Editing Lopen

{{character
|image=Lopen Shuravf.png
|parents=[[Lopen's mother|Mother]]
|relatives=[[Chilinko]], [[Huio]], [[Punio]], [[Rod (Roshar)|Rod]]
|abilities={{tag+|windrunner}}, {{tag+|Shardbearer}}
|bonded=[[Rua]]
|groups={{tag|Knights Radiant}} <small>([[Order of Windrunners|Windrunner]])</small><br>{{tag|Bridge Four}}, {{tag+|army|Sadeas}} <small>(formerly)</small>, {{tag+|army|Kholin}}</br>
|residence=Urithiru
|nation=Herdaz
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|first appeared=[[The Way of Kings]]
}}
{{quote
|I am the Lopen, which means I am ready for anything at any time. You should know this by now.
|Lopen to [[Moash]]{{book ref|sa2|41}}
}}
'''Lopen''' is a [[Herdazian]] member of [[Bridge Four]] and a [[Order of Windrunners|Windrunner]] of the Third Ideal on [[Roshar]].{{book ref|sa3|121}}

== Appearance and Personality ==
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
{{quote
|A one-armed Herdazian is still twice as useful as a no-brained Alethi.
|Lopen{{book ref|sa1|62}}
}}

Like all Herdazians, Lopen has slate-colored crystalline fingernails. He is a short, spindly, brown-haired man in his early twenties,{{wob ref|4386}} with skin just a shade too dark to be Alethi. He had an old slave brand on his forehead, but that is now covered with a [[Bridge Four#Tattoos|Bridge Four tattoo]]. Most strikingly, when he joins Bridge Four he is missing his left arm,{{book ref|sa1|32}}{{wob ref|6620}} although he eventually regrows it with Stormlight.{{book ref|sa2|87}}

He speaks with a quick accent{{book ref|sa1|40}}{{book ref|sa1|32}} and has a tendency to use Herdazian words like ''gon'', ''gancho'', or ''mancha'' when referring to people he's talking to.

Lopen has a very positive outlook in life. Despite experiencing great misfortunes, he never accepts these things as part of his identity,{{wob ref|8436}} and even jokes about his disability.{{book ref|sa1|73}}{{book ref|sa2|12}} He is often nonchalant, exhibits the stereotypical{{book ref|sa1|i|4}} Herdazian arrogance (e.g. calling himself "The Lopen" and liberally using rude gestures when insulted,{{book ref|sa1|62}}{{book ref|sa2|41}}{{book ref|sa3|121}}) and has a sense of humor that people around him find strange.{{book ref|sa2|76}} Even so, Lopen proves himself to be both compassionate and reliable.

Lopen refers to himself as "The Lopen", this nickname was first used by his cousins because they didn't know of anyone else named Lopen. Lopen has asked many people (one to two hundred) and none of them have ever known anyone named Lopen other than himself.{{book ref|sa1|32}}

== Attributes and Abilities ==
=== Surgebinding ===
Lopen has the ability to manipulate the Surges of Adhesion and Gravitation through his [[Nahel bond]] with the honorspren Rua. After Lopen swore the Third Ideal of the Windrunners, Rua gained the ability to become a [[Shardblade]], which can be summoned in the form that he chooses, including a dagger.{{book ref|sa3.5|epilogue}}

Along with [[Rock]] and [[Huio]], Lopen is one of the only members of Bridge Four that can swim.{{book ref|sa3.5|3}}

== History ==
=== Early Life ===
Lopen's family left [[Herdaz]] when he was a baby and he was raised in Alethkar.{{book ref|sa2|41}} He lost his left arm through circumstances that have not yet been revealed. At some point he was enslaved; when or why this happened is unknown, but [[Kaladin]] noted upon meeting Lopen that his slave brand looked old.{{book ref|sa1|32}}

=== Bridge Four ===
{{image|Lopen by Nat Rodgers.jpg|side=right|width=250px|Lopen in [[Bridge Four]]}}

