Editing Saladin Forge

|othernames= Bracus Forge {{c|formerly}} <br> Valus Forge

|affiliation= [[Iron Lords]] <br> [[Vanguard]] <br> [[Crucible]] <br> [[Imperial Cabal]]

|class= [[Titan (class)|Titan]] {{c|[[Striker]]}}

{{quote|I am the lone sentry. And my watch is eternal.|Saladin Forge<ref>'''Bungie (2016/9/20)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[Rise of Iron]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[King of the Mountain]]''</ref>}}

'''Lord Saladin Forge''' is a [[Titan (class)|Titan]] [[Guardian]] partnered with the [[Ghost]] [[Isirah]] and one of two known survivors of the original [[Iron Lords]]. He was one of the founders of the Iron Lords and helped end the [[Dark Age]] of Risen [[Warlord]]s to establish the [[City Age]]. However, most of his comrades perished in a battle to contain [[SIVA]], causing Saladin to dedicate his life to maintaining a watch on the [[Plaguelands]] to ensure SIVA never emerged again while also fighting to protect [[The Last City]] from threats. In time, he established the [[Iron Banner]] to keep the memory of the fallen Iron Lords alive and train the new Guardians in the ways of old. When the [[House of Devils]] uncovered SIVA and unleashed it upon the [[Cosmodrome]], Saladin worked with [[The Guardian|The Young Wolf]] to end the threat of SIVA for good and begin a new generation of Iron Lords.

After sitting out of the [[Red War]] due to lacking his [[Light]], Saladin watched for several years as the [[Vanguard]] struggled against new threats and the [[Arrival of the Black Fleet|Arrival]] of the [[Black Fleet]]. When the [[Cabal]] [[Empress Caiatl]] arrived and sought to subjugate humanity, Saladin was tasked by Zavala with leading a strike force to keep her from rallying her forces.  Later, following the reckless actions of the [[The Crow|Crow]] during [[Season of the Risen]], Saladin offered his life in Crow's place, becoming a [[Bracus]] in the [[Imperial Cabal]] ranks.  However, Saladin's Guardian powers, combined with his great skill at combat, enabled him to rise to the rank of [[Valus]]. This occurred after his defeat of Guhrn Or'ohk, Valus in ritual combat, who challenged Saladin's right to exist on an even footing with the Cabal in their Empire.

Saladin was found and raised by his [[Ghost]] [[Isirah]] in [[Old Russia]] during the [[Dark Age]], at which point most of humanity was scattered and lived under the ruthless rule of other [[Lightbearer]]s who had become [[Warlord]]s. Saladin befriended three other Risen who did not follow the Warlord's path; [[Radegast]], [[Jolder]], and [[Perun]]. Together under Radegast's leadership they hid from the Warlords in isolated communities and feared other Lightbearers, and only occasionally struck against the oppressive rulers. When the mining community they were staying at was assaulted by five Warlords, Saladin and the others fought and killed them, but the civilians they sheltered with were all killed in ensuring battled. As they buried the bodies, Saladin listened as Radegast declared they could no longer live in fear of the Warlords and must become [[Guardian]]s of the people, gathering likeminded Risen to aid them. While Jolder and Perun suggested recruiting [[Bretomart]] and [[Deidris]], Saladin told Radegast he trusted only him. Together, they declared themselves the [[Iron Lords]] and vowed to bring an end to the rule of the Warlords.<ref>'''Bungie (2016/9/20)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[Rise of Iron]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Allies/Iron_Lords#Lord_Radegast|Lord Radegast]]''</ref>

[[File:SaladinVFallen.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Saladin battling the Fallen]]

