In The Name of the Wind, Kvothe couldn't even do basic Sympathy to light that Fae creature on fire. And when it grabbed him, he wasn't described as shocked or scared, but rather was described as resigned. Then later on Bast warns Chronicler not to ask about what happened and then later tells him at the end of the book that Kvothe has given up and has lost his mojo.
So I think the failure to beat those guys wasn't some trick or embellishment of his fighting prowess, but rather it was just the same thing as the Sympathy failure. He's just a man waiting to die.
Kvothe has changed his name (Kote?). Elodin was seriously freaked out when Kvothe asked him about Denna frequently changing her name, until he realized it was only her "calling name" that was different. Kvothe somehow changed his Name name. His hair fades, his eyes fade, his skill at fighting and sympathy weaken, and there is no more music. It's probably why he can't open the chest at the end.
I don't know if he is able to switch back to Kvothe, but if so, it likely takes some preparation, which is why he could handle the scrael and not the soldiers.
Formerly Mat Bloody Cauthon on Wotmania, blessed be its name
The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
18/03/2011 03:56:27 PM
- 11274 Views
I just feel that even when it's being unproductive and overlong...
18/03/2011 08:05:33 PM
- 2396 Views
Thanks for the review.
18/03/2011 11:07:46 PM
- 1922 Views
Why did you want to punch him?
18/03/2011 11:18:05 PM
- 1790 Views
Because he was insufferably perfect
19/03/2011 04:26:05 AM
- 1650 Views
About that present day fight scene...
18/03/2011 11:21:56 PM
- 2109 Views
My guess: *spoilers*
19/03/2011 01:26:53 AM
- 2106 Views
Hmm very interesting! I like it!
19/03/2011 04:35:39 AM
- 1917 Views
Three words: Crossroads of Twilight
29/03/2011 10:52:51 PM
- 1842 Views
...now that I think about it, that's pretty apt. Though I still enjoyed it. (Spoilers)
30/03/2011 01:35:15 AM
- 2129 Views