Saladin Forge

Saladin Forge
Biographical information
Homeworld:	Earth
Species:	Human
Gender:	Male
Hair color:	Black
Political and military information
Affiliation:	Iron Lords Vanguard Crucible
Rank:	Iron Banner handler
Class:	Titan (Striker)
Notable info:	Hero of Twilight Gap One of the last members of the Iron Lords

"I am the lone sentry. And my watch is eternal."

— Saladin Forge

Lord Saladin Forge is a Titan Guardian 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 Warlords 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 Young Wolf to end the threat of SIVA for good and begin a new generation of Iron Lords.

Biography

Lord of Iron

Rise of the Iron Lords

Saladin was found and raised by his Ghost during the Dark Age, at which point most of humanity was scattered and lived under the ruthless rule of other Lightbearers who had become Warlords. 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 Guardians 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.

Saving Patch Run

Saladin battling the Fallen

"I make it my duty to patrol this area. I thought crushing that Fallen House every week would dissuade them. They keep returning."

— Saladin about defending Patch Run

As the Iron Lords began to recruit, Saladin left to defend to 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 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.

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 own 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 teared across the sky and through the clouds as an Arc missile. 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 a 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".

Dragons and Warlords

"Why in the Traveler’s crack did you wish to fight an actual DRAGON, old man?"
"We are knights, Lady Efrideet. Do you not want to be a dragon slayer?"

— Efrideet and Saladin after encountering an Ahamkara

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.

With their new recruits gathered, Saladin and his comrades began their 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. 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 traveled 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 Pikes 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.

Amongst the Risen who joined the ranks of the Iron Lords was Silimar, a 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.

Six Fronts

Saladin, Zavala and Shaxx defending the city.

"The Fallen's southern approach has broken. The City holds."

— Saladin at the conclusion of the battle

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 traveled to defend the Last City alongside its Guardians. Saladin commanded the city's southern walls from the Fallen assault, which nearly overwhelmed the Guardian's defenses 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 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.

Fall of the Iron Lords

"A battle was won. Heroes died. And our mistakes stayed here."

— Saladin Forge

Eventually, Saladin and his comrades discovered SIVA, a self-replicating nanotechnology created during the Golden Age. They believed it could be used to aid them in protecting humanity, but it turned against them. Unable to destroy the techno-virus, the Iron Lords sealed it beneath the earth. However, the virus claimed the Iron Lords, and Saladin was one of the only two to survive.

Battle of the Twilight Gap

"This battlefield is not your stage, Shaxx! This is not about glory!"

— Saladin to Shaxx as he disobeyed orders during the Battle of the Twilight Gap

When an alliance of the Fallen Houses threatened the safety of the Last City, Saladin was selected to lead the City's defense during the upcoming battle alongside his students Lord Shaxx and Commander Zavala. 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 fallback 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. 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. 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.

The Iron Banner

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 due to his former pupil having 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.

SIVA Crisis

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 Splicers 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.

After guiding the Guardian into the Plaguelands and deep into Site 6 in order to shut down SIVA, remnants of the Iron Lords twisted by the technovirus attack in defense of the SIVA production chamber. 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.

Return to the Last City

After the Red War, Lord Saladin would return to the new 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 explaining that it was Ikora Rey who reformed the Warlock order, not Osiris. 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.

Personality and Traits

Stoic, serious and experienced yet somber and grim are the best words to describe Lord Saladin. From the day he became a Iron Lord, Saladin takes his purpose and duty in protecting the survivors of the Collapse with complete dedication, becoming a pillar of a what a Titan and Guardian should be. Saladin believes in the code the Iron Lords stood for in using their Traveler-given abilities to protect and serve, not to conquer as the Warlords did. However, as a result of his experiences and losses, Saladin has been hardened from them all. Despite being famously serious, Saladin does have moments of humor, mostly with old friends like Efrideet.