As the Iron Lords began to recruit, Saladin left to defend the village of [[Patch Run]] from a [[Fallen]] House that frequently assaulted it. He was unexpectedly joined by [[Efrideet]], a Lightbearer whom he did not entirely trust. As they finished off a band of Fallen on a cliffside near the town, Efrideet declared she was out of ammo and Saladin stated that she could leave the rest to him. He dodged her question about why he did not trust her and rebuffed her interest in joining the Iron Lords by declaring that he was searching for more than just Lightbearers who could shoot. He turned towards the town and informed her that it had forty-three inhabitants, only half of whom were capable of fighting. Efrideet softly said that it was hardly even a village, but Saladin retorted that they lived a noble life. He admitted that they were under constant attack from a Fallen House in a nearby bunker that he routinely assaulted in hopes of driving them away, but so far nothing had worked. As they spoke, a [[Fallen Skiff]] roared by and dropped a [[Fallen Walker|Walker]] into the field between the village and bunker. Without ammo, Saladin was at a loss of what to do, with the Walker being out of range of his Light powers and the time it would take to climb down surely dooming the village. However, Efrideet offered to throw him, causing Saladin to laugh until he realized she was serious and declared there was no dignity in that. She pointed out there was no dignity in letting the village die either.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Iron_Remembrance_Armor#Cloak_of_Remembrance|Cloak of Remembrance]]''</ref>

Saladin agreed to Efrideet's plan and began to warn her not to miss as he gathered [[Arc]] energy around himself. He was cut off when she suddenly hoisted him over her head, gathering her Light for the throw. Their combined Arc Light caused the mountain to begin rumbling as she charged forward and launched Saladin through the air, and he tore across the sky and through the clouds as an [[Striker|Arc missile]].<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Iron_Remembrance_Armor#Mark_of_Remembrance|Mark of Remembrance]]''</ref> Efrideet's aim proved true and Saladin destroyed the Walker, saving Patch Run. He was revived by his Ghost as Efrideet arrived at the field and mocked him for thinking she might miss. Admitting he had never seen her miss a shot before as he wondered what had taken her so long to reach him, Efrideet revealed a few Fallen had survived the Arc strike. Alarmed, he asked where they were now, but she reassured him none had made it to the village. With newfound respect for Efrideet, Saladin admitted that someone with her skills and moral compass would be welcome in the Iron Lords. However, she only agreed to join if he promised she could throw him again if they ran out of ammo once more. He told Efrideet to meet them at [[Dwindler's Ridge]] and when she questioned how many of them there were he smirked and answered "a few".<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Iron_Remembrance_Armor#Bond_of_Remembrance|Bond of Remembrance]]''</ref>

Sometime after Saladin recruited Efrideet into the Iron Lords, they encountered an [[Ahamkara]], which were able to grant wishes. Saladin wished to fight a dragon, which transformed the creature into a giant dragon that breathed fire. While Efrideet stayed back and fired on the creature with her rifle, Saladin closed in with his [[Iron Battle Axe]] to fight the dragon like a knight of old. He wounded the creature several times while dodging its flames, but his axe soon began to melt from the heat, although he judged it still had enough edge to cut the beast. Efrideet tried to get him to reconsider his strategy and questioned why he had wished to fight a dragon. Grinning under his helmet, he shouted back that they were knights and he wanted to be a dragon slayer. Leaping at the roaring creature once more, Saladin yelled to his companion that they were what they survived.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Transfiguration]]''</ref>

With their recruits gathered, Saladin and his comrades began their [[Warlord Conflict|campaign]] against the Warlords. They quickly developed a reputation as defenders of humanity and several Warlords joined their cause, including [[Felwinter]], who donated his stronghold on [[Felwinter Peak]] to be their headquarters.<ref>'''Bungie (2016/9/20)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[Rise of Iron]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Allies/Iron_Lords#Lord_Felwinter|Lord Felwinter]]''</ref> Saladin was amongst the most honored of the lords and frequently joined his comrades in combating the warlords by defending towns under their control. Alongside Radegast and Perun, he travelled to a village ruled by Warlord [[Segoth]]. They confronted him when Segoth arrived at the village to punish the citizens for sheltering the Iron Lords, holding higher ground as Segoth and eight of his followers arrived on [[Pike]]s in a narrow pass that only allowed three to approach at a time. Segoth derided them as "Iron Wolves", causing Saladin to shout at him to cease his insults, although Perun admitted she liked the moniker. Unamused, the Warlord ordered them to leave and declared the people there his, but they refused to abandon the civilians to his rule. As Segoth smiled and shrugged at their response, Saladin raised his shield at Perun's command alongside his two comrades as the hostile Lightbearers opened fire. Although the heavy fire pushed them back, their shields protected them, and the Iron Lords returned fire, quickly cutting down the trapped enemy. As Segoth revived, one of his bullets struck Radegast in the head, and Saladin provided covering fire for Perun to help his Ghost revive the Iron Lords leader. Each of the Iron Lords fell several times, but their shield wall never broke, and Segoth eventually retreated, vowing to kill them and all who aided them as the town cheered Saladin and his comrades.<ref>'''Bungie (2016/9/20)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[Rise of Iron]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Allies/Iron_Lords#Lady_Perun|Lady Perun]]''</ref>

