Kaladin

Kaladin
by Exmakina
Family Parents Lirin, Hesina Siblings Tien, Oroden
Born	Late 1153
Abilities	Windrunner, Shardbearer
Titles	Captain of the Bridgemen Knight Radiant
Aliases	Kaladin Stormblessed Lordship Bridgeboy
Profession	Soldier Bridgeman (formerly) Apprentice Surgeon (formerly)
Groups	Knights Radiant (Windrunners) Bridge Four
Birthplace	Hearthstone
Residence	Urithiru
Nationality	Alethi
Homeworld	Roshar

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“ I don't know what I am either. A bridgeman? A surgeon? A soldier? A slave? Those are all just labels. Inside, I'm me. A very different me than I was a year ago, but I can't worry about that, so I just keep moving and hope my feet take me where I need to go. ”

— Kaladin to Sylphrena

Kaladin (Alethi pronounciation: [ˈkæl·ə·dɪn] KAL-a-din), nicknamed Kal, renowned as Kaladin Stormblessed, is a darkeyed Windrunner of the Knights Radiant from Alethkar. Although trained as a surgeon from an early age by his father, his chosen profession is that of a soldier. He is famed as the captain of Highprince Dalinar Kholin's personal guard, a unit known as Bridge Four, and commander of the bridgemen battalion.

Kaladin has known adversity and loss throughout his life. He has suffered repeated oppression and betrayal by the lighteyed nobility, including being driven from his home by the citylord of his hometown as a teenager and being sold into slavery by the commander of his army. Kaladin has also been unable to save numerous patients, comrades, subordinates, and even his brother Tien from death.

Despite these challenges, or perhaps because of them, Kaladin is driven to protect others. Utilizing his skills as a surgeon, he attempts to save as many lives as possible. As a soldier, he has rescued thousands of soldiers during the Battle of the Tower, liberated a thousand bridgemen, and defended Dalinar Kholin and King Elhokar Kholin from numerous assassins.

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 Shallan Davar, is one of the first new 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.

Appearance and Personality

Kaladin is a fairly tall man. He is muscular and has multiple scars on his body. He has tan skin and shoulder-length wavy black hair typical of an Alethi. He is born with dark brown eyes, though after swearing the Third Ideal of the Windrunners, his eyes turn very pale blue that glow while holding Stormlight. Like most Rosharans, Kaladin's eyes have an epicanthic fold that appear faintly colored amber when he is holding Stormlight. 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. He is branded on his forehead with a sas nahn glyphpair indicating his slavery and a shash glyph meaning "dangerous".

Kaladin is a natural leader who inspires belief and confidence in his men. His squad members in Amaram's army call him lucky and believe that being in his squad grants them supernatural protection. Kaladin also transforms Bridge Four from a dejected and despondent group with the worst reputation into a highly-motivated and effective fighting force. Dalinar Kholin remarks that his men are remarkably loyal and think very highly of him.

Ever since childhood, Kaladin has had a strong protective instinct, which only grows once he begins discovering and swearing the Immortal Words. He uses his medical skills to save people, first as an apprentice surgeon and later as a battlefield medic. As a youth, he joins the army so he can look after his younger brother; as a squadleader in Amaram's army, he recruits the youngest members with the least training to his squad so that he can train and protect them; and as captain of Dalinar's personal guard, he protects Dalinar and the king from assassins on multiple occasions.

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. At his lowest point, Kaladin falls into apathetic despair and becomes suicidal. He is also prone to seasonal depression, feeling a sense of heavy melancholy during the weeks of the Weeping.

Kaladin is deeply conflicted about killing, finding it philosophically hard to justify and the notion that one must kill in order to protect ironic and paradoxical. Although he is a soldier, he has been trained as a surgeon, whose highest calling is to save all lives. Additionally, as a member of the Order of Windrunners, he lives by the Ideals of his order, to which protecting life is central. It is further irony that Kaladin's powers of killing appear to be at their strongest when he is actively protecting something or someone. This paradox has plagued Kaladin and Syl, who have both been unable to explain why killing is justified if the protection of life matters.

