TDM #5

[calderaevents]

ARRIVAL

It happens in an instant. A heavy weight in your gut, a trembling of your limbs, the world spins and you barely have time to register that you're falling before you lose consciousness. And when you awaken, it's not where you were last. Dark, unadorned oak walls surround you in a tiny room, the only furniture the bed you are currently resting upon, and the bedside table with a folded piece of parchment resting atop it that simply reads:

“The Tavernkeeper is awaiting your arrival downstairs.”

As you exit you find others like yourself emerging from the surrounding rooms. You are indeed in a tavern, but there is no hustle and bustle one might think to hear in such a place. The only person down on the main floor is a humanoid figure wiping down the bar, who smiles when they see you. They're familiar, but not, and you can't quite place their face. For some reason, however, their presence is comforting and warm.

“Welcome, Visitor. I'm sure you have a lot of questions.”

And you most certainly do.

Due to popular demand, the starter tavern and the drinks provided are available to in game characters via a portal accessible only to those with a faction gem.

DRINK MENU

FLAMEFRUIT SANGRIA a deep red wine based punch with chunks of softly glowing fruit floating in it. A single serving makes you feel relaxed, social, and maybe even a little flirty.

MOLTEN MEAD Though the thick drink itself is room temperature, it bubbles sluggishly, and feels very warm going down. The bold flavor affects your mood. You feel very bold! Like you could do anything!

BESALT BRANDY a hopefully staple drink for the brewery, this liquor is smooth and rich with a peppery bite. Ironically after consuming it, you kinda want to bite someone! Not hard! Just a little nip and nibble!

THAT ASHY ESPRESSO a single potent shot of dark espresso swirled with a gold-tinged cream. Intense and bitter with a hint of caramelized sugar. You are now very awake, hyper, and excited.

PYROCLAST'S WHISKEYa glossy black whiskey that turns a vibrant glowing orange when swirled. You now breathe fire.

EMBERMARK WINE a rich, velvety, spiced wine that immediately makes one feel mellow and calm.

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY

As the effects of your drink wear off, the Tavernkeeper speaks once more:

”It is time, my friends, for you to find your new homes.”

You are compelled to walk through the only door leading out of the tavern, finding yourself not outside, but in a deep black, seemingly endless room with five portals arranged in a circle. As the last of you leave and the door closes behind you, gone when you look back again and replaced with nothing but that black void, three of the portals illuminate:

The first portal is surrounded by an almost blinding light, prismatic rainbows shining brightly in the dewy air outside of the tavern. A soft breeze may gently caress you, pulling you toward it. The portal seems to lead to a city in the clouds, airships and winged beings of all sorts soaring through the skies. Of the little bits of visible land, much of it boasts giant waterfalls that look like clouds melting into the land below. The portal calls to those who crave independence and freedom; and especially to anyone that wishes to find the strong bond of a family not forged in blood.

The second portal is encircled by a fairy ring of spotted white capped mushrooms, the faint scent of damp stone and rich earth wafting from within the faint green glow. Peering inside, one can see a sprawling harbor city of gray hewn stone, a melting pot of humanoid beings going about their day, and beyond, rolling green farmland and cottages clustered in small villages. This portal is destined for those who crave stability and solid ground beneath their feet. A simple life, an adventurous one, and everything in between can be found within.

The last portal is adorned with shells and seaweed, the glow of blue around it catching on droplets cascading down the circular opening. Beyond it you see a city housed inside a massive bubble deep under the ocean, spiraling towers encrusted with coral, and a variety of different creatures mingling about the streets. Outside of that bubble, merfolk swim, a massive squid engulfs the view from the portal as it smoothly glides through the water, and schools of fish disperse as it passes. A sanctuary in the sea that calls to those with a hunger for knowledge and a desire to aid those in need. Or perhaps it is the mystery that beckons you - the lure of the unknown in the depths that bids you explore it.

