The Chandrian - good or bad?

Well, I definitely think the Chandrian have a connection to the Sithe. But remember, Haliax says to Cinder "who keeps you safe from the Amyr, the singers, the Sithe?" ...or something along those lines. I don't think the Chandrian could therefore BE the Sithe.

But your quote is interesting, in that it uses the wording 'good intentions'. Reminds me of the Amyr, and seems to be another clue that they, at least, are not necessarily "good" although they *say* they are working for the greater good.

I agree, in fact I think that every faction has good reasons and bad reasons to be what they are. So I will not be surprised if turns out that the Amyrs too are some sort of killers. For the greater good, like the Sithe and probably like the Chandrian.

As for the Chandrian/Sithe theory, let's see...

1. Kvothe is alive. Lanre is alive (for his own skill, as far as we know...). Cinder is alive (he must have spoken at least once with the Cthaeh, if not why does she hate him?). So these Sithe are not that good in their oldest and most important charge, it seems. There must be a reason for that, they didn't even show up!

2. "who keeps you safe from the Amyr, the singers, the Sithe?"
I believe that Haliax/Lanre was speaking only with Cinder. I've interpreted that "you" as singular and not plural... but that may be a mistake, I should read the original book for a better understanding. Some things and some meanings can be lost in translation.
But, if Cinder really has spoken with the Cthaeh, he needs protection... and that not necessarily implys that Haliax cannot be a former Sithe himself.

I have other reasons in mind, but I need to re-read some part of the books that I don't remember well... and I have to find a way to write them, because right now I can't find the right words  ! I'll update later!

I'm not really sure about Lanre (I need more evidence of it), but I think that Cinder was a Sithe.

1. Wise man's fear, page 16, Kvothe and Bast are talking about the skin dancer that killed Shep.

"Last night has me thinking" he said. "Wondering what we could do to make things a bit safer around here. Have you ever heard the White Riders Hunt?"
Bast smiled. "It was our song before it was yours, Reshi." He drew a breath and sang in a sweet tenor:

Rode they horses white as snow.
Silver blade and white horn bow.
Wore they fresh and supple boughs,
red and green upon their brows."


I think that this description of a White Rider befits Cinder.

2. Trusting the song, Kvothe asks Bast to make a holly crown (page 25, WMF).

"Kvothe reached over and pulled a single long branch from the bundle. "What do we do with this, anyway?"
Bast shrugged. "I'm running dark on this myself, Reshi. I know the Sithe used to ride out wearing holly crowns when they hunted the skin dancers"
"In the stories I've heard" Kote said, "holly traps them in a body, too."
[...]"I have no idea. Anpauen. The last dancers were hunted down hundreds of years ago. Long before my time. I've just heard stories."

The skin dancers get inside a body, then switch and switch from one person to another, until they are all dead.
But if a skin dancer gets inside a Sithe's body, it will find itself trapped by the holly crown and can't switch... that gives the other Sithes the chance to kill the creature by killing the possessed one. That's a bit cruel, but there may be no other choice... how are they supposed to kill a creature that is made of shadow, if not with self sacrifice?
My theory is that Cinder used to be a Sithe, and got possessed by a skin dancer during a hunt session, but managed to survive thanks to Lanre's power (he lives in the shadow, he sure has great power in it..and I believe that he can control a skin dancer).
For that help, Cinder became a tool in his hand, forced to obey.

I postulated that theory, because I firmly believe that the parts of the book in Newarre are very important, even if not as interesting as the all Kvothe's flashback.
There must be a reason for the attack of the skin dancer, since they were all hunted long before Bast was born. Who bring them back to the Fae and mortal world?
I've also a very bad feeling about Chronicler's wound.

karen - Yah, that was something that got my wheels turning too. I listened to the audiobook first and didn't notice much, but when I actually read it I was like...hmm...why is Ctheah so obsessed with Cinder? WTH? I didn't notice the vase artistry til my 3rd or 4th read but when I did for some reason it just clicked that there had to be connection. I will be astounded if there isn't one in the end. Even if it doesn't bare mentioning in Kvothe's series, wouldn't be surprised if this came to light in an extension of the Four Corners world.

alexiel - god I ALWAYS try to spell your name wrong, I'm outta control. I also enjoy the frame story very much actually, but mostly because I'm so horribly curious about Bast. LOL. I'm looking forward to Pat releasing the story he wrote about him.
I'm not sure what was up with the skindancer, but found it interesting that whatever that thing says it uses a word horribly similar to Rhinta. (what the Adem call The Chandrian) I would love to know what the root of that word means.

Hmm...maybe I should go look it up now....

Maybe they are only lying because they are in front of Chronicler?

I never really noticed, but those two languages to seem pretty similar.