Kaladin also displays several classic symptoms of clinical depression, amplified the loss and pressures that were forced upon him. He is prone to depressive episodes, particularly during the Weeping. 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 draws a black and white distinction between lighteyes and darkeyes, harboring a deep resentment and distrust for virtually all lighteyes, fueled by the betrayals of people like Roshone, Amaram, and Katarotam. Ironically, Kaladin himself is noted to have many lighteyed qualities. Many characters remark that Kaladin has the bearing of a lighteyes—meaning a leader or noble, since the term "lighteyes" encompasses these qualities in the Alethi language—and others have noted that "Kaladin" sounds like a lighteyed name, rather than a darkeyed name. Further, when Kaladin comes into his true power as a Knight Radiant, he becomes lighteyed. Kaladin despises these qualities in himself, because they make him more similar to lighteyes.

Due to his recent struggles Kaladin shows hostility and resentment, although at times his wit, sarcasm, and intelligence show through. He appears to have got his sense of humor from his mother and is constantly questioning the world around him.

• Images of Kaladin
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  Concept art by Ben McSweeney

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  Kaladin and Syl by User:Exmakina

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  Young Kal and Tien by User: Botanicaxu

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  As a bridgeman by User: Exmakina

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  by User: Botanicaxu

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  by Ktep

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  by User: Exmakina

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  A profile by User: Fyrebeam

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  by User: Botanicaxu

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  by User: Khal

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  by User: Fyrebeam

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  by Kay Hyung

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  by User: Sheep

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  Portrait sketch by User: Sheep

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  With Shardplate helm as glove by User: Sheep

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  The duel by User: Sheep

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  Squadleader and Bridgeman Captain uniforms by User: Sheep

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  Bodyguard Captain Kaladin by User: Sheep

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  Dinnertime Kaladin by User: Sheep

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  Kaladin in Bridge Four Captain uniform with spear by User: Sheep

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  Kal as a child in Hearthstone by User: Sheep

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  Kaladin shouting in the rain by User: Botanicaxu

History

Early Life (1153–1168)

Childhood

Kaladin was born in late 1153 to Lirin and Hesina, a family of second nahn, in the town of Hearthstone in Torol Sadeas' princedom in northwestern Alethkar. His younger brother, Tien was born two years later. Kaladin grew up isolated from the majority of the townsfolk due to the class disparity between his family and the other townsfolk (who were of fourth or fifth nahn), as well as superstitions surrounding his father’s work as a surgeon. As a result, he became very close with his brother and, at the encouragement of his parents, Laral Wistiow, the daughter of the city lord.

At the age of eight, Kaladin began training with his father in surgery, though he dreamed of becoming a soldier. In 1164, he assisted his father in amputating one of the fingers of a fifteen-year old girl named Sani. Once they finished, the discussed Kaladin’s future. Despite his wishes to be a soldier, Lirin announced his plans to send Kaladin to train in the Great Concourse of Kharbranth once he turned sixteen.

Two years later, Kaladin and Laral were walking together outside when Kaladin tells her of his father’s plans to send him away. Laral encouraged him to become a soldier instead, implying that he could marry her if he won a Shardblade in battle, thereby becoming a lighteyes. Kaladin missed the implication, even though he was attracted to her. Later, they encounter a group of older boys, one of whom makes the claim his father won a Shardblade in the wastescum skirmishes.

“You go be what you are, Kal. I'll be what I am.”

—Jost to Kaladin

At Laral’s prompting, Kaladin contradicted him, which led to the boy, Jost, challenging Kaladin to a quarterstaff fight. Although it was his first time holding a weapon, his natural talent for combat manifested. However, seeing that he hurt Jost, he stops himself from fighting anymore. Jost, having no similar inhibition, beats Kaladin to the ground. Kaladin then asked Jost to teach him, but the older boy declined, telling Kaladin to “go be what you are.” Joined by Then, Kaladin made his way home while contemplating what he wants to be. Once home, Lirin informed Kaladin that Citylord Wistiow had died and bequeathed a goblet full of spheres to Kaladin so he could study in Kharbranth.

