Difference between revisions of "Kaladin"

|abilities={{tag+|windrunner}}, {{tag+|Shardbearer|cat=Shardbearers}}

|titles=Highmarshall, Captain of the [[Bridgemen]], Knight Radiant, Son of Tanavast

|aliases=Kaladin Stormblessed, Bridgeboy, Kal

|booksfirst appeared=[[The StormlightWay of ArchiveKings]]

He has bonded with the [[honorspren]] [[Sylphrena]], more commonly known as Syl. This bond allows him to discover his powers as a [[Surgebinder]] and destiny as a member of the Knights Radiant, an order which has been defunct ever since the [[Day of Recreance]]. Kaladin, along with [[Dalinar Kholin]], [[Renarin Kholin]], and [[Shallan Davar]], is one of the first new founding members of the Knights Radiant in centuries. Their public revelation during the [[Battle of Narak]] serves as the catalyst for the re-founding of the Knights Radiant.

Kaladin is ana extremelyvery tall man, even tall by Alethi standards, standing approximately 6'4" in Rosharan feet (nearly seven cosmere standard feet tall).{{wob ref|12138}}{{wob ref|15034}} He is notablyleanly muscular and has multiple scars on his body.{{book ref|sa1|6}} He has tan skin{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} and shoulder-length wavy black hair typical of an Alethi. He was born with dark brown eyes,{{book ref|sa1|1}} though after swearing the [[Immortal Words|Third Ideal]] of the [[Windrunner]]s, his eyes turn a pale, glowing blue whenever he summons [[Syl]] as a [[Shardblade]], and for a few hours after he dismisses her.{{book ref|sa3|5}} Like most Rosharans, Kaladin's eyes have an [[Wikipedia:Epicanthic fold|epicanthic fold]].{{wob ref|4079}} that appear faintly colored amber when he is holding [[Stormlight]].{{book ref|sa1|38}} His face is square and firm with strong lines and a proud chin. He prefers to be clean-shaven but during his time as a slave, he grows a long, scraggly beard.{{book ref|sa1|46}} He is branded on his forehead with a ''[[Glyphs/Index#Sas|sas]] [[Glyphs/Index#Nahn|nahn]]'' [[glyphpair]] indicating his slavery and a ''shash'' [[glyph]] meaning "dangerous".{{book ref|sa1|2}} These brands disappeardisappeared after Kaladin swearsswore the Fourth Ideal.{{book ref|sa4|110}}

Kaladin shows a deep sense of loss when those under his protection die and has a tendency toward depression in various forms. By the time he joins Bridge Four, he has lost so many people that he has fallen into a deep depression. He thinks himself cursed because he always survives when others do not.{{book ref|sa1|2}} At his lowest pointpoints, Kaladin falls into apathetic despair and becomes suicidal. This happened twice, the first during his first few weeks as a Bridgeman, where the constant death broke what little will he had left; the second when Teft was murdered and his father was thrown off Urithiru.{{book ref|sa1|11}}{{book ref|sa4|106}} He is also prone to seasonal depression, feeling a sense of heavy melancholy during the weeks of the [[Weeping]].{{book ref|sa1|43}}{{wob ref|6260}}

Kaladin also displays several classic symptoms of clinical depression and seasonal affective disorder, amplified by the loss and pressures that are forced upon him. He is prone to depressive episodes, particularly during the [[Weeping]], in Shadesmar, or in prison—places with little to no sunlight. Despite the outward confidence he is often able to show, he often feels like a failure, focusing on the many deaths that he feels he could have prevented. During these times, he feels morose and chapters from his point of view describe that he was feeling "gray" and morose spiraling farther into depression.

