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Difference between revisions of "Rlain"
These are canonical facts. You may not remove them.
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As a singer, Rlain can take on different physical forms by bonding with certain [[spren]]. He uses dullform for a time, which hampers his physical and mental abilities but allows him to hide among parshmen to infiltrate the Alethi [[warcamp|warcamps]]. He later changes to warform, gaining the ability to think normally, a much stronger body, and natural skill in combat.{{book ref|sa3|55}}
Like all singers, Rlain is asexual when in a non-procreative malen form,{{wob ref|9317}} though he is surprised to discover the first times he takes mateform that he is exclusively attracted to men.{{wob ref|14751}}
He is trained in basic field medicine, like the other original members of Bridge Four.{{book ref|sa4|109}}
Though Kaladin still struggles to overcome deep-seated biases, including thinking "Shen" looks like an evil spren from stories when sitting in the shadows{{book ref|sa2|52}} and feeling discomfort at seeing warform Rlain giving humans orders as they implement his system to accelerate crop growth,{{book ref|sa4|15}} Kaladin makes a concerted effort to listen to him, trust his judgment, and see him for who he is. This determination is put to the test when Odium's forces invaded Urithiru, and Rlain elects to fight the resistance from within, rather than remain hidden at Kaladin's recommendation. However, Kaladin gives Rlain his trust{{book ref|sa4|42}}
=== Renarin ===
{{image|Renarin and Rlain by rspixart.jpg|side=right|width=250px|Rlain and [[Renarin]]}}
{{quote
|Rlain sipped his drink and wished Renarin were here; the quiet, lighteyed man usually made a point of speaking with Rlain. The others jabbered excitedly, but didn’t think to include him. Parshmen were invisible to them -- they’d been brought up that way.
|Rlain's musings while watching the others train{{book ref|sa4|55}}
}}
Months after Renarin joins Bridge Four, he still feels like an oddity among their number. He voices these insecurities to Rock, who helps him realize that Rlain feels the same way, but to a far greater extent, often isolated within their number due to his nature and history. From then on, Renarin makes a special point of sitting and talking with him frequently, being a friend to him, and making him feel like one of their number in truth. Rlain greatly appreciates this and misses Renarin when he is not around.{{book ref|sa3|37}}{{book ref|sa3|55}} In the weeks that follow, Rlain became fiercely defensive of his friend, and when Kaladin encourages the others to be tolerant of Renarin's choice to learn to read, Rlain reiterates to himself his appreciation for Kaladin's attempts at understanding.
{{sidequote
|She creates in us a faction loved by neither men nor Odium. No home. No allies. She might be destroyed by either. We will need more. Like you and like me. Together.
|Glys, on the liminal status of enlightened Radiants{{book ref|sa4|54}}
|side=left|size=400px}}
Eventually, when [[Sja-anat]] asks Renarin for any potential candidates for bonds, Renarin immediately suggests Rlain.{{book ref|sa4|114}} With that vote of confidence, the enlightened [[mistspren]] [[Tumi]], sent to evaluate [[Mraize]] for a bond, also spends several weeks observing Rlain's heroic qualities during the occupation of Urithiru, though he must be careful to avoid coming to Odium's attention. In the chaos of the uprising, in recognition of Rlain enjoining the humans and singers in shared purpose, Tumi names Rlain Bridger of Minds, rejects Mraize, and bonds him, making him the second-ever Enlightened Truthwatcher.{{book ref|sa4|114}} Rlain wishes to seek out the surviving listeners with Venli, Leshwi, and their people, but he establishes that he needs to stay, at least until Renarin returns.
Rlain and Renarin share the capacity for [[Shard#Future_Sight|future sight]] through their spren's connections with [[Sja-Anat]], and Rlain's abilities are likely to hew close to Renarin's, though there may be some variance due to his species and connection to the Rhythms.
[[Renarin]] develops romantic feelings towards Rlain,{{wob ref|14549}} and it is possible Rlain returns these feelings. Sanderson explains that the characters have not yet reached the same conclusions that their emotions have.{{wob ref|14549}} He wrote scenes further developing Renarin and Rlain's chemistry in ''Rhythm of War,'' but removed them for pacing reasons.{{wob ref|14647}}
=== Other Members of Bridge Four ===
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