Amongst the Risen who joined the ranks of the Iron Lords was [[Silimar]], an old friend of Saladin. Saladin and the rest of the Iron Lords were confused by Silimar's constant building of a tower that he rebuilt every time it was assaulted by the Fallen and Warlords. After the eleventh time the tower was destroyed, Saladin met with Silimar in its ruins and upon his friend's revival by his Ghost, questioned him about why he kept rebuilding and calling the tower doomed. Silimar rejected that term, deciding fated fit better, but Saladin suggested indefensible also worked. He declared only a fool would continue to rebuild a tower that kept being destroyed. However, Silimar declared that it was like them, being reborn every time they fell and that one day it would not fall and they would know the time was right. Saladin asked what they would know, and Silimar declared that it would mean it was safe to build a city to the sky.<ref>'''Bungie (2016/9/20)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[Rise of Iron]] Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Allies/Iron_Lords#Lord_Silimar|Lord Silimar]]''</ref>

[[File:ZavalaShaxxSaladin.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Saladin, Zavala and Shaxx defending the city.]]

The efforts of the Iron Lords allowed the creation of [[The Last City]] under the protection of the [[Traveler]]. As thousands of survivors and Lightbearers flocked to the growing city, it became a target for the Fallen. Alongside his fellow Iron Lords, Saladin travelled to defend the Last City alongside its [[Guardian]]s. Saladin commanded the city's southern walls from the Fallen assault, which nearly overwhelmed the Guardian's defences several times. However, the defenders eventually drove the Fallen armies into retreat. As communications were reestablished, Saladin heard [[Osiris]], [[Saint-14]], and Shaxx declare that each of their sectors were secure. As Shaxx announced he would march to reinforce the southern walls, Saladin informed them that he had broken the Fallen's assault and that the City was saved. As the defenders contemplated their victory, Shaxx joyously mocked the Fallen for believing they would simply wipe out the City, and Saladin joined the others in laughing. Osiris reported all fireteams were accounted for, and Saint credited the [[Titan (class)|Titan]] [[Elriq]] for helping him save eight Guardians during dozens of charges against the Fallen. Saladin was impressed by the young Titan and asked how many times he died in the fight, but Saint revealed that he and Elriq had both survived the battle without falling.<ref>'''Bungie (2019/12/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Dawn]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Lore]]: [[Lore:The_Pigeon_and_the_Phoenix#10:_War_Stories|War Stories]]''</ref>

When an alliance of the Fallen Houses threatened the safety of the Last City, Saladin was selected to lead the City's defence during the upcoming [[Battle of the Twilight Gap|battle]] alongside his students Lord [[Shaxx]] and Commander [[Zavala]].<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Allies/Tower Allies#Iron Banner Rep|Iron Banner Rep]]''</ref> The Fallen concentrated their assault on [[Twilight Gap]], throwing wave after wave of soldiers towards humanity's last stronghold. As the battle turned against the [[Vanguard]], Saladin ordered all fireteams to retreat to the [[Ridgeback District]] and to halt all advances, believing that the City was lost. However, Shaxx did not acknowledge the fallback order and instead advanced with his fireteams. Saladin angrily demanded that Shaxx fall back with the rest of the fireteams and told him that the battlefield was not his stage to win glory upon, but his student cut off their comms feed.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/12/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Forge]], Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[The Mountaintop]]''</ref> Shaxx and his fireteam were able to hold their position on the Wall at Twilight Gap long enough for Saladin and Zavala to regroup the rest of their forces for a counterattack that drove the Fallen back and saved the Last City.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Shard of the Traveler (Sunbreaker)]]''</ref> Despite the City being saved, Saladin remained furious with Shaxx for disobeying his orders during the middle of battle. Their relationship became strained, although Saladin continued to remain on good terms with Zavala.