Kaladin has the ability to manipulate the Surges of Adhesion and Gravitation through his Nahel bond with the honorspren Sylphrena.{{book ref|sa1|57}} By breathing in Stormlight, he gains superhuman strength, speed, agility, durability, stamina, and healing, as long as he has access to Stormlight.{{book ref|sa1|62}} While his honorspren is present with him, his movements are enhanced by her, which Kaladin describes as "being guided by the wind." This gives Kaladin a superior natural fighting talent, although it does not replace skill by itself.{{book ref|sa2|52}}

The Reverse Lashing is the most [[Intention|Intent]]-centered Lashing of the three, and as such is generally more difficult to use. It involves infusing an object and commanding it to attract a specific other object.{{book ref|sa4|49}} Kaladin unconsciously performesperforms this Lashing during the bridge runs for the entirety of his time as a bridgeman, infusing the bridge he carries to attract the Parshendi arrows being shot at him while approaching the target plateaus.{{book ref|sa1|6}} Later at the Battle of the Tower, he infuses the shield he is carrying to draw an entire volley of arrows shot at Bridge Four.{{book ref|sa1|67}} He also uses this Lashing to rip [[The Pursuer]]'s head from his body.{{book ref|sa4|106}}

After Kaladin sworeswears the Third Ideal of the Windrunners, Sylphrena gainedgains the ability to become a [[Shardblade]]. Kaladin can summon her in the form of any weapon he chooses, as well as a shield, and transform it from one to another almost instantaneously.{{book ref|sa2|86}} His preferred weapon for fighting is a spear,{{book ref|sa2|86}} but he usually summons Syl in her default Blade shape when showing her off.{{book ref|sa3|7}} Later, the Fourth Ideal allows him to additionally summon windspren and manifest them in the Physical Realm as [[Shardplate]].{{book ref|sa4|110}} His Plate glows blue at the seams, and is emblazoned with the glyph of [[Bridge Four]] on the chest. The spren that can create it are always present nearby, though not always manifest; this allows Kaladin to summon it at a moment's notice.{{book ref|sa4|114}} He can also send it out to manifest on other people and protect them this way.{{book ref|sa4|111}}

During his time in Amaram's army, Kaladin's natural talent blossomedblossoms him into a master at spear-fighting. He wasis the quickest learner among the members of his cohort. His effortless ability surprisedsurprises his drill sergeant, Tukks.{{book ref|sa1|27}} Kaladin spentspends the year after his brother's death driving himself to exhaustion each day at the practice yard. He eventually grewgrows to be known as the best spearman in Amaram's army.{{book ref|sa1|63}} He wasis able to take down six spearmen by himself in seconds, even before he discovereddiscovers his abilities as a Surgebinder.{{book ref|sa1|47}} Combined with Stormlight, he heldholds off dozens of Parshendi almost single-handedly.{{book ref|sa1|68}}

While the spear is his preferred weapon, Kaladin has training with other weapons as well. He often carries throwing knives as a secondary weapon and is able to use them with considerable accuracy.{{book ref|sa1|47}} He has at various times wielded a quarterstaff, a hammer, and a halberd.{{book ref|sa2|86}} After becoming the Kholin bodyguard, he startedstarts training with the Swordmaster Zahel, though he is by no means an expert with a sword yet.{{book ref|sa2|16}} Syl has also confirmed that Kaladin's preternatural skill with weapons, evident since the first time he picked up a quarterstaff as a boy, comes from their bond.{{book ref|sa2|52}}

Kaladin also possesses a capable mind as a military commander. He becamebecomes the youngest squadleader in Amaram's army when he wasis eighteen years old. He managedmanages to reduce the casualty rate of his squad to the lowest in the entire army.{{book ref|sa1|47}} He wasis able to train Bridge Four with barely any resources.{{book ref|sa1|73}} He is able to quickly analyze a battlefield and assess the tactical situation.{{book ref|sa1|32}}

