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(Added some info on Dalinar's father) |
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{{update|sa4}}
=== Appearance ===
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Dalinar is an aging, but powerfully-built man in his fifties, with a warrior's face which he keeps clean-shaven.{{book ref|sa3|107}} He has black hair that is gray in the temples, and blue eyes.{{book ref|sa1|12}} He is often described as the opposite of handsome, with numerous bruises and an "unfortunate" face. His nose was broken at some point during his youth, and it has been crooked ever since.{{book ref|sa2|38}} He has numerous old scars on his chest and arms, a remnant of hundreds of battles fought, to the extent where doctors are worried about his ability to use his sword arm.{{book ref|sa2|83}} When he
=== Personality ===
He doesn't, however, deal well with not being in control; he finds the idea of events important to him being impossible for him to influence distressing, and has a bad habit of going over regular chain of command to claim power for himself.{{book ref|sa3|65}}{{book ref|sa3|4}}
As an extension of this, like his brother, he has a tendency to treat people, even those he loves, like tools.{{wob ref|12619}} He tends to believe that he knows what is best for people, and through this, can get rather commanding and controlling. An example of this controlling nature can be seen in how he forces Kaladin to retire as a soldier as he felt that it was best for him given his increasing trauma, refusing to take no for an answer.{{book ref|sa4|10
His complete opposition to the concept of democracy is likely a reflection of this controlling nature of his, his distrust of other people to make the right decisions or get things done, and in his views on what the role of a leader is in society.{{wob ref|11298}}{{book ref|sa1|69}}{{book ref|sa4|50}} This nature of his can be found rooted in the Way of Kings, that which he uses as a foundation of his morality and worldview.{{book ref|sa1|12}}{{book ref|sa3|105}}{{book ref|sa3|115}} It teaches that a monarch, or any ruler, provides stability and strength to his people, that he and his orders are the firm foundation upon which society stands.{{book ref|sa1|28}}{{book ref|sa2|38}}
He can be somewhat egalitarian in his assessment of others, in particular soldiers, and will often promote men based not on eye color or social status, but rather on the ability they display.{{book ref|sa3|3}} This extends beyond the [[Vorin]] ranks system, as Dalinar is willing to give a chance to people he doesn't normally associate with fighting, like [[Parshmen]] or women, if he considers their skills valuable or if they are recommended to him by someone trustworthy.{{book ref|sa2|46}}{{book ref|sa3|117}} This doesn't mean he's entirely free of bias, however, and when the worlds of the court and the military collide, he can often end up referring back to the established social order, possibly without fully realizing it.{{book ref|sa2|62}} His respect for parshmen and parshendi likely has some root in his childhood of being raised by a Parshman nurse, due to his mother dying and his father never being fit to raise him.{{book ref|sa1|26
Despite his egalitarian assessment of others, he tends to be rather racist and judgmental towards foreign nations and cultures. Such as [[Tu Bayla]], which he views as a group of lowly nomads, and becomes angry at being lumped in with them.{{book ref|sa3|42}}
=== Leadership ===
Dalinar is the head of the Kholin household, and as such holds authority over all other members of his family. His nephew
He also commands the [[:Category: Kholin army|Kholin Army]], though, in battles, he often passes the command to his eldest son. The army is large and well-trained, although it takes significant losses in the [[Battle of the Tower]].{{book ref|sa2|2}} The [[Cobalt Guard]] and [[Bridge Four]], two units of honor guard dedicated to protecting the king and the Kholins, are also part of the army. He also once had a group of soldiers who accompanied him into battle, [[Dalinar's elites]], but they seem to have been dissolved by the [[War of Reckoning]], though some of their members still fight for him.
=== Early Life and the War to Unify Alethkar (1120 – 1166) ===
==== Childhood ====
Dalinar was born in about {{Rosharan date|1120}},{{wob ref|5569}} the second son to the Kholin princedom in Alethkar. His mother died when he was young and he was primarily raised by a parshman nurse.{{wob ref|11297}}{{book ref|sa1|26}} Dalinar got along better with his grandparents than his father, who died at some point prior to 1141.{{wob ref|15942}} In his youth, Dalinar deeply respected his elder brother [[Gavilar Kholin|Gavilar]], and although envious of him at times,{{book ref|sa1|18}} he
In his youth, Dalinar had feelings for [[Navani]], but he realized that Gavilar was also interested in her. For Gavilar's sake, he
{{image|Blackthorn by ToastSamurai.png|width=200px|Young Dalinar|side=right}}
==== Married Life ====
{{image|Dalinar Adolin botanicaxu.jpg|height=300px|Holding [[Adolin]] for the first time|side=left}}
Despite his injuries, Dalinar's rage drove him forward in revenge against Tanalan's betrayal, the [[Thrill]] burning in him like never before. He slaughtered the rebels who ambushed him, unconscious of how savagely he killed them. Half dead, he dragged himself back to the Kholin camp in such a state of rage that his appearance provoked fearspren from Evi when she first saw him again. Though she maintained that they should take a few days to find a peaceful solution, Sadeas said what Dalinar felt: the Rift needs to pay. Dalinar had the Soulcasters put to use making oil and sent Evi away. He promised to destroy Rathalas so thoroughly that nobody will rebuild there for ten generations, to make it a pyre, that nobody will cry over the city because everyone in it will be dead.{{book ref|sa3|75}}
The Thrill didn't let Dalinar sleep until the assault on the city of Rathalas. A group of messengers from the city came out with a flag of truce, but Dalinar ordered them shot dead before they
After making his way through the city, Dalinar finally came face to face with Tanalan. Tanalan begged for his family's lives, but Dalinar's response was, "I am an animal." He explained that like an animal, he'd been pushed to being feral, and once an animal goes feral, there's no coming back. He refused to spare Tanalan's family. As Tanalan wept at the destruction of the palace and the city, knowing his family just died, Dalinar wondered at how the Thrill still wasn't satisfied with the destruction.
==== Failure ====
Afterward, having retired to a smaller room with Navani, Taravangian, and some others, they received Azir's response to his plea which Teshav read aloud. The Azish said that they had decided to seal off the Oathgate until they could destroy it. They explained that a magical portal into the middle of their city was too large a danger to allow to stand. They said that they would maintain trade relations with Alethkar but asked that Dalinar stop asking them to open the Oathgate.{{book ref|sa3|28}}
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Odium stumbled back in surprise as he heard what Dalinar had said. Dalinar shouted at Odium that ''he'' had been the one to kill the people of Rathalas, not Odium. He said that while Odium had been there with him it had been ''his'' choice that caused Evi to die. He said that he accepted responsibility for what he had done and that Odium could not take it away from him. As Dalinar shouted at Odium he noticed that gloryspren were gathering around him and circling him in the air. Odium asked Dalinar what he hoped to gain by doing this. Dalinar replied that if he pretended that he had not done the things he had done it would mean that he could not grow to become a better person. Dalinar felt a familiar warm calming
{{quote
* Dalinar is a Gryffindor.{{wob ref|11943}}
* There was a [[Gereh|Feruchemist]] keeping watch on Dalinar in his house.{{wob ref|14529}}
* Dalinar is one of the only five people who spoke in <span style='font-variant: small-caps'>small-caps</span>,{{book ref|sa4|107}}{{book ref|sa4|108}} the other four are: [[Odium]],{{book ref|sa3|i|6}}{{book ref|sa3|119}}{{book ref|sa4|i|4}} [[Syl]],{{book ref|sa2|84}}, [[Cultivation]]{{book ref|sa4|114}} and the [[Stormfather]].{{book ref|sa2|89}}
== See Also ==
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