{{quote
|Hey, gancho! Hey! You want me, I think. You can use me. We Herdazians are great fighters, gon. You see, this one time, I was with, sure, three men and they were drunk and all but I still beat them.
|Lopen volunteering for recruitment.{{book ref|sa1|32}}
}}

Unlike many of the [[Bridge Four]] members, Lopen supposedly did not hide a dark past. He was sent to the bridge crews not as punishment for a crime, but only because he was a nuisance.{{wob ref|8259}} He was not even aware of his situation, as he apparently thought he was entering the army as a soldier. He was the only person among the newcomers who did not have a defeated look of apathy on his face, and the only one volunteering to be picked when Kaladin came looking for a new recruit. Knowing that Lopen would probably not survive a single bridge run in other crews, Kaladin decided to choose him, instead of one of the taller men as he'd originally planned.{{book ref|sa1|32}}

Kaladin assigned Lopen to carry water for the crew during bridge runs. He was accompanied in this task by [[Dabbid]] and any member who for one reason or another could not help with carrying the bridge. This allowed such people to remain safe during bridge runs while still being considered useful, whereas in other bridge crews they would have been sacrificed by placing them in front of the bridge to take Parshendi arrows.{{book ref|sa1|32}}

Lopen's small team also carried medical supplies{{book ref|sa1|57}} for Kaladin later on, as well as other items like rope{{book ref|sa1|55}} and Parshendi carapace armor.{{book ref|sa1|62}} Eventually Lopen learned medical first aid from Kaladin and was given medic duties as well.{{book ref|sa1|68}}

During the [[Battle of the Tower]], while unable to fight, Lopen helped by ensuring that Kaladin always had a spear in hand. He did this by taking spears from fallen Alethi soldiers and tossing one to Kaladin when needed.{{book ref|sa1|68}} After Bridge Four rescued the Kholin army in that battle, [[Dalinar Kholin]] had all [[Torol Sadeas]]' bridgemen freed, including Lopen.{{book ref|sa1|69}}

With the former bridge crews now a battalion headed by Kaladin under Dalinar's camp, Bridge Four members were given new responsibilities. Lopen was assigned as second lieutenant to the battalion's quartermaster, [[Rock]], with Dabbid and [[Shen]] under him. As a Bridge Four member, Lopen also became part of Dalinar's personal guard, and like the others was given an official uniform on the same day that he received the [[Bridge Four#Tattoos|tattoos]] that covered his slave brand.{{book ref|sa2|2}}

Lopen took part in Kaladin's experiments with Radiant powers, allowing himself to be stuck on walls and even joining in a sparring match with Rock and [[Sigzil]] against a Stormlight-Invested Kaladin.{{book ref|sa2|12}} He stayed behind in the warcamp during the [[Battle of Narak]] to take care of the barrack and to watch over an injured Kaladin.{{book ref|sa2|77}}

=== King of Alethkar ===
After Kaladin thwarted an assassination attempt on [[Elhokar|King Elhokar]], the wounded king was taken to Lopen's home in [[Little Herdaz]] to recover. Deciding to conceal the king for his own safety, but being averse to lying, Lopen's family members somehow persuaded Elhokar to temporarily abdicate in favor of Lopen so that they could truthfully say that "King Elhokar" was not with them. This made Lopen the legitimate king of Alethkar for several minutes.{{wob ref|1703}}{{book ref|sa2|87}}

Later on Lopen tried to convince the Alethi to add him to their list of kings, but to no avail.{{book ref|sa2|89}}

=== Radiant ===
{{image|Lopen and Rua by Ralf Melevo.jpg|side=left|width=250px|As a [[Windrunner]] with [[Rua]]}}

