Kaladin's homecoming

[Natanaj he/him]

!Spoilers!

 

 

Any speculations for what will happen? Will his parents still be alive, or will roshone have killed them, or will the everstorm have killed them? Will the townsfolk take him seriously? Will he be recognized? Will he take leadership of the survivors as the highest ranked person there (hes twice a shardbearer, and windrunner)?

Edited November 5, 2014 by Natanaj

[Kurkistan he/him]

Warning to all: Stones Unhallowed spoilers likely to follow at some point if people try and speculate on this question.

 

*departs*

Edited November 5, 2014 by Kurkistan

[Kyats Rani she/her]

Any speculations for what will happen? Will his parents still be alive, or will roshone have killed them, or will the everstorm have killed them? Will the townsfolk take him seriously? Will he be recognized? Will he take leadership of the survivors as the highest ranked person there (hes twice a shardbearer, and windrunner)?

Well, have you already seen the reading of his chapter from the book 3? It's somewhere on the forum But I wouldn't say it answers every question, so let's speculate

 

We have WoB that his parents are alive (but I'm too lazy to look for it right now). As for the rest... I may base what I say on the reading, so I'll put it in the spoiler tags

 

Basing on how his current appearance is described I doubt he will be taken seriously. They will likely think him a deserter (because of the slave's brands and tattered uniform) and a thief (as he carries some huge amount of king's wealth in spheres for stormlight). So I guess he would have troubles just because of that.

I guess he will be recognised, at least by his parents and propably also by the rest of the village (but maybe after identifying himself - like "oh right, that's Kaladin, that makes sense").

I see him taking leadership but not because of rank but because of his ability to lead. Besides he has his eyes dark again so nobody would believe him to be ranked higher than the citylord and Kaladin is not the kind of person to show off his shardblade and even less likely to reveal himself as surgebinder as Knights Radiant are generally hated by the people.

Back to his parents, I think that Lirin is currently taking care of survivors so I imagine Kal going to him and wordlessly helping him in his work of a surgeon. Both Lirin and Hesina will be very happy to see their son again as they thought that he had died. I expect a very teary reunion (especially since Kaladin propably still blames himself for Tien).

[~sylphrena~ she/her]

I wonder if he'll be even more isolated from the rest of the town as a full-blown lighteyes than he was as an almost-lighteyed (as least to them) surgeon's son. Or maybe they'll just be amazed that he's a radiant..

It will probably depend on whether the Everstorm hits. He could be either a savior to them as they brace themselves for a disaster, or an anomaly telling them about danger they don't want to believe exists.

Anyone else's thoughts?
 

Basing on how his current appearance is described I doubt he will be taken seriously. They will likely think him a deserter (because of the slave's brands and tattered uniform) and a thief (as he carries some huge amount of king's wealth in spheres for stormlight). So I guess he would have troubles just because of that.
I guess he will be recognised, at least by his parents and propably also by the rest of the village (but maybe after identifying himself - like "oh right, that's Kaladin, that makes sense").
I see him taking leadership but not because of rank but because of his ability to lead. Besides he has his eyes dark again so nobody would believe him to be ranked higher than the citylord and Kaladin is not the kind of person to show off his shardblade and even less likely to reveal himself as surgebinder as Knights Radiant are generally hated by the people.
Back to his parents, I think that Lirin is currently taking care of survivors so I imagine Kal going to him and wordlessly helping him in his work of a surgeon. Both Lirin and Hesina will be very happy to see their son again as they thought that he had died. I expect a very teary reunion (especially since Kaladin propably still blames himself for Tien).

Oh, so does he use eyedrops to make himself look dark-eyed?

Edited November 5, 2014 by ~sylphrena~
please do not triple post

[Kyats Rani she/her]

Oooh, so does he use eye drops to look dark-eyed?

 

 

You know, there was a reason for spoiler tags... Go and check out his reading from book 3, you will understand

[king of nowhere]

there are ssome readings from book 3 already revealed. SPOILER FROM THEM

kaladin's eyes become light when he draws stormlight or when he summons his shardblade. they revert to dark after a few hours.

