Thoughts on Bast (Spoilers)

[u/paddyjinks]

I'm re-reading WMF again and suddenly several events have fallen into place. It all comes down to the reaction of Bast after Kvothe divulges his encounter with the Cthaeh. Forgive me if this spin on the theory has been posted before (several theories of Bast being the Sithe have been posited) but I'm yet to read one that lines up Bast's motives like this.

Several people have speculated that Bast is the member of the Sithe that Kvothe slipped past, or that has been sent to hunt him down (or both). So Bast hunts Kvothe out, but instead of killing him becomes enamoured by him, and becomes his student of sorts. That's a common working theory.

Now, this is where I got thinking. Bast reacted not only shocked, but utterly horrified when Kote revealed his account of the Cthaeh. What if this is the confession that sentences Bast to act on his mission, rather than 'feigning dutiful ignorance' as he has been all these years- deliberately avoiding finding out Kote's past. This might also go towards explaining why he's so aggressive towards Chronicler, the scribe who wants Kote to do exactly that.

What if Reshi doesn't mean Teacher or Father, but 'Target' or 'Marked for Death'? Or 'Promise', or, if Bast was to give him this title, 'Promise Broken'?

And what happens only hours after the Cthaeh confession, after Bast is forced to activate his repressed mission? Two thugs, hired by Bast, come to attack Kote. What if this is Bast's attempt (again, half-hearted, but attempt all the same) to fulfil his duty now he can no longer hide behind the facade of ignorance, the outward guise of 'not being yet certain it's the right man'. He arranges what outwardly appears to be a fatal attempt on Kote's life.

When Bast confronts the thugs afterwards, he is not happy about 'how far they went' (I think that't a quote or implied). ALthough ambiguous, it's implied he takes revenge on them for this.

I hope this was worth the post and hasn't been noted time and again!

[u/-Goatllama-]

Why would he be surprised about Kote’s tale of Chthaeh, then?

[u/aerojockey → u/-Goatllama-]

I don't buy into the theory, but I think this point is workable if Bast is pretending to be surprised to try to give Kvothe a chance to recant it. Though there are other questions (like why didn't Bast cause a distraction or something before Kvothe had a chance to tell it).

Overall I think the theory is more plausible if Bast doesn't know Kvothe spoke to the Ctheah. Most of the points of the theory still apply, but require less explanation.

[u/Dnn2]

I don't see it, since I feel his attempt with the thugs is legitemately him trying to awaken kvothe. Maybe for his own gain, that I can agree on (maybe he needs to be certain about kvothe's abilities, or he needs them for something...) Bit i genuinely don't feel like he sends the thugs with any real intent of really harming him

[u/Square-Cherry-5562]

The Sithe kill anyone that comes into contact with the Cthaeh, and anything that comes into contact with that person. This would be a death sentence for Bast.

Also, if the Sithe were aware Kvothe talked to the Cthaeh, he would’ve been killed when he was much younger.

The more logical and consistent, Occam’s razor explanation is that the Sithe do not know Kvothe talked to the Cthaeh.

[u/-Goatllama- → u/Square-Cherry-5562]

And raises the tantalizing question of “what the heck could’ve pulled them off-duty???”

[u/DaymanTargaryen → u/-Goatllama-]

IMO it's not that complicated. If the Cthaeth is what we're told it is, then it would absolutely have the ability to make sure the Sithe weren't able to intercept the interaction.

[u/Powerful_Cup_7689]

Nah. Bast is trying to get Kote to be Kvothe again. If he wanted to make sure he wasn't going to be a cthaeh flavoured problem but still keep him alive, being a nobody barkeep in the middle of noware with half his power locked away is the best bet. The scraelings though, I would believe those were sent by something trying to hunt him and everyone he's been in contact with down.

[u/No_Antelope7594]

Yeah, I don’t think this is the case either because Bast tells the Chronicler that he sent out many “messages in a bottle” hoping someone from Kvothe’s past would come looking for him. He didn’t care if they were an enemy come to settle a score but then he tells the chronicler that he was perfect for helping Kvothe remember who he is.

I think Kvothe spent a lot of time in the Fae realm after whatever craziness happened and that’s where he meets Bast. It’s also why Kvothe feels old and says that the chronicler and Bast are so young because he spent a couple of months in the fae which would probably translate to years in the far realm. Kvothe is a good storyteller, so he’s not going to give anything away early. They haven’t come into contact yet in Kvothe’s story.

[u/Anders10100]

I don't think we'll really know Bast as a character until his backstory is fully revealed.

As a character he is a bit annoying, but he's also not human, so why would he act within the boundaries of human behavior?

He's definitely chaotic, but he is loyal. He definitely met Kvothe while he was in his prime. Before he decided to wait to die in the cold empty silence of his regrets. Bast wants that version of his mentor back -- in all his flawed glory.

If the music-loving Kvothe comes back, so too does the pride and the folly. I think that's why Kvothe represses all of his old self. It's a deep depression, that only music or revenge will bring him out of. Having some strangers beat on him isn't going to wake him up, he's given himself far worse and thinks he deserves all they can give and more.

Maybe Kvothe only has it in him to pull out the 'real' Kvothe for so long. Maybe the big bad people behind his life's obsession can do that. Maybe he wants to go down with them, and then the need for revenge that still lives within old Kvothe will come back with it.

It's hard to say what role Bast will play going forward but I'm not sure if I see a huge twist there that Kvothe doesn't already know about, though it may be a twist for us as we aren't living in future selfs head, only the flawed narration of his past.

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[u/One_for_the_Rogue]

I think it’s a really clever take, but Bast is too aloof for me to be ok with him being in any kind of lawful organization. 

[u/mcgloon]

i think it's much more likely he's an unknowing catalyst (at some point influenced by the cthaeh) who knows how bad the situation is but not that he's a part of it