---

Upon following the pull of the breeze through the first portal, you are thrust into the beauty of a lively city that goes by the name of Heaven's Bow. Much of this main city feels exactly as you would expect on a city below, but there are clouds surrounding every direction you look. The walls of buildings are made with light-colored limestone, and buildings are generally built up to heights made even more grandiose by their position in the sky.

The Skyfall Docks are the first thing you notice, boasting hundreds of airships sailing in and out across the clouds with shouts that accompany a typical port city. Just outside is a fantastic market with goods not only from the other regions of Caldera, but from what some shopkeepers claim are other worlds--items sold or left behind by Visitors. Almost anything can be found in the markets if one is willing to look hard enough. Transport to other locations throughout the sky and even to the land or sea can be found here.

If the docks are too lively for you, you may instead find yourself roaming the underbelly of Heaven's Bow and finding brothels and gambling parlors filled with the promise of pleasure and fortune. The guild house for the Sylphs can be found here as well, giving out quests and training to prospective adventurers and guards alike--though none of them seem concerned with the illicit activities that surround them. Perhaps the freedom the Sylphs boast of extends to what others may deem an undesirable activity.

But most curious of all, you find a shimmering opal gemstone in your hand. When placed anywhere on the body, it will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If it was the second portal that called to you, you will find yourself in the busy city of Grey Ward, with its cobblestone streets and sturdy grey stone buildings. You are in the heart of the city, the Glass Market, so named for the colorful stained glass windows of the surrounding buildings. The scent of cooking food and the sound of barkers fills the air; watchful guards keep an eye out for pickpockets and thieves, and citizens go about their day. From here, one can investigate the rest of the city: the Sundown Docks, where both sea and sky faring skips transport people and goods. The Soot Spire, home of inventors and engineers. The Hearthstill, the main residential area. The Downs, a smaller residential area for those with less means.

Outside the city walls, one can explore acres of farmlands to the east and west, or follow Terra’s Pass to the less settled areas, but take care. Past the Skyward Range, out in the smaller burrows and villages, the influence of the city guard diminishes quickly, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you. Bandits along the road are always a risk, and the wildlife are less controlled by regimented hunting.

In your hand is a gemstone, a brilliantly green emerald that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If the last portal beckoned you through it, you find yourself within that bubble covered city beneath the sea, the city of Salt Spire. Your ears pop with the change in pressure, and the smell of the salty sea fills your nostrils. All around you buildings made of dark stone encrusted with coral and seagrass tower high above your head, the backdrop outside the dome a deep blue, seemingly endless sea filled with fish and merfolk and all other manner of creature swimming through the water. You stand in the heart of it all, surrounded by people with gils on their necks and scales upon their vibrantly colored skin, all of whom seem intrigued by your arrival. You have many options of where to visit in the city under the sea, but where oh where will you go first?

The Salt Spire Library is right before you, an impossibly large building housing thousands upon thousands of books of all genres. Fiction, non-fiction, romance and mystery and all between. You may even find books from your world and others! Oddly enough though, no Calderan history books are to be found, and if you ask for them, the librarians and locals all choose to ignore your questions.

If scholarly pursuits aren't to your interest currently, perhaps a trip to Bluetide Market would be more your style? The marketplace is host to every manner of shop one might ever need: artisans of all varieties, apothecaries and healers in the Shimmer Quarter, the most in fashion undersea clothing shops, food stalls, and all between can be found in Bluetide. There are also the Tideshore and Fogbottom docks on either end of the city. The former allows transport to the surface via large, magical bubbles for those that cannot hold their breath or make the swim themselves yet. The latter allows people to venture further into the sea. Those without their underwater abilities are offered rebreathers for travel that last for four hours before needing to be replaced.

