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|abilities={{tag+|windrunner}}, {{tag+|Shardbearer}}
|bonded=[[Sylphrena]]
|titles=Highmarshall, Captain of the [[Bridgemen]], Knight Radiant, Son of Tanavast, The Windrunner, The Captain, The Fallen soldier
|aliases=Kaladin Stormblessed, Bridgeboy, Kal
|profession=Soldier, bridgeman <small>(formerly)</small>, bodyguard <small>(formerly)</small>, {{cat tag|Medical professionals|apprentice surgeon}} <small>(formerly)</small>
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|
}}
{{update|sa3|sa4}}
=== Appearance ===
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
Kaladin is a very tall man, even tall by Alethi standards, standing approximately 6'4" in Rosharan feet (nearly seven cosmere standard feet).{{wob ref|12138}}{{wob ref|15034}} He is leanly 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]]
=== Personality ===
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, Tien.{{book ref|sa1|44}} 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{{book ref|sa1|47}} As captain of Dalinar's personal guard, he protects Dalinar and [[Elhokar Kholin|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.{{book ref|sa1|2}} At his lowest points, 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 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 [[Immortal Words|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.
=== Surgebinding ===
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
Kaladin often refers to his powers as the Three Lashings. The Full Lashing is sticking objects together with Adhesion. It is the first of the Three Lashings Kaladin mastered, as it is the easiest to perform.{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} He can use this Lashing to bond rocks to a sheer chasm wall and create a ladder,{{book ref|sa1|59}} and similarly to use brushes as portable handholds for climbing.{{book ref|sa4|55}} He also uses the Full Lashing to disarm his opponents by yanking their weapons with his own and neutralize them by bonding them to surfaces while sparring.{{book ref|sa2|12}} Full Lashings cannot affect a Radiant's skin, but they can affect hair and clothing.{{book ref|sa2|25}}{{book ref|sa4|55}}
=== Shardwielding ===
After Kaladin
=== Combat Skills ===
{{image|Kaladin by ToastSamurai.jpg|side=right|height=400px}}
During his time in Amaram's army, Kaladin's natural talent
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
Kaladin also possesses a capable mind as a military commander. He
=== Medicine ===
Kaladin
=== Social Status ===
Kaladin has had a varied social standing throughout his life. His birth to Lirin, a darkeyed surgeon of the second [[nahn]],
Once Kaladin
As Bridge Four
== History ==
{{sidequote
|You have to learn when to care, son. And when to let go.
|Lirin to Kal after Miasal's death
|side=left|size=275px
}}
{{quote
|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
}}
While on a hunting trip, [[Roshone]] and [[Rillir]] were 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 despite his protests. They anesthetized both patients, Roshone for surgery and Rillir for mercy. During the procedure, 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.{{book ref|sa1|41}}
{{sidequote
|Don't worry. I'll bring you home. I'll protect you, Tien. I'll bring you back...
|Kaladin weeping over Tien's body
|side=left|size=200px
}}
Because bridgemen were supposed to be expendable, Kaladin was told that he could keep tending to the wounded men, but they would not be paid or fed while they were unable to work. Not wanting to give in to Brightlord [[Torol Sadeas|Sadeas]], the bridgeleader asked other members of [[Bridge Four]] to pitch in money and food to care for the men. However, all refused except for [[Rock]]. He offered to share his food with [[Hobber]], who was the least injured of the three. Knowing it would only be a matter of time before the [[rotspren]] were attracted to the wounded, Kaladin came up with the idea of collecting [[knobweed]] stems during stone-gathering detail. With the stems, he could create the antiseptic the men desperately needed and even sell some to get more supplies and food. Gaining the trust of [[Rock]] and [[Teft]], Kaladin enlisted their help to find and collect the knobweed during their new detail. [[Syl]] assisted as well, finding patches of knobweed and guiding Rock—who was mysteriously able to see her—to them. While working to extract the sap that night, Kaladin started building camaraderie with the two men, even managing to get Rock to open up and share some of his life story.{{book ref|sa1|21}}{{book ref|sa1|23}}
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}}
==== Side Carry ====
{{quote
|I want you to go back into the barrack and tell the men to come out after the storm. Tell them to look up at me tied here. Tell them I’ll open my eyes and look back at them, and they’ll know that I survived.