[[File:SaladinIronBanner.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Saladin hosting the Iron Banner]]

Saladin eventually began to host [[Iron Banner]] events in the Last City's [[Crucible]] as a memorial to the sacrifices of the Iron Lords and to remind Guardians of their legacy. He was forced to cooperate with Shaxx at the behest of the [[Consensus]] to coordinate these events because his former pupil had become the head of the Crucible in the aftermath of the Twilight Gap. However, Saladin handled most of the logistics on his own and stayed far away from Shaxx. Others in the Tower tried to get Saladin, Shaxx, and Zavala to sit down and talk about the events of Twilight Gap to repair their friendship, but none of those efforts worked due to their stubbornness.<ref>'''Bungie (2015/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]]: Playstation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Activities/Crucible_Playlists#Iron_Banner|Iron Banner]]''</ref>

[[File:Saladin.gif|thumb|right|350px|Saladin confronting the Devil Splicers]]

One year after the events of the [[Taken War]], the [[Fallen]] and the [[House of Devils]] managed to unearth SIVA, and their [[Devil Splicers|Splicer]]s tried to harness the technology. Unable to defeat the mutant Devils on his own, Saladin began seeking out Guardians to help him form a new generation of the Iron Lords to end the threat of SIVA once and for all.<ref name="ROIT"/><ref name="ROI"/>

After guiding the [[Guardian]] into the [[Plaguelands]] and deep into [[Site 6]] to shut down SIVA, remnants of the Iron Lords twisted by the technovirus attack in defence of the SIVA production chamber.<ref name="Iron Tomb">''Bungie (2016/20/9), [[Destiny]]: [[Rise of Iron]] PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard, [[The Iron Tomb]]''</ref> After destroying the remnants and the chamber, the Guardian returns to Felwinter Peak, where Saladin gifts them a newly forged sword and names them the first of a new generation of Iron Lords.<ref name="Iron Tomb"/>

After the [[Red War]], Lord Saladin would return to the new [[Tower (Destiny 2)|Tower]] to once again host the Iron Banner tournament, having previously tasked [[Efrideet]] to do so during the [[SIVA Crisis]]. Saladin recently also displays distaste for [[Osiris]] due to his infamous exile of the [[Last City]], and also further explains that it was [[Ikora Rey]] who reformed the Warlock order, not Osiris.<ref>'''Bungie (2017/12/5)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Curse of Osiris]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard''</ref> After Rasputin was awakened on Mars and declared itself the guardian of humanity and the solar system, Saladin expressed deep concern for the situation. He told the Young Wolf that if it were up to him, the Vanguard would destroy the warmind.<ref>'''Bungie (2018/5/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Warmind (expansion)|Warmind]], PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard''</ref>

After the [[Arrival of the Black Fleet|arrival]] of the [[Black Fleet]] some Guardians embraced the use of the [[Darkness]] infused powers of [[Stasis]]. Confronting the Young Wolf, Saladin criticized them for being among those using Stasis and Zavala for not punishing those who did. He insisted that the Light and the Traveler were the only allies they needed. Let his anger and frustration slip out, Saladin noted that [[The Drifter (character)|Drifter]] claimed that nothing could kill a Guardian quicker than another Guardian, a fact he agreed with and noted with disgust how the Last City had tried to rely on Rasputin before it failed against the Black Fleet and they meekly watched as the Darkness took four planets away from them. Leaning forward, Saladin issued a warning to the Young Wolf to ensure that they did not fall prey to their hubris while using Stasis, or it would not be the Darkness that came for them.<ref name="PoF">'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Beyond Light]] - [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/interactions/lord-saladin-power-of-faith Power of Faith]</ref>

The Psions soon made their move with the device and attempted to assassinate Commander Zavala in the Last City, but the Titan managed to fell his assassin. Saladin sent a message to his former pupil in the aftermath berating him for allowing the Cabal to continue living so that they could carry out attacks like that within their wall, warning him that the Cabal were like the Warlords and could be given no quarter. He encouraged him to respond in kind and show the Cabal there were consequences for such acts and to remind their people why they should have faith in the Guardians. If he did not, Saladin believed that the next attack would cost them someone else and that guilt would weigh on Zavala and crush him.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[H.E.L.M.]] Radio Message: [[H.E.L.M.#Saladin's_Message_to_Zavala|Saladin's Message to Zavala]]''</ref> Saladin spoke with the Young Wolf about the failed assault, bemoaning how an assassin had infiltrated so easily and that luck would not be on their side next time. He angrily declared that they must channel their Light into burning the Cabal Empire to ashes and that Zavala's hopes for a peaceful resolution would not come to fruition. Declaring that he was still an Iron Lord, Saladin promised to be in the fray himself to exact retribution and hoped to see the Young Wolf on the battlefield doing the same.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Quests (Destiny 2)|Quest]]: [[Challenger's Proving V]] - [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/precious-plunder-4 Precious Plunder 4]''</ref>