In your hand is a gemstone, a shining sapphire that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

IGNACIA'S CRADLE/EMBER VEIL

Months ago, a piece of land from Heaven’s Bow fell from the sky and scarred the land below, damaging a part of the city. From that chaos and ruin rose new life, a new ruler, and a new city: Ignacia’s Cradle. Just a short walk from the edge of Grey Ward, the gates of the city are guarded by two massive obsidian golems, and any who did not rise from the lava itself are warned at the entrance that to travel about the city will be most difficult, unless they have obtained a way to mitigate the extreme heat: be that with a charm, an ability, or a potion. The very streets themselves are paved in slabs of volcanic rock, tall spires of buildings constructed and shaped by rapidly cooled lava. The main method of travel are the mine carts, with tracks that wind through the spires ready to take one to almost any location.

Currently, the main feature of Ignacia’s Cradle is the Lava Flats, home of skilled smiths that use the extreme heat of the lava to melt the strongest metals and create unbreakable weapons, glassmakers and jewelers who fashion elaborate headpieces, rings, and amulets. These items are sold at the Ember Market on the outskirts of the Flats.

At the edge of the city lies the Ashfall Terrace, where a small farm using the rich volcanic ash and soil is in its infancy, as well as the Basalt Brewery where clever alchemists are researching ways to use the extreme heat to craft new and unique beverages that they are eager to find folk to test them out on.

---

The hot spring of Ignacia’s Cradle is a breathtaking anomaly located just beyond the Ashfall Terrace, tucked into a secluded crater formed by the celestial impact that gave rise to the city. Here, molten veins from the Lava Flats weave beneath the earth, heating a natural reservoir that bubbled to life amidst the chaos. The spring’s waters shimmer with an ethereal brilliance, hues of deep turquoise blending with molten gold and fiery orange, as though Heaven’s Bow itself left behind a fragment of its essence. Steam rises in curling wisps, carrying the tang of minerals and faint traces of sulfur.

The spring, known to locals as The Ember Veil, is both a sanctuary and a marvel of natural wonder. Its soothing waters are reputed to heal wounds and fortify the spirit, with the temperature kept in perfect balance by an intricate system of naturally formed vents and channels. The edges are lined with intricately carved obsidian benches, where patrons can soak their feet or meditate in the rising steam. Plants resistant to the intense conditions—vivid fire lilies and ash ferns—dot the perimeter, their resilience a symbol of life’s ability to flourish even in the harshest environments.

Sometimes, when two or more individuals share the waters, the spring creates a subtle connection between their minds, allowing memories to surface like ripples on its surface. These shared memories appear as glowing, translucent scenes that hover above the water, visible to all within the spring. Participants can relive moments from their lives, experiencing them through each other’s eyes, fostering profound empathy and understanding.

Another of the spring’s mystical properties occurs when bathers who enter the waters feeling drained, injured, or burdened by grief often find their vitality restored. The waters seem to draw out negative energies and emotions, replacing them with a warm, invigorating sensation that spreads through the body. In rare instances, the spring has been known to accelerate physical healing, mending minor injuries and soothing chronic aches, as though the magic itself is stitching the body back together.

A lesser-known but equally fascinating effect happens on particularly clear nights, when the moonlight reflects on the spring’s surface, some bathers report fleeting glimpses of potential futures. These visions are often cryptic, appearing as brief, dream-like flashes, but they have guided many to life-changing decisions. The alchemists of the Basalt Brewery believe this effect stems from residual cosmic energy, and they have begun experimenting with enhancing it through the addition of rare minerals and lunar elixirs.

RADIANT SUN

The day begins like no other, with the skies painted in hues of golden-pink as the Radiant Sun ascends. Its light spills over the world, warm and soft, caressing the land and filling every heart with a sense of peace. Beneath its glow, emotions of love and connection bloom like never before. Strangers exchange heartfelt smiles, old friends embrace as though no time has passed, and lovers find their feelings deepened, their bonds strengthened.

Even the air feels different—lighter, sweeter, as though the universe itself is celebrating. The songs of birds harmonize with the melodies of impromptu musicians who feel inspired by the sun’s radiance. Those with magical abilities sense their powers of healing and creation magnified, as if the sun itself lends its strength to their intentions. Long-held grudges seem to melt away under the sun’s tender gaze, replaced by tears of reconciliation and words of forgiveness.