 

I wonder if his father has become an alcholist for losing his sons. Somehow I doubt a happy family reunion will ensue. fate seems to hate kaladin for some reason.

[Aleksiel]

Oh, not the spoiler tags so soon after the boards were merged.... OP, please just put a warning for SA 3 spoilers in the title. The first chapter in available on Tor for anyone who's missed it. 

[~sylphrena~ she/her]

Oh, not the spoiler tags so soon after the boards were merged.... OP, please just put a warning for SA 3 spoilers in the title. The first chapter in available on Tor for anyone who's missed it. 

 

I didn't realize Sanderson had already posted the first chapter! Thanks for the link. It was amazing, even though I didn't realize it would be so short. Now I get why you're asking what he'll find...

 

I keep hoping he'll see Laral again... she always did want him to find a Shardblade and become a lighteyes... 

Edited November 5, 2014 by ~sylphrena~

[Unhinged he/him]

I keep hoping he'll see Laral again... she always did want him to find a Shardblade and become a lighteyes... 

 

Based on what I read in TWoK she burned that bridge herself. but then again she's had a few years being married to a horrible old man so she might have changed in that time.

 

I for one really hope Kaladin gets revenge on Roshone I know Sly wont let Kaladin kill him but Kaladin might be able to maim him, just a little

[Natanaj he/him]

Based on what I read in TWoK she burned that bridge herself. but then again she's had a few years being married to a horrible old man so she might have changed in that time.

 

I for one really hope Kaladin gets revenge on Roshone I know Sly wont let Kaladin kill him but Kaladin might be able to maim him, just a little

I hope kaladin doesnt kill roshone. The ideal situation would be roshone claims that kaladin is an escaped slave, and tries to get him arrested, then kaladin shows his shards, and then gives some big lecture to roshone putting him in his place.

[Kyats Rani she/her]

I keep hoping he'll see Laral again... she always did want him to find a Shardblade and become a lighteyes... 

 

 And I keep very much hoping that he will meet her and absolutely NOTHING will come out of this . In my opinion Kaladin deserves much better - a women who would love him for who he is as a person not for his status. Laral wanted him to win a Shardblade and become a lighteyes so it's painfully obvious she didn't really accept/like him the way he was - a darkeye of second nahn, he wasn't good enough for her. And later she clearly didn't care for Kal as she openly took Rillir's side against him (if she was scared to oppose Rillir she should have steered the conversation elsewhere or simply suggest him to go somewhere else to avoid conflict). If now that he is back as a KR she would claim to have loved him all along and ask him to take her away from Roshone or something idiotic like that I swear I will scream (and belch rainbows...)

 

I for one really hope Kaladin gets revenge on Roshone I know Sly wont let Kaladin kill him but Kaladin might be able to maim him, just a little

Something like that would undermine all the character development Kaladin had so far. He can't be petty and vengeful like that, I hope he had learned it by now. I'm not saying that he should just simply forgive but at the very least be civil about it.

 

 

I hope kaladin doesnt kill roshone. The ideal situation would be roshone claims that kaladin is an escaped slave, and tries to get him arrested, then kaladin shows his shards, and then gives some big lecture to roshone putting him in his place.

The ideal situation would be if Kaladin managed to convince everyone to trust him and take care of the village WITHOUT showing off Syl as a Shardweapon. He should be able to achieve that with his own personal qualities not because Shardblades are feared and respected.

[king of nowhere]

 

 

I for one really hope Kaladin gets revenge on Roshone I know Sly wont let Kaladin kill him but Kaladin might be able to maim him, just a little

Something like that would undermine all the character development Kaladin had so far. He can't be petty and vengeful like that, I hope he had learned it by now. I'm not saying that he should just simply forgive but at the very least be civil about it.

 

I for one really hope Kaladin exacts justice on Roshone after a fair trial.

But I doubt they have the time for that kind of things right now.