A captured Psion was soon brought to the Last City for interrogation, which Saladin was asked to take over once Osiris's more subtle approaches failed. Saladin conducted his interrogation in a cell within the City's wall that overlooked the wilderness outside the City. He disparaged the Psion race as cowards for their continued servitude to the Cabal and Empress Caiatl, noting that while he understood their initial subservience to the Cabal, the deposing of Calus and death of Ghaul should have been their opportunity to rise and free themselves. The Psion stayed quiet but attempted to retaliate with its psychic powers, causing Saladin to quickly grab them by the throat and dangle them over the edge of the wall. As his prisoner struggled, Saladin demanded to know more about the data they stole, how they had crafted the Light-dampening tech, and where the rest of the Psion cell was. The Psion inflicted a sense of vertigo upon him, but Saladin steadied himself and warned the Psion that they would find their comrades eventually but that they could save their own life now by answering. Osiris cut in and noted that he of all people should recognize stubbornness, causing Saladin to relent and begin to admire the Psion for their bravery and refusal to betray their people. Nodding in respect, Saladin threw the Psion over the cliff edge, but as they began to fall Saladin saw his reflection in the eye of the Psion and felt their last thoughts of terror but also their ancestors reaching out to welcome them and a mixture of emotions he could not feel as a human. Saladin felt strangely at peace for that moment, but it faded as the Psion plunged to their death below.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:From_the_Front#VI._Vertigo|From the Front: VI. Vertigo]]''</ref>

In the aftermath of the failed assassination, the brutality between the Vanguard and Cabal increased on the battlefields as the Cabal's supply lines stretched thin and the remaining officers vying for Caiatl's favour began to lose faith in her leadership. Briefing the Young Wolf on the progress of the conflict, Saladin admitted that he did wish the situation was not as it was, but that he had seen similar scenarios play out too often in the Dark Age. He compared Caiatl and her commanders to the Warlords of old, using honour as nothing more than currency for fear, and that they could not trust or negotiate with anyone with such a mindset. He ordered the Young Wolf back to battlefields to prove that true honor rested with the Vanguard.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Quests (Destiny 2)|Quest]]: [[Challenger's Proving VI]] - [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/precious-plunder-2 Precious Plunder 2]''</ref>

[[File:Zavala Osiris Saladin HELM.jpg|350px|right|thumb|Saladin argues with Osiris and Zavala.]]

Although Saladin disagreed with the plan, he was pleased that at last they had found some way to potentially break the stalemate and take decisive action. Briefing the Young Wolf, he ordered them to continue disrupting Cabal operations after the offer was transmitted to Caiatl, who had yet to respond. Saladin and the other commanders hoped that by putting additional pressure on the Empress they would force her to accept the challenge.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Quests (Destiny 2)|Quest]]: [[Challenger's Proving VII]] - [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/precious-plunder-5 Precious Plunder 5]''</ref> The plan ultimately worked, and Caiatl's champion [[Ignovun, Chosen of Caiatl|Ignovun]] fell to the Young Wolf and their fireteam. Zavala and Caiatl signed an armistice ending hostilities between the Vanguard and Cabal Empire, with any Cabal who continued to fight humanity becoming outlaws in the eyes of the Empire.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Quests (Destiny 2)|Quest]]: [[Challenger's Proving VII]] - [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/debriefing-5 Debriefing 5]''</ref> Saladin remained angry at how the conflict ended and was convinced the armistice would be broken by Caiatl. As the task force continued mop-up operations against Cabal dissidents, Saladin questioned Osiris about his true goals for proposing the armistice, suggesting that perhaps he only did so to placate Zavala while other more decisive options were explored behind the Vanguard's back. The former Warlock indicated that might be the case and asked if Saladin would have such a plan contingency plan prepared. The Iron Lord promised he would and hoped that Osiris would support him when it came time to enact it.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/2/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Chosen]] - [[Battlegrounds]]: [[Hailstone]]''</ref>

