Kadash
| Kadash | |
|---|---|
 by botanicaxu
| |
| Profession | Ardent Soldier (former) |
| Groups | Dalinar's elites (former), Kholin army (former) |
| Nationality | Alethi |
| Homeworld | Roshar |
| Universe | Cosmere |
“ Your father is not to be mocked or diminished. If his visions are true, then it is between him and the Almighty. All I can say is this: I know something of what it is to be haunted by the death and destruction of war. I see in your father’s eyes much of what I have felt, but worse. My personal opinion is that the things he sees are likely more a reflection of his past than any mystical experience. ”
— Kadash to Adolin Kholin[1]
Kadash is an Alethi ardent.[1] He spent his youth as a soldier, but changed his Calling to join the ardentia, serving Dalinar Kholin and his family for many years.
Appearance and Personality
Kadash is a tall man, with a twisting scar that runs around the top of his shaved head.[1] He wears the square beard and gray robes of an ardent.[2]
Kadash is a man of deep faith and perseverance, which allowed him to rapidly climb the ranks of the ardentia.[1] He is deeply embarrassed by the ancient failures of Vorinism, the Recreance and the Hierocracy, and often speaks of them to remind himself and others not to make the same mistakes.[1][2] He is pleased with the way that Vorinism has changed since the defeat of the Hierocracy, that every man can now have a personal relationship with their god.[1] As with many ardents, Kadash is deeply distrustful of any type of prophecy or foresight, believing it to be a thing of the Voidbringers. Kadash is horrified by the idea that the Radiants could potentially be returning.[2]
Kadash is humble as well.[1] Despite his high rank, he defers to lighteyes, regardless of their age and authority. Kadash believes that it is the duty of Dalinar and the other lighteyes to watch the ardents and ensure they do not rise above their station as they did during the Hierocracy. Kadash is very loyal to Dalinar, as well as the rest of his family. He has sworn oaths to serve Dalinar and has known the man for many years. For these reasons, Kadash is both unwilling and unable to speak ill of Dalinar due to his oaths, even when confronted with the possibility that Dalinar has lost his mind. Kadash is also concerned with the spiritual well-being of his congregation, particularly Adolin.
Even though many years have passed since Kadash left the military, he is still haunted by the memories of his time spent fighting and all the death and destruction he saw.[1] He is also an observant man, he keeps his eyes and ears open to the events around the warcamps.
History
Early Life
Kadash was born as a lighteyes of an unknown dahn.[1] He chose to become a soldier, and rose through the ranks to become an officer. Sometime during his career in the army, his head was injured in combat. Kadash survived, but the injury left a scar on his head. He was one of Dalinar's elites, which meant that he sometimes served as a bodyguard for Gavilar.[3]
After many years in the military, Kadash changed his Calling, ending his career as a soldier and joining the ardentia.[1] Kadash also rose high within the ranks of the ardents, becoming the overseer of the Soulcasters[2] and one of the ardents owned by Highprince Dalinar Kholin and his family.[1] He served Dalinar loyally for many years, and trained and tutored his son Adolin Kholin during his childhood. After Szeth-son-son-Vallano's assassination of King Gavilar Kholin, Kadash spoke to some of Gavilar's surviving guards, but he believed their mentions of Szeth's Surgebinding to be the result of shock and trauma.[2]
Service on the Shattered Plains
“ I still find it incredible. Even after all these years. If we needed proof of the Almighty's hand in our lives, this is certainly it. ”
— Kadash on Soulcasting[2]
Kadash accompanied Dalinar Kholin and his armies to the Shattered Plains to provide religious instruction while the War of Reckoning was fought.[1] He worked in the main Vorin temple in Dalinar's warcamp. Adolin and Janala Lustow visited Kadash there in 1173. Kadash was concerned that Adolin had not made much progress with his Calling, but Adolin wished to speak to Kadash about Dalinar's visions and his growing concerns about Dalinar's sanity. The two spoke in private on the temple's central mound. Adolin told Kadash of Dalinars visions and asked Kadash if they could really be coming from the Almighty or if he was simply losing his mind. Kadash was unwilling to give a direct answer due to his loyalty to Dalinar, but he spoke about the Hierocracy, explaining that they too had spoken of visions, which the Sunmaker had claimed to be a fabrication. Kadash said that he felt that it was unlikely that the visions would come from the Almighty, and implied that Dalinar might be haunted by his experiences on the battlefield, but stopped short of actually saying that Dalinar was mad. Kadash told Adolin that he was the only one that could help his father and asked that Adolin return soon to discuss his Calling.
Later that year, Kadash proposed to Dalinar that they could Soulcast large blocks of stone for windbreaks on the eastern side of Dalinar's camp to allow it to expand onto the Shattered Plains.[2] After debating the idea for several months, Dalinar agreed to the plan. Kadash accompanied the Soulcasters to the edge of Dalinar's warcamp to perform the Soulcasting. The Soulcasters had such a demand on their time that Kadash had taken them out during the day, to Soulcast concealed within an enclosed silk canopy. Adolin had seen them from a distance, and came to speak to Kadash. He confided in Kadash that Szeth had attempted to assassinate Dalinar and made use of the powers of the Radiants. Kadash was shocked at this, and disturbed by the idea that the Radiants could be returning. He agreed to do research into their abilities for Adolin so he could be better equipped to combat Szeth if he should return.
Service on Urithiru
After the Battle of Narak, Kadash moved to Urithiru. He came into conflict with Dalinar however, because he had started saying that the Almighty was dead. He also refused to marry Dalinar and Navani, because the Vorin church saw them as siblings. When they eventually married through the Stormfather, Kadash was dissapointed and afraid of what the ardentia might do to Dalinar.[4]