Kaladin startedstarts training in medicine with [[Lirin|his father]] and assisting him in surgery when he wasis eight years old.{{book ref|sa1|10}} His training wasis mostly concentrated in, but not limited to, surgery. After joining the army, he hadgains considerable practice as a field medic, attending to his fellows soldiers injured in combat.{{book ref|sa1|1}} He has some level of understanding of pharmacology, as he is able to harvest and extract his own antiseptic from knobweed sap.{{book ref|sa1|23}} He also has a basic grasp of neurological disorders like epilepsy.{{book ref|sa2|41}}

Kaladin has had a varied social standing throughout his life. His birth to Lirin, a darkeyed surgeon of the second [[nahn]], setsets him at second nahn originally.{{book ref|sa1|6}} When he wasis branded a slave by Amaram, his rank changedchanges to tenth nahn, like all slaves.{{book ref|sa1|51}}{{wob ref|13069}} When Dalinar rescuedrescues him and mademakes him captain of the Kholin guard, his nahn wasis uncertain, since captain wasis a rank usually given only to lower-dahn lighteyes. During this time, he wasis treated as an oddity outside of the normal caste system by many.{{book ref|sa2|5}}

Once Kaladin beganbegins summoning Syl as a Shardblade, his eyes would temporarily change to blue, making him a lighteyes, before fading back to brown, making him darkeyed again. Dalinar decideddecides that his status as a [[Shardbearer]] mademakes him a lighteyes of the fourth dahn, regardless of his current eye color. Since fourth dahn is a landed title, Elhokar gavegives Kaladin a small piece of the [[Eastern Crownlands]] to rule over. This technically makes Kaladin a landed lord, despite him not actually having any control over his territory, as it wasis taken over by [[Voidbringers]] shortly before he obtainedobtains it.{{book ref|sa3|58}}

As Bridge Four grewgrows into the refounded Order of Windrunners, Kaladin wasis promoted from captain to highmarshal.{{book ref|sa4|3}} Shortly before the Fused occupation of Urithiru, Kaladin steppedsteps down, at Dalinar's request, and becamebecomes a surgeon.{{book ref|sa4|18}}{{book ref|sa4|10}} His notoriety as Stormblessed{{book ref|sa4|102}} and the high social status of Radiants{{book ref|sa4|25}} mademake his effective status remain high, even if he wasis technically just a surgeon. He wasis reinstated briefly as highmarshal during the occupation,{{book ref|sa4|63}} although he renounces command again upon the retaking of the tower.{{book ref|sa4|116}}

|Lirin to Kal after Miasal's death {{book ref|sa1|20}}

|Lirin to Kaladin {{book ref|sa1|41}}

Kaladin received his initial training under [[Tukks]], who taught him the importance of controlled passion—to be passionate and to care without losing control of his emotions—a lesson that he did not initially understand. During his training, Kaladin demonstrated a natural aptitude for being a soldier, learning the spear faster than anyone else in his cohort, barely even needing instruction, much to Tukks’ surprise.{{book ref|sa1|27}}{{book ref|sa1|49}} After freezing on the battle field the first time, Kaladin was assigned cleaning duty by Tukks. Not to punish him, but to help him fit in more. Tukks explained about how many soldiers stugglestruggle with the need to hurt the enemy. However, Kaladin didn't believe he froze because he was afraid to hurt someone, but because he realized he could kill, if needed.{{book ref|sa3|91}}

|Kaladin weeping over Tien's body {{book ref|sa1|67}}

FourOne yearsyear laterafter becoming a Squadleader, in {{Rosharan date|1172|10}}, Kaladin fought his final battle in [[Amaram]]’s army. Prior to the battle, Kaladin met with a Squadleader [[Gare]] and two of his sergeants. Kaladin bribed Gare to transfer [[Cenn]], a young and inexperienced soldier, to Kaladin’s own squad, whom he entrusted to his sergeant [[Dallet]]. He also bribed the surgeons to give priority to his men. While bribing the surgeons, the money pouch stuck to his hand by what Kaladin assumed to be a [[windspren]], although it was actually his first meeting with [[Sylphrena]]. After consulting with Dallet, Kaladin went to the front lines to prepare for battle.{{book ref|sa1|47}}