{{quote
|Oh, storms yes! Everybody, give the Lopen your spheres! I have glowing that needs to be done.
|Lopen after succeeding in Investing Stormlight and realizing that he could grow back his left arm{{book ref|sa2|87}}
}}
Lopen always found Kaladin's abilities fascinating, particularly the ability to absorb [[Stormlight]]. He desired to "glow" like Kaladin,{{book ref|sa1|73}}{{book ref|sa2|41}} so much so that he was the only member of Bridge Four at the time who actively pursued becoming a Knight Radiant.{{wob ref|9627}}

He eventually became one of Kaladin's squires, finally achieving his dream of glowing, soon after Kaladin spoke the [[Order of Windrunners#The Third Ideal|Third Ideal of Windrunners]]. Through the healing effect of Stormlight, Lopen was able to restore his missing arm.{{book ref|sa2|87}}

As a Windrunner squire, Lopen was able to harness the [[Order of Windrunners#Powers|Lashings]]. He was particularly fond of using them to hang upside-down on ceilings, to the annoyance of others.{{book ref|sa3|35}}{{book ref|sa3|46}} However, squires need to be in relative proximity to their Knight for their powers to manifest, and so Lopen lost access to the Lashings whenever Kaladin went on distant missions. This did not stop him from joining [[Shallan Davar]] and others in fighting the [[Unmade]] [[Re-Shephir]] within Urithiru.{{book ref|sa3|29}}

Kaladin assigned Lopen to help the First, Second, and Third Squads of the newly augmented Bridge Four to achieve squireship. He tried to impress them by flying but, not having mastered [[Basic Lashing]] yet at that point, he ended up just accidentally sticking himself to the ground with a [[Full Lashing]], all the while insisting he'd meant to do it.{{book ref|sa3|37}}

He participated in the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], fighting the [[Fused]].{{book ref|sa3|120}} Lopen later became a [[Knight Radiant]] in his own right, bonding with a male [[honorspren]] named [[Rua]]. He stopped during the clean up after the battle to try and comfort a Thaylen soldier who had lost an arm in the fighting. While Lopen was explaining the [[Immortal Words]] to the wounded man, he said the [[Order of Windrunners#The Second Ideal|Second Ideal of the Windrunners]], which the [[Stormfather]] accepted despite the fact that Lopen had been trying to save it for a dramatic moment.{{book ref|sa3|121}}

===Expedition to Aimia===
{{image|Cord and Lopen by Stivya.png|side=right|width=300px|With [[Cord]] during the expedition}}

A few months after the Battle of Thaylen Field, Lopen and [[Huio]] were chosen by [[Kaladin]] to join the Thaylen [[expedition to Akinah]] aboard the ''[[Wandersail (1174 ship)|Wandersail]]'' as they were capable of swimming,{{book ref|sa3.5|4}} and did not yet have Blades.{{book ref|sa3.5|13}} [[Rysn]] took to him quickly on account of his personality, and the two bonded over shared experience with disability.{{book ref|sa3.5|5}} He also endeared himself to the Ardent [[Rushu]] by engaging in discussion of her artifabrian projects. Lopen chastised Huio for tinkering with Rushu's [[spanreed]] - an activity that ultimately results in the discovery of [[aluminum]]-modified [[fabrial]]s.{{book ref|sa3.5|8}}

After [[Nikli]]'s plot to sabotage the expedition was uncovered, Lopen and Huio were tasked with flying the Sleepless and its assistant, [[Plamry]], to shore for incarceration.{{book ref|sa3.5|10}}

As the ship crossed through the storm surrounding [[Akinah]] Lopen remained on deck, using Stormlight to adhere the captain's foot to the deck for stability. Lopen dove into the water to rescue [[Turlm]] when he was tossed overboard. With [[Rua]]'s help, he was the first to notice a shadow in the depths that would turn out to be a large [[Sleepless|hordeling]] following the ship.{{book ref|sa3.5|11}}