After reaching an accord with the Cabal Empire, the Last City became plagued by a Vex simulated [[Endless Night]] that was draining the cities power, leading to fear and paranoia to spread amongst it's citizens. To combat this threat, Ikora Rey had the Guardians reach out to the one being that could help: [[Mithrax]] of the [[House of Light]]. After saving his House from a Vex attack, Ikora offered Mithrax and his people sanctuary within the Last City, to which the Light Kell gratefully agrees. However, the decision aggravates the members of the Consensus, Saladin Forge included. Saladin repeatedly spoke out against having the Fallen inhabit the Last City, which ultimately lowers his status amongst the Guardians, both old and new. He was heavily against the armistice with the Cabal, wishing to eradicate the enemies of humanity, and now calling against the Vanguard allying with the House of Light, made other Guardians to view him as a warmonger. Some even suggested he was a part of the assassination plot against Zavala, which hits the Iron Lord hard. Enough that it forces him to reconsider his views.

As the Guardians make progress in undoing the Endless Night, learning that the event was orchestrated by [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen]], the Consensus Factions, growing increasingly paranoid towards the House of Light and disagreeing with the Vanguard's leadership, approached Saladin. Due to his history of combating the Fallen, they hoped he would appeal to their line of thinking and offered him to retake the position of Vanguard Commander but to their dismay, Saladin rebuffed their offer as he still trusts in Zavala and Ikora's decisions.

After many months of hard fighting, the Guardians succeeded in holding the line against Xivi Arath's Horde and saving Mara Sov's Techeun Coven from the Ascendant Realm, allowing the Awoken Queen to conduct the ritual to excise the Witch Queen's worm. Despite the ritual succeeding and Osiris was indeed returned, Savathûn managed to escape.

After The Guardian stops Caiatl's forces from attacking Savathun's ship, Saladin - along with Zavala and Crow - meet with the empress in the Tower to placate her ire over the battle. Zavala convinces her to aid the Vanguard in fighting back against the [[Lucent Brood]], and Saladin, originally skeptical of an alliance with the Cabal but sickened to see the Hive wield the Light, oversees a joint Vanguard-Cabal operation to capture Lucent Brood leaders for Psions to interrogate. He first sends reinforcements to Guardians in the [[European Dead Zone|EDZ]] that were ambushed by Lucent Hive, leading to a general being captured. Intel pulled from it's mind leads to the [[Cosmodrome]], where Light drained from Guardians was being stored and refined for a ritual. Another general there is captured, revealing that the Brood was planning to take over the [[Scarlet Keep]] on the Moon, using stolen Light to summon a massive invasion force. Saladin then oversees the offensive in which Caiatl's forces fight alongside Guardians to halt the ritual and capture another general.

[[File:Destiny-Season-of-the-Risen-Saladin-Caiatl.jpg|thumb|right|290px|Saladin confronting Empress Caiatl.]]

Throughout the operation, Saladin is tasked by Zavala with offering guidance to Crow, who is still grappling with the truth of his past self's crimes. The young Hunter is against keeping Hive prisoners, arguing repeatedly with Saladin over the ethics of their actions. Saladin however, while about as unnerved with keeping the Hive in such a state, the Iron Lord believes the Hive don't deserve their sympathy. The Iron Lord even regales Crow with one of his stories, of how he once showed mercy to a foe, but it ultimately led to more victims being made. Things come to a head during the assault on the Moon when Crow, instead of showing up to help, goes to the H.E.L.M. and deactivates the machine keeping the captive Hive alive, unintentionally killing the Psion operating it. When Caiatl is informed, she demands Crow's life in accordance with Cabal justice, but Zavala defends him. To preserve the growing alliance with the Cabal, Saladin offers his life in Crow's place. Caiatl accepts the offer, but instead of killing him, Caiatl spares Forge on the condition he become a [[Bracus]] on her War Council for the rest of his days. He leaves the Tower with Caiatl, but he's allowed to keep his role in running the Iron Banner as the empress is interested in the Guardian tradition, stating she has some interesting ideas.