The Radiant Sun touches every heart differently:

◾A widow finds peace as memories of her late spouse no longer bring sorrow but gratitude for the love they shared.
◾A timid youth finds the courage to confess their feelings to the person they’ve admired for so long.
◾A gruff warrior lets down their guard, laughing freely with their companions for the first time in years.

For a fleeting moment, the world feels as it should be—unified, harmonious, and drenched in love.

But as the day wanes and the Radiant Sun dips below the horizon, an unease begins to settle...

JEALOUS MOON

The golden light gives way to deep purples and silvers as the Jealous Moon rises, its glow pale and cold. Its light pierces the heart, not to warm it, but to expose the insecurities that lie buried within. Where love had flourished during the day, doubt begins to creep in.

Under the Jealous Moon’s influence, emotions twist and darken:

◾A once-reconciled pair of siblings argue over old grievances, as jealousy over perceived favoritism resurfaces.
◾A couple, who had spent the day lost in each other’s arms, now question each other’s loyalty and intentions.
◾A nobleman, inspired to be generous during the day, grows suspicious of those who received his gifts, fearing they may exploit his kindness.

The air grows heavy with tension, and the magic of the Radiant Sun fades, replaced by the sharp sting of distrust. The moon’s pale light seems to follow people like a judgmental gaze, amplifying every fear, insecurity, and lingering resentment.

Worse still, the night seems endless, as though time itself has bent beneath the weight of the Jealous Moon’s envious glow. For three long days and nights, the moon lingers high in the sky, its pale, piercing light casting a shadow over hearts and minds, amplifying discord and despair. Its power sows strife among even the closest bonds, driving some to dangerous extremes. Yet, when all seems lost, the scholars of the three factions unite their wisdom and uncover a glimmer of hope—a means to dispel the moon’s cruel influence. For those who have not yet succumbed to jealousy’s grip, there remains a chance to reclaim harmony, a chance for redemption before the damage becomes irreversible.

The solution lies not in complex rituals or rare relics but in the simplest and most instinctive actions: physical connection. To weaken the moon’s hold, people must embrace one another—offering a hug, a handshake, or even resting a hand on someone’s shoulder. These gestures of closeness disrupt the isolation and mistrust that the moon thrives upon. Sitting side by side or holding hands creates a barrier against its oppressive light, reminding the afflicted that they are not alone. Even small acts, like sharing warmth through proximity or clasping arms in solidarity, build a shield of connection that the moon cannot penetrate.

As these actions ripple through the night, the Jealous Moon’s light begins to dim, its sharp, cold glow softening until it fades from the sky entirely. The tension in the air lifts, replaced by a quiet calm that feels almost foreign after the chaos of the past three days. Slowly, the world seems to exhale, and the darkness that clung so tightly to the hearts of many begins to loosen its grip. People step back from the brink of despair, their minds clearing as if waking from a long, disorienting dream. Relationships strained by the moon’s influence begin to mend as apologies are exchanged, tears are shed, and bonds are reaffirmed.

ALL IS WELL(?)

With the Radiant Sun rising again, its golden-pink hues spilling across the horizon, life begins to return to normal. The birds resume their morning songs, markets reopen, and the hum of daily activity fills the air once more. Though traces of the moon’s influence linger in whispered memories, there is a collective sense of relief and gratitude among the people—gratitude for the light, for connection, and for a second chance to heal.

In the outskirts of Ignacia's Cradle, Aella and Terra, two of the three leaders of the factions, come together to address the gathered crowds. Together they assure the people that this celestial event was a rare anomaly, something never before recorded in the annals of history. They explain that while the Jealous Moon’s influence was unprecedented and deeply unsettling, it was a unique alignment of cosmic forces that is unlikely to occur again in their lifetimes—or ever.