Kaladin returned to the apothecary and made a deal for his bridge crew to gather [[knobweed]] sap in return for a [[spheres|skymark]] per bottle of sap and some bandages. Upon returning from selling the sap, [[Gaz]] sent [[Bridge Four]] to do chasm duty, recovering valuables from the war dead who had fallen into the chasms. In the chasms, Kaladin continued to build rapport with the men, bringing [[Dunny]] into the fold, who sang for the men while others hovered behind. Through their work, Kaladin came across a spear in the chasms. Picking it up and holding it drew the ire of [[Moash]], [[Sigzil]], and [[Earless Jaks]], who began taunting the bridgeleader. Ignoring their gibes, Kaladin closed his eyes and went into a trance. He performed an advanced practice kata with the spear, revealing his talent as a genius spearman to the men, leaving them speechless.{{book ref|sa1|27}} This particular sequence would years later become known as the Chasm Kata.{{book ref|tsm|37}} During the display, [[Teft]], along with some of the other men, noticed an unknown spren—actually [[Syl]]—zipping around Kaladin. Through the rest of their chasm duty and on the walk back, more men started to open up. The night culminated in Kaladin using the money he had earned to purchase food and assigning [[Rock]] to cook a stew. Not a single person refused to partake in eating around the fire. The next day, a majority of the men followed his orders to rise out of bed and practice.{{book ref|sa1|27}}

|Kaladin to Rock, Teft, and Moash before the highstorm {{book ref|sa1|35}}

{{image|Feeling ProundProud by Marie Seeberger.jpg|side=right|width=300px|Kaladin training his new men in the chasms}}

Kaladin soon woke up and reentered the palace, searching for any dead or injured. He found Dalinar and the others resting and tending to any wounded. Dalinar expressed his surprise at Kaladin's survival, and Kaladin lied, saying he lived due to Szeth's abilitesabilities. Kaladin left to search for his men, and found Beld's dead body, along with Hobber, who had lost his legs from Szeth's blade. Upon seeing he could barely defend against a Shardbearer, Kaladin visited Zahel and asked if he could train under him.{{book ref|sa2|33}}{{book ref|sa2|i|6}}

Adolin was guarded under Kaladin on the day he was supposed to meet with Shallan. As the pair made their way to the carriage, Kaladin realized the driver was none other than Wit. As the carriage moved along, Kaladin spoke with Wit, who revealed he knew about Kaladin's abilities. When they arrived at Sebarial's camp, Shallan hugged Wit, to everyone's surprise. Kaladin accompanied the couple to a menagerie in the Outer Market. On the way there, he rode in the carriage with Adolin and Shallan, as he was suspicious of her. Upon their arrival at the menagerie, Kaladin realized Wit was gone, replaced with one of Adolin's servants. Kaladin talked with Syl and walked with Adolin and Shallan as they observed the animals. Soon, Dalinar arrived, accompanied by Amaram, who was wearing a strange cloak. Dalinar then announced that the Knights RadintRadiant had been reestablished, with Amaram at their head.{{book ref|sa2|55}}

As he entered the arena, Syl promised this would be different than when Kaladin defended Amaram. Relis ignored Kaladin at first, but quickly realized his opponents' skill. Kaladin regrouped with Adolin and told him to focus on breaking their opponents Shardplate. Adolin requested Kaladin watch out for Renarin, who was very vulnerable. Kaladin drew Relis' attention while Adolin fought Elit and Jakamav. Relis dueled Kaladin for a short time, but then returned to fight Adolin. Kaladin used a lashing-enhanced kick to knock Relis down, breaking his own legs in process, though he was able to heal them using Stormlight. Kaladin noticed that he cracked some of Relis' shards with his kick. Adolin's own armor was mostly cracked, though he managed to land a strong blow on Elit's chest plate, cracking it and slowing Elit greatly, giving Kaladin the chance to force Elit to yealdyield.{{book ref|sa2|57}}

