Character from The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
Grizzled Bridge Four veteran struggling with firemoss addiction and crushing self-loathing. Despite hating himself, he is unfailingly brave for others. Became a Windrunner. Killed by Moash.
Teft is Bridge Four's grizzled veteran — the man who recognized what Kaladin was before anyone else did, because he'd grown up in a family that secretly followed the old Radiant traditions. He knew the signs of a budding Windrunner and pushed Kaladin to breathe in Stormlight when no one else understood what was happening. Yet Teft could never extend that insight to himself. Ravaged by firemoss addiction and consumed by guilt over betraying his own family's Envisager sect to the authorities as a youth — a betrayal that led to their deaths — Teft lived in a constant war between his courage for others and his contempt for himself. He would charge into battle without hesitation to protect Bridge Four, then crawl into a den to smoke firemoss until he couldn't feel anything. His eventual bonding of a Cryptic spren and his swearing of Windrunner ideals represented a hard-fought triumph of self-worth. When Moash murdered him to break Kaladin's spirit, Teft died having finally made peace with who he was. His death is one of the most devastating moments in the series.
A weathered, older soldier with a scraggly beard, deep-set eyes shadowed by guilt, and a lean, hard-used body that has survived decades of warfare. His hands shake when he hasn't had firemoss. His Bridge Four tattoo stands out against scarred skin. When he manifests as a Windrunner, Stormlight smooths some of his roughness, but the haunted look in his eyes never fully leaves.
Also known as: Teft, Sergeant Teft