Beneath his stoicism lies a deep sadness and guilt over the deaths of his fellow Iron Lords at the hands of SIVA. He was particularly close to the Iron Lord's leader, Radagast, who became his mentor while Jolder became his closest companion among the Iron Lords. Upon their deaths, he hoped to that he would never have to revisit his past but continued to honor their legacy with the Iron Banner tournament and with the threat of the Devil Splicers, he realized that the danger was greater than keeping the full story of the Iron Lords and SIVA a secret. However, with the help of the Guardian, he was able to make peace with what had happened and relieve centuries of burden.

With the Guardian, he at first saw them as a promising student that needed training but of course he makes sure that they stay humble and focused. Saladin's respect and praise for the Guardian would grow throughout the SIVA Crisis, dubbing them the first of a new generation of Iron Lords, the title of Lord Guardian and the name of Young Wolf.

Much like his own students, Saladin has a prideful, stubborn streak, as he normally doesn't back down from a fight and doesn't apologize easily. While he maintains a friendship with Zavala, Saladin has a shaky relationship with Shaxx at best for both refuse to make amends over the Battle of the Twilight Gap. However, like Shaxx, Saladin respects all the classes of Guardians.

Wares

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. He re-forged weapons for Motes of Light. 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.

Rank	Item
0	"Tempering" Buff (1 Mote of Light)
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)

Quotes

Saladin's Induction Speech

"Nothing born is born strong.

"I know I began weak, the same as you. I don't care if you're an Exo, staring at that number and wondering where you've come from. Or a Human hungry to understand the ancient world that left you for dead. Or an Awoken reborn in the very essence of what your people hide from. Together, we're the pointed end of a long stick of happenstance. Change one ripple in an ancient ocean and we would never have been granted the Light within us, or the good Ghosts that want to help us.

"Humble origins.

"Every world begins as a big pebble lost among trillions of pebbles. Every worthy sun was once cold hydrogen spread thin across the vacuum. Even the universe, this cosmic garden that surrounds us and awes us... this monument to Creation was once the size of an apple seed. And everything that's splendid and great stands at the end of incalculable chance and mayhem.

"Yes, you have talents. Enormous, wondrous powers. But you should put the smirk away. Do you know what a Guardian is? Not yet. Your name is another pebble. You are a cold apple seed.

"But you will grow."

Iron Banner

• "Are you up to the challenge?"
• "Have you been tested?"
• "The Iron Banner offers much suffering, but equal reward."
• "Odds are you are not ready for the Iron Banner."
• "Let the Iron Banner shape you."
• "Have you proved yourself... worthy?"
• "Only the strongest need prove themselves to the Iron Banner"
• "Your Light will be tested, Guardian... and you will be stronger for it."
• "Until we meet again, Guardian"
• "The weak-willed need not apply."
• "You have never been tested like this."
• "No games. No sympathy. Just survival."
• "We recognize strength, Guardian."
• "Simply finishing isn't enough if you want to reap the best rewards, Guardian. Prove yourself."