Two months later, thirteen-year-old Kaladin attempted to treat a five-year-old girl named Miasal on his own. Miasal suffered multiple severe wounds. Kaladin started treating her, but it was too late as Miasal died from blood loss. An hour later, his father found Kaladin in front of the surgery room crying to himself. Lirin tells him that he is proud of Kaladin’s work and there was nothing he could have done to stop Miasal’s death. Kaladin tells Lirin that he did not want to be a surgeon, but Lirin answers that he would have to learn when to care.

“You have to learn when to care, son. And when to let go.”

— Lirin to Kaladin after Miasal's death

New Citylord

Near the end of 1166, Kaladin had a conversation with his mother and realized that his parents were encouraging him to spend time with Laral in the hopes that the two would marry. As Kaladin mulled over the conversation, Lirin arrived with the news that a new citylord had arrived. The entire family went to the town square to await the arrival of Citylord Roshone. Roshone arrived in a carriage and barely acknowledged the crowd. When Lirin tried to welcome him to the town, he responded by blaming Lirin for the reason he ended up in Hearthstone and abruptly left.

Citylord Roshone’s arrival brought great misfortune to Kaladin’s family. Beliving that Lirin had stolen the spheres from Wistiow, he coerced the townspeople to stop making donations for Lirin’s work, which was the primary source of the family’s income. While the townsfolk acquiesced, they still secretly provided provisions to Lirin and Hesina. Then apprenticed to a carpenter because he was unsuitable as a surgeon while Kaladin still debated whether or not he wanted to join the army or become a surgeon.

About a year after Roshone’s arrival, three masked men tried to into Lirin’s surgery room while he and Kaladin were inside, demanding Wistiow’s spheres. Instead, Lirin revealed that they were not highwaymen as Kaladin initially thought, but rather Luten, Horl, and Balsas, normal townsmen presumably hired by Roshone. Ashamed and caught off guard, the men left without taking anything.

Half a year later, Roshone invited Lirin to the mansion for dinner. Although Lirin and Hesina tried to hide the meeting from Kaladin, he finds out and attends anyway. Roshone discusses their situation and wants them to return the spheres. When Kaladin responds with an outburst, Lirin sent him away to the kitchens. In the kitchens, Roshone’s son, Rillir walks in with Laral, and confusing Kaladin for a servant, ordered him to fetch them supper. Kaladin, protesting that he wasn’t a servant, lost an argument with Rillir and was humiliated.

As Lirin and Kaladin leave the mansion, Kaladin admitted to his father that he had been considering joining the army, but has resolved to become a surgeon so that he would have the education to stand up to the lightens. During the conversation, Kaladin realized that Lirin had indeed stolen the spheres from Wistiow. Kaladin resolved to use the spheres for his training, but would pay them back to Laral.

While on a hunting trip, Roshone and Rillir are seriously injured by a whitespine and brought to Lirin’s surgery room. Kaladin and Lirin determined that Rillir’s injuries were already fatal and tended to Roshone instead, despite his protests. They anesthetized both patient and began surgery on Roshone. Lirin hesitated when he discovered a piece of the whitespine’s tusk near Roshone’s femoral artery. Kaladin considered how easy it would be to fake an accident, but they continued on to save Roshone’s life as Rillir died. When Kaladin asked his father why he did not let Roshone die, Lirin answered that they have to be better men than the lighteyes.

“Somebody has to start. Somebody has to step forward and do what is right, because it is right. If nobody starts, then others cannot follow...Because, son. We have to be better than they are.”

—Lirin to Kaladin

In the Weeping of 1168, as Kaladin’s family grew increasingly desperate, they were forced to spend some of the spheres. Roshone assembled the townsfolk in the town square. Meridas Amaram, a general for Highprince Sadeas, arrived in Hearthstone to recruit soldiers for the army. There, Kaladin and his family are shocked to learn that Laral is now engaged to Roshone himself after Rillir’s death. Meanwhile. since only six men had volunteered, Amaram asked Roshone to announce the list of conscripts. As citylord, Roshone was barred from from placing Lirin or Kaladin on the conscription list because they served a vital function to the town. However, Roshone placed Tien’s name on the list instead. When Kaladin tries to take Tien’s place, he is denied because the law gave the choice to Roshone alone. Left with no other option, Kaladin enlisted in the army in order to protect Tien and promised his devastated parents that would bring Then back in four years. Amaram promised Lirin that he would make Then a messenger boy for a while.