[AerionBFII he/him]

To be fair she was like 15 i think and her father had just died and Kal's dad had just literally robbed her inheritance and all of a sudden she's lost her house and lands and been betrothed to a bloke she doesn't know..Im not sure how she views Kaladin for this but im really excited to find out. From what i gathered she actually seemed to like that arrogant little snot from the way she was screeching...high five whitespine.

 

In a WOB somebody asked if Kals parents were alive and what their reunion would be like, BS stated they are alive and RAFO to the latter.

 

I think it will be a few chapters before Kal persuades them and takes command but im hoping it's in an epic fashion. While it's true he probably cant kill or maim Roshone but he doesn't know that   he swore no Oaths not to put the fear of the Almighty into him

Edited January 4, 2015 by WEZ313

[Unhinged he/him]

I think it will be a few chapters before Kal persuades them and takes command but im hoping it's in an epic fashion. While it's true he probably cant kill or maim Roshone but he doesn't know that   he swore no Oaths not to put the fear of the Almighty into him

 

I'll settle for Kaladin scaring the living daylights out of Roshone. Done properly I think this could even be preferable to doing him bodily harm Kaladin can tell everyone that he's in charge now and completely destroy any respect the townspeople might have for their city lord all at the same time.

[Arondell]

To be fair she was like 15 i think and her father had just died and Kal's dad had just literally robbed her inheritance and all of a sudden she's lost her house and lands and been betrothed to a bloke she doesn't know..Im not sure how she views Kaladin for this but im really excited to find out. From what i gathered she actually seemed to like that arrogant little snot from the way she was screeching...high five whitespine.

 

While Lirin did effectively rob from Laral's father it is an overstatement that he robbed Laral of her inheritance.  Wistiow had far more money then a single goblet of diamond bromes.  Being the city lord he had effective access to the revenues generated by the entire city and surrounding farm lands.  After all Lirin had that goblet for years and Wistiow did just fine financially.

 

Also while Laral obviously had access to privilege it seems equally obvious that she didn't really have any power.  I suspect her panic when Rillir was killed by the whitespine might have been because she knew or suspected Roshone wouldn't want to give up on the connections she represented.  More then enough to give a feeling of panic in my opinion.  She was/is a small town noble lady with no real power to control even her own life.  I don't particularly condemn her for her (in)actions.  Just one more person made miserable by Roshone.

[AerionBFII he/him]

While Lirin did effectively rob from Laral's father it is an overstatement that he robbed Laral of her inheritance.  Wistiow had far more money then a single goblet of diamond bromes.  Being the city lord he had effective access to the revenues generated by the entire city and surrounding farm lands.  After all Lirin had that goblet for years and Wistiow did just fine financially.

 

Also while Laral obviously had access to privilege it seems equally obvious that she didn't really have any power.  I suspect her panic when Rillir was killed by the whitespine might have been because she knew or suspected Roshone wouldn't want to give up on the connections she represented.  More then enough to give a feeling of panic in my opinion.  She was/is a small town noble lady with no real power to control even her own life.  I don't particularly condemn her for her (in)actions.  Just one more person made miserable by Roshone.

I completely agree with you but he still did steal them and all of a sudden her life is turned upside down she isnt at her majority so her lands were forfit and she was given a dowry. I would probably  sympathize with her if she's a little bitter about it. I'm currently doing a WOK reread but i cant remember if shes generally given up on Kaladin or not.

 

It's been a few years since then who knows she could be a mother by now..poor thing. I always thought Roshone would have told Lirin that Tien was dead and Kal was a sentenced to slavery but Amaram didn't exactly keep an eye on him...so there is a theory ruined.

[Pestis the Spider she/her]

I for one really hope Kaladin exacts justice on Roshone after a fair trial.

But I doubt they have the time for that kind of things right now.

I for one really hope he doesn't. He's not a Skybreaker to be so fixated about justice. I actually hope he will absolutely ignore Roshone, as a totally unimportant person in the midst of recent events (Everstorm, Desolation etc.), and I think that it would serve them both right. And well, Kaladin has now better and more important things to do than solving his personal problems from the past.