Once they landed on Akinah, Lopen and Rushu split from the main group to search for a sign of the Aimian [[Oathgate]] - a task given to them by [[Navani]].{{book ref|sa3.5|14}} Using Lashings to fly, Lopen identified the layout of ancient Akinah from above, giving Rushu proof that her sketches had been correct. A lack of crem buildup led both to conclude that the real city (and the real Oathgate) had been hidden underground by someone wishing to deter exploration. When they found the Oathgate chamber, Lopen realized that they had placed themselves in a compromised position and risked attack from whatever force wanted the island hidden.{{book ref|sa3.5|15}}

As he was racing back to the ship, Lopen ran into a giant hordeling and he rescued Huio from its jaws. The two proceeded to fight the creature together to give the crew a chance to escape. Lopen tried to swear the Third Ideal, but was unsuccessful, which caused him to ask Rua if [[Phendorana]] had a hand in preventing his progress.{{book ref|sa3.5|17}} He attempted another attack, but a hordeling bred to have the powers of a larkin drained away his Stormlight causing him to fall down to the ground and break his leg. When the monster turned towards him Huio flew between Lopen and the creature, swore the Third Ideal and proceeded to summon [[Caelinora]] as a Shardhammer which he used to shatter the hordeling's arm. Shortly afterward, Huio killed it with a Shardspear through the head. The two escaped while Rysn's negotiation continued underground.{{book ref|sa3.5|15}}

Back at the ship, Lopen and Huio discussed the Third Ideal. Lopen congratulated his cousin on beating him to the ideal, although he struggled to do so as he had an inkling that Huio's oath had been related to him and thought Huio might harbor ill will for him. Lopen took their discussion to heart and vowed to protect others, even if that meant protecting them from himself. The [[Stormfather]] heard this and accepted Lopen's Third Ideal.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}}{{book ref|sa3.5|epilogue}}

===Emuli Campaign===
{{quote
|...look into the future and find out if I beat Huio at cards tomorrow.
|Lopen to Renarin{{book ref|sa4|54}}
}}

Lopen participated in the evacuation of [[Hearthstone]] with his fellow Windrunners, engaging the [[Fused]] in combat. He expressed worry for Kaladin's wellbeing on the battlefield, asking if he was alright.{{book ref|sa4|5}} Following Kaladin's retirement, Lopen and a majority of the Bridge Four Windrunners joined Dalinar's forces on the battlefield in [[Emul]].{{book ref|sa4|23}}

The evening after [[Jasnah]] deposed Highprince Ruthar, [[Dalinar]] and [[Renarin]] found themselves sitting at one of the [[Bridge Four]] nightly cook fires. As they both stood to leave, Lopen called out to Renarin and asks him to look into the future, wishing to know if he'll beat Huio in a game of cards the following day.{{book ref|sa4|54}} Lopen later joined with the remaining members of Bridge Four to celebrate at [[Teft|Teft's]] funeral.{{book ref|sa4|114}}

== Relationships ==
===Mother===
:''Main article:'' [[Lopen's mother]]
{{quote
|I’m an expert on one-armed Herdazian jokes. ‘Lopen,’ my mother always says, ‘you must learn these to laugh before others do. Then you steal the laughter from them, and have it all for yourself.’ She is a very wise woman.
|Lopen{{book ref|sa2|12}}
}}

Lopen thinks highly of his mother, who encouraged his self-deprecating humor as a way to cope with his one-armed condition before he was able to heal himself. He currently lives with her in Urithiru. Lopen's mother has implied that Herdazian families are matriarchal, with the women possessing all authority inside Herdazian homes.{{book ref|sa2|87}}

===Extended family===
{{quote
|A man can never have enough cousins.
|Lopen to [[Earless Jaks]]{{book ref|sa1|55}}
}}