Amaram's Army (1168–1172)

Tien's Death

Kaladin received his initial training under Tukks, where he learned the importance of controlled passion—to be passionate without losing control of his emotions—a lesson that he does not initially understand. During his training, Kaladin demonstrated his natural talent and learned the spear faster than everyone else in his cohort, barely even needing instruction.

Despite Amaram’s promise to Lirin, the older messenger boys, including Then, are soon organized into several squads of reserve units to make up for a shortfall in recruitment. Dalar assured Kaladin that these squads would not see combat unless the army is in serious danger. Less than four months after his enlistment, Kaladin takes part in his third real battle. Amaram’s army was attempting to hold a hilltop, but as the battle deteriorated, messenger boys were assigned to Sheler's company. Hearing that the messenger squad was sent to the front, Kaladin ran recklessly through the battlefield in an attempt to reach his brother. On the southeast side of the hill, Squadleader Varth placed Tien and two other boys in the front lines, successfully using them as bait. Kaladin, killing a man for the first time during his run, reached Tien only after he had been killed. Weeping and bleeding from wounds taken during his run, hugged Tien’s dead body until long past the end of the battle.

“Don't worry. I'll bring you home. I'll protect you, Tien. I'll bring you back...”

— Kaladin weeping over Tien's body

Stormblessed

Kaladin sent a letter to his parents informing them of Tien’s death and his decision not to return to Hearthstone. He spent the next year driving himself to exhaustion every day on the practice yard, vowing vengeance and to never let another person die because of his lack of skill. He became the best spearman in his company and was rumored to be the best in the entire army. He eventually met Tarah, who coaxed Kaladin out of his single-mindedness, claiming it would burn him out. The two became romantically involved, but separated after some time, for which Kaladin blamed himself. He later joined the Takers under Tukk’s leadership. There, Kaladin met Durk who became a mentor figure to him. Eventually, every member of the Takers are killed except for Kaladin. At the age of eighteen, Kaladin was promoted to squadleader, marking him the youngest one in the army and becoming known as Kaladin Stormblessed.

Fighting the Shardbearer

In Ishi 1172, 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 is actually his first meeting with Sylphrena. After consulting with Dallet, Kaladin went to the front lines to prepare for battle.

“We’re taking him. Imagine it Dallet. Real soldiers. A war camp with discipline and lighteyes with integrity. A place where our fighting will mean something.”

—Kaladin to Dallet before attacking the battalionlord

Once the signal to march was given, Kaladin’s well-disciplined squad used non-standard tactics to avoid taking any casualties. However, the larger battle didn’t go nearly as well. When the larger body of Amaram’s forces broke, Kaladin’s squad was left in the middle of the enemy. During the chaos, Kaladin single-handedly defeated six men to save Cenn, who had been stranded alone without the rest of the squad. After treating Cenn, Kaladin saw an enemy battalionlord and decided to kill him, hoping such a feat would get him transferred to the Shattered Plains, where Kaladin believed the real fight and honorable men can be found. Kaladin and two of his subsquads execute their plan flawlessly, with Kaladin himself landing the killing blow on the enemy battalionlord.

Immediately after, an unknown enemy, a full Shardbearer, later revealed to be Helaran Davar, appears and cuts through Amaram's army, killing Cenn, Dallet, and two more of Kaladin's men. Helaran continued on to attack Amaram, whose honor guard has abandoned him. Enraged, Kaladin and his twenty remaining men chased after Helaran. Helaran killed sixteen of Kaladin’s men before Kaladin finally managed to kill him, saving Amaram’s life. Amaram and Coreb, one of Kaladin's men, urged Kaladin to claim Helaran’s Shards, as it was his right to do so by ancient tradition. However, Kaladin was disgusted by the thought of wielding the same Blade that claimed the lives of so many of his friends. Instead, Kaladin gave the Shards to Coreb and walked away.

