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Difference between revisions of "Kaladin"
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Kaladin was born in late 1153 to Lirin and [[Hesina]], a family of second [[nahn]], in the town of [[Hearthstone]] in [[Torol Sadeas]]' [[Sadeas princedom|princedom]] in northwestern Alethkar. His younger brother [[Tien]] is 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 are of fourth or fifth nahn), as well as superstitions surrounding his father's work as a surgeon. As a result, he becomes very close with his brother and, at the encouragement of his parents, [[Laral Wistiow]], the daughter of the citylord.{{book ref|sa1|10}}
Starting at the age of eight, he trains with his father in surgery, though he dreams of becoming a soldier. In {{date/sa|year=1164}}, he assists his father in amputating one of the fingers of a fifteen-year-old girl named [[Sani]]. When they are finished, they discuss Kaladin's future; despite Kaladin's wishes to be a soldier, Lirin announces that he plans to send Kaladin to train in the Great Concourse of [[Kharbranth]] when he turns sixteen.{{book ref|sa1|10}}
Two years later, Kaladin and Laral are walking together outside when Kaladin finally tells her about his father's plans to send him away. Laral encourages him to become a soldier instead, implying that he could marry her if he won a [[Shardblade]] in battle, thereby becoming a lighteyes. Kaladin misses this implication, even though he is attracted to her. Eventually, they encounter a group of older boys, one of whom makes the claim his father had won a Shardblade in the [[wastescum skirmishes]]. At Laral's prompting, Kaladin contradicts him, which leads to the boy [[Jost]] challenging Kaladin to a quarterstaff fight. Although it is his first time holding a weapon, his natural talent for combat manifests. However, seeing that he has hurt Jost, he stops himself from fighting anymore. Jost, having no similar inhibition, beats Kaladin to the ground. Kaladin asks Jost to teach him, but the older boy declines, telling Kaladin to "go be what you are." Joined by Tien, Kaladin makes his way home while contemplating what he wants to be. Arriving home, Lirin informs him that Citylord [[Wistiow]] has died and has bequeathed a goblet full of [[spheres]] to Kaladin so that he could study in Kharbranth.{{book ref|sa1|16}}
==== New Citylord ====
Near the end of {{date/sa|year=1166}}, Kaladin has a conversation with his mother and realizes that his parents had encouraged him to spend time with Laral in the hopes that the two would marry. As Kaladin mulls over the conversation, Lirin arrives with the news that the new citylord has arrived. The entire family is present in the town square for the arrival of Citylord [[Roshone]]. Roshone arrives in a carriage and barely acknowledges the crowd. When Lirin tries to welcome him to town, he responds by blaming Lirin for being the reason he ended up in Hearthstone and abruptly leaves.{{book ref|sa1|25}}
Citylord Roshone's arrival brings misfortune to Kaladin's family. Believing that Lirin had stolen the spheres from Wistiow, he coerces the townspeople to stop making donations for Lirin's work, which is the primary source of the family's income.{{book ref|sa1|31}} While the townsfolk acquiesce, they still secretly provide provisions to Lirin and Hesina.{{book ref|sa1|37}} Tien is apprenticed to a carpenter because he is unsuitable as a surgeon while Kaladin is still unsure if he wants to join the army or become a surgeon. About a year after Roshone's arrival, three masked men try to break into Lirin's surgery room while he and Kaladin are inside, demanding Wistiow's spheres. Instead, Lirin reveals that they are not highwaymen as Kaladin had initially thought, but [[Luten]], [[Horl]], and [[Balsas]], normal townsmen presumably hired by Roshone. Ashamed and caught off guard, the men leave without taking anything.{{book ref|sa1|31}}
While on a hunting trip, Roshone and Rillir are seriously injured by a [[whitespine]] and brought to Lirin's surgery room. Kaladin and Lirin determine that Rillir is already fatally wounded and tend to Roshone, despite his protests. They anesthetize both patients and begin surgery on Roshone. Lirin hesitates when he discovers a piece of the whitespine's tusk near Roshone's femoral artery. Kaladin considers how easy it would be to fake an accident, but they continued on to save Roshone's life, as Rillir died. When Kaladin asks his father why he had not let Roshone die, Lirin answers that they have to be better men than the lighteyes.{{book ref|sa1|41}}
In the [[Weeping]] of {{date/sa|year=1168}}, as Kaladin's family grows increasingly desperate, being forced to spend some of the spheres, Roshone assembles the townfolk in the town square. [[Meridas Amaram]], a general for [[Highprince]] [[Torol Sadeas|Sadeas]], has 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 have volunteered, Amaram asks Roshone to announce the list of conscripts. As citylord, Roshone was barred from placing Lirin or Kaladin on the conscription list because they served a vital function to the town. However, Roshone places 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 without any other option, Kaladin enlists in the army in order to protect Tien and promises his devastated parents that he would bring Tien back in four years. Amaram promises Lirin that he would make Tien a messenger boy for a while.{{book ref|sa1|44}}
=== Amaram's Army (1168–1172) ===
==== Reforming Bridge Four ====
All of the men in Bridge Four are resigned to die since Bridge Four has the worst reputation, even compared to the already-deplorable conditions of the other [[bridge crew]]s. Because of this, none of the men socialize with each other—in fact, they don't even know each other's names. The next morning, Kaladin announces to Bridge Four that the current state of affairs will change under his leadership. He first tries to get the members of Bridge Four into training for runs to increase their chances of survival, but is met with resistance and ridicule. Undeterred, he proceeds to do training by himself.{{book ref|twok|14}}
==== Battle of the Tower ====
Ten days later, on {{date/sa|year=1173|month=9|week=6|day=4}}, Bridge Four participates in the [[Battle of the Tower]], when the combined armies of Highprince Sadeas and Dalinar assault the [[Tower]]. By this time, they have not only perfected using the carapace armor, but have made enough sets to outfit the entire unit.{{book ref|sa2|64}} The battle begins well, with only [[Skar]] and Teft taking relatively minor injuries.{{book ref|sa2|65}}
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