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Tien
Biographical information
Ethnicity Alethi
Nationality Alethi
Gender Male
Born 1155
Died 1168
Family Lirin (father), Hesina (mother),
Kaladin (brother)
Occupation Apprentice Carpenter, Soldier
Appears in The Way of Kings

Tien is Kaladin's younger brother by two years. He is a darkeyes of the second nahn.[1]

He is described as being very cheerful, always being able to raise the spirits of his older brother when he is down.[1]

Appearance

Tien has round cheeks, a slight build, and looks younger than he really is.[2]

Biography

Uncommonly interested in rocks, he collects them constantly and can tell the story of where and when he found each stone and also what is important about it and what made him want to keep it. He searches for special rocks to cheer up his older brother.[2]

He is taken on as a third apprentice to a carpenter in their village. However, his whimsical ways cause him to be easily distracted and result in unsatisfactory work. This is not due to a lack of talent, however, as he is very skilled at carving attractive things from wood.[1]

Due to a grudge held by Roshone against Tien's father, Lirin, Tien is drafted into Amaram's army at the age of thirteen. This results in Kaladin enlisting in the army with the intent to protect him. Sadly, four months after leaving home, Tien is caught at the front of a battle and is killed before Kaladin's eyes.[3]

He stumbled to a stop. There, in the next squad down the line, stood three figures. Younger boys, looking small in their armor and holding their spears uncertainly. One was Tien. His team of reserves had obviously been split apart to fill holes in other squads.

"Tien!" Kaladin screamed, falling out of line as the enemy troops came upon them. . Why were Tien and and the other two positioned in the middle front of the squad formation? They barely knew how to hold a spear! [3]

"Tien!" Kaladin yelled.

The boy looked toward him, eyes opening wide. He actually smiled. Behind him, the rest of the squad pulled back. Leaving the three untrained boys exposed.

And, sensing weakness, the enemy soldiers descended on Tien and the others. There was an armored lighteyes at their front, in gleaming steel. He swung a sword.

Kaladin's brother fell just like that. One eyeblink and he was standing there, looking terrified. The next he was on the ground.

"No!" Kaladin screamed. [3]

Tien's death

Tien Kaladin
Fan art by exmakina[1]

It is this moment that causes Kaladin to give up his medical dreams and devote himself to the army.[3]

References

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