A few hours later, Kaladin was called to Amaram’s warcenter, where he met Amaram and a group of his men along with the four surviving members of his squad. After a short conversation, Amaram and his men ambushed Kaladin, killing the surviving member’s of Kaladin’s squad while Kaladin himself was restrained. Amaram apologized but said this was the only way to ensure secrecy. He informed Kaladin that he had thought it over for hours before finally being convinced by Restares that the best interests of Alethkar would served if he wielded the Shards himself. As an act of mercy and gratitude, Amaram spared Kaladin’s life and branded him with the “sas nahn” glyphpair to mark him as a slave to be sold.

“ It’s not about Alethkar! It’s about you! Storm it, you’re supposed to be better than the others! ”

— Kaladin to Amaram after his men were struck down for the Shardplate

Slavery (1172–1173)

Sas nahn and shash

Kaladin spent the next eight months under at least six different slavemasters, suffering from constant and squalid conditions. Initially, Kaladin was defiant, making ten escape attempts. Although several of them were successful, he always ended up getting re-captured. In his tenth escape attempt, he led a group of twenty armed slaved, including a man named Goshel. However, they all died, leading Kaladin to believe he failed them. By the eighth month, Kaladin fell into despair and stopped making any escape attempts.

Though he should have been killed for his tenth escape attempt, Kaladin’s master found him “intriguing,” and branded his forehead with the shash glyph, meaning dangerous, and sold him. Eventually, Kaladin was bought by Tvlakv and it was during this time that Kaladin hit his lowest point. He found and hid away some poisonous blackbane leaves, unsure of whether or not he wanted to use them to commit suicide, kill his slaves, or for something else. Regardless, he took comfort in having options open to him. However, when a fellow slave takes ill, Kaladin’s instinct to protect and heal re-emerged and Kaladin attempted to save his life. His attempt fails as Tvlakv had the slave killed in order to avoid the infection spreading.

It was during this time that Kaladin first noticed Syl. Although Kaladin noticed that Syl had been following him for several months, he believed she was nothing more than the average, albeit mischievous windspren. For the most part, Syl acted much like a normal windspren, though Kaladin noted some oddities about her, such as the exceptionally long period of time that she had been following him. Just before Kaladin was sold to Sadeas, Syl began talking to him and called him by name, an unprecedented occurrence. Although spren can mimic voice, Kaladin didn’t believe them to have intelligence or memory. Kaladin thought he was insane at first, but eventually started to converse with Syl.

Attributes and Abilities

Surgebinding

Kaladin has the ability to manipulate the Surges of Adhesion and Gravitation through his Nahel bond with the honorspren Sylphrena. By breathing in Stormlight, he gains superhuman strength, speed, agility, durability, stamina, and healing, as long as he has access to Stormlight. 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. After Kaladin swore the third Ideal of the Windrunners, Sylphrena gained the ability to become a Shardblade. Unlike the dead Blades left after the Recreance, 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.

Adhesion

Full Lashing is the first of the Three Lashings Kaladin mastered, and the first he used consciously. He was able to bond fist-sized rocks to a sheer chasm wall and create a ladder. He used Full Lashing to disarm his opponents by yanking their weapons with his own and neutralize them by bonding them to surfaces, while sparring, although he stated he felt awkward due to lack of practice. His Full Lashing had no effect on himself at this time. He later bound himself to the saddle of his horse, demonstrating that he can choose when his Full Lashing would bond him or ignore him.

Gravitation

Though he has never used it consciously, Kaladin performed Reverse Lashings during the bridge runs for the entirety of his time as a bridgeman. He instinctively managed to infuse the bridge he carried to attract the Parshendi arrow shot at him while approaching the target plateaus. Later at the Battle of the Tower, he infused the shield he was carrying to draw an entire volley of arrow shot at the Bridge Four.

After his encounter with the Assassin in White, he managed to duplicate the ability to perform Basic Lashings. Initially he had problems adjusting to the sudden change of perspective, but with practice, he managed to push down his panic and become accustomed to the altered gravity. He has discovered how to perform multiple Lashings in the same or different directions, as well as partial Lashings. He has achieved "flight" by Lashing himself to the air and shown that he can keep up with a more experienced Surgebinder like Szeth.