The leaders thank the people for their resilience and compassion, emphasizing how their acts of unity—simple gestures of closeness and connection—proved stronger than the moon’s envy. They commend the scholars for their quick thinking and the Visitors for their role in guiding others through the chaos. Finally, they urge everyone to move forward, not in fear of what has passed, but with the knowledge that even in the darkest moments, their strength lies in the bonds they share.

QUESTBOARD

Settled in? Good. It's time to make your way to the Questboard located in every city in numerous, easy to access locations. That is, if you want to make any kind of impact on the world or just get some Bones for anything you might wish to purchase. Visitors are given a very small stipend in which to survive every month, but all it does is keep you fed and housed. These quests will assure you greater wealth, and they're the main reason you're here: each finished quest helps the Calderans fix their shattering world.

Quests can be accepted at the questboard via magically signed parchment upon the board. Just sign your name to accept and the paper will be whisked away... somewhere. You're not actually sure. Probably nothing to concern yourself with.

Once quests are completed, earned Bones will be dropped off at the character's residence by Bonita, the mysterious artisan who has supposedly handcrafted every Bone circulating in Caldera. Please do not speak to her, she startles easily.

*February will be the last month to complete quests for this rotation. New ones will go up on March 1st.

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Caldera's fifth TDM! All characters awaken in a strange tavern with nothing save the clothes on their backs, all of their powers stripped, and a piece of parchment directing them downstairs to the Tavernkeeper. There is a thread of all questions answered by the Tavernkeeper here, and if you have more, feel free to ask there for what would be offered ICly.

For OOC questions, please direct themhere.

All locations are available to be explored! Ignacia's Cradle and Ember Veil have been added, along with details about the Violet Drop regarding the Cult of Triton.

The TDM is game canon and all completed quests can be carried over once accepted into the game.

Participation in the Radiant Sun/Jealous Moon effects is not mandatory.

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Comments

[thecodexabides]

If Maedhros worried people would be put off by his scars, MAN did he choose the right place, because Gadriel's body looks like the surface of the moon. A side effect of his Astartes healing organs is that he heals fast, and that leads to visible, lumpy scars.

There is the symmetry of his Black Carapace implantation, the organ that connected him with his power armor, and then the black circular ports that the carapace pushed through his skin for the suit interface, but then there were dozens of asymmetric scars, crisscrossing his body.

He nodded at Maedhros, sliding into the water. "I am well." Sure, half of his friends are no longer speaking to him, but that was the problem with 'friends' and Astartes. He honestly should not have them. Friendship: not Codex compliant. "How have you been keeping yourself?" Because Gadriel's life is an open book and every fuckup he makes he somehow broadcasts to the network but Maedhros is much quieter.

[holdshisown]

Not that his own scars are that much more pleasant to look at, but they are a bit less eyecatching than some of Gadriel's.

"That is good to hear," not that he himself is completely happy with Gadriel pretty much inviting people to come kill him but he's not going to stop speaking with him over it. That would seem a bit counterproductive in his eyes. And if Friendship is not Codex compliant it might need to be updated. Maedhros is, for all that he can be pessimistic and cynical at times, a great believer in the power of friendship. "I've been well enough. Mostly just trying to keep myself busy so that all this free time doesn't drive me up the wall." He is not used to having this much idle time and he does not know what to do with it most of the time.

we doing terrifying memorythings?

[thecodexabides]

"There is altogether too much free time around here," Gadriel agreed, before adding, "at least for me." Hence why he's sitting in a hot spring trying to at least not do anything harmful. "Too much time for introspection, even here."

Yes please

[holdshisown]

"There is," he sighs. "I'm not used to having this little to do... it almost feels like I'm doing something wrong by being this idle." War did not exactly leave you with a lot of free time on your hands.

cw: Warhammer ref to major chara death/ trauma

[thecodexabides]

"I agree." It feels like a sin to be so idle, even if there are no enemies to fight. He could almost hear the Chaplain, could almost see him, the skull he wore as a mask blank as death itself, reminding them always of their duty, pointing out always the ways they had fallen short.