 

I really don't want to see any more thoughts on revenge, any more thoughts on justice etc., because we had them already in WoR, and Kaladin is now past such ideas.  I really just want Kaladin to focus on the people of Hearthstone. 

 

And well, I don't care about Laral. Even if Kaladin meets her, I really do not want it to be some teary reaunion of two almost-lovers, because Laral is really not the girl for Kaladin, and I think he knows that. 

 

But I really wonder how Kaladin's reunion with his parents will look like. I mean, a lot of happened since last time he saw them. He still has slave brands on his forehead, Tien is dead, Kaladin looks like a deserter in the first chapter of SA3 but is in fact a Captain. I really want Kaladin to talk with his parents about all of these things. 

[hoser he/him]

Kaladin has responsibilities so I think he has to resolve the situation in his hometown quickly and, as a Windrunner, he has to protect everybody including those he hates. 

 

While there are infinite interesting scenarios, I don't think he has time to dawdle, nor can he leave things in an unprotected state. 

 

Given those premises, I see multiple scenarios.

• Things are being as well run at home as he can imagine (unlikely, and not worth the buildup Brandon has done): He reunites w/his parents, leaves for the capital after passing on the news.
• Things are being poorly managed, leaving people unprotected: He is obligated to make sure things are better organized, so he reveals himself, takes over, and reorganizes things.  As he is essentially the "boots on the ground" in Alethkar, he will need to reorganize the whole country and Dalinar has asked him to look into the rioting in the capital anyway. 
• The Voidbringers attack while he is figuring things out (this is my favorite scenario): He reveals himself as a Windrunner mid-battle and saves most of the town.  He then reorganizes things and heads toward the capital. 

I don't see how he can dispense summary justice given his oaths.  I don't think he has time to wait around for a trial even if the local situation allows it.  I don't think Roshone did anything illegal in having Tien drafted by Amaram or marrying Laral, so I don't even see a rationale for going after Roshone legally.  While I can imagine him protecting Laral from an abusive situation, I don't see a romance occurring. 

 

Consider Alethkar as a whole.  The country has essentially lost a lot of it's labor force and been invaded by scattered groups of Voidbringers.  I imagine that the humans need to gather in strongpoints, organize and deal with the invaders.  Only when (if?) the Voidbringers are dealt with can people safely reinhabit the countryside.  Conceivably people will need to abandon parts of Alethkar altogether. 

 

What else is Odium up to?  My guess is that the Voidbringers are just the first wave of problems that will beset Alethkar and Roshar.  People will be hit by crises faster than they can really deal w/them. 

[Pestis the Spider she/her]

 I don't think Roshone did anything illegal in having Tien drafted by Amaram or marrying Laral, so I don't even see a rationale for going after Roshone legally.  

I agree, but wasn't what he did (the thing with Moash's grandparents) before beeing send to Hearthstone somehow illegal? I really need to reread WoR, because I can't remember it.  If someone remember it, I'd be grateful, if you share this information.

[AerionBFII he/him]

Didn't he use his influence with a young inexperienced Elokhar and give false evidence about them because he wanted to remove the silversmiths because he got greedy or something?? They were put in prison and forgotten where they later died. I think Dalinar is the one who sent him away in disgrace. I hope Kaladin lets Roshone know that he knows this.

 

Your right though i don't think he really did anything technically illegal in Hearthstone he's just a nasty piece of work. However we dont know what he has been up to in the last 4/5 years. Im not sure how the reunion with his parents will be i imagine he will be okay with his mother maybe a little different with his father but i cant imagine Lirin will hold it against him tbh.

 

I think 3-4 chapters in Hearthstone then he will go to the Capital where there will be many intrigues to deal with Riots and different factions i.e. Ghostbloods, SOH, Queen and maybe most troublesome the anti radiant Ardents. I see a lot of potential for Kal in this Arc, it could go so many ways.

 

 

As opposed to what Odium is doing i think its safe to say he's thinking of creative ways to be evil.

