Bridge crew
The bridge crews were groups of unfortunate men, called bridgemen, mostly slaves, in Brightlord Torol Sadeas's army on the Shattered Plains on Roshar.[1]
The bridge crews were built of slaves, deserters, thieves, foreigners, and some men who joined out of forlornness because they didn't have to starve and earned a few spheres there.[2]
Necessity of bridge crews
The unique geography of the Shattered Plains required the armies to cross many chasms to reach the battlefields. Brightlord Torol Sadeas employed a large number of bridgemen to transport his army's temporary bridges. The bridgemen were also used as cannon fodder for the Parshendi bowmen.[3]
The bridgemen were split into a number of bridge crews, each carrying one bridge. The most notable crew was Bridge Four first because it had the highest casualty rate,[4] later because they became their champions.[5] Kaladin was their bridgeleader.
Superiors
Gaz was the bridge sergeant, reporting directly to Brightlord Lamaril[6] and later technically to Brightlord Matal, but Brightness Hashal was the one who typically issued orders to them.[7]