Combat Skills

During his time in Amaram's army, Kaladin's natural talent blossomed him into a master at spear-fighting. He was the quickest learner among the members of his cohort. His effortless ability surprised his drill sergeant, Tukks. Kaladin spent the year after his brother's death driving himself to exhaustion each day at the practice yard. He eventually grew to be known as the best spearman in Amaram's army. He was able to take down six spearmen by himself in seconds even before he discovered his abilities as a Surgebinder. Combined with Stormlight, he held off dozens of Parshendi almost single-handedly.

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. He has been known to wield a quarterstaff, a hammer, and a halberd. After becoming the Kholin bodyguard, he started training with the Swordmaster Zahel, though he is by no means an expert with a sword yet.

Kaladin also possesses a capable mind as a military commander. He became the youngest squadleader in Amaram's army when he was eighteen years old. He managed to reduce the casualty rate of his squad to the lowest in the entire army. He was able to train the Bridge Four with barely any resources. He is able to quickly analyze a battlefield and assess the tactical situation.

Medicine

Kaladin started training in medicine with his father and assisting him in surgery when he was eight years old. His training was mostly concentrated in, but not limited to, surgery. After joining the army, he had considerable practice as a field medic, attending to his fellows soldiers injured in combat. He showed to have at least a basic understanding of pharmacology when he harvested and extracted his own antiseptic from knobweed sap. He also demonstrated knowledge in neurological disorders like epilepsy.

Relationships

Sylphrena

Sylphrena, known as Syl, is an honorspren that Kaladin has bonded to. Syl is Kaladin's constant companion and perhaps his best friend. In addition to providing Kaladin with companionship and guidance, Kaladin's bond with Syl is what allows him access to his Surgebinder abilities and to become a member of the Knights Radiant. Syl is also a living weapon and is able to manifest herself as a Shardblade.

Initially, Syl is attracted to Kaladin because of his urge to save others. In this initial stage, she behaves much like a normal windspren, having no sentience. As her bond with Kaladin grows, she gains intelligence, progressing from child-like naivety to understanding complex concepts. She also begins to remember parts of her past; for example, she remembers her own name (and her nickname) when Kaladin asks her if she has a name. She also gains the ability to manifest herself into different forms, initially as things like a ribbon of light, a leaf, and a young woman, and eventually into a Shardblade.

Syl's existence, the Knights Radiant, and Kaladin are linked together. When Kaladin doesn't live up to the oaths that he has made as a Knight Radiant, Syl slowly loses intelligence and is eventually "killed." When Kaladin reaffirms his oaths, he is able to revive Syl, although it is implied that there is a way for Kaladin to more permanently kill Syl.

Tien

Kaladin's younger brother, due to the difference in nahn between his family and the rest of the town Kaladin had no real friends growing up and instead would spend time with Tien. As a result the two of them became extremely close with Tien being the only one who could cheer Kaladin up when he became depressed, especially during the Weeping. He is also very protective of his brother as shown when he effortlessly ignored his fathers pleas and threw away his chance at training in Kharbranth. In the end Tien's death scarred him to the point where he spent the whole next year practicing with the spear to escape his pain, to the point where it nearly killed him even.

Shallan Davar

Kaladin and Shallan are the first two new Knights Radiant in centuries. They both reveal themselves independently during the Battle of Narak, together serving as the catalyst for the refounding of the order. Kaladin and Shallan initially have a strained relationship. During their first meeting, Shallan tricks Kaladin out of his new boots. During their later meetings, Kaladin suspects Shallan of being a spy or opportunist at worst, and a privileged, unempathetic lighteyes at best. This clash of personalities is reflected in their respective spren, as the Cryptics (to which Shallan's spren Pattern belongs) and honorspren are involved in a complex spren conflict.

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. 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 get closer together with Shallan admitting that Veil is attracted to him. In the end however she chooses Adolin instead and when asked how he felt he claimed that she merely lifted his burdens a bit and reminded him of Tien, but that he never actually loved her.