Kaladin joined Dalinar, Adolin, and Shallan on a scouting expedition across the Shattered Plains. As they crossed the plateaus, Kaladin noticed Syl's absence, and his inability to consume Stormlight. Dalinar talked with Kaladin regarding Renarin's inclusion in Bridge Four and how it was affecting him. Then, Kaladin talked to Adolin about a potential attack from Szeth, and how they would defend against him. Eventually, they reached the final scouting plateau, one that has a dead chasmfiend on top. As Adolin, Shallan and Dalinar stood on the mechanical bridge, Kaladin carriedrealized a bit too late about the incoming danger. He ran towards the bridge withand Bridgeso Fourdid acrossAdolin aupon machanicalseeing onehis distress. While the prince was able to reach Dalinar and save him, a carpenter from Sadeas' camp pulled an emergency lever, which caused the bridge to collapse, sendingand sent Kaladin and Shallan to plummet into the chasms.{{book ref|sa2|68}} As they fall, Kaladin managed to suck in a small amount of Stormlight, saving his life. Shallan did the same, though neither recongnized the other as Radiant. They wandered the chasms for a while, and begin to argue. Soon, they heard a large scraping noise: a chasmfiend.{{book ref|sa2|69}} Shallan began to lure the chasmfiend toward them, so she could get a sketch of a live one, much to Kaladin's dismay. Eventually, they left and continued back towards the warcamps. They bantered for a bit, Kaladin assuming Shallan's life was easy and pampered. Shallan responded saying that [[Lin Davar|her father]] was abusive, and that her life was far from easy. Syl had failed to reapearreappear and had not responded to Kaladin's pleas.{{book ref|sa2|71}}

Soon, they heard a chasmfiend again, and they hid in a small fissure to escape it. The chasmfiend swiped at them, but was unable to hit them. Kaladin planned to fight it, but Shallan, desperate for a way to escape, gave him her Shardblade to fight with.{{book ref|sa2|71}} Kaladin jumped out of the fissure and they both distracted the chasmfiend, Shallan with Lightweavings and Kaladin with a Shardblade. The chasmfiend managed to bite Kaladin in the leg, severely weakening him, though as it came for another attack, Kaladin stabbed it in the roof of it's mouth with the Shardblade, finally killing it. As the highstorm approached, the pair grew gloomy at their imminent death. Kaladin realized they could use Shallan's Blade to cut a cubby out of the chasm wall, which would provide them protection from the storm. Shallan climbed upon the chasmfiend's back and started cutting handholds upward towards the water line. Finally, she finished, and started helping Kaladin climb up, as his leg was weakened. Kaladin barely reached the cubby as the stormwall hit.{{book ref|sa2|72}} Kaladin received a vision from the Stormfather, in which he was told he had betrayed Syl, killing her.{{book ref|sa2|74}} When the storm ended, the pair found their way back to the warcamps, with Bridge Four there to meet them. Dalinar soon came, and Kaladin saluted him, despite his leg. Dalinar tells everyone to meet the needs of Kaladin, as he was a hero for bringing back Shallan.{{book ref|sa2|75}}

With the Weeping underway, Kaladin felt the darkness return. Moash visited him and went over the plan to assassinate Elhokar.{{book ref|sa2|77}} Kaladin walked through the empty camp, and tried to put his losses behind him. When he returned to his barracks, he found Elhokar there, and they conversed about Elhokar's confidence as king. Elhokar mentioned that Kaladin felt special, and that the shadows that haunted him vanished when he was near. He apologized for imprisoning Kaladin, then left.{{book ref|sa2|80}} Later, Kaladin walked throught the lighteyes' sparring grounds, and talked to Zahel. He asked about Wit, and tried practicing with a spear,; even though his weakened leg was weakened. Kaladin then came to the realization that Elhokar is Dalinar's Tien, before quickly making his way to the palace.{{book ref|sa2|81}}

