Edema Ruh

“We were telling stories before Caluptena burned. Before there were books to write in. Before there was music to play."

―Kvothe about the Edema Ruh^[src]

Artwork by: Shane Tyree

The Edema Ruh are a nomadic cultural group known throughout the Four Corners of Civilization.

Description

Having no country to call their own the Edema Ruh are travelers and nearly always entertainers with talents ranging far and wide, but most commonly involving storytelling, acting, and music. They travel in large groups known as troupes, roaming the country in wagon trains. They generally trade food and lodging in return for entertainment.

Some Ruh troupes, while never settling in one court, will have a wealthy patron who allows them to use his name and colors. In exchange, the patron will commonly expect the troupe to entertain in his or her court a portion of the year, and to conduct themselves in a manner that will reflect well upon the patron's reputation. This agreement is seen as a mutually beneficial arrangement, as the patron gains notoriety as a tasteful and artistic individual, in addition to having entertainment at his or her disposal, while the troupe gains financial support and the patron's influence to help them overcome suspicion in towns through which they travel.

Typically the Edema Ruh are mistrusted by the common folk, who refer to them as ravel. Due to this it has been necessary for them to develop intense and very important traditions to establish themselves as a community. The most common of these is by referencing all other troupes as family, the typical mantra of the Edema Ruh being "One Family." Other practices include the giving of wine upon greeting and arguably the most important of these being to brand betrayers. When this occurs a broken circle is burned onto the offending parties body to show that the person is no longer a part of the circle that is the Edema Ruh family.

In The Chronicle

Kvothe's parents, Arliden and Laurian, are the leaders of an Edema Ruh troupe under the patronage of Baron Greyfallow. His younger years are spent travelling and entertaining while undergoing training in the arts of music and acting from his father and mother. It is during this time he meets the Arcanist Abenthy who takes him into his tutelage, an act that makes it possible for Kvothe to attend the University later. Although Kvothe's troupe is slaughtered by the Chandrian when he is relatively young, forcing him to grow up a beggar on the streets of Tarbean, he continues to identify as one of the family throughout the series. This notion is so strongly ingrained in his character that when he meets a fake Edema Ruh troupe in the Wise Man's Fear, he kills them all for disgracing the reputation of the Ruh and brands them each with the mark of betrayers. He also refuses to discredit the Ruh to the Lady Meluan Lackless who despises them, going as far as to publicly wear the wooden ring she gives him as a vintish insult.

Speculation

Some fans believe the word "Edema" is derived from the same root as "Adem". It is possible that, while the multitude of Adem schools of thought were being formed, a splinter group arose who held contrary beliefs to those of the traditional Adem. Rather than withholding emotion, music, and passion, this group thrived on public performance; they were, in essence, the very opposite of the Adem. Additionally, the Adem also practiced a nomadic lifestyle before settling Ademre.

Trivia

The symphonic metal band Nightwish has written a song titled "Edema Ruh" in their album Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015).

http://kingkiller.wikia.com/wiki/Edema_Ruh