Perhaps it was those thoughts that summoned it, the thoughts, and the guilt he had been carrying, but...
***
"Our brothers are dying out there, and you have us playing courier!" He heard his own voice, the ragged pain in it. He could not get Titus to understand. He could not get Titus to care.

Gadriel had seen the shuttle go down, had seen Lyreo and Altareus's bodies themselves. His squad. His brothers. And Titus had not even a second to grant to honor them. Gadriel had been the one to call for the Apothecary, to mark their bodies so their geneseeds could, at least, be taken.

It had started with Elion. He should have been there. He should not have let--but he could not have stopped--Titus break up the squad into smaller fire teams. He should have been beside the brother he had fought alongside for over twenty years. His place was always beside his men, not haring off with this new Lieutenant, who seemed to deny the rules of the Codex.
If he had been there, he might have changed things--blocked the strike that penetrated Elion's helmet, or taken it himself.

It was better to die in combat than to live with the loss of it. It was easy to be dead, your duty done, beyond pain or guilt or shame.

He had lost men before. He was not naive. The honors on his armor, from the cingulum around his waist to the aquila on his pauldron, were not given lightly. But these were foolish deaths, needless deaths.

He knew they died with their honor unstained. On that, at least, his mind was easy. It did not make the orders that sent them into death good. Stupid to break up the squad, to spread the capable men so thin against an enemy so unknown to them.

The hard kernel of distrust he had for Titus was blossoming into hate, and that was wrong. That was shameful. In the end, his men died because it was the Emperor's will and choosing, channeled through Captain Acheran, through Lieutenant Titus. Gadriel could do much in combat, but he could not stand against the will of the Emperor he had sworn his loyalty to.

It was all he could do to mark their bodies, over and over, for the Apothecaries to find, then take up his weapon and follow into the teeth of war a man he did not trust.

***

Gadriel's face clouded dark by the reverie. He has no idea his memory left his own brain, till he saw the last ripples of it on the water, him kneeling over Darius's shattered armor, taking a precious second to rest one hand on it, one last touch of grace for another lost.

[holdshisown]

It was hard to go from having entirely too much to do to having little to nothing at all to fill your time. Being overworked at least kept you busy.

Maedhros stills when the memory starts to take form in front of them. Too shocked to look away, even though it feels wrong to look upon something so private as a memory without leave.

It is a scene he's intimately familiar with, though. Loss. Death. The bitter grief of looking down upon a fallen brother and wonder if it perhaps would not have been better if they had lived and it was you who lay lifeless upon the ground.

"What...?" Is the only thing he can think to say when he finaly finds his voice again.

[thecodexabides]

There was a great deal Gadriel hated about that memory. The loss of his men, his distrust of his commanding officer and the orders he'd been given. A shameful example as an Astartes, laying open all the ways he was weak.

"...my failing." And now Maedhros sees them and sees through him. How he was always falling short of the ideal, even though he had passed every test to become an Astartes, there was always this little seed of failure.

[holdshisown]

Maedhros tilts his head slightly to the side as he gives Gadriel a confused look. For try as he might he can't see anything in this memory that he'd consider a failing on Gadriels part. His frustration and anger in the face of that loss was understandable, if perhaps misplaced.

"Is it?" He asks. "Losing a brother, nevermind several, does not leave much room for rational thought. The anger it builds in you, the hate it sets in your heart... you're not the only one that's let something like that overtake you."

[thecodexabides]

"A true Astartes would be like my Lieutenant. Efficient. Focused. Not distracted. Not...almost disloyal." Gadriel shifts his shoulders in the water. "I almost killed him, myself, because I was so taken by my suspicion."

[holdshisown]

"And yet you are not a god that one may never expect you to make a misstep," he points out. "What was it that made you so suspiscious of him? You are not a man without reason, from what I've seen, so you must have had some reason behind it beyond what that memory showed."

[thecodexabides]

"Missteps are often fatal. To you or your men." Perfectionism runs deep, especially in the Ultramarines.