|Kaladin to Rock, Teft, and Moash before the highstorm
}}
As punishment for the failure, [[Torol Sadeas|Highprince Sadeas]] demoted several officers and executed [[Lamaril]], the lighteyed officer directly in charge of the bridgemen. Sadeas declined to execute Kaladin directly, but instead decided to let the [[Stormfather]] judge him. Kaladin would be freed if he could survive being tied to the side of [[Bridge Four]]’s barrack during the highstorm. Prior to the highstorm, [[Rock]], [[Teft]], and [[Moash]] came to see Kaladin and promised they would remember him. Kaladin asked them to tell the men to come out after the storm and they will see that he had survived. Teft gave Kaladin a dun sphere for good luck and the men retreated into the barracks as the storm approached.{{book ref|sa1|34}} As the storm raged and slammed into Kaladin, [[Syl]] told him to grab the roof and then the ring that his rope was attached to. He did as she said knowing that if he let go, he’d be dangling in the air again. However, the rain numbed his fingers and caused him to slip, flapping in the air again. As he hit the roof, everything went black and silent. During the darkness, Kaladin met the Stormfather in the form of a large, inhuman face. Immediately after, Kaladin’s [[Surgebinding]] abilities manifested and he drew upon [[Stormlight]] from the glowing blue sphere before falling unconscious.{{book ref|sa1|35}}
==== Assault on the Royal Palace ====
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 off 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
=== Trip through Shadesmar (1174) ===
The next morning, Kaladin woke up on the ship. The captain, [[Ico]], took him to the hold to get the special device that could make water for the humans. He then talked with Syl, about the ship and why she was wearing a disguise. Shallan and Kaladin discussed spren and the weird ship.{{book ref|sa3|99}} When arriving in Celebrant, the group split up; Kaladin went with Adolin and Syl to change money and buy supplies. Kaladin got distracted by a stall selling paintings, including a painting from the [[Court of Gods]] seemingly depicting a figure with nine shadows. The group soon discovered that the city was under control of the Fused. They narrowly escaped when Syl surrendered herself to a ship of honorspren.{{book ref|sa3|102}}
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.
{{image|Servant of Odium by Petar Penev.jpg|side=left|width=200px|Fighting [[Amaram]]}}
Rather than the Stormfather, it was Dalinar who accepted Kaladin's words.{{book ref|sa4|108}} Around Kaladin, windspren transformed into his [[Shardplate]].{{book ref|sa4|110}}
==== Teft's Funeral ====
Kaladin attended Teft's funeral after the Fused were fully exiled from Urithiru.{{book ref|sa4|116}} He left the gathering early to try to speak with Dalinar, who attempted to apologize for forcing him to retire from military duty. Kaladin stopped him, affirming that it was the right choice, and requested that he be allowed to continue furthering his pursuit in the burgeoning field of mental health. Dalinar accepted this request and also returned his Trailman's flute, which was thought to be lost until Lift found in the Breakaway market.{{book ref|sa4|116}}
After their conversation, Kaladin and Syl went to the Breakaway market to look through the merchant's bins where Lift found the flute. He found a carved wooden horse that Tien had given him just before they entered the army. He was shocked to see it in Urithiru, as he had lost it in Alethkar. Remembering Tien through it, Kaladin decided to buy the horse off the merchant.{{book ref|sa4|116}} Following this, he went to the tavern to attend a group therapy session, like he had promised Teft.{{book ref|sa4|116}}
== Relationships ==
=== Adolin Kholin ===
{{image|Shardplateconcept.jpg|side=right|width=180px|Bodyguarding Adolin}}
Kaladin first sees Adolin saving a darkeyed prostitute who is being harassed by some lighteyed officers. Despite this, Kaladin, due to his past interactions with lighteyes, marks it up as an act.{{book ref|sa1|46}} Their relationship sours even more when they next meet face-to-face, with Kaladin seeing Adolin as spoiled and arrogant and Adolin disliking Kaladin's condescending attitude and willingness to order those clearly above him in rank. Their interactions manifest in glares and taunts with each only tolerating the other out of necessity.{{book ref|sa1|68}}
This changes when Kaladin, at a suicidal disadvantage, aids Adolin in a battle against four other Shardbearers. After the duel, while the king offers a boon to Adolin, Kaladin unknowingly embarrasses Elhokar by demanding a Right of Challenge to face Amaram in the arena, resulting in his incarceration.{{book ref|sa2|57}} This only further convinces Kaladin that lighteyes can't be trusted. Upon being freed, however, he discovers that Adolin had demanded to be locked up in the same prison, and had refused to be released until Kaladin was pardoned. When questioned why, the prince only says that it wasn't right after Kaladin had saved his life. Adolin then offers Kaladin one of the newly won sets of Shards, though the former bridgeman refuses 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 gives the set to Moash at Kaladin's recommendation.{{book ref|sa2|66}} From there the two become good friends, although their friendship is stressed due to their mutual attraction to Shallan Davar.{{book ref|sa2|76}}{{book ref|sa2|77}}{{book ref|sa3|77}} After a while, Shallan and Adolin confess their love to each other and Kaladin gives up on her for good.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
==== Moash ====
Kaladin and Moash have a very complex relationship that changed in nature drastically over time. In the beginning, they were both members of Bridge Four,
Eventually, they become rather close, despite their occasionally disagreements in philosophy.