When readying for the assault, Elhokar gave Kaladin the duty to save the Queen and the heir. While the other with the troops storm the palace, Kaladin, Shallan, Skar, and Drehy used their Radiant powers to engage and distract the Fused. They seized the Sunwalk and the eastern gallery, using Shallan's illusions to fake their death, and meet the others in the palace.{{book ref|sa3|83}} Kaladin joined Elhokar to lead a force, including Noro's squad, up the stairs to the royal chambers. They found the queen, who has lost her mind and joined the enemy. Kaladin searched the room and Syl found little [[Gavinor]] surrounded by red spren. Using his Sylblade Kaladin cut one of the spren, and scared ofoff the other spren. Elhokar and Kaladin then fled down the palace followed by the Queen's Guard. They were met at the bottom by a group of parshaman, led by [[Sah]], Kaladin's friend. Kaladin froze when he noticed he had friends in multiple of the fighting groups, the conflicting loyalties overwhelming him. He tried to stop the fighting, but his efforts were in vain. He was watching Elhokar starting to speak the First Ideal, when [[Moash]] came in and killed the king. Drehy, Skar, and Adolin enter just in time to save Kaladin and pull him to safety.{{book ref|sa3|84}} Kaladin was in shock and watched while Shallan activated the Oathgate and the group ended up accidentally in in Shadesmar.{{book ref|sa3|85}}

When thethey reached the [[Riino's lighthouse|lighthouse]] at the end of the peninsula, Kaladin tried to sneak up on it. As he attracted [[anticipationspren]], he was quickly spotted by the lighthouse keeper, [[Riino]]. Riino believed Kaladin was there to have his fortune told, while Kaladin wanted to go and get the others. When he understood what Riino was talking about, Kaladin was aghast at the idea of seeing the future, and said they were looking for passage on a ship. Outside the clouds changed as a highstorm is passing in the Physical. Kaladin is attracted by the globe on the table which was shining brightly and touched it. He had a vision of Dalinar with nine shadows and the danger he was in, then a flash of Thaylen City. Later, Kaladin sat to recover while the others arranged passage and supplies. They debated the destination, but had to take the ship sailed by [[Lightspren|Reachers]] to Celebrant.{{book ref|sa3|97}}

The honorspren sailed south-west, letting the group move freely on deck except Syl who was kept captive. Kaladin was very angry over Syl's imprisonment, and wanted to fight her free. Eventually, Kal went to the high deck to use a spyglass. HeAfter confronteda conversation with [[Notum]], the captain of the ship, Kaladin started contemplating the Windrunners' Ideals. He felt himself afraid of drawing closer to the Fourth Ideal because of what it might demand of him. This contemplation seemed to cause the first step of manifestating living Shardplate in the form of pinpricks of light trailing soft luminescence in the air next to him. This made some mistspren gasp, whisper, and move away, presumably to fetch the captain. Kaladin was then also able to mentally communicate with Syl, who was still in the processhold. The captain confirmed to him that the lights were windspren, an uncommon sight in Shadesmar, as they live almost completely in the Physical Realm. In this conversation with the captain, he revealed that Dalinar had bonded the Stormfather, which impressed the honorspren very much. Shortly thereafter, they spotedspotted eight Fused in pursuit of the ship.{{book ref|sa3|108}} They were close to [[Longbrow's Straits]], here a land area, with Thaylen City on the other side. Using the bead of a room, Adolin, Shallan, Kaladin, and their spren snuck into the bead ocean while the honorspren and Azure held off the Fused. Kaladin flew them part of the distance, and the group had an exhausting hike across the land to get to the Thaylen City Oathgate, only to find it guarded.{{book ref|sa3|110}}{{book ref|sa3|112}} The group attacked the Oathgate in an attempt to get back to the Physical Realm.{{book ref|sa3|115}} Kaladin used some of the remaining stormlight to attack the Fused, he managed to draw four into an extended chase.{{book ref|sa3|116}} he managed to disarm one of them, and one of the others offered a challenge. Exactly then his stormlight ran out, and he dropped into the beads. Syl pulled him out of the beads, and during the whole fight encouraged him to speak the fourth ideal. Kaladin wasn't ready yet.{{book ref|sa3|117}}