Felwinter's Peak

Standing next to him

• "If the Splicers are seeking godhood, I doubt this will end with SIVA."
• "The Iron Lords couldn't contain SIVA. It falls to the Guardians now."
• "Even with SIVA at their command, the Fallen stood no chance against the Young Wolf."
• "Is the Vanguard looking for fireteams? My schedule is free tomorrow."
• "Radegast, after all those years, our mission is finally over. And I still wonder what you would say."
• "During the Dark Age, Lord Silimar and I built this Temple amidst an endless war."
• "The Iron Lords left an oath unfulfilled. Guardians will see it through."
• "SIVA is contained. And hope lives. And I thought my vigil would be eternal."
• "Our light is all that will sustain us against SIVA."
• "Hell's lose in Old Russia. I pray the City isn't next."
• "Skorri, SIVA has come again. My Axe will sing in your stead."
• "The Iron Lords couldn't contain SIVA, it falls to the Guardians now."
• "Rest easy, Radegast, SIVA's burden is ours to bear now."
• "My vigil has ended. For the first time in centuries, tomorrow is unwritten."
• "In the Dark Age, I lacked the audacity to dream of peace. This Temple was supposed to be the beginning."
• "You look uncertain. I'll say to you what Lady Perun said to me on the eve of my first battle: Do not let your fears define you."
• "Skorri, I won't sing in your place, but at least I can hear the Iron Song again."
• "The burden of the Iron Lords have been lifted, and the Guardians can once again march under a familiar Light. An Iron Banner."
• "Splicers aren't unique to the Devils. We can only hope the other Houses do not find inspiration in what has transpired here."
• "Fallen machines joined with SIVA? I don't envy the new generation for what they must face."
• "SIVA is one of the many threats I hoped this planet would never see again."
• "So many seek to destroy us, The Devil Splicers, the Taken. Let them come. They face Saladin Forge renewed."
• "The Splicers' Prime was beaten, but its followers remain a threat. We must be ready."
• "The Guardians will learn from this. If they survive."
• "Lady Skorri wrote the Iron Song behind this walls. Sadly, I can't remember how it goes."
• "Some of the Splicers have set aside Servitor-worship to become gods themselves. SIVA is a terrifying enabler."
• "I will leave it to Shiro the details of what happened here. The truth deserve someone more... objective."
• "Shiro's reports says Splicer control of SIVA was improving. Worrisome..."
• "The Devils will seek out other SIVA caches. We must be there when they do."
• "Tyra can ask for whatever she wants. One does not host academic functions within the Iron Temple."
• "What now? The Cabal on Mars? The Vex across time? I'll crush them all."
• "This won't be the end. The Devil Splicers add Fallen to their ranks every moment."
• "The songs that Skorri would've written for you would have set the sky ablaze."
• "Humanity believed that everything we encountered hung between the Light and the Darkness. Then, we encountered SIVA."
• "Warlock! Your Light is a weapon. Let me see its glory."
• "You are strong, Titan, but can you be fast?
• "With our victory in the vault, our Light has drawn a hard border on the spread of SIVA."

Running/Sliding next to him

• "I know you're fast, Hunter. Prove you are tough."
• "Will your Light prove its swiftness, Hunter?"

Approaching

• "You are destined to face SIVA again. Make sure your Light is ready."
• "Your Light must never relent. The Devil Splicers will return."

Iron Banner (Destiny 2)

• "Iron Banner Control."
• "In the Dark Age, we called this 'fun'." - when picking up Power Ammo
• "This isn't over until Shaxx sings. And he is very shy."
• "Do you like it better when Lord Shaxx oversees these matches? So do I. A busy Shaxx, is a quiet Shaxx."
• "Die! Die! Di-(cough) Sorry. I've been watching too many Iron Banner matches. What time is it? Shaxx? Shaxx, are you there? Can you get me a water? Stop yelling, it's just a question. I'm not old!"
• "Your weapon defines you!" - when picking up Power Ammo
• "Rasputin is not to be trusted. That Warmind will do anything to get what it needs. Felwinter hoped Rasputin would help us. That hope costs me my brothers and sisters in arms: the Iron Lords. I will not abide losing you, Guardian. If it were up to me, we'd be at all-out war with Rasputin. But my time to lead is over. Our future is in your hands. Show me how you've grown. The Iron Banner will prepare you for what's coming."

Trivia

• Saladin was historically a Kurdish sultan of the 12th century.
• A replica of Saladin's battle axe was created by the blacksmith company Sword and the Stone.
• Before Destiny 2, announcements in the Iron Banner were done by Lord Shaxx. Now, Saladin takes that responsibility.
• Should a player obtain a "We Ran Out of Medals" medal in an Iron Banner match in Destiny 2, Saladin will blurt out, "Die! Die! Die!", the same line said by Reaper in Overwatch when using his Ultimate as the two characters are played by the same actor, Keith Ferguson.

Gallery

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  Saladin confronting the Devil Splicers in Rise of Iron's launch cinematic

• 

  Saladin talking to the Young Wolf

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  A render of Saladin's head

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  Saladin's grimoire card from Destiny 1

List of appearances

• Destiny (First appearance)
  • House of Wolves
  • The Taken King
  • Rise of Iron
• Destiny 2
  • Curse of Osiris
  • Warmind
  • Forsaken
    • Black Armory
    • Joker's Wild
    • Penumbra
  • Shadowkeep
    • Season of Dawn
    • Season of the Worthy
    • Season of Arrivals