Their relationship began to turn towards hatred once Moash attempted to assassinate Elhokar,{{book ref|sa2|87}} and later became a servant of the Fused. It was only further soured by his successful assassination of Elhokar during the Siege of Kholinar.{{book ref|sa3|84}}▼
▲Their relationship began to turn towards hatred once again once Moash attempted to assassinate Elhokar,{{book ref|sa2|87}} and later became a servant of the Fused. It was only further soured by his successful assassination of Elhokar during the Siege of Kholinar.{{book ref|sa3|84}}
Moash himself has complex views on Kaladin, but all of these feelings can ultimately be boiled down to overwhelming obsession.{{book ref|sa4|i|4}}
Kaladin and [[Shallan Davar|Shallan]] are among the first 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.{{book ref|sa2|78}}{{book ref|sa2|86}} Kaladin and Shallan initially have a strained relationship. During their first meeting, Shallan tricks Kaladin out of his new boots.{{book ref|sa2|28}} During their later meetings, Kaladin suspects Shallan of being a spy or opportunist at worst, and a privileged, unempathetic lighteyes at best.{{book ref|sa2|36}}{{book ref|sa2|44}} This clash of personalities is reflected in their respective spren, as the [[Cryptic]]s (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.{{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
{{image|Kal Syl.jpg|side=right|width=180px}}
=== Sylphrena ===
[[Sylphrena]], known as Syl, is the [[honorspren]] that Kaladin has [[Nahel bond|bonded]]. 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]].{{book ref|sa1|57}} Syl is also a living weapon and is able to manifest herself as a [[Shardblade]].{{book ref|sa2|86}} Syl's existence, the Knights Radiant, and Kaladin are linked together. When Kaladin doesn't live up to [[Immortal Words|the oaths]] that he has made as a Knight Radiant, Syl slowly loses intelligence and is eventually "killed."{{book ref|sa2|74}} When Kaladin reaffirms his oaths, he is able to revive Syl,{{book ref|sa2|84}} although it is implied that there is a way for Kaladin to more permanently kill Syl.
Even in his time as a slave and soldier, he still looked at his father as a true man of honor, the most honorable man he has ever known. He respects how he healed even those that hated him, which would likely have come to helped shape his Third Ideal.{{book ref|sa1|53}}{{book ref|sa2|84}} He still holds tightly to many of his teachings.{{book ref|sa1|53}}
After they reunited, their relationship became immediately strained. Lirin was heartbroken by how his son, despite everything that he had taught him, had become a soldier and a killer.{{book ref|sa3|7}} He thinks of what had happened as being like the military system taking his son away from him.{{
==== 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. Years later, Kaladin still feels remorse because of his inability to help Tien. He forces himself to relive his grief every time someone close to him is killed. This causes him to develop a serious case of depression, to the point that he actually jumps off of the Radiant City, Urithiru.
=== Wit ===
* Kaladin is most likely a Hufflepuff.{{wob ref|11943}}
* Kaladin is referred to as "Child of [[Tanavast]]" and "The Son of Tanavast" by the Stormfather, while many other characters are called "Child of Honor". There is a reason for this.{{wob ref|12688}}{{book ref|sa3|31}}
* During the events of ''Rhythm of War'', Kaladin was as close as it was humanly possible to be to the
== Notes ==
|