{{image|KaladinDuel Stormblessedin the Sky by IrynaGerva KhymychPerez.jpg|side=right|width=200px300px|Facing off against [[Leshwi]]}}As the war raged on, Kaladin was spread increasingly thin, which was only amplified by the fact that many of the original crew had started picking up squires of their own. In addition to splitting his time between battlefronts in southern Alethkar and Azir, he oversaw the Windrunner training at Urithiru and organized patrols to watch the coalition fleets from the skies.{{book ref|sa3.5|3}} At some point, he was promoted to highmarshal.{{book ref|sa4|3}}

A few months into the war{{Rosharan date||1175}}, Kaladin flew to Hearthstone. It was a pre-arranged visit for him to meet and extract a rebel Herdazian [[Dieno|general]], who would be hidden by his parents. While Kaladin tried to sneak into the town as part of the line of refugees, somemultiple Fused had arrived. They were looking for someone with the WindrunnersWindrunner's description and they found him.{{book ref|sa4|1}} Kaladin fought with this new type of Fused who could turn into a light, move quickly and turn back into a Fused. The Fused almost killed the Windrunner by repeatedly severing his spinal cord, but Kaladin managed to escape. They continued to fight, while Syl and Kal recognized it was a dangerous foe. Kaladin noticed that after three teleports the fused needs a break to get more Voidlight. After loosing the Fused, Stormblessed returned to Hearthstone and was suddenly exhausted. When Syl said they had shown him, Kaladin replied he was almost killed twice. Syl then expressed a worry about Kaladin, who insisted he was fine. While approaching the town, Syl wondered why Kaladin had such trouble sleeping, as humans slept every day and even babies could do it. Kaladin had no reply and felt disconnected from others. At the town, Kal told the singer to fight him, or leave. Six fought him and one died, after which the rest retreated, and left with the others.{{book ref|sa4|2}}

Near the manor, Kaladin noticed the strange Fused with a captured [[Godeke]] entering the building. He entered as well, and they fought while a Singer soldier activated a device that blocked the Radiants' powers. The Fused taunted Kaladin that without powers he was nothing, but the Windrunner used his experience and killed the soldiers and the Fused. LIftLift had slipped in and was helping Godeke leave, and Kal asked her to bring the device to Navani. Kaladin moved onward to the cellar where Roshone had gone.{{book ref|sa4|7}} He ran troughthrough the flames into the tunnel to the cellar, where he found two prisoners already dead. He turned and found Moash, who held Roshone and slit the former city lord's throat. Moash asked whether Kal came to save one of his enemies. When Kaladin jumped to attack, Moash dismissed his Blade and surrendered. They then argued over whether Roshone and Elhokar deserved their fates. Then Moash started speaking in a fatalistic way, saying that everyone was going to die and no one could be saved. This hurt Kaladin and started to exaggerate his depression. The Windrunner froze when Moash outright suggested that Kaladin should kill himself. Then a light exploded in the room that created a vision of who Moash could have been: a Windrunner protecting people. This led Moash to flee, and the light faded to show [[Renarin]], who took Kaladin back to the airship.{{book ref|sa4|8}}