Prior to leaving, in a message for the Young Wolf, Saladin left his Iron Battle Axe in the H.E.L.M. and something else for Crow, stating if he is half as smart as he think he is, he will find it. Saladin ultimately has one more conversation with Crow, who deeply regrets that Saladin now has to pay the price for his actions, stating it should have been himself, that he could have died for something he had believed in. Saladin however, states that Crow lacks the self-awareness to know what he believes in and that his mind is a storm of guilt, not just his own but also that of his past self. Thus, as Crow struggled with reconciling with Uldren Sov's experiences with only a few years of his own, Saladin stated that it wasn't his time for a final death. Crow remorsefully states he was wrong about him and expresses how he is sorry but Saladin leaves stating that while he respects him for sticking to his convictions, let this event be a lesson: doing what one believe is right doesn't absolve them of consequences of those actions. That someone must always pay the price.

Lord Saladin quickly got to work as a Bracus on the Empress's War Council, discovering that the Cabal are more disorganized than originally believed. However, since becoming a Bracus, many of the Cabal would disagree to Saladin's addition to the War Council, being challenged six times in a Rite of Proving. Saladin would win all the rites, including against a bodyguard to another member of the council, leading an impressed Empress Caiatl to promote Saladin as a Valus. In addition, to the Empress's recommendation, Saladin organized a tournament similar to the Iron Banner for the Cabal, even calling the contestants his "Iron War Beasts", which quickly became popular amongst the cabal. However, despite proving himself and having the Empress's support, many would still object to having the Iron Lord a member of Caiatl's War Council, leading an entire Cruiser to defect from the Empress's fleet.

Though Lord Saladin wouldn't take an active part in the operation concerning the surprise return of the [[Leviathan]], the personal craft of the former emperor of the cabal, Calus, he nonetheless advised Empress Caiatl when she ordered her fleet to blockade the massive vessel as it hanged derelict near the Moon. As the Guardians worked in containing the [[Nightmare]]s that have begun to infest the Leviathan and sever the connections Calus was seeking to make with the [[Lunar Pyramid]], accomplishing in severing two connections, and became time for Caiatl herself to deal with the [[Nightmare of Dominus Ghaul]], Saladin would find himself taunted by the Nightmare, denouncing him as unworthy to join the cabal's War Council as an equal. Despite the Nightmare's words, Saladin refused to give in. Saladin would even get into a heated conversation with Caiatl's father, Calus, who commends his daughter forging an alliance with the Guardians, recognizing their kinds potential, just as he did. Saladin however states that is where the similarities end, as he has seen Caiatl lead her people with purpose and conviction, traits he has not seen in the former emperor, but Calus retaliates with the knowledge of how eager Saladin used to be in slaughtering her troops when Caiatl first arrived and wondered what that says about his own convictions which leaves the Iron Lord unable to respond.

He used to be found in the Traveler's Walk area of the [[Tower]], and sold gear in exchange for [[Glimmer]] and Iron Banner [[Reputation]].<ref name = "Beta">'''Bungie (2014-7-17)''', ''[[Destiny]]: Beta PlayStation 4, Activision Blizzard''</ref> He re-forged [[weapon]]s for [[Motes of Light]].<ref>[http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---10242014/en/News/News?aid=12318 '''Update'''- ''10/24/2014'']</ref> The Weekly Bungie's actual weapons and armor available tend to change from each event. His duties was taken over by [[Lady Efrideet]], and the Iron Banner was at the Iron Temple on [[Felwinter Peak]]. Saladin himself would return to take charge of the event after the [[Red War]].

| 1 || "''Sigil of the Iron Lords''" [[Emblem]] (7500 [[glimmer]])

| 2 || "''Million Million''" [[Shader]] (2400 glimmer)

| 3 || Armor (9950 glimmer), "''Scar of Radegast''" [[Emblem]] (7500 glimmer)

| 4 || Special or Heavy Weapon (11500 glimmer), Class Item (4500 glimmer)

| 5 || Primary Weapon (11500 glimmer), "''Goldspiral''" [[Shader]] (7500 glimmer)

**''[[Curse of Osiris]]''

***''[[Season of the Seraph]]''