He has a list. "He was appointed leadership over my squad. He was too old to be a Primaris. He claimed to have served in the Death Watch, but there was no record of him, because he had served under no colors." A penance for Titus's own corruption.

"And he...did not lie but he withheld information from us. Not only about himself but things critical to our mission."

[holdshisown]

"They are. But they are also inevitable. None of us are perfect, nor do we always have a perfect understanding of the circumstances we find ourselves in. So mistakes will always be something we must learn to deal with." Perfection is not something you can expect from anyone.

"A misstep on his part, that." He says neutraly. "No doubt he had his own reasons for withholding that information but that would have been difficult for you to see without you knowing them."

[thecodexabides]

"It is more than a mistake to doubt your commanding officer." It could earn great censure. "But I did. And worse, I fell prey to Chaos and attempted to purge him."

Yeah, so Brotherhood ain't always hugs and...there are not even hugs.

"He said he did not trust us because he had paid a great price for his stray words in the past. But we were his men. His orders are ones we live or die by. We trusted him with our lives, and many lost. But he did not trust us?" Still kind of mad about it, even though they had reconciled.

[holdshisown]

"True. But in the same spirit a commanding officer must give his men a reason to trust him." Maedhros points out. "Attempted, but did not succeed. A bad mistake, but one that could have been far worse."

Tell him about it. A lot of the times it's just having to deal with the massive amounts of bullshit your brother's have decided was a good idea to get up to for some reason.

"That is unfortunately one of the consequenses of your worlds way of doing things, I'm afraid. He should have trusted you, yes, I truly believe so. For it is as you say that he wields a great authority over your lives and deaths and so owes it to you some transparency." He says with a slight frown. "But he was likely afraid that you and the rest of the men he comanded would judge him harshly for his past or, possibly, that he would end up in trouble again if he opened up to you." Though he understands why Gadriel would feel angry for it, and he did not really think he was in the wrong for feeling so either.

[thecodexabides]

"He has rank. That should be enough." And Gadriel had tried to make it enough, had accepted, though it chafed, Acheran simply handing his squad over to him. Had tried to give Titus that humbled respect, asking him about his time in the Death Watch.

Gadriel sighed. "He had served penance, before coming to us, suffering under the Inquisition, and then as a Black Shield." Remember all that stuff about Gadriel demanding penance? THAT was what he was talking about. "But we are to be brothers. He should have trusted us more than he did."

[holdshisown]

"Should it?" Personally he thinks there should be more to it than that. If he didn't he never would have rebelled against the Valar. Foolish as that decision was he does not entirely regret it, just the oath, for he'd have never been able to look himself in the mirror again if he'd have done as they said and simply let Morgoth go unpursued.

"As one who has had my own share of suffering I can tell you it does not really make it easy to trust others after it." Yes, it's kind of hard to forget. It's not like people ask him to pretty much torture them every other day, you know? "Perhaps. But brothers are... complicated at times." And though all his brothers have his love he can't say all of them have his trust.

[thecodexabides]

"Yes? He served in the Death Watch, Maedhros. That if nothing else, commands honors." Even as a Black Shield, fighting under no colors, the Death Watch was an honor. "He had his reasons, I understood later. But when it endangered my men, and he held their lives so cheaply..." It was harder to get past. He had chastised Gadriel for taking the time to mark their bodies for the Apothecary.

"He made me feel as if caring about my men was a weakness."

[holdshisown]

"Well, that's not just rank, is it? I may not know what the Death Watch is, but I can surmise by the name that those who serve there probably do warrant some measure of respect afterwards." But it's not just an empty title with nothing else there to back it up. "And I am not really disagreeing with you about that, pointing out a reason behind something is not the same as agreeing with it."

"I honestly do think he should have extended his trust to you, hard as it likely would have been for him, for one cannot expect it in turn if one is not willing to offer it as well." Especially if one is supposed to lead. "It was not weakness. It was your duty."