Adolin Kholin

Kaladin first saw Adolin saving a darkeyed prostitute who was being harassed by some lighteyed officers. Despite this Kaladin, due to his past interactions with lighteyes, marks it up as an act. Their relationship sours even more so when they meet face-to-face with Kaladin seeing Adolin as spoiled and arrogant and Adolin dislikes Kaladin's condescending attitude and willingness to order those clearly above him in rank. Their interactions manifested in glares and taunts with each only tolerating the other out of necessity.

This changed when Kaladin, at a suicidal disadvantage, aided Adolin in a battle against 4 other Shardbearers. After the duel, while the king was offering a boon to Adolin, Kaladin unknowingly embarrassed Elhokar by demanding a Right of Challenge to face Amaram in the arena, resulting in his incarceration. This only further convinced Kaladin that lighteyes couldn't be trusted.[31] Upon being freed, however, he discovered that Adolin had demanded to be locked up in the same prison, and refused to be released until Kaladin was pardoned. When questioned why, the prince would only say that it wasn't right after Kaladin had saved his life. Adolin then offered Kaladin one of the newly won sets of Shards, though the former bridgeman refused both, stating that the artifacts had killed too many of his friends for him to want anything to do with them. Confused, the prince instead gave the set to Moash at Kaladin's recommendation. From there the two became good friends although their friendship was stressed due to Shallan Davar although the two has since moved on with Shallan and Adolin confessing to each other and Kaladin giving up on her for good.

Quotes

“ Perhaps you should pray to the Almighty for guidance. I hear he has a fondness for slavers. Keeps a special room in Damnation just for you. ”

— Kaladin to Tvlakv

“ Authority doesn't come from a rank. [It comes] from the men who give it to you. That's the only way to get it. ”

— Kaladin to Sylphrena

“ Men are unreliable in many things. But if there's one thing you can count on, it's their greed. ”

— Kaladin to Sylphrena

“ Death isn't better. Oh, it's easy to say that now. But when you stand on the ledge and look down into that dark, endless pit, you change your mind. Just like Hobber did. Just like I've done. I think you've seen it too. ”

— Kaladin to Teft

“ Tradition is the blind witness they use to condemn us, Teft. It's the pretty box they use to wrap up their lies. It makes us serve them. ”

— Kaladin about lighteyes

“ Soon you'll hardly be a spren at all. You'll be a little translucent philosopher. We'll have to send you off to a monastery to spend your time in deep, important thoughts. ”

— Kaladin to Sylphrena

“ Storm you! Look at that! Who cares for them? Not Sadeas. Not their fellow bridgemen. I doubt even the Heralds themselves spare a thought for these. I won't stand there and watch while men die behind me. We have to be better than that! We can't look away like the lighteyes, pretending we don't see. This man is one of us. Just like Dunny was. The lighteyes talk about honor. They spout empty claims about their nobility. Well, I've only known one man in my life who was a true man of honor. He was a surgeon who would help anyone, even those who hated him. Especially those who hated him. Well, we're going to show Gaz, and Sadeas, Hashal, and any other sodden fool who cares to watch, what he taught me. Now go to work and stop complaining! ”

— Kaladin about members of other bridge crews

“ I've been here before! What happened last time? I've learned! I won't be a fool again! I owe you nothing, Kholin. ”

— Kaladin yelling before helping Dalinar's army

Trivia

• Kaladin is currently immune to the Thrill, although he may have felt it in the past.
• Kaladin spoke the Second Ideal of the Windrunners in modern Alethi.
• Despite previous contradicting statements by Brandon, Kaladin is not likely to get another flashback book anymore.^{[citation needed]}
• Kaladin was originally named Merin. One of the reasons for the name change was that Merin sounded too much like Perrin. Another was it sounded too much like a female name. Brandon also felt that the character had changed so much that he couldn't think of him as Merin anymore.
• In the original manuscript of The Way of Kings, Kaladin saves the life of Elhokar from a Shardbearer and accepts the Shardblade. They try to take it away from him, but Dalinar insists that he be given it.
• Kaladin's name comes from the combining of the name Kalak and the Alethi suffix 'din'. His name means 'born unto eternity'.

Notes

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