In Dalinars vision where the Midnight Essence was released i think they were one of the signs that a desolation was approaching, one of the Radiants called them one of the 'Ten Deaths'.  There is also the plague in the pure lake, So Roshar has them to look forward to.

Edited January 5, 2015 by WEZ313

[Arondell]

It is difficult to say what legal steps could be taken against Roshone at this late date.  We have been given only the most vague of ideas about how the legal justice system works in Alethkar.  Based on a few casual comments by various people it seems that technically even the king cannot act in a completely arbitrary fashion.  On the other hand such laws are fairly useless when there is no actual political entity to oppose the king or similar ranked noble should they attempt to sidestep or ignore such laws.  Which is what seems to have happened with Moash's grandparents.

 

Lirin mentioned an "inquest" if Roshone disputed the possession of the diamond bromes but we have no idea who would oversee such a procedure.

[dvoraen]

I could see a reckoning of sorts happen, but I don't think Roshone will be killed or tried rather than further discredited.

 

Specifically, I could see Kaladin basically being flocked to as the 'new' Lord of Hearthstone.  Roshone might try something, but he'll get put in his place, and perhaps driven from the town.  THAT would be justice for him, while also settling some debts.

 

How Laral will respond to this is the wild card, I think.  I'm leaning towards 'bitter' towards Kaladin for 'leaving her', despite the changes in him.  They haven't seen each other in years, isn't that right?  I could see her having soured towards him for not 'rescuing her' from her situation.

 

And then, we have future everstorms to worry about, to say nothing about how the Unmade are now likely in full swing with their death-dealing ways.  Hearthstone's days seem numbered, to me, and if the Unmade are by chance drawn towards Surgebinders, Kaladin is going to likely ping their radar and cause trouble without meaning to do so.

[Arondell]

I could see a reckoning of sorts happen, but I don't think Roshone will be killed or tried rather than further discredited.

 

Specifically, I could see Kaladin basically being flocked to as the 'new' Lord of Hearthstone.  Roshone might try something, but he'll get put in his place, and perhaps driven from the town.  THAT would be justice for him, while also settling some debts.

 

How Laral will respond to this is the wild card, I think.  I'm leaning towards 'bitter' towards Kaladin for 'leaving her', despite the changes in him.  They haven't seen each other in years, isn't that right?  I could see her having soured towards him for not 'rescuing her' from her situation.

 

And then, we have future everstorms to worry about, to say nothing about how the Unmade are now likely in full swing with their death-dealing ways.  Hearthstone's days seem numbered, to me, and if the Unmade are by chance drawn towards Surgebinders, Kaladin is going to likely ping their radar and cause trouble without meaning to do so.

 

Laral saw almost nothing of Kaladin after Wistiow died.  So far as I am aware the only time they had anything resembling a conversation after Wistiows death was when Kaladin accidentally encountered Rillir and Laral in the kitchen at Roshone's manor.  At which point Laral managed to treat Kaladin fairly poorly.   The way I see it for her to view it as Kaladin having abandoned her would require some kind of psychotic break.

 

Though on the flip side I would guess after five or so years of marriage to Roshone she'll either be tough as nails or thoroughly cowed.  Given her last appearance I'm betting on cowed.  She seemed almost a non-entity when we last saw her.  I'm actually very curious about what might have happened to her off stage.

[The Mad Reader she/her]

I wonder what Kaladin's parents think has happened to him. What was the official story after he refused the shards? Do they know he's a slave, or think he's dead? Did anyone ever send them a message when he was promoted?

[Bort he/him]

This confirms that Kaladin cannot use the Stormlight equivalent from the Everstorm, otherwise there would be no reason for him to walk the last 30 miles. Which leads me to believe that the black sphere that Galivar gave Szeth at the very start of Way of Kings contains 'Voidlight' or 'Odilight' or whatever you want to call it.

 

Makes me wonder though, how come his spheres didn't fill up with voidlight?

 

@The Mad Reader: I doubt Kaladin's parents even know he was sold into slavery to begin with. Kaladin himself had to send word back to them of Tien's death, which suggests that there is no official military correspondence with next of kin.