Lopen is related in one way or another to a significant portion of the Herdazian population in the Alethi warcamps{{wob ref|8262}} and often talks about his many cousins there. He often suggests going to one of his cousins for help, and is quite proud of their loyalty.{{book ref|sa1|62}} However, his definition of "cousin" is very broad and could include fifth cousins, or people dating his sister or his aunt.{{wob ref|7741}} In fact, Lopen's definition of a "cousin" seems to be broad enough to include anyone he feels kinship with, and has nothing to do with actual lineage.{{book ref|sa3.5|3}} When he began earning a stipend as a Radiant, he sent most of it to his family to help out the poorer cousins, of which a large part went to [[Rod (Roshar)|Rod]]'s family.{{book ref|sa3.5|7}}

The following are members of Lopen's extended family:

{{columns|
* [[Chilinko]] - Uncle
* [[Huio]] - Cousin
* [[Punio]] - Cousin
* [[Rod (Roshar)|Rod]] - Cousin
}}

===Huio===

Lopen shares a playfully antagonistic relationship with his cousin [[Huio]]. Before assigning them to the expedition to Aimia, Kaladin remarks that he was counting on Huio to temper Lopen in their dealings with the Reshi delegation. After receiving the assignment, Lopen plans to go lord it over Huio that he ''Lopen'' had been chosen for the job, before relenting and sharing that Huio was also chosen.{{book ref|sa3.5|3}} Where Huio is reserved and quiet, Lopen is effusive and flamboyant. Both are intelligent and thoughtful, but show it differently. At various points throughout the journey, Lopen makes it a point to try to keep one up on Huio. Huio does not seem particularly interested in making a game of it.  At one point, Lopen idly notes that Huio's spren [[Caelinora]] very infrequently makes herself visible to him.{{book ref|sa3.5|3}} 

During the hordeling battle on the shores of Aimia, Lopen saves Huio from the hordeling's jaws and boasts about it. Huio is exasperated and urges Lopen to focus on the fight.{{book ref|sa3.5|17}} Lopen is initially upset when Huio swears the Third Ideal of the Windrunners before himself. He does not realize that Huio resents this overt and overbearing teasing from his cousin. In fact, Huio's opinion of Lopen lead directly to his swearing of the Third Ideal. The wording is implied to name Lopen as the object of his ill will (e.g. I will protect those I hate, even if that is Lopen) although Huio swears that he does not hate Lopen. This, in turn, causes Lopen to understand that he must protect people from himself - which becomes his Third Ideal.{{book ref|sa3.5|18}}

===Cord===

Lopen seems to be interested in [[Cord]] romantically, although he never says so aloud. In several internal monologues, he lists her positive attributes (e.g. her pleasing accent, her height, her proximity to him in age), and repeatedly makes attempts to impress her.{{book ref|sa3.5|3}} Cord notices his attempts but does not indicate whether this affection is reciprocated.{{book ref|sa3.5|9}}

===Rysn===

Lopen and Rysn traveled together on the expedition to Aimia, and repeatedly bond over shared experience with disability - Lopen living with one arm, and Rysn having lost the use of her lower body.{{book ref|sa3.5|5}}

===Rushu===

Rushu also traveled on the ''Wandersail'' at Navani's request. Her job was partially to investigate fabrials to help Rysn regain mobility lost by being unable to walk. Lopen and Huio engage with her in discussions of fabrials and aluminum, eventually helping her stumble onto the discovery of aluminum-modified fabrials. Rushu seems to enjoy Lopen's company, at one point commenting that it sounded like he was espousing the works of a philosopher with whom she was familiar.{{book ref|sa3.5|9}}

===Rua===
{{quote
|You can thank me, naco, for inspiring this great advance in your learning. People—and little things made out of nothing too, sure—are often inspired near the Lopen.
|Lopen to Rua, after teaching the spren how to perform a rude gesture{{book ref|sa3|121}}
}}

Lopen's spren [[Rua]] appears to be as carefree as he is, and perhaps more mischievous. Rua's transition into the Physical Realm and his bond with Lopen is recent enough that he is not yet fully himself mentally, and Lopen acts like a sort of mentor to him, albeit only in matters of mischief.

