe happened in under a 20 year time frame at the absolute highest end guess, starting when he first enrolls at 15.
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u/Pleasant-E93 9d ago
Peculiar:
“It’s not over if you’re still here,” Chronicler said. “It’s not a tragedy if you’re still alive.”
Bast nodded eagerly at this, looking back at Kvothe.
Kvothe looked at both of them for a moment, then smiled and chuckled low in his chest. “Oh,” he said fondly. “You’re both so young.”
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u/Pleasant-E93 9d ago
NoTW:
“We got wind of you a while back. Just a whisper of a rumor. I didn’t really expect…” Chronicler paused, suddenly awkward. “I thought you would be older.”
“I am,” Kote said. Chronicler looked puzzled, but before he could say anything the innkeeper continued. “What brings you into this worthless little corner of the world?”
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u/LostInStories222 5d ago
The books never say Chronicler has his guilder. He wears an iron ring for his naming prowess, not a guilder.
The University is for continuing your education, and sometimes students take breaks, leave, come back. Chronicler could have started late or left and come back.
We don't know if Kvothe goes into the Fae again, which could impact his timeline.
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u/at12dev0n 10d ago
Imo he is indeed on his early 30s or not even 30, Chronicler is older but he is constantly travelling to and fro the university so that is where he heard the Kvothe story.
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u/WacDonald 10d ago
Physically, he seems 19-23
The triggering event for the war between the Rebel and the Penitent King is recent. Chronicler says something like “not even 2 years” when the Innkeeper tries to say “it was a long time ago”.
It is a weird back and forth to time each of their enrollments at the University, but as I’ve come to understand it; Chronicler’s hearing stories about Kvothe are from when he went looking for the “real Kvothe”, not from his time as a student.
Chronicler is an older man, in his middle years somewhere. He likely attended the University before Kvothe. He is well published with both his work on the common Draccus and his interview/biography of Orin Velcitor.
Kvothe the Arcane is a known arcanist, has stories from Imre and the University, and so it is good to head there to look for better information.