Before leaving with the envoy to the honorspren, Adolin came by the clinic to say goodbye to Kaladin. Adolin noticed a long line of mostly women waiting to be helped and told Kaladin that he was now Alethkar's most eligible bachelor. Syl explained how this new job was helping Kal. The highprince shared some advice from Zahel about war and suggested they spar when he came back.{{book ref|sa4|21}} Kaladin continued to work as a surgeon, which kept him busy and made him "not sad." When the girl who was reading for him left, Syl suddenly started to read the medical reference book for Kaladin, she had learned to read the week before. During a break on one of the balconies, he saw a group of Windrunners flew by and gave him a salute. On his return his next patients was Teft, who couldn't leave with the army. He has had enough of the war and his struggle with his addiction. They argued a bit, but Kaladin had to accept Teft who would not leave him alone.{{book ref|sa4|23}}

Dabbid went to ask for help from Rlain, as he believed Kaladin was dying, and [[Venli]] helped get [[Lift]] out of her prison to heal Kaladin.{{book ref|sa4|83}}{{book ref|sa4|85}} Lift healed both Kaladin and Teft, and they began to develop a plan to protect the Sibling's final node.{{citebook ref|sa4|85}}{{book ref|sa4|91}} When they learned that the final node was in danger, exhausted, Kaladin went to face the Pursuer once more with the remnants of Bridge Four, Lift, and Venli.{{citebook ref|sa4|100}}{{book ref|sa4|102}} Kaladin destroyed the Pursuer's reputation, deeming him "the Defeated One", and defeated him by humiliating him.{{citebook ref|sa4|104}} But, after feeling energized, he discovered Teft dead by the hand of Vyre and was rendered catatonic.{{citebook ref|sa4|105}}

{{image|Kaladin by Gerva Perez.jpg|side=left|width=200px}}After Teft was killed by Vyre, Kaladin became emotionally broken. He killed the Pursuer in a rage, while a Heavenly One took Lirin up to the top of Urithiru. Kaladin followed, using Navani's fabrial, whereupon the Heavenly One grew frightened and dropped Lirin.{{book ref|sa4|106}}

=== TienBridge Four ===

Later, when Kaladin and Shallan are both stranded in the chasms of the [[Shattered Plains]], they grow to respect and admire one another. During this time, they reveal some of their personal history and secrets to each other, including the fact that Shallan has a Shardblade.{{book ref|sa2|74}} Although unsure of their own natures as members of the Knights Radiant, this incident causes them to suspect each other of being more than meets the eye. As time passes, the two of them grow closer together, with Shallan admitting that Veil is attracted to him.{{book ref|sa3|121}} In the end, however, she chooses Adolin instead. When Syl asks how Kaladin feels about this, he claims that she lifted his burdens a bit and reminded him of Tien (possibly since they were both LighweaversLightweavers), but that he never actually loved her.{{book ref|sa3|121}}

However, Brandon was very dissatisfied with Merin's character, feeling as though there was nothing interesting to him after he accepted the Shardblade. As such, he set out to add more personality to him. The surgeon backstory came first, followed by the personal tragedy of losing a family member and the decision to have Merin deny the Shardblades, with all consequences thereof. Finally, Brandon decided to give the character depression to round him out. Overall, it took about eight years for Merin to evolve.{{wob ref|5344}} The [[Shattered Plains]] plot, originally of ''[[Dragonsteel Prime]]'', was moved to Roshar partially to assist in that, giving more context to Merin's slavery.{{wob ref|4650}}

|Kaladin to Dalinar about Shallan after they fell into the chasms.{{book ref|sa2|75}}

* Kaladin is referred to as "Child of [[Tanavast]]" and "The Son of Tanavast" by the Stormfather, while many other charactercharacters are called "Child of Honor". There is a reason for this.{{wob ref|12688}}{{book ref|sa3|10731}}

* During the events of ''Rhythm of War'', Kaladin was as close as it was humanly possible to be to the 4thfourth Ideal, without having sworn it. This, along with how much he exemplified Windrunner-hood, allowed him to resist the effects of the partially corrupted Sibling's influence. {{wob ref|14523}}