===Kaladin===
{{quote
|If you’re crazy, you’re a good type, and I like you. Not a killing-people-in-their-sleep type of crazy. Besides, We all follow crazies all the time. Do it every day with lighteyes.
|Lopen to Kaladin, on whether he'd follow him to battle if he was crazy.{{book ref|sa1|59}}
}}

Like other members of [[Bridge Four]], Lopen is loyal to their captain, [[Kaladin Stormblessed]]. Lopen has been invaluable in many of Kaladin's undertakings, acquiring and handling resources necessary to Kaladin's plans,{{book ref|sa1|32}}{{book ref|sa1|55}}{{book ref|sa1|62}} providing helpful insights often wrapped in his unique sense of humor,{{book ref|sa2|12}}{{book ref|sa3|55}} and simply being a trustworthy companion.{{book ref|sa1|59}}{{book ref|sa2|76}}

Lopen's lighthearted attitude often contrasts with Kaladin's seriousness, and at times the Bridge Four captain does not know what to make of the Herdazian.{{book ref|sa2|76}} Still, Kaladin has acknowledged Lopen's ability by promoting him to a leadership position just below that of [[Teft]] when Lopen reached the Second Ideal of the Windrunners.{{book ref|sa3|121}}

== Quotes ==
{{quote
|Some of my cousins, they call me the Lopen because they haven't ever heard anyone else named that. I've asked around a lot, maybe one hundred...or two hundred...lots of people, sure. And nobody has heard of that name.
|Lopen introducing himself to Kaladin{{book ref|sa1|32}}
}}

{{quote
|Oh. Oh. Question for you! What did the one-armed Herdazian do to the man who stuck him to the wall?<br>
Nothing. The Herdazian was 'armless.</br>
|Lopen, after being stuck to a wall in a [[Full Lashing]] experiment that he himself proposed{{book ref|sa2|12}}
}}

{{quote
|Ain’t nothing wrong with being a woman, gancho. Some of my relatives are women.
|Lopen to Kaladin{{book ref|sa2|76}}
}}

{{quote
|Life before death, strength before weakness, journey before pancakes
|Lopen misquoting the First Ideal of the Knights Radiant to an injured soldier{{book ref|sa3|121}}
}}

{{quote
|Well, sure. Technically it might be. But for the end of the world, it's not so bad, right? I figured that when everything ended, we’d sink into a noxious bath of pus and doom, breathing in agony as the air around us—sure—became molten, and we screamed a final burning scream, relishing the memories of the last time a woman loved us. Don’t know about you, moolie, but my lungs aren’t burning. The air doesn’t seem very molten. Considering how bad this could have gone, you’ve got a lot to be thankful for. Remember that.
|Lopen comforting a wounded man after the Battle of Thaylen Field{{book ref|sa3|121}}
}}

{{quote
|NOW? I was saving that for a dramatic moment, you penhito! Why didn't you listen earlier? We were, sure, all about to die and things!
|Lopen to the [[Stormfather]], when he achieved the Second Ideal of the Windrunners shortly after the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]]{{book ref|sa3|121}}
}}

{{quote
|I'll do it, then. I've got to protect people, you know? Even from myself. Gotta rededicate to being the best Lopen possible. A better, improved, ''extra''-incredible Lopen.
|Lopen swearing his version of the Windrunners' Third Ideal{{book ref|sa3.5|Epilogue}}
}}

== Trivia ==
* Lopen is the name of [[Adam Horne]]'s pet corgi.{{tweet ref|945727751989878784|text=Adam's reply to Brandon's picture|date=2017-12-26}}

== Notes ==
<references /><!-- I'm pretty sure this is complete through sa3 and sa3.5, so I'm only listing mentions in sa4: 
5, 9, 10, 12, 38, 39, 46, 54, 55, 63-->
{{partial}}
{{Stormlight}}
[[category: viewpoint characters]]
[[Category: Bridgemen]]
[[es:Lopen]]